Prospectus Supplement (to Prospectus dated September 29, 2023) | Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) Registration No. 333-274456 |
FINGERMOTION, INC.
3,333,336 Shares of Common Stock
5,000,004 Common Warrants to Purchase 5,000,004 Shares of Common Stock
250,000 Placement Agent Warrants to Purchase 250,000 Shares of Common Stock
5,250,004 Shares of Common Stock underlying the Common Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants
Fingermotion, Inc. (which we refer to as the “Company”, “we” or “us”) is offering and selling up to 3,333,336 shares (the “shares”) of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”) together with warrants to purchase 5,000,004 shares of common stock (the “common warrants”) pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus (the “offering”). The offering will be completed pursuant to a purchase agreement entered into between us and certain purchasers (the “purchasers”) on December 20, 2024 under which the purchasers have agreed to purchase the shares and common warrants at a combined offering price of $1.50 per share and one and one-half common warrants. The common warrants will be exercisable upon issuance at an exercise price of $1.50 per share and will expire five years from the date of issuance. See “Description of Securities We Are Offering” for further information on the shares and the common warrants. The shares and common warrants will be separately issued. This prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus also covers the shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon the exercise of the common warrants.
Our shares of common stock are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FNGR.” On December 20, 2024, the closing price of our shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.07 per share of common stock.
There is no established public trading market for the common warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the common warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants will be limited.
We refer to the shares of common stock and common warrants to be issued in this offering collectively as the “Securities.”
Roth Capital Partners, LLC, or the placement agent, acted as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering. The placement agent agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of the Securities offered by this prospectus supplement. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of the Securities we are offering and the placement agent was not required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of the Securities. We have agreed to pay to the placement agent the fees set forth in the table below, which assumes that we sell all of the Securities offered by this prospectus supplement. We will bear all costs associated with the offering. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-24 of this prospectus supplement for more information regarding these arrangements.
We are also registering warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price per share equal to $1.88 (the “Placement Agent Warrants”) which we intend to issue as compensation to the placement agent upon the closing of the offering. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants. For additional information, refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page S-24 of this prospectus supplement.
| | Per Share and Accompanying Common Warrants | | | Total | |
Combined offering price | | $ | $1.500 | | | $ | $5,000,004.00 | |
Placement agent fees(1) | | $ | $0.105 | | | $ | $350,000.28 | |
Proceeds, before expenses, to us(2) | | $ | $1.395 | | | $ | $4,650,003.72 | |
| (1) | We have agreed to pay the placement agent a cash fee equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds of the offering. In addition, we have agreed to issue to the placement agent, or its designees, the Placement Agent Warrants, as compensation. We have also agreed to pay to the placement agent up to $110,000 for its expenses payable immediately upon closing of the offering. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-24 of this prospectus supplement for additional disclosure regarding the placement agent’s fees and estimated offering expenses. |
| (2) | The amount of proceeds, before expenses, to us presented in this table does not give effect to any exercise of the common warrants. |
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before buying any of our securities, you should read the discussion of material risks of investing in our securities in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement and the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page 16 of the accompanying base prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, including the “Risk Factors” section of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 31, 2024.
Neither the United States Securities Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We expect to deliver the Securities against payment on or about December 23, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
Roth Capital Partners
The date of this prospectus supplement is December 20, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
BASE PROSPECTUS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is part of a registration statement that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process and consists of two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference herein, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying base prospectus, which includes the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides more general information. In general, when we refer only to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined.
Before you invest, you should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, all information incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” These documents contain information you should carefully consider when deciding whether to invest in our common stock.
This prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying base prospectus. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on information contained in this prospectus supplement, provided that if any statement in, or incorporated by reference into, one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Any statement so modified will be deemed to constitute a part of this prospectus only as so modified, and any statement so superseded will be deemed not to constitute a part of this prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any document incorporated by reference herein or therein, or any free writing prospectuses we may provide to you in connection with this offering. Neither we nor the placement agent has authorized anyone to provide you with any different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide to you. The information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of the date such information is presented. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those respective dates.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference herein were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company other than the Securities to which it relates, nor do this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.
Unless otherwise indicated, information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus concerning our industry and the markets in which we operate is based on information from our management’s estimates, as well as from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Management estimates are derived from publicly available information, our knowledge of our industry and assumptions based on such information and knowledge, which we believe to be reasonable. In addition, while we believe that information contained in industry publications, surveys and studies has been obtained from reliable sources, the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed, and we have not independently verified any of the data contained in these third-party sources.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, include statements that are based on various assumptions and estimates that are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement and in the section entitled “Risk Factors” starting on page 16 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended August 31, 2024, or our Quarterly Report, as well as the other documents we file with the SEC. These and other important factors could cause our future results to be materially different from the results expected as a result of, or implied by, these assumptions and estimates. You should read the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, completely and with the understanding that future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. See the information included under the heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”
This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. The registration statement containing this prospectus supplement, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the Securities offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement. The registration statement, including the exhibits, can be read on the SEC’s website mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
WHERE TO FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy materials we have filed with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of its public reference room. Our SEC filings also are available to the public on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. In addition, we maintain a website that contains information about us, including our SEC filings, at www.fingermotion.com. The information contained on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, or any other report or documents we file with or furnish to the SEC.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (which we refer to as the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which we refer to as the “Exchange Act”). Such forward-looking statements concern our future financial position, business strategy, new products, budgets, liquidity, cash flows, projected costs, regulatory approvals or the impact of new laws or regulations applicable to us, and plans and objectives anticipated results and developments in our operations in future periods, planned exploration and, if warranted, development of our properties, plans related to our business and other matters that may occur in the future. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein by reference include statements and information about our strategy, objectives, plans and expectations for the future that are not statements or information of historical fact. These statements and information are considered to be forward-looking statements, or forward-looking information, within the meaning of and under the protection provided by the safe harbor provision for forward-looking statements as contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements, and any estimates and assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our views and expectations for the future as of the date of such statements, which can change significantly. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, performance, achievements or events to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or events implied, suggested or expressed by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents incorporated herein and therein should not be unduly relied upon.
Forward-looking statements may be based on a number of material estimates and assumptions, of which any one or more may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements may be identifiable by terminology concerning the future, such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “intend”, “goal”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “outlook”, “plan”, “predict”, “potential”, “project”, “should”, “schedule”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or “would”, and similar expressions or variations thereof including the negative use of such terminology. These statements are based on our current plans and are subject to risks and uncertainties, and as such our actual future activities and results of operations may be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. While we believe these expectations are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual future results may differ materially from those discussed or implied in our forward-looking statements for various reasons. Factors that could contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:
| · | international, national and local general economic and market conditions including impacts from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions and other measures, changes in the rates of investments or economic growth in key markets we serve, or an escalation of sanctions, tariffs or other trade tensions between the U.S. and China or other countries, and related impacts on our businesses; |
| · | our ability to sustain, manage or forecast our growth; |
| · | our ability to manage our VIE contracts; |
| · | our ability to maintain our relationships and licenses in China; |
| · | competition and changes in the Chinese telecommunications market; |
| · | fluctuations and difficulty in forecasting operating results; |
| · | business disruptions, such as technological failures and/or cybersecurity breaches; |
| · | future decision by management in response to changing conditions; |
| · | our ability to execute prospective business plans; |
| · | misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; |
| · | our ability to raise sufficient funds to carry out our proposed business plan; |
| · | actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulation; |
| · | dependency on certain key personnel and any inability to retain and attract qualified personnel; |
| · | inability to reduce and adequately control operating costs; and |
| · | failure to manage future growth effectively. |
For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement and the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 of the accompanying base prospectus and, to the extent applicable, the “Risk Factors” sections in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that these statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in the statements. Investors should review our subsequent reports filed with the SEC on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments thereto. We qualify all forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein or therein. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities, and it is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus. Before you decide whether to purchase our securities, you should read this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any related free writing prospectus carefully, including the risks related to our common stock and this offering under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, including our financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part.
The Company
Company Overview
The Company is a mobile data specialist company incorporated in Delaware, USA, with its head office located at 111 Somerset Road, Level 3, Singapore 238164. The Company operates the following lines of business: (i) Telecommunications Products and Services; (ii) Value Added Products and Services (iii) Short Message Services (“SMS”) and Multimedia Messaging Services (“MMS”); (iv) a Rich Communication Services (“RCS”) platform; (v) Big Data Insights; and (vi) a Video Games Division (inactive).
On October 16, 2018, the Company through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Shanghai JiuGe Business Management Co., Ltd. (“JiuGe Management”), entered into a series of agreements known as variable interest agreements (the “VIE Agreements”) pursuant to which Shanghai JiuGe Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“JiuGe Technology” or the “VIE”) became JiuGe Management’s contractually controlled affiliate. The use of VIE agreements is a common structure used to acquire PRC corporations, particularly in certain industries in which foreign investment is restricted or forbidden by the PRC government. The VIE Agreements include a Consulting Services Agreement, a Loan Agreement, a Power of Attorney Agreement, a Call Option Agreement, and a Share Pledge Agreement in order to secure the connection and commitments of JiuGe Technology. You should refer to the base prospectus below, our 2024 10-K and our Q2 2025 10-Q for a full description of these VIE agreements and the risks associated with operating our business using a VIE structure.
Telecommunications Products and Services
The Company’s current product mix consisting of payment and recharge services, data plans, subscription plans, mobile phones, loyalty points redemption and other products bundles (i.e. mobile protection plans). Chinese mobile phone consumers often utilize third-party e-marketing websites to pay their phone bills. If the consumer connected directly to the telecommunications provider to pay his or her bill, the consumer would miss out on any benefits or marketing discounts that e-marketers provide. Thus, consumers log on to these e-marketer’s websites, click into their respective phone provider’s store, and “top up,” or pay, their telecommunications provider for additional mobile data and talk time.
To connect to the respective mobile telecommunications providers, these e-marketers must utilize a portal licensed by the applicable telecommunication company that processes the payment. We have been granted one of these licenses by China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. (“China Unicom”) and China Mobile Communications Corporation (“China Mobile”), each of which is a major telecommunications provider in China. We principally earn revenue by providing mobile payment and recharge services to customers of China Unicom and China Mobile.
We conduct our mobile payment business through JiuGe Technology, our contractually controlled affiliate through the entry into the VIE Agreements in October 2018. In the first half of 2018, JiuGe Technology secured contracts with China Unicom and China Mobile to distribute mobile data for businesses and corporations in nine provinces/municipalities, namely Chengdu, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Zhuhai, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Henan and Fujian. In September 2018, JiuGe Technology launched and commercialized mobile payment and recharge services to businesses for China Unicom. In May 2021, JiuGe Technology signed a volume-based agreement with China Mobile Fujian to offer recharge services to the Fujian province which we have launched and commercialized in November 2021.
The JiuGe Technology mobile payment and recharge platform enables the seamless delivery of real-time payment and recharge services to third-party channels and businesses. We earn a rebate from each telecommunications company on the funds paid by consumers to the telecommunications companies we process. To encourage consumers to utilize our portal instead of using our competitors’ platforms or paying China Unicom or China Mobile directly, we offer mobile data and talk time at a rate discounted from these companies’ stated rates, which are also the rates we must pay to them to purchase the mobile data and talk time provided to consumers through the use of our platform. Accordingly, we earn income on the rebates we receive from China Unicom and China Mobile, reduced by the amounts by which we discount the mobile data and talk time sold through our platform.
FingerMotion started and commercialized its “Business to Business” (“B2B”) model by integrating with various e-commerce platforms to provide its mobile payment and recharge services to subscribers or end consumers. In the first quarter of 2019 FingerMotion expanded its business by commercializing its first “Business to Consumer” (“B2C”) model, offering the telecommunication providers’ products and services, including data plans, subscription plans, mobile phones, and loyalty points redemption, directly to subscribers or customers of the e-commerce companies, such as PinDuoDuo (“PDD”), TMall (“TMALL”) and JD.Com. The Company is planning to further expand its universal exchange platform by setting up B2C stores on several other major e-commerce platforms in China. In addition to that, we have been assigned as one of China’s Mobile’s loyalty redemption partner where we will be providing the services for their customers via our platform.
Additionally, as previously disclosed, on July 7, 2019, JiuGe Technology, our contractually controlled affiliate, entered into that certain Cooperation Agreement with China Unicom Yunnan, whereby JiuGe Technology is responsible for constructing and operating China Unicom’s electronic sales platform through which consumers can purchase various goods and services from China Unicom, including mobile telephones, mobile telephone service, broadband data services, terminals, “smart” devices and related financial insurance. The Cooperation Agreement provides that JiuGe Technology is required to construct and operate the platform’s webpage in accordance with China Unicom’s specifications and policies, and applicable law, and bear all expenses in connection therewith. As consideration for the service JiuGe Technology provides under the Cooperation Agreement, it receives a percentage of the revenue received from all sales it processes for China Unicom on the platform. The Cooperation Agreement expires three years from the date of its signature with a yearly auto-renewal clause, which is currently in an auto-renewal period, but it may be terminated by (i) JiuGe Technology upon three months’ written notice or (ii) by China Unicom unilaterally.
During the recent fiscal year, the Company expanded its offering under their telecommunication product and services by increasing their product line revenue streams. In March 2020, FingerMotion secured a contract with both China Mobile and China Unicom to acquire new users to take up the respective subscription plans.
In February 2021, we increased the mobile phones sales to end users using all of our platforms. This business will continue to contribute to the overall revenue for the group as part of our offering to our customers.
Value Added Product and Services
These are new product and services that the Company expects to secure and work with the telecommunication provider and all our e-commerce platform partners to market. In February 2022, our contractually controlled subsidiary, JiuGe Technology, through its 99% own subsidiary TengLian signed an agreement with both China Unicom and China Mobile to co-operate to roll out the Mobile Device Protection product which is incorporated into the Telecommunication subscription plans in line with their roll out of new mobile phones and new 5G phones. In mid-July 2022, we launched the roll out of the Mobile Device protection product with the roll out of the new mobile phones and 5G phones. Complementing our hardware protection services, we have introduced cloud services designed to offer corporate customers robust data storage, processing capabilities, and databases accessible via the internet.
SMS and MMS Services
On March 7, 2019, the Company through JiuGe Technology acquired Beijing Technology Co, a company in the business of providing mass SMS text services to businesses looking to communicate with large numbers of their customers and prospective customers. With this acquisition, the Company expanded into a second partnership with the telecom companies by acquiring bulk SMS and MMS bundles at reduced prices and offering bulk SMS services to end consumers with competitive pricing. Beijing Technology retains a license from MIIT to operate the SMS and MMS business in the PRC. Similar to the mobile payment and recharge business, Beijing Technology is required to make a deposit or bulk purchase in advance and has secured business customers, including premium car manufacturers, hotel chains, airlines and e-commerce companies, that utilize Beijing Technology’s SMS integrated platform to send bulk SMS text messages monthly. Beijing Technology has the capability to manage and track the entire process, including guiding the Company’s customer to meet MIIT’s guidelines on messages composed, until the SMS messages have been delivered successfully.
Rich Communication Services
In March 2020, the Company began the development of an RCS platform, also known as Messaging as a Platform (“MaaP”). This RCS platform will be a proprietary business messaging platform that enables businesses and brands to communicate and service their customers on the 5G infrastructure, delivering a better and more efficient user experience at a lower cost. For example, with the new 5G RCS message service, consumers will have the ability to list available flights by sending a message regarding a holiday and will also be able to book and buy flights by sending messages. This will allow telecommunication providers like China Unicom and China Mobile to retain users on their systems without having to utilize third-party apps or log onto the Internet, which will increase their user retention. We expect this to open up a new marketing channel for the Company’s current and prospective business partners. Currently, the deployment of this RCS platform is under review, with discussion ongoing among government bodies, major service providers, and telecommunication companies. These deliberations aim to assess the potential market impacts and establish the necessary consents before the launch, considering the significant changes the platform may introduce to user interactions with existing services. These discussions seek to ensure that all stakeholders’ concerns are addressed comprehensively. Once these issues are resolved and the necessary approval is obtained, we anticipate a substantial enhancement in our service offerings and an expansion of our market reach.
Big Data Insights
In July 2020, the Company launched its proprietary technology platform “Sapientus” as its big data insights arm to deliver data-driven solutions and insights for businesses within the insurance, healthcare, and financial services industries. The Company applies its vast experience in the insurance and financial services industry and capabilities in technology and data analytics to develop revolutionary solutions targeted towards insurance and financial consumers. Integrating diverse publicly available information, insurance and financial based data with technology and finally registering them into the FingerMotion telecommunications and insurance ecosystem, the Company would be able to provide functional insights and facilitate the transformation of key components of the insurance value chain, including driving more effective and efficient underwriting, enabling fraud evaluation and management, empowering channel expansion and market penetration through novel product innovation, and more. The ultimate objective is to promote, enhance and deliver better value to our partners and customers.
The Company’s proprietary risk assessment engine offers standard and customized scoring and appraisal services based on multi-dimensional factors. The Company has the ability to provide potential customers and partners with insights-driven and technology-enabled solutions and applications including preferred risk selection, precision marketing, product customization, and claims management (e.g., fraud detection). The Company’s mission is to deliver the next generation of data-driven solutions in the financial services, healthcare, and insurance industries that result in more accurate risk assessments, more efficient processes, and a more delightful user experience.
On or around January 25, 2021, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Finger Motion Financial Company Limited’s, big data analytic arm branded “Sapientus,” entered into a services agreement with Pacific Life Re, a global life reinsurer serving the insurance industry with a comprehensive suite of products and services.
In December 2021, the Company through JiuGe Technology formed a collaborative research alliance with Munich Re in extending behavioral analytics to enhance understanding of morbidity and behavioral patterns in China market, with the goal of creating value for both insurers and the end insurance consumers through better technology, product offerings and customer experience.
Our Video Game Division
The video game industry covers multiple sectors and is currently experiencing a move away from physical games towards digital software. Advances in technology and streaming now allow users to download games rather than visiting retailers. Video game publishers are expanding their direct-to-consumer channels with mobile gaming, the current growth leader, and eSports and virtual reality gaining momentum as the Company’s Board of Directors decided to re-focus the Company’s resources into new business opportunities in China, particularly the mobile phone payment and data business.
Corporate Information
The Company was initially incorporated as Property Management Corporation of America on January 23, 2014 in the State of Delaware.
Our principal executive offices are located at 111 Somerset Road, Level 3, Singapore 238164, and our telephone number is (347) 349-5339.
We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware and not an operating company incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”). As a holding company, we conduct a significant part of our operations through our subsidiaries and through the VIE Agreements with the VIE based in China.
The Offering The following is a brief summary of certain terms of this offering and is not intended to be complete. It does not contain all of the information that will be important to a holder of our securities. For a more complete description of our securities, see the section entitled “Description of Securities We Are Offering” in this prospectus supplement and in the relevant portions of accompanying base prospectus. |
Issuer: | FingerMotion, Inc. |
Offering Price: | $1.50 per share of common stock and accompanying one and one-half common warrants. |
Purchase Agreement: | The shares and common warrants will be offered and sold by us pursuant to a purchase agreement dated December 20, 2024 between us and the purchasers. To better understand the terms of the purchase agreement, you should carefully read the “Plan of Distribution” section of this prospectus supplement. |
Common stock offered by us: | Up to 3,333,336 shares |
Common Warrants offered by us: | Common warrants to purchase up to 5,000,004 shares of our common stock. Each common warrant has an exercise price of $1.50 per share of common stock. Common warrants will be exercisable upon issuance and will expire five years from the date of issuance. To better understand the terms of the common warrants, you should carefully read the “Description of Securities We Are Offering” section of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the common warrants. To better understand the terms of the common warrants, you should carefully read the “Description of Securities We Are Offering” section of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the common warrants. |
Common Stock Outstanding Before this Offering: | 53,807,850 shares. |
Common Stock to be Outstanding Immediately After this Offering: | 57,141,186 shares (assuming no exercise of the common warrants). |
Placement Agent Warrants offered by us: | Upon the closing of this offering, we will issue as compensation to the placement agent warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price per share equal to $1.88. The Placement Agent Warrants are exercisable upon issuance and will expire five years from the commencement of sales in this offering. To better understand the terms of the Placement Agent Warrants, you should carefully read the “Description of Securities We Are Offering” section of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement also relates to the offering of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Placement Agent Warrants. |
Use of Proceeds: | We estimate that the net proceeds of this offering, after deducting placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses, will be approximately $4.44 million, assuming no exercise of the common warrants or the Placement Agent Warrants. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate and working capital purposes. See the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement. |
Dividend Policy: | We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our shares of common stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings and do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. |
Risk Factors: | Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16 of the accompanying base prospectus and the “Risk Factors” sections of our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock. |
Nasdaq symbol: | Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FNGR.” There is no established public trading market for the common warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the common warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants will be limited. |
The number of shares of common stock shown above to be outstanding after this offering is based on 53,807,850 shares outstanding as of December 20, 2024, and excludes, as of that date, the following: · 6,039,100 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding stock options, which are exercisable at a weighted average price of $4.18 per share, as at December 20, 2024; · 38,312 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding stock purchase warrants, which are exercisable at a weighted average price of $7.82 per share, as at December 20, 2024; and · 70,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding consulting agreements, as at December 20, 2024. |
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a number of very significant risks. Prospective investors should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, including the risks described in the base prospectus, our annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, before investing in our securities. Any one of these material risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause actual results, performance, achievements or events to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or events implied, suggested or expressed by any forward-looking statements made by us or by persons acting on our behalf. Refer to “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.
There is no assurance that we will be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any one or more of the following material risks and uncertainties may cause on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results, which may result in a significant decrease in the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, there is no assurance that these material risks and uncertainties represent a complete list of the material risks and uncertainties facing us. There may be additional risks and uncertainties of a material nature that, as of the date of this prospectus, we are unaware of or that we consider immaterial that may become material in the future, any one or more of which may result in a material adverse effect on us. You could lose all or a significant portion of your investment due to any of these risks and uncertainties.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock and this Offering
Our stock has limited liquidity.
Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 28, 2021, and before that it traded on the OTCQX operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. Trading volume in our shares may be sporadic and the price could experience volatility. If adverse market conditions exist, you may have difficulty selling your shares.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the following:
| ● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results; |
| ● | changes in financial estimates by securities analysts or our failure to perform in line with such estimates; |
| ● | changes in market valuations of other companies, particularly those that market services such as ours; |
| ● | announcements by us or our competitors of significant innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; |
| ● | introduction of product enhancements that reduce the need for our products; |
| ● | departure of key personnel; and |
| ● | changes in overall global market sentiments and economy trends |
We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future.
We have never declared nor paid cash dividends on our capital stock. 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 cash dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, stockholders must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price and trading volume of our common stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock may depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market or our competition. The analysts’ estimates are based upon their own opinions and are often different from our estimates or expectations. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our common stock, provide a more favorable recommendation about our competitors or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our securities would likely decline. If few securities analysts commence coverage of us, or if one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our securities could decrease, which might cause the price and trading volume of our common stock to decline.
The continued sale of our equity securities will dilute the ownership percentage of our existing shareholders and may decrease the market price for our Common Shares.
Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorize the issuance of up to 200,000,000 Common Shares and up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (“Preferred Shares”). Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue additional shares of our capital stock to provide additional financing in the future and designate the rights of the Preferred Shares, which may include voting, dividend, distribution or other rights that are preferential to those held by the common stockholders. The issuance of any such common or Preferred Shares may result in a reduction of the book value or market price of our outstanding common shares. To grow our business substantially, we will likely have to issue additional equity securities to obtain working capital to deposit with the telecommunications companies for which we process mobile recharge payments. Our efforts to fund our intended business plans will therefore result in dilution to our existing stockholders. If we do issue any such additional common shares, such issuance also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other stockholders. As a result of such dilution, if you acquire common shares your proportionate ownership interest and voting power could be decreased. Furthermore, any such issuances could result in a change of control or a reduction in the market price for our common shares.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.
As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOA”). The SOA requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. We are also continuing to improve our internal control over financial reporting. We have expended, and anticipate that we will continue to expend, significant resources in order to maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.
Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in the conditions in our business. Further, weaknesses in our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls, or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement, could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could also adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our shares of common stock, which could depress the price of our shares of common stock.
FINRA rules require broker-dealers to have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for a customer before recommending that investment to the customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. Thus, if our shares of common stock become speculative low-priced securities, the FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our shares of common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our shares of common stock, have an adverse effect on the market for our shares of common stock, and thereby depress our price per share of common stock.
Our shares of common stock have been thinly traded, and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if you need to sell your shares of common stock to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.
Until December 28, 2021, our shares of common stock were quoted on the OTCQB/QX where they were “thinly-traded”, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our shares of common stock at or near bid prices at any given time was relatively small or non-existent. Since we listed on Nasdaq on December 28, 2021, the volume of our shares of common stock traded has increased, but that volume could decrease until we are thinly-traded again. That could occur due to a number of factors, including that we are relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and might be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares of common stock until such time as we became more seasoned. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares of common stock is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. Broad or active public trading market for our shares of common stock may not develop or be sustained.
You may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value per share of the common stock you purchase.
The price per share, together with the number of shares of our common stock we propose to issue and ultimately will issue if this offering is completed, may result in an immediate decrease in the market price of our common stock. Our historical net tangible book value as of August 31, 2024 was $9,857,923, or approximately $0.19 per share of our common stock. After giving effect to the 3,333,336 shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering at a combined offering price of $1.50 per share and one and one-half common warrants, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of August 31, 2024 would have been $14,297,927, or approximately $0.26 per share of our common stock. This represents an immediate increase in the net tangible book value of $0.07 per share of our common stock to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of approximately $1.24 per share of our common stock to new investors, representing the difference between the combined offering price and our as adjusted net tangible book value as of August 31, 2024, after giving effect to this offering, and the combined offering price per share and one and one-half common warrants. See the section entitled “Dilution” below for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase common stock in this offering.
In addition, in order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. In the event that the outstanding options or warrants are exercised or settled, or that we make additional issuances of common stock or other convertible or exchangeable securities, you could experience additional dilution. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders, including investors who purchase shares of common stock in this offering. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or securities convertible into common stock in future transactions, may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering. As a result, purchasers of the shares we sell, as well as our existing stockholders, will experience significant dilution if we sell at prices significantly below the price at which they invested.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Use of Proceeds.” You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our securities to decline and delay the development of our product or services. Pending the application of these funds, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
There is no public market for the common warrants being offered by us in this offering.
There is no established public trading market for the common warrants and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the common warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active market, the liquidity of the common warrants will be limited.
The common warrants are speculative in nature.
The common warrants offered hereby do not confer any rights of share of common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of common stock at a fixed price. Specifically, holders of the common warrants may acquire the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants at an exercise price of $1.50 per share of common stock. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the common warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the common warrants will equal or exceed their offering price. There can be no assurance that the market price of the shares of common stock will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the common warrants, and consequently, whether it will ever be profitable for holders of common warrants to exercise the common warrants.
Holders of the common warrants offered hereby will have no rights as common stockholders with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying the common warrants until such holders exercise their common warrants and acquire our common stock, except as otherwise provided in the common warrants.
Until holders of the common warrants acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise thereof, such holders will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such common warrants, except to the extent that holders of such common warrants will have certain rights to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our common stock as set forth in the common warrants. Upon exercise of the common warrants, the holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
Holders of the common warrants offered hereby will have the right to a reduction in the exercise of their common warrants upon the occurrence of certain events, including our issuance of shares of our common stock or common stock equivalents at prices less than the prevailing exercise price and if we complete a share combination event where our resulting stock price is lower than the prevailing exercise price.
The holders of the common warrants offered hereby will receive certain anti-dilution rights which may depress the trading price of our shares of common stock. Specifically, if while the common warrants are outstanding, the Company issues or sells, or is deemed to have issued or sold, any common stock and/or common stock equivalents other than in connection with certain exempt issuances, with a purchase price per share less than the exercise price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, then immediately after such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, the exercise price then in effect will be reduced to an amount equal to the new issuance price. Additionally, if at any time on or after the date of issuance there occurs any share split, share dividend, share combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving our common stock (each, a “Share Combination Event”) and the lowest daily volume weighted average price during the period commencing five consecutive trading days immediately preceding and ending immediately after the five consecutive trading days beginning on the date of such Share Combination Event, is less than the exercise price of the common warrants then in effect, then the exercise price of the common warrants will be reduced to the lowest daily volume weighted average price during such period. These warrant exercise adjustment mechanisms may have a negative impact on our ability to complete new financings and the trading price of our common stock.
Purchasers who purchase our securities in this offering pursuant to a securities purchase agreement may have rights not available to purchasers that purchase without the benefit of a securities purchase agreement.
In addition to rights and remedies available to all purchasers in this offering under federal securities and state law, the purchasers that enter into a securities purchase agreement will also be able to bring claims of breach of contract against us. The ability to pursue a claim for breach of contract provides those investors with the means to enforce the covenants uniquely available to them under the securities purchase agreement including, but not limited to: (i) timely delivery of securities; (ii) agreement to not enter into any equity financings, subject to certain agreed exemptions, for 60 days from closing; (iii) agreement not to enter into any “variable rate transactions” for a period of six months from closing, subject to an “at-the-market” offering with the placement agent after the initial 60 day prohibition from closing; and (iv) indemnification for breach of contract.
Resales of our common stock in the public market during this offering by our stockholders may cause the market price of our common stock to fall.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock could occur at any time. The issuance of new shares of our common stock could result in resales of our common stock by our current stockholders concerned about the potential ownership dilution of their holdings. In turn, these resales could have the effect of depressing the market price for our common stock.
This offering may cause the trading price of our common stock to decrease.
The price per share, together with the number of shares of common stock we propose to issue and ultimately will issue if this offering is completed, has resulted in an immediate decrease in the market price of our common stock. This decrease may continue after the completion of this offering.
Proposed legislation in the U.S. Congress, including changes in U.S. tax law may adversely impact us or the value of the shares of our common stock and common warrants.
Changes to U.S. tax laws (which changes may have retroactive application) could adversely affect us or holders of shares of our common stock or common warrants. In recent years, many changes to U.S. federal income tax laws have been proposed and made, and additional changes to U.S. federal income tax laws are likely to continue to occur in the future.
The U.S. Congress is currently considering numerous items of legislation which may be enacted prospectively or with retroactive effect, which legislation could adversely impact our financial performance and the value of the shares of our common stock and common warrants. Additionally, states in which we operate or own assets may impose new or increased taxes. If enacted, most of the proposals would be effective for the current or later tax years. The proposed legislation remains subject to change, and its impact on us and investors who purchase our shares of common stock and common warrants is uncertain.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $4.44 million, after deducting the placement agent fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may only receive additional proceeds from the exercise of the common warrants issuable in connection with this offering if such common warrants are exercised in full for cash. If all common warrants were exercised, the estimated net proceeds will increase to approximately $12 million. It is possible that these common warrants may expire without ever being exercised.
We intend to use the net proceeds, if any, from this offering for general corporate and working capital purposes.
dilution
If you invest in our Securities in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after the offering. Dilution results from the fact that the per share offering price is substantially in excess of the book value per share of common stock attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently outstanding shares of common stock. Our net tangible book value attributable to shareholders at August 31, 2024 was approximately $9,857,923, or approximately $0.19 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share of common stock as of August 31, 2024 represents the amount of our total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of our shares of common stock outstanding.
After giving effect to the issuance and sale of the maximum number Securities offered in this offering at a combined offering price of $1.50 per shares of common stock and accompanying common warrant, and after deducting the placement agent fee and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and assuming no exercise of common warrants and Placement Agent Warrants, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of August 31, 2024 would have been approximately $14,297,927 or $0.26 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.07 per share of common stock to our existing shareholders, and immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $1.24 per share of common stock to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering. We determine dilution by subtracting the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock after this offering from the combined offering price per share of common stock paid by investors in this offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution.
| | Offering | |
Combined offering price per share and common warrant | | $ | 1.50 | |
Net tangible book value per share as of August 31, 2024 | | $ | 0.19 | |
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering | | $ | 0.07 | |
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | | $ | 0.26 | |
Dilution per share to new investors purchasing in this offering(1) | | $ | 1.24 | |
Unless otherwise indicated, the number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 52,712,850 shares of our common stock outstanding as of August 31, 2024, but excludes the following as of such date:
| · | 6,039,100 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding stock options, which are exercisable at a weighted average price of $4.18 per share, as at August 31, 2024; |
| · | 513,312 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding stock purchase warrants, which are exercisable at a weighted average price of $5.21 per share, as at August 31, 2024; |
| · | 62,500 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to outstanding consulting agreements, as at August 31, 2024; and |
| · | an aggregate of 2,580,500 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance as of August 31, 2024 under our 2023 Stock Incentive Plan. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement reflects and assumes the following:
| · | no additional issuances, expirations or forfeitures of options and warrants after August 31, 2024; |
| · | no exercise of the outstanding options after August 31, 2024; and |
| · | no exercise of the common warrants, the Placement Agent Warrants, or the warrants outstanding as of August 31, 2024. |
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING
We are offering up to 3,333,336 shares of our common stock together with common warrants to purchase up to 5,000,004 shares of our common stock.
Common Stock
The material terms and provisions of our common stock are described under the caption “Description of Common Shares” in the accompanying base prospectus and are incorporated herein by reference.
Common Warrants
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the common warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the common warrants, the form of which will be filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K filed in connection with this offering. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of common warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the common warrant. For additional information, refer to the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Duration, Exercise Price and Form. Each common warrant offered hereby will have an exercise price equal to $1.50 per share and will be exercisable upon issuance and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock and the exercise price. The common warrants will be issued separately from the common stock. The common warrants will be issued in certificated form only. The common warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below).
Exercise Limitation. A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the common warrants if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or, at the election of the holder, 9.99%) of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the common warrant, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the common warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, provided that any increase in such percentage shall not be effective until 61 days following notice from the holder to us. It is the responsibility of the holder to determine whether any exercise would exceed the exercise limitation.
Cashless Exercise. If at the time of exercise there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of the underlying shares to the holder, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the common warrants. To the extent not previously exercised, the common warrants are automatically exercised via cashless exercise on the Termination Date (as defined in the common warrants).
Fundamental Transactions. In the event of a fundamental transaction, as described in the common warrants and generally including any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of our common stock, the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties or assets and all or substantially all of our revenues in one transaction or a series of transactions, our consolidation or merger with or into another person, the acquisition of more than 50% of our outstanding common stock, or any person or group becoming the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the voting power represented by our outstanding common stock, the holders of the common warrants will be entitled to receive upon exercise of the common warrants the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property that the holders would have received had they exercised the common warrants immediately prior to such fundamental transaction. In addition, in certain circumstances, upon a fundamental transaction, the holder of the common warrants will have the right to require us to repurchase its common warrants at the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the common warrants); provided, however, that, if the fundamental transaction is not within our control, including not approved by our Board, then the holder will only be entitled to receive the same type or form of consideration (and in the same proportion), at the Black-Scholes value of the unexercised portion of the common warrants that is being offered and paid to the holders of our common stock in connection with the fundamental transaction.
Exercise Price Adjustment. If at any time on or after the date of issuance there occurs any share split, share dividend, share combination recapitalization or other similar transaction involving our common stock and the lowest daily volume weighted average price during the period commencing five consecutive trading days immediately preceding and ending immediately after the five consecutive trading days beginning on the date of such Share Combination Event, is less than the exercise price of the common warrants then in effect, then the exercise price of the common warrants will be reduced to the lowest daily volume weighted average price during such period.
If while the common warrants are outstanding, the Company issues or sells, or is deemed to have issued or sold, any common stock and/or common stock equivalents other than in connection with certain exempt issuances, with a purchase price per share less than the exercise price in effect immediately prior to such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, then immediately after such issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale, the exercise price then in effect will be reduced to an amount equal to the new issuance price.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, a common warrant may be transferred at the option of the holder upon surrender of the common warrants to us together with the appropriate instruments of transfer.
No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of common stock will be issued upon the exercise of common warrants. Rather, the number of shares of common stock to be issued will, at our election, either be rounded up to the nearest whole number or we will pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the exercise price.
Trading Market and Listing. There is no established trading market for the common warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for a listing of the common warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the common warrants will be limited. The common stock issuable upon exercise of the common warrants is currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Rights as a Stockholder. Except as otherwise provided in the common warrants or by virtue of the holders’ ownership of shares of common stock, the holders of the common warrants do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our shares of common stock, including any voting rights, until such common warrant holders exercise their common warrants. The common warrants provide that the holders of the common warrants have the right to participate in distributions or dividends paid on our shares of common stock.
Waivers and Amendments. The common warrants may be modified or amended, or the provisions thereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the respective holder.
Placement Agent Warrants
We have also agreed to issue to the placement agent or its designees as compensation in connection with this offering, the Placement Agent Warrants to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock as compensation in connection with this offering. The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable on the date of issuance and will expire five years from the date of commencement of sales in this offering and will have substantially the same terms as the common warrants described above, except that the Placement Agent Warrants will have an exercise price of $1.88 per share. See “Plan of Distribution” below.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a general discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, the exercise, disposition or expiration of common warrants, and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of common stock received upon exercise of the common warrants, or “warrant shares”, all as acquired pursuant to this offering. This discussion is based on the current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the “Code”, existing and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, and current administrative rulings and court decisions in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. This summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied on a retroactive or prospective basis. No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or the “IRS”, or legal opinion from legal counsel has been or will be sought with respect to the matters discussed below, and there can be no assurance the IRS will not take a contrary position regarding the tax consequences discussed herein, or that any such contrary position would not be sustained by a court.
This discussion is limited to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below) who hold shares of common stock, common warrants, or warrant shares, as applicable, as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, as property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation, does not discuss the potential application of the additional tax on net investment income or the alternative minimum tax and does not address state or local taxes or U.S. federal gift and estate tax laws or any non-U.S. tax consequences that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular circumstances. In addition, except as specifically set forth below, this summary does not discuss applicable tax reporting requirements. This discussion also does not address the special tax rules applicable to particular holders, such as:
| · | persons who acquired our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares as compensation for services; |
| · | traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; |
| · | persons that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of the total voting power or total value of our common stock; |
| · | persons subject to special tax accounting rules in respect of the common stock, common warrants or warrant shares; |
| · | persons for whom our common stock constitutes “qualified small business stock” within the meaning of Section 1202 of the Code or “Section 1244 stock” for purposes of Section 1244 of the Code; |
| · | persons deemed to sell our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; |
| · | banks or other financial institutions; |
| · | brokers or dealers in securities or foreign currencies; |
| · | tax-exempt organizations or tax-qualified retirement plans; |
| · | S corporations (and stockholders thereof); |
| · | partnerships or other entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and partners or other owners thereof); |
| · | corporations organized outside the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia that are nonetheless treated as U.S. persons for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| · | persons that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar; |
| · | persons subject to the alternative minimum tax; |
| · | regulated investment companies, mutual funds, or real estate investment trusts; |
| · | persons that hold our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, as applicable, as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or other integrated investment; |
| · | controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, or corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
| · | U.S. Holders that are subject to taxing jurisdictions other than, or in addition to, the United States with respect to our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares or that hold our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares in connection with a trade or business, permanent establishment or fixed base outside the United States; and |
| · | certain U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States. |
In addition, this discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships (including any entity or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or other pass-through entities or persons who hold shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, as applicable, through such partnerships or other entities which are pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If such a partnership or other pass-through entity holds shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, as applicable, the treatment of a partner in such partnership or investor in such other pass-through entity generally will depend on the status of the partner or investor and upon the activities of the partnership or other pass-through entity. A partner in such a partnership and an investor in such other pass-through entity that will hold shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, as applicable, should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares through such partnership or other pass-through entity, as applicable.
This discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations is for general information purposes only and is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax considerations of acquiring, holding and disposing of our common stock, common warrants and warrant shares.
For the purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares acquired pursuant to this offering that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (b) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes), created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (c) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (d) a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) has the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a domestic trust. A “Non-U.S. Holder” is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock, common warrants or warrant shares that is not a U.S. Holder or a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Allocation of Purchase Price
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each share of common stock and the accompanying common warrants issued pursuant to this offering will be treated as an “investment unit”, each consisting of one share of common stock and one and one-half common warrants, each to acquire one share of common stock. The purchase price for each investment unit will be allocated between these components in proportion to their relative fair market values at the time the investment unit is purchased by the holder. This allocation of the purchase price for each investment unit will establish the holder’s initial tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the share of common stock and the common warrants included in each such investment unit. The separation of the share of common stock and the common warrants included in an investment unit should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
For this purpose, we will allocate $1.21 of the purchase price for the investment unit to the share of common stock and $0.29 of the purchase price for each investment unit to the one and one-half common warrants comprising such investment unit. However, the IRS will not be bound by such allocation of the purchase price for the investment units, and therefore, the IRS or a U.S. court may not respect the allocation set forth above. Each holder should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the allocation of the purchase price between the common stock and the common warrants comprising each investment unit.
Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders
Exercise and Expiration of Common Warrants
Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of common warrants, a U.S. Holder generally will not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon exercise of common warrants. The U.S. Holder will take an initial tax basis in the warrant shares acquired upon the exercise of common warrants equal to the exercise price of the common warrants, increased by the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common warrants exercised (as determined pursuant to the rules discussed above). The U.S. Holder’s holding period in the warrant shares acquired upon the exercise of common warrants will begin on the date of exercise or possibly the day after such exercise, and will not include any period for which the U.S. Holder held the common warrants.
In certain limited circumstances, a U.S. Holder may be permitted to undertake a cashless exercise of common warrants into warrant shares. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise of common warrants into warrant shares is unclear, and the tax consequences of a cashless exercise could differ from the consequences upon the exercise of a Common Warrant described above. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of common warrants.
Upon the lapse or expiration of a Common Warrant, a U.S. Holder will recognize a loss in an amount equal to such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Common Warrant, as determined pursuant to the rules discussed above. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss and will be long-term capital loss if the common warrants are held for longer than one year. Deductions for capital losses are subject to complex limitations under the Code.
Certain Adjustments to Common Warrants
The number of warrant shares issued upon the exercise of the common warrants and the exercise price of common warrants are subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Adjustments (or failure to make adjustments) that have the effect of increasing a U.S. Holder’s proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits may, in some circumstances, result in a constructive distribution to the U.S. Holder. Adjustments to the conversion rate made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula which has the effect of preventing the dilution of the interest of the holders of common warrants generally should not be deemed to result in a constructive distribution. If an adjustment is made that does not qualify as being made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula, a U.S. Holder of common warrants may be deemed to have received a constructive distribution from us, even though such U.S. Holder has not received any cash or property as a result of such adjustment. The tax consequences of the receipt of a distribution from us are described below under the section titled “Distributions.”
Distributions
A U.S. Holder that receives a distribution, including a constructive distribution, with respect to a share of common stock or warrant share (as well as any constructive distribution on a common warrant, as described above) will be required to include the amount of such distribution in gross income as a dividend to the extent of our current and accumulated “earnings and profits”, as computed under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent that a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated “earnings and profits”, such distribution will be treated first as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the shares of common stock or warrant shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of such shares of common stock or warrant shares (see “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Shares of Common Stock, Common Warrants or Warrant Shares” below). Dividends received on shares of common stock or warrant shares by corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for a dividends received deduction, subject to certain restrictions relating to, among others, the corporate U.S. Holder’s taxable income, holding period and debt financing. Dividends paid by us to non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, generally will be eligible for the preferential tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains for dividends, provided certain holding period and other conditions are satisfied. The dividend rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the application of such rules.
Sale or other Taxable Disposition of Shares Common Stock, Common Warrants or Warrant Shares
Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between (a) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received and (b) such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares sold or otherwise disposed of. Gain or loss recognized on such sale or other taxable disposition generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition, the shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, as applicable, have been held for longer than one year. Preferential tax rates may apply to long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate, or trust. There are no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gain of a U.S. Holder that is a corporation. Deductions for capital losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code.
Information Reporting and Backup Reporting
Information reporting requirements generally will apply to payments of distributions (including constructive distributions) on the common stock, common warrants and warrant shares and to the proceeds of a sale or other disposition of common stock, common warrants and warrant shares paid by us to a U.S. Holder unless such U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient, such as a corporation. Backup withholding will apply to those payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide the holder’s taxpayer identification number, or certification of exempt status, or if the holder otherwise fails to comply with applicable requirements to establish an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their qualification for exemption from information reporting and backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such exemption.
Tax Considerations Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders
Exercise and Expiration of Common Warrants
In general, a Non-U.S. Holder will not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of common warrants into warrant shares, however, to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described in the discussion below under the section titled “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Shares of Common Stock, Common Warrants or Warrant Shares.”
Upon the lapse or expiration of a Common Warrant, a Non-U.S. Holder will recognize loss in an amount equal to such Non-U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Common Warrant. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss and will be long-term capital loss if the common warrants are held for longer than one year. However, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be able to utilize a loss recognized upon expiration of common warrants against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability unless the loss is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States) or is treated as a U.S.-source loss and the Non-U.S. Holder is present 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met.
Certain Adjustments to Common Warrants
As described above under the section titled “Tax Considerations Applicable to U.S. Holders - Certain Adjustments to Common Warrants,” an adjustment to the common warrants could result in a constructive distribution to a Non-U.S. Holder, which would be treated as described below under the section titled “Distributions.” Any resulting withholding tax attributable to deemed dividends would be collected from other amounts payable or distributable to the Non-U.S. Holder. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of any adjustments to the common warrants.
Distributions
If we pay distributions of cash or property with respect to our shares of common stock or warrant shares (as well as any constructive distribution on a Common Warrant, as described above), those distributions generally will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of the Non-U.S. Holder’s investment, up to such holder’s tax basis in its shares of our common stock or warrant shares, as applicable. Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain, subject to the tax treatment described below under the section titled “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Shares of Common Stock, Common Warrants or Warrant Shares.” Dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence. In the case of any constructive distribution, it is possible that this tax would be withheld from any amount owed to the Non-U.S. Holder, including, but not limited to, distributions of cash, shares of common stock or sales proceeds subsequently paid or credited to that holder. If we are unable to determine, at the time of payment of a distribution, whether the distribution will constitute a dividend, we may nonetheless choose to withhold any U.S. federal income tax on the distribution as permitted by U.S. Treasury regulations. If we are a USRPHC (as defined below) and we do not qualify for the Regularly Traded Exception (as defined below), distributions which constitute a return of capital will be subject to withholding tax unless an application for a withholding certificate is filed to reduce or eliminate such withholding.
Distributions that are treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by a Non-U.S. Holder within the United States are generally not subject to the 30% (or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty) withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI stating that the distributions are not subject to withholding because they are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States. If a Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a trade or business in the United States and the distribution is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business, the distribution will generally have the consequences described above for a U.S. Holder (subject to any modification provided under an applicable income tax treaty). Any U.S. effectively connected income received by a Non-U.S. Holder that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty).
A Non-U.S. Holder who claims the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence generally will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, and satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. A Non-U.S. Holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under an income tax treaty generally may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Shares of Common Stock, Common Warrants or Warrant Shares
Subject to the discussions below under the sections titled “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “Foreign Accounts,” a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax with respect to gain recognized on a sale or other disposition (other than a redemption treated as a distribution, which will be taxable as described above under the section titled “Distributions”) of shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares unless:
| ● | the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States; in these cases, the Non-U.S. Holder will be taxed on a net income basis at the regular tax rates and in the manner applicable to U.S. persons, and if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty, may also apply; |
| ● | the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence) on the net gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S.-source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder, if any; or |
| ● | we are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation”, or “USRPHC”, for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period or the 5-year period ending on the date of disposition of shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares; provided, with respect to the shares of common stock and warrant shares, that as long as the Company’s shares of common stock are regularly traded on an established securities market as determined under U.S. Treasury regulations, or the “Regularly Traded Exception”, a Non-U.S. Holder would not be subject to taxation on the gain on the sale of shares of common stock or warrant shares under this rule unless the Non-U.S. Holder has owned: (i) more than 5% of the Company’s shares of common stock at any time during such 5-year or shorter period; (ii) common warrants with a fair market value on the date acquired by such holder greater than the fair market value on that date of 5% of the Company’s shares of common stock; or (iii) aggregate equity securities of the Company with a fair market value on the date acquired in excess of 5% of the fair market value of the Company’s shares of common stock on such date, in any of the foregoing cases, a “5% Shareholder”. Since the common warrants are not expected to be listed on a securities market, the common warrants are unlikely to qualify for the Regularly Traded Exception. In determining whether a Non-U.S. Holder is a 5% Shareholder, certain attribution rules apply in determining ownership for this purpose. We believe that we are not currently, and do not anticipate becoming in the future, a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, we can provide no assurances that we are not currently and will not become a USRPHC, or if we are or become a USRPHC, that our shares of common stock, common warrants or warrant shares will meet the Regularly Traded Exception at the time a Non-U.S. Holder purchases such securities or sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of such securities. Non-U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the consequences to them of investing in a USRPHC. If we are a USRPHC, a Non-U.S. Holder will be taxed as if any gain or loss were effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business as described above under the section titled “Distributions” in the event that (i) such holder is a 5% Shareholder, or (ii) the Regularly Traded Exception is not satisfied during the relevant period. |
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
We must report annually to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder the gross amount of the distributions (including constructive distributions) on the common stock, common warrants or warrant shares paid to such holder and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to such distributions. Non-U.S. Holders may have to comply with specific certification procedures to establish that the holder is not a U.S. person (as defined in the Code) in order to avoid backup withholding at the applicable rate, currently 24%, with respect to dividends (or constructive dividends) on the common stock, common warrants or warrant shares. Generally, a holder will comply with such procedures if it provides a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable IRS Form W-8) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. Holder, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Dividends paid to Non-U.S. Holders subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, as described above under the section titled “Distributions,” will generally be exempt from U.S. backup withholding.
Information reporting and backup withholding generally will apply to the proceeds of a disposition of the common stock, common warrants or warrant shares by a Non-U.S. Holder effected by or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, unless the holder certifies its status as a Non-U.S. Holder and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds to a Non-U.S. Holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a broker. However, for information reporting purposes, dispositions effected through a non-U.S. office of a broker with substantial U.S. ownership or operations generally will be treated in a manner similar to dispositions effected through a U.S. office of a broker. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them.
Copies of information returns may be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is incorporated under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder can be refunded or credited against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that an appropriate claim is timely filed with the IRS.
Foreign Accounts
The “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act”, or “FATCA”, generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on dividends (including constructive dividends) on the common stock, common warrants and warrant shares if paid to a non-U.S. entity unless (i) if the non-U.S. entity is a “foreign financial institution,” the non-U.S. entity undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (ii) if the non-U.S. entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” the non-U.S. entity identifies certain of its U.S. investors, if any, or (iii) the non-U.S. entity is otherwise exempt under FATCA.
Withholding under FATCA generally will apply to payments of dividends (including constructive dividends) on our common stock, common warrants and warrant shares. While withholding under FATCA would have also applied to payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, proposed U.S. Treasury regulations would eliminate FATCA withholding on such payments, and the U.S. Treasury Department has indicated that taxpayers may rely on this aspect of the proposed regulations until final regulations are issued.
An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this section. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of the tax. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in our common stock, common warrants and warrant shares.
The preceding discussion of material U.S. federal tax considerations is for information only. It is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of the common stock, common warrants or warrant shares, including the consequences of any proposed changes in applicable laws.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Pursuant to a placement agency agreement dated December 20, 2024 (the “Placement Agency Agreement”), we engaged Roth Capital Partners, LLC (“Roth” or the “placement agent”), to act as our exclusive placement agent to solicit offers to purchase the Securities offered by this prospectus supplement on a reasonable best efforts basis. Roth is not purchasing or selling any securities, nor are they required to arrange for the purchase and sale of any specific number or dollar amount of Securities, other than to use their “reasonable best efforts” to arrange for the sale of the securities by us. Therefore, we may not sell the entire amount of Securities being offered. There is no minimum amount of proceeds that is a condition to closing of this offering. The placement agent does not guarantee that it will be able to raise new capital in this offering. The terms of this offering were subject to market conditions and negotiations between us and prospective investors in consultation with the placement agent. The placement agent will have no authority to bind us.
We have entered into the securities purchase agreement directly with the institutional investors in connection with the offering for the purchase of all shares and common warrants offered by this prospectus supplement. Delivery of the shares of common stock and common warrants offered hereby is expected to occur on or about December 23, 2024, subject to satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions.
We have agreed to pay the placement agent a cash fee equal to 7.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds received in the offering. We have also agreed to reimburse the placement agent to pay to the placement agent up to $110,000 for its expenses payable immediately upon closing of the offering.
In addition, we have agreed to issue to the placement agent or its designees as compensation in connection with this offering the Placement Agent Warrants to purchase 250,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.88. The Placement Agent Warrants will be exercisable upon issuance and will expire five years from the date of commencement of sales in this offering. The Placement Agent Warrants are registered on the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.
We estimate the total expenses of this offering paid or payable by us, exclusive of the placement agent’s cash fee of 7.0% of the gross proceeds and expenses, will be approximately $100,000. After deducting the fees due to the placement agent and our estimated expenses in connection with this offering, we expect the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $4.44 million.
The following table shows the per share and total cash fees we will pay to the placement agent in connection with the sale of the common stock and the common warrants pursuant to this prospectus.
| | Per Share and Accompanying Common Warrants | | | Total | |
Combined offering price | | $ | $1.500 | | | $ | $5,000,004.00 | |
Placement agent fees | | $ | $0.105 | | | $ | $350,000.28 | |
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | | $ | $1.395 | | | $ | $4,650,003.72 | |
Lock-up Agreements
Each of our directors, officers and 10% stockholders have agreed with the placement agent to be subject to a lock-up period of 60 days (and we have agreed to be subject to a lock-up period of 60 days) following the date of closing of the offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement. This means that, during the applicable lock-up period, we and such persons may not offer for sale, contract to sell, sell, distribute, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of our shares of common stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of common stock, subject to customary exceptions. In addition, we have agreed to not issue any securities that are subject to a price reset based on the trading prices of our common stock or upon a specified or contingent event in the future or enter into any agreement to issue securities at a future determined price for a period of six months following the closing date of this offering, subject to an exception. The investors under the securities purchase agreement may waive this prohibition in its sole discretion and without notice.
Participation Right
The securities purchase agreement entered into between us and the institutional investors includes a participation right in favor of the investors under which the investors will be entitled, for a period of one year following closing, to participate in our future equity financings up to a participation rate of a maximum of 40% of the offering.
Indemnification
We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We have also agreed to contribute to payments the placement agent may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
Other Relationships
The placement agent may, from time to time, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of its business and may continue to receive compensation from us for such services.
Determination of Offering Price
The combined offering price per share and one and one-half common warrants we are offering and the exercise prices and other terms of the common warrants were negotiated between us and the investors, in consultation with the placement agent based on the trading of our common stock prior to this offering, among other things. Other factors considered in determining the offering prices of the Securities we are offering and the exercise prices and other terms of the common warrants include the history and prospects of our company, the stage of development of our business, our business plans for the future and the extent to which they have been implemented, an assessment of our management, general conditions of the securities markets at the time of the offering and such other factors as were deemed relevant.
Regulation M Compliance
The placement agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by it and any profit realized on the sale of our Securities offered hereby by it while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. The placement agent will be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of our Securities by the placement agent. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent may not (i) engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and (ii) bid for or purchase any of our Securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our Securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until they have completed their participation in the distribution.
Listing and Transfer Agent
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and trades under the symbol “FNGR.” The transfer agent for our common stock is VStock Tranfser, LLC. There is no established public trading market for the common warrants, and we do not plan on making an application to list the common warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market, any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. We will act as the registrar and transfer agent for the common warrants.
Electronic Distribution
This prospectus supplement in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by the placement agent, or by its affiliates. Other than this prospectus supplement in electronic format, the information on the placement agent’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by the placement agent is not part of this prospectus supplement or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the placement agent in its capacity as an underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware. The placement agent is represented by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, have been audited by Centurion ZD CPA & Co., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
This prospectus supplement is deemed, as of the date hereof, to be incorporated by reference into the accompanying base prospectus solely for the purpose of offering the Securities. Other documents are also incorporated, or are deemed to be incorporated, by reference into the accompanying base prospectus, and reference should be made to the accompanying base prospectus for full particulars thereof.
The following documents which have been filed by us with the SEC are also specifically incorporated by reference into, and form an integral part of the accompanying base prospectus, as supplemented by this prospectus supplement (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K):
| (a) | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, that we filed with the SEC on May 29, 2024; |
| (b) | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2024, that we filed with the SEC on June 28, 2024; |
| (c) | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2024, that we filed with the SEC on October 15, 2024; |
| (c) | our proxy statement on Schedule 14A that we filed with the SEC on January 17, 2024; |
| (d) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on March 22, 2024; |
| (e) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on August 9, 2024; |
| (f) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on September 12, 2024; |
| (g) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on November 8, 2024; |
| (h) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on December 4, 2024; |
| (i) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on December 16, 2024; and |
| (j) | the description of our common stock contained set forth under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” in the prospectus that constitutes a part of our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196503) filed with the SEC on June 4, 2014, as amended on June 18, 2014. |
All documents that we file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus supplement but before the end of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus shall be incorporated by reference in the accompanying base prospectus, as supplemented by this prospectus supplement, from the date of filing of such documents. Information that we file later with the SEC and prior to the completion of the offering of securities made by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus will automatically update information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. In all cases, you should rely on the information we file later with the SEC over different information included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus.
You may obtain copies of any of these documents by contacting us at the address and telephone number indicated below or by contacting the SEC as described under the section entitled “Where to Find Additional Information.” You may request a copy of these documents, and any exhibits that have specifically been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, at no cost, by writing to or telephoning:
FingerMotion, Inc.
Martin J. Shen, President and Chief Executive Officer
111 Somerset Road, Level 3
Singapore, 238164
Telephone: (347) 349-5339
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and any free writing prospectus. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any free writing prospectus or any document incorporated herein or therein, is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of the applicable document.
PROSPECTUS
FINGERMOTION, INC.
$300,000,000
Common Shares
Warrants
Subscription Receipts
Units
FingerMotion, Inc. (“we” or the “Company”) may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $300,000,000 aggregate offering price of our common shares (“Common Shares”), warrants to purchase Common Shares (“Warrants”), subscription receipts for Common Shares, Warrants or any combination thereof (“Subscription Receipts”), or any combination of Common Shares, Warrants or Subscription Receipts (“Units”) (collectively, the Common Shares, Warrants, Subscription Receipts and Units are referred to as the “Securities”) in one or more transactions under this prospectus (the “Prospectus”).
This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. Each time we offer Securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement (“Prospectus Supplement”) that describes specific information about the particular Securities being offered and may add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus. You should read both this Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, together with any additional information, which is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This Prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without the Prospectus Supplement, which includes a description of the method and terms of that offering.
We may sell the Securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer Securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this Prospectus.
The Common Shares are traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “FNGR”. On September 6, 2023, the last reported sale price of the Common Shares on Nasdaq was $6.00 per Common Share. There is currently no market through which the Securities, other than the Common Shares, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell the Securities purchased under this Prospectus. This may affect the pricing of the Securities, other than the Common Shares, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these Securities and the extent of issuer regulation.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of any Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
We will sell these Securities directly to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this Prospectus. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any Securities with respect to which this Prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts or over-allotment options will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The price to the public of such Securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement.
Investing in our Securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus as described on page 16 of this Prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these Securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware and not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company, we conduct a significant part of our operations through our subsidiaries and through contractual arrangements with a variable interest entity (“VIE”) based in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”). To address challenges resulting from laws, policies and practices that may disfavor foreign-owned entities that operate within industries deemed sensitive by the Chinese government, we use the VIE structure to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies. We own 100% of the equity of a wholly foreign owned enterprise (“WFOE”), which has entered into contractual arrangements with the VIE (the “VIE Agreements”), which is owned by Ms. Li Li, the legal representative and general manager and also the shareholder of the VIE. The VIE Agreements have not been tested in court. For a description of the VIE structure and our contractual arrangements with the VIE, see “Corporate Information”. As a result of our use of the VIE structure, you may never directly hold equity interests in the VIE.
Because we do not directly hold an equity interest in the VIE, which has never been challenged or recognized in court for the time being, we are subject to risks and uncertainties of the interpretations and applications of Chinese laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements among the WFOE, the VIE and the shareholder of the VIE. We are also subject to the risks and uncertainties about any future actions of the Chinese government in this regard that could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations, and the value of our common stock may depreciate significantly or become worthless. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the VIE Agreements” and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China”.
We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with having a significant portion of our operations in China. Chinese laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and as a result, these risks could result in a material change in our operations, significant depreciation of the value of our common stock, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer our securities to investors. Recently, the Chinese government adopted a series of regulatory actions and issued statements to regulate business operations in China, including those related to the use of VIEs, data security and anti-monopoly concerns. As of the date of this Prospectus, our Company and subsidiaries and the VIE have not been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any Chinese regulatory authority, nor has any of them received any inquiry, notice or sanction.
On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”) and five relevant guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures regulate both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of PRC domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both the following conditions, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be determined as indirect overseas offering, which shall be subject to the filing procedure set forth under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures: (i) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic companies; and (ii) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operations and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China. Where an abovementioned issuer submits an application for an initial public offering to competent overseas regulators, such issuer shall file with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. Where a domestic company fails to fulfill filing procedure or in violation of the provisions as stipulated above, in respect of its overseas offering and listing, the CSRC shall order rectification, issue warnings to such domestic company, and impose a fine ranging from RMB1,000,000 to RMB10,000,000. Also the directly liable persons and actual controllers of the domestic company that organize or instruct the aforementioned violations shall be warned and/or imposed fines.
Also on February 17, 2023, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as “stock enterprises”. Stock enterprises are not required to complete the filling procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC when subsequent matters such as refinancing are involved.
As of the date of this Prospectus, our Company and subsidiaries and the VIE have not received any inquiry, notice, warning or sanctions from the CSRC or any other Chinese governmental authorities relating to securities listings, although we may have to file with the CSRC with respect to a new offering of our securities. However, since these statements and regulatory actions, including the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, are newly published it is uncertain what potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our ability to conduct our business, accept investments or list or maintain a listing on a U.S. or foreign exchange. See “Risk Factors— Risks Related to Doing Business in China”.
As of the date of this Prospectus, none of our subsidiaries or any of the consolidated VIE have made any dividends or distributions to our Company. Under Delaware law, a Delaware corporation’s ability to pay cash dividends on its capital stock requires the corporation to have either net profits or positive net assets (total assets less total liabilities) over its capital. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our common stock in the future, as a holding company, we will rely, in part, on payments made from the VIE to our WFOE in accordance with the VIE Agreements and dividends and other distributions on equity from our WFOE to the Company. Our ability to settle amounts owed under the VIE Agreements is subject to certain restrictions and limitations. Under the VIE Agreements, the VIE is obligated to make payments to our WFOE, in cash or in kind, at the WFOE’s request. However, such payments are subject to Chinese taxes, including a 6% VAT and 25% enterprise income tax. In addition, current Chinese regulations permit our WFOE to pay dividends to its shareholders only out of registered capital amount, if any, as determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. If our WFOE incurs debt in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our WFOE to distribute dividends or other payments to us 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. In addition, any cash dividends or distributions of assets by our WFOE to its stockholder are subject to a Chinese withholding tax of as much as 10%. The Chinese government also imposes controls on the conversion of Renminbi (“RMB”) into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of China. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. If we are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations through the current VIE Agreements, we may be unable to pay dividends on our common stock.
Transfer of Cash or Assets
Dividend Distributions
We have never declared or paid dividends or distributions on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future consolidated earnings to fund our operations and continue the development and growth of our business; therefore, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends.
Under Delaware law, a Delaware corporation’s ability to pay cash dividends on its capital stock requires the corporation to have either net profits or positive net assets (total assets less total liabilities) over its capital. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our common stock in the future, as a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our WFOE for cash requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash contributions to our shareholders.
Our WFOE’s ability to distribute dividends is based upon its distributable earnings. PRC legal restrictions permit payments of dividends by our WFOE only out of its accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year. Our WFOE is also required under PRC laws and regulations to allocate at least 10% of our annual after-tax profits determined in accordance with PRC GAAP to a statutory general reserve fund until the amounts in said fund reach 50% of our register capital. Current Chinese regulations permit our WFOE to pay dividends to its shareholder only out of its registered capital amount, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. If our WFOE incurs debt in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our WFOE to distribute dividends or other payments to us 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. In addition, any cash dividends or distributions of assets by our WFOE to its shareholder are subject to a Chinese withholding tax of as much as 10%. Remittance of dividends by our WFOE out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE. For risks relating to the fund flows of our operations in China, see “Risk Factors— Risks Related to Doing Business in China”.
The Chinese government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of China. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. If we are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations through the current VIE Agreements, we may be unable to pay dividends on our common stock.
For us to pay dividends to our shareholders, we will rely on payments made from the VIE to our WFOE in accordance with the VIE Agreements, and the distribution of payments from the WFOE to the Delaware holding company as dividends. Certain payments from the VIE to the WFOE pursuant to the VIE Agreements are subject to Chinese taxes, including a 6% VAT and 25% enterprise income tax.
Our Company’s Ability to Settle Amounts Owed under the VIE Agreements
We transfer cash to our wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, by making capital contributions or providing loans, and our Hong Kong Subsidiary transfers cash to the WFOE in China by making capital contributions. Because we control the VIE through contractual arrangements, we are unable to make direct capital contributions to the VIE and its subsidiaries.
Under the VIE Agreements, the VIE is obligated to make payments to our WFOE, in cash or in kind, at the WFOE’s request. We will be able to settle amounts owed under the VIE Agreements through dividends paid by our WFOE to our Company. Such ability may be restricted or limited as follows:
| · | First, any payments from the VIE to our WFOE is subject to Chinese taxes, including a 6% VAT and 25% enterprise income tax. |
| · | Second, current Chinese regulations permit our WFOE to pay dividends to their shareholders only out of its registered capital amount, if any, as determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, if our WFOE incurs debt in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to the Delaware holding company. |
| · | Third, the Chinese government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of China. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from profits, if any. |
The VIE may transfer cash to our WFOE by paying service fees according to the consulting services agreement.
Effect of Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and Related SEC Rules.
On December 16, 2021, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) issued a report on its determinations that PCAOB 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 PCAOB 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 report further listed in its Appendix A and Appendix B, Registered Public Accounting Firms Subject to the Mainland China Determination and Registered Public Accounting Firms Subject to the Hong Kong Determination, respectively. The audit report included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended February 28, 2023 and 2022 was issued by Centurion ZD CPA & Co. (“CZD CPA”), an audit firm headquartered in Hong Kong, a jurisdiction that the PCAOB previously determined that the PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections or investigate auditors. However, on December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and vote to vacate its previous determinations. Should the PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
In June 2022, we were identified on the SEC’s “Conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCAA” (available at https://www.sec.gov.hfcaa) and, as a result we are required to comply with the submission or disclosure requirements in this Prospectus for our fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. If we are so identified for two consecutive years, the SEC would prohibit our securities from trading on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. As noted above, on December 15, 2022, the PCAOB vacated its previous determinations that it is unable to inspect and investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Accordingly, until such time as the PCAOB issues any new determination, we do not expect to be at risk of having our securities subject to a trading prohibition under the HFCAA.
Under the HFCAA (as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023), our securities may be prohibited from trading on the U.S. stock exchanges or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. if our auditor is not inspected by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, and this ultimately could result in our common stock being delisted. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which was enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, as further described below.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Statement of Protocol gives the PCAOB sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates and put in place procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed. In addition, the Statement of Protocol grants the PCAOB direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates. While significant, the Statement of Protocol is only a first step. Uncertainties still exists as to whether and how this new Statement of Protocol will be implemented. Notwithstanding the signing of the Statement of Protocol, if the PCAOB cannot make a determination that it is able to inspect and investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, trading of our securities will still be prohibited under the HFCAA and Nasdaq will determine to delist our securities. Therefore, there is no assurance that the Statement of Protocol will relieve us from the delisting risks under the HFCAA.
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, was signed into law, which amended the HFCAA (i) to reduce the number of consecutive years that would trigger delisting from three years to two years, and (ii) so that any foreign jurisdiction could be the reason why the PCAOB does not to have complete access to inspect or investigate a company’s auditors. As it was originally enacted, the HFCAA applied only if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction where the relevant public accounting firm is located. As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, the HFCAA now also applies if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate the relevant accounting firm is due to a position taken by an authority in any foreign jurisdiction. The denying jurisdiction does not need to be where the accounting firm is located.
In the future, if we do not engage an auditor that is subject to regular inspection by the PCAOB, our common stock may be delisted. The delisting of our shares of common stock (“Common Shares”), or the threat of the Common Shares being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.
The date of this Prospectus is September 29, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This Prospectus is a part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the Securities described in this Prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of initial aggregate offering price of $300,000,000.
This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Common Shares, the number of Common Shares offered, the offering price and any other specific terms of the offering; (ii) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms; (iii) in the case of Subscription Receipts, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares or Warrants receivable upon satisfaction of certain release conditions, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, any additional payments to be made to holders of Subscription Receipts upon satisfaction of the release conditions, the terms of the release conditions, terms governing the escrow of all or a portion of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, terms for the refund of all or a portion of the purchase price for Subscription Receipts in the event the release conditions are not met and any other specific terms; and (iv) in the case of Units, the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares, Warrants or Subscription Receipts comprising the Units. A Prospectus Supplement may include specific variable terms pertaining to the Securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters set forth in this Prospectus.
In connection with any offering of the Securities (unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement), the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”.
Please carefully read both this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement together with the documents incorporated herein by reference under “Documents Incorporated by Reference”.
Each time we sell securities under this Prospectus, we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one (1) or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. You should read this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with the information incorporated herein by reference before investing in any of the Securities offered.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
Neither we, nor any agent, underwriter or dealer has authorized any person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement or any related free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. This Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement to this Prospectus and any related free writing prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered Securities to which they relate, nor do this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement to this Prospectus and any related free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy Securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.
You should not assume that the information contained in this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of such document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement or any related free writing prospectus is delivered, or Securities are sold, on a later date.
This Prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contain summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where to Find Additional Information”.
Owning Securities may subject you to tax consequences in the United States. This Prospectus or any applicable Prospectus Supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any Prospectus Supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.
You should rely only on the information contained in this Prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Prospectus. The distribution or possession of this Prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This Prospectus is not an offer to sell these Securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy 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. The information contained in this Prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this Prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this Prospectus or of any sale of the Securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
REFERENCES
Unless the context otherwise requires, in this Prospectus: (i) the terms “we”, “us”, “our”, “Company”, “FingerMotion” and “our business” refer to FingerMotion, Inc. or as the context requires, collectively with its consolidated subsidiaries; (ii) “SEC” refers to the Securities and Exchange Commission; (iii) “Securities Act” refers to the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended; (iv) “Exchange Act” refers to the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and (v) all dollar amounts refer to United States dollars unless otherwise indicated.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in Securities, you should carefully read this entire Prospectus, the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes and other documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, as well as the information under the caption “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
Our Company
Overview
We operate the following lines of business: (i) Telecommunications Products and Services; (ii) Value Added Product and Services; (iii) Short Message Services (“SMS”) and Multimedia Messaging Services (“MMS”); (iv) a Rich Communication Services (“RCS”) platform; (v) Big Data Insights; and (vi) a Video Game Division (inactive).
Our common stock is registered under section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “FNGR”.
Our website address is www.FingerMotion.com. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website does not constitute a part of and is not incorporated into this Prospectus, and the only information that you should rely on in making your decision whether to invest in our common stock is the information contained in this Prospectus.
Corporate Information
The Company was initially incorporated as “Property Management Corporation of America” on January 23, 2014 in the State of Delaware.
On June 21, 2017, the Company amended its certificate of incorporation to effect a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding Common Shares, to increase the authorized number of Common Shares to 200,000,000 and to change the name of the Company from “Property Management Corporation of America” to “FingerMotion, Inc.” (collectively, the “Corporate Actions”). The Corporate Actions and the amended certificate of incorporation became effective on June 21, 2017.
The principal executive office of the Company is located at 111 Somerset Road, Level 3, Singapore 238164, and our telephone number is (347) 349-5339.
We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware and not an operating company incorporated in the PRC. As a holding company, we conduct a significant part of our operations through our subsidiaries and through the VIE Agreements with the VIE based in China. The following diagram depicts our corporate structure:
Our holding company structure presents unique risks as our investors may never directly hold equity interests in our subsidiaries or the VIE, and will be dependent upon contributions from our subsidiaries and the VIE to finance our cash flow needs. Our subsidiaries and the VIE are currently not required to obtain permission from the Chinese authorities including the CSRC or Cybersecurity Administration Committee (the “CAC”), to operate or to issue securities to foreign investors. However, as of March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures promulgated by the CSRC, we may have to file with the CSRC with respect to a new offering of our securities. The business of our subsidiaries and the VIE until now are not subject to cybersecurity review with the CAC, given that: (i) data processed in our business does not have a bearing on national security and thus may not be classified as core or important data by the authorities; (ii) we do not possess a large amount of personal information in our business operations. In addition, we are not subject to merger control review by China’s anti-monopoly enforcement agency due to the level of our revenues which provided from us and audited by our auditor and the fact that we currently do not expect to propose or implement any acquisition of control of, or decisive influence over, any company with revenues within China of more than RMB400 million. Currently, these statements and regulatory actions have had no impact on our daily business operations, the ability to accept foreign investments and list our securities on an U.S. or other foreign exchange. However, since these statements and regulatory actions, including the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, are new, it is uncertain what potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list our securities on an U.S. or other foreign exchange.
To operate, the VIE and Beijing XunLian TianXia Technology Co., Ltd. are required to obtain, and have obtained, a value-added telecommunications business license from PRC authorities. In connection with our previous issuance of securities to foreign investors, under current PRC laws, regulations and regulatory rules, as of the date of this Registration Statement, we, our PRC subsidiaries and the VIE, (i) are not required to obtain permissions from the CSRC except that as of March 31, 2023 we may have to file with the CSRC with respect to a new offering of our securities, (ii) are not required to go through cybersecurity review by the CAC, and (iii) have received or were not denied such requisite permissions by any PRC authority. If we, our subsidiaries or the VIE (i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, we may be subject to government enforcement actions, investigations, penalties, sanctions and fines imposed by the CSRC, the CAC and relevant departments of the State Council. In severe circumstances, the business of our PRC subsidiary may be ordered to suspend and its business qualifications and licenses may be revoked.
To address challenges resulting from laws, policies and practices that may disfavor foreign-owned entities that operate within industries deemed sensitive by the Chinese government, we use the VIE structure to provide contractual exposure to foreign investment in the PRC-based companies. We own 100% of the equity of a WFOE, Shanghai JiuGe Business Management Co., Ltd. (“JiuGe Management”), which has entered into the VIE Agreements with the VIE, which is owned by Ms. Li Li, the legal representative and general manager and also the shareholder of the VIE. The VIE Agreements have not been tested in court. As a result of our use of the VIE structure, you may never directly hold equity interests the VIE. Any securities that we offer will be securities of the Company, the Delaware holding company, not of the VIE.
We fund the registered capital and operating expenses of the VIE by extending loans to the shareholders of the VIE. The VIE Agreements governing the relationship between the VIE and our WFOE enable us to (i) direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of the VIE, and (iii) have an exclusive call option to purchase, at any time, all or part of the equity interests in and/or assets of the VIE to the extent permitted by Chinese laws. As a result of the VIE Agreements, the Company is considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE for accounting purposes and is able to consolidate the financial results of the VIE in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As a result, investors in our Common Shares are not purchasing an equity interest in the VIE but instead are purchasing equity interest in FingerMotion, Inc., a Delaware holding company.
VIE Agreements
On October 16, 2018, the Company, through its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, Shanghai JiuGe Business Management Co., Ltd. (“JiuGe Management”), entered into a series of agreements known as the VIE Agreements pursuant to which Shanghai JiuGe Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“JiuGe Technology”) became our contractually controlled affiliate. The use of VIE agreements is a common structure used to acquire PRC corporations, particularly in certain industries in which foreign investment is restricted or forbidden by the PRC government. The VIE Agreements include a Consulting Services Agreement, a Loan Agreement, a Power of Attorney Agreement, a Call Option Agreement, and a Share Pledge Agreement in order to secure the connection and commitments of the JiuGe Technology. We operate our mobile payment platform business through JiuGe Technology.
The VIE Agreements include:
| · | a consulting services agreement (the “JiuGe Technology Consulting Services Agreement”) through which JiuGe Management is mainly engaged in data marketing, technical services, technical consulting and business consultancy to Shanghai JiuGe Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“JiuGe Technology”); |
| · | a loan agreement through which JiuGe Management grants a loan to the Legal Representative of JiuGe Technology for the purpose of capital contribution (the “JiuGe Technology Loan Agreement”); |
| · | a power of attorney agreement under which the owner of JiuGe Technology has vested their collective voting control over JiuGe Technology to JiuGe Management and will only transfer their equity interests in JiuGe Technology to JiuGe Management or its designee(s) (the “JiuGe Technology Power of Attorney Agreement”); |
| · | a call option agreement under which the owner of JiuGe Technology has granted to JiuGe Management the irrevocable and unconditional right and option to acquire all of their equity interests in JiuGe Technology or transfer these rights to a third party (the “JiuGe Technology Call Option Agreement”); and |
| · | a share pledge agreement under which the owner of JiuGe Technology has pledged all of their rights, titles and interests in JiuGe Technology to JiuGe Management to guarantee JiuGe Technology’s performance of its obligations under the JiuGe Technology Consulting Services Agreement (the “JiuGe Technology Share Pledge Agreement”). |
Our PRC counsel has reviewed these agreements and believes that all the VIE Agreements were duly signed and are not in violation of applicable laws of PRC. We are of the opinion that the VIE Agreements are valid and giving the WFOE a full control over the VIE in respect of the current and effective PRC laws and regulations. However, the VIE Agreements have never been challenged or recognized in court for the time being, and the PRC government may determine that the VIE Agreements are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations compared with direct ownership, there may be less effective in controlling through the VIE structure.
In the first half of 2018, JiuGe Technology secured contracts with China Unicom and China Mobile to distribute mobile data for businesses and corporations in 9 provinces/municipalities, namely Chengdu, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Zhuhai, Zhejiang, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia.
In September 2018, JiuGe Technology launched and commercialized mobile payment and recharge services to businesses for China Unicom. The JiuGe Technology mobile payment and recharge platform enables the seamless delivery of real-time payment and recharge services to third-party channels and businesses. We earn a negotiated rebate amount from each of China Unicom and China Mobile for all monies paid by consumers to China Unicom and China Mobile that we process. To encourage consumers to utilize our portal instead of using our competitors’ platforms or paying China Unicom or China Mobile directly, we offer mobile data and talk time at a rate discounted from these companies’ stated rates, which are also the rates we must pay to them to purchase the mobile data and talk time provided to consumers through the use of our platform. Accordingly, we earn income on the rebates we receive from the telecommunications companies, reduced by the amounts by which we discount the mobile data and talk time sold through our platform.
In October 2018, China Unicom and China Mobile awarded JiuGe Technology with contracts that established partnerships for data analysis, that could unlock potential value-added services.
This description of the VIE Agreements discussed above do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms of the VIE AgreemeRnts, which were filed as exhibits to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 27, 2018 and are incorporated by reference herein. The English translation version of the JiuGe Technology Share Pledge Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.6 to our Form S-1/A (Amendment No. 1) filed with the SEC on January 5, 2023, and is incorporated by reference herein.
Acquisition of Beijing Technology
On March 7, 2019, the Company through JiuGe Technology acquired Beijing Technology, a company in the business of providing mass SMS text services to businesses looking to communicate with large numbers of their customers and prospective customers. Through Beijing Technology, the Company entered into the business of mass SMS text message service as a compliment to its mobile payment and recharge business. The mass SMS text message service offers bulk SMS services to end consumers with competitive pricing. Currently, the Company’s SMS integrated platform is processing more than 150 million SMS text messages per month. Beijing Technology retains a license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to operate SMS and MMS business in the PRC. Similar to the mobile recharge business, Beijing Technology is required to make a deposit or bulk purchase in advance and has secured business customers that will utilize Beijing Technology’s SMS integrated platform to send bulk SMS text messages monthly. Beijing Technology has the capability to manage and track the entire process, including to assist the Company’s clients to fulfill the government guidelines, until the SMS messages have been delivered successfully.
China Unicom Cooperation Agreement
On July 7, 2019, JiuGe Technology entered into that certain Yunnan Unicom Electronic Sales Platform Construction and Operation Cooperation Agreement (the “Cooperation Agreement”) with China United Network Communications Limited Yunnan Branch (“China Unicom Yunnan”). Under the Cooperation Agreement, JiuGe Technology is responsible for constructing and operating China Unicom Yunnan’s electronic sales platform through which consumers can purchase various goods and services from China Unicom Yunnan, including mobile telephones, mobile telephone service, broadband data services, terminals, “smart” devices and related financial insurance. The Cooperation Agreement provides that JiuGe Technology is required to construct and operate the platform’s webpage in accordance with China Unicom Yunnan’s specifications and policies, and applicable law, and bear all expenses in connection therewith. As consideration for the services it provides under the Cooperation Agreement, JiuGe Technology receives a percentage of the revenue received from all sales it processes for China Unicom Yunnan on the platform.
The Cooperation Agreement expires three years from the date of its signature with a yearly auto-renewal clause, but it may be terminated by (i) JiuGe Technology upon three months’ written notice or (ii) by China Unicom Yunnan unilaterally. The Cooperation Agreement contains customary representations from each party regarding such party’s authority to enter into and perform under the Cooperation Agreement, and provides customary events of default, including for various types of failure to perform. Any disputes arising between the parties under the Cooperation Agreement will be adjudicated in Chinese courts.
This description of the Cooperation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, which was filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2019 and is incorporated by reference herein.
In January 2022, Shanghai TengLian JiuJiu Information Communication Technology Co., Ltd. (“TengLian”) (a 99% owned subsidiary of Shanghai JiuGe Information Technology Co., Ltd.) signed a co-operation agreement with China Unicom to launch the Device Protection program for mobile phones and the new 5G phones.
The Securities Offered under this Prospectus
We may offer the Common Shares, Warrants, Subscription Receipts or Units with a total value of up to $300,000,000 from time to time under this Prospectus, together with any applicable Prospectus Supplement and related free writing prospectus, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This Prospectus provides you with a general description of the Securities we may offer. Each time we offer Securities, we will provide a Prospectus Supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the Securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| · | designation or classification; |
| · | aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
| · | maturity, if applicable; |
| · | original issue discount, if any; |
| · | redemption, conversion, or exchange terms, if any; |
| · | conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates, and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; |
| · | restrictive covenants, if any; |
| · | voting or other rights, if any; and |
| · | important United States federal income tax considerations. |
A Prospectus Supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change information contained in this Prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no Prospectus Supplement or free writing prospectus will offer a security that is not registered and described in this Prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
We may sell the Securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The Prospectus Supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer Securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the Securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them.
Common Shares
We may offer Common Shares. Holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per Common Share on all matters that require shareholder approval. Holders of our Common Shares are entitled to dividends when and if declared by our Board of Directors. Our Common Shares are described in greater detail in this Prospectus under “Description of Common Shares”.
Warrants
We may offer Warrants for the purchase of Common Shares, in one or more series, from time to time. We may issue Warrants independently or together with Common Shares or Subscription Receipts, and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from such securities.
The Warrants will be evidenced by warrant certificates or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities, and may be issued under one or more warrant indentures, which are contracts between our Company and a warrant trustee for the holders of the Warrants. We may also choose to act as our own warrant trustee. In this Prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Warrants under “Description of Warrants”. We urge you, however, to read any Prospectus Supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of Warrants being offered, as well as the warrant certificates and, if applicable, the warrant indentures, that contain the terms of the Warrants. Specific warrant certificates and, if applicable, warrant indentures, will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or incorporated by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC.
Subscription Receipts
We may issue Subscription Receipts, which will entitle holders to receive upon satisfaction of certain release conditions and for no additional consideration, Common Shares, Warrants or any combination thereof. Subscription Receipts will be issued pursuant to one or more subscription receipt agreements, each to be entered into between our Company and an escrow agent, which will establish the terms and conditions of the Subscription Receipts. Each escrow agent will be a financial institution organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, and authorized to carry on business as a trustee. A copy of the form of subscription receipt agreement will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will be incorporated by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC.
Units
We may offer Units consisting of Common Shares, Warrants and/or Subscription Receipts to purchase any of such securities in one or more series. In this Prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Units under “Description of Units”. We urge you, however, to read any Prospectus Supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of Units being offered. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate unit agreement with a unit agent. We may also choose to act as our own unit agent. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, any unit agreements that describe the terms of the series of Units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of Units.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
Risk Factors
Prospective investors should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this Prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the risks described in our annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, before investing in our securities. Any one of these material risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause actual results, performance, achievements or events to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or events implied, suggested or expressed by any forward-looking statements made by us or by persons acting on our behalf. Refer to “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.
There is no assurance that we will be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any one or more of the following material risks and uncertainties may cause on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results, which may result in a significant decrease in the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, there is no assurance that these material risks and uncertainties represent a complete list of the material risks and uncertainties facing us. There may be additional risks and uncertainties of a material nature that, as of the date of this prospectus, we are unaware of or that we consider immaterial that may become material in the future, any one or more of which may result in a material adverse effect on us. You could lose all or a significant portion of your investment due to any of these risks and uncertainties.
Risks Related to Our Company and Business
We have a limited operating history and, as a result, our past results may not be indicative of future operating performance.
We have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to forecast our future results. You should not rely on our past results of operations as indicators of future performance. You should consider and evaluate our prospects in light of the risks and uncertainty frequently encountered by companies like ours.
If we fail to address the risks and difficulties that we face, including those described elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Further, because we have limited historical financial data and operate in an evolving market, any predictions about our future revenue and expenses may not be as accurate as they would be if we had a longer operating history or operated in a more predictable market. We have encountered in the past, and will encounter in the future, risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by growing companies with limited operating histories in rapidly changing industries. If our assumptions regarding these risks and uncertainties are incorrect or change, or if we do not address these risks successfully, our results of operations could differ materially from our expectations and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We have a history of net losses and we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability in the future.
For all annual periods of our operating history we have experienced net losses. We generated a net loss of approximately $1.26 million during the three-month period ended May 31, 2023 and net losses of approximately $7.5 million, $4.9 million and $4.3 million for the years ended February 28, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At May 31, 2023 and February 28, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $25.9 million and $24.7 million, respectively. We have not achieved profitability, and we may not realize sufficient revenue to achieve profitability in future periods. Our expenses will likely increase in the future as we develop and launch new offerings and platform features, expand in existing and new markets, increase our sales and marketing efforts and continue to invest in our platform. These efforts may be more costly than we expect and may not result in increased revenue or growth in our business. If we are unable to generate adequate revenue growth and manage our expenses, we may continue to incur significant losses in the future and may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability.
If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We are currently experiencing growth in our business. This expansion increases the complexity of our business and has placed, and will continue to place, strain on our management, personnel, operations, systems, technical performance, financial resources and internal financial control and reporting functions. Our ability to manage our growth effectively and to integrate new employees, technologies and acquisitions into our existing business will require us to continue to expand our operational and financial infrastructure and to continue to retain, attract, train, motivate and manage employees. Continued growth could strain our ability to develop and improve our operational, financial and management controls, enhance our reporting systems and procedures, recruit, train and retain highly skilled personnel and maintain user satisfaction. Additionally, if we do not effectively manage the growth of our business and operations, the quality of our offerings could suffer, which could negatively affect our reputation and brand, business, financial condition and results of operations.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy, our operations and consumer demand for consumer goods and services remains uncertain, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition and on the market price of our Common Shares.
In December 2019, a strain of novel coronavirus (now commonly known as COVID-19) was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. COVID-19 has since spread rapidly throughout many countries, and, on March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. In an effort to contain and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, many countries, including the United States, Canada and China, have imposed unprecedented restrictions on travel, and there have been business closures and a substantial reduction in economic activity in countries that have had significant outbreaks of COVID-19. Although our operating subsidiaries and contractually controlled entity report that is operation have not been materially affected at this point, significant uncertainty remains as to the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and on the global economy as a whole. It is currently not possible to predict how long the pandemic will last or the time that it will take for economic activity to return to prior levels. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant financial market volatility and uncertainty in recent years. A continuation or worsening of the levels of market disruption and volatility seen in the recent past could have an adverse effect on our ability to access capital, on our business, results of operations and financial condition, on the market price of our Common Shares, and on consumer demand for consumer services, including those offered by our Company.
We depend on our key personnel and other highly skilled personnel, and if we fail to attract, retain, motivate or integrate our personnel, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our success depends in part on the continued service of our founders, senior management team, key technical employees and other highly skilled personnel and on our ability to identify, hire, develop, motivate, retain and integrate highly qualified personnel for all areas of our organization. We may not be successful in attracting and retaining qualified personnel to fulfill our current or future needs. Our competitors may be successful in recruiting and hiring members of our management team or other key employees, and it may be difficult for us to find suitable replacements on a timely basis, on competitive terms or at all. If we are unable to attract and retain the necessary personnel, particularly in critical areas of our business, we may not achieve our strategic goals.
Our concentration of earnings from two telecommunications companies may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We currently derive a substantial amount of our total revenue through contracts secured with China Unicom and China Mobile. If we were to lose the business of one or both of these mobile telecommunications companies, if either were to fail to fulfill its obligations to us, if either were to experience difficulty in paying rebates to us on a timely basis, if either negotiated lower pricing terms, or if either increased the number of licensed payment portals it permits to process its payments, it could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position, business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, we cannot guarantee that the volume of revenue we earn from China Unicom and China Mobile will remain consistent going forward. Any substantial change in our relationships with either China Unicom or China Mobile, or both, whether due to actions by our competitors, regulatory authorities, industry factors or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any actual or perceived security or privacy breach could interrupt our operations, harm our brand and adversely affect our reputation, brand, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business involves the processing and transmission of our users’ personal and other sensitive data. Because techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to or to sabotage information systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us, we may be unable to anticipate or prevent these attacks. Unauthorized parties may in the future gain access to our systems or facilities through various means, including gaining unauthorized access into our systems or facilities or those of our service providers, partners or users on our platform, or attempting to fraudulently induce our employees, service providers, partners, users or others into disclosing names, passwords, payment information or other sensitive information, which may in turn be used to access our information technology systems, or attempting to fraudulently induce our employees, partners or others into manipulating payment information, resulting in the fraudulent transfer of funds to criminal actors. In addition, users on our platform could have vulnerabilities on their own mobile devices that are entirely unrelated to our systems and platform but could mistakenly attribute their own vulnerabilities to us. Further, breaches experienced by other companies may also be leveraged against us. For example, credential stuffing attacks are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated actors can mask their attacks, making them increasingly difficult to identify and prevent. Certain efforts may be state-sponsored or supported by significant financial and technological resources, making them even more difficult to detect.
Although we have developed systems and processes that are designed to protect our users’ data, prevent data loss and prevent other security breaches, these security measures cannot guarantee security. Our information technology and infrastructure may be vulnerable to cyberattacks or security breaches; also, employee error, malfeasance or other errors in the storage, use or transmission of personal information could result in an actual or perceived privacy or security breach or other security incident.
Any actual or perceived breach of privacy or security could interrupt our operations, result in our platform being unavailable, result in loss or improper disclosure of data, result in fraudulent transfer of funds, harm our reputation and brand, damage our relationships with third-party partners, result in significant legal, regulatory and financial exposure and lead to loss of confidence in, or decreased use of, our platform, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any breach of privacy or security impacting any entities with which we share or disclose data (including, for example, our third-party providers) could have similar effects.
Additionally, defending against claims or litigation based on any security breach or incident, regardless of their merit, could be costly and divert management’s attention. We cannot be certain that our insurance coverage will be adequate for data handling or data security liabilities actually incurred, that insurance will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or that any insurer will not deny coverage as to any future claim. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage, or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could have an adverse effect on our reputation, brand, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Systems failures and resulting interruptions in the availability of our platform or offerings could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our systems, or those of third parties upon which we rely, may experience service interruptions or degradation because of hardware and software defects or malfunctions, distributed denial-of-service and other cyberattacks, human error, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, natural disasters, power losses, disruptions in telecommunications services, fraud, military or political conflicts, terrorist attacks, computer viruses, ransomware, malware or other events. Our systems also may be subject to break-ins, sabotage, theft and intentional acts of vandalism, including by our own employees. Some of our systems are not fully redundant and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities. Our business interruption insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our losses that may result from interruptions in our service as a result of systems failures and similar events.
We have not experienced any system failures or other events or conditions that have interrupted the availability or reduced or effected the speed or functionality of our offerings. These events, were they to occur in the future, could adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition.
The successful operation of our business depends upon the performance and reliability of Internet, mobile, and other infrastructures that are not under our control.
Our business depends on the performance and reliability of Internet, mobile and other infrastructures that are not under our control. Disruptions in Internet infrastructure or the failure of telecommunications network operators to provide us with the bandwidth we need to provide our services and offerings could interfere with the speed and availability of our platform. If our platform is unavailable when platform users attempt to access it, or if our platform does not load as quickly as platform users expect, platform users may not return to our platform as often in the future, or at all, and may use our competitors’ products or offerings more often. In addition, we have no control over the costs of the services provided by national telecommunications operators. If mobile Internet access fees or other charges to Internet users increase, consumer traffic may decrease, which may in turn cause our revenue to significantly decrease.
Our business depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of mobile communications systems. The occurrence of an unanticipated problem, such as a power outage, telecommunications delay or failure, security breach or computer virus could result in delays or interruptions to our services, offerings and platform, as well as business interruptions for us and platform users. Furthermore, foreign governments may leverage their ability to shut down directed services, and local governments may shut down our platform at the routing level. Any of these events could damage our reputation, significantly disrupt our operations, and subject us to liability, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. We have invested significant resources to develop new products to mitigate the impact of potential interruptions to mobile communications systems, which can be used by consumers in territories where mobile communications systems are less efficient. However, these products may ultimately be unsuccessful.
We may be subject to claims, lawsuits, government investigations and other proceedings that may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be subject to claims, lawsuits, arbitration proceedings, government investigations and other legal and regulatory proceedings as our business grows and as we deploy new offerings, including proceedings related to our products or our acquisitions, securities issuances or business practices. The results of any such claims, lawsuits, arbitration proceedings, government investigations or other legal or regulatory proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. Any claims against us, whether meritorious or not, could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation, be harmful to our reputation, require significant management attention and divert significant resources. Determining reserves for litigation is a complex and fact-intensive process that requires significant subjective judgment and speculation. It is possible that such proceedings could result in substantial damages, settlement costs, fines and penalties that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. These proceedings could also result in harm to our reputation and brand, sanctions, consent decrees, injunctions or other orders requiring a change in our business practices. Any of these consequences could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, under certain circumstances, we have contractual and other legal obligations to indemnify and to incur legal expenses on behalf of our business and commercial partners and current and former directors and officers.
We may require additional funding to support our business.
To grow our business, FingerMotion currently looks to take advantage of the immense growth in the total variety of mobile services provided in China. On February 1, 2022, the Xinhua News Agency reported that the combined business revenue in the telecom sector rose 8% year on year to about USD232.43 billion in 2021, with the growth rate up 4.1 percentage points from 2020, according to the PRC Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. For the Company to continue to grow, the deposit with the Telecoms needs to increase, as most of the revenue we process is dependent on the size of the deposit we have with each Telecom. We will likely need to raise additional capital to materially increase the amounts of these deposits. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity, equity-linked or debt securities, those securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our common stock, and our existing stockholders may experience dilution. Any debt financing secured by us in the future could involve restrictive covenants relating to our capital-raising activities and other financial and operational matters, which may make it more difficult for us to obtain additional capital and to pursue business opportunities. We cannot be certain that additional funding will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. If we are unable to obtain adequate funding or funding on terms satisfactory to us, when we require it, our ability to continue to support our business growth and to respond to business challenges could be significantly limited, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Claims by others that we infringed their proprietary technology or other intellectual property rights could harm our business.
Companies in the Internet and technology industries are frequently subject to litigation based on allegations of infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. In addition, certain companies and rights holders seek to enforce and monetize patents or other intellectual property rights they own, have purchased or otherwise obtained. As we gain a public profile and the number of competitors in our market increases, the possibility of intellectual property rights claims against us grows. From time to time, third parties may assert claims of infringement of intellectual property rights against us. Many potential litigants, including some of our competitors and patent-holding companies, have the ability to dedicate substantial resources to assert their intellectual property rights. Any claim of infringement by a third party, even those without merit, could cause us to incur substantial costs defending against the claim, could distract our management from our business and could require us to cease use of such intellectual property. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, we risk compromising our confidential information during this type of litigation. We may be required to pay substantial damages, royalties or other fees in connection with a claimant securing a judgment against us, we may be subject to an injunction or other restrictions that prevent us from using or distributing our intellectual property, or we may agree to a settlement that prevents us from distributing our offerings or a portion thereof, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
With respect to any intellectual property rights claim, we may have to seek out a license to continue operations found to be in violation of such rights, which may not be available on favorable or commercially reasonable terms and may significantly increase our operating expenses. Some licenses may be non-exclusive, and therefore our competitors may have access to the same technology licensed to us. If a third party does not offer us a license to its intellectual property on reasonable terms, or at all, we may be required to develop alternative, non-infringing technology, which could require significant time (during which we would be unable to continue to offer our affected offerings), effort and expense and may ultimately not be successful. Any of these events could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Securities
Our common stock has limited liquidity.
Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on December 28, 2021, and before that it traded on the OTCQX operated by OTC Markets Group Inc. Trading volume in our Common Shares may be sporadic and the price could experience volatility. If adverse market conditions exist, you may have difficulty selling your Common Shares.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the following:
| · | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results; |
| · | changes in financial estimates by securities analysts or our failure to perform in line with such estimates; |
| · | changes in market valuations of other companies, particularly those that market services such as ours; |
| · | announcements by us or our competitors of significant innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; |
| · | introduction of product enhancements that reduce the need for our products; |
| · | departure of key personnel; and |
| · | changes in overall global market sentiments and economy trends |
We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future.
We have never declared nor paid cash dividends on our capital stock. 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, stockholders must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation as the only way to realize any future gains on their investment.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price and trading volume of our common stock could decline.
The trading market for our common stock may depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, our business, our market or our competition. The analysts’ estimates are based upon their own opinions and are often different from our estimates or expectations. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our common stock, provide a more favorable recommendation about our competitors or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our securities would likely decline. If few securities analysts commence coverage of us, or if one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our securities could decrease, which might cause the price and trading volume of our common stock to decline.
The continued sale of our equity securities will dilute the ownership percentage of our existing shareholders and may decrease the market price for our Common Shares.
Our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorize the issuance of up to 200,000,000 Common Shares and up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock (“Preferred Shares”). Our Board of Directors has the authority to issue additional shares of our capital stock to provide additional financing in the future and designate the rights of the preferred shares, which may include voting, dividend, distribution or other rights that are preferential to those held by the common stockholders. The issuance of any such common or preferred shares may result in a reduction of the book value or market price of our outstanding common shares. To grow our business substantially, we will likely have to issue additional equity securities to obtain working capital to deposit with the telecommunications companies for which we process mobile recharge payments. Our efforts to fund our intended business plans will therefore result in dilution to our existing stockholders. If we do issue any such additional common shares, such issuance also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other stockholders. As a result of such dilution, if you acquire common shares your proportionate ownership interest and voting power could be decreased. Furthermore, any such issuances could result in a change of control or a reduction in the market price for our common shares.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.
As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “SOA”). The SOA requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. We are also continuing to improve our internal control over financial reporting. We have expended, and anticipate that we will continue to expend, significant resources in order to maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.
Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in the conditions in our business. Further, weaknesses in our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls, or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement, could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could also adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely adversely affect the market price of our common stock
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our shares of common stock, which could depress the price of our shares of common stock.
FINRA rules require broker-dealers to have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for a customer before recommending that investment to the customer. Prior to recommending speculative low-priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low-priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. Thus, if our shares of common stock become speculative low-priced securities, the FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our shares of common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our shares of common stock, have an adverse effect on the market for our shares of common stock, and thereby depress our price per share of common stock.
Our shares of common stock have been thinly traded, and you may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all if you need to sell your shares of common stock to raise money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.
Until December 28, 2021, our shares of common stock were quoted on the OTCQB/QX where they were “thinly-traded”, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our shares of common stock at or near bid prices at any given time was relatively small or non-existent. Since we listed on Nasdaq on December 28, 2021, the volume of our shares of common stock traded has increased, but that volume could decrease until we are thinly-traded again. That could occur due to a number of factors, including that we are relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community that generate or influence sales volume, and that even if we came to the attention of such persons, they tend to be risk-averse and might be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares of common stock until such time as we became more seasoned. As a consequence, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares of common stock is minimal or non-existent, as compared to a seasoned issuer which has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. Broad or active public trading market for our shares of common stock may not develop or be sustained.
Risks Related to the VIE Agreements
The PRC government may determine that the VIE Agreements are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations.
JiuGe Management manages and operates the mobile data business through JiuGe Technology pursuant to the rights its holds under the VIE Agreements. Almost all economic benefits and risks arising from JiuGe Technology’s operations are transferred to JiuGe Management under these agreements.
There are risks involved with the operation of our business in reliance on the VIE Agreements, including the risk that the VIE Agreements may be determined by PRC regulators or courts to be unenforceable. Our PRC counsel has advised us that the VIE Agreements are binding and enforceable under PRC law, but has further advised that if the VIE Agreements were for any reason determined to be in breach of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such breach, including:
| · | imposing economic penalties; |
| · | discontinuing or restricting the operations of JiuGe Technology or JiuGe Management; |
| · | imposing conditions or requirements in respect of the VIE Agreements with which JiuGe Technology or JiuGe Management may not be able to comply; |
| · | requiring our company to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; |
| · | taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could adversely affect our company’s business; and |
| · | revoking the business licenses and/or the licenses or certificates of JiuGe Management, and/or voiding the VIE Agreements. |
Any of these actions could adversely affect our ability to manage, operate and gain the financial benefits of JiuGe Technology, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, if the PRC government determines that the contractual arrangements constituting part of our VIE structure do not comply with PRC regulations, or if regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, we may be unable to assert our contractual rights over the assets of our VIE, and our Common Shares may decline in value or become worthless.
Our ability to manage and operate JiuGe Technology under the VIE Agreements may not be as effective as direct ownership.
We conduct our mobile data business in the PRC and generate virtually all of our revenues through the VIE Agreements. Our plans for future growth are based substantially on growing the operations of JiuGe Technology. However, the VIE Agreements may not be as effective in providing us with control over JiuGe Technology as direct ownership. Under the current VIE arrangements, as a legal matter, if JiuGe Technology fails to perform its obligations under these contractual arrangements, we may have to (i) incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements, and (ii) rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which we cannot be sure would be effective. Therefore, if we are unable to effectively control JiuGe Technology, it may have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our business objectives and grow our revenues.
The VIE Agreements have never been challenged or recognized in court for the time being, the PRC government may determine that the VIE Agreements are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations.
The VIE Agreements are governed by the PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitral proceedings pursuant to PRC law. If JiuGe Technology or its shareholders fail to perform the obligations under the VIE Agreements, we would be required to resort to legal remedies available under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, or claiming damages. We cannot be sure that such remedies would provide us with effective means of causing JiuGe Technology to meet its obligations or recovering any losses or damages as a result of non-performance. Further, the legal environment in China is not as developed as in other jurisdictions. Uncertainties in the application of various laws, rules, regulations or policies in PRC legal system could limit our liability to enforce the VIE Agreements and protect our interests.
The payment arrangement under the VIE Agreements may be challenged by the PRC tax authorities.
We generate our revenues through the payments we receive pursuant to the VIE Agreements. We could face adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the VIE Agreements were not entered into based on arm’s length negotiations. For example, PRC tax authorities may adjust our income and expenses for PRC tax purposes which could result in our being subject to higher tax liability or cause other adverse financial consequences.
Shareholders of JiuGe Technology have potential conflicts of interest with our Company which may adversely affect our business.
Li Li is the legal representative and general manager, and also a shareholder of JiuGe Technology. There could be conflicts that arise from time to time between our interests and the interests of Ms. Li. There could also be conflicts that arise between us and JiuGe Technology that would require our shareholders and JiuGe Technology’s shareholders to vote on corporate actions necessary to resolve the conflict. There can be no assurance in any such circumstances that Ms. Li will vote her shares in our best interest or otherwise act in the best interests of our company. If Ms. Li fails to act in our best interests, our operating performance and future growth could be adversely affected.
We rely on the approval certificates and business license held by JiuGe Management and any deterioration of the relationship between JiuGe Management and JiuGe Technology could materially and adversely affect our business operations.
We operate our mobile data business in China on the basis of the approval certificates, business license and other requisite licenses held by JiuGe Management and JiuGe Technology. There is no assurance that JiuGe Management and JiuGe Technology will be able to renew their licenses or certificates when their terms expire with substantially similar terms as the ones they currently hold.
Further, our relationship with JiuGe Technology is governed by the VIE Agreements that are intended to provide us with effective control over the business operations of JiuGe Technology. However, the VIE Agreements may not be effective in providing control over the application for and maintenance of the licenses required for our business operations. JiuGe Technology could violate the VIE Agreements, go bankrupt, suffer from difficulties in its business or otherwise become unable to perform its obligations under the VIE Agreements and, as a result, our operations, reputations and business could be severely harmed.
If JiuGe Management exercises the purchase option it holds over JiuGe Technology’s share capital pursuant to the VIE Agreements, the payment of the purchase price could materially and adversely affect our financial position.
Under the VIE Agreements, JiuGe Technology’s shareholders have granted JiuGe Management an option for the maximum period of time permitted by law to purchase all of the equity interest in JiuGe Technology at a price equal to one dollar or the lowest applicable price allowable by PRC laws and regulations. As JiuGe Technology is already our contractually controlled affiliate, JiuGe Management’s exercising of the option would not bring immediate benefits to our company, and payment of the purchase prices could adversely affect our financial position.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
Changes in China’s political or economic situation could harm us and our operating results.
Economic reforms adopted by the Chinese government have had a positive effect on the economic development of the country, but the government could change these economic reforms or any of the legal systems at any time. This could either benefit or damage our operations and profitability. Some of the things that could have this effect are:
| · | Level of government involvement in the economy; |
| · | Control of foreign exchange; |
| · | Methods of allocating resources; |
| · | Balance of payments position; |
| · | International trade restrictions; and |
The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (the “OECD”), in many ways. For example, state-owned enterprises still constitute a large portion of the Chinese economy and weak corporate governance and a lack of flexible currency exchange policy still prevail in China. As a result of these differences, we may not develop in the same way or at the same rate as might be expected if the Chinese economy was similar to those of the OECD member countries.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
We conduct substantially all of our business through our operating subsidiary and affiliate in the PRC. Our principal operating subsidiary and affiliate, JiuGe Management and JiuGe Technology, are subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular, laws applicable to foreign-invested enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes, and prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since 1979, a series of new PRC laws and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, since the PRC legal system continues to evolve rapidly, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to you and us. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. In addition, most of our executive officers and all of our directors are not residents of the United States, and substantially all the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it could be difficult for investors to effect service of process in the United States or to enforce a judgment obtained in the United States against our Chinese operations, subsidiary and affiliate.
The current tensions in international trade and rising political tensions, particularly between the United States and China, may adversely impact our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Recently there have been heightened tensions in international economic relations, such as the one between the United States and China. Political tensions between the United States and China have escalated due to, among other things, trade disputes, the COVID-19 outbreak, sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of Treasury on certain officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the PRC central government and the executive orders issued by the U.S. government in November 2020 that prohibit certain transactions with certain China-based companies and their respective subsidiaries. Rising political tensions could reduce levels of trade, investments, technological exchanges, and other economic activities between the two major economies. Such tensions between the United States and China, and any escalation thereof, may have a negative impact on the general, economic, political, and social conditions in China and, in turn, adversely impacting our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Regulations were introduced which includes but not limited to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which states that overseas securities regulatory authorities shall not carry out an investigation and evidence collection activities directly in China without the consent of the securities regulatory authority of the State Council and the relevant State Council department(s). It further defines that no organization or individual shall provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to overseas parties arbitrarily. With this regulation in force, it may result in delays by the Company to fulfill any request to provide relevant documents or materials by the regulatory authorities or in the worst-case scenario that the Company would not be able to fulfill the request if the approval from the regulatory authority of the State Council and the relevant State Council department(s) were rejected.
You may have difficulty enforcing judgments against us.
We are a Delaware holding company, but Finger Motion (CN) Limited is a Hong Kong company, and our principal operating affiliate and subsidiary, JiuGe Technology and JiuGe Management, are located in the PRC. Most of our assets are located outside the United States and most of our current operations are conducted in the PRC. In addition, all of our directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. A substantial portion of the assets of these persons is located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts judgments predicated on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors, all of whom are not residents in the United States and the substantial majority of whose assets are located outside the United States. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. Courts in China may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other arrangements that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments with the United States. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or the public interest. Therefore, it is uncertain whether a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.
The PRC government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities.
The PRC government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, import and export tariffs, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. We believe that our operations in China are in material compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments of the jurisdictions in which we operate 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 or joint ventures.
The PRC government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers.
Recent statements by the PRC government indicate an intent to take actions to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”) and five relevant guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures regulate both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of PRC domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both the following conditions, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be determined as indirect overseas offering, which shall be subject to the filing procedure set forth under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures: (i) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic companies; and (ii) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operations and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China. Where an abovementioned issuer submits an application for an initial public offering to competent overseas regulators, such issuer shall file with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. Where a domestic company fails to fulfill filing procedure or in violation of the provisions as stipulated above, in respect of its overseas offering and listing, the CSRC shall order rectification, issue warnings to such domestic company, and impose a fine ranging from RMB1,000,000 to RMB10,000,000. Also the directly liable persons and actual controllers of the domestic company that organize or instruct the aforementioned violations shall be warned and/or imposed fines.
Also on February 17, 2023, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as “stock enterprises”. Stock enterprises are not required to complete the filling procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC when subsequent matters such as refinancing are involved.
If we offer new securities in the future, we may have to file with the CSRC, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
Future inflation in China may inhibit our ability to conduct business in China.
In recent years, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and highly fluctuating rates of inflation. During the past ten years, the rate of inflation in China has been as high as 20.7% and as low as -2.2%. These factors have led to the adoption by the Chinese government, from time to time, of various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High inflation may in the future cause the Chinese government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which could inhibit economic activity in China, and thereby harm the market for our products and our company.
Capital outflow policies in the PRC may hamper our ability to remit income to the United States.
The PRC has adopted currency and capital transfer regulations. These regulations may require that we comply with complex regulations for the movement of capital and as a result we may not be able to remit all income earned and proceeds received in connection with our operations or from the sale of one of our operating subsidiaries to the U.S. or to our shareholders.
Adverse regulatory developments in China may subject us to additional regulatory review, and additional disclosure requirements and regulatory scrutiny to be adopted by the SEC in response to risks related to recent regulatory developments in China may impose additional compliance requirements for companies like us with significant China-based operations, all of which could increase our compliance costs, subject us to additional disclosure requirements.
The recent regulatory developments in China, in particular with respect to restrictions on China-based companies raising capital offshore, may lead to additional regulatory review in China over our financing and capital raising activities in the United States. In addition, we may be subject to industry-wide regulations that may be adopted by the relevant PRC authorities, which may have the effect of limiting our service offerings, restricting the scope of our operations in China, or causing the suspension or termination of our business operations in China entirely, all of which will materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may have to adjust, modify, or completely change our business operations in response to adverse regulatory changes or policy developments, and we cannot assure you that any remedial action adopted by us can be completed in a timely, cost-efficient, or liability-free manner or at all.
On July 30, 2021, in response to the recent regulatory developments in China and actions adopted by the PRC government, the Chairman of the SEC issued a statement asking the SEC staff to seek additional disclosures from offshore issuers associated with China-based operating companies before their registration statements will be declared effective. On August 1, 2021, the CSRC stated in a statement that it had taken note of the new disclosure requirements announced by the SEC regarding the listings of Chinese companies and the recent regulatory development in China, and that both countries should strengthen communications on regulating China-related issuers. We cannot guarantee that we will not be subject to tightened regulatory review and we could be exposed to government interference in China.
Compliance with China’s new Data Security Law, Measures on Cybersecurity Review (revised draft for public consultation), Personal Information Protection Law (second draft for consultation), regulations and guidelines relating to the multi-level protection scheme and any other future laws and regulations may entail significant expenses and could materially affect our business.
China has implemented or will implement rules and is considering a number of additional proposals relating to data protection. China’s new Data Security Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China in June 2021, or the Data Security Law, took effect in September 2021. The Data Security Law provides that the data processing activities must be conducted based on “data classification and hierarchical protection system” for the purpose of data protection and prohibits entities in China from transferring data stored in China to foreign law enforcement agencies or judicial authorities without prior approval by the Chinese government. As a result of the new Data Security Law, we may need to make adjustments to our data processing practices to comply with this law.
Additionally, China’s Cyber Security Law, requires companies to take certain organizational, technical and administrative measures and other necessary measures to ensure the security of their networks and data stored on their networks. Specifically, the Cyber Security Law provides that China adopt a multi-level protection scheme (MLPS), under which network operators are required to perform obligations of security protection to ensure that the network is free from interference, disruption or unauthorized access, and prevent network data from being disclosed, stolen or tampered. Under the MLPS, entities operating information systems must have a thorough assessment of the risks and the conditions of their information and network systems to determine the level to which the entity’s information and network systems belong-from the lowest Level 1 to the highest Level 5 pursuant to the Measures for the Graded Protection and the Guidelines for Grading of Classified Protection of Cyber Security. The grading result will determine the set of security protection obligations that entities must comply with. Entities classified as Level 2 or above should report the grade to the relevant government authority for examination and approval.
Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) has taken action against several Chinese internet companies in connection with their initial public offerings on U.S. securities exchanges, for alleged national security risks and improper collection and use of the personal information of Chinese data subjects. According to the official announcement, the action was initiated based on the National Security Law, the Cyber Security Law and the Measures on Cybersecurity Review, which are aimed at “preventing national data security risks, maintaining national security and safeguarding public interests.” On July 10, 2021, the CAC published a revised draft of the Measures on Cybersecurity Review, expanding the cybersecurity review to data processing operators in possession of personal information of over 1 million users if the operators intend to list their securities in a foreign country.
It is unclear at the present time how widespread the cybersecurity review requirement and the enforcement action will be and what effect they will have on the telecommunications sector generally and the Company in particular. China’s regulators may impose penalties for non-compliance ranging from fines or suspension of operations, and this could lead to us delisting from the U.S. stock market.
Also, on November 20, 2021, the National People’s Congress passed the Personal Information Protection Law, which was implemented on November 1, 2021. The law creates a comprehensive set of data privacy and protection requirements that apply to the processing of personal information and expands data protection compliance obligations to cover the processing of personal information of persons by organizations and individuals in China, and the processing of personal information of persons in China outside of China if such processing is for purposes of providing products and services to, or analyzing and evaluating the behavior of, persons in China. The law also proposes that critical information infrastructure operators and personal information processing entities who process personal information meeting a volume threshold to-be-set by Chinese cyberspace regulators are also required to store in China personal information generated or collected in China, and to pass a security assessment administered by Chinese cyberspace regulators for any export of such personal information. Lastly, the draft contains proposals for significant fines for serious violations of up to RMB 50 million or 5% of annual revenues from the prior year.
Interpretation, application and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations evolve from time to time and their scope may continually change, through new legislation, amendments to existing legislation and changes in enforcement. Compliance with the Cyber Security Law and the Data Security Law could significantly increase the cost to us of providing our service offerings, require significant changes to our operations or even prevent us from providing certain service offerings in jurisdictions in which we currently operate or in which we may operate in the future. Despite our efforts to comply with applicable laws, regulations and other obligations relating to privacy, data protection and information security, it is possible that our practices, offerings or platform could fail to meet all of the requirements imposed on us by the Cyber Security Law, the Data Security Law and/or related implementing regulations. Any failure on our part to comply with such law or regulations or any other obligations relating to privacy, data protection or information security, or any compromise of security that results in unauthorized access, use or release of personally identifiable information or other data, or the perception or allegation that any of the foregoing types of failure or compromise has occurred, could damage our reputation, discourage new and existing counterparties from contracting with us or result in investigations, fines, suspension or other penalties by Chinese government authorities and private claims or litigation, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Even if our practices are not subject to legal challenge, the perception of privacy concerns, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation and brand and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, the legal uncertainty created by the Data Security Law and the recent Chinese government actions could materially adversely affect our ability, on favorable terms, to raise capital, including engaging in follow-on offerings of our securities in the U.S. market.
Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to receive and use our revenues effectively.
The majority of our revenues will be settled in Chinese Renminbi (RMB), and any future restrictions on currency exchanges may limit our ability to use revenue generated in RMB to fund any future business activities outside China or to make dividend or other payments in U.S. dollars. Although the Chinese government introduced regulations in 1996 to allow greater convertibility of the RMB for current account transactions, significant restrictions still remain, including primarily the restriction that foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell or remit foreign currencies after providing valid commercial documents, at those banks in China authorized to conduct foreign exchange business. In addition, conversion of RMB for capital account items, including direct investment and loans, is subject to governmental approval in China, and companies are required to open and maintain separate foreign exchange accounts for capital account items. We cannot be certain that the Chinese regulatory authorities will not impose more stringent restrictions on the convertibility of the RMB.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities.
The value of our common stock will be indirectly affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB and between those currencies and other currencies in which our sales may be denominated. Appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations. Fluctuations in the exchange rate will also affect the relative value of any dividend we issue that will be exchanged into U.S. dollars as well as earnings from, and the value of, any U.S. dollar-denominated investments we make in the future.
Since July 2005, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.
Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions. While we may enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our foreign currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currencies.
Restrictions under PRC law on our PRC subsidiary’s ability to make dividends and other distributions could materially and adversely affect our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could benefit our business, pay dividends to our shareholders, and otherwise fund and conduct our businesses.
Substantially all of our revenue is earned by JiuGe Management, our PRC subsidiary. PRC regulations restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiary to make dividends and other payments to its offshore parent company. PRC legal restrictions permit payments of dividends by our PRC subsidiary only out of its accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Our PRC subsidiary is also required under PRC laws and regulations to allocate at least 10% of our annual after-tax profits determined in accordance with PRC GAAP to a statutory general reserve fund until the amounts in said fund reaches 50% of our registered capital. Allocations to these statutory reserve funds can only be used for specific purposes and are not transferable to us in the form of loans, advances or cash dividends. Any limitations on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to transfer funds to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends and otherwise fund and conduct our business.
PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary and affiliated entities, which could harm our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
As an offshore holding company of our PRC subsidiary, we may (i) make loans to our PRC subsidiary and affiliated entities, (ii) make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, (iii) establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, and (iv) acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an offshore transaction. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:
| · | loans by us to our wholly-owned subsidiary in China, which is a foreign-invested enterprise, cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (the “SAFE”) or its local counterparts; |
| · | loans by us to our affiliated entities, which are domestic PRC entities, over a certain threshold must be approved by the relevant government authorities and must also be registered with the SAFE or its local counterparts; and |
| · | capital contributions to our wholly-owned subsidiary must file a record with the PRC Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) or its local counterparts and shall also be limited to the difference between the registered capital and the total investment amount. |
We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or filings on a timely basis, or at all. If we fail to finish such registrations or filings, our ability to capitalize our PRC subsidiary’s operations may be adversely affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
On March 30, 2015, the SAFE promulgated a notice relating to the administration of foreign invested company of its capital contribution in foreign currency into RMB (Hui Fa [2015]19) (“Circular 19”). Although Circular 19 has fastened the administration relating to the settlement of exchange of foreign-investment, allows the foreign-invested company to settle the exchange on a voluntary basis, it still requires that the bank review the authenticity and compliance of a foreign-invested company’s settlement of exchange in previous time, and the settled in RMB converted from foreign currencies shall deposit on the foreign exchange settlement account, and shall not be used for several purposes as listed in the “negative list”. As a result, the notice may limit our ability to transfer funds to our operations in China through our PRC subsidiary, which may affect our ability to expand our business. Meanwhile, the foreign exchange policy is unpredictable in China, it shall be various with the nationwide economic pattern, the strict foreign exchange policy may have an adverse impact in our capital cash and may limit our business expansion.
Failure to comply with PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident shareholders to personal liability, limit our ability to acquire PRC companies or to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary or affiliate, limit our PRC subsidiary’s and affiliate’s ability to distribute profits to us or otherwise materially adversely affect us.
In October 2005, the SAFE, issued the Notice on Relevant Issues in the Foreign Exchange Control over Financing and Return Investment Through Special Purpose Companies by Residents Inside China, generally referred to as Circular 75, which required PRC residents to register with the competent local SAFE branch before establishing or acquiring control over an offshore special purpose company (“SPV”), for the purpose of engaging in an equity financing outside of China on the strength of domestic PRC assets originally held by those residents. Internal implementing guidelines issued by the SAFE, which became public in June 2007 (“Notice 106”), expanded the reach of Circular 75 by (1) purporting to cover the establishment or acquisition of control by PRC residents of offshore entities which merely acquire “control” over domestic companies or assets, even in the absence of legal ownership; (2) adding requirements relating to the source of the PRC resident’s funds used to establish or acquire the offshore entity; covering the use of existing offshore entities for offshore financings; (3) purporting to cover situations in which an offshore SPV establishes a new subsidiary in China or acquires an unrelated company or unrelated assets in China; and (4) making the domestic affiliate of the SPV responsible for the accuracy of certain documents which must be filed in connection with any such registration, notably, the business plan which describes the overseas financing and the use of proceeds. Amendments to registrations made under Circular 75 are required in connection with any increase or decrease of capital, transfer of shares, mergers and acquisitions, equity investment or creation of any security interest in any assets located in China to guarantee offshore obligations and Notice 106 makes the offshore SPV jointly responsible for these filings. In the case of an SPV which was established, and which acquired a related domestic company or assets, before the implementation date of Circular 75, a retroactive SAFE registration was required to have been completed before March 30, 2006; this date was subsequently extended indefinitely by Notice 106, which also required that the registrant establish that all foreign exchange transactions undertaken by the SPV and its affiliates were in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Failure to comply with the requirements of Circular 75, as applied by the SAFE in accordance with Notice 106, may result in fines and other penalties under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions. Any such failure could also result in the SPV’s affiliates being impeded or prevented from distributing their profits and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, or from engaging in other transfers of funds into or out of China.
We have advised our shareholders who are PRC residents, as defined in Circular 75, to register with the relevant branch of SAFE, as currently required, in connection with their equity interests in us and our acquisitions of equity interests in our PRC subsidiary and affiliate. However, we cannot provide any assurances that their existing registrations have fully complied with, and they have made all necessary amendments to their registration to fully comply with, all applicable registrations or approvals required by Circular 75. Moreover, because of uncertainty over how Circular 75 will be interpreted and implemented, and how or whether the SAFE will apply it to us, we cannot predict how it will affect our business operations or future strategies. For example, our present and prospective PRC subsidiary’s and affiliate’s ability to conduct foreign exchange activities, such as the remittance of dividends and foreign currency-denominated borrowings, may be subject to compliance with Circular 75 by our PRC resident beneficial holders. In addition, such PRC residents may not always be able to complete the necessary registration procedures required by Circular 75. We also have little control over either our present or prospective direct or indirect shareholders or the outcome of such registration procedures. A failure by our PRC resident beneficial holders or future PRC resident shareholders to comply with Circular 75, if the SAFE requires it, could subject these PRC resident beneficial holders to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our subsidiary’s and affiliate’s ability to make distributions or pay dividends or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
We may be subject to fines and legal sanctions by the SAFE or other PRC government authorities if we or our employees who are PRC citizens fail to comply with PRC regulations relating to employee stock options granted by offshore listed companies to PRC citizens.
On March 28, 2007, the SAFE promulgated the Operating Procedures for Foreign Exchange Administration of Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plans and Stock Option Plans of Offshore Listed Companies (“Circular 78”). Under Circular 78, Chinese citizens who are granted share options by an offshore listed company are required, through a Chinese agent or Chinese subsidiary of the offshore listed company, to register with SAFE and complete certain other procedures, including applications for foreign exchange purchase quotas and opening special bank accounts. We and our Chinese employees who have been granted share options are subject to Circular 78. Failure to comply with these regulations may subject us or our Chinese employees to fines and legal sanctions imposed by the SAFE or other PRC government authorities and may prevent us from further granting options under our share incentive plans to our employees. Such events could adversely affect our business operations.
Under the New EIT Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of China. Such classification will likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
Under the New EIT Law effective on January 1, 2008, an enterprise established outside China with “de facto management bodies” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the New EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise.
On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice Concerning Relevant Issues Regarding Cognizance of Chinese Investment Controlled Enterprises Incorporated Offshore as Resident Enterprises pursuant to Criteria of de facto Management Bodies (the “Notice”), further interpreting the application of the New EIT Law and its implementation non-Chinese enterprise or group controlled offshore entities. Pursuant to the Notice, an enterprise incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction and controlled by a Chinese enterprise or group will be classified as a “non-domestically incorporated resident enterprise” if (i) its senior management in charge of daily operations reside or perform their duties mainly in China; (ii) its financial or personnel decisions are made or approved by bodies or persons in China; (iii) its substantial assets and properties, accounting books, corporate chops, board and shareholder minutes are kept in China; and (iv) at least half of its directors with voting rights or senior management often resident in China. A resident enterprise would be subject to an enterprise income tax rate of 25% on its worldwide income and must pay a withholding tax at a rate of 10% when paying dividends to its non-PRC shareholders. However, it remains unclear as to whether the Notice is applicable to an offshore enterprise incorporated by a Chinese natural person. Nor are detailed measures on imposition of tax from non-domestically incorporated resident enterprises are available. Therefore, it is unclear how tax authorities will determine tax residency based on the facts of each case.
Given the above conditions, although unlikely, we may be deemed to be a resident enterprise by Chinese tax authorities. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In our case, this would mean that income such as interest on financing proceeds and non-China source income would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Second, although under the New EIT Law and its implementing rules dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiary would qualify as “tax-exempt income,” we cannot guarantee that such dividends will not be subject to a 10% withholding tax, as the PRC foreign exchange control authorities, which enforce the withholding tax, have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as resident enterprises for PRC enterprise income tax purposes. Finally, it is possible that future guidance issued with respect to the new “resident enterprise” classification could result in a situation in which a 10% withholding tax is imposed on dividends we pay to our non-PRC shareholders and with respect to gains derived by our non-PRC shareholders from transferring our shares. We are actively monitoring the possibility of “resident enterprise” treatment.
If we were treated as a “resident enterprise” by PRC tax authorities, we would be subject to taxation in both the U.S. and China, and our PRC tax may not be creditable against our U.S. tax.
We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) and Chinese anti-corruption laws, and any determination that we violated these laws could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are subject to the FCPA and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We have operations, agreements with third parties and we earn the majority of our revenue in China. PRC also strictly prohibits bribery of government officials. Our activities in China create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by our executive officers, employees, consultants, sales agents or other representatives of our Company, even though they may not always be subject to our control. It is our policy to implement safeguards to discourage these practices by our employees. However, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the executive officers, employees, consultants, sales agents or other representatives of our Company may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA or Chinese anti-corruption laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the U.S. government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.
Because our business is located in the PRC, we may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial controls, which we are required to do in order to comply with U.S. securities laws.
PRC companies have historically not adopted a Western style of management and financial reporting concepts and practices, which includes strong corporate governance, internal controls and computer, financial and other control systems. Some of our staff is not educated and trained in the Western system, and we may have difficulty hiring new employees in the PRC with such training. As a result of these factors, we may experience difficulty in establishing management, legal and financial controls, collecting financial data and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records and instituting business practices that meet Western standards. Therefore, we may, in turn, experience difficulties in implementing and maintaining adequate internal controls as required under Section 404 of the SOA. This may result in significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal controls, which could impact the reliability of our financial statements and prevent us from complying with Commission rules and regulations and the requirements of the SOA. Any such deficiencies, weaknesses or lack of compliance could have a materially adverse effect on our business.
The disclosures in our reports and other filings with the SEC and our other public announcements are not subject to the scrutiny of any regulatory bodies in the PRC. Accordingly, our public disclosure should be reviewed in light of the fact that no governmental agency that is located in the PRC, where part of our operations and business are located, has conducted any due diligence on our operations or reviewed or cleared any of our disclosure.
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. Unlike public reporting companies whose operations are located primarily in the United States, however, substantially all of our operations are located in the PRC and Hong Kong. Since substantially all of our operations and business takes place outside of United States, it may be more difficult for the staff of the SEC to overcome the geographic and cultural obstacles that are present when reviewing our disclosure. These same obstacles are not present for similar companies whose operations or business take place entirely or primarily in the United States. Furthermore, our SEC reports and other disclosure and public announcements 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 of the CSRC. Accordingly, you should review our SEC reports, filings and our other public announcements with the understanding that no local regulator has done any due diligence on our Company and with the understanding that none of our SEC reports, other filings or any of our other public announcements has been reviewed or otherwise been scrutinized by any local regulator.
Certain PRC regulations, including those relating to mergers and acquisitions and national security, may require a complicated review and approval process which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”), which became effective in September 2006 and were further amended in June 2009, requires that if an overseas company is established or controlled by PRC domestic companies or citizens intends to acquire equity interests or assets of any other PRC domestic company affiliated with the PRC domestic companies or citizens, such acquisition must be submitted to the MOFCOM, rather than local regulators, for approval. In addition, the M&A Rules requires that an overseas company controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies or citizens and holding equity interests of PRC domestic companies needs to obtain the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, prior to listing its securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying the documents and materials required to be submitted by overseas special purpose companies seeking the CSRC’s approval of their overseas listings.
The M&A Rules established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. For example, the MOFCOM must be notified in the event a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. In addition, certain acquisitions of domestic companies by offshore companies that are related to or affiliated with the same entities or individuals of the domestic companies, are subject to approval by the MOFCOM. In addition, the Implementing Rules Concerning Security Review on Mergers and Acquisitions by Foreign Investors of Domestic Enterprises, issued by the MOFCOM in November 2011, require that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors in “any industry with national security concerns” be subject to national security review by the MOFCOM. In addition, any activities attempting to circumvent such review process, including structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement, are strictly prohibited.
There is significant uncertainty regarding the interpretation and implementation of these regulations relating to merger and acquisition activities in China. In addition, complying with these requirements could be time-consuming, and the required notification, review or approval process may materially delay or affect our ability to complete merger and acquisition transactions in China. As a result, our ability to seek growth through acquisitions may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if the MOFCOM determines that we should have obtained its approval for our entry into contractual arrangements with our affiliated entities, we may be required to file for remedial approvals. There is no assurance that we would be able to obtain such approval from the MOFCOM.
If the MOFCOM, the CSRC and/or other PRC regulatory agencies subsequently determine that the approvals from the MOFCOM and/or CSRC and/or other PRC regulatory agencies were required, our PRC business could be challenged, and we may need to apply for a remedial approval and may be subject to certain administrative punishments or other sanctions from PRC regulatory agencies. The regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the PRC, delay or restrict the conversion and remittance of our funds in foreign currencies into the PRC, or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our common stock.
As substantially all of our operations are conducted through the VIE in China, our ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on receiving distributions of funds from the VIE. However, the PRC government might exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which would likely result in a material change in our operations, even significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities or dividends to investors, and the value of our common stock may depreciate significantly or become worthless.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law (the “Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities Opinions”). The Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision over overseas listings by China-based companies, and proposed to take measures, including promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to control the risks and deal with the incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies.
In addition, on December 24, 2021, the CSRC issued the draft Administration Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Draft Administration Provisions”) and the draft Administrative Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Draft Administrative Measures”), for public comments. The Draft Administration Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures regulate overseas securities offering and listing by domestic companies in direct or indirect form. The Draft Administration Provisions specify the responsibilities of the CSRC to regulate the activities of overseas securities offering and listing by domestic companies and establish a filing-based regime. As a supporting measure to the Draft Administration Provisions, the Draft Administrative Measures, detail the determination criteria for indirect overseas listing in overseas markets. Specifically, an offering and listing shall be considered as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company if the issuer meets the following conditions: (i) the operating income, gross profit, total assets, or net assets of the domestic enterprise in the most recent fiscal year was more than 50% of the relevant line item in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statement for that year; and (ii) senior management personnel responsible for business operations and management are mostly PRC citizens or are ordinarily resident in the PRC, or the main place of business is in the PRC or carried out in the PRC. In accordance with the Draft Administrative Measures, the issuer or its designated material domestic company, shall file with the CSRC and report the relevant information for its initial public offering.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and five relevant guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures regulate both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of PRC domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, if the issuer meets both the following conditions, the overseas securities offering and listing conducted by such issuer will be determined as indirect overseas offering, which shall be subject to the filing procedure set forth under the Overseas Listing Trial Measures: (i) 50% or more of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent accounting year is accounted for by domestic companies; and (ii) the main parts of the issuer’s business activities are conducted in mainland China, or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of its business operations and management are mostly Chinese citizens or domiciled in mainland China. Where an abovementioned issuer submits an application for an initial public offering to competent overseas regulators, such issuer shall file with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. Where a domestic company fails to fulfill filing procedure or in violation of the provisions as stipulated above, in respect of its overseas offering and listing, the CSRC shall order rectification, issue warnings to such domestic company, and impose a fine ranging from RMB1,000,000 to RMB10,000,000. Also the directly liable persons and actual controllers of the domestic company that organize or instruct the aforementioned violations shall be warned and/or imposed fines.
Also on February 17, 2023, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as “stock enterprises”. Stock enterprises are not required to complete the filling procedures immediately, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC when subsequent matters such as refinancing are involved.
Due to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, we may have to file with the CSRC with respect to an offering of new securities, which may subject us to additional compliance requirements in the future and we cannot assure you that we will be able to get the clearance from the CSRC for any offering of new securities on a timely manner. Any failure of us to comply with the new Overseas Listing Trial Measures may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation.
Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether we will be able to obtain permission or approval from the CSRC or the PRC government to offer securities to list on U.S. exchanges or the execution of a VIE Agreement in the future. However, our operations are conducted through the VIE in PRC, and our ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on receiving distributions of funds from the VIE, if we do not obtain or maintain any of the permissions or approvals which may be required in the future by the PRC government for the operation of the VIE or the execution of VIE Agreements, our operations and financial conditions could be adversely effected, even significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities or dividends to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
The audit report included in our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023 was prepared by an auditor who was being inspected by the PCAOB. However, if PCAOB inspection is not able to be completed or completed in a timely manner, we could be delisted if we are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirements established by the HFCAA.
As a public company with securities listed on Nasdaq, we are required to have our financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB. A requirement of being registered with the PCAOB is that if requested by the SEC or PCAOB, such accounting firm is required to make its audits and related audit work papers be subject to regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Since our auditor is located in Hong Kong and PRC, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the PRC authorities due to various state secrecy laws and the revised Securities Law, the PCAOB currently does not have free access to inspect the work of our auditor. This lack of access to the PCAOB inspection in the PRC prevents the PCAOB from fully evaluating audits and quality control procedures of our auditor based in the PRC. 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 the PRC makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of these accounting firms’ audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of the PRC that are subject to the PCAOB inspections.
On December 18, 2020, the HFCAA was enacted. In essence, the act requires the SEC to prohibit securities of any foreign companies from being listed on U.S. securities exchanges or traded “over-the-counter” if a company retains a foreign accounting firm that cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, beginning in 2021. Our independent registered public accounting firm is located in and organized under the laws of Hong Kong and the PRC, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the PRC authorities, and therefore our auditors are not currently inspected by the PCAOB.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final amendments, which will become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that 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 has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. Before any registrant will be required to comply with the interim final amendments, the SEC must implement a process for identifying such registrants. As of the date of this Registration Statement, the SEC is seeking public comment on this identification process. Consistent with the HFCAA, the amendments will require any identified registrant to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that the registrant is not owned or controlled by a government entity in that jurisdiction, and will also require, among other things, disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and government influence on, such registrant.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the AHFCAA which, if enacted, would decrease the number of non-inspection years from three years to two, thus reducing the time period before the Company’s securities may be delisted or prohibited from trading.
On November 5, 2021, the SEC approved PCAOB Rule 6100, Board Determination Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountability Act, effective immediately. The rule establishes “a framework for the PCAOB’s determinations under the HFCAA that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction.”
On December 2, 2021, SEC has announced the adoption of amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the 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 (“Commission-Identified Issuers”). The final amendments require Commission-Identified Issuers to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that, if true, it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in the public accounting firm’s foreign jurisdiction. The amendments also require that a Commission-Identified Issuer that is a “foreign issuer,” as defined in Exchange Act Rule 3b-4, provide certain additional disclosures in its annual report for itself and any of its consolidated foreign operating entities. Further, the adopting release provides notice regarding the procedures the SEC has established to identify issuers and to impose trading prohibitions on the securities of certain Commission-Identified Issuers, as required by the HFCAA. The SEC will identify Commission-Identified Issuers for fiscal years beginning after December 18, 2020. A Commission-Identified Issuer will be required to comply with the submission and disclosure requirements in the annual report for each year in which it was identified. If a registrant is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer based on its annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, the registrant will be required to comply with the submission or disclosure requirements in its annual report filing covering the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
On December 16, 2021, PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that PCAOB 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 PCAOB made these determinations pursuant to PCAOB Rule 6100, which provides a framework for how the PCAOB fulfills its responsibilities under the HFCAA. The report further listed in its Appendix A and Appendix B, Registered Public Accounting Firms Subject to the Mainland China Determination and Registered Public Accounting Firms Subject to the Hong Kong Determination, respectively. The audit report included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the years ended February 28, 2023 and 2022, was issued by CZD CPA, an audit firm headquartered in Hong Kong, a jurisdiction that the PCAOB previously determined that the PCAOB is unable to conduct inspections or investigate auditors. However, on December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations. Should the PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
In June 2022, we were identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer on the SEC’s “Conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCAA” (available at https://www.sec.gov/hfcaa) and, as a result, we will be required to comply with the submission or disclosure requirements in our annual report covering the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. If we are so identified for another two consecutive years, the SEC would prohibit our securities from trading on a securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. As noted above, on December 15, 2022, the PCAOB vacated its previous determinations that it is unable to inspect and investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Accordingly, until such time as the PCAOB issues any new determination, we do not expect to be at risk of having our securities subject to a trading prohibition under the HFCAA.
Under the HFCAA (as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023), our securities may be prohibited from trading on the U.S. stock exchanges or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. if our auditor is not inspected by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, and this ultimately could result in our common stock being delisted. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the AHFCAA, which was enacted under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, as further described below.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Statement of Protocol gives the PCAOB sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates and put in place procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed. In addition, the Statement of Protocol grants the PCAOB direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates. While significant, the Statement of Protocol is only a first step. Uncertainties still exist as to whether and how this new Statement of Protocol will be implemented. Notwithstanding the signing of the Statement of Protocol, if the PCAOB cannot make a determination that it is able to inspect and investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, trading of our securities will still be prohibited under the HFCAA and Nasdaq will determine to delist our securities. Therefore, there is no assurance that the Statement of Protocol will relieve us from the delisting risk under the HFCAA.
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, was signed into law, which amended the HFCAA (i) to reduce the number of consecutive years that would trigger delisting from three years to two years, and (ii) so that any foreign jurisdiction could be the reason why the PCAOB does not to have complete access to inspect or investigate a company’s auditors. As it was originally enacted, the HFCAA applied only if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction where the relevant public accounting firm is located. As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, the HFCAA now also applies if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate the relevant accounting firm is due to a position taken by an authority in any foreign jurisdiction. The denying jurisdiction does not need to be where the accounting firm is located.
The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on November 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended that the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfil its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCAA. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCAA. For example, if a company was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.
The enactment of the HFCAA and the implications of any additional rulemaking efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information in PRC could cause investor uncertainty for affected SEC registrants, including us, and the market price of our common stock could be materially adversely affected. Additionally, whether the PCAOB will be able to conduct inspections of our auditor in the next two years, or at all, is subject to substantial uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our control. If we are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement in time, our stock will not be permitted for trading on Nasdaq Capital Market either. Such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our stock when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our stock. Also, such a delisting would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Prospectus, including the documents that are and will be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus, include statements and information about our strategy, objectives, plans and expectations for the future that are not statements or information of historical fact. These statements and information are considered to be forward-looking statements, or forward-looking information, within the meaning of and under the protection provided by the safe harbor provision for forward-looking statements as contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements, and any estimates and assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our views and expectations for the future as of the date of such statements, which can change significantly. Furthermore, forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, performance, achievements or events to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or events implied, suggested or expressed by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, forward-looking statements in this Prospectus or in any documents incorporate by reference into this Prospectus should not be unduly relied upon.
Forward-looking statements may be based on a number of material estimates and assumptions, of which any one or more may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking statements may be identifiable by terminology concerning the future, such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “intend”, “goal”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “outlook”, “plan”, “predict”, “potential”, “project”, “should”, “schedule”, “strategy”, “target”, “will” or “would”, and similar expressions or variations thereof including the negative use of such terminology. These statements are based on FingerMotion’s current plans and are subject to risks and uncertainties, and as such FingerMotion’s actual future activities and results of operations may be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. While we believe these expectations are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual future results may differ materially from those discussed or implied in our forward-looking statements for various reasons. Factors that could contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to:
| · | international, national and local general economic and market conditions including impacts from the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions and other measures, changes in the rates of investments or economic growth in key markets we serve, or an escalation of sanctions, tariffs or other trade tensions between the U.S. and China or other countries, and related impacts on our businesses.; |
| · | natural phenomena (including the current COVID-19 pandemic); |
| · | the ability of the Company to sustain, manage or forecast its growth; |
| · | the ability of the Company to manage its VIE contracts; |
| · | the ability of the Company to maintain its relationships and licenses in China; |
| · | competition and changes in the Chinese telecommunications market; |
| · | fluctuations and difficulty in forecasting operating results; |
| · | business disruptions, such as technological failures and/or cybersecurity breaches; |
| · | future decision by management in response to changing conditions; |
| · | our ability to execute prospective business plans; |
| · | misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking statements; |
| · | our ability to raise sufficient funds to carry out our proposed business plan; |
| · | actions by government authorities, including changes in government regulation; |
| · | dependency on certain key personnel and any inability to retain and attract qualified personnel; |
| · | inability to reduce and adequately control operating costs; |
| · | failure to manage future growth effectively; and |
| · | and the other factors discussed above in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 16. |
Although management has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements might not prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We wish to advise you that these cautionary remarks expressly qualify, in their entirety, all forward-looking statements attributable to our company or persons acting on our company’s behalf. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such statements, except as, and to the extent required by, applicable securities laws. Should one or more forward-looking statements be revised, updated or supplemented, no inference should be made that we will revise, update or supplement any other forward-looking statements. You should carefully review the cautionary statements and risk factors contained in this Prospectus and other documents that we may file from time to time with the SEC.
Forward-looking statements made by us or by persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary information.
Use Of Proceeds
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities covered by this Prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, sales and marketing expenditures, research and development of products and investment in our platform.
Description of Common Shares
We are authorized to issue 200,000,000 Common Shares with a par value of $0.0001 per Common Share, and 1,000,000 Preferred Shares having a par value of $0.0001 per Preferred Share. Holders of Common Shares are entitled to one vote per Common Share. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our Board of Directors out of legally available funds. However, the current policy of our Board of Directors is to retain earnings, if any, for the operation and expansion of the Company.
Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our Common Shares are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets, which are legally available for distribution, after payment of or provision for all liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding Preferred Shares. The holders of Common Shares have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. All issued and outstanding and outstanding Common Shares are fully-paid and non-assessable.
We may, from time to time, issue Common Shares or other securities otherwise than through the Offering of Securities pursuant to this Prospectus.
Description of Warrants
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements and free writing prospectuses, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Warrants that we may offer under this Prospectus, which may consist of Warrants to purchase Common Shares and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or together with Common Shares or Subscription Receipts offered by any Prospectus Supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those Securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any Warrants that we may offer under this Prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of Warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The terms of any Warrants offered under a Prospectus Supplement may differ from the terms described below.
General
We will evidence each series of Warrants by Warrant certificates (“Warrant Certificates”) that we may issue under one or more warrant indentures (each, a “Warrant Indenture”), which we may enter into with a warrant trustee (the “Warrant Trustee”) that we will name in the relevant Prospectus Supplement. We may also choose to act as our own Warrant Trustee. We may also issue Warrants without the use of a Warrant Indenture, and in such case, all the terms of the Warrants shall be included in the form of Warrant.
This summary of some of the provisions of the Warrants is not complete. The statements made in this Prospectus relating to any Warrant Indenture and Warrants to be issued under this Prospectus are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable Warrant Certificate and, if applicable, Warrant Indenture. Prospective investors should refer to the Warrant Certificate and/or Warrant Indenture relating to the specific Warrants being offered for the complete terms of the Warrants. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, any Warrant Certificate and/or Warrant Indenture describing the terms and conditions of Warrants we are offering before the issuance of such Warrants.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to any Warrants offered by our Company will describe the particular terms of those Warrants and include specific terms relating to the offering.
The particular terms of each issue of Warrants will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. This description will include, where applicable:
| · | the designation and aggregate number of Warrants; |
| · | the price at which the Warrants will be offered; |
| · | the currency or currencies in which the Warrants will be offered; |
| · | the date on which the right to exercise the Warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
| · | the number of Common Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of each Warrant and the price at which and currency or currencies in which the Common Shares may be purchased upon exercise of each Warrant; |
| · | the designation and terms of any Securities with which the Warrants will be offered, if any, and the number of the Warrants that will be offered with each Security; |
| · | the date or dates, if any, on or after which the Warrants and the other Securities with which the Warrants will be offered will be transferable separately; |
| · | whether the Warrants will be subject to redemption and, if so, the terms of such redemption provisions; |
| · | whether we will issue the Warrants as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary of the global securities; |
| · | whether the Warrants will be listed on any exchange; |
| · | material United States federal income tax consequences of owning the Warrants; and |
| · | any other material terms or conditions of the Warrants. |
Rights of Holders Prior to Exercise
Prior to the exercise of their Warrants, holders of Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants.
Exercise of Warrants
Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the Securities that we specify in the applicable Prospectus Supplement at the exercise price that we describe therein. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised Warrants will become void.
Holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants by delivering the Warrant Certificate representing the Warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to our Company or, if applicable, the Warrant Trustee, in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We will set forth on the Warrant Certificate and in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the information that the holder of the Warrant will be required to deliver to our Company or, if applicable, the Warrant Trustee.
Upon receipt of the required payment and the Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed at our Company or, if applicable, the corporate trust office of the Warrant Trustee or any other office indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the Warrants represented by the Warrant Certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new Warrant Certificate for the remaining amount of Warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, holders of the Warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for Warrants.
Anti-Dilution
The Warrant Certificate and/or Warrant Indenture will specify that upon the subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or other material change of the Common Shares or any other reorganization, amalgamation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the Warrants will thereafter evidence the right of the holder to receive the securities, property or cash deliverable in exchange for or on the conversion of or in respect of the Common Shares to which the holder of a Common Share would have been entitled immediately after such event. Similarly, any distribution to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Shares of rights, options, warrants, evidences of indebtedness or assets will result in an adjustment in the number of Common Shares to be issued to holders of Warrants.
Global Securities
We may issue Warrants in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities, which will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a depositary, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The global securities may be in temporary or permanent form. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global security. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the exchange, registration and transfer rights relating to any global security.
Modifications
The Warrant Certificate and/or Warrant Indenture will provide for modifications and alterations to the Warrants issued thereunder by way of a resolution of holders of Warrants at a meeting of such holders or a consent in writing from such holders. The number of holders of Warrants required to pass such a resolution or execute such a written consent will be specified in the Warrant Certificate and/or Warrant Indenture.
We may amend any Warrant Certificate and/or Warrant Indenture and the Warrants, without the consent of the holders of the Warrants, to cure any ambiguity, to cure, correct or supplement any defective or inconsistent provision, or in any other manner that will not materially and adversely affect the interests of holders of outstanding Warrants.
Description of Subscription Receipts
We may issue Subscription Receipts, which will entitle holders to receive upon satisfaction of certain release conditions and for no additional consideration, Common Shares, Warrants or any combination thereof. Subscription Receipts will be issued pursuant to one or more subscription receipt agreements (each, a “Subscription Receipt Agreement”), each to be entered into between our Company and an escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), which will establish the terms and conditions of the Subscription Receipts. Each Escrow Agent will be a financial institution organized under the laws of the United States or a state thereof, and authorized to carry on business as an escrow agent. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, any Subscription Receipt Agreement describing the terms and conditions of Subscription Receipts we are offering before the issuance of such Subscription Receipts.
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of Subscription Receipts and is not intended to be complete. The statements made in this Prospectus relating to any Subscription Receipt Agreement and Subscription Receipts to be issued thereunder are summaries of certain anticipated provisions thereof and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the applicable Subscription Receipt Agreement and the Prospectus Supplement describing such Subscription Receipt Agreement.
The Prospectus Supplement relating to any Subscription Receipts we offer will describe the Subscription Receipts and include specific terms relating to their offering. All such terms will comply with the requirements of Nasdaq relating to Subscription Receipts. If underwriters or agents are used in the sale of Subscription Receipts, one or more of such underwriters or agents may also be parties to the Subscription Receipt Agreement governing the Subscription Receipts sold to or through such underwriters or agents.
General
The Prospectus Supplement and the Subscription Receipt Agreement for any Subscription Receipts we offer will describe the specific terms of the Subscription Receipts and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
| · | the designation and aggregate number of Subscription Receipts offered; |
| · | the price at which the Subscription Receipts will be offered; |
| · | the currency or currencies in which the Subscription Receipts will be offered; |
| · | the designation, number and terms of the Common Shares, Warrants or combination thereof to be received by holders of Subscription Receipts upon satisfaction of the release conditions, and the procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers; |
| · | the conditions (the “Release Conditions”) that must be met in order for holders of Subscription Receipts to receive for no additional consideration Common Shares, Warrants or a combination thereof; |
| · | the procedures for the issuance and delivery of Common Shares, Warrants or a combination thereof to holders of Subscription Receipts upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions; |
| · | whether any payments will be made to holders of Subscription Receipts upon delivery of the Common Shares, Warrants or a combination thereof upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions (e.g., an amount equal to dividends declared on Common Shares by our Company to holders of record during the period from the date of issuance of the Subscription Receipts to the date of issuance of any Common Shares pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement); |
| · | the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will hold all or a portion of the gross proceeds from the sale of Subscription Receipts, together with interest and income earned thereon (collectively, the “Escrowed Funds”), pending satisfaction of the Release Conditions; |
| · | the terms and conditions pursuant to which the Escrow Agent will hold Common Shares, Warrants or a combination thereof pending satisfaction of the Release Conditions; |
| · | the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will release all or a portion of the Escrowed Funds to our Company upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions; |
| · | if the Subscription Receipts are sold to or through underwriters or agents, the terms and conditions under which the Escrow Agent will release a portion of the Escrowed Funds to such underwriters or agents in payment of all or a portion of their fees or commission in connection with the sale of the Subscription Receipts; |
| · | procedures for the refund by the Escrow Agent to holders of Subscription Receipts of all or a portion of the subscription price for their Subscription Receipts, plus any pro rata entitlement to interest earned or income generated on such amount, if the Release Conditions are not satisfied; |
| · | any entitlement of our Company to purchase the Subscription Receipts in the open market by private agreement or otherwise; |
| · | whether we will issue the Subscription Receipts as global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global securities; |
| · | whether we will issue the Subscription Receipts as bearer securities, registered securities or both; |
| · | provisions as to modification, amendment or variation of the Subscription Receipt Agreement or any rights or terms attaching to the Subscription Receipts; |
| · | the identity of the Escrow Agent; |
| · | whether the Subscription Receipts will be listed on any exchange; |
| · | material United States federal tax consequences of owning the Subscription Receipts; and |
| · | any other terms of the Subscription Receipts. |
In addition, the Prospectus Supplement and the Subscription Receipt Agreement for any Subscription Receipts we offer will describe all contractual rights of rescission that will be granted to initial purchasers of Subscription Receipts in the event this Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement under which Subscription Receipts are issued or any amendment hereto or thereto contains a misrepresentation, as discussed further under the sub-paragraph entitled “Rescission” below.
The holders of Subscription Receipts will not be shareholders of our Company. Holders of Subscription Receipts are entitled only to receive Common Shares, Warrants or a combination thereof on exchange of their Subscription Receipts, plus any cash payments provided for under the Subscription Receipt Agreement, if the Release Conditions are satisfied. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied, the holders of Subscription Receipts shall be entitled to a refund of all or a portion of the subscription price therefor and all or a portion of the pro rata share of interest earned or income generated thereon, as provided in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
Escrow
The Escrowed Funds will be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent, and such Escrowed Funds will be released to our Company (and, if the Subscription Receipts are sold to or through underwriters or agents, a portion of the Escrowed Funds may be released to such underwriters or agents in payment of all or a portion of their fees in connection with the sale of the Subscription Receipts) at the time and under the terms specified by the Subscription Receipt Agreement. If the Release Conditions are not satisfied, holders of Subscription Receipts will receive a refund of all or a portion of the subscription price for their Subscription Receipts plus their pro rata entitlement to interest earned or income generated on such amount, in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Common Shares or Warrants may be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent and will be released to the holders of Subscription Receipts following satisfaction of the Release Conditions at the time and under the terms specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
Anti-Dilution
The Subscription Receipt Agreement will specify that upon the subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or other material change of the Common Shares or Warrants or any other reorganization, amalgamation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, the Subscription Receipts will thereafter evidence the right of the holder to receive the securities, property or cash deliverable in exchange for or on the conversion of or in respect of the Common Shares or Warrants to which the holder of a Common Share or Warrant would have been entitled immediately after such event. Similarly, any distribution to all or substantially all of the holders of Common Shares of rights, options, warrants, evidences of indebtedness or assets will result in an adjustment in the number of Common Shares to be issued to holders of Subscription Receipts whose Subscription Receipts entitle the holders thereof to receive Common Shares. Alternatively, such securities, evidences of indebtedness or assets may, at the option of our Company, be issued to the Escrow Agent and delivered to holders of Subscription Receipts on exercise thereof. The Subscription Receipt Agreement will also provide that if other actions of our Company affect the Common Shares or Warrants, which, in the reasonable opinion of the directors of our Company, would materially affect the rights of the holders of Subscription Receipts and/or the rights attached to the Subscription Receipts, the number of Common Shares or Warrants which are to be received pursuant to the Subscription Receipts shall be adjusted in such manner, if any, and at such time as our directors may in their discretion reasonably determine to be equitable to the holders of Subscription Receipts in such circumstances.
Rescission
The Subscription Receipt Agreement will also provide that any misrepresentation in this Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement under which the Subscription Receipts are offered, or any amendment thereto, will entitle each initial purchaser of Subscription Receipts to a contractual right of rescission following the issuance of the Common Shares or Warrants to such purchaser entitling such purchaser to receive the amount paid for the Subscription Receipts upon surrender of the Common Shares or Warrants, provided that such remedy for rescission is exercised in the time stipulated in the Subscription Receipt Agreement. This right of rescission does not extend to holders of Subscription Receipts who acquire such Subscription Receipts from an initial purchaser, on the open market or otherwise, or to initial purchasers who acquire Subscription Receipts in the United States.
Global Securities
We may issue Subscription Receipts in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities, which will be registered in the name of and be deposited with a depositary, or its nominee, each of which will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The global securities may be in temporary or permanent form. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any depositary arrangement and the rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global security. The applicable Prospectus Supplement also will describe the exchange, registration and transfer rights relating to any global security.
Modifications
The Subscription Receipt Agreement will provide for modifications and alterations to the Subscription Receipts issued thereunder by way of a resolution of holders of Subscription Receipts at a meeting of such holders or a consent in writing from such holders. The number of holders of Subscriptions Receipts required to pass such a resolution or execute such a written consent will be specified in the Subscription Receipt Agreement.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable Prospectus Supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the Units that we may offer under this Prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any Units that we may offer under this Prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of Units in more detail in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The terms of any Units offered under a Prospectus Supplement may differ from the terms described below.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this Prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a current report on Form 8-K that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement, if any (“Unit Agreement”), between our Company and a unit agent, if any (“Unit Agent”), that describes the terms and conditions of the series of Units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of Units. We may also choose to act as our own Unit Agent. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the Units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Unit Agreement, if applicable, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of Units. We urge you to read the applicable Prospectus Supplements related to the particular series of Units that we sell under this Prospectus, as well as the complete Unit Agreement, if applicable, and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the Units.
General
We may issue units comprising one or more of Common Shares, Warrants and Subscription Receipts in any combination. Each Unit will be issued so that the holder of the Unit is also the holder of each security included in the Unit. Thus, the holder of a Unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The Unit Agreement, if applicable, under which a Unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the Unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the terms of the series of Units, including:
We will describe in the applicable Prospectus Supplement the terms of the series of Units, including:
| · | the designation and terms of the Units and of the securities comprising the Units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| · | if applicable, any provisions of the governing Unit Agreement that differ from those described below; and |
| · | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the Units or of the securities comprising the Units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Common Shares,” “Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Subscription Receipts” will apply to each Unit and to any Common Share, Warrant or Subscription Receipt included in each Unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue Units in such amounts and in numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each Unit Agent, if applicable, will act solely as our agent under the applicable Unit Agreement, if any, and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any Unit. A single bank or trust company may act as Unit Agent for more than one series of Units. A Unit Agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by our Company under the applicable Unit Agreement, if any, or Unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon our Company. Any holder of a Unit may, without the consent of the related Unit Agent, if applicable, or the holder of any other Unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the Unit.
Our Company, any Unit Agent, and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any Unit Certificate as an absolute owner of the Units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the Units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
Plan of Distribution
General
We may offer and sell the Securities, separately or together: (i) to one or more underwriters or dealers; (ii) through one or more agents; or (iii) directly to one or more other purchasers. The Securities offered pursuant to any Prospectus Supplement may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions, including privately negotiated transactions, at: (i) a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; (ii) market prices prevailing at the time of sale; (iii) prices related to such prevailing market prices; or (iv) other negotiated prices.
We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at-the-market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either: (i) on or through the facilities of Nasdaq or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale; and/or (ii) other than on Nasdaq or such other securities exchange or quotation or trading services. Such at-the-market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent.
We may only offer and sell the Securities pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement during the period that this Prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective. The Prospectus Supplement for any of the Securities being offered thereby will set forth the terms of the offering of such Securities, including the type of Security being offered, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such Securities, the proceeds to our Company from such sale, any underwriting commissions or discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. Only underwriters so named in the Prospectus Supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Securities offered thereby.
By Underwriters
If underwriters are used in the sale, the Securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the Securities will be subject to certain conditions, but the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Securities offered by the Prospectus Supplement if any of such Securities are purchased. We may offer the Securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. We may agree to pay the underwriters a fee or commission for various services relating to the offering of any Securities. Any such fee or commission will be paid out of the general corporate funds of our Company. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the Prospectus Supplement, naming the underwriter, the nature of any such relationship.
By Dealers
If dealers are used, and if so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, we will sell such Securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. We will set forth the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
By Agents
The Securities may also be sold through agents designated by our Company. Any agent involved will be named, and any fees or commissions payable by our Company to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Any such fees or commissions will be paid out of the general corporate funds of our Company. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Direct Sales
Securities may also be sold directly by our Company at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to by our Company and the purchaser. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved in the offering.
General Information
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the Securities offered by this Prospectus may be deemed underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with our Company to indemnification by our Company against certain liabilities, including liabilities under Canadian provincial and territorial and United States securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Such underwriters, dealers or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, our Company in the ordinary course of business.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this Prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the Securities, if the Prospectus Supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The Prospectus Supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Securities they remarket.
In connection with any offering of Securities, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the Securities offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions may be commenced, interrupted or discontinued at any time.
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a beneficial owner of Common Shares acquired pursuant to this Prospectus. This summary does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and exercise of Warrants, Subscription Receipts, or Units.
Scope of this Summary
This summary is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be a complete analysis or listing of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. Except as specifically set forth below, this summary does not discuss applicable tax reporting requirements. In addition, this summary does not take into account the individual facts and circumstances of any particular holder that may affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such holder. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or U.S. federal income tax advice with respect to any particular holder. Each holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences related to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.
No legal opinion from U.S. legal counsel or ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) has been requested, or will be obtained, regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares. This summary is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS is not precluded from taking a position that is different from, and contrary to, the positions taken in this summary.
Authorities
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations (whether final, temporary, or proposed), published rulings of the IRS, published administrative positions of the IRS, and U.S. court decisions that are applicable and, in each case, as in effect and available, as of the date of this Prospectus. Any of the authorities on which this summary is based could be changed in a material and adverse manner at any time, and any such change could be applied on a retroactive basis. This summary does not discuss the potential effects, whether adverse or beneficial, of any proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied on a retroactive basis.
U.S. Holders
As used in this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of Common Shares acquired pursuant to this Prospectus that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
| · | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| · | a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| · | an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
| · | a trust that: (i) 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 of the trust; or (ii) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
Non-U.S. Holders
The term “Non-U.S. Holder” means any beneficial owner of Common Shares acquired pursuant to this Prospectus that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership (nor other entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes).
Holders Subject to Special U.S. Federal Income Tax Rules
This summary deals only with persons or entities who hold Common Shares as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes). This summary does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be applicable to holders in light of their particular circumstances or to holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, such as (without limitation):
| · | banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions; |
| · | dealers or traders in securities, commodities or foreign currencies; |
| · | regulated investment companies; |
| · | tax-exempt entities, qualified retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, or other tax-deferred accounts; |
| · | U.S. expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; |
| · | persons holding Common Shares as part of a straddle, appreciated financial position, synthetic security, hedge, conversion or constructive sale transaction or other integrated investment; |
| · | entities that acquire Common Shares that are treated as partnerships and other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and partners and investors in such entities; |
| · | real estate investment trusts; |
| · | U.S. Holders that have a “functional currency” other than the U.S. dollar; |
| · | U.S. Holders that are required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to Common Shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; |
| · | holders that acquired Common Shares in connection with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as consideration for services; or |
| · | holders that are “controlled foreign corporations”, “passive foreign investment companies” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax. |
Holders that are subject to special provisions under the Code, including holders described immediately above, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state and local, and non-U.S. tax consequences arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Common Shares.
If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership (or other “pass-through” entity) for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Common Shares, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to such entity and the partners (or other owners) of such entity generally will depend on the activities of the entity and the status of such partners (or owners). This summary does not address the tax consequences to any such partner, owner or entity. Partners (or other owners) of entities or arrangements that are classified as partnerships or as “pass-through” entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences arising from and relating to the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares.
Tax Consequences Not Addressed
This summary does not address the U.S. state and local, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. federal net investment income, U.S. federal alternative minimum, or non-U.S. tax consequences to holders of Common Shares. Each holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the U.S. state and local, U.S. federal estate and gift, U.S. federal net investment income, U.S. federal alternative minimum, and non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of Common Shares.
Common Shares
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders
Distributions
Distributions made on Common Shares generally will be included in a U.S. Holder’s income as ordinary dividend income to the extent of the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (determined under U.S. federal income tax principles) as of the end of the taxable year in which the distribution occurs. With respect to dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals), such dividends are generally taxed at the applicable long-term capital gains rates (currently at a maximum tax rate of 20%), provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of a U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares and thereafter as capital gain from the sale or exchange of the Common Shares, which will be taxable according to rules discussed under the heading “Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares”, below. Dividends received by a corporate U.S. Holder may be eligible for a dividends received deduction, subject to applicable limitations.
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of Common Shares, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between: (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received upon such taxable disposition; and (ii) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if a U.S. Holder’s holding period in the Common Shares is more than one year at the time of the taxable disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) will generally be subject to a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 20%. Deductions for capital losses are subject to complex limitations under the Code.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Information reporting requirements generally will apply to payments of dividends on Common Shares and to the proceeds of a sale of Common Shares paid to a U.S. Holder unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient (such as a corporation). Backup withholding at a current rate of 24% will apply to those payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide its correct taxpayer identification number or certification of exempt status, or if the U.S. Holder is notified by the IRS that it has failed to report in full payments of interest and dividend income. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the IRS.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders
Dividends
Distributions on Common Shares paid to Non-U.S. Holders will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from the Company’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits, they will constitute a return of capital and will first reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s basis in Common Shares, but not below zero, and then will be treated as gain from the sale of stock, which will be taxable according to rules discussed below under the heading “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares”. Any dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder with respect to Common Shares generally will be subject to withholding tax at a 30% gross rate, subject to any exemption or lower rate under an applicable treaty if the Non-U.S. Holder provides the Company with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, unless the Non-U.S. Holder provides the Company with a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) relating to income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States.
Dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and includible in the Non-U.S. Holder’s gross income are not subject to the withholding tax (assuming proper certification and disclosure), but instead are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at applicable graduated individual or corporate rates. Any such effectively connected income received by a non-U.S. corporation may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate, subject to any exemption or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.
A Non-U.S. Holder of Common Shares who wishes to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate or exemption is required to satisfy certain certification and other requirements. If a Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for an exemption from or a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty, it may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of any income tax treaty.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Shares
In general, a Non-U.S. Holder of Common Shares will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized from a sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of such Common Shares, unless:
| · | the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the Non-U.S. Holder (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment of the Non-U.S. Holder), in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to tax on the net gain from the disposition at regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates, and if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, may be subject to an additional U.S. branch profits tax at a gross rate equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits for that taxable year, subject to any exemption or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty; |
| · | the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met, in which case the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% tax on the gain from the sale (subject to any exemption or lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses; or |
| · | the Company is or has been a “United States real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period or the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition; provided that, as long as the Company’s Common Shares are regularly traded on an established securities market as determined under the Treasury Regulations (the “Regularly Traded Exception”), a Non-U.S. Holder would not be subject to taxation on the gain on the disposition of Common Shares under this rule unless the Non-U.S. Holder has owned (actually and constructively) more than 5% of our common stock at any time during such 5-year or shorter period (a “5% Shareholder”). The determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our US real property interests relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets. Non-U.S. Holders should be aware that the Company has made no determination as to whether the Company is or has been a USRPHC, and the Company can provide no assurances that it is not and will not become a USRPHC in the future. In addition, in the event that the Company is or becomes a USRPHC, the Company can provide no assurances that the Common Shares will meet the Regularly Traded Exception at the time a Non-U.S. Holder purchases such Common Shares or sells, exchanges or otherwise disposes of such Common Shares. Non-U.S. Holders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the consequences to them of investing in a USRPHC. If the Company is a USRPHC, a Non-U.S. Holder will be taxed as if any gain or loss were effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business in the event that: (i) such holder is a 5% Shareholder; or (ii) the Regularly Traded Exception is not satisfied during the relevant period. |
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Generally, the Company must report annually to the IRS and to Non-U.S. Holders the amount of dividends paid on the Common Shares to Non-U.S. Holders and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those dividends. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which a Non-U.S. Holder resides under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.
In general, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to backup withholding with respect to payments of dividends by the Company, provided the Company receives a statement meeting certain requirements to the effect that the Non-U.S. Holder is not a U.S. person and the Company does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a U.S. person, as defined under the Code, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. The requirements for the statement will be met if: (i) the Non-U.S. Holder provides its name, address and U.S. taxpayer identification number, if any, and certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person (which certification may be made on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or other applicable form); or (ii) a financial institution holding the instrument on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies, under penalty of perjury, that such statement has been received by it and furnishes the Company or the paying agent with a copy of the statement. In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding with respect to payments of the proceeds of a sale of Common Shares within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the statement described above has been received, and the Company does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that a holder is a U.S. person, as defined under the Code, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is furnished in a timely manner to the IRS.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (“FATCA”) impose a reporting regime and potentially a 30% withholding tax on certain payments made to or through: (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in the Code) that does not enter into an agreement with the IRS to provide the IRS with certain information in respect of its account holders and investors; or (ii) a “non-financial foreign entity” (as specifically defined in the Code) that does not provide sufficient information with respect to its substantial U.S. owners (if any). The United States has entered into, and continues to negotiate, intergovernmental agreements (“IGAs”) with a number of other jurisdictions to facilitate the implementation of FATCA. An IGA may significantly alter the application of FATCA and its information reporting and withholding requirements with respect to any particular investor.
FATCA withholding may apply to dividends and other payments in respect of Common Shares if the payee does not provide documentation (typically IRS Form W-9 or the relevant IRS Form W-8) providing the required information or establishing compliance with, or an exemption from, FATCA. In addition, subject to the discussion regarding proposed Treasury Regulations, the FATCA withholding tax would apply to the gross proceeds payable upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Common Shares. Proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate the FATCA withholding tax on payments of gross proceeds and taxpayers may rely on these proposed Treasury regulations until final U.S. Treasury Regulations are issued. There can be no assurance that final Treasury Regulations would provide an exemption from the FATCA withholding tax for gross proceeds.
FATCA is particularly complex and its application remains uncertain. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding how these rules may apply in their particular circumstances.
legal matters
The law firm of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. has acted as special Delaware legal counsel to our Company by providing an opinion on the validity of the Securities offered in this Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplements.
Counsel named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement will pass upon legal matters for any underwriters, dealers or agents.
No counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the common stock was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant, nor was any such person connected with the registrant as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
experts
The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in the Company’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the years ended February 28, 2023 and February 28, 2022, have been audited by Centurion ZA CPA & Co., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The Registrar and Transfer Agent for our Common Shares is VStock Transfer, LLC, located at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York, U.S.A., 11598.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On or around October 2022, our contractually controlled subsidiary, JiuGe Technology signed a cooperation agreement with Suning.com to expand our reach to the China market. Sunning.com is a portal that primarily caters to consumers shopping for home appliances, consumer electronics, health, and beauty products.
On or around December 2022, our contractually controlled subsidiary, JiuGe Technology and Munich Re, a large global reinsurer, have set the stage for extension of their ongoing behavioral research and analytic studies into commercial implementation in the China market. Through a proprietary behaviour intelligence system developed by “Sapientus”, the analytic innovation development arm of FingerMotion, the companies will bring forward their jointly developed model algorithms and analytic insights for productionized applications and wider market adoption.
On or about April 6, 2023, we eliminated our remaining convertible debt with our primary lender as a result of conversions by the primary lender and payment by us to the primary lender.
On April 28, 2023, we repaid in full the US$730,000 convertible note that was issued in favor of Dr. Liew Yow Ming on May 1, 2022.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information in this prospectus.
The following documents filed by our company with the SEC are incorporated herein by reference:
| (a) | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, that we filed with the SEC on May 30, 2023; |
| (b) | our Amendment to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, that we filed with the SEC on August 31, 2023; |
| (c) | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2023, that we filed with the SEC on July 14, 2023; |
| (d) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on May 30, 2023; |
| (e) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on June 5, 2023; |
| (f) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on July 14, 2023; |
| (g) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on July 26, 2023; |
| (h) | our Current Report on Form 8-K that we filed with the SEC on July 31, 2023; and |
| (i) | the description of our Common Shares set forth under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” in the prospectus that constitutes a part of our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-196503) filed with the SEC on June 4, 2014, as amended on June 18, 2014. |
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained in this registration statement or in any subsequently filed document that is also incorporated by reference in this registration statement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a Prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the Prospectus but not delivered with the Prospectus. We will provide this information, at no cost to the requester, upon written or oral request to us at the following address or telephone number:
Martin J. Shen, Chief Executive Officer
111 Somerset Road, Level 3
Singapore, 238164
Telephone: (347) 349-5339
We file annual and quarterly reports, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy statements with the SEC. Our SEC filings also are available to the public on the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov. In addition, we maintain a website that contains information about us, including our SEC filings, at www.FingerMotion.com. The information contained on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus or any other report or documents we file with or furnish to the SEC or with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada.
We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC for the securities we are offering by this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for additional information.
FINGERMOTION, INC.
3,333,336 Shares of Common Stock
5,000,004 Common Warrants to Purchase 5,000,004 Shares of Common Stock
250,000 Placement Agent Warrants to Purchase 250,000 Shares of Common Stock
5,250,004 Shares of Common Stock underlying the Common Warrants and Placement Agent Warrants
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Roth Capital Partners
December 20, 2024