Alset EHome International (AEI) 10-K2023 FY Annual report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission File Number: 001-39732

ALSET INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

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

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statement of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2023 was approximately $6,652,067, based upon the closing market price of $1.55 per share of common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. (For purposes of this calculation the registrant’s directors and officers are deemed affiliates of the registrant.)

As of April 1, 2024, there were 9,235,119 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

Throughout this Report on Form 10-K, the terms the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Alset Inc., and “our board of directors” refers to the board of directors of Alset Inc. We use the terms “EHome” and “EHome communities” to refer to homes and communities that reflect our vision of accelerating sustainable, healthy living using energy and technology products and practices to provide a healthy ecosystem.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements regarding, among other things, our future operating results and financial position, our business strategy, and other objectives for our future operations. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “expect,” “may,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential” and similar expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. There are a number of important risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments that we may make.

You should read this Report on Form 10-K and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to this Report on Form 10-K completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements contained in this Report on Form 10-K are made as of the date of this Report on Form 10-K, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Alset Inc.

Form 10-K

For the Year Ended December 31, 2023

Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Business.

Our Company

We are a diversified holding company principally engaged through our subsidiaries in the development of EHome communities and other real estate, financial services, digital transformation technologies, biohealth activities and consumer products with operations in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea. We manage our three principal businesses primarily through our 85.5% owned subsidiary, Alset International Limited (“Alset International”), a public company traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Through this subsidiary (and indirectly, through other public and private U.S. and Asian subsidiaries), we are actively developing real estate projects near Houston, Texas, in our real estate segment. Recently, the Company expanded its real estate portfolio to single family rental homes, and we currently own 132 homes that are rented or are available for rent. In our digital transformation technology segment we focus on serving business-to-business (B2B) needs in e-commerce, collaboration and social networking functions. Our biohealth segment includes sale of consumer products. We identify global businesses for acquisition, incubation and corporate advisory services, primarily related to our operating business segments.

We also have ownership interests outside of Alset International, including a 36.9% equity interest in American Pacific Bancorp Inc., an indirect 13% equity interest in Holista CollTech Limited, a 44.4% equity interest in DSS Inc. (“DSS”), an indirect 48.7% equity interest in Value Exchange International, Inc. and a 33.4% equity interest in Sharing Services Global Corporation. American Pacific Bancorp Inc. is a financial network holding company. Holista CollTech Limited is a public Australian company that produces natural food ingredients (ASX: HCT). DSS is a multinational company operating businesses within nine divisions: product packaging, biotechnology, direct marketing, commercial lending, securities and investment management, alternative trading, digital transformation, secure living, and alternative energy. DSS Inc. is listed on the NYSE American (NYSE: DSS). Value Exchange International, Inc. is a provider of information technology services for businesses, and is traded on the OTCQB (OTCQB: VEII). Sharing Services Global Corporation (OTCQB: SHRG), is a publicly traded company dedicated to building shareholder value by developing or acquiring businesses, products and technologies in the direct selling industry and other industries that augment the Company’s product and services portfolio, business competencies, and geographic reach.

Under the guidance of Chan Heng Fai, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who is also our largest stockholder, we have positioned ourselves as a participant in these key markets through a series of strategic transactions. Our growth strategy is both to pursue acquisition opportunities that we can leverage on our global network using our capital and management resources and to accelerate the expansion of our organic businesses.

We generally acquire majority and/or control stakes in innovative and promising businesses that are expected to appreciate in value over time. Our emphasis is on building businesses in industries where our management team has in-depth knowledge and experience, or where our management can provide value by advising on new markets and expansion. We have at times provided a range of global capital and management services to these companies in order to gain access to Asian markets. We have historically favored businesses that improve an individual’s quality of life or that improve the efficiency of businesses through technology in various industries. We believe our capital and management services provide us with a competitive advantage in the selection of strategic acquisitions, which creates and adds value for our company and our stockholders.

We intend at all times to operate our business in a manner as to not become inadvertently subject to the regulatory requirements under the Investment Company Act by, among other things, (i) in the event of acquisitions, purchasing all or substantially all of an acquisition target’s voting stock, and only in limited cases purchase less than 51% of the voting stock; (ii) monitoring our operations and our assets on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that we own no less than a majority, or other control, of Alset International and that Alset International, in turn, owns no less than a majority, or other control, of LiquidValue Development Inc. and other such subsidiaries with significant assets and operations; and (iii) limiting additional equity investments into affiliated companies including our majority-owned and/or controlled operating subsidiaries, except in special limited circumstances. Additionally, we will continue to hire in-house management personnel and employees with industry background and experience, rather than retaining traditional investment portfolio managers to oversee our group of companies.

The Company was incorporated in the State of Delaware on March 7, 2018, as HF Enterprises Inc. Effective as of February 5, 2021, the Company changed its name from “HF Enterprises Inc.” to “Alset EHome International Inc.” The Company effected such name change pursuant to a merger entered into with a wholly owned subsidiary, Alset EHome International Inc. The Company was the surviving entity following this merger and had adopted the name of its former subsidiary. In connection with this name change, our trading symbol on the Nasdaq Stock Market was changed from “HFEN” to “AEI.” On October 4, 2022, through a merger transaction, the Company was reincorporated in Texas and changed its name to Alset Inc. The Company effected such name change pursuant to a merger entered into with a wholly owned subsidiary, Alset Inc. The Company is the surviving entity following this merger and has adopted the name of its former subsidiary. Our trading symbol on Nasdaq Stock Market did not change due to the name change.

The following chart illustrates the current corporate structure of our key operating entities:

Our Current Operations

Real Estate

Property Development Business

Our real estate business is primarily conducted through our indirect subsidiary, LiquidValue Development Inc. (“LiquidValue Development”), a 99.9%-owned U.S. subsidiary of Alset International, which owns, operates and manages real estate development projects with a focus on land subdivision developments. We generally contract out all real estate development activities, working with engineers, surveyors, architects and general contractors through each phase, including planning, design and construction. Once the contractors complete the land development, we then sell the developed lots to builders for the construction of new homes. Where possible, we have attempted to pre-sell these lots before they are fully developed. LiquidValue Development’s main assets are two such subdivision development projects, one near Houston, Texas (known as Lakes at Black Oak), and one in Frederick, Maryland (known as Ballenger Run).

Our property development business is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our property development business accounted for 82% and 29% of our total revenues, respectively.

Frederick, Maryland Property. In November 2015, we completed the $15.65 million acquisition of Ballenger Run, a 197-acre land sub-division development located in Frederick County, Maryland. Previously, on May 28, 2014, the RBG Family, LLC entered into the Assignable Real Estate Sales Contract with NVR, Inc. (“NVR”) by which RBG Family, LLC would sell the 197 acres for $15 million to NVR. On December 10, 2014, NVR assigned this contract to SeD Maryland Development, LLC in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement and entered into a series of Lot Purchase Agreements by which NVR would purchase subdivided lots from SeD Maryland Development, LLC.

SeD Maryland Development’s acquisition of the 197 acres was funded in part from a $5.6 million deposit from NVR Inc. (“NVR”). The balance of $10.05 million was derived from a total equity contribution of $15.2 million by SeD Ballenger LLC (“SeD Ballenger”) and CNQC Maryland Development LLC (a unit of Qingjian International Group Co, Ltd, China, “CNQC”). The project is owned by SeD Maryland Development, LLC (“SeD Maryland”). SeD Maryland is 83.55% owned by SeD Ballenger and 16.45% by CNQC.

On April 17, 2019, SeD Maryland Development LLC entered into a Development Loan Agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T Bank”) which is comprised of: (1) a Note in the principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the sum of $8,000,000, with a cumulative loan advance amount of $18,500,000, and (2) a letter of credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $900,000 (the “L/C Facility”). The Note bore an interest rate of the one-month LIBOR plus 375 basis points. Commissions on each letter of credit (“L/C”) are 1.5% per annum on the face amount of the L/C. Other standard lender fees apply in the event L/C is drawn down. The Note is a revolving line of credit. The L/C Facility is not a revolving loan, and amounts advanced and repaid may not be re-borrowed. Repayment of the Development Loan Agreement was secured by $2,600,000 collateral fund and a Deed of Trust issued to M&T Bank on the property owned by SeD Maryland. The outstanding balance of the revolving loan is now $0. Approximately $100,000 is collateral for outstanding letters of credit.

The Company’s Ballenger Run project is nearly complete, as all lots have been sold and the Company is completing its final tasks related to the project.

Lakes at Black Oak Property, Texas. Our Lakes at Black Oak project is a land infrastructure development and sub-division project situated in Magnolia, Texas north of Houston. On July 3, 2018, our subsidiary 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Houston LD, LLC for the sale of 124 lots within the Lakes at Black Oak project (the “Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement”). Pursuant to the Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement, it was agreed that 124 lots would be sold for a range of prices based on the lot type. In addition, Houston LD, LLC agreed to contribute a “community enhancement fee” for each lot, collectively totaling $310,000 which was held in escrow. 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. agreed to apply these funds exclusively towards an amenity package on the property.

On October 12, 2018, 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. entered into an Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Amended and Restated Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement”) for these 124 lots. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Lakes at Black Oak Purchase Agreement, the purchase price remained at $6,175,000. 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. was required to meet certain closing conditions and the timing for the closing was extended.

On January 18, 2019, the sale of 124 lots at Lakes at Black Oak was completed for $6,175,000 and the community enhancement fee equal to $310,000 was delivered to the escrow account, which was later drawn and closed. An impairment of real estate of approximately $2.4 million related to this sale was recorded on December 31, 2018. The revenue was recognized in January, 2019, when the sale was closed, and no gain or loss was recognized in January, 2019.

On July 20, 2018, Lakes at Black Oak received $4,592,079 of district reimbursement for previous construction costs incurred in the land development. Of this amount, $1,650,000 remained on deposit in the District’s Capital Projects Fund for the benefit of Lakes at Black Oak and to be released upon receipt of the evidence of the: (a) execution of a purchase agreement between Lakes at Black Oak and a home builder with respect to the Lakes at Black Oak development and (b) of the completion, finishing and making ready for home construction of at least 105 unfinished lots in the Lakes at Black Oak development. After entering the purchase agreement with Houston LD, LLC, the above requirements were met. The amount of the deposit was released to the Company.

On November 4, 2021, Lakes at Black Oak received $750,000 reimbursement from Aqua Texas pursuant to a contractual agreement whereby Aqua is obligated to pay 150 CCM Black Oak $6,000 for each connection made to an individual single-family home upon sale to the end customer.

On January 13, 2021, 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. purchased an approximately 6.3 acre tract of land in Montgomery County, Texas.

On October 28, 2022, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”), a Texas Limited Partnership and subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Contract for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions (the “Agreement”) with Century Land Holdings of Texas, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “Buyer”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Seller agreed to sell approximately 242 single-family detached residential lots comprising a residential community in the city of Magnolia, Texas known as the “Lakes at Black Oak.” On November 28, 2022, the parties to the Agreement entered into an amendment to the Agreement (the “Amendment”). Pursuant to the Amendment, the parties agreed that the Buyer would purchase approximately 131 single-family detached residential lots, instead of 242 lots. This transaction closed on April 13, 2023.

On March 16, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with Rausch Coleman Homes Houston, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (“Rausch Coleman”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Seller has agreed to sell approximately 110 single-family detached residential lots which comprise a section of the Lakes at Black Oak. The transaction closed on May 15, 2023.

On March 17, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) with Davidson Homes, LLC, an Alabama limited liability company (“Davidson”). Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement, the Seller had agreed to sell approximately 189 single-family detached residential lots developed within section 2 of Lakes at Black Oak project. The sale of the first 94 lots closed on May 30, 2023. The sale of remaining lots closed on January 4, 2024.

Recent Agreements to Sell 142 Lots at Lakes at Black Oak and 63 Lots at Alset Villas

On November 13, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”), a Texas Limited Partnership and an indirect, majority owned subsidiary of Alset Inc., entered into two Contracts for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions (each an “Agreement,” collectively, the “Agreements”) with Century Land Holdings of Texas, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “Buyer”). Pursuant to the terms of one of the aforementioned Agreements, the Seller has agreed to sell approximately 142 single-family detached residential lots (the “Section 4 Agreement”) comprising a section of a residential community in the city of Magnolia, Texas known as the “Lakes at Black Oak.” Pursuant to the other Agreement, the Seller has agreed to sell 63 single-family detached residential lots (the “Alset Villas Agreement”) in the city of Magnolia, Texas. In 2021, our subsidiary Alset EHome Inc. acquired approximately 19.5 acres of partially developed land near Houston, Texas which was used to develop a community named Alset Villas (“Alset Villas”). Alset EHome was in the process of developing the 63 lots at Alset Villas in 2023.

Pursuant to the terms of each of the agreements, the lots will be sold at a fixed per-lot price, and the Seller will also be entitled to receive a community enhancement fee for each lot sold. The aggregate purchase price and community enhancement fees are anticipated to equal to combined total of approximately $11 million for the two Agreements together; however, the purchase prices for each of the Agreements will be adjusted accordingly, if the total number of lots increases or decreases prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Agreements.

The closing of the transactions described above depends on the satisfaction of certain conditions and is expected to take place during the second quarter of 2024.

Home Rental Business

Houston, Texas Rental Homes. In recent years, the Company expanded its real estate portfolio to single family rental houses. During 2022 and 2021 the Company signed multiple purchase agreements to acquire 20 and 112 homes, respectively, in Montgomery and Harris Counties, Texas. By December 31, 2022, the acquisition of all 132 homes was completed with an aggregate purchase cost of $30,998,258. All of these purchased homes are properties of our rental business.

On December 9, 2022, Alset Inc. entered into an agreement with Alset EHome Inc. and Alset International Limited pursuant to which Alset Inc. agreed to reorganize the ownership of its home rental business. Previously, Alset Inc. and certain majority-owned subsidiaries collectively owned 132 single-family rental homes in Texas. 112 of these rental homes are owned by subsidiaries of American Home REIT Inc. (“AHR”). Alset Inc. owns 85.5% of Alset International Limited, and Alset International Limited indirectly owns approximately 99.9% of Alset EHome Inc.

The closing of the transaction contemplated by this agreement was completed on January 13, 2023. Pursuant to this agreement, Alset Inc. has become the direct owner of AHR and its subsidiaries that collectively own these 112 homes, instead of such homes being owned indirectly through Alset International Limited’s subsidiaries.

Alset EHome Inc. sold AHR to Alset Inc. for a total consideration of $26,250,933, including the forgiveness of debt in the amount of $13,900,000, a promissory note in the amount of $11,350,933 and a cash payment of $1,000,000. This purchase price represents the book value of AHR as of November 30, 2022.

The closing of this transaction was approved by the shareholders of Alset International Limited. Certain members of Alset Inc.’s Board of Directors and management are also members of the Board of Directors and management of each of Alset International Limited and Alset EHome Inc.

In approximately 96 of the 132 single-family rental homes that were acquired by our subsidiary in 2022 and 2021as a part of our commitment to advancing smart and healthy sustainable living, we installed Tesla PV solar panels and Powerwalls. In addition, we added technologies at many of the single-family rental homes such as (i) smart solar, thermostat, and energy usage controls; (ii) smart lighting controls; (iii) smart locks and security; and (iv) smart home automation devices. We believe these and other technologies will be attractive to renters.

The Company has entered into a property management agreement with the property managers under which the property managers generally oversee and direct the leasing, management and advertising of the properties in our portfolio, including collecting rents and acting as liaison with the tenants. The Company pays its property managers a monthly property management fee per property unit and a leasing fee.

Potential Future Projects

In addition to our main projects, we are embarking on residential construction activities in partnership with U.S. homebuilders, and have commenced discussions to acquire smaller U.S. residential construction projects. These projects may be within both the for-sale and for-rent markets. We consider projects in diverse regions across the United States, and maintain longstanding relationships with local owners, brokers, attorneys and lenders to source projects. We will continue to focus on off-market deals and raise appropriate financing for attractive development opportunities. We believe these initiatives will provide a set of solutions to stabilize the long-term revenue associated with property development in the United States and create new ancillary service opportunities and revenue from this business.

Through our subsidiaries, we will explore the potential to pursue other business opportunities related to real estate. The Company is evaluating the potential to enter into additional activities related to solar energy and energy efficient products as well as smart home technologies. Through the Company’s eco-systems of businesses based around sustainable, healthy living communities, our Alset EHome Inc. subsidiary intends to develop single family homes which are eco-friendly. They will be fitted out with solar energy products such as photovoltaic systems, battery systems, and car charging ports for sustainable transport as well as other energy efficient systems. The Company also envisions acquiring land surrounding its communities for solar farm projects to power these communities. The company intends to continue to explore other projects in and around Houston, Texas and bring this concept to other strategic parts of the US.

Digital Transformation Technology 

Our digital transformation technology business unit is committed to enabling enterprises to engage in a digital transformation by providing support, implementation and development services with various technologies including blockchain, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligent customer service application and metaverse services. We commenced our technology business in 2015 through Hapi Metaverse Inc. (“Hapi Metaverse”) (formerly known as GigWorld Inc.), our 99.6% owned subsidiary. Its technology platform focuses on business-to-business, or B2B, solutions, such as communications and workflow, through instant messaging, international calling, social media, e-commerce. Hapi Metaverse’s latest investment into Value Exchange International Inc. (“VEII”) expanded our offering to retail business digital transformation such as supermarket and chain stores. Hapi Metaverse is now the largest stockholder of VEII.

Through Hapi Metaverse, we have successfully implemented several strategic platform developments for clients, including a mobile front-end solution for network marketing, a hotel e-commerce platform for a company in Asia, and a real estate agent management platform in China. We have also enhanced our technological integration capability to include artificial intelligence in the area of customer service, augmented reality, and the metaverse.

While focusing on development and integration services by building white label mobile applications for eCommerce and community engagement such as direct marketing and affiliate marketing, VEII has been working on I.T. Services for major retailers in Asia for retail solutions integration.

We believe that the increasing deployment of the technology both in membership engagement as well as in the retail industry will allow for feedback from customers, and help us build a robust and scalable software. Adding latest technological framework such as A.I. and Metaverse allows the company to enhance our clients’ digital transformation journey with better consumer engagement and analytics.

Biohealth Business

With populations aging and a growing focus on healthcare issues, biohealth science has become increasingly vital. We entered the biomedical and healthcare market by forming our biohealth division, which is engaged in developing, researching, testing, manufacturing, licensing and distributing (through retail, direct selling, network marketing and e-commerce) biohealth products and services. We strive to leverage our scientific know-how and intellectual property rights to provide solutions to pending healthcare issues.

HWH World. In October 2019, the Company expanded its biohealth segment into the Korean market through one of the subsidiaries of HWH International Inc., HWH World Inc (“HWH World”). HWH World is in the business of sourcing and distributing dietary supplements and other health products through its network of members in the Republic of Korea (“South Korea”). HWH World generates product sales via its direct sale model as products are sold to its members. Through the use of a Hapi Gig platform that combines e-commerce, social media and a customized rewards system, HWH Korea equips, trains and empowers its members. We compete with numerous direct sales companies in South Korea.

Other Business Activities

In addition to our three principal business activities, we oversee several smaller other business activities at the present time, which we believe complement our three principal businesses.

BMI Capital Partners. Alset International’s wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiary, BMI Capital Partners International Limited provides consultancy services on corporate restructuring efforts, debt restructuring efforts and capital markets related corporate actions, including potential stock exchange listings.

Alset F&B. The Company, through Alset F&B One Pte. Ltd. (“Alset F&B One”) and Alset F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. (“Alset F&B PLQ”) each acquired a restaurant franchise licenses at the end of 2021 and 2022 respectively, both of which have since commenced operations. These licenses will allow Alset F&B One and Alset F&B PLQ each to operate a Killiney Kopitiam restaurant in Singapore. Killiney Kopitiam, founded in 1919, is a Singapore-based chain of mass-market, traditional kopitiam style service cafes selling traditional coffee and tea, along with a range of local delicacies such as Curry Chicken, Laksa, Mee Siam, and Mee Rebus.

Hapi Cafes. The Company, through Hapi Cafe Inc. (“HCI-T”), an indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the Company, commenced operation of two cafés during 2022 and 2021, which are located in Singapore and South Korea.

The cafes are operated by subsidiaries of HCI-T, namely Hapi Cafe SG Pte. Ltd. (“HCSG”) in Singapore and Hapi Cafe Korea Inc. (“HCKI”) in Seoul, South Korea. Hapi Cafes are distinctive lifestyle café outlets that strive to revolutionize the way individuals dine, work, and live, by providing a conducive environment for everyone to relish the four facets – health and wellness, fitness, productivity, and recreation all under one roof.

In February of 2024, HCI-T acquired an additional café in South Korea which has not yet commenced operations.

In recent months the Company incorporated three new subsidiaries Shenzhen Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd., Dongguan Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd. and GuangZhou Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd in the People’s Republic of China. The three companies will be principally engaged in the food and beverage business in Mainland China.

Additionally, through its subsidiary MOC HK Limited, the Company is focusing on operating café business in Hong Kong.

During the years ended on December 31, 2023 and 2022, the revenue from the other business activities described above was approximately 5% and 13% of the total revenue, respectively.

True Partner Capital Holding Limited. On January 18, 2022, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with DSS, Inc., pursuant to which the Company has agreed to sell, through the transfer of subsidiary and otherwise, 62,122,908 shares of stock of True Partner Capital Holding Limited in exchange for 11,397,080 shares of the common stock of DSS. On February 28, 2022 the Company entered into a revised Stock Purchase Agreement with DSS, Inc., pursuant to which the Company has agreed to replace the January 18, 2022 agreement with a new agreement to sell a subsidiary holding 44,808,908 shares of stock of True Partner Capital Holding Limited, together with an additional 17,314,000 shares of True Partner Capital Holding Limited (for a total of 62,122,908 shares) in exchange for 17,570,948 shares of common stock of DSS (the “DSS Shares”). The issuance of the DSS Shares was be subject to the approval of the NYSE American (on which the common stock of DSS is listed) and DSS’s shareholders. The transaction closed on May 17, 2022.

American Pacific Bancorp Inc. APB is a financial network holding company focused on acquiring equity positions in (i) undervalued commercial bank(s), bank holding companies and nonbanking licensed financial companies operating in the United States, South East Asia, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and (ii) companies engaged in—nonbanking activities closely related to banking, including loan syndication services, mortgage banking, trust and escrow services, banking technology, loan servicing, equipment leasing, problem asset management, SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) consulting services, and advisory capital raising services. The Company acquired 4,775,523 shares of the Class B common stock of APB, representing approximately 86.4% of the total common stock of APB. On September 8, 2021 APB sold 6,666,700 shares Series A Common Stock to DSS, Inc. for $40,000,200 cash. As a result of such share issuance, the Company’s ownership percentage of APB fell to 41.3% and subsequently to 36.9% at the end of 2022 due to APB’s share issuances.

Planned Acquisition of New Energy Asia Pacific Inc. On December 13, 2023, the Company entered into a term sheet (the “Term Sheet”), with Chan Heng Fai (the “Seller”), the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and largest stockholder of the Company. Pursuant to the Term Sheet, the Company will purchase from the Seller all of the issued and outstanding shares of New Energy Asia Pacific Inc. (“NEAPI”), a corporation incorporated in the State of Nevada. NEAPI owns 41.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of New Energy Asia Pacific Limited (“New Energy”), a Hong Kong corporation.

Under the terms of the Term Sheet, the consideration for the acquisition of NEAPI will be $103,750,000.00, to be paid in the form of a convertible promissory note (the “Note”) to be issued to the Seller. The Note shall have a term of five years and shall pay interest at a rate of 3% per annum. Either the Company or the Seller may convert all or any portion of the outstanding debt contemplated by the Note into shares of the Company’s common stock during the term of the Note. The conversion price for the Note has been set at $12.00 per share (based on a calculation of the approximate adjusted NAV of the Company per share as at September 30, 2023) which is equivalent to approximately 16 times the last market trading price of AEI of $0.75 as of December 12, 2023. The closing of this acquisition will be subject to certain standard closing conditions, including stockholder approval and no objection from Nasdaq.

New Energy focuses on distributing all-electric versions of special-purpose and transportation vehicles, charging stations and batteries. The Company intends for this to be a strategic move, in line with the Company’s commitment to advancing sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for the future. Currently, New Energy has a strong pipeline of demand, with signed collective sales secured via Memorandums of Understanding totaling up to $42 million in value and continues to garner strong interest from local government departments and market demand. New Energy will seek to significantly increase revenues in the coming months relating to both electric chargers and electric vehicles. New Energy’s expertise extends across Asia, with established service and training centers in China and Hong Kong, and ongoing development planned in various parts of the world. The Seller is a member of the Board of Directors of New Energy.

The Term Sheet was approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company’s Board of Directors has received a fairness opinion reflecting that the transaction is fair to the Company’s stockholders from a financial point of view. The Seller and his son, who is also a member of the Company’s Board of Directors, recused themselves from all deliberation and voting regarding this acquisition and the Term Sheet.

The Company and the Seller anticipate entering into definitive documents for this acquisition in the immediate future.

Agreements to Sell Stock of HWH International Inc.

On November 21, 2023, Alset International Limited, an 85.5%-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into two Stock Purchase Agreements (each, a “Stock Purchase Agreement,” collectively the “Stock Purchase Agreements”), with each of Teh Wing Kwan, a citizen of Singapore, and Massive Brilliant Limited, a Hong Kong limited company (each an “Investor,” collectively, the “Investors”), the terms of each Stock Purchase Agreement being substantially the same. Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreements, Alset International Limited agreed to sell 640 shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock of HWH International Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Alset International Limited (“HWH International”), to each Investor. The consideration for each of the two purchases of stock was Eight Million U.S. Dollars ($8,000,000.00) paid through the issuance of a promissory note made to Alset International Limited by each Investor. This transaction has not closed as of December 31, 2023.

Each Investor also entered into a Security Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2023. Security interest in the brokerage account into which each investor deposited the Shares (the “Collateral”) shall in each case serve as security for the Investor’s repayment of their respective promissory note, and repossession of such Collateral by Alset International Limited shall be the sole recourse for non-payment.

Certain members of the Company’s Board of Directors and management are also members of the Board of Directors and management of each of Alset International Limited and HWH International.

On January 9, 2024, HWH International and Alset Capital Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Alset Capital”) closed their merger as contemplated by an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”). The closing of the Merger Agreement resulted in HWH International surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Alset Capital (the “Merger”), and Alset Capital changing its name to HWH International Inc. (“New HWH”).

The total consideration paid at the closing of the merger by New HWH to HWH International shareholders was 12,500,000 shares of New HWH common stock. Alset International Limited owned the majority of the outstanding shares of HWH International at the time of the business combination, and received 10,900,000 shares of New HWH as consideration for its shares of HWH International.

Upon the closing of the sale of HWH International to Alset Capital, each of the Investors received 6.4% of the consideration for such sale, in the form of 800,000 shares of New HWH apiece.

Sales and Marketing

We focus our corporate marketing efforts on increasing brand awareness, communicating the advantages of our various platforms and generating qualified leads for our sales team. Our corporate marketing plan is designed to continually elevate awareness of our brand and generate demand for our offerings. We rely on a number of channels in this area, including digital advertising, email marketing, social media, affiliate marketing and broad-based media, as well as through various strategic partnerships. We maintain our website at https://www.alsetinc.com, and our various operating subsidiaries maintain individual websites, many of which are accessible through our main website.

Each of our businesses has developed a field sales force in their geographic markets. These sales force teams are responsible for identifying and managing individual sales opportunities in their respective regions.

Competition

The businesses in which we participate, real estate, digital transformation technology and biohealth, are each highly competitive.

Existing and future competitors may introduce products and services in the same markets we serve, and competing products or services may have better performance, lower prices, better functionality and broader acceptance than our products. Our competitors may also add features to their products or services similar to features that presently differentiate our product and service offerings from theirs. This competition could result in increased sales and marketing expenses, thereby materially reducing our operating margins, and could harm our ability to increase, or cause us to lose, market share. Some of our competitors and potential competitors supply a wide variety of products and services, and have well-established relationships with our current and prospective customers.

Most, if not all, of our current and potential competitors may have significantly greater resources or better competitive positions in certain product segments, geographic regions or user demographics than we do. These factors may allow our competitors to respond more effectively than us to new or emerging technologies and changes in market conditions. By way of example, in our real estate business, some of our competitors already have the advantage of having created vertically integrated businesses, while other competitors have broader and deeper relationships with sources of financing. Other competitors in our real estate business may have more substantial ties and experience in geographical areas in which we operate.

Our competitors may develop products, features or services that are similar to ours or that achieve greater acceptance, may undertake more far-reaching and successful product development efforts or marketing campaigns, or may adopt more aggressive pricing policies. This is particularly relevant for our digital transformation technology business. Certain competitors could use strong or dominant positions in one or more markets to gain competitive advantage against us in our target market or markets. As a result, our competitors may acquire and engage customers or generate revenue at the expense of our own efforts.

Protection of Proprietary Technology

We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions, to protect our proprietary information, technology and brands.

We protect our proprietary information and technology, in part, by generally requiring our employees to enter into agreements providing for the maintenance of confidentiality and the assignment of rights to inventions made by them while employed by us. We also may enter into non-disclosure and invention assignment agreements with certain of our technical consultants to protect our confidential and proprietary information and technology. We cannot assure you that our confidentiality agreements with our employees and consultants will not be breached, that we will be able to effectively enforce these agreements, that we will have adequate remedies for any breach of these agreements, or that our trade secrets and other proprietary information and technology will not be disclosed or will otherwise be protected.

We also rely on contractual and license agreements with third parties in connection with their use of our technology and services. There is no guarantee that such parties will abide by the terms of such agreements or that we will be able to adequately enforce our rights. Protection of confidential information, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights in the markets in which we operate and compete is highly uncertain and may involve complex legal questions. We cannot completely prevent the unauthorized use or infringement of our confidential information or intellectual property rights as such prevention is inherently difficult. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our confidential information and intellectual property protection.

Government Regulation

Like many similarly diversified companies, our operations are subject to routine regulation by governmental agencies. Much of this regulation will affect us indirectly, inasmuch as, and to the extent that, it affects our customers more directly. A summary of the laws and regulations that might affect our customers is set forth below.

Real Estate Business. The development of our real estate projects will require us to comply with federal, state and local environmental regulations. In connection with this compliance, our real estate acquisition and development projects will require environmental studies. To date, we have spent approximately $71,431 on environmental studies and compliance. Such costs are reflected in capitalized construction costs in our financial statements.

The cost of complying with governmental regulations is significant and will increase if we add additional real estate projects, become involved in homebuilding in the future and are required to comply with certain due diligence procedures related to third party lenders.

At the present time, we believe that we have all of the material government approvals that we need to conduct our business as currently conducted. We are subject to periodic local permitting that must be addressed, but we do not anticipate that such requirements for government approval will have a material impact on our business as presently conducted. We are required to comply with government regulations and to make filings from time to time with various government entities. Such work is typically handled by outside contractors we retain.

Digital Transformation Technology Business. Companies conducting business on the Internet are subject to a number of foreign and domestic laws and regulations. In addition, laws and regulations relating to user privacy, freedom of expression, content, advertising, information security and intellectual property rights are being debated and considered for adoption by many countries throughout the world. Online businesses face risks from some of the proposed legislation that could be passed in the future.

The adoption of any laws or regulations that adversely affect the growth, popularity or use of the Internet, including laws impacting Internet neutrality, could decrease the demand for our services and increase our cost of doing business. As we expand internationally, government regulation concerning the Internet, and in particular, network neutrality, may be nascent or non-existent. Within such a regulatory environment, coupled with potentially significant political and economic power of local network operators, we could experience discriminatory or anti-competitive practices that could impede our growth, cause us to incur additional expense or otherwise negatively affect our business.

In the United States, laws relating to the liability of providers of online services for activities of their users and other third parties are currently being tested by a number of claims, which include actions for libel, slander, invasion of privacy and other tort claims, unlawful activity, copyright and trademark infringement, and other theories based on the nature and content of the materials searched, the ads posted, or the content generated by users. Certain foreign jurisdictions are also testing the liability of providers of online services for activities of their users and other third parties. Any court ruling that imposes liability on providers of online services for activities of their users and other third parties could harm our licensees’ businesses, and thus, indirectly, our business.

Biohealth Business. Our businesses are subject to varying degrees of governmental regulation in the countries in which our operations are conducted, and the general trend is toward increasingly stringent regulation. In the United States, the drug, device and cosmetic industries have long been subject to regulation by various federal and state agencies, primarily as to product safety, efficacy, manufacturing, advertising, labeling and safety reporting. The exercise of broad regulatory powers by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, continues to result in increases in the amounts of testing and documentation required for FDA approval of new drugs and devices and a corresponding increase in the expense of product introduction. Similar trends are also evident in major markets outside of the United States. The new medical device regulatory framework and the new privacy regulations in Europe are examples of such increased regulation.

The costs of human health care have been and continue to be a subject of study, investigation and regulation by governmental agencies and legislative bodies around the world. In the United States, attention has been focused on drug prices and profits and programs that encourage doctors to write prescriptions for particular drugs, or to recommend, use or purchase particular medical devices. Payers have become a more potent force in the market place and increased attention is being paid to drug and medical device pricing, appropriate drug and medical device utilization and the quality and costs of health care generally. The regulatory agencies under whose purview we operate have administrative powers that may subject it to actions such as product withdrawals, recalls, seizure of products and other civil and criminal sanctions. In some cases, our subsidiaries may deem it advisable to initiate product recalls.

In addition, business practices in the health care industry have come under increased scrutiny, particularly in the United States, by government agencies and state attorneys general, and resulting investigations and prosecutions carry the risk of significant civil and criminal penalties.

Further, we rely on global supply chains, and production and distribution processes, that are complex, are subject to increasing regulatory requirements, and may be faced with unexpected changes that may affect sourcing, supply and pricing of materials used in our products. These processes also are subject to lengthy regulatory approvals.

As described above, certain of our businesses are subject to compliance with laws and regulations of U.S. federal and state governments, non-U.S. governments, their respective agencies and/or various self-regulatory organizations or exchanges relating to, among other things, disclosure and the privacy of client information, and any failure to comply with these regulations could expose us to liability and/or damage our reputation. Our businesses have operated for many years within a legal framework that requires us to monitor and comply with a broad range of legal and regulatory developments that affect our activities. However, additional legislation, changes in rules promulgated by self-regulatory organizations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules, either in the United States or elsewhere, may directly affect our mode of operation and profitability.

Rigorous legal and compliance analysis of our businesses is endemic to our culture and risk management. Management of each of our businesses supervise our compliance personnel, who are responsible for addressing all regulatory and compliance matters that affect our activities. We strive to maintain a culture of compliance through the use of policies and procedures, including a code of ethics, electronic compliance systems, testing and monitoring, communication of compliance guidance and employee education and training. Our compliance policies and procedures address a variety of regulatory and compliance matters such as the handling of material non-public information, personal securities trading, marketing practices, gifts and entertainment, valuation of investments, recordkeeping, potential conflicts of interest, the allocation of corporate opportunities, collection of fees and expense allocation.

We also monitor the information barriers that we maintain between the public and private sides of our businesses. We believe that our various businesses’ access to the intellectual knowledge and contacts and relationships that reside throughout our firm benefits all of our businesses. To maximize that access without compromising compliance with our legal and contractual obligations, our compliance group oversees and monitors the communications between groups that are on the private side of our information barrier and groups that are on the public side, as well as between different public side groups. Our compliance group also monitors contractual obligations that may be impacted and potential conflicts that may arise in connection with these inter-group discussions.

Facilities

We manage our worldwide business from our principal executive offices located in Bethesda, Maryland, in a leased space of approximately 2,059 square feet, under a lease that expires in 2024. We also maintain offices in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea through leased spaces aggregating approximately 15,811 square feet, under leases expiring on various dates from June 2024 to February 2027. The leases have rental rates ranging from $1,401 to $23,020 per month. Our total rent expense under these office leases was 1,087,585 and $767,306 in 2023 and 2022, respectively. We expect total rent expense to be approximately $911,209 under office leases in 2024. We believe our present office space and locations are adequate for our current operations and for near-term planned expansion.

Employees

As of April 1, 2024, we had a total of 60 full-time employees. In addition to our full-time employees, we occasionally hire part-time employees and independent contractors to assist us in various operations, including real estate, research and product development and production.

Our future success will depend in part on our ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified technical and sales personnel for whom competition is intense. Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining unit. We believe our relations with employees and contractors are good.

Additional Information

The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, files annual, quarterly, and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. The Commission maintains an internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the Commission. The periodic reports, proxy statements and other information that the Company files with the Commission are available for inspection on the Commission’s website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Commission.

The Company maintains a website at https://www.alsetinc.com where you may also access these materials free of charge. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only and the information contained in, and that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into and is not part of this report on Form 10-K.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this Report before making a decision to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. In those cases, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. As a “smaller reporting company”, the Company is not required to provide the information required by this item, but below are the risk factors the Company believes investors should consider before purchasing any of the Company’s securities.

Risks Related to Our Company

Management has identified a material weakness in the design and effectiveness of our internal controls, which, if not remediated, could affect the accuracy and timeliness of our financial reporting and result in misstatements in our financial statements.

In connection with the preparation of our Report on Form 10-K, an evaluation was carried out by management, with the participation of our Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Chief Financial Officers, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as of December 31, 2023. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Co-Chief Executive Officers and Co-Chief Financial Officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

During evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, conducted as part of our annual audit and preparation of our annual financial statements, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operations of our disclosure controls and procedures and concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. Management determined that at December 31, 2023, we had a material weakness that relates to the relatively small number of staff. This limited number of staff prevents us from segregating duties within our internal control system and restricts our ability to timely evaluate the accuracy and completeness of our financial statement disclosures.

This material weakness, which remained unremedied by the Company as of December 31, 2023, could result in a misstatement to the accounts and disclosures that would result in a material misstatement to our annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected. If we do not remediate the material weakness or if other material weaknesses are identified in the future, we may be unable to report our financial results accurately or to report them on a timely basis, which could result in the loss of investor confidence and have a material adverse effect on our stock price as well as our ability to access capital and lending markets. We are presently taking efforts to remediate this weakness.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We have a history of annual net losses which may continue and which may negatively impact our ability to achieve our business objectives.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had revenue of $22,088,507 and $4,480,442, respectively, and net losses of $61,278,733 and $46,212,505 in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Our failure to increase our revenues or improve our gross margins will harm our business. We may not be able to achieve, sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. If our revenue grows more slowly than we anticipate, our gross margins fail to improve or our operating expenses exceed our expectations, our operating results will suffer. The prices we charge for our properties, products and services may decrease, which would reduce our revenues and harm our business. If we are unable to sell our properties, products and services at acceptable prices relative to our costs, or if we fail to develop and introduce on a timely basis new products or services from which we can derive additional revenues, our financial results will suffer.

We cannot ensure the long-term successful operation of our business or the execution of our growth strategy.

Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by growing companies in new and rapidly evolving markets. We may meet many challenges including:

Our growth strategy may be unsuccessful and we may be unable to address the risks we face in a cost-effective manner, if at all. If we are unable to successfully address these risks our business will be harmed.

We have a holding company ownership structure and will depend on distributions from our majority-owned and/or controlled operating subsidiaries to meet our obligations. Contractual or legal restrictions applicable to our subsidiaries could limit payments or distributions from them.

We are a holding company and derive all of our operating income from, and hold substantially all of our assets through, our U.S. and foreign subsidiaries, some of which are publicly held and traded. The effect of this structure is that we will depend on the earnings of our subsidiaries, and the payment or other distributions to us of these earnings, to meet our obligations and make capital expenditures. Provisions of U.S. and foreign corporate and tax law, like those requiring that dividends are paid only out of surplus, and provisions of any future indebtedness, may limit the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments or other distributions to us. Certain of our subsidiaries are minority owned and the assets of these companies are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of any of our subsidiaries, creditors of that subsidiary (including trade creditors) will generally be entitled to payment from the assets of that subsidiary before those assets can be distributed to us.

Our significant ownership interests in public companies listed on limited public trading markets subjects us to risks relating to the sale of their shares and the fluctuations in their stock prices.

We own indirect interests in several publicly traded companies – most significantly, Alset International Limited, whose shares are listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, DSS, Inc., whose shares are listed on the NYSE American LLC Exchange, Holista CollTech Limited, whose shares are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, Sharing Services, whose shares are listed on OTCQB Venture Market of the OTC Markets Group, Inc., Value Exchange International Inc., whose shares are listed on OTCQB Venture Market of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. and HWH International Inc., whose shares are trading on the Nasdaq Global Markets; (LiquidValue Development Inc. and Hapi Metaverse Inc. are not currently traded on any exchange). The average trading volume of the public shares is limited for some of these companies. In view of the limited public trading markets for some of these shares, there can be no assurance that we would succeed in obtaining a price for these shares equal to the price quoted for such shares in their respective trading markets at the time of sale or that we would not incur a loss on our shares should we determine to dispose our shareholding in any of these companies in the future. Additionally, on an ongoing basis, fluctuations in the stock prices of these companies are likely to be reflected in the market price of our common stock. Given the limited public trading markets in some of these public companies, stock price fluctuations in our price may be significant.

General political, social and economic conditions can adversely affect our business.

Demand for our products and services depends, to a significant degree, on general political, social and economic conditions in our markets. Worsening economic and market conditions, downside shocks, or a return to recessionary economic conditions could serve to reduce demand for our products and services and adversely affect our operating results. In addition, an economic downturn could impact the valuation and collectability of certain long-term receivables held by us. We could also be adversely affected by such factors as changes in foreign currency rates and weak economic and political conditions in each of the countries in which we operate.

Disruptions in the financial markets and uncertain economic conditions could adversely affect the value of our real estate investments.

Disruptions in the financial markets could adversely affect the value of our real estate investments. Concerns over economic recession interest rate increases, policy priorities of the U.S. presidential administration, trade wars, labor shortages, or inflation may contribute to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the economy and markets. Additionally, concern over geopolitical issues may also contribute to prolonged market volatility and instability. For example, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has led to disruption, instability and volatility in global markets and industries. The U.S. government and other governments in jurisdictions have imposed severe economic sanctions and export controls against Russia and Russian interests, have removed Russia from the SWIFT system, and have threatened additional sanctions and controls. The impact of these measures, as well as potential responses to them by Russia, is unknown. Such conditions could impact real estate fundamentals and result in lower occupancy, lower rental rates, and declining values in our real estate portfolio and in the collateral securing our loan investments. As a result, the value of our property investments could decrease below the amounts paid for such investments, the value of collateral securing our loans could decrease below the outstanding principal amounts of such loans, and revenues from our properties could decrease due to fewer and/or delinquent tenants or lower rental rates. These factors would significantly harm our revenues, results of operations, financial condition, business prospects and our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

We have made and expect to continue to make acquisitions as a primary component of our growth strategy. We may not be able to identify suitable acquisition candidates or consummate acquisitions on acceptable terms, which could disrupt our operations and adversely impact our business and operating results.

A primary component of our growth strategy has been to acquire complementary businesses to grow our company. We intend to continue to pursue acquisitions of complementary technologies, products and businesses as a primary component of our growth strategy to expand our operations and customer base and provide access to new markets and increase benefits of scale. Acquisitions involve certain known and unknown risks that could cause our actual growth or operating results to differ from our expectations. For example:

We may be unable to successfully integrate acquisitions, which may adversely impact our operations.

Acquired technologies, products or businesses may not perform as we expect and we may fail to realize anticipated revenue and profits. In addition, our acquisition strategy may divert management’s attention away from our existing business, resulting in the loss of key customers or employees, and expose us to unanticipated problems or legal liabilities, including responsibility as a successor for undisclosed or contingent liabilities of acquired businesses or assets.

If we fail to conduct due diligence on our potential targets effectively, we may, for example, not identify problems at target companies or fail to recognize incompatibilities or other obstacles to successful integration. Our inability to successfully integrate future acquisitions could impede us from realizing all of the benefits of those acquisitions and could severely weaken our business operations. The integration process may disrupt our business and, if new technologies, products or businesses are not implemented effectively, may preclude the realization of the full benefits expected by us and could harm our results of operations. In addition, the overall integration of new technologies, products or businesses may result in unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities and competitive responses. The difficulties integrating an acquisition include, among other things:

In addition, even if the operations of an acquisition are integrated successfully, we may not realize the full benefits of the acquisition, including the synergies, cost savings or growth opportunities that we expect. These benefits may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame, or at all.

Acquisitions which we complete may have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

Acquisitions may cause us to:

Our resources may not be sufficient to manage our expected growth; failure to properly manage our potential growth would be detrimental to our business.

We may fail to adequately manage our anticipated future growth. Any growth in our operations will place a significant strain on our administrative, financial and operational resources and increase demands on our management and on our operational and administrative systems, controls and other resources. We cannot assure you that our existing personnel, systems, procedures or controls will be adequate to support our operations in the future or that we will be able to successfully implement appropriate measures consistent with our growth strategy. As part of this growth, we may have to implement new operational and financial systems, procedures and controls to expand, train and manage our employee base, and maintain close coordination among our technical, accounting, finance, marketing and sales. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so, or that if we are able to do so, we will be able to effectively integrate them into our existing staff and systems. There may be greater strain on our systems as we acquire new businesses, requiring us to devote significant management time and expense to the ongoing integration and alignment of management, systems, controls and marketing. If we are unable to manage growth effectively, such as if our sales and marketing efforts exceed our capacity to design and produce our products and services or if new employees are unable to achieve performance levels, our business, operating results and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

Our officers will allocate some of their time to other business ventures including but not limited to subsidiaries of our Company, thereby limiting the amount of time they are able to devote to our affairs. This potential time management conflict could have a negative impact on our operations.

Several of our officers and directors also serve as officers and directors of entities where we are the direct or indirect majority stockholder, including but not limited to Alset International Limited, HWH International Inc., Liquidvalue Development Inc. and Hapi Metaverse Inc. In addition, some of our officers and directors also serve as officers and directors of other businesses, including business that we hold a non-majority position in. These officers may not commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and the operations of our subsidiaries or other business ventures. These officers are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. While we do not believe that the time devoted to other affairs will undermine their ability to fulfill their duties with respect to our Company, if the business affairs of our subsidiaries or other ventures require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our operations.

Our officers, including our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer Chan Heng Fai, will allocate some of their time to HWH International Inc., thereby causing potential conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs. This potential conflict of interest could have a negative impact on our operations.

Mr. Wei, our Chief Financial Officer, also serves in this position for HWH International Inc., and Mr. Chan, our Chairman, serves as a director of HWH International. These officers may not commit their full time to our affairs, which may result in a conflict of interest in allocating their time between our operations and HWH International’s operations. These officers are engaged in HWH International and are not obligated to contribute any specific number of hours per week to our affairs. While we do not believe that the time devoted to HWH International will undermine their ability to fulfill their duties with respect to our Company, if the business affairs of HWH International require them to devote substantial amounts of time to such affairs, it could limit their ability to devote time to our affairs which may have a negative impact on our operations. 

Our international operations are subject to increased risks which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

In addition to uncertainty about our ability to expand our international market position, there are risks inherent in doing business internationally, including:

Our failure to manage any of these risks successfully could harm our international operations and our overall business, and results of our operations.

If we are unable to retain the services of Chan Heng Fai or if we are unable to successfully recruit qualified personnel, we may not be able to continue operations.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon the continued service of Chan Heng Fai, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The loss of the services of Chan Heng Fai could have a material adverse effect on our growth, revenues and prospective business. If Chan Heng Fai was to resign or we are unable to retain his services, the loss could result in loss of sales, delays in new product development and diversion of management resources. We could face high costs and substantial difficulty in hiring a qualified successor and could experience a loss in productivity while any such successor obtains the necessary training and experience. Chan Heng Fai has committed that the majority of his time will be devoted to managing the affairs of our company; however, Chan Heng Fai may engage in other business ventures, including other technology-related businesses.

In order to successfully implement and manage our businesses, we are also dependent upon successfully recruiting qualified personnel. In particular, we must hire and retain experienced management personnel to help us continue to grow and manage each business, and skilled engineering, product development, marketing and sales personnel to further our research and product development efforts. Competition for qualified personnel is intense. If we do not succeed in attracting new personnel or in retaining and motivating our current personnel, our business could be harmed.

If we do not successfully develop new products and services, our business may be harmed.

Our business and operating results may be harmed if we fail to expand our various product and service offerings (either through internal product or capability development initiatives or through partnerships and acquisitions) in such a way that achieves widespread market acceptance or that generates significant revenue and gross profits to offset our operating and other costs. We may not successfully identify, develop and market new product and service offerings in a timely manner. If we introduce new products and services, they may not attain broad market acceptance or contribute meaningfully to our revenue or profitability. Competitive or technological developments may require us to make substantial, unanticipated capital expenditures in new products and technologies or in new strategic partnerships, and we may not have sufficient resources to make these expenditures. Because the markets for many of our products and services are subject to rapid change, we may need to expand and/or evolve our product and service offerings quickly. Delays and cost overruns could affect our ability to respond to technological changes, evolving industry standards, competitive developments or customer requirements and harm our business and operating results.

Your investment return may be reduced if we are required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act; if we or our majority-owned and/or controlled operating subsidiaries become an unregistered investment company, then we would need to modify our business philosophy and/or make other changes to our asset composition.

Neither we nor any of our majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries intends to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. If we or our subsidiaries were obligated to register as investment companies, then we would have to comply with a variety of regulatory requirements under the Investment Company Act that impose, among other things:

Under the relevant provisions of Section 3(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act, an investment company is any issuer that:

Neither we nor any of our majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries should be required to register as an investment company under either of the tests above. With respect to the 40% asset test, most of the entities through which we and our majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries will own assets will in turn be majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries that will not themselves be investment companies and will not be relying on the exceptions from the definition of investment company under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) (relating to private investment companies).

With respect to the primarily engaged test, we, together with our majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries, are a holding company and do not intend to invest or trade in securities. Rather, through our majority-owned and/or controlled subsidiaries, we will be primarily engaged in the non-investment company businesses of these subsidiaries, namely, real estate, digital transformation technology and biohealth.

To maintain compliance with the Investment Company Act, our majority-owned and/or controlled operating subsidiaries may be unable to sell assets we would otherwise want them to sell and may need to sell assets we would otherwise wish them to retain. In addition, our subsidiaries may have to acquire additional assets that they might not otherwise have acquired or may have to forego opportunities to buy minority equity interests that we would otherwise want them to make and would be important to our business philosophy. Moreover, the SEC or its staff may issue interpretations with respect to various types of assets that are contrary to our views and current SEC staff interpretations are subject to change, which increases the risk of non-compliance and the risk that we may be forced to make adverse changes to our asset composition. If we were required to register as an investment company but failed to do so, we would be prohibited from engaging in our current business and criminal and civil actions could be brought against us. In addition, our contracts would be unenforceable unless a court required enforcement and a court could appoint a receiver to take control of our company and liquidate our business.

If we do not adequately protect our intellectual property rights, we may experience a loss of revenue and our operations may be materially harmed.

We rely on and expect to continue to rely on a combination of confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, consultants and third parties with whom we have relationships, as well as patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection laws, to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights. We cannot assure you that we can adequately protect our intellectual property or successfully prosecute potential infringement of our intellectual property rights. Also, we cannot assure you that others will not assert rights in, or ownership of, trademarks and other proprietary rights of ours or that we will be able to successfully resolve these types of conflicts to our satisfaction. Our failure to protect our intellectual property rights may result in a loss of revenue and could materially harm our operations and financial condition.

New legislation, regulations or rules related to obtaining patents or enforcing patents could significantly increase our operating costs and decrease our revenue.

We spend a significant number of resources to enforce our patent assets. If new legislation, regulations or rules are implemented either by Congress, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”), any state or the courts that impact the patent application process, the patent enforcement process or the rights of patent holders, these changes could negatively affect our expenses and revenue and any reductions in the funding of the USPTO could negatively impact the value of our assets.

A number of states have adopted or are considering legislation to make the patent enforcement process more difficult for non-practicing entities, such as allowing such entities to be sued in state court and setting higher standards of proof for infringement claims. We cannot predict what, if any, impact these state initiatives will have on the operation of our enforcement business. However, such legislation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of our patented technologies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice has conducted reviews of the patent system to evaluate the impact of patent assertion entities on industries in which those patents relate. It is possible that the findings and recommendations of the Department of Justice could impact the ability to effectively license and enforce standards-essential patents and could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the enforcement of any such patented technologies.

Finally, new rules regarding the burden of proof in patent enforcement actions could significantly increase the cost of our enforcement actions, and new standards or limitations on liability for patent infringement could negatively impact any revenue we might derive from such enforcement actions.

For our real estate business, the market for real estate is subject to fluctuations that may impact the value of the land or housing inventory that we hold, which may impact the price of our common stock.

Investors should be aware that the value of any real estate we own may fluctuate from time to time in connection with broader market conditions and regulatory issues, which we cannot predict or control, including interest rates, the availability of credit, the tax benefits of homeownership and wage growth, unemployment and demographic trends in the regions in which we may conduct business. Should the price of real estate decline in the areas in which we have purchased land, the price at which we will be able to sell lots to home builders, or if we build houses, the price at which we can sell such houses to buyers, will decline.

Zoning and land use regulations impacting the land development and homebuilding industries may limit our activities and increase our expenses, which would adversely affect our financial results.

We must comply with zoning and land use regulations impacting the land development and home building industries. We will need to obtain the approval of various government agencies to expand our operations into new areas and to commence the building of homes. Our ability to gain the necessary approvals is not certain, and the expense and timing of approval processes may increase in ways that adversely impact our profits.

Health and safety incidents that occur in connection with our potential expansion into the homebuilding business could be costly with uninsured losses.

If we commence operations in the homebuilding business, we will be exposed to the danger of health and safety risks to our employees and contractors. Health and safety incidents could result in the loss of the services of valued employees and contractors and expose us to significant litigation and fines. Insurance may not cover, or may be insufficient to cover, such losses, and premiums may rise.

Adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and man-made disasters may delay our real estate development projects or cause additional expenses.

The land development operations which we currently conduct and the construction projects which we may become involved in at a later date may be adversely impacted by unexpected weather and natural disasters, including storms, hurricanes, tornados, floods, blizzards, fires and earthquakes. Man-made disasters including terrorist attacks, electrical outages and cyber-security incidents may also impact the costs and timing of the completion of our projects. Cyber-security incidents, including those that result in the loss of financial or other personal data, could expose us to litigation and reputational damage. If insurance is unavailable to us on acceptable terms, or if our insurance is not adequate to cover business interruptions and losses from the conditions described above and similar incidents, our results of operations will be adversely affected. In addition, damage to new homes caused by these conditions may cause our insurance costs to increase.

We may face liability for information displayed on or accessible via our website, and for other content and commerce-related activities, which could reduce our net worth and working capital and increase our operating losses.

We could face claims for errors, defamation, negligence or copyright or trademark infringement based on the nature and content of information displayed on or accessible via our website, which could adversely affect our financial condition. Even to the extent that claims made against us do not result in liability, we may incur substantial costs in investigating and defending such claims.

Our insurance, if any, may not cover all potential claims to which we are exposed or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liabilities that may be exposed. Any imposition of liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of insurance coverage would reduce our net worth and working capital and increase our operating losses.

Any failure of our network could lead to significant disruptions in our businesses, which could damage our reputation, reduce our revenues or otherwise harm our businesses.

All of our businesses and, in particular, our digital transformation technology business unit, are dependent upon providing our customers with fast, efficient and reliable services. A reduction in the performance, reliability or availability of our network infrastructure may harm our ability to distribute our products and services to our customers, as well as our reputation and ability to attract and retain customers and content providers. Our systems and operations are susceptible to, and could be damaged or interrupted by outages caused by fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, Internet or mobile network breakdown, earthquakes and similar events. Our systems are also subject to human error, security breaches, power losses, computer viruses, break-ins, “denial of service” attacks, sabotage, intentional acts of vandalism and tampering designed to disrupt our computer systems and network communications, and our systems could be subject to greater vulnerability in periods of high employee turnover. A sudden and significant increase in traffic on our customers’ websites or demand from mobile users could strain the capacity of the software, hardware and telecommunications systems that we deploy or use. This could lead to slower response times or system failures. Our failure to protect our network against damage from any of these events could harm our business.

Public scrutiny of Internet privacy and security issues may result in increased regulation and different industry standards, which could deter or prevent us from providing our current products and solutions to our members and customers, thereby harming our business.

The regulatory framework for privacy and security issues worldwide is evolving and is likely to remain in flux for the foreseeable future. Practices regarding the collection, use, storage, display, processing, transmission and security of personal information by companies offering online services have recently come under increased public scrutiny. The U.S. government, including the White House, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Commerce and many state governments, are reviewing the need for greater regulation of the collection, use and storage of information concerning consumer behavior with respect to online services, including regulation aimed at restricting certain targeted advertising practices and collection and use of data from mobile devices. The Federal Trade Commission in particular has approved consent decrees resolving complaints and their resulting investigations into the privacy and security practices of a number of online, social media companies. Similar actions may also impact us directly.

Our business, including our ability to operate and expand internationally or on new technology platforms, could be adversely affected if legislation or regulations are adopted, interpreted, or implemented in a manner that is inconsistent with our current business practices that may require changes to these practices, the design of our websites, mobile applications, products, features or our privacy policy. In particular, the success of our business is expected to be driven by our ability to responsibly use the data that our members share with us. Therefore, our business could be harmed by any significant change to applicable laws, regulations or industry standards or practices regarding the storage, use or disclosure of data our members choose to share with us, or regarding the manner in which the express or implied consent of consumers for such use and disclosure is obtained. Such changes may require us to modify our products and features, possibly in a material manner, and may limit our ability to develop new products and features that make use of the data that we collect about our members.

Particularly with regard to our biohealth business, product reliability, safety and effectiveness concerns can have significant negative impacts on sales and results of operations, lead to litigation and cause reputational damage.

Concerns about product safety, whether raised internally or by litigants, regulators or consumer advocates, and whether or not based on scientific evidence, can result in safety alerts, product recalls, governmental investigations, regulatory action on the part of the FDA (or its counterpart in other countries), private claims and lawsuits, payment of fines and settlements, declining sales and reputational damage. These circumstances can also result in damage to brand image, brand equity and consumer trust in our products. Product recalls could in the future prompt government investigations and inspections, the shutdown of manufacturing facilities, continued product shortages and related sales declines, significant remediation costs, reputational damage, possible civil penalties and criminal prosecution.

Significant challenges or delays in our innovation and development of new products, technologies and indications could have an adverse impact on our long-term success.

Our continued growth and success depend on our ability to innovate and develop new and differentiated products and services that address the evolving health care needs of patients, providers and consumers. Development of successful products and technologies is also necessary to offset revenue losses when our existing products lose market share due to various factors such as competition and loss of patent exclusivity. We cannot be certain when or whether we will be able to develop, license or otherwise acquire companies, products and technologies, whether particular product candidates will be granted regulatory approval, and, if approved, whether the products will be commercially successful.

We pursue product development through internal research and development as well as through collaborations, acquisitions, joint ventures and licensing or other arrangements with third parties. In all of these contexts, developing new products, particularly biotechnology products, requires a significant commitment of resources over many years. Only a very few biopharmaceutical research and development programs result in commercially viable products. The process depends on many factors, including the ability to discern patients’ and healthcare providers’ future needs; develop new compounds, strategies and technologies; achieve successful clinical trial results; secure effective intellectual property protection; obtain regulatory approvals on a timely basis; and, if and when they reach the market, successfully differentiate our products from competing products and approaches to treatment. New products or enhancements to existing products may not be accepted quickly or significantly in the marketplace for healthcare providers, and there may be uncertainty over third-party reimbursement. Even following initial regulatory approval, the success of a product can be adversely impacted by safety and efficacy findings in larger real world patient populations, as well as market entry of competitive products.

Our competitors may have greater financial and other resources than we do and those advantages could make it difficult for us to compete with them.

Our three principal businesses, real estate, digital transformation technology and biohealth activities are each highly competitive and constantly changing. We expect that competition will continue to intensify. Increased competition may result in price reductions, reduced margins, loss of customers, and changes in our business and marketing strategies, any of which could harm our business. Current and potential competitors may have longer operating histories, greater name recognition, more employees and significantly greater financial, technical, marketing, public relations and distribution resources than we do. In addition, new competitors with potentially unique or more desirable products or services may enter the market at any time. The competitive environment may require us to make changes in our products, pricing, licensing, services or marketing to maintain and extend our current brand and technology. Price concessions or the emergence of other pricing, licensing and distribution strategies or technology solutions of competitors may reduce our revenue, margins or market share, any of which will harm our business. Other changes we have to make in response to competition could cause us to expend significant financial and other resources, disrupt our operations, strain relationships with partners, or release products and enhancements before they are thoroughly tested, any of which could harm our operating results and stock price.

Since some members of our board of directors are not residents of the United States and certain of our assets are located outside of the United States, you may not be able to enforce a U.S. judgment for claims you may bring against such directors or assets.

Several members of our senior management team, including Chan Heng Fai, have their primary residences and business offices in Asia, and a portion of our assets and a substantial portion of the assets of these directors are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be more difficult for you to enforce a lawsuit within the United States against these non-U.S. residents than if they were residents of the United States. Also, it may be more difficult for you to enforce any judgment obtained in the United States against our assets or the assets of our non-U.S. resident management located outside the United States than if these assets were located within the United States. We cannot assure you that foreign courts would enforce liabilities predicated on U.S. federal securities laws in original actions commenced in such foreign jurisdiction, or judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions based upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal securities laws.

We may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if our real estate properties become impaired.

Our policy is to obtain an independent third-party valuation for each major project in the United States to identify triggering events for impairment. Our management may use a market comparison method to value other relatively small projects, such as the project in Perth, Australia. In addition to the annual assessment of potential triggering events in accordance with ASC 360 – Property Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”), we apply a fair value-based impairment test to the net book value assets on an annual basis and on an interim basis if certain events or circumstances indicate that an impairment loss may have occurred.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affect our operating results.

A portion of our revenues arises from international operations. Revenues generated and expenses incurred by our international subsidiaries are often denominated in the currencies of the local countries. As a result, our consolidated U.S. dollar financial statements are subject to fluctuations due to changes in exchange rates as the financial results of our international subsidiaries are translated from local currencies into U.S. dollars. In addition, our financial results are subject to changes in exchange rates that impact the settlement of transactions in non-local currencies.

The effect of foreign exchange rate changes on the intercompany loans (under ASC 830), which mostly consist of loans from Singapore to the United States and were approximately $23 million and $51 million on December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are the reason for the significant fluctuation of foreign currency transaction Gain or Loss on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income. Because the intercompany loan balances between Singapore and United States will remain at approximately $23 million over the next year, we expect this fluctuation of foreign exchange rates to still significantly impact the results of operations in 2024, especially given that the foreign exchange rate may and is expected to be volatile. If the amount of intercompany loans is lowered in the future, the effect will also be reduced. However, at this moment, we do not expect to repay the intercompany loans in the short term.

Our international operations expose us to additional legal and regulatory risks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial conditions.

At the present time, the majority of our activities are conducted in the United States (particularly with regard to our real estate operations). However, we also have operations worldwide through employees, contractors and agents, as well as those companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations. Compliance with foreign and U.S. laws and regulations that apply to our international operations increase our cost of doing business. These numerous and sometimes conflicting laws and regulations include, among others, labor relations laws, tax laws, anti-competition regulations, import and trade restrictions, data privacy requirements, export requirements, and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

Our business activities currently are subject to no particular regulation by governmental agencies in the United States or the other countries in which we operate other than that routinely imposed on corporate businesses, and no such regulation is currently anticipated. As our operations expand, we anticipate that we will need to comply with laws and regulations in additional jurisdictions.

There is a risk that we may inadvertently breach some provisions which apply to us at the present time or which may apply to us in the future. Violations of these laws and regulations could result in fines, criminal sanctions against us, our officers or our employees, requirements to obtain export licenses, cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries, implementation of compliance programs, and prohibitions on the conduct of our business. Violations of laws and regulations also could result in prohibitions on our ability to operate in one or more countries and could materially damage our reputation, our ability to attract and retain employees, or our business, results of operations and financial condition.

If tariffs or other restrictions are placed on foreign imports or any related counter-measures are taken by other countries, our business and results of operations could be harmed.

At the present time, we do not sell any products produced in China and have no plans to commence manufacturing in China; however, this may change at some point in the future. The current administration has put into place tariffs and other trade restrictions. The current or future administrations may additionally alter trade agreements and terms between the United States and China, among other countries, including limiting trade and/or imposing tariffs on imports from such countries. In addition, China, among others, has either threatened or put into place retaliatory tariffs of their own. Should we commence manufacturing in China, and if tariffs or other restrictions are placed on foreign imports, including on any of our products manufactured overseas for sale in the United States, or any related counter-measures are taken by other countries, our business and results of operations may be materially harmed.

These tariffs have the potential to significantly raise the cost of any products we may manufacture in China. In such a case, there can be no assurance that we will be able to shift manufacturing and supply agreements to non-impacted countries, including the United States, to reduce the effects of the tariffs. As a result, we may suffer margin erosion or be required to raise our prices, which may result in the loss of customers, negatively impact our results of operations, or otherwise harm our business. Additionally, the imposition of tariffs on products that we export to international markets could make such products more expensive compared to those of our competitors if we pass related additional costs on to our customers, which may also result in the loss of customers, negatively impact our results of operations, or otherwise harm our business.

We are an “emerging growth company” and our election to delay adoption of new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies may result in our consolidated financial statements not being comparable to those of some other public companies. As a result of this and other reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our shares may be less attractive to investors.

As a company with less than $1.07 billion in revenue during our last completed fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. In particular, as an emerging growth company, we:

We intend to take advantage of all of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions, including the longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act. Our election to use the phase-in periods may make it difficult to compare our consolidated financial statements to those of non-emerging growth companies and other emerging growth companies that have opted out of the phase-in periods under §107 of the JOBS Act.

Certain of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions were already available to us due to the fact that we also qualify as a “smaller reporting company” under SEC rules. For instance, smaller reporting companies are not required to obtain an auditor attestation and report regarding management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting, are not required to provide a compensation discussion and analysis, are not required to provide a pay-for-performance graph or CEO pay ratio disclosure, and may present only two years of audited financial statements and related MD&A disclosure.

Under the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of the above-described reduced reporting requirements and exemptions for up to five years after our initial sale of common equity pursuant to a registration statement declared effective under the Securities Act, or such earlier time that we no longer meet the definition of an emerging growth company. In this regard, the JOBS Act provides that we would cease to be an “emerging growth company” if we have more than $1.07 billion in annual revenue, have more than $700 million in market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates, or issue more than $1.0 billion in principal amount of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. Under current SEC rules, however, we will continue to qualify as a “smaller reporting company” for so long as we have a public float (i.e., the market value of common equity held by non-affiliates) of less than $250 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

Investors may find our shares less attractive due to our reliance on these exemptions. This could impact our ability to raise funds in the future.

We will incur increased costs as a result of being a U.S. public company, and our management expects to devote substantial time to public company compliance programs.

As a public company, we incur significant legal, insurance, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Nasdaq Capital Market listing requirements and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies. Our management and administrative staff need to devote a substantial amount of time to comply with these requirements. For example, in connection with becoming a public company, we will need to adopt additional internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures and bear all of the internal and external costs of preparing periodic and current public reports in compliance with our obligations under the securities laws. We intend to commit resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this commitment will result in increased general and administrative expenses and may divert management’s time and attention away from product development activities. If for any reason our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.

Additionally, in order to comply with the requirements of being a public company, we may need to undertake various actions, including implementing new internal controls and procedures and hiring new accounting or internal audit staff. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires 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 file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls could adversely affect the results of our periodic management evaluations. In the event that we are not able to demonstrate compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, that our internal control over financial reporting is perceived as inadequate, or that we are unable to produce timely or accurate consolidated financial statements, investors may lose confidence in our operating results and the price of our common stock could decline. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by Nasdaq, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, and we may not be able to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Prior to becoming a public company, we were not required to comply with the SEC’s rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and therefore were not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. We are now required to comply with certain of these rules, which require management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting commencing with our second annual report. This assessment needs to include the disclosure of any material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified by our management or our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we are engaged in a costly and challenging process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting. In this regard, we need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting. We also need to continue to improve our control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that our controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for our internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404.

If we are unable to address the weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in our company and it could result in material errors in our financial statements.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we do not remediate the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or file our periodic reports in a timely manner, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and may lead to a decline in the market price of our common stock.

Our business is subject to reporting requirements that continue to evolve and change, which could continue to require significant compliance effort and resources.

Because our common stock is publicly traded, we will be subject to certain rules and regulations of federal, state and financial market exchange entities charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded. These entities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), the SEC and the Nasdaq Capital Market, periodically issue new requirements and regulations and legislative bodies also review and revise applicable laws. As interpretation and implementation of these laws and rules and promulgation of new regulations continues, we will continue to be required to commit significant financial and managerial resources and incur additional expenses to address such laws, rules and regulations, which could in turn reduce our financial flexibility and create distractions for management.

Any of these events, in combination or individually, could disrupt our business and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock

Our stock price may be volatile and your investment could decline in value.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially as a result of many factors, some of which are beyond our control. These fluctuations could cause you to lose all or part of the value of your investment in our common stock. Factors that could cause fluctuations in the market price of our common stock include the following:

In addition, the stock market in general has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to operating performance of individual companies. These broad market factors may seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted. A class action suit against us could result in significant liabilities and, regardless of the outcome, could result in substantial costs and the diversion of our management’s attention and resources.

Investors purchasing our common stock may be diluted by the issuance of stock options.

To the extent stock options are issued pursuant to our 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan in the future and ultimately exercised, there will be further dilution of the common stock. See “Dilution”.

Future sales, or the perception of future sales, of a substantial amount of our shares of common stock could depress the trading price of our common stock.

If we or our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our shares of common stock in the public market or if the market perceives that these sales could occur, the market price of shares of our common stock could decline. These sales may make it more difficult for us to sell equity or equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate, or to use equity as consideration for future acquisitions.

As of April 1, 2024, we have 250,000,000 shares of common stock authorized, and 9,235,119 shares of common stock outstanding. Of these shares, 6,077,357 shares are freely tradable.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, or if our actual results differ significantly from our guidance, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. If any of the analysts who may cover us change their recommendation regarding our stock adversely, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our stock price would likely decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

In addition, from time to time, we may release earnings guidance or other forward-looking statements in our earnings releases, earnings conference calls or otherwise regarding our future performance that represent our management’s estimates as of the date of release. Some or all of the assumptions of any future guidance that we furnish may not materialize or may vary significantly from actual future results. Any failure to meet guidance or analysts’ expectations could have a material adverse effect on the trading price or volume of our stock.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company and may affect the trading price of our common stock.

Our corporate documents and the Texas Business Organizations Code contain provisions that may enable our board of directors to resist a change in control of our company even if a change in control were to be considered favorable by you and other stockholders. These provisions include:

In addition, Section 21.606 of the Texas Business Organizations Code prohibits large stockholders, in particular those owning 20% or more of our outstanding voting stock, from merging or consolidating with us within a three-year period immediately following the shareholder’s acquisition of shares except under certain circumstances. These provisions and other provisions under Texas law could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of our company. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for you and other stockholders to elect directors of your choosing and cause us to take other corporate actions you desire.

Concentration of ownership of our common stock by our principal stockholder will limit new investors from influencing significant corporate decisions.

As of April 1, 2024, our principal stockholder Chan Heng Fai owns approximately 53.5% of our outstanding shares of common stock. He will be able to make decisions such as (i) making amendments to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, (ii) whether to issue additional shares of common stock and preferred stock, including to himself, (iii) employment decisions, including compensation arrangements, (iv) whether to enter into material transactions with related parties, (v) election and removal of directors and (vi) any merger or other significant corporate transactions. The interests of Chan Heng Fai may not coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders.

We do not expect to pay any dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future.

We currently expect to retain all future earnings, if any, for future operation, expansion and debt repayment and have no current plans to pay any cash dividends to holders of our common stock for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our operating results, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our common stock unless you sell our common stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.

We have 25,000,000 authorized unissued shares of preferred stock, and our board has the ability to designate the rights and preferences of this preferred stock without your vote.

Our certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue “blank check” preferred stock and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of these shares, without further stockholder approval. The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future. As indicated in the preceding risk factor, the ability to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of the voting stock of our company thereby discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control of our company. We currently have no outstanding shares of preferred stock, or plans to issue any such shares in the future.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity.

Risk Management and Strategy

We recognize the critical importance of developing, implementing, and maintaining robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard our information systems and protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our data.

Managing Material Risks & Integrated Overall Risk Management

We have strategically integrated cybersecurity risk management into our broader risk management framework to promote a company-wide culture of cybersecurity risk management. This integration ensures that cybersecurity considerations are an integral part of our decision-making processes at every level. Our management team continuously evaluate and addresses cybersecurity risks in alignment with our business objectives and operational needs.

Risks from Cybersecurity Threats

We have not encountered cybersecurity challenges that have materially impaired our operations or financial standing.

Item 2. Properties.

Our executive offices are located at 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda, MD 20814, and our telephone number is (301) 971-3955.

Lakes at Black Oak

The Lakes at Black Oak property is located in Montgomery County in Magnolia, Texas. This property is located east of FM 2978 via Standard Road to Dry Creek Road and South of the Woodlands, one of the most successful, fastest growing master planned communities in Texas. This residential land development initially consisted of approximately 162 acres. On January 13, 2021, 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. purchased an approximately 6.3 acre tract of land in Montgomery County. The Company has sold off residential lots at this location. CCM Black Oak Ltd is the primary developer responsible for all infrastructure development. This property is included in Harris County Improvement District #17.

Alset Villas

In 2021, our subsidiary Alset EHome Inc. acquired approximately 19.5 acres of partially developed land near Houston, Texas which will be used to develop a community named Alset Villas (“Alset Villas”). Alset EHome is developing 63 lots at Alset Villas. Sale of the 63 lots is pending closing of a Contract for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions, entered into by the Company’s subsidiary 150 CCM Black Oak, Ltd. and Century Land Holdings of Texas, LLC on November 13, 2023.

Rental Properties

During 2021 and 2022 the Company signed multiple purchase agreements to acquire 132 homes in Montgomery and Harris Counties, Texas. By December 31, 2022, the acquisition of the 132 homes was completed with an aggregate purchase cost of $30,998,258.

In the first 96 of the 112 rental homes that were acquired, as a part of our commitment to advancing smart and healthy sustainable living, we installed Tesla PV solar panels and Powerwalls. In addition, we added technologies at many of the single-family rental homes such as (i) smart solar, thermostat, and energy usage controls; (ii) smart lighting controls; (iii) smart locks and security; and (iv) smart home automation devices. We believe these and other technologies will be attractive to renters.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

On September 27, 2019, iGalen International Inc., which was at that time one of our majority-owned subsidiaries, and iGalen Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego, Central Division, against Gara Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and certain affiliated or related entities, including the Chief Executive Officer of the Gara Group (collectively these entities are referred to herein as the “Gara Group”). A similar complaint had been filed in Utah on September 26, 2019, but subsequently re-filed in California. The complaint, as amended on October 24, 2019, enumerates causes of action for breach of contract, breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing and intentional interference with economic relations.

iGalen Inc. and Gara Group are parties to a Specialized Services Agreement, dated March 29, 2017 (the “Specialized Services Agreement”). iGalen Inc. contracted with Gara Group to provide for services that include, among other things, (i) product fulfillment; (ii) software development and maintenance of an onsite “Platform,” which includes a company website and interactive portal referred to as the “Back Office”; and (iii) managing iGalen’s social media sites. The Gara Group had previously claimed that iGalen Inc. owed Gara Group certain amounts, including (i) $125,000 for “Back Office Fees”; (ii) $150,000 for “Speaking Fees”; and (iii) $67,299 for services related to iGalen’s merchant account, back office, and shipping fulfillment, invoiced on August 28 and 31, and September 15, 2019. iGalen Inc.’s amended complaint notes that no provision in the Specialized Services Agreement allows for the particular “Back Office Fees” of $125,000 and that no provision in the Specialized Services Agreement allows for the so-called “Speaking Fees” of $150,000. Gara Group cut off services to iGalen following iGalen’s indication that it was disputing the amounts owed. iGalen’s amended complaint notes that the actions of Gara Group and Mr. Gara have caused, and continue to cause, iGalen to suffer substantial harm by, among other things, making it so iGalen was unable to communicate with distributors via its website and Back Office, fulfill orders made by distributors, or pay commission to distributors. iGalen is seeking damages.

On October 10, 2019, Gara Group filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego, Central Division against iGalen International Inc., iGalen Inc., Alset International Limited, Chan Heng Fai, Dr. Rajen Manicka and David Price, an executive of iGalen Inc. Gara Group’s complaint for damages asserts that the Gara Group is entitled to general damages of $9,000,000 and liquidated damages of $50,000,000. Gara Group filed an amended complaint filed on March 13, 2020. The court dismissed Kosta Gara from the iGalen suit and dismissed a cause of action for intentional interference with economic relations on January 14, 2022. The court set a trial date of April 7, 2023. iGalen International Inc. was sold by one of the Company’s subsidiaries on December 30, 2020.

On April 13, 2022, the parties to these lawsuits entered into a settlement agreement, resolving these matters.

In addition, from time to time, during the normal course of our businesses, we may be subject to various litigation claims and legal disputes, including in the area of intellectual property (e.g., trademarks, copyrights and patents). Our intellectual property rights extend to our technology, business processes and the content on our website. We use the intellectual property of third parties in marketing and providing our services through contractual and other rights. Despite our efforts, from time to time, third parties may allege that we have violated their intellectual property rights.

Although the results of claims, lawsuits and proceedings in which we may be involved cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not currently believe that the final outcome of the matters discussed above will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. However, defending and prosecuting any such claims is costly and may impose a significant burden on our management and employees. In addition, we may receive unfavorable preliminary or interim rulings in the course of litigation, and there can be no assurances that favorable final outcomes will be obtained. With regard to intellectual property matters which may arise, if we are unable to obtain an outcome which sufficiently protects our rights, successfully defends our use or allows us time to develop non-infringing technology and content or to otherwise alter our business practices on a timely basis in response to the claims against us, our business, prospects and competitive position may be adversely affected.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5. Market for Company’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Small Business Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

Since November 24, 2020, the principal market on which our common stock trades is the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Company’s common stock initially traded under the symbol “HFEN.” In connection with our name change from “HF Enterprises Inc.” to “Alset EHome International Inc.”, and later to “Alset Inc.”, our symbol was changed to “AEI.”

Prior to our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, there was no public trading market for our securities.

Holders

As of April 1, 2024, the Company had seven (7) shareholders of record. Such number does not include shareholders holding shares in nominee or “street name”.

Dividends

Since inception, we have not paid any dividends on our common stock. We currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future on our common stock. Although we intend to retain our earnings, if any, to finance the exploration and growth of our business, our board of directors will have the discretion to declare and pay dividends in the future. Payment of dividends in the future will depend upon our earnings, capital requirements, and other factors, which our board of directors may deem relevant.

Securities authorized for issuance under equity compensation plans.

Under our 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), adopted by our board of directors and holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock in September 2018, 25,000 shares of common stock (subject to certain adjustments) were reserved for issuance upon exercise of stock options and grants of other equity awards. No options or other equity awards have been granted under the Plan. The reservation of shares under the Incentive Compensation Plan was cancelled in May 2021.

Performance graph

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

Recent sales of unregistered securities; use of proceeds from registered securities

On December 13, 2021 the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Chan Heng Fai for the issuance and sale of a convertible promissory note in favor of Chan Heng Fai, in the principal amount of $6,250,000. The note bears interest of 3% per annum and is due on the earlier of December 31, 2024 or when declared due and payable by Chan Heng Fai. The note can be converted in part or whole into common shares of the Company at the conversion price of $12.50 or into cash. The loan closed on January 26, 2022 after all closing conditions were met. Mr. Chan opted to convert all of the amount of such note into 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, which shares were issued on January 27, 2022. Such restricted shares were issued pursuant to the exemption provided by Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

On January 17, 2022 the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement with Chan Heng Fai pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase from Chan Heng Fai 293,428,200 ordinary shares of Alset International for a purchase price of 1,473,449 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock. On February 28, 2022, the Company and Chan Heng Fai entered into an amendment to this securities purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase these 293,428,200 ordinary shares of Alset International for a purchase price of 1,765,964 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock. The closing of this transaction was subject to the approval of the Nasdaq and the Company’s stockholders in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(a). These 293,428,200 ordinary shares of Alset International represent approximately 8.4% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Alset International.

On June 6, 2022, the Company held a Special Meeting of Stockholders (the “Special Meeting”). At the Special Meeting, the stockholders approved the issuance of 1,765,964 newly issued shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the purchase of 293,428,200 ordinary shares of Alset International Limited in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(a). The transaction was completed on July 18, 2022. In connection with the issuance of these securities, the Company relied upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for transactions not involving a public offering.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the issuer and affiliated purchasers

The Company did not repurchase any shares of the Company’s common stock during 2023.

Item 6. [Reserved]

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

This Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained in this Form 10-K that are not statements of historical fact including, without limitation, statements under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate” or “continue” or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control. These factors include by are not limited to economic conditions generally and in the industries in which we may participate; competition within our chosen industry, including competition from much larger competitors; technological advances and failure to successfully develop business relationships. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in our filings with the SEC.

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.

Business Overview

We are a diversified holding company principally engaged through our subsidiaries in the development of EHome communities and other real estate, financial services, digital transformation technologies, biohealth activities and consumer products with operations in the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and South Korea. We manage our three principal businesses primarily through our 85.5% owned subsidiary, Alset International Limited, a public company traded on the Singapore Stock Exchange. Through this subsidiary (and indirectly, through other public and private U.S. and Asian subsidiaries), we are actively developing real estate projects near Houston, Texas in our real estate segment. In our digital transformation technology segment we focus on serving business-to-business (B2B) needs in e-commerce, collaboration and social networking functions. Our biohealth segment includes the sale of consumer products.

We also have ownership interests outside of Alset International, including a 36.9% equity interest in American Pacific Bancorp Inc., an indirect 13% equity interest in Holista CollTech Limited, a 44.4% equity interest in DSS, an indirect 48.7% equity interest in VEII, a 0.5% equity interest in New Electric CV Corporation (“NECV”, formerly known as “American Wealth Mining Inc.”) and a 33.4% equity interest in SHRG. American Pacific Bancorp Inc. is a financial network holding company. Holista CollTech Limited is a public Australian company that produces natural food ingredients (ASX: HCT). DSS is a multinational company operating businesses within nine divisions: product packaging, biotechnology, direct marketing, commercial lending, securities and investment management, alternative trading, digital transformation, secure living, and alternative energy. DSS is listed on the NYSE American (NYSE: DSS). VEII is a provider of information technology services for businesses, and is traded on the OTCQB (OTCQB: VEII). NECV is a publicly traded consumer products company (OTCPK: HIPH). SHRG markets and distributes health and wellness products, as well as member-based travel services, using a direct selling business model. SHRG is traded on the OTCQB (OTCQB: SHRG).

We generally acquire majority and/or control stakes in innovative and promising businesses that are expected to appreciate in value over time. Our emphasis is on building businesses in industries where our management team has in-depth knowledge and experience, or where our management can provide value by advising on new markets and expansion. We have at times provided a range of global capital and management services to these companies in order to gain access to Asian markets. We have historically favored businesses that improve an individual’s quality of life or that improve the efficiency of businesses through technology in various industries. We believe our capital and management services provide us with a competitive advantage in the selection of strategic acquisitions, which creates and adds value for our company and our stockholders.

Our Revenue Model

Our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, was $22,088,507 and $4,480,442, respectively. Our net losses for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, were $61,278,733 and $46,212,505, respectively.

We currently recognize revenue from the sale of our subdivision development properties, rental homes, the sale of our biohealth products and other activities. Sales of real properties accounted for approximately 82%, revenue from home rentals accounted for approximately 13% and revenue from other activities accounted for approximately 5% of our total revenue in the year ended December 31, 2023. Sales of real properties accounted for approximately 29%, revenue from home rentals accounted for approximately 40%, sales of biohealth products accounted for approximately 17%, and revenue from other activities accounted for approximately 13% of our total revenue in the year ended December 31, 2022.

From a geographical perspective, we recognized 95% and 69% of our total revenue in the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, in the United States. 0% and 20% of our revenue in 2023 and 2022, respectively, was recognized from our sales in South Korea. 5% and 11% of our revenue in 2023 and 2022, respectively, was recognized from our sales in Singapore.

We believe that, on an ongoing basis, revenue generated from our property development business will decline as a percentage of our total revenue as we expect to experience greater revenue contribution from our rental business, digital transformation technology, biohealth businesses and future business acquisitions.

Financial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Real Estate Projects

The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may impact our business will depend on future developments. The COVID-19 pandemic’s far-reaching impact on the global economy could negatively affect various aspects of our business, including demand for real estate. From March 2020 through December 2022, we continued to sell lots at our Ballenger Run project (in Maryland) for the construction of town homes to NVR. At this time, all of the lots at Ballenger Run have been sold to NVR, however we continue to complete our development requirements under our agreements with NVR. We do not anticipate that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a material impact on the timing of the completion of our remaining tasks at Ballenger Run.

We have received strong indications that buyers and renters across the country are expressing interest in moving from more densely populated urban areas to the suburbs. We believe this trend, should it continue, will encourage interest in some of our projects.

On February 11, 2021, the Company entered into a term note with M&T Bank with a principal amount of $68,502 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP Term Note”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The PPP Loan is evidenced by a promissory note. The PPP Term Note bears interest at a fixed annual rate of 1.00%, with the first sixteen months of principal and interest deferred or until we apply for the loan forgiveness. The PPP Term Note may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default.

The PPP Term Note was unsecured and guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration. The Company applied to M&T Bank for forgiveness of the PPP Term Note, with the amount which may be forgiven equal to at least 60% of payroll costs and other eligible payments incurred by the Company, calculated in accordance with the terms of the CARES Act. In April 2022 the Company received confirmation that the PPP Loan was fully forgiven.

Matters that May or Are Currently Affecting Our Business

In addition to the matters described above, the primary challenges and trends that could affect or are affecting our financial results include:

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include all accounts of the Company and its majority owned and controlled subsidiaries. The Company consolidates entities in which it owns more than 50% of the voting common stock and controls operations. All intercompany transactions and balances among consolidated subsidiaries have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates and Critical Accounting Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant estimates made by management include, but are not limited to, allowance for doubtful accounts, recoverability and useful lives of property, plant and equipment, valuation of real estate assets, allocation of development costs and capitalized interest to sold lots, the valuation allowance of deferred taxes, contingencies and equity compensation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition and Cost of Revenue

The following represents a disaggregation of our revenue recognition policies by segment:

Real Estate

● Property Sales. Part of the Company’s real estate business is land development. The Company purchases land and develops it into residential communities. The developed lots are sold to builders (customers) for the construction of new homes. The builders enter into a sales contract with the Company before they take the lots. The prices and timeline are determined and agreed upon in the contract. The builders do the inspections to make sure all conditions and requirements in contracts are met before purchasing the lots. A detailed breakdown of the five-step process for the revenue recognition of the Ballenger and Lakes at Black Oak projects, which represented approximately 82% and 29% of the Company’s revenue in the years ended on December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, is as follows:

Identify the contract with a customer. The Company has signed agreements with the builders for developing the raw land to ready to build lots. The contract has agreed upon prices, timelines, and specifications for what is to be provided.

Identify the performance obligations in the contract. Performance obligations of the Company include delivering developed lots to the customer, which are required to meet certain specifications that are outlined in the contract. The customer inspects all lots prior to accepting title to ensure all specifications are met.

Determine the transaction price. The transaction price per lot is fixed and specified in the contract. Any subsequent change orders or price changes are required to be approved by both parties.

Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract. Each lot is considered to be a separate performance obligation, for which the specified price in the contract is allocated to.

Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies performance obligation. The builders do the inspections to make sure all conditions/requirements are met before taking title of lots. The Company recognizes revenue at a point in time when title is transferred. The Company does not have further performance obligations or continuing involvement once title is transferred.

● Sale of the Front Foot Benefit Assessments. We have established a front foot benefit (“FFB”) assessment on all of the lots sold to NVR. This is a 30-year annual assessment allowed in Frederick County which requires homeowners to reimburse the developer for the costs of installing public water and sewer to the lots. These assessments become effective as homes are settled, at which time we can sell the collection rights to investors who will pay an upfront lump sum, enabling us to more quickly realize the revenue. The selling prices range from $3,000 to $4,500 per home depending on the type of home. Our total expected revenue from the front foot benefit assessment is approximately $1 million. To recognize revenue of the FFB assessment, both our and NVR’s performance obligations have to be satisfied. Our performance obligation is completed once we complete the construction of water and sewer facilities and close the lot sales with NVR, which inspects these water and sewer facilities prior to the close of lot sales to ensure all specifications are met. NVR’s performance obligation is to sell homes they build to homeowners. Our FFB revenue is recognized upon NVR’s sales of homes to homeowners. The agreement with these FFB investors is not subject to amendment by regulatory agencies and thus our revenue from FFB assessment is not either. During the years ended December, 2023 and 2022, we recognized revenue in the amounts of $0 and $126,737 from FFB assessments, respectively.

● Rental Revenue. The Company leases real estate properties to its tenants under leases that are predominately classified as operating leases, in accordance with ASC 842, Leases (“ASC 842”). Real estate rental revenue is comprised of minimum base rent and revenue from the collection of lease termination fees.

Rent from tenants is recorded in accordance with the terms of each lease agreement on a straight-line basis over the initial term of the lease. Rental revenue recognition begins when the tenant controls the space and continues through the term of the related lease. Generally, at the end of the lease term, the Company provides the tenant with a one-year renewal option, including mostly the same terms and conditions provided under the initial lease term, subject to rent increases.

The Company defers rental revenue related to lease payments received from tenants in advance of their due dates. These amounts are presented within deferred revenues and other payables on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Rental revenue is subject to an evaluation for collectability on several factors, including payment history, the financial strength of the tenant and any guarantors, historical operations and operating trends of the property, and current economic conditions. If our evaluation of these factors indicates that it is not probable that we will recover substantially all of the receivable, rental revenue is limited to the lesser of the rental revenue that would be recognized on a straight-line basis (as applicable) or the lease payments that have been collected from the lessee. Differences between rental revenue recognized and amounts contractually due under the lease agreements are credited or charged to straight-line rent receivable or straight-line rent liability, as applicable. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not recognize any deferred revenue and collected all rents due.

● Cost of Revenue. Land acquisition costs are allocated to each lot based on the area method, the size of the lot comparing to the total size of all lots in the project. Development costs and capitalized interest are allocated to lots sold based on the total expected development and interest costs of the completed project and allocating a percentage of those costs based on the selling price of the sold lot compared to the expected sales values of all lots in the project.

If the allocation of development costs and capitalized interest based on the projection and relative expected sales value is impracticable, those costs could also be allocated based on an area method, which uses the size of the lots compared to the total project area and allocates costs based on their size.

Cost of rental revenue consists primarily of the costs associated with management and leasing fees to our management company, repairs and maintenance, depreciation and other related administrative costs. Utility expenses are paid directly by tenants.

Digital Transformation Technology

● Software Development Income. Revenue is recognized when (or as) the Company transfers promised goods or services to its customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services, which occurs when (or as) the Company satisfies its contractual obligations and transfers over control of the promised goods or services to its customers. We generate revenue from a project involving provision of services and web/software development for customers. In respect to the provision of services, the agreements are less than one year with a cancellation clause and customers are typically billed on a monthly basis.

Biohealth

● Product Direct Sales. The Company’s net sales consist of product sales. The Company’s performance obligation is to transfer ownership of its products to its members. The Company generally recognizes revenue when product is delivered to its members. Revenue is recorded net of applicable taxes, allowances, refund or returns. The Company receives the net sales price in cash or through credit card payments at the point of sale.

If any member returns a product to the Company on a timely basis, they may obtain a replacement product from the Company for such returned products. We do not have buyback program. However, when the customer requests a return and management decides that the refund is necessary, we initiate the refund after deducting all the benefits that a member has earned. The returns are deducted from our sales revenue on our financial statements. Allowances for product and membership returns are provided at the time the sale is recorded. This accrual is based upon historical return rates for each country and the relevant return pattern, which reflects anticipated returns to be received over a period of up to 12 months following the original sale. Product and membership returns for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were approximately $1,183 and $41,755, respectively.

● Annual Membership. The Company collects an annual membership fee from its members. The fee is fixed, paid in full at the time upon joining the membership; the fee is not refundable. The Company’s performance obligation is to provide its members the right to (a) purchase products from the Company, (b) access to certain back-office services, (c) receive commissions and (d) attend corporate events. The associated performance obligation is satisfied over time, generally over the term of the membership agreement which is for a one-year period. The Company recognizes revenue from membership fee over the one-year period of the membership.

Other Businesses

● Food and Beverage. The Company, through Alset F&B One Pte. Ltd. (“Alset F&B One”) and Alset F&B (PLQ) Pte. Ltd. (“Alset F&B PLQ”) each acquired a restaurant franchise licenses at the end of 2021 and 2022 respectively, both of which have since commenced operations. These licenses will allow Alset F&B One and Alset F&B PLQ each to operate a Killiney Kopitiam restaurant in Singapore. Killiney Kopitiam, founded in 1919, is a Singapore-based chain of mass-market, traditional kopitiam style service cafes selling traditional coffee and tea, along with a range of local delicacies such as Curry Chicken, Laksa, Mee Siam, and Mee Rebus.

The Company, through HCI-T, commenced operation of two cafés during 2022 and 2021, which are located in Singapore and South Korea.

The cafes are operated by subsidiaries of HCI-T, namely HCSG in Singapore and HCKI in Seoul, South Korea. Hapi Cafes are distinctive lifestyle café outlets that strive to revolutionize the way individuals dine, work, and live, by providing a conducive environment for everyone to relish the four facets – health and wellness, fitness, productivity, and recreation all under one roof.

In recent months the Company incorporated three new subsidiaries Shenzhen Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd., Dongguan Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd. and GuangZhou Leyouyou Catering Management Co., Ltd in the People’s Republic of China. The three companies will be principally engaged in the food and beverage business in Mainland China.

Additionally, through its subsidiary MOC HK Limited, the Company is focusing on operating café business in Hong Kong.

The revenue earned from Food and Beverage business for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were $1,019,634 and $449,240 respectively.

● Remaining performance obligations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no remaining performance obligations or continuing involvement, as all service obligations within the other business activities segment have been completed.

Real Estate Assets

Real estate assets are recorded at cost, except when acquired real estate assets meet the definition of a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, “Business Combinations,” which are recorded at fair value. Interest, property taxes, insurance and other incremental costs (including salaries) directly related to a project are capitalized during the construction period of major facilities and land improvements. The capitalization period begins when activities to develop the parcel commence and ends when the asset constructed is completed. The capitalized costs are recorded as part of the asset to which they relate and are reduced when lots are sold.

The Company capitalized construction costs of approximately $1.2 million and $3.2 million in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

On December 31, 2023, total real estate property under development was $10.4 million, including:

On December 31, 2022, total real estate property under development was $23.4 million, including:

On December 31, 2023, the capitalized construction costs were as follows:

On December 31, 2022, the capitalized construction costs were as follows:

Through December 31, 2023, there were no sales from the Perth and Ballenger projects. Lots in these projects were fully sold during year ended December 31, 2022.

Results of Operations

Summary of Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Revenue

The following table sets forth period-over-period changes in revenues for each of our reporting segments:

Revenue was $22,088,507 and $4,480,442 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. An increase in property sales, rental revenue and food and beverages sales in the 2023 contributed to higher revenue in this period.

In late 2022 and early 2023, the Company entered into three contracts with builders to sell multiple lots from its Lakes at Black Oak project. The sales contemplated by these contracts are contingent on certain conditions which the parties to such contracts will need to meet and are expected to generate approximately $22 million of funds from operations, not including certain expenses that the Company will be required to pay. The sale of 335 lots closed during 2023 generating approximately $18.2 million revenue.

Income from the sale of Front Foot Benefits (“FFBs”), assessed on Ballenger Run project lots, decreased from $126,737 in the year ended December 31, 2022 to $0 in year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease is a result of the decreased sale of properties to homebuyers in 2023.

Revenue from the rental business was $2,776,911 and $1,810,011 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company expects that the revenue from this business will continue to increase as we acquire more rental houses and successfully rent them.

Revenue from digital transformation technology segment consists primarily of the services rendered to customers in the amount of $28,117 and $69,915, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. In 2022 the Company began generating revenue from a project providing AI chatbot services to Value Exchange Int’l (Hong Kong) Limited, a related company and a subsidiary of VEII located in Hong Kong.

In recent years the Company expanded its biohealth segment to the South Korean market through one of the subsidiaries of HWH International Inc., HWH World. HWH World operates based on a direct sale model of health supplements. HWH World recognized $12,758 and $753,651 in revenue in the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The revenue from this segment decreased in 2023 due to decreased sales of annual memberships.

The category described as “Other” includes corporate and financial services, food and beverage business and new venture businesses. “Other” includes certain costs that are not allocated to the reportable segments, primarily consisting of unallocated corporate overhead costs, including administrative functions not allocated to the reportable segments from global functional expenses.

The financial services, food and beverage businesses and new venture businesses are small and diversified, and accordingly they are not separately addressed as one independent category. In the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the revenue from other businesses was $1,083,971 and $568,248, respectively, generated mainly by Korean and Singaporean café shops and restaurants.

Operating Expenses

The following table sets forth period-over-period changes in cost of revenue for each of our reporting segments:

Cost of revenue increased from $3,731,990 in the year ended December 31, 2022 to $14,576,209 in the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of the increase in the number of lots sold in the Lakes at Black Oak project and sales in F&B business. Capitalized construction expenses, finance costs and land costs are allocated to sales. We anticipate the total cost of sales to increase as revenue increases.

The gross margin increased from $748,452 to $7,512,298 in the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The increase of gross margin was caused by the increase of gross margin from real estate segment and F&B business, mostly due to the increase in the sales.

The following table sets forth period-over-period changes in operating expenses for each of our reporting segments.

The increase in sales related expenses contributed to increased operating expenses in the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.

Other Income (Expense)

In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had other expense of $58,313,729 compared to other expense of $39,123,131 in the year ended December 31, 2022. The change in realized loss on securities investment, loss on equity method investment and loss on consolidation of Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. are the primary reasons for the volatility in these two periods. Realized loss on securities investment was $11,375,747 in year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $7,308,580 loss in the year ended December 31, 2022. Loss on equity method investment was $24,483,374 in year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $685,533 loss in the year ended December 31, 2022. Loss on consolidation of Alset Capital Acquisition Corp. was $21,657,036 in the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $0 in the year ended December 31, 2022.

Net Loss

In the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company had net loss of $61,278,733 compared to net loss of $46,212,505 in the year ended December 31, 2022.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our real estate assets have decreased to $42,137,152 as of December 31, 2023, from $54,618,729 as of December 31, 2022. This decrease reflects the sale of multiple lots in Lakes at Black Oak project during 2023. Our cash has increased from $17,827,383 as of December 31, 2022 to $26,921,727 as of December 31, 2023. Our liabilities increased from $4,827,221 at December 31, 2022 to $9,066,700 at December 31, 2023. Our total assets have decreased to $126,314,028 as of December 31, 2023 from $153,490,336 as of December 31, 2022 due to the decrease in real estate assets and equity method investment.

On April 17, 2019, SeD Maryland Development LLC entered into a Development Loan Agreement with Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company (“M&T Bank”) in the principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the sum of $8,000,000, with a cumulative loan advance amount of $18,500,000. The line of credit bore interest rate on LIBOR plus 375 basis points. SeD Maryland Development LLC was also provided with a Letter of Credit (“L/C”) Facility in an aggregate amount of up to $900,000. The L/C commission will be 1.5% per annum on the face amount of the L/C. Other standard lender fees will apply in the event the L/C is drawn down. The loan is a revolving line of credit. The L/C Facility is not a revolving loan, and amounts advanced and repaid may not be re-borrowed. Repayment of the Loan Agreement is secured by a $2,600,000 collateral fund and a Deed of Trust issued to the Lender on the property owned by SeD Maryland. On March 15, 2022, approximately $2,300,000 was released from collateral, leaving approximately $300,000 as collateral for outstanding letters of credit. On December 14, 2023 approximately $201,751 was released from collateral, leaving approximately $100,000 as collateral for outstanding letters of credit.

The future development timeline of Lakes at Black Oak will be based on multiple conditions, including the amount of funds which may be raised from capital markets, the loans we may secure from third party financial institutions, and government reimbursements which may be received. The development will be step by step and expenses will be contingent on the amount of funding we will receive.

In late 2022 and early 2023, the Company entered into three contracts with builders to sell multiple lots from its Lakes at Black Oak project. The sales contemplated by these contracts are contingent on certain conditions which the parties to such contracts will need to meet and are expected to generate approximately $22 million of funds from operations, not including certain expenses that the Company will be required to pay. In addition, the Company will be entitled to receive certain reimbursements in the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2025. The sale of 335 lots closed in the first six months of 2023 generating approximately $18.1 million revenue.

On November 13, 2023, 150 CCM Black Oak Ltd. (the “Seller”), a Texas Limited Partnership, entered into two Contracts for Purchase and Sale and Escrow Instructions (each an “Agreement,” collectively, the “Agreements”) with Century Land Holdings of Texas, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “Buyer”). Pursuant to the terms of one of the aforementioned Agreements, the Seller has agreed to sell approximately 142 single-family detached residential lots (the “Section 4 Agreement”) comprising a section of a residential community in the city of Magnolia, Texas known as the “Lakes at Black Oak.” The selling price of these lots is anticipated to equal approximately $7.4 million. Pursuant to the other Agreement, the Seller has agreed to sell 63 single-family detached residential lots (the “Alset Villas Agreement”) in the city of Magnolia, Texas. In 2021, our subsidiary Alset EHome Inc. acquired approximately 19.5 acres of partially developed land near Houston, Texas which was used to develop a community named Alset Villas (“Alset Villas”). Alset EHome was in the process of developing the 63 lots at Alset Villas in 2023. The selling price of these lots is anticipated to equal approximately $3.3 million. The closing of the transactions described above depends on the satisfaction of certain conditions, and is expected to take place during the second quarter of 2024. In addition, the Company will be entitled to receive certain reimbursements in the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2025.

The management believes that the available cash on hand, available debt and equity financing are sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 12 months.

Summary of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $7,478,823 in the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $31,855,435 in the same period of 2022. Property sales from the Lakes at Black Oak project in 2023 were the main reason for the cash provided by operating activities in that period.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $2,128,986 in the year 2023, as compared to net cash used in investing activities of $15,123,041 in the same period of 2022. In the year ended December 31, 2023 we invested $756,078 in marketable securities, issued $3,338,081 in promissory notes to related parties and received $2,672,438 repayment of promissory notes from related parties. In the year ended December 31, 2022 we invested $8,429,620 in marketable securities, $6,824,730 to purchase real estate properties and improvements and $377,864 in promissory notes to a related party. At the same time, we received approximately $1 million from a related party loan receivable.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $3,187,489 in the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net cash provided of $6,057,481 the year ended December 31, 2022. Cash provided by financing activities in the year 2023 is primarily related to the proceeds from stock issuance of $3,433,921. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we also repaid $31,499 of a note payable. Cash provided by financing activities in the year 2022 is primarily related to the proceeds from stock issuance of $6,213,000 and borrowing from a commercial loan of $123,633. Additionally, the Company repaid $279,152 to note payable in that period.

Real Property Financing Arrangements

At the present time, the Company is considering expanding its current policy of selling buildable lots to include a strategy of building housing for sale or rent, particularly at our Lakes at Black Oak and Alset Villas properties. The required time and expenses needed to complete the Lakes at Black Oak and Alset Villas projects will be influenced by the strategy, or mix of strategies, we utilize at each project.

Our Perth project in Australia was relatively small, and based on management’s recommendations the land was sold in 2022.

Lakes at Black Oak

Lakes at Black Oak is a land infrastructure and subdivision project situated in Magnolia, Texas, north of Houston. This project is owned by certain subsidiaries of Alset International. Currently the Lakes at Black Oak project does not have any financing from third parties.

Ballenger Run

The Ballenger Run is a 197-acre land sub-division development project located in Frederick County, Maryland. The Ballenger Run project is nearly complete, as all lots have been sold and the Company is completing its final tasks related to the project. This project had a revolver loan from M&T Bank in the principal amount not to exceed at any one time outstanding the sum of $8,000,000, with a cumulative loan advance amount of $18,500,000. This loan has expired in 2022.

Equity Security Investments

Investment Securities at Fair Value

The Company commonly holds investments in equity securities with readily determinable fair values, equity investments without readily determinable fair values, investments accounted for under the equity method, and investments at cost. Certain of the Company’s investments in marketable equity securities and other securities are long-term, strategic investments in companies that are in various stages of development.

Prior to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, investments in equity securities were classified as either 1) available-for-sale securities, stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of related tax effects, were recorded directly to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) or 2) trading securities, stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of related tax benefits, were recorded directly to net income (loss). With the adoption of ASU 2016-01, investments in equity securities are still stated at fair value, quoted by market prices, but all unrealized holding gains and losses are credited or charged to net income (loss) based on fair value measurement as the respective reporting date.

The Company accounts for certain of its investments in equity securities in accordance with ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825- 10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASU 2016-01”). In accordance with ASU 2016-01, the Company records all equity investments with readily determinable fair values at fair value calculated by the publicly traded stock price at the close of the reporting period. Amarantus BioScience Holdings (“AMBS”) is a publicly traded company. The Company does not have significant influence over AMBS as the Company holds approximately 4.3% of the common shares of AMBS. The stock fair value is determined by quoted stock prices.

Company’s subsidiary, Hapi Metaverse, entered into Securities Purchase Agreements pursuant to which the Company purchased 6,500,000 and 7,276,163 shares of Value Exchange International, Inc., a Nevada corporation (“VEII”) on April 8, 2021 and October 17, 2022 respectively.

On January 27, 2023, the Company and New Electric CV Corporation (together with the Company, the “Lenders”) entered into a Convertible Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with VEII. The Credit Agreement provides VEII with a maximum credit line of $1,500,000 with simple interest accrued on any advances of the money under the Credit Agreement at 8%. The Credit Agreement grants conversion rights to each Lender. Each Advance shall be convertible, in whole or in part, into shares of VEII’s Common Stock at the option of the Lender who made that Advance (being referred to as a “Conversion”), at any time and from time to time, at a price per share equal the “Conversion Price”. In the event that a Lender elects to convert any portion of an Advance into shares of VEII Common Stock in lieu of cash payment in satisfaction of that Advance, then VEII would issue to the Lender five (5) detachable warrants for each share of VEII’s Common Stock issued in a Conversion (“Warrants”). Each Warrant will entitle the Lender to purchase one (1) share of Common Stock at a per-share exercise price equal to the Conversion Price. The exercise period of each Warrant will be five (5) years from date of issuance of the Warrant. On February 23, 2023, Hapi Metaverse loaned VEII $1,400,000 (the “Loan Amount”). The Loan Amount can be converted into shares of VEII pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement for a period of three years. There is no fixed price for the derivative security until Hapi Metaverse converts the Loan Amount into shares of VEII Common Stock.

On September 6, 2023, the Company converted $1,300,000 of the principal amount loaned to VEII into 7,344,632 shares of VEII’s Common Stock. Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, Hapi Metaverse received Warrants to purchase a maximum of 36,723,160 shares of VEII’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.1770 per share. Such warrants expire five (5) years from date of their issuance.

On December 14, 2023, Hapi Metaverse entered into a Convertible Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with VEII. On December 15, 2023, the company loaned VEII $1,000,000. The Credit Agreement was amended pursuant to an agreement dated December 19, 2023. Under the Credit Agreement, as amended, this amount can be converted into VEII’s Common Shares pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement for a period of three years. In the event that Hapi Metaverse converts this loan into shares of VEII’s Common Stock, the conversion price shall be $0.045 per share. In the event that Hapi Metaverse elects to convert any portion of the loan into shares of VEII’s Common Stock in lieu of cash payment in satisfaction of that loan, then VEII will issue to Hapi Metaverse five (5) detachable warrants for each share of VEII’s Common Stock issued in a conversion (“Warrants”). Each Warrant will entitle the company to purchase one (1) share of VEII’s Common Stock at a per-share exercise price equal to the Conversion Price. The exercise period of each Warrant will be five (5) years from date of issuance of the Warrant. At the time of this filing, the company has not converted the Loan Amount.

Our Chairman, Fai Chan and a member of the Board of Directors of Hapi Metaverse, Lum Kan Fai Vincent, are both members of the Board of Directors of VEII. In addition to Mr. Chan, two other members of the Board of Directors of Alset Inc. are also members of the Board of Directors of VEII (Wong Shui Yeung and Wong Tat Keung). The Company currently owns a total of 21,120,795 shares (representing approximately 48.55%) of VEII.

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company’s subsidiaries established a portfolio of trading securities. The objective is to generate profits on short-term differences in market prices. The Company does not have significant influence over any trading securities in our portfolio and fair value of these trading securities are determined by quoted stock prices.

The Company has elected the fair value option for the equity securities noted below that would otherwise be accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Holista CollTech Limited (“Holista”), DSS Inc. (“DSS”) and NECV, Value Exchange International Inc. (“Value Exchange International” or “VEII”) and Sharing Services Global Corp. (“SHRG”) are publicly traded companies and fair value is determined by quoted stock prices. The Company has significant influence but does not have a controlling interest in these investments, and therefore, the Company’s investment could be accounted for under the equity method of accounting or elect fair value accounting.

The Company has significant influence over DSS as we owned approximately 44.4% of the common stock of DSS as of December 31, 2023, and our Chief Executive Officer, Chan Heng Fai, is an owner of the common stock of DSS (not including any common or preferred shares we hold). In addition, our Chief Executive Officer is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of DSS. Chan Tung Moe, our Co-Chief Executive Officer and the son of Chan Heng Fai, is also a director of DSS. The Company did not have a controlling interest and therefore the Company’s investment would be accounted for under equity method accounting or could elect the fair value option accounting.

The Company had significant influence over Holista as the Company holds approximately 13% of the outstanding shares of Holista and our CEO had a position on the Board of Directors of Holista from July of 2013 until June of 2021. The Company did not have a controlling interest and therefore the Company’s investment would be accounted for under equity method accounting or could elect the fair value option accounting.

The Company has significant influence over NECV as the Company holds approximately 0.5% of the common shares of NECV. Additionally, our Chief Executive Officer, Chan Heng Fai, is a majority owner of the common stock of NECV (not including any common shares we hold). The Company did not have a controlling interest and therefore the Company’s investment would be accounted for under equity method accounting or could elect the fair value option accounting.

The Company has significant influence over SHRG as the Company holds approximately 33.4% of the common shares of SHRG, our CEO holds a director and chairman position on SHRG’s Board of Directors and three of the directors of the Company are the directors of SHRG. Additionally, our CEO is a significant stockholder of SHRG shares.

The Company has elected the fair value options for the equity securities noted above that would otherwise be accounted for under the equity method of accounting to better match the measurement of assets and liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. VEII, Holista, DSS and SHRG are publicly traded companies and fair value of these equity investments is determined by the quoted stock prices. On December 31, 2023 and 2022, the fair value (calculated by market trading prices on the end dates of the periods) of total held equity stock of VEII, Holista, DSS and SHRG was $9,628,189 and $13,503,533, respectively.

On March 2, 2020, and October 29, 2021, the Company received warrants to purchase shares of American Medical REIT Inc. (“AMRE”), a related party private startup company, in conjunction with the Company lending two $200,000 promissory notes. For further details on this transaction, refer to Note 8 to Company’s Financial Statements, Related Party Transactions, Note Receivable from a Related Party Company. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, AMRE was a private company. Based on management’s analysis, the fair value of the warrants and the stock option was $0 as of December 31, 2021. In March 2022, both loans, together with warrants were converted into common shares of AMRE. After the conversion, the Company owns approximately 15.8% of AMRE.

On July 17, 2020, the Company purchased 122,039,000 shares, approximately 9.99% ownership, and 1,220,390,000 warrants with an exercise price of $0.0001 per share, from NECV, for an aggregated purchase price of $122,039. We value NECV warrants under level 3 category through a Black Scholes option pricing model and the fair value of the warrants from NECV were $860,342 as of July 17, 2020, the purchase date and $430 and $327,565 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The Company accounts for certain of its investments in funds without readily determinable fair values in accordance with ASU No. 2015-07, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (“2015-07”). In the first six months of 2022 the Company invested $100,000 in Class A Shares of Novum Alpha Global Opportunity Digital Asset Fund I SP, a segregated portfolio of Novum Alpha SPC (“Novum Alpha Fund”). This fund invests in long-short digital assets. The Company subscribed in participating shares which are redeemable and non-voting. The Company closed the fund in July 2022 recording $74,827 loss on this investment.

The changes in the fair values of the investment were recorded directly to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Due to the inherent uncertainty of these estimates, these values may differ materially from the values that would have been used had a ready market for these investments existed.

Investment Securities at Cost

Investments in equity securities without readily determinable fair values are measured at cost minus impairment adjusted by observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. These investments are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when there are events or changes in circumstances that may have a significant adverse effect. An impairment loss is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the investment.

On September 8, 2020, the Company acquired 1,666 shares, approximately 1.45% ownership, from Nervotec Pte Ltd (“Nervotec”), a private company, at the purchase price of $36,628. The Company applied ASC 321 and measured Nervotec at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer.

On September 30, 2020, the Company acquired 3,800 shares, approximately 19% ownership, from HWH World Company Limited (f.k.a. Hyten Global (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) (“HWH World Co.”), a private company, at a purchase price of $42,562. The Company’s subsidiary holding equity in HWH World Co. was sold on December 31, 2023.

On May 31, 2021, the Company invested $19,609 in K Beauty Research Lab Co., Ltd (“K Beauty”) for 18% ownership. K Beauty was established for sourcing, developing and producing variety of Korea-made beauty products as well as Korea - originated beauty contents for the purpose of distribution to HWH’s membership distribution channel.

There has been no indication of impairment or changes in observable prices via transactions of similar securities and is still carried at a cost.

Investment Securities under Equity Method Accounting

The Company accounts for equity investment in entities with significant influence under equity-method accounting. Under this method, the Group’s pro rata share of income (loss) from investment is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Dividends received reduce the carrying amount of the investment. When the Company’s share of loss in an equity-method investee equals or exceeds its carrying value of the investment in that entity, the equity method investment can be reduced below zero based on losses if the Company either be liable for the obligations of the investee or provide for losses in excess of the investment when imminent return to profitable operations by the investee appears to be assured. Otherwise, the Company does not recognize its share of equity method losses exceeding its carrying amount of the investment, but discloses the losses in the footnotes. Equity-method investment is reviewed for impairment by assessing if the decline in market value of the investment below the carrying value is other-than-temporary. In making this determination, factors are evaluated in determining whether a loss in value should be recognized. These include consideration of the intent and ability of the Group to hold investment and the ability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity, justifying the carrying amount of the investment. Impairment losses are recognized in other expense when a decline in value is deemed to be other-than-temporary.

AMRE

LiquidValue Asset Management Pte. Ltd. (“LiquidValue”), a subsidiary of the Company owns 15.8% of AMRE, a company concentrating on medical real estate. AMRE acquires state-of-the-art, purpose-built healthcare facilities and leases them to leading clinical operators with dominant market share under secure triple net leases. AMRE targets hospitals (both Critical Access and Specialty Surgical), Physician Group Practices, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and other licensed medical treatment facilities. Chan Heng Fai, our CEO, is the executive chairman and director of AMRE. DSS, of which we own 44.4% and have significant influence over, owns 80.4% of AMRE. Therefore, the Company has significant influence on AMRE.

American Pacific Bancorp, Inc.

Pursuant to Securities Purchase Agreement from March 12, 2021 the Company purchased 4,775,523 shares of the common stock of American Pacific Bancorp Inc. (“APB”) and gained majority ownership in that entity. APB was consolidated into the Company under common control accounting (See Transactions between Entities under Common Control for details). On September 8, 2021 APB sold 6,666,700 shares Series A Common Stock to DSS, Inc. for $40,000,200 cash. As a result of the new share issuances, the Company’s ownership percentage of APB fell below 50% to 41.3% (and subsequently to 36.9%) and the entity was deconsolidated in accordance with ASC 810-10. Upon deconsolidation the Company elected to apply the equity method accounting as the Company still retained significant influence. During the year ended December 31, 2023 the investment loss was $24,241,856. During the year ended December 31, 2022 the investment gain was $867,117. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the investment in APB was $7,426,390 and $31,668,246, respectively.

Ketomei Pte Ltd

On June 10, 2021 the Company’s indirect subsidiary HCI-T lent $76,723 to Ketomei Pte Ltd (“Ketomei”). On March 21, 2022 Hapi Cafe entered into an agreement pursuant to which the principal of the loan together with accrued interest were converted into an investment in Ketomei. At the same time, Hapi Cafe invested an additional $179,595 in Ketomei. After the conversion and fund investment the Company now holds 28% of Ketomei. Ketomei is in the business of selling cooked food and drinks. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 the investment gain was $36,438 and $48,916 loss, respectively. Investment in Ketomei was $155,369 at December 31, 2022. At December 31, 2023, the Company wrote off the investment in Ketomei of $121,471, as the Company does not believe it will be able to recover this investment. On February 20, 2024, the Company invested additional $312,064 (SG$420,000) for an additional 38.41% ownership interest in Ketomei. After this additional investment, the Company will own 55.65% of Ketomei’s outstanding shares and Ketomei will be consolidated into the Company’s financial statements beginning on February 20, 2024.

Sentinel Brokers Company Inc.

On May 22, 2023 the Company’s indirect subsidiary, SeD Capital Pte. Ltd. (“SeD Capital”), entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which SeD Capital purchased 39.8 shares (19.9%) of the Common Stock of Sentinel Brokers Company Inc. (“Sentinel”) for the aggregate purchase price of $279,719. Sentinel is a broker-dealer operating primarily as a fiduciary intermediary, facilitating institutional trading of municipal and corporate bonds as well as preferred stock, and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and is a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”). The Company has significant influence over Sentinel as its CEO holds a director position on Sentinel’s Board of Directors. Additionally, DSS, of which we own 44.4% and have significant influence over, owns 80.1% of Sentinel. During the year ended December 31, 2023 the investment loss in Sentinel was $154,956. Investment in Sentinel was $124,763 at December 31, 2023.

Investment in Debt Securities

Debt securities are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses (other than impairment losses) recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. Realized gains and losses on debt securities are recognized in the net income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Company monitors its investments for other-than-temporary impairment by considering factors including, but not limited to, current economic and market conditions, the operating performance of the companies including current earnings trends and other company-specific information.

The Company invested $50,000 in a convertible promissory note of Sharing Services Global Corporation (“Sharing Services Convertible Note”), a company quoted on the US OTC market. The value of the convertible note was estimated by management using a Black-Scholes valuation model. The fair value of the note was $9,799 on December 31, 2021. The note was redeemed on July 14, 2022 and $50,000 principal together with $28,636 accrued interests were received from Sharing Services.

On February 26, 2021, the Company invested approximately $88,599 in the convertible note of Vector Com Co., Ltd (“Vector Com”), a private company in South Korea. The interest rate is 2% per annum. The conversion price is approximately $21.26 per common share of Vector Com. As of December 31, 2022 and 2023, the Management estimated the fair value of the note to be $88,599, and $77,307, respectively.

Variable Interest Entity

Under FASB Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 810, Consolidation, when a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of an entity that is a variable interest entity (“VIE”), as defined in ASC 810, the VIE must be consolidated into the financial statements of the reporting entity. The determination of which owner is the primary beneficiary of a VIE requires management to make significant estimates and judgments about the rights, obligations, and economic interests of each interest holder in the VIE.

The Company evaluates its interests in VIE’s on an ongoing basis and consolidates any VIE in which it has a controlling financial interest and is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. A controlling financial interest has both of the following characteristics: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to it or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could be significant to the VIE.

Impact of Inflation

We believe that inflation has not had a material impact on our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. We cannot assure you that future inflation will not have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition.

Impact of Foreign Exchange Rates

The effect of foreign exchange rate changes on the intercompany loans (under ASC 830), which mostly consist of loans from Singapore to the United States and which were approximately $23 million and $51 million on December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, are the reason for the significant fluctuation of foreign currency transaction Gain or Loss on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Income. Because the intercompany loan balances between Singapore and United States will remain at approximately $23 million over the next year, we expect this fluctuation of foreign exchange rates to still significantly impact the results of operations in the year 2024, especially given that the foreign exchange rate may and is expected to be volatile. If the amount of intercompany loan is lowered in the future, the effect will also be reduced. However, at this moment, we do not expect to repay the intercompany loans in the short term.

Emerging Growth Company Status

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company or until we affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of this exemption.

Controls and Procedures

We are not currently required to maintain an effective system of internal controls as defined by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Only in the event that we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer would we be required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement. Further, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement.

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements included in this Report. The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and reflect management’s judgment and estimates concerning effects of events and transactions that are accounted for or disclosed.

Management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to our ability to record, process, summarize and report reliable data. Management recognizes that there are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of internal control. Accordingly, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.

In order to ensure that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, management regularly assesses controls and did so most recently for its financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. This assessment was based on criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) of the Treadway Commission. In connection with management’s evaluation of the effectiveness of our company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, management determined that our company did not maintain effective controls over financial reporting due to having a limited staff. This limited number of staff prevents us from segregating duties within our internal control system; and restricts our ability to timely evaluate the accuracy and completeness of our financial statement disclosures. Management determined that the ineffective controls over financial reporting constitute a material weakness. To remediate such weaknesses, we plan to appoint additional qualified personnel with financial accounting, GAAP and SEC experience.

This Report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Report.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies.

Item 8. Financial Statements

Alset Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

December 31, 2023 and 2022

Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Alset Inc. and Subsidiaries

Bethesda, Maryland

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Alset Inc. and Subsidiaries, (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Emphasis of Matter

The Company has significant transactions with related parties which are described in Note 8 of the consolidated financial statements. Transactions involving related parties cannot be presumed to be carried out on an arm’s length basis, as the requisite condition of competitive, free market dealings may not exist.

Grassi & Co., CPAs, P.C.

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2022.

Jericho, New York

April 1, 2024

Alset Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Alset Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Other Comprehensive Loss

For the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

Alset Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

For Two Year Period Ended December 31, 2023