Alset EHome International (AEI) DRSDraft registration statement

You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you under the captions “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.

For investors outside the United States, we have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the U.S. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus and any free writing prospectus related to this offering in jurisdictions outside the U.S. are required to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions as to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus applicable to that jurisdiction.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways with which you may not agree. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of these net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. It is possible that the proceeds will be invested or otherwise used in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for our company. See the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus for a more detailed discussion of our expected use of the net proceeds from this offering.

  

The public offering price of shares of our common stock is higher than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per outstanding share of our common stock. You will incur immediate dilution of $ per share in the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of shares of our common stock, based on an assumed public offering price of $ per share, the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April , 2021.

To the extent that we raise additional funds through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities will result in dilution to our stockholders. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into common stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in this offering. Future sales at a per share price less than that paid in this offering could cause further anti-dilution adjustments to our Series B preferred Stock, if any remains outstanding.

This prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, including the documents that we incorporate by reference, contain forward-looking statements concerning our business, operations and financial performance and condition, as well as our plans, objectives and expectations for our business, operations and financial performance and condition. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “positioned,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our future financial performance, including our revenue, costs of revenue, operating expenses and profitability;

We believe that it is important to communicate our future expectations to our investors. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to accurately predict or control and that may cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations we describe in our forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. As a result, any or all of our forward-looking statements in this prospectus may turn out to be inaccurate. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. We assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward- looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

You should read this prospectus and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. 

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $_______ (or approximately $       if the underwriter exercises its option in full to purchase additional shares of our common stock), based upon an assumed public offering price of $      per share, which is the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April   , 2021, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We intend to use the net proceeds (i) to fund possible acquisitions of new companies and additional properties, (ii) to fund the further development of properties, including services and infrastructure; (iii) to develop rental opportunities at properties;and (iv) for working capital and general corporate purposes.

A significant portion of the net proceeds of this offering may be used to fund possible acquisitions of new companies in the markets in which we operate, or may operate in the future, and to acquire additional real estate development properties. We intend to acquire all or substantially all of an acquisition target’s voting stock and only in limited cases acquire less than 51% of the voting stock. We have no such acquisition agreements or commitments in place at this time.

Working capital and general corporate purposes may include amounts required to pay officers’ salaries, professional fees, ongoing public reporting costs, office-related expenses and other corporate expenses, including interest and overhead. Working capital may also include up to approximately which may be used for our sales and marketing and/or product enhancement efforts.

The expected use of net proceeds from this offering represents our intention based upon our present plans and business conditions. We cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the proceeds of this offering or the amounts that we will actually spend on the uses set forth above. Accordingly, our management will have significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. The timing and amount of our actual expenditures will be based on many factors, including cash flows from operations and the anticipated growth of our business. Pending their use, we intend to invest the net proceeds of this offering in a variety of capital-preservation investments, including short- and intermediate-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities.

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and total capitalization as of December 31, 2020:

The following information is illustrative only of our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization following the completion of this offering and will change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read this table together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share and the pro forma, as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets less total liabilities by the number of outstanding shares of common stock.

As of December 31, 2020, we had a net tangible book value of $57,101,337 or $7per share of common stock (calculated based on 8,570,000 outstanding). Our pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets reduced by the amount of our total liabilities and divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2020.

Investors participating in this offering will incur immediate and substantial dilution. After giving effect to the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $ per share, which is the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April , 2021, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2020, would have been approximately $ or $ per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in the pro forma net tangible book value of $ per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $[ ] per share to investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution on a per share basis:

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $ per share would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted dilution to new investors to $ per share, assuming that the number of shares offered, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Similarly, each increase of 100,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered would increase the as further adjusted net tangible book value, as adjusted to give effect to this offering, to approximately $ per share and decrease the dilution to new investors to $ per share, assuming the public offering price remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. Each decrease of 100,000 shares in the number of shares of common stock offered would decrease the as adjusted net tangible book value, as adjusted to give effect to this offering, to approximately $ per share and increase the dilution to new investors to $ per share, assuming the assumed public offering price remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. If the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option in full to purchase additional shares of common stock from us in this offering to cover over-allotments, if any, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering would be $ per share, the increase in the pro forma net tangible book value per share to existing stockholders would be $ per share and the dilution per share to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering would be $ per share.

The following table illustrates, on an as adjusted basis as of December 31, 2020, the differences between the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid, and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders and new investors purchasing shares of our common stock in this offering based on an assumed public offering price of $ per share, which is the closing price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April , 2021, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses.

 

In addition, if the underwriter exercises its over-allotment option to purchase additional shares in full, the number of shares held by new investors would increase to , or % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering.

To the extent that stock options are exercised, new options are issued under our 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

 

Our authorized capital stock consists of 20,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a $0.001 par value per share, all of which shares of preferred stock will be undesignated. Our board of directors may establish the rights and preferences of the preferred stock from time to time. As of April , 2021, there were shares of common stock issued and outstanding, and no shares of preferred stock were issued or outstanding.

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders and there are no cumulative rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of legally available funds. If there is a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, holders of our common stock would be entitled to share in our assets remaining after the payment of liabilities and any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock.

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock will be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which we may designate and issue in the future.

Under the terms of our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible future acquisitions and other corporate purposes, will affect, and may adversely affect, the rights of holders of common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock on the rights of holders of common stock until the board of directors determines the specific rights attached to that preferred stock. The effects of issuing preferred stock could include one or more of the following:

We have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Certain provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, may have the effect of discouraging coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides that stockholders are not entitled to the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors.

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

Our charter documents provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by resolution adopted by our board of directors, chairman of the board of directors or chief executive officer or upon the written request of stockholders owning at least 33.3% of the outstanding common stock. Stockholders owning less than such required amount may not call a special meeting, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for holders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.

Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors. However, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a three-year period following the time that this stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

 

In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by our directors, officers or other employees to us or to our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any director, officer or other employee arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our certificate of incorporation or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants; provided that these provisions of our certificate of incorporation will not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Our certificate of incorporation further provides that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides for, under certain circumstances, the indemnification of our officers, directors, employees and agents against liabilities that they may incur in such capacities. A summary of the circumstances in which such indemnification provided for is contained herein.

In general, the statute provides that any director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation may be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred in a proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceeding) to which the individual was a party by reason of such status. Such indemnity may be provided if the indemnified person’s actions resulting in the liabilities: (i) were taken in good faith; (ii) were reasonably believed to have been in or not opposed to our best interest; and (iii) with respect to any criminal action, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the actions were unlawful. Unless ordered by a court, indemnification generally may be awarded only after a determination of independent members of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, by independent legal counsel or by vote of the stockholders that the applicable standard of conduct was met by the individual to be indemnified.

The statutory provisions further provide that to the extent a director, officer, employee or agent is wholly successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding to which he was a party, he is entitled to receive indemnification against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the proceeding.

Indemnification in connection with a proceeding by us or in our right in which the director, officer, employee or agent is successful is permitted only with respect to expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense. In such actions, the person to be indemnified must have acted in good faith, in a manner believed to have been in our best interest and must not have been adjudged liable to us unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expense which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Indemnification is otherwise prohibited in connection with a proceeding brought on our behalf in which a director is adjudged liable to us, or in connection with any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director in which the director is adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit.

Delaware law authorizes us to reimburse or pay reasonable expenses incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent in connection with a proceeding in advance of a final disposition of the matter. Such advances of expenses are permitted if the person furnishes to us a written agreement to repay such advances if it is determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by us.

 

The statutory section cited above further specifies that any provisions for indemnification of or advances for expenses does not exclude other rights under our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, resolutions of our stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. These indemnification provisions continue for a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such persons. 

The statutory provision cited above also grants us the power to purchase and maintain insurance policies that protect any director, officer, employee or agent against any liability asserted against or incurred by him in such capacity arising out of his status as such. Such policies may provide for indemnification whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to provide for it.

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of our company shall not be personally liable to our company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Our bylaws provide that each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of our company or is or was serving at the request of our company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether thebasis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as such director, officer, employee, or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as such director, officer, employee, or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by our company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability, and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, other expenses and losses, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent, and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

Our common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “AEI.”

Aegis Capital Corp. (“Aegis”) is acting as the representative of the underwriters and the book-running manager of this offering. Under the terms of an underwriting agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us the respective number of shares of common stock shown opposite its name below: 

The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions we will pay to Aegis. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our common stock.

 

We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $ , including a 1.5% non-accountable expense allowance. We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses, including “roadshow”, diligence, and reasonable legal fees and disbursements, in an amount not to exceed $150,000 in the aggregate.

As additional compensation to the representative, upon consummation of this offering, we will issue to the representative or its designees warrants to purchase an aggregate number of shares of our common stock equal to 5% of the number of shares of common stock issued in this offering, at an exercise price per share equal to 140% of the public offering price (the “Underwriter Warrants”). The Underwriter Warrants and the underlying shares of common stock will not be exercised, sold, transferred, assigned, or hypothecated or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the Underwriter Warrants by any person for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the registration statement for this offering in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110.  The Underwriter Warrants will expire 24 months from issuance. In addition, the Underwriter Warrant provides for registration rights and customary anti-dilution provisions (for stock dividends and splits and recapitalizations) consistent with FINRA Rule 5110.

We have granted to the underwriters an option to purchase up to additional shares of our common stock (15% of the shares sold in the offering) at the public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option in whole or in part at any time within 45 days after the date of the offering. To the extent the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be committed, so long as the conditions of the underwriting agreement are satisfied, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriters’ initial commitment as indicated in the table at the beginning of this section plus, in the event that any underwriter defaults in its obligation to purchase shares under the underwriting agreement, certain additional shares.

We have agreed to grant to the Representative a right of first refusal for a period of one year following the closing of this offering or until an offering occurs which the Representative declined, to effect a proposed U.S. public offering of any debt or equity securities (other than bank debt or similar financing) by us on terms as favorable as previously offered in writing by a reputable investment banker, subject to certain exceptions, provided that at least $40,000,000 of gross proceeds is raised by us in this offering.

In accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the underwriters may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our common stock, including short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short positions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions, penalty bids and passive market making.

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result of these activities, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the Representative will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

We have agreed to indemnify Aegis, its affiliates an each person controlling Aegis against any losses, claims, damages, judgments, assessments, costs, and other liabilities, as the same are incurred (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), relating to or arising out of the offering, undertaken in good faith.

 

The underwriters have informed us that they do not expect to make sales to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority in excess of 5% of the shares of our common stock being offered in this offering.

We, and all of our directors and executive officers have agreed that, for a period of ninety (90) days after the date of the offering, subject to certain limited exceptions, we and they will not directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Aegis, (a) offer, sell, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; or (b) file or caused to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company.

 The prior sentence will not apply to (i) the shares to be sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (ii) any shares of common stock issued upon the exercise of an option or other security outstanding on the date of the Offering, (iii) such issuances of options or grants of restricted stock or other equity-based awards under the Company’s 2018 Incentive Compensation Plan and the issuance of shares issuable upon exercise of any such equity-based awards, (iv) the filing of registration statements on Form S-8, (v) the issuance of securities to affiliates and subsidiaries of the Company, and, (vi) the issuance of securities in connection with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing arrangements or any other similar non-capital raising transactions.

Aegis, in its sole discretion, may release the common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time. When determining whether or not to release common stock and other securities from lock-up agreements, Aegis will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of shares of common stock and other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time. 

Aegis may in the future provide us and our affiliates with investment banking and financial advisory services for which Aegis may in the future receive customary fees. Aegis may release, or authorize us to release, as the case may be, the common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time with or without notice.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The Representative may allocate a number of shares to the underwriters and selling group members, if any, for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Any such allocations for online distributions will be made by the representative on the same basis as other allocations.

Our common stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “AEI.”

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Direct Transfer, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, authorizes us to indemnify any director or officer under certain prescribed circumstances and subject to certain limitations against certain costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which a person is a party by reason of being one of our directors or officers if it is determined that such person acted in accordance with the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provisions. Our certificate of incorporation contains provisions relating to the indemnification of director and officers and our bylaws extend such indemnities to the full extent permitted by Delaware law. We may also purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any director or officer, which may cover claims for which we could not indemnify such persons.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2020 incorporated by reference in this registration statement have been so included in reliance on the report of Briggs & Veselka Co., an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in this registration statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2019 incorporated by reference in this registration statement have been so included in reliance on the report of Rosenberg Rich Baker Berman, P.A., an independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein and in this registration statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 (including the exhibits, schedules and amendments to the registration statement) under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering, we refer you to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other documents to which we make reference are not necessarily complete. In each instance, we refer you to the copy of such contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement.

We are subject to the reporting and information requirements of the Exchange Act and, as a result, we file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy this information at the Public Reference Room of the SEC located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. Copies of all or any part of the registration statement may be obtained from the SEC’s offices upon payment of fees prescribed by the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains periodic and current reports, information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov.

We will provide a copy of our annual report to stockholders, including our audited consolidated financial statements, at no charge upon written request sent to Alset EHome International Inc., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 210, Bethesda, Maryland 20814. Our corporate website is located at www.alsetehomeintl.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered to be a part of this prospectus.

Until , 2021 (25 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade shares of our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions. 

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting commissions and the underwriter's unaccountable expense allowance, to be paid in connection with the sale of the shares of common stock being registered, all of which we will pay. All amounts, other than the SEC registration fee, and the FINRA filing fee are estimates.

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides for, under certain circumstances, the indemnification of our officers, directors, employees and agents against liabilities that they may incur in such capacities. A summary of the circumstances in which such indemnification provided for is contained herein.

In general, the statute provides that any director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation may be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred in a proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative proceeding) to which the individual was a party by reason of such status. Such indemnity may be provided if the indemnified person’s actions resulting in the liabilities: (i) were taken in good faith; (ii) were reasonably believed to have been in or not opposed to our best interest; and (iii) with respect to any criminal action, such person had no reasonable cause to believe the actions were unlawful. Unless ordered by a court, indemnification generally may be awarded only after a determination of independent members of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, by independent legal counsel or by vote of the stockholders that the applicable standard of conduct was met by the individual to be indemnified.

The statutory provisions further provide that to the extent a director, officer, employee or agent is wholly successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any proceeding to which he was a party, he is entitled to receive indemnification against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the proceeding.

Indemnification in connection with a proceeding by us or in our right in which the director, officer, employee or agent is successful is permitted only with respect to expenses, including attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense. In such actions, the person to be indemnified must have acted in good faith, in a manner believed to have been in our best interest and must not have been adjudged liable to us unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expense which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. Indemnification is otherwise prohibited in connection with a proceeding brought on our behalf in which a director is adjudged liable to us, or in connection with any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director in which the director is adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit.

Delaware law authorizes us to reimburse or pay reasonable expenses incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent in connection with a proceeding in advance of a final disposition of the matter. Such advances of expenses are permitted if the person furnishes to us a written agreement to repay such advances if it is determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by us.

 

The statutory section cited above further specifies that any provisions for indemnification of or advances for expenses does not exclude other rights under our certificate of incorporation, bylaws, resolutions of our stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. These indemnification provisions continue for a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such persons. 

The statutory provision cited above also grants us the power to purchase and maintain insurance policies that protect any director, officer, employee or agent against any liability asserted against or incurred by him in such capacity arising out of his status as such. Such policies may provide for indemnification whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to provide for it.

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, a director of our company shall not be personally liable to our company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Our bylaws provide that each person who was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of our company or is or was serving at the request of our company as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as such director, officer, employee, or agent, or in any other capacity while serving as such director, officer, employee, or agent, shall be indemnified and held harmless by our company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability, and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, other expenses and losses, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, and excise taxes or penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith, and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent, and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, and administrators.

At present, we do not maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in order to limit the exposure to liability for indemnification of directors and officers, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933; however, we are in the process of obtaining such insurance.

On October 1, 2018, we issued a total of 10,000,000 shares of our common stock as follows:

Effective as of March 12, 2021, the Company into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) with Mr. Chan Heng Fai, the founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, True Partners International Limited, LiquidValue Development Pte Ltd. (“LVD”) and American Pacific Bancorp, Inc. (“APB”), pursuant to which the Company purchased from Chan Heng Fai (i) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase 1,500,000,000 shares of Alset International Limited (“Alset International”); (ii) 1,000,000 shares of LVD’s common stock, constituting all of the issued and outstanding stock of LVD; (iii) 62,122,908 ordinary shares in True Partners Capital Holding Limited (“True Partner”); and (iv) 4,775,523 shares of APB’s Class B common stock, representing 86.44% of the total issued and outstanding common stock of APB. The four acquisitions set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement closed on March 12, 2021. The Company has issued four convertible notes to Chan Heng Fai as follows: (i) a convertible note in the amount of $28,363,966 for warrants to purchase 1,500,000,000 shares of Alset International; (ii) a convertible note in the amount of $173,394.87 to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of LVD; (iii) a convertible note in the amount of $6,729,629.29 to acquire 62,122,908 ordinary shares of True Partners; and (iv) a convertible note in the amount of $28,653,138 for 4,775,523 Class B shares of APB. Such four notes will only become convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock following the approval of the Company’s shareholders. Subject to such shareholder approval, each note shall be convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price equal to $5.59 per share (equivalent to the average five closing per share prices of the Company’s common stock preceding January 4, 2021). Each convertible note matures in three years, has an interest rate of 2% per annum and the principal amount and accrued but unpaid interest shall be payable on the maturity date, subject to the conversion of each convertible note.

(a) Exhibits

The exhibits listed in the following Exhibit Index are filed as part of this Registration Statement.

 

 

 (b) Financial Statement Schedules

 

None.

  

 

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

(a)     That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective;

(b)     That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

(c)     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(d)          That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bethesda, State of Maryland, on , 2021.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.