OST Ostin Technology Group Company Ltd

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-279177

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated May 7, 2024)

 

Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd.

 

 

1,623,376 Class A Ordinary Shares

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus relates to the offering and sale of 1,623,376 class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), in a registered direct offering to a certain purchaser, Strattners Bank SA (“Strattners”, or the “Purchaser”), a financial institution, in a privately negotiated transaction pursuant to this prospectus supplement. The offering price for each Class A Ordinary Share is $0.1848 per share, which was determined at a 30% discount to the average closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of that certain securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) dated as of November 18, 2024, entered into between the Company and the Purchaser. We have not retained an underwriter or placement agent with respect to this offering and therefore are not paying any underwriting discounts or commissions. We estimate the total expenses of this offering will be approximately $45,000.

 

Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3, in no event will we sell the securities covered hereby in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our Class A Ordinary Shares in any 12-month period so long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates remains below $75,000,000. The aggregate market value of our outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates is approximately $5,410,086 based on the closing price of $0.50 per Class A Ordinary Share on October 31, 2024 and 10,820,172 Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus supplement, we have offered or sold only $1,360,000 of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3.

 

Our Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “OST”. The last reported sales price of our Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on November 15, 2024 was $0.2379 per share.

 

In addition, and resulting from the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, Strattners may be deemed as an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-47 of this prospectus supplement for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

Ostin is an “emerging growth company” as defined in section 3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and is therefore eligible for certain exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to reporting companies under the Exchange Act.

 

 

In reviewing this prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the matters described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 as well as the matters described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 15 of the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporate by reference herein and therein. The securities offered by this prospectus involve a high degree of risk including but not limited to the volatility of our stock price.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, in this prospectus supplement, the term(s) “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” the “Company,” or similar terms refer to Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd. and/or its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if either this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Ostin is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, Ostin conducts substantially all of its operations through the operating entities established in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC, primarily Jiangsu Austin Optronics Technology Co., Ltd. (“Jiangsu Austin”), Ostin’s majority owned subsidiary and its subsidiaries. Investors of Ostin’s securities should be aware that they may never directly hold equity interests in the PRC subsidiaries, but rather purchasing equity solely in Ostin, the Cayman Islands holding company. The Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this offering are of the Cayman Islands holding company instead of securities of Ostin’s PRC subsidiaries. Investing in Ostin’s securities is highly speculative and involves a significant degree of risk. The risks could result in a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors.

 

As a Cayman Islands holding company with operations primarily conducted by its subsidiaries based in China, Ostin and its subsidiaries are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations and face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties relating to doing business in China. For example, Ostin and its subsidiaries in the PRC face risks associated with regulatory approvals on offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, as well as the lack of inspection on our auditors by the PCAOB, which may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or list and conduct offerings on a United States or other foreign exchange. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. For a detailed description of risks relating to doing business in China, please refer to risks disclosed under “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China” on page S-8  of this prospectus supplement.

 

PRC government’s significant authority in regulating our operations and its oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Implementation of industry-wide regulations, including data security or anti-monopoly related regulations, in this nature may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. We are not operating in an industry that prohibits or limits foreign investment. As a result, as advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, other than those requisite for a domestic company in China to engage in the businesses similar to ours, we are not required to obtain any permission from Chinese authorities, including the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) or any other governmental agency that is required to approve our operations. However, if we do not receive or maintain the approvals, or we inadvertently conclude that such approvals are not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval in the future, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. For more details, see “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China- The PRC government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we conduct our business activities. The PRC government may also intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could decline in value or become worthless.” on page S-11 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

Risks and uncertainties arising from the legal system in China, including risks and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and quickly evolving rules and regulations in China, could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and relevant five guidelines (collectively, the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”), which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures comprehensively improve and reform the existing regulatory regime for overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities and regulates both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (i) mainland China domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; if a mainland China domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such mainland China domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines; (ii) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a mainland China domestic company: (a) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (b) its major operational activities are carried out in mainland China or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures require subsequent reports to be filed with the CSRC on material events, such as change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuers who have completed overseas offerings and listings. In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the first offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Overseas Listing Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or be worthless. For more details, see “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China- There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.” on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

Furthermore, as more stringent criteria have been imposed by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) recently, Ostin’s securities may be prohibited from trading if our auditor cannot be fully inspected. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued its determination that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions, and the PCAOB included in the report of its determination a list of the accounting firms that are headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong. This list does not include our auditor, TPS Thayer, LLC. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”) with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of China (“MOF”). The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate the previous 2021 determination report to the contrary. On December 29, 2022, a legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden. The Consolidated Appropriations Act contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which reduces the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act from three years to two. As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) now also applies if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate the relevant accounting firm is due to a position taken by an authority in any foreign jurisdiction. The denying jurisdiction does not need to be where the accounting firm is located. Our current auditor, TPS Thayer, LLC, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the future, if there is any regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit our auditor to provide audit documentations located in China to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, investors may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection. Any audit reports not issued by auditors that are completely inspected by the PCAOB, or a lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China that prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditors’ audits and their quality control procedures, could result in a lack of assurance that our financial statements and disclosures are adequate and accurate, then such lack of inspection could cause Ostin’s securities to be delisted from the stock exchange. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China - Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our auditors. The delisting of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.” on page S-18 of this prospectus supplement.

 

Ostin is a holding company with no operations of its own. We conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries in China. As a result, although other means are available for us to obtain financing at the holding company level, Ostin’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur may depend upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries. If any of our PRC subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to Ostin. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to Ostin only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Further, our PRC subsidiaries are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation of the companies. For more details, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-B. Liquidity and Capital Resources-Holding Company Structure.” in our annual report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 (“2023 Annual Report”) and Ex. 99.1 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 in our current report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on August 26, 2024 (“Interim Results”), which are incorporated herein by reference to in this prospectus supplement.

 

Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to us. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned enterprise out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. The amounts restricted include the paid-up capital and the statutory reserve funds of our PRC subsidiaries, totaled US$25,733,711 as of March 31, 2024, and US$24,753,990, US$24,752,533 and US$11,889,822 as of September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

 

Furthermore, cash transfers from our PRC subsidiaries to entities outside of China are subject to PRC government controls on currency conversion. To the extent cash in our business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, such cash may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to restrictions and limitations imposed by the governmental authorities on the ability of us or our PRC subsidiaries to transfer cash outside of the PRC. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may temporarily delay the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated obligations. In view of the foregoing, to the extent cash in our business is held in China or by a PRC entity, such cash may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC. For risks relating to the fund flows of our operations in China, see “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China-We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund offshore cash and financing requirements and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to transfer cash out of China and/or make remittance to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities” on page S-15 of this prospectus supplement and “- PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and future financings to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.” on page S-15 of this prospectus supplement.

 

Under PRC law, Ostin may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or loans, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. For the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Ostin provided funding to its PRC subsidiaries of US$1,307,400 and nil, respectively. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, Ostin provided funding to its PRC subsidiaries of nil, US$4,078,600 and nil, respectively.

 

In addition, funds are transferred among our PRC subsidiaries for working capital purposes, primarily between Jiangsu Austin, our main operating subsidiary and its subsidiaries. The following table provides a summary of the distributions and working capital funds transferred between Jiangsu Austin and its subsidiaries:

 

		Six Months Ended March 31,								Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
		2024				2023				2023				2022				2021
Cash transferred to its subsidiaries from Jiangsu Austin		$	3,858,033			$	8,001,960			$	8,617,106			$	9,096,665			$	-
Cash transferred to Jiangsu Austin from its subsidiaries		$	3,639,382			$	4,017,258			$	-			$	-			$	7,640,965

 

The transfer of funds among companies are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Second Amendment, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was implemented on January 1, 2021 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. The Provisions on Private Lending Cases set forth that private lending contracts will be upheld as invalid under the circumstance that (i) the lender swindles loans from financial institutions for relending; (ii) the lender relends the funds obtained by means of a loan from another profit-making legal person, raising funds from its employees, illegally taking deposits from the public; (iii) the lender who has not obtained the lending qualification according to the law lends money to any unspecified object of the society for the purpose of making profits; (iv) the lender lends funds to a borrower when the lender knows or should have known that the borrower intended to use the borrowed funds for illegal or criminal purposes; (v) the lending is violations of public orders or good morals; or (vi) the lending is in violations of mandatory provisions of laws or administrative regulations. As advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - Regulation - Regulations Relating to Private Lending.” in our 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Our majority owned subsidiary, Jiangsu Austin, has maintained cash management policies which dictate the purpose, amount and procedure of cash transfers between Jiangsu Austin and its subsidiaries. Cash transferred to Jiangsu Austin’s subsidiaries of less than RMB5 million (US$0.69 million) must be reported to and reviewed by Jiangsu Austin’s financial department and the relevant PRC subsidiary’s chief executive officer, and must be approved by the Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of Jiangsu Austin. Cash transfer in excess of RMB5 million (US$0.69 million) but less than RMB20 million (US$2.74 million), and less than 50% of Jiangsu Austin’s consolidated total assets must be approved by the board of directors of Jiangsu Austin. Cash transfer in excess of RMB20 million (US$2.74 million), or more than 50% of Jiangsu Austin’s consolidated total assets must be approved by shareholders of Jiangsu Austin. Jiangsu Austin conducts regular review and management of all its subsidiaries’ cash transfers and reports to its Risk Management Department and board of directors. For further description of relevant PRC-related risks to this offering, see "Risk Factors - Risks Related to Doing Business in China" and "Risk Factors - Risks Related to Ownership of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares and This Offering."

 

We will deliver the Class A Ordinary Shares being issued to the Purchaser upon closing and receipt of funds for the purchase of the Class A Ordinary Shares offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement. We expect the delivery of such securities against payment in U.S. dollars will be made, with respect to the Class A Ordinary Shares sold at the closing, in New York, New York on or about November 19, 2024.

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is November 18, 2024.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		S-iii
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS		S-iv
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY		S-1
RISK FACTORS		S-8
USE OF PROCEEDS		S-34
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES BEING OFFERED		S-35
CAPITALIZATION		S-45
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		S-47
LEGAL MATTERS		S-49
EXPERTS		S-49
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL		S-49
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		S-49
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		S-50

 

 

Prospectus

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		ii
CONVENTIONS THAT APPLY TO THIS PROSPECTUS		iii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		1
RISK FACTORS		15
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		30
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE		30
USE OF PROCEEDS		31
CAPITALIZATION		31
DILUTION		31
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL		32
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		42
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		44
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS		46
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		47
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES		47
TAXATION		48
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		48
EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION		51
LEGAL MATTERS		51
EXPERTS		51
INDEMNIFICATION		51
MATERIAL CHANGES		51
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		52
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		53

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This prospectus supplement relates to a registration statement that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (which we refer to as the “SEC”) utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer, sell and issue any of the securities or any combination of the securities described in the accompanying prospectus in one or more offerings. The accompanying prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. This prospectus supplement contains specific information about the terms of this offering by us. This prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus filed by us (unless otherwise specifically stated therein) may add, update or change information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. You should read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus filed by us together with the information described under the sections entitled, “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and any additional information you may need to make your investment decision.

 

Prospective investors should be aware that the acquisition of the securities described herein may have tax consequences in the United States. Such consequences for investors who are resident in, or citizens of, the United States may not be described fully in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. See “Item 10. Additional Information – E. Taxation” in our 2023 Annual Report.

 

The registration statement that contains the accompanying prospectus (SEC File No. 333-279177) (including the exhibits filed with and the information incorporated by reference into the registration statement) contains additional important business and financial information about us and the securities offered hereby that is not presented or delivered with this prospectus supplement. That registration statement, including the exhibits filed with the registration statement and the information incorporated by reference into the registration statement, can be read at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, or at the SEC office mentioned under the section of this prospectus supplement entitled “Where to Find Additional Information” below.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on our behalf. Neither we, nor the Agents, have authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. Neither we, nor the Agents, take responsibility for, nor can we provide assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide. The Agents are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information contained in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or such other date stated in this prospectus supplement, and our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in this prospectus supplement, we have not taken any action to permit a public offering of these securities outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of these securities and the distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus outside the United States.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus contain or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act and section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements may involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. 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 financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein.

 

You should read thoroughly this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference or otherwise referred to in this prospectus supplement with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. Other sections of this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference to in this prospectus supplement include additional factors which could adversely impact our business operated primarily through our subsidiaries in China and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business through our subsidiaries in China or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus supplement are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed and described under “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, “Risk Factors” in Item 3.D. to our 2023 Annual Report and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and in filings incorporated by reference, and the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference or otherwise referred to in this prospectus supplement, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities carries a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated therein by reference, including our historical and pro forma financial statements and related notes, before you decide to purchase the Class A Ordinary Shares. Any one of these risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause material adverse effects on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results which could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements expressed by us and a significant decrease in the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. Refer to “Forward-Looking Statements”.

 

We may not be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any of the following risks and uncertainties may cause. These potential risks and uncertainties may not be a complete list of the risks and uncertainties facing us. There may be additional risks and uncertainties that we are presently unaware of, or presently consider immaterial, that may become material in the future and have a material adverse effect on us. You could lose all or a significant portion of your investment due to any of these risks and uncertainties.

 

Risks Related to Doing Business in China 

 

Changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC government or in relations between China and the United States may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and may result in our inability to sustain our growth and expansion strategies.

 

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC and a majority of our revenues are sourced from the PRC. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations are affected to a significant extent by economic, political and legal developments in the PRC or changes in government relations between China and the United States or other governments. There is significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs.

 

The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the extent of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth by allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, regulating financial services and institutions and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

 

While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past four decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall PRC economy, but may also have a negative effect on us. Our financial condition and results of operation could be materially and adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. In addition, the PRC government has implemented in the past certain measures, including interest rate increases, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity.

 

In July 2021, the Chinese government provided new guidance on China-based companies raising capital outside of China, including through VIE arrangements. In light of such developments, the SEC has imposed enhanced disclosure requirements on China-based companies seeking to register securities with the SEC. In February 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five supporting guidelines, which took effect on March 31, 2023. As substantially all of our operations are based in China, any future Chinese, U.S. or other rules and regulations that place restrictions on capital raising or other activities by China based companies could adversely affect our business and results of operations. If the business environment in China deteriorates from the perspective of domestic or international investment, or if relations between China and the United States or other governments deteriorate, the Chinese government may intervene with our operations and our business in China and United States, as well as the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, may also be adversely affected.

 

There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.

 

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC, and are governed by PRC laws, rules and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

 

 

In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past four decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws, rules and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China or may be subject to significant degrees of interpretation by PRC regulatory agencies. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited number of published decisions and the nonbinding nature of such decisions, and because the laws, rules and regulations often give the relevant regulator significant discretion in how to enforce them, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involve uncertainties and can be inconsistent and unpredictable. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, and which may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until after the occurrence of the violation.

 

Administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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

 

In June 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law, among other things, provides for security review procedure for data-related activities that may affect national security. In November 2021, the CAC released the Administrative Regulations on Internet Data Security (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Data Security Regulations, which provides that data processors refer to individuals or organizations that, during their data processing activities such as data collection, storage, utilization, transmission, publication and deletion, have autonomy over the purpose and the manner of data processing. In accordance with the Draft Data Security Regulations, data processors shall apply for a cybersecurity review for certain activities, including, among other things, (i) the listing abroad of data processors that process the personal information of more than one million individuals and (ii) any data processing activity that affects or may affect national security. However, there have been no clarifications from the relevant authorities as of the date of this prospectus supplement as to the standards for determining whether an activity is one that “affects or may affect national security.” In addition, the Draft Data Security Regulations requires that data processors that process “important data” or are listed overseas must conduct an annual data security assessment by itself or commission a data security service provider to do so, and submit the assessment report of the preceding year to the municipal cybersecurity department by the end of January each year. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, the Draft Data Security Regulations was released for public comment only, and their respective provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date may be subject to change with substantial uncertainty.

 

On December 28, 2021, the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) was promulgated and took effect on February 15, 2022, which iterates that any “online platform operators” controlling personal information of more than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should also be subject to cybersecurity review. On September 14, 2022, the CAC published the Decision of Amending PRC Cybersecurity Law (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Amendment to PRC Cybersecurity Law, which, among other things, aggravated legal liabilities for violations of cybersecurity obligations and critical information infrastructure operators’ obligations. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, the Draft Amendment to PRC Cybersecurity Law was released for public comment only, and its respective provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date may be subject to change with substantial uncertainty.

 

On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law, which took effect on November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law aims at protecting the personal information rights and interests, regulating the processing of personal information, ensuring the orderly and free flow of personal information in accordance with the law, and promoting the reasonable use of personal information. According to the Personal Information Protection Law, personal information includes all kinds of identified or identifiable information related to natural persons recorded by electronic or other means, but excludes de-identified information. The Personal Information Protection Law also specified the rules for handling sensitive personal information, which includes biometrics, religious beliefs, specific identities, medical health, financial accounts, trails and locations, and personal information of teenagers under fourteen years old and other personal information, which, upon leakage or illegal usage, may easily infringe the personal dignity or harm of safety of livelihood and property. Personal information handlers shall bear responsibility for their personal information handling activities, and adopt necessary measures to safeguard the security of the personal information they handle. Otherwise, the personal information handlers will be ordered for rectification or suspension or termination of provision of services, confiscation of illegal income, subject to fines or other penalties.

 

 

On July 7, 2022, the CAC issued the Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-border Transfer of Data, effective from September 1, 2022. The measures provide that four types of cross-border transfers of critical data or personal data generated from or collected in the PRC should be subject to a security assessment, which include: (i) a data processor to transfer important data overseas; (ii) either a critical information infrastructure operator, or a data processor processing personal information of more than 1 million individuals, transfers personal information overseas; (iii) a data processor who has, since January 1 of the previous year, transferred personal information of more than 100,000 individuals overseas cumulatively, or transferred sensitive personal information of more than 10,000 individuals overseas cumulatively; or (iv) other circumstances under which security assessment of data cross-border transfer is required as prescribed by the national cyberspace administration. We have applied for a security assessment by the CAC regarding the cross-border transfer of certain data in our business operations in accordance with the Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-border Transfer of Data. However, since these measures are relatively new, the interpretation and implementation of these measures in practice are subject to changes, including the assessment result by the CAC.

 

As advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, we are not among “data processor” as mentioned above. The Company, through Jiangsu Austin and its subsidiaries, is a supplier of display modules and polarizers in China, and designs, develops and manufactures TFT-LCD modules, and neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is engaged in data activities as defined under the Personal Information Protection Law, which includes, without limitation, collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, publication and deletion of data. In addition, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is an operator of any “critical information infrastructure” as defined under the PRC Cybersecurity Law and the Security Protection Measures on Critical Information Infrastructure. However, Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) was recently adopted and the Opinions remain unclear on how it will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities.

 

There remains uncertainties as to when the final measures will be issued and take effect, how they will be enacted, interpreted or implemented, and whether they will affect us. If we inadvertently conclude that the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) do not apply to us, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and it is determined in the future that the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) become applicable to us, we may be subject to review when conducting data processing activities, and may face challenges in addressing its requirements and make necessary changes to our internal policies and practices. We may incur substantial costs in complying with the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version), which could result in material adverse changes in our business operations and financial position. If we are not able to fully comply with the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version), our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors may be significantly limited or completely hindered, and Ostin’s securities may significantly decline in value or become worthless.

 

On December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Provisions, and the CSRC issued a draft of Administration Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Administration Measures, for public comments., and if enacted, they may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future.

 

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Circular of the People’s Republic of China on Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing of Domestic Enterprises, or the Circular of Overseas Listing and Offering, and the Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five relevant guidelines, or the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. According to the Circular of Overseas Listing and Offering, issuers that have already been listed in an overseas market by March 31, 2023, such as our company, are not required to make any immediate filing. In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the first offering in connection with this registration statement. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Overseas Listing Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See ” - The approval of and filing with the CSRC, CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.”

 

 

Thus, it is still uncertain how PRC governmental authorities will regulate overseas listing in general and whether we are required to obtain any specific regulatory approvals. Furthermore, if the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors.

 

Furthermore, the PRC government authorities may strengthen oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Such actions taken by the PRC government authorities may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which are beyond our control. Therefore, any such action may adversely affect our operations and significantly limit or hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to you and reduce the value of such securities.

 

Uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and the fact that rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, along with the risk that the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could result in a material change in our operations, financial performance and/or the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares or impair our ability to raise money.

 

The PRC government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we conduct our business activities. The PRC government may also intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could decline in value or become worthless.

 

The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in our operations in China.

 

For example, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2, 2021, that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. Similarly, our business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the regions in which we operate. We could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.

 

Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether we will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to continue listing on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC central or local government to obtain such permission and has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry. If our holding company or any of our PRC subsidiaries were required to obtain approval in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to continue listing on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue listing on U.S. exchange, continue to offer securities to investors, or materially affect the interest of the investors and cause significantly depreciation of the price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. Recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent, and the PRC government may take actions to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

 

The approval of and filing with the CSRC, CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.

 

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC persons or entities to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear, and our offshore offerings may ultimately require approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore offerings, or a rescission of such approval is obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restrictions or limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

 

On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued the Opinions on Strictly Scrutinizing Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies, to improve relevant laws and regulations on data security, cross-border data transmission, and confidential information management, and provided that efforts will be made to revise the regulations on strengthening the confidentiality and file management relating to the offering and listing of securities overseas, and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. As a follow-up, on December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Draft Provisions, and the CSRC issued a draft of the Draft Administration Measures, for public comments.

 

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures comprehensively improve and reform the existing regulatory regime for overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities and regulates both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime.

 

According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (i) mainland China domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; if a mainland China domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such mainland China domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines; (ii) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a mainland China domestic company: (a) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (b) its major operational activities are carried out in mainland China or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures require subsequent reports to be filed with the CSRC on material events, such as change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuers who have completed overseas offerings and listings.

 

On the same day, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that (i) prior to the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, mainland China domestic companies that have already completed overseas listing shall be regarded as “existing companies”, which are not required to fulfill filing procedure immediately but shall be required to complete the filing if such existing companies conduct refinancing in the future; and (ii) the CSRC will solicit opinions from relevant regulatory authorities and complete the filing of the overseas listing of companies with contractual arrangements which duly meet the compliance requirements, and support the development and growth of these companies by enabling them to utilize two markets and two kinds of resources. However, since the Overseas Listing Trial Measures was newly promulgated, the interpretation, application and enforcement of Overseas Listing Trial Measures remain unclear.

 

In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Overseas Listing Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

 

Given the substantial uncertainties surrounding the latest CSRC filing requirements at this stage, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the filings and fully comply with the relevant new rules on a timely basis, if at all.

 

Relatedly, on December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the MOF jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, which will become effective on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to such Special Administrative Measures, if a domestic company engaging in the prohibited business stipulated in the 2021 Negative List seeks an overseas offering and listing, it shall obtain the approval from the competent government authorities. Besides, the foreign investors of the company shall not be involved in the company’s operation and management, and their shareholding percentage shall be subject, mutatis mutandis, to the relevant regulations on the domestic securities investments by foreign investors. As the 2021 Negative List is relatively new, there remain substantial uncertainties as to the interpretation and implementation of these new requirements, and it is unclear as to whether and to what extent listed companies like us will be subject to these new requirements. If we are required to comply with these requirements and fail to do so on a timely basis, if at all, our business operation, financial conditions and business prospect may be adversely and materially affected.

 

 

On February 24, 2023, the CSRC released the Provisions on Strengthening the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Related to the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises, or the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions, which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions require, among others, that PRC domestic enterprises that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either directly or indirectly, complete approval and filing procedures to competent authorities, if such PRC domestic enterprises or its overseas listing entities provide or publicly disclose documents or materials involving state secrets and work secrets of PRC government agencies to relevant securities companies, securities service institutions, overseas regulatory agencies and other entities and individuals. It further stipulates that providing or publicly disclosing documents and materials which may adversely affect national security or public interests, and accounting files or copies shall be subject to corresponding procedures in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Under the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions, we may be required to complete relevant approval or filing procedures, or expend additional resources to comply with the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions if we are recognized to fall within any of the foregoing circumstances. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for future capital-raising activities, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver.

 

In addition, we cannot assure you that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional requirements on us. If it is determined in the future that approval and filing from the CSRC, CAC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures, including the cybersecurity review under the enacted version of the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, are required for our offshore offerings, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval or completing such filing procedures for our offshore offerings, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to seek CSRC approval or filing or other government authorization for our offshore offerings. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings before settlement and delivery of the shares offered. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our prior offshore offerings, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of our listed securities.

 

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the annual report based on foreign laws.

 

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, all our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time and are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China. In addition, China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and many other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.

 

Shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including securities law class actions and fraud claims, generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States have not been efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which took effect in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no organization or individual may provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to overseas parties. See also “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Relating to Ownership of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares-You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law” in our 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference for risks associated with investing in us as a Cayman Islands company.

 

 

PRC regulations regarding acquisitions impose significant regulatory approval and review requirements, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

 

Under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law, companies undertaking acquisitions relating to businesses in China must notify the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, in advance of any transaction where the parties’ revenues in the China market exceed certain thresholds and the buyer would obtain control of, or decisive influence over, the target, while under the M&A Rules, the approval of MOFCOM must be obtained in circumstances where overseas companies established or controlled by PRC enterprises or residents acquire domestic companies affiliated with such PRC enterprises or residents. Applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations also require certain merger and acquisition transactions to be subject to security review. Due to the level of our revenues, our proposed acquisition of control of, or decisive influence over, any company with revenues within China of more than RMB400 million in the year prior to any proposed acquisition would be subject to SAMR merger control review. As a result, many of the transactions we may undertake could be subject to SAMR merger review. Complying with the requirements of the relevant regulations to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including approval from SAMR, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. If the practice of SAMR and MOFCOM remains unchanged, our ability to carry out our investment and acquisition strategy may be materially and adversely affected and there may be significant uncertainty as to whether we will be able to complete large acquisitions in the future in a timely manner or at all.

 

PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC-resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits.

 

SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or the SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75” promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle”. SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.

 

We have notified substantial beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares who we know are PRC residents of their filing obligation, and are aware that all substantial beneficial owners have completed the necessary registration with the local SAFE branch or qualified banks as required by SAFE Circular 37. However, we may not at all times be aware of the identities of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. We do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC-resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, may subject such beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Furthermore, since SAFE Circular 37 was recently promulgated and it is unclear how this regulation, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC government authorities, we cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. Failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to our company. These risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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

 

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

 

 

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using the proceeds of our initial offering or future financings to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

Ostin is an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries subject to the approval from governmental authorities and limitation of amount, or we may make additional capital contributions to our subsidiaries in China.

 

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

 

SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within China, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in China in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in SAFE Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from our initial public offering or future financings, to our WFOE, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China.

 

On October 23, 2019, SAFE issued the Circular on Further Promoting Cross-border Trade and Investment Facilitation, or SAFE Circular 28, which took effect on the same day. SAFE Circular 28, subject to certain conditions, allows foreign-invested enterprises whose business scope does not include investment, or non-investment foreign-invested enterprises, to use their capital funds to make equity investments in China. Since SAFE Circular 28 was issued only recently, its interpretation and implementation in practice are still subject to substantial uncertainties.

 

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

 

We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund offshore cash and financing requirements and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to transfer cash out of China and/or make remittance to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities.

 

We are a holding company and rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries for our offshore cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, fund inter-company loans, service any debt we may incur outside of China and pay our expenses. The laws, rules and regulations applicable to our PRC subsidiaries permit payments of dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with applicable accounting standards and regulations.

 

 

Under PRC laws, rules and regulations, each of our subsidiaries incorporated in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, after making up for previous years’ accumulated losses, if any, to fund certain statutory reserves, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. As a result of these laws, rules and regulations, our subsidiaries incorporated in China are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their respective net assets to their shareholders as dividends. As of March 31, 2024 and as of September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, these restricted assets totaled US$1,497,772, US$1,497,771, US$1,496,314 and US$1,033,653, respectively. However, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not intervene or impose restrictions on our ability to transfer or distribute cash within our organization or to foreign investors, which could result in an inability or prohibition on making transfers or distributions outside of China and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Limitations on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make remittance to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities, including to make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends to our shareholders or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income.

 

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules, both of which came into effect on January 1, 2008 and were last amended on December 29, 2018, enterprises established under the laws of jurisdictions outside of China with “de facto management bodies” located in China may be considered PRC tax resident enterprises for tax purposes and may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on their global income. “De facto management body” refers to a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise. The SAT issued the Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore-Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, or the SAT Circular 82, on April 22, 2009. SAT Circular 82 provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China. Although Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises, not those controlled by individuals or foreign enterprises, the determining criteria set forth in SAT Circular 82 may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises. If we were to be considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our global income, and our profitability and cash flow may be materially reduced as a result of our global income being taxed under the Enterprise Income Tax Law. We believe that none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body”.

 

Dividends payable to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares by our foreign investors may be subject to PRC tax.

 

Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation regulations issued by the State Council, a 10% PRC withholding tax is applicable to dividends payable to investors that are non-resident enterprises, which do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC or which have such establishment or place of business but the dividends are not effectively connected with such establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC. Any gain realized on the transfer of Class A Ordinary Shares by such investors is also subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 10% which in the case of dividends will be withheld at source if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC. If we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends paid on Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, and any gain realized from the transfer of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, may be treated as income derived from sources within the PRC and may as a result be subject to PRC taxation. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - Regulation - Regulations Relating to Taxation.” Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to individual investors who are non-PRC residents and any gain realized on the transfer of Class A Ordinary Shares by such investors may be subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 20%. Any PRC tax liability may be reduced under applicable tax treaties. However, it is unclear whether holders of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise. If dividends payable to our non-PRC investors, or gains from the transfer of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares by such investors are subject to PRC tax, the value of your investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may decline significantly.

 

We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.

 

On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Announcement on Several Issues Concerning the Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfer of Assets by Non-Resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 7. The SAT Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Circular 7 has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Circular 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement on Issues Relating to Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. The SAT Circular 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of non-resident enterprise income tax.

 

 

Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an Indirect Transfer, the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.

 

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

 

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively.

 

The financial records of our subsidiaries in mainland China are maintained in Renminbi. The Renminbi is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account,” which includes foreign direct investment and loans, including loans we may secure from our onshore subsidiaries. Currently, PRC subsidiaries may purchase foreign currency for settlement of “current account transactions,” including payment of dividends to us, without the approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, the relevant PRC governmental authorities may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. Since we expect a significant portion of our future revenue will be denominated in Renminbi, any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenue generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside of the PRC and/or transfer cash out of China to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE and other relevant PRC governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for our subsidiaries. In addition, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not intervene or impose restrictions on our ability to transfer or distribute cash within our organization or to foreign investors, which could result in an inability or prohibition on making transfers or distributions outside of China and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses to us and may reduce the value of, and amount in U.S. Dollars of dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms.

 

The value of the RMB and the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. In August 2015, the People’s Bank of China, or PBOC, changed the way it calculates the mid-point price of RMB against the U.S. dollar, requiring the market-makers who submit for reference rates to consider the previous day’s closing spot rate, foreign-exchange demand and supply as well as changes in major currency rates. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy, including any interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve, may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy, including from the U.S. government, which has threatened to label China as a “currency manipulator,” which could result in greater fluctuation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar. However, the PRC government may still at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how market forces or government policies may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar or other currencies in the future. In addition, the PBOC regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to limit fluctuations in RMB exchange rates and achieve policy goals. If the exchange rate between RMB and U.S. dollar fluctuates in unanticipated manners, our results of operations and financial condition, and the value of, and dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms may be adversely affected. We may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. Appreciation of RMB to U.S dollar will result in exchange loss, while depreciation of RMB to U.S dollar will result in exchange gain.

 

 

Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans and withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.

 

Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government-mandated employee benefit contribution plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit contribution plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. Companies operating in China are also required to withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries based on the actual salary of each employee upon payment. We may be subject to late fees and fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits and under-withheld individual income tax, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our auditors. The delisting of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.

 

Pursuant to the HFCA Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act that was signed into law on December 29, 2022, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States.

 

On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (i) China, and (ii) Hong Kong. Our auditor is not headquartered in China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination.

 

On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed the Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and the MOF. The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate the previous 2021 determination report to the contrary. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden. The Consolidated Appropriations Act contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which reduces the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act from three years to two. As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the HFCA Act now also applies if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate the relevant accounting firm is due to a position taken by an authority in any foreign jurisdiction. The denying jurisdiction does not need to be where the accounting firm is located. We do not expect to be identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCA Act for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 after we file our annual report on Form 20-F for such fiscal year. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to conduct inspections and investigations completely to its satisfaction of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s control including positions taken by authorities of the PRC. The PCAOB is required under the HFCA Act to make its determination on an annual basis with regards to its ability to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms based in the mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. The possibility of being a “Commission-Identified Issuer” and risk of delisting could continue to adversely affect the trading price of Ostin’s securities. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions, as a result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCA Act as and when appropriate.

 

 

Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor’s registration with the PCAOB took effect in September 2020 and it is currently subject to PCAOB inspections. The PCAOB currently has access to inspect the working papers of our auditor. However, we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements.

 

Furthermore, various equity-based research organizations have recently published reports on China-based companies after examining their corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements, and these reports have led to special investigations and listing suspensions on U.S. national exchanges.

 

Any similar scrutiny on us, regardless of its lack of merit, could cause the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares to fall, divert management resources and energy, cause us to incur expenses in defending ourselves against rumors, and increase the premiums we pay for director and officer insurance.

 

The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfil its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCA Act. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCA Act. For example, if a company’s auditor was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.

 

The SEC has announced that the SEC staff is preparing a consolidated proposal for the rules regarding the implementation of the HFCA Act and to address the recommendations in the PWG report. The implications of possible additional regulation in addition to the requirements of the HFCA Act and what was adopted on December 2, 2021 are uncertain. While we understand that there has been dialogue among the CSRC, the SEC and the PCAOB regarding the inspection of PCAOB-registered accounting firms in China, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with requirements imposed by U.S. regulators. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares to be materially and adversely affected, and Ostin’s securities could be delisted and prohibited from being traded on the national securities exchange earlier than would be required by the HFCA Act. If Ostin’s securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Should the PCAOB be unable to fully conduct inspections in China, among other jurisdictions, which prevents it from fully evaluating the audits and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm, we and investors in Ostin’s securities may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. Any inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors could make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China or other jurisdictions that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our shares to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements, which could materially and adversely affect the value of in Ostin’s securities. Further, new laws and regulations or changes in laws and regulations in both the United States and China could affect our ability to continue to list on Nasdaq, which could materially impair the market for and market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

We depend on a few major customers with whom we do not enter into long-term contracts, the loss of any of which could cause a significant decline in our revenues.

 

Customers who account for greater than 10% of our total annual revenue are our major customers. We had two major customers accounting for 32.7% and 10.6% of our total revenue for the six months ended March 31, 2024 and two major customers accounting for 45.6% and 23.1% of our total revenue for the six months ended March 31, 2023. We had two major customers accounting for 47.5% and 17.8% of our total revenue for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, respectively. We had two major customers accounting for 53.8% and 13.0% of our total revenue for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, respectively. We had two major customers accounting for 38.2% and 14.7% of our total revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, respectively.

 

 

We do not enter into long-term agreements with our customers but manufacture based upon purchase orders and therefore cannot be certain that sales to our customers, including our major customers, will continue. The loss of any of our major customers, or a significant reduction in sales to any such customers, would adversely affect our profitability.

 

In recent years, our major customers have varied due to changes in our product mix. We expect that we will continue to depend on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenue and may continue to experience fluctuations in the distribution of our sales among our largest customers as we periodically adjust our product mix. Our ability to maintain close and satisfactory relationships with our customers is important to the ongoing success and profitability of our business. Our ability to attract potential customers is also critical to the success of our business. If any of our major customers reduces, delays or cancels its orders for any reason, or the financial condition of our major customers deteriorates, our business could be seriously harmed. Similarly, a failure to manufacture sufficient quantities of products to meet the demands of these customers may cause us to lose customers, which may affect adversely the profitability of our business as a result. Furthermore, if we experience difficulties in the collection of our accounts receivable from our major customers, our results of operation may be materially and adversely affected.

  

Our industry is cyclical, with recurring periods of capacity increases. As a result, price fluctuations in response to supply and demand imbalances could harm our results of operations.

 

The display panel industry in general is characterized by cyclical market conditions. From time to time, the industry has been subject to imbalances between excess supply and a slowdown in demand, and in certain periods, resulting in declines in selling prices. In addition, capacity expansion anticipated in the display panel industry may lead to excess capacity. Capacity expansion in the display panel industry may be due to scheduled ramp-up of new manufacturing facilities, and any large increases in capacity as a result of such expansion could further drive down the selling prices of our products, which would affect our results of operations. We cannot assure you that any continuing or further decrease in selling prices or future downturns resulting from excess capacity or other factors affecting the industry will not be severe or that any such continuation, decrease or downturn would not seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our ability to maintain or increase our revenues will primarily depend upon our ability to maintain market share, increase unit sales of existing products and introduce and sell new products that offset the anticipated fluctuation and long-term declines in the selling prices of our existing products. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain or expand market share, increase unit sales, and introduce and sell new products, to the extent necessary to compensate for market oversupply. 

 

We may need to raise additional capital or obtain loans from financial institutions from time to time and our operations could be curtailed if we are unable to obtain the required additional funding when needed. We may not be able to do so when necessary, and/or the terms of any financings may not be advantageous to us.

 

As of March 31, 2024, we had current assets and current liabilities of $20,997,329 and $39,052,608 respectively. As of September 30, 2023, we had current assets and current liabilities of $24,437,682 and $40,531,407 respectively. Additionally, we incurred a net loss of $4,649,379 for the half year, resulting in an accumulated deficit of $ 13,107,089. Due to our accumulated deficit, we may need to obtain additional funding from outside sources, including from the sales of our securities, grants or other forms of financing. Our accumulated deficit increases the difficulty in completing such sales or securing alternative sources of funding, and there can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain such funding on favorable terms or at all. If we are unable to obtain sufficient financing from the sale of our securities or from alternative sources, we may be required to reduce, defer or discontinue certain of our research and development and operating activities or we may not be able to continue as a going concern. If we cannot continue as a going concern, our shareholders may lose their entire investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. Future reports from our independent registered public accounting firm may contain statements expressing doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

 

We may experience declines in the selling prices of our products irrespective of cyclical fluctuations in the industry.

 

The selling prices of our products have declined in general and are expected to continually decline with time irrespective of industry-wide cyclical fluctuations as a result of, among other factors, technology advancements and cost reductions. Although we may be able to take advantage of the higher selling prices typically associated with new products and technologies when they are first introduced into the market, prices decline over time and in certain cases, very rapidly as a result of market competition. If we are unable to anticipate effectively and counter the price erosion that accompanies our products, or if the selling prices of our products decrease faster than the rate at which we are able to reduce our manufacturing costs, our profit margins will be affected adversely and our results of operations and financial condition may be affected materially and adversely.

 

 

Our debt may restrict our operations, and cash flows and capital resources may be insufficient to make required payments on our substantial indebtedness and future indebtedness.

 

We have a substantial amount of debt. As of March 31, 2024, we had approximately $40 million of debt outstanding. As of September 30, 2023, we had approximately $43 million of debt outstanding. Our substantial debt could have important consequences to you. For example, it could:

 

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reduce the availability of our cash flow to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

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increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

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restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or pursuing business opportunities;

 

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limit, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our indebtedness, among other things, our ability to borrow additional funds; and

 

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place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that may have proportionately less debt.

 

In addition, our ability to make scheduled payments or refinance our obligations depends on our successful financial and operating performance, cash flows, and capital resources, which in turn depend upon prevailing economic conditions and certain financial, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell material assets or operations, obtain additional capital, restructure our debt, or declare bankruptcy.

  

We depend on a key equipment supplier for the manufacture of polarizers, the loss of which could hurt our business.

 

We have used, and expect to use, a vast majority of our equipment from Shanghai Inabata Trading Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Inabata”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inabata & Co., Ltd., which is affiliated with Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., under an existing agreement with Shanghai Inabata to produce polarizers. Pursuant to our agreement with Shanghai Inabata, Shanghai Inabata provides us, free of charge, the principal equipment for manufacturing polarizers for a term of five years till September 2022, with an automatic renewal of one more year unless terminated by either party in writing with a three-month advance notice. The agreement has been automatically renewed and is currently in force. In the event that we are unable to use or purchase such equipment upon early termination or expiration of our agreement with Shanghai Inabata, or if we fail to secure the equipment to replace such equipment, our business would be hurt. As part of our strategic development plan in 2024, we plan to take steps to diversify similar equipment supplies to further enhance our production capabilities. We entered into certain purchase agreements with other equipment suppliers and put deposit for the new equipment since 2020. The strategy for diversifying equipment suppliers, especially polarizer suppliers, is gradually being implemented. We have already signed a contract with another polarizer supplier, SDI, so the supply from Shanghai Inabata will decrease in 2024. Currently, the Shanghai Inabata equipment is running normally.

 

From time to time, increased demand for new equipment may cause lead time to extend beyond those normally required by equipment vendors, including Shanghai Inabata. The unavailability of equipment, delays in the delivery of equipment or the delivery of equipment that does not meet our specifications could impair our ability to meet customer orders. Furthermore, if our equipment vendors are unable to provide assembly, testing and/or maintenance services in a timely manner for any reason, our business may be adversely affected. In addition, the availability or the timely supply of equipment and services from our suppliers and vendors also could be affected by factors such as natural disasters. We may have to use assembly, testing and/or maintenance service providers with which we have no established relationship, which could expose us to potentially unfavorable pricing, unsatisfactory quality or insufficient capacity allocation. As a result of these risks, our growth may be delayed, and our business may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We depend on the supply of raw materials and key component parts, and any adverse changes in such supply or the costs of raw materials may adversely affect our operations.

 

For the six months ended March 31, 2024, we had two suppliers accounting for 42.4% and 16.1% of our total purchase, respectively and for the six months ended March 31, 2023, we had two suppliers accounting for 42.2% and 12.2% of our total purchase, respectively. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, we had two suppliers accounting for 42.55% and 6.8% of our total purchase, respectively. Two suppliers accounted for 58.8% and 10.5% of our total purchase of raw materials for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, respectively. Two suppliers accounted for 34.1% and 17.8% of our total purchase of raw materials for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, respectively. Any material change in the spot and forward rates could have a material adverse effect on the cost of our raw materials and on our operations. In addition, we do not enter into long-term contracts with our suppliers. If any of our major suppliers ceases to supply key raw materials to us and if we need alternative sources for key component parts for any other reason, these component parts may not be immediately available to us. If alternative suppliers are not immediately available, we will have to identify and qualify alternative suppliers, and production of these components may be delayed. We may not be able to find an adequate alternative supplier in a reasonable time period or on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. Shipments of affected products have been limited or delayed as a result of such problems in the past, and similar problems could occur in the future. An inability to obtain our key source supplies for the manufacture of our products might require us to delay shipments of products, harm customer relationships or force us to curtail or cease operations.

 

 

We are in the process of obtaining certificates for our manufacturing facilities in Chengdu, China. If we fail to obtain any of them, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We have completed the initial construction of our new manufacturing facilities in Chengdu, China and started production on such facilities. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have obtained the land certificate and are still in the process of obtaining certain property ownership certificates for such facilities. While we consider these certificates as requiring procedural, rather than substantive, approvals by government agencies, there is no guarantee that we will obtain all of them. The failure to obtain any of these certificates could result in us having to vacate the premises and our manufacturing activities on such premises may be interrupted or suspended. If we are forced to move, we may not be able to find alternative facilities at all or at reasonable cost, and our manufacturing activities may be disrupted. We might suffer losses as a result of business interruptions and our operations and financial results may be materially and adversely affected.

 

Our results of operations fluctuate from quarter to quarter, which makes it difficult to predict our future performance.

 

Our results of operations have varied significantly in the past and may fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter in the future due to a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control. Our business and operations may be adversely affected by the following factors, among others:

 

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rapid changes from month to month, including shipment volume and product mix change;

 

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the cyclical nature of the industry, including fluctuations in selling prices, and imbalances between excess supply and slowdowns in demand;

 

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the speed at which we and our competitors expand production capacity;

 

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access to raw materials and components, equipment, electricity, water and other required utilities on a timely and economical basis;

 

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technological changes;

 

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the loss of a key customer or the postponement, rescheduling or cancellation of large orders from customers;

 

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changes in end-users’ spending patterns;

 

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changes to our management team;

 

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access to funding on satisfactory terms;

 

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our customers’ adjustments in their inventory;

 

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changes in general political, economic, financial and legal conditions;

 

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natural disasters, such as typhoons and earthquakes, and industrial accidents, such as fires and power failures, as well as geopolitical instability as a result of terrorism or political or military conflicts; and

 

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the expected or potential impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the related responses of the government, consumers, and the Company, on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Due to the factors noted above and other risks discussed in this section, many of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on quarter-to-quarter comparisons to predict our future performance.

 

Unfavorable changes in any of the above factors may seriously harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our results of operations may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors in some future periods, which may result in a decline in the price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

  

 

If we are unable to achieve high-capacity utilization rates, our results of operations will be affected adversely.

 

High-capacity utilization rates allow us to allocate fixed costs over a greater number of products produced. Increases or decreases in capacity utilization rates can impact significantly our gross margins. Accordingly, our ability to maintain or improve our gross margins will continue to depend, in part, on achieving high-capacity utilization rates. In turn, our ability to achieve high-capacity utilization rates will depend on the ramp-up progress of our advanced production facilities and our ability to efficiently and effectively allocate production capacity among our product lines, as well as the demand for our products and our ability to offer products that meet our customers’ requirements at competitive prices.

 

From time to time, our results of operations in the past have been adversely affected by low capacity utilization rates due to the change of our product offering portfolio. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve high-capacity utilization rates in the future. If we are unable to efficiently ramp-up our production facilities for advanced technology or demand for our products does not meet our expectations, our capacity utilization rates will decrease, our gross margins will suffer and our results of operations will be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may experience losses on inventories.

 

Frequent new product introductions in the technology industry can result in a decline in the selling prices of our products and the obsolescence of our existing inventory. This can result in a decrease in the stated value of our inventory, which we value at the lower of cost or net realizable value.

 

We manage our inventory based on our customers’ and our own forecasts. Although we regularly make adjustments based on market conditions, we typically deliver our goods to our customers several weeks after a firm order is placed. While we maintain open channels of communication with our major customers to avoid unexpected decreases in firm orders or subsequent changes to placed orders, and try to minimize our inventory levels, such actions by our customers may have a material adverse effect on our inventory management and our results of operations. 

 

Our customers generally do not place purchase orders far in advance, which makes it difficult for us to predict our future revenues and allocate capacity efficiently and in a timely manner.

 

Our customers generally provide rolling forecasts several months in advance of, and do not place firm purchase orders until several weeks before, the expected shipment date. There is no assurance that there will not be unexpected decreases in firm orders or subsequent changes to placed orders from our customers. In addition, due to the cyclical nature of the display panel industry, our customers’ purchase orders have varied significantly from period to period. As a result, we do not typically operate with any significant backlog. The lack of significant backlog makes it difficult for us to forecast our revenues in future periods. Moreover, we incur expenses and adjust inventory levels of raw materials and components based on customers’ forecast, and we may be unable to allocate production capacity in a timely manner to compensate for shortfalls in sales. We expect that, in the future, our sales in any quarter will continue to be dependent substantially upon purchase orders received in that quarter. The inability to adjust production costs, to obtain necessary raw materials and components or to allocate production capacity quickly to respond to the demand for our products may affect our ability to maximize results of operations, which may result in a negative impact on the value of your investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Our future competitiveness and growth prospects could be affected adversely if we are unable to successfully expand or improve our manufacturing facilities to meet market demand.

 

As part of our business growth strategy, we have been undertaking and may undertake in the future a number of significant capital expenditures for our manufacturing facilities.

 

The successful expansion of our manufacturing facilities and commencement of commercial production is dependent upon a number of factors, including timely delivery of equipment and machinery and the hiring and training of new skilled personnel. Although we believe that we have the internal capabilities and know-how to expand our manufacturing facilities and commence commercial production, no assurances can be given that we will be successful. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain from third parties, if necessary, the technology, intellectual property or know-how that may be required for the expansion or improvement of our manufacturing facilities on acceptable terms. In addition, delays in the delivery of equipment and machinery as a result of increased demand for such equipment and machinery or the delivery of equipment and machinery that do not meet our specifications could delay the establishment, expansion or improvement of these manufacturing facilities. Moreover, the expansion of our manufacturing facilities may also be disrupted by governmental planning activities. If we face unforeseen disruptions in the installation, expansion and/or manufacturing processes with respect to our manufacturing facilities, we may not be able to realize the potential gains and may face disruptions in capturing the growth opportunities.

 

 

If capital resources required for our planned growth or development are not available, we may be unable to successfully implement our business strategy.

 

Historically, we have been able to finance our capital expenditures through cash flow from our operating activities and financing activities, including long-term and short-term borrowings. Our ability to expand our production facilities and establish advanced technology manufacturing facilities will continue to largely depend on our ability to obtain sufficient cash flow from operations as well as external funding. We expect to make capital expenditures in connection with the development of our business, including investments in connection with new capacity, technological upgrade and the enhancement of capacity value. These capital expenditures will be made well in advance of any additional sales to be generated from these expenditures. Our results of operations may be affected adversely if we do not have the capital resources to complete our planned growth, or if our actual expenditures exceed planned expenditures for any number of reasons, including changes in:

 

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our growth plan and strategy;

 

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manufacturing process and product technologies;

 

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market conditions;

 

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prices of equipment;

 

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costs of construction and installation;

 

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market conditions for financing activities of companies in the display panel industry;

 

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interest rates and foreign exchange rates; and

 

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social, economic, financial, political and other conditions in China and elsewhere.

 

If adequate funds are not available on satisfactory terms at appropriate times, we may have to curtail our planned growth, which could result in a loss of customers, adversely affect our ability to implement successfully our business strategy and limit the growth of our business.

  

We operate in a highly competitive environment and we may not be able to sustain our current market position if we fail to compete successfully.

 

The markets for our products are highly competitive. We experience pressure on our prices and profit margins, due largely to additional and growing industry capacity from competitors in the mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan. The ability to manufacture on a large scale with greater cost efficiencies is a competitive advantage in our industry. Some of our competitors have expanded through mergers and acquisitions. Some of our competitors have greater access to capital and substantially greater production, research and development, intellectual property, marketing and other resources than we do. Some of our competitors have announced their plans to develop, and have already invested substantial resources in new capacity. Our competitors may be able to grasp the market opportunities before us by introducing new products using such capacity. In addition, some of our larger competitors have more extensive intellectual property portfolios than ours, which they may use to their advantage when negotiating cross-licensing agreements for technologies. As a result, these companies may be able to compete more aggressively over a longer period of time than we can.

 

The principal elements of competition in the display panel industry include:

 

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price;

 

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product performance features and quality;

 

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customer service, including product design support;

 

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ability to reduce production cost;

 

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ability to provide sufficient quantity of products to fulfill customers’ needs;

 

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research and development, including the ability to develop new technologies;

 

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time-to-market; and

 

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access to capital and financing ability.

 

Our ability to compete successfully in the display panel industry also depends on factors beyond our control, including industry and general political and economic conditions as well as currency fluctuations.

 

 

We may encounter difficulties expanding into new businesses or industries, which may affect adversely our results of operations and financial condition.

 

We may encounter difficulties and face risks in connection with our expansion into new businesses or industries. We cannot assure you that our expansion into new businesses will be successful, as we may have limited experience in such industries. We cannot assure you that we will be able to generate sufficient profits to justify the costs of expanding into new businesses or industries. Any new business in which we invest or which we intend to develop may require our additional capital investment, research and development efforts, as well as our management’s attention. If such new business does not progress as planned, our results of operations and financial condition may be affected adversely.

 

We may undertake mergers, acquisitions or investments to diversify or expand our business, which may pose risks to our business and dilute the ownership of our existing shareholders, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of these mergers, acquisition or investments.

 

As part of our growth and product diversification strategy, we may evaluate opportunities to acquire or invest in other businesses or existing businesses, intellectual property or technologies and expand the breadth of markets we can address or enhance our technical capabilities. Mergers, investments or acquisitions that we may enter into in the future entail a number of risks that could materially and adversely affect our business, operating and financial results, including, among others:

 

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problems integrating the acquired operations, technologies or products into our existing business and products;

 

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diversion of management’s time and attention from our core business;

 

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conflicts with joint venture partners;

 

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adverse effect on our existing business relationships with customers;

 

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need for financial resources above our planned investment levels;

 

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failures in realizing anticipated synergies;

 

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difficulties in retaining business relationships with suppliers and customers of the acquired company;

 

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risks associated with entering markets in which we lack experience;

 

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potential loss of key employees of the acquired company; and

 

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potential write-offs of acquired assets.

 

Our failure to address these risks successfully may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Any such acquisition or investment will likely require a significant amount of capital investment, which would decrease the amount of cash available for working capital or capital expenditures. In addition, if we use our equity securities to pay for acquisitions, the value of your Class A Ordinary Shares may be diluted. If we borrow funds to finance acquisitions, such debt instruments may contain restrictive covenants that can, among other things, restrict us from distributing dividends.

 

Our success depends on our management team and other key personnel, the loss of any of whom could disrupt our business operations.

 

Our future success will depend in substantial part on the continued service of the members of our senior management, in particular those identified under the section titled “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.” The loss of the services of one or more of our key personnel could impede implementation of our business plan and result in reduced profitability. We do not carry key person life insurance on any of our officers or employees. Our future success will also depend on the continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified technical sales and marketing customer support. Because of the rapid growth of the economy in China, competition for qualified personnel is intense. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our key personnel or that we will be able to attract, assimilate or retain qualified personnel in the future.

 

 

Any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business or any failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations may have a material and adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our business is subject to intense regulation, and we are required to hold a number of licenses and permits in connection with our business operation, for example Business License, Record Registration Form for Foreign Trade Business Operators, Application Letter for the Registration of Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Report by Proxy, Certificate of Safety Production Standardization and Certificate of the Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Registration of A Customs Declaration Entity. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our PRC subsidiaries have obtained the requisite licenses and permits from the PRC government authorities that are material for the business operations of our holding company and our subsidiaries in China. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, we have not received any notice of warning or been subject to penalties or other disciplinary action from the relevant governmental authorities regarding the conducting of our business without the material approvals, certificates and permits. However, we cannot assure you that we can renew any of the licenses and permits in a timely manner when their current term expires.

 

New laws and regulations may be enforced from time to time to require additional licenses and permits other than those we currently have. If the PRC government deems us as operating without proper approvals, licenses or permits, promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses or impose additional restrictions on the operation of any part of our business, we may be required to apply for additional approvals, license or permits, or subject to various penalties, including fines, termination or restrictions of the part of our business or revoking of our business licenses, which may adversely affect our business and materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

 

We may not be able to adequately protect and maintain our intellectual property.

 

Our success will depend on our ability to continue to develop and market our products. We have been granted 104 patents in China relating to our products and have 4 pending patent applications as of the date of this prospectus supplement.  No assurance can be given that such patents will not be challenged, invalidated, infringed or circumvented, or that such intellectual property rights will provide a competitive advantage to us. Also, litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. The outcome of such potential litigation may not be in our favor and any success in litigation may not be able to adequately protect our rights. Such litigation may be costly and divert management attention away from our business. An adverse determination in any such litigation would impair our intellectual property rights and may harm our business, prospects and reputation. Enforcement of judgments in China is uncertain and even if we are successful in such litigation it may not provide us with an effective remedy.

 

Our introduction of new technologies and products may increase the likelihood that third parties will assert claims that our products infringe upon their proprietary rights.

 

The rapid technological changes that characterize our industry require that we quickly implement new processes and components with respect to our products. Often with respect to recently developed processes and components, a degree of uncertainty exists as to who may rightfully claim ownership rights in such processes and components. Uncertainty of this type increases the risk that claims alleging that such components or processes infringe upon third party rights may be brought against us. Although we take and will continue to take steps to ensure that our new products do not infringe upon third party rights, if our products or manufacturing processes are found to infringe upon third party rights, we may be subject to significant liabilities and be required to change our manufacturing processes or be prohibited from manufacturing certain products, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition.

 

We may be required to defend against charges of infringement of patent or other proprietary rights of third parties. Although patent and other intellectual property disputes in our industry have often been settled through licensing or similar arrangements, such defense could require us to incur substantial expense and to divert significant resources of our technical and management personnel, and could result in our loss of rights to develop or make certain products or require us to pay monetary damages or royalties to license proprietary rights from third parties. Furthermore, we cannot be certain that the necessary licenses would be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. Accordingly, an adverse determination in a judicial or administrative proceeding or failure to obtain necessary licenses could prevent us from manufacturing and selling certain of our products. Any such litigation, whether successful or unsuccessful, could result in substantial costs to us and diversions of our resources, either of which could adversely affect our business.

 

 

Other flat panel display technologies or alternative display technologies could render our products uncompetitive or obsolete.

 

We currently manufacture products primarily using TFT Open Cell and TFT-LCD technology, which is currently one of the most commonly used flat panel display technologies. We may face competition from flat panel display manufacturers utilizing alternative flat panel technologies, such as OLED. OLED technology is currently at various stages of development and production by us and other display panel makers. OLED technologies may, in the future, gain wider market acceptance than TFT-LCD technology for application in certain consumer products, such as televisions, mobile phones, tablets and wearable devices. Failure to further refine our OLED technology or any other alternative display technology could render our products uncompetitive or obsolete, which in turn could cause our sales and revenues to decline. Moreover, if the various alternative flat panel technologies currently commercially available or in the research and development stage are developed to have better performance-to-price ratios and begin mass production, such technologies may pose a great challenge to TFT-LCD technology. Even though we seek to remain competitive through research and development of flat panel technologies, we may invest in research and development in certain technologies that do not come to fruition.

 

If we cannot successfully introduce, develop or acquire advanced technologies, our profitability may suffer.

 

Technology and industry standards in the display panel industry evolve quickly, resulting in steep price declines in the advanced stages of a product’s life cycle. To remain competitive, we must develop or acquire advanced manufacturing process technologies and build advanced technology manufacturing plants to lower production costs and enable the timely release of new products. Our ability to manufacture products by utilizing more advanced manufacturing process technologies to increase production efficiency will be critical to our sustained competitiveness. We may undertake in the future a number of significant capital expenditures for advanced technology manufacturing facilities and new capacity subject to market demand and our overall business strategy. However, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in completing our planned growth or in the development of other future technologies for our advanced technology manufacturing plants, or that we will be able to complete them without material delays or at the expected costs. If we fail to do so, our results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. We also cannot assure you that there will be no material delays in connection with our efforts to develop new technology and manufacture more technologically advanced products. If we fail to develop or make advancements in product technologies or manufacturing process technologies on a timely basis, we may become less competitive.

 

Revenues from sales of display modules account for a significant portion of our revenue, and any inability to further diversify our revenue base or any decrease in such sales may materially and adversely affect our business.

 

A significant portion of our revenue was derived from sales of display modules. For the six months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, revenues from such sales contributed to approximately 55% and 44% of our total revenue, respectively. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, revenues from such sales contributed to approximately 48%, 31% and 58% of our total revenue, respectively. Though we expect this revenue concentration in sales of display modules to decline over time when we ramp up the production and sales of polarizers as well as develop new products, we may not be successful in our efforts and may continue to heavily rely on sales of display modules for a significant portion of our revenue. A decrease in the revenues from those products, an increase in the material and manufacturing costs, changing consumer preferences or material quality issues concerning those products may materially and adversely affect our business and operating results in the near future.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, the global economy and disrupt normal business activity, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

The global spread of COVID-19 and the efforts to control it have slowed global economic activity and disrupted, and reduced the efficiency of, normal business activities in much of the world. The pandemic has resulted in authorities in China implementing numerous unprecedented measures such as travel restrictions, quarantines, shelter in place orders, and factory and office shutdowns. These measures have adversely impacted our workforce and operations, and those of our customers and suppliers.

 

In particular, we experienced some disruption to our supply chain during the Chinese government mandated lockdown, with suppliers increasing lead times and purchase price for raw materials. China recently moved away from its reliance upon a “zero-tolerance” policy pursuant to which it had declared a number of total and partial lockdowns in cities throughout China. It has been reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in China has surged after the government abandoned its zero-tolerance policy. While all our major suppliers are currently fully operational, any future disruption in their operations would impact our ability to manufacture and deliver our products to customers.

 

 

In addition, reductions in commercial airline and cargo flights, disruptions to ports and other shipping infrastructure resulting from the pandemic have resulted in increased transport times to deliver materials and components to our facilities and to transfer our products to our key suppliers and have impacted our ability to timely ship our products to customers.

 

As a result of supply chain disruptions, we increased customer order lead times. This may limit our ability to fulfill orders with short lead times and means that we may be unable to satisfy all of the demand for our products in a timely manner, which may adversely affect our relationships with our customers.

 

In the longer-term, the adverse effects of the COVID-19 on the economies and financial markets of many countries are expected to persist, and may lead to an economic downturn or recession. This could adversely affect demand for some of our products and those of our customers, such as display modules used for automotive display, which may, in turn negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Although the Chinese government has lifted the restrictions related to COVID-19, we may continue to experience the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. The degree to which the pandemic ultimately impacts our business and results of operations will depend on future developments beyond our control, including the severity of the pandemic, the extent of actions to contain or treat the virus, how quickly and to what extent normal economic and operating conditions can resume, and the severity and duration of the global economic downturn that results from the pandemic.

 

Failure to make adequate contributions to certain employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.

 

We are required under PRC law to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including social security insurance, housing provident funds and other welfare-oriented payments, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. We have not made adequate employee benefit payments to the housing provident fund. We may be required to pay the shortage of our contributions. If we are subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

The enforcement of certain labor-related regulations in the PRC may adversely affect our business and our results of operations.

 

The Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatch, or the Labor Dispatch Provisions, effective on March 1, 2014, provides that outsourced employees are only allowed to work in temporary, ancillary and replaceable positions. The number of outsourced employees hired by an employer may not exceed 10% of its total labor force and the employer has a two-year transition period to comply with such requirement. Pursuant to the current Labor Contract Law, a labor-dispatching enterprise or an employer using outsourced workers who violates requirements of labor dispatching under the Labor Contract Law may be subject to fine by competent labor administrative authority and, if losses are caused to any outsourced employee, such labor- dispatching enterprise and employer shall assume liabilities jointly and severally.

 

We have employed a considerable number of outsourced workers for our operations. As of March 31, 2024 and 2023, we had 114 and 85 outsourced employees accounting for 49.56% and 36.17% of our total workforce, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we had 51, 96 and 44 outsourced employees, respectively, accounting for 22.6%, 37.5% and 14.3% of our total workforce. In addition, some of the outsourced employees worked in certain key roles. As a result of our failure to comply with the Labor Dispatch Provisions, we may be ordered by relevant labor administrative authorities to rectify our noncompliance within a specified period. If we fail to rectify the noncompliance within the specified period, we may be subject to fines of up to RMB10,000 for each incompliant outsourced worker.

 

Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure

 

Ostin is a holding company and it relies on its PRC subsidiaries for all of this operations in China. We also rely on dividends paid by our subsidiaries for our cash needs, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us, or any tax implications of making dividend payments to us, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to pay dividends to holders of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Ostin, securities of which are being offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement, is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. It relies on its PRC subsidiaries for substantially all operation in China. We may rely on dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, to service any debt we may incur and to pay our operating expenses. If any of our PRC subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividend policy s or make other distributions to us.

 

Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries, which are wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China, may pay dividends only out of its accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital.

 

 

Our PRC subsidiaries generate primarily all of their revenue in Renminbi, which is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to use their Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and more restrictions and substantial vetting process may be put forward by the SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other kinds of payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares and This Offering

 

An active trading market for Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may not continue.

 

Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq. We cannot assure you that a liquid public market for Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares will continue. If an active public market for Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares does not continue, the market price and liquidity of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be materially and adversely affected. As a result, investors in Ostin’s securities may experience a significant decrease in the value of their Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

The trading price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.

 

The trading price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of the broad market and industry factors, like the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. A number of Chinese companies have listed or are in the process of listing their securities on U.S. stock markets. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility, including price declines in connection with their initial public offerings. The trading performance of these Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, regardless of our actual operating performance.

 

In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:

 

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regulatory developments affecting us or our industry;

 

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actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results;

 

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changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;

 

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conditions in the market for health and wellness products;

 

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announcements by us or our competitors of new product and service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures, capital raisings or capital commitments;

 

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additions to or departures of our senior management;

 

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fluctuations of exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar;

 

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release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding shares; and

 

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negative publicity regarding Chinese listed companies.

 

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sales or perceived potential sales of additional Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares will trade.

 

 

In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

The market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares has recently declined significantly, and Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could be delisted from Nasdaq or trading could be suspended.

 

The listing of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market is contingent on our compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s conditions for continued listing. On January 19, 2024, the Company received a written notification from Nasdaq, notifying the Company that it is not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rules for continued listing on the Nasdaq. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires listed securities to maintain a minimum bid price of US$1.00 per share (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”), and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provides that a failure to meet the Minimum Bid Price Requirement exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Based on the closing bid price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares for the 30 consecutive business days from December 5, 2023 to January 18, 2024, the Company no longer meets the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company was provided 180 calendar days, or until July 17, 2024, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. On July 18, 2024, the Company received another written notification from Nasdaq, notifying that the Company is eligible for an additional 180 calendar day period, or until January 13, 2025, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. Nasdaq’s determination is based on the Company’s meeting the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements for initial listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, with the exception of the Minimum Bid Price Requirement, and the Company’s written notice of its intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period and if necessary, by effecting a reverse share split. To regain compliance, the bid price of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares must close at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days at any time during the second 180-day compliance period, and Nasdaq will provide written notification that the Company has achieved compliance with this Minimum Bid Price Requirement. If the Company fails to regain compliance during this second 180-day compliance period, Nasdaq will notify the Company of its determination to delist the Company.

 

To enhance the Company’s ability to retain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement and remain listed on Nasdaq Capital Market, the Company’s board of directors is seeking shareholder approval at the extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held on November 25, 2024, to approve the proposal for the consolidation and division of the Company’s authorized share capital of US$500,000 divided into 4,991,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, 8,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, and 1,000,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each, at the ratio of one (1)-for-ten (10), such that, the authorized share capital of US$500,000 will be divided into: (i) 499,100,000 Class A ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each, and (ii) 800,000 Class B ordinary shares of par value of US$0.001 each, and (iii) 100,000 preference shares of a par value of US$0.001 each, to increase the market price of Class A Ordinary Shares to meet the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. However, there can be no assurance that, after such share consolidation, the Company would be able to maintain the listing of Class A Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares will continue to be listed and traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to our compliance with the other listing requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. We cannot assure you that we will not receive other deficiency notifications from Nasdaq in the future. A decline in the closing price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could result in a breach of the requirements for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. If we do not maintain compliance, Nasdaq could commence suspension or delisting procedures in respect of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. The commencement of suspension or delisting procedures by an exchange remains at the discretion of such exchange and would be publicly announced by the exchange. If a suspension or delisting were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted securities. In addition, our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired. Furthermore, with respect to any suspended or delisted Class A Ordinary Shares, we would expect decreases in institutional and other investor demand, analyst coverage, market making activity and information available concerning trading prices and volume, and fewer broker-dealers would be willing to execute trades with respect to such Class A Ordinary Shares. A suspension or delisting would likely decrease the attractiveness of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares to investors and cause the trading volume of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares to decline, which could result in a further decline in the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

In the event that Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares are delisted from Nasdaq, U.S. broker-dealers may be discouraged from effecting transactions in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares because they may be considered penny stocks and thus be subject to the penny stock rules.

 

The SEC has adopted a number of rules to regulate “penny stock” that restricts transactions involving stock which is deemed to be penny stock. Such rules include Rules 3a51-1, 15g-1, 15g-2, 15g-3, 15g-4, 15g-5, 15g-6, 15g-7, and 15g-9 under the Exchange Act. These rules may have the effect of reducing the liquidity of penny stocks. “Penny stocks” generally are equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 per share (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or quoted on Nasdaq if current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system). Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could be considered to be a “penny stock” within the meaning of the rules. The additional sales practice and disclosure requirements imposed upon U.S. broker-dealers may discourage such broker-dealers from effecting transactions in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, which could severely limit the market liquidity of such Class A Ordinary Shares and impede their sale in the secondary market. 

 

 

A U.S. broker-dealer selling a penny stock to anyone other than an established customer or “accredited investor” (generally, an individual with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or an annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with his or her spouse) must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and must receive the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to sale, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt. In addition, the “penny stock” regulations require the U.S. broker-dealer to deliver, prior to any transaction involving a “penny stock”, a disclosure schedule prepared in accordance with SEC standards relating to the “penny stock” market, unless the broker-dealer or the transaction is otherwise exempt. A U.S. broker-dealer is also required to disclose commissions payable to the U.S. broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations for the securities. Finally, a U.S. broker-dealer is required to submit monthly statements disclosing recent price information with respect to the “penny stock” held in a customer’s account and information with respect to the limited market in “penny stocks”.

 

The market for “penny stocks” has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include (i) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (ii) manipulation of prices through prearranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (iii) “boiler room” practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (iv) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differentials and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (v) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, resulting in investor losses. Our management is aware of the abuses that have occurred historically in the penny stock market. Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established with respect to our securities.

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, the market price for Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade our Class A Ordinary Shares, the market price for our Class A Ordinary Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline. 

 

Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future, you must rely on price appreciation of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares for return on your investment.

 

We currently intend to retain all of our available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares as a source for any future dividend income.

 

Ostin’s board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. There is no guarantee that Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares and you may even lose your entire investment.

 

If we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, United States taxpayers who own Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may have adverse United States federal income tax consequences.

 

A non-U.S. corporation such as us will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, which is known as a PFIC, for any taxable year if, for such year, either

 

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At least 75% of our gross income for the year is passive income; or

 

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The average percentage of our assets (determined at the end of each quarter) during the taxable year which produces passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%.

 

Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets.

 

 

If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. taxpayer who holds Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, the U.S. taxpayer may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements.

 

Depending on the amount of cash we raise in an offering, together with any other assets held for the production of passive income, it is possible that, for our current taxable year or for any subsequent year, more than 50% of our assets may be assets which produce passive income. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year. Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat our consolidated affiliated entities as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, because we consolidate their operating results in our consolidated financial statements. For purposes of the PFIC analysis, in general, a non-U.S. corporation is deemed to own its pro rata share of the gross income and assets of any entity in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the equity by value.

 

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Some provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue shares at such times and on such terms and conditions as the board of directors may decide without any further vote or action by our shareholders. Under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our articles of association for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company and for a proper purpose.

 

Our CEO has substantial influence over our company. His interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders, and he could prevent or cause a change of control or other transactions.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, Tao Ling, our Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owns an aggregate of 76.5% of our aggregate voting power. Accordingly, Mr. Ling could have significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations, the appointment of directors and other significant corporate actions. Mr. Ling will also have the power to prevent or cause a change in control. Without the consent of Mr. Ling, we may be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to us or our minority shareholders. In addition, Mr. Ling could violate his fiduciary duties by diverting business opportunities from us to himself or others. The interests of Mr. Ling may differ from the interests of our other shareholders. The concentration in the ownership of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may cause a material decline in the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.

 

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have the standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.

 

Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of the register of members of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.

 

Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the U.S. Currently, we do not plan to rely on home country practice with respect to any corporate governance matter. However, if we choose to follow our home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

 

As a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by our management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.

 

 

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

 

Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. These rights, however, may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our memorandum and articles of association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than 10% of our voting share capital in issue, to requisition a general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting. Advance notice of at least 5 clear days is required for the convening of a general meeting. A quorum required for a general meeting is the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding share capital being individuals present in person or by proxy or if a corporation or other non-natural person by its duly authorized representative or proxy. For these purposes, “clear days” means that period excluding (a) the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and (b) the day for which it is given or on which it is to take effect.

 

Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.

 

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in the PRC. In addition, most of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of the PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.

 

We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from requirements applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 for so long as we are an emerging growth company.

 

The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such 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 the extended transition period. As a result of this election, our future financial statements may not be comparable to other public companies that comply with the public company effective dates for these new or revised accounting standards.

  

We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.

 

Because we are a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:

 

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the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC;

 

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the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;

 

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the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and

 

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the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material non-public information under Regulation FD.

 

We are required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we publish our results on a semi-annual basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.

 

 

Because we are a foreign private issuer and are exempt from certain Nasdaq corporate governance standards applicable to U.S. issuers, you will have less protection than you would have if we were a domestic issuer.

 

As a Cayman Islands exempted company that is listed on Nasdaq, Ostin is subject to Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like Ostin to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is Ostin’s home country, may differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards, including, but not limited to, board of directors independent requirements, director nomination procedures, compensation committee matters. Ostin is following its home country law instead of the Nasdaq listing rules that require Ostin to obtain shareholder approval for certain dilutive events, such as certain transactions other than a public offering involving issuances of a 20% or greater interest in the company, and acquisitions of the stock or assets of another company. As a result, Ostin’s shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would enjoy under Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. In addition, we may consider following other home country practice in lieu of the requirements under Nasdaq listing rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards which may afford less protection to investors.

 

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

 

To the extent we determine that the proposed uses set forth in in the section titled “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement are no longer in the best interests of our Company, we cannot specify with any certainty the particular uses of such net proceeds that we received from this offering. However, we advise shareholders as required in our annual reports on Form 20-F of any changes in application of funds and will file a report of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K to the extent we determine such changes in application must be disclosed more quickly.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of such net proceeds, including working capital, and other general corporate purposes, including paying tax due, and we may spend or invest these proceeds in a way with which our shareholders disagree. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business and financial condition. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We anticipate using the net proceeds from the sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares as working capital for general corporate and administrative purposes.

 

The expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the progress of our product development efforts and market acceptance of our products. As a result, our management will have discretion and flexibility in applying the net proceeds from this offering for this purpose.

 

To the extent that the net proceeds we receive from this offering are not immediately applied for the above purposes, we plan to invest the net proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing debt instruments or bank deposits.

 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED

 

The following describes Ostin’s securities, summarizes the material provisions of its Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, which is based upon, and is qualified by reference to, Ostin’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Articles”). This summary does not purport to be a summary of all of the provisions of the Articles. You should read the Articles which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part for the provisions that are important to you.  

 

Ostin is a Cayman Islands exempted company and its affairs are governed by Ostin’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Articles”) and the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, which we refer to as the Companies Act below (each as amended or restated from time to time). We had the following series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of Each Class		Trading symbol		Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share		OST		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

As provided in the Articles, our authorized share capital is US$500,000 divided into (a) 4,991,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each with one (1) vote per share and with other rights attached to it in the Articles, (b) 8,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each with 20 votes per share and with other rights attached to it in the Articles, and (c) 1,000,000 Preference Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.

 

As of November 1, 2024, there were (a) 16,491,176 Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding, and 2,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding, all of which were fully paid, and (b) no Preference Shares outstanding.

 

 

The following are summaries of material provisions of the Articles, corporate governance policies and the Companies Act insofar as they relate to the material terms of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. Our corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

Dividends. Subject to any rights and restrictions of any other class or series of shares, our board of directors may, from time to time, declare dividends on the shares issued and authorize payment of the dividends out of our lawfully available funds. No dividends shall be paid by the Ostin except out of the following:

 

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realized or unrealized profits; or

 

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“share premium account,” which represents the excess of the price paid to our company on the issue of its shares over the par or “nominal” value of those shares, which is similar to the U.S. concept of additional paid in capital.

 

However, no dividend shall bear interest against our company. No dividends or other distributions shall be payable on the Class B Ordinary Shares.

 

Voting Rights. Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares, except as may otherwise be required by law, the holder of:

 

(a)

a Class A Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Class A Ordinary Share) have one vote for every Class A Ordinary Share of which he is the holder; and

 

(b)

a Class B Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Class B Ordinary Share) have 20 votes for every Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder.

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by a poll.

 

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, (i) an ordinary resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company; and (ii) a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two-thirds of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company.

 

Under Cayman Islands law, some matters, such as amending the memorandum and articles of association, changing the name or resolving to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, require the approval of shareholders by a special resolution.

 

There are no limitations on non-residents or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares imposed by foreign law or by the charter or other constituent documents of our company. However, no person will be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate class meeting of the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares unless the person is a shareholder of either class of shares as of the record date for such meeting and unless all calls or other sums presently payable by the person in respect of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares have been paid.

 

Winding Up; Liquidation. Upon the winding up of our company, after the full amount that holders of any issued shares ranking senior to Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares as to distribution on liquidation or winding up are entitled to receive has been paid or set aside for payment, the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares are entitled to receive any remaining assets of our company available for distribution as determined by the liquidator. The assets received by the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares in a liquidation may consist in whole or in part of a property, which is not required to be of the same kind for all shareholders.

 

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 clear days prior to the specified time and place of payment. Any Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.

 

Redemption of Ordinary Shares. We may issue shares that are, or at our option or at the option of the holders are, subject to redemption on such terms and in such manner as it may, before the issue of the shares, determine. Under the Companies Act, shares of a Cayman Islands company may be redeemed or repurchased out of profits of the company, out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that purpose or out of capital, provided the memorandum and articles of association authorize this and it has the ability to pay its debts as they come due in the ordinary course of business.

 

 

No Preemptive Rights. Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares will have no preemptive or preferential right to purchase any securities of our company.

 

Variation of Rights Attaching to Shares. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, subject to the memorandum and articles of association, be varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of the Articles may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.

 

Special Considerations for Exempted Companies. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

 

●

an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (the “Registrar”);

 

●

an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

 

●

an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

●

an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;

 

●

an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

 

●

an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

 

●

an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

 

●

an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

 

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

 

Preference Shares

 

The board of directors is empowered to designate and issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preference shares and to fix and determine the relative rights, preferences, designations, qualifications, privileges, options, conversion rights, limitations and other special or relative rights of each such class or series so authorized. Such action could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares or could have the effect of discouraging any attempt by a person or group to obtain control of us.

 

 

Comparison of Cayman Islands Corporate Law and U.S. Corporate Law

 

Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

In certain circumstances the Cayman Islands Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).

 

Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of 66 2/3 % in value) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association.

 

A shareholder has the right to vote on a merger or consolidation regardless of whether the shares that he holds otherwise give him voting rights. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company.

 

The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar will register the plan of merger or consolidation.

 

Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; and (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.

 

Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the constituent companies; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.

 

 

Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree on the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not be available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.

 

Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:

 

	●	we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;
	●	the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;
	●	the arrangement is such that a business person would reasonably approve; and
	●	the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”

 

If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

 

 

Squeeze-out Provisions

 

When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.

 

Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.

 

Shareholders’ Suits

 

Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

 

	●	a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;
	●	the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be affected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or

 

●

those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”

 

A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

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

 

The Articles permit indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such unless such losses or damages arise from dishonesty or fraud of such directors or officers.

 

This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, our offer letters to our independent directors and our employment agreements with our executive officers provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in the Articles.

 

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

 

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

 

Under Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

 

 

Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties:

 

	●	duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;
	●	duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;
	●	directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;
	●	duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders;
	●	duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and
	●	duty to exercise independent judgment.

 

In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge skill and experience of that director.

 

As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.

 

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent in its certificate of incorporation. The Articles provide that shareholders may not approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual general meeting, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. An extraordinary general meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.

 

Cayman Islands law does not provide shareholders any right to put proposals before a general meeting or requisition a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in articles of association. The Articles allow our shareholders holding not less than 10% in par value of our share capital in issue to requisition a general meeting. Other than this right to requisition a general meeting, the Articles do not provide our shareholders other rights to put a proposal before a meeting. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to hold annual general meetings.

 

 

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands but the Articles do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any fewer protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Articles, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution as a matter of Cayman Islands law (which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company).

 

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute in its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

 

Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.

 

Dissolution; Winding up

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.

 

Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so. Under the Companies Act and the Articles, our company may be wound up, liquidated or dissolved by a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and the Articles, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class with the written consent of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, the Articles may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Anti-Money Laundering - Cayman Islands

 

If any person in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.

 

Data Protection - Cayman Islands

 

We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Data Protection Act”) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.

 

Privacy Notice

 

Introduction

 

This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that through your investment in the Company you will provide us with certain personal information which constitutes personal data within the meaning of the Data Protection Act (“personal data”). In the following discussion, the “company” refers to us and our affiliates and/or delegates, except where the context requires otherwise.

 

Investor Data

 

We will collect, use, disclose, retain and secure personal data to the extent reasonably required only and within the parameters that could be reasonably expected during the normal course of business. We will only process, disclose, transfer or retain personal data to the extent legitimately required to conduct our activities of on an ongoing basis or to comply with legal and regulatory obligations to which we are subject. We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.

 

In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a “data controller” for the purposes of the Data Protection Act, while our affiliates and service providers who may receive this personal data from us in the conduct of our activities may either act as our “data processors” for the purposes of the Data Protection Act or may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us.

 

We may also obtain personal data from other public sources. Personal data includes, without limitation, the following information relating to a shareholder and/or any individuals connected with a shareholder as an investor: name, residential address, email address, contact details, corporate contact information, signature, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, tax identification, credit history, correspondence records, passport number, bank account details, source of funds details and details relating to the shareholder’s investment activity.

 

 

Who this Affects

 

If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation your investment in the company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should transmit the content of this Privacy Notice to such individuals or otherwise advise them of its content.

 

How the Company May Use a Shareholder’s Personal Data

 

The company, as the data controller, may collect, store and use personal data for lawful purposes, including, in particular:

 

	a)	where this is necessary for the performance of our rights and obligations under any purchase agreements;
	b)	where this is necessary for compliance with a legal and regulatory obligation to which we are subject (such as compliance with anti-money laundering and FATCA/CRS requirements); and/or
	c)	where this is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests and such interests are not overridden by your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms.

 

Should we wish to use personal data for other specific purposes (including, if applicable, any purpose that requires your consent), we will contact you.

 

Why We May Transfer Your Personal Data

 

In certain circumstances we may be legally obliged to share personal data and other information with respect to your shareholding with the relevant regulatory authorities such as the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority or the Tax Information Authority. They, in turn, may exchange this information with foreign authorities, including tax authorities.

 

We anticipate disclosing personal data to persons who provide services to us and their respective affiliates (which may include certain entities located outside the United States, the Cayman Islands or the European Economic Area), who will process your personal data on our behalf.

 

The Data Protection Measures We Take

 

Any transfer of personal data by us or our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

 

We and our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates shall apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of personal data, and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.

 

We shall notify you of any personal data breach that is reasonably likely to result in a risk to your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms or those data subjects to whom the relevant personal data relates.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization and indebtedness as of March 31, 2024 on an actual and pro forma as adjusted basis giving effect to the sale of the 1,623,376 Class A Ordinary Shares. The historical data in the table is derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our historical financial statements, including accompanying notes, and the Ex. 99.1 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 in our Interim Results, which are incorporated by reference herein. You should also read this table in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in the accompanying prospectus and “Use of Proceeds” and “Description of Securities Being Registered” contained in this prospectus supplement.

 

		As of March 31, 2024
		Actual				Pro forma Adjustment
Liabilities:
7% Convertible Note, due 2025		$	511,030				511,030
Other liabilities			39,266,753				39,266,753
Total Liabilities			39,777,783				39,777,783
Shareholders’ Equity:
Ordinary shares			1,681				1,843
Additional paid-in capital			24,235,939				24,535,777
Statutory surplus reserve			1,497,772				1,497,772
Retained earnings			(13,107,089	)			(13,107,089	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)			(2,343,787	)			(2,343,787	)
Non-controlling interests			1,378,821				1,378,821
Total shareholders’ equity		$	11,663,337				11,963,337
Total Capitalization		$	51,441,120				51,741,120

 

 

DILUTION

 

Dilution in net tangible book value per share to the Purchaser is the amount by which the offering price paid by the Purchaser of the Class A Ordinary Shares sold in the offering exceeds the pro forma net tangible book value per Class A Ordinary Shares after the offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined at any date by subtracting our total liabilities from the total book value of our tangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of Class A Ordinary Shares deemed to be outstanding at that date.

 

The net tangible book value of our Class A Ordinary Shares as of March 31, 2024 was approximately $6.97 million, or $0.471 per share, based on 14,806,250 Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding as of that date.

 

After giving effect to the sale of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the aggregate amount of approximately $300,000 at an offering price of $0.1848 per share, and after deducting estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2024 would have been approximately $7.27 million, or $0.442 per outstanding Class A Ordinary Share. This represents an immediate decrease in the net tangible book value of approximately $0.029 per share to our existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $(0.2572) per share to investors purchasing shares in this offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Assumed public offering price per share		$	0.1848
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2024		$	0.471
Decrease in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering		$	0.029
As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2024, after giving effect to this offering		$	0.442
Dilution per share to investors purchasing shares in this offering		$	(0.2572	)

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We are selling an aggregate of 1,623,376 Class A Ordinary Shares directly to the Purchaser. The offering price for each Class A Ordinary Share is $0.1848 per share, which was determined at a 30% discount to the average closing price of the Class A Ordinary Shares for the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, on the closing date, we will issue an aggregate of 1,623,376 Class A Ordinary Shares to the Purchaser with the Purchaser to receive such number of Class A Ordinary Shares as specified in the Securities Purchase Agreement, and we will receive gross proceeds in the amount of approximately $300,000. We estimate that the expenses of this offering payable by us will be approximately $45,000.

 

The foregoing does not purport to be a complete statement of the terms and conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The forms of the Securities Purchase Agreement will be included as exhibits to a Form 6-K that we will file with the SEC in connection with this offering and will be incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part. See sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference” below.

 

The Class A Ordinary Shares offered hereunder may be resold or distributed from time to time by Strattners directly to one or more purchasers or through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at fixed prices, which may be changed. Accordingly, with regard to our Class A Ordinary Shares offered hereunder that may be resold or distributed from time to time by Strattners under the Securities Purchase Agreement, Strattners may be an “underwriter” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. In any such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

 

The sale of the Class A Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus could be effected in one or more of the following methods:

 

●

ordinary brokers’ transactions;

 

●

transactions involving cross or block trades;

 

●

through brokers, dealers, or underwriters who may act solely as agents;

 

●

“at the market” into an existing market for the Class A Ordinary Shares;

 

●

in other ways not involving market makers or established business markets, including direct sales to purchasers or sales effected through agents;

 

●

in privately negotiated transactions; or

 

●

any combination of the foregoing.

 

In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the Class A Ordinary Shares may be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain states, the Class A Ordinary Shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the state or an exemption from the state’s registration or qualification requirement is available and complied with.

 

 

Strattners has informed us that it intends to use an unaffiliated broker-dealer to effectuate all resales, if any, of the Class A Ordinary Shares that it may purchase from us pursuant to the Agreement. Such resales will be made at prices and at terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price. Each such unaffiliated broker-dealer will be an underwriter within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Strattners has also informed us that each such broker-dealer will receive commissions from Strattners that will not exceed customary brokerage commissions.

 

Brokers, dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the Class A Ordinary Shares as agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts, or concessions from the selling shareholder and/or purchasers of the Class A Ordinary Shares for whom the broker-dealers may act as agent. The compensation paid to a particular broker-dealer may be less than or in excess of customary commissions. Neither we nor Strattners can presently estimate the amount of compensation that any agent will receive.

 

We have no knowledge of any existing arrangements between Strattners or any other shareholder, broker, dealer, underwriter or agent relating to the resale or distribution of the Class A Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus. At the time a particular offer of shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed that will set forth the names of any agents, underwriters or dealers and any compensation from the selling shareholders, and any other required information.

 

Strattners has represented to us that at no time prior to the Securities Purchase Agreement has Strattners or its agents, representatives or affiliates engaged in or effected, in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, any short sale (as such term is defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act) of our Class A Ordinary Shares or which establishes a net short position with respect to our Class A Ordinary Shares. Strattners agreed that during the term of the Securities Purchase Agreement, it, its agents, representatives or affiliates will not enter into or effect, directly or indirectly, any of the foregoing transactions.

 

Because Strattners may be considered an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, it may be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. We have also advised Strattners that it may be required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act. With certain exceptions, Regulation M precludes the selling shareholders, any affiliated purchasers, and any broker-dealer or other person who participates in the distribution from bidding for or purchasing, or attempting to induce any person to bid for or purchase any security which is the subject of the distribution until the entire distribution is complete. Regulation M also prohibits any bids or purchases made in order to stabilize the price of a security in connection with the distribution of that security. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the Class A Ordinary Shares offered by this prospectus.

 

Immediately prior to the date of the Agreement, Strattners did not beneficially own any Class A Ordinary Shares. Strattners will be deemed to be beneficial owner of all of the Class A Ordinary Shares owned by Strattners. Timo Bernd Strattner has shared voting and investment power over the Class A Ordinary Shares being offered under the prospectus supplement filed with the SEC in connection with the transactions contemplated under the Securities Purchase Agreement. Strattners is not a licensed broker dealer or an affiliate of a licensed broker dealer in the US.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A Ordinary Shares is Vstock Transfer, LLC, with its business address at 18 Lafayette Place, Woodmere, New York 11598.

 

Listing

 

Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the trading symbol “OST.”

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the securities offered in this offering and certain other legal matters as to Cayman Islands law will be passed upon for us by Ogier, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law. Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP is acting as counsel to our company regarding U.S. securities law matters.

 

EXPERTS

 

Our consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 and for the years respectively then ended incorporated by reference in this prospectus and have been so included in reliance on the report of TPS Thayer, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of TPS Thayer is located at 1600 Hwy 6 Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

 

INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

None of the named experts or legal counsel was employed on a contingent basis, owns an amount of shares in our company which is material to that person, or has a material, direct or indirect economic interest in our company or that depends on the success of the offering.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information about us by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We incorporate by reference:

 

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our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on January 31, 2024;

 

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our current reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on February 7, 2024, March 14, 2024, April 2, 2024, June 27, 2024, July 24, 2024, August 26, 2024, October 4, 2024 and November 8, 2024;

 

●

the description of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares contained in the Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2022, and any further amendment or report filed hereafter for the purpose of updating such description;

 

●

the documents and reports set out in the section entitled “Incorporation by Reference” in the Prospectus;

 

●

the documents and reports filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act between the date of the prospectus and this prospectus supplement;

 

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other documents and reports furnished by us to the SEC on Form 6-K subsequent to the date of the prospectus, but only to the extent specifically set forth in such Form 6-K;

 

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all documents and reports filed after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering hereunder pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

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any other documents and reports furnished by us to the SEC on Form 6-K after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering, but only to the extent specifically set forth in such Form 6-K.

 

Any statement contained in a document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, modifies or supersedes that statement. The modifying or superseding statement does not need to state that it has modified or superseded a prior statement or include any other information set forth in the document that it modifies or supersedes.

 

Upon request, we will provide, without charge, to each person who receives this prospectus, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference (other than exhibits to the documents that are not specifically incorporated by reference in the documents).

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the ordinary shares offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits thereto, to which reference is hereby made. With respect to each contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to such exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved. The registration statement and the exhibits thereto filed by us with the SEC may be inspected at the public reference facility of the SEC listed below.

 

The registration statement, reports and other information filed or to be filed with the SEC by us can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F. Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

OSTIN TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

1,623,376 Class A Ordinary Shares

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd.

 

US$200,000,000 

 

Class A Ordinary Shares

Preference Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units

 

We may offer, issue and sell, from time to time, class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (“Class A Ordinary Shares”), preference shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (“Preference Shares”), debt securities, warrants, rights or units up to US$200,000,000 or its equivalent in any other currency, currency units, or composite currency or currencies in one or more issuances. We may sell any combination of these securities in one or more offerings.

 

This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus or incorporated into this prospectus by reference. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest. Each prospectus supplement will indicate if the securities offered thereby will be listed or quoted on a securities exchange or quotation system.

 

The information contained or incorporated in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, or such prospectus supplement, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd. (“Ostin”)’s securities. 

 

Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “OST.” On May 6, 2024, the closing sale price of the Class A Ordinary Shares was US$0.423. As of May 6, 2024, the aggregate market value of Ostin’s outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates was approximately US$5,034,377.65 based on 14,806,250 issued and outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares, of which approximately 11,901,602 Class A Ordinary Shares were held by non-affiliates. We have not offered any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus. The highest closing sale price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market within the 60 days prior to the date of this filing was US$0.52 per share on March 11, 2024, which would allow us to offer up to approximately $2,062,944.35 of securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3 as of the date of this prospectus.

 

We received a written notification from the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq”) on January 19, 2024, notifying us that we are not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth in the Nasdaq rules for continued listing on the Nasdaq (the “Minimum Bid Price Requirement”). To regain compliance, Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares must have a closing bid price of at least US$1.00 for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading days by July 17, 2024. We are currently preparing to implement a reverse share split plan to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement by July 17, 2024. This reverse share split plan was considered and approved by our shareholders at our extraordinary general meeting held on March 28, 2024, and subject to the determination, confirmation and approval of our board of directors, the authorized share capital of the Company will be consolidated within a range of one-for-five (1:5) to one-for-thirty (1:30) on or prior to July 17, 2024. For more information, see “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors- Risks Related to Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares – The market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares has recently declined significantly, and Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could be delisted from the Nasdaq or trading could be suspended.” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 (the “2023 Annual Report”), which is incorporated herein by reference, and on page 30 of this prospectus.

 

 

We may offer securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed by one or more underwriters, through agents, or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe the plan of distribution for that offering. For general information about the distribution of securities offered, please see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

 

The principal executive office of Ostin is located at Building 2, 101, 1 Kechuang Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China 210046, and its telephone number is +86 (25) 58595234. The registered address of Ostin is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.

 

In this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our,” “our company,” the “Company,” or similar terms refer to Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd. and/or its consolidated subsidiaries. Investors are purchasing an interest in Ostin, the Cayman Islands holding company. Investing in Ostin’s securities is highly speculative and involves a significant degree of risk. The risks could result in a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares offered in this prospectus are shares of our Cayman Islands holding company, which has no material operations of its own, and conducts substantially all of its operations through the operating entities established in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC, primarily Jiangsu Austin Optronics Technology Co., Ltd. (“Jiangsu Austin”), our majority owned subsidiary and its subsidiaries. For a description of our corporate structure, see “Corporate Structure” on page 2 of this prospectus. See also “Risk Factors” on page 15.

 

As a Cayman Islands holding company with operations primarily conducted by its subsidiaries based in China, Ostin and its subsidiaries are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations and face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties relating to doing business in China. For example, Ostin and its subsidiaries in the PRC face risks associated with regulatory approvals on offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, as well as the lack of inspection on our auditors by the PCAOB, which may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or list and conduct offerings on a United States or other foreign exchange. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. For a detailed description of risks relating to doing business in China, please refer to risks disclosed under “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China” on page 13 of this prospectus.

 

PRC government’s significant authority in regulating our operations and its oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Implementation of industry-wide regulations, including data security or anti-monopoly related regulations, in this nature may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. We are not operating in an industry that prohibits or limits foreign investment. As a result, as advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, other than those requisite for a domestic company in China to engage in the businesses similar to ours, we are not required to obtain any permission from Chinese authorities, including the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) or any other governmental agency that is required to approve our operations. However, if we do not receive or maintain the approvals, or we inadvertently conclude that such approvals are not required, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change such that we are required to obtain approval in the future, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. For more details, see “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China- The PRC government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we conduct our business activities. The PRC government may also intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could decline in value or become worthless.” on page 19.

 

 

Risks and uncertainties arising from the legal system in China, including risks and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and quickly evolving rules and regulations in China, could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) promulgated Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and relevant five guidelines (collectively, the “Overseas Listing Trial Measures”), which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures comprehensively improve and reform the existing regulatory regime for overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities and regulates both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (i) mainland China domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; if a mainland China domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such mainland China domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines; (ii) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a mainland China domestic company: (a) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (b) its major operational activities are carried out in mainland China or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures require subsequent reports to be filed with the CSRC on material events, such as change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuers who have completed overseas offerings and listings. In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Overseas Listing Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or be worthless. For more details, see “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China- There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.” on page 16.

 

 

Furthermore, as more stringent criteria have been imposed by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) recently, Ostin’s securities may be prohibited from trading if our auditor cannot be fully inspected. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued its determination that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions, and the PCAOB included in the report of its determination a list of the accounting firms that are headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong. This list does not include our auditor, TPS Thayer, LLC. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Statement of Protocol”) with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of China (“MOF”). The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate the previous 2021 determination report to the contrary. On December 29, 2022, a legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden. The Consolidated Appropriations Act contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which reduces the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act from three years to two. As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCA Act”) now also applies if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate the relevant accounting firm is due to a position taken by an authority in any foreign jurisdiction. The denying jurisdiction does not need to be where the accounting firm is located. Our current auditor, TPS Thayer, LLC, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the future, if there is any regulatory change or step taken by PRC regulators that does not permit our auditor to provide audit documentations located in China to the PCAOB for inspection or investigation, investors may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection. Any audit reports not issued by auditors that are completely inspected by the PCAOB, or a lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China that prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditors’ audits and their quality control procedures, could result in a lack of assurance that our financial statements and disclosures are adequate and accurate, then such lack of inspection could cause Ostin’s securities to be delisted from the stock exchange. See “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China - Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our auditors. The delisting of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.” on page 28.

 

Ostin is a holding company with no operations of its own. We conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries in China. As a result, although other means are available for us to obtain financing at the holding company level, Ostin’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders and to service any debt it may incur may depend upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries. If any of our PRC subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends to Ostin. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to Ostin only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Further, our PRC subsidiaries are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or may make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent liquidation of the companies. For more details, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-B. Liquidity and Capital Resources-Holding Company Structure.” in our 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to us. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned enterprise out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. The amounts restricted include the paid-up capital and the statutory reserve funds of our PRC subsidiaries, totaling $24,753,990, $24,752,533 and $11,889,822 as of September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

 

 

Furthermore, cash transfers from our PRC subsidiaries to entities outside of China are subject to PRC government controls on currency conversion. To the extent cash in our business is in the PRC or a PRC entity, such cash may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC due to restrictions and limitations imposed by the governmental authorities on the ability of us or our PRC subsidiaries to transfer cash outside of the PRC. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may temporarily delay the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated obligations. In view of the foregoing, to the extent cash in our business is held in China or by a PRC entity, such cash may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC. For risks relating to the fund flows of our operations in China, see “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China-We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund offshore cash and financing requirements and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to transfer cash out of China and/or make remittance to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities” on page 25 and “- PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and future financings to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.” on page 24.

 

Under PRC law, Ostin may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or loans, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2023, 2022, and 2021, Ostin provided funding to our PRC subsidiaries of $0, $4,078,600 and $0, respectively.

 

In addition, funds are transferred among our PRC subsidiaries for working capital purposes, primarily between Jiangsu Austin, our main operating subsidiary and its subsidiaries. The following table provides a summary of the distributions and working capital funds transferred between Jiangsu Austin and its subsidiaries:

 

		Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
		2023				2022				2021
Cash transferred to its subsidiaries from Jiangsu Austin		$	8,617,106			$	9,096,665			$	-
Cash transferred to Jiangsu Austin from its subsidiaries		$	-			$	-			$	7,640,965

 

The transfer of funds among companies are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Second Amendment, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was implemented on January 1, 2021 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. The Provisions on Private Lending Cases set forth that private lending contracts will be upheld as invalid under the circumstance that (i) the lender swindles loans from financial institutions for relending; (ii) the lender relends the funds obtained by means of a loan from another profit-making legal person, raising funds from its employees, illegally taking deposits from the public; (iii) the lender who has not obtained the lending qualification according to the law lends money to any unspecified object of the society for the purpose of making profits; (iv) the lender lends funds to a borrower when the lender knows or should have known that the borrower intended to use the borrowed funds for illegal or criminal purposes; (v) the lending is violations of public orders or good morals; or (vi) the lending is in violations of mandatory provisions of laws or administrative regulations. As advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - B. Business Overview - Regulation - Regulations Relating to Private Lending.” in our 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Our majority owned subsidiary, Jiangsu Austin, has maintained cash management policies which dictate the purpose, amount and procedure of cash transfers between Jiangsu Austin and its subsidiaries. Cash transferred to Jiangsu Austin’s subsidiaries of less than RMB5 million (US$0.69 million) must be reported to and reviewed by Jiangsu Austin’s financial department and the relevant PRC subsidiary’s chief executive officer, and must be approved by the Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of Jiangsu Austin. Cash transfer in excess of RMB5 million (US$0.69 million) but less than RMB20 million (US$2.74 million), and less than 50% of Jiangsu Austin’s consolidated total assets must be approved by the board of directors of Jiangsu Austin. Cash transfer in excess of RMB20 million (US$2.74 million), or more than 50% of Jiangsu Austin’s consolidated total assets must be approved by shareholders of Jiangsu Austin. Jiangsu Austin conducts regular review and management of all its subsidiaries’ cash transfers and reports to its Risk Management Department and board of directors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or the “JOBS Act,” and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary-Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” on page 7 of this prospectus.

 

Investing in Ostin’s securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 15 of this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement and in any related free writing prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus before making any decision to invest in Ostin’s securities. 

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is        , 2024

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		ii
CONVENTIONS THAT APPLY TO THIS PROSPECTUS		iii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		1
RISK FACTORS		15
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		30
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE		30
USE OF PROCEEDS		31
CAPITALIZATION		31
DILUTION		31
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL		32
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		42
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		44
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS		46
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		47
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES		47
TAXATION		48
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		48
EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION		51
LEGAL MATTERS		51
EXPERTS		51
INDEMNIFICATION		51
MATERIAL CHANGES		51
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		52
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		53

 

You should rely only on the information provided by this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different or additional information or to make any representations other than those contained in or incorporated by reference to this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not taken any action to permit a public offering of the securities described in this prospectus outside the United States or to permit the possession or distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the securities described in this prospectus and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in any circumstances under which the offer of solicitation is unlawful. The information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of the date hereof or thereof or such other date expressly stated herein or therein, and our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf registration” process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities of Ostin described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of up to US$200,000,000 (or its equivalent in foreign or composite currencies).

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered. Each time we offer Ostin’s securities, we will provide you with a supplement to this prospectus that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities we offer. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus, together with applicable prospectus supplements and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplements, includes all material information relating to an offering pursuant to this prospectus. Please read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information that we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

CONVENTIONS THAT APPLY TO THIS PROSPECTUS

 

Unless we indicate otherwise, all information in this prospectus reflects the following:

 

●

“AMOLED” refers to active-matrix organic light emitting diode, which is an organic light emitting diode display technology;

 

●

“CAC” refers to the Cyberspace Administration of China;

 

●

“China” or the “PRC”, in each case, refers to the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Macau. The term “Chinese” has a correlative meaning for the purpose of this prospectus;

 

●

“Class A Ordinary Shares” refers to Ostin’s class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, each with one vote per share;

 

●

“Class B Ordinary Shares” refers to Ostin’s class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, each with 20 vote per share;

 

●

“CSRC” refers to the China Securities Regulatory Commission;

 

●

“Exchange Act” refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

●

“FINRA” refers to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.;

 

●

“HK$,” “HKD,” or “Hong Kong dollars” refers to the legal currency of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;

 

●

“Hong Kong” refers to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;

 

●

“IoT” refers to Internet of Things;

 

●

“Jiangsu Austin” refers to Jiangsu Austin Optronics Technology Co., Ltd., our majority owned subsidiary, which is a company limited by shares incorporated in China;

 

 

	●	“JOBS Act” refers to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, enacted in April 2012;
	●	“MOFCOM” refers to China’s Ministry of Commerce;
	●	“Nasdaq” refers to Nasdaq Stock Market LLC;
	●	“OLED” refers to organic light emitting diode, a light emitting display technology;

 

●

“Ostin” refers to Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd., a Cayman Islands exempted company, and “we,” “us,” “our company,” the “Company,” “our,” or similar terms used in this prospectus refer to Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd. and/or its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise indicates;

 

	●	“PCAOB” refers to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States;
	●	“polarizer” refers to polarizing film, a composite optical film used in LCD/OLED/AMOLED displays

 

●

“RMB” or “Renminbi” refer to the legal currency of the People’s Republic of China;

 

●

“SAFE” refers to China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange;

 

●

“SAT” refers to China’s State Administration of Taxation;

 

●

“SEC” refers to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

 

●

“Securities Act” refers to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;

 

●

“share capital” or similar expressions include a reference to shares in a company that does not have a share capital under its governing law, but which is authorized to issue a maximum or unlimited number of shares;

 

●

“TFT-LCD” refers to Thin-film transistor liquid crystal display, a display technology;

 

●

“US$,” “$,” “dollars,” “USD” or “U.S. dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States; and

 

●

“U.S. GAAP” refers to the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

 

This prospectus contains information and statistics relating to China’s economy and the industries in which Ostin operates through its operating entities in China derived from various publications issued by market research companies and PRC governmental entities, which have not been independently verified by us. The information in such sources may not be consistent with other information compiled in or outside of China.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all other financial and other data related to the Company in this prospectus is presented in U.S. dollars. We present our financial results in RMB. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. This prospectus contains translations of certain foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations of Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this prospectus were made at the rate at RMB7.2960 to US $1.00, the rate published by the Federal Reserve Board on September 29, 2023.

 

Our fiscal year end is September 30. References to a particular “fiscal year” are to our fiscal year ended September 30 of that calendar year. Our audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the U.S. GAAP.

 

References in any prospectus supplement to “the accompanying prospectus” are to this prospectus and to “the prospectus” are to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement taken together.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in the securities that we are offering involves a high degree of risk. We operate, primarily through our subsidiaries in China, in a highly competitive environment in which there are numerous factors that can influence its business, financial position or results of operations and that can also cause the market value of the Class A Ordinary Shares to decline. Many of these factors are beyond our control and therefore, are difficult to predict. Prior to making a decision about investing in the securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our 2023 Annual Report filed with the SEC, and in any applicable prospectus supplement and our other filings with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or related free writing prospectus. If any of the risks or uncertainties described in our SEC filings or any prospectus supplement or any additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of the securities could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.

 

The following disclosure is intended to highlight, update or supplement previously disclosed risk factors facing the Company set forth in the Company’s public filings. These risk factors should be carefully considered along with any other risk factors identified in the Company’s other filings with the SEC.

 

Such risks are not exhaustive. We may face additional risks that are presently unknown to us or that we believe to be immaterial as of the date of this prospectus. Known and unknown risks and uncertainties may significantly impact and impair our business operations primarily through our subsidiaries in China. 

 

Risks Related to Doing Business in China 

 

Changes in the political and economic policies of the PRC government or in relations between China and the United States may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and may result in our inability to sustain our growth and expansion strategies.

 

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC and a majority of our revenues are sourced from the PRC. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations are affected to a significant extent by economic, political and legal developments in the PRC or changes in government relations between China and the United States or other governments. There is significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs.

 

The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the extent of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth by allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, regulating financial services and institutions and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

 

While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past four decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall PRC economy, but may also have a negative effect on us. Our financial condition and results of operation could be materially and adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. In addition, the PRC government has implemented in the past certain measures, including interest rate increases, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity.

 

In July 2021, the Chinese government provided new guidance on China-based companies raising capital outside of China, including through VIE arrangements. In light of such developments, the SEC has imposed enhanced disclosure requirements on China-based companies seeking to register securities with the SEC. In February 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five supporting guidelines, which took effect on March 31, 2023. As substantially all of our operations are based in China, any future Chinese, U.S. or other rules and regulations that place restrictions on capital raising or other activities by China based companies could adversely affect our business and results of operations. If the business environment in China deteriorates from the perspective of domestic or international investment, or if relations between China and the United States or other governments deteriorate, the Chinese government may intervene with our operations and our business in China and United States, as well as the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, may also be adversely affected.

 

 

There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations.

 

Substantially all of our operations are conducted in the PRC, and are governed by PRC laws, rules and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to laws, rules and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

 

In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past four decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws, rules and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China or may be subject to significant degrees of interpretation by PRC regulatory agencies. In particular, because these laws, rules and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited number of published decisions and the nonbinding nature of such decisions, and because the laws, rules and regulations often give the relevant regulator significant discretion in how to enforce them, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involve uncertainties and can be inconsistent and unpredictable. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all, and which may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until after the occurrence of the violation.

 

Administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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

 

In June 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law, among other things, provides for security review procedure for data-related activities that may affect national security. In November 2021, the CAC released the Administrative Regulations on Internet Data Security (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Data Security Regulations, which provides that data processors refer to individuals or organizations that, during their data processing activities such as data collection, storage, utilization, transmission, publication and deletion, have autonomy over the purpose and the manner of data processing. In accordance with the Draft Data Security Regulations, data processors shall apply for a cybersecurity review for certain activities, including, among other things, (i) the listing abroad of data processors that process the personal information of more than one million individuals and (ii) any data processing activity that affects or may affect national security. However, there have been no clarifications from the relevant authorities as of the date of this prospectus as to the standards for determining whether an activity is one that “affects or may affect national security.” In addition, the Draft Data Security Regulations requires that data processors that process “important data” or are listed overseas must conduct an annual data security assessment by itself or commission a data security service provider to do so, and submit the assessment report of the preceding year to the municipal cybersecurity department by the end of January each year. As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Data Security Regulations was released for public comment only, and their respective provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date may be subject to change with substantial uncertainty.

 

 

On December 28, 2021, the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) was promulgated and took effect on February 15, 2022, which iterates that any “online platform operators” controlling personal information of more than one million users which seeks to list in a foreign stock exchange should also be subject to cybersecurity review. On September 14, 2022, the CAC published the Decision of Amending PRC Cybersecurity Law (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Amendment to PRC Cybersecurity Law, which, among other things, aggravated legal liabilities for violations of cybersecurity obligations and critical information infrastructure operators’ obligations. As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Amendment to PRC Cybersecurity Law was released for public comment only, and its respective provisions and anticipated adoption or effective date may be subject to change with substantial uncertainty.

 

On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law, which took effect on November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law aims at protecting the personal information rights and interests, regulating the processing of personal information, ensuring the orderly and free flow of personal information in accordance with the law, and promoting the reasonable use of personal information. According to the Personal Information Protection Law, personal information includes all kinds of identified or identifiable information related to natural persons recorded by electronic or other means, but excludes de-identified information. The Personal Information Protection Law also specified the rules for handling sensitive personal information, which includes biometrics, religious beliefs, specific identities, medical health, financial accounts, trails and locations, and personal information of teenagers under fourteen years old and other personal information, which, upon leakage or illegal usage, may easily infringe the personal dignity or harm of safety of livelihood and property. Personal information handlers shall bear responsibility for their personal information handling activities, and adopt necessary measures to safeguard the security of the personal information they handle. Otherwise, the personal information handlers will be ordered for rectification or suspension or termination of provision of services, confiscation of illegal income, subject to fines or other penalties.

 

On July 7, 2022, the CAC issued the Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-border Transfer of Data, effective from September 1, 2022. The measures provide that four types of cross-border transfers of critical data or personal data generated from or collected in the PRC should be subject to a security assessment, which include: (i) a data processor to transfer important data overseas; (ii) either a critical information infrastructure operator, or a data processor processing personal information of more than 1 million individuals, transfers personal information overseas; (iii) a data processor who has, since January 1 of the previous year, transferred personal information of more than 100,000 individuals overseas cumulatively, or transferred sensitive personal information of more than 10,000 individuals overseas cumulatively; or (iv) other circumstances under which security assessment of data cross-border transfer is required as prescribed by the national cyberspace administration. We have applied for a security assessment by the CAC regarding the cross-border transfer of certain data in our business operations in accordance with the Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-border Transfer of Data. However, since these measures are relatively new, the interpretation and implementation of these measures in practice are subject to changes, including the assessment result by the CAC.

 

As advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, we are not among “data processor” as mentioned above. The Company, through Jiangsu Austin and its subsidiaries, is a supplier of display modules and polarizers in China, and designs, develops and manufactures TFT-LCD modules, and neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is engaged in data activities as defined under the Personal Information Protection Law, which includes, without limitation, collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, publication and deletion of data. In addition, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries is an operator of any “critical information infrastructure” as defined under the PRC Cybersecurity Law and the Security Protection Measures on Critical Information Infrastructure. However, Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) was recently adopted and the Opinions remain unclear on how it will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities.

 

 

There remains uncertainties as to when the final measures will be issued and take effect, how they will be enacted, interpreted or implemented, and whether they will affect us. If we inadvertently conclude that the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) do not apply to us, or applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and it is determined in the future that the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) become applicable to us, we may be subject to review when conducting data processing activities, and may face challenges in addressing its requirements and make necessary changes to our internal policies and practices. We may incur substantial costs in complying with the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version), which could result in material adverse changes in our business operations and financial position. If we are not able to fully comply with the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version), our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors may be significantly limited or completely hindered, and Ostin’s securities may significantly decline in value or become worthless.

 

On December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Provisions, and the CSRC issued a draft of Administration Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Administration Measures, for public comments., and if enacted, they may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future.

 

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Circular of the People’s Republic of China on Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing of Domestic Enterprises, or the Circular of Overseas Listing and Offering, and the Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five relevant guidelines, or the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, PRC domestic companies that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either in direct or indirect means, are required to fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC and report relevant information. According to the Circular of Overseas Listing and Offering, issuers that have already been listed in an overseas market by March 31, 2023, such as our company, are not required to make any immediate filing. In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Overseas Listing Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See ” - The approval of and filing with the CSRC, CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.”

 

Thus, it is still uncertain how PRC governmental authorities will regulate overseas listing in general and whether we are required to obtain any specific regulatory approvals. Furthermore, if the CSRC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors.

 

Furthermore, the PRC government authorities may strengthen oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Such actions taken by the PRC government authorities may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which are beyond our control. Therefore, any such action may adversely affect our operations and significantly limit or hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to you and reduce the value of such securities.

 

 

Uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and the fact that rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, along with the risk that the Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could result in a material change in our operations, financial performance and/or the value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares or impair our ability to raise money.

 

The PRC government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we conduct our business activities. The PRC government may also intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares could decline in value or become worthless.

 

The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in our operations in China.

 

For example, the Chinese cybersecurity regulator announced on July 2, 2021, that it had begun an investigation of Didi Global Inc. (NYSE: DIDI) and two days later ordered that the company’s app be removed from smartphone app stores. Similarly, our business segments may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the regions in which we operate. We could be subject to regulation by various political and regulatory entities, including various local and municipal agencies and government sub-divisions. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply.

 

Furthermore, it is uncertain when and whether we will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to continue listing on U.S. exchanges in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether it will be denied or rescinded. Although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC central or local government to obtain such permission and has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry. If our holding company or any of our PRC subsidiaries were required to obtain approval in the future and were denied permission from Chinese authorities to continue listing on U.S. exchanges, we will not be able to continue listing on U.S. exchange, continue to offer securities to investors, or materially affect the interest of the investors and cause significantly depreciation of the price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares. Recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent, and the PRC government may take actions to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

 

The approval of and filing with the CSRC, CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.

 

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC persons or entities to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear, and our offshore offerings may ultimately require approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore offerings, or a rescission of such approval is obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restrictions or limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

 

On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued the Opinions on Strictly Scrutinizing Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies, to improve relevant laws and regulations on data security, cross-border data transmission, and confidential information management, and provided that efforts will be made to revise the regulations on strengthening the confidentiality and file management relating to the offering and listing of securities overseas, and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. As a follow-up, on December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Draft Provisions, and the CSRC issued a draft of the Draft Administration Measures, for public comments.

 

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, which became effective on March 31, 2023. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures comprehensively improve and reform the existing regulatory regime for overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities and regulates both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing of mainland China domestic companies’ securities by adopting a filing-based regulatory regime.

 

According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (i) mainland China domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; if a mainland China domestic company fails to complete the filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such mainland China domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines; (ii) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a mainland China domestic company: (a) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (b) its major operational activities are carried out in mainland China or its main places of business are located in mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. The Overseas Listing Trial Measures require subsequent reports to be filed with the CSRC on material events, such as change of control or voluntary or forced delisting of the issuers who have completed overseas offerings and listings.

 

On the same day, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that (i) prior to the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, mainland China domestic companies that have already completed overseas listing shall be regarded as “existing companies”, which are not required to fulfill filing procedure immediately but shall be required to complete the filing if such existing companies conduct refinancing in the future; and (ii) the CSRC will solicit opinions from relevant regulatory authorities and complete the filing of the overseas listing of companies with contractual arrangements which duly meet the compliance requirements, and support the development and growth of these companies by enabling them to utilize two markets and two kinds of resources. However, since the Overseas Listing Trial Measures was newly promulgated, the interpretation, application and enforcement of Overseas Listing Trial Measures remain unclear.

 

In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Overseas Listing Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Overseas Listing Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of Ostin’s securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

 

 

Given the substantial uncertainties surrounding the latest CSRC filing requirements at this stage, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the filings and fully comply with the relevant new rules on a timely basis, if at all.

 

Relatedly, on December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the MOF jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, which will become effective on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to such Special Administrative Measures, if a domestic company engaging in the prohibited business stipulated in the 2021 Negative List seeks an overseas offering and listing, it shall obtain the approval from the competent government authorities. Besides, the foreign investors of the company shall not be involved in the company’s operation and management, and their shareholding percentage shall be subject, mutatis mutandis, to the relevant regulations on the domestic securities investments by foreign investors. As the 2021 Negative List is relatively new, there remain substantial uncertainties as to the interpretation and implementation of these new requirements, and it is unclear as to whether and to what extent listed companies like us will be subject to these new requirements. If we are required to comply with these requirements and fail to do so on a timely basis, if at all, our business operation, financial conditions and business prospect may be adversely and materially affected.

 

On February 24, 2023, the CSRC released the Provisions on Strengthening the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Related to the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises, or the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions, which took effect on March 31, 2023. The Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions require, among others, that PRC domestic enterprises that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets, either directly or indirectly, complete approval and filing procedures to competent authorities, if such PRC domestic enterprises or its overseas listing entities provide or publicly disclose documents or materials involving state secrets and work secrets of PRC government agencies to relevant securities companies, securities service institutions, overseas regulatory agencies and other entities and individuals. It further stipulates that providing or publicly disclosing documents and materials which may adversely affect national security or public interests, and accounting files or copies shall be subject to corresponding procedures in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Under the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions, we may be required to complete relevant approval or filing procedures, or expend additional resources to comply with the Confidentiality and Archives Administration Provisions if we are recognized to fall within any of the foregoing circumstances. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for future capital-raising activities, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver.

 

In addition, we cannot assure you that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional requirements on us. If it is determined in the future that approval and filing from the CSRC, CAC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures, including the cybersecurity review under the enacted version of the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, are required for our offshore offerings, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval or completing such filing procedures for our offshore offerings, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to seek CSRC approval or filing or other government authorization for our offshore offerings. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings before settlement and delivery of the shares offered. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our prior offshore offerings, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of our listed securities.

 

 

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the annual report based on foreign laws.

 

We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, all our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time and are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside China. In addition, China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments of courts with the Cayman Islands and many other countries and regions. Therefore, recognition and enforcement in China of judgments of a court in any of these non-PRC jurisdictions in relation to any matter not subject to a binding arbitration provision may be difficult or impossible.

 

Shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including securities law class actions and fraud claims, generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States have not been efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which took effect in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no organization or individual may provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to overseas parties. See also “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Relating to Ownership of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares-You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law” in our 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated herein by reference for risks associated with investing in us as a Cayman Islands company.

 

PRC regulations regarding acquisitions impose significant regulatory approval and review requirements, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.

 

Under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law, companies undertaking acquisitions relating to businesses in China must notify the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, in advance of any transaction where the parties’ revenues in the China market exceed certain thresholds and the buyer would obtain control of, or decisive influence over, the target, while under the M&A Rules, the approval of MOFCOM must be obtained in circumstances where overseas companies established or controlled by PRC enterprises or residents acquire domestic companies affiliated with such PRC enterprises or residents. Applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations also require certain merger and acquisition transactions to be subject to security review. Due to the level of our revenues, our proposed acquisition of control of, or decisive influence over, any company with revenues within China of more than RMB400 million in the year prior to any proposed acquisition would be subject to SAMR merger control review. As a result, many of the transactions we may undertake could be subject to SAMR merger review. Complying with the requirements of the relevant regulations to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including approval from SAMR, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. If the practice of SAMR and MOFCOM remains unchanged, our ability to carry out our investment and acquisition strategy may be materially and adversely affected and there may be significant uncertainty as to whether we will be able to complete large acquisitions in the future in a timely manner or at all.

 

 

PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC-resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits.

 

SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or the SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75” promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle”. SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.

 

We have notified substantial beneficial owners of Class A Ordinary Shares who we know are PRC residents of their filing obligation, and are aware that all substantial beneficial owners have completed the necessary registration with the local SAFE branch or qualified banks as required by SAFE Circular 37. However, we may not at all times be aware of the identities of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. We do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot assure you that all of our PRC-resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their SAFE registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, may subject such beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. Furthermore, since SAFE Circular 37 was recently promulgated and it is unclear how this regulation, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC government authorities, we cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. Failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to our company. These risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

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

 

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

 

 

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay us from using the proceeds of our initial offering or future financings to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

Ostin is an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries subject to the approval from governmental authorities and limitation of amount, or we may make additional capital contributions to our subsidiaries in China.

 

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

 

SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within China, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in China in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in SAFE Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from our initial public offering or future financings, to our WFOE, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in China.

 

On October 23, 2019, SAFE issued the Circular on Further Promoting Cross-border Trade and Investment Facilitation, or SAFE Circular 28, which took effect on the same day. SAFE Circular 28, subject to certain conditions, allows foreign-invested enterprises whose business scope does not include investment, or non-investment foreign-invested enterprises, to use their capital funds to make equity investments in China. Since SAFE Circular 28 was issued only recently, its interpretation and implementation in practice are still subject to substantial uncertainties.

 

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

 

 

We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund offshore cash and financing requirements and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to transfer cash out of China and/or make remittance to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities.

 

We are a holding company and rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries for our offshore cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders, fund inter-company loans, service any debt we may incur outside of China and pay our expenses. The laws, rules and regulations applicable to our PRC subsidiaries permit payments of dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with applicable accounting standards and regulations.

 

Under PRC laws, rules and regulations, each of our subsidiaries incorporated in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, after making up for previous years’ accumulated losses, if any, to fund certain statutory reserves, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. As a result of these laws, rules and regulations, our subsidiaries incorporated in China are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their respective net assets to their shareholders as dividends. As of September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, these restricted assets totaled $1,497,771, $1,496,314 and $1,033,653, respectively. However, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not intervene or impose restrictions on our ability to transfer or distribute cash within our organization or to foreign investors, which could result in an inability or prohibition on making transfers or distributions outside of China and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Limitations on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make remittance to pay dividends to us could limit our ability to access cash generated by the operations of those entities, including to make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends to our shareholders or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

We may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, and we may therefore be subject to PRC income tax on our global income.

 

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules, both of which came into effect on January 1, 2008 and were last amended on December 29, 2018, enterprises established under the laws of jurisdictions outside of China with “de facto management bodies” located in China may be considered PRC tax resident enterprises for tax purposes and may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on their global income. “De facto management body” refers to a managing body that exercises substantive and overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting books and assets of an enterprise. The SAT issued the Notice Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Offshore-Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, or the SAT Circular 82, on April 22, 2009. SAT Circular 82 provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China. Although Circular 82 only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises, not those controlled by individuals or foreign enterprises, the determining criteria set forth in SAT Circular 82 may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises. If we were to be considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our global income, and our profitability and cash flow may be materially reduced as a result of our global income being taxed under the Enterprise Income Tax Law. We believe that none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body”.

 

 

Dividends payable to our foreign investors and gains on the sale of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares by our foreign investors may be subject to PRC tax.

 

Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation regulations issued by the State Council, a 10% PRC withholding tax is applicable to dividends payable to investors that are non-resident enterprises, which do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC or which have such establishment or place of business but the dividends are not effectively connected with such establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC. Any gain realized on the transfer of Class A Ordinary Shares by such investors is also subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 10% which in the case of dividends will be withheld at source if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC. If we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends paid on Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, and any gain realized from the transfer of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, may be treated as income derived from sources within the PRC and may as a result be subject to PRC taxation. See “Item 4. Information on the Company - Regulation - Regulations Relating to Taxation.” Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to individual investors who are non-PRC residents and any gain realized on the transfer of Class A Ordinary Shares by such investors may be subject to PRC tax at a current rate of 20%. Any PRC tax liability may be reduced under applicable tax treaties. However, it is unclear whether holders of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise. If dividends payable to our non-PRC investors, or gains from the transfer of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares by such investors are subject to PRC tax, the value of your investment in Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may decline significantly.

 

We and our shareholders face uncertainties with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.

 

On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Announcement on Several Issues Concerning the Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfer of Assets by Non-Resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 7. The SAT Circular 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Circular 7 has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Circular 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement on Issues Relating to Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. The SAT Circular 37 further clarifies the practice and procedure of the withholding of non-resident enterprise income tax.

 

Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an Indirect Transfer, the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.

 

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

 

 

Restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize our revenues effectively.

 

The financial records of our subsidiaries in mainland China are maintained in Renminbi. The Renminbi is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account,” which includes foreign direct investment and loans, including loans we may secure from our onshore subsidiaries. Currently, PRC subsidiaries may purchase foreign currency for settlement of “current account transactions,” including payment of dividends to us, without the approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, the relevant PRC governmental authorities may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. Since we expect a significant portion of our future revenue will be denominated in Renminbi, any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenue generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside of the PRC and/or transfer cash out of China to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE and other relevant PRC governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for our subsidiaries. In addition, there can be no assurance that the PRC government will not intervene or impose restrictions on our ability to transfer or distribute cash within our organization or to foreign investors, which could result in an inability or prohibition on making transfers or distributions outside of China and may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in foreign currency exchange losses to us and may reduce the value of, and amount in U.S. Dollars of dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms.

 

The value of the RMB and the Hong Kong dollar against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. In August 2015, the People’s Bank of China, or PBOC, changed the way it calculates the mid-point price of RMB against the U.S. dollar, requiring the market-makers who submit for reference rates to consider the previous day’s closing spot rate, foreign-exchange demand and supply as well as changes in major currency rates. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy, including any interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve, may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government to adopt a more flexible currency policy, including from the U.S. government, which has threatened to label China as a “currency manipulator,” which could result in greater fluctuation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar. However, the PRC government may still at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how market forces or government policies may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar or other currencies in the future. In addition, the PBOC regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to limit fluctuations in RMB exchange rates and achieve policy goals. If the exchange rate between RMB and U.S. dollar fluctuates in unanticipated manners, our results of operations and financial condition, and the value of, and dividends payable on, our shares in foreign currency terms may be adversely affected. We may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. Appreciation of RMB to U.S dollar will result in exchange loss, while depreciation of RMB to U.S dollar will result in exchange gain.

 

Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans and withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.

 

Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government-mandated employee benefit contribution plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit contribution plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. Companies operating in China are also required to withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries based on the actual salary of each employee upon payment. We may be subject to late fees and fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits and under-withheld individual income tax, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

 

Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares may be delisted under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB is unable to inspect our auditors. The delisting of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.

 

Pursuant to the HFCA Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act that was signed into law on December 29, 2022, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States.

 

On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (i) China, and (ii) Hong Kong. Our auditor is not headquartered in China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination.

 

On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed the Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and the MOF. The terms of the Statement of Protocol would grant the PCAOB complete access to audit work papers and other information so that it may inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate the previous 2021 determination report to the contrary. On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law by President Biden. The Consolidated Appropriations Act contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which reduces the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act from three years to two. As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, the HFCA Act now also applies if the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate the relevant accounting firm is due to a position taken by an authority in any foreign jurisdiction. The denying jurisdiction does not need to be where the accounting firm is located. We do not expect to be identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCA Act for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 after we file our annual report on Form 20-F for such fiscal year. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to conduct inspections and investigations completely to its satisfaction of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s control including positions taken by authorities of the PRC. The PCAOB is required under the HFCA Act to make its determination on an annual basis with regards to its ability to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms based in the mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. The possibility of being a “Commission-Identified Issuer” and risk of delisting could continue to adversely affect the trading price of Ostin’s securities. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions, as a result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCA Act as and when appropriate.

 

Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included elsewhere in this prospectus, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor’s registration with the PCAOB took effect in September 2020 and it is currently subject to PCAOB inspections. The PCAOB currently has access to inspect the working papers of our auditor. However, we cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements.

 

Furthermore, various equity-based research organizations have recently published reports on China-based companies after examining their corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements, and these reports have led to special investigations and listing suspensions on U.S. national exchanges.

 

 

Any similar scrutiny on us, regardless of its lack of merit, could cause the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares to fall, divert management resources and energy, cause us to incur expenses in defending ourselves against rumors, and increase the premiums we pay for director and officer insurance.

 

The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection. For example, on August 6, 2020, the President’s Working Group on Financial Markets, or the PWG, issued the Report on Protecting United States Investors from Significant Risks from Chinese Companies to the then President of the United States. This report recommended the SEC implement five recommendations to address companies from jurisdictions that do not provide the PCAOB with sufficient access to fulfil its statutory mandate. Some of the concepts of these recommendations were implemented with the enactment of the HFCA Act. However, some of the recommendations were more stringent than the HFCA Act. For example, if a company’s auditor was not subject to PCAOB inspection, the report recommended that the transition period before a company would be delisted would end on January 1, 2022.

 

The SEC has announced that the SEC staff is preparing a consolidated proposal for the rules regarding the implementation of the HFCA Act and to address the recommendations in the PWG report. The implications of possible additional regulation in addition to the requirements of the HFCA Act and what was adopted on December 2, 2021 are uncertain. While we understand that there has been dialogue among the CSRC, the SEC and the PCAOB regarding the inspection of PCAOB-registered accounting firms in China, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with requirements imposed by U.S. regulators. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares to be materially and adversely affected, and Ostin’s securities could be delisted and prohibited from being traded on the national securities exchange earlier than would be required by the HFCA Act. If Ostin’s securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

Should the PCAOB be unable to fully conduct inspections in China, among other jurisdictions, which prevents it from fully evaluating the audits and quality control procedures of our independent registered public accounting firm, we and investors in Ostin’s securities may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. Any inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors could make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China or other jurisdictions that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our shares to lose confidence in our audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements, which could materially and adversely affect the value of in Ostin’s securities. Further, new laws and regulations or changes in laws and regulations in both the United States and China could affect our ability to continue to list on Nasdaq, which could materially impair the market for and market price of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares.

 

General Risk Factors

 

We are subject to changing law and regulations regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that have increased both our costs and the risk of non-compliance.

 

We are subject to rules and regulations by various governing bodies, including, for example, the SEC, which are charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law, including the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our efforts to comply with new and changing laws and regulations have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.

 

Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance becomes available. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. If we fail to address and comply with these regulations and any subsequent changes, we may be subject to penalty and our business through our subsidiaries in China may be harmed.

 

Handling of mail

 

Mail addressed to the Company and received at its registered office will be forwarded unopened to the forwarding address supplied by Company to be dealt with. None of the Company, its directors, officers, advisors or service providers (including the organization which provides registered office services in the Cayman Islands) will bear any responsibility.

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act and section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements may involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “likely to” or other similar expressions. 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 financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and under a similar heading in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

You should read thoroughly this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference or otherwise referred to in this prospectus with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. Other sections of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in to this prospectus include additional factors which could adversely impact our business operated primarily through our subsidiaries in China and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business through our subsidiaries in China or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements we make in this prospectus are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these plans, objectives, expectations or intentions will be achieved. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations are disclosed and described under “Risk Factors” elsewhere in this prospectus, “Risk Factors” in Item 3.D. to our 2023 Annual Report and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus and in filings incorporated by reference, and the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

 

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference or otherwise referred to in this prospectus, which we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.

 

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

 

We may sell from time to time pursuant to this prospectus (as may be detailed in one or more prospectus supplements) an indeterminate number of securities as shall have a maximum aggregate offering price of US$200,000,000. The actual price of the securities that we will offer pursuant hereto will depend on a number of factors that may be relevant as of the time of offer. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3, in no event will we sell securities pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part with a value of more than one-third of the aggregate market value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates in any 12 calendar month period, so long as the aggregate market value of Ostin’s Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates is less than US$75,000,000. In the event that subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates equals or exceeds US$75,000,000, then the one-third limitation on sales shall not apply to additional sales made pursuant to this registration statement. We will state on the cover of each prospectus supplement the amount of our outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares held by non-affiliates, the amount of securities being offered and the amount of securities sold during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on, and includes, the date of the prospectus supplement.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Except as described in any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us under this prospectus to fund the growth of our business operated primarily through our subsidiaries in China, working capital, and for general corporate purposes.

 

We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in technologies, products and/or businesses that we believe will enhance the value of our company, although we do not currently have any agreements or understandings with third parties to make any material acquisitions of, or investment in, other businesses. Depending on future events and others changes in the business climate, we may determine at a later time to use the net proceeds for different purposes. As a result, our management will have broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of the securities. Additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of securities covered by this prospectus may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the specific offering.

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

Our capitalization will be set forth in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus or in a report of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K subsequently furnished to the SEC and specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

DILUTION

 

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

 

●

the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering;

 

●

the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and

 

●

the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL 

 

The following describes Ostin’s securities, summarizes the material provisions of its Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, which is based upon, and is qualified by reference to, Ostin’s Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (the “Articles”). This summary does not purport to be a summary of all of the provisions of the Articles. You should read the Articles which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part for the provisions that are important to you.  

 

We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and our affairs are governed by our Articles and the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, which we refer to as the Companies Act below (each as amended or restated from time to time). We had the following series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

Title of Each Class		Trading symbol		Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.0001 per share		OST		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

As provided in the Articles, our authorized share capital is US$500,000 divided into (a) 4,991,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each with one (1) vote per share and with other rights attached to it in the Articles, (b) 8,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each with 20 votes per share and with other rights attached to it in the Articles, and (c) 1,000,000 Preference Shares of a par value of US$0.0001 each.

 

As of May 6, 2024, there were (a) 14,806,250 Class A Ordinary Shares outstanding, and 2,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding, all of which were fully paid, and (b) no Preference Shares outstanding.

 

Ordinary Shares

 

The following are summaries of material provisions of the Articles, corporate governance policies and the Companies Act insofar as they relate to the material terms of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares. Our corporate purposes are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or the laws of the Cayman Islands.

 

 

Dividends. Subject to any rights and restrictions of any other class or series of shares, our board of directors may, from time to time, declare dividends on the shares issued and authorize payment of the dividends out of our lawfully available funds. No dividends shall be paid by the Ostin except out of the following:

 

	●	realized or unrealized profits; or
	●	“share premium account,” which represents the excess of the price paid to our company on the issue of its shares over the par or “nominal” value of those shares, which is similar to the U.S. concept of additional paid in capital.

 

However, no dividend shall bear interest against our company. No dividends or other distributions shall be payable on the Class B Ordinary Shares.

 

Voting Rights. Subject to any rights or restrictions attached to any Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares, except as may otherwise be required by law, the holder of:

 

(a)

a Class A Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Class A Ordinary Share) have one vote for every Class A Ordinary Share of which he is the holder; and

 

(b)

a Class B Ordinary Share shall (in respect of such Class B Ordinary Share) have 20 votes for every Class B Ordinary Share of which he is the holder.

 

At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided by a poll.

 

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, (i) an ordinary resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company; and (ii) a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of a majority of at least two-thirds of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company.

 

Under Cayman Islands law, some matters, such as amending the memorandum and articles of association, changing the name or resolving to be registered by way of continuation in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, require the approval of shareholders by a special resolution.

 

There are no limitations on non-residents or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares imposed by foreign law or by the charter or other constituent documents of our company. However, no person will be entitled to vote at any general meeting or at any separate class meeting of the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares unless the person is a shareholder of either class of shares as of the record date for such meeting and unless all calls or other sums presently payable by the person in respect of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares have been paid.

 

Winding Up; Liquidation. Upon the winding up of our company, after the full amount that holders of any issued shares ranking senior to Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares as to distribution on liquidation or winding up are entitled to receive has been paid or set aside for payment, the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares are entitled to receive any remaining assets of our company available for distribution as determined by the liquidator. The assets received by the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares in a liquidation may consist in whole or in part of a property, which is not required to be of the same kind for all shareholders.

 

 

Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 clear days prior to the specified time and place of payment. Any Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.

 

Redemption of Ordinary Shares. We may issue shares that are, or at our option or at the option of the holders are, subject to redemption on such terms and in such manner as it may, before the issue of the shares, determine. Under the Companies Act, shares of a Cayman Islands company may be redeemed or repurchased out of profits of the company, out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that purpose or out of capital, provided the memorandum and articles of association authorize this and it has the ability to pay its debts as they come due in the ordinary course of business.

 

No Preemptive Rights. Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares will have no preemptive or preferential right to purchase any securities of our company.

 

Variation of Rights Attaching to Shares. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, subject to the memorandum and articles of association, be varied or abrogated with the consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of the Articles may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.

 

Special Considerations for Exempted Companies. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:

 

●

an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies (the “Registrar”);

 

●

an exempted company’s register of members is not open to inspection;

 

●

an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

●

an exempted company may issue shares with no par value;

 

●

an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);

 

●

an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;

 

●

an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and

 

●

an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.

 

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).

 

 

Preference Shares

 

The board of directors is empowered to designate and issue from time to time one or more classes or series of preference shares and to fix and determine the relative rights, preferences, designations, qualifications, privileges, options, conversion rights, limitations and other special or relative rights of each such class or series so authorized. Such action could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares or could have the effect of discouraging any attempt by a person or group to obtain control of us.

 

Comparison of Cayman Islands Corporate Law and U.S. Corporate Law

 

Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Act. The Companies Act is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

In certain circumstances the Cayman Islands Companies Act allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or between a Cayman Islands company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws of that other jurisdiction).

 

Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a) a special resolution (usually a majority of 66 2/3 % in value) of the shareholders of each company; or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association.

 

A shareholder has the right to vote on a merger or consolidation regardless of whether the shares that he holds otherwise give him voting rights. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company.

 

The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Registrar is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Act (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar will register the plan of merger or consolidation.

 

Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; and (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.

 

Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the constituent companies; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.

 

 

Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Act provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree on the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not be available in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.

 

Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:

 

	●	we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with;
	●	the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question;
	●	the arrangement is such that a business person would reasonably approve; and
	●	the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Act or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.”

 

If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

 

 

Squeeze-out Provisions

 

When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.

 

Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.

 

Shareholders’ Suits

 

Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:

 

	●	a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority;
	●	the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be affected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or

 

●

those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.”

 

A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

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

 

The Articles permit indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such unless such losses or damages arise from dishonesty or fraud of such directors or officers.

 

This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, our offer letters to our independent directors and our employment agreements with our executive officers provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in the Articles.

 

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

 

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

 

Under Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.

 

 

Under Cayman Islands law, directors and officers owe the following fiduciary duties:

 

	●	duty to act in good faith in what the director or officer believes to be in the best interests of the company as a whole;
	●	duty to exercise powers for the purposes for which those powers were conferred and not for a collateral purpose;
	●	directors should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion;
	●	duty to exercise powers fairly as between different sections of shareholders;
	●	duty not to put themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the company and their personal interests; and
	●	duty to exercise independent judgment.

 

In addition to the above, directors also owe a duty of care which is not fiduciary in nature. This duty has been defined as a requirement to act as a reasonably diligent person having both the general knowledge, skill and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person carrying out the same functions as are carried out by that director in relation to the company and the general knowledge skill and experience of that director.

 

As set out above, directors have a duty not to put themselves in a position of conflict and this includes a duty not to engage in self-dealing, or to otherwise benefit as a result of their position. However, in some instances what would otherwise be a breach of this duty can be forgiven and/or authorized in advance by the shareholders provided that there is full disclosure by the directors. This can be done by way of permission granted in the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or alternatively by shareholder approval at general meetings.

 

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent in its certificate of incorporation. The Articles provide that shareholders may not approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual general meeting, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. An extraordinary general meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.

 

Cayman Islands law does not provide shareholders any right to put proposals before a general meeting or requisition a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in articles of association. The Articles allow our shareholders holding not less than 10% in par value of our share capital in issue to requisition a general meeting. Other than this right to requisition a general meeting, the Articles do not provide our shareholders other rights to put a proposal before a meeting. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to hold annual general meetings.

 

 

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands but the Articles do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any fewer protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Articles, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution as a matter of Cayman Islands law (which requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shareholders who attend and vote at a general meeting of the company).

 

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute in its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.

 

Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.

 

Dissolution; Winding up

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.

 

Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so. Under the Companies Act and the Articles, our company may be wound up, liquidated or dissolved by a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and the Articles, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class with the written consent of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.

 

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, the Articles may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Anti-Money Laundering - Cayman Islands

 

If any person in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is engaged in criminal conduct or money laundering or is involved with terrorism or terrorist financing and property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, or other trade, profession, business or employment, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher, or the Financial Reporting Authority, pursuant to the Terrorism Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing and property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed by any enactment or otherwise.

 

Data Protection - Cayman Islands

 

We have certain duties under the Data Protection Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the “Data Protection Act”) based on internationally accepted principles of data privacy.

 

Privacy Notice

 

Introduction

 

This privacy notice puts our shareholders on notice that through your investment in the Company you will provide us with certain personal information which constitutes personal data within the meaning of the Data Protection Act (“personal data”). In the following discussion, the “company” refers to us and our affiliates and/or delegates, except where the context requires otherwise.

 

Investor Data

 

We will collect, use, disclose, retain and secure personal data to the extent reasonably required only and within the parameters that could be reasonably expected during the normal course of business. We will only process, disclose, transfer or retain personal data to the extent legitimately required to conduct our activities of on an ongoing basis or to comply with legal and regulatory obligations to which we are subject. We will only transfer personal data in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act, and will apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of the personal data and against the accidental loss, destruction or damage to the personal data.

 

In our use of this personal data, we will be characterized as a “data controller” for the purposes of the Data Protection Act, while our affiliates and service providers who may receive this personal data from us in the conduct of our activities may either act as our “data processors” for the purposes of the Data Protection Act or may process personal information for their own lawful purposes in connection with services provided to us.

 

We may also obtain personal data from other public sources. Personal data includes, without limitation, the following information relating to a shareholder and/or any individuals connected with a shareholder as an investor: name, residential address, email address, contact details, corporate contact information, signature, nationality, place of birth, date of birth, tax identification, credit history, correspondence records, passport number, bank account details, source of funds details and details relating to the shareholder’s investment activity.

 

 

Who this Affects

 

If you are a natural person, this will affect you directly. If you are a corporate investor (including, for these purposes, legal arrangements such as trusts or exempted limited partnerships) that provides us with personal data on individuals connected to you for any reason in relation your investment in the company, this will be relevant for those individuals and you should transmit the content of this Privacy Notice to such individuals or otherwise advise them of its content.

 

How the Company May Use a Shareholder’s Personal Data

 

The company, as the data controller, may collect, store and use personal data for lawful purposes, including, in particular:

 

	a)	where this is necessary for the performance of our rights and obligations under any purchase agreements;
	b)	where this is necessary for compliance with a legal and regulatory obligation to which we are subject (such as compliance with anti-money laundering and FATCA/CRS requirements); and/or
	c)	where this is necessary for the purposes of our legitimate interests and such interests are not overridden by your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms.

 

Should we wish to use personal data for other specific purposes (including, if applicable, any purpose that requires your consent), we will contact you.

 

Why We May Transfer Your Personal Data

 

In certain circumstances we may be legally obliged to share personal data and other information with respect to your shareholding with the relevant regulatory authorities such as the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority or the Tax Information Authority. They, in turn, may exchange this information with foreign authorities, including tax authorities.

 

We anticipate disclosing personal data to persons who provide services to us and their respective affiliates (which may include certain entities located outside the United States, the Cayman Islands or the European Economic Area), who will process your personal data on our behalf.

 

The Data Protection Measures We Take

 

Any transfer of personal data by us or our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates outside of the Cayman Islands shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

 

We and our duly authorized affiliates and/or delegates shall apply appropriate technical and organizational information security measures designed to protect against unauthorized or unlawful processing of personal data, and against accidental loss or destruction of, or damage to, personal data.

 

We shall notify you of any personal data breach that is reasonably likely to result in a risk to your interests, fundamental rights or freedoms or those data subjects to whom the relevant personal data relates.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt securities exchangeable for or convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares or Preference Shares. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a supplement to this prospectus. The following description of debt securities will apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities may specify different or additional terms.

 

The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be secured or unsecured, and may be senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities offered by this prospectus may be issued under an indenture between us and the trustee under the indenture. The indenture may be qualified under, subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We have summarized selected portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form F-3, of which this prospectus is a part, and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you.

 

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of directors’ resolution, an officers’ certificate and by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.

 

We may issue any amount of debt securities under the indenture, which may be in one or more series with the same or different maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any related pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the initial offering price, the aggregate principal amount offered and the terms of the debt securities, including, among other things, the following:

 

●

the title of the debt securities;

 

●

the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities;

 

●

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

●

the date or dates on which we will repay the principal on the debt securities and the right, if any, to extend the maturity of the debt securities;

 

●

the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will be payable and any regular record date for any interest payment date;

 

●

the place or places where the principal of, premium, and interest on the debt securities will be payable, and where the debt securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

 

●

any obligation or right we have to redeem the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of holders of the debt securities or at our option, and the terms and conditions upon which we are obligated to or may redeem the debt securities;

 

●

any obligation we have to repurchase the debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities, the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase the debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations;

 

●

the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued;

 

●

whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities;

 

●

the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

 

●

the currency of denomination of the debt securities;

 

 

●

the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium and interest on the debt securities will be made;

 

●

if payments of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

 

●

the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium or interest on, the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

●

any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities;

 

●

any addition to or change in the events of default described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

●

any addition to or change in the covenants described in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

 

●

whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated and any applicable subordination provisions;

 

●

a discussion of material income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

●

any other terms of the debt securities, which may modify any provisions of the indenture as it applies to that series; and

 

●

any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities.

 

We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable for and/or convertible into Class A Ordinary Shares or Preference Shares. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchanged and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for exchange or conversion, which can be mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, and the manner in which the number of Class A Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated.

 

We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the U.S. federal income tax considerations, and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may issue debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue and offer warrants under the material terms and conditions described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the warrants as described in this prospectus.

 

General

 

We may issue warrants to purchase Class A Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares or debt securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any securities and may be attached to or separate from those securities. If applicable, the warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all of which will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we are offering. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

 

Equity Warrants

 

Each equity warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the equity securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Equity warrants may be issued separately or together with equity securities.

 

If applicable, the equity warrants are to be issued under equity warrant agreements to be entered into between us and one or more banks or trust companies, as equity warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.

 

The particular terms of the equity warrants, the equity warrant agreements relating to the equity warrants, as applicable, and the equity warrant certificates representing the equity warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:

 

	●	the title of the equity warrants;
	●	the initial offering price;
	●	the aggregate amount of equity warrants and the aggregate amount of equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants;
	●	the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
	●	if applicable, the designation and terms of the equity securities with which the equity warrants are issued, and the amount of equity warrants issued with each equity security;
	●	the date, if any, on and after which the equity warrants and the related equity security will be separately transferable;
	●	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the equity warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
	●	the date on which the right to exercise the equity warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
	●	if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the equity warrants;
	●	anti-dilution provisions of the equity warrants, if any;
	●	redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the equity warrants; and
	●	any additional terms of the equity warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the equity warrants.

 

Holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, solely by virtue of being holders, to vote, to consent, to receive dividends, to receive notice as shareholders with respect to any meeting of shareholders for the appointment of directors or any other matters, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as a holder of the equity securities purchasable upon exercise of the equity warrants.

 

 

Debt Warrants

 

Each debt warrant issued by us will entitle its holder to purchase the debt securities designated at an exercise price set forth in, or to be determinable as set forth in, the related prospectus supplement. Debt warrants may be issued separately or together with debt securities.

 

If applicable, the debt warrants are to be issued under debt warrant agreements to be entered into between us, and one or more banks or trust companies, as debt warrant agent, as will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and this prospectus.

 

The particular terms of each issue of debt warrants, the debt warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants, if applicable, and the debt warrant certificates representing debt warrants will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, as applicable:

 

	●	the title of the debt warrants;
	●	the initial offering price;
	●	the title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants;
	●	the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
	●	the title and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and the amount of the debt warrants issued with each debt security;
	●	the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable;
	●	the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which that principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise of each debt warrant;
	●	if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
	●	the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
	●	if applicable, a discussion of United States federal income tax, accounting or other considerations applicable to the debt warrants;
	●	whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered;
	●	anti-dilution provisions of the debt warrants, if any;
	●	redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the debt warrants; and
	●	any additional terms of the debt warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the debt warrants.

 

Debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be presented for registration of transfer, and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent or any other office indicated in the related prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not be entitled to payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, or to enforce any of the covenants in the indentures governing such debt securities.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to purchase the Class A Ordinary Shares, Preference Shares, debt securities or other securities. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and one or more banks, trust companies, or other financial institutions, as rights agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

 

	●	the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
	●	the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate amount of securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
	●	the exercise price for the rights;
	●	the conditions to the completion of the rights offering;
	●	the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
	●	the extent to which subscription rights are transferable;
	●	if applicable, a discussion of the material Cayman Islands or United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights;
	●	any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights;
	●	the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and

 

●

the material terms of any standby underwriting agreement or other arrangement entered into by us in connection with the rights offering.

 

Each right would entitle the holder of the rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of securities at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void.

 

If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than our security holders, to or through agents, underwriters, or dealers, or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

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

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

●

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

	●	any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and
	●	any additional terms of the governing unit agreement.

 

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

 

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands in order to enjoy the following benefits:

 

●

political and economic stability;

 

●

an effective judicial system;

 

●

a favorable tax system; and

 

●

the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and the availability of professional and support services.

 

However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

●

the Cayman Islands has a less exhaustive body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors; and

 

●

Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.

 

We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel, Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained in a manner, and or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). The Cayman Islands courts may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. There is recent Privy Council authority (which is binding on the Cayman Islands courts) in the context of a reorganization plan approved by the New York Bankruptcy Court which suggests that due to the universal nature of bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings, foreign money judgments obtained in foreign bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings may be enforced without applying the principles outlined above. However, a more recent English Supreme Court authority (which is highly persuasive but not binding on the Cayman Islands courts), has expressly rejected that approach in the context of a default judgment obtained in an adversary proceeding brought in the New York Bankruptcy Court by the receivers of the bankruptcy debtor against a third party, and which would not have been enforceable upon the application of the traditional common law principles summarized above and held that foreign money judgments obtained in bankruptcy/insolvency proceedings should be enforced by applying the principles set out above, and not by the simple exercise of the Courts’ discretion. Those cases have now been considered by the Cayman Islands courts. The Cayman Islands courts was not asked to consider the specific question of whether a judgment of a bankruptcy court in an adversary proceeding would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands, but it did endorse the need for active assistance of overseas bankruptcy proceedings. We understand that the Cayman Islands Court’s decision in that case has been appealed and it remains the case that the law regarding the enforcement of bankruptcy/insolvency related judgments is still in a state of uncertainty.

 

 

Our constitutional documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.

 

Substantially all of our current operations are conducted in the PRC through our subsidiaries, and substantially all of its assets are located in the PRC. A majority of our current directors and officers, including Mr. Tao Ling, Ms. Qiaoyun Xie, Mr. Xiaohong Yin, Mr. Xiaodong Zhai, and Mr. Heung Ming Wong are nationals and residents of the PRC, and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons, or to enforce against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. King & Wood Mallesons, our counsel as to PRC law, have advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of China would:

 

●

recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or

 

●

entertain original actions brought in each respective jurisdiction against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

 

We have been advised by our PRC counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between different jurisdictions, and PRC courts will not recognize or enforce these foreign judgments if PRC courts believe the foreign judgments violate the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest after review. However, currently, China does not have treaties or reciprocity arrangement providing for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments ruled by courts in the United States or the Cayman Islands. Thus, it is uncertain whether a PRC court would enforce a judgment ruled by a court in the United States or the Cayman Islands.

 

TAXATION

 

Our 2023 Annual Report provides a discussion of certain tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective investors in Ostin’s securities. The applicable prospectus supplement may also contain information about certain material tax considerations relating to the securities covered by such prospectus supplement. You should consult your own tax advisors prior to acquiring any of Ostin’s securities.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways (or in any combination) from time to time:

 

●

directly to investors, including through privately negotiated transactions, a specific bidding, auction or other process;

 

●

to investors through agents;

 

●

directly to agents;

 

●

to or through underwriters or dealers;

 

●

in “at the market” offerings, within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market or into an existing trading market on an exchange or otherwise;

 

●

through a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

●

through any other method permitted by applicable law and described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement with respect to the securities may state or supplement the terms of the offering of the securities.

 

In addition, we may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. In some cases, we or dealers acting for us or on our behalf may also repurchase securities and reoffer them to the public by one or more of the methods described above. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of Ostin’s securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

Ostin’s securities distributed by any of these methods may be sold to the public, in one or more transactions, either:

 

●

at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

●

at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

●

at prices related to prevailing market prices; or

 

●

at negotiated prices.

 

Sale through Underwriters or Dealers

 

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, including through underwriting, purchase, security lending or repurchase agreements with us. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. Underwriters may sell the securities in order to facilitate transactions in any of our other securities (described in this prospectus or otherwise), including other public or private transactions and short sales. Underwriters may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if they purchase any of them. The underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

 

If dealers are used in the sale of securities offered through this prospectus, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The applicable prospectus supplement will include the names of the underwriters or dealers and the terms of the transaction, including compensation for the underwriters or dealers.

 

Direct Sales and Sales through Agents

 

We may sell the securities offered through this prospectus directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. Such securities may also be sold through agents designated from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities and will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its commonly reasonable efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment. We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any sale of those shares. The terms of any such sales will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Offered securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the supplement relating to that offering. Unless otherwise specified in connection with a particular offering of securities, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

As one of the means of direct issuance of offered securities, we may utilize the services of an entity through which it may conduct an electronic “dutch auction” or similar offering of the offered securities among potential purchasers who are eligible to participate in the auction or offering of such offered securities, if so described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Delayed Delivery Contracts

 

If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, we may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

 

 

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

 

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each series of offered securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of offered securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of offered securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.

 

Any underwriter may also engage in stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Rule 104 under the Exchange Act. Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase the underlying security in the open market for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions.

 

Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would be in the absence of the transactions. The underwriters may, if they commence these transactions, discontinue them at any time.

 

Derivative Transactions and Hedging

 

We and the underwriters may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters. The underwriters may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.

 

Loans of Securities

 

We may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third parties that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement.

 

General Information

 

Agents, underwriters, and dealers may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification by us, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Our agents, underwriters, and dealers, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates, in the ordinary course of business for which they may receive customary compensation.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements with us, to indemnification by us relating to material misstatements and omissions in our offering documents. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in their ordinary course of business.

 

Except for securities issued upon a reopening of a previous series, each series of offered securities will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom offered securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such offered securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The offered securities may or may not be listed on a securities exchange. No assurance can be given that there will be a market for the offered securities.

 

 

EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

 

The following table sets forth the various expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered. We will bear all of the expenses shown below.

 

SEC Registration Fee		$	29,520
FINRA filing fee			30,500
Printing and engraving expenses			*
Legal fees and expenses			*
Accounting fees and expenses			*
Transfer agent fees and expenses			*
Miscellaneous			*
Total		$	*

 

*

The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable, and the expenses cannot be estimated at this time. To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

We are being represented by Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the securities in this offering and certain other legal matters, to the extent governed by Cayman Islands law, are passed upon for us by Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, our special legal counsel as to Cayman Islands law. If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in our 2023 Annual Report for the year ended September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021 have been audited by TPS Thayer, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in the reports thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference.

 

The office of TPS Thayer is located at 1600 Hwy 6 Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

 

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

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Insofar as indemnification by us for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling the company pursuant to provisions of the Articles, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification by such director, officer or controlling person of us 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 offered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

MATERIAL CHANGES

 

Except as otherwise disclosed in this prospectus, there have been no reportable material changes that have occurred since September 30, 2023, and that have not been described in a report on Form 6-K furnished under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information about us and our financial condition to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information contained in the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except for information “furnished” to the SEC which is not deemed filed and not incorporated by reference into this prospectus (unless otherwise indicated below), until the termination of the offering of securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement:

 

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

●

our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the SEC on January 31, 2024;

 

●

our current reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on February 7, 2024, March 14, 2024 and April 2, 2024;

 

●

the description of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares contained in the Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC on April 26, 2022, and any further amendment or report filed hereafter for the purpose of updating such description; and

 

●

with respect to each offering of the securities under this prospectus, all our subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F and any report on Form 6-K that indicates that it is being incorporated by reference that we file or furnish with the SEC on or after the date on which the registration statement is first filed with the SEC and until the termination or completion of the offering by means of this prospectus.

 

Our 2023 Annual Report contains a description of our business primarily through our subsidiaries in China and audited consolidated financial statements with reports by our independent auditors. The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any documents incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC.

 

We will provide without charge to any person (including any beneficial owner) to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon oral or written request, a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus (except for exhibits to those documents unless a documents states that one of its exhibits is incorporated into the document itself). Such request should be directed to: Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd., Building 2, 101, 1 Kechuang Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China 210046, telephone number: +86 (25) 58595234.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC registering the securities that may be offered and sold hereunder. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, the exhibits filed therewith or the documents incorporated by reference therein. For further information about us and the securities offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement, the exhibits filed therewith and the documents incorporated by reference therein. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. We are required to file reports and other information with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K.

 

The SEC maintains a website that contains reports and other information regarding issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov. The information on our website (http://ostin-technology.com/), other than our SEC filings, is not, and should not be, considered part of this prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this document.

 

We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. We also maintain a corporate website at http://ostin-technology.com/, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained in, and that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated into and is not part of this prospectus.

 

 

 

Ostin Technology Group Co., Ltd.

 

US$200,000,000

 

Class A Ordinary Shares

Preference Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units

 

 

 

 

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