Item 1. Business.
In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” the “Company,” or the “Registrant” refer to Yubo International Biotech Limited, a U.S. holding company and New York corporation, formerly known as Magna-Lab, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including without limitation, Platinum International Biotech Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (“Platinum”), Platinum International Biotech (Hong Kong) Limited, a company organized under the laws of Hong Kong (“Platinum HK”), and Yubo International Biotech (Chengdu) Limited, a company organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China (“Yubo Chengdu” or the “WFOE”). The term “Yubo Beijing” refers to Yubo International Biotech (Beijing) Limited, a variable interest entity organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China, and, through contractual arrangements with , the Chinese operating company.
Corporate Overview
We are a U.S. holding company primarily operating through our wholly owned subsidiary, Platinum. Platinum is not a Chinese operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company which in turn operates in China through its subsidiaries and contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing, the Chinese operating company. None of our Company, Platinum, or Platinum HK, each as a holding company, conducts any day-to-day business operations in China.
Yubo Beijing conducts the day-to-day business operations of our Company in China through contractual relationships with us. Yubo Beijing is a technology company focused on the research and development and application of endometrial stem cells. Yubo Beijing is committed to building the first public endometrial stem cell repository in the world. Yubo Beijing offers its products and services under the brand “VIVCELL.” Yubo Beijing’s product offerings include healthcare products for respiratory system, skincare products, hair care products, healthy beverages and male and female personal care products. Yubo Beijing also offers stem cell related services including cell testing and health management consulting services.
Name Change
Effective December 4, 2020, we changed our corporate name from Magna-Lab, Inc. to Yubo International Biotech Limited under the stock symbol “YBGJ”.
Reverse Merger
On January 14, 2021 (the “Closing Date”), we entered into a voluntary share exchange transaction with Platinum, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Share Exchange, dated January 14, 2021 (the “Exchange Agreement”), by and among us, Platinum, Yubo Beijing, and certain selling stockholders named therein.
In accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, on the Closing Date, we issued a total of 117,000,000 shares of our Class A common stock to the then stockholders of Platinum (the “Selling Stockholders”), in exchange for 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Platinum (the “Exchange Transaction”). As a result of the Exchange Transaction, the Selling Stockholders acquired more than 99% of our issued and outstanding capital stock, Platinum became our wholly owned subsidiary, and we acquired the business and operations of Platinum and Yubo Beijing.
Prior to the Exchange Transaction, we were a public reporting “shell company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). From and after the Closing Date, our primary operations will consist of the business and operations of Platinum and Yubo Beijing.
Yubo Beijing was founded on June 14, 2016 under the laws of the PRC, and has its headquarters located at room 105, building 5, 31 Xishiku Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, PRC 100034.
Platinum was established on April 22, 2020 under the laws of Cayman Islands as a limited liability company. Platinum acquired all of the outstanding stock of Platinum HK on May 4, 2020. Subsequently, the sole stockholder of Platinum sold 100% of the outstanding shares capital of Platinum to the Platinum Stockholders. Platinum is not a Chinese operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company.
Platinum HK was established on May 4, 2020 under the laws of Hong Kong as a limited liability company. Platinum HK acquired all of the outstanding stock of Yubo Chengdu on September 11, 2020.
Yubo Chengdu was established on September 4, 2020, under the laws of the PRC. Yubo Chengdu is a wholly owned subsidiary of Platinum HK, and therefore, Yubo Chengdu is a wholly foreign owned enterprise.
On December 31, 2020, Platinum HK formed a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Yubo Global Biotechnology (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. (“Yubo Global”).
On January 21, 2021, Yubo formed a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Yubo Jingzhi Biotechnology (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. (“Yubo Jingzhi”).
Immediately prior to the Exchange Transaction, we had 117,875,323 shares of Class A common stock and 4,447 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. Immediately after the Exchange Transaction and the surrender and cancellation of 116,697,438 shares of Class A common stock previously held by Lina Liu, we had 118,177,885 shares of Class A common stock and 4,447 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding.
The VIE and China Operations
As a result of the Exchange Transaction, we became a U.S. holding company primarily operating through our wholly owned subsidiary, Platinum. Platinum is not a Chinese operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company, which in turn operates in China through (i) its Hong Kong and PRC subsidiaries, including Yubo Jingzhi, Yubo Global, and the WFOE, in which we hold equity ownership interests, and (ii) Yubo Beijing, a Chinese operating company that conducts the day-to-day business operations in China as descried in this Annual Report. We do not own any equity interest in Yubo Beijing or Yubo Jingzhi.
We manage Yubo Beijing through the WFOE. On September 11, 2020, the WFOE entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing and its shareholders, allowing us to exercise effective control over Yubo Beijing. These agreements include:
| · | Exclusive Consulting Services Agreement. Pursuant to the Exclusive Consulting Services Agreement, the WFOE agreed to provide, and Yubo Beijing agreed to accept, exclusive management services provided by the WFOE. The Exclusive Consulting Services Agreement was amended in March 2022 for the sole purpose of clarifying the fee structure under such agreement. Pursuant to the amendment, Yubo Beijing agreed to compensate the WFOE, Yubo Chengdu, for its services on an annual basis. Under the amendment, the WFOE is entitled to receive 90% of the after-tax profit from Yubo Beijing annually following the closing of Yubo Beijing’s annual accounts. In light of such arrangement, the WFOE is considered a primary beneficiary of benefits that are otherwise potentially significant to Yubo Beijing. The amendment did not change the contractual relationships that we have with Yubo Beijing. Since Yubo Beijing has not generated any after-tax profit to date, Yubo Beijing has not paid any fee to the WFOE to date. |
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| · | Exclusive Option Agreement. Pursuant the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Yubo Beijing Shareholders granted the WFOE an irrevocable and exclusive purchase option to acquire Yubo Beijing’s equity and/or assets at a nominal consideration. The WFOE may exercise the purchase option at any time. |
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| · | Equity Pledge Agreement. Pursuant to the Equity Pledge Agreement, the Yubo Beijing Shareholders pledged all of their equity interests in Yubo Beijing, including the proceeds thereof, to guarantee all of the WFOE’s rights and benefits under the Exclusive Consulting Services Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement. |
We do not have any equity ownership interest in, direct foreign investment in, or control through such contractual agreements of Yubo Beijing. As a result of our contractual relationships with Yubo Beijing, we consolidate Yubo Beijing’s financial results in our consolidated financial statements and are the primary beneficiary of Yubo Beijing for accounting purposes only. Our corporate structure involving the VIE provides investors with contractual exposure to foreign investment in China-based companies where PRC laws prohibit direct foreign investment in Chinese operating companies in certain industries, such as Yubo Beijing. This structure involves unique risks to investors. For example, management through these contractual arrangements may be less effective than direct ownership, and we could face heightened risks and costs in enforcing these contractual arrangements, because there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations, and rules relating to these contractual arrangements. Our contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing have not been tested in a court of law. If the PRC government finds such agreements non-compliant with relevant PRC laws, regulations, and rules, or if these laws, regulations, and rules or the interpretation thereof change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in Yubo Beijing or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including Yubo Beijing, as of the date of this Annual Report:
Business Strategy
Yubo Beijing plans to build a first-class stem cell storage facility, which we believe, will be the first global bank of endometrial stem cells. Yubo Beijing also intends to develop and expand its current product line, to include a series of endometrial stem cells light application technology and medical-grade cell therapeutic products for health management, innovative medicine, anti-aging treatments, clinical transformation and other application fields. We believe Yubo Beijing’s existing technology and leadership position in stem cell processing will drive significant future growth for the company.
Stem Cell Storage Facility
The endometrial stem cell bank is divided into a public resources library and private repositories. The public resources library will meet strict testing standards. Yubo Beijing will enter into standard donation agreements with the donor customers who meet the public resources library standards, and store the collection of stem cell samples in the public resources library. Such public resources library biological samples can be widely used in research and development and subsequent commercial development. See “—Services and Products—Endometrial Stem Cell Bank” below for a detailed discussion regarding the regulatory approvals, operational steps and construction timeline in connection with the stem cell bank.
Business Model
Yubo Beijing’s business model leverages its ability to integrate the upstream, middle stream and downstream of its stem cell based product cycle. With respect to the upstream of the industrial chain, Yubo Beijing intends to build a public resource library of endometrial stem cells to meet the demand for high-quality cells from stem cell application and treatment centers in China. See “—Business Strategy—Stem Cell Storage Facility” above and “—Service and Products—Endometrial Stem Cell Bank” below. With respect to the middle and downstream of the industrial chain, Yubo Beijing intends to open and operate biological experience center stores where it integrates the functions of display, trial and sale of its light application products under the brand “VIVCELL”, and at the same time, can train and develop its sales personnel. By continuing to build and develop the “VIVCELL” brand, it plans to expand the biological experience center stores into a nationwide franchise. We believe Yubo Beijing’s integrated approach provides it with a competitive advantage.
Service and Products
Endometrial Stem Cell Bank
Effective March 1, 2021, we, through Yubo Global, entered into a lease agreement with Chengdu Liangkang Investment Co. to rent approximately 6,960 square meters of laboratory space in Chengdu, China for the use of the endometrial stem cell bank and subsequent research and development laboratory. See “Item 2. Properties.” In addition, Yubo Beijing has entered into an Entrustment Technical Service Agreement with Beijing Zhenhuikang Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the PRC, entrusting it to prepare, store and manage endometrial stem cell samples for the operations of the stem cell bank in exchange for services fees paid by Yubo Beijing. Beijing Zhenhuikang Biotechnology Co., Ltd is an affiliate of a shareholder of Yubo Beijing. Pursuant to the entrustment agreement, Yubo Beijing is responsible for supplying the endometrial stem cell samples and Yubo Beijing may terminate the agreement at any time. See “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Related Party Transactions.”
Subsequent to the entry into the lease and the Entrustment Technical Service Agreement, Yubo Beijing has completed the design for the stem cell bank and obtained a business license for the stem cell bank from the Market Supervision Administration of Chengdu Municipality. The establishment of the stem cell bank has been submitted for filing with the Chengdu Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Science and Technology Bureau and the Health Commission. The blue print design of the stem cell bank has been approved by Health Commission and Fire and Rescue department.
Yubo Beijing intends to recruit young, healthy adult females as the donors of endometrial stem cells. Yubo Beijing plans to target these donors via several channels, including from its existing clients for cell testing and health management consulting services, from colleges and universities where it promotes the knowledge and awareness of the application of endometrial stem cells, and from its existing customers of light application products. Yubo Beijing has launched an educational program about the benefits and applications of endometrial stem cells among the existing customers of light application products, although it has not attempted to recruit any donors to date.
We expect that Yubo Beijing will complete the first stage of building the stem cell bank, which mainly consists of tenant improvement and equipment procurement, by June 2024. Yubo Beijing may begin recruiting qualified donors after the completion of the first stage when the stem cell bank becomes operational. The stem cell bank is expected to be fully operational at its designed capacity by 2026.
Light Application Products
Yubo Beijing’s current commercialized light application products include the following:
| · | Respiratory atomization products (nebulizers): include lung regulating essence, which is applied through an atomizer and formulated on the basis of multiple growth factors rich in the polypeptide of cell technology such as FGF, EGF, VEGF, etc. to repair and cure the lungs. These products can enhance the regeneration of lung stem cells, inhibit apoptosis of normal lung cells, improve immunity, relieve dry and astringent foreign body sensation, and relieve chest tightness, chest pain, wheezing, breathing difficulties and other symptoms. Yubo Beijing launched the respiratory atomization products in April 2020. The respiratory atomization products are sold in Guangdong, Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Chongqing and Sichuan provinces. The customer base for these products mainly includes middle class and above population with respiratory system diseases or weaknesses, or low immunity. |
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| · | Cell basidiomycetes compound drink/beverage: This product is registered as beverage. Based on cellular immunology, combined with traditional Chinese medicine theories and natural plant extracts such as basidiomycetes, red ginseng and polygonatum, it has the benefits of rapid activation of immune cells, regulation of immune system, anti-tumor, anti-virus, hypoglycemic and anti-oxidation. Yubo Beijing launched the cell basidiomycetes compound drink in February 2021. Yubo Beijing is currently promoting this product to cover more regional markets. The customer base for this drink mainly includes middle class and above population who are recovering from major epidemic diseases or with low immunity. |
| · | Facial care series: this line of products include renewal essence mask powder, which is formulated with optimal active substances derived from stem cells, can significantly improve skin’s self-repair ability, and has the benefits of anti-wrinkle, tightening, water locking and brightening, and skin delicate essence, which is applied through a beauty instrument to promote the absorption and formulated based on multiple growth factors rich in the polypeptide of cell technology such as FGF and EGF to repair skin barrier, improve skin gloss and restore skin elasticity. The customer base for these products mainly includes high-income population with dry skin, lack of skin elasticity or damaged skin barrier. |
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| · | Eye care series: include eye moist essence, which is applied through eye warm import instrument to enhance absorption and formulated based on multiple growth factors rich in the polypeptide of cell technology such as FGF, EGF, VEGF, etc., to deeply cleanse and wash out impurities, 360 degrees nourish eyes, relieve dry and scorching sensation, and strengthen self-repair of corneal cells. The customer base for these products mainly includes people who overuse their eyes, suffer from dry eyes from long-term use of electronic products, cover from eye-operations or surgeries. |
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| · | Hair care series: include tough curing and solid hair follicles essence, which is applied through a micro type electric nanometer crystal injector and formulated based on multiple growth factors rich in the polypeptide of cell technology such as FGF, EGF, VEGF, etc. to strengthen hair follicle, prevent hair loss from the roots, nourish the scalp, repair damaged scalp, and enhance scalp barrier. The customer base for these products mainly includes high-income population suffering from hair thinning, damaged scalp follicles, severe hair loss. |
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| · | Male and female private protection series: include bacteriostatic spray and intimate wash for men and women to balance pH levels in the groin and genital areas for prevention of infections, eliminate odor, and inhibit bacteria; and nourishing vagina essence, which is applied through a restorer of pelvic floor muscle and formulated based on multiple growth factors rich in the polypeptide of cell technology such as FGF, EGF, VEGF, etc. to repair and cure vagina mucosa and pelvic floor muscle, strengthen the restoration of vagina mucosa, mucous secretion, reinforce the pelvic floor muscle, and improve the sexual experience. The customer base for these products mainly includes middle and high-income population who suffer from itching and bacterial infection in their private areas, adult females who need pelvic floor repair after giving birth. |
All of the light application products target and are offered in the PRC market.
Research and Development
Yubo Beijing is principally focused on the development of new products that support the stem cell therapy market. Yubo Beijing’s future research and development activities will be devoted to the development and launch of additional new products, line extensions, or significant upgrades to existing products and its current stem cell storage facility. Research and Development expense reflects the cost of these activities, as well as the costs to obtain regulatory approvals of new products and processes and to maintain the highest quality standards with respect to existing products.
Yubo Beijing has entered into a Joint Research and Development Agreement with Beijing Zhenxigu Medical Research Center (L.P.) (“Beijing Zhengxigu”), which is controlled by a shareholder of Yubo Beijing, on February 17, 2020. Pursuant to this agreement, Yubo Beijing agreed to pay Beijing Zhenxigu RMB241,880 in connection with the research and development relating to the medical fluid used in the nebulizers Yubo Beijing sells to customers. Under this agreement, Beijing Zhenxigu authorized Yubo Beijing to be the nationwide exclusive distributor of such medical fluid for Platinum-branded nebulizers. See “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence—Related Party Transactions.”
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property is of vital importance in the field and in biotechnology generally. We seek to protect and enhance proprietary technology, inventions, and improvements that are commercially important to the development of the business by seeking, maintaining, and defending patent rights, whether developed internally, acquired or licensed from third parties. We will also seek to rely on regulatory protection afforded through orphan drug designations, inclusion in expedited development and review, data exclusivity, market exclusivity and patent term extensions where available.
Yubo Beijing currently owns one invention patent in the PRC for endometrial collection which will be used in connection with the operations of the stem cell bank in the future. The details of Yubo Beijing’s owned patent are listed below:
| · | “Menstrual blood collection kit” patent (No. CN106264688B) for collection of endometrial stem cells, which is an invention patent and will expire on October 21, 2039. |
Manufacturing
Yubo Beijing relies on third parties to manufacture its light application products and certain of the medical devices used in the collection and testing of stem cells. Yubo Beijing has entered into a Cooperation Agreement with Beijing Zhenxigu Medical Research Center (L.P.), and Huailai Huayue Hengsheng Medical Device Co., Ltd., pursuant to which Huailai Huayue Hengsheng Medical Device Co., Ltd. has agreed to conduct sample trial production of Yubo Beijing’s liquid dressing products.
Licenses and Approvals
The following table sets forth the licenses and approvals that Yubo Beijing is required to obtain for the operations in China as of the date of hereof:
Licenses and Approvals | | PRC Regulatory Authority |
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Food Operation License Permit | | Xicheng District Market Supervision and Administration Office of Beijing Municipality |
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Medical License Distribution Enterprise Filing Certificate | | Xicheng District Market Supervision and Administration Office of Beijing Municipality |
Yubo Beijing has obtained such licenses and approvals, and, to date, no application for any such licenses and approvals has been denied.
Competition
Yubo Beijing’s products will compete with novel therapies developed by biomedical companies, academic research institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions, in addition to standard of care treatments.
According to a market research conducted by Shenzhen Forward Industry Research Institute in 2021, there were approximately 77,990 companies engaged in stem cell collection and storage, research and development, and application in China The application of stem cell products mainly include treatment of disease, organ transplantation, and aesthetic medicine. Due to Yubo Beijing’s unique core technology, we believe there is no company in China whose main business is endometrial stem cell storage. At present, we believe no companies mainly engage in cell light application products and have product lines similar to Yubo Beijing’s products.
Some of Yubo Beijing’s key competitors are:
| · | Global Cord Blood (NYSE: CO) currently focuses on private storage of neonatal cord blood and is the largest company engaged in such business in China, with annual revenue of more than RMB1.2 billion in 2021, according to its annual report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. |
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| · | VCANBIO CELL&GENE (SHA: 600645): its main products include cell preparation and storage, genetic testing, etc. Its revenue in 2021 was approximately RMB1.5 billion according to their annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. |
Employees
Yubo Beijing employs 20 employees at its headquarters, located at Room 105, Building 5, 31 Xishiku Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, PRC as of the date of this Annual Report. Yubo Beijing’s employees include three executive officers, two financial department personnel, two administrative management personnel, six R&D and product personnel, six planning and marketing personnel, and one person in IT management.
COVID-19
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak to be a global pandemic. In addition to the devastating effects on human life, the pandemic is having a negative ripple effect on the global economy, leading to disruptions and volatility in the global financial markets. Most U.S. states and many countries have issued policies intended to stop or slow the further spread of the disease.
Covid-19 and the U.S’s and China’s responses to the pandemic have significantly affected the economy. There are no comparable events that provide guidance as to the ultimate effect the Covid-19 pandemic may have, and, as a result, the ultimate effect of the pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. We do not yet know the full extent of the effects on the economy, the markets we serve, our business, or our operations.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at room 105, building 5, 31 Xishiku Avenue, Xicheng District, Beijing, PRC 100034. Our telephone number is +86 (040) 0677-6010. Our website address is http://www.yubogroup.com/. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this Annual Report. You should not consider any information on our website to be part of this Annual Report or in decides whether to purchase our securities. We have included our website address in this Annual Report solely for informational purposes.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
The following section lists the key current risk factors as of the date of this filing that may have a direct and material impact on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to our Corporate Structure
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations, and rules relating to the agreements that establish the VIE structure for our operations in China, including potential future actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing and, consequently, significantly affect our financial condition and results of operations. If the PRC government finds that the contractual arrangements that establish the structure for operating our business in China do not comply with PRC laws and regulations, or if these regulations or their interpretations change in the future, we could be subjected to severe consequences, including the nullification of such agreements and the relinquishment of our interest in the VIE.
Current PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in medical institutions which our stem cell bank relates to, and in the development and application of technologies for diagnosis and treatment of human stem cells and genes, which our stem cell bank and endometrial stem cell bank business relates to. Pursuant to the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) issued by the NDRC and MOFCOM on December 27, 2021, which came into force on January 1, 2022, foreign investment are allowed in PRC medical institutions only through joint venture entities, and the foreign shareholding in these entities is limited to 70.0%, which percentage was stipulated in the Interim Administrative Measures on Sino-Foreign Equity Medical Institutions and Sino-Foreign Cooperative Medical Institutions, or the JV Interim Measures. Additionally, certain industries are specifically prohibited for foreign investment, including the development and application of technologies for diagnosis and treatment of human stem cells and genes.
Considering the foreign investment restrictions that may be applicable to our business, we conduct our stem cell bank and endometrial stem cell bank business in China through the VIE. The VIE structure through contractual arrangements has been adopted by many PRC-based companies, including us, such that if our businesses are determined to be subject to the foreign investment restrictions, we can obtain necessary license, for example, the Practice License of Medical Institutions, in the industry currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China.
On March 15, 2019, the Foreign Investment Law was formally passed by the thirteenth National People’s Congress and it became effective on January 1, 2020. The Foreign Investment Law replaced the Law on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures and the Law on Foreign-Capital Enterprises and became the legal foundation for foreign investment in the PRC. The Foreign Investment Law stipulates certain forms of foreign investment and defines enterprises incorporated within PRC with complete or partial foreign investment as foreign-invested enterprises or “FIEs.” However, the Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly stipulate contractual arrangements such as those we rely on as a form of foreign investment.
The 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law further specifies that foreign investments shall be conducted in line with the “negative list” to be issued by or approved to be issued by the State Council. This means that an FIE would not be allowed to make investments in prohibited industries in the “negative list,” while the FIE must satisfy certain conditions stipulated in the “negative list” for investment in restricted industries. As pursuant to the negative list issued by the NDRC and MOFCOM taking effect on January 1, 2022, medical services is a restricted industry and foreign investment are allowed in PRC medical institutions only through joint venture entities, i.e., an FIE in which foreign ownership is limited to 70.0%. Additionally, certain industries are specifically prohibited for foreign investment, including the development and application of technologies for diagnosis and treatment of human stem cells and genes, which means, pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law, FIEs are prohibited from practicing such businesses in China.
Considering the above, Yubo International Biotech Limited, Platinum and Platinum HK are considered as foreign investors under the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law, Yubo WOFE is deemed as an FIE. Accordingly, none of such entities are eligible to provide such restricted services related to our businesses, such as medical services. As a result, we will conduct such business activities through the VIE and Chinese operating company, Yubo Beijing. Since Yubo Beijing is not an FIE, Yubo Beijing will be able to apply and hold license as medical institution as other PRC companies and provide medical services which are otherwise restricted to FIEs.
Notwithstanding the above, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that foreign investment includes “foreign investors investing through any other methods under laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council.” Future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council may possibly regard contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. If this happens, it is uncertain whether our contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing, its subsidiaries and shareholders would be recognized as foreign investment, or whether our contractual arrangements would be deemed to be in violation of the foreign investment access requirements. Therefore, there is no guarantee that our contractual arrangements, or Yubo Beijing’s business will not be adversely affected.
To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we conduct our stem cell bank and endometrial stem cell bank business in China through the VIE, Yubo Beijing. We, through the WFOE, our wholly owned subsidiary in China, entered into a series of contractual arrangements with the VIE and its ultimate shareholders, in order to (i) exercise effective management over the VIE, (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of the VIE, and (iii) have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in the VIE when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. As a result of these contractual arrangements, we are deemed, for accounting purpose only, the primary beneficiary of the VIE and hence consolidate its financial results under GAAP. Although the structure we have adopted is consistent with long-standing practice in certain industries, is also adopted by some of our peers in China, and our contractual agreements with Yubo Beijing have not been tested in a court of law, the PRC government may not agree that these arrangements comply with PRC license, registration or other regulatory requirements, with existing policies, or with requirements or policies that may be adopted in the future. The VIE hold the licenses, approvals and key assets that are essential for the operations and we, as a U.S. holding company, do not have any direct business operations in China, nor do we have any title to or ownership interest in such licenses, approvals and key assets.
We believe: (i) the ownership structures of the VIE in China currently do not result in any violation of the applicable PRC laws or regulations currently in effect, and (ii) subject to the risks as disclosed in the section headed “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure”, the contractual arrangements between the WFOE, the VIE and its respective equity holders governed by PRC laws are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect and do not violate any applicable PRC laws, rule or regulation currently in effect. There are, however, substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations. The relevant PRC regulatory authorities have broad discretion in determining whether a particular contractual structure violates PRC laws and regulations. Thus, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that the VIE structure does not violate PRC laws or regulations. If we are found in violation of any PRC laws or regulations or if the contractual arrangements among the WFOE, the VIE and its respective equity holders are determined as illegal or invalid by any PRC court, arbitral tribunal or regulatory authorities, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including, without limitation:
| · | revoking the agreements constituting the contractual arrangements; |
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| · | revoking our business and operating licenses; |
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| · | requiring us to discontinue or restrict operations; |
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| · | restricting our right to collect revenue; |
| · | shutting down all or part of our websites or services; |
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| · | levying fines on us and/or confiscating the proceeds that they deem to have been obtained through non-compliant operations; |
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| · | requiring us to restructure the operations in such a way as to compel us to establish a new enterprise, re-apply for the necessary licenses or relocate our businesses, staff and assets; |
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| · | imposing additional conditions or requirements with which we may not be able to comply; |
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| · | restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from public offering or other financing activities to finance our business and operations in China; or |
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| · | taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. |
Furthermore, any of the assets under the name of any record holder of equity interest in the VIE, including such equity interest, may be put under court custody in connection with litigation, arbitration or other judicial or dispute resolution proceedings against that record holder. We cannot be certain that the equity interest will be disposed of in accordance with the contractual arrangements. In addition, new PRC laws, rules and regulations may be introduced to impose additional requirements that may impose additional challenges to our corporate structure and contractual arrangements. The occurrence of any of these events or the imposition of any of these penalties may result in a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our precision oncology service business. In addition, if the imposition of any of these penalties causes us to be unable to direct the activities of such VIE and its subsidiaries or the right to receive their economic benefits, we would no longer be able to consolidate such VIE into our financial statements, thus adversely affecting our results of operation. In addition, it is unclear what impact the PRC government actions would have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of Yubo Beijing in our consolidated financial statements, if the PRC governmental authorities find our legal structure and contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing to be in violation of PRC laws, rules and regulations. If any of these penalties results in our inability to direct the activities of Yubo Beijing that most significantly impact its economic performance and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from Yubo Beijing or its subsidiaries, we may not be able to consolidate Yubo Beijing and/or its subsidiaries into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. If we are unable to claim our right to control the assets of Yubo Beijing, our Class A common share may decline in value or become worthless.
We currently conduct our business primarily through contractually arrangements with the PRC operating entity, and our management of the day-to-day business operations of such PRC entity pursuant to contracts, to comply with Chinese law, may not be as effective as conducting business through direct equity ownership of such PRC entity due to uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
We currently conduct a substantial portion of our business primarily through our contractually arrangements with the PRC operating entity, Yubo Beijing. PRC laws and regulations govern Yubo Beijing’s operations in the PRC. The PRC operating entity is generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in the PRC and, in particular, laws applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises (the “WFOEs”). Although members of our executive management team and our shareholders include the executive officers and owners of the PRC operating entity, because we do not directly own such PRC operating entity, we may encounter problems enforcing our rights to manage the business affairs and day-to-day business operations of such entity. If we find it necessary to take legal action in the PRC to enforce our rights under our contracts with the PRC operating entity, we will be subject to the uncertainties of the PRC legal system, where prior court decisions have limited precedential value. Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in PRC.
However, the PRC has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in the PRC. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their non-binding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. 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) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation, if any, of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any litigation in the PRC, regardless of outcome, may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. In the event we are unable to enforce our contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing or we experience significant delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective management over our affiliated entities or Yubo Beijing. Our contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing may not be as effective in ensuring our management over the relevant portion of Yubo Beijing’s business operations as direct ownership would be, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our contractual arrangements with Yubo Beijing and its shareholders may not be as effective in providing management over these entities as direct ownership.
We have no equity ownership interest in Yubo Beijing as we rely on the contractual arrangements of the VIE agreements to operate Yubo Beijing. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing management over Yubo Beijing as direct ownership. For example, Yubo Beijing could fail to take actions required for the business or fail to pay amounts owed under the contracts to the WFOE despite its contractual obligation to do so. If Yubo Beijing fails to perform its obligation under the VIE agreements, we may have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which may not be effective.
Transactions among our affiliates are subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and a finding that we or any of our consolidated entities owe additional taxes could have a material adverse impact on our net income.
Under PRC law, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities. If any of the transactions we have entered into among our consolidated entities are challenged by the PRC tax authorities to be not on an arm’s-length basis, or to result in an unreasonable reduction in our PRC tax obligations, the PRC tax authorities have the authority to disallow our tax deduction claims, adjust the profits and losses of our respective PRC consolidated entities and assess late payment fees and other penalties. Our net income may be materially reduced if our tax liabilities increase or if we are otherwise assessed late payment fees or other penalties.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as us. Therefore, Yubo Beijing’s business face potential uncertainty from the PRC government’s policy. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, or government policies could materially and adversely affect our or Yubo Beijing’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
All of Yubo Beijing’s operations are located in China. The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as us.
The economic, political and social conditions in the PRC differ from those in more developed countries in many respects, including structure, government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange, capital reinvestment, allocation of resources, rate of inflation and trade balance position. Before the adoption of its reform and opening up policies in 1978, the PRC was primarily a planned economy. In recent years, the PRC government has been reforming the PRC economic system and government structure. For example, the PRC government has implemented economic reform and measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces in the development of the PRC economy in the past three decades. These reforms have resulted in significant economic growth and social prospects. Economic reform measures, however, may be adjusted, modified or applied inconsistently from industry to industry or across different regions of the country.
We cannot predict whether the resulting changes will have any adverse effect on our or Yubo Beijing’s current or future business, financial condition or results of operations. Despite these economic reforms and measures, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industrial development, allocation of natural and other resources, production, pricing and management of currency, and there can be no assurance that the PRC government will continue to pursue a policy of economic reform or that the direction of reform will continue to be market friendly.
Our ability to successfully expand our business operations in the PRC depends on a number of factors, including macro-economic and other market conditions. Demand for Yubo Beijing’s services and its business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by the following factors:
| · | political instability or changes in social conditions of the PRC; |
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| · | changes in laws, regulations, and administrative directives or the interpretation thereof; |
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| · | measures which may be introduced to control inflation or deflation; and |
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| · | changes in the rate or method of taxation. |
These factors are affected by a number of variables which are beyond our control.
Yubo Beijing’s business might be subject to various evolving PRC laws and regulations regarding cybersecurity, data privacy and data security. Failure of cybersecurity, data privacy and data security compliance could subject Yubo Beijing to penalties, damage its reputation and brand and harm its business and results of operations.
Regulatory requirements on cybersecurity, data security and data privacy in China are constantly evolving and can be subject to varying interpretations or significant changes, resulting in uncertainties about the scope of Yubo Beijing’s responsibilities in that regard. On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect from September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law provides for a security review procedure for the data activities that may affect national security. Furthermore, Measures for Cybersecurity Review, which became effective on June 1, 2020, set forth the cybersecurity review mechanism for critical information infrastructure operators (“CIIOs”), and provided that CIIOs who intend to purchase internet products and services that affect or may affect national security shall be subject to a cybersecurity review. On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) published the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review (“CRM”), which further restates and expands the applicable scope of the cybersecurity review. The revised CRM took effect on February 15, 2022. Pursuant to the revised CRM, if a network platform operator holding personal information of over one million users seeks for “foreign” listing, it must apply for the cybersecurity review, and operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services are also obligated to apply for the cybersecurity review for such purchasing activities. Although the CRM provides no further explanation on the extent of “network platform operator” and “foreign” listing, we do not believe we are obligated to apply for a cybersecurity review pursuant to the revised CRM, considering that (i) we are not in possession of or otherwise holding personal information of over one million users and it is also very unlikely that we will reach such threshold in the near future; and (ii) as of the date of this Annual Report, we have not received any notice or determination from applicable PRC governmental authorities identifying it as a CIIO or requiring us to go through cybersecurity review or similar government reviews. That being said, considering that the revised CRM empowers the cybersecurity review office to initiate cybersecurity review when they believe any particular data processing activities “affect or may affect national security”, and that the revised CRM is new, it is uncertain whether the competent government authorities will deem that Yubo Beijing’s data processing activities may affect national security and thus initiating the cybersecurity review against Yubo Beijing’s businesses, and whether the competent government authorities, including the CAC, will adopt new laws, regulations or rules related to the revised CRM subjecting Yubo Beijing or its business to the cybersecurity review. We cannot guarantee, however, that we will not be subject to the cybersecurity review in the future. If a cybersecurity review is determined to apply to us in the future, we may be required to suspend our operations or experience other disruptions to our operations. Cybersecurity review could also result in negative publicity with respect to our Company and diversion of our managerial and financial resources, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Failure of cybersecurity, data privacy and data security compliance which may be identified during any of such cybersecurity review could subject Yubo Beijing to penalties, damage its reputation and brand, and harm its business and results of operations.
On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Personal Information Protection Law (the “PIPL”), which took effect in November 2021. The PIPL provides that any entity involving processing of personal information (“PI Handler”) shall take various measures to prevent the disclosure, modification or losing of the personal information processed by such entity, including, but not limited to, formulating a related internal management system and standard of operation, conducting classified management of personal information, taking safety technology measures to encrypt and de-identify the processed personal information, providing regular safety training and education for staff and formulating a personal information safety emergency accident plan. The PIPL further provides that a PI Handler shall conduct a prior evaluation of the impact of personal information protection before the occurrence of various situations, including, but not limited to, processing of sensitive personal information (personal information that, once leaked or illegally used, may lead to discrimination against an individual or serious harm to an individual’s personal or property safety, including information on an individual’s ethnicity, religious beliefs, personal biological characteristics, medical health, financial accounts, personal whereabouts), using personal information to make automated decisions and providing personal information to any overseas entity. Notably, in case of cross-border transfer of personal information, the PIPL requires the PI Handler to either (i) complete a mandatory security assessment by CAC, (ii) complete the personal information protection certification (the “PIPC”) by a certification institution designated by the CAC, or (iii) conclude a standard contract provided by CAC with the foreign recipients.
On July 7, 2022, the CAC promogulated the Outbound Data Transfer Security Assessment Measures (the “Measures”), which became effective on September 1, 2022. According to the Measures, a PI Handler should declare a mandatory security assessment for its outbound data transfer to the CAC through the local provincial cyberspace administration under the following circumstances (i) where such PI Handler provides critical data outside the territory of the PRC, (ii) where the PI Handler being a CIIO or processing the personal information of more than one million individuals provides personal information outside the territory of the PRC, (iii) where a PI Handler has provided personal information of 100,000 individuals or sensitive personal information of 10,000 individuals in total outside the territory of the PRC since January 1 of the previous year; or (iv) other circumstances prescribed by the CAC for which declaration for security assessment for cross-border data transfers is required. Considering that (i) Yubo Beijing is not in possession of or otherwise holding personal information of over one million users and it is also very unlikely that we will reach such threshold in the near future; (ii) as of the date of this Annual Report, Yubo Beijing has not received any notice or determination from applicable PRC governmental authorities identifying Yubo Beijing as a CIIO, or as a processor of critical data, and (iii) since January 1, 2022, Yubo Beijing has not provided personal information of 100,000 individuals or sensitive personal information of 10,000 individuals outbound accumulatively, we do not believe we are currently obliged to declare a mandatory security assessment under the Measures. However, according to the draft version of the PRC national standard “Information security technology—Guideline for identification of critical data” dated January 2022, information related to human genetic resources might fall into the scope of critical data. Although this national standard has not released its final version and become effective yet, if we are deemed to be a PI Handler providing critical data outbound in the future, we might be subject to the mandatory security assessment as mentioned above.
On November 4, 2022, the CAC and the State Administration for Market Regulation (the “SAMR”) jointly issued the Notification on the Implementation of Personal Information Protection Certification, formally initiating the mechanism of PIPC. In parallel, on December 16, 2022, the National Information Security Standardization Technical Committee released an updated version of the Guidance on Network Security Standardized Practice – Specification for Certification of Personal Information Cross-Border Processing Activities, which provides the general principles and detailed requirements for cross-border PIPC.
On February 22, 2023, the CAC published the Measures for the Standard Contract for Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information, along with the final version of the standard contract for the cross-border transfer of personal information outside of mainland China (the “PRC Standard Contract”), which will be effective on June 1, 2023. A PI Handler may choose either (i) to complete a PIPC, or (ii) to conclude a PRC Standard Contract with a foreign recipient and provide it along with other required materials to relevant governmental authorities for filing to ensure the legality of a cross-border transfer of personal information, as long as not falling into the circumstances required for a mandatory security assessment as mentioned above.
Yubo Beijing’s business involves the processing of personal information of customers using Yubo Beijing’s healthcare products and receiving Yubo Beijing’s services, which may be deemed as sensitive personal information. Considering that (i) Yubo Beijing has not provided the personal information collected and gathered in its business outside the territory of China, (ii) our Company do not have the access to the personal information gathered by Yubo Beijing, based on our understanding of current PRC laws and regulations, we are not subject to the regulations over the cross-border transfer of personal information so far. However, given that the national security legal framework imposes stricter data localization and protection requirements on personal information and human health-related data in recent years, we might need to maintain the data and personal information collected and generated in our business in mainland China, enter into standard contracts with the overseas recipients of any personal information processed by us (if any), conduct self-assessments, undergo security assessments, or even obtain the requisite approvals from the Chinese government if the transmission of such information and data outside of mainland China is needed, which could significantly increase our operating costs or cause delays or disruptions in our business operations. Furthermore, if Yubo Beijing does not take measures to review and improve its mechanisms in protecting personal information, failure of personal information protection compliance could subject Yubo Beijing to penalties, damage its reputation and brand and harm its business and results of operations.
The medical industry in China is highly regulated and such regulations are subject to change which may affect approval and commercialization of Yubo Beijing’s products and services.
All of Yubo Beijing’s research and development operations and manufacturing facilities are in China, which we believe confers clinical, commercial and regulatory advantages. The medical industry in China is subject to comprehensive government regulation and supervision, encompassing the approval, registration, manufacturing, packaging, licensing and marketing of new drugs. Yubo Beijing’s products that are categorized as medical devices will require manufacturing and distribution license for the respective manufacturing and distribution activities and if Yubo Beijing’s services are categorized as medical services, Yubo Beijing will be required to apply and hold a Practice License of Medical Institutions. For example, under PRC law, before Yubo Beijing enters into a clinical trial agreement with a PRC partner, the parties are required to obtain an approval for projects of international collaboration in respect of human genetic resources in order to utilize genetic material contained in biological samples collected from Chinese human subjects. Furthermore, under relevant PRC laws, a license for use of laboratory animals is required for performing experimentation on animals. Any failure of fully comply with such requirement may result in the invalidation of our experimental data. In recent years, the regulatory framework in China regarding the medical industry has undergone significant changes, and we expect that it will continue to undergo significant changes. Any such changes or amendments may result in increased compliance costs on Yubo Beijing’s business or cause delays in or prevent the successful development or commercialization of Yubo Beijing’s products in China and reduce the current benefits we believe are available to Yubo Beijing from developing and manufacturing products and medical devices in China. PRC authorities have become increasingly vigilant in enforcing laws in the medical industry and any failure by Yubo Beijing or its partners to maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations or obtain and maintain required licenses and permits may result in the suspension or termination of Yubo Beijing’s business activities in China. We believe Yubo Beijing’s strategy and approach are aligned with the PRC government’s regulatory policies, but we cannot ensure that Yubo Beijing’s strategy and approach will continue to be aligned.
Yubo Beijing faces risks associated with uncertainties relating to Regulation for the Administration of Human Genetic Resources.
The collection, preservation, usage and outbound provision of human genetic resources in the PRC are governed by Regulation for the Administration of Human Genetic Resources, or HGR Regulation, except for activities relating to human genetic resources conducted for some specific purposes including clinical diagnosis and treatment. We believe that the stem cell bank is both for the purpose of clinical diagnosis and treatment, so that such activities relating to human genetic resources in our diagnosis business or early screening business may not be governed by HGR Regulation. However, we cannot assure you that the stem cell bank will be continuously deemed as conducted for the purpose of clinical diagnosis and treatment by the relevant government authority. Meanwhile, the endometrial stem cell bank in the development services are governed by HGR Regulation.
Pursuant to HGR Regulation, there are some limitations for foreign entities, individuals and such entities established or actually controlled thereby (“Restricted Entities”, and each, a “Restricted Entity”) to engage in activities relating to human genetic resources. For example, the Restricted Entity is not allowed to collect or preserve human genetic resources of China, while it is prohibited from using human genetic resources of China unless that such Restricted Entity have obtained an approval from relevant government authority or have filed with relevant government authority for international cooperation with a domestic entity. Taking into consideration of our consultation with a competent government authority, among others, although an entity controlled, directly or indirectly, by foreign persons through shareholding ownership would be deemed as a Restricted Entity, HGR Regulation remains unclear as to whether a VIE entity controlled by a wholly foreign owned enterprise through contractual arrangements would be deemed as a Restricted Entity. We cannot assure you that Yubo Beijing, as a VIE, will not be deemed as Restricted Entities in the future, given the lack of clear statutory interpretation regarding HGR Regulation. If Yubo Beijing is deemed as a Restricted Entity by relevant government authority, we will be required to obtain approvals or file with relevant government authority which could result in additional cost and our business, financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected.
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 this Annual Report based on foreign laws.
We conduct a substantial portion of our operations in China through the VIE, Yubo Beijing. In addition, many of our senior executive officers and directors reside within China for a significant portion of the time and some of them are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us, Yubo Beijing, or those persons inside China. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against us, Yubo Beijing and our officers and directors. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us, Yubo Beijing or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of written arrangement with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us, Yubo Beijing or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or the public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.
It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
It may be difficult for you or overseas regulators, such as the U.S. Department of Justice, the Commission, and other authorities of the United States, to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information, documents and materials needed for regulatory investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the 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 may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no entity or individual may provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to overseas parties. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCA Act, and the relevant regulations are evolving quickly. Further implementations and interpretations to the HFCA Act or the relevant regulations, or a PCAOB’s determination that it is lack of sufficient access to inspect or investigate completely our auditor, could result in regulatory risks to and limitations on us, and you may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection and our stocks could be delisted from the stock exchange pursuant to the HFCA Act.
As an auditor of companies that are registered with the SEC and publicly traded in the United States and a firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”), our auditor is required under the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess their compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Although most of our operations are based in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB was historically unable to conduct inspections and investigations completely before 2022, our U.S. auditor is currently inspected by the PCAOB.
As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular under Chinese law, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of the U.S. Congress which, if passed, would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate the audit work performed by a foreign public accounting firm completely. The proposed Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for these issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from U.S. national securities exchanges such as the Nasdaq of issuers included on the SEC’s list for three consecutive years. It is unclear if this proposed legislation will be enacted.
On May 18, 2020, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in “Restrictive Market”, (ii) adopt a new requirement relating to the qualification of management or board of director for Restrictive Market companies, and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the HFCA Act, which includes requirements for the SEC to identify issuers whose audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a restriction imposed by a non-U.S. authority in the auditor’s local jurisdiction. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the HFCA Act on December 2, 2020, and the HFCA Act was signed into law on December 18, 2020.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“AHFCAA”), which was signed into law on December 29, 2022. the AHFCAA amended the HFCA Act and require the SEC to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive years instead of three years.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act. We will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies us as a Commission-Identified Issuer (as defined in the final rules) under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC, and the SEC could prohibit the trading of our securities on national securities exchanges if we are identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer. Under the HFCA Act, our securities may be prohibited from trading on the Nasdaq or other U.S. stock exchanges if our auditor is not inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, and this ultimately could result in our shares being delisted.
On December 16, 2021, PCAOB announced the PCAOB Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act determinations (the “2021 PCAOB Determinations”) relating to the PCAOB’s inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China of the PRC or Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in the PRC or Hong Kong.
On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced and signed a Statement of Protocol (the “Protocol”) with the CSRC and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC (the “MOF”). The Protocol provides the PCAOB with: (1) sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates, without any involvement of Chinese authorities; (2) procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed; (3) direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates.
The PCAOB reassessed the 2021 PCAOB Determinations that the positions taken by PRC authorities prevented the PCAOB from inspecting and investigating in mainland China and Hong Kong completely. The PCAOB sent its inspectors to conduct on-site inspections and investigations of firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong from September to November 2022.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced in the 2022 Determination its determination that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, and the PCAOB Board voted to vacate previous determinations to the contrary. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, including by the CSRC or the MOF, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCAA as and when appropriate. 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. There is a risk that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely the Company’s auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction or any other reasons, and that the PCAOB may re-evaluate its determinations as a result of any obstruction with the implementation of the Protocol. Such lack of inspection or re-evaluation could cause trading in the Company’s securities to be prohibited under the HFCAA ultimately result in a determination by a securities exchange to delist the Company’s securities. In addition, under the HFCAA as amended by the AHFCAA, our securities may be prohibited from trading on the Nasdaq or other U.S. stock exchanges if our auditor is not inspected by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, and this ultimately could result in our common stock or ordinary shares being delisted by and exchange.
Such recent developments would add uncertainties to our listing and any future offering and we cannot assure you whether the SEC, the PCAOB, Nasdaq, or other regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us. It remains unclear what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address these issues and what impact those actions will have on U.S. companies that have significant operations in the PRC and have securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national securities exchange or over-the-counter stock market). In addition, any additional actions, proceedings, or new rules resulting from these efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could create some uncertainty for investors, the market price of our common stock or ordinary shares could be adversely affected, and we could be delisted if we and our auditor are unable to meet the PCAOB inspection requirement or being required to engage a new audit firm, which would require significant expense and management time. If trading in our ordinary shares is prohibited under the HFCA Act in the future because the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or fully investigate our auditor at such future time, Nasdaq may determine to delist our common stock or ordinary shares. If our common stock or ordinary shares are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our 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 our common stock or ordinary shares.
Dividends we receive from our subsidiaries located in the PRC may be subject to PRC withholding tax, which could materially and adversely affect the amount of dividends, if any, we may pay our shareholders.
The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law classifies enterprises as resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law provides that an income tax rate of 20% may be applicable to dividends payable to non-resident investors, which (i) do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC, or (ii) have an establishment or place of business in the PRC but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within the PRC. The State Council of the PRC reduced such rate to 10% through the implementation regulations of the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law. Further, pursuant to the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement between Hong Kong and Mainland China, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, and the Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties issued in February 2009 by the State Administration of Taxation of the PRC, or the SAT, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the equity interest in a company in China at all times during the 12-month period immediately prior to obtaining a dividend from such company, the 10% withholding tax on dividends is reduced to 5% provided that certain other conditions and requirements under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable PRC laws are satisfied at the discretion of relevant PRC tax authority.
If our Cayman Islands subsidiary and our Hong Kong subsidiary are considered as non-resident enterprises and our Hong Kong subsidiary is considered as a Hong Kong resident enterprise under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and is determined by the competent PRC tax authority to have satisfied relevant conditions and requirements, then the dividends paid to our Hong Kong subsidiary by its PRC subsidiary may be subject to the reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement. However, based on the Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. In addition, based on the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to Beneficial Owner in Tax Treaties, effective from April 1, 2018, under certain conditions a company cannot be defined as a beneficial owner under the treaty and thus are not entitled to the abovementioned reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement. If we are required under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law to pay income tax for any dividends we receive from our subsidiaries in China, or if our Hong Kong subsidiary is determined by PRC government authority as receiving benefits from reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, it would materially and adversely affect the amount of dividends, if any, we may pay to our shareholders.
If we are classified as a “resident enterprise” of China under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we and our non-PRC shareholders could be subject to unfavorable tax consequences, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside the PRC with “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, SAT issued a circular, known as SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” text should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of board members with voting rights or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe that we are not 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.” If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises, including the holders of the common stock. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders, including our common stock holders, may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 10% on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of common stock or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends paid to our non-PRC individual shareholders, including our common stock holders, and any gain realized on the transfer of common stock or ordinary shares by such shareholders may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 20%, which in the case of dividends may be withheld at source. Any PRC tax liability may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty. However, it is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in our common stock or ordinary shares.
In addition to the uncertainty as to the application of the “resident enterprise” classification, we cannot assure you that the PRC government will not amend or revise the taxation laws, rules and regulations to impose stricter tax requirements or higher tax rates. Any of such changes could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Restrictions on foreign exchange and the ability to transfer cash between entities, across borders and to U.S. investors may affect the value of your investment.
Currently, the RMB cannot be freely converted into any foreign currency. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. Our income is received in RMB and shortages in foreign currencies may restrict our ability to pay dividends or other payments, or otherwise satisfy our foreign currency denominated obligations, if any. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, for most capital account items, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of bank loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of the Class A common stock.
Our cash dividends, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars. If we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax. See “—If we are classified as a ‘resident enterprise’ of China under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we and our non-PRC shareholders could be subject to unfavorable tax consequences, and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected” above.
Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the PRC companies to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, our PRC subsidiaries and Yubo Beijing can only distribute dividends upon approval of the shareholders after we have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to the statutory reserves. As a result of these and other restrictions under the PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries and Yubo Beijing are restricted to transfer a portion of their net assets to us either in the form of dividends, loans or advances. Even though we currently do not require any such dividends, loans or advances from the PRC subsidiaries or Yubo Beijing for working capital and other funding purposes, we may in the future require additional cash resources from our PRC subsidiaries or Yubo Beijing due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and developments, or merely declare and pay dividends to or distributions to our shareholders. See “Item 5. Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Registrant Purchases of Equity Securities—Dividends and Other Distributions” for a diagram illustrating the typical cash flow among our main subsidiaries, the WFOE, and Yubo Beijing, the VIE.
Fluctuation in exchange rates could have a negative effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.
The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions in China and by China’s foreign exchange policies. Since June 2010, the RMB has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. On November 30, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, completed the regular five-year review of the basket of currencies that make up the Special Drawing Right, or the SDR, and decided that with effect from October 1, 2016, the RMB is determined to be a freely usable currency and will be included in the SDR basket as a fifth currency, along with the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. Since the fourth quarter of 2016, the RMB has depreciated significantly in the backdrop of a surging U.S. dollar and persistent capital outflows of China. With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress toward interest rate liberalization and RMB internationalization, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system, and we cannot assure you that the RMB will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our exposure or at all. In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currency or to convert foreign currency into RMB.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents and enterprises may increase our administrative burden and restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activity. If our PRC resident and enterprise shareholders fail to make any required applications and filings under such regulations, we may be unable to distribute profits to such shareholders and may become subject to liability under PRC law.
In July 2014, 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 SAFE Circular 37, which replaces the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in Financing and Round-tripping Investment via Overseas Special Purpose, or SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents, including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities, to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we may make in the future.
Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, are required to register such investments with SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its registration with the local branch of SAFE with respect to that SPV, to reflect any change of basic information or material events. If any PRC resident shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the registration, the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiaries in China. In February 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, shall be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. Qualified banks should examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE.
We may not be aware of the identities of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. To our knowledge, some of our beneficial owners have not complied with SAFE registration requirements under SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules on time or at all, sometimes due to reasons beyond their control. However, we do not have control over our beneficial owners and cannot compel them to comply with SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules. Therefore, we cannot assure you that any required registration under SAFE Circular 37 and any amendment will be completed in a timely manner, or at all. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to register or amend their foreign exchange registrations 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 subsidiary to fines and legal sanctions. Failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiary and limit our PRC subsidiary’s ability to distribute dividends to us. These risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange and outbound investment related regulations and their interpretation and implementation have been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border investments and transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we have complied or will be able to comply with all applicable foreign exchange and outbound investment related regulations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of PRC companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The M&A Rules and relevant regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. The M&A Rules require that the Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM, be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise, if (i) any important industry is concerned, (ii) such transaction involves factors that have or may have an impact on the national economic security; or (iii) such transaction will lead to a change in control of a domestic enterprise which holds a famous trademark or PRC time-honored brand. The approval from MOFCOM shall be obtained in circumstances where overseas companies established or controlled by PRC enterprises or residents acquire affiliated domestic companies.
The Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or NPC, which became effective in August 2008, requires that when a concentration of undertakings occurs and reaches statutory thresholds, the undertakings concerned shall file a prior notification with MOFCOM. Without the clearance from MOFCOM, no concentration of undertakings shall be implemented and effected. Mergers, acquisitions or contractual arrangements that allow one market player to take control of or to exert decisive impact on another market player must also be notified in advance to the MOFCOM when the threshold under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, or the Prior Notification Rules, issued by the State Council in August 2008 is triggered. If such prior notification is not obtained, MOFCOM may order the concentration to cease its operations, dispose of shares or assets, transfer the business of the concentration within a time limit, take any other necessary measures to restore the situation as it was before the concentration, and may impose administrative fines.
In addition, the Implementing Rules Concerning Security Review on the Mergers and Acquisitions by Foreign Investors of Domestic Enterprises, issued by the MOFCOM in August 2011, specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors involved in “an industry related to national security” are subject to strict review by the MOFCOM, and prohibit any activities attempting to bypass such security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the abovementioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions.
We cannot preclude the possibility that the MOFCOM or other government agencies may publish explanations contrary to our understanding or broaden the scope of such security reviews in the future, in which case our future acquisitions in the PRC, including those by way of entering into contractual control arrangements with target entities, may be closely scrutinized or prohibited. Our ability to expand our business or maintain or expand our market share through future acquisitions would as such be materially and adversely affected.
We and our shareholders face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises, assets attributed to a PRC establishment of a non-PRC company or immovable properties located in China owned by non-PRC companies.
In February 2015, SAT issued a Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Tax Resident Enterprises, or SAT Public Notice 7. SAT Public Notice 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, SAT Public Notice 7 provides clear criteria for assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. SAT Public Notice 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. In October 2017, SAT issued the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-resident Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or SAT Bulletin 37, which came into effect on December 1, 2017. The Bulletin 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 other than transfer of shares of our common stock acquired and sold on public markets 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 that involve PRC taxable assets, 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 the transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is the transferee in such transactions, under SAT Public Notice 7 or Bulletin 37, or both.
Risks Related to Shares of our Common Stock
The relative lack of U.S. public company experience of our management team may put us at a competitive disadvantage.
Our management team lacks U.S. public company experience and is generally unfamiliar with the requirements of the U.S. securities laws and U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, which could impair our ability to comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as those imposed by Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The individuals who now constitute our senior management team have never had responsibility for managing a publicly traded company. Such responsibilities include complying with federal securities laws and making required disclosures on a timely basis. Our senior management may not be able to implement programs and policies in an effective and timely manner that adequately responds to such increased legal, regulatory compliance and reporting requirements. Our failure to comply with all applicable requirements could lead to the imposition of fines and penalties and distract our management from attending to the growth of our business.
Our common stock is not listed on any stock exchange and there is a limited market for shares of our common stock. Even if a market for our common stock develops, our common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations.
Our common stock is not listed on any stock exchange. Although our Class A common stock is quoted on the OTC Marketplace, there is a limited public market for shares of our Class A common stock, and limited trades of our Class A common stock have taken place on the OTC Marketplace. Even if the shares of our common stock may in the future trade greater volume on the OTC Marketplace, the liquidity and price of our common stock is expected to be more limited than if such securities were quoted or listed on a national exchange. No assurances can be given that an active public trading market for our common stock will develop or be sustained. Trading volume may be limited by the fact that many major institutional investment funds, including mutual funds, as well as individual investors follow a policy of not investing in over the counter stocks and certain major brokerage firms restrict their brokers from recommending over the counter stocks because they are considered speculative, volatile and thinly traded. Lack of liquidity will limit the price at which stockholders may be able to sell our common stock.
Even if our common stock will in the future trade more actively on the OTC Marketplace, the price of such common stock could be subject to wide fluctuations, in response to quarterly variations in our operating results, announcements by us or others, developments affecting us, and other events or factors. In addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations in recent years. These fluctuations have had a substantial effect on the market prices for many companies, often unrelated to the operating performance of such companies, and may adversely affect the market prices of the securities. Such risks could have an adverse effect on the stock’s future liquidity.
Because we became public by means of a “reverse merger,” we may not be able to attract the attention of major brokerage firm or investors in general.
Additional risks may exist because we became a public company through a “reverse merger.” Securities analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide coverage of us since there is little incentive to brokerage firms to recommend the purchase of our common stock. No assurance can be given that brokerage firms will want to conduct any secondary offerings on behalf of our company in the future. In addition, the SEC has recently issued an investor bulletin warning to investors about the risks of investing in companies that enter the U.S. capital markets through a “reverse merger.” The release of such information from the SEC may have the effect of reducing investor interest in companies, such as us, that enter the U.S. capital markets through a “reverse merger.”
We cannot assure you that our common stock will become eligible for listing or quotation on any exchange and the failure to do so may adversely affect your ability to dispose of our common stock in a timely fashion.
In order for our common stock to become eligible for listing or quotation on any exchange, reverse merger companies must have had their securities traded on an over-the-counter market for at least one year, maintained a certain minimum closing price for not less than 30 of the most recent 60 days prior to the filing of an initial listing application and prior to listing, and timely filed with the SEC all required reports since consummation of the reverse merger, including one annual report containing audited consolidated financial statements for a full fiscal year commencing after the date of filing of the Current Report on Form 8-K which discloses the reverse merger. We may not be able to meet all of the filing requirements above and may not be able to satisfy the initial standards for listing or quotation on any exchange in the foreseeable future or at all. Even if we are able to become listed or quoted on an exchange, we may not be able to maintain a listing of the common stock on such stock exchange.
Our common stock may be subject to penny stock rules, which may make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell their common stock.
Broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in “penny stocks” are regulated by certain penny stock rules adopted by the SEC. Penny stocks generally are equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 per share. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a purchase or sale of a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver to the customer a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. In addition, the penny stock rules generally require that prior to a transaction in a penny stock the broker-dealer make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for a stock that becomes subject to the penny stock rules.
FINRA sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our stock.
In addition to the “penny stock” rules described above, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.
We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends.
We presently do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends on any of our capital stock in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends, if any, would be contingent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements, and general financial condition. The payment of any dividends will be within the discretion of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). We presently intend to retain all earnings, if any, to implement our business plan; accordingly, we do not anticipate the declaration of any dividends in the foreseeable future.
We may need additional capital, and the sale of additional shares or other equity securities, including our Class B common stock, could result in additional dilution to our stockholders.
We expect our existing cash will be sufficient to fund our capital requirements through 2023, and we currently plan to raise additional capital in 2024. In addition, we may require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we will seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity securities could result in additional dilution to our stockholders. In addition, you may experience further dilution to the extent that shares of our Class B common stock are issued and sold to raise capital. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have authorized 3,750,000 shares of Class B common stock, at a par value of $0.001 per share, of which 4,447 shares of Class B common stock were issued and outstanding. The incurrence of additional indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Our dual-class voting structure will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our Class A common stock may view as beneficial.
Our authorized common stock is divided into Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class B common stock are entitled to five votes per share. Each share of Class B is convertible into one share of Class A common stock upon notice of the holder, while Class A common stock is not convertible into Class B common stock under any circumstances. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have authorized (i) 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, of which 119,816,343 shares were issued and outstanding, and (ii) 3,750,000 shares of Class B common stock, of which 4,447 shares were issued and outstanding. Currently, the holder of Class A common stock will have the ability to control matters requiring shareholders’ approval, including any amendment of our memorandum and articles of association. However, any future issuances of Class B common stock may be dilutive to the voting power of holders of Class A common stock. Any conversions of Class B common stock into Class A common stock may dilute the percentage ownership of the existing holders of Class A common stock within their class of ordinary shares.
Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.
Certain of our executive officers, directors and large stockholders own a significant percentage of our outstanding capital stock. As of the date of this Annual Report, our executive officers, directors, holders of 5% or more of our capital stock and their respective affiliates owned approximately 80.4% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Accordingly, our directors and executive officers have significant influence over our affairs due to their substantial ownership coupled with their positions on our management team and have substantial voting power to approve matters requiring the approval of our stockholders. For example, these stockholders may be able to control elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This concentration of ownership may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that some of our stockholders may believe is in their best interest.
We have a substantial number of authorized common shares available for future issuance that could cause dilution of our stockholders’ interest and adversely impact the rights of holders of our common stock.
We have a total of 1,000,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 3,750,000 shares of Class B common stock authorized for issuance and up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock with the rights, preferences and privileges that our Board may determine from time to time. As of the date of this Annual Report, we had 119,816,343 shares of issued and outstanding Class A common stock, 4,447 shares of issued and outstanding Class B common stock, and no outstanding preferred stock. We may seek financing that could result in the issuance of additional shares of our capital stock and/or rights to acquire additional shares of our capital stock. We may also make acquisitions that result in issuances of additional shares of our capital stock. Those additional issuances of capital stock would result in a significant reduction of your percentage interest in us. The addition of a substantial number of shares of our common stock into the market or by the registration of any of our other securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may significantly and negatively affect the prevailing market price for our common stock.
Risks Related to our Business and Industry
The commercial success of Yubo Beijing’s products depends upon the degree of their market acceptance among the medical community. If Yubo Beijing’s products do not attain market acceptance among the medical community, its operations and profitability would be adversely affected.
The commercial success of Yubo Beijing’s products depends, in large part, upon the degree of market acceptance they achieve among the medical community, particularly among physicians, pharmacists, administrators of hospitals, clinics and other health care institutions. Physicians may not prescribe or recommend Yubo Beijing’s products to patients and pharmacies, procurement departments of hospitals, clinics and other health care institutions may not purchase Yubo Beijing’s products if physicians or pharmacists do not find Yubo Beijing’s products attractive. The acceptance and use of Yubo Beijing’s products among the medical community will depend upon a number of factors including:
| · | perceptions by physicians, pharmacists, patients and others in the medical community about the safety and effectiveness of Yubo Beijing’s products; |
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| · | the prevalence and severity of any side effects; |
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| · | pharmacological benefit of Yubo Beijing’s products relative to competing products and products under development; |
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| · | the efficacy and potential advantages relative to competing products and products under development; |
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| · | relative convenience and ease of administration; |
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| · | effectiveness of Yubo Beijing’s education, marketing and distribution efforts; |
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| · | publicity concerning Yubo Beijing’s products or competing products and treatments; and |
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| · | the price for Yubo Beijing’s products and competing products. |
If Yubo Beijing’s products fail to attain market acceptance among the medical community, or if Yubo Beijing’s currently marketed products cannot maintain market acceptance, its results of operations and profitability would be adversely affected.
We have a history of losses and may continue to incur losses in the future, which raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We have a history of losses and may continue to incur losses in the future, which could negatively impact the trading value of our common stock. We may continue to incur operating losses in future periods. These losses may increase and we may never achieve or sustain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future for a variety of reasons, including increased competition, decreased growth in the automotive industry and other factors described elsewhere in this “Item 1A. Risk Factors”.
Further, we may incur significant losses in the future due to unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays and other unknown events. If we cannot continue as a going concern, our stockholders may lose their entire investment.
These circumstances raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 3: Going Concern to our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021. If we are unable to continue as a going concern, investors will likely lose all of their investment in our company. The consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Yubo Beijing’s proprietary, next-generation stem cell derived technologies, approach for stem cell storage facilities and manufacturing platform for its stem cell based products, represent emerging approaches to medical treatments that face significant challenges and hurdles.
Yubo Beijing currently has two commercialized products: respiratory atomization products and cell basidiomycetes compound drink. Yubo Beijing plans to market and commercialize its other planned light application products soon. Because stem cell-based healthcare products and therapies represent a relatively new field of, developing and commercializing Yubo Beijing’s products subjects us to a number of risks and challenges, including:
| · | obtaining regulatory approval for Yubo Beijing’s products, as the regulatory authorities may have limited experience with stem cell based healthcare products and therapies; |
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| · | developing and deploying consistent and reliable processes for engineering a customer’s stem cells ex vivo and infusing the engineered stem cells back into the patient; |
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| · | sourcing clinical and, if approved, commercial supplies of the materials used to manufacture Yubo Beijing’s product candidates; |
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| · | developing programming modules with the desired properties, while avoiding adverse reactions; |
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| · | developing a reliable and consistent vector and cell manufacturing process; |
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| · | establishing manufacturing capacity suitable for the manufacture of Yubo Beijing’s products; |
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| · | developing protocols for the safe administration of Yubo Beijing’s products; |
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| · | educating medical personnel regarding Yubo Beijing’s stem cell technologies and the potential side effect profile of Yubo Beijing’s products; |
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| · | establishing sales and marketing capabilities to successfully launch and commercialize Yubo Beijing’s product candidates if and when Yubo Beijing obtains any required regulatory approvals, and risks associated with gaining market acceptance of a novel therapy if Yubo Beijing receives approval; and |
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| · | the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors for Yubo Beijing’s novel and personalized therapies in connection with commercialization of any approved products. |
Yubo Beijing may not be able to successfully develop its stem cell derived products, its technology or its other products in a manner that will yield products that are safe, effective, scalable or profitable.
Yubo Beijing may not be able to successfully create its own manufacturing infrastructure and stem cell storage facilities for supply and maintenance of its requirements of programmed stem cell products for use in clinical trials and for commercial sale.
Yubo Beijing currently has manufacturing and storage facilities in China supplying clinical materials for its trials and commercial production through agreements with third parties. Yubo Beijing intends to expand the capacities at these sites as it begins to expand the production of its products. Yubo Beijing is also in the process of establishing manufacturing capability in Beijing, which will provide a regional product supply as well as add to its global manufacturing ability.
Yubo Beijing’s manufacturing and commercialization strategy is based on establishing a fully integrated vein-to-vein product delivery cycle. Over time, Yubo Beijing expects to establish regional or zonal manufacturing hubs to service major markets to meet projected needs for commercial sale quantities. However, Yubo Beijing is still in the process of constructing manufacturing and storage facilities that will allow it to meet commercial sale quantities.
The implementation of this plan is subject to many risks. For example, the establishment of a stem cell-therapy manufacturing facility is a complex endeavor requiring knowledgeable individuals. Expanding Yubo Beijing’s internal manufacturing infrastructure will rely upon finding personnel with an appropriate background and training to staff and operate the facility. Should Yubo Beijing be unable to find these individuals, it may need to rely on external contractors or train additional personnel to fill the needed roles. There are a small number of individuals with experience in stem cell therapy and the competition for these individuals is high.
Yubo Beijing expects that operating its own commercial stem cell manufacturing and storage facilities will provide it with enhanced control of material supply for both clinical trials and the commercial market, enable the more rapid implementation of process changes, and allow for better long-term cost margins. However, Yubo Beijing has limited experience as a company in designing and operating a commercial manufacturing and storage facility and may never be successful in developing its own manufacturing capability. Yubo Beijing may establish additional manufacturing and storage sites as it expands its commercial footprint to multiple geographies, which may lead to regulatory delays or prove costly. Even if Yubo Beijing is successful, Yubo Beijing’s operations could be affected by cost-overruns, unexpected delays, equipment failures, labor shortages, natural disasters, power failures and numerous other factors, or Yubo Beijing may not be successful in establishing sufficient capacity to produce its product candidates in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements for the potential launch or to meet potential future demand, all of which could prevent Yubo Beijing from realizing the intended benefits of its manufacturing strategy and have a material adverse effect on its business.
Yubo Beijing may not be able to timely identify or otherwise effectively respond to changing customer preferences, and Yubo Beijing may fail to optimize its product offering and inventory position.
The medical industry in China is rapidly evolving and is subject to rapidly changing customer preferences that are difficult to predict. Yubo Beijing believes that its success depends on its ability to anticipate and identify customer preferences and adapt its product selection to these preferences. In particular, Yubo Beijing believes that it must optimize its product selection and inventory positions based on sales trends. No assurances can be given that Yubo Beijing’s product selection, especially its selections of nutritional supplements and food products, will accurately reflect customer preferences at any given time. If Yubo Beijing fails to anticipate accurately either the market for its products or customers’ purchasing habits or fail to respond to customers’ changing preferences promptly and effectively, Yubo Beijing may not be able to adapt its product selection to customer preferences or make appropriate adjustments to its inventory positions, which could significantly reduce its revenue and have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Yubo Beijing faces significant competition, and if Yubo Beijing does not compete successfully against existing and new competitors, Yubo Beijing’s revenue and profitability would be materially and adversely affected.
The medical industry in China is highly competitive, and Yubo Beijing expects competition to intensify. In addition, there is a trend towards consolidation of the medical industry in the future. Yubo Beijing’s primary competitors are other medical distributors. Yubo Beijing competes for customers and revenue primarily on the basis of product selection, price, and timely delivery of products. Moreover, Yubo Beijing may be subject to additional competition from new entrants to the medical industry in China. If the PRC government removes the barriers for foreign companies to operate majority-owned medical distributors in China, Yubo Beijing could face increased competition from foreign companies. Some of Yubo Beijing’s larger competitors may enjoy competitive advantages, such as:
| · | greater financial and other resources; |
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| · | larger variety of products; |
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| · | more extensive and advanced supply chain management systems; |
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| · | greater pricing flexibility; |
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| · | larger economies of scale and purchasing power; |
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| · | more extensive advertising and marketing efforts; |
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| · | greater knowledge of local market conditions; and |
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| · | larger sales and distribution networks. |
As a result, Yubo Beijing may be unable to offer products similar to, or more desirable than, those offered by its competitors, market its products as effectively as its competitors or otherwise respond successfully to competitive pressures. In addition, Yubo Beijing’s competitors may be able to offer larger discounts on the same or competing products, and Yubo Beijing may not be able to profitably match those discounts. Furthermore, Yubo Beijing’s competitors may offer products that are more attractive to Yubo Beijing’s customers or that render Yubo Beijing’s products uncompetitive. Yubo Beijing’s failure to compete successfully could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects.
Yubo Beijing relies on third-party manufacturers to supply all of its light application products.
Yubo Beijing relies on third-party manufactures to supply all of its light application products. Reliance on such third-party manufacturers involves a number of risks, including a lack of control over the manufacturing process and the potential absence or unavailability of adequate capacity. If any of the third-party manufacturers cannot or will not manufacture Yubo Beijing’s products in required volumes in compliance with applicable regulations, on a cost-effective basis, in a timely manner, or at all, Yubo Beijing will have to secure alternative manufacturers. Maintaining relationships with existing manufacturers and replacing such manufacturers may be difficult and time consuming. Any disruption of Yubo Beijing’s network of manufacturers, including failure to renew existing distribution agreements with desired manufacturers, could negatively affect Yubo Beijing’s product selection and Yubo Beijing’s ability to effectively sell its products and could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.
Yubo Beijing’s certificates, permits, and licenses related to its business are subject to governmental control and renewal and failure to obtain renewal will cause all or part of its operations to be terminated.
Yubo Beijing is subject to various PRC laws and regulations pertaining to the medical industry. Although Yubo Beijing does not currently own any licenses or permits for the production of its light application products, Yubo Beijing is permitted under the PRC law to rely on the certificates, permits, and licenses that belong to and are maintained by its third-party manufacturers to market and sell its light application products. We are also in the process of applying for a product license for one of our subsidiaries located in Chengdu, China. In the event that Yubo Beijing or its third-party manufacturers, are not able to meet any new requirements imposed on Yubo Beijing’s business by the appropriate regulatory authorities or are unable to renew its certificates, permits and licenses, all or part of Yubo Beijing operations may be terminated. Furthermore, if escalating compliance costs associated with governmental standards and regulations restrict or prohibit any part of Yubo Beijing’s operations, it may adversely affect Yubo Beijing’s operation and profitability.
If Yubo Beijing is unable to protect its intellectual property from infringement, Yubo Beijing’s business and prospects may be harmed.
As sales of Yubo Beijing’s private label products increasingly account for a substantial portion of its revenue, Yubo Beijing considers its brand name, trade names and trademarks to be valuable assets. Under PRC law, Yubo Beijing has the exclusive right to use a trademark for products for which such trademark has been registered with the PRC Trademark Office of State Administration for Industry and Commerce (“SAIC”). In addition, no assurances can be given that Yubo Beijing will be able to obtain any trademarks for which it may apply in the future.
Moreover, Yubo Beijing may be unable to prevent third parties from using its brand name or trademarks without authorization and Yubo Beijing may not have adequate remedies for such violations. Unauthorized use of Yubo Beijing’s brand name or trademarks by third parties may adversely affect its business and reputation, including the perceived quality and reliability of its products.
Yubo Beijing currently owns one invention patent in the PRC, and Yubo Beijing relies on trade secrets to protect its know-how and other proprietary information, including pricing, purchasing, promotional strategies, customer lists and/or suppliers lists. However, it is often difficult to register, maintain and enforce intellectual property rights in the PRC. Confidentiality, invention assignment and non-compete agreements may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to Yubo Beijing for any such breach. Accordingly, Yubo Beijing may not be able to effectively protect its intellectual property rights in the PRC. Policing any unauthorized use of Yubo Beijing’s intellectual property is difficult and costly and the steps Yubo Beijing takes may be inadequate to prevent the infringement or misappropriation of its intellectual property. In the event that Yubo Beijing resorts to litigation to enforce its intellectual property rights, such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of its managerial and financial resources, and could put its intellectual property at risk of being invalidated or narrowed in scope. Yubo Beijing can provide no assurance that it will prevail in such litigation, and even if it does prevail, Yubo Beijing may not obtain a meaningful recovery. In addition, Yubo Beijing’s trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by, its competitors. Any failure in maintaining, protecting or enforcing Yubo Beijing’s intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, trade secrets are difficult to protect. While Yubo Beijing uses reasonable efforts to protect its trade secrets, its employees, consultants, contractors or advisors may unintentionally or willfully disclose its information to competitors. In addition, confidentiality agreements, if any, executed by the foregoing persons may not be enforceable or provide meaningful protection for Yubo Beijing’s trade secrets or other proprietary information in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure. If Yubo Beijing were to enforce a claim that a third party had illegally obtained and was using its trade secrets, its enforcement efforts could be expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. In addition, if Yubo Beijing’s competitors independently develop information that is equivalent to its trade secrets or other proprietary information, it will be even more difficult for Yubo Beijing to enforce its rights and Yubo Beijing’s business and prospects could be harmed. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce Yubo Beijing’s intellectual property rights or to determine the validity and scope of the intellectual property rights of others. However, because the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights in the PRC are uncertain and still evolving, Yubo Beijing may not be successful in prosecuting these cases. In addition, any litigation or proceeding or other efforts to protect Yubo Beijing’s intellectual property rights could result in substantial costs and diversion of its resources and could seriously harm its business and operating results. Furthermore, the degree of future protection of Yubo Beijing’s proprietary rights is uncertain and may not adequately protect its rights or permit Yubo Beijing to gain or keep its competitive advantage. If Yubo Beijing is unable to protect its trade names, trademarks, trade secrets and other propriety information from infringement, Yubo Beijing’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Yubo Beijing may acquire other businesses, license rights to products or form alliances with third-parties, which could cause it to incur significant expenses and could negatively affect its profitability.
Yubo Beijing may pursue acquisitions, licensing arrangements, and strategic alliances, as part of its business strategy. Yubo Beijing may not complete these transactions in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis, or at all, and may not realize the expected benefits. If Yubo Beijing is successful in making an acquisition, the products that are acquired may not be successful or may require significantly greater resources and investments than originally anticipated. Yubo Beijing may not be able to integrate acquisitions successfully into its existing business and could incur or assume significant debt and unknown or contingent liabilities. This may result in increased borrowing costs and interest expense.
Our executive officers and directors have existing responsibilities and, in the future, may have additional responsibilities, to provide management and services to other entities in addition to us. As a result, conflicts of interest between us and the other activities of those persons may occur from time to time and could have an adverse effect on us.
Certain of our executive officers and directors have existing responsibilities and, in the future, may have additional responsibilities, to provide management and services to other entities in addition to us. As a result, conflicts of interest between us and the other activities of those persons may occur from time to time, including that:
| · | we may enter into contracts between us, on the one hand, and other entities for which our executive directors or officers hold positions, on the other, that are not the result of arm’s-length transactions; |
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| · | our executive officers and directors that hold positions of responsibility with other entities may be aware of certain business opportunities that are appropriate for presentation to us as well as to such other entities and may present such business opportunities to such other entities; and |
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| · | our executive officers and directors that hold positions of responsibility with other entities may have significant duties with, and spend significant time serving, other entities and may have conflicts of interest in allocating time. |
We will attempt to resolve any such conflicts of interest in our favor. Our officers and directors are accountable to us and our shareholders as fiduciaries, which requires that such officers and directors exercise good faith and integrity in handling our affairs. Nevertheless, such conflicts could cause an individual in our management to seek to advance his or her economic interests or the economic interests of certain related parties above ours. Further, the appearance of conflicts of interest created by related party transactions could impair the confidence of our investors. It is possible that a conflict of interest could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition.
General Risk Factors
We are subject to the reporting obligation and internal control requirements of federal securities laws, which is expensive and time-consuming.
We are a public reporting company in the United States and, accordingly, subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and other federal securities laws, and the compliance obligations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The costs of preparing and filing annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC and furnishing audited reports to stockholders causes our expenses to be higher than they would be if we remained a privately-held company.
We are a reporting company with the SEC and therefore must comply with Sarbanes-Oxley Act and SEC rules concerning internal controls. It is time consuming, difficult and costly for us to develop and implement the internal controls and reporting procedures required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In order to expand our operations, we will need to hire additional financial reporting, internal control, and other finance staff in order to develop and implement appropriate internal controls and reporting procedures.
Volatility in our common stock price may subject us to securities litigation.
The market for our common stock is characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that our share price will continue to be more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. In the past, plaintiffs have often initiated securities class action litigation against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of its securities. We may, in the future, be the target of similar litigation. Securities litigation could result in substantial costs and liabilities and could divert management’s attention and resources.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they change their recommendations regarding our stock adversely, our stock price and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by industry or financial analysts. If no or few analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price of our stock would likely decrease. Even if we do obtain analyst coverage, if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.
We are subject to critical accounting policies and actual results may vary from our estimates.
We follow generally accepted accounting principles in the United States in preparing our financial statements. As part of the preparation of such financial reports, we must make many estimates and judgments concerning future events, which affect the value of the assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities, and revenue and expenses reported in our financial statements. We believe that these estimates and judgments are reasonable, and we make them in accordance with our accounting policies based on information available at the time. However, actual results could differ from our estimates, and this could require us to record adjustments to expenses or revenues that could be material to our financial position and results of operations in the future.
We may need additional capital and may not be able to obtain it on acceptable terms or at all, which could adversely affect our liquidity and financial position; the issuance of additional equity would result in dilution to our shareholders.
We may need to raise additional capital if our expenditures exceed our current expectations due to changed business conditions or other future developments. Our future liquidity needs and other business reasons may require us to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity securities or securities convertible or exchangeable to our equity securities would result in additional dilution to our stockholders. The incurrence of additional indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that restrict our operational flexibility. Our ability to raise additional funds in the future is subject to a variety of uncertainties, including:
| · | our future financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; |
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| · | general market conditions for capital-raising activities by medical companies; and |
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| · | economic, political and other conditions in China and elsewhere. |
No assurances can be given that we will be able to obtain additional capital in a timely manner or on commercially acceptable terms or at all.