LICN Lichen China Limited

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-277230

 

Prospectus Supplement

(To Prospectus dated March 1, 2024)

 

10,380,000 Ordinary Shares

 

Lichen China Limited

 

This is an offering of the securities of Lichen China Limited (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, “us”, “Lichen China”, “Lichen China Limited”), a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability. This is a self-underwritten offering of up to 10,380,000 Class A ordinary shares (the “Class A ordinary shares”), par value $0.00004 per share of the Company, directly to select investors pursuant to this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus at an offering price of US$0.70 per Class A ordinary share.

 

Our Class A ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “LICN.” On May 1, 2024, the last reported sale price of our Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq was US$1.33 per share.

  

The aggregate market value of our outstanding Class A ordinary shares held by non-affiliates, or public float, as of May 1, 2024, was approximately US$36.7 million, which was calculated based on 18,060,000 Class A ordinary shares held by non-affiliates as of May 1, 2024 and a per share price of US$2.03, which was the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq on April 29, 2024. Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3, in no event will we sell the securities covered hereby in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our ordinary shares in any 12-month period so long as the aggregate market value of our outstanding ordinary shares held by non-affiliates remains below US$75,000,000. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus supplement, we have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3.

 

Investors are cautioned that you are not buying shares of a China-based operating company but instead are buying shares of a Cayman Islands holding company with operations conducted by our subsidiaries based in China and that this structure involves unique risks to investors.

 

This is an offering of the ordinary shares of the Cayman Islands holding company. We conduct our business through the PRC subsidiaries. You will not and may never have direct ownership in the operating entity based in China. We do not use a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) structure.

 

Throughout this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Lichen China”, “Lichen China Limited”, “we,” “us,” the “Company,” “our company” refer to Lichen China Limited, a holding company. References to “Subsidiaries,” “Operating Subsidiaries,” or “PRC subsidiaries” refer to the Lichen China Limited’s subsidiaries established under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. References to “Group” are to Lichen China Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively.

 

Lichen China Limited is a Cayman Islands holding company and is not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, it conducts all of its operations and operates its business in China through its PRC subsidiaries. Because of our corporate structure as a Cayman Islands holding company with operations conducted by our PRC subsidiaries, it involves unique risks to investors. Furthermore, Chinese regulatory authorities could change the rules and regulations regarding foreign ownership in the industry in which the Company operates, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale, including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Investors in our ordinary shares should be aware that they do not directly hold equity interests in the Chinese operating entities, but rather are purchasing equity solely in Lichen China Limited, our Cayman Islands holding company, which indirectly owns 100% equity interests in the PRC subsidiaries. Our ordinary shares offered in this offering are shares of our Cayman Islands holding company instead of shares of our subsidiaries in China. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The filing, approval or other administration requirements of the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offering under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to complete the filing procedure with the CSRC and obtain such approval or complete such filing, as applicable.” on page 14 of the accompanying prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 20-F.

 

 

Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. Before buying any ordinary shares, you should carefully read the discussion of material risks of investing in our ordinary shares in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 20-F. 

 

The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China with little advance notice could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us” on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus, “Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A ordinary shares to investors and cause the value of our Class A ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless. The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China” on page 16 of the accompanying prospectus, and “We may lose the ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless if the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers” on page 20 of the accompanying prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 20-F.

 

In particular, as substantially all of our operations are conducted through the PRC subsidiaries, we are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with our operations in China, including those changes in the legal, political and economic policies of the Chinese government, the relations between China and the United States, or Chinese or United States regulations may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.

  

As confirmed by our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, we will not be subject to cybersecurity review with the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the “CAC,” after the Cybersecurity Review Measures became effective on February 15, 2022, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Cybersecurity Review Measures; we are also not subject to network data security review by the CAC if the Draft Regulations on the Network Data Security Administration are enacted as proposed, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not collect data that affects or may affect national security and we do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affects or may affect national security in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Security Administration Draft. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China.”

 

 

On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures increase the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.

 

According to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are “existing enterprises”: before the effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately, and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.

 

In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Circular and Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The filing, approval or other administration requirements of the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offering under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to complete the filing procedure with the CSRC and obtain such approval or complete such filing, as applicable” on page 14 of the accompanying prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 20-F.

 

 

As of the date of this prospectus, according to our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, although we are required to complete the filing procedure in connection with our offerings under the Trial Measures, no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations.

 

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, or other PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations or implementing rules that requires our company or any of our subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before listing in the U.S. In other words, although the Company has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly; our ability to offer, or continue to offer, securities to investors would be potentially hindered and the value of our securities might significantly decline or be worthless, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to its business or industry or by intervene or interruption by PRC governmental authorities, if we or our subsidiaries (i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, or (iv) any intervention or interruption by PRC governmental with little advance notice. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China” beginning on page 13 of the accompanying prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 20-F for a discussion of these legal and operational risks and information that should be considered before making a decision to purchase our ordinary shares.

 

In addition, since 2021, the Chinese government has strengthened its anti-monopoly supervision, mainly in three aspects: (1) establishing the National Anti-Monopoly Bureau; (2) revising and promulgating anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including: the Anti-Monopoly Law (draft Amendment published on October 23, 2021 for public opinions), the anti-monopoly guidelines for various industries, and the detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Fair Competition Review System; and (3) expanding the anti-monopoly law enforcement targeting Internet companies and large enterprises. As of the date of this prospectus, the Chinese government’s recent statements and regulatory actions related to anti-monopoly concerns have not impacted our ability to conduct business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange because neither the Company nor its PRC subsidiaries engage in monopolistic behaviors that are subject to these statements or regulatory actions.

 

Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is unable to inspect an issuer’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a U.S. stock exchange. The PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the People’s Republic of China because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China; and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and amended the HFCAA by requiring 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, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward and is making plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed. 

 

 

Our auditor, Enrome LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess Enrome LLP’s compliance with applicable professional standards. Enrome LLP is headquartered in Singapore. As of the date of this prospectus, Enrome LLP is not included in the list of PCAOB Identified Firms in the PCAOB Determination Report issued in December 2021. Our auditors, B&V for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and TPS Thayer for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, are both based in the U.S. B&V withdrew its registration from the PCAOB in January 2022. TPS Thayer is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, and its registration with the PCAOB took effect in September 2020 and it is currently subject to PCAOB inspections. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering” on page 29 of the accompanying prospectus and our most recent annual report on Form 20-F.

 

Our management monitors the cash position of each entity within our organization regularly and prepare budgets on a monthly basis to ensure each entity has the necessary funds to fulfill its obligation for the foreseeable future and to ensure adequate liquidity. In the event that there is a need for cash or a potential liquidity issue, it will be reported to our Chief Financial Officer and subject to approval by our board of directors, we will enter into an intercompany loan for the subsidiary in accordance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations. However, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets.”

 

Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of 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. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities. Cayman Islands law prescribes that a company may only pay dividends out of its profits or share premium, and that a company may only pay dividends if, immediately following the date on which the dividend is paid, the company remains able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Other than that, there is no restrictions on Lichen China Limited’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders. See “Prospectus Summary — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets,” “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — We are a holding company and we rely on our subsidiaries for funding dividend payments, which are subject to restrictions under PRC laws,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” 

 

 

As a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements. If any of our PRC subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. Lichen China Limited is permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands to provide funding to our subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. Our subsidiaries are permitted under the respective laws of Hong Kong to provide funding to Lichen China Limited through dividend distribution without restrictions on the amount of the funds. There are no restrictions on dividend transfers from Hong Kong to the Cayman Islands. Current PRC regulations permit Fujian Province Lichen Management and Consulting Company Limited (“Lichen WFOE” or “Lichen Zixun”) to pay dividends to the Company only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. The transfer of funds among companies are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Revision, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was implemented on August 20, 2020 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. As advised by our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between PRC subsidiaries. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, Lichen Zixun made dividend payments of RMB30 million (approximately $4.3 million) to the then ultimate shareholders of Lichen Zixun, who are PRC individuals. The Company made no such dividend, distribution or transfer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. As of the date of this prospectus, except for the previously mentioned dividend payments in fiscal year 2020, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have made other transfers, dividends, or distributions to investors and no investors have made transfers, dividends, or distributions to the Company or its subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, no dividends, distributions or transfers has been made between Lichen China Limited and any of its subsidiaries. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Also, as of the date of this prospectus, no cash generated from one subsidiary is used to fund another subsidiary’s operations and we do not anticipate any difficulties or limitations on our ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries. See “Prospectus Summary — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries” on page 7 of the accompanying prospectus and “Consolidated Financial Statements” incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

This is a self-underwritten offering. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-28 of  this prospectus supplement for more information regarding these arrangements.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under federal securities laws and, as such, will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” and “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer” on page 5 of the accompanying prospectus for additional information. 

 

Investing in our securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the ‘‘Risk Factors’’ section of this prospectus, and risk factors set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, in other reports incorporated herein by reference, and in the applicable prospectus supplement before you make your investment decision.

 

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

 

		Per ordinary share				Total
Public offering price		$	0.70			$	7,266,000
Proceeds, before expenses, to us		$	0.70			$	7,266,000

 

We expect that delivery of the Class A ordinary shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made on or about May 7, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is May 2, 2024.

  

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

		Page
About this Prospectus Supplement		S-ii
Commonly Used Defined Terms		S-iii
Special Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements		S-iv
Prospectus Supplement Summary		S-1
Risk Factors		S-13
Capitalization		S-17
Dilution		S-18
Use of Proceeds		S-19
Description of Securities We Are Offering		S-20
Plan of Distribution		S-28
Legal Matters		S-29
Experts		S-29
Incorporation of Documents by Reference		S-30
Where You Can Find Additional Information		S-31

 

Prospectus

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		ii
COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS		iii
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		iv
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		1
RISK FACTORS		13
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTNESS		32
DILUTION		32
USE OF PROCEEDS		33
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES		33
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		41
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		43
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		51
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS		52
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS		53
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		54
TAXATION		55
EXPENSES		55
MATERIAL CONTRACTS		55
MATERIAL CHANGES		55
LEGAL MATTERS		56
EXPERTS		56
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL		56
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES		56
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE		57
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONALINFORMATION		58

   

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

On February 21, 2024, we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-3 (File No.333-277230), utilizing a shelf registration process relating to the securities described in this prospectus supplement, which registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on March 1, 2024. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, in one or more offerings, offer and sell up to US$100,000,000 of any combination, together or separately, of our Class A ordinary shares, debt securities, warrants, rights, and units, or any combination thereof as described in the accompanying prospectus. We are selling Class A ordinary shares in this offering.

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into the prospectus supplement. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information, some of which does not apply to this offering. You should read this entire prospectus supplement as well as the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference that are described under “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” and “Where You Can Find Additional Information” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

If the description of the offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement. However, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement. Except as specifically stated, we are not incorporating by reference any information submitted under any Report of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, therein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

We further note that the representations, warranties, and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you unless you are a party to such agreement. Moreover, such representations, warranties, or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made or expressly referenced therein. Accordingly, such representations, warranties, and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs unless you are a party to such agreement.

 

 

COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS

 

Throughout this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Lichen China”, “Lichen China Limited”, “we,” “us,” the “Company,” “our company” refer to Lichen China Limited, a holding company. References to “Subsidiaries,” “Operating Subsidiaries,” or “PRC subsidiaries” refer to the Lichen China Limited’s subsidiaries established under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. References to “Group” are to Lichen China Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively. Unless otherwise indicated, in this prospectus, references to:

 

●

“China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China;

 

●

“Class A ordinary shares” are to a class of shares of Lichen China Limited called the “series A ordinary shares” with par value $0.00004 per share;

 

●

“Class B ordinary shares” are to a class of shares of Lichen China Limited called the “series B ordinary shares” with par value $0.00004 per share;

 

●

“HKD” are to the official currency of Hong Kong;

 

●

“Lichen China” or “LICN” are to Lichen China Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company;

 

●

“Legend Consulting BVI” are to Legend Consulting Investments Limited, a British Virgin Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lichen China;

 

●

“Legend Consulting HK” are to Legend Consulting Limited (HK), a Hong Kong company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legend Consulting BVI;

 

●

“Lichen WFOE” or “Lichen Zixun” are to Fujian Province Lichen Management and Consulting Company Limited, a wholly foreign-owned company organized under the laws of the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legend Consulting HK;

 

●

“Lichen Education” are to Xiamen City Legend Education Services Company Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lichen WFOE;

 

●

“RMB” are to Renminbi, or the legal currency of the PRC;

 

●

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

  

●

“WFOE” are to wholly foreign-owned enterprise.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus supplement includes and incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including, without limitation, the discussion of whether and when potential acquisition transactions will close, expectations concerning our ability to increase our revenue, expectations with respect to operational efficiency, expectations regarding financing, and expectations concerning our business strategy, under “Prospectus Supplement Summary - Recent Developments,” are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements. These important factors include the factors that we identify in the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Risk Factors.” You should read these factors and other cautionary statements made in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and in the documents we incorporate by reference as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements made by us except to the extent required by law.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

The following is a summary of certain risks that should be carefully considered along with the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act. Particularly, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in the accompanying prospectus. If any of the following events actually occurs, our business, operating results, prospects, or financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. The risks described below are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and could result in a complete loss of your investment.

 

Risks Related to this Offering and our Class A Ordinary Shares

 

Our share price may be volatile and could decline substantially.

 

The market price of our ordinary shares may be volatile, both because of actual and perceived changes in our financial results and prospects, and because of general volatility in the stock market. The factors that could cause fluctuations in our share price may include, among other factors discussed in this section, the following:

 

●

actual or anticipated variations in the financial results and prospects of our Company or other companies in the retail business;

 

●

changes in financial estimates by research analysts;

 

●

mergers or other business combinations involving us;

 

●

additions and departures of key personnel and senior management;

 

●

changes in accounting principles;

 

●

the passage of legislation or other developments affecting us or our industry;

 

●

the trading volume of our ordinary shares in the public market;

 

●

the release of lockup, escrow, or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities;

 

●

potential litigation or regulatory investigations;

 

●

changes in economic conditions, including fluctuations in global and Chinese economies;

 

●

financial market conditions;

 

●

the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

●

natural disasters, terrorist acts, acts of war, or periods of civil unrest; and

 

●

the realization of some or all of the risks described in this section.

 

In addition, the stock markets have experienced significant price and trading volume fluctuations from time to time, and the market prices of the equity securities of retailers have been extremely volatile and are sometimes subject to sharp price and trading volume changes. These broad market fluctuations may materially and adversely affect the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

 

Since our management will have broad discretion in how we use the proceeds from this offering, we may use the proceeds in ways with which you disagree.

 

Our management will have significant flexibility in applying the net proceeds of this offering. You will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of those net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to influence how the proceeds are being used. It is possible that the net proceeds will be invested in a way that does not yield a favorable, or any, return for us. The failure of our management to use such funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.

 

Future sales of our Class A ordinary shares, whether by us or our shareholders, could cause the price of our Class A ordinary shares to decline.

 

If our existing shareholders sell, or indicate an intent to sell, substantial amounts of our ordinary shares in the public market, the trading price of our ordinary shares could decline significantly. Similarly, the perception in the public market that our shareholders might sell our ordinary shares could also depress the market price of our shares. A decline in the price of our ordinary shares might impede our ability to raise capital through the issuance of additional ordinary shares or other equity securities. In addition, the issuance and sale by us of additional ordinary shares, or securities convertible into or exercisable for our ordinary shares, or the perception that we will issue such securities, could reduce the trading price for our ordinary shares as well as make future sales of equity securities by us less attractive or not feasible.

 

We do not know whether a market for the ordinary shares will be sustained or what the trading price of the ordinary shares will be and as a result it may be difficult for you to sell your ordinary shares.

 

Although our ordinary shares trade on Nasdaq, an active trading market for the ordinary shares may not be sustained. It may be difficult for you to sell your ordinary shares without depressing the market price for the ordinary shares. As a result of these and other factors, you may not be able to sell your ordinary shares. Further, an inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling ordinary shares, or may impair our ability to enter into strategic partnerships or acquire companies or products by using our ordinary shares as consideration.

 

Securities analysts may not cover our ordinary shares and this may have a negative impact on the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

The trading market for our ordinary shares will depend, in part, on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over independent analysts (provided that we have engaged various non-independent analysts). We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by independent securities and industry analysts. If no independent securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our ordinary shares would be negatively impacted. If we obtain independent securities or industry analyst coverage and if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades our ordinary shares, changes their opinion of our shares or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the price of our ordinary shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our ordinary shares could decrease and we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price and trading volume of our ordinary shares to decline.

 

Our existing shareholders will experience immediate dilution as a result of this offering and may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings or other equity issuances.

 

We believe that our existing shareholders will experience an immediate dilution relative to net tangible book value per Class A ordinary share as a result of this offering. Our net tangible book value on December 31, 2023 was US$55.39 million, or US$3.17 per Class A ordinary share. After giving effect to the sale of 10,380,000 Class A ordinary shares at an offering price of US$0.70 per Class A ordinary share, and after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2023 would have been US$62.56 million, or US$2.24 per Class A ordinary share. This represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of US$0.92 per Class A ordinary share to our existing shareholders and an immediate increase in net tangible book value of US$1.54 per Class A ordinary share to the investors participating in this offering.

 

 

We may in the future issue additional ordinary shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell our ordinary shares or other securities in any other offering or other transactions at a price per ordinary share that is equal to or greater than the price per ordinary share paid by the investors in this offering. The price per ordinary share at which we sell additional ordinary shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per ordinary share in this offering. If we do issue any such additional ordinary shares, such issuance also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other shareholders.

 

Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future, you must rely on the price appreciation of our ordinary shares for return on your investment.

 

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

 

Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ordinary shares will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our ordinary shares. There is no guarantee that our ordinary shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchased the ordinary shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in our ordinary shares and you may even lose your entire investment in our ordinary shares.

 

Techniques employed by short sellers may drive down the market price of our ordinary shares.

 

Short selling is the practice of selling securities that the seller does not own but rather has borrowed from a third party with the intention of buying identical securities back at a later date to return to the lender. The short seller hopes to profit from a decline in the value of the securities between the sale of the borrowed securities and the purchase of the replacement shares, as the short seller expects to pay less in that purchase than it received in the sale. As it is in the short seller’s interest for the price of the security to decline, many short sellers publish, or arrange for the publication of, negative opinions regarding the relevant issuer and its business prospects in order to create negative market momentum and generate profits for themselves after selling a security short. These short attacks have, in the past, led to selling of shares in the market.

 

Public companies listed in the United States that have a substantial majority of their operations in China have been the subject of short selling. Much of the scrutiny and negative publicity has centered on allegations of a lack of effective internal control over financial reporting resulting in financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result, many of these companies are now conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations and, in the interim, are subject to shareholder lawsuits and/or SEC enforcement actions.

 

We may in the future be the subject of unfavorable allegations made by short sellers. Any such allegations may be followed by periods of instability in the market price of our ordinary shares and negative publicity. If and when we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we could have to expend a significant amount of resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend ourselves. While we would strongly defend against any such short seller attacks, we may be constrained in the manner in which we can proceed against the relevant short seller by principles of freedom of speech, applicable federal or state law, or issues of commercial confidentiality. Such a situation could be costly and time-consuming and could distract our management from growing our business. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, allegations against us could severely impact our business operations and shareholder’s equity, and the value of any investment in our ordinary shares could be greatly reduced or rendered worthless.

 

 

As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.

 

As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands company with limited liability that is listed on the Nasdaq, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. We have relied on and plan to rely on home country practice with respect to our corporate governance. Specifically, we are not required to seek shareholder approval for (i) the issuance 20% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares or voting power in a private offering, (ii) the issuance of securities pursuant to a share option or purchase plan to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended, (iii) the issuance of securities when the issuance or potential issuance will result in a change of control of our Company, and (iv) certain acquisitions in connection with the acquisition of the stock or assets of another company. As a result, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would enjoy under the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

●

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

 

●

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

 

●

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

 

●

the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.

 

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

 

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2023:

 

●

on an actual basis, as derived from our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement; and

 

●

on an as adjusted basis to give further effect to the issuance and sale of 10,380,000 Class A ordinary shares at the offering price of US$0.70 per Class A ordinary share, after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and notes included in the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

As of December 31, 2023

(All amounts in thousands of USD, except for share and per share data, unless otherwise noted)

 

		December 31, 2023
		Actual				As adjusted
		$				$
Shareholders’ Equity:
Ordinary shares, 17,500,000 Class A ordinary shares outstanding on actual basis, 27,880,000 Class A ordinary shares outstanding on a pro forma as adjusted basis		$	1			$	1
Additional paid-in capital(1)			14,893				22,059
Statutory reserve			1,737				1,737
Retained earnings			48,222				48,222
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(3,433	)			(3,433	)
Total Shareholders’ Equity		$	61,420			$	68,586
Total Capitalization		$	61,420			$	68,586

 

Notes:

 

(1)

Additional paid-in capital reflects the sale of Class A ordinary shares in this offering at a public offering price of $0.70 per share, and after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only. We estimate that such net proceeds will be approximately $7,166,000 million ($7,266,000 gross offering proceeds, less the estimated offering expenses payable by us of approximately $100,000).

 

 

DILUTION

 

Our net tangible book value on December 31, 2023 was US$55.39 million, or US$3.17 per Class A ordinary share. “Net tangible book value” is total assets minus the sum of liabilities and intangible assets. “Net tangible book value per share” is net tangible book value divided by the total number of shares outstanding.

 

After giving effect to the sale of 10,380,000 Class A ordinary shares at an offering price of US$0.70 per ordinary share, and after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2023 would have been US$62.56 million, or US$2.24 per Class A ordinary share. This represents an immediate decrease in net tangible book value of US$0.92 per Class A ordinary share to our existing shareholders and an immediate increase in net tangible book value of US$1.54 per Class A ordinary share to the investor participating in this offering.

 

The following table illustrates the net tangible book value dilution per ordinary share to shareholders after the issuance of the ordinary shares in this offering:

 

Public offering price per ordinary share		US$	0.70
Net tangible book value per ordinary share as of December 31, 2023		US$	3.17
Decrease per ordinary share attributable to investors under this prospectus supplement		US$	0.92
As adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering		US$	2.24
Net tangible book value dilution per ordinary share to new investors		US$	1.54

 

The foregoing table and discussion is based on 17,500,000 Class A ordinary shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023.

 

This discussion of dilution, and the table quantifying it, assumes no exercise of any outstanding options over our ordinary shares.

  

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $7,166,000 million, after deducting the estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The amounts and timing of our use of proceeds will vary depending on a number of factors, including the amount of cash generated or used by our operations, and the rate of growth, if any, of our business. As a result, we will retain broad discretion in the allocation of the net proceeds of this offering.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WE ARE OFFERING

 

Lichen China Limited is an exempted company incorporated under the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended (the “Cayman Islands Companies Act”). Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and amended and restated articles of association, the authorized share capital of our company is US$50,000, divided into 1,000,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each, and 250,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each. As of the date of this prospectus, 18,370,000 Class A ordinary shares and 9,000,000 Class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding.

 

The following are summaries of the material provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Cayman Islands Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. Copies of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association are filed as exhibits to the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

General

 

As of the date of this prospectus, under our amended and restated memorandum of association, we are authorized to issue 1,000,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each, and 250,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each. As of the date of this prospectus, 18,370,000 Class A ordinary shares and 9,000,000 Class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding.

 

Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. All of our issued Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form.

 

Dividends

 

The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on the issued and outstanding shares of the Company and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. Dividends may also be declared or paid out of share premium account or otherwise permitted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, provided that in no circumstances may we pay a dividend if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.

 

Voting rights

 

At each general meeting of our company, on a poll or a show of hands, each shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) shall have one (1) vote for each Class A ordinary share and ten (10) votes for each Class B ordinary share which such shareholder holds. The holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall at all times vote together as one class on all resolutions of the shareholders. At any general meeting the chairman is responsible for deciding in such manner as he considers appropriate whether any resolution proposed has been carried or not and the result of his decision shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. At any general meeting, a resolution put to the vote at the meeting shall be decided on a poll unless a show of hand is, before or on the declaration of the result of the poll, demanded by the chairman of such meeting or by one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy.

 

Election of directors

 

Directors may be appointed by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Directors may also be appointed by a resolution of the directors of the Company, provided that the total number of directors (exclusive of alternate directors) shall not at any time exceed the number fixed in accordance with the amended and restated articles of association. 

 

 

Meetings of shareholders

 

Any of our directors may convene general meetings of shareholders at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the Cayman Islands as the director considers necessary or desirable. The director convening a general meeting shall give at least five days’ notice of the general meeting to those shareholders whose names on the date the notice is given appear as members in the register of members of the Company and are entitled to vote at the meeting, and each of the Company’s directors. Our Board of Directors must convene a general meeting upon the written request of one or more shareholders holding no less than 10% of the Company’s paid-up capital as at the date of the deposit of the requisition carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company.

 

No business may be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business. The quorum shall be (i) two or more shareholders present in person or by proxy; or (ii) for so long as any shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (and any other stock exchange on which the Company’s shares are listed for trading), one or more shareholders holding shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding issued shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting. If, within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other time or such other place as the directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the shareholders present shall be a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting was called. The chairman, if any, of our Board of Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company, or if there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the general meeting, or is unwilling to act, the directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the general meeting.

 

Meetings of directors

 

Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the amended and restated articles of association of our company, the management of our company is entrusted to our Board of Directors, who will make decisions by voting on resolutions of directors. At any meeting of directors, a quorum will be present if two directors are present, unless otherwise fixed by the directors. If there is a sole director, that director shall be a quorum. A director and his appointed alternate director shall be considered as only one person for the purpose of calculating quorum. An alternate director or proxy appointed by a director shall be counted in a quorum at a meeting at which the director appointing him is not present. An action that may be taken by the directors at a meeting may also be taken by a resolution of directors consented to in writing by all of the directors.

 

Pre-emptive rights

 

There are no pre-emptive rights applicable to the issue by us of Class A ordinary shares under either Cayman Islands law or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

 

Conversion

 

Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.

 

Transfer of Ordinary Shares

 

Subject to the restrictions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and applicable securities laws, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares by written instrument of transfer signed by the transferor and containing the name and address of the transferee. Our Board of Directors may resolve by resolution to refuse or delay the registration of the transfer of any Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares without giving any reason. 

 

 

Winding Up

 

On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of our shares in proportion to the capital paid up. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the capital paid up.

 

Calls on Ordinary Shares and forfeiture of Ordinary Shares

 

Our Board of Directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time of payment provided that no call shall be payable at less than one month from the date fixed for the payment of the last preceding call. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture if the call remains unpaid after a second notice by the directors in accordance with the amended and restated articles of association.

 

Repurchase of Shares

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit us to purchase our own shares, subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Our directors may only exercise this power on our behalf, subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the Nasdaq, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or by any other recognized stock exchange on which our securities are listed.

 

Provided the necessary shareholders and board approval have been obtained, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such manner, provided the requirements under the Cayman Islands Companies Act have been satisfied. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, the repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits, out of the share premium account or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such repurchase, or out of capital. If the repurchase proceeds are paid out of our Company’s capital, our Company must, immediately following the date of such payment, be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, no such share may be repurchased (1) unless it is fully paid up, (2) if such repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding, and (3) unless the manner of purchase (if not so authorized under the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) has first been authorized by a resolution of our shareholders. In addition, under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our Company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration unless, as a result of the surrender, the surrender would result in there being no shares outstanding (other than shares held as treasury shares).

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

The rights attached to any class or series of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or series), whether or not our company is being wound-up, may be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing class of shares. 

 

Changes in the number of shares we are authorized to issue and those in issue

 

We may from time to time by resolution of shareholders in the requisite majorities:

 

●

amend our amended and restated memorandum of association to increase the authorized share capital of our Company or cancel any shares which at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person;

 

●

subdivide our authorized and issued shares into a larger number of shares; and

 

●

consolidate our authorized and issued shares into a smaller number of shares.

   

 

Inspection of books and records

 

Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” 

 

Rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders

 

There are no limitations imposed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

 

Issuance of additional Ordinary Shares

 

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorizes our Board of Directors to issue additional ordinary shares from time to time as our Board of Directors shall determine, to the extent that there are sufficient authorized but unissued shares.

 

Exempted Company

 

We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The Cayman Islands Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. An exempted company shall not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the exempted company carried on outside the Cayman Islands:

 

●

does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;

 

●

is not required to open its register of members for inspection;

 

●

does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

●

is prohibited from making any invitation to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of its securities if it is not listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange;

 

●

may issue bearer shares or shares with no par value;

 

●

may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (for a period of up to 30 years);

 

●

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

 

●

may register as an exempted limited duration company; and

 

●

may register as a segregated portfolio company.

 

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company.

  

 

Differences in Corporate Law

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act is modeled after that of English law but does not follow recent English statutory enactments. In addition, the Cayman Islands Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, a “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company.

 

In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association.

 

The plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with the requisite declarations and undertakings required under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, including a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares if they follow the required procedures, under the Cayman Islands Companies Act subject to certain exceptions. The fair value of the shares will be determined by the Cayman Islands court if it cannot be agreed among the parties. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.

  

In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act provides that shareholders of companies incorporated in Cayman Islands have rights of dissent and appraisal and are entitled to be paid the fair value of their shares upon dissenting to a merger or consolidation.

 

A company that has received any notice of dissent must, within specified time periods, make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase its shares at a price that the company determines to be the fair value, and if agreed by the shareholder, monies must be paid to the dissenting shareholder within thirty days of the offer being made. If no price is agreed upon, the company must file a petition with the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for a determination of the fair value of the shares of all dissenting shareholders and any dissenting shareholders is permitted to be involved in those proceedings.

 

If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissentient minority shareholders upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of not less than 90% of the shares which are subject to the offer within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.

 

 

Shareholders’ Suits and Protection of Minority Shareholders

 

In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Grand Court can be expected to apply and follow the common law principles (namely the rule derived from the seminal English case of Foss v. Harbottle, and the exceptions thereto, which limits the circumstances in which a shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the company or a personal action to claim loss which is reflective of loss suffered by the company) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against, or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge the following acts in the following circumstances:

 

●

a company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires;

 

●

an irregularity in the passing of a resolution which requires a special majority; and

  

●

an act which constitutes a fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company, so that they will not cause the company to bring an action.

 

In the case of a company (not being a bank) having its share capital divided into shares, the Grand Court may, on the application of members holding not less than one fifth of the shares of the company in issue, appoint an inspector to examine the affairs of the company and to report thereon in such manner as the Grand Court shall direct.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such indemnification may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such unless such losses or damages shall incur or sustain by or through their own wilful neglect or default respectively. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.

 

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

 

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

 

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

 

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he or she owes the following duties to the company - a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a personal profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so), a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third party and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.

 

  

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Our articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the Board of Directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings. The Cayman Islands Companies Act does not provide shareholders of a Cayman exempted company with any rights to requisition a general meeting nor any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in articles of association. Our articles of association allow our shareholders holding 10% or more of the paid-up capital of the Company to requisition a general meeting. Other than this right to requisition a general meeting, our articles of association do not provide our shareholders other right to put a proposal before a meeting. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings unless expressly provided under the articles of association.

 

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a Board of Directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the Cayman Islands Companies Act but our articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a director of a corporation may be removed with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our articles of association, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders.

  

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware corporate law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s Board of Directors. The Cayman Islands Companies Act has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, as mentioned above the directors have certain fiduciary duties including a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company. Our articles of association require directors to disclose the nature of their interest in any contract or transaction at or prior to the Board of Directors’ consideration of such contract or transaction and any vote thereon.

  

 

Dissolution; Winding up

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, unless the Board of Directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the Board of Directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its shareholders. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances, including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act and our articles of association, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

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

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our memorandum and articles of association may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Listing

 

We have our Class A ordinary shares listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “LICN.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A ordinary shares is Vstock Transfer, LLC.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

This is a self-underwritten offering. This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that permits our officers and directors to sell the shares directly to the public, with no commission or other remuneration payable to any of them for any ordinary shares that are sold by them. We have not entered into any underwriting agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the sale of the ordinary shares being offered. In the event we retain a broker who may be deemed an underwriter, we will file a prospectus supplement with the SEC. This offering is intended to be made solely by the delivery of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying subscription agreements to prospective investors. Our officers and directors will sell the shares and intend to offer them to friends, family members, business acquaintances, and interested parties. In offering the securities on our behalf, our directors and officers will rely on the safe harbor from broker dealer registration set out in Rule 3a4-1 under the Exchange Act.

 

Rule 3a4-1 sets forth those conditions under which a person associated with an issuer may participate in the offering of the issuer’s securities and not be deemed to be a broker-dealer. Those conditions are as follows:

 

a.

Our officers and directors are not subject to a statutory disqualification, as that term is defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the Exchange Act, at the time of their participation;

 

b.

Our officers and directors will not be compensated in connection with their participation by the payment of commissions or other remuneration based either directly or indirectly on transactions in securities;

 

c.

Our officers and directors are not, nor will they be at the time of their participation in the offering, an associated person of a broker-dealer; and

 

d.

Our officers and directors meet the conditions of paragraph (a)(4)(ii) of Rule 3a4-1 of the Exchange Act, in that they (A) primarily perform, or intend primarily to perform at the end of the offering, substantial duties for or on behalf of our Company, other than in connection with transactions in securities; and (B) are not a broker or dealer, or been associated person of a broker or dealer, within the preceding twelve months; and (C) have not participated in selling and offering securities for any Issuer more than once every 12 months other than in reliance on Paragraphs (a)(4)(i) and (a)(4)(iii).

 

We have entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with the investors pursuant to which we will sell to the investors Class A ordinary shares at the aggregate offering price of US$7,266,000 in this takedown from our shelf registration statement. We negotiated the price for the securities offered in this offering with the investors. The factors considered in determining the price included the recent market price of our Class A ordinary shares, the general condition of the securities market at the time of this offering, the history of, and the prospects, for the industry in which we compete, our past and present operations, and our prospects for future revenue.

 

We entered into the Securities Purchase Agreements directly with the investors on May 2, 2024, and we will only sell to investors who have entered into the Securities Purchase Agreements with us.

 

We expect that delivery of the Class A ordinary shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will be made on or about May 7, 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

We are being represented by Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The legality and validity of the securities offered from time to time under this prospectus under the laws of the Cayman Islands was passed upon by Appleby. Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP may rely upon Appleby with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law. Legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Tianyuan Law Firm.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, as incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of Enrome LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of Enrome LLP is located at 143 Cecil St, #19-03/04 GB Building, Singapore.

 

The consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of TPS Thayer, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of TPS Thayer is located at 1600 Hwy 6 Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77478.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement the documents we file with, or furnish to, it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement forms a part of this prospectus supplement. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus supplement and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement the documents listed below:

 

	●	our Annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on April 4, 2024;
	●	our report of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K, furnished to the SEC on April 5, 2024;
	●	the description of our Class A ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on September 7, 2022, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
	●	any future annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement; and
	●	any future reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part.

  

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

 

Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, other than exhibits to those document unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus supplement on the written or oral request of that person made to:

 

Lichen China Limited

15th Floor, Xingang Square, Hubin North Road,

Siming District, Xiamen City,

Fujian Province, China, 361013

+86-592-5586999

 

You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

  

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus supplement omits certain information and exhibits that are included in the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. Since this prospectus supplement may not contain all of the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents. If we have filed a contract, agreement, or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplements forms a part, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement in this prospectus supplement, including statements incorporated by reference as discussed above, regarding a contract, agreement, or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

 

We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All information filed with the SEC can be inspected over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors, and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic or current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Lichen China Limited

 

$100,000,000

Class A Ordinary Shares

Share Purchase Contracts

Share Purchase Units

Warrants

Debt Securities

Rights

Units

 

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings, Class A ordinary shares, share purchase contracts, share purchase units, warrants, debt securities, rights or units, which we collectively refer to as the “securities”. The aggregate initial offering price of the securities that we may offer and sell under this prospectus will not exceed $100,000,000.

 

We may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in different series, at times, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at, or prior to, the time of each offering. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest.

 

We may offer and sell the securities from time to time at fixed prices, at market prices, or at negotiated prices, to or through underwriters, to other purchasers, through agents, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The offering price of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement. See “Plan of Distribution” elsewhere in this prospectus for a more complete description of the ways in which the securities may be sold.

 

Pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3, in no event will we sell the securities covered hereby in a public primary offering with a value exceeding more than one-third of the aggregate market value of our Class A Ordinary Shares in any 12-month period so long as the aggregate market value of our voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates remains below $75,000,000. During the 12 calendar months prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we have not offered or sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3.

 

Our Class A ordinary shares are traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “LICN.” On February 20, 2024, the closing price of our Class A ordinary shares as reported by the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.30. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. We may experience price volatility in our stock. See related risk factors in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and as set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F.

 

 

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, our share purchase contracts, share purchase units, warrants, debt securities, rights and units will not be listed on any securities or stock exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system.

 

Investors are cautioned that you are not buying shares of a China-based operating company but instead are buying shares of a Cayman Islands holding company with operations conducted by our subsidiaries based in China and that this structure involves unique risks to investors.

 

This is an offering of the ordinary shares of the Cayman Islands holding company. We conduct our business through the PRC subsidiaries. You will not and may never have direct ownership in the operating entity based in China. We do not use a Variable Interest Entity (“VIE”) structure.

 

Throughout this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Lichen China”, “Lichen China Limited”, “we,” “us,” the “Company,” “our company” refer to Lichen China Limited, a holding company. References to “Subsidiaries,” “Operating Subsidiaries,” or “PRC subsidiaries” refer to the Lichen China Limited’s subsidiaries established under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. References to “Group” are to Lichen China Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively.

 

Lichen China Limited is a Cayman Islands holding company and is not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company with no material operations of its own, it conducts all of its operations and operates its business in China through its PRC subsidiaries. Because of our corporate structure as a Cayman Islands holding company with operations conducted by our PRC subsidiaries, it involves unique risks to investors. Furthermore, Chinese regulatory authorities could change the rules and regulations regarding foreign ownership in the industry in which the Company operates, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and/or a material change in the value of the securities we are registering for sale, including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Investors in our ordinary shares should be aware that they do not directly hold equity interests in the Chinese operating entities, but rather are purchasing equity solely in Lichen China Limited, our Cayman Islands holding company, which indirectly owns 100% equity interests in the PRC subsidiaries. Our ordinary shares offered in this offering are shares of our Cayman Islands holding company instead of shares of our subsidiaries in China. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The filing, approval or other administration requirements of the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offering under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to complete the filing procedure with the CSRC and obtain such approval or complete such filing, as applicable.” on page 14.

 

Investing in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. Before buying any ordinary shares, you should carefully read the discussion of material risks of investing in our ordinary shares in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 of this prospectus. 

 

The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China with little advance notice could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us” on page 13 , “Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A ordinary shares to investors and cause the value of our Class A ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless. The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China” on page 16, and “We may lose the ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless if the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers” on page 20.

 

In particular, as substantially all of our operations are conducted through the PRC subsidiaries, we are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with our operations in China, including those changes in the legal, political and economic policies of the Chinese government, the relations between China and the United States, or Chinese or United States regulations may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.

 

 

As confirmed by our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, we will not be subject to cybersecurity review with the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the “CAC,” after the Cybersecurity Review Measures became effective on February 15, 2022, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Cybersecurity Review Measures; we are also not subject to network data security review by the CAC if the Draft Regulations on the Network Data Security Administration are enacted as proposed, since we currently do not have over one million users’ personal information and do not collect data that affects or may affect national security and we do not anticipate that we will be collecting over one million users’ personal information or data that affects or may affect national security in the foreseeable future, which we understand might otherwise subject us to the Security Administration Draft. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China.”

 

On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures increase the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.

 

According to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are “existing enterprises”: before the effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately, and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing.

 

In addition, an overseas-listed company must also submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within the time frame specified by the Trial Measures. As a result, we will be required to file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of the offerings in connection with this registration statement. We will begin the process of preparing a report and other required materials in connection with the CSRC filing, which will be submitted to the CSRC in due course. However, if we do not maintain the permissions and approvals of the filing procedure in a timely manner under PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to investigations by competent regulators, fines or penalties, ordered to suspend our relevant operations and rectify any non-compliance, prohibited from engaging in relevant business or conducting any offering, and these risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations, limit our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. As the Circular and Trial Measures were newly published, there exists uncertainty with respect to the filing requirements and their implementation. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The filing, approval or other administration requirements of the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offering under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to complete the filing procedure with the CSRC and obtain such approval or complete such filing, as applicable” on page 14.

 

 

As of the date of this prospectus, according to our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, although we are required to complete the filing procedure in connection with our offerings under the Trial Measures, no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations.

 

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, or other PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations or implementing rules that requires our company or any of our subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before listing in the U.S. In other words, although the Company has not received any denial to list on the U.S. exchange, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly; our ability to offer, or continue to offer, securities to investors would be potentially hindered and the value of our securities might significantly decline or be worthless, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to its business or industry or by intervene or interruption by PRC governmental authorities, if we or our subsidiaries (i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude that such permissions or approvals are not required, (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or interpretations change and we are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the future, or (iv) any intervention or interruption by PRC governmental with little advance notice. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China” beginning on page 13 this prospectus for a discussion of these legal and operational risks and information that should be considered before making a decision to purchase our ordinary shares.

 

In addition, since 2021, the Chinese government has strengthened its anti-monopoly supervision, mainly in three aspects: (1) establishing the National Anti-Monopoly Bureau; (2) revising and promulgating anti-monopoly laws and regulations, including: the Anti-Monopoly Law (draft Amendment published on October 23, 2021 for public opinions), the anti-monopoly guidelines for various industries, and the detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Fair Competition Review System; and (3) expanding the anti-monopoly law enforcement targeting Internet companies and large enterprises. As of the date of this prospectus, the Chinese government’s recent statements and regulatory actions related to anti-monopoly concerns have not impacted our ability to conduct business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange because neither the Company nor its PRC subsidiaries engage in monopolistic behaviors that are subject to these statements or regulatory actions.

 

Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, if the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is unable to inspect an issuer’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a U.S. stock exchange. The PCAOB issued a Determination Report on December 16, 2021 which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the People’s Republic of China because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China; and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. Furthermore, the PCAOB’s report identified the specific registered public accounting firms which are subject to these determinations. On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and amended the HFCAA by requiring 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, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward and is making plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.

 

 

Our auditor, Enrome LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess Enrome LLP’s compliance with applicable professional standards. Enrome LLP is headquartered in Singapore. As of the date of this annual report, Enrome LLP is not included in the list of PCAOB Identified Firms in the PCAOB Determination Report issued in December 2021. Our auditors, B&V for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and TPS Thayer for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, are both based in the U.S. B&V withdrew its registration from the PCAOB in January 2022. TPS Thayer is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, and its registration with the PCAOB took effect in September 2020 and it is currently subject to PCAOB inspections. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering” on page 29.

 

Our management monitors the cash position of each entity within our organization regularly and prepare budgets on a monthly basis to ensure each entity has the necessary funds to fulfill its obligation for the foreseeable future and to ensure adequate liquidity. In the event that there is a need for cash or a potential liquidity issue, it will be reported to our Chief Financial Officer and subject to approval by our board of directors, we will enter into an intercompany loan for the subsidiary in accordance with the applicable PRC laws and regulations. However, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets.”

 

Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payment of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulations, such as the overseas investment registrations by our shareholders or the ultimate shareholders of our corporate shareholders who are PRC residents. Approval from, or registration with, appropriate government authorities is, however, required where the RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of 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. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to the Company only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. As of the date of this prospectus, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities. Cayman Islands law prescribes that a company may only pay dividends out of its profits or share premium, and that a company may only pay dividends if, immediately following the date on which the dividend is paid, the company remains able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Other than that, there is no restrictions on Lichen China Limited’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders. See “Prospectus Summary — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets,” “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — We are a holding company and we rely on our subsidiaries for funding dividend payments, which are subject to restrictions under PRC laws,” and “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”

 

 

As a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries, including those based in the PRC, for our cash and financing requirements. If any of our PRC subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. Lichen China Limited is permitted under the laws of the Cayman Islands to provide funding to our subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong through loans or capital contributions without restrictions on the amount of the funds. Our subsidiaries are permitted under the respective laws of Hong Kong to provide funding to Lichen China Limited through dividend distribution without restrictions on the amount of the funds. There are no restrictions on dividend transfers from Hong Kong to the Cayman Islands. Current PRC regulations permit Fujian Province Lichen Management and Consulting Company Limited (“Lichen WFOE” or “Lichen Zixun”) to pay dividends to the Company only out of its accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. The transfer of funds among companies are subject to the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases (2020 Revision, the “Provisions on Private Lending Cases”), which was implemented on August 20, 2020 to regulate the financing activities between natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated organizations. As advised by our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, the Provisions on Private Lending Cases does not prohibit using cash generated from one subsidiary to fund another subsidiary’s operations. We have not been notified of any other restriction which could limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to transfer cash between PRC subsidiaries. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, Lichen Zixun made dividend payments of RMB30 million (approximately $4.3 million) to the then ultimate shareholders of Lichen Zixun, who are PRC individuals. The Company made no such dividend, distribution or transfer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. As of the date of this prospectus, except for the previously mentioned dividend payments in fiscal year 2020, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have made other transfers, dividends, or distributions to investors and no investors have made transfers, dividends, or distributions to the Company or its subsidiaries. As of the date of this prospectus, no dividends, distributions or transfers has been made between Lichen China Limited and any of its subsidiaries. We do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Also, as of the date of this prospectus, no cash generated from one subsidiary is used to fund another subsidiary’s operations and we do not anticipate any difficulties or limitations on our ability to transfer cash between subsidiaries. See “Prospectus Summary — Transfers of Cash to and from Our Subsidiaries” on page 7 and “Consolidated Financial Statements” incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined under federal securities laws and, as such, will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” and “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer” on page 5 for additional information. 

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. The information contained or incorporated in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, or such prospectus supplement, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities.

 

Investing in our securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the ‘‘Risk Factors’’ section of this prospectus, and risk factors set forth in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, in other reports incorporated herein by reference, and in the applicable prospectus supplement before you make your investment decision.

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is            , 2024

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		ii
COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS		iii
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		iv
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY		1
RISK FACTORS		13
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTNESS		32
DILUTION		32
USE OF PROCEEDS		33
DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES		33
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		41
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		43
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS		51
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS		52
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS		53
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		54
TAXATION		55
EXPENSES		55
MATERIAL CONTRACTS		55
MATERIAL CHANGES		55
LEGAL MATTERS		56
EXPERTS		56
INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL		56
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES		56
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE		57
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONALINFORMATION		58

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as information we have previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date on the front of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to an aggregate offering price of $100,000,000.

 

Each time we sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and the specific terms of that offering. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement.

 

We may offer and sell securities to, or through, underwriting syndicates or dealers, through agents or directly to purchasers.

 

The prospectus supplement for each offering of securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for that offering.

 

In connection with any offering of securities (unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement), the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Please carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the documents incorporated herein by reference under “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” and the additional information described below under “Where You Can Get More Information.”

 

Prospective investors should be aware that the acquisition of the securities described herein may have tax consequences. You should read the tax discussion contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and consult your tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. The distribution or possession of this prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus and any information incorporated by reference is accurate as of the date of the applicable document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

 

COMMONLY USED DEFINED TERMS

 

Throughout this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Lichen China”, “Lichen China Limited”, “we,” “us,” the “Company,” “our company” refer to Lichen China Limited, a holding company. References to “Subsidiaries,” “Operating Subsidiaries,” or “PRC subsidiaries” refer to the Lichen China Limited’s subsidiaries established under the laws of the People’s Republic of China. References to “Group” are to Lichen China Limited and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively. Unless otherwise indicated, in this prospectus, references to:

 

●

“China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China;

 

●

“Class A ordinary shares” are to a class of shares of Lichen China Limited called the “series A ordinary shares” with par value $0.00004 per share;

 

●

“Class B ordinary shares” are to a class of shares of Lichen China Limited called the “series B ordinary shares” with par value $0.00004 per share;

 

●

“HKD” are to the official currency of Hong Kong;

 

●

“Lichen China” or “LICN” are to Lichen China Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company;

 

●

“Legend Consulting BVI” are to Legend Consulting Investments Limited, a British Virgin Islands exempted company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lichen China;

 

●

“Legend Consulting HK” are to Legend Consulting Limited (HK), a Hong Kong company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legend Consulting BVI;

 

●

“Lichen WFOE” or “Lichen Zixun” are to Fujian Province Lichen Management and Consulting Company Limited, a wholly foreign-owned company organized under the laws of the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legend Consulting HK;

 

●

“Lichen Education” are to Xiamen City Legend Education Services Company Limited, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the PRC and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lichen WFOE;

 

●

“RMB” are to Renminbi, or the legal currency of the PRC;

 

●

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

  

●

“WFOE” are to wholly foreign-owned enterprise.

 

 

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this prospectus other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, our business strategy and plans, and our objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives, and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the factors described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and under a similar heading in any applicable prospectus supplement. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the future events and trends discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, we undertake no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described in this section and under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and under similar headings in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F as updated by our subsequent filings, some of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Each of the risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our securities, and the occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations. For more information, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

 

Risks Related to Doing Business in China

 

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system, including uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws, and sudden or unexpected changes in laws and regulations in China with little advance notice could adversely affect us and limit the legal protections available to you and us.

 

There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business and the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement could be unpredictable, with little advance notice. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and our business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a manner different from our current understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.

 

The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. In addition, any new or changes in PRC laws and regulations related to foreign investment in China could affect the business environment and our ability to operate our business in China.

 

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

 

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such unpredictability towards our contractual, property and procedural rights could adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.

 

The financial and taxation solution services industry in China is subject to extensive regulation. Related laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving. The interpretation and application of existing PRC laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies relating to the financial and taxation solution services industry have created substantial uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and the businesses and activities of, financial and taxation solution services businesses in China, including our business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our existing licenses or obtain new ones. If our operations do not comply with these new regulations at the time they become effective, or if we fail to obtain any licenses required under these new laws and regulations, we could be subject to penalties.

 

 

The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene or influence our operations as the government deems appropriate to further regulatory, political and societal goals. The PRC government has recently published new policies that significantly affected certain industries, such as the education and internet industries, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies regarding our industry that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over securities offerings and other capital markets activities that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based companies like us. Any such action, once taken by the PRC government, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or in extreme cases, become worthless.

 

The filing, approval or other administration requirements of the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offering under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to complete the filing procedure with the CSRC and obtain such approval or complete such filing, as applicable.

 

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”), adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, include, among other things, provisions that purport to require that an offshore special purpose vehicle, formed for the purpose of an overseas listing of securities through acquisitions of domestic enterprises in China or assets and controlled by enterprises or individuals in China, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, pursuant to the M&A Rules and other PRC laws, the CSRC published on its official website relevant guidance regarding its approval of the listing and trading of special purpose vehicles’ securities on overseas stock exchanges, including a list of application materials. However, substantial uncertainty remains regarding the scope and applicability of the M&A Rules to offshore special purpose vehicles.

 

On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. These opinions and any related implementation rules to be enacted may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future. As of the date hereof, no official guidance or related implementation rules have been issued. As a result, the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities remain unclear on how they will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant PRC governmental authorities. We cannot assure that we will remain fully compliant with all new regulatory requirements of these opinions or any future implementation rules on a timely basis, or at all.

 

Pursuant to Cybersecurity Review Measures which were issued on December 28, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022, network platform operators holding over one million users’ personal information must apply with the Cybersecurity Review Office for a cybersecurity review before any public offering at a foreign stock exchange. However, given the Cybersecurity Review Measures were relatively new, there are substantial uncertainties as to the interpretation, application and enforcement of the Cybersecurity Review Measures. It remains uncertain whether we should apply for cybersecurity review prior to any offshore offering and that we would be able to complete the applicable cybersecurity review procedures in a timely manner, or at all, if we are required to do so. In addition, on November 14, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) published the Administration Regulations on Network Data Security (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Measures for Network Data Security, which provides that data processors conducting the following activities shall apply for cybersecurity review: (i) merger, reorganization or separation of Internet platform operators that have acquired a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests affects or may affect national security; (ii) overseas listing of data processors processing over one million users’ personal information; (iii) listing in Hong Kong which affects or may affect national security; (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. In addition, the Draft Measures for Network Data Security also require Internet platform operators to establish platform rules, privacy policies and algorithm strategies related to data, and solicit public comments on their official websites and personal information protection related sections for no less than 30 working days when they formulate platform rules or privacy policies or makes any amendments that may have significant impacts on users’ rights and interests. The CAC solicited comments on this draft, but there is no timetable as to when it will be enacted.

 

 

On February 17, 2023, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, announced the Circular on the Administrative Arrangements for Filing of Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Circular, and released a set of new regulations which consists of the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines. On the same date, the CSRC also released the Notice on the Arrangements for the Filing Management of Overseas Listing of Domestic Companies, or the Notice. The Trial Measures came into effect on March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures refine the regulatory system by subjecting both direct and indirect overseas offering and listing activities to the CSRC filing-based administration. Requirements for filing entities, time points and procedures are specified. A PRC domestic company that seeks to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall fulfill the filing procedure with the CSRC per the requirements of the Trial Measures. Where a PRC domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in overseas markets, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the domestic responsible entity, file with the CSRC. The Trial Measures also lay out requirements for the reporting of material events. Breaches of the Trial Measures, such as offering and listing securities overseas without fulfilling the filing procedures, shall bear legal liabilities, including a fine between RMB 1.0 million (approximately $150,000) and RMB 10.0 million (approximately $1.5 million), and the Trial Measures heighten the cost for offenders by enforcing accountability with administrative penalties and incorporating the compliance status of relevant market participants into the Securities Market Integrity Archives.

 

According to the Circular, since the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, PRC domestic enterprises falling within the scope of filing that have been listed overseas or met the following circumstances are “existing enterprises”: before the effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023, the application for indirect overseas issuance and listing has been approved by the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges (such as the registration statement has become effective on the U.S. market), it is not required to perform issuance and listing supervision procedures of the overseas regulators or overseas stock exchanges, and the overseas issuance and listing will be completed by September 30, 2023. Existing enterprises are not required to file with the CSRC immediately, and filings with the CSRC should be made as required if they involve refinancings and other filing matters. PRC domestic enterprises that have submitted valid applications for overseas issuance and listing but have not been approved by overseas regulatory authorities or overseas stock exchanges at the date of effectiveness of the Trial Measures on March 31, 2023 can reasonably arrange the timing of filing applications with the CSRC and shall complete the filing with the CSRC before the overseas issuance and listing. According to the Circular, we can reasonably arrange the timing for submitting the filing application with the CSRC, and shall complete the filing with the CSRC in accordance with the Trial Measures before this offering. In sum, we are subject to the filing requirements of the CSRC for this offering under the Trial Measures.

 

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

 

 

As of the date of this prospectus, according to our PRC counsel, Tianyuan Law Firm, although we are required to complete the filing procedure in connection with our offering under the Trial Measures, no relevant PRC laws or regulations in effect require that we obtain permission from any PRC authorities to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection to this offering from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. If it is determined that we are subject to filing requirements imposed by the CSRC under the Overseas Listing Regulations or approvals from other PRC regulatory authorities or other procedures, including the cybersecurity review under the revised Cybersecurity Review Measures, for our future offshore offerings, it would be uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to complete such procedures or obtain such approval and any such approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in completing such procedures or obtaining such approval for our offshore offerings, or a rescission of any such approval if obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to file with the CSRC or failure to seek approval from other government authorization for our offshore offerings. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings before settlement and delivery of the securities offered. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our prior offshore offerings, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares.

 

Any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Class A ordinary shares to investors and cause the value of our Class A ordinary shares to significantly decline or be worthless. The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.

 

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in August 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other 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, including requirements in some instances that the MOC be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. For example, the M&A Rules require that 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 impact or may impact 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. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated by the SCNPC effective in 2008 requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds (i.e., during the previous fiscal year, (i) the total global turnover of all operators participating in the transaction exceeds RMB10 billion and at least two of these operators each had a turnover of more than RMB400 million within China, or (ii) the total turnover within China of all the operators participating in the concentration exceeded RMB 2 billion, and at least two of these operators each had a turnover of more than RMB 400 million within China) must be cleared by MOFCOM before they can be completed.

 

Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the MOC shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOC that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOC, and the rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass a 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 above-mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOC or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.

 

 

There are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities.

 

We conduct substantially all of our business operations in China, and a majority of our directors and senior management are based in China, which is an emerging market. The SEC, U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities often have substantial difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in certain emerging markets, including China. Additionally, our public shareholders may have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets where we operate, as shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including class action securities law and fraud claims, generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in many emerging markets, including China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, the regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States has not been efficient in the absence of a mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no foreign securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no organization or individual may provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to foreign securities regulators.

 

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

 

PRC regulation of loans to, and direct investments in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from using proceeds from this offering and/or future financing activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries.

 

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 previous 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 material change. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration with the local branch of SAFE to reflect any material change. 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, must be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. Qualified banks should examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE. We have used our best efforts to notify PRC residents or entities who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands holding company and who are known to us as being PRC residents to complete the foreign exchange registrations. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. We cannot assure you that all other shareholders or beneficial owners of ours who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or approvals required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

 

Furthermore, as these foreign exchange and outbound investment related regulations are relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has 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.

 

As an offshore holding company with PRC subsidiaries, we may transfer funds to our operating entity or finance our operating entity by means of loans or capital contributions. Any capital contributions or loans that we, as an offshore entity, make to our Company’s PRC subsidiaries, including from the proceeds of this offering, are subject to the above PRC regulations. We may not be able to obtain necessary government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. If we fail to obtain such approvals or make such registration, our ability to make equity contributions or provide loans to our Company’s PRC subsidiaries or to fund their operations may be negatively affected, which may adversely affect their liquidity and ability to fund their working capital and expansion projects and meet their obligations and commitments. As a result, our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business may be negatively affected.

 

We must remit the offering proceeds to China before they may be used to benefit our business in China, and this process may take several months to complete.

 

The process for sending the proceeds from this offering back to China may take as long as six months after the closing of this offering.

 

Any loans to the PRC subsidiaries are subject to PRC regulations. For example, loans by us to our subsidiaries in China, which are foreign-invested enterprises, to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE.

 

To remit the proceeds of the offering, we must take the following steps:

 

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First, we will open a special foreign exchange account for capital account transactions. To open this account, we must submit to SAFE certain application forms, identity documents, transaction documents, form of foreign exchange registration of overseas investments of the domestic residents, and foreign exchange registration certificate of the invested company. As of the date of this prospectus, we have already opened a special foreign exchange account for capital account transactions.

 

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Second, we will remit the offering proceeds into this special foreign exchange account.

 

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Third, we will apply for settlement of the foreign exchange. In order to do so, we must submit to SAFE certain application forms, identity documents, payment order to a designated person, and a tax certificate.

 

The timing of the process is difficult to estimate because the efficiencies of different SAFE branches can vary significantly. Ordinarily the process takes several months but is required by law to be accomplished within 180 days of application.

 

We may also decide to finance our subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be approved by MOFCOM or its local counterpart. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions by us to our subsidiaries. If we fail to receive such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our Chinese operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. If we fail to receive such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our Chinese operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

 

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries.

 

As an offshore holding company of our PRC subsidiaries, we may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, subject to satisfaction of applicable governmental registration and approval requirements.

 

Any loans we extend to our PRC subsidiaries cannot exceed the statutory limit and must be registered with the local counterpart of the SAFE.

 

We may also decide to finance our PRC subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, these capital contributions are subject to registration with or approval by the MOFCOM or its local counterparts. In addition, the PRC government also restricts the convertibility of foreign currencies into Renminbi and use of the proceeds. On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated Circular 19, which took effect and replaced certain previous SAFE regulations from June 1, 2015. SAFE further promulgated Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which, among other things, amend certain provisions of Circular 19. According to SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16, the flow and use of the Renminbi capital converted from foreign currency denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that Renminbi capital may not be used for business beyond its business scope or to provide loans to persons other than affiliates unless otherwise permitted under its business scope. Violations of the applicable circulars and rules may result in severe penalties, including substantial fines as set forth in the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to use Renminbi converted from the net proceeds of this offering to fund our PRC operating subsidiaries, to invest in or acquire any other PRC companies through our PRC Subsidiaries, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Adverse changes in political and economic policies of the PRC government could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could reduce the demand for our products and services and materially and adversely affect our competitive position.

 

Substantially all of our business operations are conducted in China. Accordingly, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects are subject to economic, political and legal developments in China. Although the Chinese economy is no longer a planned economy, the PRC government continues to exercise significant control over China’s economic growth through direct allocation of resources, monetary and tax policies, and a host of other government policies such as those that encourage or restrict investment in certain industries by foreign investors, control the exchange between RMB and foreign currencies, and regulate the growth of the general or specific market.

 

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

 

Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such unpredictability towards our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights could adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.

 

These government involvements have been instrumental in China’s significant growth in the past 30 years. In response to the recent global and Chinese economic downturn, the PRC government has adopted policy measures aimed at stimulating the economic growth in China. If the PRC government’s current or future policies fail to help the Chinese economy achieve further growth or if any aspect of the PRC government’s policies limits the growth of our industry or otherwise negatively affects our business, our growth rate or strategy, our results of operations could be adversely affected as a result.

 

 

Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

All of our operations are located in China. Accordingly, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China as a whole.

 

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

 

While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate increases, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, and since 2012, China’s economic growth has slowed down. Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our products and services and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares.

 

Our business is subject to governmental supervision and regulation by the relevant PRC governmental authorities, including but not limited to the State Administration for Market Regulation and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce. Together, these governmental authorities promulgate and enforce regulations that cover many aspects of our day-to-day operations. If we are deemed to be not in compliance with these requirements, we may be subject to fines and other administrative penalties from the relevant PRC government authorities. In case of our failure to rectify our noncompliance within required period by the relevant PRC government authorities, we may be forced to suspend our operation.

 

Existing and new laws and regulations may be enforced from time to time and substantial uncertainties exist regarding the interpretation and implementation of current and any future PRC laws and regulations applicable to us. If the PRC government promulgates new laws and regulations that impose additional restrictions on our operations, or tightens enforcements of existing or new laws or regulations, it has the authority, among other things, to levy fines, confiscate income, revoke business licenses, and require us to discontinue our relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of our business. Any of these actions by the PRC government may have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations. As a result, our business, reputation, value of our Class A ordinary shares, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may lose the ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless if the Chinese government may exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers.

 

The recently issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on listings by China-based companies in foreign countries, and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based companies listed in foreign countries, and provided that the special provisions of the State Council on offering and listing by those companies in foreign countries limited by shares will be revised and therefore the duties of domestic industry competent authorities and regulatory agencies will be clarified. As these opinions were newly issued and there are no further explanations or detailed rules and regulations with respect to such opinions, there are still uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of such opinions. And new rules or regulations promulgated in future could impose additional requirements on us.

 

 

In addition, on July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued a revised draft of the Cybersecurity Review Measures for public comments, according to which, among others, an “operator of critical information infrastructure” or a “data processor”, who has personal information of more than one million users and is going to list in foreign countries, must report to the relevant cybersecurity review office for a cybersecurity review. On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China jointly with the relevant authorities formally published Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) which took effect on February 15, 2022 and replace the former Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2020). Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) stipulates that operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and online platform operator (together with the operators of critical information infrastructure, the “Operators”) carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct a cybersecurity review, any online platform operator who controls more than one million users’ personal information must go through a cybersecurity review by the cybersecurity review office if it seeks to be listed in a foreign country. Since we are not an Operator, nor do we control more than one million users’ personal information, we would not be required to apply for a cybersecurity review under the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021).

 

However, if the CSRC or other relevant PRC regulatory agencies subsequently determine that prior approval is required, failure of obtaining such approval may lead us face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operations in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from this Offering into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the Offering of the Shares.

 

Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be classified as a “Resident Enterprise” of China. Such classification will likely result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.

 

China passed the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, and its implementing rules, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008, and as amended in December 2018. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with “de facto management bodies” within China is considered a “resident enterprise,” meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise.

 

On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation of China issued the Notice Concerning Relevant Issues Regarding Cognizance of Chinese Investment Controlled Enterprises Incorporated Offshore as Resident Enterprises pursuant to Criteria of de facto Management Bodies, or the Notice, further interpreting the application of the EIT Law and its implementation to offshore entities controlled by a Chinese enterprise or group. Pursuant to the Notice, an enterprise incorporated in an offshore jurisdiction and controlled by a Chinese enterprise or group will be classified as a “non-domestically incorporated resident enterprise” if (i) its senior management in charge of daily operations reside or perform their duties mainly in China; (ii) its financial or personnel decisions are made or approved by bodies or persons in China; (iii) its substantial assets and properties, accounting books, corporate stamps, board and shareholder minutes are kept in China; and (iv) all of its directors with voting rights or senior management reside in China. A resident enterprise would be subject to an enterprise income tax rate of 25% on its worldwide income and must pay a withholding tax at a rate of 10% when paying dividends to its non-PRC shareholders. Because substantially all of our operations and senior management are located within the PRC and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future, we may be considered a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes and therefore subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its worldwide income. However, it remains unclear as to whether the Notice is applicable to an offshore enterprise controlled by a Chinese natural person. Therefore, it is unclear how tax authorities will determine tax residency based on the facts of each case.

 

 

If the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income as well as PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. In our case, this would mean that income such as non-China source income would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Currently, we do not have any non-China source income, as we conduct our sales in China. However, under the EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiary would be deemed as “qualified investment income between resident enterprises” and therefore qualify as “tax-exempt income” pursuant to clause 26 of the EIT Law. Second, it is possible that future guidance issued with respect to the new “resident enterprise” classification could result in a situation in which the dividends we pay with respect to our ordinary shares, or the gain our non-PRC shareholders may realize from the transfer of our ordinary shares, may be treated as PRC-sourced income and may therefore be subject to a 10% PRC withholding tax. The EIT Law and its implementing regulations are, however, relatively new and ambiguities exist with respect to the interpretation and identification of PRC-sourced income, and the application and assessment of withholding taxes. If we are required under the EIT Law and its implementing regulations to withhold PRC income tax on dividends payable to our non-PRC shareholders, or if non-PRC shareholders are required to pay PRC income tax on gains on the transfer of their ordinary shares, our business could be negatively impacted and the value of your investment may be materially reduced. Further, if we were treated as a “resident enterprise” by PRC tax authorities, we would be subject to taxation in both China and such countries in which we have taxable income, and our PRC tax may not be creditable against such other taxes.

 

We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption law.

 

In connection with this offering, we will become subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We are also subject to Chinese anti-corruption laws, which strictly prohibit the payment of bribes to government officials. We have operations agreements with third parties, and make sales in China, which may experience corruption. Our activities in China create the risk of unauthorized payments.

 

Although we believe, to date, we have complied in all material respects with the provisions of the FCPA and Chinese anti-corruption law, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the employees, consultants, or distributors may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA or Chinese anti-corruption law may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.

 

Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system and changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us.

 

We conduct all of our business through our PRC subsidiaries. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. The PRC subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular, laws and regulations applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

 

Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding 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 of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

 

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

 

 

In utilizing the proceeds of this offering in the manner described in “Use of Proceeds” on page 33 of this prospectus, as an offshore holding company of our PRC operating subsidiaries, we may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries.

 

Any loans to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to PRC regulations. For example, loans by us to our subsidiaries in China, which are foreign invested entities (“FIEs”), to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE. On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated Hui Fa 2015 No.19, a notice regulating the conversion by a foreign-invested company of foreign currency into RMB. The foreign exchange capital, for which the monetary contribution has been confirmed by the foreign exchange authorities (or for which the monetary contribution has been registered for account entry) in the capital account of a foreign-invested enterprise may be settled at a bank as required by the enterprise’s actual management needs. Foreign-invested enterprises with investment as their main business (including foreign-oriented companies, foreign-invested venture capital enterprises and foreign-invested equity investment enterprises) are allowed to, under the premise of authenticity and compliance of their domestic investment projects, carry out based on their actual investment scales direct settlement of foreign exchange capital or transfer the RMB funds in the foreign exchange settlement account for pending payment to the invested enterprises’ accounts.

 

On May 10, 2013, SAFE released Circular 21, which came into effect on May 13, 2013. According to Circular 21, SAFE has simplified the foreign exchange administration procedures with respect to the registration, account openings and conversions, settlements of FDI-related foreign exchange, as well as fund remittances.

 

Circular 21 may significantly limit our ability to convert, transfer and use the net proceeds from this offering and any offering of additional equity securities in China, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC.

 

We may also decide to finance our subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be approved by MOFCOM or its local counterpart, which usually takes no more than 30 working days to complete. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to receive such approvals, we will not be able to capitalize our PRC operations, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

 

Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.

 

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, our income is primarily derived from dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated obligations. 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 SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from 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 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 security-holders.

 

We are a holding company and we rely on our subsidiaries for funding dividend payments, which are subject to restrictions under PRC laws.

 

We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and we operate our core businesses through our PRC subsidiaries. Therefore, the availability of funds for us to pay dividends to our shareholders and to service our indebtedness depends upon dividends received from the PRC subsidiaries. If the PRC subsidiaries incur debt or losses, their ability to pay dividends or other distributions to us may be impaired. As a result, our ability to pay dividends and to repay our indebtedness will be restricted. PRC laws require that dividends be paid only out of the after-tax profit of our subsidiaries in the PRC calculated according to PRC accounting principles, which differ in many aspects from generally accepted accounting principles in other jurisdictions. PRC laws also require enterprises established in the PRC to set aside part of their after-tax profits as statutory reserves. These statutory reserves are not available for distribution as cash dividends. In addition, restrictive covenants in bank credit facilities or other agreements that we or our subsidiaries may enter into in the future may also restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. These restrictions on the availability of our funding may impact our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders and to service our indebtedness.

 

 

To the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets.

 

The transfer of funds and assets among Lichen China Limited, its Hong Kong and PRC subsidiaries is subject to restrictions. The PRC government imposes controls on the conversion of the RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. See “Risk Factors — Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.” In addition, the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax at a rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises, unless reduced under treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and the governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are tax resident. See “Risk Factors — Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”

 

As of the date of this prospectus, there are no restrictions or limitations imposed by the Hong Kong government on the transfer of capital within, into and out of Hong Kong (including funds from Hong Kong to the PRC), except for the transfer of funds involving money laundering and criminal activities. However, there is no guarantee that the Hong Kong government will not promulgate new laws or regulations that may impose such restrictions in the future.

 

As a result of the above, to the extent cash or assets in the business is in the PRC or Hong Kong or a PRC or Hong Kong entity, the funds or assets may not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of the PRC or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of us or our subsidiaries by the PRC government to transfer cash or assets.

 

Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

 

We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may need dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries to satisfy our liquidity requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.

 

Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of their respective registered capital. Our PRC subsidiaries may also allocate a portion of their respective after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to employee welfare and bonus funds at their discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. These limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments, or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

Our business may be materially and adversely affected if any of our PRC subsidiary declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.

 

The Enterprise Bankruptcy Law of the PRC, or the Bankruptcy Law, came into effect on June 1, 2007. The Bankruptcy Law provides that an enterprise will be liquidated if the enterprise fails to settle its debts as and when they fall due and if the enterprise’s assets are, or are demonstrably, insufficient to clear such debts.

 

 

Our PRC subsidiaries hold certain assets that are important to our business operations. If our PRC subsidiaries undergo a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect our business and the value of our securities.

 

Changes in the value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, Euro and other foreign currencies are affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. Any significant revaluation of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and financial condition, and the value of, and any dividends payable on our shares in U.S. dollar terms. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from our initial public offering into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of paying dividends on our Class A ordinary shares or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us. In addition, fluctuations of the RMB against other currencies may increase or decrease the cost of imports and exports, and thus affect the price-competitiveness of our products against products of foreign manufacturers or products relying on foreign inputs.

 

Since July 2005, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.

 

Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

The currently effective PRC Labor Contract Law, or the Labor Contract Law was first adopted on June 29, 2007 and later amended on December 28, 2012. The PRC Labor Contract Law has reinforced the protection of employees who, under the Labor Contract Law, have the right, among others, to have written employment contracts, to enter into employment contracts with no fixed term under certain circumstances, to receive overtime wages and to terminate or alter terms in labor contracts. Furthermore, the Labor Contract Law sets forth additional restrictions and increases the costs involved with dismissing employees. To the extent that we need to significantly reduce our workforce, the Labor Contract Law could adversely affect our ability to do so in a timely and cost-effective manner, and our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, for employees whose employment contracts include noncompetition terms, the Labor Contract Law requires us to pay monthly compensation after such employment is terminated, which will increase our operating expenses.

 

We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our buyers by increasing the prices of our products and services, our financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

 

We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. We may be liable for improper use or appropriation of personal information provided by our customers.

 

We may become subject to a variety of laws and regulations in the PRC regarding privacy, data security, cybersecurity, and data protection. These laws and regulations are continuously evolving and developing. The scope and interpretation of the laws that are or may be applicable to us are often uncertain and may be conflicting, particularly with respect to foreign laws. In particular, there are numerous laws and regulations regarding privacy and the collection, sharing, use, processing, disclosure, and protection of personal information and other user data. Such laws and regulations often vary in scope, may be subject to differing interpretations, and may be inconsistent among different jurisdictions.

 

We expect to obtain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees and third parties. We also maintain information about various aspects of our operations as well as regarding our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and company data is critical to our business. Our customers and employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information. We are required by applicable laws to keep strictly confidential the personal information that we collect, and to take adequate security measures to safeguard such information.

 

 

The PRC Criminal Law, as amended by its Amendment 7 (effective on February 28, 2009) and Amendment 9 (effective on November 1, 2015), prohibits institutions, companies and their employees from selling or otherwise illegally disclosing a citizen’s personal information obtained during the course of performing duties or providing services or obtaining such information through theft or other illegal ways. On November 7, 2016, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress issued the Cyber Security Law of the PRC, or Cyber Security Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017.

 

Pursuant to the Cyber Security Law, network operators must not, without users’ consent, collect their personal information, and may only collect users’ personal information necessary to provide their services. Providers are also obliged to provide security maintenance for their products and services and shall comply with provisions regarding the protection of personal information as stipulated under the relevant laws and regulations.

 

The Civil Code of the PRC (issued by the PRC National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020 and effective from January 1, 2021) provides main legal basis for privacy and personal information infringement claims under the Chinese civil laws. PRC regulators, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection.

 

The PRC regulatory requirements regarding cybersecurity are constantly evolving. For instance, various regulatory bodies in China, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Public Security and the SAMR, have enforced data privacy and protection laws and regulations with varying and evolving standards and interpretations. In April 2020, the Chinese government promulgated Cybersecurity Review Measures, which came into effect on June 1, 2020. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security.

 

In November 2016, the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress passed China’s first Cybersecurity Law (“CSL”), which became effective in June 2017. The CSL is the first PRC law that systematically lays out the regulatory requirements on cybersecurity and data protection, subjecting many previously under-regulated or unregulated activities in cyberspace to government scrutiny. The legal consequences of violation of the CSL include penalties of warning, confiscation of illegal income, suspension of related business, winding up for rectification, shutting down the websites, and revocation of business license or relevant permits. In April 2020, the Cyberspace Administration of China and certain other PRC regulatory authorities promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became effective in June 2020. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security. On July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued a revised draft of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review for public comments (“Draft Measures”), which required that, in addition to “operator of critical information infrastructure,” any “data processor” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security should also be subject to cybersecurity review, and further elaborated the factors to be considered when assessing the national security risks of the relevant activities, including, among others, (i) the risk of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or exited the country; and (ii) the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled, or maliciously used by foreign governments after listing abroad. The Cyberspace Administration of China has said that under the proposed rules companies holding data on more than 1,000,000 users must now apply for cybersecurity approval when seeking listings in other nations because of the risk that such data and personal information could be “affected, controlled, and maliciously exploited by foreign governments,” The cybersecurity review will also investigate the potential national security risks from overseas IPOs. We do not know what regulations will be adopted or how such regulations will affect us and our listing on Nasdaq. In the event that the Cyberspace Administration of China determines that we are subject to these regulations, we may be required to delist from Nasdaq and we may be subject to fines and penalties. On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law also sets forth the data security protection obligations for entities and individuals handling personal data, including that no entity or individual may acquire such data by stealing or other illegal means, and the collection and use of such data should not exceed the necessary limits The costs of compliance with, and other burdens imposed by, CSL and any other cybersecurity and related laws may limit the use and adoption of our products and services and could have an adverse impact on our business. Further, if the enacted version of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review mandates clearance of cybersecurity review and other specific actions to be completed by companies like us, we face uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all.

 

 

On July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued a revised draft of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review for public comments (the “Review Measures”), and on December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China jointly with the relevant authorities published Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) which took effect on February 15, 2022 and replace the Review Measures, which required that, operators of critical information infrastructure purchasing network products and services, and data processors (together with the operators of critical information infrastructure, the “Operators”) carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, shall conduct a cybersecurity review, any operator who controls more than one million users’ personal information must go through a cybersecurity review by the cybersecurity review office if it seeks to be listed in a foreign country.

 

Under the Data Security Law enacted on September 1, 2021 and the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021) implemented on February 15, 2022, since we are not an Operator, nor do we control more than one million users’ personal information, we would not be required to apply for a cybersecurity review by the CAC. However, if the CSRC, CAC or other regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering and any follow-on offering, we may be unable to obtain such approvals and we may face sanctions by the CSRC, CAC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek their approval which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to our investors and the securities currently being offered may substantially decline in value and be worthless.

 

On August 17, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure, or the Regulations, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Regulations supplement and specify the provisions on the security of critical information infrastructure as stated in the Cybersecurity Review Measures. The Regulations provide, among others, that protection department of certain industry or sector shall notify the operator of the critical information infrastructure in time after the identification of certain critical information infrastructure.

 

On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC approved the Personal Information Protection Law (“PIPL”), which became effective on November 1, 2021. The PIPL regulates collection of personal identifiable information and seeks to address the issue of algorithmic discrimination. Companies in violation of the PIPL may be subject to warnings and admonishments, forced corrections, confiscation of corresponding income, suspension of related services, and fines. We had not collected identifiable or sensitive personal information of individual end-users, such as ID card numbers and real names, which means our potential access or exposure to customers’ personal information is limited. However, in the event we inadvertently access or become exposed to customers’ personal identifiable information, then we may face heightened exposure to the PIPL.

 

We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we can fully or timely comply with such laws. In the event that we are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity review and other specific actions required by the CAC, we face uncertainty as to whether any clearance or other required actions can be timely completed, or at all. Given such uncertainty, we may be further required to suspend our relevant business, shut down our website, or face other penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

If we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, we may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve the matter which could harm our business operations, this offering and our reputation and could result in a loss of your investment in our ordinary shares, especially if such matter cannot be addressed and resolved favorably.

 

Recently, U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China, have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies has sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on our Company, our business and this offering. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend the Company. This situation may be a major distraction to our management. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, our Company and business operations will be severely hampered and your investment in our ordinary shares could be rendered worthless.

 

 

You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments, or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the prospectus. It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.

 

We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we conduct most of our operations in China and most of our assets are located in China. In addition, substantially all our senior executive officers reside within China, are physically there for a significant portion of each year, and are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside mainland China. 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 or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws or those of any U.S. 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 U.S. 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 or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security, or 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 U.S. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” on page 56.

 

It may also be difficult for you or overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with its counterparts of another country or region to monitor and oversee cross-border securities activities, such regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the U.S. may not be efficient in the absence of a practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or “Article 177,” which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Article 177 further provides that Chinese entities and individuals are not allowed to provide documents or materials related to securities business activities to foreign agencies without prior consent from the securities regulatory authority of the PRC State Council and the competent departments of the PRC State Council. While the detailed interpretation of or implementing of rules under Article 177 have to be promulgated, the inability of an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase the difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.

 

You may face difficulties in protecting your interests and exercising your rights as a shareholder since we conduct substantially all of our operations in China, and all of our officers and directors reside outside the U.S.

 

Although we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China. All of our current officers and all of our directors reside outside the U.S. and substantially all of the assets of those persons are located outside of the U.S. It may be difficult for you to conduct due diligence on the Company or such directors in your election of the directors and attend shareholders meeting if the meeting is held in China. We plan to have one shareholder meeting each year at a location to be determined, potentially in China. As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, directors or major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation doing business entirely or predominantly within the U.S.

 

 

Our financial and operating performance may be adversely affected by general economic conditions, natural catastrophic events, epidemics, and public health crises that impact the metaverse industry.

 

Our operating results will be subject to fluctuations based on general economic conditions, in particular those conditions that impact the metaverse industry. Deterioration in economic conditions could cause decreases in both volume and reduce and/or negatively impact our short-term ability to grow our revenues. Further, any decreased collectability of accounts receivable or early termination of agreements due to deterioration in economic conditions could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Our business is subject to the impact of natural catastrophic events such as earthquakes, floods or power outages, political crises such as terrorism or war, and public health crises, such as disease outbreaks, epidemics, or pandemics in the U.S. and global economies, our markets and business locations. Currently, the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) globally has resulted in increased travel restrictions and disruption and shutdown of businesses. Our buyers may experience financial distress, file for bankruptcy protection, go out of business, or suffer disruptions in their business due to the coronavirus outbreak; as a result, our revenues may be impacted. The extent to which the coronavirus impacts our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and will include emerging information concerning the severity of the coronavirus and the actions taken by governments and private businesses to attempt to contain the coronavirus, but is likely to result in a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition at least for the near term.

 

Similarly, natural disasters, wars (including the potential of war), terrorist activity (including threats of terrorist activity), social unrest and heightened travel security measures instituted in response, and travel-related accidents, as well as geopolitical uncertainty and international conflict, will affect travel volume and may in turn have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. In addition, we may not be adequately prepared in contingency planning or recovery capability in relation to a major incident or crisis, and as a result, our operational continuity may be adversely and materially affected, which in turn may harm our reputation.

 

The recent joint statement by the SEC and PCAOB, proposed rule changes submitted by Nasdaq, and the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies upon assessing the qualification of their auditors, especially the non-U.S. auditors who are not inspected by the PCAOB. These developments could add uncertainties to our offering.

 

On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China. The joint statement emphasized the risks associated with lack of access for the PCAOB to inspect auditors and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets.

 

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 Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national securities exchange or in the over the counter trading market in the U.S. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. On December 18, 2020, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act was signed into law.

 

On March 24, 2021, the SEC announced that it had adopted interim final amendments to implement congressionally mandated submission and disclosure requirements of the Act. The interim final amendments will apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report on Forms 10-K, 20-F, 40-F or N-CSR with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. The SEC will implement a process for identifying such a registrant and any such identified registrant will be required to submit documentation to the SEC establishing that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in that foreign jurisdiction, and will also require disclosure in the registrant’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and governmental influence on, such a registrant.

 

 

On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, and on December 29, 2022, legislation entitled “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” (the “Consolidated Appropriations Act”) was signed into law by President Biden, which contained, among other things, an identical provision to the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act and amended the HFCAA by requiring 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, thus reducing the time period for triggering the prohibition on trading.

 

On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.

 

On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in foreign jurisdictions.

 

On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong, because of positions taken by PRC authorities in those jurisdictions.

 

On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it had signed a Statement of Protocol (the “SOP”) with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of China. The SOP, together with two protocol agreements governing inspections and investigations (together, the “SOP Agreement”), establishes a specific, accountable framework to make possible complete inspections and investigations by the PCAOB of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong, as required under U.S. law. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainties and depends on a number of factors out of our and our auditor’s control. The PCAOB continues to demand complete access in mainland China and Hong Kong moving forward and is making plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has also indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed.

 

Our auditor, Enrome LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess Enrome LLP’s compliance with applicable professional standards. Enrome LLP is headquartered in Singapore. As of the date of this annual report, Enrome LLP is not included in the list of PCAOB Identified Firms in the PCAOB Determination Report issued in December 2021. Our auditors, B&V for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and TPS Thayer for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, are both based in the U.S. B&V withdrew its registration from the PCAOB in January 2022. TPS Thayer is headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, and its registration with the PCAOB took effect in September 2020 and it is currently subject to PCAOB inspections.

 

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.

 

 

Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA and as a result an exchange may determine to delist our securities if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction.

 

The HFCAA, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCAA states if the SEC determines that a company has filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit such shares from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S.

 

On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. A company will be required to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a “non-inspection” year under a process to be subsequently established by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCAA, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements described above.

 

Despite that we have a U.S.-based auditor that is registered with the PCAOB and subject to PCAOB inspection, there are still risks to the company and investors if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction. Such risks include, but are not limited to that trading in our securities may be prohibited under the HFCAA and as a result an exchange may determine to delist our securities.

 

The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain such approval.

 

The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange.

 

We believe that the CSRC’s approval is not required for the listing and trading of our Class A ordinary shares on Nasdaq in the context of this offering, given that: (i) our PRC subsidiary was incorporated as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise by means of direct investment rather than by merger or acquisition of equity interest or assets of a PRC domestic company owned by PRC companies or individuals as defined under the M&A Rules that are our beneficial owners; (ii) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like ours under this prospectus are subject to the M&A Rules; and (iii) no provision in the M&A Rules clearly classifies contractual arrangements as a type of transaction subject to the M&A Rules.

 

However, there remains some uncertainties as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and its opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do. If it is determined that CSRC approval is required for this offering, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies for failure to seek CSRC approval for this offering. These sanctions may include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A ordinary shares. Furthermore, the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before the settlement and delivery of the Class A ordinary shares that we are offering. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the Class A ordinary shares we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the settlement and delivery may not occur.

 

 

CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTNESS

 

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

 

DILUTION

 

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

 

●

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

 

●

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

 

●

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

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities we offer as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus.

 

DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES

 

Lichen China Limited is an exempted company incorporated under the Companies Act (Revised) of the Cayman Islands, as amended (the “Cayman Islands Companies Act”). Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and amended and restated articles of association, the authorized share capital of our company is US$50,000, divided into 1,000,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each, and 250,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each. As of the date of this prospectus, 18,370,000 Class A ordinary shares and 9,000,000 Class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding.

 

The following are summaries of the material provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and the Cayman Islands Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. Copies of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association are filed as exhibits to the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

General

 

As of the date of this prospectus, under our amended and restated memorandum of association, we are authorized to issue 1,000,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each, and 250,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00004 each. As of the date of this prospectus, 18,370,000 Class A ordinary shares and 9,000,000 Class B ordinary shares are issued and outstanding.

 

Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. All of our issued Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form.

 

Dividends

 

The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our Board of Directors subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The Directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and distributions on the issued and outstanding shares of the Company and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of the Company lawfully available therefor. Dividends may also be declared or paid out of share premium account or otherwise permitted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, provided that in no circumstances may we pay a dividend if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.

 

Voting rights

 

At each general meeting of our company, on a poll or a show of hands, each shareholder who is present in person or by proxy (or, in the case of a shareholder being a corporation, by its duly authorized representative) shall have one (1) vote for each Class A ordinary share and ten (10) votes for each Class B ordinary share which such shareholder holds. The holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares shall at all times vote together as one class on all resolutions of the shareholders. At any general meeting the chairman is responsible for deciding in such manner as he considers appropriate whether any resolution proposed has been carried or not and the result of his decision shall be announced to the meeting and recorded in the minutes of the meeting. At any general meeting, a resolution put to the vote at the meeting shall be decided on a poll unless a show of hand is, before or on the declaration of the result of the poll, demanded by the chairman of such meeting or by one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy.

 

Election of directors

 

Directors may be appointed by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Directors may also be appointed by a resolution of the directors of the Company, provided that the total number of directors (exclusive of alternate directors) shall not at any time exceed the number fixed in accordance with the amended and restated articles of association.

 

 

Meetings of shareholders

 

Any of our directors may convene general meetings of shareholders at such times and in such manner and places within or outside the Cayman Islands as the director considers necessary or desirable. The director convening a general meeting shall give at least five days’ notice of the general meeting to those shareholders whose names on the date the notice is given appear as members in the register of members of the Company and are entitled to vote at the meeting, and each of the Company’s directors. Our Board of Directors must convene a general meeting upon the written request of one or more shareholders holding no less than 10% of the Company’s paid-up capital as at the date of the deposit of the requisition carries the right of voting at general meetings of the Company.

 

No business may be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum is present at the time the meeting proceeds to business. The quorum shall be (i) two or more shareholders present in person or by proxy; or (ii) for so long as any shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (and any other stock exchange on which the Company’s shares are listed for trading), one or more shareholders holding shares that represent not less than one-third of the outstanding issued shares carrying the right to vote at such general meeting. If, within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of shareholders, shall be dissolved. In any other case, it shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such other time or such other place as the directors may determine, and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the shareholders present shall be a quorum and may transact the business for which the meeting was called. The chairman, if any, of our Board of Directors shall preside as chairman at every general meeting of the Company, or if there is no such chairman, or if he shall not be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the general meeting, or is unwilling to act, the directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman of the general meeting.

 

Meetings of directors

 

Subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the amended and restated articles of association of our company, the management of our company is entrusted to our Board of Directors, who will make decisions by voting on resolutions of directors. At any meeting of directors, a quorum will be present if two directors are present, unless otherwise fixed by the directors. If there is a sole director, that director shall be a quorum. A director and his appointed alternate director shall be considered as only one person for the purpose of calculating quorum. An alternate director or proxy appointed by a director shall be counted in a quorum at a meeting at which the director appointing him is not present. An action that may be taken by the directors at a meeting may also be taken by a resolution of directors consented to in writing by all of the directors.

 

Pre-emptive rights

 

There are no pre-emptive rights applicable to the issue by us of Class A ordinary shares under either Cayman Islands law or our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

 

Conversion

 

Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances.

 

Transfer of Ordinary Shares

 

Subject to the restrictions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and applicable securities laws, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares by written instrument of transfer signed by the transferor and containing the name and address of the transferee. Our Board of Directors may resolve by resolution to refuse or delay the registration of the transfer of any Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares without giving any reason.

 

 

Winding Up

 

On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of our shares in proportion to the capital paid up. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the capital paid up.

 

Calls on Ordinary Shares and forfeiture of Ordinary Shares

 

Our Board of Directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time of payment provided that no call shall be payable at less than one month from the date fixed for the payment of the last preceding call. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture if the call remains unpaid after a second notice by the directors in accordance with the amended and restated articles of association.

 

Repurchase of Shares

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit us to purchase our own shares, subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Our directors may only exercise this power on our behalf, subject to the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and to any applicable requirements imposed from time to time by the Nasdaq, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or by any other recognized stock exchange on which our securities are listed.

 

Provided the necessary shareholders and board approval have been obtained, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such manner, provided the requirements under the Cayman Islands Companies Act have been satisfied. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, the repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits, out of the share premium account or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such repurchase, or out of capital. If the repurchase proceeds are paid out of our Company’s capital, our Company must, immediately following the date of such payment, be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, no such share may be repurchased (1) unless it is fully paid up, (2) if such repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding, and (3) unless the manner of purchase (if not so authorized under the amended and restated memorandum and articles of association) has first been authorized by a resolution of our shareholders. In addition, under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our Company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration unless, as a result of the surrender, the surrender would result in there being no shares outstanding (other than shares held as treasury shares).

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

The rights attached to any class or series of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or series), whether or not our company is being wound-up, may be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of three-fourths of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing class of shares. 

 

 

Changes in the number of shares we are authorized to issue and those in issue

 

We may from time to time by resolution of shareholders in the requisite majorities:

 

●

amend our amended and restated memorandum of association to increase the authorized share capital of our Company or cancel any shares which at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person;

 

●

subdivide our authorized and issued shares into a larger number of shares; and

 

●

consolidate our authorized and issued shares into a smaller number of shares.

  

 

Inspection of books and records

 

Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” 

 

Rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders

 

There are no limitations imposed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.

 

Issuance of additional Ordinary Shares

 

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorizes our Board of Directors to issue additional ordinary shares from time to time as our Board of Directors shall determine, to the extent that there are sufficient authorized but unissued shares.

 

Exempted Company

 

We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Cayman Islands Companies Act. The Cayman Islands Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. An exempted company shall not trade in the Cayman Islands with any person, firm or corporation except in furtherance of the business of the exempted company carried on outside the Cayman Islands:

 

●

does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;

 

●

is not required to open its register of members for inspection;

 

●

does not have to hold an annual general meeting;

 

●

is prohibited from making any invitation to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of its securities if it is not listed on the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange;

 

●

may issue bearer shares or shares with no par value;

 

●

may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (for a period of up to 30 years);

 

●

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

 

●

may register as an exempted limited duration company; and

 

●

may register as a segregated portfolio company.

 

“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company.

 

 

Differences in Corporate Law

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act is modeled after that of English law but does not follow recent English statutory enactments. In addition, the Cayman Islands Companies Act differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Cayman Islands Companies Act applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware.

 

Mergers and Similar Arrangements

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, a “merger” means the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such companies as the surviving company, and a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated company.

 

In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent company, and such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association.

 

The plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with the requisite declarations and undertakings required under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, including a declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette. Dissenting shareholders have the right to be paid the fair value of their shares if they follow the required procedures, under the Cayman Islands Companies Act subject to certain exceptions. The fair value of the shares will be determined by the Cayman Islands court if it cannot be agreed among the parties. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.

  

In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act provides that shareholders of companies incorporated in Cayman Islands have rights of dissent and appraisal and are entitled to be paid the fair value of their shares upon dissenting to a merger or consolidation.

 

A company that has received any notice of dissent must, within specified time periods, make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase its shares at a price that the company determines to be the fair value, and if agreed by the shareholder, monies must be paid to the dissenting shareholder within thirty days of the offer being made. If no price is agreed upon, the company must file a petition with the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for a determination of the fair value of the shares of all dissenting shareholders and any dissenting shareholders is permitted to be involved in those proceedings.

 

If the arrangement and reconstruction is thus sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out” of dissentient minority shareholders upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of not less than 90% of the shares which are subject to the offer within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands.

 

 

Shareholders’ Suits and Protection of Minority Shareholders

 

In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Grand Court can be expected to apply and follow the common law principles (namely the rule derived from the seminal English case of Foss v. Harbottle, and the exceptions thereto, which limits the circumstances in which a shareholder may bring a derivative action on behalf of the company or a personal action to claim loss which is reflective of loss suffered by the company) which permit a minority shareholder to commence a class action against, or derivative actions in the name of the company to challenge the following acts in the following circumstances:

 

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a company acts or proposes to act illegally or ultra vires;

 

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an irregularity in the passing of a resolution which requires a special majority; and

  

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an act which constitutes a fraud on the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company, so that they will not cause the company to bring an action.

 

In the case of a company (not being a bank) having its share capital divided into shares, the Grand Court may, on the application of members holding not less than one fifth of the shares of the company in issue, appoint an inspector to examine the affairs of the company and to report thereon in such manner as the Grand Court shall direct.

 

Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability

 

The Cayman Islands Companies Act does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such indemnification may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such unless such losses or damages shall incur or sustain by or through their own wilful neglect or default respectively. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.

 

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

 

Directors’ Fiduciary Duties

 

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

 

 

As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he or she owes the following duties to the company - a duty to act in good faith in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a personal profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him or her to do so), a duty not to put himself or herself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third party and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.

  

Shareholder Action by Written Consent

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Our articles of association provide that shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.

 

Shareholder Proposals

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the Board of Directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings. The Cayman Islands Companies Act does not provide shareholders of a Cayman exempted company with any rights to requisition a general meeting nor any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in articles of association. Our articles of association allow our shareholders holding 10% or more of the paid-up capital of the Company to requisition a general meeting. Other than this right to requisition a general meeting, our articles of association do not provide our shareholders other right to put a proposal before a meeting. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings unless expressly provided under the articles of association.

 

Cumulative Voting

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a Board of Directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the Cayman Islands Companies Act but our articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting.

 

Removal of Directors

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a director of a corporation may be removed with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our articles of association, directors may be removed with or without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders.

  

Transactions with Interested Shareholders

 

The Delaware corporate law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an “interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s Board of Directors. The Cayman Islands Companies Act has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, as mentioned above the directors have certain fiduciary duties including a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company. Our articles of association require directors to disclose the nature of their interest in any contract or transaction at or prior to the Board of Directors’ consideration of such contract or transaction and any vote thereon.

 

 

Dissolution; Winding up

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, unless the Board of Directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the Board of Directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its shareholders. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances, including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so. Under the Cayman Islands Companies Act and our articles of association, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Variation of Rights of Shares

 

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

 

Amendment of Governing Documents

 

Under the Delaware corporate law, a corporation’s governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by the Cayman Islands Companies Act, our memorandum and articles of association may only be amended with a special resolution of our shareholders.

 

Listing

 

We have our Class A ordinary shares listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “LICN.”

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A ordinary shares is Vstock Transfer, LLC.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement shall fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus or as an exhibit to a report filed under the Exchange Act.

 

General

 

We may issue warrants that entitle the holder to purchase ordinary shares, debt securities or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with ordinary shares, debt securities or any combination thereof, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

 

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:

 

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the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

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the currency for which the warrants may be purchased, if not United States dollars;

 

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if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

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if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

	●	in the case of warrants to purchase ordinary shares, the number of ordinary shares purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;
	●	in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency, if not United States dollars, in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

	●	the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;
	●	the term of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
	●	any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

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the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

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the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

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federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

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the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and

 

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any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

 

 

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

 

●

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or

 

●

in the case of warrants to purchase our ordinary shares, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

 

Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

 

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

 

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

 

Each warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

 

Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act

 

No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants.

 

Modification of the Warrant Agreement

 

The warrant agreements may permit us and the warrant agent, if any, without the consent of the warrant holders, to supplement or amend the agreement in the following circumstances:

 

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to cure any ambiguity;

 

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to correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions; or

 

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to add new provisions regarding matters or questions that we and the warrant agent may deem necessary or desirable and which do not adversely affect the interests of the warrant holders.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

As used in this prospectus, debt securities mean the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness, which may or may not be converted into our ordinary shares, that we may issue from time to time. The debt securities may be either secured or unsecured and will either be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities may be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee to be specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Senior debt securities will be issued under a new senior indenture. Subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior indentures and the subordinated indentures are sometimes referred to in this prospectus as the indentures. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, will describe the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

The statements and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement regarding provisions of the indentures and debt securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indentures (and any amendments or supplements we may enter into from time to time which are permitted under each indenture) and the debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

 

General

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be direct unsecured obligations of Lichen China Limited. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any senior indebtedness.

 

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue and provide that we may issue debt securities from time to time at par or at a discount, and in the case of the new indentures, if any, in one or more series, with the same or various maturities. Unless indicated in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of debt securities under the applicable indenture.

 

Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to the specific series of debt securities being offered. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

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the title of the debt securities and whether they are subordinated debt securities or senior debt securities;

 

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

 

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the ability to issue additional debt securities of the same series;

 

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the price or prices at which we will sell the debt securities;

 

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the maturity date or dates of the debt securities on which principal will be payable;

 

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the rate or rates of interest, if any, which may be fixed or variable, at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method of determining such rate or rates, if any;

 

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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or the method by which such date or dates will be determined;

 

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the conversion price at which the debt securities may be converted;

 

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the date on which the right to convert the debt securities will commence and the date on which the right will expire;

 

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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of debt securities that may be converted at any one time;

 

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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;

 

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whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices, and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;

 

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the dates on which we will pay interest on the debt securities and the regular record date for determining who is entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

 

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the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities will be payable, where any securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, as applicable, and notices and demands may be delivered to or upon us pursuant to the indenture;

 

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if we possess the option to do so, the periods within which and the prices at which we may redeem the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any such provisions;

 

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our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods within which and the price or prices at which we will redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and conditions of such obligation;

 

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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

 

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the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the principal amount of the debt securities which we must pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities in connection with an event of default (as described below), if other than the full principal amount;

 

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the currency, currencies or currency unit in which we will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities, if not United States dollars;

 

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provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

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any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or our covenants with respect to the applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such events of default or covenants are consistent with those contained in the applicable indenture;

 

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any limitation on our ability to incur debt, redeem shares, sell our assets or other restrictions;

 

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the application, if any, of the terms of the indenture relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described below) to the debt securities;

 

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whether the subordination provisions summarized below or different subordination provisions will apply to the debt securities;

 

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the terms, if any, upon which the holders may convert or exchange the debt securities into or for our ordinary shares or other securities or property;

 

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whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated debt securities;

 

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any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable because of an event of default;

 

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the depository for global or certificated debt securities;

 

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any special tax implications of the debt securities;

 

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any foreign tax consequences applicable to the debt securities, including any debt securities denominated and made payable, as described in the prospectus supplements, in foreign currencies, or units based on or related to foreign currencies;

 

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any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars, or other agents with respect to the debt securities;

 

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any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the provisions of the indentures, as amended or supplemented;

 

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to whom any interest on any debt security shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name the security is registered, on the record date for such interest, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global debt security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in the applicable indenture;

 

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if the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities of the series is to be payable in one or more currencies or currency units other than as stated, the currency, currencies or currency units in which it shall be paid and the periods within and terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amounts payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

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the portion of the principal amount of any securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities pursuant to the applicable indenture if other than the entire principal amount; and

 

 

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if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt security of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such securities as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which shall be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined).

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange and will be issued in fully-registered form without coupons.

 

Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe any special considerations and certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

 

Conversion of Debt Securities

 

The debt securities may entitle the holder to purchase, in exchange for the extinguishment of debt, an amount of securities at a conversion price that will be stated in the debt securities. If such debt securities are convertible, unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be convertible at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the terms of such debt securities. After the close of business on the expiration date, the debt securities not converted will be paid in accordance with their terms.

 

Subordination

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of subordinated debt securities will describe the specific subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any existing senior indebtedness.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, under the subordinated indenture, “senior indebtedness” means all amounts due on obligations in connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the date of execution of the subordinated indenture, or thereafter incurred or created:

 

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the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest due on our indebtedness for borrowed money and indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

 

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all of our capital lease obligations or attributable debt (as defined in the indentures) in respect of sale and leaseback transactions;

 

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all obligations representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable or any similar obligation to trade creditors;

 

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all of our obligations in respect of interest rate swap agreements (whether from fixed to floating or from floating to fixed), interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements; other agreements or arrangements designed to manage interest rates or interest rate risk; and other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against fluctuations in currency exchange rates or commodity prices;

 

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all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons for the payment of which we are responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

 

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all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of ours (whether or not such obligation is assumed by us).

 

However, senior indebtedness does not include:

 

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any indebtedness which expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, or that such indebtedness shall be subordinated to any other of our indebtedness, unless such indebtedness expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities;

 

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any of our obligations to our subsidiaries or of a subsidiary guarantor to us or any other of our other subsidiaries;

 

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any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us or any subsidiary guarantor,

 

 

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any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);

 

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any obligations with respect to any capital stock;

 

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any indebtedness incurred in violation of the indenture, provided that indebtedness under our credit facilities will not cease to be senior indebtedness under this bullet point if the lenders of such indebtedness obtained an officer’s certificate as of the date of incurrence of such indebtedness to the effect that such indebtedness was permitted to be incurred by the indenture; and

 

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any of our indebtedness in respect of the subordinated debt securities.

 

Senior indebtedness shall continue to be senior indebtedness and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such senior indebtedness.

 

Unless otherwise noted in an accompanying prospectus supplement, if we default in the payment of any principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any senior indebtedness when it becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, we will make no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) in respect of the principal of or interest on the subordinated debt securities or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other requisition of any of the subordinated debt securities.

 

In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any subordinated debt securities, the holders of all senior debt securities outstanding at the time of such acceleration, subject to any security interest, will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due on the senior debt securities before the holders of the subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the subordinated debt securities.

 

If any of the following events occurs, we will pay in full all senior indebtedness before we make any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, to any holder of subordinated debt securities:

 

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any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of Lichen China Limited, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy,

 

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insolvency or receivership;

 

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any general assignment by us for the benefit of creditors; or

 

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any other marshaling of our assets or liabilities.

 

In such event, any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or other property, which would otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly to the holders of senior indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all senior indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in contravention of any of the terms of the subordinated indenture and before all the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, such payment or distribution will be received in trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the senior indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all senior indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such senior indebtedness in full.

 

The subordinated indenture does not limit the issuance of additional senior indebtedness.

 

 

Events of Default, Notice and Waiver

 

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, the following shall constitute “events of default” under the indentures with respect to each series of debt securities:

 

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we default for 30 consecutive days in the payment when due of interest on the debt securities;

 

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we default in the payment when due (at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise) of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the debt securities;

 

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our failure to observe or perform any other of our covenants or agreements with respect to such debt securities for 60 days after we receive notice of such failure;

 

●

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization Lichen China Limited; or

 

●

any other event of default provided with respect to securities of that series.

 

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, if an event of default with respect to any debt securities of any series outstanding under either of the indentures shall occur and be continuing, the trustee under such indenture or the holders of at least 25% (or at least 10%, in respect of a remedy (other than acceleration) for certain events of default relating to the payment of dividends) in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by notice as provided in the applicable indenture, the principal amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided that, in the case of an event of default involving certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration is automatic; and, provided further, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the nonpayment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to any original issue discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of maturity thereof.

 

Any past default under either indenture with respect to debt securities of any series, and any event of default arising therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of such series outstanding under such indenture, except in the case of (1) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series or (2) certain events of default relating to the payment of dividends.

 

The trustee is required within 90 days after the occurrence of a default (which is known to the trustee and is continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series (without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice of such default.

 

The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with the required standard of care, may require indemnification by the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indentures at the request of the holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series under either indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the applicable indenture and the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any action against us under either of the indentures (except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with its terms) unless (1) the holder has given to the trustee written notice of an event of default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series specifying an event of default, as required under the applicable indenture, (2) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding under such indenture shall have requested the trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (3) the trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request and (4) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series. We are required to furnish annually to the trustee statements as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under each indenture.

 

 

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We may discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as set forth below, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of debt securities issued under either the senior indenture or the subordinated indenture which have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation by irrevocably depositing with the trustee money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities which have become due and payable) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and we or, if applicable, any guarantor, have paid all other sums payable under the applicable indenture.

 

If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may elect either (1) to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of or within any series (except in all cases as otherwise provided in the relevant indenture) (“legal defeasance”) or (2) to be released from our obligations with respect to certain covenants applicable to the debt securities of or within any series (“covenant defeasance”), upon the deposit with the relevant indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money and/or government obligations which through the payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As a condition to legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion of counsel, in the case of legal defeasance under clause (i) above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law occurring after the date of the relevant indenture. In addition, in the case of either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee (1) if applicable, an officer’s certificate to the effect that the relevant debt securities exchange(s) have informed us that neither such debt securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit and (2) an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

 

We may exercise our defeasance option with respect to such debt securities notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option.

 

Modification and Waiver

 

Under the indentures, unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, we and the applicable trustee may supplement the indentures for certain purposes which would not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of those holders. We and the applicable trustee may also modify the indentures or any supplemental indenture in a manner that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt securities with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series issued under the indenture. However, the indentures require the consent of each holder of debt securities that would be affected by any modification which would:

 

●

reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

●

reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or, except as provided in any prospectus supplement, alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of the debt securities;

 

●

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest, including default interest, on any debt security;

 

●

waive a default or event of default in the payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on, the debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

●

make any debt security payable in money other than that stated in the debt securities;

 

 

●

make any change in the provisions of the applicable indenture relating to waivers of past defaults or the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the debt securities;

 

●

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security (except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement);

 

●

except in connection with an offer by us to purchase all debt securities, (1) waive certain events of default relating to the payment of dividends or (2) amend certain covenants relating to the payment of dividends and the purchase or redemption of certain equity interests;

 

●

make any change to the subordination or ranking provisions of the indenture or the related definitions that adversely affect the rights of any holder; or

 

●

make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions.

 

The indentures permit the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under the indenture which is affected by the modification or amendment to waive our compliance with certain covenants contained in the indentures.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the interest.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as we may designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at our option, payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, a paying agent designated by us will act as paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for the payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable will be repaid to us upon request, and the holder of such debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

 

 

Denominations, Registrations and Transfer

 

Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise, debt securities will be represented by one or more global certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The Depository Trust Company, or DTC. In such case, each holder’s beneficial interest in the global securities will be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial interests will only be effected through DTC’s records.

 

A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial interest in a global security for certificated securities registered in the holder’s name if:

 

●

we deliver to the trustee notice from DTC that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as depository or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 120 days after the date of such notice from DTC;

 

●

we in our sole discretion determine that the debt securities (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for definitive debt securities and deliver a written notice to such effect to the trustee; or

 

●

there has occurred and is continuing a default or event of default with respect to the debt securities.

 

If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination. Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be registered at the trustee’s corporate office or at the offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by us under the indentures. Exchanges of debt securities for an equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different denominations may also be made at such locations.

  

Governing Law

 

The indentures and debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws, except to the extent the Trust Indenture Act is applicable or as otherwise agreed to by the parties thereto.

 

Trustee

 

The trustee or trustees under the indentures will be named in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares or other debt securities. These terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. These provisions may allow or require the number of shares of our ordinary shares or other securities to be received by the holders of such series of debt securities to be adjusted. Any such conversion or exchange will comply with applicable Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

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

 

The applicable prospectus supplement may describe:

 

●

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

 

●

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and

 

●

whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

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

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARE PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND SHARE PURCHASE UNITS

 

We may issue share purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and obligating us to sell to the holders, a specified number of ordinary shares or other securities registered hereunder at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “share purchase contracts.” The price per share of the securities and the number of shares of the securities may be fixed at the time the share purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the share purchase contracts.

 

The share purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a share purchase contract and debt securities, warrants, other securities registered hereunder, which we refer to herein as “share purchase units.” The share purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the share purchase contracts in a specified manner. The share purchase contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the share purchase units or vice versa, and those payments may be unsecured or refunded on some basis.

 

The share purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the share purchase contracts or share purchase units, will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of share purchase contracts or share purchase units. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of share purchase contracts or share purchase units will describe the terms of those share purchase contracts or share purchase units, including the following:

 

●

if applicable, a discussion of material tax considerations; and

 

●

any other information we think is important about the share purchase contracts or the share purchase units.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to purchase ordinary shares that we may offer to our securityholders. The rights may or may not be transferable by the persons purchasing or receiving the rights. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agent agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

 

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

 

●

the date of determining the securityholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

●

the aggregate number of rights issued and the aggregate number of ordinary shares purchasable upon exercise of the rights;

 

●

the exercise price;

 

●

the conditions to completion of the rights offering;

 

●

the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the rights will expire; and

 

●

applicable tax considerations.

 

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

 

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

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities described in this prospectus through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to one or more purchasers, “at-the-market” offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades  or through a combination of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

●

the name or names of any underwriters, if any, and if required, any dealers or agents, and the amount of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them, if any;

 

●

the public offering price or purchase price of the securities from us and the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

 

●

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

●

any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and

 

●

any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.

 

We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:

 

●

a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

●

market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

●

varying prices determined at the time of sale related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

●

negotiated prices.

 

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

 

If we use underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will either acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or sell the Shares on a “best efforts, minimum/maximum basis” when the underwriters agree to do their best to sell the securities to the public. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time.

 

If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, the securities will be sold directly to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

 

Our ordinary shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Unless otherwise specified in the related prospectus supplement, all securities we offer, other than ordinary shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We may apply to list any series of warrants or other securities that we offer on an exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. Therefore, there may not be liquidity or a trading market for any series of securities.

 

We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we may pay the agent in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase securities directly and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

 

 

TAXATION

 

Cayman Islands Taxation

 

The Cayman Islands government currently imposes no taxes on companies or individuals relating to profits, income or dividends, capital gains, death or succession. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is a party to a double tax arrangement entered with the United Kingdom in 2010, but otherwise is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.

 

As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, the Company is required to pay an annual government fee (“Government Fee”), which is determined on a sliding scale by reference to the level of its authorized share capital. The Government Fee is payable at the end of January in every year and is based on the level of the authorized share capital at the time when the fee is due.

 

Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Class A Ordinary Shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Class A Ordinary Shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our Class A Ordinary Shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.

 

No stamp duty is payable in the Cayman Islands in respect of the issue of the shares or on an instrument of transfer in respect of a share of a Cayman company, except those which hold interests in land in the Cayman Islands and that stamp duty will be payable on an instrument of transfer if it is executed in or brought to the Cayman Islands, or produced before a Cayman Islands court.

 

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

Information regarding United States Federal Income Tax Considerations is set forth under the heading “10.E. Taxation - United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act.

 

EXPENSES

 

The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the offering of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee		$	14,760
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority fee		$	*
Legal fees and expenses		$	*
Accounting fees and expenses		$	*
Miscellaneous		$	*
Total		$	*

 

*	To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a report of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement. Estimated solely for this item. Actual expenses may vary.

 

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

 

Our material contracts are described in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” below.

 

MATERIAL CHANGES

 

Except as otherwise described in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F, in our Reports on Form 6-K furnished under the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference herein and as disclosed in this prospectus, no reportable material changes have occurred since June 30, 2023.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

We are being represented by Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The legality and validity of the securities offered from time to time under this prospectus under the laws of the Cayman Islands was passed upon by Appleby. Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP may rely upon Appleby with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law.

 

If legal matters in connection with offerings made pursuant to this prospectus are passed upon by counsel to underwriters, dealers, or agents, such counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any such offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of TPS Thayer, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of TPS Thayer is located at 1600 Hwy 6 Suite 100, Sugar Land, TX 77478. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2020, as incorporated by reference herein and elsewhere in the registration statement have been so included in reliance on the report of Briggs & Veselka Co., an independent registered public accounting firm, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. The office of Briggs & Veselka Co. is located at 9 Greenway Plaza #1700, Houston, TX 77046.

 

INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

No named expert of or counselor to us was employed on a contingent basis, or owns an amount of our shares (or those of our subsidiaries) which is material to that person, or has a material, direct or indirect economic interest in us or that depends on the success of the offering. 

 

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands because of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands entity, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions and the availability of professional and support services. However, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides protections for investors to a lesser extent. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States.

 

Substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, a majority of our directors and officers are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States, and all or a substantial portion of such persons’ assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons or to enforce against us or them, judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof.

 

Lichen China Limited has appointed Cogency Global Inc. as the agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States. Cogency Global Inc. will be engaged by the officers and directors who are residents of a foreign country to accept service for any action under the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against such officers and directors.

  

We have been advised by our counsel as to Cayman Islands law that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (1) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against the Company or its directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, or (2) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against the Company or its directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. Furthermore, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law has advised us that, as of the date of this prospectus, no treaty or other form of reciprocity exists between the Cayman Islands and United States governing the recognition and enforcement of judgments.

 

Our counsel as to Cayman Islands law has informed us that the uncertainty with regard to Cayman Islands law relates to whether a judgment obtained from the United States courts under civil liability provisions of the securities laws will be determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands as penal or punitive in nature. If such a determination is made, the courts of the Cayman Islands will not recognize or enforce the judgment against a Cayman company. As the courts of the Cayman Islands have yet to rule on whether such judgments are penal or punitive in nature, it is uncertain whether they would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands.

 

Our counsel as to Cayman Islands law has further advised us that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, a judgment obtained in the United States will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment (1) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (2) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (3) is final, (4) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty and (5) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the documents we file with, or furnish to, it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information that we incorporate by reference into this prospectus forms a part of this prospectus. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

 

	●	our Annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on May 1, 2023;
	●	our report of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K, furnished to the SEC on October 13, 2023 and February 6, 2024;
	●	the description of our Class A ordinary shares contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on September 7, 2022, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description;
	●	any future annual reports on Form 20-F filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities offered by this prospectus; and
	●	any future reports of foreign private issuer on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus that are identified in such reports as being incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

  

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

 

Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. Copies of all documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to those document unless such exhibits are specially incorporated by reference in this prospectus, will be provided at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, who receives a copy of this prospectus on the written or oral request of that person made to:

 

15th Floor, Xingang Square, Hubin North Road,

Siming District, Xiamen City,

Fujian Province, China, 361013

+86-592-5586999

 

You should rely only on the information that we incorporate by reference or provide in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making any offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated in this prospectus by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document containing the information.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus omits certain information and exhibits that are included in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Since this prospectus may not contain all of the information that you may find important, you should review the full text of these documents. If we have filed a contract, agreement, or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement in this prospectus, including statements incorporated by reference as discussed above, regarding a contract, agreement, or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

 

We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All information filed with the SEC can be inspected over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors, and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic or current reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,380,000 Class A Ordinary Shares

 

Lichen China Limited

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

May 2, 2024

 

 

 

 

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