Item
3. KEY INFORMATION
A.
Selected Financial Data
The
following table sets forth selected historical statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019
and 2020, and selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2019 and 2020,which have been derived from our audited consolidated
financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. The following selected historical statements of operations data
for the year ended December 31, 2018 and selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 have been derived from TKK’s
audited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report but can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020. Selected financial data for the year ended and as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and selected
balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 have not been presented as these cannot be provided without unreasonable effort
or expense. The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Historical results are not
necessarily indicative of the results for any future periods.
|
|
For the Years Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018(1)
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except
share and per share data)
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising revenue
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
48,391
|
|
|
|
104,664
|
|
Customized content production revenue
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
9,098
|
|
|
|
10,200
|
|
Copyrights revenue
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
7,369
|
|
|
|
6,883
|
|
CHEERS e-Mall marketplace service revenue
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
670
|
|
|
|
1,517
|
|
Other revenue
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
499
|
|
Total revenues:
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
65,777
|
|
|
$
|
123,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(31,901
|
)
|
|
|
(38,481
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(3,154
|
)
|
|
|
(43,827
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(3,134
|
)
|
|
|
(10,095
|
)
|
Research and development
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(749
|
)
|
|
|
(691
|
)
|
Operating costs
|
|
|
277
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
277
|
|
|
|
(38,938
|
)
|
|
|
(93,094
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,839
|
|
|
|
30,669
|
|
Other (expenses) income:
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(295
|
)
|
|
|
(282
|
)
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
531
|
|
Interest income on marketable securities held in Trust Account
|
|
|
1,947
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities held in Trust Account
|
|
|
(61
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total other (expenses) income
|
|
|
(1,886
|
)
|
|
|
(245
|
)
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income tax
|
|
|
1,609
|
|
|
|
26,594
|
|
|
|
30,918
|
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(1,673
|
)
|
Net income
|
|
|
1,609
|
|
|
|
26,403
|
|
|
|
29,245
|
|
Less: net gain (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
Net income attributable to Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited’s shareholders
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
26,323
|
|
|
$
|
29,276
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive (loss) income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized foreign currency translation (loss) gain
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(974
|
)
|
|
|
6,495
|
|
Comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,429
|
|
|
|
35,740
|
|
Less: comprehensive gain (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
Comprehensive income attributable to Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited’s shareholders
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
25,355
|
|
|
$
|
35,744
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per ordinary share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.64
|
|
|
$
|
0.54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares used in calculating earnings per ordinary share
|
|
|
6,592,952
|
|
|
|
41,204,025
|
|
|
|
53,844,237
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per ordinary share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dilutive
|
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)(2)
|
|
$
|
0.57
|
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares used in calculating earnings per ordinary share
|
|
|
6,592,952
|
(3)
|
|
|
46,484,025
|
|
|
|
59,126,237
|
|
Dilutive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
Derived
from historical financial data prior to the Business Combination.
|
|
(2)
|
Adjusted
net loss per ordinary share – basic and diluted excludes income attributable to
ordinary shares subject to possible redemption of $1,852,344 for the period from February
5, 2018 (inception) through December 31, 2018.
|
|
(3)
|
Excludes
an aggregate of up to 24,553,676 shares subject to possible redemption at December 31,
2018.
|
Selected
Balance Sheet Information:
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2018(1)
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
407
|
|
|
$
|
6,919
|
|
|
$
|
17,731
|
|
Short-term investment
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,732
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
51,061
|
|
|
|
81,110
|
|
Prepayment and other assets
|
|
|
120
|
|
|
|
2,499
|
|
|
|
2,544
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
527
|
|
|
|
60,479
|
|
|
|
103,117
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
331
|
|
|
|
251
|
|
Intangible assets, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
14,683
|
|
|
|
15,632
|
|
Deferred tax assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
533
|
|
|
|
760
|
|
Unamortized produced content, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,657
|
|
|
|
1,300
|
|
Right-of-use assets
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,027
|
|
|
|
1,689
|
|
Prepayments and other assets, net
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
20,647
|
|
Marketable securities held in Trust Account
|
|
|
251,886
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
|
251,886
|
|
|
|
19,231
|
|
|
|
40,279
|
|
TOTAL ASSETS
|
|
$
|
252,413
|
|
|
$
|
79,710
|
|
|
$
|
143,396
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term bank loans
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
718
|
|
|
$
|
5,160
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
4,546
|
|
|
|
7,887
|
|
Advances from customers
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
610
|
|
|
|
609
|
|
Accrued liabilities and other payables
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
6,134
|
|
|
|
11,291
|
|
Other taxes payable
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,890
|
|
|
|
7,894
|
|
Operating lease liabilities -current
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
313
|
|
|
|
385
|
|
Due to related parties
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,525
|
|
|
|
730
|
|
Convertible promissory note - related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,400
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
15,736
|
|
|
|
35,356
|
|
Long-term bank loan
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,374
|
|
Operating lease liabilities - non-current
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,718
|
|
|
|
1,386
|
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,718
|
|
|
|
2,760
|
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES
|
|
$
|
24
|
|
|
$
|
17,454
|
|
|
$
|
38,116
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, 24,553,676 shares at redemption value of $10.08 per share at December 31, 2018
|
|
|
247,389
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL GLORY STAR NEW MEDIA GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
79,710
|
|
|
|
143,396
|
|
|
(1)
|
Derived
from historical financial data prior to the Business Combination.
|
Selected
Key Metrics
In
addition to other financial measures presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we monitor
the following key metrics to manage our business:
CHEERS
App Downloads
The table below sets forth the total number
of downloads of the CHEERS App for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively:
|
|
As of
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in Millions)
|
|
CHEERS App Downloads
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
169
|
|
Daily Active Users (DAUs)
The table below sets forth the DAUs on
our CHEES APP for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively:
|
|
The years ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in Millions)
|
|
DAUs
|
|
|
1.91
|
|
|
|
5.37
|
|
Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)
The table below sets forth the total GMV
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively:
|
|
The years ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in Millions of
U.S. Dollars)
|
|
GMV
|
|
$
|
19.36
|
|
|
$
|
132
|
|
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not
Applicable.
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not
Applicable.
D.
Risk Factors
You
should consider carefully all of the following risk factors and all the other information contained in this report, including
the financial statements. This report also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of specific factors, including
the risks described below. The risk factors described below are not necessarily exhaustive and you are encouraged to perform your
own investigation with respect to us and our business.
Risks
Relating to Our Business and Industry
There
are many risks and uncertainties that may affect our operations, performance, development and results. Many of these risks are
beyond our control. The following is a description of the important risk factors that may affect our business. If any of these
risks were to actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial may also materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
If
we fail to anticipate user preferences and provide high-quality content, especially popular original content, in a cost-effective
manner, we may not be able to attract and retain users to remain competitive.
Our
success depends on our ability to maintain and grow users and user time spent on the CHEERS App. To attract and retain users and
compete against our competitors, we must continue to offer high-quality content, especially popular original content that provides
our users with a superior online entertainment experience. To this end, we must continue to produce new original content and source
new talent and producers in a cost effective manner. Given that we operate in a rapidly evolving industry, we must anticipate
user preferences and industry trends and respond to such trends in a timely and effective manner. If we fail to fulfill the needs
and preferences of our users in order to deliver a superior user experience or control our costs in doing so, we may suffer from
reduced user traffic, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We
currently rely on our in-house team of employees to generate creative ideas for original content and to supervise the original
content origination and production process and intend to continue to invest our human and capital resources in such content production.
We face fierce competition for qualified personnel in a limited pool of high-quality creative talent. If we are not able to compete
effectively for highly qualified personnel or attract and retain top talent at reasonable costs, our original content production
capabilities would be materially and adversely impacted. If we are unable to offer popular original content that addresses our
users’ tastes and preferences in a cost effective manner, we may suffer a reduction in user traffic and our business, financial
condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We
operate in a capital intensive industry and require a significant amount of cash to fund our operations and to produce or acquire
high quality video content. If we fail to obtain sufficient capital to fund our operations, our business, financial condition
and future prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
The
operation of an internet video streaming content provider and producer of television shows requires significant and continuous
investment in content production or acquisition and video production technology. Producing high-quality original content is costly
and time-consuming and typically requires a long period of time in order to realize a return on investment, if at all. If we cannot
obtain adequate capital to meet our capital needs, we may not be able to fully execute our strategic plans for growth and our
business, financial condition and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
If
our efforts to retain users and attract new users for our mobile and on-line video content and e-commerce products are not successful,
our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected.
In
addition to our content production for television shows, we have experienced significant user growth for our mobile and on-line
video and e-commerce products over the past several years. Our ability to continue to retain users and attract new users will
depend in part on our ability to consistently provide our users with compelling content choices, as well as a quality experience
for selecting and viewing video content. If we introduce new features or service offerings, or change the mix of existing features
and services offerings, in a manner that is not favorably received by our users, we may not be able to attract and retain users
and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
If
we fail to retain existing or attract new advertising customers to advertise within our mobile and online video content or on
our e-commerce platform, maintain and increase our wallet share of advertising budget, or if we are unable to collect accounts
receivable in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We
generate a substantial part of our revenues from advertising placed within our mobile and online video content and on our e-commerce
platform. Our advertising customers are not under long term contracts, we may not be able to retain our advertising customers
in the future, attract new advertising customers continuously or be able to retain our advertising customers at all. If our advertising
customers find that they can generate better returns elsewhere, or if our competitors provide better online advertising services
to suit the advertising customers’ goals, we may lose some or all of our advertising customers. In addition, third parties
may develop and use certain technologies to block the display of online advertisements, and should this occur our members will
be able to skip the viewing of our advertising customers’ advertisements, which may in turn cause us to lose advertising
customers. If our advertising customers determine that their expenditures on internet video streaming platforms or our video content
does not generate expected returns, they may allocate a portion or all of their advertising budgets to other advertising channels
such as television, newspapers and magazines or other internet channels such as e-commerce and social media platforms, and reduce
or discontinue business with us. Since most of our advertising customers are not bound by long-term contracts, they may easily
reduce or discontinue advertising arrangements without incurring material liabilities. Failure to retain existing advertising
customers or attract new advertising customers to advertise within the video content produced by us or on our e-commerce platform
may materially and adversely affect our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
Our
brand advertising customers typically enter into advertising agreements through various third-party advertising agencies. In China’s
advertising industry, advertising agencies typically have good relationships and maintain longer periods of cooperation with the
brand advertising customers they represent. In addition to entering into advertising contracts directly with advertising customers,
we also enter into advertising contracts with third-party advertising agencies, which represent advertising customers, even if
we have direct contact with such advertisers. As a result, we rely on third-party advertising agencies for sales to, and collection
of payment from, our brand advertisers. The financial soundness of our advertising customers and advertising agencies may affect
our collection of accounts receivable. We make a credit assessment of our advertising customers and advertising agencies to evaluate
the collectability of the advertising service fees before entering into an advertising contract. However, we may not be able to
accurately assess the creditworthiness of each advertising customer or advertising agency, and any inability of advertising customers
or advertising agencies to pay us for our services in a timely manner would negatively affect our liquidity and cash flows and
may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We
operate in a highly competitive market and we may not be able to compete effectively.
We
face significant competition in China in various sub-markets we operate, primarily from Alibaba (Nasdaq: BABA), Pin Duoduo (Nasdaq:PDD),
Douyu (Nasdaq: DOYU), Qu Toutiao (Nasdaq: QTT), Mango Media (SZ.300413), and TVZone Media (SH.603721). We compete for users, usage
time, advertising customers, and shoppers. Some of our competitors have a longer operating history and significantly greater financial
resources than we do, and, in turn, may be able to attract and retain more users, usage time and advertising customers. Our competitors
may compete with us in a variety of ways, including by conducting brand promotions and other marketing activities, and making
investments in and acquisitions of our business partners. If any of our competitors achieves greater market acceptance than we
do or are able to offer more attractive internet video content, our user traffic and our market share may decrease, which may
result in a loss of advertising customers, shoppers, and users, as well as have a material and adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations. We also face competition for users and user time from major television stations,
which are increasing their internet video offerings. We also face competition from users and user time from other internet media
and entertainment services, such as internet and social media platforms that offer content in emerging and innovative media formats.
The
success of our business depends on our ability to maintain and enhance our brand.
We
believe that maintaining and enhancing our brand is of significant importance to the success of our business. Our well-recognized
brand is critical to increasing our user base and, in turn, expanding our shoppers for our e-commerce platform and attractiveness
to advertising customers and content providers. Since the internet video industry is highly competitive, maintaining and enhancing
our brand depends largely on our ability to become and remain a market leader in China, which may be difficult and expensive to
accomplish. To the extent our original content is perceived as low quality or otherwise not appealing to users, our ability to
maintain and enhance our brand may be adversely impacted which in turn may result in a loss of users for our mobile and online
video and e-commerce platform.
Increases
in professionally-produced content, or PPC, by others may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
We
depend on the quality of our PPC for the success of our business model. The amount of PPC, especially TV series and movies, has
recently increased significantly in China and may continue to increase in the future. Due to relatively robust online advertising
budgets, internet video streaming platforms are generating more revenues and are competing aggressively to produce and license
more PPC in general. As the demand for quality PPC grows, the number of PPC producers will likely grow, resulting in an increase
in competition for our users and usage time, which in turn may result in a loss of advertising customers, users, and shoppers
on our e-commerce platform. Any significant loss in advertising customers, users, or shoppers on our e-commerce platform would
have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
continued and collaborative efforts of our senior management and key employees are crucial to our success, and any loss of senior
management or key employees may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our
success depends on the continued and collaborative efforts of our senior management, especially our executive officers, including
our founder, Mr. Bing Zhang. If one or more of our executives or other key personnel are unable or unwilling to continue to provide
their services, we may not be able to find suitable replacements easily or at all. Competition for management and key personnel
is intense and the pool of qualified candidates is limited. We may not be able to retain the services of our executives or key
personnel, or attract and retain experienced executives or key personnel in the future. If any of our executive officers or key
employees joins a competitor or forms a competing business, we may lose crucial business secrets, technological know-how, advertisers
and other valuable resources. Each of our executive officers and key employees has entered into an employment agreement, which
contains non-compete provisions. However, we cannot assure you that they will abide by the employment agreements or that our efforts
to enforce these agreements will be effective enough to protect our interests.
Our
limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our business and prospects.
We
expect to continue to grow our user and customer bases and explore new market opportunities. However, due to our limited operating
history since 2016, our historical growth rate may not be indicative of our future performance. We cannot assure you that our
growth rate will be the same as in the past. In addition, we may in the future introduce new services or significantly expand
our existing services, including those that currently are of relatively small scale or with which we have little or no prior development
or operating experience. If these new or enhanced services fail to engage users and customers, our business and operating results
may suffer as a result. We cannot assure you that we will be able to recoup our investments in introducing these new services
or enhancing existing smaller business lines, and we may experience significant loss and impairment of asset value due to such
efforts. Furthermore, as a technology-based entertainment company, we frequently introduce innovative products and services to
our users and advertising customers in order to capture new market opportunities. However, we cannot assure you that our products
and services will be well received by our users and advertising customers. If our existing or new products and services are not
well received by our users and customers, we may suffer damages to our brand image and may not be able to maintain or expand our
user and customer base, which in turn may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations. You should consider our prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties fast-growing companies with limited operating
histories in a fast evolving industry.
We
may not be able to manage our growth effectively.
We
have experienced rapid growth since we launched our services in 2016. To manage the further expansion of our business and the
growth of our operations and personnel, we need to continuously expand and enhance our infrastructure and technology, and improve
our operational and financial systems, procedures, compliance and controls. We also need to expand, train and manage our growing
employee base. In addition, our management will be required to maintain and expand our relationships with distributors, advertising
customers, and other third parties. We cannot assure you that our current infrastructure, systems, procedures and controls will
be adequate to support our expanding operations. If we fail to manage our expansion effectively, our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
If
we are unable to offer branded products at attractive prices to meet customer needs and preferences on our e-commerce platform,
or if our reputation for selling authentic, high-quality products suffers, we may lose customers and our business, financial condition
and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our
future growth on our e-commerce platform partially depends on our ability to continue to attract new customers as well as to increase
the spending and repeat purchase rate of existing customers. Constantly changing consumer preferences have historically affected,
and will continue to affect, the online retail industry. Consequently, we must stay abreast of emerging lifestyle and consumer
preferences and anticipate product trends that will appeal to existing and potential customers.
As
we implement our strategy to offer a personalized web-interface focusing on deep curation and targeted offerings desired by our
customers, we expect to face additional challenges in the selection of products and services. We are focused on offering only
authentic products on our e-commerce platform, as perception by our customers or prospective customers that any of our products
are not authentic, or are lacking in quality, could cause our reputation to suffer. This is particularly important for cosmetics
products, which we expect to account for an increasing proportion of our revenues. While our representatives generally check the
products that are offered for sale on our e-commerce platform to confirm their authenticity and quality, there can be no assurance
that our suppliers have provided us with authentic products or that all products that we sell are of the quality expected by consumers.
If our customers cannot find desired products within our product portfolio at attractive prices, or if our reputation for selling
authentic, high-quality products suffers, our customers may lose interest in our e-Mall and thus may visit our e-commerce platform
less frequently or even stop visiting it altogether, which in turn, may materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
User
behavior on mobile devices is rapidly evolving, and if we fail to successfully adapt to these changes, our competitiveness and
market position may suffer.
Buyers,
sellers and other participants are increasingly using mobile devices in China for a wide range of purposes, including for e-commerce.
While a significant and growing portion of participants access our e-commerce platform through mobile devices, this area is developing
rapidly and we may not be able to continue to increase the level of mobile access to, or transactions on, our e-commerce platform
by users of mobile devices. The variety of technical and other configurations across different mobile devices and platforms increases
the challenges associated with this environment. our ability to successfully expand the use of mobile devices to access our e-commerce
platform is affected by the following factors:
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our
ability to continue to provide compelling video content on our e-commerce platform and
tools in a multiple mobile device environment;
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our
ability to successfully deploy apps on popular mobile operating systems; and
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the
attractiveness of alternative platforms.
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If
we are unable to attract significant numbers of new mobile buyers and increase levels of mobile engagement, our ability to maintain
or grow our business would be materially and adversely affected.
Our
business prospects and financial results may be impacted by our relationship with third-party platforms.
In
addition to our own e-commerce platform, we also distribute video content through third-party platforms. However, there can be
no assurance that our arrangements with those platforms will be extended or renewed after their respective expiration or that
we will be able to extend or renew such arrangements on terms and conditions favorable to us. In addition, if any such third-party
platforms breach their obligations under any of the agreements entered into with us or refuses to extend or renew such agreements
when their term expires, and we cannot find a suitable replacement on a timely basis, or at all, we may suffer significant losses
to our user base and revenue streams, or lose the opportunity to expand our business through such platforms. Disputes may arise
between us and third-party platforms with which we have used in the past that may adversely affect the relationship with such
platforms which in turn may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We
face risks, such as unforeseen costs and potential liability in connection with content we produce, license and/or distribute
through third-party platforms and our e-commerce platform.
As
a producer, licensor and distributor of content, we face potential liability for negligence, copyright and trademark infringement,
or other claims based on the content that we produce, license, provide and/or distribute. We also may face potential liability
for content used in promoting our service, including marketing materials and features on our platform such as user reviews. We
are responsible for the production costs and other expenses of our original content. Litigation to defend these claims could be
costly and the expenses and damages arising from any liability or unforeseen production risks could harm our business, financial
condition and results of operations. We may not be indemnified against claims or costs of these types and we may not have insurance
coverage for these types of claims.
Videos
and other content produced by us or displayed on our e-commerce platform may be found objectionable by PRC regulatory authorities
and may subject us to penalties and other administrative actions.
We
are subject to PRC regulations governing internet access and the distribution of videos and other forms of information over the
internet. Under these regulations, internet content providers and internet publishers are prohibited from posting or displaying
over the internet any content that, among other things, violates PRC laws and regulations, impairs the national dignity of China
or the public interest, or is obscene, superstitious, frightening, gruesome, offensive, fraudulent or defamatory. Furthermore,
as an internet video streaming producer, we are not allowed to (i) produce or disseminate programs that distort, parody or vilify
classic literary works; (ii) re-edit, re-dub or re-caption the subtitles of classic literary works, radio and television programs,
and network-based original audio-video programs, (iii) intercept program segments and splice them into new programs; or (iv) disseminate
edited pieces of works that distort the originals. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in monetary penalties,
revocation of licenses to provide internet content or other licenses, suspension of the concerned platforms and reputational harm.
In addition, these laws and regulations are subject to interpretation by the relevant authorities, and it may not be possible
to determine in all cases the types of content that could cause us to be held liable as an internet content provider.
To
the extent that PRC regulatory authorities find any content produced by us or displayed on our e-commerce platform objectionable,
they may require us to limit or eliminate the dissemination of such content on our platform in the form of take-down orders or
otherwise.
We
operate in a rapidly evolving industry. If we fail to keep up with the technological developments and users’ changing requirements,
our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
The
internet video streaming industry is rapidly evolving and subject to continuous technological changes. Our success will depend
on our ability to keep up with the changes in technology and user behavior resulting from the technological developments. As we
make our services available across a variety of mobile operating systems and devices, we are dependent on the interoperability
of our services with popular mobile devices and mobile operating systems that we do not control, such as Android and iOS. Any
changes in such mobile operating systems or devices that degrade the functionality of our services or give preferential treatment
to competitive services could adversely affect usage of our services. Further, if the number of mobile operating systems and devices
increases, which is typically seen in a dynamic and fragmented mobile services market such as China, we will likely incur additional
costs and expenses associated with developing tools and software necessary for access to our e-commerce platform by these devices
and systems. If we fail to adapt our products and services to such changes in an effective and timely manner, we may suffer from
decreased user traffic, which may result in a reduced user base. Furthermore, changes in technologies may require substantial
capital expenditures in product development as well as in modification of products, services or infrastructure. We may not execute
our business strategies successfully due to a variety of reasons such as technical hurdles, misunderstanding or erroneous prediction
of market demand or lack of necessary resources. Failure to keep up with technological development may result in our products
and services being less attractive, which, in turn, may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and
prospects.
We
may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, and any failure to protect our intellectual property rights
could adversely affect our revenues and competitive position.
We
believe that trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and other intellectual property we use are critical to our business. We rely
on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret protection laws in China and other jurisdictions, as well as confidentiality
procedures and contractual provisions to protect our intellectual property and our brand. Protection of intellectual property
rights in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other jurisdictions, and as a result, we may not be able to
adequately protect our intellectual property rights, which could adversely affect our revenues and competitive position. In addition,
any unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may adversely affect our revenues and our reputation. Further,
we may have difficulty addressing the threats to our business associated with piracy of our copyrighted content, particularly
our original content. our content and streaming services may be potentially subject to unauthorized consumer copying and illegal
digital dissemination without an economic return to us.
Furthermore,
policing unauthorized use of proprietary technology is difficult and expensive, and we may need to resort to litigation to enforce
or defend intellectual property or to determine the enforceability, scope and validity of our proprietary rights or those of others.
Such litigation and an adverse determination in any such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources
and management attention.
Our
business generates and processes a large amount of data, and the improper use or disclosure of such data could harm our reputation
as well as have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.
Our
e-commerce platform generates and processes a large quantity of personal, transaction, demographic and behavioral data. We face
risks inherent in handling large volumes of data and in protecting the security of such data. In particular, we face a number
of challenges relating to data from transactions and other activities on our platform, including:
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protecting
the data in and hosted on our system, including against attacks on our system by outside
parties or fraudulent behavior by our employees;
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addressing
concerns related to privacy and sharing, safety, security and other factors; and
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complying
with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the collection, use, disclosure
or security of personal information, including any requests from regulatory and government
authorities relating to such data.
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Any
systems failure or security breach or lapse that results in the release of user data could harm our reputation and brand and,
consequently, our business, in addition to exposing us to potential legal liability.
Failure
to maintain or improve our technology infrastructure could harm our business and prospects.
Adopting
new software and upgrading our online infrastructure requires significant investments of time and resources, including adding
new hardware, updating software and recruiting and training new engineering personnel. Maintaining and improving our technology
infrastructure require significant levels of investment. Adverse consequences could include unanticipated system disruptions,
slower response times, impaired quality of buyers’ and sellers’ experiences and delays in reporting accurate operating
and financial information. In addition, much of the software and interfaces we use are internally developed and proprietary technology.
If we experience problems with the functionality and effectiveness of our software, or are unable to maintain and constantly improve
our technology infrastructure to handle our business needs, our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects,
as well as our reputation, could be materially and adversely affected.
We
are subject to payment processing risk.
Our
e-commerce customers pay for their services using a variety of different online payment methods. We rely on third parties to process
such payments. Acceptance and processing of these payment methods are subject to certain rules and regulations and require payment
of interchange and other fees. To the extent there are increases in payment processing fees, material changes in the payment ecosystem,
such as delays in receiving payments from payment processors and/or changes to rules or regulations concerning payment processing,
our revenues, operating expenses and results of operations could be adversely impacted.
The
successful operation of our business depends upon the performance and reliability of the Internet infrastructure in China.
Other
than the production of television shows that are transmitted via satellite television in China, our business depends on the performance
and reliability of the Internet infrastructure in China. Almost all access to the Internet is maintained through state-owned telecommunications
operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of
China. In addition, the national networks in China are connected to the Internet through state-owned international gateways, which
are the only channels through which a domestic user can connect to the Internet outside of China. We may not have access to alternative
networks in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s Internet infrastructure. In addition, the
Internet infrastructure in China may not support the demands associated with continued growth in Internet usage.
Security
breaches and attacks against our internal systems and network, and any potential resulting breach or failure to otherwise protect
confidential and proprietary information, could damage our reputation and negatively impact our business, as well as materially
and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Although
we have employed resources to develop security measures against unauthorized access to our systems and networks, our cybersecurity
measures may not successfully detect or prevent all unauthorized attempts to access the data on our network or compromise and
disable our systems. Unauthorized access to our network and systems may result in the misappropriation of information or data,
deletion or modification of user information, or a denial-of-service or other interruption to our business operations. As techniques
used to obtain unauthorized access to or sabotage systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or
our third-party service providers, we may be unable to anticipate, or implement adequate measures to protect against these attacks.
If we are unable to avert these attacks and security breaches, we could be subject to significant legal and financial liability,
our reputation would be harmed and we could sustain substantial revenue loss from user dissatisfaction. We may not have the resources
or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. Actual or anticipated attacks and
risks may cause us to incur significantly higher costs, including costs to deploy additional personnel and network protection
technologies, train employees, and engage third-party experts and consultants. Cybersecurity breaches would not only harm our
reputation and business, but also could materially decrease our revenue and net income.
We
rely upon our partners to make our service available through Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).
In
the IPTV video streaming market, only a small number of qualified license holders can provide internet audio and visual program
services to the TV terminal users via IPTV, set-top boxes and other electronic products. Most of those license holders are radio
or TV stations. Private companies that wish to operate such businesses need to cooperate with those license holders to legally
provide relevant services. If we are not successful in maintaining existing or creating new relationships, or if we encounter
technological, content licensing, regulatory or other impediments to delivering our streaming content to our members via these
devices, our ability to grow our business may be adversely impacted.
Disruption
or failure of our IT systems could impair our users’ online entertainment experience and adversely affect our reputation.
Our
ability to provide users with a high-quality online entertainment experience on our e-commerce platform depends on the continuous
and reliable operation of our IT systems. We cannot assure you that we will be able to procure sufficient bandwidth in a timely
manner or on acceptable terms or at all. Failure to do so may significantly impair user experience on our platform and decrease
the overall effectiveness of our platform to both users and advertisers.
If
we experience frequent or persistent service disruptions, whether caused by failures of our own systems or those of third-party
service providers, our users’ experience may be negatively affected, which in turn, may have a material and adverse effect
on our reputation. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in minimizing the frequency or duration of service interruptions.
Undetected
programming errors could adversely affect our user experience and market acceptance of our video content, which may materially
and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Video
content produced by us or displayed on our e-commerce platform may contain programming errors that may only become apparent after
our release. We generally have been able to resolve such programming errors in a timely manner. However, we cannot assure you
that we will be able to detect and resolve all of these programming errors effectively. Undetected audio or video programming
errors or defects may adversely affect user experience which in turn may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operation.
Our
revenue and net income may be materially and adversely affected by any economic slowdown in China and indirectly by trade disputes
between the United States and China that may contribute to uncertainties in economic outlook.
The
success of our business depends on consumers spending from e-commerce, advertising fees, production costs and copyright payments
from third parties which may be affected by consumer confidence and uncertainties in the outlook for economic growth within China.
We derive substantially all of our revenue from China. As a result, our revenue and net income are impacted to a significant extent
by economic conditions in China and globally, as well as economic conditions specific to online and mobile commerce and advertising
of brands. The PRC government has in recent years implemented a number of measures to control the rate of economic growth, including
by raising and lowering interest rates and adjusting deposit reserve ratios for commercial banks as well as by implementing other
measures designed to tighten or loosen credit and liquidity. In the past, these measures have contributed to a slowdown of the
PRC economy and although recently the PRC has taken steps to reduce interest rates and adjust deposit reserve ratios to increase
the availability of credit in response to a weakening economy caused, in part, by the continuing trade dispute with the United
States, no assurances can be given that the PRC’s efforts will result in more certainty in domestic economic outlook or
an increase in consumer confidence. Any continuing or worsening slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in China,
including through the Internet generally and within our ecosystem. An economic downturn, whether actual or perceived, a further
decrease in economic growth rates or an otherwise uncertain economic outlook in China or any other market in which we may operate
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We
face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
We
are vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications
failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system
failures, technology platform failures or internet failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions
of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to produce video content or provide products and services on our
e-commerce platform.
Our
business operations could be disrupted if any of our employees are suspected of having Ebola virus disease, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu,
avian flu, SARS or other epidemic, since we could require our employees to be quarantined and/or our offices to be disinfected.
In addition, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected to the extent
that any of these epidemics harms the Chinese economy in general.
Our
semi-annual operating results may fluctuate, which makes our results of operations difficult to predict and may cause our quarterly
results of operations to fall short of expectations.
Our
semi-annual operating results have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate depending upon a number of factors, many
of which are out of our control. Our operating results tend to be seasonal. As a result, comparing our operating results on a
period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. For example, online user numbers tend to be lower during school holidays and certain
parts of the school year, and advertising revenues tend to be lower during the Chinese New Year season, which may negatively affect
our cash flow for those periods.
We
require highly qualified personnel to generate high quality video content and if we are unable to hire or retain qualified personnel,
we may not be able to grow effectively and our business, financial condition, and results of operation may be materially and adversely
affected.
We
currently rely on our in-house team of employees to generate creative ideas for original content and to supervise the original
content origination and production process and intends to continue to invest our human and capital resources in such content production.
We face fierce competition for qualified personnel in a limited pool of high-quality creative talent. If we are not able to compete
effectively for highly qualified personnel or attract and retain top talent at reasonable costs, our original content production
capabilities would be materially and adversely impacted. If we are unable to offer popular original content that addresses our
user’s tastes and preferences in a cost effective manner, we may suffer a reduction in user traffic and our business, financial
condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our
future success also depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified management personnel. Expansion of our business
and our management will require additional managers and employees with industry experience, and our success will be highly dependent
on our ability to attract and retain skilled management personnel and other employees. We may not be able to attract or retain
highly qualified personnel. Competition for skilled management personnel is significant in China. This competition may make it
more difficult and expensive to attract, hire and retain qualified managers and employees.
Our
controlling shareholder will have substantial influence over us.
As of March 1, 2021,
Happy Starlight Limited, which is controlled by Mr. Bing Zhang, our chairman, beneficially owns 17,066,863 of our ordinary shares,
or 27.54%. In addition, Mr. Zhang also directly owns 760,000 of our ordinary shares, or 1.22%; therefore, Mr. Zhang may be deemed
to beneficially own 17,826,863 of our ordinary shares, or 28.76%. As such, Mr. Zhang will have substantial influence over our business,
including decisions regarding mergers, consolidations, the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors,
declaration of dividends and other significant corporate actions. In addition, this concentration of ownership may discourage,
delay or prevent a change in control which could deprive you of an opportunity to receive a premium for your ordinary shares as
part of a sale of our company.
We
do not foresee paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future and, as a result, our investors’ sole source of gain will
depend on capital appreciation, if any.
We
do not plan to declare or pay any cash dividends on our shares of ordinary shares in the foreseeable future and currently intend
to retain any future earnings for funding growth. As a result, investors should not rely on an investment in our securities if
they require the investment to produce dividend income. Capital appreciation, if any, of our shares may be our investors’
sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.
Glory
Star Group’s bank accounts are in China and are not insured or protected against loss.
Glory
Star Group maintains its cash primarily with major banks in China which is primarily owned by the Chinese government. Glory Star
Group’s cash accounts are not insured or otherwise protected. Should any bank or trust company holding our cash deposits
become insolvent, or if we are otherwise unable to withdraw funds, we could lose the cash on deposit with that particular bank
or trust company or have our account frozen.
Our
failure to protect our intellectual property rights could have a negative impact on our business.
We
believe our brand, trade names, trademarks and other intellectual property are critical to our success. The success of our business
depends substantially upon our continued ability to use our brand, trade names and trademarks to increase brand awareness and
to further develop our brand. The unauthorized reproduction of our trade names or trademarks could diminish the value of our brand
and our market acceptance, competitive advantages or goodwill. In addition, our proprietary information, which has not been patented
or otherwise registered as our property, is a component of our competitive advantage and our growth strategy.
Monitoring
and preventing the unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult. The measures we take to protect our brand, trade
names, trademarks and other intellectual property rights may not be adequate to prevent their unauthorized use by third parties.
In addition, the application of laws governing intellectual property rights in China and abroad is uncertain and evolving, and
could involve substantial risks to us. To our knowledge, the relevant authorities in China historically have not protected intellectual
property rights to the same extent as the United States. If we are unable to adequately protect our brand, trade names, trademarks
and other intellectual property rights, we may lose these rights and our business may suffer materially. Further, unauthorized
use of our brands, trade names or trademarks could cause brand confusion among advertisers and harm our reputation as a provider
of high quality and comprehensive advertising services. If our brand recognition decreases, we may lose advertisers and fail in
our expansion strategies, and our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be materially and adversely
affected.
We
may be named as a defendant in litigation, or may be joined as a defendant in litigation brought against our customers by third
parties, our customers’ competitors, governmental or regulatory authorities or consumers, which could result in judgments
against us and materially disrupt our business. These actions could involve claims alleging, among other things, that:
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advertising
claims made with respect to our customers’ products or services are false, deceptive
or misleading;
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our
customers’ products are defective or injurious and may be harmful to others; or
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marketing,
communicating or advertising materials created for our customers infringe on the proprietary
rights of third parties.
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The
damages, costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees arising from any of these claims could have a material and adverse effect on
our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects to the extent that we are not adequately indemnified by
our customers. In any case, our reputation may be negatively affected by these allegations.
We
rely on computer software and hardware systems in our operations, the failure of which could adversely affect our business, financial
condition, and results of operations.
We
are dependent upon our computer software and hardware systems in designing our advertisements and keeping important operational
and market information. In addition, we rely on our computer hardware for the storage, delivery and transmission of data. Any
system failure that causes interruptions to the input, retrieval and transmission of data or increase in service time could disrupt
our normal operations. Although we have a disaster recovery plan that is designed to address the failures of our computer software
and hardware systems, we may not be able to effectively carry out this disaster recovery plan or restore our operations within
a sufficiently short time frame to avoid business disruptions. Any failure in our computer software or hardware systems could
decrease our revenues and harm our relationships with advertisers, television channels and other media companies, which in turn
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We
do not maintain business liability or disruption, litigation or property insurance and any business liability or disruption, litigation
or property damage we experience may result in substantial costs to us and the diversion of our resources.
The
insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. Insurance companies in China offer limited business disruption,
business liability or similar business insurance products. We have determined that the risks of disruption or liability from our
business, the potential loss or damage to our property, including our facilities, equipment and office furniture, the cost of
obtaining insurance coverage for these risks and the difficulties associated with obtaining such insurance on commercially reasonable
terms, make it impractical for us to have obtained such insurance on terms and conditions that are commercially reasonable. As
a result, we did not purchase any business liability, disruption, litigation or property insurance coverage for our operations
in China. Any occurrence of an uninsured loss or damage to our property or litigation or business disruption may result in substantial
costs to us and the diversion of our resources, which could have an adverse effect on our operating results.
Risks
Related to our Corporate Structure
The
PRC government may determine that the VIE Contracts are not in compliance with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations.
To
comply with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, we conduct our operations in the PRC through the VIE Contracts, a series
of contractual arrangements entered into among (i) WFOE, (ii) Glory Star and certain shareholders of Glory Star, (iii) Xing Cui
Can and our shareholders, and (iv) Horgos and our shareholder, which consist of a business cooperation agreement, exclusive option
agreement, proxy agreement and power of attorney, and share pledge agreement. As a result of these VIE Contracts, Glory Star manages
and operates our value-added telecommunication services and certain other business through the WFOE, Xing Cui Can and Horgos pursuant
to the rights it holds under the VIE Contracts. A majority of the economic benefit and almost all of the risks arising from the
operations of Xing Cui Can and Horgos are ultimately enjoyed and undertaken by Glory Star under these agreements.
There
are risks involved with the operation of our business in reliance on the VIE Contracts, including the risk that the VIE Contracts
may be determined by PRC regulators or courts to be unenforceable. Although we believe that we are in compliance with current
PRC regulations in the execution and implementation of the VIE Contracts, we cannot assure you the PRC government would agree
that the VIE Contracts fully comply with existing PRC policies or with policies that may be adopted in the future. PRC laws and
regulations governing the validity of these VIE Contracts are uncertain. If the VIE Contracts were for any reason determined to
be in breach of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, the relevant regulatory authorities would have broad discretion
in dealing with such breach, including:
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imposing
economic penalties;
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discounting
or restricting the operations of Horgos and Xing Cui Can;
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imposing
conditions or requirements in respect of the VIE Contracts with which Horgos, Xing Cui
Can or WFOE may not be able to comply;
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requiring
us to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations;
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taking
other regulatory or enforcement actions that could adversely affect our business; and
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revoking
the business licenses and/or the licenses or certificates of Horgos, Xing Cui Can or
WFOE, and/or voiding the VIE Contracts.
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Any
of these actions would adversely affect our ability to manage, operate and gain the financial benefits of Horgos and Xing Cui
Can, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our
ability to manage and operate Horgos and Xing Cui Can under the VIE Contracts may not be as effective as direct ownership.
We
conduct our advertising operation, e-commerce and certain other business in the PRC and generate virtually all of our revenues
for our business through the VIE Contracts. Our plans for future growth are based substantially on growing the operations of Horgos
and Xing Cui Can. However, the VIE Contracts may not be as effective in providing us with control over Horgos and Xing Cui Can
as direct ownership. Under the current VIE Contracts, if Horgos, Xing Cui Can or their shareholders fail to perform their obligations
under these contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements, and rely
on legal remedies under PRC law, which it cannot be sure would be effective. Therefore, if we are unable to effectively control
Horgos and Xing Cui Can, it may have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our business objectives and grow our revenues.
As
the VIE Contracts are governed by PRC law, we would be required to rely on PRC law to enforce our rights and remedies under them;
PRC law may not provide us with the same rights and remedies as are available in contractual disputes governed by the law of other
jurisdictions.
The
VIE Contracts are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitral proceedings. If Horgos, Xing
Cui Can or their shareholders fail to perform their obligations under the VIE Contracts, we would be required to resort to legal
remedies available under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, or claiming damages. We cannot
be sure that such remedies would provide us with effective means of causing Horgos or Xing Cui Can to meet their obligations,
or recovering any losses or damages as a result of non-performance. Further, the legal environment in the PRC is not as developed
as in some other jurisdictions. Uncertainties in the application of various laws, rules, regulations or policies in the PRC legal
system could limit our liability to enforce the VIE Contracts and protect our interests.
The
payment arrangement under the VIE Contracts may be challenged by the PRC tax authorities.
We
generate our revenues through the payments we receive pursuant to the VIE Contracts. We could face adverse tax consequences if
the PRC tax authorities determine that the VIE Contracts were not entered into based on arm’s length negotiations. For example,
PRC tax authorities may adjust our income and expenses for PRC tax purposes, which could result in our being subject to higher
tax liability, or cause other adverse financial consequences. According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, (中华人民共和国税收征收管理法),
and Implementation Regulations for the Law of the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law 《中华人民共和国税收征收管理法实施细则(2016修订),
in the case of a transfer pricing related adjustment, the statute of limitation is three years normally and ten years in special
instances.
We
rely on the approval certificates and business license held by us for our advertising operation, e-commerce and certain other
business and any deterioration of the relationship between Horgos and Xing Cui Can could materially and adversely affect our business
operations.
We
operate our advertising operation, e-commerce and certain other business in the PRC on the basis of the approval certificates,
business license and other requisite licenses held by us. There is no assurance that we will be able to renew our licenses or
certificates when their terms expire with substantially similar terms as the ones it currently holds.
Further,
our relationship with Horgos and Xing Cui Can is governed by the VIE Contracts, which is intended to provide us with effective
control over the business operations of Horgos and Xing Cui Can. However, the VIE Contracts may not be effective in providing
control over the application for and maintenance of the licenses required for our business operations. If we violate the VIE Contracts,
go bankrupt, suffer from difficulties in our business or otherwise become unable to perform our obligations under the VIE Contracts
and, as a result, our operations, reputations and business could be severely harmed.
If
the WFOE exercises the purchase option it holds over the share capital of Horgos or Xing Cui Can pursuant to the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the payment of the purchase price could materially and adversely affect our financial position.
Under
the Exclusive Option Agreement, the WFOE has the option to purchase up to 100% of the equity interest in Horgos and Xing Cui Can
at a price equivalent to the lowest price then permitted under PRC law, provided that the acquisition will not violate any PRC
laws or regulations in effect. As Horgos and Xing Cui Can are already our contractually controlled affiliates, the WFOE’s
exercising of the options would not bring immediate benefit to it, and payment of the purchase price could adversely affect our
financial position.
Risks
Relating to Doing Business in China
We
face risks related to the Coronavirus and health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
The
spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world in the first quarter of 2020, which was declared a pandemic
by the World Health Organization in March 2020, has caused significant volatility in China and international markets. In early
2020, in response to intensifying efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government took a number of actions,
which included, among others, extending the Chinese New Year holiday, quarantining and otherwise treating individuals in China
who had contracted COVID-19, asking residents to remain at home and to avoid gathering in public. Currently, there is no widely
available vaccine or generally recognized anti-viral treatment for COVID-19. While such restrictive measures have been gradually
lifted, relaxation of restrictions on economic and social life may lead to new cases which may lead to the re-imposition of restrictions.
Re-imposition of restrictive measures could adversely affect our operations.
The
COVID-19 outbreak has caused business slow-down for us in the first quarter of 2020, resulting in decrease of revenue and it may
also impede our ability to file our reports with the SEC in a timely manner. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may further
impact our business and financial performance will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and largely beyond
our control. Even if the economic impact of COVID-19 gradually recedes, the pandemic will have a lingering, long-term effect on
business activities and consumption behavior. There is no assurance that we will be able to adjust our business operations to
adapt to these changes and the increasingly complex environment in which we operate.
We
are subject to PRC laws or regulations that govern our industry.
We
are subject to administrative regulatory authorities and applicable laws in the PRC to operate our business. In order to operate
our business we are required to obtain licenses and permits by various governmental agencies. We will not be able to operate some
of our businesses if we lose our licenses and permits, which will adversely affect our business.
We
are subject to risks relating to the nature of China’s advertising industry, including frequent and sudden changes in advertising
proposals.
The
nature of the advertising business in China is such that sudden changes in advertising proposals and actual advertisements are
frequent. In China, television stations, as the advertising publisher, remain responsible for the content of advertisements, and
as a result, television stations may reject or recommend changes to the content of advertisements. We strive to minimize problems
related to work for clients by encouraging the conclusion of basic written agreements, but we are exposed to the risk of unforeseen
incidents or disputes with advertising clients. In addition, similar to other companies in our industry in the PRC where relationships
between advertising clients within a particular industry and advertising companies are not typically exclusive, we are currently
acting for multiple clients within a single industry in a number of industries. If this practice in China is to change in favor
of exclusive relationships and if our efforts to respond to this change are ineffective, our business, results of operations and
financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
China
regulates media content extensively and it may be subject to government actions based on the advertising content it designs for
advertising clients or services it provides to them.
PRC
advertising laws and regulations require advertisers, advertising operators and advertising publishers, including our businesses,
to ensure that the advertisements shall not contain any false or misleading content and their advertising activities shall be
in full compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. Violation of these laws, rules or regulations may result in penalties,
including fines, confiscation of advertising fees, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an
advertisement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the PRC government may revoke
our business license. In addition, such non-compliance can constitute a violation of criminal law and criminal proceedings could
be brought against us as a result.
Our
business includes assisting advertising clients in designing and producing advertisements, as well as executing their advertising
campaigns. We act as agent for our clients in dealing with television channels, or other media on whose platform our clients want
to display their advertisements. Under our agreements with television channels or other media, we are typically responsible for
the compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations with respect to advertising content that it provide to the media. In
addition, some of our advertising clients provide completed advertisements for us to display on the television channels. Although
these advertisements are subject to internal review and verification, their content may not fully comply with applicable laws,
rules and regulations. Further, for advertising content related to special types of products and services, such as pharmaceuticals
and medical procedures, pesticides and health products, we are required to confirm that our clients have obtained requisite government
approvals. We endeavor to comply with such requirements, including by requesting relevant documents from the advertising clients
and employing qualified advertising inspectors who are trained to review advertising content for compliance with applicable PRC
laws, rules and regulations. However, we cannot assure you that violations or alleged violations of the content requirements will
not occur with respect to our operations. If the relevant PRC governmental agencies determine the content of the advertisements
that we represent violated any applicable laws, rules or regulations, we could be subject to penalties, which may harm our reputation
and may divert significant amounts of our management’s time and other resources. It may be difficult and expensive to defend
against such proceedings. Although our agreements with our clients normally require them to warrant the fairness, accuracy and
compliance with relevant laws and regulations of their advertising content and agree to indemnify us for violations of these warranties,
these contractual remedies may not cover all of our losses resulting from governmental penalties. Violations or alleged violations
of the content requirements could also harm our reputation and impair our ability to conduct and expand our business.
Uncertainties
in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us.
The
PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike ordinary law systems, it is a system in which legal decisions
have limited value as precedents. In the late 1970s, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and
regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past three decades has significantly
increased the protections afforded to various forms of foreign or private-sector investment in the PRC. WFOE, our PRC operating
subsidiary, is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise and is subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in the
PRC as well as laws and regulations applicable to foreign-invested enterprises. WFOE is a privately owned company and is subject
to various PRC laws and regulations that are generally applicable to companies in the PRC. These laws and regulations are still
evolving, and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. For example, we may have to resort to administrative
and court proceedings to enforce the legal protections that we enjoy either by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative
and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be
more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we may enjoy
in the PRC legal system than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties may also impede our ability to enforce the contracts
that we have entered into. As a result, these uncertainties could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
Delays
in issuing invoices due to China taxing authorities may materially and adversely affect our cash flow.
Companies
operating in China may be required to obtain VAT invoices in advance from the Chinese tax authorities in order to collect the
dues from our customers according to their contractual arrangement. To accomplish this, companies submit invoices to the Chinese
tax authorities and await for the VAT invoices to be issued. Upon receipt, it sends the VAT invoices to the customers for payment.
From time to time, the Chinese tax authority may delay issuing the VAT invoices because the amount of the company’s invoices
exceeded the quotas previously granted for the VAT invoices for that period of time. Such quotas are set by the Chinese tax authorities
based on the amount of invoices issued by the company over a period of time pursuant to the company’s past business operation,
which quotas are adjusted periodically. As such, for fast growing companies like ours, our invoices may periodically exceed the
current quota granted which results in a delay in obtaining VAT invoices impacting our ability to timely invoice and collect our
accounts receivable from our clients. To address this challenge, we have taken an active role in reaching out to the Chinese tax
authorities to explain the company’s fast growth which is outpacing the quota needed to timely obtain VAT invoices. In addition,
we are working closely with our clients to receive payments before VAT invoices are issued. However, if we are unable to timely
increase our quota resulting in delays in issuing VAT invoices or our clients are unable or unwilling to make payments before
receipt of VAT invoices, it may suffer delays in collecting our accounts receivable and hence affect our cash flow.
Competition
in our industry is growing and could cause us to lose market share and revenues in the future.
We
may face growing competition in our industry and we believe that the market is becoming more competitive as this industry matures
and begins to consolidate. Some of our competitors have larger and more established borrower bases and substantially greater financial,
marketing and other resources than us. As a result, we could lose market share and our revenues could decline, thereby affecting
our earnings and potential for growth.
Our
business depends on the continuing efforts of our management. If it loses their services, our business may be severely disrupted.
Our
business operations depend on the continuing efforts of our management, particularly the executive officers named in this document.
If one or more of our management were unable or unwilling to continue their employment with us, we might not be able to replace
them in a timely manner, or at all. We may incur additional expenses to recruit and retain qualified replacements. Our business
may be severely disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. In addition,
our management may join a competitor or form a competing company. We may not be able to successfully enforce any contractual rights
we have with our management team, in particular in China, where all of these individuals reside and where our business is operated
through a series of subsidiaries and the VIE Contracts. As a result, our business may be negatively affected due to the loss of
one or more members of our management.
Our
business may be materially adversely impacted by the global financial crisis and economic downturn.
We
operate our business in the PRC. Any future global financial crisis and economic downturn may materially adversely impact our
business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects in a number of ways, including:
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we
may face severe challenges, loss of customers and other operation risks during the global
financial crisis and economic downturn; and
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financing
and other sources of liquidity may not be available on reasonable terms or at all.
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These
risks may be exacerbated in the event of a prolonged economic downturn or financial crisis.
A
severe and prolonged global economic recession and the slowdown in the Chinese economy may adversely affect our business, results
of operations and financial condition.
The
growth of the Chinese economy has slowed down since 2012 compared to the previous decade and the trend may continue. According
to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, China’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth was 2.3% in 2020. There is considerable
uncertainty over the long-term effects of the monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities
of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. In addition, there have also been concerns
on the relationship between China and the U.S. following rounds of tariffs imposed by the U.S. and retaliatory tariffs imposed
by China and concerns on the relationship among China and other Asian countries, which may result in or intensify potential conflicts
in relation to territorial disputes. It is unclear whether these challenges and uncertainties will be contained or resolved, and
what effects they may have on the global political and economic conditions in the long term. Economic conditions in China are
sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic and political policies and the expected or perceived
overall economic growth rate in China. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may have a negative impact on our
business, results of operations and financial condition, and continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect
our ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.
Any
adverse changes in political policies of the PRC government could negatively impact China’s overall economic growth, which
could materially adversely affect our business.
The
Company is a holding company and all of our operations are entirely conducted in the PRC. China’s economy differs from the
economies of most other countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement in the economy, the general
level of economic development, growth rates and government control of foreign exchange and the allocation of resources. The PRC
government exercises significant control over China’s economic growth by allocating resources, controlling the payment of
foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries
or companies. Any actions and policies adopted by the PRC government could negatively impact the Chinese economy, which could
materially adversely affect our business.
Substantial
uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations
could have a significant impact upon the business we may be able to conduct in the PRC and accordingly on the results of our operations
and financial condition.
Our
business operations may be adversely affected by the current and future political environment in the PRC. The Chinese government
exerts substantial influence and control over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities. Our ability to operate
in China may be adversely affected by changes in Chinese laws and regulations. Under the current government leadership, the government
of the PRC has been pursuing economic reform policies that encourage private economic activities and greater economic decentralization.
However, the government of the PRC may not continue to pursue these policies, or may significantly alter these policies from time
to time without notice.
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, or the laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China. Only
after 1979 did the Chinese government begin to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws that regulate economic affairs in general,
deal with economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade, as
well as encourage foreign investment in China. Although the influence of the law has been increasing, 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. Also, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published cases and
judicial interpretation and their lack of force as precedents, interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve
significant uncertainties. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively.
In addition, there have been constant changes and amendments of laws and regulations over the past 30 years in order to keep up
with the rapidly changing society and economy in China. Because government agencies and courts provide interpretations of laws
and regulations and decide contractual disputes and issues, their inexperience in adjudicating new business and new polices or
regulations in certain less developed areas causes uncertainty and may affect our business. Consequently, we cannot clearly foresee
the future direction of Chinese legislative activities with respect to either businesses with foreign investment or the effectiveness
on enforcement of laws and regulations in China. The uncertainties, including new laws and regulations and changes of existing
laws, as well as judicial interpretation by inexperienced officials in the agencies and courts in certain areas, may cause possible
problems to foreign investors.
The
Second Session of the Thirteen National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China voted to adopt the Foreign
Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China (“the Foreign Investment Law”) on March 15, 2019, which came
into effect on January 1, 2020. The current three major foreign investment laws (the Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Venture Law, Sino-Foreign
Cooperative Joint Venture Law and Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise Law) were replaced by the Foreign Investment Law on January
1, 2020.
The
Foreign Investment Law expressly stipulated that “the State protects foreign investors’ investment, earnings and other
legitimate rights and interests within the territory of China pursuant to the present Law;” “foreign investors may,
according to the present Law, freely remit into or out of China, in Renminbi or any other foreign currency, their contributions,
profits, capital gains, income from asset proposal, intellectual property royalties, lawfully acquired compensation, indemnity
or liquidation income and so on within the territory of China;” “Foreign investors shall not invest in any field with
investment prohibited by the negative list for foreign investment access. Foreign investors shall meet the investment conditions
stipulated under the negative list for any field with investment restricted by the negative list for foreign investment access;”
“In formulating normative documents concerning foreign investment, the people’s governments at all levels and their
departments concerned shall comply with laws and regulations, and if there are no laws or administrative regulations to serve
as the basis, they shall not impair foreign-invested enterprises’ legitimate rights and interests or increase their obligations,
set any market access and exit conditions, or intervene the normal production and operation activities of any foreign-invested
enterprise.”
It
is unclear how the Foreign Investment Law will be implemented in practice by the PRC government authorities. Comparing with the
Draft Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China published in 2015, the Foreign Investment Law does not include
the following expression of ‘control or acquire equities of an enterprise within the territory of China through contractual
arrangements, including but not limited to contracts and trust agreements.’ Whether the offshore companies controlled by
the PRC investors through variable interest entities structure will be deemed a foreign investment remains to be seen.
Fluctuations
in the foreign currency exchange rate between U.S. Dollars and Renminbi could adversely affect our financial condition.
The
value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate. Exchange rates are affected by, among other things,
changes in political and economic conditions and the foreign exchange policy adopted by the PRC government. On July 21, 2005,
the PRC government changed our policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar. Under the new policy, the RMB is permitted
to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of foreign currencies. Following the removal of the U.S. dollar
peg, the RMB appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over three years. From July 2008 until June 2010, however, the
RMB traded stably within a narrow range against the U.S. dollar. There remains significant international pressure on the PRC government
to adopt a more flexible currency policy, which could result in a further and more significant appreciation of the RMB against
foreign currencies. On June 20, 2010, the PBOC announced that the PRC government would reform the RMB exchange rate regime and
increase the flexibility of the exchange rate. On August 11, 2015, the PBOC led central parity quoting banks to further improve
the formation mechanism of the RMB against the US dollar, indicating that the central parity quoting price shall be decided with
reference to the closing price on the previous trading day. On December 11, 2015, the China Foreign Exchange Trade System launched
the RMB exchange-rate index, which strengthened the reference to a currency basket to better maintain the stability of the RMB
exchange rate against the currencies in the basket. As a result, the CNY/USD central parity formation mechanism of “closing
rate + exchange-rate movements of a basket of currencies” was developed. In June 2016, the Foreign Exchange Self-Disciplinary
Mechanism was established, allowing financial institutions to play a more important role in maintaining orderly operations in
the foreign-exchange market and in an environment for fair competition. In February 2017, the Foreign Exchange Self-Disciplinary
Mechanism adjusted the reference period for the central parity against the currency basket from 24 hours ahead of submitting the
quotes to 15 hours between the closing on the previous trading day and the submission of the quotes, which avoided repeated references
to the daily movements of the USD exchange rate in the central parity of the following day. In general, the RMB exchange-rate
central parity formation mechanism has been improving, which has effectively improved the rule-based, transparent, and market-oriented
nature of RMB exchange-rate policies and has played an active role in stabilizing exchange-rate expectations. The flexibility
of the RMB exchange rate against the US dollar was further strengthened, exhibiting larger two-way fluctuations. We cannot predict
how this new policy and mechanism will impact the RMB exchange rate.
Our
revenues and costs are mostly denominated in the RMB, and a significant portion of our financial assets are also denominated in
the RMB. Any significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar may materially adversely affect
our cash flows, revenues, earnings and financial position, and the amount of and any dividends, if any, it may pay on our ordinary
shares in U.S. dollars. In addition, any fluctuations in the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar could result in
foreign currency conversion losses for financial reporting purposes.
It
may be difficult to protect interests and exercise rights as a shareholder since we conduct all of our operations in China, and
all of our officers and our Chairman reside outside of the United States.
The
Company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands and it conducts all of our operations in China through Horgos, Xing Cui Can and
their subsidiaries, our consolidated VIEs in China. In addition, all of our officers and our chairman reside outside of the United
States and substantially all of the assets of those persons are located outside of the United States. As a result of all of the
above, shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, or major shareholders
than would shareholders of a corporation doing business entirely or predominantly within the United States.
Future
inflation in China may inhibit economic activity and adversely affect our operations.
The
Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion in recent years, which can lead to high rates of inflation or deflation.
This has caused the PRC government to, from time to time, enact various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability
of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High inflation may in the future cause the PRC government to once again impose
controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which could inhibit economic activity in China. Any action on the part
of the PRC government that seeks to control credit and/or prices may materially adversely affect our business operations.
PRC
regulation of loans to, and direct investments in, PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from using
proceeds from future financing activities to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries.
As
an offshore holding company with PRC subsidiaries, we may transfer funds to our PRC subsidiaries or finance our operating entity
by means of shareholder loans or capital contributions. Any loans to our PRC subsidiaries, which are foreign-invested enterprises,
shall be limited to within the margin between the total investment and registered capital approved by the examination and approval
authorities. Within the scope of the aforementioned margin, foreign-invested enterprises may voluntarily contract foreign debts.
Where the margin is exceeded, the original examination and approval authorities shall re-conduct appraisal and determination of
total investment. Such loan shall be registered with SAFE, or their local counterparts. Furthermore, any capital increase contributions
we make to our PRC subsidiaries, which are foreign-invested enterprises, shall be subject to record-filing via the Comprehensive
Management System of MOFCOM. We may not be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at
all. If we fail to receive such registrations or approvals, our ability to provide loans or capital increase contributions to
our PRC subsidiaries may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand
our business.
In
addition, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Improving and Adjusting the Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Direct
Investments on November 19, 2012, or Circular 59 (《国家外汇管理局关于进一步改进和调整直接投资外汇管理政策的通知》(汇发[2012]59号)),
which became effective on December 17, 2012, and was further amended on May 4, 2015 and October 10, 2018, respectively, requires
the authenticity of settlement of net proceeds from offshore offerings to be closely examined and the net proceeds to be settled
in the manner described in the offering documents. Furthermore, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Reforming the Administrative Approach
Regarding the Settlement of the Foreign Exchange Capitals of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19 (《国家外汇管理局关于改革外商投资企业外汇资本金结汇管理方式的通知》(汇发[2015]19号)),
promulgated on March 30, 2015, and took effect from June 1, 2015, pursuant to which the foreign-invested enterprises shall be
allowed to settle their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis, the RMB funds obtained by foreign-invested enterprises
from the discretionary settlement of their foreign exchange capitals shall be managed under the accounts for foreign exchange
settlement pending payment, and a foreign-invested enterprise shall truthfully use their capital for their own operational purposes
within the scope of business and it shall not, unless otherwise prescribed by laws and regulations, use the foregoing funds for
investment in securities etc. Besides, SAFE further promulgated a Notice on Reforming and Standardizing the Administrative Provisions
on Capital Account Foreign Exchange Settlement, or Circular 16 (《国家外汇管理局关于改革和规范资本项目结汇管理政策的通知》(汇发〔2016〕16号)),
on June 9, 2016, according to which a domestic institution shall use foreign exchange earnings under capital account within the
company’s business scope and in a truthful manner for proprietary purposes and a bank shall not process foreign exchange
settlement or payment formalities for a domestic institution that applies for the payment and settlement of all of their foreign
exchange earnings under capital account in one lump-sum or the payment of all RMB funds in their Account for Foreign Exchange
Settlement Pending Payment, if the domestic institution is unable to provide relevant materials in proof of transaction authenticity.
On
October 23, 2019, the SAFE released the Circular on Further Promoting Cross-border Trade and Investment Facilitation (《国家外汇管理局关于进一步促进跨境贸易投资便利化的通知》(汇发〔2019〕28号)),
or Circular 28, according to which a non-investment foreign-invested enterprise is permitted to make domestic equity investments
with its capital funds provided that such investments do not violate the Negative List and the target investments are genuine
and in compliance with laws. On April 10, 2020, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Optimizing Administration of Foreign Exchange
to Support the Development of Foreign-related Business (《关于优化外汇管理支持涉外业务发展的通知》(汇发〔2020〕8号)),
or Circular 8, under which eligible enterprises are allowed to make domestic payments by using their capital funds, foreign loans
and the income under capital accounts of overseas listing, without providing the evidentiary materials concerning authenticity
of each expenditure in advance, provided that their capital use shall be authentic, and conform to the prevailing administrative
regulations on the use of income under capital accounts. Considering that Circular 28 and Circular 8 are often principle-oriented
and subject to the detailed interpretations by the enforcement bodies to further apply and enforce such laws and regulations in
practice, it is unclear how they will be implemented, and there can be high uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and
implementation by government authorities and banks.
The
disclosures about us in reports and other filings with the SEC and our other public pronouncements are not subject to the scrutiny
of any regulatory bodies in the PRC.
Information
about us in SEC filings and other disclosure and public pronouncements are not subject to the review or scrutiny of any PRC regulatory
authority. For example, the disclosure by us in SEC reports and other filings are not subject to the review by CSRC, a PRC regulator
that is tasked with oversight of the capital markets in China. Accordingly, you should review information about us in SEC reports,
filings and our other public pronouncements with the understanding that no local regulator has done any review of information
about us in SEC reports, other filings or any of our other public pronouncements.
We
did not seek approval of the CSRC for the Business Combination which may be required; the failure to obtain this approval, if
required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and reputation.
On
August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the MOFCOM, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
of the State Council, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and
the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic
Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8, 2006, and were amended on June
22, 2009 (《关于外国投资者并购境内企业的规定(2009修订)》).
The M&A Rules, among other things, include provisions that purport to require an offshore special purpose vehicle incorporated
for the purpose of acquiring PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC individuals 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, the CSRC published on their official website procedures regarding approval of overseas listings by special purpose vehicles.
The CSRC approval procedures require the filing of an application and supporting documents with the CSRC.
Based
on the advice of our PRC legal advisor at the time, we believe that no specific CSRC approval was required in the context of Business
Combination because (i) the CSRC has not issued any definitive rules or interpretations concerning whether the Business Combination
is subject to the CSRC approval procedures under the M&A Rules; (ii) WFOE was established by us as a wholly foreign-owned
enterprise, and we have not acquired any 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 after the effective date of the M&A Rules, (iii) no provision
in the M&A Rules clearly classifies the contractual arrangements among Horgos and Xing Cui Can, our VIEs and their shareholders
as a type of acquisition transaction subject to the M&A Rules, and (iv) the CSRC currently has not issued any definitive rule
or interpretation concerning whether the Business Combination falls under the M&A Rules. There can be no assurance that the
relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as our PRC counsel, and hence we may face
regulatory actions or other sanctions from the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. In that case, the relevant regulatory agencies
may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the PRC, or take other actions
that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects.
The
M&A Rules set forth complex procedures for acquisitions conducted by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult
to pursue growth through acquisitions.
The
M&A Rules 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 MOFCOM be notified in advance of
any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. In the future, we may
grow our business in part by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of this regulation to complete
such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the MOFCOM,
may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions. Any delay or inability to obtain applicable approvals to complete
acquisitions could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. In addition, in the future, if any
of our acquisitions were subject to the M&A Rules and were found not to be in compliance with the requirements of the M&A
Rules, relevant PRC regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges
in the PRC, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations,
reputation and prospects.
PRC
regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents and PRC citizens may increase the administrative burden
we face and may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners or employees who are share option holders to personal liabilities,
limit our subsidiary’s abilities to increase our registered capital or distribute profits to us, limit our ability to inject
capital into our PRC subsidiary, or may otherwise expose us to liability under PRC law.
SAFE
has promulgated regulations that require PRC residents and PRC corporate entities to register with local branches of SAFE in connection
with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. These regulations may apply to our shareholders who are PRC residents
and may apply to any offshore acquisitions that it make in the future. In accordance with the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating
to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular
37 (《国家外汇管理局关于境内居民通过特殊目的公司境外投融资及返程投资外汇管理有关问题的通知》(汇发[2014]37号)
), any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an offshore company is required to update his or her registration
with the relevant SAFE branches, with respect to that offshore company, any material change involving an increase or decrease
of capital, transfer or swap of shares, merger, division or other material event. SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying
and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment in February 2015, which took effect on June
1, 2015. This notice has amended SAFE Circular 37 requiring PRC residents or entities to register with qualified banks rather
than SAFE or their local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose
of overseas investment or financing.
There
is uncertainty concerning under what circumstances residents of other countries and regions can be classified as a PRC resident.
The PRC government authorities may interpret our beneficial owners’ status differently or their status may change in the
future. Moreover, we may not be fully informed of the identities of our beneficial owners and we cannot assure you that all of
our PRC resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE regulations. The failure of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents
to make any required registrations may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, and prevent us from being able to make distributions
or pay dividends, as a result of which our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially
adversely affected.
Restrictions
on foreign exchange under PRC laws may limit our ability to convert cash derived from our operating activities into foreign currencies
and may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.
Substantially
all of our revenues and operating expenses are denominated in Renminbi. Under the relevant foreign exchange regulations in the
PRC, conversion of the Renminbi is permitted, without the need for SAFE approval, for “current account” transactions,
which includes dividends, trade, and service-related foreign exchange transactions, subject to procedural requirements including
presenting relevant documentary evidence of such transactions and conducting such transactions at designated foreign exchange
banks within China who have the licenses to carry out foreign exchange business. Under our current structure, our source of funds
primarily consists of dividend payments from our subsidiary in the PRC. We cannot assure you that we will be able to meet all
of our foreign currency obligations or to remit profits out of China. If future changes in relevant regulations were to place
restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to remit dividend payments, our liquidity and ability to satisfy our third-party
payment obligations and our ability to distribute dividends could be materially adversely affected.
We
may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our wholly-owned subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements
we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect
on our ability to conduct our business.
The
Company is a holding company, and it may rely on dividends from our wholly-owned subsidiaries and service, license and other fees
paid to our wholly-owned subsidiary in China by Horgos and Xing Cui Can for our cash requirements, including any debt it may incur.
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined
in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries, Xing Cui Can and Horgos, are
required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve
reaches 50% of their registered capital, and each of our subsidiaries is required to further set aside a portion of our after-tax
profits to fund the employee welfare fund at the discretion of our board of directors. These reserves are not distributable as
cash dividends. Furthermore, if our PRC subsidiaries, Xing Cui Can and Horgos, incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the
instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. In addition, the PRC
tax authorities may require us to adjust our taxable income under the contractual arrangements we currently have in place in a
manner that would materially and adversely affect our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends and other distributions
to us. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute dividends to us or on the ability of Horgos and Xing Cui
Can to make payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could
be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
We
may be treated as a resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes under the EIT Law, which may subject us to PRC income tax for our
global income and withholding for any dividends it pay to our non-PRC shareholders.
Under
the Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”), enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management
bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises,” and will generally be subject to the uniform
25% enterprise income tax rate for their global income. Although the term “de facto management bodies” is defined
as “management bodies which have substantial and overall management and control power on the operation, human resources,
accounting and assets of the enterprise,” the circumstances under which an enterprise’s “de facto management
body” would be considered to be located in China are currently unclear. A circular issued by the State Administration of
Taxation (《国家税务总局关于境外注册中资控股企业依据实际管理机构标准认定为居民企业有关问题的通知》)
on April 22, 2009, provides that a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a PRC company group will be classified as
a “resident enterprise” with “de facto management bodies” located within China if the following requirements
are satisfied: (1) the senior management and core management departments in charge of daily operations function mainly in the
PRC; (2) financial and human resources decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies in the PRC; (3)
major assets, accounting books, company seals, and minutes and files of board and shareholders’ meetings are located or
kept in the PRC; and (4) at least half of the enterprise’s directors or senior management with voting rights reside in the
PRC. In addition, the State Administration of Taxation recently promulgated the Interim Provisions on Administration of Income
Tax of Chinese-Controlled Resident Enterprise Registered Overseas (《境外注册中资控股居民企业所得税管理办法(试行
)》), effective from September 1, 2011, which clarified certain matters concerning the determination of resident status,
administrative matters following this determination, and competent tax authorities. These interim provisions also specify that,
when an enterprise that is both Chinese-controlled and incorporated outside of mainland China, receives PRC-sourced incomes such
as dividends and interests, no PRC withholding tax is applicable if such enterprise has obtained a certificate evidencing its
status as a PRC resident enterprise that is registered overseas and controlled by Chinese.
Most
members of our management team are based in China and are expected to remain in China. Although our offshore holding companies
are not controlled by any PRC company or company group, we cannot assure you that it will not be deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise
under the EIT Law and our implementation rules. If we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, we will be subject to PRC enterprise
income tax at the rate of 25% on our global income. In that case, however, dividend income that we receive from our PRC subsidiaries
may be exempt from PRC enterprise income tax because the EIT Law and our implementation rules generally provide that dividends
received by a PRC resident enterprise from our directly invested entity that is also a PRC resident enterprise is exempt from
enterprise income tax. Accordingly, if we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise and earn income other than dividends from
our PRC subsidiaries, a 25% enterprise income tax on our global income could significantly increase our tax burden and materially
and adversely affect our cash flow and profitability. In addition, the EIT Law and implementation rules are relatively new and
ambiguities exist with respect to the interpretation of the provisions relating to identification of PRC-sourced income. If we
are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, dividends distributed to our non-PRC entity investors by us, or the gain our non-PRC
entity investors may realize from the transfer of our ordinary shares, may be treated as PRC-sourced income and therefore be subject
to a 10% PRC withholding tax pursuant to the EIT Law and, as a result, the value of your investment may be materially and adversely
affected.
We
may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities.
Under
PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among business entities may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC
tax authorities. The tax laws applicable to our business activities are subject to interpretation. We could face material and
adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that some of our business activities are not based on arm’s-length
prices and adjust our taxable income accordingly. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other
penalties to us for under-paid taxes. Our consolidated net profits in the future may be materially and adversely affected if we
are subject to greater than anticipated tax liabilities.
The
PRC legal system has inherent uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations which could
limit the legal protections available to investors.
Substantially
all of our operations are conducted in the PRC. The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes, and prior
court decisions can only be cited as reference and have almost no precedential value. Since 1979, the PRC government has been
developing a comprehensive system of laws, rules and regulations in relation to economic matters, such as foreign investment,
corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. However, because of the limited volume of published cases
and their non-binding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations involve some degree of uncertainty,
which may lead to additional restrictions and uncertainty for our business and uncertainty with respect to the outcome of any
legal action investors may take against us in the PRC. In addition, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the
PRC legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof,
or the pre-emption of local regulations by national laws. Any changes to such laws and regulations may materially increase our
costs and regulatory exposure in complying with them.
If
we become directly subject to the recent scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies, it
may have to expend significant resources to investigate and resolve any related issues, which could materially adversely impact
our business operations and reputation.
Certain
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 been centered around financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, 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 certain U.S.-listed
Chinese companies has sharply decreased in value. Certain companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuit and SEC enforcement
actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this scrutiny,
criticism and negative publicity may have on our business. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such
allegations are proven to be true or untrue, it will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or
defend. This situation will be costly and time consuming and distract our management from growing our business. Such allegations
may materially adversely impact our business operations and reputation.
The
risk of discontinuation of our Preferential Tax Treatments.
Currently, Horgos,
Horgos Glary Wisdom Marketing Planning Co., Ltd., Horgos Glary Prosperity Culture Co., Ltd., are eligible to be exempted from income
tax from 2017 to 2020, and will be eligible for certain tax rebates from local taxing authorities from 2021 to 2025. Glory Star
(Horgos) Media Technology Co., Ltd. is eligible to be exempted from income tax from 2020 to 2024, and will be eligible for certain
tax rebates from local taxing authorities from 2025 to 2029, If such preferential tax is no longer available to us, the income
tax rate may increase up to 25%, which could have an adverse effect on financial condition and results of operations.
As
a result of the Business Combination, we will face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident
enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
On
February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident
Enterprises, or Circular 7. Pursuant to Circular 7, an “indirect transfer” of assets, including equity interests in
a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises, may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable
assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and is established for the purpose of avoiding payment
of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax.
When determining whether there is a “reasonable commercial purpose” of the transaction arrangement, considerations
include, inter alia, (i) whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives directly or
indirectly from PRC taxable assets; (ii) whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consist of direct or indirect
investment in China or if income is mainly derived from China; and (iii) whether the offshore enterprise and subsidiaries directly
or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have real commercial nature evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure. According
to Circular 7, where the payer fails to withhold any or sufficient tax, the transferor shall declare and pay such tax to the tax
authority by itself within the statutory time limit. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor to default interest.
Circular 7 does not apply to transactions of sales of shares by investors through a public stock exchange where such shares were
acquired on a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Tax Withholding regarding Non-PRC
Resident Enterprise Income Tax, or Circular 37, which further elaborates the relevant implemental rules regarding the calculation,
reporting and payment obligations of the withholding tax by the non-resident enterprises. Nonetheless, there remain uncertainties
as to the interpretation and application of Circular 7. Circular 7 may be determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to
our offshore transactions or sales of our shares or those of our offshore subsidiaries where non-resident enterprises, being the
transferors, were involved.
Accordingly,
as a result of the Business Combination, if a holder of our ordinary shares purchases our ordinary shares in the open market and
sells them in a private transaction, or purchases our ordinary shares in a private transaction and sells them in the open market,
and fails to comply with the SAT Circular 7, the PRC tax authorities may take actions, including requesting us to provide assistance
for their investigation or impose a penalty on us, which could have a negative impact on our business operations. In addition,
since we may pursue acquisitions as one of our growth strategies, and may conduct acquisitions involving complex corporate structures,
the PRC tax authorities might impose taxes on capital gains or request that we submit certain additional documentation for their
review in connection with any potential acquisitions, which may incur additional acquisition costs, or delay our acquisition timetable.
The
PRC tax authorities have discretion under Circular 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference
between the fair value of the equity interests transferred and the cost of investment. We may pursue acquisitions in the future
that involve complex corporate structures. If we are considered a non-resident enterprise under the EIT Law and if the PRC tax
authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of these transactions under Circular 7, our income tax expenses associated
with such potential acquisitions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
New
legislation or changes in the PRC labor laws or regulations may affect our business operations.
Relevant
PRC labor laws or regulations could be amended or updated from time to time, and new laws or regulations may be enacted. We may
be required to change our business practices in order to comply with the new or revised labor laws and regulations or adapt to
policy changes. There can be no assurance that we will be able to change our business practices in a timely or efficient manner
pursuant to such new requirements. Any such failure may subject us to administrative fines or penalties or other adverse consequences
which could materially and adversely affect our brand name, reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Governmental
control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our net revenues effectively and affect the value of your investment.
The
PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi (RMB) into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, on
the remittance of currency out of China. We receive all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, we
will primarily rely on dividend payments from the WFOE to fund any cash and financing requirements that we may have, or for the
possible payment of dividends. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit
distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies
without prior approval of SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under the existing exchange restrictions,
without prior approval of SAFE, cash generated from the operations of the WFOE may be used to pay dividends to us. However, approval
from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi 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. As a result,
we need to obtain SAFE approval to use cash generated from the operations of the WFOE and VIE to pay off their respective debt
in a currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside China, if any, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside
China in a currency other than Renminbi. The PRC government may at their discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for
current account transactions in the future. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign
currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, the value of your investment may be affected.
The
trading prices of our ordinary shares are likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to our shareholders
and investors.
The
trading prices of our ordinary shares are likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control.
This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, like the performance and fluctuation in the market prices or the
underperformance or deteriorating financial results of other similarly situated companies that have listed their securities in
the U.S. in recent years. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial
public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading
performances of these companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward such companies
listed in the United States, which consequently may affect the trading performance of our ordinary shares, regardless of our actual
operating performance. In addition, securities markets may from time to time experience significant price and volume fluctuations
that are not related to our operating performance, such as the large decline in share prices in the United States and other jurisdictions.
In
addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our ordinary shares may be highly volatile for factors
specific to our own operations including the following:
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variations
in our revenues, earnings and cash flow;
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announcements
of new product and service offerings, investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships,
joint ventures, or capital commitments by us or our competitors;
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changes
in the performance or market valuation of our company or our competitors;
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changes
in financial estimates by securities analysts;
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changes
in the number of our users and customers;
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fluctuations
in our operating metrics;
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failures
on our part to realize monetization opportunities as expected;
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additions
or departures of our key management and personnel;
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release
of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales
of additional equity securities;
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detrimental
negative publicity about us, our competitors or our industry;
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market
conditions or regulatory developments affecting us or our industry; and
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potential
litigation or regulatory investigations.
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Any
of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the trading volume and the price at which our ordinary shares will
trade. In the past, shareholders of a public company often brought securities class action suits against the listed company following
periods of instability in the market price of that company’s securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it
could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations, which
could harm our results of operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit. Any such class action suit,
whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if
a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect
on our financial condition and results of operations.
If
securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the
market price for our ordinary shares and trading volume could decline.
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 industry. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if the analysts who
cover us downgrade our ordinary shares or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our industry, the market price for
our ordinary shares might decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly,
we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our ordinary
shares to decline.
While
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) currently has access to inspect the auditor’s work papers and practices
of Glory Star Group, new laws or restrictions imposed by the Chinese government may limit or restrict the PCAOB inspection which
would deprive you of the benefit of such inspection.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the U.S. and a firm registered
with the PCAOB, is required by the laws of the U.S. to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess our compliance with
the laws of the U.S. and the relevant professional standards. The PCAOB currently has access to inspect the working papers of
our auditors, however, new laws or restrictions may be imposed in China that may place new restrictions on PCAOB access to auditor’s
work papers for Chinese companies. If new restrictions by the Chinese government limits or restricts the ability of the PCAOB
to conduct inspections of auditors who perform audits in China and/or for Chinese companies, it would make it more difficult to
evaluate the effectiveness of our auditors’ audit procedures or quality control procedures. Investors may lose confidence
in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements if the PCAOB access to our auditors
is limited or restricted.
Risks
Relating to our Ordinary Shares
Future
sales or other dilution of our equity could depress the market price of our ordinary shares.
On February 24, 2021,
we completed a underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 3,810,976 ordinary shares of the Company, together with warrants
to purchase 3,810,976 ordinary shares of the Company, at a public offering price of $3.28 per share and associated warrant (“Public
Offering”). In addition, we granted the underwriters a 45-day option (the “Over-Allotment Option”) to purchase
up to an additional 571,646 ordinary shares and warrants to purchase up to 571,646 ordinary shares at the Public Offering price,
less underwriting discounts and commissions. On March 25, 2021, and in connection with the Public Offering, the underwriters fully
exercised and closed on their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 571,646 ordinary shares, together with warrants to
purchase up to 571,646 ordinary shares, at the Public Offering price. Future sales of our ordinary shares, preferred shares, warrants,
debt securities, units consisting of ordinary shares, preferred shares, warrants, or debt securities, or any combination of the
foregoing securities in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could negatively impact the price of
our ordinary shares. We have a number of shareholders that own significant blocks of our ordinary shares. If one or more of these
shareholders were to sell large portions of their holdings in a relatively short time, for liquidity or other reasons, the prevailing
market price of our ordinary shares could be negatively affected.
In
addition, the issuance of additional shares of our ordinary shares, securities convertible into or exercisable for our ordinary
shares, other equity-linked securities, including warrants or any combination of the securities pursuant to the shelf registration
statement will dilute the ownership interest of our shareholders and could depress the market price of our ordinary shares and
impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
We
may need to seek additional capital. If this additional financing is obtained through the issuance of equity securities, debt
convertible into equity or options or warrants to acquire equity securities, our existing shareholders could experience significant
dilution upon the issuance, conversion or exercise of such securities.
Certain
shareholders have piggy back and demand registration rights with respect to their ordinary shares which we have not yet complied
with. Sales of a number of ordinary shares may have an adverse effect on the market price of our ordinary shares and the existence
of these rights may make it more difficult to raise capital in the future.
Some
of our initial shareholders are entitled to piggy back registration rights and/or demand registration rights that we register
the sale of their insider shares at any time commencing three months prior to the date on which their shares may be released from
escrow. Additionally, the purchasers of the private warrants and certain of our shareholders, officers and directors are entitled
to piggy back registration rights and/or demand registration rights that we register the sale of the shares underlying the private
warrants and private warrants and any securities such shareholders, officers, directors or their affiliates may be issued in payment
of working capital loans made to us or issued in connection with the Business Combination. Under these registration rights agreements,
we are obligated to file a registration statement to registered with the SEC approximately 52.2 million ordinary shares owned
by certain insiders and others as expeditiously as possible. In connection with our filing of a shelf registration statement that
was declared effective on September 14, 2020, we did not register the ordinary shares held by shareholders with piggy back and/or
demand registration rights. Further, on December 29, 2020, one of the investors demanded the registration of their ordinary shares.
Pursuant to the registration rights agreements, we have given notice to the other investors and owners of our intent to file a
registration statement and whether or not they wish to have their ordinary shares also registered with the SEC. In connection
with the Public Offering, we have agreed not to file such demand registration statement with the SEC prior to April 30, 2021.
No
assurance can be given that we will not be exposed to potential damages because we have not yet file the registration statement
pursuant to the registration rights. Further, the registration of a significant number of ordinary shares and the ability of the
holders thereof to sell their ordinary shares could have the effect of depressing our ordinary share price.
The
sales of a significant number of our ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could
depress the market price of our ordinary shares.
The
sales of a substantial number of our ordinary shares in the public market could depress the market price of our ordinary shares
and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We have registered with the SEC $130
million of our securities pursuant to a shelf registration statement in which we may issue from time to time, depending on market
conditions. The issuance of such securities may depress the market price of our ordinary shares and we cannot predict the effect
that future sales of our ordinary shares would have on the market price of our ordinary shares.
You
may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may
be limited, because the Company is incorporated under Cayman Islands Companies Act.
We
are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect
service of process within the United States upon our directors or executive officers, or enforce judgments obtained in the United
States courts against our directors or officers.
Our
corporate affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Cayman Islands Companies Act and the ordinary
law of the Cayman Islands. We will also be subject to the federal securities laws of the United States. The rights of shareholders
to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to
us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the ordinary law of the Cayman Islands. The ordinary law of the
Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English
ordinary law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands.
The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are different from
what they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman
Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and certain states, such as Delaware, may have
more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing
to initiate a shareholders derivative action in a Federal court of the United States.
We
have been advised by Maples and Calder (Cayman) LLP, our Cayman Islands legal counsel, that the courts of the Cayman Islands are
unlikely (i) to recognize or enforce against us judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions
of the federal securities laws of the United States or any state; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands,
to impose liabilities against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States
or any state, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. In those circumstances, although there
is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands
will recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits
based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the
sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman
Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or
penalty, inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, impeachable on the grounds of fraud or obtained
in a manner, or be of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands
(awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement
proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
As
a result of all of the above, public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions
taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a
United States company.
If
we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal control to remediate our material weakness over financial reporting,
we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud.
Prior
to our Business Combination with TKK, Glory Star was a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with
which to address our internal control over financial reporting. Glory Star’s management has not completed an assessment
of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting, and its independent registered public accounting firm has
not conducted an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Following the Business Combination and in the course
of auditing our combined and consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, we and our independent registered
public accounting firm identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, which relate to a lack
of sufficient financial reporting and accounting personnel with appropriate knowledge of the generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and SEC reporting requirements to properly address complex U.S. GAAP accounting
issues and to prepare and review our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures to fulfill U.S. GAAP and SEC financial
reporting requirements. Following the identification of the material weaknesses, we have taken measures, and plan to continue
to take measures, to remediate these control deficiencies. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures — Changes to Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting”. However, the implementation of these measures may not fully address these deficiencies
in our internal control over financial reporting, and we cannot conclude that they have been fully remediated. Our failure to
correct these control deficiencies or our failure to discover and address any other control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies
in our financial statements and impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory
filings on a timely basis. Moreover, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could significantly hinder our ability
to prevent fraud.
As
a public company, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, requires
that we include a report from management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report
on Form 20-F. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, our independent
registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
Our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management
concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm,
after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal control
or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements
differently from us. In addition, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and
financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any
required remediation.
During
the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, we
may identify other weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain
the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time
to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in
accordance with Section 404. If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment, we could suffer material
misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely cause investors to lose
confidence in our reported financial information. This could in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of
operations, and lead to a decline in the trading price of our ordinary shares. Additionally, ineffective internal control over
financial reporting could expose us to increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting
from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory investigations and civil or criminal sanctions. We may also be required to
restate our financial statements for prior periods.
Certain
judgments obtained against the Company by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
The
Company is a Cayman Islands exempted company and all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Substantially all
of our current operations are conducted in the PRC. In addition, all of the Company’s directors and officers are nationals
and residents of countries other than the United States. A substantial portion of the assets of these persons are located outside
the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against the Company or against these
individuals in the United States in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the United States 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.
Nasdaq
could delist our ordinary shares, which could limit investors’ ability to transact in our securities and subject us to additional
trading restrictions.
Our
securities are listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, a national securities exchange. We cannot assure you that we will be able
to remain in compliance with The Nasdaq listing requirements. If The Nasdaq Capital Market delists our securities, we could face
significant material adverse consequences, including:
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a
limited availability of market quotations for our securities;
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reduced
liquidity for our securities;
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a
determination that our ordinary shares are a “penny stock” which will require
brokers trading in our ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly
result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our
securities;
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a
limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and
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a
decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the
future.
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If
our ordinary shares become subject to the SEC’s penny stock rules, broker-dealers may experience difficulty in completing
customer transactions, and trading activity in our securities may be adversely affected.
If
at any time we have net tangible assets of $5,000,001 or less and our ordinary shares have a market price per share of less than
$5.00, transactions in our ordinary shares may be subject to the “penny stock” rules promulgated under the Exchange
Act. Under these rules, broker-dealers who recommend such securities to persons other than institutional accredited investors
must:
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make
a special written suitability determination for the purchaser;
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receive
the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction prior to sale;
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provide
the purchaser with risk disclosure documents which identify certain risks associated
with investing in “penny stocks” and which describe the market for these
“penny stocks” as well as a purchaser’s legal remedies; and
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obtain
a signed and dated acknowledgment from the purchaser demonstrating that the purchaser
has actually received the required risk disclosure document before a transaction in a
“penny stock” can be completed.
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If
our ordinary shares become subject to these rules, broker-dealers may find it difficult to effectuate customer transactions and
trading activity in our securities may be adversely affected. As a result, the market price of our securities may be depressed,
and you may find it more difficult to sell our securities.
We
are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging
growth companies will make our securities less attractive to investors.
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act.
We will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. However, if our non-convertible debt issued within
a three-year period exceeds $1.0 billion or revenues exceed $1.07 billion, or the market value of our ordinary shares that are
held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million on the last day of the second fiscal quarter of any given fiscal year, we would cease
to be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we are not being required to
comply with the auditor attestation requirements of section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we have reduced disclosure obligations
regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and we are exempt from the requirements of holding
a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously
approved. Additionally, as an emerging growth company, we have elected to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards
that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies. As such,
our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We cannot predict
if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on these provisions. If some investors find our shares less
attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.
Further,
Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial
accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared
effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised
financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and
comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable. We
have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has
different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, will not adopt the new or revised
standard until the time private companies are required to adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial
statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted
out of using the extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accountant standards
used.
We
were a “shell company” and are subject to additional restrictions under Rule 144 on resales of our restricted securities.
The
following is a quotation from subparagraph (i)(B)(2) of Rule 144: “Notwithstanding paragraph (i)(1), if the issuer of the
securities previously had been an issuer described in paragraph (i)(1)(i) but has ceased to be an issuer described in paragraph
(i)(1)(i); is subject to the reporting requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; has filed all reports and other
materials required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable, during the preceding 12 months (or for
such shorter period that the issue was required to file such reports and materials), other than Form 8-K reports (§249.308
of this chapter); and has filed current “Form 10 information” with the Commission reflecting its status as an entity
that is no longer an issuer described in paragraph (i)(1)(i), then those securities may be sold subject to the requirements of
this section after one year has elapsed from the date that the issuer filed “Form 10 information” with the Commission.”
As a “shell company” immediately prior to the Business Combination, we will be subject to additional restrictions
under Rule 144 which provides that no sales of our restricted securities could be sold until we have complied with subparagraph
(i)(B)(2) of Rule 144.
Item
4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A.
History and Development of the Company
Introduction
On
February 14, 2020, our predecessor, TKK, consummated a Business Combination contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement dated
as of September 6, 2019, as amended (“Share Exchange Agreement”), by and among TKK, Glory Star New Media Group Limited,
a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Glory Star”), Glory Star New Media (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned
enterprise limited liability company (“WFOE”) incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”)
and indirectly wholly-owned by Glory Star, Xing Cui Can, Horgos, each of Glory Star’s shareholders (collectively, the “Sellers”),
TKK Symphony Sponsor 1, TKK’s sponsor (the “Sponsor”), in the capacity as the representative from and after
the closing of the Business Combination for TKK’s shareholders other than the Sellers, and Bing Zhang, in the capacity as
the representative for the Sellers thereunder, pursuant to which Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited (“GS Holdings”)
acquired 100% of the equity interests of Glory Star from the Sellers.
Upon
the close of the Business Combination, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding securities of Glory Star in exchange for
approximately 46,204,025 of our ordinary shares, which includes 5,000,000 ordinary shares that were issued to the former shareholders
of Glory Star because certain financial performance targets were attained for the 2019 fiscal year. The former shareholders of
Glory Star will have the right to an additional 5,000,000 of our ordinary shares if we meet certain financial performance targets
for the 2020 fiscal year.
As
a result of the Business Combination, Sellers became the controlling shareholders of the Company. The Business Combination was
accounted for as a reverse merger, wherein Glory Star is considered the acquirer for accounting and financial reporting purposes.
We
were incorporated as an exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands on February 5, 2018 under the name TKK Symphony
Acquisition Corporation. In connection with the Share Exchange Agreement, we changed our name from “TKK Symphony Acquisition
Corporation” to “Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Ltd.” As a result of the Business Combination, all of our
business operations are conducted through our subsidiaries and our VIEs.
The
following is a brief description of each of our subsidiaries and VIEs:
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Glory
Star. Glory Star New Media Group Limited (“Glory Star”) is
an exempted company incorporated on November 30, 2018, under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
GSNM is authorized to issue 5,000,000 ordinary shares of which 2,000,000 ordinary shares
are issued and outstanding. Glory Star is wholly owned by the Company.
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Glory
Star HK. Glory Star New Media Group HK Limited (“Glory Star HK”)
is a limited company incorporated on December 18, 2018, under the Companies Ordinance
of Hong Kong. The total amount of share capital of Glory Star HK is HKD 1.00 with one
(1) authorized share. Glory Star HK is wholly owned by Glory Star.
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WFOE. Glory
Star New Media (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) is a wholly foreign-owned
enterprise established by Glory Star HK on March 13, 2019. WFOE has been issued a business
license (No. 91110113MA01HN7N6P) by the Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce
Shunyi District Bureau on April 4, 2019.
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Xing
Cui Can. Xing Cui Can International Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Xing
Cui Can”) is a limited liability company incorporated under laws of PRC on September
7, 2016, and the current shareholders are: Bing Zhang, Jia Lu, Ran Zhang, Yixing He,
Ronghui Zhang, Hui Lin, Hui Jin, Hanying Li, Yinghao Zhang, and Jiancong Xiao, all of
whom are PRC residents. Xing Cui Can currently holds a business license issued by Beijing
Administration for Industry and Commerce Chaoyang District Bureau. Through a series of
contractual agreements, WFOE is deemed to control Xing Cui Can and have rights to consolidate
all of Xing Cui Can’s audited financial results.
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Horgos. Horgos
Glory Star Media Co., Ltd. (“Horgos”) is a limited liability company incorporated
under laws of PRC on November 1, 2016. The current shareholders are Xing Cui Can, Bing
Zhang, Jia Lu, Ran Zhang, Yixing He, Ronghui Zhang, Hui Lin, Hui Jin, Hanying Li, Yinghao
Zhang and Everest Venture Capital Investment Co., Ltd. (“Everest”). Horgos
currently holds a business license issued by Horgos Market Supervisory Authority. Xianhong
Liang and Jiancong Xiao are the beneficial owners of Horgos through Everest. Through
a series of contractual agreements, WFOE is deemed to control Horgos and have rights
to consolidate all of Horgos’s audited financial results.
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Prior
to the incorporation of Glory Star, on August 31, 2017 (the “Acquisition Date”), Horgos completed the acquisition
of 100% of the equity interest of Leshare Star (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Leshare”), a company incorporated
in the PRC, which is mainly engaged in internet advertising activities and owns a copyright of “Fashion Star Short Video
App Leshare Software.” Horgos purchased all 100% equity interest of Beijing Leshare from six individual shareholders with
a consideration of $0. Prior to the acquisition, Mr. Bing Zhang was the chief operation officer of Horgos and had a 65% equity
interest in Beijing Leshare, hence the acquisition was deemed as a related party transaction. Beijing Leshare’s assets and
liabilities were recorded at their carrying values as of the Acquisition Date, and the results of operations of Beijing Leshare
are consolidated with the results of operations of Glory Star Group, starting on August 31, 2017.
In
addition, on October 26, 2018, Messrs. Bing Zhang, Ran Zhang and Jia Lu, management of Horgos, acquired 51% of the equity interest
from Lead Eastern Investment Co., Ltd. (“Dangdai Dongfang”) in a management buy-out for RMB39.4 million ($6.0 million)
based on the then net asset value of Horgos (“MBO”). Prior to the MBO, Dangdai Dongfang was the largest shareholder
of Horgos, and wanted Horgos to focus on traditional advertising and the production of content for the cable TV networks, the
business of Horgos at that time. However, the management of Horgos wanted to expand and transform Horgos into an online media
and e-commerce company which is what the Glory Star Group is today. However, at that time, Dangdai Dongfang did not wish to make
the additional investments into Horgos’ new business and was in fact looking to liquidate its holdings in Horgos because
of its own financial troubles at that time. Immediately following the closing of the MBO, Dangdai Dongfang ceased to be a shareholder
of Horgos and Mr. Bing Zhang, directly and indirectly through Xing Cui Can, became the controlling shareholders of Horgos, holding
72.58% of the equity interest in Horgos.
Emerging
Growth Company Status
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”),
and we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting and financial disclosure requirements that
are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, (1) presenting
only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related management’s discussion and analysis of financial
condition and results of operations in this annual report, (2) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation
requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (3) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation
in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and (4) exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory
vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We intend to
take advantage of these exemptions.
In
addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of the extended transition
period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards.
As a result, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise
apply to private companies.
We
could remain an emerging growth company for up to five years, or until the earliest of (1) the last day of the first fiscal
year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion, (2) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer”
as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our Ordinary Shares that is held
by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter and we
have been publicly reporting for at least 12 months, or (3) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible
debt during the preceding three-year period.
Foreign
Private Issuer Status
We
are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act. As such, we are exempt from certain
provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies. For example:
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we
are not required to provide as many Exchange Act reports, or as frequently, as a domestic
public company;
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for
interim reporting, we are permitted to comply solely with our home country requirements,
which are less rigorous than the rules that apply to domestic public companies;
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we
are not required to provide the same level of disclosure on certain issues, such as executive
compensation;
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we
are exempt from provisions of Regulation FD aimed at preventing issuers from making selective
disclosures of material information;
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we
are not required to comply with the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation
of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the
Exchange Act; and
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we
are not required to comply with Section 16 of the Exchange Act requiring insiders
to file public reports of their share ownership and trading activities and establishing
insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction.
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Recent
Developments
On
December 29, 2020, we entered into an Amendment to the Share Exchange Agreement with the Sponsor in the capacity as the representative
for TKK’s shareholders other than the Sellers, and Bing Zhang, in the capacity as the representative for the Sellers, to
(i) adjust the 2020 Earnout Target (defined below) from RMB315,000,000 to RMB182,000,000 (the “Adjustment”) and (ii)
to amend and restate Section 1.4(a) of the Share Exchange Agreement to reflect the Adjustment.
On
February 24, 2021, we completed our underwritten public offering of an aggregate of 3,810,976 ordinary shares of the Company,
together with warrants to purchase 3,810,976 ordinary shares of the Company, at a public offering price of $3.28 per share and
associated warrant (the “Public Offering”). In addition, we granted the underwriters a 45-day option (the “Over-Allotment
Option”) to purchase up to an additional 571,646 ordinary shares and warrants to purchase up to 571,646 ordinary shares
at the Public Offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions
and other estimated offering expenses, the net proceeds of the Public Offering were approximately $11.3 million. Univest Securities,
LLC was the sole book-running manager for the offering.
On March 25, 2021,
the underwriters fully exercised and closed on their over-allotment option to purchase an additional 571,646 ordinary shares of
the Company, together with warrants to purchase up to 571,646 ordinary shares of the Company in connection with our Public Offering
on February 24, 2021 (the “Over-allotment Exercise”). The additional ordinary shares and warrants were sold at the
public offering price of $3.28 per ordinary share and associated warrant. After deducting underwriting discounts, the additional
net proceeds of the Over-allotment Exercise were approximately $1.7 million.
The
SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers
that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC's Internet site is http://www.sec.gov. We maintain an Internet site
at http://yaoshixinghui.com. However, information contained in, or that can be accessed through our website or any other website
cited in this annual report is not part of this annual report.
B.
Business Overview
We
provide advertisement and content production services and operate a leading mobile and online digital advertising, media and entertainment
business in China. Major production from us include short videos, online variety show, online drama, living stream and Cheers
series. After launching our CHEERS App in 2018, we are fast becoming one of the leading e-commerce platforms in China by allowing
our users to access our online store (e-Mall), video content, live streaming, and online games. We focus on creating original
professionally-produced content featuring lifestyle, culture and fashion to monetize our advertising and e-commerce platform.
We mainly offer and generate revenue from the copyright licensing of self-produced content, advertising and customized content
production and CHEERS e-Mall marketplace service, membership fees, and others. We intend to capitalize on the immense growth potential
of China’s live streaming and e-commerce markets while cultivating new, innovative monetization opportunities.
Our
mobile and online advertising business is still growing and is becoming a substantial source of our revenue. We plan on further
expanding the development and promotion of our mobile and online business especially with our CHEERS e-Mall that was launched
in 2019.
Key
Metrics
We
monitor the following key metrics to evaluate the growth of our business, measure the effectiveness of our marketing efforts,
identify trends affecting our business, and make strategic decisions:
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CHEERS App Downloads. We define this metric as the total number of downloads of the CHEERS App as of the end of the period. Because we have expanded into e-commerce through our CHEERS App, we believe that this is a key metric in understanding the growth in this business. The number of downloads demonstrates whether we are successful in our marketing efforts in converting viewers of our professionally-produced content on other platforms to the CHEERS App. We view the number of downloads at the end of a given period as a key indicator of the attractiveness and usability of our CHEERS App and the increased traffic to our e-Mall platform. The table below sets forth the total number of downloads of the CHEERS App as of the end of the period indicated:
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December 31,
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2019
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2020
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(in Millions)
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CHEERS App Downloads
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85
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169
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As
of December 31, 2020, the total number of downloads of the CHEERS App was approximately 169 million as compared to 85 million
as of December 31, 2019. We believe that this increase in downloads demonstrates the success that we have in converting viewers
of our content to the CHEERS App.
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Daily Active Users (DAUs). We define daily active users, or DAUs, as a user who has logged in or accessed our online video content and/or our e-commerce platform using the CHEERS App, whether on a mobile phone or tablet. We calculate DAUs using internal company data based on the activity of the user account and as adjusted to remove “duplicate” accounts. DAU is a tool that our management uses to manage their operations. In particular, our management sets daily targets of DAUs and monitors the DAUs to see whether to make adjustments as to the promotional activities, advertising campaign, and/or online video contents. The table below sets forth the DAUs on our CHEES APP as of the end of the period indicated:
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December 31,
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2019
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2020
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(in Millions)
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DAUs
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1.91
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5.37
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For the years ended
December 31, 2019 and 2020, the average DAUs were 1.91 million and 5.37 million, respectively.
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Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). We define gross merchandise value, or GMV, as the total value of all orders for products and services placed in our online direct sales business and on our online marketplaces, regardless of whether the goods are sold or delivered or whether the goods are returned. As we grow our e-Mall platform, it is important to monitor the volume of merchandise that we have sold through the e-Mall. By keeping track of the GMV, it allows us to determine the attractiveness of our CHEERS App platform to our merchants and users. The table below sets forth the total GMV as of the end of the period indicated:
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December 31,
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2019
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2020
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(in Millions of
U.S. Dollars)
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GMV
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$
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19.36
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$
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132
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For the years ended
December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020, our e-Mall recorded approximately $19.36 million and $132 million of GMV, respectively.
In addition, as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s e-Mall has carried 24,975 SKUs in total, compared to 13,180 as of December
31, 2019. We believe that the growth in the GMV will be driven significantly with our ability to attract and retain users to the
CHEERS App through our professionally-produced content and to further enhance our product offerings.
Our
Vision
Our
vision is to become a world leading mobile media and entertainment company dedicated to providing people pursuing a better life
with an integrative platform of featuring e-commerce and high quality lifestyle entertainment.
Our
Business
Established
in 2016, we focused on providing advertisement and content production services and becoming a leading mobile and online advertising,
media and entertainment business in China by creating professionally-produced content featuring lifestyle, culture and fashion.
In 2018, we expanded into e-commerce services by introducing our CHEERS App, which integrated our e-commerce services with professionally-produced
content. Primary to our vision, we continue to produce, create and add to our rich library of short videos, drama series, and
live streaming, which we own and stream on our mobile app, Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), and online platform, as well as
for distributions and licensing to other mediums such as Chinese television stations and third party online streaming platforms
throughout China and the world. Leveraging the popularity of our professionally-produced content and distribution networks, we
drive viewing audiences to our CHEERS App ecosystem to convert them as users of our online video streaming services and as customers
to our e-Mall and online games.
CHEERS
APP
The
CHEERS App is our core platform serving millions of users in China. Most of the users are attracted to download our mobile app
after they watch our professionally-produced content (both long and short videos on various distribution channels) featuring,
lifestyle, culture and fashion. Central to our business model, the CHEERS App has been developed into a comprehensive content-driven
e-commerce platform in which shoppers can access multiple segments such as online store (e-Mall), live streaming shows, original
short videos, and online games. The mobile app users can watch our high-quality video content and shop in our in-app e-Mall. Such
a combination has become a prevalent trend in Chinese e-commerce innovation.
The
following is a summary of our CHEERS App:
Leveraging
our brand, large viewing audience, and users of our CHEERS App video app, in April 2019, we launched our e-Mall platform where
we offer products to our users through third party merchants that we have screened and approved. We charge third-party merchants
on our e-Mall platform a service fee and a commission for the sales of their products.
In
June 2018, we launched our first live streaming show called Shopping Genius. We now have four (4) live streaming shows in production,
including Shopping Genius, Bargaining Genius, Guessing Game and Unbeatable Lucky Card, each 90-minute segments, where users can
interact with each other and the hosts, obtain discount coupons by participating in our real-time online games and quizzes, and
make purchases in our e-Mall with these discount coupons. In addition, as requested by some clients, some live streaming shows
are customized in order to lead the audience to make purchases in the clients’ online stores and/or in other e-commerce
platforms such as JD.com and Taobao.com. We monetize our live streaming shows by promoting products where our subscribers can
purchase products through our e-Mall. In addition, our e-commerce suppliers and distributors of our e-Mall have the option to
enter separate advertising agreements with us to promote their products in our live streaming shows.
Shopping
Genius
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This
show promotes various products for sale in e-Mall and provides an opportunity for viewers to participate in question and answer
games for the discount coupons for the promotional products.
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Bargaining
Genius
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This
show promotes various products for sale in e-Mall and allows viewers to compete with each other for discount coupons for the
promotional products.
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Guessing
Game
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This
is a live game show that allows viewers to win points that go towards discounts for purchase of items in e-Mall.
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Unbeatable
Lucky Card
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This
is a live game show that allows viewers to win points that go towards discounts for purchase of items in e-Mall.
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We
stream our professionally-produced content on our CHEERS App where we generate advertising revenues from traditional pre-video,
in-video, banner advertisements, and pop-up advertisements. We also generate revenues from soft product placements that are incorporated
into our original video content. We leverage our deep library of professionally-produced content, large viewing audience base,
and big data analytics capabilities to help our advertisers target their specific demographics in China.
We
have developed four (4) online games for our CHEERS App where players can play the games that we have developed in-house. We monetize
online games through users’ in-app purchases of gift packages and game privileges.
Series
TV Shows
In
February 2017, we started production of our series TV shows, which contain six (6) lifestyle shows, including Cheers Food, Cheers
Health, Cheers Fashion, Cheers Baby, Cheers Space and Cheers World, each episode is 30 minutes in length. Our series TV shows
are unique in the content creation and production, with trending lifestyle updates filmed both in-studio and outdoors. We generate
revenues from our series TV shows by licensing to TV stations with exclusive advertising times and charging advertising fees,
and by displaying products of our e-Mall. We distribute and promote our series TV shows content on a variety of online video platforms,
mobile apps, IPTV and television channels where we generate advertising revenues from traditional pre-video, in-video, and pop-up
advertisements. We also generate revenues from soft product placements that are incorporated into our series TV shows. We produce
and license our series TV shows for airing on local broadcast, basic cable television networks, and throughout China. Our shows
can be seen on satellite stations such as Anhui Satellite Television and Shenzhen Satellite Television, which are year-to-year
contracts. The following is a summary of our series TV shows:
Cheers
Health
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This
TV program features and promotes healthy lifestyle.
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Cheers
Fashion
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This
TV program features high-end fashion and beauty, and is touted as the fashion bible in the fashion field.
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Cheers
World
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This
TV program is China’s only leading short tourism program that brings together the world’s best tourism destinations,
sharing travel experiences from unique perspectives of the visitors and the cultural scene of the destinations. It has
been fully recommended by the cultural centers or consulates of foreign embassies in China and has close ties and cooperation
with embassies in many countries around the world.
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Cheers
Baby
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This
TV program is hosted by Cao Ying, who shares the parenting experience of parents in the form of question and answer format,
and in-depth interviews. This is one of few programs of this type in China.
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Cheers
Food
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This
TV program centers around food and the stories between people and food from various perspectives. Since the launch of
Shenzhen Satellite TV, our average ranking has remained stable within the top 8 in China.
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Cheers
Space
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This
regular weekly program focuses on home décor and interior design.
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Drama
& Variety Shows
We
have partnered with third parties to produce and license original online drama and variety show series for distribution on online
video platforms. We currently developed the following drama series and variety shows:
My
Greatest Hero
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This
TV series explores the lives of a high school tennis team. This program is in partnership with iQIYI and has become
one of the most popular youth TV series.
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Hi!
Rap Season 1
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This
variety show was developed in 2018 as a “light-variety” talk show.
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Hi!
Rap Season 2
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In
2019, we developed season 2 of this variety show. It is currently one of the most popular variety shows in China.
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Hi!
Rap Season 3
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Hi!
Rap Season 3 has become one of the most sought after online variety shows for millennials since its initial launch on August
22,2020.
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Depending
on the contract with our partners, we can either share revenues generated by the number of viewers, or share advertising revenues
generated by the contents.
Advertising
We
distribute and promote our professionally-produced content on our CHEERS App and on a variety of online video platforms, mobile
apps, IPTV and television channels where we generate advertising revenues from traditional pre-video, in-video, and pop-up advertisements.
We also generate revenues from soft product placements that are incorporated into our original video content, including our online
short videos. In addition, our e-Mall suppliers and distributors have the option to enter into separate advertising agreements
for displaying their products in our live streaming shows. All items displayed in the live streaming shows can be purchased in
e-Mall. We leverage our deep library of professionally-produced content, wide distribution channels, and big data analytics capabilities
to help our advertisers target their specific demographics in China.
Production
Services
We
provide brand advertising services to third-party advertising agencies by producing variety shows, short videos, and live streaming
shows, according to customers’ needs, for a fee. We also provide planning, shooting, and post-production services for a
fee.
Content
Licensing and Distribution
From
time to time we may also acquire rights to rebroadcast and/or distribute third-party film and television drama.
Industry
overview
Growth
of e-commerce in China
The
growing e-commerce market scale, as well as the population of online shoppers in China, have built a solid industry outlook for
emerging e-commerce platforms.
According
to the iResearch market research report that we commissioned in July, 2020, Market Overview of Content-Driven E-commerce Platform
in China, the total e-commerce market sales in China reached RMB34,810 billion in 2019, with a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 12.4% from 2015 to 2019. The e-commerce sales in China grew faster than that of total retail sales of consumer goods
in China, which had a CAGR of 8.1% from 2015 to 2019.
Source:
National Bureau of Statistics, iResearch
The
population of online shoppers had reached 710 million in March 2020, of which 99.6% were also mobile shoppers, according to iResearch.
The total population of online shoppers in China is expected to reach 850 million by 2021, at a CAGR of 10.8%.
Source:
CNNIC, iResearch
Growth
of online video users
The
development of high-speed internet networks and the growing popularity of short video platforms have fueled the growth of online
video viewership. According to the iResearch report, the population of online video users in China had reached 850.44 million
by March 2020, with a CAGR of 13.3% from 2015. Online video users make up 94% of total internet users by March 2020, while it
was only 72% at the end of 2015.
Source:
CNNIC, iResearch
Video
content-driven e-commerce platforms
With
the rapid growth of e-commerce market and online video users, many e-commerce platforms started to leverage video content in assisting
the customer acquisition of their e-commerce platforms.
A
video content-driven e-commerce platform refers to an e-commerce platform with promotional and advertising video content that
encourage or incentivize customers in making purchases on its e-commerce platform. The video content adopted by most platforms
are live streaming shows and short videos.
A
video content-driven e-commerce platform can be PGC, PUGC, or UGC content-driven, depending on who produces the content:
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PGC
refers to Professional Generated Content, which relies on professional video producers
and is normally more costly to produce. However, it also has the highest commercial value
for its attention to detail and consistent quality;
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UGC
refers to User Generated Content, which features content produced by the general public;
and
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PUGC
refers to Professional User Generated Content, which is the combination of PGC and UGC.
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Monetization
A video content-driven
e-commerce platform can usually monetize video content through following means:
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Advertising revenue for in-video product placement,
start screen ads, in-app banner ads, and other forms of advertisements;
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Commission revenue from video producers and live streamers on
the platform when transactions are completed and settled; and
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Direct e-commerce sales of commodities on the platform.
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Proprietary PGC video content-driven
e-commerce platform
A proprietary PGC
video content-driven e-commerce platform is a segment of content-driven e-commerce platform, with in-house professional video
production and proprietary e-commerce platform. When compared with other video content-driven e-commerce platforms, a proprietary
PGC video content-driven e-commerce platform usually has a larger advantage in maintaining high-quality content production with
dedicated professional production teams.
Market
scale
The
proprietary PGC video content-driven e-commerce platform industry is still at an early stage of development with high growth rate
but limited qualified market participants. However, many e-commerce platforms have, or are planning to, develop video content
on their platforms in 2020.
According
to the iResearch report, the market scale of proprietary PGC video content-driven e-commerce platforms in terms of GMV was approximately
RMB3.5 billion in 2019, with a CAGR of 151.6% from 2016 to 2019. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 32.5% to RMB14.5
billion by 2024.
Source:
iResearch
Key
successful factors for video content-driven e-commerce platforms
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Selection
of commodities: A platform must be careful and thoughtful in selecting commodities with
high popularity and reasonable profit margin to keep customers attracted.
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Sustainable
high-quality video content: A platform must be able to sustain consistent video content quality and avoid publishing any video
that may result in negative publicity, or even regulatory punishment.
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Stable
customer inflow: A platform must secure a solid channel for customer acquisition and to keep all customer activities within
a proprietary ecosystem in order to minimize customer loss.
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Competitive
landscape
According
to the iResearch report, we are amongst the top five video content-driven e-commerce platforms in China based on semi-annual GMV
for the first half of 2020.
Competition
Our
competitors include Alibaba (Nasdaq: BABA), Pin Duoduo (Nasdaq: PDD), Douyu (Nasdaq: DOYU), Qu Toutiao (Nasdaq: QTT), Mango Media
(SZ.300413), and Zhong Guang Tianze (SH.603721) for users, shoppers, and advertising customers. We also compete with other internet
media and entertainment services, such as internet and social platforms that offer content in emerging and innovative media formats,
as well as major TV stations.
Employees
As
of December 31, 2020, we had 159 full time employees. We have entered into written employment contracts with all of our employees
in accordance with PRC Labor Law and Contract Law. None of our employees is covered by collective bargaining contracts. We believe
that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes or
any difficulty in recruiting staff for our operations.
As
required by PRC regulations, we participate in various government statutory social security plans, including a pension contribution
plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan, a maternity insurance plan
and a housing provident fund. We are required under PRC law to contribute to social security plans at specified percentages of
the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time
to time. An employer that fails to make social insurance contributions may be ordered to rectify the non-compliance and pay the
required contributions within a stipulated deadline and be subject to a late fee.
Intellectual
Property
Our
success depends largely on our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property. To accomplish this, we rely on
our trade secrets, including know-how, confidentiality clauses in standard labor agreements and third party nondisclosure agreements,
copyright laws, trademarks, intellectual property licenses and other contractual rights to establish and protect our proprietary
rights in our technology. We currently do not own any patents and do not have any pending patent applications.
As
of December 31, 2020, we owned 59 registered trademarks in the PRC, and 4 registered trademark in Hong Kong. In addition, as of
December 31, 2020, we have 40 registered copyrights in the PRC (including copyrights with respect to 36 software products developed
by it relating to various aspects of our operations and 4 copyright works). The software and registered works are crucial to our
business.
Legal
Proceedings
From
time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of business.
However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to
time that may harm our business. To the best knowledge of management, there are no material legal proceedings pending against
us.
There
are no proceedings in which any of our directors, officers, or any beneficial shareholder of more than five percent (5%) of our
voting securities is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to us.
Seasonality
Aside
from fluctuations in the level of advertising spending resulting from changes in the overall economic and market conditions in
China, our revenues are affected by seasonal fluctuations in business and consumer spending that also affect the level of advertising
spending over time in China. Our quarterly operating results have fluctuated in the past and may continue to fluctuate depending
upon a number of factors, many of which are out of our control. Our operating results tend to be seasonal. As a result, detailed
attention shall be paid when comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis. For example, online user numbers tend
to be higher during holidays and end of the year, and advertising revenues tend to be higher at the end of the year.
Insurance
We
do not maintain any property insurance policies covering equipment and facilities for losses due to fire, earthquake, flood or
any other disaster. Consistent with customary industry practice in China, we do not maintain business interruption insurance or
key employee insurance for our executive officers. Uninsured damage to any of our equipment or buildings or a significant product
liability claim could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS
Regulations
of Our Industry
The
PRC government imposes extensive controls and regulations over the e-commerce industry and media industry, including television,
advertising, media content production. This section summarizes the principal PRC regulations that are relevant to our lines of
business.
Regulations
on Foreign Investment
Guidance
Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment
On
June 28, 2017, the National Development and Reform Commission (the “NDRC”), and Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”),
promulgated the Foreign Investment Catalog which was implemented on July 28, 2017. For foreign investment, the Foreign
Investment Catalog is divided into encouraged industries, restricted industries and prohibited industries, and industries which
are not listed in the Foreign Investment Catalog are categorized as the permitted industries for foreign investment. The list
of restricted industries and prohibited industries in the Foreign Investment Catalog was abolished by the Special Administrative
Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2018 Edition), which was then replaced by Special Administrative
Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2019 Edition) (the “2019 Negative List”) promulgated on
June 30, 2019 by NDRC and MOFCOM and implemented on July 30, 2019. According to the 2019 Negative List, foreign investment in
value-added telecommunications services (except for e-commerce) falls within the Negative List. As a result, foreign investors
can only conduct investment activities through equity or contractual joint ventures with certain shareholding requirements and
approvals from competent authorities. PRC partners are required to hold the majority interests in the joint ventures and approval
from MOFCOM, or the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (“MIIT”) for the incorporation of the joint ventures
and the business operations.
On
October 8, 2016, the MOFCOM promulgated the Interim Administrative Measures for Record-filing of the Incorporation and Change
of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or FIE Interim Administrative Measures, as amended on June 30, 2018. Under the FIE Interim
Administrative Measures, the incorporation and change of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or FIE, are subject to record filing procedures,
instead of prior approval requirements, provided that the incorporation or change does not trigger any special entry administrative
measures required by the government. If the incorporation or change of FIE matter is subject to the special entry administration
measures, the approval of the MOFCOM or our local counterparts is still required.
Foreign
Direct Investment in Value-Added Telecommunications Companies
Pursuant
to the Provisions on Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises promulgated by the State Council
on December 11, 2001, as amended on September 10, 2008 and February 6, 2016, or the FITE Regulations, the ultimate foreign equity
ownership in a value-added telecommunications services provider may not exceed 50%. Moreover, for a foreign investor to acquire
any equity interest in a value-added telecommunication business in China, it must satisfy a number of stringent performance and
operational experience requirements, including demonstrating good track records and experience in operating value-added telecommunication
business overseas. Foreign investors that meet these requirements must obtain approvals from the MIIT, and MOFCOM or their authorized
local counterparts, which retain considerable discretion in granting approvals.
MIIT
issued the Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in and Operation of Value-added Telecommunications
Business, or the MIIT Circular, on July 13, 2006. The MIIT Circular indicates a PRC company that holds an Internet Content
Provider License, or the ICP License, is prohibited from leasing, transferring or selling the ICP License to foreign investors
in any form, and from providing any assistance, including resources, sites or facilities, to foreign investors that conduct value-added
telecommunications business illegally in China. Moreover, the domain names and registered trademarks used by an operating company
providing value-added telecommunications service must be legally owned by such company and/or our shareholders. In addition, such
company’s operation premises and equipment must comply with our approved ICP License, and such company should improve our
internal internet and information security standards and emergency management procedures.
On
June 19, 2015, MIIT issued the Circular on Loosening the Restrictions on Shareholding by Foreign Investors in Online Data Processing
and Transaction Processing Business (for-profit E-commerce), or the Circular 196. The Circular 196 allows a foreign investor
to hold 100% of the equity interest in a PRC entity that provides online data processing and transaction processing services (for-profit
e-commerce). With respect to the applications for a license for on-line data processing and transaction processing business (for-profit
e-commerce), the requirements for the proportion of foreign equity are governed by this Circular, other requirements and corresponding
approval procedures are subject to the FITE Regulations. However, due to the lack of additional interpretation from PRC regulatory
authorities, it remains unclear as to what impact MIIT Circular 2015 may have on us or other PRC internet companies with similar
corporate and contractual structures.
In
view of these restrictions on foreign direct investment in value-added telecommunications services and certain other types of
businesses under which our business may fall, including internet culture services and radio/television programs production and
operation business, we may rely on contractual arrangements with our VIEs to operate such business in China. For more information,
please see “Our Corporate Structure.” Due to the lack of interpretative guidance from the relevant PRC governmental
authorities, there are uncertainties regarding whether PRC governmental authorities would consider our corporate structure and
contractual arrangements to constitute foreign ownership of a value-added telecommunications business.
Foreign
Investment Law
The
National People’s Congress, or the NPC, Standing Committee promulgated the Foreign Investment Law on March 15, 2019,
which will come into effect on January 1, 2020, to replace the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned
Enterprises, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures and the Law of the People’s
Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures as the basic law on foreign investment in the PRC.
The
Foreign Investment Law stipulates that the foreign investors’ capital contributions, profits, capital gains, income from
asset disposal, intellectual property royalties, legally obtained compensation or indemnification, and liquidation income that
are made or obtained in China, may be freely remitted in or out of China in RMB or foreign exchange according to law. In addition,
it further stipulates that the state protects the legitimate rights and interests of intellectual property rights held by foreign
investors and FIEs. In formulating specific normative documents concerning foreign investment, local governments’ authorities
at various levels and their relevant departments shall comply with the provisions of laws and regulations, including Foreign Investment
Law. Without the basis of laws and regulations, local governments shall not reduce or prejudice FIEs’ legitimate rights
and interests, impose additional regulatory burden, set additional impediments for FIE on accessing specific markets, or interfere
with the FIE’s normal business activities.
Due
to the lack of additional interpretation from PRC regulatory authorities, it is unclear how the Foreign Investment Law will be
implemented in practice by the PRC government authorities and whether the offshore companies controlled by the PRC investors through
variable interest entities structure be deemed as foreign investment remains to be seen. For more information, please see “Risk
Factors — Risks Relating to Doing Business in China – Substantial uncertainties and restrictions with respect to the
political and economic policies of the PRC government and PRC laws and regulations could have a significant impact upon how our
business may conducted in the PRC and accordingly on the results of our operations and financial condition.”
Regulations
Related to E-Commerce
In
2005, the General Office of the State Council issued Several Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Electronic Commerce
to stress the significance of the e-commerce and the importance of regulating the development of e-commerce. In 2007, MOFCOM
promulgated the Guiding Opinions on Online Trading (for Tentative Implementation), under which, the term “Online Trading”
is defined as the commodity or service trading conducted between the buyer and the seller by making use of internet and the behaviors
of online trading participants.
According
to the Opinions of the Ministry of Commerce on Promoting the Regularized Development of the E-Commerce promulgated by MOFCOM
in 2007, which required to, among others, regularize the information release and transmission behaviors of all parties concerned
to online trading, applaud legal, regularized, fair and equitable online marketing, electronic contracting, after-sale services
and other e-commerce trading acts, prevent and settle various kinds of trading disputes, regularize electronic payment acts and
ensuring the safe flow of funds.
Implementing
Opinions on Promoting E-Commerce Application was promulgated by MOFCOM in October 2013, which aims to further promote the
development of e-commerce, guide the healthy and speedy development of network retailing, strengthen the development of e-commerce
for rural villages and agricultural products, support the development of urban community e-commerce application system and promote
innovative application of cross-border e-commerce.
In
May 2015, the State Council promulgated the Opinions on Striving to Develop E-commerce to Speed Up the Cultivation of New Economic
Driving Force in order to lower the requirements for market access, further simplify the registration of registered capital,
deeply promote the reform from ”certificate before license” to ”license before certificate” in the field
of e-commerce and simplify the approval process for the overseas listing of e-commerce enterprises in the territory and encourage
the cross-border RMB direct investment in the field of e-commerce.
In
addition, in December 2016, Guiding Opinions on Fully Enhancing the Credit Construction in the E-commerce Sector was issued
by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and other governmental authorities. These opinions require that e-commerce
platforms (a) establish and perfect internal credit constraint mechanisms, and make full use of big data technologies to strengthen
the credit control in terms of commodity quality, intellectual property rights, service level, etc.; (b) establish the business
credit early risk warning system, and promptly publish the relevant information to society and risk prompts for seriously dishonest
businesses selling forged and fake commodities and hyping credit by malicious scalping, according to requirements of relevant
industrial competent and regulatory authorities; (c) establish and improve a report and complaint handling mechanism and responsively
submit clues on suspected illegalities and irregularities identified to relevant industrial competent and regulatory authorities,
and (d) coordinate with relevant authorities concerning investigation and treatment of business operators on e-commerce platforms.
In the event an e-commerce platform fails to actively fulfill our responsibilities, the relevant industrial competent or regulatory
authority is authorized to promptly take measures, such as engage in communications, provide notification and impose administrative
punishments in accordance with the law. We believe that we are currently in material compliance with the guidance provided by
the opinions.
Filing
by Third-Party Platform Providers for Online Food Trading
In
July 2016, the State Food and Drug Administration, or SFDA, promulgated the Measures for Investigation and Handling of Illegal
Acts Involving Online Food Safety, pursuant to which a third-party platform provider for online food trading in the PRC is
required to file a record with the food and drug administration at the provincial level and obtain a filing number. If an online
food trading third-party platform provider fails to complete such filing, the provider may be ordered to make rectifications and
given a warning by the competent food and drug administration, and failure to make such rectification may be subject to fines
ranging from RMB5,000 to RMB30,000. As of March 18, 2019, Xing Hui Beijing has completed the required filing formalities with
the competent food and drug administration.
Regulations
Relating to Product Quality and Consumer Rights Protection
Based
on the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, as amended in and effective March 2014, and the Administrative
Measures on Online Trading, or Online Trading Measures, by State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or SAIC, on January
29, 2014, have provided stringent requirements and obligations on business operators, including internet business operators and
platform service providers. For example, consumers are entitled to return goods purchased online, subject to certain exceptions,
within seven days upon receipt of such goods for no reason. To ensure that sellers and service providers comply with these laws
and regulations, the platform operators are required to implement rules governing transactions on the platform, monitor the information
posted by sellers and service providers, and report any violations by such sellers or service providers to the relevant authorities.
In addition, online marketplace platform providers may, pursuant to the relevant PRC consumer protection laws, be exposed to liabilities
if the lawful rights and interests of consumers are infringed upon in connection with consumers’ purchase of goods or acceptance
of services on online marketplace platforms and the online marketplace platform providers fail to provide consumers with the contact
information of the seller or manufacturer. Furthermore, online marketplace platform providers may be jointly and severally liable
with sellers and manufacturers if they are aware or should be aware that any seller or manufacturer is using the online platform
to infringe upon the lawful rights and interests of consumers and fail to take measures necessary to prevent or stop such activity.
The
Tort Liability Law of the PRC, which was enacted by the Standing Committee of the NPC, or SCNPC, in December 2009 and took effect
in July 2010, also provides that if an online service provider is aware that an online user is committing infringing activities,
such as selling counterfeit products, through our internet services and fails to take necessary measures, it will be jointly liable
with the said online user for such infringement. If the online service provider receives any notice from the infringed party on
any infringing activities, the online service provider will take necessary measures, including deleting, blocking and unlinking
the infringing content, in a timely manner. Otherwise, it will be jointly liable with the respective online user for the extended
damages.
As
an e-commerce platform service provider, we are subject to the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, the Online Trading
Measures and the Tort Liability Law of the PRC and believe that we are currently in compliance with these regulations in all material
aspects.
Regulations
on the Media Industry
Program
Content
According
to the Provisions on the Administration of Radio and Television Program Production promulgated by the State Administration
of Radio, Film and Television, or SARFT, on July 19, 2004 and took effect in August 20, 2004, and was amended on August 28, 2015,
entities engaging in (i) the production of television programs, such as feature programs, general programs, drama series and animations,
and (ii) the trading activities and agency services on the copyrights of such programs, must first obtain preliminary approval
from the SARFT or our provincial branches for license. Horgos and Xing Hui Beijing have obtained the required approvals accordingly.
Regulations
on the Advertising Industry
Regulations
Relating to Advertising Law
The
principal regulations governing advertising businesses in China include Advertising Law promulgated by SCNPC on October
27, 1994, which was amended on April 24, 2015 and October 26, 2018. Under the Advertising Law, advertisers refer to any legal
persons, economic organizations or individuals that, directly or through agents, design, produce and publish advertisements to
promote products or services. Advertisement operators refer to those legal persons, economic organizations or individuals consigned
to provide advertisement content design, production and agency services. Advertisement publishers refer to those legal persons
or other economic organizations that publish advertisements for the advertisers or for those advertisement operators that are
consigned by the advertisers. An advertisement should present distinct and clear descriptions of the product’s function,
place of origin, quality, price, manufacturer, validity period, warranties or the contents, forms, quality, price or promises
of the services offered. False advertising that may mislead consumers and compromise legal rights and interests of consumers will
subject the advertiser to civil liabilities. Where the advertising operator or advertising publisher is unable to provide the
real name, address or valid contact information of the advertiser, the consumers may require the advertising operator or advertising
publisher make compensation in advance. For false advertisements of goods or services other than those stipulated in the preceding
paragraph which caused harm to consumers, where the advertising operator, advertising publisher and advertising spokesperson knew
or should have known the falsity yet still provided design, production, agency or publishing services, or provide recommendation
or endorsement, they will bear joint and several liability with the advertiser.
PRC
advertising laws and regulations provide specific content requirements for advertisements in China, which include prohibitions
on, among other things, misleading content, superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content involving obscenities,
superstition, violence, discrimination or infringement of the public interest. Advertisements for anesthetic, psychotropic, toxic
or radioactive drugs are also prohibited. It is prohibited to disseminate tobacco advertisements via broadcast, film, television
or print media, or in any waiting lounge, theater, cinema, conference hall, stadium or other public area. There are also specific
restrictions and requirements regarding advertisements that relate to matters such as patented products or processes, pharmaceuticals,
medical instruments, agrochemicals, foodstuff, alcohol and cosmetics. In addition, all advertisements relating to pharmaceuticals,
medical instruments, agrochemicals and veterinary pharmaceuticals advertised through broadcast, film, television, newspaper, magazine
and other forms of media, together with any other advertisements which are subject to censorship by administrative authorities
according to relevant laws and administrative regulations, must be submitted to the relevant administrative authorities for content
approval prior to dissemination.
Advertisers
are required by PRC advertising laws and regulations to ensure that the content of the advertisements they prepare are true and
accurate as well as in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In providing advertising services, advertising service
providers and advertising publishers must review the prescribed supporting documents provided by advertisers for advertisements
and verify that the content of the advertisements complies with applicable PRC laws and regulations. Violation of these regulations
may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements
and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the
SAIC or our local branches may revoke violators’ licenses or permits for advertising business operations. Furthermore, advertisers,
advertising service providers or advertising distributors may be subject to civil or criminal liability if they infringe on the
legal rights and interests of third parties in the course of their advertising business.
Regulations
Relating to Internet Advertising
On
July 4, 2016, the SAIC promulgated the Interim Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising, or the Internet
Advertising Measures, which became effective on September 1, 2016. The Internet Advertising Measures provides additional compliance
requirements for online advertising business in addition to those requirements set forth in the Advertising Law. Pursuant to the
Internet Advertising Measures, Internet Advertising refers to the commercial advertising for direct or indirect marketing goods
or services in the form of text, image, audio, video, or others means through websites, webpages, internet apps, or other internet
media. Major additional compliance requirements are: (i) advertisements must be identifiable and marked with the word “advertisement,”
enabling consumers to distinguish them from non-advertisement content; (ii) publishing advertisements on the Internet through
a pop-up page or in other forms shall provide a prominently marked “CLOSE” button to ensure “one-click closure;”
(iii) sponsored search results must be clearly distinguished from organic search results; (iv) it is forbidden to send advertisements
or advertisement links by email without the recipient’s permission or induce Internet users to click on an advertisement
in a deceptive manner; and (v) internet information service providers that do not participate in the operation of internet advertisements
should stop publishing illegal advertisements if they know or should know that the advertisements are illegal. According to Internet
Advertising Measures, it is not allowed to publish the online advertisement for prescription drugs, tobaccos and goods or services
prohibited from publish according to applicable laws and administrative regulations. In addition, all advertisements for medical
treatment, pharmaceuticals, food formula for special medical purposes, medical devices, pesticides, veterinary drugs, healthcare
food and other special goods or services must be submitted to the relevant administrative authorities for content approval prior
to publishing.
Regulations
Related to Internet Information Security and Privacy Protection
PRC
government authorities have enacted laws and regulations with respect to internet information security and protection of personal
information from any abuse or unauthorized disclosure. Internet information in China is regulated and restricted from a national
security standpoint. The SCNPC enacted the Decisions on Maintaining Internet Security in 2000, and was amended on August
27, 2009, which may subject violators to criminal punishment in China for any effort to: (i) gain improper entry into a computer
or system of strategic importance; (ii) disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets; (iv) spread
false commercial information; or (v) infringe intellectual property rights. The Ministry of Public Security has promulgated measures
that prohibit use of the internet in ways which, among other things, result in a leakage of state secrets or a spread of socially
destabilizing content. If an internet information service provider violates these measures, the Ministry of Public Security and
the local security bureaus may revoke the service provider’s operating license and shut down our websites.
Under
the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services issued by the MIIT in 2011, an internet
information service provider may not collect any user personal information or provide any such information to third parties without
the consent of the users and it must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing
of such user personal information and may only collect such information necessary to provide our services. An internet information
service provider is also required to properly maintain the user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of
the user personal information, the internet information service provider must take immediate remedial measures and, in severe
circumstances, make an immediate report to the telecommunications regulatory authority. In addition, pursuant to the Decision
on Strengthening the Protection of Online Information issued by the SCNPC in December 2012 and the Order for the Protection
of Telecommunication and Internet User Personal Information issued by the MIIT in July 2013, any collection and use of user
personal information must (i) be subject to the consent of the user; (ii) be in accordance with the principles of legality, rationality
and necessity; and (iii) be within the specified purposes, methods and scopes.
An
internet information service provider must also keep such information strictly confidential, and is prohibited from divulging,
tampering or destroying any such information, or selling or providing such information to other parties. An internet information
service provider is required to take technical and other measures to prevent the collected personal information from any unauthorized
disclosure, damage or loss. Any violation of these laws and regulations may subject the internet information service provider
to warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, revocation of licenses, cancellation of filings, shut down of websites or even
criminal liabilities.
In
addition, pursuant to the Notice on Legally Punishing Criminal Activities Infringing upon the Personal Information of Citizens
issued by of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security
in 2013, and the Interpretation on Several Issues regarding Legal Application in Criminal Cases Infringing upon the Personal
Information of Citizens issued by the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate in May 2017,
the following activities may constitute the crime of infringing upon a citizen’s personal information:(i) providing a citizen’s
personal information to specified persons or releasing a citizen’s personal information online or through other methods
in violation of relevant national provisions; (ii) providing legitimately collected information relating to a citizen to others
without such citizen’s consent (unless the information is processed, not traceable to a specific person and not recoverable);
(iii) collecting a citizen’s personal information in violation of applicable rules and regulations when performing a duty
or providing services; or (iv) collecting a citizen’s personal information by purchasing, accepting or exchanging such information
in violation of applicable rules and regulations.
Furthermore,
pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law issued by the SCNPC in August 29, 2015, which became effective in November
2015, any internet service provider that fails to fulfill the obligations related to internet information security administration
as required by applicable laws and refuses to rectify upon orders is subject to criminal penalty for the result of (i) any dissemination
of illegal information in large scale; (ii) any severe effect due to the leakage of the client’s information; (iii) any
serious loss of criminal evidence; or (iv) other severe situation. In addition, any individual or entity that (a) sells or provides
personal information to others in a way violating the applicable law, or (b) steals or illegally obtains any personal information
is subject to criminal penalty in severe situation.
In
November 2016, the SCNPC promulgated the Network Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the Network Security
Law, effective June 1, 2017. The Network Security Law is formulated to maintain the network security, safeguard the cyberspace
sovereignty, national security and public interests, protect the lawful rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other
organizations, and requires that a network operator, which includes, among others, internet information services providers, take
technical measures and other necessary measures in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws and regulations as well as
the compulsory requirements of the national and industrial standards to safeguard the safe and stable operation of the networks,
effectively respond to network security incidents, prevent illegal and criminal activities, and maintain the integrity, confidentiality
and availability of network data. The Network Security Law emphasizes that any individuals and organizations that use networks
is required to comply with the PRC Constitution and laws, abide by public order and cannot endanger network security or make use
of networks to engage in unlawful activities such as endangering national security, economic order and social order, and infringing
the reputation, privacy, intellectual property rights and other lawful rights and interests of other people. The Network Security
Law has reaffirmed the basic principles and requirements as specified in other existing laws and regulations on personal information
protections, such as the requirements on the collection, use, processing, storage and disclosure of personal information, and
internet service providers being required to take technical and other necessary measures to ensure the security of the personal
information they have collected and prevent the personal information from being divulged, damaged or lost. Any violation of the
provisions and requirements under the Network Security Law may subject the internet service provider to warnings, fines, confiscation
of illegal gains, revocation of licenses, cancellation of filings, closedown of websites or even criminal liabilities.
To
comply with these PRC laws and regulations, we have adopted internal procedures to monitor content displayed on our website and
application. However, due to the large amount of data we generate and process, we may not be able to properly protect customers’
personal information and safeguard our networks. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry –
Our business generates and processes a large amount of data, and the improper use or disclosure of such data could harm our reputation
as well as have a material adverse effect on our business and prospects.”
Regulations
Related to Intellectual Property Rights
Regulations
on Copyright
Under
the Copyright Law, issued in 1990 and most recently amended in 2010, or the Copyright Law, and our related Implementing
Regulations issued in 2002 and amended in 2013, creators of protected works enjoy personal and property rights with respect to
publication, authorship, alteration, integrity, reproduction, distribution, lease, exhibition, performance, projection, broadcasting,
dissemination via information network, production, adaptation, translation, compilation and related activities. Other than the
rights of authorship, alternation and integrity of an author which shall be unlimited in time, the term of a copyright is the
life of the individual author plus 50 years, but for by a corporation the term is 50 years after first publication. In consideration
of the social benefit and costs of copyrights, the PRC authorities balance copyright protections with limitations that permit
certain uses, such as for private study, research, personal entertainment and teaching, without compensation to the author or
prior authorization.
The
Measures for Administrative Protection of Copyright Related to Internet, which was jointly promulgated by the National
Copyright Administration, or NCA, and the MIIT on April 29, 2005, and became effective on May 30, 2005, provides that upon receipt
of an infringement notice from a legitimate copyright holder, an operator of Internet information services, or ICP operator, must
take remedial actions immediately by removing or disabling access to the infringing content. If an ICP operator knowingly transmits
infringing content or fails to take remedial actions after receipt of a notice of infringement that harms public interest, the
ICP operator could be subject to administrative penalties, including an order to cease infringing activities, confiscation by
the authorities of all income derived from the infringement activities, or payment of fines.
On
May 18, 2006, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information
(as amended in 2013). Under these regulations, an owner of the network dissemination rights with respect to written works
or audio or video recordings who believes that information storage, search or link services provided by an Internet service provider
infringe his or her rights may require that the Internet service provider delete, or disconnect the links to, such works or recordings.
In
order to further implement the Computer Software Protection Regulations promulgated by the State Council in 2001 and amended
in January 2013, the National Copyright Administration issued the Computer Software Copyright Registration Procedures in 2002,
which apply to software copyright registration, license contract registration and transfer contract registration.
As
of December 31, 2020, we had thirty-six (36) registered software copyrights and four (4) work copyrights.
Regulations
on Trademarks
Registered
trademarks are protected by the Trademark Law of the PRC (Revised in 2019) which was adopted in 1982 and subsequently amended
in 1993, 2001, 2013 and 2019, respectively as well as by the Implementation Regulations of the PRC Trademark Law adopted
by the State Council in 2002 and as most recently amended on April 29, 2014. The Trademark Office under the SAIC handles trademark
registrations. The Trademark Office grants a ten-year term to registered trademarks and the term may be renewed for another ten-year
period upon request by the trademark owner. A trademark registrant may license our registered trademarks to another party by entering
into trademark license agreements, which must be filed with the Trademark Office for our record. As with patents, the Trademark
Law has adopted a first-to-file principle with respect to trademark registration. If a trademark applied for is identical or similar
to another trademark that has already been registered or subject to a preliminary examination and approval for use on the same
or similar kinds of products or services, such trademark application may be rejected. Any person applying for the registration
of a trademark may not injure existing trademark rights first obtained by others, nor may any person register in advance a trademark
that has already been used by another party and has already gained a “sufficient degree of reputation” through such
party’s use.
As
of December 31, 2020, we had fifty-nine (59) registered trademarks in the PRC and four (4) registered trademarks in Hong Kong.
Regulations
on Domain Names
The
MIIT promulgated the Measures on Administration of Internet Domain Names, or the Domain Name Measures, on August 24, 2017,
which took effect on November 1, 2017, and replaced the Administrative Measures on China Internet Domain Name promulgated
by MII on November 5, 2004. According to the Domain Name Measures, the MIIT is in charge of the administration of PRC internet
domain names. The domain name registration follows a first-to-file principle. Applicants for registration of domain names must
provide the true, accurate and complete information of their identities to domain name registration service institutions. The
applicants will become the holder of such domain names upon the completion of the registration procedure.
As
of December 31, 2020, we had 3 domain names in PRC.
LABOR
REGULATIONS
Labor
Contract Law
The
PRC Labor Contract Law was promulgated on June 29, 2007, as amended on December 28, 2012, and became effective on July
1, 2013. According to the PRC Labor Contract Law of PRC, labor contracts must be entered into if labor relationships are to be
established between an entity and our employees. The entity cannot require the employees to work in excess of the time limit as
permitted under the relevant labor laws and regulations and shall pay to the employees wages that are no lower than local standards
on minimum wages. The entity shall also abide by the aforementioned laws and regulations and perform procedures for dissolution
and termination of labor contracts, payment of labor remuneration and economic compensation, use of labor dispatch and payment
of social insurance.
Regulations
on Social Insurance and Housing Provident Fund
According
to the PRC Social Insurance Law issued by the SCNPC on October 28, 2010, and implemented on July 1, 2011, and subsequently
revised on December 29, 2018, the state established a social insurance system including basic pension insurance, basic medical
insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury insurance and maternity insurance, under which both employers and individuals
are required to pay social insurance premiums. Migrant workers participate in such social insurance schemes, and foreigners employed
within the territory of the PRC also participate in social insurance as well. Violations of the PRC Social Insurance Law may result
in the imposition of fines, and criminal liability may be incurred in serious cases. An employer that fails to make social insurance
contributions may be ordered to rectify the non-compliance and pay the required contributions within a stipulated deadline and
be subject to a late fee of 0.05% per day, as the case may be. If the employer still fails to rectify the failure to make social
insurance contributions within the deadline, it may be subject to a fine ranging from one to three times the amount overdue.
According
to the Regulations on Management of Housing Provident Fund which was promulgated and implemented by the State Council on
April 3, 1999, and subsequently revised on March 24, 2002, and March 24, 2019, enterprises in China are required to register with
the housing provident fund management center within 30 days from the date of establishment, and complete the procedures for establishment
of housing accumulation fund accounts for their employees within 20 days from the date of registration. In violation of such regulation,
an enterprise that fails to make housing fund contributions may be ordered to rectify the noncompliance and pay the required contributions
within a stipulated deadline.
Regulations
on Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC Residents
On
July 4, 2014, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the 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 replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75”
promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection
with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing,
with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests,
referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle.” SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the
registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease
of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event
that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC
subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from
carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in our ability
to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary. Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements
described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls. SAFE promulgated the Notice
on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment in February 2015,
which took effect on June 1, 2015. This notice has amended SAFE Circular 37 requiring PRC residents or entities to register with
qualified banks rather than SAFE or our local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established
for the purpose of overseas investment or financing.
Regulations
on Foreign Currency Exchange
The
principal regulation governing foreign currency exchange in China is the Foreign Exchange Administration Rules of the PRC,
or the Foreign Exchange Administration Rules, promulgated on January 29, 1996, as subsequently amended on January 14, 1997, and
August 1, 2008. Under these rules, RMB is generally freely convertible for payments of current account items, such as trade and
service-related foreign exchange transactions and dividend payments, but not freely convertible for capital account items, such
as capital transfer, direct investment, investment in securities, derivative products or loan unless prior approval of SAFE is
obtained.
Under
the Foreign Exchange Administration Rules, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC may purchase foreign exchange without the approval
of SAFE for paying dividends by providing certain evidencing documents, such as board resolutions and tax certificates, or for
trade and services-related foreign exchange transactions by providing commercial documents evidencing such transactions. They
are also allowed to retain foreign currency, subject to an approval by SAFE of a cap amount, to satisfy foreign exchange liabilities.
In addition, foreign exchange transactions involving overseas direct investment or investment and exchange in securities and derivative
products abroad are subject to registration with SAFE and approval or file with the relevant governmental authorities if necessary.
On
November 19, 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies
on Foreign Direct Investment, which was amended on May 4, 2015, and October 10, 2018, respectively. This Circular substantially
amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of various special purpose
foreign exchange accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts,
the reinvestment of RMB proceeds by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits and dividends by
a foreign-invested enterprise to our foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple
capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE
promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration over Domestic Direct
Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents in May 2013 and was further amended on October 10, 2018, which
specifies that the administration by SAFE or our local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be
conducted by way of registration and banks shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC
based on the registration information provided by SAFE and our branches.
On
February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange
Concerning Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13. After SAFE Notice 13 became effective on June 1, 2015, instead of applying
for approvals regarding foreign exchange registrations of foreign direct investment and overseas direct investment from SAFE,
entities and individuals will be required to apply for such foreign exchange registrations from qualified banks. The qualified
banks, under the supervision of SAFE, will directly examine the applications and conduct the registration.
The
Circular on Reforming the Management Approach regarding the Settlement of Foreign Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprise,
or the SAFE Circular No. 19, which was promulgated by the SAFE on March 30, 2015 and became effective on June 1, 2015, provides
that a foreign-invested enterprise may, according to our actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign
exchange capital in our capital account for which the relevant foreign exchange administration has confirmed monetary capital
contribution rights and interests (or for which the bank has registered the injection of the monetary capital contribution into
the account). Pursuant to the SAFE Circular No.19, for the time being, foreign-invested enterprises are allowed to settle 100%
of their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis; a foreign-invested enterprise shall truthfully use our capital for
our own operational purposes within the scope of business; where an ordinary foreign-invested enterprise makes domestic equity
investment with the amount of foreign exchanges settled, the invested enterprise shall first go through domestic re-investment
registration and open a corresponding account for foreign exchange settlement pending payment with the foreign exchange administration
or the bank at the place where it is registered.
The
Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital Accounts, or the
SAFE Circular No. 16, which was promulgated by the SAFE and became effective on June 9, 2016, provides that enterprises registered
in the PRC may also convert their foreign debts from foreign currency into Renminbi on a self-discretionary basis. The SAFE Circular
No. 16 also provides an integrated standard for conversion of foreign exchange under capital account items (including but not
limited to foreign currency capital and foreign debts) on self-discretionary basis, which applies to all enterprises registered
in the PRC.
PRC
Enterprise Income Tax
According
to the Enterprise Income Tax, or EIT Law, which was promulgated by the NPC on March 16, 2007, and implemented on January
1, 2008, and subsequently revised on February 24, 2017, and December 29, 2018, and the Implementation Regulations of EIT Law,
which was promulgated by the State Council on December 6, 2007, and implemented on January 1, 2008 and amended on April 23, 2019,
enterprises are divided into resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises. Resident enterprises, which refer to enterprises
that are set up in accordance with the PRC law, or that are set up in accordance with the law of the foreign country (region)
but with our actual administration institution in China, pay enterprise income tax originating both within and outside China at
the tax rate of 25%. Non-resident enterprises refer to entities established under foreign law whose actual administration institution
is not within China but have institution or premises in China, or which do not have institution or premises in China but have
income sourced within China. Non-resident enterprises that have set up institutions or premises in China pay enterprise income
tax at the tax rate of 25% in relation to the income originated from China and obtained by the aforementioned institutions or
premises, as well as the income incurred outside China, provided there is an actual relationship between such income and the aforementioned
institutions or premises. For non-resident enterprises that have no institutions or premises in China, or, although they have
institutions or premises in China, there is no actual relationship between the income and the aforementioned institutions or premises,
they pay enterprise income tax at the tax rate of 10% in relation to the income originated from China. The aforementioned income
includes income from sales of goods, provision of labor services, transfer of property, equity investment including dividends,
interest income, rental income, income from royalties, donations and other income. In addition, according to the EIT Law and the
Implementation Regulations of EIT Law, for the income incurred from equity investment including dividends and bonus among eligible
resident enterprises, and the income which is incurred from equity investment including dividends and bonus obtained from resident
enterprise by non-resident enterprises that have set up institutions or premises in China and the income has an actual relationship
with such institutions or premises, such incomes are tax-free income.
PRC
– High and New Technology Enterprises
According
to EIT Law and its implementation rules, certain “high and new technology enterprises” that hold independent ownership
of core intellectual property and simultaneously meet a list of other criteria, financial or non-financial, as stipulated in the
implementation rules, will enjoy a reduced 15% enterprise income tax rate. The State Administration of Taxation, the Ministry
of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued the Administrative Rules for the Certification of High and
New Technology Enterprises delineating the specific criteria and procedures for the “high and new technology enterprises”
certification in April 2008.
On
October 15, 2019, one of our VIE subsidiary, Leshare Star (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (悦享星光(北京)科技有限公司),
was recognized as a “high and new technology enterprise” by the Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission,
Beijing Municipal Finance Bureau and Beijing Municipal Tax Service of State Taxation Administration and will be entitled to a
preferential tax rate of 15%, subject to certain qualification criteria, from 2019 to 2022.
According
to Several Opinions on Promoting the Development of High and New Technology Enterprises in Zhongguancun Science Park, Administrative
Measures for Zhongguancun High and New Technology Enterprise Bank (For Trial Implementation) and Measures for Financial Support
of Zhongguancun National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone to Enhance Innovation Ability and Optimize Innovation Environment,
the enterprise recognized as qualified high and new technology enterprises by Zhongguancun Science Park Management Committee is
entitled to a series of special services and financial supports when it meets certain criteria, such as financial incentive for
being award of patents and registration of international trademarks, more opportunities of participate in intergovernmental scientific
and technological cooperation projects, more opportunities of its technologies, products and services enter the international
market, entrepreneurship training related services and other preferential treatments.
On
December 10, 2019 and December 16, 2019, Leshare Star (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.(悦享星光(北京)科技有限公司)and
Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd.(耀世星辉(北京)传媒有限公司)were
recognized as qualified high and new technology enterprises by Zhongguancun Science Park Management Committee and will entitle
them aforesaid preferential treatments, subject to certain qualification criteria, from 2019 to 2021.
Regulation
on PRC Value-added Tax
According
to the Interim Regulations of PRC on Value-added Tax, which was promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993 and
subsequently revised on November 10, 2008, February 6, 2016 and November 19, 2017 and the Detailed Rules for the Implementation
of the Interim Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Value-added Tax which was promulgated by the Ministry
of Finance (the “MOF”) on December 25, 1993, and subsequently revised on December 15, 2008 and October 28, 2011, entities
and individuals that sell goods or labor services of processing, repair or replacement, sell services, intangible assets, or immovables,
or import goods within the territory of China are taxpayers of value-added tax (“VAT”), and pay VAT in accordance
with law. Unless otherwise stipulated, the VAT rate is 17% for taxpayers selling goods, labor services, or tangible movable property
leasing services or importing goods; 11% for taxpayers selling transportation, postal, basic telecommunications, construction,
or immovable leasing services, selling immovables, transferring land use rights, or selling or importing specific goods; unless
otherwise stipulated, 6% for taxpayers selling services or intangible assets.
On
March 23, 2016, the MOF and the SAT published the Circular of the MOF and the SAT on Fully Launch of the Pilot Scheme for the
Conversion of Business Tax to Value-added Tax and our annexes, pursuant to which entities and individuals that sell services,
intangible assets, or immovables pay VAT instead of business tax since May 1, 2016.
According
to the Circular of the MOF and the SAT on Adjusting Value-added Tax Rate, which was promulgated by the MOF and the SAT
on April 4, 2018, and became effective on May 1, 2018, the tax rates for the taxable sales or goods import activity, which were
subject to the tax rates of 17% and 11%, respectively, were adjusted to 16% and 10%, respectively.
According
to the Circular on Policies in Relation to the Deepening of Value-added Tax Reforms, which was jointly promulgated by the
MOF, the SAT and the General Administration of Customs on March 20, 2019, the tax rate of 16% and 10% originally applicable to
general VAT taxpayers’ VAT taxable sales or goods import shall be adjusted to 13% and 9%, respectively.
Dividend
Distribution
The
EIT Law prescribes a standard withholding tax rate of 20% on dividends and other PRC sourced passive income of non-resident enterprises.
The Implementation Rules reduced the rate from 20% to 10%. The central government of the PRC and the government of Hong Kong signed
the Arrangement between the Mainland of the PRC and Hong Kong for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal
Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income on August 21, 2006, or the Arrangement. According to the Arrangement, no more than
5% withholding tax shall apply to dividends paid by a PRC company to a Hong Kong resident, provided that the recipient is a company
that holds at least 25% of the equity interests of the PRC company and is deemed as the “beneficial owner” under the
Arrangement. Notice on the Implementation of the Fourth Protocol of Arrangement between Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong SAR
on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (Announcement [2016] No.12
of the State Administration of Taxation), Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on the Implementation of the
Third Protocol of Arrangement between Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong SAR on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal
Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, Announcement [2011] No.1 , Notice on the Implementation of the Second Protocol
of Arrangement between Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong SAR on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with
Respect to Taxes on Income (Guo Shui Han [2008] No. 685) and Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Interpreting
and Implementing Some Clauses in the Arrangement between Mainland China and Hong Kong SAR concerning Avoiding Double Taxation
and Preventing Tax Evasion on Income(Guo Shui Han [2007] No. 403), which was partially repealed on January 4, 2011 and August
27, 2015 ,have amended the Arrangement accordingly.
On
February 3, 2018, the SAT promulgated Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to “Beneficial
Owner” in Tax Treaties, State Administration of Taxation Announcement [2018] No. 9, Circular 9, which clarifies that
a beneficial owner shall be a person who has ownership and control over the income and the rights and property from which the
income is derived. To prove “beneficial owner” status, the applicant shall submit the materials pursuant to the provisions
of Article 7 of the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Promulgation of the “Administrative Measures
on Entitlement of Non-residents to Treatment under Tax Treaties” (State Administration of Taxation Announcement [2015]
No. 60, was amended by Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Partially Amending Taxation Regulatory Documents
on June 15, 2018). Therein, where an applicant is a “beneficial owner” pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of
this Announcement, the applicant shall also provide, in addition to the tax resident identity of the applicant, the tax resident
identity documents of the person who satisfies the criteria for “beneficial owner” and the person who satisfies the
criteria, issued by the tax authorities in charge at the country (region) where he/she resides; where the applicant is a “beneficial
owner” pursuant to the provisions of item (4) of Article 4 of this Announcement, the applicant shall also provide, in addition
to the tax resident identity document of the applicant, the tax resident identity documents of the person who holds 100% of the
applicant’s shares directly or indirectly and the multi-tier holders, issued by the tax authorities in charge at the country
(region) for which the said person and the multi-tier holders are residents; the tax resident identity document shall prove that
the person is a tax resident in the year in which the income is obtained or the preceding year.
Regulations
on Tax regarding Indirect Transfer
On
February 3, 2015, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC
Resident Enterprises, or Circular 7. Pursuant to Circular 7, an “indirect transfer” of assets, including equity
interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises, may be re-characterized and treated as a direct transfer
of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and is established for the purpose of
avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise
income tax. When determining whether there is a “reasonable commercial purpose” of the transaction arrangement, considerations
include, inter alia, (i) whether the main value of the equity interest of the relevant offshore enterprise derives directly or
indirectly from PRC taxable assets; (ii) whether the assets of the relevant offshore enterprise mainly consists of direct or indirect
investment in China or if our income is mainly derived from China; and (iii) whether the offshore enterprise and our subsidiaries
directly or indirectly holding PRC taxable assets have real commercial nature evidenced by their actual function and risk exposure.
According to the Circular 7, where the payer fails to withhold any or sufficient tax, the transferor shall declare and pay such
tax to the tax authority by itself within the statutory time limit. Late payment of applicable tax will subject the transferor
to default interest. The Circular 7 does not apply to transactions of sale of shares by investors through a public stock exchange
where such shares were acquired on a public stock exchange. On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Circular on Issues of Tax
Withholding regarding Non-PRC Resident Enterprise Income Tax, or SAT Circular 37, which further elaborates the relevant implemental
rules regarding the calculation, reporting and payment obligations of the withholding tax by the non-resident enterprises. Nonetheless,
there remain uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of the SAT Circular 7. The SAT Circular 7 may be determined
by the tax authorities to be applicable to our offshore transactions or sale of our shares or those of our offshore subsidiaries
where non-resident enterprises, being the transferors, were involved.
Provisions
Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors
On
August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including MOFCOM, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
of the State Council, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and
SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the
M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8, 2006, and were amended on June 26, 2009. The M&A Rules, among other
things, include provisions that purport to require an offshore special purpose vehicle formed for the purpose of acquiring PRC
domestic companies and controlled by PRC individuals 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, the CSRC published on our official
website procedures regarding our approval of overseas listings by special purpose vehicles. The CSRC approval procedures require
the filing of an application and supporting documents with the CSRC.
C. Organizational
Structure
We
are a Cayman Islands exempted company structured as a holding company and conduct our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries
and VIEs. Through our Hong Kong subsidiary Glory Star HK, we own a direct equity interest in WFOE, our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary.
WFOE has entered into a series of contractual arrangements with (i) Xing Cui Can and our shareholders, and (ii) Horgos and our
shareholders, which allows us to exercise effective control over Xing Cui Can and Horgos and receive substantially all the economic
benefit of Xing Cui Can and Horgos. Any failure by the VIEs or their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under
these contractual arrangements, and any failure by us to maintain effective control over Xing Cui Can and Horgos, would result
in our inability to continue to consolidate our VIEs’ financial results of operations in our financial results of operations
and would have a material adverse effect on our business.
The
following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of December 31, 2020. Unless otherwise indicated, equity interests depicted
in this diagram are held 100%. The relationships between WFOE and Xing Cui Can, and WFOE and Horgos as illustrated in this diagram
are governed by the VIE Contracts and do not constitute equity ownership.
On
February 5, 2021, we sold the 51% ownership of Horgos Glary Wisdom Marketing Planning Co., Ltd (“Wisdom”) held by
Horgos Glory Star Media Co., Ltd (“Horgos”) to Mr. Feng Zhao, who held 49% ownership of Wisdom. Upon the consummation
of the sale of Wisdom, Horgos ceased to hold shares in Wisdom and Wisdom was no longer a majority controlled subsidiary of Horgos.
Contractual
Arrangements among WFOE, the VIEs and the VIEs Shareholders
Current
PRC laws and regulations impose certain restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of companies that engage in value-added
telecommunication services, and certain other business. Glory Star HK is a company registered in Hong Kong. WFOE is considered
a foreign-invested enterprise. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we primarily conduct our business in China through the
VIE’s based on the VIE Contracts. As a result of VIE Contracts, Glory Star HK exerts control over GSNM’s consolidated
affiliated entities in the PRC and consolidates their operating results in our financial statements under U.S. GAAP. The following
is a summary of the VIE Contracts that provide us with effective control of the VIEs and that enables it to receive substantially
all of the economic benefit from our operations.
Contracts
that give us effective control of the VIEs
Business
Cooperation Agreement. WFOE entered into separate business cooperation agreements with Xing Cui Can and Horgos,
and their respective shareholders in September 2019, pursuant to which (1) each VIE shall not enter into any transaction which
may materially affect such VIE’s assets, obligations, rights and operations without the written consent of WFOE; (2) each
VIE and the VIE shareholders agree to accept suggestions by WFOE in respect of the employment and dismissal of such VIE’s
employees, daily operations, dividend distribution and financial management of such VIE; and (3) the VIE and the VIE shareholders
shall only appoint individuals designated by WFOE as the director, general manager, chief financial officer and other senior management
members. In addition, each of the VIE shareholders agree that (i) unless required by WFOE, will not make any decisions or otherwise
request the VIE to distribute any profits, funds, assets or property to the VIE shareholders, or (ii) issue any dividends or other
distribution with respect to the shares of the VIE held by the VIE shareholders. The term of each business cooperation agreement
is perpetual unless terminated by WFOE upon thirty (30) days advance notice, or upon the transfer of all shares of the respective
VIEs to WFOE (or our designee).
Exclusive
Option Agreement. WFOE entered into separate exclusive option agreements with Xing Cui Can and Horgos, and their
respective shareholders in September 2019. Pursuant to these exclusive option agreements, the VIE shareholders have granted WFOE
(or our designee) an option to acquire all or a portion of each of their equity interests in the VIEs at the price equivalent
to the lowest price then permitted under PRC law. If the equity interests are transferred in installments, the purchase price
for each installment shall be pro rata to the equity interests transferred. WFOE may, at our sole discretion, at any time exercise
the option granted by the VIE shareholders. Moreover, WFOE may transfer such option to any third party. The VIE shareholders may
not, among other obligations, change or amend the articles of association and bylaws of the VIE, increase or decrease the registered
capital of the VIEs, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of their equity interest in any way, or incur, inherit, guarantee or
assume any debt except for debts incurred in the ordinary course of business unless otherwise expressly agreed to by WFOE, and
enter into any material contracts except in the ordinary course of business unless otherwise expressly agreed to by WFOE. The
term of each of these exclusive option agreements is 10 years and will be extended automatically for successive 5 year terms except
where WFOE provides prior written notice otherwise. The exclusive option agreements may be terminated by WFOE upon thirty (30)
days advance notice, or upon the transfer of all shares of the respective VIEs to WFOE (or our designee).
Share
Pledge Agreement. WFOE entered into separate share pledge agreements with Xing Cui Can and Horgos, and their respective
shareholders in September 2019. Pursuant to these share pledge agreements, the VIE shareholders have pledged all of their equity
interests in the VIEs as priority security interest in favor of WFOE to secure the performance of the VIEs and their shareholders’
performance of their obligations under, where applicable, (i) the Master Exclusive Service Agreement, (ii) the Business Cooperation
Agreement, and (iii) the Exclusive Option Agreements (collectively the “Principal Agreements”). WFOE is entitled to
exercise our right to dispose of the VIE shareholders’ pledged interests in the equity of the VIE in the event that either
the VIE shareholders or the VIE fails to perform their respective obligations under the Principal Agreements. The equity pledge
agreements will remain in full force and remain effective until the VIE and the VIE shareholders have satisfied their obligations
under the Principal Agreements.
Proxy
Agreements and Powers of Attorney. WFOE entered into separate Proxy Agreements and Powers of Attorney with Xing
Cui Can and Horgos, and their respective shareholders in September 2019. Pursuant to the proxy agreements and powers of attorney,
each VIE shareholder irrevocably nominates and appoints WFOE or any natural person designated by WFOE as our attorney-in-fact
to exercise all rights of such VIE equity holder in such VIE, including, but not limited to, (i) execute and deliver any and all
written decisions and to sign any minutes of meetings of the board or shareholder of the VIE, (ii) make shareholder’s decisions
on any matters of the VIE, including without limitation, the sale, transfer, mortgage, pledge or disposal of any or all of the
assets of the VIE, (iii) sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of any or all shares in the VIE, (iv) nominate, appoint, or remove
the directors, supervisors and senior management members of the VIE when necessary, (v) oversee the business performance of the
VIE, (vi) have full access to the financial information of the VIE, (vii) file any shareholder lawsuits or take other legal action
against the VIE’s directors or senior management members, (viii) approve annual budget or declare dividends, (ix) manage
and dispose of the assets of the VIE, (x) have the full rights to control and manage the VIE’s finance, accounting and daily
operations, (xi) approve filing of any documents with the relevant governmental authorities or regulatory bodies, and (xii) any
other rights provided by the VIE’s charters and/or the relevant laws and regulations on the VIE shareholders. The proxy
agreements and powers of attorney shall remain in effect during the term of the Exclusive Service Agreements.
Confirmation
and Guarantee Letter. Each of the VIE shareholders signed a confirmation and guarantee letter in September 2019,
pursuant to which each VIE equity holder agreed to fully implement the arrangements set forth in the Principal Agreements, Share
Pledge Agreement, and the Proxy Agreement and Power of Attorney, and agreed to not carry out any act which may be contrary to
the purpose or intent of such agreements.
Spousal
Consent. Each of the VIE shareholders’ spouses, if applicable, signed a spousal consent in September 2019
pursuant to which the spouse of each of the shareholders acknowledges that the equity interests in Horgos and Xing Cui Can held
by the spouse will be disposed according to the arrangements set forth in the Principal Agreements, Share Pledge Agreement, and
the Proxy Agreement and Power of Attorney and undertakes not to carry out any act with the intent to interfere with the arrangements
set forth in aforementioned agreements, and agree to be bound by the aforementioned agreements if they receive any equity interests
in Horgos and Xing Cui Can.
Contracts
that enable us to receive substantially all of the economic benefit from the VIEs
Master
Exclusive Service Agreements. WFOE entered into separate Exclusive Service Agreements with Xing Cui Can and Horgos
in September 2019, pursuant to which WFOE provides exclusive technology support and services, staff training and consultation
services, public relation services, market development, planning and consultation services, human resource management services,
licensing of intellectual property, and other services as determined by the parties. In exchange, the VIEs pay service fees to
WFOE equal to the pre-tax profits of the VIEs less (i) accumulated losses of the VIEs and their subsidiaries in the previous financial
year, (ii) operating costs, expenses, and taxes, and (iii) reasonable operating profits under applicable PRC tax law and practices.
During the term of these agreements, WFOE has the right to adjust the amount and time of payment of the service fees at our sole
discretion without the consent of the VIEs. WFOE (or our service provider) will own any intellectual property arising from the
performance of these agreements. The term of each of these Exclusive Service Agreements is perpetual unless terminated by WFOE
upon thirty (30) days’ advance notice, or upon the transfer of all shares of the respective VIEs to WFOE (or our designee)
10 years under the Option Agreement.
D. Property,
Plants and Equipment
Our principal executive
office is located at 22F, Xinhua Technology Building, No. 8 Tuofangying Road, Jiangtai, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s
Republic of China, which has approximately 1,770 square meters of office space. As of December 31, 2020, we also rent an additional
seven (7) facilities primarily used for office space. We lease a total of 2,317 square meters of office space, including our principal
executive office. We pay monthly rent of approximately $40,832 per month. We believe that our current offices are suitable and
adequate to operate our business at this time. We do not own any real property.
Item
5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
Explanatory
Note
For
the purpose this Item 5 Operating and Financial Review and Prospects, we have omitted the discussion of historical information
for the year ended December 31, 2018 as our predecessor TKK was a blank check company prior to the Business Combination and the
Business Combination was completed on February 14, 2020. The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions
and Results of Operations for Glory Star can be found in our Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Amendment No. 2) filed with the SEC
on March 31, 2020 and the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations for TKK
can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020.
Overview
Prior
to the Business Combination, TKK was a blank check company incorporated on February 5, 2018 as a Cayman Islands exempted company
and incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, recapitalization, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses.
On
February 14, 2020, our predecessor, TKK, consummated a Business Combination contemplated by the Share Exchange Agreement dated
as of September 6, 2019, as amended (“Share Exchange Agreement”), by and among TKK, Glory Star New Media Group Limited,
a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Glory Star”), Glory Star New Media (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned
enterprise limited liability company (“WFOE”) incorporated in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”)
and indirectly wholly-owned by Glory Star, Xing Cui Can, Horgos, each of Glory Star’s shareholders (collectively, the “Sellers”),
TKK Symphony Sponsor 1, TKK’s sponsor (the “Sponsor”), in the capacity as the representative from and after
the closing of the Business Combination for TKK’s shareholders other than the Sellers, and Bing Zhang, in the capacity as
the representative for the Sellers thereunder, pursuant to which Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited (“GS Holdings”)
acquired 100% of the equity interests of Glory Star from the Sellers.
Upon
the close of the Business Combination, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding securities of Glory Star in exchange for
approximately 46,204,025 of our ordinary shares, which includes 5,000,000 ordinary shares that were issued to the former shareholders
of Glory Star because certain financial performance targets were attained for the 2019 fiscal year. The former shareholders of
Glory Star will have the right to an additional 5,000,000 of our ordinary shares if we meet certain financial performance targets
for the 2020 fiscal year.
In
connection with the Share Exchange Agreement:
- TKK entered into a Registration
Rights Agreement (“Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Sponsor and the Sellers pursuant to which TKK will grant certain
registration rights to the Sellers with respect to the registration of the Closing Payment Shares and Earn out Shares.
- TKK entered into a
Lock-Up Agreement (“Lock-Up Agreement”) with certain Sellers that directly or indirectly own in excess of 10% of Glory Star
Group equity prior to the Closing pursuant to which each Seller party thereto agreed that such Seller will not, during the period from
the Closing and ending on the earlier of (i) with respect to 50% of the Closing Payment Shares (including Escrow Shares) and Earn out
Shares (“Restricted Securities”), (x) the six month anniversary of the date of the Closing, (y) the date on which the Closing
sale price of our ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.50 per share for any 20 trading days within any 30 trading day period commencing
after the Closing, and (z) the date after the Closing on which we consummate a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction
with an unaffiliated third party (a “Subsequent Transaction”), and (ii) with respect to the remaining 50% of the Restricted
Securities, (x) the one year anniversary of the date of the Closing and (y) the date after the Closing on which we consummate a Subsequent
Transaction, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, the Restricted Securities, or
publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. The Lock-Up Agreement expired February 14, 2021.
- TKK
entered into a Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement (“Non-Competition Agreement”) with certain Sellers that
directly or indirectly own in excess of 30% of Glory Star’s equity prior to the Closing (including Glory Star Group’s
chairman) and their principal shareholders (together with the applicable Seller, the “Subject Parties”). Under the
Non-Competition Agreements, for a period of three (3) years after the Closing, each Subject Party and our affiliates will not,
without our prior written consent, anywhere in the PRC or any other markets directly or indirectly engage in which we are engaged,
or are actively contemplating to become engaged, in the Business (as defined below) (or own, manage, finance or control, or become
engaged or serve as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, consultant, advisor or representative of, an entity
that engages in) of online media and entertainment services (collectively, the “Business”). However, the Subject Parties
and their respective affiliates may own passive investments of no more than 3% of any class of outstanding equity interests in
a competitor that is publicly traded, so long as the Subject Parties and their affiliates and their respective directors, officers,
managers and employees who were involved with the our business, and the immediate family members of the Subject Parties or their
respective affiliates, are not involved in the management or control of such competitor. Under the Non-Competition Agreements,
during such restricted period, the Subject Parties also will not, without our prior written consent, (i) solicit or hire our employees,
consultants or independent contractors as of the Closing (or during the year prior to the Closing) or otherwise interfere with
our relationships with such persons, (ii) solicit or divert our customers as of the Closing (or during the year prior to the Closing)
relating to the Business or otherwise interfere with our contractual relationships with such persons, or (iii) interfere with
or disrupt any of our vendors, suppliers, distributors, agents or other service providers for a purpose competitive with us as
it relates to the Business. The Subject Parties will also agree in each Non-Competition Agreement to not disparage us and to keep
confidential and not use our confidential information.
Immediately
after the Business Combination, our public shareholders own approximately 5.05% of GS Holdings, TKK’s former directors,
officers and initial shareholders, including the Sponsor, and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. (“EBC”) own approximately 12.16%
of GS Holdings, and the Sellers own approximately 82.79% of GS Holdings.
As a result of the
Business Combination, Sellers became the controlling shareholders of the Company. The Business Combination was accounted for as
a reverse merger, wherein Glory Star is considered the acquirer for accounting and financial reporting purposes and the transaction
was treated as a reverse recapitalization of Glory Star.
Key
Factors that Affect Operating Results
The
continuation of the global COVID-19 pandemic may negatively affect our business and content production capacity, which could significantly
disrupt our business and affect out operating results.
The
COVID-19 outbreak has caused business slow-down for us and affected our content production capacity in the first quarter of 2020,
resulting in decrease of revenue from our media sector. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may further impact our business
and financial performance will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and largely beyond our control. Even
if the economic impact of COVID-19 gradually recedes, the pandemic will have a lingering, long-term effect on business activities
and consumption behavior. There is no assurance that we will be able to adjust our business operations to adapt to these changes
and the increasingly complex environment in which we operate. While we have resumed business operations, there remain significant
uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. We cannot assure you that the COVID-19 pandemic can be eliminated or contained
in the near future, or will not occur again. Hence, the extent of the business disruption and the related impact on our financial
results and outlook cannot be reasonably assured at this time.
We
operate in a capital intensive industry and require a significant amount of cash to fund our operations and to produce or acquire
high quality video content. If we fail to obtain sufficient capital to fund our operations, our business, financial condition
and future prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
The
operation of an internet video streaming content provider and producer of television shows requires significant and continuous
investment in content production or acquisition and video production technology. Producing high-quality original content is costly
and time-consuming and typically requires a long period of time in order to realize a return on investment, if at all. If we cannot
obtain adequate capital to meet our capital needs, we may not be able to fully execute our strategic plans for growth and our
business, financial condition and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
If
our efforts to retain users and attract new users for our mobile and on-line video content and e-commerce products are not successful,
our business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected.
In
addition to our content production for television shows, we have experienced significant user growth for our mobile and on-line
video and e-commerce products over the past several years. Our ability to continue to retain users and attract new users will
depend in part on our ability to consistently provide our users with compelling content choices, as well as a quality experience
for selecting and viewing video content. If we introduce new features or service offerings, or change the mix of existing features
and services offerings, in a manner that is not favorably received by our users, we may not be able to attract and retain users
and our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
We
operate in a highly competitive market and we may not be able to compete effectively.
We
face significant competition in China in various sub-markets we operate, primarily from Alibaba (Nasdaq: BABA), Pin Duoduo (Nasdaq:PDD),
Douyu (Nasdaq: DOYU), Qu Toutiao (Nasdaq: QTT), Mango Media (SZ.300413), and TVZone Media (SH.603721). We compete for users, usage
time, advertising customers, and shoppers. Some of our competitors have a longer operating history and significantly greater financial
resources than we do, and, in turn, may be able to attract and retain more users, usage time and advertising customers. Our competitors
may compete with us in a variety of ways, including by conducting brand promotions and other marketing activities, and making
investments in and acquisitions of our business partners. If any of our competitors achieves greater market acceptance than we
do or are able to offer more attractive internet video content, our user traffic and our market share may decrease, which may
result in a loss of advertising customers, shoppers, and users, as well as have a material and adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations. We also face competition for users and user time from major television stations,
which are increasing their internet video offerings. We also face competition from users and user time from other internet media
and entertainment services, such as internet and social media platforms that offer content in emerging and innovative media formats.
The
success of our business depends on our ability to maintain and enhance our brand.
We
believe that maintaining and enhancing our brand is of significant importance to the success of our business. Our well-recognized
brand is critical to increasing our user base and, in turn, expanding our shoppers for our e-commerce platform and attractiveness
to advertising customers and content providers. Since the internet video industry is highly competitive, maintaining and enhancing
our brand depends largely on our ability to become and remain a market leader in China, which may be difficult and expensive to
accomplish. To the extent our original content is perceived as low quality or otherwise not appealing to users, our ability to
maintain and enhance our brand may be adversely impacted which in turn may result in a loss of users for our mobile and online
video and e-commerce platform.
Increases
in professionally-produced content, or PPC, by others may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
We
depend on the quality of our PPC for the success of our business model. The amount of PPC, especially TV series and movies, has
recently increased significantly in China and may continue to increase in the future. Due to relatively robust online advertising
budgets, internet video streaming platforms are generating more revenues and are competing aggressively to produce and license
more PPC in general. As the demand for quality PPC grows, the number of PPC producers will likely grow, resulting in an increase
in competition for our users and usage time, which in turn may result in a loss of advertising customers, users, and shoppers
on our e-commerce platform. Any significant loss in advertising customers, users, or shoppers on our e-commerce platform would
have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We
may not be able to manage our growth effectively.
We
have experienced rapid growth since we launched our services in 2016. To manage the further expansion of our business and the
growth of our operations and personnel, we need to continuously expand and enhance our infrastructure and technology, and improve
our operational and financial systems, procedures, compliance and controls. We also need to expand, train and manage our growing
employee base. In addition, our management will be required to maintain and expand our relationships with distributors, advertising
customers, and other third parties. We cannot assure you that our current infrastructure, systems, procedures and controls will
be adequate to support our expanding operations. If we fail to manage our expansion effectively, our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We
are subject to risks relating to the nature of China’s advertising industry, including frequent and sudden changes in advertising
proposals.
The
nature of the advertising business in China is such that sudden changes in advertising proposals and actual advertisements are
frequent. In China, television stations, as the advertising publisher, remain responsible for the content of advertisements, and
as a result, television stations may reject or recommend changes to the content of advertisements. We strive to minimize problems
related to work for clients by encouraging the conclusion of basic written agreements, but we are exposed to the risk of unforeseen
incidents or disputes with advertising clients. In addition, similar to other companies in our industry in the PRC where relationships
between advertising clients within a particular industry and advertising companies are not typically exclusive, we are currently
acting for multiple clients within a single industry in a number of industries. If this practice in China is to change in favor
of exclusive relationships and if our efforts to respond to this change are ineffective, our business, results of operations and
financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
A.
Operating Results
Our operating
results are affected by the competitive environment both in media and online retail industries, our ability to retain
customer stickiness and increase market shares which plays a vital role. In the first quarter of 2020, our
content production capacity was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, resulting
our revenues from media sector were so affected. However, our online retail has experienced an uptick due
to the growing number of online shoppers. In addition, our operating results are also determined by the economic
recovery in China.
COVID-19
Affecting Our Results of Operations
In
December 2019, COVID-19 started to spread in China, and then to other parts of the world in early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic
has resulted in quarantines, travel restrictions, and temporary closure of stores and facilities in China and elsewhere.
With
the rapid spread of COVID-19, the global economy is under tremendous pressure and has triggered unprecedented policy changes in
governments around the world. However, if the epidemic is not controlled in a timely manner, this could adversely affect businesses
in China. We are closely monitoring the development of COVID-19 and continuously evaluate the potential impact on our industry
and Company.
Although
the COVID-19 outbreak may materially adversely affect the global economic, there is a high rapid growth in the online entertainment
and online consumption due to the restrictions on outdoor activities. We have seen a rapid growth in its mobile and online operation
during this period. As of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 as compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the
number of downloads of our CHEERS App has increased by 98%, DAUs has increased by 180% and the average playback length of each
video has increased by 39%.
Our
e-Mall has also experienced a rapid growth. As of December 31, 2020, our e-Mall has carried 24,975 SKUs in total compared to 13,180
as of December 31, 2019, and the GMV of our e-Mall also increased by 581% as compared to the GMV of the fiscal year ended December
31, 2019.
We
have confidence in our overall market positioning and strategy. With a strong and efficient execution, we believe that our operating
net income will continue to increase and we will be able to provide more valuable content and products to our users and customers.
Results
of Operations
The
following table summarizes our consolidated results of operations in absolute amount and as a percentage of our total net revenues
for the periods indicated. Period-to-period comparisons of historical results of operations should not be relied upon as indicative
of future performance.
(in U.S. dollars in thousands, except for percentages)
|
|
|
For the years ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
65,777
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
123,763
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
57,986
|
|
|
|
88.16
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues
|
|
|
(31,901
|
)
|
|
|
48.50
|
|
|
|
(38,481
|
)
|
|
|
31.09
|
|
|
|
6,580
|
|
|
|
20.63
|
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(3,154
|
)
|
|
|
4.79
|
|
|
|
(43,827
|
)
|
|
|
35.41
|
|
|
|
40,673
|
|
|
|
1,289.57
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(3,134
|
)
|
|
|
4.76
|
|
|
|
(10,095
|
)
|
|
|
8.16
|
|
|
|
6,961
|
|
|
|
222.11
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
(749
|
)
|
|
|
1.14
|
|
|
|
(691
|
)
|
|
|
0.56
|
|
|
|
(58
|
)
|
|
|
(7.74
|
)
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(38,937
|
)
|
|
|
59.20
|
|
|
|
(93,094
|
)
|
|
|
75.22
|
|
|
|
54,156
|
|
|
|
139.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
26,839
|
|
|
|
40.80
|
|
|
|
30,669
|
|
|
|
24,78
|
|
|
|
3,830
|
|
|
|
14.27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other (expenses) income
|
|
|
(245
|
)
|
|
|
(0.37
|
)
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
494
|
|
|
|
(201.63
|
)
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
26,594
|
|
|
|
40.43
|
|
|
|
30,918
|
|
|
|
24.98
|
|
|
|
4,324
|
|
|
|
16.26
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(0.29
|
)
|
|
|
(1,673
|
)
|
|
|
(1.35
|
)
|
|
|
(1,482
|
)
|
|
|
775.92
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
26,403
|
|
|
|
40.14
|
|
|
|
29,245
|
|
|
|
23.63
|
|
|
|
2,842
|
|
|
|
10.76
|
|
Revenues
We
primarily have four broad categories of revenues: copyright licensing, advertising, customized content production and CHEERS e-Mall
market service.
Our revenues for the
year ended December 31, 2020 increased by $58.0 million, or 88.2%, to $123.8 million compared to $65.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 2019, which was mainly due to the increase in advertising revenue. The advertising revenue for the year ended December
31, 2020 was $104.7 million, representing an increase of $56.3 million, or 116%, as compared with that of the year ended December
31, 2019.
We distribute and promote
our professionally-produced content on our CHEERS App and on a variety of online video platforms, mobile apps, IPTV and television
channels, where we generate advertising revenues from traditional pre-video, in-video, and pop-up advertisements. We also generate
revenues from soft product placements that are incorporated into our original video content, including our online short videos.
In addition, our e-Mall suppliers and distributors have the option to enter into separate advertising agreements for displaying
their products in our live streaming shows. Our increase in revenues during fiscal year of 2020 were driven by the following factors:
|
(1)
|
Successful development of our self-owned
mobile CHEERS application that allows its users to access its online video content, live streaming shows, online games and shopping.
Benefiting from the explosive growth of
live shows, our mobile application has attracted numerous active users and provides a platform for more advertisers. Although the
COVID-19 outbreak may materially adversely affect the global economy, there is a high rapid growth in the online entertainment
and online consumption due to the restriction on outdoor activities. As a result, we have seen a rapid growth in advertising demand
for advertisements on our CHEERS platform, online short videos and live streaming shows, which led to an increase in advertising
service orders.
|
|
(2)
|
Increase in the average price for each
kind of advertisement.
We enhanced our production ability to provide
flexible content tailored to the various demands of our customers, as well as providing advertisements suitable for our different
short video scenarios in 2020, both of which were sold at higher price as compared with 2019. We refined the event model of live
streaming shows in early 2020 and started to provide title sponsor advertising services with higher price after the first quarter
of 2020. In addition, the forms of CHEERS APP advertisements diversified with the addition of floating windows, homepage pop-up
windows, information streams, and the price for these advertisements increased accordingly.
|
Operating
expenses
Operating
expenses consists of cost of revenues, selling and marketing, general and administrative and research and development expense.
Cost of revenues consists
primarily of production cost of TV series, short stream video, live stream and network drama, labor cost and related benefits,
payments to various channel owners for broadcast, purchase cost of goods and copyrights and costs associated with the operation
of our online game and shopping platform CHEERS App such as bandwidth cost and amortization of intangible assets. Our cost of revenues
increased by $6.6 million, or 20.63%, to $38.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $31.9 million for year ended December
31, 2019, mainly attributed by the increase of production cost associated with content to improve diversity, quantity and content
richness and the bandwidth cost. When compared to our increase in revenues, our cost of revenues was effectively controlled due
to economies of scale and substantial improvement of the operating efficiency of our CHEERS application.
Our sales and marketing
expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits of sales department, user acquisition expense, advertising fee, travelling
expense and CHEERS e-Mall marketing expense. Our sales and marketing expenses increased by $40.7 million, or 1289.66% to $43.8
million for the year ended December 31, 2020 from $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Such increase was primarily
due to (1) an increase of $40.9 million advertising fees associated with our marketing and user acquisition activities based on
our continuation strategy in enhancing our brand recognition to attract new customers for our CHEERS application and CHEERS e-Mall,
(2) an increase of $0.35 million in share-based compensation expenses.
Our general and administrative
expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits for members of our management and bad debt provision expense for accounts receivable
and professional service fees. Our general and administrative expenses increased by $7.0 million, or 222.11%, to $10.1 million for the
year ended December 31, 2020 from $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Such increase was mainly due to the increase of $4.6
million of share-based compensation for our employees in management functions, and the increase of $1.8 million of share-based compensation
to non-employees providing professional services related to the Business Combination.
Our research and development
expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits for our research and development department. Research and development expenses
for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 were $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
Other
expense, net
Other
expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 was net of $0.2 million, which mainly presents our interest expenses, net of our
non-operating income. Other income for the year ended December 31, 2020 was net of $0.2 million, mainly due to the subsidy income
from local tax authority, net of interest expense.
Income
tax expense, net
Income
tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 was net of $0.2 million, as compared to net of $1.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2020.
Net
Income
As a result of the foregoing,
we had a net income of $29.2 million in 2020, as compared to a net income of $26.4 million in 2019.
Segment
information
We have two operating
segments, namely Cheers APP Internet Business and Traditional Media Businesses. Our Cheers APP Internet Business generates advertising
revenue from broadcasting IP short videos, live streaming and APP advertising through our Cheers APP and service revenue from our
Cheers E-mall marketplace. Our Traditional Media Business mainly contributes to the advertising revenue from our Cheers TV-series,
copyright revenue, customized content production revenue and others. The CODM measures the performance of each segment based on
metrics of revenues and earnings from operations and uses these results to evaluate the performance of, and to allocate resources
to, each of the segments.
|
|
For the Years Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cheers APP Internet Business
|
|
$
|
28,301
|
|
|
$
|
83,573
|
|
Traditional Media Business
|
|
|
37,476
|
|
|
|
40,190
|
|
Total segment net revenues
|
|
$
|
65,777
|
|
|
$
|
123,763
|
|
Total consolidated net revenues
|
|
$
|
65,777
|
|
|
$
|
123,763
|
|
Operating income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cheers APP Internet Business
|
|
$
|
11,548
|
|
|
$
|
24,343
|
|
Traditional Media Business
|
|
|
15,291
|
|
|
|
11,707
|
|
Total segment operating income
|
|
$
|
26,839
|
|
|
$
|
36,050
|
|
Unallocated item*
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(5,381
|
)
|
Total consolidated operating income
|
|
$
|
26,839
|
|
|
$
|
30,669
|
|
|
*
|
The
unallocated item for the year ended December 31, 2020 presents the share-based compensation for employees, which is not allocated
to segments.
|
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our discussion and
analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements. These financial
statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of our assets and liabilities and revenues and expenses, to disclose contingent assets and liabilities on the dates of
the consolidated financial statements, and to disclose the reported amounts of revenues and expenses incurred during the financial
reporting periods. The most significant estimates and assumptions include the valuation of accounts receivable, the recoverability
of long-lived assets, unamortized produced content, revenue recognition and Share-based compensation. We continue to evaluate these
estimates and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We rely on these evaluations as the basis for
making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the
use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates
as a result of changes in our estimates.
The following critical
accounting policies rely upon assumptions and estimates and were used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:
Accounts Receivable, net
Accounts
receivable represent the amounts that the Company has an unconditional right to consideration (including billed and unbilled amount)
when the Company has satisfied its performance obligation. The Company does not have any contract assets since revenue is recognized
when control of the promised services is transferred and the payment from customers is not contingent on a future event. The Company
maintains allowance for potential credit losses on accounts receivable. Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable
and analyses historical bad debt, customer concentrations, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and changes in
customer payment patterns to estimate the allowance. Past due accounts are generally written off against the allowance for bad
debts only after all collection attempts have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.
Unamortized
produced content
Produced
content includes direct production costs, production overhead and acquisition costs and is stated at the lower of unamortized
cost or estimated fair value. Produced content also includes cash expenditures made to enter into arrangements with third parties
to co-produce certain of its productions.
The Company uses the
individual-film-forecast-computation method and amortizes the produced content based on the ratio of current period actual revenue
(numerator) to estimated remaining unrecognized ultimate revenue as of the beginning of the fiscal year (denominator) in accordance
with ASC 926. Ultimate revenue estimates for the produced content are periodically reviewed and adjustments, if any, will result
in prospective changes to amortization rates. When estimates of total revenues and other events or changes in circumstances indicate
that a film or television series has a fair value that is less than its unamortized cost, a loss is recognized currently for the
amount by which the unamortized cost exceeds the film or television series’ fair value. For the years ended December 31,
2019 and 2020, $17.2 million and $16.0 million were amortized to the cost of sales, respectively, and as of December 31, 2019 and
2020, no impairment allowance was recorded.
Impairment
of long-lived Assets
In
accordance with ASC Topic 360, the Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable, or at least annually. The Company recognizes an
impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. The amount
of impairment is measured as the difference between the asset’s estimated fair value and its book value. The Company did
not record any impairment charge for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company early adopted the new revenue standard Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts
with Customers, on January 1, 2017. The core principle of this new revenue standard is that a company should recognize revenue
to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company
expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The following five steps are applied to achieve that core principle:
|
●
|
Step
1: Identify the contract with the customer
|
|
●
|
Step
2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
|
|
●
|
Step
3: Determine the transaction price
|
|
●
|
Step
4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
|
|
●
|
Step
5: Recognize revenue when the company satisfies a performance obligation
|
The
Company mainly offers and generates revenue from the copyright licensing of self-produced content, advertising and customized
content production and others. Revenue recognition policies are discussed as follows:
Copyright
revenue
The
Company self produces or coproduces TV series featuring lifestyle, culture and fashion, and licenses the copyright of the TV series
on an episode basis to the customer for broadcast over a period of time. Generally, the Company signs a contract with a customer
which requires the Company to deliver a series of episodes that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer
to the customer. Accordingly, the delivery of the series of episodes is defined as the only performance obligation in the contract.
For
the TV series produced solely by the Company, the Company satisfies its performance obligation over time by measuring the progress
toward the delivery of the entire series of episodes which is made available to the licensee for exhibition after the license
period has begun. Therefore, the copyright revenue in a contract is recognized over time based on the progress of the number of
episodes delivered.
The
Company also coproduces TV series with other producers and licenses the copyright to third-party video broadcast platforms for
broadcast. For TV series produced by Glory Star Group with co-producers, the Company satisfies its performance obligations over
time by the delivery of the entire series of episodes to the customer, and requires the customer to pay consideration based on
the number and the unit price of valid subsequent views of the TV series that occur on a broadcast platform. Therefore, the copyright
revenue is recognized when the later of the valid subsequent view occurs or the performance obligation relating to the delivery
of a number of episodes has been satisfied.
Advertising
revenue
The
Company generates revenue from sales of various forms of advertising on its TV series and streaming content by way of 1) advertisement
displays, or 2) the integration of promotion activities in TV series and content to be broadcast. Advertising contracts are signed
to establish the different contract prices for different advertising scenarios, consistent with the advertising period. The Company
enters into advertising contracts directly with the advertisers or the third-party advertising agencies that represent advertisers.
For
the contracts that involve the third-party advertising agencies, the Company is principal as the Company is responsible for fulfilling
the promise of providing advertising services and has the discretion in establishing the price for the specified advertisement.
Under a framework contract, the Company receives separate purchase orders from advertising agencies before the broadcast. Accordingly,
each purchase order is identified as a separate performance obligation, containing a bundle of advertisements that are substantially
the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Where collectability is reasonably assured, revenue is recognized
monthly over the service period of the purchase order.
For
contracts signed directly with the advertisers, the Company commits to display a series of advertisements which are substantially
the same or similar in content and transfer pattern, and the display of the whole series of advertisements is identified as the
single performance obligation under the contract. The Company satisfies its performance obligations over time by measuring the
progress toward the display of the whole series of advertisements in a contract, and advertising revenue is recognized over time
based on the number of advertisements displayed.
Payment terms and conditions
vary by contract types, and terms typically include a requirement for payment within a period from 6 to 9 months. Both direct advertisers
and third-party advertising agencies are generally billed at the end of the display period and require the Company to issue VAT
invoices in order to make their payments.
Customized
content production revenue
The
Company produces customized short streaming videos according to its customers’ requirement, and earns fixed fees based on
delivery. Revenue is recognized upon the delivery of short streaming videos.
CHEERS
e-Mall marketplace service revenue
The
Company through CHEERS E-mall, an online e-commerce platform, enables third-party merchants to sell their products to consumers
in China. The Company charges fees for platform services to merchants for sales transactions completed on the Cheer E-Mall including
but not limited to products displaying, promotion and transaction settlement services. The Company does not take control of the
products provided by the merchants at any point in the time during the transactions and does not have latitude over pricing of
the merchandise. Transaction services fee is determined as the difference between the platform sales price and the settlement
price with the merchants. CHEERS E-mall marketplace service revenue is recognized at a point of time when the Company’s
performance obligation to provide marketplace services to the merchants are determined to have been completed under each sales
transaction upon the consumers confirming the receipts of goods. Payments for services are generally received before deliveries.
The
Company provides coupons to consumers at our own discretion as incentives to promote CHEERS E-mall marketplace with validity usually
around or less than one week, which can only be used in future purchases of eligible merchandise offered on CHEERS E-mall to reduce
purchase price that are not specific to any merchant. Consumers are not customers of the Company, therefore incentives offered
to consumers are not considered consideration payable to customers. As the consumers are required to make future purchases of
the merchants’ merchandise to redeem these coupons, the Company does not accrue any expense for coupons when granted and
recognizes the amounts of redeemed coupons as marketing expenses when future purchases are made.
Other
Revenues
Other
revenue primarily consists of copyrights trading of purchased and produced TV-series and the sales of products on Taobao platform.
For copyright licensing of purchased and produced TV-series, the Company recognize revenue on net basis at a point of time upon
the delivery of master tape and authorization of broadcasting right. For sales of product, the company recognize revenue upon
the transfer of products according to the fixed price and production amount in sales orders.
The
following table identifies the disaggregation of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively:
|
|
For the years ended
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(In U.S. dollars in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Category of Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising revenue
|
|
$
|
48,391
|
|
|
$
|
104,664
|
|
Customized content production revenue
|
|
|
9,098
|
|
|
|
10,200
|
|
Copyrights revenue
|
|
|
7,369
|
|
|
|
6,883
|
|
CHEERS e-Mall marketplace service revenue
|
|
|
670
|
|
|
|
1,517
|
|
Other revenue
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
499
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
65,777
|
|
|
$
|
123,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Timing of Revenue Recognition:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Services transferred over time
|
|
$
|
64,858
|
|
|
$
|
121,747
|
|
Services transferred at a point in time
|
|
|
670
|
|
|
|
1,517
|
|
Goods transferred at a point in time
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
|
499
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
65,777
|
|
|
$
|
123,763
|
|
The
Company applied a practical expedient to expense costs as incurred for costs to obtain a contract with a customer when the amortization
period would have been one year or less. The Company does not have any significant incremental costs of obtaining contracts with
customers incurred and/or costs incurred in fulfilling contracts with customers within the scope of ASC Topic 606, that shall
be recognized as an asset and amortized to expenses in a pattern that matches the timing of the revenue recognition of the related
contract.
Share-based
compensation
The
Company periodically grants restricted ordinary shares to eligible employees and non-employee consultants. The Group accounts
for share-based awards issued to employees and non-employee consultants in accordance with ASC Topic 718 Compensation –
Stock Compensation. The share-based awards are measured at the grant date fair value of the awards and recognized as expenses
a) immediately at grant date if no vesting conditions are required; or b) using the straight line method over the requisite service
period, which is the vesting period.
Share-based
compensation in relation to the restricted ordinary shares is measured based on the fair value of its ordinary shares on the date
of the grant. The Group recognizes the compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, over a vesting term for service-based
restricted shares. Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised in the subsequent periods if actual forfeitures
differ from those estimates.
Income
Taxes
The
Company accounts for income taxes using the asset/liability method prescribed by ASC 740, “Income Taxes.” Under this
method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases
of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect in the period in which the differences are expected to
reverse. The Company records a valuation allowance to offset deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence,
it is more-likely-than-not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred
taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or loss in the period that includes the enactment date.
The
provisions of ASC 740-10-25, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” prescribe a more-likely-than not threshold
for consolidated financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken (or expected to be taken) in a tax return.
This interpretation also provides guidance on the recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current
and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, and related
disclosures. The Company does not believe that there was any uncertain tax position at December 31, 2019 and 2020.
The
Company’s operating subsidiaries in PRC are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. According to the PRC
Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due to computational
errors made by the taxpayer or the withholding agent. The statute of limitations is extended to five years under special circumstances,
where the underpayment of taxes is more than RMB 100,000 ($14,364). In the case of transfer pricing issues, the statute of limitation
is ten years. There is no statute of limitation in the case of tax evasion. As of December 31, 2020, the tax years ended December
31, 2017 through December 31, 2020 for the Company’s PRC subsidiaries remain open for statutory examination by PRC tax authorities.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (Topic 326)”, which
significantly changes the way entities recognize impairment of many financial assets by requiring immediate recognition of estimated
credit losses expected to occur over their remaining life, instead of when incurred. In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU No.
2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses”, which amends Subtopic
326-20 (created by ASU No.2016-13) to explicitly state that operating lease receivables are not in the scope of Subtopic 326-20.
Additionally, in April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No.2019-04, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit
Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments”, in May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No.
2019-05, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief”, and in November 2019,
the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic
815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates”, and ASU No. 2019-11, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial
Instruments—Credit Losses”, to provide further clarifications on certain aspects of ASU No. 2016-13 and to extend
the nonpublic entity effective date of ASU No. 2016-13. The changes (as amended) are effective for the Company for annual and
interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and the Company is in the process of evaluating the potential
effect on its consolidated financial statements.
In
December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes”
(“ASU 2019-12”), which is intended to simplify various aspects related to accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12
removes certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 and also clarifies and amends existing guidance to improve consistent
application. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December
15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of adopting this standard, but based on
a preliminary assessment, does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial
statements.
Other
accounting standards that have been issued or proposed by FASB that do not require adoption until a future date are not expected
to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements upon adoption. The Company does not discuss recent pronouncements
that are not anticipated to have an impact on or are unrelated to its consolidated financial condition, results of operations,
cash flows or disclosures.
B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31,
2019, and 2020, our principal sources of liquidity were cash of approximately $6.9 million and $17.7 million, respectively. Working
capital at December 31, 2020 was $67.8 million. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and our anticipated cash
flows from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for the
next 12 months. If we determine that our cash requirements exceed the amount of cash and cash equivalents we have on hand at the
time, we may seek to issue equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The issuance and sale of additional equity would
result in further dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and
could result in operating covenants that might restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in
amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Substantially
all of our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2020 were held in China, of which all are denominated in Renminbi (RMB).
In addition, we are a holding company with no material operations of our own. We conduct our operations primarily through our
subsidiaries and VIEs in China. As a result, our ability to pay dividends, if any, depends upon dividends paid by our wholly-owned
subsidiaries. We do not anticipate to pay any dividends in the future as any net income earned will be reinvested in the Company.
In addition, our WFOE is permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance
with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, our WFOE and each of its consolidated entities is required to set
aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its
registered capital. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate
future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends
except in the event of liquidation. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of China is subject to examination
by the banks designated by the SAFE. We currently plan to reinvest all earnings from our WFOE to business development and do not
plan to request dividend distributions from the WFOE.
If
we experiences an adverse operating environment or incurred anticipated capital expenditure requirement, or if we accelerate our
growth, then additional financing may be required. No assurance can be given, however, that the additional financing, if required,
would be on favorable terms or available at all. Such financing may include the use of additional debt or the sale or additional
securities. Any financing, which involves the sale of equity securities or instruments that are convertible into equity securities,
could result in immediate and possibly significant dilutions to our existing shareholders.
Cash
Flows
The
following table summarizes our cash flows for the years indicated:
|
|
Years Ended
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
26,092
|
|
|
|
8,741
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(15,318
|
)
|
|
|
(4,418
|
)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(6,224
|
)
|
|
|
5,381
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes
|
|
|
(68
|
)
|
|
|
1,108
|
|
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
|
|
|
4,482
|
|
|
|
10,812
|
|
We
primarily fund our operations from our net revenues and bank loans. During the past two fiscal years, our account receivables
have increased and we have had to supplement our cash flow. We intend to continue focusing on timelier collections of account
receivable which should enhance our cash flows. We anticipate that the major capital expenditure in the near future is for the
further enhancement of our CHEERS App. To enhance its proposed growth, we anticipate raising capital through the issuance of equity
or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution to
our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants
that might restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to
us, if at all.
Operating
Activities
Net
cash provided by operating activities was $26.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This consisted primarily of net
income of $26.4 million, and a decrease of prepayment of $4.5 million due to the decrease of the purchase of production content
from third party and the increase of own produce content, a decrease of unamortized produced content of $1.3 million, an increase
of accounts payable of $3.9 million; partially offset by an increase of accounts receivable in the amount of $12.7 million as
a result of the increased revenue.
Net cash provided
by operating activities was $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This consisted primarily of net income of
$29.2 million, and an increase in accounts payable of $2.8 million, an increase in accrued liabilities and other payables of
$5.2 million mainly arising from the cash receipt in advance from Cheers e-Mall marketplace; partially offset by an increase
of accounts receivable in the amount of $24.0 million that are in line with our reported increased revenue for the year ended
December 31, 2020 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as the increase of prepayment of $19.3 million
that was mainly due to the increase of prepayments for two co-produced TV series amounted to $17.5 million and the prepayment
for software development amounted to $3.1 million.
Investing
Activities
Net
cash used in investing activities was $15.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, which was primarily derived from the
payments to the acquisition of intangible assets and the purchases of equipment, which was acquired to enhance the shopping, game,
media functions of CHEERS App for the future growth of business and operation.
Net cash used in investing
activities was $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was primarily derived from the $2.7 million payments for
the acquisition of intangible assets, and payments for short term investment of $1.6 million.
Financing
Activities
Net
cash used in financing activities was $6.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, consisted of the repayments of bank loans
of $9.4 million due to the maturity of bank loans; offset by the capital contribution of $3.2 million from Glory Star Group shareholders.
Net
cash provided by financing activities was $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisted of the withdraw of bank
loans of $5.5 million; partially offset by the payment of loan origination fees in the amount of $0.1 million.
C.
Research and development
We
have a team of experienced engineers who are primarily based at our headquarters in Beijing. We compete aggressively for engineering
talent and work closely with top IT firms through outsourcing to address challenges such as AI recommended search engine, block
chain scoring e-mall, network games battle platform, data warehouse, social networking E-commence V3.0, video media warehouse.
In 2019 and 2020, our research and development expenditures were $0.7 and $0.7 million, respectively. In addition, intangible
asset increased by $2,8 million, as research and development expenditures can be capitalized. The company continues investing
and improving the current Cheers APP to further increase user friendliness, functionality and efficiency to the next level.
D.
Trend information
See
“—A. Operating Results” of this Item 5 and “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors” of this
annual report.
E.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Glory
Star Group did not have during the periods presented, and it does not currently have, any off-balance sheet financing arrangements
or any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, including entities sometimes referred to as structured
finance or special purpose entities, that were established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other
contractually narrow or limited purposes.
F.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The
following is a schedule, by years, of our commitments and obligations as of December 31, 2020:
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less than
one year
|
|
|
One to three years
|
|
|
Three to five years
|
|
|
More than five years
|
|
|
|
(in thousands of U.S. dollars)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital commitments
|
|
$
|
7,049
|
|
|
$
|
2,292
|
|
|
$
|
4,757
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Operating lease commitments for offices
|
|
$
|
2,025
|
|
|
$
|
528
|
|
|
$
|
982
|
|
|
$
|
515
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Loan principal and interest expense obligation
|
|
$
|
6,590
|
|
|
$
|
5,211
|
|
|
$
|
1,379
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
1)
Our capital commitments primarily relate to the further development of our CHEERS application for user friendliness and the development
of more technical applications.
2)
We lease offices which are classified as operating leases in accordance with ASC Topic 842. As of December 31, 2020, our future
lease payments totaled $2.0 million.
3)
Loan principal and interest expense obligation represents the amounts due to various banks.
G.
Safe Harbor
See
“Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Item
6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
|
A.
|
Directors
and Senior Management
|
The
following table set forth the names and ages as of our current directors, executive officers and significant employees as of the
date of this annual report.
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Bing
Zhang
|
|
53
|
|
Director
(Chairman) and Chief Executive Officer
|
Jia
Lu
|
|
40
|
|
Director
and Senior Vice President of Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
|
Ke
Chen
|
|
42
|
|
Independent
Director
|
Ming
Shu Leung
|
|
45
|
|
Independent
Director
|
Yong
Li
|
|
51
|
|
Independent
Director
|
Perry
Lu
|
|
38
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Ran
Zhang
|
|
40
|
|
Director,
Vice President (in charge of distribution/channels/publicity/chief editor’s office), and Supervisor of Glory Star Media
(Beijing) Co., Ltd.
|
The
address and telephone number of each director and executive officer of the Company is: 22F, Block B, Xinhua Technology Building,
No. 8 Tuofangying South Road, Jiuxianqiao, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016 (Tel:+ 86-10-87700500).
The
following is a brief biography of each of our executive officers and directors:
Mr.
Bing Zhang became our chairman, director and chief executive officer in February 2020 upon the consummation of the Business
Combination. Mr. Zhang has been the chairman of Glory Star Group since 2019 and he also serves as the chief executive officer
of Horgos and Xing Cui Can since 2016. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Zhang was the Vice President of Trends Group as well as Chairman
of Board of Directors and General Manager of Trends Star (Beijing) Cultural Media Co., Ltd. Mr. Bing Zhang holds an EMBA Degree
of Tsinghua SEM and a Bachelor Degree of Hunan University.
Mr.
Jia Lu became our director in February 2020. Mr. Lu is a director and senior vice president of Glory Star Media (Beijing)
Co., Ltd., and a director of Horgos Glory Star Media Co., Ltd., Horgos Glary Wisdom Marketing Planning Co., Ltd., Glary Wisdom
(Beijing) Marketing Planning Co., Ltd. since 2018, and director of Horgos Glary Prosperity Culture Co., Ltd. since 2017, and senior
vice president of Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd. Since 2016. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Lu served as Vice General Manager at
Trends Star (Beijing) Cultural Media Co., Ltd. Mr. Lu holds a Bachelor degree of Beijing film academy.
Mr.
Ke Chen, became our independent director in September 2020. Mr. Chen is a partner at the Beijing Chang-An Law Firm (“Chang-An”),
Beijing P.R. China, since 2017 and as its deputy director of the financial securities department from 2014 to 2017. Prior to that
time Mr. Chen was an associate at Hogan Lovells since 2004. Mr. Chen focuses his legal practice on banking, stock securities,
fund, project finance, merger and acquisition, corporate finance, foreign direct investments, outbound investments, construction,
real-estate and regulatory and compliance work. Mr. Chen received a LLB in 2002 and a LLM in 2003 from the University of Buckingham.
Mr.
Ming Shu Leung became our independent director in February 2020. Mr. Leung founded internet private equity fund Harmony Capital
as the founding partner on January 2018. Mr. Leung has been the company secretary of China ITS (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (中國智能交通系統(控股)有限公司)
(a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with stock code: 1900) since January 2008 and the chief financial officer of
this company from January 2008 to January 2018. He has also been an independent non-executive director of Comtec Solar Systems
Group Limited (卡姆丹克太陽能系統集團有限 公司)
(a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with stock code: 712) since June 2008, an independent non-executive director
of Sun.King Power Electronics Group Limited (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with stock code: 580) since March
2017, and an independent non-executive director of Cabbeen Fashion Limited (卡賓服飾有限公司)
(a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with stock code: 2030) since February 2013.Mr. Leung has over 15 years of experience
in the areas of corporate finance and accounting. Mr. Leung started his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong
Kong as an auditor in 1998, where he was responsible for performing statutory audit work on listed companies in Hong Kong. He
then worked at the global corporate finance division of Arthur Andersen & Co. in Hong Kong, which subsequently merged with
PricewaterhouseCoopers, until December 2000, where he was responsible for conducting financial advisory services for government
bodies and corporate clients. Mr. Leung then spent approximately three years from February 2003 to January 2006 at CDC Corporation,
a NASDAQ listed company, as a senior manager in the mergers and acquisitions department, and as the chief financial officer of
China.com Inc. (a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where he was responsible for overseeing the entire finance operations,
mergers & acquisitions, investors relationship, and other capital market activities of that company.Mr. Leung obtained his
bachelor degree in arts with first class honors in accountancy from the City University of Hong Kong in November 1998 and a master
degree in accountancy from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in November 2001. He was admitted as a fellow member of the Association
of Chartered Certified Accountants in February 2007 and a fellow member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants
in June 2010.
Mr.
Yong Li became our independent director in February 2020. Mr. Li is the deputy director of Intelligent Communication Commission
of China TV Artists Association (CTAA), Partner of Chengmei Capital and Chairman of Guyuan Culture since June 2019. From 2014
to 2018, Mr. Li served as Chief Inspector/General Manager of Dragon TV Center, Oriental Entertainment Media Group Co., Ltd. From
2011 to 2014, Mr. Li served as the general manager of Shanghai New Media & Entertainment Co. LTD. In addition, Mr. Li was
the first to launch “independent producer system” in Shanghai, which has significantly promoted the development of
China’s entertainment and media industry. Mr. Li holds a master degree in business from China Europe International Business
School in 2006 and a Bachelor of Art in Journalism from Communication University of China in 1991.
Mr.
Perry Lu became our Chief Financial Officer in August 2020. Mr. Lu has extensive financial management experience and is a
capital market veteran. Prior to the appointment as our chief financial officer, Mr. Lu served as our finance director since April
2020. Prior to joining us, from May 2018 to April 2020 he served as a senior accounting manager in Spruce (Meicai.cn), a leading
online grocery platform in China where he helped to build and improve the internal control system, corporate governance system
and quality of finance reporting. From July 2017 to May 2018, Mr. Lu served as a senior M&A manager in a Chinese listed company
named Visual China Group (000681) where he participated in strategic planning and led many capital projects, such as overseas
acquisition, business reorganization, subsidiary spin off, IPO readiness preparation, improved operation efficiency and increased
company valuation. From October 2015 to January 2017, Mr. Lu served as a senior finance reporting manager in a US listed company
named Fang Holdings Limited (NYSE: SFUN) where he was in charge of US finance reporting, capital market disclosure, investor relationship
and company image promotion. From October 2012 to October 2015, Mr. Lu worked for RuiHua certified public accountants, Lenovo
Group (00992) from January 2011 to October 2012, Ernst and Young UK from September 2007 to September 2008 and again from September
2009 to August 2010. Mr. Lu received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Liverpool, and a master’s
degree in Accounting and Finance from the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Ms.
Ran Zhang is the director and Supervisor of Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and a director of Horgos Glory Star Media
Co., Ltd. since 2018, and vice president (in charge of distribution/channels/publicity/chief editor’s office) of Glory Star
Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd, and supervisor of Xing Cui Can and Leshare Star (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. since 2016. From October
2010 to December 2016, she served as Issuance Director at Fashion Starlight (Beijing) Media Co., Ltd. Mrs. Ran Zhang holds a Bachelor
degree of Jingshi College of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University.
Family
Relationships
None
of the directors or executive officers have a family relationship as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
B.
Compensation
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to compensation for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020,
earned by or paid to our chief executive officer and principal executive officer, our principal financial officer, and our other
most highly compensated executive officers whose total compensation exceeded $100,000.
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Salary
($)
|
|
|
Bonus
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
|
|
|
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Bing Zhang,
Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
83,427
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,424,400
|
**
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,507,827
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jia Lu,
Director and
Senior Vice President*
|
|
|
62,571
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
733,700
|
**
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
796,271
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ran Zhang,
Director and Vice President*
|
|
|
52,142
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
31,900
|
**
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
84,042
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perry Lu
Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
69,523
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
117,000
|
***
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
186,523
|
|
|
*
|
Glory
Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
|
|
**
|
Based
on share price of $3.19 per share
|
|
***
|
Based
on share price of $3.90 per share
|
As
required by PRC regulations, we participate in various government statutory social security plans, including a pension contribution
plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan, a maternity insurance plan
and a housing provident fund. Glory Star Group is required under PRC law to contribute to social security plans at specified percentages
of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of its employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from
time to time. Other than the above-mentioned statutory contributions mandated by applicable PRC law, Glory Star Group has not
set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our executive officers and directors.
Benefit
Plans
We
do not have any profit sharing plan or similar plans for the benefit of our officers, directors or employees. However, we may
establish such plan in the future.
Aggregated
Option/Stock Appreciation Right (SAR) exercised and Fiscal year-end Option/SAR value table
Neither
our executive officers nor the other individuals listed in the tables above, exercised options or SARs during the last fiscal
year.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
On
February 14, 2020, our board of directors approved our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (“2019 Plan”), which was approved
by our shareholders on December 23, 2019. The 2019 Plan allows for the award of stock and options, up to 3,732,590 ordinary shares.
As of December 31, 2020, we have granted 1,561,000 of our ordinary shares to certain executive officers and employees pursuant
to the terms of a Restricted Stock Bonus Grant Notice and Agreement under the 2019 Plan. Please see “Item 6. Directors,
Senior Management And Employees—B. Compensation” for grant of shares to our executive officers. No options have been
granted under the 2019 Plan.
Long-term
incentive plans
No
long term incentive awards were granted by us in the last fiscal year.
Pension
Benefits
None
of our named executive officers participate in or have account balances in qualified or nonqualified defined benefit plans sponsored
by it.
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
None
of our named executive officers participate in or have account balances in nonqualified defined contribution plans or other deferred
compensation plans maintained by it.
Compensation
of Non-Executive Directors
We
entered into respective independent director agreements with our independent directors, Messrs. Ming Shu Leung, Yong Li and Ke
Chen in connection with their appointments as independent directors of the Company. Pursuant to the independent director agreements,
each independent director shall be entitled to a fee of $2,000 per month ($24,000 per year). In addition, we also granted each
independent director 2,000 of our ordinary shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of a restricted stock award agreement pursuant
to our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan. Each independent director is also entitled to reimbursement for-out of-pocket expenses incurred.
Employment
Agreements with Executive Officers
We
entered into an Employment Agreement with our chief executive officer, Bing Zhang, effective December 20, 2019. Mr. Zhang is an
“at-will” employee.
We
entered in an Employment Agreement with our chief financial officer, Perry Lu, effective April 20, 2020. Mr. Lu is an “at-will”
employee.
Glory
Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd entered into an Employment Agreement with our Director and its Senior Vice President, Jia Lu, effective
December 20, 2019. Mr. Lu is an “at-will” employee.
Glory
Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd entered into an Employment Agreement with our Director and Vice President, Ran Zhang, effective
December 20, 2019. Ms. Zhang is an “at-will” employee.
There
were no performance based cash bonuses paid for years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2020,
we granted ordinary shares to our executive officers pursuant to the terms of Restricted Stock Bonus Grant Notice and Agreement
under the 2019 Plan, please see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management And Employees—B. Compensation” for information
regarding the grant of shares to our executive officers.
C.
Board Practices
Board
of Directors
Our
board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class (except
for those directors appointed prior to our first annual meeting of shareholders) serving a three-year term. The term of office
for Class I directors, consisting of Messrs. Jia Lu and Ming Shu Leung, will expire at the 2023 annual meeting. The term of office
of the Class II directors, consisting of Messrs. Yong Li and Bing Zhang will expire at the 2021 annual meeting and the term of
office of the Class III directors, consisting of Mr. Ke Chen will expire at the 2022 annual meeting. Messrs. Lu and Leung were
re-elected as Class I directors of the Company during our 2020 Annual General Meeting, which was held on December 26, 2020.
Our
officers are elected by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific
terms of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our memorandum and articles
of association as it deems appropriate. Our memorandum and articles of association provide that our officers may consist of a
Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer and
such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Director
Independence
Currently,
each of Messrs. Ming Shu Leung, Yong Li and Ke Chen would be considered an “independent director” under the NASDAQ
listing rules, which is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or
any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of the company’s board of directors would interfere with
the director’s exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our independent directors
will have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
Our
board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a nominating committee and a compensation committee. Subject
to phase-in rules and certain limited exceptions, the rules of NASDAQ and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act require that the audit
committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors, and the rules of NASDAQ require that the compensation
committee and nominating committee of a listed company be comprised solely of independent directors.
Audit
Committee
We
have established an audit committee of the board of directors, which consists of Messrs. Ming Shu Leung, Yong Li and Ke Chen,
each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Mr. Leung is the Chairperson of the audit committee.
The
audit committee’s duties, which are specified in our Audit Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
|
●
|
reviewing
and discussing with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial
statements, and recommending to the board whether the audited financial statements should
be included in our annual report;
|
|
●
|
discussing
with management and the independent auditor significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the
preparation of our financial statements;
|
|
●
|
discussing
with management major risk assessment and risk management policies;
|
|
●
|
monitoring
the independence of the independent auditor;
|
|
●
|
verifying
the rotation of the lead (or coordinating) audit partner having primary responsibility for the audit and the audit partner
responsible for reviewing the audit as required by law;
|
|
●
|
reviewing
and approving all related-party transactions;
|
|
●
|
inquiring
and discussing with management our compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
|
|
●
|
pre-approving
all audit services and permitted non-audit services to be performed by our independent auditor, including the fees and terms
of the services to be performed;
|
|
●
|
appointing
or replacing the independent auditor;
|
|
●
|
determining
the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management
and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting) for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related
work;
|
|
●
|
establishing
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting
controls or reports which raise material issues regarding our financial statements or accounting policies; and
|
|
●
|
approving
reimbursement of expenses incurred by our management team in identifying potential target businesses.
|
Financial
Experts on Audit Committee
The
audit committee will at all times be composed exclusively of “independent directors” who are “financially literate”
as defined under NASDAQ listing standards. NASDAQ listing standards define “financially literate” as being able to
read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow
statement.
In
addition, we must certify to NASDAQ that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment
experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background
that results in the individual’s financial sophistication. The board of directors has determined that Messrs. Ming Shu Leung,
Yong Li and Ke Chen each qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under rules and regulations
of the SEC.
Nominating
Committee
We
have established a nominating committee of the board of directors, which consists of Messrs. Ming Shu Leung, Yong Li and Ke Chen,
each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Messr. Chen is the Chairperson of the nominating
committee. The nominating committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on our board
of directors. The nominating committee considers persons identified by its members, management, shareholders, investment bankers
and others.
Guidelines
for Selecting Director Nominees
The
guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the Nominating Committee Charter, generally provide that persons to
be nominated:
|
●
|
should
have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service;
|
|
●
|
should
possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors
and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and
|
|
●
|
should
have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the
shareholders.
|
The
nominating committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and
integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating
committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that
arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse
mix of board members. The nominating committee does not distinguish among nominees recommended by shareholders and other persons.
Compensation
Committee
We
have established a compensation committee of the board of directors, which consists of Messrs. Ming Shu Leung, Yong Li and Ke
Chen, each of whom is an independent director under NASDAQ’s listing standards. Mr. Li is the Chairperson of the compensation
committee. The compensation committee’s duties, which are specified in our Compensation Committee Charter, include, but
are not limited to:
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●
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reviewing
and approving on an annual basis the corporate goals and objectives relevant to our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation,
evaluating our Chief Executive Officer’s performance in light of such goals and objectives and determining and approving
the remuneration (if any) of our Chief Executive Officer’s based on such evaluation;
|
|
●
|
reviewing
and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;
|
|
●
|
reviewing
our executive compensation policies and plans;
|
|
●
|
implementing
and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
|
|
●
|
assisting
management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
|
|
●
|
approving
all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers
and employees;
|
|
●
|
if
required, producing a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
|
|
●
|
reviewing,
evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
|
Board
Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
No
policy exists requiring combination or separation of leadership roles and our governing documents do not mandate a particular
structure. This has allowed our Board the flexibility to establish the most appropriate structure for the Company at any given
time.
The
Board is actively involved in overseeing our risk management processes. The Board focuses on our general risk management strategy
and ensures that appropriate risk mitigation strategies are implemented by management. Further, operational and strategic presentations
by management to the Board include consideration of the challenges and risks of our businesses, and the Board and management actively
engage in discussion on these topics. In addition, each of the Board’s committees considers risk within its area of responsibility.
Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings
To
the best of our knowledge, during the past ten years, none of our directors or executive officers were involved in any of the
following: (1) any bankruptcy petition filed by or against any business of which such person was a general partner or executive
officer either at the time of the bankruptcy or within two years prior to that time; (2) any conviction in a criminal proceeding
or being subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses); (3) being subject to
any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently
or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting his involvement in any type of business, securities or banking
activities; and (4) being found by a court of competent jurisdiction (in a civil action), the Securities and Exchange Commission
or the Commodities Futures Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment
has not been reversed, suspended or vacated.
Compensation
committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None
of our officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the compensation committee of any entity that
has one or more officers serving on our Board of Directors.
Code
of Ethics
We have adopted a Code
of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We have filed a copy of our Code of Ethics and our Audit Committee
Charter, Nominating Committee Charter and Compensation Committee Charter with the SEC and have made it available on our website
at http://ir.yaoshixinghui.com. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without charge upon request from us.
Requests for a copy of the Code of Ethics may be made by writing to the Company at Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited,
22F, Block B, Xinhua Technology Building, No. 8 Tuofangying South Road, Jiuxianqiao, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
D.
Employees
As
of December 31, 2020, we had approximately 159 full-time employees. The table below sets forth a breakdown of the numbers
of employees by functions as of December 31, 2020:
Department
|
|
Headcount
|
|
|
Percentage of Total
|
|
Human Resource and General Management Department
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
6.3
|
%
|
Financial Management Department
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
6.3
|
%
|
Business Development and Securities Department
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
%
|
Public and Investor Relations Department
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
5.7
|
%
|
Information Technology and Research Department
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
7.5
|
%
|
Integrated Content Marketing Department
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
22.6
|
%
|
Cheers Platform and e-Mall Department
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
48.4
|
%
|
Total
|
|
|
159
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
We
have entered into written employment contracts with all of our employees in accordance with PRC Labor Law and Contract Law. None
of our employees is covered by collective bargaining contracts. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our
employees and we have not experienced any significant labor disputes or any difficulty in recruiting staff for our operations.
As
required by PRC regulations, we participate in various government statutory social security plans, including a pension contribution
plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan, a maternity insurance plan
and a housing provident fund. We are required under PRC law to contribute to social security plans at specified percentages of
the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time
to time. An employer that fails to make social insurance contributions may be ordered to rectify the non-compliance and pay the
required contributions within a stipulated deadline and be subject to a late fee.
E.
Share Ownership
The
following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership, within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act, of our Ordinary Shares as of the date of this annual report.
|
●
|
each
of our directors and executive officers who beneficially own our Ordinary Shares; and
|
|
●
|
each
person known to us to own beneficially more than 5.0% of our Ordinary Shares.
|
Beneficial
ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Except as indicated below, and subject to applicable
community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all Ordinary Shares
shown as beneficially owned by them. Percentage of beneficial ownership of each listed person is based on 61,977,328 Ordinary
Shares outstanding as of March 1, 2021.
Information
with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, officer, or beneficial owner of 5% or more of our Ordinary
Shares. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally requires that such person
have voting or investment power with respect to securities. In computing the number of Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by a
person listed below and the percentage ownership of such person, Ordinary Shares underlying options, warrants, or convertible
securities held by each such person that are exercisable or convertible within 60 days of the date of this annual report are deemed
outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as otherwise indicated
in the footnotes to this table, or as required by applicable community property laws, all persons listed have sole voting and
investment power for all Ordinary Shares shown as beneficially owned by them.
|
|
Ordinary Shares
Beneficially
Owned
|
|
Name and Address(1)
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
Bing Zhang(2)
|
|
|
17,826,863
|
|
|
|
28.76
|
%
|
Jia Lu(3)
|
|
|
6,144,116
|
|
|
|
9.91
|
%
|
Ran Zhang(4)
|
|
|
1,858,161
|
|
|
|
3.00
|
%
|
Ke Chen
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
* %
|
|
Ming Shu Leung
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
* %
|
|
Yong Li
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
* %
|
|
Perry Lu
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
* %
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (seven individuals):
|
|
|
25,863,140
|
|
|
|
41.73
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Happy Starlight Limited(2)
|
|
|
17,066,863
|
|
|
|
27.54
|
%
|
Sing Wang(5)
|
|
|
5,726,000
|
|
|
|
9.24
|
%
|
TKK Symphony Sponsor 1(5)
|
|
|
5,726,000
|
|
|
|
9.24
|
%
|
Enjoy Starlight Limited(3)
|
|
|
5,914,116
|
|
|
|
9.54
|
%
|
Fashion Starlight Limited(4)
|
|
|
1,848,161
|
|
|
|
2.98
|
%
|
Australia Eastern Investment PTY LTD
|
|
|
4,037,834
|
|
|
|
6.52
|
%
|
Rich Starlight Limited
|
|
|
3,362,521
|
|
|
|
5.43
|
%
|
Wealth Starlight Limited
|
|
|
3,327,831
|
|
|
|
5.37
|
%
|
|
(1)
|
Unless
otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is 22nd Floor, Block
B, Xinhua Technology Building, No. 8 Tuofangying Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Bing Zhang is the director and chief executive officer of Glory Star. Mr. Zhang is sole
shareholder and director of Happy Starlight Limited, which holds 27.54% of our ordinary
shares.
|
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Jia Lu is the director and senior vice president of Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Mr. Lu is the sole shareholder and a director of Enjoy Starlight Limited, which holds
9.91% of our ordinary shares.
|
|
(4)
|
Ms.
Ran Zhang is the director and Supervisor of Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd., the
director of Horgos Glory Star Media Co., Ltd., vice president (in charge of distribution/channels/publicity/chief
editor’s office) of Glory Star Media (Beijing) Co., Ltd, and the supervisor of
Xing Cui Can and Leshare Star (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. Ms. Zhang is the sole shareholder
and a director of Fashion Starlight Limited, which holds 2.98% of our ordinary shares.
|
|
(5)
|
Sing
Wang indirectly owns 100% of the equity interest of the Sponsor. Mr. Wang is the sole owner of China Capital Advisors Corporation,
which is the sole owner of Texas Kang Kai Capital Partners. Texas Kang Kai Capital Partners owns 100% of the equity interest
of TKK Capital Holding, the sole member of the Sponsor. Consequently, Mr. Wang may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares
held by the Sponsor and has sole voting and dispositive control over such securities. Mr. Wang disclaims beneficial ownership
of any shares other than to the extent he may have an interest therein, directly or indirectly. The business address is c/o
Texas Kang Kai Capital Management (Hong Kong) Limited, 2039, 2/F United Center, 95 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong.
|
Item
10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A.
Share Capital
Not
applicable.
B. Memorandum
and Articles of Association
We
incorporate by reference into this annual report the description of our Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February 21, 2020.
C. Material
Contracts
On December 29, 2020,
we entered into an Amendment to the Share Exchange Agreement with the Sponsor in the capacity as the representative for TKK’s
shareholders other than the Sellers, and Bing Zhang, in the capacity as the representative for the Sellers, to (i) adjust the 2020
Earn out Target (defined below) from RMB315,000,000 to RMB182,000,000 (the “Adjustment”) and (ii) to amend and restate
Section 1.4(a) of the Share Exchange Agreement to reflect the Adjustment.
Other
than as described above, we have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other
than those described in “Item 4. Information on the Company” or elsewhere in this annual report.
D. Exchange
Controls
See
“Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China.”
E. Taxation
Cayman
Islands Tax Considerations
The
following is a discussion on certain Cayman Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the securities of the Company.
The discussion is a general summary of present law, which is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended
as tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than
those arising under Cayman Islands law.
Under
Existing Cayman Islands Laws
Payments
of dividends and capital in respect of our securities 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 the securities nor will gains derived from the disposal
of the securities be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporate tax. The Cayman Islands currently has no income, corporate
or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax.
No
stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our ordinary shares or on an instrument of transfer in respect of such shares.
The
Company has been incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and, as such,
has applied for and received an undertaking from the Financial Secretary of the Cayman Islands in the following form:
The
Tax Concessions Act
(As
Revised)
Undertaking
as to Tax Concessions
In
accordance with the provision of Section 6 of The Tax Concessions Act (As Revised), the Financial Secretary undertakes with Glory
Star New Media Group Holdings Limited (the “Company”):
|
1.
|
That
no law which is hereafter enacted in the Islands imposing any tax to be levied on profits,
income, gains or appreciations shall apply to the Company or its operations; and
|
|
2.
|
In
addition, that no tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciations or which
is in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable:
|
|
2.1
|
On
or in respect of the shares, debentures or other obligations of the Company; or
|
|
2.2
|
by
way of the withholding in whole or part, of any relevant payment as defined in Section
6(3) of the Tax Concessions Act (As Revised).
|
These
concessions shall be for a period of 20 years from the date hereof.
Hong
Kong Taxation
On
March 21, 2018, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 7) Bill 2017 (the “Bill”)
which introduces the two-tiered profits tax rates regime. The Bill was signed into law on March 28, 2018 and was gazette on the
following day. Under the two-tiered profits tax rates regime, the first 2 million Hong Kong Dollar (“HKD”) of profits
of the qualifying group entity will be taxed at 8.25%, and profits above HKD2 million will be taxed at 16.5%.
People’s
Republic of China Taxation
Under
the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de
facto management body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax
at the rate of 25% on its global income. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the
body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts
and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular, known as Circular 82,
which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled
enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled
by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in
the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto management body”
test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to Circular 82, an offshore
incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue
of having its “de facto management body” in China only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary
location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and
human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s
primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained
in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We
do not believe that we meet all of the conditions above. We are a holding company incorporated outside the PRC in the Cayman Islands.
As a holding company, our key assets are our ownership interests in our subsidiaries, and our key assets are located, and our
records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside
the PRC. For the same reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. However,
the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with
respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” There can be no assurance that the PRC government
will ultimately take this view.
However,
if the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required
to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises. Such 10% tax rate
could be reduced by applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements between China and the jurisdiction of our shareholders. For
example, for shareholders eligible for the benefits of the tax treaty between China and Hong Kong, the tax rate is reduced to
5% for dividends if relevant conditions are met. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to a 10% PRC
tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It
is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such
non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to
such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax
treaty. However, it is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of Glory Star Holdings Limited would be able to claim the benefits
of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that Glory Star Holdings Limited is treated
as a PRC resident enterprise.
Provided
that we are not deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, shareholders who are not PRC residents will not be subject to PRC income
tax on dividends distributed by us or gains realized from the sale or other disposition of our shares. However, under Circular
7 and SAT Circular 37, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring taxable assets,
including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an
overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee or the PRC entity which directly
owned such taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form”
principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial
purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect
transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferor obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently
at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. We and our non-PRC resident investors may
be at risk of being required to file a return and being taxed under Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37, and we may be required to
expend valuable resources to comply with Circular7 and SAT Circular 37, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these
circulars.
United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The
following does not address the tax consequences to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:
|
●
|
banks;
|
|
●
|
financial
institutions;
|
|
●
|
insurance
companies;
|
|
●
|
regulated
investment companies;
|
|
●
|
consulting
investment trusts;
|
|
●
|
broker-dealers;
|
|
●
|
persons
that elect to mark their securities to market;
|
|
●
|
U.S.
expatriates or former long-term residents of the U.S.;
|
|
●
|
governments
or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
|
|
●
|
tax-exempt
entities;
|
|
●
|
persons
liable for alternative minimum tax;
|
|
●
|
persons
holding our ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction;
|
|
●
|
persons
that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our voting power or value (including by reason of owning our ordinary shares);
|
|
●
|
persons
who acquired our ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; or
|
|
●
|
persons
holding our ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities.
|
In
addition, this discussion does not discuss any non-United States, alternative minimum tax, state, or local tax or any non-income
tax (such as the U.S. federal gift or estate tax) considerations, or the Medicare tax on net investment income.
Material Tax Consequences Applicable
to U.S. Holders of Our Ordinary Shares
The following brief
description sets forth the material U.S. federal income tax consequences related to the ownership and disposition of our ordinary
shares and applies only to U.S. Holders (defined below) that hold ordinary shares as capital assets and that have the U.S. dollar
as their functional currency. This description does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to ownership and disposition
of our ordinary shares or U.S. tax laws, other than the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as the tax consequences under non-U.S.
tax laws, state, local and other tax laws. This brief description is based on the federal income tax laws of the United States
in effect as of the date of this annual report and on U.S. Treasury regulations in effect or, in some cases, proposed, as of the
date of this annual report, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All
of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the tax consequences
described below.
The brief description
below of the U.S. federal income tax consequences to “U.S. Holders” will apply to you if you are a beneficial owner
of ordinary share and you are, for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
|
●
|
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
|
|
|
|
|
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a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for
U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source; or
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a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a
court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons for all substantial decisions or (2) has a valid
election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
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Prospective purchasers
are urged to consult their own tax advisors about the application of the U.S. federal income tax rules to their particular circumstances
as well as the state, local, foreign, and other tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership, and disposition of our ordinary
shares.
Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions
on our Ordinary Shares
Subject to the passive
foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by us to you with
respect to the ordinary shares (including the amount of any taxes withheld therefrom) will generally be includable in your gross
income as dividend income on the date of receipt by you, but only to the extent that the distribution is paid out of our current
or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). With respect to corporate U.S. Holders,
the dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received
from other U.S. corporations.
With respect to non-corporate
U.S. Holders, including individual U.S. Holders, dividends will be taxed at the lower capital gains rate applicable to qualified
dividend income, provided that (1) the ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United
States, or we are eligible for the benefits of an approved qualifying income tax treaty with the United States that includes an
exchange of information program, (2) we are not a PFIC (as discussed below) for either our taxable year in which the dividend
is paid or the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. Because there is no income tax treaty
between the United States and the Cayman Islands, clause (1) above can be satisfied only if the ordinary shares are readily tradable
on an established securities market in the United States. Under U.S. Internal Revenue Service authority, ordinary shares are considered
for purpose of clause (1) above to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed
on The Nasdaq Capital Market. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends
paid with respect to our ordinary shares, including the effects of any change in law after the date of this annual report.
Dividends will constitute
foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. If the dividends are taxed as qualified dividend income (as
discussed above), the amount of the dividend taken into account for purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation
will be limited to the gross amount of the dividend, multiplied by the reduced rate divided by the highest rate of tax normally
applicable to dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately with respect to specific
classes of income. For this purpose, dividends distributed by us with respect to our ordinary shares will constitute “passive
category income” but could, in the case of certain U.S. Holders, constitute “general category income.”
To the extent that
the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income
tax principles), it will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in your ordinary shares, and to the extent the
amount of the distribution exceeds your tax basis, the excess will be taxed as capital gain. We do not intend to calculate our
earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, a U.S. Holder should expect that a distribution will
be treated as a dividend even if that distribution would otherwise be treated as a non-taxable return of capital or as capital
gain under the rules described above.
Taxation of Dispositions of Ordinary
Shares
Subject to the PFIC
rules discussed below, you will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, exchange, or other taxable disposition of a share
equal to the difference between the amount realized (in U.S. dollars) for the share and your tax basis (in U.S. dollars) in the
ordinary shares. The gain or loss will be capital gain or loss. If you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder, including an individual
U.S. Holder, who has held the ordinary shares for more than one year, you will generally be eligible for reduced tax rates. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that you recognize will generally be treated
as United States source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes which will generally limit the availability
of foreign tax credits.
Medicare Tax
Certain U.S. Holders
that are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds generally are subject to a 3.8% tax on all
or a portion of their net investment income, which may include their gross dividend income and net gains from the disposition
of our ordinary shares.
Ownership, Disposition and Exercise
of Warrants
Exercise of Warrants
A U.S. Holder generally
will not recognize gain or loss upon the acquisition of an ordinary share (“Warrant Share”) on the exercise of a warrant
for cash. A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis in the Warrant Share received on exercise of a warrant will be equal to the
sum of (i) the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the warrant, plus (ii) the exercise price paid by the U.S. Holder on the exercise
of the warrant. A U.S. Holder’s holding period for the Warrant Share received on the exercise of a warrant will begin on
the day after the warrant is exercised.
Disposition of Warrants
Subject to the PFIC
rules, upon the sale or other taxable disposition of a warrant, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in
an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received and such U.S.
Holder’s tax basis in the warrant sold or otherwise disposed of. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain
or loss if, at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the warrant is more
than one year. Preferential tax rates apply to long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders. There are currently no preferential
tax rates for long-term capital gains of a U.S. Holder that is taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Deductions for capital losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code.
Expiration of Warrants Without Exercise
Subject to the PFIC
rules, upon the lapse or expiration of a warrant, a U.S. Holder will recognize a loss in an amount equal to such U.S. Holder’s
tax basis in the warrant. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss and will be a long-term capital loss if, at the time
of the lapse or expiration, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the warrant is more than one year. Deductions for capital
losses are subject to significant limitations under the Code.
Adjustments to the Warrants
The warrant provides
for an adjustment to the number of Warrant Shares for which a warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of a warrant upon
certain events. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, an adjustment that has the effect of preventing dilution of the interest
of the warrant holders generally will not be taxable to a U.S. Holder. However, an adjustment may be treated as a constructive
distribution to a U.S. Holder if and to the extent that such adjustment has the effect of increasing such U.S. Holder’s
proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits. Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, any such constructive
distribution would be taxable under the rules described above under the heading “Taxation of Dividends and Other Distributions
on our Ordinary Shares.”
Passive Foreign Investment Company
(“PFIC”)
A non-U.S. corporation
is considered a PFIC, as defined in Section 1297(a) of the US Internal Revenue Code, for any taxable year if either:
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at least 75% of its gross income for such
taxable year is passive income; or
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at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average
of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production
of passive income (the “asset test”).
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Passive income generally
includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or
business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets. Assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income
generally include cash, even if held as working capital or raised in a public offering, marketable securities, and other assets
that may produce passive income. We will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the assets and earning our proportionate
share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly at least a 25% interest (by value).
Based on our operations
and the composition of our assets, we do not expect to be treated as a PFIC under the current PFIC rules. However, we must make
a separate determination each year as to whether we are a PFIC, and there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a
PFIC for our current taxable year or any future taxable year. Depending on the amount of assets held for the production of passive
income, it is possible that, for our current taxable year or for any subsequent taxable year, more than 50% of our assets may
be assets held for the production of passive income. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year.
If we are a PFIC for any year during which you hold ordinary shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding
years during which you hold ordinary shares. However, if we cease to be a PFIC and you did not previously make a timely “mark-to-market”
election as described below, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime by making a “purging election”
(as described below) with respect to the ordinary shares.
If we are a PFIC for
your taxable year(s) during which you hold ordinary shares, you will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess
distribution” that you receive and any gain you realize from a sale or other disposition (including a pledge) of the ordinary
shares, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election as discussed below. Distributions you receive in a taxable year
that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable
years or your holding period for the ordinary shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these special tax rules:
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the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over
your holding period for the ordinary shares;
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the amount allocated to your current taxable year, and any amount
allocated to any of your taxable year(s) prior to the first taxable year in which we were a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary
income, and
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the amount allocated to each of your other taxable year(s) will
be subject to the highest tax rate in effect for that year and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of
tax will be imposed on the resulting tax attributable to each such year.
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The tax liability
for amounts allocated to years prior to the year of disposition or “excess distribution” cannot be offset by any net
operating losses for such years, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the ordinary shares cannot be treated as capital,
even if you hold the ordinary shares as capital assets.
A U.S. Holder of “marketable
stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election, under Section 1296 of the US Internal Revenue Code,
for such stock to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. If you make a mark-to-market election for first taxable year
which you hold (or are deemed to hold) Ordinary Shares and for which we are determined to be a PFIC, you will include in your
income each year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ordinary shares as of the close of such
taxable year over your adjusted basis in such ordinary shares, which excess will be treated as ordinary income and not capital
gain. You are allowed an ordinary loss for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ordinary shares over their fair market
value as of the close of the taxable year. However, such ordinary loss is allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market
gains on the ordinary shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market
election, as well as gain on the actual sale or other disposition of the ordinary shares, are treated as ordinary income. Ordinary
loss treatment also applies to any loss realized on the actual sale or disposition of the ordinary shares, to the extent that
the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such ordinary shares. Your basis
in the ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make a valid mark-to-market election,
the tax rules that apply to distributions by corporations which are not PFICs would apply to distributions by us, except that
the lower applicable capital gains rate for qualified dividend income discussed above under “—Taxation of Dividends
and Other Distributions on our Ordinary Shares” generally would not apply.
The mark-to-market
election is available only for “marketable stock”, which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities
on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market (as
defined in applicable U.S. Treasury regulations), including The Nasdaq Capital Market. If the ordinary shares are regularly traded
on the Nasdaq Capital Market and if you are a holder of ordinary shares, the mark-to-market election would be available to you
were we to be or become a PFIC.
Alternatively, a U.S.
Holder of stock in a PFIC may make a “qualified electing fund” election, under Section 1295(b) of the US Internal
Revenue Code, with respect to such PFIC to elect out of the tax treatment discussed above. A U.S. Holder who makes a valid qualified
electing fund election with respect to a PFIC will generally include in gross income for a taxable year such holder’s pro
rata share of the corporation’s earnings and profits for the taxable year. However, the qualified electing fund election
is available only if such PFIC provides such U.S. Holder with certain information regarding its earnings and profits as required
under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. We do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable
you to make a qualified electing fund election. If you hold Ordinary Shares in any taxable year in which we are a PFIC, you will
be required to file U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 8621 in each such year and provide certain annual information regarding
such ordinary shares, including regarding distributions received on the ordinary shares and any gain realized on the disposition
of the ordinary shares.
If you do not make
a timely “mark-to-market” election (as described above), and if we were a PFIC at any time during the period you hold
our ordinary shares, then such ordinary shares will continue to be treated as stock of a PFIC with respect to you even if we cease
to be a PFIC in a future year, unless you make a “purging election” for the year we cease to be a PFIC. A “purging
election” creates a deemed sale of such ordinary shares at their fair market value on the last day of the last year in which
we are treated as a PFIC. The gain recognized by the purging election will be subject to the special tax and interest charge rules
treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, you will have a new basis
(equal to the fair market value of the ordinary shares on the last day of the last year in which we are treated as a PFIC) and
holding period (which new holding period will begin the day after such last day) in your ordinary shares for tax purposes.
You are urged to consult
your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in our Ordinary Shares and the elections
discussed above.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Dividend payments
with respect to our ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange, or redemption of our ordinary shares may be subject
to information reporting to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and possible U.S. backup withholding, under Section 3406 of the
US Internal Revenue Code with, at a current flat rate of 24%. Backup withholding will not apply, however, to a U.S. Holder who
furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service
Form W-9 or who is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status generally
must provide such certification on U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors
regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Backup withholding
is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability,
and you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by filing the appropriate claim
for refund with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and furnishing any required information. We do not intend to withhold taxes
for individual shareholders. However, transactions effected through certain brokers or other intermediaries may be subject to
withholding taxes (including backup withholding), and such brokers or intermediaries may be required by law to withhold such taxes.
Under the Hiring Incentives
to Restore Employment Act of 2010, certain U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to our ordinary shares, subject
to certain exceptions (including an exception for ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions),
by attaching a complete Internal Revenue Service Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, with their tax return
for each year in which they hold ordinary shares.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display
We have previously
filed with the SEC our registration statements on Form F-1 (File Number 333-226423), Form S-8 (File Number 333-237788) and Form F-3
(File Number 333-248554).
We are subject to
the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we are required to file
reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually a Form 20-F within four months
after the end of each fiscal year. Copies of reports and other information, when so filed, may be inspected without charge and
may be obtained at prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 100 F Street,
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information regarding the Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling
the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information
statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. As a
foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing, among other things, the furnishing
and content of proxy statements to shareholders, 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.
I. Subsidiary Information
For a listing of our
subsidiaries, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”