ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

NOTE 1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS

Organization and Business

Remark Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“Remark”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), and the variable-interest entities (“VIEs”) that Remark consolidates, constitute a diversified global technology business with leading artificial intelligence (“AI”) and data-analytics, as well as a portfolio of digital media properties. The common stock of Remark Holdings, Inc. is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol MARK.

We and the VIEs primarily sell AI-based products and services. We recognize revenue from sales in the U.S., while the VIEs generate substantially all of their revenue from China.

Corporate Structure

We are a holding company incorporated in Delaware and not a Chinese operating company. As a holding company, we conduct a significant part of our operations through our subsidiaries and through contractual arrangements with the VIEs based in China. We use the VIE structure to address challenges resulting from laws, policies and practices that may disfavor foreign-owned entities that operate within industries deemed sensitive by the Chinese government. We own 100% of the equity of a WFOE, which has entered into contractual arrangements with the VIEs, which are owned by members of our management team in China and/or by third parties.

We fund the registered capital and operating expenses of the VIEs on behalf of the shareholders of the VIEs by making advances to the VIEs. We believe that we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs because the contractual arrangements governing the relationship between the VIEs and our WFOE, which include an exclusive call option agreement, exclusive business cooperation agreement, a proxy agreement and an equity pledge agreement, enable us to (i) exercise effective control over the VIEs, (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of the VIEs, and (iii) have an exclusive call option to purchase, at any time, all or part of the equity interests in and/or assets of the VIEs to the extent permitted by Chinese laws. Because these contractual arrangements with the VIEs provide us with the power to direct the activities of the VIEs, for accounting purposes we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and we have consolidated the financial results of the VIEs in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The agreements governing the VIE contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court of law. However, an article published in China Business Law Journal indicated that a China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”) Shanghai tribunal ruled in 2010 and 2011 in two related cases involving the contractual arrangement of an online game operating company that the contractual arrangement was void on the grounds that such arrangement violated the mandatory administrative regulations prohibiting foreign investors from investing in the online game operation business and constituted “concealing illegal intentions with a lawful form.” According to publicly available information, while the agreements entered into by the parties in the aforementioned CIETAC cases are typical VIE agreements, the PRC domestic company involved in such cases was mainly engaged in online game operation. Although the PRC foreign investment regime restricts or prohibits foreign investment in certain industries, online game operation is one of few industries where there are rules specifically prohibiting foreign investors from controlling and participating in the business indirectly through contractual or technical support arrangements. Though the agreements in the CIETAC cases are similar to our contractual arrangements with the VIEs, we and the VIEs do not operate in the online game operation industry and, to our knowledge, the business conducted by the VIEs is not prohibited from investment from foreign investors in China. We also note that the rulings in the CIETAC cases are not binding on Chinese courts or other arbitration tribunals.

The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our significant subsidiaries, and the relationship between our WFOE and the VIEs as of the date of this Form 10-K. The diagram omits certain entities which are immaterial to our results of operations and financial condition. Equity interests depicted in this diagram are 100% owned. The relationships between each of Chengdu Remark Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou Shufeng Technology Co., Ltd., Remark Data Technology Co., Ltd. and Bonet (Beijing) Technology LLC, which constitute the VIEs, on the one hand, and KanKan Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., our WFOE, on the other hand, as illustrated in the following diagram are governed by contractual arrangements and do not constitute equity ownership.

Because we do not directly hold equity interests in the VIEs, we are subject to risks and uncertainties of the interpretations and applications of Chinese laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements among the WFOE, the VIEs and the shareholders of the VIEs. We are also subject to the risks and uncertainties about any future actions of the Chinese government in this regard that could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and may cause the value of our common stock to depreciate significantly or become worthless.

The contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control and we face contractual exposure in such arrangements. For instance, the VIEs and their shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. The shareholders of the VIEs may not act in the best interests of our Company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the contractual arrangements with the VIEs. In the event that the VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. In addition, even if legal actions are taken to enforce such arrangements, there is uncertainty as to whether Chinese courts would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.

Risks of Doing Business in China

We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with having a significant portion of our operations in China. Chinese laws and regulations governing our current business operations, including the enforcement of such laws and regulations, are sometimes vague and uncertain and can change quickly with little advance notice. The Chinese government may intervene or influence our operations and the operations of the VIEs at any time and may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our securities. In addition, any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significant limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. Recently, the Chinese government adopted a series of regulatory actions and issued statements to regulate business operations in China, including those related to the use of variable interest entities, data security and anti-monopoly concerns. As of the date of this Form 10-K, neither we nor the VIEs have been involved in any investigations on cybersecurity review initiated by any Chinese regulatory authority, nor has any of them received any inquiry, notice or sanction. As of the date of this Form 10-K, no relevant laws or regulations in China explicitly require us to seek approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”) for any securities listing. As of the date of this Form 10-K, neither we nor the VIEs have received any inquiry, notice, warning or sanctions regarding our planned overseas listing from the CSRC or any other Chinese governmental authorities relating to securities listings. However, since these statements and regulatory actions are newly published, official guidance and related implementation rules have not been issued. It is highly uncertain what potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our ability to conduct our business, accept investments or list or maintain a listing on a U.S. or foreign exchange.

As of the date of this Form 10-K, we and the VIEs are not required to seek permissions from the CSRC, the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), or any other entity that is required to approve of the operations of the VIEs. Nevertheless, Chinese regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations or implement rules that require us, our subsidiaries or the VIEs to obtain permissions from such regulatory authorities to approve the operations of the VIEs or any securities listing.

Transfer of Cash or Assets

Dividend Distributions

As of the date of this Form 10-K, none of our subsidiaries or any of the consolidated VIEs have made any dividends or distributions to us.

We have never declared or paid dividends or distributions on our common equity. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future consolidated earnings to fund our operations and continue the development and growth of our business; therefore, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends.

Under Delaware law, a Delaware corporation’s ability to pay cash dividends on its capital stock requires the corporation to have either net profits or positive net assets (total assets less total liabilities) over its capital. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our common stock in the future, as a holding company, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our WFOE for cash requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash contributions to our stockholders.

Our WFOE’s ability to distribute dividends is based upon its distributable earnings. Current Chinese regulations permit our WFOE to pay dividends to their shareholders only out of its registered capital amount, if any, as determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations, and then only after meeting the statutory reserve equal to 50% of registered capital. If our WFOE incurs debt in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our WFOE to distribute dividends or other payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business. In addition, any cash dividends or distributions of assets by our WFOE to its stockholder are subject to a Chinese withholding tax of as much as 10%.

The Chinese government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of China. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. If we are unable to receive all of the revenues from our operations through the current VIE contractual arrangements, we may be unable to pay dividends on our common stock.

For us to pay dividends to our stockholders, we will rely on payments made from the VIEs to our WFOE in accordance with the VIE contractual arrangements, and the distribution of payments from the WFOE to the Delaware holding company as dividends. Certain payments from the VIEs to the WFOE pursuant to the VIE contractual arrangements are subject to Chinese taxes, including a 6% VAT and 25% enterprise income tax.

Our Company’s Ability to Settle Amounts Owed under the VIE Contractual Arrangements

Under the VIE contractual arrangements, the VIEs are obligated to make payments to our WFOE, in cash or in kind, at the WFOE’s request. We will be able to settle amounts owed under the VIE contractual arrangements through dividends paid by our WFOE to our Company. Such ability may be restricted or limited as follows:

First, any payments from the VIEs to our WFOE are subject to Chinese taxes, including a 6% VAT and 25% enterprise income tax.

Second, current Chinese regulations permit our WFOE to pay dividends to their shareholders only out of its registered capital amount, if any, as determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations, and then only after meeting the statutory reserve equal to 50% of registered capital. In addition, if our WFOE incurs debt in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other payments to the Delaware holding company.

Third, the Chinese government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of China. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from profits, if any.

COVID-19

Our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021 were impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused a broad shift towards remote working arrangements for many businesses worldwide and injected uncertainty and delay into decision-making processes for such businesses. Varying degrees of preventative measures are still in place in China and some other parts of the world, including travel restrictions, closures of non-essential businesses and other quarantine measures. The preventative measures have limited the operational capabilities of the VIEs, which could have a material adverse impact on our business and which have created significant uncertainties, such as the potential adverse effect of the pandemic on the economy, our vendors, our employees and customers and customer sentiment in general.

The extent of the impact of the pandemic on our business and financial results will depend largely on future developments, including the duration and severity of the pandemic, the duration of any remaining preventative measures implemented by domestic and foreign governments, the impact on capital and financial markets and the related impact on the financial circumstances of our customers, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. The pandemic-related situation

continues to change rapidly, and additional impacts of which we are not currently aware may arise. We are closely monitoring worldwide developments and are continually assessing the potential impact on our business.

Going Concern

During the year ended December 31, 2021, and in each fiscal year since our inception, we have incurred operating losses which have resulted in an accumulated deficit of $333.0 million within stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2021. Additionally, our operations have historically used more cash than they have provided. Net cash used in operating activities was $20.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, our cash balance was $14.2 million.

Our history of recurring operating losses, working capital deficiencies and negative cash flows from operating activities give rise to, and management has concluded that there is, substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern. Our independent registered public accounting firm, in its report on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021, has also expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

We intend to fund our future operations and meet our financial obligations through revenue growth from our AI offerings, as well as through sales of our thermal-imaging products. We cannot, however, provide assurance that revenue, income and cash flows generated from our businesses will be sufficient to sustain our operations in the twelve months following the filing of this Form 10-K. As a result, we are actively evaluating strategic alternatives including debt and equity financings and potential sales of investment assets or operating businesses.

Conditions in the debt and equity markets, as well as the volatility of investor sentiment regarding macroeconomic and microeconomic conditions (in particular, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic global supply chain disruptions, inflation and other cost increases, and the geopolitical conflict in Ukraine), will play primary roles in determining whether we can successfully obtain additional capital. We cannot be certain that we will be successful at raising additional capital.

A variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, affect our cash flow; those factors include the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory issues, competition, financial markets and other general business conditions. Based on financial projections, we believe that we will be able to meet our ongoing requirements for at least the next 12 months with existing cash, cash equivalents and cash resources, and based on the probable success of one or more of the following plans:

•develop and grow new product line(s)

•monetize existing assets

•obtain additional capital through debt and/or equity issuances.

However, projections are inherently uncertain and the success of our plans is largely outside of our control. As a result, there is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern, and we may fully utilize our cash resources prior to March 31, 2023.