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Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

NOTE 20 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Litigation — From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. The Company currently is not aware of any legal proceedings or claims that it believes will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its business, financial condition, operating results, or cash flows.

 

As of September 30, 2024, the Company involved with various legal proceedings:

 

Action Case: HCA702/2018 On March 27, 2018, the writ of summons was issued against the Company and seven related companies of the former stockholder by the Plaintiff. This action alleged the infringement of certain registered trademarks currently registered under the Plaintiff. On February 23, 2023, the Court granted leave for this action be set down for trial of 13 days, and the trial will commence on November 25, 2024. Legal counsel of the Company will continue to handle in this matter. At this stage in the proceedings, it is unable to determine the probability of the outcome of the matter or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any.

 

Action Case: HCA765/2019 On April 30, 2019, the writ of summons was issued against the Company’s subsidiary, three related companies and the former directors, stockholders and financial consultant by the Plaintiff. This action alleged the deceit and misrepresentation from an inducement of the fund subscription and claimed for compensatory damage of approximately $2 million. On April 18, 2024, the court made an order that the plaintiff shall set the case down for trial on or before July 6, 2024 for a 7 days trial before a judge and there shall be a pre-trial review before the trial judge on a date 12 weeks before the trial. The plaintiff and the defendants agreed on a time extension until August 8, 2024 to set the case down for trial. On August 9, 2024, the Court made an order that the case be adjourned to January 14, 2025 for another case management conference. The case is on-going and parties have yet to attempt mediation. Legal counsel of the Company will continue to handle this matter. At this stage in the proceedings, it is unable to determine the probability of the outcome of the matter or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any.

 

Action Case: HCA2097 and 2098/2020 On December 15, 2020, the writs of summons were issued against the Company and the former consultant by the Plaintiff. This action alleged misrepresentation and conspiracy causing the loss from the investment in corporate bond and claimed for compensatory damage of approximately $1.67 million. The Company previously made $0.84 million as contingency loss for the year ended December 31, 2021. Parties participated in a mediation held on March 25, 2022 and negotiated for settlement through without prejudice correspondence, no settlement was reached. The case is on-going and legal counsel of the Company will continue to handle this matter. At this stage in the proceedings, it is unable to determine the probability of the outcome of the matter or the range of reasonably possible loss, if any.

 

The Company makes a provision for a liability relating to legal matters when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least each fiscal quarter and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, estimate settlements, legal rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. Legal fees are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

 

Sale and Purchase Agreement — Pursuant to the agreement dated April 5, 2023, entered with Sony Life Singapore Pte. Ltd. (“SLS”), an independent third party, the Company is committed to purchase 100% equity interest in Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte. Ltd. for a cash consideration of SGD2,500,000 (equivalent to $1,882,000). On December 28, 2023, the Company and SLS entered into a second supplementary agreement to extend the closing date of the transaction from December 31, 2023 to March 31, 2024. On March 29, 2024, the Company and SLS entered into a third supplementary agreement to extend the closing date of the transaction from March 31, 2024 to May 9, 2024. Pursuant to the third supplementary agreement, the Company paid SGD250,000 (equivalent to $188,200) to SLS as the partial payment to cash consideration on April 12, 2024. On May 9, 2024, the Company and SLS entered into a fourth supplementary agreement to extend the closing date of the transaction from May 9, 2024 to May 20, 2024. On June 18, 2024, the Company and SLS entered into a fifth supplementary agreement to extend the closing date of the transaction from May 20, 2024 to July 31, 2024. Pursuant to the fifth supplementary agreement, the Company paid an aggregate of SGD150,000 (equivalent to $112,920) as the extension fee and indemnification fee in July 2024. On September 25, 2024, the Company and SLS entered into a sixth supplementary agreement to extend the closing date of the transaction from July 31, 2024 to October 31, 2024. Up to the date of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements available to be issued, further extension on the closing date of the transaction is under negotiation between SLS and the Company.

 

Nasdaq Compliance — On March 20, 2024, Nasdaq granted an additional 180 calendar days period or until September 16, 2024, to the Company to regain the compliance. On May 3, 2024, the closing bid price of the common stocks of the Company has been over $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive trading days. Accordingly, Nasdaq confirmed that the Company regained compliance with Rule 5550(a)(2) and that this matter is now closed.