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TABLE OF CONTENT
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As confidentially submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2019
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
Cayman Islands (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
7370 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
55F, Ping An Financial Center
No 5033 Yitian Road, Futian District
Shenzhen, Guangdong
People's Republic of China
+86-21-2066-0625
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
[Cogency Global Inc.
10 East 40th Street, 10th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10016
+1 (800) 221-0102]
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to: | ||
Shuang Zhao, Esq. Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP c/o 37th Floor, Hysan Place 500 Hennessy Road Causeway Bay, Hong Kong +852 2521-4122 |
Chris K.H. Lin, Esq. Daniel Fertig, Esq. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP 35th Floor, ICBC Tower 3 Garden Road Central, Hong Kong +852-2514-7600 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
as soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging growth company ý
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. o
† The term "new or revised financial accounting standard" refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(2)(3) |
Amount of registration fee |
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Ordinary shares, par value US$0.00001 per share(1) |
US$ | US$ | ||
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)
Issued ,
2019
American Depositary Shares
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Representing Ordinary Shares
This is an initial public offering of American depositary shares, or ADSs, representing ordinary shares of OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd.
We are offering ADSs. [The selling shareholders identified in this prospectus are offering ADSs. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the selling shareholders.] Each ADS represents ordinary shares, par value US$0.00001 per share. We anticipate the initial public offering price per ADS will be between US$ and US$ .
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the ADSs or our shares. We will apply to list the ADSs on the [NYSE/NASDAQ Global Market], under the symbol " ."
We are an "emerging growth company" under applicable United States federal securities laws and are eligible for reduced public company reporting requirements.
See "Risk Factors" on page 16 to read about factors you should consider before buying the ADSs.
PRICE US$ PER ADS
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Price to Public |
Underwriting Discounts and Commissions(1) |
Proceeds to Us |
[Proceeds to Selling Shareholders] |
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Per ADS |
US$ | US$ | US$ | US$ | ||||
Total |
US$ | US$ | US$ | US$ |
To the extent that the underwriters sell more than ADSs in this offering, the underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase up to an aggregate of additional ADSs from us [and the selling shareholders] at the initial public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission and state regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment in New York, New York on , 2019.
Morgan Stanley | Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. | J.P. Morgan | Ping An of China Securities | |||
(Hong Kong) Company Limited |
BofA Merrill Lynch | HSBC | UBS Investment Bank |
CLSA | KeyBanc Capital Markets | Stifel |
Prospectus dated , 2019.
[Page intentionally left blank for graphics]
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the ADSs offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.
Neither we nor the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the ADSs and the distribution of this prospectus or any filed free writing prospectus outside of the United States.
Until , 2019 (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers that buy, sell or trade ADSs, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as the underwriter and with respect to its unsold allotments or subscriptions.
i
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to this summary, we urge you to read the entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our ADSs discussed under "Risk Factors," before deciding whether to invest in our ADSs. This prospectus contains information from an industry report commissioned by us and prepared by Oliver Wyman, an independent management consulting firm, to provide information regarding the China technology service market for financial institutions. We refer to this report as the "Oliver Wyman Report."
Overview
We are a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China. Our platform provides cloud-native technology solutions that integrate extensive financial services industry expertise with market-leading technology. Our solutions provide technology applications and technology-enabled business services to financial institutions. Together they enable our customers' digital transformations, which help them increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service quality and reduce costs. As of June 30, 2019, we had over 3,600 customers and the largest number of financial institution customers among technology-as-a-service platforms in China. As of June 30, 2019, our broad customer base includes all of China's major banks, 99% of its city commercial banks, and 44% of its insurance companies, collectively reaching hundreds of millions of end-customers. Since our establishment in December 2015, our platform has supported Chinese financial institutions in generating RMB1.6 trillion (US$0.2 trillion) of transactions for their end-customers. Through our platform, in the first half of 2019, on a daily basis we facilitated approximately 135,000 anti-fraud checks, 4.0 million credit risk assessments, and the processing of approximately 10,800 auto insurance claims.
Massive market. Financial institutions around the world face challenges resulting from advancements in technology, and they will require sweeping digital transformations of their businesses to improve their competitiveness. The only path to a successful transformation will be an integration of industry expertise and advanced technology. Most financial institutions lack the capital, talent and capabilities needed to support this long and expensive transformation, and they therefore will need to rely on external solutions. In China, the need for digital transformation is especially acute because Chinese financial institutions not only need to compete with internet competitors seeking to disrupt their industry, but also cope with structural shifts in their business resulting from China's ongoing economic transformation. China's financial services industry had RMB334.9 trillion (US$48.8 trillion) of total assets as of December 31, 2018 and generated RMB14.1 trillion (US$2.1 trillion) of revenue in 2018. Oliver Wyman estimates that the technology spending market for Chinese financial institutions totaled RMB152.2 billion (US$22.2 billion) in 2018, and this market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 21.4% to RMB400.8 billion (US$58.4 billion) in 2023. Historically, most of this spending has been for on-premise software, IT staff and server costs, but technology-as-a-service spending on flexible solutions that bundle technology, software and services that are charged through revenue-sharing or subscription models is expected to account for an increasing share of Chinese financial institutions' total technology spending. China's technology-as-a-service spending for financial institutions market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.7% from RMB18.8 billion (US$2.7 billion) in 2018 to RMB136.9 billion (US$19.9 billion) in 2023, according to Oliver Wyman.
Strong value proposition. Our technology-as-a-service platform strategically covers multiple verticals in the financial services industry and across the full scope of their operations—from sales and marketing and risk management to customer service. We also provide technology infrastructure solutions critical to financial institution digitalization such as data management, program development, and cloud services. Our cloud-native platform is flexible by design, so we can deploy independent solution modules to quickly
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respond to customer requirements, and we can also combine modules into customized end-to-end solutions. Our proven applications are driven by extensive industry expertise and customer insight data, and they are secure and effective at large scale. We deliver great value to our customers in multiple dimensions: generating new revenue, improving sales productivity, enhancing risk management, improving customer service quality and reducing costs.
Leading technology. We started our operation as the financial technology solution arm of Ping An Group. As of June 30, 2019, Ping An Group was China's second-largest financial institution and the fifth-largest globally by market capitalization. Ping An Group is a global leader in the digital transformation of financial services through the integration of industry experience with advanced technology. Over the past five years, Ping An Group invested over US$15 billion in research and technology development. It employs approximately 101,000 staff in technology-focused businesses. We have leveraged our strong partnership with Ping An Group to establish world-leading technology capabilities for financial services in AI, big data analytics and blockchain. As of June 30, 2019, we had won 19 technology awards in international competitions, and had submitted 2,540 patent applications in China and 530 in other countries or regions. Our first-class technology is a major source of our competitive advantage, and it serves as a solid foundation for our continuous application innovation and product commercialization.
Innovative business model. Under our "adopt-deepen-integrate" customer-development approach, we provide "hook products" to financial institutions, at low or even no charge, to encourage adoption. We subsequently seek to deepen our relationships with these customers through cross-selling and, ultimately, platform integration. In addition to technology applications, we also provide our financial institution customers with business services to enable them to grow their businesses rapidly and sustainably, while we can capture greater value-upside with our transaction-based revenue model. This combination allows us to achieve visible revenue streams that are fast-growing and highly recurring.
Outstanding growth. Our business has grown rapidly since our establishment in December 2015. Our revenue increased by 142.9% from RMB581.9 million (US$84.8 million) in 2017 to RMB1,413.5 million (US$205.9 million) in 2018, and we recorded revenue of RMB970.2 million (US$141.3 million) in the six months ended June 30, 2019. Our total number of customers grew from over 1,600 at the end of 2016 to approximately 3,500 at the end of 2018. On average, each of our premium customers purchased 3.0 products in 2018, growing from 1.7 in 2016. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 customers was 224% and for 2017 premium customers was 167%. Our net loss was RMB607.0 million, RMB1,190.3 million (US$173.4 million) and RMB757.9 million (US$110.4 million) in 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Our net loss as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 104.3% in 2017 to 84.2% in 2018 and further to 78.1% in the six months ended June 30, 2019.
Industry Background and Market Opportunity
China's financial services industry is massive and growing, but it faces challenges
China's financial services industry is massive and growing. The country's financial services industry had, in aggregate, 62,000 financial institutions and US$49.9 trillion of total assets as of December 31, 2018, and it generated US$2.1 trillion of revenue in 2018; these compare to US$98.2 trillion of total assets and US$3.0 trillion of revenue for the financial services industry in the United States. Driven by China's robust GDP growth, its financial services industry will grow at a steady CAGR of 12.0% from 2018 to 2023, according to Oliver Wyman. At the same time, China's financial services industry is experiencing challenges:
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To address challenges and capture new opportunities, Chinese financial institutions must undertake digital transformations to adopt new business models that include:
Most financial institutions cannot support digital transformation on their own
To resolve their pain points, China's financial institutions must undertake transformations to structurally enhance their competitiveness. The only effective way to achieve these transformations will be applying technology integrated with industry expertise. It would be a long and expensive process for China's financial institutions to do this on their own, especially because:
There are massive market opportunities for technology-as-a-service providers
We believe that external technology platforms provide a proven means for financial institutions to upgrade their revenue-generating and operating capabilities. Platforms that integrate extensive industry knowledge and technology excellence are scarce, which well positions us to capture this fast-growing, underpenetrated market.
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The total market opportunity for the technology spending of financial institutions includes both their conventional IT spending and technology-as-a-service spending. Historically, financial institutions' technology spending has mainly been for on-premise software, IT staff and server costs. But as financial institutions adopt advanced cloud-based technology solutions, technology-as-a-service spending on flexible solutions that bundle technology, software and services that are charged through revenue-sharing or subscription models is expected to account for an increasing share of their total technology spending. Oliver Wyman estimates that the technology spending market for Chinese financial institutions was RMB152.2 billion (US$22.2 billion) in 2018 and that it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% to RMB400.8 billion (US$58.4 billion) in 2023. Within this total spending, technology-as-a-service spending is expected to increase at a higher CAGR of 48.7%, from RMB18.8 billion (US$2.7 billion) in 2018 to RMB136.9 billion (US$19.9 billion) in 2023.
Our Platform and Products
We provide holistic coverage of financial services verticals with end-to-end technology solutions
We are the largest technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China by number of customers, according to Oliver Wyman. Our platform provides more than 50 cloud-native products that can be deployed on a modular basis to quickly respond to customer requirements or combined to deliver end-to-end solutions. Our 12 technology solutions strategically cover multiple verticals in the financial services industry, including banking, insurance and asset management, across the full scope of their businesses—from sales and marketing and risk management to customer services and operations, as well as technology infrastructure such as data management, program development, and cloud services.
The matrix below sets forth the 12 solutions we currently offer across the financial services industry verticals we serve and four solutions that we expect to offer in the near future.
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Our products are proven at large scale to create enormous value for our financial institution customers
Our innovative solutions are based on extensive industry expertise, driven by customer insight and tested in large-scale real world applications. We deliver enormous value to our financial institution customers in their digital transformations:
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We have successfully expanded overseas and are recognized by overseas financial institutions and regulators.
We began expanding our business outside China in 2018, establishing subsidiaries in Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and Indonesia. We won the bid to develop the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's eTradeConnect platform, a large-scale interbank blockchain trade finance platform, which serves 12 major banks. As of June 30, 2019, we had provided service to more than 10 financial institutions outside China, including three out of the top ten banks in Thailand, leading banks in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as some of the largest non-bank financial institutions in Southeast Asia. We also established a joint venture with SBI Group to serve Japanese financial institutions.
Our Business Model
We believe that partnering with our financial institution customers is important in driving our success.
Our Adopt-Deepen-Integrate customer-development approach
Transaction-based revenue model
We adopted a transaction-based revenue model, where we require small upfront implementation fees and primarily charge our financial institution customers based on the transaction volume generated on our platform or their other usage of it. We believe this model allows financial institutions to quickly begin using our platform. As customers use our platform, our transaction-based pricing allows us to participate in their success, rather than being limited to fixed subscription income. We monetize a variety of transaction types, including loans generated, claims processed, databases queried and API calls made. In 2018, 77% of our revenue was transaction based.
Technology + Business service model
We provide financial institutions with tailor-made business services, including customer referrals, technology-enabled product design, marketing assistance, service recommendations, and transaction facilitation. These value-added services, delivered through our highly automated platform and based on our extensive industry expertise, help financial institutions grow sustainably. Correspondingly, part of our costs are also associated with generating the transaction volumes we facilitate for our financial institution
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customers. Since our establishment in December 2015, our platform has supported our financial institution customers in generating RMB1.6 trillion (US$0.2 trillion) of transactions for their end-customers.
Our Relationship with Ping An Group
We began in December 2015 as the financial technology solution arm of Ping An Group. Established over 30 years ago, Ping An Group holds a full suite of financial services licenses and its operations span the insurance, banking, securities, trust, investment, leasing, healthcare and technology industries. Ping An Group is committed to developing next-generation technology and stands at the forefront of digital transformation. We enjoy a strong partnership with Ping An Group; it is a partner for technology development, a supplier of application scenarios for developing our products, and a flagship customer showcasing our capabilities. We have partnered with Ping An Group to jointly develop new technology and applications, and Ping An Group provides us support in technology infrastructure such as cloud infrastructure. Ping An Group also provides us with a diverse, reliable source of real life application scenarios to validate and prove our technology. Many of our customer insights and innovative solutions are first initiated and tested within the Ping An Group ecosystem. We and Ping An Group cooperate under a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with a term extending until ten years after completion of our initial public offering, subject to Ping An Group continuing to hold or beneficially own at least 30% of our shares. Ping An Group is also our most important customer and supplier and is our principal shareholder. Our strategic partnership with Ping An Group has contributed to our growth significantly and we expect it to continue to do so.
Our Strengths
We believe that the following strengths contribute to our success:
Our Strategies
Our vision is to become the world's leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions. We are in an early stage of our development, a customer-acquisition stage in which we rapidly expand our customer base. We intend to further grow our business by pursuing the following five strategies:
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Our Challenges
Our ability to execute our strategies and realize our vision is subject to risks and uncertainties, including:
Please see "Risk Factors" and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that we face.
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Corporate Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our principal subsidiaries, our variable interest entities, or VIEs, and our VIEs' principal subsidiaries as of the date of this prospectus:
Implication of Being an Emerging Growth Company
As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenue for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an "emerging growth company" pursuant to the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, as amended, or
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the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements compared to those that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company's internal control over financial reporting.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (a) the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of at least US$1.07 billion; (b) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; (c) the date on which we have, during the preceding three-year period, issued more than US$1.0 billion in non-convertible debt; or (d) the date on which we are deemed to be a "large accelerated filer" under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our ADSs that are held by non-affiliates exceeds US$700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter. Once we cease to be an emerging growth company, we will not be entitled to the exemptions provided in the JOBS Act discussed above.
Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 55F, Ping An Financial Center, No 5033 Yitian Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86-21-2066-0625. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
Our agent for service of process in the United States is [Cogency Global Inc.], located at [10 East 40th Street, 10th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016].
Investors should submit any inquiries to the address and telephone number of our principal executive offices. Our main website is http://www.oneconnectft.com/en/. The information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus.
Conventions that Apply to this Prospectus
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, and for purposes of this prospectus only:
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All of our customer numbers in this prospectus are exclusive of Ping An Group and its subsidiaries. Unless the context indicates otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.
Our reporting currency is the Renminbi. This prospectus also contains translations of certain foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise stated, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars were made at a rate of RMB6.8650 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on June 28, 2019. We make no representation that any Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts referred to in this prospectus could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all. On September 20, 2019, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board was RMB7.0909 to US$1.00.
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Offering price |
We currently estimate that the initial public offering price will be between US$ and US$ per ADS. | |
ADSs offered by us |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). |
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[ADSs offered by the selling shareholders |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). |
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ADSs outstanding immediately after this offering |
ADSs (or ADSs if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) |
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Ordinary shares issued and outstanding immediately after this offering |
ordinary shares (or ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) |
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The ADSs |
Each ADS represents ordinary shares, par value US$0.00001 per share. |
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The depositary will hold ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. You will have rights as provided in the deposit agreement among us, the depositary and holders and beneficial owners of ADSs from time to time. |
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We do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. If, however, we declare dividends on our ordinary shares, the depositary will pay you the cash dividends and other distributions it receives on our ordinary shares after deducting its fees and expenses in accordance with the terms set forth in the deposit agreement. |
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You may surrender your ADSs to the depositary in exchange for ordinary shares. The depositary will charge you fees for any such exchange. |
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We may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended. |
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To better understand the terms of the ADSs, you should carefully read the "Description of American Depositary Shares" section of this prospectus. You should also read the deposit agreement, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. |
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Over-allotment option |
We [and the selling shareholders] have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable within 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an additional ADSs. |
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Use of proceeds |
We expect that we will receive net proceeds of approximately US$ million from this offering, or approximately US$ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, assuming an initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, which is the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
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We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering primarily for enhancement of our platform and technology capabilities, international expansion and strategic investments, sales and marketing activities, and general corporate purposes. See "Use of Proceeds" for more information. |
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[We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the selling shareholders.] |
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Underwriting |
We expect to enter into an underwriting agreement with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited ("Ping An Securities"), BofA Securities, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and UBS Securities LLC with respect to the ADSs being offered. Ping An Securities is a subsidiary of Ping An Group. Bo Yu Limited, one of our principal shareholders, is ultimately controlled by Ping An Group. See "Underwriting" for more information. |
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Lock-up |
We, our directors and executive officers, our current shareholders [and certain of our option holders] have agreed with the underwriters not to sell, transfer or dispose of any ADSs, ordinary shares or similar securities for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriting." |
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[Directed ADS Program |
At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to an aggregate of ADSs offered in this offering to some of our directors, officers, employees, business associates and related persons through a directed ADS program.] |
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Listing |
We intend to apply to have the ADSs listed on the [NYSE/Nasdaq Global Market] under the symbol " ." Our ADSs and shares will not be listed on any other stock exchange or traded on any automated quotation system. |
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Payment and settlement |
The underwriters expect to deliver the ADSs against payment therefor through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company on , 2019. |
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Depositary |
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Summary Consolidated Financial Data
The following summary consolidated statements of comprehensive income data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, summary consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and summary consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following summary consolidated statements of comprehensive income data for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, summary consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2019 and summary consolidated statements of cash flow data for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Year ended December 31, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||
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2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
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RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
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(in thousands, except for per-share data) |
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Summary Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Data |
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Revenue |
581,912 | 1,413,489 | 205,898 | 540,498 | 970,184 | 141,323 | |||||||||||||
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below |
(284,715 | ) | (797,858 | ) | (116,221 | ) | (297,723 | ) | (501,381 | ) | (73,034 | ) | |||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(230,906 | ) | (260,088 | ) | (37,886 | ) | (116,728 | ) | (202,105 | ) | (29,440 | ) | |||||||
Research and development expenses |
(504,144 | ) | (426,099 | ) | (62,068 | ) | (111,037 | ) | (409,332 | ) | (59,626 | ) | |||||||
Selling and marketing expenses |
(208,035 | ) | (441,932 | ) | (64,375 | ) | (137,250 | ) | (269,338 | ) | (39,234 | ) | |||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(270,275 | ) | (522,019 | ) | (76,041 | ) | (154,623 | ) | (325,412 | ) | (47,402 | ) | |||||||
Other income, gains or loss-net |
25,860 | (79,860 | ) | (11,633 | ) | (31,045 | ) | (77,089 | ) | (11,229 | ) | ||||||||
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Operating loss |
(890,303 | ) | (1,114,367 | ) | (162,326 | ) | (307,908 | ) | (814,473 | ) | (118,641 | ) | |||||||
Finance income |
2,128 |
129,435 |
18,854 |
48,947 |
62,231 |
9,065 |
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Finance costs |
(85,711 | ) | (163,442 | ) | (23,808 | ) | (62,506 | ) | (90,894 | ) | (13,240 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance costs-net |
(83,583 | ) | (34,007 | ) | (4,954 | ) | (13,559 | ) | (28,663 | ) | (4,175 | ) | |||||||
Share of net losses of associate |
(2,747 | ) | (15,442 | ) | (2,249 | ) | (7,740 | ) | (5,727 | ) | (834 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax |
(976,633 | ) | (1,163,816 | ) | (173,385 | ) | (329,207 | ) | (848,863 | ) | (123,651 | ) | |||||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
369,677 | (26,469 | ) | (3,856 | ) | (31,052 | ) | 90,978 | 13,252 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year/period |
(606,956 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | (173,385 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (757,885 | ) | (110,398 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss attributable to: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | (174,175 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (754,883 | ) | (109,961 | ) | |||||||
Non-controlling interests |
— | 5,427 | 791 | — | (3,002 | ) | (437 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
(606,956 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | (173,385 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (757,885 | ) | (110,398 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income |
— | 396,520 | 57,760 | 204,607 | (1,970 | ) | (287 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year/period |
(606,956 | ) | (793,765 | ) | (115,625 | ) | (155,652 | ) | (759,855 | ) | (110,685 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss attributable to: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (799,192 | ) | (116,415 | ) | (155,652 | ) | (756,853 | ) | (110,248 | ) | |||||||
Non-controlling interests |
— | 5,427 | 791 | — | (3,002 | ) | (437 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
(606,956 | ) | (793,765 | ) | (115,625 | ) | (155,652 | ) | (759,855 | ) | (110,685 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss per share attributable to owners of the Company |
|||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
(0.90 | ) | (1.29 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.12 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The following table presents our summary consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019:
|
As of December 31, | As of June 30, | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except for shares data) |
|||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Balance Sheets Data |
||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash |
1,100 | 3,996,238 | 582,118 | 3,293,157 | 479,702 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | 1,048,916 | 152,792 | |||||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
863,266 | 2,540,925 | 370,127 | 1,053,784 | 153,501 | |||||||||||
Total current assets |
2,064,954 | 7,858,622 | 1,144,737 | 6,543,910 | 953,228 | |||||||||||
Total non-current assets |
950,586 | 1,523,987 | 221,994 | 1,694,119 | 246,776 | |||||||||||
Total assets |
3,015,540 | 9,382,609 | 1,366,731 | 8,238,029 | 1,200,004 | |||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
2,861,482 | 5,122,390 | 746,160 | 4,553,721 | 663,324 | |||||||||||
Total non-current liabilities |
188,942 | 429,131 | 62,510 | 469,468 | 68,386 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities |
3,050,424 | 5,551,521 | 808,670 | 5,023,189 | 731,710 | |||||||||||
Total share capital |
60 | 66 | 10 | 66 | 10 | |||||||||||
Total equity and liabilities |
3,015,540 | 9,382,609 | 1,366,731 | 8,238,029 | 1,200,004 | |||||||||||
Total shares outstanding |
900,000,000 | 999,999,999 | 999,999,999 | 1,001,748,500 | 1,001,748,500 |
The following table presents our summary consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019:
|
Year ended December 31, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||
Summary Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow Data |
|||||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(228,685 | ) | (489,237 | ) | (71,265 | ) | (350,266 | ) | (1,027,222 | ) | (149,632 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used in) /generated from investing activities |
(126,841 | ) | (5,805,478 | ) | (845,663 | ) | (7,110,045 | ) | 2,026,597 | 295,207 | |||||||||
Net cash generated from /(used in) financing activities |
1,125,135 | 5,999,403 | 873,912 | 7,011,637 | (522,837 | ) | (76,160 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase /(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
769,609 | (295,312 | ) | (43,017 | ) | (448,674 | ) | 476,538 | 69,416 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year/period |
78,158 | 847,767 | 123,491 | 847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | |||||||||||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
— | 12,572 | 1,831 | (10,319 | ) | 7,351 | 1,071 | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year/period |
847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | 388,774 | 1,048,916 | 152,792 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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An investment in our ADSs involves significant risks. You should consider carefully all of the information in this prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties described below, before making an investment in our ADSs. Any of the following risks could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, the trading price of our ADSs could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information contained in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
We have a limited operating history in a competitive and rapidly evolving industry; it may be difficult to evaluate our prospects, and we may not be able to effectively manage our growth.
Founded in December 2015, we have a limited operating history in the technology-as-a-service for financial institutions industry, which is competitive and rapidly evolving. We may have limited insight into trends that may develop and affect our business, and we may make errors in predicting and reacting to industry trends and evolving needs of our customers.
We have experienced rapid growth in recent periods. In 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, our revenue was RMB581.9 million, RMB1,413.5 million (US$205.9 million), and RMB970.2 million (US$141.3 million), respectively. Our revenue growth has primarily been driven by the expansion of our solutions to address financial institutions' growing needs for technology solutions. Our historical results and growth may not be indicative of our future performance, and we may fail to continue our growth or maintain our historical growth rates.
In addition, we may not be able to effectively manage our growth. Our business expansion may increase the complexity of our operations and place a significant strain on our managerial, operational, financial and human resources. Our current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our future operations. If we are not able to manage our growth effectively, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We have incurred operating losses in the past, expect to incur operating losses in the future, and we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability.
We incurred net losses of RMB607.0 million in 2017, RMB1,190.3 million (US$173.4 million) in 2018 and RMB757.9 million (US$110.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019. As of June 30, 2019, we had an accumulated losses of RMB3,097.6 million (US$451.2 million). We are still in an early stage of development. We have incurred and will continue to incur substantial expenses to develop and commercialize our solutions, as well as to promote our business.
We will need to generate increased revenue and control our expenses to become profitable. Rapid growth in our customer base, however, may increase our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of revenue in the short term because we primarily recognize revenue from our customers' use of our solutions through our transaction-based pricing, but we incur a large portion of the costs upfront. In addition, our efforts to grow our business may be more costly than we expect, and we may not be able to increase our revenue enough to offset our operating expenses. Furthermore, after this offering, we may incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We may incur significant losses for a number of reasons, including the other risks described in this prospectus, and unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications and delays and other unknown events. If we are unable to achieve or sustain profitability, the market price of our ADSs may decrease significantly.
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Most of our customers are commercial banks and other financial institutions that are highly regulated, and the tightening of laws, regulations or standards in the financial services industry could harm our business.
Most of our customers are commercial banks and other financial institutions that are highly regulated and must comply with complex and changing government regulations and industry standards, which are subject to significant changes. Regulatory developments, including those in respect of consumer protection, credit availability, risk management and data privacy, could adversely affect our customers or otherwise result in them reducing the volume and frequency of their business transactions.
Our financial institution customers must include restrictive provisions in their contracts with service providers such as us, with respect to security and privacy, ongoing monitoring, risk management and other limitations. These provisions may increase our costs, limit the scope of the solutions we offer or otherwise restrict customer access. In addition, our customers may have less capacity or incentive to purchase solutions from us, may pass on their increased costs to us, or may cease to use certain of our solutions. For example, on December 1, 2017, the PRC government issued the Notice on the Regulation and Rectification of the "Cash Loan" Business, or Circular 141, which prohibits banking financial institutions, including banks, trust companies and consumer finance companies, that cooperate with third-parties in carrying out loan businesses from outsourcing their credit examination, risk control, or other core businesses and accept credit enhancement services provided by any third party without a guarantee license. Circular 141 and the Notice on Specific Rectification Implementation Plans for Risk of Online Microfinance Businesses of Microfinance Companies, or the Circular 56, prohibit third parties that cooperate with banking financial institutions and internet microfinance companies from directly charging interest or fees to borrowers.
In addition, because we primarily use a transaction-based model, any reduction of transactions by our customers may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. For example, on March 28, 2018, the PRC government promulgated the Notice on Strengthening the Renovation of Asset Management Business through the Internet and Launching Acceptance Work, or Circular 29, according to which the public issuance and sale of asset management products through the internet requires an asset management business license or asset management product sales license issued by the central financial management department. Circular 29 also prohibits any entity to publicly raise funds from using direct or indirect means unless that entity has received permission from competent regulatory authorities.
As a result of those laws and regulations, certain of our customers have had to adjust their business practices in ways that reduce their use of our solutions, and these types of changes in response to regulatory development may adversely affect our business, result of operations and financial conditions.
We are subject to evolving regulatory requirements; if we do not comply with these regulations, or fail to adapt to regulatory changes, our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
Many aspects of our business, including the provision of internet information, technology services to banks and insurance companies, insurance loss adjustment services, online publication services relating to financial product information, facilitating consumer lending products for banks and online small loan companies, managing and distributing various asset management products, blockchain information services and electronic certification services are subject to supervision and regulation by various governmental authorities in China or in other jurisdictions where we operate. In addition, as we continue to expand the solutions on our platform, we may be subject to new and more complex regulatory requirements. For example, in May 2019, we were granted a virtual banking license to operate in Hong Kong by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and we are subject to requirements prescribed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and other Hong Kong law and regulation for this entity's operations. We are also required to comply with applicable laws and regulations in relevant jurisdictions to protect the privacy and security of our customers' information. Legal and regulatory restrictions may delay, or possibly prevent, some of our solutions or services from being offered, which may have a material adverse effect on our business,
17
financial condition and results of operations. Violation of laws and regulations may also result in severe penalties, confiscation of illegal income, revocation of licenses and, under certain circumstances, criminal prosecution.
The PRC regulatory framework governing financial technology services is unclear and evolving. New laws or regulations may be promulgated, which could impose new requirements or prohibitions that render our operations or our technologies non-compliant. In addition, due to uncertainties and complexities of the regulatory environment, we cannot assure you that regulators will interpret laws and regulations the same way we do, or that we will always be in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. To remedy any violations, we may be required to modify our business models, solutions and technologies in ways that render our solutions less appealing. We may also become subject to fines or other penalties, or, if we determine that the requirements to operate in compliance are overly burdensome, we may elect to terminate potentially non-compliant operations. In each such case, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Failure to maintain and enlarge our customer base or strengthen customer engagement may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our revenue growth depends on our ability to maintain and enlarge our customer base and strengthen customer engagement so that more of our customers, including our customers that are not our premium customers, a significant majority of which have not contributed to our revenue, will use our solutions more often and contribute to our revenue growth. Our customers may not continue to use our solutions once their existing contract expires or they may not purchase additional solutions from us. This risk is especially apparent in circumstances where it is inexpensive for them to switch service providers. Our ability to maintain and enlarge our customer base and strengthen our customer engagement will depend on many factors, some of which are out of our control, including:
In addition, historically, we have derived some of our customers either through acquisitions or by referrals from the Ping An Group. We may not be able to develop customers organically as rapidly or at the same pace as we have historically done through acquisitions or referrals. In addition, if we do not receive as many customer referrals from Ping An Group as we have historically, we may not be able to grow our customer base as quickly or at all.
We have relied on a limited number of key customers. In 2017, 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2019, two customers contributed to 10% or more of our total revenues for these respective periods. They were Ping An Group, and Lufax Holding Ltd. and its subsidiaries, or Lufax Group. Ping An Group is our strategic partner, our largest supplier and our related party. Lufax Group, an associate
18
company of Ping An Group, was also our related party in our consolidated financial statements until November 29, 2017, when we ceased to be consolidated with Ping An Group. Our total sales to Ping An Group accounted for 40.5%, 37.3% and 45.2% of our total revenue and our total sales to Lufax Group accounted for 30.1%, 27.4% and 13.4% of our total revenue in 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Please refer to note 5(a) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. We anticipate that our dependence on a limited number of customers will continue for the foreseeable future. Consequently, failure to maintain and strengthen our relationships with these key customers may cause material fluctuations or declines in our revenues and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Ping An Group is our strategic partner, our most important customer and our largest supplier. Any deterioration of our relationship with Ping An Group could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, business and growth.
Ping An Group is our strategic partner and our most important customer and supplier. We began as the financial technology solution arm of Ping An Group. We have partnered with Ping An Group to jointly develop new technology and applications, and Ping An Group provides us support in technology and infrastructure, in particular cloud infrastructure. Ping An Group also provides us with a diverse, reliable source of real-life application scenarios to validate and prove our technology. Many of our customer insights and innovative solutions are first initiated and tested within the Ping An Group ecosystem. Our strategic partnership with Ping An Group has contributed to our growth significantly. If our relationship with Ping An Group deteriorates and we are no longer able to access Ping An Group's technology or solutions, we will need to find alternative service providers and adjust our existing products and service offerings, which may negatively affect the quality of our solutions and will be costly and time-consuming, and in turn will have significant adverse impact on our business and results of operation.
We provided a number of services, including those for customer acquisition and management, risk management, operation and product optimization, to Ping An Group. Our revenue from Ping An Group amounted to RMB235.7 million, RMB527.6 million (US$76.9 million) and RMB438.2 million (US$63.8 million) in 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, accounting for 40.5%, 37.3% and 45.2% of our total revenue in these respective periods. Please refer to note 5(a) to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. If, for any reason, Ping An Group significantly reduces or ceases purchasing from or cooperating with us, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Ping An Group has also been our most important suppliers of technical infrastructure, technology support and maintenance. In 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, we purchased RMB358.1 million, RMB675.8 million (US$98.4 million) and RMB250.5 million (US$36.5 million) products and services from Ping An Group, respectively, accounting for 28.3%, 30.9% and 16.6% of our total cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) and operating expenses in these respective periods. Our relationship with Ping An Group may be affected if Ping An Group reduces its beneficial ownership in us. For instance, we recently entered into a long-term agreement, or the Strategic Cooperation Agreement, with Ping An Group, which is effective for a term of ten years upon completion of our initial public offering, subject to Ping An Group continuing to beneficially own at least 30% of our shares.
Ping An Group is also our principal shareholder. Prior to this offering, Ping An Group, through Bo Yu Limited, beneficially owned 39.8% of our shares and it is expected to own of our shares following this offering, assuming that the overallotment option is not exercised. In addition, each shareholder of Yi Chuan Jin Limited, one of our indirect shareholders, has granted an option to Bo Yu Limited to purchase from him or her up to 100% of his or her shares in Yi Chuan Jin Limited. Yi Chuan Jin Limited holds 39.9% of the shares of Sen Rong Limited, which in turn, is our direct shareholder and beneficially owns 501,300,000, or 50.0% of our ordinary shares as of the date of this prospectus. Please refer to note (1) and
19
note (2) to the beneficial ownership table in the "Principal [and Selling] Shareholders" section included in this prospectus for more information. Ping An Group is a public company listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the Shanghai Stock Exchange. When exercising its rights as our shareholder, Ping An Group may take into account not only the interests of our company and our other shareholders but also its own interests, the interests of its shareholders and the interests of its other affiliates. The interests of our company and our other shareholders may conflict with the interests of Ping An Group and its shareholders and other affiliates. These types of conflicts may result in our losing business opportunities, including opportunities to enter into lines of business that may directly or indirectly compete with those pursued by Ping An Group or the companies within its ecosystem.
We operate in a competitive industry. If we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose market share.
China's financial technology services industry is highly competitive and rapidly evolving. New competitors, including affiliates of financial institutions, traditional IT companies and internet companies, are entering this market. Our primary competitors include companies affiliated with financial institutions selling new competitive solutions, such as CIB Fintech, independent technology companies that provide customized development, implementation and support services such as Hundsun Electronics and Digital China, as well as affiliates of internet companies, such as Alibaba, Tencent, JD and Baidu. Our competitors may have greater brand recognition, larger customer bases or greater financial, technological or marketing resources than we do. As a result, our competitors may be able to respond more quickly and effectively to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards or customer requirements, and they may be able to better adapt to significant changes in regulatory and industry environments. Competition may also result in continued pricing pressures, which may lead to price reductions for our solutions, and may adversely affect our profitability and market share. In addition, we may face competition from our customers, who may develop their own solutions internally after they have gained experience and expertise through their use of our solutions. If we are unable to successfully compete in the financial technology services industry, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
The technologies we use may contain undetected errors, which could result in customer dissatisfaction, damage to our reputation and loss of customers.
The solutions we offer are built on huge stacks of data, so we adopt sophisticated and innovative technologies to address our operating needs, predict operating patterns and help make decisions in terms of business strategies and implementation plans. We aim to make our operations and our solutions more streamlined, automated and cost-effective by using advanced technologies including AI, blockchain, cloud and big data and the application of these technologies in our solutions is still under development. We may encounter technical obstacles, and we may discover problems that prevent our technologies from operating properly, which could adversely affect our information infrastructure and other aspects of our business where our technologies are applied. If our solutions do not function reliably or fail to achieve our customers' or their end-customers' expectations in terms of performance, we may lose existing customers or fail to attract new ones, which may damage our reputation and adversely affect our business.
Material performance problems, defects or errors in our existing or new software, applications and solutions may arise and may result from the interface between our solutions and systems and data that we did not develop, the function of which is beyond our control, or defects and errors that were undetected in our testing. These types of defects and errors, and any failure by us to identify and address them, could result in a loss of revenue or market share, diversion of development resources, harm to our reputation and increased service and maintenance costs. Defects or errors may discourage existing or potential customers from utilizing our solutions. Correcting these types of defects or errors could prove to be impossible or impracticable. The costs incurred in correcting any defects or errors may be substantial and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Failure to comply with existing or future laws and regulations related to data protection or data security could lead to liabilities, administrative penalties or other regulatory actions, which could negatively affect our operating results and business.
The regulatory framework for the collection, use, safeguarding, sharing, transfer and other processing of personal data worldwide is rapidly evolving and is likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. Regulatory authorities in virtually every jurisdiction in which we operate have implemented and are considering a number of legislative and regulatory proposals concerning personal data protection.
In recent years, the PRC government has tightened the regulation of the storage, sharing, use, disclosure and protection of personal data and user data, particularly personal data obtained through individuals' use of websites and online services. Relevant PRC laws and regulations require internet service providers and other network operators, among other things, to clearly state the authorized purpose, methods and scope of the collection and usage of personal data and obtain the consent of users for the processing of this personal data, as well as to establish user information protection systems with remedial measures. We have seen a similar trend in other jurisdictions. For example, in May 2018, a new data protection regime, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, or the GDPR, became applicable; the GDPR can apply to the processing of personal data by companies outside of the European Union, including where the processing of personal data relates to the offering of goods and services to, or monitoring the behavior of, individuals in the European Union. The GDPR and data protection laws in other jurisdictions may apply to our processing of personal data in the future. The application of these laws to our business would impose on us more stringent compliance requirements with more significant penalties for non-compliance than PRC data protection laws and regulations, and our compliance with such requirements could require significant resources and result in substantial costs, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We collect, process and store significant amounts of personal data concerning our customers and their end-customers, as well as personal data pertaining to our business partners and employees. Compliance with applicable personal data and data security laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process. As global data protection laws and regulations increase in number and complexity, we cannot assure you that our data protection systems will be considered sufficient under all applicable laws and regulations due to factors including the uncertainty of the interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that the end-customer information that we process for our customers and the information we receive from our third-party data partners are obtained and transmitted to us in full compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Moreover, there could be new laws, regulations or industry standards that require us to change our business practices and privacy policies, and we may also be required to put in place additional mechanisms ensuring compliance with new data protection laws, all of which may increase our costs and materially harm our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations could result in reputational damage or proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities, individuals or others. These proceedings or actions could subject us to significant civil or criminal penalties and negative publicity, result in the delayed or halted processing of personal data that we need to undertake to carry on our business, as well as the forced transfer or confiscation of certain personal data.
If our security measures or those of our third-party cloud computing platform provider, or other third-party service providers, are breached, our data, IT systems, and services may be perceived as not being secure.
Our services involve the storage and transmission of our customers and their end-customers' proprietary and other sensitive data, including financial information and other personally identifiable information. Our security measures may be breached as a result of efforts by individuals or groups of hackers and sophisticated organizations, including by fraudulently obtaining system information from our employees or customers. Our security measures could also be compromised by employee error or malfeasance, which could result in someone obtaining unauthorized access to, or denying authorized
21
access to, our IT systems, our customers' data or our data, including our intellectual property and other confidential business information.
Because the techniques used to breach, obtain unauthorized access to, and sabotage IT systems change frequently, grow more complex over time, and are generally not recognized until launched against a target, we may be unable to anticipate or implement adequate measures to prevent such techniques. In addition, our internal IT systems continue to evolve, and we are often early adopters of new technologies and new ways of sharing data and communicating internally and with partners and customers, which increases the complexity of our IT systems. In addition, our customers may authorize third-party technology providers to access their customer data, and some of our customers may not have adequate security measures to protect their data that is stored on our servers. Because we do not control our customers or third-party technology providers, or the processing of such data by third-party technology providers, we cannot ensure the integrity or security of such transmissions or processing. Malicious third parties may also conduct attacks designed to temporarily deny customers access to our services.
A security breach could expose us to a risk of loss or inappropriate use of proprietary and sensitive data, or the denial of access to this data. A security breach could also result in a loss of confidence in the security of our services, damage our reputation, negatively impact our future sales, disrupt our business and lead to legal liability. Finally, the detection, prevention and remediation of known or potential security vulnerabilities, including those arising from third-party hardware or software, may result in additional direct and indirect costs, for example, we may be required to purchase additional infrastructure or our remediation efforts may degrade the performance of our solutions.
In the event of a system outage and physical data loss, the performance of our platform, services and solutions would be materially and adversely affected. The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our platform, services and solutions and the technology infrastructure that underlies them are critical to our operations and reputation and our ability to retain and attract customers. Our offering platform is integrated with Ping An Financial Cloud. Our operation depends on its ability to protect our system against damage or interruption from natural disasters, power or telecommunications failures, air quality issues, environmental conditions, computer viruses or other attempts to harm their systems, including criminal acts and similar events. If there is a lapse in service or damage to Ping An Financial Cloud, we could experience interruptions and delays in our service and may incur additional expenses in arranging new facilities.
We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We regard our patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other intellectual property as critical to our business. Unauthorized use of our intellectual property by third parties may adversely affect our business and reputation. We rely on a combination of intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements to protect our proprietary rights. It is often difficult to register, maintain, and enforce intellectual property rights in countries or regions with less developed regulatory regimes or inconsistent and unreliable enforcement mechanisms. Sometimes laws and regulations are subject to interpretation and enforcement and may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation. In addition, our contractual agreements may be breached by our counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to us for any such breach. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our contractual rights in China and other jurisdictions in which we operate. Detecting and preventing any unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and the steps we have taken may be inadequate to prevent infringement or misappropriation of our intellectual property. If we resort to litigation to enforce or protect our intellectual property rights, such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managerial and financial resources. We can provide no assurance that we will prevail in such litigation In addition, our
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trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by, our competitors, and we would have no right to prevent others' use of them.
We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt our business and operations.
We cannot be certain that our operations or any aspects of our business do not or would not infringe upon or otherwise violate patents, copyrights or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. We in the future may be subject to penalties, legal proceedings and claims relating to the intellectual property rights of others. In addition, there may be other third-party intellectual property that is infringed by our solutions, services or other aspects of our business. There could also be intellectual properties that we are not aware of that our solutions or services may inadvertently infringe. As of June 30, 2019, we had submitted 2,540 patent applications in China and 530 in other countries or regions, most of which are pending approval. There can be no assurance that our patent applications will be approved, that any issued patents would adequately protect our intellectual property, or that such patents would not be challenged by third parties or found by competent authority to be invalid or unenforceable.
There can be no assurance that holders of patents purportedly relating to some aspect of our technology platform or business, if any such holders exist, would not seek to enforce these patents against us in China or any other jurisdictions. Furthermore, the application and interpretation of PRC patent laws and the procedures and standards for granting patents in the PRC are still evolving and are uncertain, and there can be no assurance that PRC courts or regulatory authorities would agree with our analysis. If we are found to have violated the intellectual property rights of others, we may be subject to liability for our infringement activities or may be prohibited from using such intellectual property, and we may incur licensing fees or be forced to develop alternatives of our own. In addition, we may incur significant expenses, and may be forced to divert management's time and other resources from our business and operations to defend against these third-party infringement claims, regardless of their merits. Successful infringement or licensing claims made against us may result in significant monetary liabilities and may materially disrupt our business and operations by restricting or prohibiting our use of the intellectual property in question, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Registering, managing and enforcing intellectual property rights in the PRC is often difficult. Statutory laws and regulations may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear interpretation guidance. We have filed registration applications for certain trademarks that we use in our operations, including the logo for our website and mobile apps. However, third parties may file applications to register the same or similar trademarks that we are applying for. In addition, third parties may object our registration applications, and the relevant trademark authority may not rule in our favor in such disputes. If our applications are rejected by the relevant trademark authority, we may be prohibited from using those trademarks, including the logo for our website and mobile apps in our business operations and we may need to change the logo of our website and mobile apps, which may have an adverse effect on our business and operations.
We face risks of defaults by borrowers under the loans for which we provided credit enhancement under our legacy credit management business.
Before the end of January 2018, to test our credit model in real world conditions, we provided credit enhancement to our customers to facilitate their lending transactions by agreeing to purchase non-performing loans of their borrowers who satisfied certain risk management criteria. These loans generally have terms of up to three years. We ceased offering credit enhancement for any new lending transactions of our customers at the end of January 2018. However, the outstanding balance of these legacy loans could still expose us to significant credit risks. As of December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019, our maximum guarantee exposure, which represents our total amount of liability if all borrowers under the
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loans for which we provided credit enhancement were to default, was RMB1,348.6 million (US$196.4 million) and RMB980.3 million (US$142.8 million), respectively. If there are substantial defaults of these legacy loans, our result of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.
We rely on third parties for various aspects of our business and the solutions that we offer. Our business, results of operation, financial condition and reputation may be materially and adversely affected if these third parties do not continue to maintain or expand their relationship with us, or if they fail to perform in accordance with the terms of our contracts.
We rely on third parties for various aspects of our business and the solutions we offer. For example, we rely on computer hardware, software, and cloud services, internet and telecommunication services, and third-party-supplied data.
We expect to continue to rely on these third parties to supplement our capabilities for a significant period of time if not indefinitely. Therefore, in order to conduct our business, we need all of these parties to function in a flawless and timely manner. However, we cannot assure you that these third parties will provide their support properly or in a cost-effective manner or the third party-supplied data we rely on will be complete, accurate or reliable. In the event of problems with any of these third party providers, transitioning to a new provider may disrupt our business and increase our cost. In addition, we cannot assure you that we would be able to find suitable replacement suppliers on commercially reasonable terms or timely basis.
If any of our third party service providers fails to perform properly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to find a suitable alternative in a timely and cost-effective manner or at all. Our third party service providers may carry out their business in an inappropriate manner or in violation of regulations or laws. Any of such occurrences could diminish our ability to operate or damage our business reputation, or cause us regulatory or financial harm, any of which could negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our implementation cycles can be lengthy and variable, and could use up significant resources prior to generating revenue.
The implementation and testing of our solutions by our customers typically lasts from one to four months or longer, and unexpected implementation delays and difficulties can occur. Implementing our solutions typically requires us to integrate our solutions with our customers' and third-parties' systems. This can be complex, time consuming and expensive for our customers and can result in delays in implementing and deploying our solutions. Failures to meet our customers' expectations for implementing our products could damage our relationships with customers or even result in a loss of customers. The consequences of these types of failures could include us having to grant monetary credits for current or future service engagements, reduced fees for additional product sales, or a customer's refusal to pay their contractually-obligated license, maintenance or service fees. In addition, time-consuming implementations may also increase the quantity of staff we must allocate to each customer, thereby increasing our costs and adversely affecting our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our inability to use software licensed from third parties, including open source software, could negatively affect our ability to sell our solutions and subject us to possible litigation.
Our technology platform incorporates software licensed from third parties, including open-source software, which we use without charge. Although we monitor our use of open-source software, the terms of many open-source licenses that we are subject to have not been interpreted by courts, and there is a risk that these licenses could be construed to impose unanticipated conditions or restrictions on our ability to provide our solutions. In addition, the terms of open-source software licenses may require us to provide software that we develop to others on unfavorable license terms. For example, certain open-source licenses may require us to offer the components of our platform that incorporate open source software for free, to make source code for modifications or derivative works available to others, and to license such modifications or derivative works under the terms of the particular open-source license.
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In addition, we could be required to seek licenses from third parties in order to continue offering our solutions, and these types of licenses may not be available on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. Alternatively, we may need to re-engineer our solutions or discontinue using certain functionalities of our solutions. Our inability to use third-party software could result in disruptions to our business, or delays in developing future offerings or enhancements of our existing solutions, which could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
If we are unable to protect or promote our brand and reputation, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
Our brand names and reputation are subject to a variety of factors that are beyond our control. For example, customer complaints about our service and negative publicity about our industry could diminish consumer confidence in our solutions. Failure to protect our customers' privacy or effectively adopt security measures could have the same effect. However, measures we may take from time to time to combat risks of fraud and breaches of privacy and security can damage relations with our customers. These measures heighten the need for prompt and accurate customer service to resolve irregularities. If we cannot handle customer complaints effectively or balance different customers' needs appropriately, our reputation may suffer, and we may lose our customers' confidence. Furthermore, we may be subject to claims seeking to hold us liable for inaccurate or false information. Any claims, regardless of merit, may force us to participate in costly time-consuming litigation or investigations, divert significant management and staff attention, and damage our reputation and brand. In addition, our reputation may be undermined if our customers, who are primarily financial institutions, violate laws and regulations such as financial supervision regulations and anti-money laundering laws, when using our solutions. Any significant damage to our reputation, or to the perceived quality or awareness of our brand or solutions, or any significant failure by us to promote and protect our brand and reputation, could make it more difficult for us to maintain a good relationship with our customers, promote our services or retain qualified personnel, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our efforts to build our brand have caused us to incur expenses, and our future marketing efforts will require us to incur additional expenses. These efforts may not result in increased revenues in the immediate future or at all and, even if they do, any increases in revenues may not offset the expenses incurred. If we fail to successfully promote and maintain our brand while incurring additional expenses, our results of operations and financial condition would be adversely affected, and our ability to grow our business may be impaired.
In addition, the use of the "Ping An" brand by members of Ping An Group may expose us to reputational risks if these entities take actions that damage the "Ping An" brand, and, given our partnership with Ping An Group, any negative development in Ping An Group's market position, reputation or brand recognition may materially and adversely affect our brand image, reputation and market value.
We may not be able to obtain additional capital when desired, on favorable terms or at all.
We may require additional cash resources due to operating losses or the growth and development of our business, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our cash resources are insufficient to satisfy our requirements, we may seek to issue additional equity or debt securities or obtain new or expanded credit facilities. Our ability to obtain external financing is subject to uncertainties, including our future financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, share price performance, liquidity in the international capital and lending markets, and PRC governmental regulations over foreign investment and our industry. In addition, incurring indebtedness would subject us to increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. There can be no assurance that any financing we need would be available in a timely manner or in amounts or on terms favorable to us, or at all. Any failure to raise needed funds on terms favorable to us, or at all, could severely restrict our liquidity and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
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results of operations. Moreover, any issuance of equity or equity-linked securities could result in significant dilution to our existing shareholders. These newly issued securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of our existing shareholders.
Disruptions in the financial markets and economic conditions could adversely affect our financial institution customers.
Changes in the condition of China's economy generally affect the demand and supply of financial products, which in turn will affect demand for the solutions we provide. For example, a credit crisis, or prolonged downturn in the credit markets could severely affect our operating environment by, for example, causing a tightening in credit guidelines, limited liquidity, deterioration in credit performance or increased foreclosures. Since we predominantly generate our revenues from transaction-based fees, a decrease in transaction volumes could cause a material decline in our revenues for the duration of such crisis.
Global economies could suffer dramatic downturns as the result of a deterioration in the credit markets and related financial crisis as well as a variety of other factors including, extreme volatility in security prices, diminished liquidity and credit availability, ratings downgrades of certain investments and declining valuations of others. In past economic downturns, governments have taken unprecedented actions to address and rectify these extreme market and economic conditions, including by providing liquidity and stability to the financial markets. If these actions are not successful, the return of adverse economic conditions may significantly affect the businesses of our customers, which could in turn negatively affect our revenues.
In addition, there is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by central banks and financial authorities in some of the world's leading economies, including the European Union, the United States and China. There have been concerns over unrest and terrorist threats in the Middle East, Europe and Africa and over the conflicts involving Ukraine, Syria and North Korea. There have also been concerns on the relationship among China and other Asian countries, which may result in or intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial disputes, and escalations in the trade tensions between the United States and China. Starting from 2018, changes in U.S. trade policies have occurred, including the imposition of tariffs; these types of developments, including a potential trade war, could have a material adverse impact on the Chinese economy. In addition, the United Kingdom held a referendum on June 23, 2016 on its membership in the European Union, in which a majority of voters in the United Kingdom voted to exit the European Union (commonly referred to as "Brexit"). The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union remains uncertain. Brexit could adversely affect European and worldwide economic and market conditions and could contribute to instability in global financial and foreign exchange markets. More recently, protests in Hong Kong since June 2019, political instability in the Korean Peninsula, a slump in commodity prices, and uncertainty over interest rates in the United States have also resulted in instability and volatility in the capital markets. 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.
Our performance depends on key management and personnel, and any failure to attract, motivate and retain our staff could severely hinder our ability to maintain and grow our business.
Our future success is significantly dependent upon the continued service of our management and key personnel, especially our technology talent. If we lose the services of any member of management or other key personnel, we may not be able to locate suitable or qualified replacements, and we may incur additional expenses to recruit and train new staff, which could severely disrupt our business and growth, therefore materially and adversely affecting our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, although we have entered into confidentiality and noncompetition agreements with our management and key technology personnel, there is no assurance that any member of our management team and technology personnel will not join our competitors or form a competing business. If
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any dispute arises between our current or former personnel and us, we may have to incur substantial costs and expenses in order to enforce such agreements in China, and we may not be able to enforce them at all.
The wide range and diversity of the solutions we provide may require us to hire and retain a wide range of experienced personnel who can adapt to a dynamic, competitive and challenging business environment. We will need to continue to attract and retain experienced and capable personnel at all levels, including blockchain experts for our blockchain team, as we expand our business and operations. Competition for talent in China's financial technology industry is intense, and the availability of suitable and qualified candidates is limited. Competition for these individuals could cause us to offer higher compensation and other benefits to attract and retain them. In addition, even if we were to offer higher compensation and other benefits, there can be no assurance that these individuals would choose to join, or continue working for, us.
We may not be able to identify or pursue suitable acquisition or expansion opportunities or achieve optimal results in future acquisitions or expansions, and we may encounter difficulties in successfully integrating and developing acquired assets or businesses.
To further grow our businesses and increase our competitiveness and profitability, we intend to continue expanding our financial technology services in new application scenarios both inside and outside of China. We have been actively looking for acquisition or expansion opportunities that may be beneficial to us. Over the past few years, we have entered into negotiations relating to certain companies in which we were interested in acquiring a stake. For example, we acquired Beijing Vantage Point Technology Co., Ltd., or Vantage Point Technology, a company providing asset liability management solutions, in July 2018. In June 2019, we acquired Beijing BER Technology Company Ltd., or Beijing BER, a service provider specialized in scenario-based financial platform establishment and operation. In addition, in August 2019, we entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire View Foundation, which, through, Shenzhen CA, provides digital certification and related services and solutions. We will continue to seek opportunities for acquisition and expansion. These acquisitions may not be successfully completed and we may not be able to find or consummate suitable acquisition or expansion alternatives. If we successfully complete such acquisitions, we may raise financing, either in the capital markets or in the form of bank financing, to cover all or part of the purchase price, which will lead to changes to our capital structure and may restrict us in other ways.
We have acquired and may in the future acquire other businesses or companies with advanced financial technologies, leading financial technology products, valuable intellectual products or other businesses or assets with capabilities and strategies that we believe are complementary to and are likely to enhance our businesses. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to identify attractive acquisition targets, negotiate favorable terms, obtain necessary government approvals or permits, complete necessary registrations or filings, or obtain necessary funding to complete these acquisitions on commercially acceptable terms or at all.
Acquisitions and expansions involve numerous risks, including potential difficulties in retaining and assimilating personnel, risks and difficulties associated with integrating the operations and culture of acquired businesses, diversions of management attention and other resources, lack of experience and industry and market knowledge of the new businesses, risks and difficulties associated with complying with laws and regulations related to the acquisitions and acquired businesses, and failure to properly identify problems with acquisition targets through the due diligence process. In addition, acquisitions and expansions may significantly stretch our capital, personnel and management resources and, as a result, we may fail to manage our growth effectively. Any new acquisition or expansion plans may also result in our inheritance of debts and other liabilities, assumption of potential legal liabilities in respect of the new businesses, and incurrence of impairment charges related to goodwill and other intangible assets, any of which could harm our businesses, financial condition and results of operations. In particular, if any new businesses we acquire fail to perform as we expected, we may be required to recognize a significant impairment charge, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and
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results of operations. There may also be established players in these sectors and markets that enjoy significant market share, and it may be difficult for us to win market share from them. Furthermore, some of the overseas markets that we target may have high barriers of entry for foreign players. There can be no assurance that our acquisition or expansion plans will be successful.
As a result, there can be no assurance that we will be able to realize the strategy behind an acquisition or expansion plan, reach the desired level of operational integration or achieve our investment return targets.
Our international expansion is subject to various risk
We primarily operate in China, but have been pursuing and will continue to pursue international expansion strategies, initially primarily in Northern and Southeast Asia. International expansion may expose us to additional risks, including:
If we are unable to effectively avoid or mitigate these risks, our ability to expand our business internationally will be affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our quarterly results may fluctuate significantly and be unpredictable and may not fully reflect the underlying performance of our business.
We have experienced some revenue fluctuation on a quarterly basis in the past, and expect to experience similar trends going forward. In general, our third and fourth quarters are the stronger quarters in any given year. This is primarily due to our business model, as we primarily charge our financial institution customers based on the transaction volume generated on our platform or their other usage of it. Our financial institution customers tend to have higher spending with us in the second half of the year as a result of their annual budget cycles. In addition, customer transactions at financial institutions tend to peak in the fourth quarter, which in turn has positive impact on our revenue. Furthermore, our quarterly results of operations, including the levels of our revenues, expenses, net loss or income and other key metrics, may vary significantly due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside of our control, and period-to-period comparisons of our operating results may not be meaningful, especially given our limited operating history. Accordingly, while our rapid growth may obscure these types of fluctuations, our results for any one quarter are not necessarily an indication of future performance. Fluctuations in quarterly results may adversely affect the price of our ADSs.
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If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud.
Prior to this offering, we were a private company. Our management has not completed an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, and our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting.
Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company in the United States subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, will require that we include a report of management on our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. In addition, once we cease to be an "emerging growth company," as such term is 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 controls 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, after we become a public company, 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.
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 ADSs. 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, our directors, management and employees may be subject to litigation and regulatory investigations and proceedings, such as claims in relation to commercial, labor, employment or securities matters, which could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
We may be subject to claims and lawsuits in the ordinary course of our business. In addition, we may be subject to inquiries, inspections, investigations and proceedings by relevant regulatory and other governmental agencies. Actions brought against us may result in settlements, injunctions, fines, penalties or other results adverse to us that could harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation. Any action against us, even those without merit and even if we are successful in defending ourselves against them, may cause us to incur significant costs, and could place a strain on our financial resources, divert the attention of management from our core business and harm our reputation. A significant judgment or regulatory action against us or a material disruption in our business arising from adverse adjudications in proceedings against our directors, officers or employees would have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects.
After we become a publicly listed company, we may face additional exposure to claims and lawsuits. These claims could divert management's time and attention away from our business and result in significant costs to investigate and defend, regardless of the merits of the claims. In some instances, we may elect or be forced to pay substantial damages if we are unsuccessful in our efforts to defend against these claims, which could harm our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Unexpected network interruptions, security breaches or computer virus attacks and failures in our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our information technology systems support all phases of our operations and are an essential part of our technology infrastructure, and the robust reliability of our platform is one of our competitive strengths that we rely on to attract and retain customers. If our systems fail to perform, we could experience disruptions in operations, slower response times or decreased customer satisfaction. We must process, record and monitor a large number of transactions, and our operations are highly dependent on the integrity of our technology systems and our ability to make timely enhancements and additions to our systems. System interruptions, errors or downtime can result from a variety of causes, including unexpected interruptions to the internet infrastructure, technological failures, changes to our systems, changes in customer usage patterns, linkages with third-party systems and power failures. Our systems are also vulnerable to disruptions from human error, execution errors, errors in models such as those used for risk management and compliance, employee misconduct, unauthorized trading, external fraud, computer viruses, denial of service attacks, computer viruses or cyberattacks, terrorist attacks, natural disaster, power outage, capacity constraints, software flaws, events impacting our key business partners and vendors, and other similar events.
Our internet-based business depends on the performance and reliability of the internet infrastructure. We cannot assure you that the internet infrastructure we depend on will remain sufficiently reliable for our needs. Any failure to maintain the performance, reliability, security or availability of our network infrastructure may cause significant damage to our ability to attract and retain customers. Major risks involving our network infrastructure include:
Any network interruption or inadequacy that causes interruptions in the availability of our platform or deterioration in the quality of access to our solutions could reduce customer satisfaction and result in a reduction in the activity level of our customers. Furthermore, increases in the volume of traffic on our platform could strain the capacity of our existing computer systems and bandwidth, which could lead to slower response times or system failures. This could cause a disruption or suspension in our service delivery, which could hurt our brand and reputation. We may need to incur additional costs to upgrade our technology infrastructure and computer systems in order to accommodate increased demand if we anticipate that our systems cannot handle higher volumes of traffic and transaction in the future. In addition, it could take an extended period of time to restore full functionality to our technology or other operating systems in the event of an unforeseen occurrence, which could affect our ability to deliver our solutions. There can be no assurance that we will not suffer unexpected losses, reputational damage or regulatory actions due to technology or other operational failures or errors, including those of our vendors or other third parties.
Increases in labor costs in China may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The economy in China has experienced increases in labor costs in recent years. As a result, average wages in China are expected to continue to increase. In addition, we are required by PRC laws and regulations to pay various statutory employee benefits, including pension, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated
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government agencies for the benefit of our employees. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to control our labor costs or pass on these increased labor costs to our users by increasing the fees of our services, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
We may not have sufficient insurance coverage to cover our business risks.
We maintain insurance to cover our potential exposure for a number of claims and losses. However, our insurance coverage may be inadequate or unavailable to protect us fully, and we may not be able to acquire any coverage for certain types of risks such as business liability or service disruptions, and our coverage may not be adequate to compensate us for all losses that may occur, particularly with respect to loss of business or operations. For example, we do not maintain business interruption insurance. Any business disruption, litigation, regulatory action, outbreak of epidemic disease or natural disaster could also expose us to substantial costs and diversion of resources. There can be no assurance that our insurance coverage will be sufficient to prevent us from any loss or that we will be able to successfully claim our losses on a timely basis, or at all. If we incur any loss that is not covered by our insurance policies, or the amount of compensation we receive is significantly less than our actual loss, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics, civil and social disruption and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
We are vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power losses, telecommunications failures, break-ins, wars, riots, terrorist attacks, strikes, civil or social disruption (including protests in Hong Kong since June 2019) or similar events may give rise to server or service 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 provide our solutions.
Our business could also be adversely affected by the effects of Ebola virus disease, Zika virus disease, various forms of influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, or other epidemics. Our business operations could be disrupted if any of our employees is suspected of having these or any other epidemic disease, since it could require our employees to be quarantined and/or our offices to be disinfected. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that any of these epidemic diseases harms the Chinese economy in general.
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure
If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our businesses in China do not comply with applicable PRC laws and regulations, or if these regulations or their interpretations change, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
Foreign ownership of internet-based businesses, such as distribution of online information and other value-added telecommunication services, are subject to restrictions under current PRC laws and regulations. For example, foreign investors are generally not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interest in a value-added telecommunication service provider (subject to certain exceptions relating to certain businesses, such as e-commerce businesses), and any such major foreign investor must have experience in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record in accordance with the Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) promulgated in 2019, or the 2019 Negative List, the Administrative Rules on Foreign-Invested Telecommunication Enterprises newly amended in 2016, and other applicable laws and regulations.
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We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and OneConnect Technology Services Co., Ltd. (Shenzhen), or Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, and Zhang Tong Shun, our PRC subsidiaries, are considered foreign-invested enterprises. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we conduct substantially all of our business in the PRC through Shenzhen OneConnect and Shenzhen CA, our VIEs, and their respective subsidiaries, based on contractual arrangements entered into among Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun, the VIEs, their respective shareholders and subsidiaries.
We believe that our corporate structure and contractual arrangements enable us to: (i) be the exclusive provider of business support, technical and consulting services in exchange for a fee; (ii) receive the relevant economic benefits and bear the relevant risks in relation to the business operation of our VIEs; (iii) have an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or to designate one or more persons to purchase, from the relevant registered shareholders all or any part of their equity interest in our VIEs at any time and from time to time in our absolute discretion to the extent permitted by PRC laws; (iv) have an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or to designate one or more persons to purchase, from our VIEs, all or any part of their assets at any time and from time to time in our absolute discretion to the extent permitted by PRC laws and the contractual arrangements; (v) appoint us, any directors authorized by us (except the shareholders of our VIEs) or his/her successors, or a liquidator replacing the director as our exclusive agent and attorney to act on our behalf on all matters concerning our VIEs and to exercise all of the rights as a registered shareholder of our VIEs in accordance with PRC laws and the articles of our VIEs; and (vi) pledge as first charge the relevant equity interest in our VIEs to us as collateral security for any and all of the guaranteed debt under the contractual arrangements and to secure performance of the obligations under the contractual arrangements. The contractual arrangements allow the results of operations and assets and liabilities of our VIEs and their subsidiaries to be consolidated into our results of operations and assets and liabilities under IFRS as if they were subsidiaries of our Group.
Our PRC counsel, Haiwen & Partners, is of the opinion that (i) the ownership structure of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun and our VIEs does not violate applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect, and (ii) except for circumstances where (a) certain clauses regarding the remedies or reliefs that may be awarded by an arbitration tribunal and the power of courts to grant interim remedies in support of the arbitration and liquidation arrangements of our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and/or shareholders, and (b) in respect of the contractual arrangements binding Shenzhen CA, the minority shareholders of Shenzhen CA which are not parties to the contractual arrangements may not have the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver or perform the written confirmation in relation to the contractual arrangements binding Shenzhen CA or may not obey such confirmation, the contractual arrangements are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with the applicable PRC laws or regulations currently in effect. However, there can be no assurance that the PRC government authorities will take a view that is not contrary to or otherwise different from the opinion of our PRC counsel stated above. There is also the possibility that the PRC government authorities may adopt new laws, regulations and interpretations that may invalidate the contractual arrangements. If the PRC government determines that we are in violation of PRC laws or regulations or lack the necessary permits or licenses to operate our business, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities, including the PRC Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, the PRC Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, and the State Cryptography Administration, or the SCA, would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations or failures, including, but not limited to:
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Any of these actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations, and may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if the PRC governmental authorities find our legal structure and contractual arrangements to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations, it is unclear what impact these actions would have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of our VIEs and their subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements. If any of these penalties results in our inability to direct the activities of our VIEs and their subsidiaries and such a penalty significantly impacts their economic performance and/or our failure to receive economic benefits from our VIEs and their subsidiaries, we may not be able to consolidate our VIEs and their subsidiaries into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS.
Our contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their respective shareholders may not be as effective in providing operational control or enabling us to derive economic benefits as a direct ownership of a controlling equity interest would be.
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their shareholders and subsidiaries to operate our business activities. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our VIEs and their subsidiaries. For example, our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries or shareholders may fail to fulfil their contractual obligations with us or take other actions that are detrimental to our interests.
If we had direct ownership of our VIEs, we would be able to exercise our rights as shareholders to effect changes in their board of directors, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders of their obligations under the contractual arrangements to exercise control over our VIEs and their subsidiaries. The shareholders of our VIEs may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. These risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate our business through the contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders. If any of these shareholders is uncooperative or any dispute relating to these contracts remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through the operations of PRC laws and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings, the outcome of which will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. If we are unable to enforce the contractual arrangements or we experience significant delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing the contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over the VIEs and may lose control over their assets. Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be.
We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by our VIEs that are critical to the operation of our business if our VIEs declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.
Our VIEs hold certain assets that are critical to the operation of our business. Under the contractual arrangements entered into by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun, our VIEs, their
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respective subsidiaries and shareholders, our VIEs may not and their respective shareholders may not cause it to, sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in the VIEs. They also may not allow any encumbrance of security interest over such equity interest, except for the equity pledge agreement in the contractual arrangements, without Shenzhen OneConnect Technology's or Zhang Tong Shun's written consent. However, if the shareholders of our VIEs or their subsidiaries breach the contractual arrangements and voluntarily liquidate the VIEs or their subsidiaries, or if our VIEs or their subsidiaries declare bankruptcy and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors or are otherwise disposed of without our consent, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if our VIEs or their subsidiaries undergo an involuntary liquidation proceeding, third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of their assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially or adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any failure by our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries or shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Under the contractual arrangements entered into by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun, our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders, these shareholders covenanted that they will not request our VIEs to distribute profit or dividends, raise shareholders' resolution to make such a distribution or vote in favor of any such relevant shareholders' resolution without Shenzhen OneConnect Technology's or Zhang Tong Shun's prior written consent. If these shareholders receive any income, profit distribution or dividend, except as otherwise determined by us, they must promptly transfer or pay such income, profit distribution or dividend to us or any other person designated by us as service fees to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws. If the shareholders of our VIEs breach the relevant covenants, we may need to resort to legal proceedings to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements. Any such legal proceedings may be costly and may divert our management's time and attention away from the operation of our business, and the outcome of such legal proceedings is uncertain.
The ultimate beneficial shareholders of our VIEs may have conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business.
The equity interest in our VIEs is ultimately beneficially held by certain of our directors, indirect shareholders, employees of these indirect shareholders and other individuals. However, these ultimate beneficial shareholders may have potential conflicts of interest with us. They may breach, or cause our VIEs to breach, the contractual arrangements. We cannot assure you that when conflicts arise, the ultimate beneficial shareholders of our VIEs will act in the best interests of our company or that conflicts will be resolved in our favor. If we cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between us and these shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in the disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
We conduct our business operations in the PRC through our VIEs and their subsidiaries by way of our contractual arrangements, but certain of the terms of our contractual arrangements may not be enforceable under PRC laws.
All the agreements that constitute our contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders are governed by PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these agreements would be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws, and disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in other jurisdictions and uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce the contractual arrangements. If we are unable to enforce the contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant time delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing them, it would be very difficult to exert effective control over our VIEs and their subsidiaries, and our ability to conduct our business and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
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The contractual arrangements contain provisions to the effect that the arbitral body specified in them may award remedies over the equity interest, assets or properties of our VIEs, their subsidiaries, and/or shareholders; provide compulsory relief (for example, for the conduct of business or to compel the transfer of assets); or order the winding-up of our VIEs, their subsidiaries, and/or shareholders. These agreements also contain provisions to the effect that courts of competent jurisdiction are empowered to grant interim relief to a party when requested, for the purpose of preserving the assets and properties, or grant enforcement measures, subject to the requirements under PRC laws. However, under PRC laws, these terms may not be enforceable. Under PRC laws, an arbitral body does not have the power to grant injunctive relief or to issue a provisional or final liquidation order for the purpose of protecting the assets of or equity interest in our VIEs in case of disputes. In addition, interim remedies or enforcement orders granted by overseas courts such as the United States and the Cayman Islands may not be recognizable or enforceable in the PRC. PRC laws may allow the arbitral body to grant an award of transfer of assets of or equity interests in our VIEs in favor of an aggrieved party.
Furthermore, the contractual arrangements provide that (i) in the event of a mandatory liquidation required by PRC laws, our VIEs will sell all of their assets to the extent permitted by PRC law to Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun, respectively, or the entity designated by them, at the lowest price permitted under applicable PRC laws; and (ii) our VIEs or their respective shareholders will pay to Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun, or the entity designated by them any payments they receive from such transaction, and any profits arising from such a transaction shall be paid to Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun, or the entity designated by them in satisfaction of the service fees under the exclusive business cooperation agreements. These provisions may not be enforceable under PRC laws in the event of a mandatory liquidation required by PRC laws or bankruptcy liquidation.
Therefore, in the event of a breach of any agreements constituting the contractual arrangements by the VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and/or shareholders, we may not be able to exert effective control over our VIEs due to the inability to enforce the contractual arrangements, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
In addition, Shenzhen Zhengxin E-commerce Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Digital Certificates Certification Center Co., Ltd., or the Shenzhen CA Minority Shareholders, which collectively hold 1.09% equity interest in Shenzhen CA, are not parties to the contractual arrangements with Zhang Tong Shun. Although the Shenzhen CA Minority Shareholders have confirmed in writing that they have given consent to the contractual arrangements binding Shenzhen CA and have undertaken that they would take all necessary actions to facilitate the enforcement of the contractual arrangements, there can be no assurance that the Shenzhen CA Minority Shareholders, as the state controlled companies, have all requisite power and authority to make such confirmation or consent or they will be able to perform their obligations under such confirmation. If the relevant authority deems the confirmation or consent invalid or challenges the enforceability of such confirmation or consent, or if the Shenzhen CA Minority Shareholders fail to obtain all requisite power and authority or fail to perform their obligations, we may not be able to enforce the contractual arrangements, which could adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
If we exercise the option to acquire equity interest and assets of the VIEs, this equity interest or asset transfer may subject us to certain limitations and substantial costs.
Pursuant to the Regulations for the Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises, or the FITE Regulations, promulgated by the State Council in December 2001, as amended, foreign investors are not allowed to hold more than 50% of the equity interest of any company providing value-added telecommunications services. In addition, the main foreign investor who invests in a value-added telecommunications business in the PRC must have prior experience in operating value-added telecommunications businesses and a proven track record of business operations overseas, or the Qualification Requirements. Currently no applicable PRC laws or regulations provides clear guidance or
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interpretation on these requirements. Although we have taken measures to meet the Qualification Requirements, we still face the risk of not satisfying the requirement promptly. If PRC laws change to allow foreign investors to invest in value-added telecommunications enterprises in the PRC, we may be unable to unwind our contractual arrangements with Shenzhen OneConnect, its subsidiaries and shareholders before we are able to comply with the Qualification Requirements and other requirements, or if we attempt to unwind the contractual arrangements before we are able to comply with the Qualification Requirements, we may be ineligible to operate our value-added telecommunication enterprises and may be forced to suspend their operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Pursuant to the contractual arrangements, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Zhang Tong Shun, or their designated person(s) has the irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase all or any part of the relevant equity interest in our VIEs from our VIEs' shareholders at any time and from time to time in their absolute discretion to the extent permitted by PRC laws. The consideration Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or Zhang Tong Shun pays for such purchases will be the higher of a nominal price and the lowest price as permitted under applicable PRC laws.
This equity transfer may be subject to approvals from, filings with, or reporting to competent PRC authorities, such as MOFCOM, the MIIT, the SCA, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or the SAIC, and/or their local competent branches. In addition, the equity transfer price may be subject to review and tax adjustment by the relevant tax authorities. The equity transfer price to be received by our VIEs under the contractual arrangements may also be subject to enterprise income tax, and these amounts could be substantial.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Foreign Investment Law and how it may affect the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
On March 15, 2019, the Foreign Investment Law was formally passed by the thirteenth National People's Congress and it will take effect on January 1, 2020. The Foreign Investment Law will replace the Law on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures and the Law on Foreign-Capital Enterprises to become the legal foundation for foreign investment in the PRC. The Foreign Investment Law stipulates certain forms of foreign investment. However, the Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly stipulate contractual arrangements such as those we rely on as a form of foreign investment.
Notwithstanding the above, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that foreign investment includes "foreign investors investing through any other methods under laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council." Future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council may possibly regard contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. If this happens, it is uncertain whether our contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders would be recognized as foreign investment, or whether our contractual arrangements would be deemed to be in violation of the foreign investment access requirements. As well as the uncertainty on how our contractual arrangements will be handled, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the interpretation and the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law. The relevant government authorities have broad discretion in interpreting the law. Therefore, there is no guarantee that our contractual arrangements, the business of our VIEs and our financial conditions will not be materially and adversely affected.
Depending on future developments under the new Foreign Investment Law, we could be required to unwind the contractual arrangements and/or dispose of our VIEs, which would have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and result of operations. If our company no longer has a sustainable business after an unwinding or disposal or when such requirements are not complied with,
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the SEC, and/or [NYSE/NASDAQ Global Market] may take enforcement actions against us, which may have a material adverse effect on the trading of our Shares or even result in delisting our company.
There may be a potential impact to our company if our contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders are not treated as domestic investment.
If the operation of our businesses conducted through our VIEs is subject to any restrictions pursuant to the 2019 Negative List or any successor regulations, and the contractual arrangements are not treated as domestic investment, the contractual arrangements may be regarded as invalid and illegal. If this were to occur, we would not be able to operate the relevant businesses through the contractual arrangements and would lose our rights to receive the economic benefits of the VIEs. As a result, we would no longer consolidate the financial results of the VIEs into our financial results and we would have to derecognize their assets and liabilities according to the relevant accounting standards. If we do not receive any compensation, we would recognize an investment loss as a result of such derecognition.
Our contractual arrangements may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities, and a finding that we owe additional taxes could substantially reduce our consolidated net income and the value of your investment.
Under PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities. The Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, requires every enterprise in China to submit its annual enterprise income tax return, together with a report on transactions with its related parties, to the relevant tax authorities. The tax authorities may impose reasonable adjustments on taxation if they have identified any related party transactions that are inconsistent with arm's-length principles. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries and our VIEs do not represent an arm's-length price and adjust our VIEs' income in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of expense deductions recorded by our VIEs, which could in turn increase their tax liabilities. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties to our PRC controlled structured entities for under-paid taxes. Our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected if our tax liabilities increase or if we are found to be subject to late payment fees or other penalties.
Risks Relating to Doing Business in the PRC
Adverse changes in PRC economic, political and social conditions as well as government policies could adversely affect our business and prospects.
The majority of our operations are in China. Accordingly, our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations may be significantly influenced by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China.
The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the PRC government has implemented measures that focus on taking into account market forces to effect economic reform and aimed at reducing the state ownership of productive assets and establishing improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of China's productive assets are still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating development through industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China's economic growth through its allocation of resources, control of payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, monetary policy, and preferential treatment for particular industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has
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implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures, which may benefit the overall Chinese economy, may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In addition, the PRC government has from time to time implemented certain measures, including interest rate changes, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, and, since 2012, the Chinese economy has slowed down. Any prolonged slowdown in the Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our services and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which prior court decisions have limited value as precedents. Our PRC subsidiaries and our VIEs are subject to various PRC laws and regulations generally applicable to companies in China. However, since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, their interpretation is not always consistent and their enforcement involves uncertainties.
In particular, PRC laws and regulations concerning the internet-related industries and financial services industry are developing and evolving. Although we have taken measures to comply with the laws and regulations applicable to our business operations and to avoid conducting any non-compliant activities under these laws and regulations, the PRC governmental authorities may promulgate new laws and regulations regulating internet-related and financial services industries. We cannot assure you that our business operations would not be deemed to violate any such new PRC laws or regulations. Moreover, developments in the internet-related industries and financial services industry may lead to changes in PRC laws, regulations and policies or in the interpretation and application of existing laws, regulations and policies, which in turn may limit or restrict us, and could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
From time to time, we may have to rely on administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since the 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 enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. These types of uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China, could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations, and may further affect the legal remedies and protections available to investors, which may, in turn, adversely affect the value of your investment.
We may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulation of internet-related businesses and companies, and any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The PRC government extensively regulates the internet industry, including foreign ownership of, and the licensing and permit requirements pertaining to, companies in the industry. These internet-related laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and enforcement involve significant uncertainties. As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to determine what actions or omissions may be deemed to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations.
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We only have contractual control over the entities that own the domain name of our website and mobile apps. We do not directly own the website and mobile apps due to the restriction of foreign investment in businesses providing value-added telecommunication services in China, including internet information provision services. This indirect control significantly disrupt our business, subject us to sanctions, compromise enforceability of related contractual arrangements, or have other harmful effects on us.
The evolving PRC regulatory system for the internet industry may lead to the establishment of new regulatory agencies. For example, in May 2011, the State Council announced the establishment of a new department, the State Internet Information Office (with the involvement of the State Council Information Office, the MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security). This new agency's primary role is to facilitate policy-making and legislative developments in this field, to direct and coordinate with the relevant departments in connection with online content administration and to deal with cross-ministry regulatory matters in relation to the internet industry.
The interpretation and application of existing PRC laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies, including those relating to the internet industry, have created substantial uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and the businesses and activities of our company. We cannot assure you that we have obtained all the permits or licenses required for conducting our business in China or that we will be able to maintain or update our existing licenses or obtain new ones. If the PRC government considers that we were operating without the proper approvals, licenses or permits or promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses or imposes additional restrictions on the operation of any part of our business, it may levy fines, confiscate our income, revoke our business licenses, and require us to discontinue our relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of our business. Any of these actions may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory authorities in 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions, have established complex procedures and requirements that restrict merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors. For example, when a foreign investor takes control of a PRC enterprise, it must notify MOFCOM in advance of such change-of-control transaction. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are triggered. The security review rules issued by MOFCOM, which became effective in September 2011, specify that certain mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors, for example those that raise "national defense and security" concerns or through which foreign investors may acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises and therefore raise "national security" concerns, are subject to its review. Those rules prohibit any activities attempting to bypass security review, for example by structuring a transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangements. We may grow our business by acquiring other financial technology service providers. Complying with the requirements of the regulations described above and other relevant rules to complete these transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from MOFCOM or its local counterparts, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete these transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. Furthermore, according to the M&A Rules, if a PRC entity or individual plans to merger or acquire its related PRC entity through an overseas company legitimately incorporated or controlled by such entity or individual, such a merger and acquisition will be subject to examination and approval by MOFCOM. The application and interpretations of M&A Rules are still uncertain, and there is possibility that the relevant
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PRC regulators may promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain approval of MOFCOM for our completed or ongoing mergers and acquisitions. There is no assurance that we can obtain MOFCOM approval for our mergers and acquisitions, and if we fail to obtain those approvals, we may be required to suspend our acquisition and be subject to penalties. Any uncertainties regarding such MOFCOM approval requirements could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and corporate structure.
We may be classified as a "PRC resident enterprise" for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, which could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.
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 enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The related 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, or the SAT, 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 Circular 82 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 Circular 82 may reflect the SAT'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. It will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise's financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise's primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body." As substantially all of our management members are based in China, it remains unclear how the tax residency rule would apply in our case. If the PRC tax authorities determine that we or any of our subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, then we or such subsidiary could be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on its worldwide income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we are also subject to PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Furthermore, if the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, dividends paid by us and gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares or ADSs may be subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty), if such dividends and gains are deemed to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company, including the holders of our ADSs, would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in our ADSs.
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We may rely on dividends and other distributions from our subsidiaries in China to fund our cash and financing requirements, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could materially and adversely affect our ability to conduct our business.
We are a holding company, and we rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf, the instruments governing that debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may require our PRC subsidiaries to adjust their taxable income under the current contractual arrangements they have in place with the VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders in a manner that would materially and adversely affect its ability to pay dividends and other distributions to us.
Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology and Zhang Tong Shun, as wholly foreign-owned enterprises, or WFOEs, in China, may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a WFOE is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the aggregate amount of such funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. At its discretion, a WFOE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not distributable as cash dividends.
Our PRC subsidiaries generate primarily all of their revenue in Renminbi, which is not freely convertible into other currencies. As a result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to use their Renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us.
In response to the persistent capital outflow and the Renminbi's depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People's Bank of China, or the PBOC, and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, have implemented a series of capital control measures over recent months, including stricter vetting procedures for China-based companies to remit foreign currency for overseas acquisitions, dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our PRC subsidiary's dividends and other distributions may be subjected to tighter scrutiny. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
In addition, the EIT Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax rate of up to 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC resident enterprises are incorporated.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of our ADSs.
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions in China and by China's foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. On November 30, 2015, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the regular
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five-year review of the basket of currencies that make up its Special Drawing Rights, or the SDR, and decided that with effect from October 1, 2016, the Renminbi is considered to be a freely usable currency and will be included in the SDR basket as a fifth currency, along with the U.S. dollar, the Euro, the Japanese yen and the British pound. In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Renminbi depreciated significantly in the backdrop of a surging U.S. dollar and persistent capital outflows out of China. With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization, the PRC government may announce further changes to the exchange rate system and we cannot assure you that the Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policies may affect the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
Substantially all of our revenue and costs are denominated in Renminbi. We are a holding company and we rely on dividends paid by our operating subsidiaries in China for our cash needs. Any significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from this offering or other capital markets transactions or borrowings outside China into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
The PRC government's control of foreign currency conversion may limit our foreign exchange transactions, including dividend payments on our ADSs.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our company in the Cayman Islands relies on dividend payments indirectly from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE, by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulation. However, approval from or registration with appropriate governmental 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.
In light of strong capital outflows from China in 2016, the PRC government has imposed more restrictive foreign exchange policies and stepped up its scrutiny of major outbound capital movements. More restrictions and substantial vetting processes have been put in place by SAFE to regulate cross-border capital account transactions. The PRC government may at its discretion further restrict access to foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulations concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we cannot assure you
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that we or the owners of such company will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete the necessary filings and registrations required by the foreign exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
The approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission may be required in connection with this offering under a regulation adopted in August 2006, as amended, and, if required, we cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain this approval.
The M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in August 2006 and amended in 2009, require an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic interests and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle's securities on an overseas stock exchange. In September 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by a special purpose vehicle seeking the CSRC's approval of its overseas listings.
We believe, based on the advice of our PRC counsel, Haiwen & Partners, that the aforesaid CSRC's approval is not required for the listing and trading of our ADSs on the [NYSE/NASDAQ Global Market] in the context of this offering, given that:
However, there remains some uncertainty as to how the M&A Rules will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering and the CSRC's opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules. We cannot assure you that relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion as we do. If the CSRC or any other PRC regulatory agencies subsequently determines that we need to obtain the CSRC's approval for this offering or if the CSRC or any other PRC government agencies promulgates any interpretation or implements rules before our listing that would require us to obtain CSRC or other governmental approvals for this offering, we may face adverse actions or sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies. These sanctions could include fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limitations on our operating privileges in the PRC, delays in or restrictions on the repatriation of the proceeds from this offering into the PRC, restrictions on or prohibition of the payments or remittance of dividends by our PRC subsidiary, or other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may also take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt this offering before the settlement and delivery of the ADSs that we are offering. Consequently, if you engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to the settlement and delivery of the ADSs we are offering, you would be doing so at the risk that the settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals for this offering, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of the ADSs.
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Inflation in the PRC could negatively affect our profitability and growth.
The economy of China has experienced significant growth, which has from time to time lead to significant inflation. China's overall economy is expected to continue to grow. Future increases in China's inflation may materially and adversely affect our profitability and results of operations.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investments in PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Any funds we transfer to our PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, are subject to approval by or registration with the relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with MOFCOM or its local branch, and registration with other governmental authorities in China. In addition, (i) any foreign loan procured by our PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with SAFE, or its local branches, and (ii) each of our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans that exceed the difference between its registered capital and its total investment amount. Any medium or long-term loan to be provided by us to our VIEs must be recorded and registered by the National Development and Reform Committee, or the NDRC, and SAFE or its local branches. We may not be able to complete these recordings or registrations on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions or foreign loans by us directly to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete these recordings, filings or registrations, our ability to use the proceeds of this offering and to capitalize our PRC subsidiaries may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming the Management Approach Regarding the Foreign Exchange Capital Settlement of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, which took effect as of June 1, 2015. SAFE Circular 19 launched a nationwide reform of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange capital of foreign-invested enterprises. It allows foreign-invested enterprises to settle their foreign exchange capital at their discretion, but continues to prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from using the Renminbi funds converted from their foreign exchange capital for expenditure beyond their business scopes. On June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming and Standardizing the Administrative Provisions on Capital Account Foreign Exchange, or SAFE Circular 16. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 continue to prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from, among other things, using the Renminbi funds converted from their foreign exchange capital for expenditure beyond their business scope, as well as investments in securities or any investments other than in banks' principal-secured products. These circulars also continue to prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from providing loans to non-affiliated enterprises or constructing or purchasing real estate that is not for self-use, except for real estate enterprises. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer to and use in China the net proceeds from this offering, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The heightened scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on our business operations, our acquisition or restructuring strategy or the value of your investment in us.
Pursuant to the Notice on Strengthening Administration of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or Circular 698, issued by the SAT, which became effective retroactively as of January 1, 2008, if a non-resident enterprise investor transfers equity interest in a PRC resident enterprise indirectly by way of disposing of equity interest in an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise investor, being the transferor, may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, if the indirect transfer is considered to be an abusive use of company structure without reasonable commercial purposes. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfers may be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. In addition, the relevant PRC resident enterprise may be required to provide necessary assistance to support the enforcement of Circular 698.
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On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Tax issued a Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-Tax Resident Enterprises, or Public Notice 7. Public Notice 7 introduces a new tax regime that is significantly different from Circular 698. Public Notice 7 extends tax jurisdiction to not only indirect transfers set forth under Circular 698 but also to transactions involving the transfer of other taxable assets made through the offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. In addition, Public Notice 7 provides clearer criteria than Circular 698 on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Public Notice 7 has new requirements for both foreign transferors and the transferees (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. If a non-resident enterprise conducts an "indirect transfer" by transferring the taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interest of an overseas holding company, then the non-resident enterprise, as the transferor, or the transferee or the PRC entity, which directly owned the taxable assets, must report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of up to 10% for the transfer of equity interest in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes.
We face uncertainties with respect to the reporting and consequences of private equity financing transactions, share exchanges or other transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises, or in respect of the sale or purchase of shares in other non-PRC resident companies or other taxable assets by us. Under Circular 698 and Public Notice 7, our company and our other non-resident enterprises may be subject to filing or tax obligations if they are transferors in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if they are transferees in such transactions. For the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiaries may be requested to assist in the filing under Circular 698 and Public Notice 7. The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under Circular 698 and Public Notice 7 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. If the PRC tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under Circular 698 and Public Notice 7, our income tax costs associated with such transactions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. We have made acquisitions in the past and may conduct acquisitions in the future. We cannot assure you that the PRC tax authorities will not, at their discretion, adjust any capital gains and impose tax return filing obligations on us or require us to provide assistance to them for the investigation of any transactions we were involved in. Heightened scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the future.
You may be subject to PRC income tax on dividends from us or on any gain realized on the transfer of our ADSs.
Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, PRC withholding tax at the rate of 10% is generally applicable to dividends from PRC sources paid to investors that are resident enterprises outside of China and that do not have an establishment or place of business in China, or that have an establishment or place of business in China but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business. Any gain realized on the transfer of shares by such investors is subject to 10% PRC income tax if this gain is regarded as income derived from sources within China. Under the PRC Individual Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, dividends from sources within China paid to foreign individual investors who are not PRC residents are generally subject to a PRC withholding tax at a rate of 20% and gains from PRC sources realized by these investors on the transfer of shares are generally subject to 20% PRC income tax. Any such PRC tax liability may be reduced by the provisions of an applicable tax treaty.
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Although substantially all of our business operations are in China, it is unclear whether the dividends we pay with respect to our shares or ADSs, or the gains realized from the transfer of our shares or ADSs, would be treated as income derived from sources within China and as a result be subject to PRC income tax if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise. If PRC income tax is imposed on gains realized through the transfer of our ADSs or on dividends paid to our non-resident investors, the value of your investment in our ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, our shareholders whose jurisdictions of residence have tax treaties or arrangements with China may not qualify for benefits under these tax treaties or arrangements.
In addition, pursuant to the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement between Hong Kong and China, or the Double Tax Avoidance Treaty, and the Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, or the Notice on Tax Treaties, issued on February 20, 2009 by the SAT, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the equity interest of a PRC company at all times during the twelve-month period immediately prior to obtaining a dividend from such company, the 10% withholding tax on such dividend is reduced to 5%, provided that certain other conditions and requirements under the Double Tax Avoidance Treaty and other applicable PRC laws are satisfied at the discretion of the relevant PRC tax authority. However, based on the Notice on Tax Treaties, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, the PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. Based on the Notice on Issues concerning Beneficial Owner in Tax Treaties, or Circular 9, issued on February 3, 2018 by the SAT and effective on April 1, 2018, when determining the applicant's status as a "beneficial owner" for purpose of tax treatments in connection with dividends, interests or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors will be taken into account, and it will be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of the specific cases. If our Hong Kong subsidiaries are determined by PRC government authorities as receiving benefits from reduced income tax rates due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, the dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to our Hong Kong subsidiaries will be taxed at a higher rate, which will have a material adverse effect on our financial and operational conditions.
We may be subject to penalties, including restrictions on our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries and on our PRC subsidiaries' ability to distribute profits to us, if our PRC resident shareholders or beneficial owners fail to comply with relevant PRC foreign exchange regulations.
SAFE has promulgated several regulations that require PRC residents and PRC corporate entities to register with and obtain approval from local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. The Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident's Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, was promulgated by SAFE in July 2014. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment, or control of an offshore entity established, for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. These regulations apply to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may also apply to any offshore acquisitions or investments that we make in the future.
Under these foreign exchange regulations, PRC residents who make, or have previously made, prior to the implementation of these foreign exchange regulations, direct or indirect investments in offshore companies are required to register those investments. In addition, any PRC resident who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an offshore company is required to update its previously filed SAFE registration, to reflect any material change involving its round-trip investment. If any PRC shareholder fails to make the required registration or update the previously filed registration, the PRC subsidiary of that offshore parent company may be restricted from distributing their profits and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to their offshore parent company, and the offshore parent company may also be restricted from injecting additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the
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various foreign exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions, including (i) the requirement by SAFE to return the foreign exchange remitted overseas or into the PRC within a period of time specified by SAFE, with a fine of up to 30% of the total amount of foreign exchange remitted overseas or into PRC and deemed to have been evasive or illegal and (ii) in circumstances involving serious violations, a fine of no less than 30% of and up to the total amount of remitted foreign exchange deemed evasive or illegal.
We are committed to complying with and to ensuring that our shareholders who are subject to these regulations will comply with the relevant SAFE rules and regulations. However, due to the inherent uncertainty in the implementation of the regulatory requirements by the PRC authorities, such registration might not be always practically available in all circumstances as prescribed in those regulations. In addition, we may not always be able to compel them to comply with SAFE Circular 37 or other related regulations. We cannot assure you that SAFE or its local branches will not release explicit requirements or interpret the relevant PRC laws and regulations otherwise. As of May 31, 2019, Wenwei Dou, Wenjun Wang, Jie Li and Liang Xu, who are indirect shareholders of ours, who are PRC citizens, had completed their registration under SAFE Circular 37. However, we may not be fully informed of the identities of all our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC residents, and we cannot provide any assurance that all of our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC residents will comply with our request to make, obtain or update any applicable registrations or comply with other requirements under SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules in a timely manner.
Because there is uncertainty concerning the reconciliation of these foreign exchange regulations with other approval requirements, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant governmental authorities. We cannot predict how these regulations will affect our business operations or future strategy. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
We may be materially adversely affected if our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC entities fail to comply with the relevant PRC overseas investment regulations.
On December 26, 2017, the NDRC promulgated the Administrative Measures on Overseas Investments, or NDRC Order No.11, which took effect as of March 1, 2018. According to NDRC Order No. 11, nonsensitive overseas investment projects are subject to record-filing requirements with the local branch of the NDRC. On September 6, 2014, MOFCOM promulgated the Administrative Measures on Overseas Investments, which took effect as of October 6, 2014. According to this regulation, overseas investments of PRC enterprises that involve nonsensitive countries and regions and nonsensitive industries are subject to record-filing requirements with a local MOFCOM branch. According to the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issuing the Regulations on Foreign Exchange Administration of the Overseas Direct Investment of Domestic Institutions, which was promulgated by SAFE on July 13, 2009 and took effect on August 1, 2009, PRC enterprises must register for overseas direct investment with a local SAFE branch.
As of May 31, 2019, Beijing Xinzhou Tiandi Limited Company, our indirect shareholder, which is a PRC entity, had completed the aforementioned overseas direct investments procedures required by the aforementioned regulations. However, we may not be fully informed of the identities of all our shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC entities, and we cannot provide any assurance that all of our shareholders and beneficial owners who are PRC entities will comply with our request to complete the overseas direct investment procedures under the aforementioned regulations or other related rules in a timely manner, or at all. If they fail to complete the filings or registrations required by the overseas direct
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investment regulations, the relevant authorities may order them to suspend or cease the implementation of such investment and make corrections within a specified time, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding our employee share incentive plans or share option plans may subject plan participants, who are PRC residents, or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, or SAFE Circular 7. SAFE Circular 7 and other relevant rules and regulations require PRC residents who participate in a stock incentive plan in an overseas publicly tradeable company to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. Participants in a stock incentive plan who are PRC residents must retain a qualified PRC agent to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the stock incentive plan on behalf of its participants. In addition, the PRC agent must amend the SAFE registration with respect to the plan within three months if there is any material change to the stock incentive plan, the PRC agent, or the overseas entrusted institution, or if there are any other material changes in the plan. In addition, SAFE Circular 37 stipulates that PRC residents who participate in a share incentive plan of an overseas non-publicly tradeable special purpose company must register with SAFE or its local branches before they exercise the share options. We and our PRC employees who have been granted share options and restricted shares are subject to these regulations. Failure of our PRC share option holders or restricted shareholders to complete their SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions, and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary's ability to distribute dividends to us, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business.
The SAT has also issued rules and regulations concerning employee share incentives. Under these rules and regulations, our employees working in the PRC will be subject to PRC individual income tax upon exercise of the share options and/or grant of the restricted shares. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents with respect to the granted share options and/or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes for their employees upon exercise of the share options and/or grant of the restricted shares. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their individual income taxes according to relevant rules and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the competent governmental authorities.
Our leased property interests may be defective and our right to lease the properties affected by defects may be challenged, which could cause significant disruption to our business.
As of the date of this prospectus, the lessors of certain of our leased properties in China had failed to provide us with their ownership certificate or sublease consents granted by the landlords. If the lessors or the leased properties do not have the requisite rights to lease the relevant properties, these lease agreements may be deemed to be invalid, and as a result, we may be required to vacate the relevant properties. In this event, our business may be adversely affected. PRC state-owned lands may only be used in accordance with the approved usage registered on the ownership certificate for these lands. If such lands are being used in ways that are inconsistent with these approved usages, PRC land administration authorities may order the lessor to return the land use right and may impose penalties on the lessor. Additionally, under applicable PRC laws, construction companies must act in accordance with the applicable land use rights. The actual usage of some of our PRC leased properties may not be consistent with the approved usage for the corresponding land. Under PRC law, landlords must complete registration procedures and obtain approval from competent PRC land administration authorities before they lease certain kinds of stated-owned lands. However, as of the date of this prospectus, not all of our landlords have provided us with those approvals, and there is a risk that those landlords may not have completed
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these procedures. If we were challenged by competent authorities or third parties on these types of issues, we may have to vacate the relevant properties, which will interrupt our business operations.
In addition, under PRC laws, all lease agreements must be registered with the local housing authorities. As of the date of this prospectus, not all landlords of the premises we lease have completed their registration of ownership rights or the registration of our leases. Failure to complete these registrations may expose us to potential monetary fines.
We may be subject to penalties under relevant PRC laws and regulations due to failure to be in full compliance with social insurance and housing provident fund regulation.
According to the applicable PRC laws and regulations, we need to register with the relevant authorities to make full contributions for social insurance and housing funds for our employees, and this obligation cannot be delegated to any third party.
Our contributions for some of our employees to the social insurance and housing funds may not have been in compliance with relevant PRC laws and regulations. For example, we have not made full contributions of social security and housing fund for some of our employees, or even at all. Furthermore, we have not registered with the relevant governmental authority to make social insurance and housing funds contributions, and we have engaged third-party human resources agencies to pay on our behalf for some of our employees.
If a relevant employee lodges a complaint before the relevant labor authorities or the relevant authorities conduct investigation on us, we may be required to complete relevant registrations, pay the amount in arrears in full and pay late payment fees, and if we fail to do so in a timely manner, we may face penalties. Furthermore, relevant governmental authority may not recognize the social insurance and housing funds contributions that were paid by third parties on our behalf. If this happens, we may be required to make addition payments or repay these contributions.
On July 20, 2018, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council of the PRC issued the Reform Plan of the State Tax and Local Tax Collection Administration System, or the Tax Reform Plan. Under the Tax Reform Plan, commencing from January 1, 2019, tax authorities are responsible for the collection of social insurance contributions in the PRC. The effect of the Tax Reform Plan is still uncertain. We cannot assure that we will not be required to pay any deemed shortfalls or be subject to penalties or fines regarding social security insurance and housing provident funds contributions, any of which may have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our management named in the prospectus based on foreign laws.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, most of our senior executive officers reside in China for a significant portion of the time and most of them are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside mainland China. It may also be difficult for you to enforce in the United States courts judgments obtained in the United States courts based on the civil liability provisions of the United States federal securities laws against us and our officers and directors who reside and whose assets are located outside the United States. There is also uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of the United States courts against us or such persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
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The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law and other applicable laws, regulations and interpretations based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of U.S. judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States.
Recent litigation and negative publicity surrounding China-based companies listed in the United States may result in increased regulatory scrutiny of us and negatively impact the trading price of the ADSs and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
We believe that litigation and negative publicity surrounding companies with operations in China that are listed in the United States have negatively impacted stock prices for these companies. Various equity-based research organizations have published reports on China-based companies after examining their corporate governance practices, related party transactions, sales practices and financial statements, and these reports have led to special investigations and listing suspensions on U.S. national exchanges. Any similar scrutiny of us, regardless of its lack of merit, could result in a diversion of management resources and energy, potential costs to defend ourselves against rumors, decreases and volatility in the ADS trading price, and increased directors and officers insurance premiums and could have a material adverse effect upon our business, including our results of operations, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
The audit report included in this prospectus is prepared by an auditor who is not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as such, our investors are deprived of the benefits of such inspection and are exposed to uncertainties.
Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in this prospectus filed with the SEC, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. Since our auditors are located in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditors are not currently inspected by the PCAOB.
Inspections of other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside of China have identified deficiencies in those firms' audit procedures and quality control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The lack of PCAOB inspections in China prevents the PCAOB from regularly evaluating our auditor' audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the benefits of PCAOB inspections.
The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditors' audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.
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Proceedings instituted by the SEC against five China-based accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
Starting in 2011 five China-based accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, were affected by a conflict between U.S. and Chinese law. Specifically, for certain U.S.-listed companies operating and audited in China, the SEC and the PCAOB sought to obtain from the Chinese firms access to their audit work papers and related documents. The firms were, however, advised and directed that under Chinese law, they could not respond directly to the U.S. regulators on those requests, and that requests by foreign regulators for access to such papers in China had to be channeled through the CSRC.
In December 2012, the SEC instituted proceedings under Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 against five China-based accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, alleging that these firms had violated U.S. securities laws and the SEC's rules and regulations thereunder by failing to provide to the SEC the firms' work papers related to their audits of certain China-based companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. Rule 102(e)(1)(iii) grants the SEC the authority to deny to any person, temporarily or permanently, the ability to practice before the SEC who is found by the SEC, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, to have willfully violated any such laws or rules and regulations. On January 22, 2014, an initial administrative law decision was issued, censuring these accounting firms and suspending four of the five firms from practicing before the SEC for a period of six months. Four of these China-based accounting firms appealed to the SEC against this decision and, on February 6, 2015, each of the four China-based accounting firms agreed to a censure and to pay a fine to the SEC to settle the dispute and avoid suspension of their ability to practice before the SEC. The firms' ability to continue to serve all their respective customers is not affected by the settlement. The settlement requires the firms to follow detailed procedures to seek to provide the SEC with access to Chinese firms' audit documents via the China Securities Regulatory Commission. If the firms do not follow these procedures, the SEC could impose penalties such as suspensions, or it could restart the administrative proceedings. The settlement did not require the firms to admit to any violation of law and preserves the firms' legal defenses in the event the administrative proceeding is restarted.
If the SEC restarts the administrative proceedings, depending upon the final outcome, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of their operations in the PRC, which could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, including possible delisting. Moreover, any negative news about any such future proceedings against these audit firms may cause investor uncertainty regarding China-based, U.S.-listed companies, and the market price of our ordinary shares may be adversely affected.
In December 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement on regulatory access to audit and other information internationally that cites the ongoing challenges faced by them in overseeing the financial reporting of companies listed in the United States with operations in China, the absence of satisfactory progress in discussions on these issues with Chinese authorities and the potential for remedial action if significant information barriers persist.
As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in particular China's, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of the U.S. Congress that would require the SEC to maintain a list of issuers for which the PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The Ensuring Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for these issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from U.S. national securities exchanges such as [New York Stock
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Exchange]/[NASDAQ Global Market] of issuers included on the SEC's list for three consecutive years. Enactment of this legislation or other efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and the market price of our ADSs could be adversely affected.
If our independent registered public accounting firm was denied, even temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC and we were unable to timely find another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be determined not to be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such a determination could ultimately lead to the delisting of the ADSs from the [New York Stock Exchange]/[NASDAQ Global Market] or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of the ADSs in the United States.
Risks Relating to Our ADSs and This Offering
An active trading market for our ordinary shares or our ADSs may not develop and the trading price for our ADSs may fluctuate significantly.
We have applied to list our ADSs on the [New York Stock Exchange]/[NASDAQ Global Market]. Prior to the completion of this offering, there has been no public market for our ADSs or our ordinary shares. Negotiations with the underwriters will determine the initial public offering price for our ADSs, which may bear no relationship to their market price after this offering. There is no assurance that this offering will result in the development of an active, liquid public trading market for our ADSs, and we can provide no assurance that the trading price of our ADSs after this offering will not decline below the initial public offering price. Factors such as variations in our revenue, earnings and cash flows, or any other developments in respect of us, may affect the volume and price at which our ADSs will be traded. As a result, investors in our securities may experience a significant decrease in the value of their ADSs.
[The participation in this offering by our existing shareholders and business partners and their respective affiliates may further reduce the liquidity of our ADSs, and it may cause the trading price of our ADSs to be more volatile than it would have been if other investors had purchased those ADSs that are purchased by our existing shareholders and their affiliates.]
The trading price of our ADSs may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
The trading price of our ADSs is 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 of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. A number of Chinese companies have listed or are in the process of listing their securities on U.S. stock markets. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility, including price declines in connection with their initial public offerings. The trading performances of these Chinese companies' securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance.
In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our ADSs may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:
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Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our ADSs will trade.
Shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in such a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management's attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results of operations. 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 reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our ADSs to decline.
The sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our ADSs could adversely affect their market price.
Sales of our ADSs in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ADSs to decline. Immediately after the completion of this offering, we will have ordinary shares outstanding including ordinary shares represented by ADSs, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. All ADSs sold in this offering will be freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act. The remaining ordinary shares outstanding after this offering will be available for sale, upon the expiration of the 180-day lock-up period beginning from the date of this prospectus, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. Any or all of these shares may be released prior to the expiration of the lock-up period at the discretion of the representatives of the underwriters of this offering. To the extent shares are released before the expiration of the lock-up period and sold into the market, the market price of our ADSs could decline.
We adopted a share incentive plan in November 2017, which was amended and restated in September 2019, or the 2019 plan, under which we have the discretion to grant performance-based awards to eligible participants. See "Management—Share Incentive Plan." We intend to register under the Securities Act all ordinary shares that we may issue under this share incentive plan. Once we register these ordinary shares, they can be freely sold in the public market in the form of ADSs upon issuance, subject to volume limitations applicable to affiliates and the lock-up agreements described in the "Underwriting" section of this prospectus. If a large number of our ordinary shares or securities convertible into our ordinary shares are sold in the public market in the form of ADSs after they become eligible for sale, the sales could reduce the trading price of our ADSs and impede our ability to raise future capital. In addition, any ordinary shares that we issue under our share incentive plan would dilute the percentage ownership held by investors who purchase ADSs in this offering.
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Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future after this offering, you must rely on price appreciation of our ADSs for return on your investment.
We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings after this offering to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our ADSs as a source for any future dividend income.
Our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiary, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ADSs will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our ADSs. There is no guarantee that our ADSs will appreciate in value after this offering or even maintain the price at which you purchased the ADSs. You may not realize a return on your investment in our ADSs and you may even lose your entire investment in our ADSs.
Because the initial public offering price is substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution.
If you purchase ADSs in this offering, you will pay more for each ADS than the corresponding amount paid by existing shareholders for their ordinary shares. In addition, we will issue an aggregate of ordinary shares to Blossom View Limited and Gold Planning Limited. As a result, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of approximately US$ per ADS (assuming that no outstanding options to acquire ordinary shares are exercised). This number represents the difference between (1) our pro forma net tangible book value as adjusted per ADS of US$ as of , after giving effect to this offering and (2) the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus. You may experience further dilution to the extent that our ordinary shares are issued upon exercise of any share options. See "Dilution" for a more complete description of how the value of your investment in ADSs will be diluted upon completion of this offering.
We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree.
Our management may spend the net proceeds from this offering in ways you may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return to our shareholders. We plan to use the net proceeds from this offering for purposes including enhancement of our platform and technology capabilities, international expansion and strategic investments, sales and marketing activities, and general corporate purposes. However, our management will have discretion as to the actual application of our net proceeds. You will not have the opportunity to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately before you make your investment decision. You must rely on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. We cannot assure you that the net proceeds will be used in a manner that will improve our results of operations or increase our ADS price, nor that these net proceeds will be placed only in investments that generate income or appreciate in value.
Our directors, officers and principal shareholders have substantial influence over our company and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders.
Our directors and officers will collectively own an aggregate of % of the total voting power of our outstanding ordinary shares immediately upon completion of this offering, based on the initial offering price of US$ per ADS and assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.
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As a result, they have substantial influence over our business, including significant corporate actions such as change of directors, mergers, change of control transactions and other significant corporate actions.
Our directors, offices, and principal shareholders may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. The concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and may reduce the price of the ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by shareholders, including those who purchase ADSs in this offering. In addition, the significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs due to investors' perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.
We may be a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the current or a future taxable year, which could subject U.S. investors in our ADSs or ordinary shares to significant adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
A non-U.S. corporation will be a "passive foreign investment company", or PFIC, if, in any particular year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of "passive" income or (ii) the average percentage of the value of its assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income, based on the average of four quarterly testing dates, is at least 50% (the "asset test"). Because the PFIC tests must be applied each year, and the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets may change, and because the treatment of our VIEs for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not entirely clear, it is possible that we may be a PFIC in the current or a future year. In particular, because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test may be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs, fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to become a PFIC. In addition, as described below, if we are a controlled foreign corporation (a "CFC"), there is uncertainty under current law how to apply the asset test for the current year, which may cause us to be treated as a PFIC.
If we are a CFC, it is not clear under current law whether U.S. Holders (as defined in "Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations") should apply the asset test described in clause (ii) of the preceding paragraph to the year of the initial public offering of our ADSs using the fair market values of our assets or using the adjusted tax bases of our assets. We would expect to be treated as a PFIC for a year for which the test is done using the adjusted tax bases of our assets, because a significant portion of our active assets are intangible assets that have low or zero tax bases. We believe it is reasonable under current law for U.S. Holders to use the fair market values of our assets for the fourth quarterly testing date of our current taxable year, although the Internal Revenue Service could take a different position. Recently proposed Treasury regulations would, if finalized in their current form, clarify the law by providing that the fair market values of our assets may be used only if our stock is publicly traded for a majority of the year or we are not a CFC for a majority of the year. Those regulations are proposed to be effective, however, only for taxable years of U.S. Holders that begin after the regulations are published in final form, which would mean that they will not be effective until at least 2020 for U.S. Holders that use the calendar year as their taxable years.
If we are a PFIC in any taxable year, a U.S. Holder may incur significantly increased U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares and on the receipt of distributions on our ADSs or ordinary shares to the extent such gain or distribution is treated as an "excess distribution" under the U.S. federal income tax rules, and such U.S. Holder may be subject to burdensome reporting requirements. Further, if we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all subsequent years during which such U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, unless we cease to be a PFIC and the U.S. Holder makes a special "purging" election on Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.
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See "Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules" for more details regarding the foregoing.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.
We will adopt the third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Our new memorandum and articles of association contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended, the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. 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 common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, 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 not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our memorandum and articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. Upon completion of this offering, we will follow our home country practices and rely on certain
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exemptions provided by the [Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange]/[Nasdaq Stock Market Rules] to a foreign private issuer, including exemptions from the requirements to have:
As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulties in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.
You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.
Your ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deems it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.
Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We conduct substantially all of our operations in China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, a majority of our directors and executive officers reside within China, and most of the assets of these persons are located within China. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of the PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. See "Enforceability of Civil Liabilities" for more details.
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an "emerging growth company."
Upon completion of this offering, we will become a public company and expect to incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the [NASDAQ Global Market]/[NYSE], impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of public companies. As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in net revenues for our last financial year, we qualify as an "emerging growth company" pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company's internal control over financial reporting.
We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. After we are no longer an "emerging growth company," we expect to incur significant additional expenses and devote additional management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. For example, as a result of becoming a public company, we
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will need to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures. We also expect that operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.
Because we are a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:
We will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the [NYSE/Nasdaq Global Market]. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less extensive and less timely than that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information that would be made available to you were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.
We currently prepare our financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. We are not required to file financial statements prepared in accordance with or reconciled to U.S. GAAP so long as our financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
The voting rights of holders of our ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to direct the voting of the underlying ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs.
As a holder of our ADSs, you will not have any direct right to attend general meetings of our shareholders or to cast any votes at such meetings. You will only be able to exercise the voting rights which attach to the underlying ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs indirectly by giving voting instructions to the depositary in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, you may vote only by giving voting instructions to the depositary, as the holder of the underlying ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will endeavor to vote the underlying ordinary shares in accordance with your instructions in the event voting is by poll, and in accordance with instructions received from a majority of holders of ADSs who provide instructions in the event voting is by show of hands. The depositary will not join in demanding
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a vote by poll. You will not be able to directly exercise any right to vote with respect to the underlying ordinary shares unless you withdraw the shares and become the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting. Under our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of this offering, the minimum notice period required to be given by our company to our registered shareholders for convening a general meeting is ten (10) days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice to enable you to withdraw the underlying shares which are represented by your ADSs and become the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting to allow you to attend the general meeting or to vote directly with respect to any specific matter or resolution which is to be considered and voted upon at the general meeting. In addition, under our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association that will become effective immediately prior to completion of this offering, for the purposes of determining those shareholders who are entitled to attend and vote at any general meeting, our directors may close our register of members and/or fix in advance a record date for such meeting, and such closure of our register of members or the setting of such a record date may prevent you from withdrawing the underlying shares which are represented by your ADSs and becoming the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date, so that you would not be able to attend the general meeting or to vote directly. Where any matter is to be put to a vote at a general meeting, the depositary will, if we request, and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, endeavor to notify you of the upcoming vote and to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the underlying shares which are represented by your ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out your voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to direct the voting of the underlying shares which are represented by your ADSs, and you may have no legal remedy if the underlying shares are not voted as you requested.
Your rights to pursue claims against the depositary as a holder of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement and the deposit agreement may be amended or terminated without your consent.
Under the deposit agreement, any action or proceeding against or involving the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of owning the ADSs may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and you, as a holder of our ADSs, will have irrevocably waived any objection which you may have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such action or proceeding. Also, we may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended.
The depositary for our ADSs will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our shares underlying your ADSs if you do not vote at shareholders' meetings, except in limited circumstances, which could adversely affect your interests.
Under the deposit agreement for the ADSs, if you do not vote, the depositary will give us a discretionary proxy to vote the shares underlying your ADSs on any matter at a shareholder meeting provided that we give the depositary a written confirmation sufficiently in advance of the meeting that:
The effect of this discretionary proxy is that if you do not vote at shareholders' meetings, you cannot prevent our shares underlying your ADSs from being voted, except under the circumstances described
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above. This may make it more difficult for shareholders to influence the management of our company. Holders of our shares are not subject to this discretionary proxy.
You may not receive dividends or other distributions on our shares and you may not receive any value for them, if it is illegal or impractical to make them available to you.
The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities underlying our ADSs, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, it would be unlawful to make a distribution to a holder of ADSs if it consists of securities that require registration under the Securities Act but that are not properly registered or distributed under an applicable exemption from registration. The depositary may also determine that it is not feasible to distribute certain property through the mail. Additionally, the value of certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may determine not to distribute such property. We have no obligation to register under U.S. securities laws any ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities received through such distributions. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may cause a material decline in the value of our ADSs.
Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings.
We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make such rights available to you in the United States unless we register both the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not make rights available to you unless both the rights and the underlying securities to be distributed to ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective and we may not be able to establish a necessary exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you may be unable to participate in our rights offerings in the future and may experience dilution in your holdings.
ADSs holders may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under the deposit agreement, which could result in less favorable outcomes to the plaintiffs in any such action.
The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our shares provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws.
If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court. However, we believe that a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision is generally enforceable, including under the laws of the State of New York, which govern the deposit agreement, by a federal or state court in the City of New York, which has nonexclusive jurisdiction over matters arising under the deposit agreement. In determining whether to enforce a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision, courts will generally consider whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. We believe that this is the case with
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respect to the deposit agreement and the ADSs. It is advisable that you consult legal counsel regarding the jury waiver provision before entering into the deposit agreement.
If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of ADSs bring a claim against us or the depositary in connection with matters arising under the deposit agreement or the ADSs, including claims under federal securities laws, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us and the depositary. If a lawsuit is brought against either or both of us and the depositary under the deposit agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have, including results that could be less favorable to the plaintiffs in any such action.
Nevertheless, if this jury trial waiver provision is not permitted by applicable law, an action could proceed under the terms of the deposit agreement with a jury trial. No condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs or by us or the depositary of compliance with any substantive provision of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of current or historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "likely to" or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we refer to in this prospectus with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. Other sections of this prospectus include additional factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
This prospectus contains statistical data and information estimates that we obtained from various government and private publications, including industry data and information from Oliver Wyman. Although we have not independently verified the data, we believe that the publications and reports are reliable. The market data contained in this prospectus involves a number of assumptions, estimates and limitations. The financial services market and the market for technology-as-a-platform for financial service providers and related markets in China and elsewhere may not grow at the rates projected by market data, or at all. The failure of these markets to grow at the projected rates may have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our ADSs. If any one or more of the assumptions underlying the market data turns out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions. In addition, projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industry in which we operate are necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
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We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately US$ million, or approximately US$ million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment options in full, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. These estimates are based upon an assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, which is the mid-point of the price range shown on the front cover page of this prospectus. A US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by US$ , assuming the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us.
The primary purposes of this offering are to create a public market for our shares for the benefit of all shareholders, retain talented employees by providing them with equity incentives, and obtain additional capital. We plan to use the net proceeds of this offering as follows:
The plans outlined above represents our current intentions based upon our present plans and business conditions to use and allocate the net proceeds of this offering. Our management, however, will have significant flexibility and discretion to apply the net proceeds of this offering. If an unforeseen event occurs or business conditions change, we may use the proceeds of this offering differently than as described in this prospectus. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our ADSs and This Offering—We have not determined a specific use for a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and we may use these proceeds in ways with which you may not agree."
In using the proceeds of this offering, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations as an offshore holding company to provide funding to our wholly foreign owned subsidiary in China only through loans or capital contributions and to our variable interest entity only through loans. Such loans and capital contributions are subject to PRC regulations, approvals, permits, registrations and filings, and requirements of the relevant authorities. Capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries must be approved by or filed with MOFCOM or its local counterparts, and loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs and their subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE or its local branches. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals on a timely basis, if at all. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of this offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business." We expect that all the net proceeds from this offering will be used in the PRC in the form of Renminbi and mainly by funding our wholly foreign owned subsidiary through capital contributions. In general, the relevant registration and approval procedures for capital contributions typically take approximately eight weeks to complete. We currently see no material obstacles in completing the registration and approval procedures with respect to future capital contributions to our wholly foreign owned subsidiary.
[We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of ADSs by the selling shareholders.]
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Our board of directors has discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that our company may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. We do not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future after this offering. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in China for our cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us.
If we pay any dividends on our ordinary shares, we will pay those dividends which are payable in respect of the ordinary shares underlying our ADSs to the depositary, as the registered holder of such ordinary shares, and the depositary then will pay such amounts to our ADS holders in proportion to the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs held by such ADS holders, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
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The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2019:
You should read this table together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and the information under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
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As of June 30, 2019 | ||||||||||||
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|
Actual | As-adjusted(1) | |||||||||||
|
RMB |
US$ |
RMB |
US$ |
|||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||
Equity: |
|||||||||||||
Share capital |
66 | 10 | |||||||||||
Shares held for share option scheme |
(88,280 | ) | (12,859 | ) | |||||||||
Other reserves |
6,227,896 | 907,195 | |||||||||||
Accumulated losses |
(3,097,635 | ) | (451,221 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity attributable to equity owners of the Company |
3,042,047 | 443,124 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total equity and liabilities |
8,238,029 | 1,200,004 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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If you invest in our ADSs, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per ADS and our net tangible book value per ADS after this offering. Dilution results from the fact that the initial public offering price per ordinary share is substantially in excess of the book value per ordinary share attributable to the existing shareholders for our presently outstanding ordinary shares.
Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 was approximately US$ , or US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total consolidated tangible assets, less the amount of our total consolidated liabilities. Dilution is determined by subtracting net tangible book value per ordinary share, after giving effect to the additional proceeds we will receive from this offering, from the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ordinary share, which is the midpoint of the estimated initial public offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus adjusted to reflect the ADS-to-ordinary share ratio, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
Without taking into account any other changes in net tangible book value after June 30, 2019, other than to give effect to our sale of the ADSs offered in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS, which is the midpoint of the estimated range of the initial public offering price, after deduction of the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as-adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 would have been US$ , or US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS to the existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS to investors purchasing ADSs in this offering. The following table illustrates such dilution:
|
Per Ordinary Share |
Per ADS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assumed initial public offering price |
US$ | US$ | |||||
Net tangible book value as of June 30, 2019 |
US$ | US$ | |||||
As-adjusted net tangible book value after giving effect to (i) this offering; and (ii) the issuance of an aggregate of ordinary shares to Blossom View Limited and Gold Planning Limited |
US$ | US$ | |||||
Amount of dilution in net tangible book per ordinary share value to new investors in this offering |
US$ | US$ | |||||
Amount of dilution in net tangible book value to new investors in this offering |
US$ | US$ |
A US$1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of US$ per ADS would increase (decrease) our as-adjusted net tangible book value after giving effect to this offering by US$ , the as-adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share and per ADS after giving effect to this offering by US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS and the dilution in as-adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share and per ADS to new investors in this offering by US$ per ordinary share and US$ per ADS, assuming no change to the number of ADSs offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses.
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as-adjusted basis as of June 30, 2019, the differences between existing shareholders and the new investors with respect to the number of ordinary shares (represented by ADSs or shares) purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price per ordinary share and per ADS paid before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and
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estimated offering expenses. The total number of ordinary shares does not include ordinary shares underlying the ADSs issuable upon the exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters.
|
Ordinary Shares Purchased |
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|
|
|
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Total Consideration | Average Price Per Ordinary Share |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Average Price Per ADS |
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|
Number | Percent | Amount | Percent | |||||||||||||||
Existing shareholders |
US$ | % | US$ | US$ | |||||||||||||||
New investors |
US$ | % | US$ | US$ | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
US$ | 100.0 | % | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The pro forma as-adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only. Our net tangible book value following the completion of this offering is subject to adjustment based on the actual initial public offering price of our ADSs and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.
The discussion and tables above assume no exercise of any outstanding share options outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, there are ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding share options at a weighted average exercise price of US$ per share, and there are ordinary shares available for future issuance upon the exercise of future grants under our share incentive plan. To the extent that any of these options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors.
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands exempted company, such as:
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the Cayman Islands. These disadvantages include, but are not limited to:
Our constituent documents do not contain provisions requiring that disputes, including those arising under the securities laws of the United States, between us, our officers, directors and shareholders, be arbitrated.
Substantially all of our operations are conducted in China, and substantially all of our assets are located in China. Substantially all of our directors and executive officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States, and most of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for a shareholder to effect service of process within the United States upon these individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States, in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.
We have appointed [Cogency Global Inc.], located at [10 East 40th Street, 10th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10016], as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with this offering under the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any State in the United States or any action brought against us in the Supreme Court of the State of New York in the County of New York in connection with this offering under the securities laws of the State of New York.
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, and Haiwen & Partners, our counsel as to PRC law, have advised us, respectively, that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and China, respectively, would:
We have been advised by our Cayman Islands legal counsel, Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, 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 securities laws of the United States or any State; and (ii) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands, to impose liabilities against
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us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any State, so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. The courts of the Cayman Islands would recognize as a valid judgment, a final and conclusive judgment in personam obtained in the United Courts against our company under which a sum of money is payable (other than a sum of money payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty) or, in certain circumstances, an in personam judgment for non-monetary relief, and would give a judgment based thereon provided that (a) such courts had proper jurisdiction over the parties subject to such judgment, (b) such courts did not contravene the rules of natural justice of the Cayman Islands, (c) such judgment was not obtained by fraud, (d) the enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands, (e) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of the Cayman Islands, and (f) there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands Court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
Haiwen & Partners has further advised us that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements, public policy considerations and conditions set forth in applicable provisions of PRC laws relating to the enforcement of civil liability, including the PRC Civil Procedures Law, based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or the Cayman Islands.
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CORPORATE HISTORY AND STRUCTURE
Corporate History
Shanghai OneConnect Financial Technology Company Limited, or Shanghai OneConnect, was originally founded by Ping An Financial Technology, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ping An Group, and Guang Feng Qi, in December 2015 to provide technology solutions to financial institutions.
Ping An Financial Technology, Guang Feng Qi, Shanghai Jin Ning Sheng, and Urumqi Guang Feng Rong Equity Investment Limited Partnership, or Guang Feng Rong, later incorporated Shenzhen OneConnect, in September 2017. Immediately after incorporation, Shenzhen OneConnect acquired 100% equity interest in Shanghai OneConnect and since then Shanghai OneConnect and its subsidiaries became wholly-owned subsidiaries of Shenzhen OneConnect.
In October 2017, we restructured our holding structure by incorporating OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company to facilitate financing and offshore listing. In the meanwhile, we also established Jin Tai Yuan Limited in the British Virgin Islands as the wholly-owned subsidiary of OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd., and Jin Cheng Long Limited in Hong Kong as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Jin Tai Yuan Limited. Jin Tai Yuan Limited and Jin Cheng Long Limited are our intermediate holding companies.
In October 2017, Ping An Financial Technology and Guang Feng Rong transferred 22.2% and 2.4% of their equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect to Shenzhen Lanxin and Shanghai Jin Ning Sheng, respectively. Shortly thereafter, OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. issued ordinary shares to the offshore entities designated by then-shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect substantially in proportion to those shareholders' then-shareholding percentage in Shenzhen OneConnect.
In January 2018, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Jin Cheng Long. Shenzhen OneConnect Technology has entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Shenzhen OneConnect and its shareholders, which allows us to exercise effective control over the business operation of Shenzhen OneConnect and enjoy all the economic interests derived therefrom. See "Contractual Arrangements with Shenzhen OneConnect and Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders" for more information.
In July 2018, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology acquired 51.7% equity interest in Vantage Point Technology, a company providing asset liability management solutions. The acquisition has enabled us to expand our service offerings into the area of assets and liabilities management to banks.
In June 2019, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology acquired an 80% equity interest in Beijing BER, which is a service provider specialized in scenario-based retail digital banking platform establishment and operation. The acquisition has enabled us to enlarge our customer base and enrich our business scenarios.
In August 2019, we acquired all the shares of View Foundation, a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong, from its sole shareholder. View Foundation has a PRC-incorporated subsidiary, Zhang Tong Shun which has entered into contractual arrangements with Shenzhen CA and its shareholders, which in the aggregate hold 98.9% shares in Shenzhen CA, that allow View Foundation, through Zhang Tong Shun, to exercise effective control over the business operation of Shenzhen CA and enjoy the relevant economic interests derived from it. Shenzhen CA is engaged in the provision of digital certification and related services and solutions.
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Corporate Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our principal subsidiaries, our VIEs, and our VIEs' principal subsidiaries as of the date of this prospectus:
Contractual Arrangements
Contractual Arrangements with Shenzhen OneConnect and Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders
Foreign ownership of companies that engage in value-added telecommunication services is subject to certain restrictions under Chinese laws and regulations. The Special Administrative Measures for Entrance of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2019 Version) provides that foreign investors are generally not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interest in a value-added telecommunication service provider other than an e-commerce service provider, a domestic multi-party communications service provider, a data collection and transmission service provider or a call center, and the Provisions on the Administration
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of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises (2016 Revision) require that the major foreign investor in a value-added telecommunication service provider in China must have experience in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record. We are a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and our subsidiary Shenzhen OneConnect Technology is considered a foreign-invested enterprise. To comply with the Chinese laws and regulations described above, we primarily conduct our business in China through Shenzhen OneConnect, and its subsidiaries in China, based on a series of contractual arrangements.
The following is a summary of the contractual arrangements made by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, the shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, as well as the shareholders of the direct shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, namely Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou, who we refer to as the Indirect Shareholders, and together with the direct shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders.
Agreement that Allows Us to Receive Economic Benefits from Shenzhen OneConnect
Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
Shenzhen OneConnect Technology and Shenzhen OneConnect entered into an exclusive business cooperation agreement on January 29, 2018, which was amended and restated on September 16, 2019. Pursuant to this agreement, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or its designated party has the exclusive right to provide Shenzhen OneConnect with business support, technology and consulting services. In exchange for these services, Shenzhen OneConnect will pay Shenzhen OneConnect Technology an annual service fee, equal to Shenzhen OneConnect's profit before tax, after recovering any accumulated losses of Shenzhen OneConnect and its subsidiaries from the preceding fiscal year, and deducting working capital, costs, expenses, tax and other statutory contributions required for that fiscal year. Without the prior written consent of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect may not accept any services covered by this agreement from any third party, and may not cooperate with any third party in respect of the subject matter of the amended and restated exclusive business cooperation agreement. Shenzhen OneConnect and Shenzhen OneConnect Technology have agreed that Shenzhen OneConnect Technology will exclusively own the proprietary rights, ownership, interests and intellectual property rights produced or created in connection with the performance of this agreement. Unless mutually terminated, this agreement will remain effective for ten years, and it will be automatically renewed for another five years, unless Shenzhen OneConnect Technology objects in writing thirty days prior to the agreement's expiry.
Agreements that Provide Us with Options to Purchase the Equity Interest in and Assets of Shenzhen OneConnect
Amended and Restated Exclusive Equity Option Agreement and Amended and Restated Exclusive Asset Option Agreement
Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect and the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders entered into an exclusive equity option agreement and an exclusive asset option agreement on January 29, 2018, which was amended and restated on September 16, 2019. Pursuant to the amended and restated exclusive equity option agreement, the shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect have irrevocably and unconditionally granted Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or any third party designated by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology an exclusive option to purchase all or a portion of their respective equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect. The purchase price for these equity interest will be the higher of (i) the nominal price and (ii) the lowest price permitted by applicable PRC law. Pursuant to the amended and restated exclusive asset option agreement, Shenzhen OneConnect has irrevocably and unconditionally granted Shenzhen OneConnect Technology or any third party designated by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology an exclusive option to purchase all or a portion of its assets. Subject to any valuation required by applicable PRC law at the time of the exercise of this option, the purchase price will be the higher of (i) the nominal price and (ii) the lowest price permitted by applicable PRC law.
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Shenzhen OneConnect Technology may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the amended and restated exclusive asset option agreement to a third party after providing written notice to Shenzhen OneConnect, and Shenzhen OneConnect Technology may transfer any of its rights or obligations under the amended and restated exclusive equity option agreement to a third party after providing written notice to Shenzhen OneConnect and its shareholders. Without the prior written consent of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect and the relevant Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders may not, in any manner, among other things, supplement and amend the articles of associations of Shenzhen OneConnect; increase or reduce its registered capital or change the structure of their registered capital in other manners; sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of its assets, legal or beneficial interests in business or revenue or allow any encumbrance on such assets, legal or beneficial interests in business or revenue, outside the ordinary course of business; assume, inherit, guarantee any debt, or allow the existence of any debt, except for debts incurred in the ordinary course of business and debts known and agreed in writing by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology; cause Shenzhen OneConnect to enter into any material contract with value above RMB1 million outside the ordinary course of business; provide loans, credits or guarantees in any form to any other persons outside the ordinary course of business; cause or permit Shenzhen OneConnect to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in any other persons; procure or permit Shenzhen OneConnect to sell any assets value RMB1 million or more; or distribute dividends to its shareholders. Under these agreements, the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders also undertake that they will not transfer, pledge, or otherwise dispose of their equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect to any third party or create or allow any encumbrance on their equity interest. Unless terminated upon the parties' agreement, these agreements will remain effective for ten years, and will be automatically renewed for another five years, unless Shenzhen OneConnect Technology objects to the renewal in writing thirty days prior to these agreements' expiry.
Agreements that Provide Us with Effective Control over Shenzhen OneConnect
Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement
Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect and the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders entered into an equity pledge agreement on January 29, 2018, which was amended and restated on September 16, 2019. Pursuant to this agreement, each shareholder of Shenzhen OneConnect has pledged all of its respective equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect to Shenzhen OneConnect Technology to guarantee the performance of the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders and Shenzhen OneConnect of their respective obligations under the amended and restated exclusive option agreements, the amended and restated shareholder voting proxy agreements, the amended and restated exclusive business cooperation agreement and the letters of undertakings, as well as their respective liabilities arising from any breach. If Shenzhen OneConnect or any of the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders breaches any obligations under these agreements, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, as pledgee, may dispose of the pledged equity and have priority to be compensated by the proceeds from the disposal of such equity. Each of the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders agrees that before its obligations under the contractual arrangements are discharged and the amounts payable prescribed under these agreements are fully paid (other than those for the purpose of performing its obligations under the contractual arrangements) it will not dispose of the pledged equity interest, create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interest that may have material adverse effects on the pledgee's rights under this agreement without Shenzhen OneConnect Technology's prior written consent. The amended and restated equity pledge agreement will remain effective until Shenzhen OneConnect and the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders have discharged all their obligations and fully paid all the amounts payable under the contractual arrangements. We have completed the registration of the equity pledge with the relevant office of the Administration for Industry and Commerce of China in accordance with applicable PRC law and regulations on February 26, 2018.
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Amended and Restated Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement
Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders and the subsidiaries of Shenzhen OneConnect entered into a shareholder voting proxy agreement on January 29, 2018, which was amended and restated on September 16, 2019. Pursuant to this agreement, each shareholder of Shenzhen OneConnect and its subsidiaries irrevocably authorizes the persons designated by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology to act on its behalf to exercise all of such shareholder's voting and other rights associated with the shareholder's equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect and the subsidiaries of Shenzhen OneConnect, such as the right to appoint or designate directors, supervisors and officers, as well as the right to sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of all or any portion of the shares held by such shareholder. The term of the amended and restated shareholder voting proxy agreement is the same as that of the amended and restated business cooperation agreement described above.
Letters of Undertakings
Each Indirect Shareholder signed a letter of undertakings to our company on January 29, 2018 and September 16, 2019, respectively. Under these letters, the signing Indirect Shareholder has separately irrevocably undertaken, in the event of his or her death or loss of capacity or any other events that could possibly affect his or her capacity to fulfil his or her obligations under the contractual arrangement of Shenzhen OneConnect, that he or she will unconditionally transfer his or her equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect to any person designated by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology and the transferee will be deemed to be a party to the contractual arrangements and will assume all of his or her rights and obligations as such under the contractual arrangements. Each signing Indirect Shareholder represents that his or her spouse has no ownership interest in his or her equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect. Each signing Indirect Shareholder further represents that in any circumstances, he or she will not, directly or indirectly, commit any conduct, measure, action or omission that is contrary to the purpose and intention of the contractual arrangements, that leads or may lead to any conflict of interest between Shenzhen OneConnect and OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries, and that if, during his or her performance of the contractual arrangements, there is a conflict of interest between the signing Indirect Shareholder and OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries, the signing Indirect Shareholder will protect the legal interests of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology under the contractual arrangements and follow the instructions of our company.
Spousal Consent Letters
The spouses of Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou each signed a spousal consent letter on January 29, 2018 and September 16, 2019, respectively. Under these letters, each signing spouse respectively agreed that he or she was aware of the equity interest beneficially owned by his or her spouse in Shenzhen OneConnect and the relevant contractual arrangements in connection with such equity interest. The signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably confirmed that he or she does not have any equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect and committed not to impose any adverse assertions upon his or her spouse's respective equity interest. Each signing spouse further confirmed that such equity interest may be disposed of pursuant to the relevant contractual arrangements, and committed that he or she will take all necessary measures for the performance of those arrangements.
Contractual Arrangement with Shenzhen CA and Certain of Its Shareholders
Shenzhen CA and certain of its shareholders holding in the aggregate 98.9% of the equity interest in Shenzhen CA entered into a series of contractual agreements with Zhang Tong Shun in August 2019. These agreements contain terms substantially similar to the contractual arrangements among Shenzhen OneConnect, Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders and Shenzhen OneConnect Technology described above.
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Pursuant to the share purchase agreement in connection with our acquisition of View Foundation, which was completed on August 30, 2019, the selling shareholder of View Foundation will procure Guangzhou Fengxun Shengdao Information Technology Co., Ltd to acquire 2.3% of the equity interest in Shenzhen CA held by Lianying He within a certain period of time after the closing of the acquisition of View Foundation. In addition, we and the selling shareholder of View Foundation will procure Shenzhen Huaxinhe Information Technology Co., Ltd., Zhuhai Ruisheng Chuangye Investment LLP and Fengxun Shengdao Information Technology Co., Ltd to transfer their respective equity interest in Shenzhen CA to our designated entity within a certain period of time after the closing of the acquisition of View Foundation. The transfers of equity interest in Shenzhen CA are subject to reporting procedures to the relevant PRC authorities.
In the opinion of Haiwen & Partners, our PRC counsel:
However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to or otherwise different from the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to VIE structures such as ours will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for the operation of Shenzhen OneConnect and Shenzhen CA do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in our businesses, we could be subject to severe penalties, including being prohibited from continuing operations. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our businesses in China do not comply with applicable PRC laws and regulations, or if these regulations or their interpretations change, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations." and "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us" for more details.
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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and selected consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following selected consolidated statements of comprehensive income data for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, selected consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2019 and selected consolidated statements of cash flow data for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS issued by the IASB. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
Year ended December 31, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except for per-share data) |
||||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Data |
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
581,912 | 1,413,489 | 205,898 | 540,498 | 970,184 | 141,323 | |||||||||||||
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below |
(284,715 | ) | (797,858 | ) | (116,221 | ) | (297,723 | ) | (501,381 | ) | (73,034 | ) | |||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(230,906 | ) | (260,088 | ) | (37,886 | ) | (116,728 | ) | (202,105 | ) | (29,440 | ) | |||||||
Research and development expenses |
(504,144 | ) | (426,099 | ) | (62,068 | ) | (111,037 | ) | (409,332 | ) | (59,626 | ) | |||||||
Selling and marketing expenses |
(208,035 | ) | (441,932 | ) | (64,375 | ) | (137,250 | ) | (269,338 | ) | (39,234 | ) | |||||||
General and administrative expenses |
(270,275 | ) | (522,019 | ) | (76,041 | ) | (154,623 | ) | (325,412 | ) | (47,402 | ) | |||||||
Other income, gains or loss-net |
25,860 | (79,860 | ) | (11,633 | ) | (31,045 | ) | (77,089 | ) | (11,229 | ) | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
(890,303 | ) | (1,114,367 | ) | (162,326 | ) | (307,908 | ) | (814,473 | ) | (118,641 | ) | |||||||
Finance income |
2,128 |
129,435 |
18,854 |
48,947 |
62,231 |
9,065 |
|||||||||||||
Finance costs |
(85,711 | ) | (163,442 | ) | (23,808 | ) | (62,506 | ) | (90,894 | ) | (13,240 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance costs-net |
(83,583 | ) | (34,007 | ) | (4,954 | ) | (13,559 | ) | (28,663 | ) | (4,175 | ) | |||||||
Share of net losses of associate |
(2,747 | ) | (15,442 | ) | (2,249 | ) | (7,740 | ) | (5,727 | ) | (834 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax |
(976,633 | ) | (1,163,816 | ) | (169,529 | ) | (329,207 | ) | (848,863 | ) | (123,651 | ) | |||||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
369,677 | (26,469 | ) | (3,856 | ) | (31,052 | ) | 90,978 | 13,252 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year/period |
(606,956 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | (173,385 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (757,885 | ) | (110,398 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss attributable to: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | (174,175 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (754,883 | ) | (109,961 | ) | |||||||
Non-controlling interests |
— | 5,427 | 791 | — | (3,002 | ) | (437 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
(606,956 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | (173,385 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (757,885 | ) | (110,398 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income |
— | 396,520 | 57,760 | 204,607 | (1,970 | ) | (287 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year/period |
(606,956 | ) | (793,765 | ) | (115,625 | ) | (155,652 | ) | (759,855 | ) | (110,685 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss attributable to: |
|||||||||||||||||||
Owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (799,192 | ) | (116,415 | ) | (155,652 | ) | (756,853 | ) | (110,248 | ) | |||||||
Non-controlling interests |
— | 5,427 | 791 | — | (3,002 | ) | (437 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
(606,956 | ) | (793,765 | ) | (115,625 | ) | (155,652 | ) | (759,855 | ) | (110,685 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss per share attributable to owners of the Company |
|||||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
(0.90 | ) | (1.29 | ) | (0.19 | ) | (0.39 | ) | (0.81 | ) | (0.12 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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The following table presents our selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019:
|
As of December 31, | As of June 30, | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except for shares data) |
|||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheets Data |
||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash |
1,100 | 3,996,238 | 582,118 | 3,293,157 | 479,702 | |||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | 1,048,916 | 152,792 | |||||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
863,266 | 2,540,925 | 370,127 | 1,053,784 | 153,501 | |||||||||||
Total current assets |
2,064,954 | 7,858,622 | 1,144,737 | 6,543,910 | 953,228 | |||||||||||
Total non-current assets |
950,586 | 1,523,987 | 221,994 | 1,694,119 | 246,776 | |||||||||||
Total assets |
3,015,540 | 9,382,609 | 1,366,731 | 8,238,029 | 1,200,004 | |||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
2,861,482 | 5,122,390 | 746,160 | 4,553,721 | 663,324 | |||||||||||
Total non-current liabilities |
188,942 | 429,131 | 62,510 | 469,468 | 68,386 | |||||||||||
Total liabilities |
3,050,424 | 5,551,521 | 808,670 | 5,023,189 | 731,710 | |||||||||||
Total share capital |
60 | 66 | 10 | 66 | 10 | |||||||||||
Total equity and liabilities |
3,015,540 | 9,382,609 | 1,366,731 | 8,238,029 | 1,200,004 | |||||||||||
Total shares outstanding |
900,000,000 | 999,999,999 | 999,999,999 | 1,001,748,500 | 1,001,748,500 |
The following table presents our selected consolidated statements of cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019:
|
Year ended December 31, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||
Selected Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow Data |
|||||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(228,685 | ) | (489,237 | ) | (71,265 | ) | (350,266 | ) | (1,027,222 | ) | (149,632 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(126,841 | ) | (5,805,478 | ) | (845,663 | ) | (7,110,045 | ) | 2,026,597 | 295,207 | |||||||||
Net cash generated from/ (used in) financing activities |
1,125,135 | 5,999,403 | 873,912 | 7,011,637 | (522,837 | ) | (76,160 | ) | |||||||||||
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
769,609 | (295,312 | ) | (43,017 | ) | (448,674 | ) | 476,538 | 69,416 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year/period |
78,158 | 847,767 | 123,491 | 847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | |||||||||||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
— | 12,572 | 1,831 | (10,319 | ) | 7,351 | 1,071 | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year/period |
847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | 388,774 | 1,048,916 | 152,792 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the section entitled "Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties about our business and operations. Our actual results may differ materially from those we currently anticipate as a result of many factors, including those we describe under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. For a discussion of forward-looking statements, see "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Industry Data."
Overview
We are a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China. Our platform provides cloud-native technology solutions that integrate extensive financial services industry expertise with market-leading technology. We deliver our solutions to financial institutions through an innovative end-to-end model that offers not only technology applications but also technology-enabled business services that together enable our customers to increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service quality, and reduce costs—helping them achieve digital transformation.
We established our initial operations as the financial technology solution arm of Ping An Group. Since the end of 2015, we started to operate as a separate company in Ping An Group until November 29, 2017 when we ceased to be consolidated with Ping An Group. We continue to enjoy a strong relationship with Ping An Group, as a partner for technology development, a supplier of application scenarios for developing our products, and a flagship customer showcasing our capabilities. Our strategic partnership with Ping An Group has contributed to and we expect it to continue to contribute to our future growth.
We believe that partnering with our financial institution customers is important in driving our success. Under our "adopt-deepen-integrate" customer-development approach, we provide "hook products" to financial institutions, at low or even no charge, to attract usage. We subsequently seek to deepen our relationships with these customers through cross-selling to them higher margin products and, ultimately, platform integration. On average, each of our premium customers purchased 3.0 products in 2018, growing from 1.7 in 2016. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 customers was 224%, and our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 premium customers was 167%.
We have adopted a transaction-based revenue model that enables us to participate in our customers' growth and achieve visible revenue streams that are fast-growing and highly recurring. Under this revenue model, we primarily price our solutions based on the transaction volume generated on our platform or our financial institution customers' other usage of it. We monetize a variety of transaction types, including loans generated, claims processed, databases queried and API calls made. We believe this model allows financial institutions to quickly adopt and begin using our platform, which allows our platform to form an extensive customer base and further capture greater value-upside. In 2018, 77% of our revenue was transaction based. In addition to technology applications, we also provide our financial institution customers with business services to enable them to grow their business with our extensive industry expertise and customer insights.
We have achieved significant growth in our client base and revenues. Our customer base had increased from over 1,600 as of December 31, 2016 to approximately 3,500 as of December 31, 2018. We have the largest number of financial institution customers among technology-as-a-service platforms in China. As of June 30, 2019, our broad customer base includes all of China's major banks, 99% of its city commercial banks, and 44% of its insurance companies, collectively reaching hundreds of millions of end-customers. Since our establishment in December 2015, our platform has supported Chinese financial institutions in generating RMB1.6 trillion of transactions for their end-customers. Through our platform, in the first half of 2019 on a daily basis, we facilitated approximately 135,000 anti-fraud checks, 4.0 million
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credit risk assessments, and the processing of approximately 10,800 auto insurance claims. Our revenue increased by 142.9% from RMB581.9 million in 2017 to RMB1,413.5 million (US$205.9 million) in 2018, and increased by 179.5% from RMB540.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 to RMB970.2 (US$141.3 million) for the same period in 2019.
Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Our business and operating results are affected by general factors affecting China's technology-as-a-service for financial institutions market, which include China's overall economic growth and the growth of its financial industry, competitive landscape in the technology-as-a-service for financial institutions market, financial institutions' acceptance of advanced technology services, and regulation and policies affecting technology services and financial institutions. Unfavorable changes in any of these general conditions could negatively affect demand for our services and materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
While our business is influenced by general factors affecting China's technology-as-a-service for financial institutions market, we believe that our results of operations are more directly affected by certain company-specific factors, including:
Growth of Customer Transaction Volume and Depth of Our Customer Relationships
We focus on a transaction-based revenue model, where we initially provide implementation services and later on charge our financial institution customers based on the transaction volume generated on our platform or their other usage of it. As a result, our results of operations largely depend on the growth of our customers' transaction volume, which in turn, is affected by the effectiveness of our solutions. For example, we provide our customers with a set of tailored business services to catalyze transaction volume. As our customers' transaction volume increases, we are able to generate more transaction-based fee revenue.
We pursue a three-step "adopt-deepen-integrate" approach to establish and solidify our partnership with our customers. Under this approach, we strategically provide hook products, at low or even no charge, to encourage the adoption of our products. As a result, many of our customers, including a significant majority of our basic customers, are non-paying customers. Once a customer adopts our platform, we focus on increasing its use of our solutions and the value it creates on our platform. We promote cross-selling of our solutions so that we become an integral part of the customer's operations. Our ability to increase revenue from our existing customers, and convert non-paying customers into revenue-generating customers and further increase their transaction volume, will be critical to increasing our revenue. Our net expansion rate, which is a key measurement of the expansion of our customer relationship on a year-on-year basis, was 224% in 2018 for our 2017 customers.
Our ability to continue our strategic partnership with Ping An Group
Ping An Group is our strategic partner and our most important customer and supplier. We have partnered with Ping An Group to jointly develop new technology and applications, and Ping An Group provides us support in technology and infrastructure, in particular cloud infrastructure. Ping An Group also provides us with a diverse and reliable source of real-life application scenarios to validate and prove our technology. Many of our customer insights and innovative solutions are first initiated and tested within the Ping An Group ecosystem.
We have provided a number of services, including those for customer acquisition and management, risk management, operation and product optimization, to Ping An Group. Our revenue from Ping An Group and its associates as a percentage of our total revenue decreased from 2017 to 2018 and further in the first half of 2019. We expect Ping An Group and its associates will continue to be our most important customers, although we may be less reliant on their revenue contributions over time. In addition to our
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direct revenue from Ping An Group and its associates, we also had revenue from lending solutions that we provided to customers that we had direct contracts with, and provided direct services to, where payments for these services were made through contractual arrangements that we have with Ping An Group and its associates. Our strategic partnership with Ping An Group has contributed to our growth significantly, and we expect it to remain important to our growth and success.
Our Ability to Commercialize and Market Our Services and Solutions
Our results of operations are affected by our ability to successfully commercialize and market our technologies. This, in turn, depends on our technology leadership and our innovation to develop and design easy-to-deploy, scalable and secure solutions to address financial institutions' unserved or under-served needs. Our results of operations also depend on the effectiveness of our customer acquisition and relationship management strategies, as well as customers' acceptance of our transaction-based pricing model.
Expansion of Our Customer Base
Our growth depends on our ability to expand our customer base, which mainly consists of financial institutions. The number of our customers increased from over 1,600 at the end of 2016 to approximately 3,500 at the end of 2018, and the number of our premium customers increased from 40 in 2017 to 221 in 2018. Expanding our customer base, especially our premium customers, supports our sustainable growth. Customer satisfaction among a growing customer base will strengthen our brand and reputation which, in turn, will create opportunities for our further expansion.
Our ability to expand our customer base and deepen our relationship with customers depends on various factors, including the acceptance of our solutions, the success of our sales and marketing efforts, competition, the regulatory environment for financial institutions and our industry, and our ability to innovate and improve our services.
Our Ability to Manage Costs and Expenses Effectively
Our ability to manage and control our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) and operating expenses is critical to our results of operations. Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) primarily includes fees we pay to our channel partners to generate leads for our customers, fees we pay for outsourced technology or data services, as well as labor costs. Cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of revenue for any of our particular solutions is generally higher at the earlier stage of its commercialization.
We have made substantial investment in customer acquisition, research and development, and other supporting functions to support our future growth and expansion. To achieve, maintain and enhance our profitability, we plan to leverage our large customer base by cross-selling higher margin products and expanding our financial institution customer relationships to reduce selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of our revenue. We also plan to continue to leverage previous investment in technology and other infrastructure to reduce our research and development expenses as a percentage of our revenue and to further benefit from economies of scale.
Continued Innovation in Technology
Our advanced technological capabilities and infrastructure are key to our business development. Our ability to effectively invest in these areas helps us develop new solutions and explore new business models for our financial institution customers and it helps our customers expand their client bases and transaction volumes, while effectively managing risks. In addition, our technology infrastructure is critical to the scalability, security and flexibility of our platform.
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Key Operating Metrics
We regularly review the following key operating metrics to evaluate our business, measure our performance, identify trends affecting our business and assess our operational efficiency.
Number of Customers
In counting the number of customers , we treat legal entities within the same corporate group as one customer (to the extent we are aware of such relationship). Accordingly, we treat Ping An Group and its subsidiaries as a single customer because they are consolidated subsidiaries of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.
We categorize non-Ping An Group customers that contribute annual revenue of at least RMB100,000 as our premium customers. Our premium customers exclude Ping An Group and its subsidiaries but include customers that we have direct contracts with, and provide direct services to, where payments for these services have been made through contractual arrangements that we have with third parties, including Ping An Group.
The following tables set forth our number of customers and their revenue contribution for the respective periods:
|
As of or for the year ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Revenue | |
Revenue | ||||||||||||
|
Number of customers(4) |
Number of customers(4) |
||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
|
(in millions) |
|
(in millions) |
||||||||||||
Ping An Group(1) |
N/A | 235.7 | N/A | 527.6 | 76.9 | |||||||||||
Premium Customers(2) |
40 | 345.2 | 221 | 865.3 | 126.0 | |||||||||||
Basic Customers(3) |
2,614 | 1.0 | 3,272 | 20.6 | 3.0 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
N/A | 581.9 | N/A | 1,413.5 | 205.9 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
As of or for the six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Revenue | |
Revenue | ||||||||||||
|
Number of customers(4) |
Number of customers(4) |
||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
|
(in millions) |
|
(in millions) |
||||||||||||
Ping An Group(1) |
N/A | 167.6 | N/A | 438.2 | 63.8 | |||||||||||
Premium and Basic customers(2)(3) |
2,642 | 372.9 | 3,661 | 532.0 | 77.5 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
N/A | 540.5 | N/A | 970.2 | 141.3 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Company of China, Ltd. Includes RMB5.2 millon and RMB5.2 million (US$0.8 million) in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, respectively, from Haodai, where the payments were made by Haodai's customers directly.
Revenue per Premium Customer, Average Number of Products per Premium Customer
Our premium customers contributed to the majority of our total revenue. We use revenue per premium customer and average number of products per premium customer to evaluate the expansion of our premium customers on a year-on-year basis, in terms of annual revenue contribution from, and number of products purchased by, both newly added premium customers, as well as existing premium customers in a particular year. Our revenue per premium customer and our average number of products per premium customer was RMB3.9 million (US$0.6 million) and 3.0 in 2018, compared with RMB8.6 million and 3.2 in 2017. As mature premium customers tend to generate higher transaction volume and we had a substantial number of newly developed premium customers in 2018, there were some volatilities on our revenue per premium customer in our track record. As we continue to solidify our partnership with newly developed premium customers, we expect their transaction volume and revenue to grow over time.
Net Expansion Rate
We use net expansion rate to evaluate the acquisition, retention and expansion of our customer relationships on a year-on-year basis for our total customers and premium customers. Net expansion rate is calculated as a fraction, the denominator of which is the revenue contribution from a particular group of customers in one year and the numerator of which is the contribution from the same group of customers in the following year. In the case of net expansion rate for premium customers, revenue contribution from customers who are no longer premium customers in the following year is excluded from the numerator.
We believe that partnering with our financial institution customers is important in driving our success. Under our "adopt–deepen–integrate" customer-development approach, we provide "hook products" to financial institutions, at low or even no charge, to encourage adoption of our products. We subsequently seek to deepen our relationships with these customers through cross-selling to them higher margin products and, ultimately, platform integration. Our net expansion rate in 2017 for our 2016 customers was 800%, and our net expansion rate in 2017 for 2016 premium customers was 456%. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 customers was 224%, and our net expansion rate in 2018 for 2017 premium customers was 167%. As we began operations in December 2015, the denominators for our net expansion rates in 2017, which were the contributions from 2016 customers and 2016 premium customers, respectively, were insubstantial, resulting in significantly higher net expansion rates compared to those for 2018.
We do not use net expansion rate to evaluate the growth of Ping An Group customers, and instead look at the absolute amount of its revenue growth. We also do not use net expansion rate to evaluate the growth of basic customers as a significant majority of them are non-paying customers. As such, the
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denominator of net expansion rate for basic customers is very small, and this metric, could, therefore, fluctuate widely and would be misleading.
Key Components of Results of Operations
Revenue
Our revenue consists of implementation revenue and transaction-based and support services revenue.
Implementation Revenue
Our implementation revenue primarily consists of revenue from customer-specific software development or customization services provided to our customers for the use of our platform through either cloud offerings or in the on-premise IT environment.
Transaction-Based and Support Services Revenue
Our revenue from transaction-based and support services consists of (i) revenue from business origination services, which primarily include retail banking business origination service modules, (ii) revenue from risk management services, which primarily include retail and SME risk management solutions, and auto insurance operation and services solution, (iii) revenue from operation support services, which primarily include AI customer services and adjuster and roadside assistance management module, (iv) revenue from post-implementation support services, and (v) revenue from other services, which primarily include auto parts sourcing services and asset management solutions.
Cost of Revenue (Exclusive of Amortization of Intangible Assets)
Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) mainly consists of business service fees and labor-related costs. Business service fees represent fees we pay to our channel partners for their generation of end-customer leads for our customers, fees we pay to technology service providers and data fees we pay to third-parties. Our labor-related cost in cost of revenue consists of (i) employee benefits allocated to our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets), which mainly include wages, salaries and other benefits, and (ii) outsourced labor costs relating to development and implement of systems and applications for our customers.
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Our amortization of intangible assets represents amortization of our capitalized research and development costs; application, platform and software assets; and customer relationship assets from our acquisition of Vantage Point Technology in 2018.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development expenses primarily consist of technology service fees we pay for outsourced technology services in relation to our cloud and IT infrastructure and employee benefit expenses relating to our research and development employees. We capitalize the research and development costs that we incur in relation to our development of products.
Selling and Marketing Expenses
Our selling and marketing expenses primarily consist of labor expenses relating to our sales and marketing employees and our marketing and advertising fees. Our marketing and advertising fees relate to our selling and marketing activities, such as online advertising, product launch conferences and brand promotion events. Telecommunication expenses relate to service fees we pay for text message advertisements.
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General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses primarily include labor expenses relating to our general and administrative employees and our risk management and operation employees that are not directly revenue-related, depreciation of property and equipment, travelling expenses and professional service fees. Our depreciation of property and equipment mainly represents depreciation of our computers and leased office buildings. Traveling expenses represent fees for employee business travel. Professional service fees mainly consist of legal consulting and auditing fees that we incur in our ordinary course of business.
Other Income, Net
Our other income, net primarily includes net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and gains or losses, which reflects gains from our investments in wealth management products that we hold as collateral for certain of our financing activities, and our guarantee gain or loss, which reflects the net gain or loss on our remaining guarantee exposure from our legacy credit risk management services, which we ceased offering at the end of January 2018.
Finance Income
Our finance income relates to interest income on bank deposits generated by our cash deposits at commercial banks.
Finance Costs
Our finance costs primarily include interest expense on borrowings, which represent the interest we paid to commercial banks for our borrowings.
Taxation
Cayman Islands
We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation, and there is currently no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties that may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after execution brought within, the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands.
Hong Kong
Before April 1, 2018, our subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong was subject to Hong Kong profit tax at a rate of 16.5%. Since April 1, 2018, our subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong has been subject to Hong Kong profit tax at a rate of 8.25% on assessable profits up to HK$2,000,000 and 16.5% on any part of assessable profits over HK$2,000,000. Hong Kong has an anti-fragmentation measure under which a corporate group must nominate only one company in the group to benefit from the progressive rates. No Hong Kong profit tax has been levied on us as we did not have assessable profit that was earned in or derived from our Hong Kong subsidiary during the periods included in this prospectus. Hong Kong does not impose a withholding tax on dividends.
Indonesia
The income tax provision in respect of our operations in Indonesia was calculated at the tax rate of 25% on the taxable profits during the periods presented, based on the existing legislation, interpretations and practices.
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Singapore
The income tax provision in respect of our operations in Singapore was calculated at the tax rate of 17% on the taxable profits during the periods presented, based on the existing legislation, interpretations and practices.
China
For our operations in the PRC, we are subject to a general PRC corporate income tax rate of 25%. Two of our consolidated operating entities, Shenzhen OneConnect and Vantage Point Technology, are qualified as high and new technology enterprises and accordingly are entitled to a reduced income tax rate of 15%. Our PRC subsidiary Shenzhen OneConnect Technology is a company registered in the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone Qianhai & Shekou Area of Shenzhen and accordingly is entitled to a reduced income tax rate of 15%.
Dividends paid by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China to our intermediary holding companies in Hong Kong will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%, unless they qualify for an exemption. If our intermediary holding companies in Hong Kong satisfy all the requirements under the Arrangement between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and receive approval from the relevant tax authority, then dividends paid to them by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 5% instead. Effective from November 1, 2015, the above-mentioned approval requirement has been abolished, but a Hong Kong entity is still required to file application package with the relevant tax authority, and settle the overdue taxes if the preferential 5% tax rate is denied based on the subsequent review of the application package by the relevant tax authority.
If our holding company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of China is deemed to be a "resident enterprise" under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, it will be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%.
Pursuant to applicable PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC tax authorities. We may be subject to adverse tax consequences and our consolidated results of operations may be adversely affected if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries and their shareholders are not on an arm's length basis and constitute favorable transfer pricing.
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Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods indicated:
|
Year ended December 31, | Six months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
RMB | % of Revenue |
RMB | US$ | % of Revenue |
RMB | % of Revenue |
RMB | US$ | % of Revenue |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
581,912 | 100.0 | 1,413,489 | 205,898 | 100.0 | 540,498 | 100.0 | 970,184 | 141,323 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below |
(284,715 | ) | (48.9 | ) | (797,858 | ) | (116,221 | ) | (56.4 | ) | (297,723 | ) | (55.1 | ) | (501,381 | ) | (73,034 | ) | (51.7 | ) | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(230,906 | ) | (39.7 | ) | (260,088 | ) | (37,886 | ) | (18.4 | ) | (116,728 | ) | (21.6 | ) | (202,105 | ) | (29,440 | ) | (20.8 | ) | |||||||||||
Research and development costs incurred |
(504,144 | ) | (86.6 | ) | (788,359 | ) | (114,837 | ) | (55.8 | ) | (282,770 | ) | (52.3 | ) | (468,224 | ) | (68,205 | ) | (48.3 | ) | |||||||||||
Less: capitalized |
— | — | 362,260 | 52,769 | 25.6 | 171,733 | 31.8 | 58,892 | 8,579 | 6.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development expenses |
(504,144 | ) | (86.6 | ) | (426,099 | ) | (62,068 | ) | (30.1 | ) | (111,037 | ) | (20.5 | ) | (409,332 | ) | (59,626 | ) | 42.2 | ||||||||||||
Selling and marketing expenses |
(208,035 | ) | (35.8 | ) | (441,932 | ) | (64,375 | ) | (31.3 | ) | (137,250 | ) | (25.4 | ) | (269,338 | ) | (39,234 | ) | (27.8 | ) | |||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(1) |
(270,275 | ) | (46.4 | ) | (522,019 | ) | (76,041 | ) | (36.9 | ) | (154,623 | ) | (28.6 | ) | (325,412 | ) | (47,402 | ) | (33.5 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income, gains or loss—net |
25,860 | 4.4 | (79,860 | ) | (11,633 | ) | (5.6 | ) | (31,045 | ) | (5.7 | ) | (77,089 | ) | (11,229 | ) | (7.9 | ) | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
(890,303 | ) | (153.0 | ) | (1,114,367 | ) | (162,326 | ) | (78.8 | ) | (307,908 | ) | (57.0 | ) | (814,473 | ) | (118,641 | ) | (84.0 | ) | |||||||||||
Finance income |
2,128 | 0.4 | 129,435 | 18,854 | 9.2 | 48,947 | 9.1 | 62,231 | 9,065 | 6.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Finance costs |
(85,711 | ) | (14.7 | ) | (163,442 | ) | (23,808 | ) | (11.6 | ) | (62,506 | ) | (11.6 | ) | (90,894 | ) | (13,240 | ) | (9.4 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance costs—net |
(83,583 | ) | (14.4 | ) | (34,007 | ) | (4,954 | ) | (2.4 | ) | (13,559 | ) | (2.5 | ) | (28,663 | ) | (4,175 | ) | (3.0 | ) | |||||||||||
Share of net losses of associate—net of tax |
(2,747 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (15,442 | ) | (2,249 | ) | (1.1 | ) | (7,740 | ) | (1.4 | ) | (5,727 | ) | (834 | ) | (0.6 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax |
(976,633 | ) | (167.8 | ) | (1,163,816 | ) | (169,529 | ) | (82.3 | ) | (329,207 | ) | (60.9 | ) | (848,863 | ) | (123,651 | ) | (87.5 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit/ (expense) |
369,677 | 63.5 | (26,469 | ) | (3,856 | ) | (1.9 | ) | (31,052 | ) | (5.7 | ) | 90,978 | 13,252 | 9.4 | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year/period |
(606,956 | ) | (104.3 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | (173,385 | ) | (84.2 | ) | (360,259 | ) | (66.7 | ) | (757,885 | ) | (110,398 | ) | (78.1 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Year ended December 31, |
Six months ended June 30, |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense |
376 | 7,751 | 1,129 | 740 | 34,488 | 5,024 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
376 | 7,751 | 1,129 | 740 | 34,488 | 5,024 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
Revenue
The table below presents our revenue by type for the periods indicated and the period-on-period change, in absolute amount and by percentage.
|
Six months ended June 30, | |
|
|
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|
2018 | 2019 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | RMB | US$ | % | |||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except %) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Implementation revenue |
74,645 | 13.8 | 220,209 | 32,077 | 22.7 | 145,564 | 21,204 | 195.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transaction-based and support revenue |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Business origination services |
284,429 | 52.6 | 358,537 | 52,227 | 37.0 | 74,108 | 10,795 | 26.1 | |||||||||||||||||
—Risk management services |
66,849 | 12.4 | 180,130 | 26,239 | 18.6 | 113,281 | 16,501 | 169.5 | |||||||||||||||||
—Operation support services |
97,104 | 18.0 | 172,522 | 25,131 | 17.8 | 75,418 | 10,986 | 77.7 | |||||||||||||||||
—Post-implementation support services |
12,629 | 2.3 | 21,064 | 3,068 | 2.2 | 8,435 | 1,229 | 66.8 | |||||||||||||||||
—Others |
4,842 | 0.9 | 17,722 | 2,582 | 1.8 | 12,880 | 1,876 | 266.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
—Sub-total |
465,853 | 86.2 | 749,975 | 109,246 | 77.3 | 284,122 | 41,387 | 61.0 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
540,498 | 100.0 | 970,184 | 141,323 | 100.0 | 429,686 | 62,591 | 79.5 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Our revenue increased by 79.5% to RMB970.2 million (US$141.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB540.5 million for the same period in 2018 as a result of the increases in both transaction-based and support service revenue and implementation revenue.
Cost of Revenue (Exclusive of Amortization of Intangible Assets)
Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) increased by 68.4% to RMB501.4 million (US$73.0 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB297.7 million for the same period in 2018. The increase was driven by higher business service fees, which increased by 59.0% to RMB314.6 million (US$45.8 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB197.8 million for the same period in 2018, as a result of the continuing growth of our business origination services and risk management services. Labor-related costs increased by 87.0% to RMB186.8 million (US$27.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB99.9 million for the same period in 2018, as we ramped up our newly launched solutions.
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Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of our revenue decreased to 51.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from 55.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Amortization of Intangible Assets
Our amortization of intangible assets increased by 73.2% to RMB202.1 million (US$29.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB116.7 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to the increased amortization of our capitalized research and development costs, and our increased amortization of intangible assets following our acquisition of Vantage Point Technology in July 2018.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development costs incurred increased by 65.6% to RMB468.2 million (US$68.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB282.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 primarily due to increased expenses for new product development, which was driven by the increase in employee benefit expenses related to higher research and development personnel headcount as well as higher external technology service fees relating to upgrades of our platforms and research and development of new technologies and products. Our research and development expenses increased substantially to RMB409.3 million (US$59.6 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB111.0 million for the same period in 2018. The difference between our research and development costs incurred and our research and development expenses realized was because we capitalized research and development costs of RMB171.7 million and RMB58.9 million (US$8.6 million) related to the development of our products/modules in the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, respectively. We capitalized more research and development costs in the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2019 because more research and development projects reached the point of commercialization in the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2019. Our capitalized research and development costs as a percentage of revenue decreased to 6.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 compared to 31.8% for the same period in 2018, as we commercialized more new products in the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2019.
Selling and Marketing Expenses
Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 96.1% to RMB269.3 million (US$39.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB137.3 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to higher labor expenses as a result of our higher selling and marketing employee headcount. Our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 27.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from 25.4% for the same period in 2018, as we continued to expand our selling and marketing team.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses increased by 110.5% to RMB325.4 million (US$47.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB154.6 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to higher labor expenses as a result of our higher employee headcount and their related administrative cost and depreciation. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 33.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from 28.6% for the same period in 2018.
Other Loss, Net
Our other loss, net increased to RMB77.1 million (US$11.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB31.0 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to higher guarantee losses and the decrease in net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, partially offset by an increase in
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government grants. The increase in guarantee losses was due to the increased losses from our legacy credit risk management services.
Finance Income
Our finance income increased to RMB62.2 million (US$9.1 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB48.9 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to our higher average cash balances.
Finance Costs
Our finance costs increased to RMB90.9 million (US$13.2 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB62.5 million for the same period in 2018, primarily due to our higher level of bank borrowings. We pledged the offshore proceeds from our A-round financing for onshore bank borrowings.
Share of Net Losses of Associate
Our share of net losses of associate decreased by 26.0% to RMB5.7 million (US$0.8 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB7.7 million for the same period in 2018, due to a smaller loss of Puhui Lixin.
Loss Before Income Tax
As a result of the foregoing, our loss before income tax increased to RMB848.9 million (US$123.7 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB329.2 million for same period in 2018.
Income Tax (Expense)/Benefit
We had income tax benefit of RMB91.0 million (US$13.3 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019, while we had income tax expense of RMB31.1 million for the same period in 2018, primarily because we had fewer deferred tax assets, which resulted from our reorganization, for the six months ended June 30, 2018.
Loss for the Period
As a result of the foregoing, our loss for the period increased to RMB757.9 million (US$110.4 million) for the six months ended June 30, 2019 from RMB360.3 million for the same period in 2018.
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Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Revenue
The table below presents our revenue by type for the years indicated and the year-on-year change, in absolute amount and by percentage.
|
Year ended December 31, | |
|
|
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|
2017 | 2018 | Change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
RMB | % | RMB | US$ | % | RMB | US$ | % | |||||||||||||||||
|
(in thousands, except %) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Implementation revenue |
50,738 | 8.7 | 295,916 | 43,105 | 20.9 | 245,178 | 35,714 | 483.2 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transaction-based and support revenue |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Business origination services |
451,244 | 77.5 | 554,957 | 80,839 | 39.3 | 103,713 | 15,108 | 23.0 | |||||||||||||||||
—Risk management services |
86 | 0.0 | 205,160 | 29,885 | 14.5 | 205,074 | 29,872 | NA | |||||||||||||||||
—Operation support services |
51,105 | 8.8 | 309,502 | 45,084 | 21.9 | 258,397 | 37,640 | 505.6 | |||||||||||||||||
—Post-implementation support services |
5,257 | 0.9 | 27,442 | 3,997 | 1.9 | 22,185 | 3,232 | 422.0 | |||||||||||||||||
—Others |
23,482 | 4.0 | 20,512 | 2,988 | 1.5 | (2,970 | ) | (433 | ) | (12.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
—Sub-total |
531,174 | 91.3 | 1,117,573 | 162,793 | 79.1 | 586,399 | 85,419 | 110.4 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
581,912 | 100.0 | 1,413,489 | 205,898 | 100.0 | 831,577 | 121,133 | 142.9 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Our revenue increased by 142.9% to RMB1,413.5 million (US$205.9 million) for 2018 from RMB581.9 million for the prior year as a result of significant increases in both transaction-based and support services revenue and implementation revenue.
Cost of Revenue (Exclusive of Amortization of Intangible Assets)
Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) increased by 180.3% to RMB797.9 million (US$116.2 million) for 2018 from RMB284.7 million for the prior year, primarily as a result of our revenue growth. The increase in business service fees, which increased by 145.6% to RMB486.7 million (US$70.9 million) for 2018 from RMB198.2 million for the prior year, which was generally in line with the increase in our revenue for business origination services. Labor-related costs increased to RMB311.2 million (US$45.3 million) for 2018 from RMB86.5 million for the prior year, as we ramped up our newly launched solutions.
Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of our revenue increased to 56.4% for 2018 from 48.9% in 2017, primarily due to changes in product mix as a result of our launch of new solutions.
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Amortization of Intangible Assets
Our amortization of intangible assets increased by 12.6% to RMB260.1 million (US$37.9 million) for 2018 from RMB230.9 million for the prior year, primarily due to our acquisition of intangible assets and the resulting increase in associated amortization.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development Expenses
Our research and development costs incurred increased by 56.4% to RMB788.4 million (US$114.8 million) for 2018 from RMB504.1 million for the prior year, while our research and development expenses decreased by 15.5% to RMB426.1 million (US$62.1 million) for 2018 from RMB504.1 million for the prior year. The difference between our research and development costs incurred and our research and development expenses realized was because of our capitalization of RMB362.3 million (US$52.8 million) of our research and development costs related to the research and development of our products in 2018, while we had no such capitalized costs in 2017.
Selling and Marketing Expenses
Our selling and marketing expenses increased by 112.4% to RMB441.9 million (US$64.4 million) for 2018 from RMB208.0 million for the prior year, primarily due to higher labor expenses as a result of our increased number of selling and marketing employees and higher marketing and advertising fees as we conducted more brand promotion events and online advertising activities. Our selling and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 31.3% for 2018 from 35.8% for the prior year, as we benefited from economies of scale.
General and Administrative Expenses
Our general and administrative expenses increased by 93.1% to RMB522.0 million (US$76.0 million) for 2018 from RMB270.3 million for the prior year, primarily due to higher labor expenses as a result of our increased general and administrative employee headcount, higher professional service fees as a result of our increased legal and audit consulting fees generally tracking our business growth, and higher depreciation of property and equipment because of an increase in computers and leased office space. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue decreased to 36.9% for 2018 from 46.4% for the prior year, as we benefited from economies of scale.
Other Income or Loss, Net
We recorded other loss, net of RMB79.9 million (US$11.6 million) for 2018, while we realized other income, net of RMB25.9 million for the prior year. Our other loss, net for 2018 was primarily due to guarantee losses from our legacy credit risk management services, partially offset by an increase in our gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss.
Finance Income
Our finance income increased to RMB129.4 million (US$18.8 million) for 2018 from RMB2.1 million for the prior year, primarily due to our higher average cash balances following our A-round financing.
Finance Costs
Our finance costs increased by 90.7% to RMB163.4 million (US$23.8 million) for 2018 from RMB85.7 million for the prior year, primarily due to our higher level of bank borrowings. We pledged the offshore proceeds from our A-round financing, which was closed in April 2018, for onshore bank borrowings.
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Share of Losses of Associate
Our share of losses of associate increased to RMB15.4 million (US$2.2 million) for 2018 from RMB2.7 million for the prior year a result of our share of increased net loss from our associate Puhui Lixin, which was established in March 2017 and began operations in 2018.
Loss Before Income Tax
As a result of the foregoing, our loss before income tax increased by 19.2% to RMB1,163.8 million (US$169.5 million) for 2018 from RMB976.6 million for the prior year.
Income Tax Benefit or Expense
We recorded income tax expense of RMB26.5 million (US$3.9 million) for 2018 while we realized an income tax benefit of RMB369.7 million for the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in our deferred tax assets which resulted from our reorganization.
Loss for the Year
As a result of the foregoing, our loss for the year increased by 96.1% to RMB1,190.3 million (US$173.4 million) for 2018 from RMB607.0 million for the prior year.
Selected Quarterly Results of Operations
The following table sets forth our historical unaudited consolidated selected quarterly results of operations for the periods indicated. You should read the following table in conjunction with our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have prepared this unaudited consolidated selected quarterly financial data on the same basis as we have prepared our audited consolidated financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial data include all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments,
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that our management considered necessary for a fair statement of our financial position and results of operation for the quarters presented.
|
For the three months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
March 31, 2017 |
June 30, 2017 |
September 30, 2017 |
December 31, 2017 |
March 31, 2018 |
June 30, 2018 |
September 30, 2018 |
December 31, 2018 |
March 31, 2019 |
June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
(RMB in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
96,236 | 106,560 | 175,604 | 203,512 | 243,842 | 296,656 | 362,005 | 510,986 | 448,272 | 521,912 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below |
(24,800 | ) | (39,974 | ) | (95,232 | ) | (124,709 | ) | (131,696 | ) | (166,027 | ) | (203,066 | ) | (297,069 | ) | (226,911 | ) | (274,470 | ) | |||||||||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
(57,727 | ) | (57,726 | ) | (57,727 | ) | (57,726 | ) | (57,727 | ) | (59,001 | ) | (69,392 | ) | (73,968 | ) | (101,030 | ) | (101,075 | ) | |||||||||||
Research and development expenses |
(138,182 | ) | (117,998 | ) | (117,637 | ) | (130,327 | ) | (61,856 | ) | (49,180 | ) | (113,756 | ) | (201,307 | ) | (251,170 | ) | (158,162 | ) | |||||||||||
Selling and marketing expenses |
(53,415 | ) | (56,876 | ) | (48,162 | ) | (49,582 | ) | (72,504 | ) | (64,746 | ) | (80,486 | ) | (224,196 | ) | (106,212 | ) | (163,126 | ) | |||||||||||
General and administrative expenses(1) |
(52,122 | ) | (75,677 | ) | (63,924 | ) | (78,552 | ) | (54,554 | ) | (100,070 | ) | (141,014 | ) | (226,381 | ) | (158,472 | ) | (166,940 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income, gains or loss—net |
3,001 | 4,622 | 9,880 | 8,357 | (2,164 | ) | (28,881 | ) | (22,031 | ) | (26,784 | ) | (64,842 | ) | (12,247 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
(227,009 | ) | (237,069 | ) | (197,198 | ) | (229,027 | ) | (136,659 | ) | (171,249 | ) | (267,740 | ) | (538,719 | ) | (460,365 | ) | (354,108 | ) | |||||||||||
Finance income |
414 | 431 | 565 | 718 | 10,900 | 38,047 | 40,068 | 40,420 | 33,064 | 29,167 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Finance costs |
(12,473 | ) | (19,365 | ) | (26,557 | ) | (27,316 | ) | (12,478 | ) | (50,028 | ) | (51,898 | ) | (49,038 | ) | (49,629 | ) | (41,265 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Finance costs—net |
(12,059 | ) | (18,934 | ) | (25,992 | ) | (26,598 | ) | (1,578 | ) | (11,981 | ) | (11,830 | ) | (8,618 | ) | (16,565 | ) | (12,098 | ) | |||||||||||
Share of net losses of associate—net of tax |
— | (2 | ) | 89 | (2,834 | ) | (3,880 | ) | (3,860 | ) | (5,461 | ) | (2,241 | ) | (2,250 | ) | (3,477 | ) | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax |
(239,068 | ) | (256,005 | ) | (223,101 | ) | (258,459 | ) | (142,117 | ) | (187,090 | ) | (285,031 | ) | (549,578 | ) | (479,180 | ) | (369,683 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit/ (expense) |
187,782 | 63,004 | 55,072 | 63,819 | 33,342 | (64,394 | ) | 66,318 | (61,735 | ) | 62,374 | 28,604 | |||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the period |
(51,286 | ) | (193,001 | ) | (168,029 | ) | (194,640 | ) | (108,775 | ) | (251,484 | ) | (218,713 | ) | (611,313 | ) | (416,806 | ) | (341,079 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
For the three months ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
March 31, 2017 |
June 30, 2017 |
September 30, 2017 |
December 31, 2017 |
March 31, 2018 |
June 30, 2018 |
September 30, 2018 |
December 31, 2018 |
March 31, 2019 |
June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
(RMB in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative expense |
— | — | — | 376 | 415 | 325 | 303 | 6,708 | 18,981 | 15,507 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
— | — | — | 376 | 415 | 325 | 303 | 6,708 | 18,981 | 15,507 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
We generally experienced continued growth in our revenue in the ten quarters from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019, driven by the continued increases in customer transaction volume as a result of deepening relationship with customers, as well as increases in customer base. Our revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was lower than that of prior sequential quarter, primarily as a result of financial institutions' transaction volume being higher in the second half of the year, although higher than that of the same period in the prior year.
We experience some revenue fluctuation on quarterly basis. Our third and fourth quarters are generally the stronger quarters in any given year. This is most due to our business model, as we primarily charge our financial institution customers based on the transaction volume generated on our platform or their other usage of it. Customer transactions at financial institutions tend to peak in the fourth quarter of the year, which in turn has positive impact on our revenue. Our stronger quarterly results in third and fourth quarters are also because most of our financial institution customers typically spend more in these two quarters as a result of their annual budget cycle.
Our costs also generally increased during these periods, mainly as a result of higher business origination fees and other volume-based costs, which were generally in line with our higher revenue. Labor-related costs increased as we ramped up our newly launched solutions. Our cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of revenue varies during these periods and
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increased in any given quarter primarily as a result of our launch of new solutions and decreased primarily driven by our business growth.
Our quarterly results of operations, including the levels of our revenues, expenses, net loss or income and other key metrics, may vary significantly due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside of our control. However, the impact of fluctuation and changes of market conditions, was not apparent due to the rapid growth of our business historically. Due to our limited operating history, the trends that we have experienced in the past may not apply to, or be indicative of, our future operating results.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flows and Working Capital
Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash and cash equivalents, wealth management products which are redeemable upon our request, bank borrowings and cash generated from shareholder financing activities. As of June 30, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB1,048.9 million (US$152.8 million), restricted cash of RMB3,293.2 million (US$479.7 million) and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB1,053.8 million (US$153.5 million). Our cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and cash at banks, and our restricted cash consists primarily of pledged offshore bank deposits for onshore bank borrowings.
As of June 30, 2019, we had credit facilities from four banks with an aggregate unused credit capacity of RMB1,262.6 million (US$183.9 million). These facilities include a comprehensive credit facility agreement with Ping An Bank, which is a member of Ping An Group, with a uncommitted, revolving credit of RMB1,200 million (US$174.8 million), which is available until October 16, 2019. The interest rate for the credits under this facility is the PBOC benchmark interest rate for loans of the same term on the applicable draw-down date, plus a fixed spread. As of June 30, 2019, we had drawn down RMB1,200 million (US$174.8 million) under this facility, which will mature in March 2020. Our credit facilities also include facility agreements with three other Chinese banks, which are Bank of Shanghai, China Everbright Bank, and China Merchants Bank. We had an aggregate of committed, revolving credit of RMB2,400.0 million (US$349.6 million) with the first Chinese bank, of which RMB500.0 million (US$72.8 million) is available until October 15, 2019 and RMB1,900.0 million (US$276.8 million) is available until March 5, 2020. We had an aggregate of committed credit of RMB550.0 million (US$80.1 million) with the second Chinese bank, of which RMB500.0 million (US$72.8 million) is a short-term loan that is due on March 28, 2020 and RMB50.0 million (US$7.3 million) is available until June 24, 2020. We had an aggregate of committed credit of RMB30.0 million (US$4.4 million) with the third Chinese bank, of which RMB20.0 million (US$2.9 million) is available until April 15, 2020 and RMB10.0 million (US$1.5 million) is available until March 13, 2021. The interest rates for credits under these respective facilities are the PBOC benchmark interest rate for loans of the same term on the applicable draw-down date, plus a spread to be determined on the drawn-down date, a fixed annual interest rate, and an interest rate to be determined on the applicable draw-down date. As of June 30, 2019, we had drawn down RMB1,199.0 million (US$174.7 million), RMB500.0 million (US$72.8 million) and RMB18.4 million (US$2.7 million), respectively, from these three credit facilities, with maturities ranging from November 2019 to May 2020. The weighted average annual interest rate under our credit facilities was of 4.6% as of June 30, 2019. None of our credit facilities contain a material financial covenant.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and our anticipated cash flows from operations and financing activities will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for the 12 months following this offering. After this offering, we may decide to expand our business through additional capital and finance funding. 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 would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
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Although we consolidate the results of our VIEs and their subsidiaries, we only have access to the assets or earnings of our VIEs and their subsidiaries through our contractual arrangements with our VIEs, their respective subsidiaries and shareholders.
In utilizing the proceeds we expect to receive from this offering, we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, or acquire offshore entities with operations in China in offshore transactions. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations.
Substantially all of our future revenues are likely to continue to be in the form of Renminbi. 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 SAFE approval as long as certain routine procedural requirements are fulfilled. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are allowed to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior SAFE approval by following certain routine procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with competent government authorities is required where the 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. The PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future.
The following table sets forth selected cash flow statement information for the periods indicated:
|
Year ended December 31, |
Six months ended June 30, |
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||||||||||
|
RMB | RMB | US$ | RMB | RMB | US$ | |||||||||||||
|
(in thousands) |
||||||||||||||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(228,685 | ) | (489,237 | ) | (71,265 | ) | (350,266 | ) | (1,027,222 | ) | (149,632 | ) | |||||||
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
(126,841 | ) | (5,805,478 | ) | (845,663 | ) | (7,110,045 | ) | 2,026,597 | 295,208 | |||||||||
Net cash generated from/ (used in) financing activities |
1,125,135 | 5,999,403 | 873,912 | 7,011,637 | (522,837 | ) | (76,160 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
769,609 | (295,312 | ) | (43,017 | ) | (448,674 | ) | 476,538 | 69,416 | ||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year/period |
78,158 | 847,767 | 123,491 | 847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | |||||||||||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
— | 12,572 | 1,831 | (10,319 | ) | 7,351 | 1,071 | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year/period |
847,767 | 565,027 | 82,305 | 388,774 | 1,048,916 | 152,792 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was RMB1,027.2 million (US$149.6 million), while our loss before income tax for the same period was RMB848.9 million (US$123.7 million). The difference was primarily due to adjustment for non-cash and non-operating items of RMB408.7 million (US$59.5 million), primarily including adding back depreciation and amortization of RMB260.3 million (US$37.9 million), which was primarily in relation to our software and platform and expected credit loss on financial guarantee contracts of RMB99.1 million (US$14.4 million) in relation to
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our legacy credit management business, and changes in working capital. The changes in working capital primarily reflected (i) a decrease of RMB59.2 million (US$8.6 million) in our payroll and welfare payables as a result of the payout of year-end bonus to our employees, (ii) an increase of RMB333.3 million (US$48.6 million) in our trade receivables as a result of our overall business growth and longer payment periods, primarily attributable to payment from customers of Vantage Point Technology, which we acquired in July 2018, and (iii) an increase of RMB76.2 million (US$11.1 million) in our contract assets as a result of the growth of customer acquisition service and implementation service.
Net cash used in operating activities for 2018 was RMB489.2 million (US$71.3 million), while our loss before income tax for the same period was RMB1,163.8 million (US$169.5 million). The difference was primarily due to adjustment for non-cash and non-operating items of RMB607.1 million (US$88.4 million), primarily including adding back depreciation and amortization of RMB354.0 million (US$51.6 million) primarily in relation to our software and platform and expected credit loss on financial guarantee contracts of RMB286.4 million (US$41.7 million) in relation to our legacy credit management business, and changes in working capital. The changes in working capital primarily reflected (i) an increase of RMB188.8 million (US$27.5 million) in payroll and welfare payables and (ii) an increase of RMB130.6 million (US$19.0 million) in trade and other payables as result of growth in our business, which was partially offset by (i) an increase of RMB218.3 million (US$31.8 million) in trade receivables as result of our overall business growth and our acquisition of Vantage Point Technology in 2018, and (ii) an increase of RMB107.5 million (US$15.7 million) in contract assets because of the growth of customer acquisition service and implementation service
Net cash used in operating activities for 2017 was RMB228.7 million, while our loss before income tax for the same period was RMB976.6 million. The difference was primarily due to adjustment for non-cash and non-operating items of RMB364.8 million, primarily including adding back depreciation and amortization of RMB287.6 million primarily in relation to our software and platform, and changes in working capital. The changes in working capital primarily reflected (i) an increase of RMB515.6 million in trade and other payables as a result of our overall business growth, and (ii) an increase of RMB108.0 million in payroll and welfare payables, as result of higher employee headcount, which was partially offset by an increase of RMB250.9 million in our prepayments and other receivables as a result of our business growth.
Investing Activities
Net cash generated from investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was RMB2,026.6 million (US$295.2 million) primarily due to our proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB4,530.0 million (US$659.9 million), which related to our cash management activities, and a refund of restricted cash of RMB744.3 million (US$108.4 million) in relation to the pledge of offshore proceeds from our A-round financing for onshore bank borrowings, which were partially offset by our payment for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB3,038.0 million (US$442.5 million) and a capital investment of RMB100.0 million (US$14.6 million) we made in Puhui Lixin.
Net cash used in investing activities for 2018 was RMB5,805.5 million (US$845.7 million) primarily due to our payments for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB6,102.2 million (US$888.9 million), which related to our cash management activities, and payment for restricted cash of RMB3,590.5 million (US$523.0 million) in relation to the pledge of offshore proceeds from our A-round financing for onshore bank borrowings, which were partially offset by proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB4,427.9 million (US$645.0 million).
Net cash used in investing activities for 2017 was RMB126.8 million primarily due to our payments for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB6,150.5 million, which related to our cash management activities, and a capital injection to associate of RMB40.0 million we made to Puhui Lixin, which were partially offset by proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss of RMB6,060.1 million.
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Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was RMB522.8 million (US$76.2 million), primarily due to the cash outflow of RMB3,394.2 million (US$494.4 million) for repayments of short-term borrowings and related interest payment of RMB95.5 million (US$13.9 million). This cash outflow was partially offset by the cash inflow of proceeds from short-term borrowings of RMB2,957.4 million (US$430.8 million).
Net cash generated from financing activities for 2018 was RMB5,999.4 million (US$873.9 million), primarily due to the cash inflow of proceeds from short-term borrowings of RMB7,909.3 million (US$1,152.1 million) and proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares of RMB4,409.8 million (US$642.4 million). This cash inflow was partially offset by the cash outflow of RMB6,093.9 million (US$887.7 million) for repayments for short-term borrowings and RMB121.4 million (US$17.7 million) for interest paid.
Net cash generated from financing activities for 2017 was RMB1,125.1 million, primarily due to the cash inflow of proceeds from short-term borrowings of RMB1,000.0 million and capital contribution from our then-owners of RMB337.8 million. This cash inflow was partially offset by cash outflow of RMB500.0 million for repayments of short-term borrowings and RMB93.5 million for interest paid.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures were RMB18.0 million, RMB459.8 million (US$67.0 million) and RMB116.4 million (US$17.0 million) for 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. These capital expenditures primarily comprised expenditures for the purchase of property and equipment, intangible assets and other long-term assets. We will continue to make capital expenditures to meet the needs of the expected growth of our business.
Contractual Obligations
The table below sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2018:
|
Total | Less than 1 year |
1 - 3 years | 3 - 5 years | More than 5 years |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(RMB in thousands) |
|||||||||
Operating Lease Obligations |
230,249 | 86,066 | 142,130 | 2,054 | — |
Operating lease obligations relate to non-cancellable operating leases for our office premises.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Before the end of January 2018, to test our credit model in real world conditions, we provided credit enhancement in relation to loans facilitated through our solutions to benefit our financial institution customers by agreeing to purchase non-performing loans of their borrowers who satisfied certain risk management criteria. These loans generally have terms of up to three years, and we recorded our credit enhancement as financial guarantee payables on our consolidated statements of financial positions, representing estimated future payments we would be required to make due to future defaults of the legacy loans for which we provided credit enhancement. In each period we recognize guarantee charges in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income that represent the amount by which our charges in respect of defaults of the legacy loans exceed our financial guarantee payables. We ceased offering credit enhancement for any new lending transactions of our customers at the end of January 2018.
As of December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019, our maximum guarantee exposure, which represents our total liability if all borrowers under the loans for which we provided credit enhancement were to default, was RMB1,348.6 million (US$196.4 million) and RMB980.3 million (US$142.8 million), respectively.
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Other than the above, we have not entered into any material financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties and do not assume credit risk in loans facilitated through our platform. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholder's equity or that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
After this initial public offering we will be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as we are a public company in the United States. 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 beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. In addition, once we cease to be an "emerging growth company" as this term is 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.
Prior to this initial public offering, we have been a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which we address our internal control over financial reporting. We may fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control over financial reporting, and our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may not certify the effectiveness of our internal control if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us.
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 the ADSs. 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.
As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenue for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an "emerging growth company" pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company's internal control over financial reporting.
Holding Company Structure
We are a holding company with no material operations of our own. We conduct our operations primarily through our PRC subsidiaries, our VIEs and their subsidiaries in China. In utilizing the proceeds from this offering, we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, make loans to our PRC subsidiaries or our VIEs or their subsidiaries, or acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in offshore transactions. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals.
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Capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries must be approved by or filed with MOFCOM or its local counterparts, and loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs and their subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with SAFE or its local branches. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain these government registrations or approvals or complete filings on a timely basis, if at all.
As a holding company, our ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries. If our existing PRC subsidiaries or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China is permitted to pay dividends to us only out of its retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of our subsidiaries, our consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. Furthermore, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to enterprise expansion funds and staff bonus and welfare funds at its discretion, and our consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries may allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at their discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Our PRC subsidiaries have not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.
Inflation
Since our inception, inflation has not materially affected our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent change in the consumer price index was 1.8% for December 2017 and 1.9% for December 2018. Although we have not been materially affected by inflation, we may be affected if China experiences higher rates of inflation in the future.
Qualitative and Quantitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Foreign exchange risk
Substantially all of our revenues and our expenses are denominated in Renminbi. Our exposure to foreign exchange risk primarily relates to cash and cash equivalent denominated in U.S. dollars. We do not consider that we currently have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and use currency swaps to hedge our exposure to foreign exchange risk. Although our exposure to foreign exchange risks should in general be limited, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Renminbi because the value of our business is predominantly denominated in Renminbi, while our ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.
The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People's Bank of China. The PRC government allowed the Renminbi to appreciate by more than 20% against the U.S. dollar between July 2005 and July 2008. Between July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted, and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at certain times significantly and unpredictably. With the development of the foreign exchange market progressing towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization and economic uncertainties in both China and the world, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system, and we cannot assure you that the Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar. It is difficult to predict how market forces, PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
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To the extent that we need to convert the U.S. dollars we receive from this offering or other capital markets transactions or borrowing outside China into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
We are primarily exposed to changes in U.S. dollar/Renminbi exchange rate. The sensitivity of profit or loss to changes in the exchange rates arises mainly from U.S. dollar-denominated financial assets. As of June 30, 2019, 13.8% of our cash and cash equivalents were dominated in Renminbi and held in the PRC, and the remaining cash and cash equivalents were denominated in U.S. dollars, Singapore dollars or Hong Kong dollars, and were held in the PRC, Singapore and Hong Kong. As of June 30, 2019, 0.1% of our restricted cash was denominated in Renminbi and the remaining restricted cash was denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and June 30, 2019, a 10% appreciation or depreciation in the U.S. dollar to Renminbi exchange rate, would increase or decrease our profit and equity by approximately RMB43.1 million, RMB433.0 million (US$63.1 million), RMB413.1 million (US$60.2 million), respectively.
We estimate that we will receive net proceeds of approximately US$ million from this offering if the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional ADSs, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and the estimated offering expenses payable by us, based on the initial offering price of US$ per ADS. Assuming that we convert the full amount of the net proceeds from this offering into Renminbi, a 10% appreciation/depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi, from the exchange rate of RMB6.8650 for US$1.00 as of June 28, 2019 to a rate of RMB to US$1.00, will result in an increase/decrease of RMB million in our net proceeds from this offering. A 10% appreciation/depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi, from the exchange rate of RMB for US$1.00 as of , 2019 to a rate of RMB to US$1.00, will result in a decrease/increase of RMB million in our net proceeds from this offering.
Credit risk
Our credit risk is mainly associated with cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables, contract assets, other receivables and financial guarantee contracts.
To manage our risk arising from cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, we mainly transact with state-owned or reputable financial institutions in China and reputable international financial institution outside of China. We consider that there is no significant credit risk and we will not suffer any material losses due to the default of the other parties.
Our trade receivables and contract assets mainly come from customers. We mitigate credit risk by assessing the credit quality, setting a shorter credit period or arranging the instalment payment and prepayment method. For other receivables (except for financial guarantee fee receivables), we make periodic collective assessments as well as individual assessment on the recoverability based on historical settlement records and forward looking information. For financial guarantee contracts and relevant financial guarantee fee receivables, in order to minimize the credit risk, we have established policies and systems for monitoring and control of credit risk. For financial assets whose impairment losses are measured using expected credit loss model, we assess whether their credit risk has increased significantly since their initial recognition, and apply a three-stage impairment model to calculate their impairment allowance and recognize their expected credit losses.
Interest rate risk
Fluctuations in market interest rates may negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and June 30, 2019, most of our borrowings were at fixed rates. We are exposed to fair value interest rate risk due to our borrowings with fixed interest rates. We
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have not been exposed, nor do we anticipate being exposed, to material risks due to changes in interest rates, and we have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. However, our future results of operation may be affected due to changes in market interest rates.
Critical Accounting Polices, Judgments and Estimates
An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time such estimate is made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Preparing these financial statements in conformity with IFRS as issued by the IASB requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates and also requires us to exercise judgments in the process of applying our accounting policies. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. Our estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Our actual results may differ from these estimates.
The following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and other disclosures included in this prospectus. When reviewing our financial statements, you should consider (i) our selection of critical accounting policies, (ii) the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and (iii) the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions.
Consolidation of VIE
We exercise control over the VIE and its subsidiaries and have the right to recognize and receive substantially all the economic benefits through contractual arrangements. We consider that we control the VIE and its subsidiaries notwithstanding the fact that we do not hold direct equity interests in it, as we have power over the financial and operating policies of the VIE and its subsidiaries and receive substantially all the economic benefits from the business activities of the VIE and its subsidiaries through contractual arrangements. Accordingly, all of the VIE and its subsidiaries are accounted for as controlled structured entities and their financial statements have also been consolidated by us.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when or as control of the asset or service is transferred to the customer. Depending on the terms of the contract and the laws that apply to the contract, control of the goods and services may be transferred over time or at a point in time. Control of the goods and services is transferred over time if our performance:
If control of the goods and services transfers over time, we recognize revenue over the period of the contract by reference to the progress towards complete satisfaction of that performance obligation. Otherwise, we recognize revenue at a point in time when the customer obtains control of the goods and services.
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We measure the progress towards complete satisfaction of the performance obligation based on one of the following methods that best depict our performance in satisfying the performance obligation:
When either party to a contract has performed, we present the contract in the statement of financial position as a contract asset or a contract liability, depending on the relationship between our performance and the customer's payment.
A contract asset is our right to consideration in exchange for goods or services that we have transferred to a customer. If the value ascribed to the services rendered by us exceeds the payment, a contract asset is recognized. Judgment is required in determining whether a right to consideration is unconditional and thus qualifies as a receivable.
We record receivable when we have an unconditional right to consideration on the date the payment is due even if it has not yet performed under the contract.
If a customer pays consideration or we have a right to an amount of consideration that is unconditional, before we transfer a good or service to the customer, we present the contract as a contract liability when the payment is made or the payment is due (whichever is earlier). A contract liability is our obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which we have received consideration (or an amount of consideration is due) from the customer. A contract liability is recognized as revenue upon transfer of control to the customers of the promised license, products and services.
Some of our contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, we account for individual performance obligation separately if they are distinct. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling-price basis. Although each of the performance obligations sometimes has a separate contractual price agreed in the contract, we compare the contractual price with observable standalone market price, if any, or cost plus a margin price to assess the reasonableness of the pricing. If the contractual price for each performance obligation is assessed to be on market price basis, we use the contractual price to measure and recognize revenue for each performance obligation. If the contractual price for each performance obligation is assessed not to be on market price basis, we reallocate the total contract price to the identified performance obligations based on our best estimated standalone selling price of each performance obligation.
Only the contracts for business origination services contain significant financing components. As a practical expedient, we do not account for financing components if the period between when we transfer the promised goods or services to the customer and when the customer pays for those goods or services is one year or less.
Incremental costs of obtaining customer contract primarily consist of sales commissions and are capitalized as an asset. We amortize assets recognized from capitalizing costs to obtain a contract on a systematic basis to profit or loss, consistent with the pattern of revenue recognition to which the asset relates. As a practical expedient, we recognize the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that we otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.
The following is a description of the accounting policy for our principal revenue streams.
Our implementation services represent customer-specific software development or customerization services provided to customers for the use of our software in cloud offerings or on-premise IT environment. The contract term for implementation services is typically within one year. The implementation contract is either on a time and material basis or a fixed-fee basis. We invoice fees for
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implementation services monthly based on actual time and material incurred to date or according to pre-agreed payment schedules. After development, we grant the license to our customers to use the software with an indefinite life. The customer cannot benefit from the implementation service on its own without this license, and the perpetual license is a result of the implementation service. The implementation service and the perpetual license are highly interrelated, and within the context of our customer contracts, we promise to transfer implementation service together with the perpetual license to our customers as one output. Both the implementation service and the perpetual license to use the software are not distinct and are thus combined together as one performance obligation. There is no sales/usage based royalty for the license to use the software in the arrangement.
Post-implementation support services mainly represent post implementation maintenance services and post implementation cloud services such as computing services, storage, server and bandwidth. The cloud-based infrastructure is hosted by another company engaged by us where we are the principal in provision of cloud services because we control the cloud services in advance before transferring those services to the customer. We are the primary obligor who is responsible for making sure the cloud services can fulfill customer's needs and requirements, and we have full discretion in establishing the price for post implementation cloud services. Periodic fixed fees for post-implementation support services are typically invoiced yearly or quarterly in advance.
Our customer contracts often include both implementation services and post-implementation support services. Judgement is required in determining whether implementation services and post-implementation support services are separate performance obligations. Customers can benefit from implementation services and post-implementation support services on their own, and those services are clearly stated in the contract and are separately identifiable, they are not integrated or interrelated with each other, and do not significantly affect each other. We have concluded that implementation services and post-implementation support services qualify as separate performance obligations and the portion of the contractual fee allocated to them is recognized separately.
Implementation contracts are for software developed for specific needs of individual customers and therefore it does not have any alternative use for us. Moreover, implementation contracts provide us with an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. Accordingly, revenue for implementation contracts is recognized over the contract terms by reference to the progress of work performed, which is measured based on costs incurred toward satisfying the performance obligation, relative to the total costs expected to be incurred to the complete satisfaction of the performance obligation. We recognize the corresponding implementation costs as incurred under costs of revenue.
For post development maintenance services, the performance obligation is to stand ready to provide technical support and unspecified updates and upgrades on a when-and-if-available basis. The customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these support services as we perform and we recognize revenue based on time elapsed and thus ratably over the term of the support arrangement.
Post implementation cloud services provided on a subscription basis, where the performance obligation is the grant of the right to continuously use the cloud services for a certain term, are recognized based on time elapsed and thus ratably over the contract terms.
(b) Transaction based service
Business origination
We provide business origination services by assisting financial institutions in customer acquisition for their products including loans, wealth management products, insurance policies and so forth. We recognize the revenue for business origination when a referral is successfully accepted by a financial institution.
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We provide lending solutions to financial institutions which could involve multiple performance obligations including business origination and post-lending management service and a financial guarantee (we ceased providing financial guarantees at the end of January 2018, and facilitate the borrower's purchase of insurance policies instead; contracts without a financial guarantee obligation are referred to as "non-guarantee model" and contracts with a financial guarantee obligation are referred to as "guarantee model"). Under the guarantee model, we consider both borrower and lender our customers, where we receive consideration from borrowers. Under the non-guarantee model, we consider borrowers, lenders and insurance companies as our customers, where we receive consideration from insurance companies.
We determined that we are not the legal lender or legal borrower (or receiver of deposits from investors) in the loan origination and repayment process. Therefore, we do not record loans receivable or payable arising from the loans between lenders and borrowers. We act as an agent to facilitate such loans.
We generally collect on a monthly basis over the loan period the entire consideration relating to business origination, post-lending management services and the financial guarantee, if any, as one combined fee. Loan contracts facilitated by us typically have a term of 36 months. Thus, the contract contains a significant financing component as the business origination services are provided upfront but paid for over time. The total consideration is also variable. Under the guarantee model, the fee rate is fixed and the variability is mainly related to the prepayment risk of borrowers, in that the borrower can early repay the loans and the monthly service fee for the remaining period will be waived. Under the non-guarantee model, the fee includes a fixed component and a variable component which depends on the performance of the underlying loans, therefore the variability is mainly related to actual default rates of the portfolio of loans, along with the same prepayment risk. Variable fees are included as part of the total transaction price to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal of the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable fee is subsequently resolved. We consider estimated prepayment risk and estimated default risk in determining our transaction price, using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information and current trends of prepayments and default. Further, given the service fees are collected over the typical loan term of 36 months, the transaction price is calculated as the present value of all probable collections, discounted using a discount rate that reflects the customers' credit worthiness. In determining the appropriate discount rate, we consider credit characteristics of the customer (unless already dealt with when arriving at the transaction price) as well as the rate that would be used in a separate financing transaction between us and the customers for the probable payments involved.
The total transaction price is allocated to the business origination and post-lending management services. Under the guarantee model, we first allocate the total transaction price to the financial guarantee liability, then the remaining consideration is allocated to the business origination services and post-lending management services on the basis of the relative standalone selling prices, determined by using the cost plus margin approach.
We consider the business origination services and post-lending management services as distinct performance obligations because borrowers, lenders and other financial institutions can benefit from the loan facilitation services and post-lending management services on their own, and those services are clearly stated in the contract and are separately identifiable, they are not integrated or interrelated with each other, and do not significantly affect each other. Although we do not sell these services separately, we determined that both deliverables have standalone value. We use the expected-cost-plus-a-margin approach to determine our best estimate of the standalone selling prices of the different performance obligations as the basis for allocation. In estimating the standalone selling price for the business origination services and post-lending management services, we consider the cost incurred to deliver such services, profit margin for similar arrangements, customer demand, effect of competitors on our services, and other market factors. The total service fee allocated to business origination is recognized as revenue upon execution of loan agreements between lenders and borrowers. The service fees allocated to the post-lending management services are deferred and recognized over the period of the loan on a straight-line method, which approximates the pattern of when the underlying services are performed. When the cash received is different from the revenue recognized, a "contract asset" or "contract liability" will be recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position.
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Risk management services
Risk management services mainly represent credit risk assessment, identity verification services, risk management services used in insurance loss assessment, and anti-fraud services that we provide to financial institutions.
For risk management services contracts, we normally charge our customers based on their usage of the services at fixed charge rates, and we invoice the fees on a periodic basis. We recognize the revenue from these services when the customers receive and consume the benefits of these services each time we perform, based on the amount charged for these services.
Operation support services
Operation support services mainly represent messaging services, calling services and insurance loss assessment services, asset monitoring services and consulting services that we provide to financial institutions. Revenue from these post-lending management services is also included in the revenue of operation support services.
For contracts under which we charge our customers based on their usage of the services at fixed charge rates, and invoice the fees on a periodic basis, we recognize the revenue from these services when the customers receive and consume the benefits of these services each time we perform, based on the amount charged for these services.
For contracts under which we charge our customers based on the term of services and invoice the fees on a periodic basis, and the performance obligation is to stand ready to provide operation support, such as post-lending management services, the customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these support services as we perform, we recognize revenue based on time elapsed and thus ratably over the term of the support arrangement.
When the cash we receive is different from the revenue recognized, a "Contract Asset" or "Contract Liability" is recognized in our consolidated statement of financial position.
Others
For asset management services, we recognize service revenues ratably over the term of the service contracts.
Cost of revenue (exclusive of amortization of intangible assets) refers to the costs directly associated with revenue generating activities. Specifically, it primarily consists of direct technology service fee, direct employee benefit expenses, business origination fee and other operating expenses directly associated with revenue generation.
Intangible Assets
Our intangible assets include application and platform, purchased software, development cost in progress, goodwill and others.
We only recognize intangible assets when future economic benefits expected to be obtained from the use of the item will flow to us and their cost can be measured reliably. Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination is the fair value as of the date of acquisition.
Costs associated with maintaining our application and platform are recognized as an expense as incurred. We recognize development costs that are directly attributable to the development and testing of
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identifiable application and platform controlled by us as intangible assets when the following criteria are met:
Directly attributable costs that we capitalize include employee costs, technology service fee and an appropriate portion of relevant overheads.
We recognize research expenditure and development expenditure that do not meet the criteria described above for capitalization as an expense as incurred. Development costs previously recognized as an expense are not recognized as an asset in a subsequent period. Capitalized development costs are recorded as intangible assets and amortized from the point at which the asset is ready for use.
A significant portion of application and platform within our intangible assets has been used in the provision of services to customers and concurrently been used as the foundation to research and develop new or upgraded products and services. No allocation of the amortization of intangible assets between cost of revenue and research and development expenses has been made.
We assess the useful lives of intangible assets by the period of bringing economic benefits to us. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment assessment.
Estimation of variable consideration
The total consideration for business origination service and post-lending management service provided by us to financial institution lenders is variable. Under guarantee model, the fee rate is fixed and the variability is mainly related to the prepayment risk of borrowers that the borrower can early repay the loans and the monthly service fee for the remaining period will be waived. Under non-guarantee model, the fee includes a fixed component and a variable component which depends on the performance of portfolios of the underlying loans, therefore the variability is mainly related to actual default rates of portfolios of the loans, as well as the prepayment risk. Variable fees are included as part of the total transaction price to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal of the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable fee is subsequently resolved. We consider estimated prepayment risk and estimated default risk in determining its transaction price, using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information and current trends of prepayments and default.
Measurement of financial guarantee liability
We initially recognize financial guarantee liability at fair value. We determine the fair value using a discounted cash flow method, and take into account the timing and amount of expected payouts under the guarantee based on historical loss data, and other observable data such as the amount that are charged by other market participants to issue similar guarantees in a standalone arm's length transaction. The
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discount rates adopted take into account time value of the money as well as an adjustment for our credit worthiness.
Subsequent to initial recognition, the guarantee liabilities are measured at the higher of the amount determined in accordance with the expected credit loss model under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and the amount initially recognized less, where appropriate, the cumulative amount of income recognized in accordance with the principles of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The measurement of the expected credit loss of the underlying guaranteed loans takes into account our historical loss record and those of other comparable companies in the market/industry, current and forward looking economics conditions.
Impairment of non-financial assets
We assess at each reporting date whether there is an indication that a non-financial asset other than deferred tax assets may be impaired. If any such indication exists, or when annual impairment testing for a non-financial asset is required, we make an estimate of the asset's recoverable amount. A non-financial asset's recoverable amount is the higher of the asset's or cash-generating unit's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets, in which case the recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. Where the carrying amount of a non-financial asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. In determining fair value less costs to disposal, an appropriate valuation model is used. These calculations are corroborated by valuation multiples, quoted share prices for publicly traded subsidiaries or other available fair value indicators.
For non-financial assets other than goodwill, an assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such an indication exists, we make an estimate of the recoverable amount. A previously recognized impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. If that is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount. That increased amount cannot exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years. Such a reversal is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.
Goodwill is reviewed for impairment, annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (or group of cash-generating units), to which the goodwill relates. The recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value-in-use, determined on an individual asset (or cash-generating unit) basis, unless the individual asset (or cash-generating unit) does not generate cash flows that are largely independent from those of other assets or groups of assets (or groups of cash-generating units). Impairment losses recognized in relation to goodwill are not reversed for subsequent increases in its recoverable amount.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and development costs in progress are tested for impairment annually at each year end either individually or at the cash-generating unit level, as appropriate.
Share-based Payments
An equity-settled share-based compensation plan was granted to certain of our employees, under which we receive services from employees as consideration for our equity instruments (options). The fair
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value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognized as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted:
At the end of each reporting period, we revise our estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on non-market performance and service conditions. We recognize the impact of any revision to original estimates in our statement of comprehensive income, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.
If the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, at a minimum an expense is recognized as if the terms had not been modified. An additional expense is recognized for any modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment arrangement, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee, as measured at the date of modification.
If an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet recognized for the award is recognized immediately. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award and designated as a replacement award on the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new award are treated as if they were a modification of the original award, as described in the previous paragraph.
Fair Value of Ordinary Share
Based on the fair value of the underlying ordinary share, we have used the Binomial option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the share option as of the grant date. The fair value per option was estimated at the date of grant using the following key assumptions:
|
November 7, 2017 |
November 8, 2018 |
June 1, 2019 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discount rate(1) |
24.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | |||||||
Risk-free interest rate(2) |
3.9% | 3.6% | 3.3% | |||||||
Volatility(3) |
51.6% | 51.2% | 46.0% | |||||||
Dividend yield |
0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
We are a private company with no quoted market prices for our ordinary shares. We therefore need to make estimates of the fair value of our ordinary shares at various dates in order to determine the fair value of our ordinary shares at the date of the grant of a share-based compensation award to our employees.
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The following table sets forth the fair value of our ordinary shares estimated at different times with the assistance from an independent valuation firm:
Date
|
Fair Value per Ordinary Share (US$) |
Valuation approach |
Discount Rate |
Type of Valuation | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
November 7, 2017 |
0.17 | Income Approach—DCF | 24 | % | Retrospective using contemporaneously prepared cash flow projections | |||||
November 8, 2018 |
7.09 | Income Approach—DCF | 17 | % | Retrospective using contemporaneously prepared cash flow projections | |||||
June 1, 2019 |
7.25 | Income Approach—DCF | 17 | % | Retrospective using contemporaneously prepared cash flow projections |
The determined fair value of our ordinary shares increased from US$0.17 per share as of November 7, 2017 to US$7.09 per share as of November 8, 2018. We believe this increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares was primarily attributable to the following factors:
The determined fair value of our ordinary shares further increased from US$7.09 per share as of November 8, 2018 to US$7.25 per share as of June 1, 2019. We believe this increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares was primarily attributable to the following factors:
In determining the fair value of our ordinary shares, we relied in part on a valuation retrospectively determined with the assistance of an independent valuation firm based on data we provided. The valuation report provided us with guidelines in determining the fair value, but the determination was made by our management.
We applied the income approach/discounted cash flow analysis based on our projected cash flow using our best estimate as of the valuation date. The determination of the fair value of our ordinary shares requires complex and subjective judgments to be made regarding our projected financial and operating results, our unique business risks, the liquidity of our shares and our operating history and prospects at the time of valuation.
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The major assumptions used in calculating the fair value of ordinary shares include:
Discount rates. The discount rates listed out in the table above were based on the weighted average cost of capital, which was determined based on a consideration of the factors including risk-free rate, comparative industry risk, equity risk premium, company size and non-systemic risk factors.
Comparable companies. In deriving the weighted average cost of capital used as the discount rates under the income approach as of November 7, 2017, November 8, 2018 and June 1, 2019, we select six and three publicly traded companies, respectively, for reference as our guideline companies. The guideline companies were selected based on the following criteria: (i) they operate in similar industries as we do, and (ii) their shares are publicly traded in developed capital markets, i.e., the United States.
The income approach involves applying appropriate discount rates to estimated cash flows that are based on earnings forecasts. Our revenue growth rates, as well as major milestones that we have achieved, contributed to the increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares. However, these fair values are inherently uncertain and highly subjective. The assumptions used in deriving the fair values are consistent with our business plan. These assumptions include: no material changes in the existing political, legal and economic conditions in China; our ability to retain competent management, key personnel and staff to support our ongoing operations; and no material deviation in market conditions from economic forecasts. These assumptions are inherently uncertain.
Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Standards
A list of recently issued accounting pronouncements that are relevant to us is included in note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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Since no reliable third-party data is publicly available for the technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions industry, we have engaged Oliver Wyman, a leading global management consulting firm, to prepare an industry report that analyzes this industry in the context of China's financial services industry. All the information, data and estimates presented in this section has been derived from Oliver Wyman's industry report unless otherwise noted. Oliver Wyman has advised us that the statistical and graphical information contained herein is drawn from its database and other sources. Although the following discussion describes historical growth and includes projections for expected future growth, this future growth may not occur at the rates that are projected or at all.
Technology-as-a-service platforms that serve financial institutions provide them with a range of services to increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service quality and reduce costs. Their customers are institutions in China's financial services industry, which has undergone significant changes in recent years and its robust growth is expected to continue. This section discusses the drivers influencing these changes and projections of future growth, trends and the rapidly developing technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China.
Overview of the Financial Services Industry in China
China is the world's second-largest economy. Its real GDP has grown rapidly in the past five years, reaching RMB73.1 trillion in 2018, and strong GDP growth is expected to continue with forecasted GDP of RMB95.7 trillion in 2023. GDP growth has historically been driven mainly by investment, but more recent growth has been driven by consumption and the growing role of SMEs in the Chinese economy, and this trend is expected to continue.
China's financial services industry is massive and under-penetrated
As of 2018, China had the world's second-largest financial services market by total assets. The total assets of financial institutions in China grew from US$31.4 trillion as of 2013 to US$49.9 trillion as of 2018, and total assets as a percentage of GDP increased from 339% in 2013 to 367% in 2018. This trend is expected to continue, with the total assets of financial institutions in China expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.0% to reach US$88.2 trillion, or 443% of GDP in 2023. The tremendous growth in China's financial services industry has also been accompanied by an increase in its number of financial institutions, growing from approximately 13,500 in 2013 to over 62,000 in 2018.(1)
Despite its significant growth, China's financial services industry is still in an early stage of development compared to the United States. The total assets of financial institutions in the U.S. were US$98.2 trillion, or 479% of GDP, as of 2018, which is almost double the size of China's financial institutions by total assets. Demand for financial services in China is underserved across the financing, insurance and investment segments. For retail banking, Chinese household financing penetration rate(2) was 31.6% in 2016, compared to 77.1% for U.S. households. For SME banking, the gap between supply and demand for Chinese SME financing was US$11.7 trillion as of 2018, and is expected to reach US$15.2 trillion by 2023. For insurance, China's insurance densities(3) per capita was US$245 for life and US$183 for non-life in 2018, which significantly lags behind U.S. density per capita of US$1,634 for life and US$2,362 for non-life. For asset management, Chinese households' asset allocation is highly concentrated in real estate. Financial assets as a percentage of total household assets in 2017 was 12% in China compared to 43% in the U.S.
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Set forth below are discussions of certain trends in China's banking, insurance and asset management sectors.
The banking sector
Since 2016, China has become the largest banking sector in the world, with more than 4,500 banks consisting of six state-owned large commercial banks, 12 joint-stock banks, 134 city commercial banks, over 1,400 rural commercial banks and over 3,000 other banking institutions. Supported by stable economic growth, China's banking sector has demonstrated strong growth with total assets increasing from RMB151 trillion in 2013 to RMB286 trillion in 2018. Assets of large commercial banks, joint-stock banks, city commercial banks, rural commercial banks and other banking institutions accounted for 35.4%, 17.9%, 13.4%, 10.8% and 22.5%, respectively, of total banking sector assets in 2018. Total assets of the banking sector is expected to increase at a CAGR of 9.4% to RMB448 trillion in 2023 driven by China's economic growth.
Business focus shift from large corporates to retail and SMEs
China's banks currently focus on serving large corporates. Loans to large corporates, retail(4) and SMEs comprised 56%, 20% and 24%, respectively, of total loans outstanding in 2018. Although large corporates currently dominate banks' loan revenue pool, the retail and SMEs segments are underpenetrated and growing much faster. Retail and SME borrowers also have higher risk adjusted returns, making them an attractive business segment. In 2018, Chinese banks' risk adjusted profit margins(5) for retail loans ranged from 2.0-2.5%, compared to 0.5-1.0% for corporate loans.
Service model shift from brick-and-mortar to online-to-offline omni-channel
Banks in China now primarily follow a traditional brick-and-mortar service model, maintaining approximately 228,700 branches and outlets and employing approximately 4.3 million employees as of 2018. Both front- and back-office processes are primarily manual, cost inefficient, and unable to use data effectively, particularly in their risk assessments. In 2018 China's top five banks dedicated an estimated 34-39% of their collective workforce to customer services. Many of China's financial institutions still have sales and operational processes that rely heavily on paper- and people-intensive processes and legacy infrastructure. As their end-customers become more digital-savvy, China's financial institutions now need to provide an online-to-offline omni-channel experience to compete effectively.
The insurance sector
China had the world's second-largest insurance market in 2018, with total assets estimated at RMB18.3 trillion and 184 insurers, including 88 life insurers, 86 non-life insurers and 10 reinsurance companies. The Chinese insurance sector doubled in size in the past five years, with gross premiums written, or GPW, increasing from RMB1.7 trillion in 2013 to RMB3.8 trillion in 2018. Driven by increasing disposable income, growing needs and awareness of insurance products, and favorable government policies in China, this strong growth is expected to continue, with GPW expected to increase at a five-year CAGR of 12.7% to RMB6.9 trillion in 2023.
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Life insurance
Life insurance insures against certain life and health-related events such as death, accident, illness or disability of the insured. As of 2018, there were 88 life insurers in China, of which seven were large life insurers and 81 were medium and small life insurers.(6)
China's life insurance industry relies heavily on offline channels for distribution, primarily through field agents and bank branches, or bancassurance, with these two channels representing 49.4% and 37.0%, respectively, of life insurance premiums in 2018. China's life insurance companies employed approximately 6.4 million agents in 2018. Medium and small insurers have substantial difficulty achieving the economies of scale for offline agent network coverage enjoyed by large life insurers.
Non-life insurance
Non-life insurance insures against losses and damages other than those covered by life insurance. It includes property and casualty insurance such as auto, property, credit and liability insurance. As of 2018, China had 86 non-life insurers, of which three were large non-life insurers and 83 were medium and small non-life insurers.(7)
In 2018, 76% of non-life insurance premiums were generated by auto insurance and the rest were generated by property, credit and other types of non-life insurance. This trend is expected to continue through 2023. Fraud is common in Chinese non-life insurance, where insurance fraud accounts for an estimated 15-20% of non-life insurance claim amounts, compared to approximately 6% in the U.S. Historically, insurers rely on time consuming manual claim management processes to combat fraudulent claims. To reduce insurance fraud, insurers need to adopt technology solutions that remove human biases and subjectivity such as predictive and advanced analytics and AI.
The asset management sector
China's asset management sector experienced strong growth in the last decade due to the growing number of high-net-worth individuals and the continuous expansion of institutional balance sheets. The total assets under management, or AUM, of China's asset management sector increased from RMB20 trillion in 2013 to RMB63 trillion in 2018. Despite this strong growth, China's asset management sector is still at an early development stage, with its AUM expected to further grow to RMB108 trillion in 2023 at a CAGR of 11.4% from 2018 to 2023.
There were over 24,000 asset managers in China in 2018. The principal types of asset managers in China include private equity funds, venture capital funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, as well as asset management units of traditional financial institutions. Due to recent regulatory changes in China's asset management sector, asset management customers are widely expected to shift away from traditional financial institutions to mutual funds, private equity funds and venture capital funds, presenting strong growth opportunities for these types of funds.
Other financial institutions
There were over 32,000 other financial institutions in China in 2018, including over 11,000 leasing companies, over 11,000 factoring companies, over 8,000 micro-lending companies and approximately 1,000 P2P platforms.
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Rapid changes and challenges in China's financial services industry
China's financial services industry is experiencing rapid changes driven by multiple factors, including the three major factors described below.
These rapid industry changes have led to significant challenges facing China's financial institutions: (i) inability to capture new revenue opportunities, (ii) weak sales productivity, (iii) need for data-driven risk management, (iv) demand for better service quality and (v) high operating costs.
Huge market opportunities for technology-as-a-service platforms
We believe that external technology platforms and services are a proven means for financial institutions to upgrade their revenue-generating and operating capabilities. Platforms that integrate valuable financial services industry knowledge and technology excellence are scarce, well positioning them to capture a fast-growing, underpenetrated market.
The total market opportunity for the technology spending of financial institutions includes both their conventional historical IT spending and their technology-as-a-service spending. Historically, financial institutions' technology spending has mainly included on-premise software, IT staff and server costs, but technology-as-a-service spending on flexible solutions that bundle technology, software and services that are charged through revenue-sharing or subscription models is expected to replace increasing proportions of it. Oliver Wyman estimates that the technology spending market for Chinese financial institutions was RMB152.2 billion in 2018, and that it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% to RMB400.8 billion in
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2023. Within this total spending, technology-as-a-service spending is expected to increase at a higher CAGR of 48.7%, from RMB18.8 billion in 2018 to RMB136.9 billion in 2023.
Competitive landscape in technology-as-a-service platforms for financial institutions
China has three broad categories of technology-as-a-service platforms for financial institutions in China: affiliates of financial institutions, traditional IT companies and internet companies.
Affiliates of financial institutions: Some of China's leading financial institutions have set up separate financial technology affiliates that operate independently and provide industry peers (not just their affiliated financial institution) with technology services. Because these entities initially functioned as the in-house technology solution providers of leading financial institutions, they have deep understandings of the financial services industry, vast experience in real world financial services scenarios and expertise in dealing with regulatory requirements. Some of these entities may have strategic priorities to provide services within their group, rather than exporting solutions and enabling other peers. Prominent examples of players under this category include OneConnect and CIB Fintech.
Traditional IT companies: Some traditional IT companies have been expanding their product and service portfolio beyond traditional infrastructure and IT support to include innovative technology for financial services. However, most of the solutions they offer are still at the level of conventional IT solutions. They mainly offer standardized financial institution solutions and have limited customization capabilities to meet the highly specialized needs of financial institutions. Prominent examples of players under this category include Hundsun Technologies and Digital China.
Internet companies: Internet companies offer technology services that leverage their large established ecosystems in areas such as social media and e-commerce. They started out by offering financial institutions, primarily banks and insurance companies, access to their ecosystems for product distribution. Recently, large internet companies have ventured into financial services by acquiring licenses and establishing digital-based financial institutions. However, internet companies' limited understanding of financial institutions' operating models and their limited regulatory insights are key concerns that may limit
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financial institutions' adoption of their services. Prominent examples of players under this category include affiliates of Alibaba, Tencent, JD.com and Baidu.
Compared with affiliates of financial institutions, both traditional IT companies and internet companies are constrained by their limited financial services experience. Specifically, they lack the essential, real world financial services scenarios experience, data, and industry insights to develop solutions for the financial services industry. Conversely, affiliates of financial institutions typically have weak technology capabilities. However, we believe that companies that integrate strong technology capabilities with valuable industry knowledge gained from real world financial service scenarios and access to industry specific data are particularly well-positioned to address the needs of Chinese financial institutions.
In 2018, we were the number one technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China based on number of financial institution customers.
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Our Company
We are a leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China. Our platform provides cloud-native technology solutions that integrate extensive financial services industry expertise with market-leading technology. Our solutions provide technology applications and technology-enabled business services to financial institutions. Together they enable our customers' digital transformations, which help them increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service quality and reduce costs. As of June 30, 2019, we had over 3,600 customers and we had the largest number of financial institution customers among technology-as-a-service platforms in China. As of June 30, 2019, our broad customer base includes all of China's major banks, 99% of its city commercial banks, and 44% of its insurance companies, collectively reaching hundreds of millions of end-customers. Since our establishment in December 2015, our platform has supported Chinese financial institutions in generating RMB1.2 trillion of transactions for their end-customers. Through our platform, in the first half of 2019, on a daily basis we facilitated approximately 135,000 anti-fraud checks, 4.0 million credit risk assessments, and the processing of approximately 10,800 auto insurance claims.
Massive market. Financial institutions around the world face challenges resulting from advancements in technology, and they will require sweeping digital transformations of their businesses to improve their competitiveness. The only path to a successful transformation will be an integration of industry expertise and advanced technology. Most financial institutions lack the capital, talent and capabilities needed to support this long and expensive transformation, and they therefore will need to rely on external solutions. In China, the need for digital transformation is especially acute because Chinese financial institutions not only need to compete with internet competitors seeking to disrupt their industry, but also cope with structural shifts in their business resulting from China's ongoing economic transformation. China's financial services industry had RMB334.9 trillion of total assets as of December 31, 2018 and generated RMB14.1 trillion of revenue in 2018. Oliver Wyman estimates that the technology spending market for Chinese financial institutions totaled RMB152.2 billion in 2018, and this market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% to RMB400.8 billion in 2023. Historically, most of this spending has been for on-premise software, IT staff and server costs, but technology-as-a-service spending on flexible solutions that bundle technology, software and services that are charged through revenue-sharing or subscription models is expected to account for an increasing share of Chinese financial institutions' total technology spending. China's technology-as-a-service spending market for financial institutions is expected to grow at a CAGR of 48.7% from RMB18.8 billion in 2018 to RMB136.9 billion in 2023, according to Oliver Wyman.
Strong value proposition. Our technology-as-a-service platform strategically covers multiple verticals in the financial services industry and across the full scope of their operations—from sales and marketing and risk management to customer services. We also provide technology infrastructure solutions critical to financial institution digitalization such as data management, program development, and cloud services. Our cloud-native platform is flexible by design, so we can deploy independent solution modules to quickly respond to customer requirements, and we can also combine modules into customized end-to-end solutions. Our proven applications are driven by extensive industry expertise and customer insight data, and they are secure and effective at large scale. We deliver great value to our customers in multiple dimensions: generating new revenue, improving sales productivity, enhancing risk management, improving customer service quality and reducing costs.
Leading technology. We started our operation as the financial technology solution arm of Ping An Group. As of June 30, 2019, Ping An Group was China's second-largest financial institution and the fifth-largest globally by market capitalization. Ping An Group is a global leader in the digital transformation of financial services through the integration of industry experience with advanced technology. Over the past five years, Ping An Group invested over US$15 billion in research and technology development. It employs approximately 101,000 staff in technology-focused businesses. We have leveraged our strong partnership
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with Ping An Group to establish world-leading technology capabilities for financial services in AI, big data analytics and blockchain. As of June 30, 2019, we had won 19 technology awards in international competitions, and submitted 2,540 patent applications in China and 530 in other countries or regions. Our first-class technology is a major source of our competitive advantage, and it serves as a solid foundation for our continuous application innovation and product commercialization.
Innovative business model. Under our "adopt-deepen-integrate" customer-development approach, we provide "hook products" to financial institutions, at low or even no charge, to encourage adoption. We subsequently seek to deepen our relationships with these customers through cross-selling and, ultimately, platform integration. In addition to technology applications, we also provide our financial institution customers with business services to enable them to grow their businesses rapidly and sustainably, while we can capture greater value-upside with our transaction-based revenue model. This combination allows us to achieve visible revenue streams that are fast-growing and highly recurring.
Outstanding growth. Our business has grown rapidly since our establishment in December 2015. Our revenue increased by 142.9% from RMB581.9 million in 2017 to RMB1,413.5 million (US$205.9 million) in 2018, and we recorded revenue of RMB970.2 million (US$141.3 million) in the six months ended June 30, 2019. Our total number of customers grew from over 1,600 at the end of 2016 to approximately 3,500 at the end of 2018. On average, each of our premium customers purchased 3.0 products in 2018, growing from 1.7 in 2016. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 customers was 224%, and our net expansion rate in 2018 for 2017 premium customers was 167%. Our net loss was RMB607.0 million, RMB1,190.3 million (US$173.4 million) and RMB757.9 million (US$110.4 million) in 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively. Our net loss as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 104.3% in 2017 to 84.2% in 2018 and further to 78.1% in the six months ended June 30, 2019.
Industry Background and Market Opportunities
China's financial services industry is massive and growing, but it faces challenges
China's financial services industry is massive and growing. The country's financial services industry had, in aggregate, 62,000 financial institutions and US$49.9 trillion of total assets as of December 31, 2018, and it generated US$2.1 trillion of revenue in 2018; these compare to US$98.2 trillion of total assets and US$3.0 trillion of revenue for the financial services industry in the United States. Driven by China's robust GDP growth, its financial services industry will grow at a steady CAGR of 12.0% from 2018 to 2023, according to Oliver Wyman. At the same time, China's financial services industry is experiencing challenges:
To address challenges and capture new opportunities, Chinese financial institutions must undertake digital transformations to adopt new business models that include:
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Most financial institutions cannot support digital transformation on their own
To resolve their pain points, China's financial institutions must undertake transformations to structurally enhance their competitiveness. The only effective way to achieve these transformations will be applying technology integrated with industry expertise. It would be a long and expensive process for China's financial institutions to do this on their own, especially because:
There are massive market opportunities for technology-as-a-service providers
We believe that external technology platforms provide a proven means for financial institutions to upgrade their revenue-generating and operating capabilities. Platforms that integrate extensive industry knowledge and technology excellence are scarce, which well positions us to capture this fast-growing, underpenetrated market.
The total market opportunity for the technology spending of financial institutions includes both their conventional IT spending and technology-as-a-service spending. Historically, financial institutions' technology spending has mainly been for on-premise software, IT staff and server costs. But as financial institutions adopt advanced cloud-based technology solutions to drive revenue growth or cost savings, technology-as-a-service spending on flexible solutions that bundle technology, software and services that are charged through revenue-sharing or subscription models is expected to account for an increasing share of their total technology spending. Oliver Wyman estimates that the technology spending market for Chinese financial institutions was RMB152.2 billion in 2018 and that it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% to RMB400.8 billion in 2023. Within this total spending, technology-as-a-service spending is expected to increase at a higher CAGR of 48.7%, from RMB18.8 billion in 2018 to RMB136.9 billion in 2023.
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Our Platform and Products
We provide holistic coverage of financial services verticals with end-to-end technology solutions
We are the largest technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions in China by number of customers, according to Oliver Wyman. Our platform provides more than 50 cloud-native products that can be deployed on a modular basis to quickly respond to customer requirements or combined to deliver end-to-end solutions. Our 12 technology solutions strategically cover multiple verticals in the financial services industry, including banking, insurance and asset management, across the full scope of their businesses—from sales and marketing and risk management to customer services and operations, as well as technology infrastructure such as data management, program development, and cloud services.
The matrix below sets forth the 12 solutions we currently offer across the financial services industry verticals we serve and four solutions we expect to offer in the near future.
Our products are proven at large scale to create enormous value for our financial institution customers
Our innovative solutions are based on extensive industry expertise, driven by customer insight and tested in large-scale real world applications. We deliver enormous value to our financial institution customers in their digital transformations:
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this network and the application of our data analytics, the creditworthiness of these SMEs becomes more transparent. We also provide an end-to-end, online-to-offline operations platform for financial institutions to serve large numbers of SME customers cost-effectively.
We have successfully expanded overseas and are recognized by overseas financial institutions and regulators.
We began expanding our business outside China in 2018, establishing subsidiaries in Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia. We won the bid to develop the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's eTradeConnect platform, a large-scale interbank blockchain trade finance platform, which serves 12 major banks. As of June 30, 2019, we had provided service to more than 10 financial institutions outside China, including three out of the top 10 major banks in Thailand; leading banks in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines; as well as some of the largest non-bank financial institutions in Southeast Asia. We set up a joint venture with SBI Group to serve the Japanese financial institutions in August 2019.
Our Business Model
We believe that partnering with our financial institution customers is important in driving our success.
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Our Adopt-Deepen-Integrate customer-development approach
Transaction-based revenue model
We adopted a transaction-based revenue model, where we require small upfront implementation fees and primarily charge our financial institution customers based on the transaction volume generated on our platform or their other usage of it. We believe this model allows financial institutions to quickly begin using our platform. As customers use our platform, our transaction-based pricing allows us to participate in their success, rather than be limited to fixed subscription income. We monetize a variety of transaction types, including loans generated, claims processed, databases queried and API calls made. In 2018, 77% of our revenue was transaction based.
Technology + Business service model
We provide financial institutions with tailor-made business services, including customer referrals, technology-enabled product design, marketing assistance, service recommendations, and transaction facilitation. These value-added services, delivered through our highly automated platform and based on our extensive industry expertise, help financial institutions grow sustainably. Correspondingly, part of our costs are also associated with generating the transaction volumes we facilitate for our financial institution customers. Since our establishment in December 2015, our platform has supported our financial institution customers in generating RMB1.6 trillion of transactions for their end-customers.
Our Strengths
Cloud-native technology platform with end-to-end coverage
We offer a comprehensive, cloud-native technology platform, through which we provide modular offerings that are easy-to-deploy, scalable and secure—which in combination allow us to efficiently scale up our customers' use of our platform. We have assembled our more than 50 modules and over 2,400 standardized open APIs into 12 solutions serving financial institutions across all major financial services verticals in China and selected overseas markets. Financial institutions can choose either standalone modules or customized solutions with multiple modules, depending on their operational needs. Our products can be quickly deployed into our customers' IT infrastructure or legacy systems with minimal customization. For example, it takes as little as eight weeks for a customer to deploy our mobile banking
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module and commence operations. Our solutions have been connected to over 60 core banking systems, representing the majority of mainstream systems used in China. Our products are built on shared cloud infrastructure, which enables our customers to scale and upgrade quickly at low cost. We meet the highest data security standards by adopting isolation structure and encrypted blockchain. In the first half of 2019, Ping An Financial Cloud, on which our applications are hosted, has an SLA availability exceeding 99.9994%. Our system has demonstrated robust reliability.
World-class technology and continuous innovation
We are at the forefront of innovation in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain and big data analytics. As of June 30, 2019, we had won 19 technology awards in international competitions. Our world-class AI technologies include natural language processing, image recognition and biometric recognition, having won multiple global competitions. These technologies span across different stages of AI evolution, from recognition and learning to decision-making, with real-world applications in intelligent fast claim, anti-fraud tools and virtual assistants. Our blockchain technology is built using our proprietary architecture, and it has allowed us to build world-leading applications, such as achieving data connectivity among users while retaining various users' data encryption.
We continue to build up our competitive advantage through R&D investment. As of June 30, 2019, we had submitted 2,540 patent applications in China and 530 in other countries or regions. Over 48% of our total staff force, or 1,426, are technicians from various backgrounds.
Innovative business model empowered by industry expertise
We integrate our extensive financial expertise with advanced technology to develop highly functional applications that are specific to financial sector verticals. Our core management team has decades of experience in the financial services industry. Our solutions are used extensively by various subsidiaries of Ping An Group—proving our ability to deliver results at large scale—which brings additional confidence to other financial institution customers. We have adopted a transaction-based business model that enables us to participate in our customers' growth, producing visible revenue streams that are fast-growing and highly recurring. To catalyze transaction volume growth on our platform, we provide our customers with tailored business services that are enabled by our industry expertise. Unlike a conventional subscription-based model, where a software provider's revenue grows with its number of financial institution customers, our revenue also grows as the volume of underlying transactions using our platform grows—which allows our platform to capture greater value-upside. Using our innovative business model, our revenue increased by 142.9% from RMB581.9 million in 2017 to RMB1,413.5 million (US$205.9 million) in 2018. 77% of our revenue in 2018 was transaction-based.
Strong synergy with Ping An Group
Established over 30 years ago, Ping An Group holds a full suite of financial services licenses and its operations span the insurance, banking, securities, trust, investment, leasing, healthcare and technology industries. Ping An Group is committed to developing next-generation technology and stands at the forefront of digital transformation. We enjoy a strong partnership with Ping An Group: as a partner for technology development, a supplier of application scenarios for developing our products, and a flagship customer showcasing our capabilities.
We and Ping An Group cooperate under a long-term agreement, or the Strategic Cooperation Agreement, giving us priority access to existing and new intellectual property and technology infrastructure that is developed or operated by Ping An Group. We will continue to benefit from Ping An Group's development of technologies and will also be able to leverage Ping An Group's know-how, customer insights, and application scenarios in developing new technology applications.
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Broad customer base with high net expansion
We have a broad customer base. As of June 30, 2019, we had served over 3,600 customers on our platform, including 615 banks, 81 insurance companies, and over 1,800 other financial institutions, collectively reaching hundreds of millions of end-customers. As of June 30, 2019, we cover all of the major banks, 99% of city commercial banks and 44% of insurance companies in China.
Benefiting from our innovative business model and offerings, we have observed robust net expansion in our existing customer base. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for 2017 customers was 224% in 2018.
Our Strategies
We believe that our growth will be phased across four stages: (1) a platform incubation stage as we grew from Ping An Group's significant investment in financial technology since 2008, and became a separate entity in December 2015; (2) a customer acquisition stage in which we rapidly expand our customer base; (3) a wallet-share increase stage as we encourage product usage by each customer and enhance products' usage, reducing our cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue and (4) a profit growth stage as we leverage our cloud-native platform and modular product design to achieve economies of scale and eventually achieve rapid profit growth.
We seek to become the world's leading technology-as-a-service platform for financial institutions. We are currently in our second stage of development, and to move our business toward our third stage, we are pursuing the following initiatives.
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financial institutions in other countries by leveraging the commonality of the financial services industry's technology and our experience in China. We will continue to increase our penetration in South East Asia through our wholly owned subsidiaries in Singapore and Indonesia. We will expand our services in Japan and Korea.
Our Solutions
We offer a comprehensive suite of end-to-end solutions to our financial institution customers that enable them to increase revenue, manage risks, improve efficiency, enhance service-quality, and reduce costs—thereby enhancing their competitiveness. We use our cloud-native financial services software platform to offer 12 solutions consisting of over 50 modules that our customers can adopt on a standalone basis or as customized bundled solutions. We are continuously developing and deploying new solutions to deepen our partnerships with our financial institution customers, and we are expanding our operations internationally to capture opportunities outside China, beginning with a focus on North and Southeast Asia.
The matrix below sets forth the 12 solutions that we currently offer across the three financial services industry verticals we serve: retail and SME banking, insurance and asset management and four solutions that we expect to offer in the near future.
Digital retail banking
Our digital retail banking solution allows our customers in this sector to improve their salesforce efficiency, enhance their understanding of end-customers, and deliver comprehensive digital banking capabilities. We also offer business-origination services to our customers in this sector, which assist them in
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growing their financial products business and generate revenue for us. Our digital retail banking customers use the modules and services described below to improve their productivity and marketing efforts.
The image below is illustrative of the interface for our customer analytics and targeted marketing module for retail banking:
SME financing and services
Our SME financing and services solution provides platforms that connect our financial institution customers with SMEs, companies along the supply chain, government entities, as well as various third party service providers. The platform integrates information from different parties, through our FiMAX blockchain technology to increase information transparency, so as to allow SMEs to get better access to financial resource and help financial institutions assess SME credit-worthiness in a more accurate way. We also deliver various value-added services on the platform, such as accounting, inventory management, tax filing, import and export reporting, and IP applications, to attract usage and subsequently allowing us to gain more insights from these SMEs.
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The platforms of our SME financing and services solutions include:
Risk management—retail banking
Our end-to-end retail banking risk-management solution helps retail banks streamline their loan businesses, improve their credit analytics, reduce delinquency risk and enhance post-lending performance. This solution provides our customers with a suite of modules that can be tailored to fit their needs. This solution's modules can also be integrated to provide our credit management system with additional functions to serve customers' entire loan lifecycle. Modules in this solution include:
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Case study: Supporting a regional commercial bank in launching online banking services.
We successfully helped a regional commercial bank in Northwestern China launch and scale up its online banking services. Historically limited to extending loans to local farmers in off-line operations, the bank began working with us in 2017 to digitally transform itself for online business. The bank purchased a suite of six modules from us in 2017, ranging from customer analytics and targeted marketing and risk management to our post-lending monitoring services, and it purchased two more modules from us in 2018, including modules from our ALM solution. Our solutions have significantly advanced this bank's business—from 2017 to 2018 its customer numbers increased by over three times and its loan-origination volume increased by over five times. Out of the bank's total retail loans extended in 2018, over half were generated using our solutions. Over the same period, its operating efficiency increased dramatically and its loan-approval process became almost real time, compared to an average of three to five days before adopting our solutions. Growing with our customer's success, our revenue from the bank grew by approximately 200% from 2017 to 2018.
Risk management—SME banking
Our risk management solution for SME banking leverages specialized SME data and algorithms to evaluate credit and fraud risks for SME loan products. This system includes:
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The image below is illustrative of the interface for our enterprise credit analytics platform:
Auto insurance operations and services
Our auto insurance operations and services solution helps insurers reduce losses, fight fraudulent claims and improve service quality. This solution applies AI and advanced analytics to automate the entire claim-processing procedure: claim submission, instant inspections and settlement, appraisal and roadside assistance, and auto parts sourcing. Modules and services in this solution include:
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The images below are illustrative of the mobile app in our intelligent image recognition module, described above:
Case study: Combating fraud losses for auto insurance claims with a national insurer
Our customer is a national insurer. It faced false or inflated claims, which drove up the cost of its losses in auto insurance. Following their adoption of our intelligent fast claim and anti-fraud modules in the second half of 2018, in the first half of 2019 this insurer reduced the cost of its losses by more than RMB24 million while processing more than 140,000 claims. Its claim payment ratio decreased from 53.0% in 2017 to 50.3% in 2018, and its loss reduction ratio, calculated by dividing reduced loss assessment by final loss assessment, increased from 4.53% to 7.25% during the same period. In addition, its parts and repair labor costs decreased by 12.3% and 13.8%, respectively, compared with that before adopting our services.
Asset management
Our asset management solution supports banks, asset management firms and insurers in structuring, delivering, marketing and managing investment products. More than just facilitating the investment process, this solution empowers our customers' everyday informed decisions by providing a real-time view of their risk exposures and handles the extensive data processing needed to support their asset management businesses.
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driven high frequency trading, and it assists them in managing investment transactions, liquidity, fund movements, data analysis, asset valuation and management reporting.
ABS ecosystem
Our ABS ecosystem solution provides end-to-end services to ABS originators, plan managers and other ABS ecosystem participants. This blockchain-driven solution assists ABS market participants establish underlying asset pools, design ABS products, market and distribute ABS products, and manage ABSs over their complete lifecycle. Customers can use modules from this solution to leverage our FiMAX blockchain technology to streamline their securitization process to increase their levels of automation and transparency, which in turn can reduce their time and costs and improve product distribution efficiency and returns. Modules in our ABS ecosystem solution include:
The graphic below is illustrative of the customer dashboard for our ABS solution.
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Case Study: Increasing operational efficiency and reducing offline costs
One of China's most influential companies in the securities and asset management field adopted our ABS system in 2018. By leveraging this solution, it has issued 50 securitizations over nine asset categories totaling RMB58.5 billion. Their adoption of our ABS ecosystem solution allowed them to reduce their ABS product design time by 50% and reduce their data entry requirements by 80%. Leveraging the solution's optical character recognition, social media-monitoring, and AI reading comprehension, they reduced their document production times by 60%. Our system increased our customer's operational efficiency by reducing personnel costs and human error rates. In addition, the system has enabled the customer to provide real-time alerts to sales personnel and vendors, reducing offline communication costs and information lag issues.
Asset-liability management
Our asset-liability management, or ALM, solution uses data analytics to enhance financial institutions' asset liquidity performance for financial institutions operating in the PRC regulatory environment. In July 2018, we acquired Vantage Point Technology, a Beijing-based company that developed the modules in this solution. As of June 30, 2019, our ALM solution was used by 72% of all state-owned, joint stock and large commercial banks in China with over RMB500 billion of total assets. This solution is very easily adopted by a wide range of financial institutions and often works as a hook product for us to start working with these customers and later upward migrate and upsell them to our other solutions. Customers can use this solution's modules, described below, to enhance their risk management abilities.
AI customer service
Our AI customer service solution uses our award-winning AI technology to assist financial institutions in improving the quality and convenience of their customer service functions, while at the same time leveraging this technology to improve efficiency and reduce headcount requirements. Our AI technology provides applications that allow our financial institution customers to replace their paper- and people-intensive processes and legacy infrastructure. Financial institutions across all verticals can use the solution's modules in their customer service functions.
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Core systems
Our core systems solution provides financial institutions with integrated applications to support their operations. For banking-sector customers, this solution is supplemental to and can run in parallel with their legacy core banking systems to help them achieve low-cost digital transformation. This solution seamlessly integrates our other solutions for banks, enabling them to quickly expand their online businesses, such as digital banking, retail lending, SME lending, supply-chain finance and international trade finance. Leveraging our open core banking system and our microservices infrastructure, our core systems' modular design allows customers to quickly and easily deploy our solutions to cost-effectively address their needs.
Smart management
Smart management is our data-as-a-service, or DaaS, solution for management and reporting, built around a visualized management dashboard. This solution supports better decision-making by helping customers gather, search, analyze, track, and report on isolated, unstructured data points in a customized, visualized dashboard using an interactive user-friendly interface. Empowered by our natural language processing technology, this DaaS solution supports a range of operations, such as allowing a customer to input a query, with the solution generating search results in an intuitive format using a consolidated database that includes both the customer's own institutional knowledge as well as external resources. Our smart management solution can improve decision-making in various aspects of business operations, including risk management, sales and marketing, and human resource management.
Gamma O—open API platform
In June 2019, we launched Gamma O, our open API platform-as-a-service, or PaaS, which is designed as a one-stop shop for reusable financial technology components and integrations. The platform's components and integrations are provided by us and other third-party financial technology service providers that we qualify for platform participation. For financial institutions, Gamma O provides plug-and-play technologies to achieve automated, digital online operations without the need to build additional internet infrastructure. For other financial technology services providers, we offer a platform with infrastructure, technology support and customer resources, which allows them to undertake more complex and large-scale projects. We also have a financial technology product incubator, through which we offer a sales-and-marketing platform, customer resources, technical coaching, and funding support.
New Solutions
We are committed to incubating and commercializing disruptive technologies and solutions, including the following technologies and solutions. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not yet launched these technologies and solutions.
Insurance sales management
Our insurance sales management solution provides a one-stop management tool for the recruitment and training of insurance agents. It is supported by agent profiling and AI training technologies, as well as intelligent marketing tools. This solution enables insurance agents to manage customer relationship and online insurance applications via mobile devices. We believe that by adopting this solution, our insurance company customers can increase the success rate for customer acquisition and improve the effectiveness of
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sales and marketing, thus driving down management cost and improving efficiency. Our insurance sales management solution is at a proof-of-concept stage, and we are testing it on several trial clients. We anticipate launching our insurance sales management solution by the end of 2019.
Regtech
Financial institutions have made substantial investments to manage existing regulatory issues, and they need solutions to consolidate these investments and address new regulations and regulatory expectations. At the same time, regulatory authorities also need end-to-end solutions to automate and digitalize their operations. We are well-positioned with our technological capacities to tap into regtech opportunities—serving both financial institutions and regulators. We expect to launch our regulatory solution with services for regulatory authorities and are building out this solution to include the following modules.
We have developed a prototype of our regulatory solution, and we will test it once ready. We anticipate launching this solution by the end of 2019.
Blockchain network-as-a-service
Built on our advanced cryptology and blockchain technologies, we have developed our blockchain network-as-a-service, or BNaaS, platform. We have developed a prototype of the platform, which is to be tested. We anticipate launching our BNaaS platform by the end of 2019. Unlike more conventional systems, our cloud-based platform supports an offsite deployment model that will enable our customers to quickly create their own blockchain-based networks or participate in networks created by others. Customers will be able to use our BNaaS technology to develop applications for specific scenarios.
Cloud management
Our cloud management solution will provide value-added services built around the services of Ping An Financial Cloud. Our cloud management solution will provide our customers with highly reliable and secure cloud services specifically tailored for the financial services industry. Equipped with a deep understanding of and rich experience in the financial services industry and advanced technologies, we will provide our customers with consultation, design, migration and deployment services on various cloud structures, including public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud. Our four key cloud service offerings will be (i) infrastructure services based on private and hybrid clouds; (ii) cloud migration; (iii) cloud management platform operations; and (iv) financial ecosystem services. Our cloud management solution is still at an early development stage. We anticipate launching this solution in 2020.
Virtual Bank
We were granted a virtual banking license to operate in the Hong Kong SAR by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority in May 2019. We plan to launch our virtual banking operations in the fourth quarter of
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2019. As of June 30, 2019, our license was one of eight approved in Hong Kong, and we expect our virtual bank to offer online banking services including deposits, lending, trade finance and supply chain finance to retail and SME clients. We believe we will be able to use our virtual banking operations in Hong Kong to showcase our platform's solutions to potential international customers and gain customers for our other solutions among Hong Kong financial institutions.
International Business
We are actively exploring opportunities to replicate our success in China in overseas markets. We formed a subsidiary in Singapore in March 2018, which serves as our Southeast Asia headquarters and as a research and development center. We launched a subsidiary in Indonesia in December 2018 and set up a joint venture in Japan in August 2019. We have expanded our business to ten countries and territories including Hong Kong SAR, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and South Korea. Outside of China, we mainly focus on serving major local banks and insurance companies with our advanced financial technology solutions. For example, we developed the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's eTradeConnect platform, which serves 12 major banks. In Thailand, three of the country's top national banks have adopted our risk management solutions to digitalize their banking processes and accelerate verification and identification of new customers. In Japan, we have set up a joint venture with SBI Group to serve Japanese regional banks. And we have signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Korea's Samsung SDS to develop a cross-border blockchain-based trade network.
As we enter new markets, we seek to cooperate with partners that have a deep knowledge of the local market and regulatory environment, which can complement our technology and know-how, allowing us to provide advanced solutions for the local market. For example, we partnered with Indonesia's Traditional Market Association to transform financial services for Indonesian SMEs. We believe that the substantial progress we have achieved in our international expansion demonstrates that the experience and expertise we gained from the China market is readily transferable to overseas markets.
Our Technology and Infrastructure
The success of our business depends on our technology and infrastructure, which enable us to deliver innovative and effective software solutions to customers in various segments of the financial industry, improve end-customer experiences and mitigate risks.
Artificial Intelligence
Our AI technology enables digital automation and reduces personnel and other expenses, while enhancing personalized service. Our AI technology is award-winning, having received over 15 awards from professional and media organizations in China and abroad, including the BAI Global Insurance Certification Award and two Stanford awards. In 2018, we won one of the Stanford Question Answering Dataset 2.0 (SQuAD) challenges, a global test of machine-reading comprehension in which teams from around the world compete to most accurately answer questions in a dataset using machine-reading technology, and the seventh Dialog System Technology Challenge (DSTC7), one of the world's leading global dialogue system challenges. In 2019, we also won Stanford's AI Algorithm + Cloud Computing global competition, the world's first such competition, in which teams from around the world compete to accurately recognize 50,000 photos in the shortest time. As of June 30, 2019, we had submitted 697 AI-related patent applications in China and other countries or regions. Our key AI applications include:
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Blockchain
Blockchain is an open, distributed ledger that stores transaction data in a verifiable and immutable way, enabling parties to conduct business with each other on a single, unified system. We use our blockchain technology, built using our proprietary FiMAX architecture, to facilitate advanced cryptography, peer-to-peer communications and smart contracts and ensure trust, transparency and security for our customers' transactions. Our FiMAX architecture supports enterprise-grade blockchain development in addressing the challenges that arise using different parties' encrypted data in ways that maintain the integrity of each user's encryption. Combining FiMAX's patented crypto-controlled data-sharing algorithm and per-field encryption technologies, we believe that FiMAX is one of the first technology platforms in the industry to achieve data connectivity while retaining various users' data encryption—features that are critical for real life applications in the financial services industry. In 2018 FiMAX won the IDC FinTech Ranking Real Result Award from IDC, a world-renowned data services company.
Data access and big data analytics
We use our extensive data access and advanced analytics to help our customers make timely and informed decisions during the entire business cycle of financial transactions, including customer acquisition and management, risk management, product development and operation optimization.
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Our advanced data insights and data analytics capabilities allow us to streamline the development of customized models, reducing the preparation time for a model from a range of three or four weeks to one week and reducing costs by up to 50%. In addition, our machine learning analytics optimize the accuracy of models as compared to conventional modeling.
Infrastructure
We build and deliver our solutions on cloud-native infrastructure. We access this infrastructure in the form of Ping An Financial Cloud, which has multiple operating centers and meets the highest security standards recognized by nine global industry authorities. Ping An Financial Cloud provides us with infrastructure, including computing services, storage, server and bandwidth. Building on this infrastructure, our solutions have the following key features:
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cause the entire system to fail. In the first half of 2019, Ping An Financial Cloud, on which our applications are hosted, had an SLA availability exceeding 99.9994%.
Research and Development
We invest significant resources in research and development—not only to support our existing business and enhance our existing product and service offerings—but also to incubate new technological and business initiatives to enable us to continue to lead our competition.
Our experienced scientists and engineers dedicated to research and development are the source of our continued innovation. As of December 31, 2018, we had over 1,437 research and development employees, representing over 53% of our total employees. Our research and development team includes data scientists, computer scientists and software engineers. We have established the four research entities described below:
Intellectual Property
We protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property laws, as well as confidentiality agreements and clauses for major technology cooperation, business operations and investment projects. In general, our employees are required to enter into standard employment agreements that include a clause acknowledging that all inventions, trade secrets, developments and other processes generated by them on our behalf are our property and assigning to us any ownership rights that they may claim in those works.
As of the June 30, 2019, we had submitted 2,540 patent applications in China and 530 in other countries or regions, and owned 56 registered domain names, including our official website. As of the same date, we owned 305 copyrights and 308 trademarks in various categories, primarily in China. In addition, we had 344 trademark applications in various categories that were pending registration. We intend to
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pursue additional patent and other intellectual property protections, both in China and elsewhere, to the extent we believe it would be beneficial and cost effective.
User Privacy and Data Protection
We are dedicated to data privacy protection. We have adopted policies that establish authorization mechanisms for data usage, data classification, approval procedures and access rights for confidential data. Our service agreements include terms to ensure that our customers have obtained appropriate consents from their end-customers to collect, use and disclose their data in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. When providing cloud-based targeted marketing services, we leverage our AI and other advanced data tools to develop algorithms to translate data into anonymous, transferable insights without accessing personal details. Furthermore, we adopt data encryption and firewalls to ensure the secured storage and transmission of data and prevent unauthorized access and usage of data. We also rely on our internal policies to prevent our systems from being infiltrated or our data being accessed or disclosed improperly. We limit access to sensitive data on a "need-to-know" basis according to the importance and sensitivity of data, which reduces the amount of human review and intervention in the processing of those data, to mitigate the possibility of data leakage and unnecessary privacy invasion.
Customers
We have a broad customer base. Our customers are primarily Chinese financial institutions. Ping An Group is our strategic partner and our most important customer. In addition to our Ping An Group customers, as of December 31, 2018, we had approximately 3,500 customers on our platform, an increase from over 1,600 at the end of 2016. As of December 31, 2018, we had over 2,400 financial institution customers, including 597 banks, 70 insurance companies and over 1,800 other financial institutions, the largest number among technology-as-a-service platforms in China. As of December 31, 2018, our broad customer base includes all of the major banks, 99% of the city commercial banks, and 38% of the insurance companies in China, collectively reaching hundreds of millions of end-customers. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 customers was 224%.
In 2018, we had 221 premium customers, an increase from 40 in 2017. On average each of our premium customers purchased 3.0 products in 2018, growing from 1.7 in 2016. Our net expansion rate in 2018 for our 2017 premium customers was 167%.
Sales and Marketing
Our unique customer acquisition approach is built around our pricing model, sales team composition, and industry-specific marketing and promotion. We have strategically chosen to charge low upfront fees and use transaction-based pricing for most of our solutions to attract customers. We market our services to both existing and potential customers through our business development team and our relationship managers, who have direct executive-level relationships with our existing and target customers, as many of them were formerly senior financial institution management. Our sales and business development team has extensive experience in both the financial services and technology industries. Our sales team includes over 376 sales professionals, divided into four sales areas, strategically located in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Shenzhen, each located to be close to our customers. We employ a variety of marketing methods to promote our image as a reliable and innovative financial technology solution provider with a proven track record. In 2018, we hosted ten major industry conferences or product releases, attended by over 1,400 senior executives. We have access to a network of over 250 small financial institution and medium-sized banks, which are members of the Internet Finance Association of Small and Medium-sized Banks. We were one of the key founding members of this association, which is an alliance of small and medium-sized banks in China aimed at promoting cooperation and innovation among its members.
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Competition
The markets in which we operate are competitive and evolving. Our primary competitors include companies affiliated with financial institutions selling competitive solutions, traditional technology companies providing customized development, implementation and support services, and internet companies. The most significant competitive factors for us are:
Employees
The following table sets forth the number of our employees by function as of December 31, 2018.
Function
|
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
Research and Development |
1,437 | |||
Business Operations |
488 | |||
Sales and Marketing |
627 | |||
General Administration |
143 | |||
| | | | |
Total |
2,695 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 we had 1,162, 1,409 and 2,695 employees, respectively. A large number of our employees had prior experience in technology companies or financial institutions.
Our success depends on our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. We primarily recruit our employees in China through recruitment agencies, on-campus job fairs and online channels including our corporate website and social media platforms. We have adopted a training policy, pursuant to which management, technology and other training is regularly provided to our employees by internal speakers and external consultants. We believe our training culture has contributed to our ability to recruit and retain qualified employees.
As required under Chinese law and regulations, we participate in various employee social security plans that are organized by applicable local municipal and provincial governments, including housing, pension, medical, maternity, work-related injury and unemployment benefit plans. We are required under Chinese laws to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified percentages of salaries, bonuses, and certain allowance of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. We do not have a labor union.
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Facilities
Our corporate headquarters are located at 55F, Ping An Financial Center, No. 5033 Yitian Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, PRC. We also have offices in the Hong Kong SAR, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu in China, Singapore, and Jakarta, Indonesia. These facilities have an aggregate of over 35,000 square meters and currently accommodate our management, research and development, sales and marketing, as well as general and administrative activities. Our main IT infrastructure is deployed on Ping An Financial Cloud, so we do not own or lease any data centers in China the Hong Kong SAR or Singapore. To comply with local data regulatory requirements, we leased a data center in Indonesia.
Legal and Administrative Proceedings
From time to time we may become involved in legal proceedings or be subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. We are not presently a party to any legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Regardless of the outcome, litigation may have an adverse impact on us because of defense and settlement costs, diversion of management resources and other factors.
Our Relationship with Ping An Group
We began in December 2015 as the financial technology solution arm of Ping An Group. As of June 30, 2019, Ping An Group was China's second-largest financial services conglomerate and the fifth-largest financial group worldwide by market capitalization. Ping An Group is incorporated under the laws of China, with its shares listed on both the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Established over 30 years ago, Ping An Group holds a full suite of financial services licenses and its operations span the insurance, banking, securities, trust, investment, leasing, healthcare and technology industries. Ping An Group is committed to developing next-generation technology and stands at the forefront of digital transformation.
We enjoy a strong partnership with Ping An Group, as a partner for technology development, a supplier of application scenarios for developing our products, and a flagship customer showcasing our capabilities. Ping An Group is our strategic partner and our most important customer and supplier. We have partnered with Ping An Group to jointly develop new technology and applications, and Ping An Group provides us support in technology infrastructure such as cloud infrastructure. Ping An Group also provides us with a diverse, reliable source of real-life application scenarios to validate and prove our technology. Many of our customer insights and innovative solutions are first initiated and tested within the Ping An Group ecosystem. Our strategic partnership with Ping An Group has contributed to our growth significantly and we expect it to continue to do so.
We and Ping An Group cooperate under a Strategic Cooperation Agreement with a term extending until ten years after completion of our initial public offering, subject to Ping An Group continuing to hold or beneficially own at least 30% of our shares. Under this agreement, Ping An Group will give preference to us in choosing its partner for providing technology service and solutions to external financial institutions. Ping An Group will also give preference to us in purchasing banking and non-banking solutions. Under the same agreement, Ping An Group has granted us non-transferable rights to use, duplicate, modify and sell Ping An Group's existing technologies in financial scenarios globally. With this long-term Strategic Cooperation Agreement, we believe we will continue to benefit from Ping An Group's development of technologies and to leverage Ping An Group's know-how, customer insights, and application scenarios in developing new technology applications.
We and three Ping An Group subsidiaries cooperate under a technology service agreement, or the Technology Service Agreement, under which those three subsidiaries provide us a wide range of technical
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infrastructure, technology support and maintenance. This agreement has a term ending at the end of 2021, and payments under the agreement are based on arm's-length pricing. We obtain our access to Ping An Financial Cloud and much of our other technology and infrastructure through the Technology Service Agreement.
Ping An Group is also our principal shareholder. Prior to this offering, Ping An Group beneficially owned 39.8% of our shares and it is expected to own of our shares following this offering, assuming that the underwriters do not exercise the overallotment option. When exercising its rights as our shareholder, Ping An Group may take into account not only the interests of our Company and our other shareholders but also its own interests, the interests of its public shareholders and the interests of its other affiliates. The interests of our Company and our other shareholders may conflict with the interests of Ping An Group and its public shareholders and other affiliates. For additional information about the risks in connection with our relationship with Ping An Group, see "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business and Industry—Ping An Group is our strategic partner, our most important customer and our largest supplier. Any deterioration of our relationship with Ping An Group could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, business and growth."
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We operate in an increasingly complex legal and regulatory environment. We are subject to a variety of PRC and foreign laws, rules and regulations across numerous aspects of our business. This section sets forth a summary of the principal PRC laws, judicial interpretations, rules and regulations relevant to our business and operations in the PRC.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
The establishment, operation and management of corporate entities in the PRC, including foreign-invested companies, are subject to the Company Law of the PRC, or the Company Law, which was issued by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or the NPC Standing Committee, on December 29, 1993 and took effect on July 1, 1994. It was last amended on October 26, 2018. Unless otherwise provided in the PRC's foreign investment laws, the provisions of the Company Law shall prevail.
The establishment procedures, filing and approval procedures, registered capital requirements, foreign exchange restrictions, accounting practices, taxation and labor matters of a wholly foreign-owned enterprise are governed by the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law of the PRC, which was issued on April 12, 1986 and last amended on September 3, 2016 and took effect on October 1, 2016; the Implementation Regulations of the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law of the PRC, which was issued on December 12, 1990 and last amended on February 19, 2014 and took effect on March 1, 2014; and the Interim Measures for Record-filing Administration of the Establishment and Change of Foreign-invested Enterprises, which was issued on October 8, 2016 and last amended on June 30, 2018.
Investments in the PRC by foreign investors and foreign-invested enterprises are regulated by the Catalogue of Industries in which Foreign Investment is Encouraged (2019 edition), or the 2019 Catalog, and the Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List 2019), or the 2019 Negative List. The establishment of wholly foreign-owned enterprises is generally allowed in industries not included in the Negative List. Industries not listed in the Negative List are generally open to foreign investment unless specifically restricted by other applicable Chinese regulations. Under the 2019 Negative List, foreign equity in companies providing value-added telecommunications services, excluding e-commerce, domestic multi-party communications, data collection and transmission services, and call centers, should not exceed 50%. Part of our business is subject to such 50% foreign invested equity cap.
On March 15, 2019, the NPC Standing Committee issued the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, or the Foreign Investment Law, which will take effect on January 1, 2020. It will replace the major existing laws and regulations governing foreign investment in the PRC, namely, the Law of the PRC on Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law of the PRC and the Law of the PRC on Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures. The PRC Company Law and the PRC Partnership Enterprise Law will generally govern the organization of a foreign invested enterprise.
The Foreign Investment Law mainly stipulates four forms of foreign investments: (a) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, establishes a foreign-invested enterprise within PRC; (b) a foreign investor acquires stock shares, equity shares, interests in assets, or other like rights and interests of an enterprise within PRC; (c) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, invests in a new project within the PRC; and (d) foreign investors invest in the PRC through any other methods under laws, administrative regulations, or provisions prescribed by the State Council of the PRC. It does not mention the relevant concept and regulatory regime of VIE structures and uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation.
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Under the Foreign Investment Law, foreign investment are accorded pre-admission national treatment, which means that treatment given to foreign investors and their investment shall not be less favorable than those given to domestic investors and their investments, except where a foreign investment falls under the Negative List. It also provides several protective rules and principles for foreign investors and their investments in the PRC, including, foreign investors' funds can be freely transferred out and into the territory of the PRC through the entire life cycle from the entry to the exit of foreign investment, a comprehensive system to guarantee fair competition among foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises will be established, and the state shall not expropriate any foreign investment except under special circumstances, in which case statutory procedures shall be followed and fair and reasonable compensation shall be made in a timely manner.
In addition, the Foreign Investment Law subjects foreign investors and foreign-invested enterprises to legal liabilities for failing to report their investment information in accordance with the requirements of an information reporting system that will be established. It also provides that foreign invested enterprises established according to the existing laws regulating foreign investment may maintain their structure and corporate governance within five years after the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law, which means that foreign invested enterprises may be required to adjust their structure and corporate governance in accordance with the PRC Company Law and other laws and regulations governing the corporate governance.
Regulations Relating to Value-Added Telecommunication Services
The Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC, or the Telecommunications Regulations, issued by the State Council of the PRC on September 25, 2000 and last amended on February 6, 2016, provide the general framework for the provision of telecommunication services by PRC companies. It requires a telecommunication service provider in China to obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or MIIT, or its provincial counterparts, prior to commencement of operations.
The Telecommunications Regulations categorize telecommunication services in China as either basic telecommunications services or value-added telecommunications services. According to the Catalog of Telecommunications Business, attached to the Telecommunications Regulations and issued by MIIT, on December 28, 2015 and last amended on June 6, 2019, online data processing, transaction processing and information services provided via fixed network, mobile network and internet are value-added telecommunication services.
On July 3, 2017, MIIT issued the Administrative Measures for Telecommunications Business Operating Permit, or the Telecom Permit Measures, which took effect on September 1, 2017. The Telecom Permit Measures set forth more specific provisions regarding the types of licenses required to operate value-added telecommunications services, the qualifications and procedures for obtaining the licenses and the administration and supervision of these licenses. Operators are required to submit an application within the prescribed period to the original permit-issuing authority with respect to changes in the business scope or the operating entity resulting from shareholder changes or the merger and division of the company as prescribed under relevant regulations.
Regulations on Foreign Investment in the Value-Added Telecommunications Industry
Foreign direct investment in telecommunications companies in China is governed by the Administrative Rules on Foreign-invested Telecommunications Enterprises, or the FITE Regulations, which was issued by the State Council on December 11, 2001 and last amended on February 6, 2016. Under the FITE Regulations, a foreign investor's beneficial equity ownership in an entity providing value-added telecommunications services in China shall not exceed 50%. In addition, for a foreign investor to acquire any equity interest in a business providing value-added telecommunications services in China, it must
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demonstrate a good track record and experience in providing these services. However, under the Circular on Loosening the Restriction on Foreign Shareholdings in Online Data Processing and Transaction Processing Business (for E-commerce), or Circular 196, issued by MIIT on June 19, 2015, foreign investors may hold up to 100% of all equity interest in an online data processing and transaction processing business operating e-commerce in China, while other requirements provided by the FITE Regulations shall still apply. Apart from e-commerce, the 2019 Negative List also provides that foreign investors may hold 100% equity interest in domestic multi-party communications, data collection and transmission services and call centers. The MIIT's Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in and Operation of Value-added Telecommunications Business, or the MIIT Circular, issued on July 13, 2006, requires foreign investors to set up foreign-invested enterprises and obtain a license for value-added telecommunications services. It prohibits domestic companies holding value-added telecommunications services licenses from leasing, transferring or selling their licenses in any form, or providing any resource, sites or facilities, to any foreign investors intending to conduct this type of businesses in China.
In addition to restricting dealings with foreign investors, the MIIT Circular contains a number of detailed requirements applicable to operators of value-added telecommunications services, including that operators or their shareholders must legally own the domain names and trademarks used in their daily operations and each operators must possess the necessary facilities for its approved business operations and maintain its facilities in the regions covered by its license. The MIIT or its provincial counterparts have the power to require corrective actions after they discover any non-compliance by operators, and where operators fail to take those steps, the MIIT or its provincial counterparts can revoke the value-added telecommunications services licenses.
In view of the foregoing foreign ownership restrictions, we have established several domestic VIEs to engage in the business of value-added telecommunications services. For more information, please see "Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Shenzhen OneConnect and Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders." 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 compliant with applicable PRC foreign investment laws and regulations.
Regulations on Internet Information Services
The Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, or the Internet Information Measures, which was issued by the State Council on September 25, 2000 and amended on January 8, 2011, set out guidelines on the provision of internet information services. Pursuant to the Internet Information Measures, "internet information services" are defined as services that provide information to online users through the internet. The Internet Information Measures require internet information services operators to obtain a value-added telecommunications business operating license, or the ICP License, from the relevant government authorities before engaging in any commercial internet information services operations in China.
In addition, internet information service providers are required to monitor their websites to ensure that they do not contain content prohibited by law or regulation. The PRC government may require corrective actions to address non-compliance by ICP License holders or revoke their ICP License for serious violations. Furthermore, the MIIT Circular on Regulating the Use of Domain Names in Internet Information Services, issued on November 27, 2017 and that took effect on January 1, 2018, requires internet information service providers to register and own the domain names they use in providing internet information services.
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Regulations on Mobile Internet Application Information Services
On June 28, 2016, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Application Information Services on June 28, 2016, which took effect on August 1, 2016, requiring internet information service providers, or ICPs, who provide information services through mobile internet applications, or APPs, to authenticate the identity of the registered users, establish procedures for protection of user information, establish procedures for information content censorship and management, ensure that users are given adequate information concerning an APP and are able to choose whether an App is installed and whether or not to use an installed App and its functions and keep records of users' logs for 60 days. If an ICP violates these regulations, mobile app stores through which the ICP distributes its APPs may issue warnings, suspend the release of its APPs, or terminate the sale of its APPs, and/or report the violations to governmental authorities.
ICPs are also required under the Interim Measures on the Administration of Pre-Installation and Distribution of Applications for Mobile Smart Terminals, which was issued on December 16, 2016 and took effect on July 1, 2017, to ensure that APPs, as well as its ancillary resource files, configuration files and user data, can be conveniently uninstalled by a user, unless it is a basic function software (i.e., software that supports the normal functioning of hardware and operating system of a mobile smart device).
Regulations Relating to Information Security and Privacy Protection
Regulations on Information Security
In recent years, PRC government authorities have enacted laws and regulations with respect to internet information security and protection of personal information from abuse or unauthorized disclosure. Pursuant to the Decision on the Maintenance of Internet Security issued by the NPC Standing Committee on December 28, 2000, which was amended on August 27, 2009, persons may be subject to criminal liabilities in China for any attempt to: (i) gain improper entry to a computer or system of strategic importance; (ii) disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets; (iv) spread false commercial information or (v) infringe upon intellectual property rights and other activities prohibited by relevant laws and regulations.
The Administration Measures on the Security Protection of Computer Information Network with International Connections, issued by the Ministry of Public Security, or MPS, on December 16, 1997 and amended by the State Council of the PRC on January 8, 2011, prohibits using the internet in ways that result in a leak of state secrets or a spread of socially destabilizing content. The MPS has supervision and inspection powers and relevant local security bureaus may also have jurisdiction. If a value-added-telecommunications service license holder violates these measures, the government of the PRC may revoke its value-added-telecommunications service license and shut down its websites.
On November 7, 2016, the NPC Standing Committee promulgated the Cyber Security Law of the PRC, or Cyber Security Law, which took effect on June 1, 2017, pursuant to which, network operators must comply with laws and regulations and fulfil their obligations to safeguard security of the network when conducting business and providing services. Those who provide services through networks must take technical measures and other necessary measures pursuant to laws, regulations and compulsory national requirements to safeguard the safe and stable operation of the networks, respond to network security incidents effectively, prevent illegal and criminal activities, and maintain the integrity, confidentiality and usability of network data. It also states that: network operator may not collect personal information that is irrelevant to the services it provides or collect or use the personal information in violation of the provisions of laws or agreements between both parties. On May 2, 2017, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or CAC, issued the Measures for the Security Review of Network Products and Services (Trial), which took effect on June 1, 2017, to provide for more detailed rules regarding cyber security review requirements. The Regulations on Cyber Security Supervision and Inspection of Public Security Organs, which was issued
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by the MPS on September 15, 2018 and came into effect on November 1, 2018, is an important basis for the Public Security Bureau to strengthen the enforcement of the Cyber Security Law.
Pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law issued by the NPC Standing Committee on August 29, 2015, which took effect on November 1, 2015, any Internet service provider that fails to fulfil the obligations related to internet information security administration as required by applicable laws and refuses rectification orders is subject to criminal penalty for (i) any dissemination of illegal information in large scale, (ii) any severe effect due to leakage of the client's information, (iii) any serious loss of criminal evidence, or (iv) other severe situation. These amendments also state that any individual or entity that (i) sells or provides personal information to others that violates applicable law, or (ii) steals or illegally obtains any personal information, is subject to criminal penalty for severe violations. On May 8, 2017, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate released the Interpretations of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Citizens' Personal Information, which took effect on June 1, 2017. It clarifies several concepts regarding the crime of "infringement of citizens' personal information," including "citizen's personal information," "provision," and "unlawful acquisition."
In addition, the PRC General Provisions of the Civil Law, which was issued by the NPC Standing Committee on March 15, 2017 and took effect on October 1, 2017, requires personal information of individuals to be protected. Any organization or individual requiring personal information of others shall obtain such information legally and ensure the security of such information, and shall not illegally collect, use, process, or transmit such personal information, or illegally buy, sell, provide, or publish such personal information.
Regulations on Privacy Protection
On December 13, 2005, the MPS issued the Regulations on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, or the Internet Protection Measures, which took effect on March 1, 2006, requiring internet service providers to utilize standard technical measures for internet security protection.
Under the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services issued by the MIIT on December 29, 2011 and that took effect on March 15, 2012, ICPs are also prohibited from collecting any personal user information or providing any information to third parties without the consent of the user. The Cyber Security Law provides an exception to the consent requirement where the information is anonymous, not personally identifiable and unrecoverable. ICPs must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of user personal information and may only collect information necessary for its services. ICPs are also required to properly maintain user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of user personal information, ICPs must take remedial measures immediately and report any material leak to the telecommunications regulatory authority.
In addition, the Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection issued by the NPC Standing Committee on December 28, 2012 emphasizes the need to protect electronic information that contains individual identification information and other private data. The decision requires ICPs to establish and publish policies regarding the collection and use of personal electronic information and to take necessary measures to ensure the security of the information and to prevent leakage, damage or loss. Furthermore, MIIT's Order on Protection of Personal Information of Telecommunications and Internet Users, which was issued on July 16, 2013 and took effect on September 1, 2013, contains detailed requirements on the use and collection of personal information as well as the security measures to be taken by ICPs.
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Regulations Relating to Blockchain
On January 10, 2019, the State Internet Information Office issued the Administrative Regulations on Blockchain Information Services, or the Blockchain Regulations, which took effect on February 15, 2019 to regulate information services provided to the public through internet sites, applications and other means based on blockchain technology or systems. The Blockchain Regulations set forth regulations relating to content security management, record keeping and filing, technical conditions, real identity information authentication, security assessment and information security risks rectification application to blockchain information service providers. Penalties for violating the Blockchain Regulations include warnings, suspension of business, fines, and criminal liability.
According to the Announcement of the Instructions regarding the Safety Assessment Clauses of the Regulations on the Management of Blockchain Information Services issued by the State Internet Information Office on August 9, 2019, enterprises conducting blockchain information services are required to carry out safety assessment measures, such as entrusting qualified assessment agencies to conduct safety assessments or conducting self-assessment of safety risks on blockchain information services, and such enterprises are required to submit the relevant assessment reports to the relevant authorities.
Regulations Relating to Outsourcing Services
In recent years, the PRC government has expressed its support for outsourcing services provided by non-governmental companies.
Regulations on Outsourcing by Banks
The Guidelines for Management of Outsourcing Risks of Banking Financial Institutions, or the Outsourcing Risk Guidelines, issued and effective on June 4, 2010, requires banks engaging in outsourcing to establish outsourcing risk management guidelines and incorporate these guidelines into their overall risk management systems. The Outsourcing Risk Guidelines, which generally regulates outsourcing by banks, defines "outsourcing" as an act whereby a banking financial institution commissions some business activities originally handled by itself to a service provider for sustained operations and such service provider may be an independent third party, a subsidiary, an affiliated company, or a related party established in or outside China by the parent company of the banking financial institution or its affiliates.
To regulate information technology outsourcing by banks, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, or CBRC, which is a predecessor of the CBIRC, issued the Guidelines for Regulating Information Technology Outsourcing Risks of Banking Financial Institutions, or the IT Outsourcing Guidelines, on February 16, 2013, the Circular on Strengthening the Management of Risks Incurred during Offsite and Centralized Information Technology Outsourcing of Banking Financial Institutions, or the Offsite IT Outsourcing Circular, on July 1, 2014 and the Notice of the General Office of the China Banking Regulatory Commission of the Launch of the Regulatory Assessment of the Offsite Centralized Information Technology Outsourcing of Banking Financial Institutions on December 2, 2014.
The IT Outsourcing Guidelines cover "information technology outsourcing," which is defined as the outsourcing of information technology activities normally undertaken by banking financial institutions such as research and development and consultancy, system operations and maintenance to external service providers. It prohibits the outsourcing of strategic management, risk management and internal audit functions, and other functions that relate to information technology core competitiveness. It also requires outsourcing providers to meet certain information security, business continuity, quality and operational management criteria and qualifications. Under the IT Outsourcing Guidelines, an outsourcing service provider who: (i) severely violates applicable laws, regulation and supervisory policies, (ii) steals or leaks sensitive data of banking financial institutions in case of severe violation, (iii) is negligent in its management resulting in repeated occurrence of key system disruption or data accidents, (iv) provides low quality services, resulting in losses to multiple banking financial institutions and fails to make rectification
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upon multiple warnings, (v) fails to rectify any issue identified during any risk monitoring and inspection within a given period or (vi) commits other violations or causes other severe information technology accidents, may be prohibited from providing information technology outsourcing services for two or more year.
In addition, the Offsite IT Outsourcing Circular regulates "offsite IT outsourcing," which is defined as outsourcing provided by service providers that provide services for three or more banking financial institutions or other institutions at the same time offsite by renting of key IT infrastructure facilities or purchase of key infrastructure services by banking financial institutions or where the information system is located, operated and maintained by service providers outside the premises of the financial institution. It requires offsite IT outsourcing providers to comply with applicable banking laws and regulations and be subject to inspection by banking regulators. The Offsite IT Outsourcing Circular also sets forth certain due diligence, risk assessment and management, outsourcing contract, reporting and audit requirements.
Regulations on Outsourcing by Insurers
Various guidelines regulate outsourcing by insurance companies, including Guidelines for Information Technology of Insurance Companies (Trial) issued on November 16, 2011, which set outs the requirements and prudential standards for information technology outsourcing by insurance companies. The insurance company shall not outsource its information system security to any third party.
Regulations Relating to Loan Facilitation
On December 1, 2017, the Group Head Office of Internet Financial Risk Special Rectification and the Group Head Office of the P2P Network Loan Risks jointly issued the Notice on the Regulation and Rectification of the "Cash Loan" Business, or Circular 141, which regulates "cash loan" businesses conducted by internet micro-finance companies, banking financial institutions and online lending information intermediaries. Circular 141 defines "cash loans" as loans that are unrelated to the circumstances of their use, with no designated use for the loan proceeds, no qualification requirement for the borrower and no collateral for the loan. The definition of a cash loan under Circular 141 is vague and subject to further regulatory interpretation. Circular 141 sets forth various prohibitions and obligations on banking financial institutions participating in "cash loan" businesses, including that: (i) extension of loans jointly with any third-party institution that has not obtained approvals for the lending business, or funding to such institutions for the purpose of extending loans in any form, is prohibited; (ii) with respect to a lending business conducted in collaboration with a third-party institution, outsourcing of the core business (including the credit assessment and risk control) is prohibited, and any credit enhancement service, whether or not in disguised form (including the commitment to bear the risk of default), provided by any third-party institutions without guarantee qualification are also prohibited, and (iii) banking financial institutions must require and ensure that such third-party institutions do not collect any interest or fees from the borrowers. Any violation of Circular 141 may result in criminal liability and various penalties, including suspension or cessation of business operations, sanctions, rectification, rejection of filing, and revocation of license.
In addition, the Notice on Specific Rectification Implementation Plans for Risk of Online Microfinance Businesses of Microfinance Companies, or Circular 56, provides that the online lending business conducted by microfinance companies in collaboration with a third-party institution, may not include any credit enhancement service in disguised form (including the provision of a "drawer agreement" guarantee) or underlying commitments by the third-party institution. Third-party institutions collaborating with microfinance companies are also prohibited from collecting any interest or fees from borrowers. Violation of Circular 56 may result in various penalties.
On August 1, 2019, the General Office of the State Council issued and promulgated the Guidance on Promoting the Healthy Development of the Platform Economy, which provides that the market-access
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management and supervision of financial services provided through online platforms in the finance sector are regulated by the laws, regulations and other relevant rules. In addition, entities conducting financial information intermediaries services and transaction-matching services are subject to the market-access management pursuant to relevant laws.
Regulations Relating to Private Investment Funds
The Securities Investment Fund Law of PRC, issued by the NPC Standing Committiee on October 28, 2003 and amended on April 24, 2015, governs the administration and supervision of securities investment funds, which includes private investment funds. In addition, private investment funds are regulated by rules and regulations enacted by the China Securities Regulation Commission, or CSRC, and the Asset Management Association of China, or AMAC.
The CSRC issued the Interim Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Private Investment Funds, or the Interim Measures, which took effect on the same date. Under the Interim Measures, "private funds" are investment funds established by raising capitals from qualified investors (as defined in the Interim Measures) in a non-public manner within the territory of the PRC. The Interim Measures contains provisions relating to fund manager registration, private fund record keeping and filing requirements, qualified investor systems, regulations on fund raising by private funds, industry self-regulation and the supervision and administration measures of private funds.
Under the Interim Measures, the establishment of management institutions of private funds and the formation of private funds are not subject to administrative examination and approvals. However, fund managers are subject to a maximum number of qualified investor limits, required to register with the AMAC and must comply with its record keeping and filing requirements, in particular the Measures for the Registration of Private Investment Fund Managers and Filling of Private Investment Funds (for Trial Implementation) issued by AMAC on January 17, 2014 that took effect on February 7, 2014.
According to the Administration Measures for the Funding Raising of Private Investment Funds, or the Fund Raising Measures, issued on April 15, 2016 and effective from July 15, 2016, only two kinds of institutions are qualified to conduct fund raising for private investment funds: (a) private fund managers registered with the AMAC (only applicable when raising funds for the funds established and managed by themselves); and (b) fund distributors with a fund distribution license who are AMAC members in case of authorization of such private fund managers. In addition, the Fund Raising Measures set forth detailed procedures for conducting fund raising business, and also require fund management service providers to comply with certain anti-money laundering requirements.
On December 7, 2018, AMAC released the Notice for Private Fund Manager Registration, or the Notice, which set further requirements for the registration and ongoing compliance matters for private fund managers.
The Head Office of the Group for the Special Remediation of Internet Financial Risks issued the Notice on Strengthening the Renovation of Asset Management Business through the Internet and Launching Acceptance Work, or Circular 29, on March 28, 2018. Circular 29 states that an asset management business conducted through the internet is subject to the oversight of financial regulatory authorities and the relevant licensing requirements. Any public issuance or sale of asset management products through the internet would be deemed to be a financing business and the relevant asset management licenses or permits are required to conduct such business. Any entities, including internet asset management platforms, are not allowed to publicly raise funds through "directed commission plans," "directed financing plans," "wealth management plans," "asset management plans," "transfers of right to earnings" or similar products, or to act as an agent for any type of trading exchanges to sell asset management products without permission. Circular 29 also provides a grace period from April 2018 to the end of June 2018 for the relevant entities to make necessary rectifications. In the event of non-compliance, the competent PRC authority may impose administrative penalties, which include, deregistration of telecommunication business license, websites bans, removal of mobile APP and/or revocation of industrial and commercial business license.
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Regulations Relating to Insurance Adjustment
The Assets Appraisal Law of the PRC, or the Asset Appraisal Law, issued by the NPC Standing Committee on July 2, 2016 and effective on December 1, 2016, regulates the asset assessment business and defines "asset appraisal activity" as the professional service activity of appraisal organizations and their appraisal professionals to assess, estimate, and issue assessment reports on real estate, movable property, intangible assets, corporate value, asset loss or other economic interests.
On November 28, 2016, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, or CIRC, which is the predecessor of the CBIRC, issued the CIRC Notice on the Filing of Insurance Adjustment Institutions, which provides that the license system for insurance adjustment businesses will no longer be implemented effective December 1, 2016, and insurance adjusters engaging in this business will instead file with the CIRC according to law. This filing requirement was clarified in the CIRC Notice on the Filing and Supervision of the Insurance Adjustment Business, or Notice No. 165, issued by the CIRC on June 30, 2017, which provides: (i) that institutions engaging in the insurance adjustment business must meet the requirements of the Asset Appraisal Law and complete filing formalities with the insurance regulatory department, (ii) imposes certain working capital, risk management and custodial requirements on insurance adjusters, (iii) insurance adjusters are required to have a certain number of qualified professional insurance assessors and (iv) existing insurance adjusters must complete certain filing requirements during the transition period.
On February 1, 2018, the CIRC issued the Regulatory Provisions on Insurance Adjusters, which took effect on May 1, 2018. It provides more detailed requirements relating to the operations of an insurance adjustment business and insurance adjusters, including (i) filings procedures, (ii) minimum number of qualified insurance adjuster shareholders and insurance adjuster shareholdings, (iii) insurance adjuster registration professional risk fund requirements and (iv) fines and penalties, including suspension, imposable by the CIRC for violations. The CBIRC issued the Notice on Allowing Overseas Investors to Operate Insurance Adjuster Business in China on June 19, 2018, which permits insurance adjuster organizations established in China by overseas insurance adjusters that have three or more years of operational experience to operate insurance adjuster businesses upon compliance with the Regulatory Provisions on Insurance Adjusters.
Regulations Relating to Electronic Certification Service
The Administrative Measures of the Electronic Certification Service, which were promulgated by the MIIT on February 8, 2005 and last amended on April 29, 2015, provide that all entities providing electronic certification service shall obtain the Electronic Certification Service License from the MIIT. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures of the Electronic Certification Service, electronic certification service providers shall establish a security management system, an internal-auditing system and a security system. In addition, electronic certification service providers shall formulate business rules for electronic certification and corresponding certification policies, and issue such rules and policies to the public and file with the MIIT. If any electronic certification service provider fails to take such steps, the MIIT has the power to require corrective actions, make warning notice, and impose fines accordingly.
The Administrative Measures of the E-government Electronic Certification Service (Trial Implementation), or the Administrative Measures, which were promulgated on October 20, 2009 by the SCA and effected on November 1, 2009, stimulate that all of the electronic certification service providers for the E-government shall establish an operation management system for e-government electronic certification infrastructure, a security access policy, a software controlling process, an internal auditing mechanism and a disaster recovery and emergency response mechanism. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures, electronic certification service providers are also required to conduct annual safety assessment and rectify identified issues.
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The Administrative Measures for the Electronic Certification Service Cryptography, which were promulgated on October 28, 2009 by the SCA and last amended on December 1, 2017, provide that all electronic certification service providers shall obtain an Electronic Certification Service License for Cryptography Usage. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures for the Electronic Certification Service Cryptography, the SCA and its provincial cryptography management departments shall supervise and inspect the operation of electronic certification service providers. If any electronic certification service provider fails to meet the licensing requirements, the SCA has the power to order it to rectify and comply with the requirements within a certain period of time or even revoke its Service License as the SCA deems necessary. Any entity providing the electronic certification services regarding the public health, shall obtain the Electronic Certification Service License issued by the MIIT pursuant to the Administrative Measures on Electronic Certification Service of Health System (Trial Implementation), which were promulgated by the Ministry of Health on December 25, 2009 and became effective on the same date.
The Circular of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government on Printing and Distributing the Mutual Recognition Measures of Electronic Signature Certificates in Guangdong and Hong Kong, which was promulgated by the General Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province on July 20, 2012 and became effective on the same date, provides that electronic certification service agencies conduct the mutual recognition of electronic signature certification shall pass annual assessments by the relevant authorities. If any electronic certification service agency violates the relevant rules, and refuses to rectify, the operation of such agency shall be suspended by the Guangdong Provincial Economic and Information Technology Commission or the Office of the Information and Technology Supervisor of Hong Kong.
The Circular on the Transition of Relevant Administration Policies after Removal of Four Administrative Licensing Items Including the Examination and Approval for Commercial Encryption Product Manufacturers, or the Circular, which was promulgated by the SCA on October 11, 2017 and became effective on the same date, provides that the SCA and its provincial cryptography management departments no longer accept applications for the approval of four kinds of administrative licenses, which include the Certificate for the Production of Commercial Cryptographic Products, the Certificate for the Sales of Commercial Cryptographic Products, the Certificate of the Use of Cryptographic Products Produced Abroad, the Permit for the Use of Cryptographic Products by Overseas Organizations or Individuals. However, pursuant to the Circular, any entity that has obtained the Model Certificate of Commercial Encryption Products shall continuously make annul filings to the relevant local departments of the SCA regarding its sales record of commercial encryption products in the preceding year.
Regulations Relating to Taxation
Regulations on Enterprise Income Tax
On March 16, 2007, the NPC Standing Committee issued the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, which took effect on January 1, 2008, or the Old EIT Law. On December 6, 2007, the State Council enacted the Implementation Rules for the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, or the EIT Rules, which also took effect on January 1, 2008 and was amended on April 23, 2019. The Old EIT Law was amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018. The Old EIT Law, as amended, and the EIT Rules are collectively referred to as the EIT Law. According to the EIT Law, taxpayers consist of resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises. Resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are established in China in accordance with the PRC laws, or that are established in accordance with the laws of foreign countries but whose actual or de facto control entity is within the PRC. Non-resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are set up in accordance with the laws of foreign countries and whose actual administration is conducted outside the PRC, but (i) have entities or premises in China, or (ii) have no entities or premises but have income generated from China. According to the EIT Law, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are subject to a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25%. A non-resident enterprise that has an establishment or premises within the PRC must pay enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on its income that is derived from such establishment or premises inside the PRC and that is
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sourced outside the PRC but is actually connected with the said establishment or premises. However, if non-resident enterprises have not formed permanent establishments or premises in the PRC, or if they have formed permanent establishment institutions or premises in the PRC but there is no actual relationship between the relevant income derived in the PRC and the established institutions or premises set up by them, the enterprise income tax is, in that case, set at the rate of 10% for their income sourced from inside the PRC.
Enterprises that are recognized as high and new technology enterprises in accordance with the Notice of the Ministry of Science, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation on Amending and Issuing the Administrative Measures for the Determination of High and New Tech Enterprises are entitled to enjoy a preferential enterprise income tax rate of 15%. Pursuant to the Administrative Measures for the Recognition of High and New Technology Enterprises, the validity period of the high and new technology enterprise qualification shall be three years from the date of issuance of the certificate of high and new technology enterprise. An enterprise can re-apply for such recognition as a high and new technology enterprise before or after the previous certificate expires.
On February 3, 2015, the State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, issued the Announcement on Several Issues Concerning Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfer of Assets by Non-Resident Enterprises, or Circular 7. Circular 7 provides comprehensive guidelines relating to, and heightening the Chinese tax authorities' scrutiny of, indirect transfers by a non-resident enterprise of assets (including assets of organizations and premises in the PRC, immovable property in the PRC, and equity investments in PRC resident enterprises), or the PRC Taxable Assets. For instance, when a non-resident enterprise transfers equity interest in an overseas holding company that directly or indirectly holds certain PRC Taxable Assets and if the transfer is believed by the Chinese tax authorities to have no reasonable commercial purpose other than to evade enterprise income tax, Circular 7 allows the Chinese tax authorities to reclassify the indirect transfer of PRC Taxable Assets into a direct transfer and therefore impose PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of a 10% on the non-resident enterprise. On the other hand, indirect transfers falling into the scope of the safe harbors under the Circular 7 may not be subject to PRC tax under the Circular 7. The safe harbors include qualified group restructurings, public market trades and exemptions under tax treaties or arrangements.
On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued the Announcement on Issues Relating to Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 37, which took effect on December 1, 2017 and was amended on June 15, 2018. According to SAT Circular 37, the balance after deducting the equity net value from the equity transfer income shall be the taxable income amount for equity transfer income.
Under the SAT Circular 7 and the Law on the Administration of Tax Collection issued by the NPC Standing Committee on September 4, 1992 and last amended on April 24, 2015, in the case of an indirect transfer, entities or individuals that are obligated to pay the transfer price to the transferor shall act as withholding agents. If they fail to make withholding or withhold the full amount of tax payable, the transferor of equity must declare and pay tax to the tax authorities in charge within seven days from the occurrence of the tax payment obligation. Where the withholding agent does not make withholding, and the transferor of equity does not pay the payable amount, the tax authority may impose late payment interest on the transferor. In addition, the tax authority may also hold the withholding agents liable and impose a penalty of ranging from 50% to 300% of the unpaid tax on them. The penalty imposed on the withholding agents may be reduced or waived if the withholding agents have submitted the relevant materials in connection with the indirect transfer to the PRC tax authorities in accordance with Circular 7.
Regulations on Dividend Tax
Pursuant to the SAT Circular on Relevant Issues relating to the Implementation of Dividend Clauses in Tax Agreements, which took effect on February 20, 2009, all of the following requirements must be satisfied to enjoy the preferential tax rates provided under the tax agreements: (1) the tax resident that receives dividends should be a company as provided in the tax agreement; (2) the equity interest and voting
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shares of the PRC resident company directly owned by the tax resident satisfy the percentages specified in the tax agreement; and (3) the equity interest of the PRC resident company directly owned by such tax resident at any time during the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends satisfy the percentage specified in the tax agreement.
The EIT Law provides that an income tax rate of 10% will normally be applicable to dividends payable to investors that are "non-resident enterprises," and gains derived by such investors, which (a) do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC or (b) have an establishment or place of business in the PRC, but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business to the extent such dividends and gains are derived from sources within the PRC. The income tax on the dividends may be reduced pursuant to a tax treaty between China and other applicable jurisdictions. Pursuant to the Arrangement Between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, issued by the SAT on August 21, 2006 that took effect on December 8, 2006, and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent PRC tax authority to have satisfied the relevant conditions and requirements under such Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable laws, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise receives from a PRC resident enterprise may be reduced to 5% upon receiving approval from the in-charge tax authority. However, based on the SAT Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, issued and effective on February 20, 2009, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. Based on the SAT Announcement of Taxation on Issues Relating to "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties, issued on February 3, 2018 and effective from April 1, 2018, to determine the "beneficial owner" status of a resident of the treaty counterparty seeking to enjoy tax treaty benefits, a comprehensive analysis must be carried out in accordance with the factors set out in the announcement.
On August 27, 2015, the SAT issued the Announcement on Promulgating the Administrative Measures for Tax Convention Treatment for Non-resident Taxpayers, which took effect on November 1, 2015 and was amended on June 15, 2018. Under this announcement, non-resident taxpayers meeting conditions for enjoying the convention treatment may be entitled to the convention treatment themselves when filing a tax return or making a withholding declaration through a withholding agent, subject to the subsequent administration by the tax authorities. Such taxpayers who make their own declaration must self-assess whether they are entitled to tax treaty benefits, make truthful declarations and submit the relevant reports, statements and materials required by the relevant tax authorities.
Regulations on Value-added Tax
All entities and individuals engaged in the sale of goods, provision of processing, repairs and replacement services, and the importation of goods within the territory of the PRC must pay value-added tax, or the VAT, in accordance with the Provisional Regulations on Value-added Tax of the PRC, or the Provisional Regulations on VAT, and its implementation rules, or collectively, the VAT Law. The Provisional Regulations on VAT, which was issued by the State Council on December 13, 1993 and took effect on January 1, 1994, was amended by the Notice of Adjustment of VAT Rates issued on April 4, 2018 and by the Notice of Strengthening Reform of VAT Policies issued on March 20, 2019. Pursuant to the VAT Law, VAT payable is calculated as "output VAT" minus "input VAT". The rate of VAT varies among 13%, 9% and 6% depending on the product type.
In accordance with the Circular of the Ministry of Finance and SAT on Comprehensively Promoting the Pilot Program of the Collection of Value-added Tax in Lieu of Business Tax, issued on March 23, 2016 and effective from May 1, 2016, upon approval of the State Council of the PRC, the pilot program of the
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collection of VAT in lieu of business tax shall be promoted nationwide in a comprehensive manner as at May 1, 2016.
Regulations Relating to Intellectual Property
Regulations on Trademark Law
Trademarks in the PRC are governed by the Trademark Law of the PRC, last amended on April 23, 2019 and effective on November 1, 2019, and the Regulations for the Implementation of Trademark Law of the PRC, last amended on April 29, 2014 and effective on May 1, 2014. The Trademark Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration, or Trademark Office, is responsible for the registration and administration of trademarks throughout the PRC and the Trademark Review and Adjudication Board of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce under the State Council is responsible for handling trademark disputes.
Registered trademarks in the PRC refer to trademarks that have been approved and registered by the Trademark Office, including commodity trademarks, service trademarks, collective marks and certification marks. A trademark registrant will enjoy an exclusive right to use the trademark, which will be protected by laws and regulations. Any visible mark in the form of word, graphic, alphabet, number, 3D (three-dimension) mark, color combination or the combination of these elements that can distinguish the commodities of the natural person, legal person or other organizations from those of others can be registered as a trademark. A trademark for which an application is filed for registration must be distinctive to be distinguishable, and may not go against the legitimate rights previously obtained by others. A trademark registrant is entitled to include the words "Registered Trademark" or a sign indicating that it is registered.
Any of the following acts will be an infringement upon the right to exclusive use of a registered trademark: (1) using a trademark that is identical to a registered trademark on the same kind of commodities without a license from the registrant of the registered trademark; (2) using a trademark that is similar to a registered trademark on the same kind of commodities, or using a trademark that is identical or similar to the registered trademark on similar goods without a license from the registrant of the registered trademark, if the use is likely to cause confusion; (3) selling commodities that infringe upon the right to exclusive use of a registered trademark; (4) counterfeit or unauthorized production of the label of another's registered trademark, or sale of any such label that is counterfeited or produced without authorization; (5) changing a registered trademark and putting the commodities with the changed trademark into the market without the consent of the registrant of the registered trademark; (6) providing, intentionally, facilitation for activities infringing upon others' exclusive right of trademark use, and facilitating others to commit infringement on the exclusive right of trademark use; or (7) causing other damage to the right to exclusive use of a holder of a registered trademark. In the event of infringement of the registered trademark above that leads to disputes, the parties concerned may settle such disputes through negotiations; if no negotiation is prospective or fails, the trademark registrant or any interested party may file a lawsuit before the People's Court or request the administrative department for industry and commerce for handling.
Regulations on Patent Law
Patents in the PRC are mainly protected under the Patent Law of the PRC, or the Patent Law, which was issued by the NPC Standing Committee on March 12, 1984 and last amended on December 27, 2008, and its implementation rules, which were promulgated by the State Council of the PRC on June 15, 2001 and last amended on January 9, 2010. The Patent Law and its implementation rules provide for three types of patents: "invention," "utility model" and "design." "Invention" refers to any new technical solution relating to a product, a process or improvement thereof; "utility model" refers to any new technical solution relating to the shape, structure, or their combination, of a product, which is suitable for practical use; and "design" refers to any new design of the shape, pattern, color or the combination of any two of
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them, of a product, that creates an aesthetic feeling and is suitable for industrial application. Invention patents are valid for 20 years, while design patents and utility model patents are valid for 10 years, each calculated from the date of application. To be patentable, invention or utility models must meet three criteria: novelty, inventiveness and practicability. Except under certain specific circumstances provided by law, any third-party user must obtain consent or a proper license from the patent owner to use the patent. Otherwise, the use constitutes an infringement of the patent rights.
If a dispute arises due to patent infringement, the dispute must be settled through consultation involving both parties. If one or both parties are unwilling to submit to consultation, or if the consultation fails, then the patentee or any interested party may initiate legal proceedings in the People's Court, or request the patent administrative department to handle the matter.
Regulations on Domain names
Domain names are protected under the Administrative Measures on Internet Domain Names, or Domain Name Measures, issued by the MIIT on August 24, 2017 and effective as of November 1, 2017. The Domain Name Measures regulate efforts to undertake internet domain name services as well as the operation, maintenance, supervision and administration thereof and other relevant activities within the territory of the PRC. A person that has domain name root servers, an institution for operating domain name root servers, a domain name registry and a domain name registrar operating within the territory of the PRC must obtain a permit for this purpose from the MIIT or the relevant communications administration of the local province, autonomous region or municipality. Under the Domain Name Measures, domain name owners must register their domain names, and the MIIT is in charge of the administration of PRC internet domain names. In the case of infringement, the telecommunications authority will take measures to stop the infringer and give it a warning or impose a fine of more than RMB10,000 but less than RMB30,000 depending on the seriousness of the case.
Regulations on Copyright and Software Products
Under the Copyright Law of the PRC issued by the NPC Standing Committee on September 7, 1990, which was last amended on February 26, 2010 and took effect on April 1, 2010, works of Chinese citizens, legal persons or other organizations, whether published or not, enjoy copyright in their works, which include, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer software. Similarly, under the Computer Software Protection Regulations issued by the State Council on June 4, 1991, last amended on January 30, 2013 and effective on March 1, 2013, Chinese citizens, legal persons and other organizations shall enjoy copyright on the software they develop, regardless of whether the software has been released publicly. Software copyright commences from the date on which the development of the software is completed. A software copyright owner may register with the software registration institution recognized by the copyright administration department of the State Council of the PRC. A registration certificate issued by the software registration institution is a preliminary proof of the registered items. The protection period for software copyright of a legal person or other organizations shall be fifty years, concluding on December 31 of the fiftieth year after the software's initial release. In order to further implement the Computer Software Protection Regulations, the National Copyright Administration issued the Measures for the Registrations of Computer Software Copyright effective on February 20, 2002, which provides procedures for software copyright registration, license contract registration and transfer contract registration. The Copyright Protection Center of the PRC is mandated as the software registration institution under the regulations.
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Regulations Relating to Labor
Regulations on Labor Contract
The main PRC employment laws and regulations applicable to us include the Labor Law of the PRC, or the Labor Law, the Labor Contract Law of the PRC, or the Labor Contract Law, the Implementing Regulations on the Labor Contract Law of the PRC and other relevant laws and regulations.
The Labor Law was issued by the NPC Standing Committee on July 5, 1994, took effect on January 1, 1995, and was last amended on December 29, 2018. Under this law, employers should enter into employment contracts with their employees based on the principles of equality, consent and agreement through consultation. Wages will be paid based on the policy of performance, equal pay for equal work, lowest wage protection and special labor protection for female worker and juvenile workers. The Labor Law also requires employers to establish and effectively implement a system of ensuring occupational safety and health, educate employees on occupational safety and health, preventing work-related accidents and reducing occupational hazards. Employers are also required to pay their employees' social insurance premiums.
The Labor Contract Law was issued by the NPC Standing Committee on June 29, 2007, amended on December 28, 2012 and took effect on July 1, 2013. Under this law and its implementing regulations, enterprises established in the PRC must enter into employment agreements with their employees to provide for the term of employment, job duties, work time, holidays and statutory payments, labor protection, working condition and occupational hazard prevention and protection and other essential contents. Both employers and employees will duly perform their duties. The Labor Contract Law also provides for the scenario of rescission and termination. Except for certain situations explicitly stipulated in the Labor Contract Law that are not subject to economic compensation, economic compensation shall be paid to the employee by the employer for the rescission or termination of the employment agreement.
Regulations on Social Insurance and Housing Provident Funds
Pursuant to the Social Insurance Law of the PRC, which was promulgated by the NPC Standing Committee on October 28, 2010, effective on July 1, 2011 and last amended on December 29, 2018, the PRC established social insurance systems such as basic pension insurance, basic medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance. Employers are required to contribute, on behalf of their employees, to a number of social security funds, including funds for basic pension insurance, unemployment insurance, basic medical insurance, work-related injury insurance and maternity insurance. Employers must apply for completion of social security registration with the local social security agency within 30 days from the date of incorporation with their business license, registration certificate or corporation seal. Employers that fail to complete social security registration will be ordered by the social security administrative authorities to make correction within a stipulated period; where correction is not made within the stipulated period, the employers will be subject to fines ranging from one to three times the amount of the payable social security premiums, and the person(s)-in-charge who is/are directly accountable and other directly accountable personnel will be subject to fines ranging from RMB500 to RMB3,000. If an employer does not pay the full amount of social insurance premiums as scheduled, the social insurance premium collection institution will order it to make the payment or make up the difference within the stipulated period and impose a daily surcharge equivalent to 0.05% of the overdue payment from the date on which the payment is overdue. If payment is not made within the stipulated period, the relevant administration department will impose a fine from one to three times the amount of overdue payment.
According to the Several Provisions on Implementing the Social Insurance Law of the PRC, or the Provisions, issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the PRC on June 29, 2011 and effective on July 1, 2011, insurance premiums that should be paid by employees will be withheld and paid by the employers. Where an employer fails to withhold and pay the premiums in accordance with the
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Provisions, the social insurance premium collection institution will order the employer to remit within the prescribed time and impose a daily surcharge equivalent to 0.05% of the overdue payment from the date of default as late payment penalty. Employers may not require employees to pay late payment penalties.
Pursuant to the Regulations on the Administration of Housing Provident Funds, issued by the State Council on April 3, 1999 and last amended on March 24, 2019, employers must complete housing provident funds registration with local housing fund administration centers and open housing fund accounts for their employees in the bank. Employers must, within 30 days from their date of establishment, go through housing provident funds registration with local housing fund administration centers and complete housing provident fund account establishment procedures for employees with the examination and approval documents of the housing provident fund management center within 20 days from completion of registration. The contribution rate of housing provident funds of an employee and employer may not be less than 5% of the monthly average salary in the previous year, and cities with good conditions may properly raise the contribution rate. Employers are required to pay and deposit housing funds on behalf of their employees in full and in a timely manner, and any employer that fails to open such bank account or contribute housing funds may be fined and ordered to make payment within a prescribed time limit. If the employer still fails to do so, the housing fund administration center may apply to the court for enforcement of the unpaid amount.
Pursuant to the Notice of the General Office of the State Council on Promulgation of the Pilot Program for Implementing Consolidation of Maternity Insurance and Basic Medical Insurance for Employees and Opinions of the General Office of the State Council on Comprehensively Promoting the Implementation of the Combination of Maternity Insurance and Basic Medical Insurance for Employees issued on January 19, 2017 and March 6, 2019, maternity insurance and basic medical insurance for employees will be consolidated. On July 20, 2018, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council of the PRC issued the Reform Plan of the State Tax and Local Tax Collection Administration System, or the Reform Plan. Under the Reform Plan, beginning January 1, 2019, tax authorities are responsible for the collection of social insurance contributions in the PRC.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange
Regulation on Foreign Currency Exchange
The principal law governing foreign currency exchange in the PRC is the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations of the PRC. The Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations was enacted by the State Council on January 29, 1996 and implemented on April 1, 1996. On January 14, 1997 and August 5, 2008, the State Council amended the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations. According to the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations currently in effect, Renminbi is freely convertible into other currencies for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions. But it is not freely convertible for capital account items, such as direct investments, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China, unless prior approval is obtained from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, or its local counterpart, and prior registration with SAFE is made.
Pursuant to the Regulation of Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange, promulgated on June 20, 1996 by the People's Bank of China, or the PBOC, and effective on July 1, 1996, foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial supporting documents and, in the case of capital account item transactions, obtaining approvals from SAFE or its local counterpart. Foreign-invested enterprises are permitted to convert their after-tax dividends into foreign exchange and to remit such foreign exchange out of their foreign exchange bank accounts in the PRC. However, foreign exchange transactions involving overseas direct investment or investment and exchange in securities and derivative
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products abroad are subject to registration with SAFE and approval from or filing with the relevant PRC government authorities.
The Notice on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, was issued by SAFE on March 30, 2015 and took effect on June 1, 2015, further expanding the extent of convertibility under direct investment. SAFE Circular 19 stipulates that the use of capital funds and exchange settlement funds by foreign-invested enterprises will be subject to foreign exchange management regulations and the implementation of negative list management.
On June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Management of the Settlement of Foreign Exchange of Capital Accounts, or SAFE Circular 16. SAFE Circular 16 unifies the Discretional Foreign Exchange Settlement for all the domestic institutions. The Discretional Foreign Exchange Settlement refers to foreign exchange capital in the capital account that has been confirmed by the relevant policies subject to the Discretional Foreign Exchange Settlement (including foreign exchange capital, foreign loans and funds remitted from the proceeds from the overseas listing) and which can be settled at the banks based on the actual operational needs of the domestic institutions. The proportion of Discretional Foreign Exchange Settlement of the foreign exchange capital is temporarily determined as 100%. Violations of SAFE Circular 19, or SAFE Circular 16, could result in administrative penalties under the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Foreign Exchange Control and relevant provisions.
Furthermore, SAFE Circular 16 stipulates that the use of foreign exchange income of capital accounts of foreign-invested enterprises must follow the principles of authenticity and self-use within the business scope of enterprises. Foreign exchange income of capital accounts and capital in Renminbi obtained by foreign-invested enterprises from foreign exchange settlement may not be directly or indirectly used for the following purposes: (i) payment outside of the business scope of the enterprises or the payment prohibited by relevant laws and regulations; (ii) investment in securities or financial schemes other than bank-guaranteed products unless otherwise provided by relevant laws and regulations; (iii) granting loans to non-connected enterprises, unless otherwise permitted by its business scope; and (iv) construction or purchase of real estate that is not for self-use (except for the real estate enterprises).
On January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Improving the Check of Authenticity and Compliance to Further Promote Foreign Exchange Control, or Circular 3, which stipulates several capital control measures with respect to the outbound remittance of profit from domestic entities to offshore entities, including (i) under the principle of genuine transaction, banks must check board resolutions regarding profit distribution, the original versions of tax filing records and audited financial statements; and (ii) domestic entities must hold income to account against previous years' losses before remitting profits. Moreover, pursuant to Circular 3, domestic entities must make detailed explanations of the sources of capital and utilization arrangements, and provide board resolutions, contracts and other proof when completing the registration procedures in connection with an outbound investment.
Regulations on Dividend Distribution
Pursuant to the laws and regulations on foreign investment, wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China must allocate at least 10% of their respective accumulated after-tax profits each year, after making up previous years' accumulated losses each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the enterprises. A PRC company may not distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year. Wholly foreign-owned enterprises may, at their discretion, allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.
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Regulations on Foreign Exchange Registration of Overseas Investment by PRC Residents
On July 4, 2014, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Residents' Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or Circular 37, for the purpose of simplifying the approval process and for the promotion of the cross-border investment. Circular 37 supersedes the Notice on Relevant Issues on the Foreign Exchange Administration of Raising Funds through Overseas Special Purpose Vehicle and Investing Back in China by Domestic Residents, and revises and regulates the relevant matters involving foreign exchange registration for round-trip investment. Under Circular 37, (1) PRC residents (including PRC entities and PRC individuals) must register with the local SAFE branch before he or she contributes assets or equity interest in an overseas special purpose vehicle, or an Overseas SPV, that is directly established or indirectly controlled by the PRC resident for the purpose of conducting investment or financing; and (2) following the initial registration, PRC residents must update their SAFE registration when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to any change of basic information, including change of such PRC citizens or residents' name, operation term, increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or exchanges of shares, or mergers or divisions.
Pursuant to the SAFE Circular on Further Simplification and Improvement of Foreign Exchange Administration on Direct Investment, which was promulgated by SAFE on February 13, 2015 and effective on June 1, 2015, the registrations described in the preceding paragraph must be directly reviewed and handled by qualified banks, and SAFE and its branches will perform indirect regulation over the foreign exchange registration through qualified banks.
Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in Circular 37 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate, and may also subject relevant PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations. PRC residents who control the company from time to time are required to register with the SAFE in connection with their investments in the company. Moreover, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.
Regulations on Stock Incentive Plans
On February 15, 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Foreign Exchange Administration of PRC Residents Participating in Share Incentive Plans of Offshore Listed Companies, or the Stock Option Rules. According to the Stock Option Rules, individuals participating in any stock incentive plan of any overseas publicly listed company who are Chinese citizens or foreign citizens who reside in mainland China for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. These plan participants must also retain an overseas entrusted institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of stock options, the purchase and sale of corresponding stock or interests and fund transfers. In addition, the agent in China is required to further amend the SAFE registration with respect to the stock incentive plan if there is any material change to the stock incentive plan, the mainland Chinese agent or the overseas entrusted institution or other material changes. The Chinese agents must, on behalf of the PRC residents who have the right to exercise the employee share options, apply to SAFE or its local branches for an annual quota for the payment of foreign currencies in connection with the PRC residents' exercise of the employee share options. The foreign exchange proceeds received by the PRC residents from the sale of shares under the stock incentive plans granted and dividends distributed by the overseas listed companies must be remitted into the bank accounts in China opened by the Chinese agents before distribution to such PRC residents. Under the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning Individual Income Tax in Relation to Equity Incentives promulgated by the SAT and effective from August 24, 2009, listed companies and their domestic organizations must, according to the individual income tax calculation
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methods for "wage and salary income" and stock option income, lawfully withhold and pay individual income tax on such income.
Regulations on Loans Between a Foreign Company and its Chinese Subsidiaries
A loan made by foreign investors as shareholders in a foreign-invested enterprise is considered to be foreign debt in the PRC and is regulated by various laws and regulations, including the Regulation of the PRC on Foreign Exchange Administration, the Interim Provisions on the Management of Foreign Debts promulgated by SAFE, the NDRC and the Ministry of Finance and implement on March 1, 2003, the Administrative Measures for Registration of Foreign Debts promulgated by SAFE on April 28, 2013 and amended on May 4, 2015 and the Notice of the People's Bank of China on Matters Concerning the Prudent Macro Management of All Cross-Border Financing promulgated on January 11, 2017. Under these rules, a shareholder loan in the form of foreign debt made to a Chinese entity does not require the prior approval of SAFE. However, such foreign debt must be registered with and recorded by SAFE or its local branches.
Regulation on Outbound Direct Investment
On December 26, 2017, the NDRC promulgated the Administrative Measures on Overseas Investments, or NDRC Order No.11, which took effect on March 1, 2018. According to NDRC Order No.11, non-sensitive overseas investment projects are required to make record filings with the local branch of the NDRC. On September 6, 2014, MOFCOM promulgated the Administrative Measures on Overseas Investments, which took effect on October 6, 2014. According to this regulation, overseas investments of PRC enterprises that involve non-sensitive countries and regions and non-sensitive industries must make record filings with a local branch of MOFCOM. The Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment was issued by SAFE on November 19, 2012 and amended on May 4, 2015, under which PRC enterprises must register for overseas direct investment with local banks. The shareholders or beneficial owners who are PRC entities are required to be in compliance with the related overseas investment regulations. If they fail to complete the filings or registrations required by overseas direct investment regulations, the relevant authority may order them to suspend or cease the implementation of such investment and make corrections within a specified time.
Regulations on M&A Rules
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including MOFCOM, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the SAT, the State Administration for Market Regulation, or the SAMR, the CSRC and SAFE, issued the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which took into effect on September 8, 2006 and were amended on June 22, 2009. Foreign investors are subject to the M&A Rules when they purchase equity interest of a domestic company or subscribe for the increased capital of a domestic company that changes a domestic company into a foreign-invested enterprise; or when the foreign investors establish a foreign-invested enterprise in the PRC, purchase the assets of a domestic company and operate the assets via such foreign-invested enterprise; or when the foreign investors purchase the assets of a domestic company, establish a foreign-invested enterprise by injecting such assets and operate the assets. The M&A Rules, among other things, require offshore special purpose vehicles formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. The M&A Rules also provide that if a PRC entity or individual plans to merge or acquire its related PRC entity through an overseas company legitimately incorporated or controlled by such entity or individual, such a merger or acquisition shall be subject to examination and approval by MOFCOM.
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The M&A Rules and other recently adopted regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions also establish additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. For example, the M&A Rules require that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise, if (i) any important industry is concerned, (ii) such transaction involves factors that impact or may impact national economic security or (iii) such transaction will lead to a change in control of a domestic enterprise which holds a famous trademark or PRC time-honored brand.
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Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus.
Directors and Executive Officers
|
Age | Position/Title | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Wangchun Ye |
64 | Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer | ||
Rong Chen |
51 | Director and Co-General Manager | ||
Sin Yin Tan |
42 | Director | ||
Rui Li |
48 | Director | ||
Wenwei Dou |
54 | Director | ||
Min Zhu |
40 | Director | ||
Qi Liang |
46 | Independent Director | ||
Yaolin Zhang |
61 | Independent Director | ||
Tianruo Pu |
50 | Independent Director | ||
Han Qiu |
45 | Co-General Manager | ||
Yuxiang Huang |
55 | Executive Vice President | ||
Runzhong Huang |
46 | Executive Vice President | ||
Yiming Fei |
40 | Senior Vice President and Acting Chief Financial Officer |
Dr. Wangchun Ye has served as our chairman of the board of directors since June 2018, and as our director and chief executive officer since October 2017. Dr. Ye joined Shanghai OneConnect as chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer in 2015. Dr. Ye has more than 40 years of experience in finance and banking. Dr. Ye joined Ping An Group in March 2007. He served as a vice president of Ping An Bank Co., Ltd., or Ping An Bank, from March 2007 to November 2015. Prior to joining Ping An Group, Dr. Ye successively served as the general manager of both business department and human resources and training department and the general officer of the head office of Huaxia Bank Co., Limited from November 1999 to March 2007. From May 1984 to November 1999, Dr. Ye served in various senior management positions at different regional branches of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, including as vice president of Wuhan branch, head of the planning department of Hubei provincial branch, president of Jingmen branch, vice president of Jingmen branch, office manager of Jingzhou central branch and vice president of Honghu branch. From March 1973 to May 1984, Dr. Ye successively served as a credit loan officer and a vice office manager at a local branch of the PBOC, where he was responsible for credit and fund settlement management. Dr. Ye received his doctorate degree in management science and engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in June 2001.
Ms. Rong Chen has served as our director and co-general manager since October 2017. Ms. Chen has served as a vice president of Ping An Bank since April 2014, and she also served as the chief financial officer of Ping An Bank from September 2016 to September 2017. Prior to that, Ms. Chen served as the assistant to the president of Ping An Bank from January 2012 to March 2014. From July 1993 to January 2012, Ms. Chen served in various senior management positions at Shenzhen Development Bank Co., Ltd., as the predecessor of Ping An Bank, including as president of Nantou branch, general manager of the credit department, executive director of the credit risk department, chief internal control executive officer, chief operating officer and the president of Shenzhen branch. Ms. Chen received her master's degree in business economics from Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in 1993.
Ms. Sin Yin Tan has served as our director since October 2017. Ms. Tan works with Ping An Group as the co-chief executive officer, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief information officer. Ms. Tan serves various directorships within Ping An Group. She also serves as a director of various entities within Lufax Group. Ms. Tan began her work with Ping An Group in January 2013, and served as senior vice president from June 2015 to December 2015 and deputy chief executive officer from October
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2017 to November 2018. Before joining Ping An Group, Ms. Tan was a partner at McKinsey & Company. Ms. Tan graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with three degrees, which were a Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Bachelor of Science in Electrical Science and Engineering and Bachelor of Science in Economics, in June 2000.
Dr. Rui Li has served as our director since September 2019. Dr. Li has served as the Group Financial Director of Ping An Group since 2017. Before joining Ping An Group, Dr. Li served as various leadership positions in SF Express, including Group Finance Director and chief financial officer of international business unit, from 2011 to 2017. Prior to that, Dr. Li served in PricewaterhouseCoopers Hong Kong, and Deloitte USA and Canada. Dr. Li is a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation. Dr. Li received his master's degree from Metropolitan State University in 2000, and his doctorate degree from International School of Management in 2017.
Mr. Wenwei Dou has served as our director since October 2017. Mr. Dou also serves as a director in various entities within the Ping An HealthKonnect Group and Lufax Group. Mr. Dou joined Ping An Group in April 1997, and since then he has served in various legal and compliance positions in Ping An Group. Mr. Dou received his bachelor's degree and master's degree in law from Jilin University in July 1989 and May 1994, respectively.
Mr. Min Zhu has served as our director since January 2018. Mr. Zhu has more than ten years of experience in financial services and investment. Mr. Zhu also serves as chief executive officer and director of BYFIN Co., Limited since September 2018, chief executive officer and director of BYFX Global Co., Ltd. since November 2017 and the director of BYFX HK Co., Ltd. since December 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Zhu served as the chief executive officer of BYFX HK Co., Ltd. from December 2015 to August 2018, and he also served in various directorships and senior management positions at SBI Holdings Inc., Suzhou Yian Biotech Co., Ltd., SBI (China) Co., Ltd., SBI Investment Co., Ltd. and SBI Asset Management Co., Ltd. Mr. Zhu received his bachelor's degree in international trading (Japanese) from Shanghai International Studies University in July 2001, and his master's degree in business administration from Hosei University in March 2004.
Dr. Qi Liang has served as our independent director since February 2019. Dr. Liang has served as an independent director of First Capital Securities Co., Ltd. since 2018. Dr. Liang also serves as a professor of finance at Nankai University. Dr. Liang previously served as the dean of the school of economics at Nankai University from 2012 to 2017, and as an independent director of Bank of Tianjin from 2011 to 2015. Dr. Liang received his doctorate degree in economics from Nankai University in July 1999.
Dr. Yaolin Zhang has served as our independent director since February 2019. Dr. Zhang has also served as an independent director of Dongguan Trust Co., Ltd. since August 2019 and as an independent director of Bank of Luoyang since August 2017. Dr. Zhang has more than 30 years of experience in finance and banking. Dr. Zhang was the person responsible for the establishment of the Shenzhen branch of Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, or SPD Bank, and served as president of the branch from August 2010 to May 2015. Prior to that, Dr. Zhang served as a vice president of Ping An Bank from November 2008 to August 2010. From June 1998 to October 2008, Dr. Zhang served in various positions in SPD Bank, including vice president and president of Guangzhou branch and vice president of SPD Bank. From July 1987 to June 1998, Dr. Zhang also served in various management positions at China Construction Bank. Dr. Zhang received his bachelor's degree in physics from Fudan University in 1982, his master's degree in World Economy from Wuhan University in 1987, and his doctorate degree in international finance law from Wuhan University in 1996.
Mr. Tianruo Pu has served as our independent director since September 2019. Mr. Pu currently serves as a director of various listed companies, including Autohome Inc., Renren Inc., Kaixin Auto Holdings, JMU Ltd and 3SBio Inc. Mr. Pu served as the chief financial officer of Zhaopin Ltd from 2016 to 2018, UTStarcom from 2012 to 2014 and Nuokang Biopharma from 2008 to 2012. Mr. Pu received his bachelor's
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degree in English and International Studies from China Foreign Affairs University in 1991, his master's degree in Accounting from University of Illinois in 1996 and his master's degree in business administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2000.
Ms. Han Qiu has served as our co-general manager since February 2019. Ms. Qiu joined Shanghai OneConnect in September 2016 as chief innovation officer and deputy general manager. Ms. Qiu has over 15 years of experience in finance, technology and data analytics. Ms. Qiu joined Ping An Group in April 2014 and has successively served as the general manager of the data platform department of Ping An Technology and the general manager of Shenzhen Qianhai Credit Centre Co., Ltd., during which Ms. Qiu led the establishment of personal credit service business in Ping An Group. Before joining Ping An Group, Ms. Qiu served as the APAC head of research for GE (China) Research and Development Centre Co., Ltd. from January 2003 to September 2006, a consultant with McKinsey & Company from October 2006 to August 2008, head of IT for Fullerton Financial Holdings Pte. Ltd. from September 2008 to July 2013, and as transformation management director of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited from July 2013 to April 2014. Ms. Qiu received her bachelor's degree in international accounting and her master's degree in accounting from Nanjing University in July 1997 and June 2000, respectively. Ms. Qiu also received a master's degree in accounting and finance from City University of Hong Kong in November 2002.
Mr. Yuxiang Huang is our executive vice president. Mr. Huang joined Shanghai OneConnect as chief technology officer and chief operating officer in October 2016. He also serves as a director of Shenzhen Kingdom Sci-Tech Co., Ltd. From September 2015 to October 2016, Mr. Huang served as a vice general manager of Ping An Technology and as the chief information officer of the investment system of Ping An Group, responsible for the development of investment system for professional companies within Ping An Group and for setting up the investment plan of cloud technology for Ping An Group. Before joining Ping An Group, Mr. Huang had worked for Dou Yee Enterprises (S) Pte. Ltd., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, and served as the vice president of the global finance desk technology of Citigroup (USA), senior vice president of ICG department at Citigroup Software Technology and Services (China) Limited and president of the Global Financial and Capital Markets Technology Department of HSBC Software Development (Guangdong) Limited in China. Mr. Huang received his bachelor's degree in computer science and automation and his master's degree in engineering from Wuhan College of Water Transportation Engineering in July 1985 and July 1990, respectively.
Dr. Runzhong Huang is our executive vice president. Dr. Huang has also served as the chairman of the supervisory committee of Shenzhen OneConnect since March 2019. Dr. Huang has also served as secretary-general of Internet Finance Association of Small and Medium-sized Banks (Shenzhen) since April 2019. From July 2016 to December 2018, Dr. Huang served as secretary-general of China Banking Association. From October 2014 to July 2016, Dr. Huang served as a supervisor on the board of Export-Import Bank of China. Prior to that, Dr. Huang worked for the National Audit Office of the People's Republic of China from August 2011 to October 2014 and the CBIRC, formerly known as the China Banking Regulatory Commission from September 2003 to August 2011. Dr. Huang received a bachelor's degree in law from China Youth University of Political Studies in July 1994, a master's degree in global economics from Renmin University of China in January 2000, and a doctorate degree in economics from Peking University in June 2003.
Mr. Yiming Fei is our senior vice president and acting chief financial officer. Mr. Fei has also served an assistant general manager of Shenzhen OneConnect since June 20, 2019. Mr. Fei was the chief strategy officer of Shanghai OneConnect from December 2017 to June 2019. Mr. Fei has over 15 years of experience in finance, banking and business management. Before joining OneConnect, Mr. Fei served as the chief strategy officer and head of financial markets at the Bank of Langfang from October 2013 to December 2017, as well as the chairman of the board of directors at Xianghe Yimin Village Bank from February 2017 to December 2017. Mr. Fei served as the chief operating officer and head of risk management of wealth management business at UBS Securities from March 2013 to September 2013.
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Prior to that, Mr. Fei was an associate principal at McKinsey & Company from November 2004 to February 2013. Mr. Fei also served as an assistant vice president of institutional banking and worked at Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited from July 2001 to November 2004. Mr. Fei received his bachelor of science degree in management information system from Fudan University in 2001. Mr. Fei is a CFA charterholder.
Board of Directors
Our board of directors will consist of directors upon the SEC's declaration of effectiveness of our registration statement on Form F-1, in which this prospectus is included. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification. The [Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange]/[Listing Rules of the NASDAQ] generally require that a majority of an issuer's board of directors must consist of independent directors. However, the [Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange]/[Listing Rules of the NASDAQ] permit foreign private issuers like us to follow "home country practice" in certain corporate governance matters. We rely on this "home country practice" exemption and do not have a majority of independent directors serving on our Board of Directors. A director may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract or arrangement in which he is materially interested, provided that (a) such director, if his or her interest in such contract or arrangement is material, has declared the nature of his or her interest at the earliest meeting of the board at which it is practicable for him or her to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice and (b) if such contract or arrangement is a transaction with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit committee. The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, mortgage its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any obligation of the company or of any third party.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We will establish an audit committee and a compensation and nomination committee. We will adopt a charter for each of these committees. Each committee's members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee will consist of Tianruo Pu, Qi Liang and Rui Li. Tianruo Pu will be the chairman of our audit committee. We have determined that Tianruo Pu and Qi Liang each satisfies the "independence" requirements of [Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market/Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE] and meets the independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended. We have determined that each of Tianruo Pu, Qi Liang and Rui Li qualifies as an "audit committee financial expert." The audit committee will oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:
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Compensation and Nomination Committee. Our compensation and nomination committee will consist of Yaolin Zhang, Rong Chen and Qi Liang. Yaolin Zhang will be the chairman of our compensation and nomination committee. We have determined that Yaolin Zhang and Qi Liang each satisfies the "independence" requirements of [Rule 5605(c)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market/Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE]. The compensation and nomination committee will assist the board in (i) reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and executive officers, (ii) selecting individuals qualified to become our directors, and (iii) determining the composition of the board and its committees. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation and nomination committee will be responsible for, among other things:
Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to our company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly, and a duty to act in what they consider in good faith to be in our best interests. Our directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Our directors also have a duty to exercise skills they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than what may reasonably be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care, and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. Our company has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached. A shareholder may in certain circumstances have rights to damages if a duty owed by the directors is breached.
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Our board of directors has all the powers necessary for managing, and for directing and supervising, our business affairs. The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
Terms of Directors and Officers
Our directors may be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Alternatively, our board of directors may, by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the directors present and voting at a board meeting appoint any person as a director to fill a casual vacancy on our board or as an addition to the existing board. Our directors are not automatically subject to a term of office and hold office until such time as they are removed from office by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. In addition, a director will cease to be a director if he (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns his office by notice in writing; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from meetings of our board for three consecutive meetings and our board resolves that his office be vacated; or (v) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our articles of association.
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, and may be removed by our board of directors.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is employed for a specified time period. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without advance notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct. If the executive officer otherwise fails to perform agreed duties, we may terminate employment upon one-week to 30-day advance written notice. We may also terminate an executive officer's employment upon mutual agreement or 30-day advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will provide severance payments to the executive officer as expressly required by applicable law of the jurisdiction where the executive officer is based. Our executive officer may resign at any time upon mutual agreement or 30-day advance written notice.
Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law, any of our confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secrets of our clients or prospective clients, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in confidence to us all information with economic value, including but not limited to inventions, works and softwares, which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice during the executive officer's employment with us and one year following the last date of employment, and to assign all right, title and interest in them to us, and assist us in obtaining and enforcing patents, copyrights and other legal rights for information with economic value.
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In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her employment and under certain circumstances, for certain additional periods as we shall determine upon the termination of the employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) assume employment with or provide services to any of our competitors, whether as full-time or part-time, or engage in, whether as principal, partner, shareholder or otherwise, any business competing with us; or (ii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any of our employees who is employed by us on or after the date of the executive officer's termination, or in the year preceding such termination.
We [have entered] into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these agreements, we may agree to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being a director or officer of our company.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
In December 31, 2018, we paid an aggregate of approximately RMB23.4 million (US$3.4 million) in cash to our directors and senior officers. Our PRC subsidiaries are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employee's salary for his or her pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance, employment injury insurance, maternity insurance and other statutory benefits and a housing provident fund.
Share Incentive Plan
We adopted a share incentive plan in November 2017, which was amended and restated in September 2019, or the 2019 Plan. The purpose of the 2019 Plan is to enhance our ability to attract and retain exceptionally qualified individuals and to encourage them to acquire a proprietary interest in the growth and performance of us. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that can be issued under the 2019 Plan is 66,171,600, which are indirectly held by Xin Ding Heng Limited, the administrator of our Share Option Plan, through Sen Rong Limited. As of the date of this prospectus, there are 27,044,650 ordinary shares underlying the outstanding grants under the 2019 Plan.
The following is a summary of the principal terms of the 2019 Plan.
Type of Awards. The 2019 Plan permits the award of options, performance share units or any other types of share-based awards to purchase our ordinary shares.
Award Agreement. Awards granted under the 2019 Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth terms, conditions and limitations for each award, which may include the term of the award, the provisions applicable in the event of the grantee's employment or service terminates, and our authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind the award.
Eligible participants. Our employees or any other individual as determined by the plan administrator, in its sole discretion, is eligible to participate in the 2019 Plan.
Exercise of Options. Vested options will become exercisable after twelve months after an initial public offering of our ordinary shares. Once all the preconditions are met, a participant may exercise options in whole or in part by giving written notice of exercise to us specifying information such as the number of shares to be purchased, as well as making full payment of the aggregate exercise price of the shares so purchased.
Vesting schedule. Except as otherwise approved by the board of directors and subject to forfeiture and arrangement on termination of employment or service, awards granted will be vested in four years and up to 25% of the awards will become vested in any given year, provided that the vesting of performance share units shall be further subject to the termination of the lock-up period of the initial public offering of
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our ordinary shares. The number of awards vested each year is subject to adjustment based on performance index of the grantee determined by the board of directors each year. For the first three vestings, any unvested portion of awards due to adjustment of performance index can be, and can only be, carried over to the next vesting. For the fourth vesting, any unvested portion due to adjustment of performance index will be forfeited. In addition, if the grantee's performance index ranks within the last 10% of the team he/she belongs to in a certain year, all awards that can be vested in that year will be forfeited.
Administration. The 2019 Plan is administered by our board of directors, or any director, committee or person designated by our board, including but not limited to Xing Ding Heng Limited.
Lapse of awards. An award issued under the 2019 Plan shall lapse automatically under certain circumstances, including but not limited to, the expiration of awards period, termination of employment for cause, operation of competing business with us during employment and within three years after termination of employment, and the tenth anniversary of the grant date of such award.
Amendment and termination. Our board of directors may amend or discontinue the 2019 Plan.
Transfer restrictions. An option is personal to the grantee and may not be assigned or transferred.
The following table summarizes, as of the date of this prospectus, the awards issued under the 2019 Plan to our directors, executive officers and other grantees.
Name
|
Ordinary Shares Underlying Outstanding Options/Restricted Share Units Awarded |
Exercise Price (RMB/Share) |
Date of Grant | Date of Expiration |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wangchun Ye |
* | 1.33 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
|
* | 2.00 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
Rong Chen |
* | 2.00 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
Han Qiu |
* | 1.33 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
|
* | 2.00 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
Yuxiang Huang |
* | 1.33 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
|
* | 2.00 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
Runzhong Huang |
* | 52.00 | June 1, 2019 | May 31, 2029 | |||||
Yiming Fei |
* | 2.00 | November 7, 2017 | November 6, 2027 | |||||
|
* | 52.00 | June 1, 2019 | May 31, 2029 | |||||
Other grantees |
21,137,650 | From 1.33 to 52.00 | From November 7, 2017 to June 1, 2019 |
From November 6, 2027 to May 31, 2029 |
|||||
|
* | (1) | NA | September 9, 2019 | September 8, 2029 |
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PRINCIPAL [AND SELLING] SHAREHOLDERS
Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares on an as-converted basis as of the date of this prospectus by:
The calculations in the table below are based on 1,001,748,500 ordinary shares on a an as-converted basis outstanding as of the date of this prospectus, and ordinary shares outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the percentage ownership of any other person.
|
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to This Offering |
[Ordinary Shares Being Sold in This Offering] |
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned Immediately After This Offering |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Number | %† | Number | %† | Number | %† | ||||||||
Directors and Executive Officers*: |
||||||||||||||
Wangchun Ye |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Rong Chen |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Sin Yin Tan |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Rui Li |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Wenwei Dou |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Min Zhu |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Qi Liang |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Yaolin Zhang |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Tianruo Pu |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Han Qiu |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Yuxiang Huang |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Runzhong Huang |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Yiming Fei |
— | — | ||||||||||||
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group |
— | — | ||||||||||||
Principal [and Selling] Shareholders: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Sen Rong Limited(1) |
501,300,000 | 50.0 | % | |||||||||||
Bo Yu Limited(2) |
398,700,000 | 39.8 | % | |||||||||||
SBI StellarS and its affiliated entities(3) |
61,333,332 | 6.1 | % |
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of ordinary shares outstanding upon completion of this offering will be , including ordinary shares to be sold by us in this offering in the form of ADSs.
Xin Ding Heng Limited is the administrator of our Share Option Plan, and implements our board's decision with respect to our Share Option Plan. Xin Ding Heng Limited, through Sen Rong Limited, indirectly holds 66,171,600 of our ordinary shares, which represent the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that can be issued under our Share Option Plan. Sen Rong Limited, Yi Chuan Jin Limited, and Rong Chang Limited have agreed that Sen Rong Limited will follow Xin Ding Heng Limited's instruction when a Share Option Plan participant exercises share awards, to either (i) transfer the ordinary shares under our Share Option Plan to relevant participant or (ii) sell these ordinary shares on behalf of such participant. Sen Rong Limited, Xin Ding Heng Limited, Yi Chuan Jin Limited and Rong Chang Limited agree to further discuss and agree on measures to resolve the potentive dilutive impact on Yi Chuan Jin Limited and Rong Chang Limited's shareholding interest in our shares as a result of such transfer or sale. As a result of this arrangement, Xin Ding Heng Limited may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of 66,171,600 of our ordinary shares.
Xin Ding Heng Limited and Yi Chuan Jin Limited have executed an appointment letter pursuant to which they have agreed to act together with Rong Chang Limited for the purpose of exercising their shareholders' rights in Sen Rong Limited, and have appointed Rong Chang Limited as their proxy to attend and vote their shares in Sen Rong Limited's shareholders' meetings. As a result of this arrangement, Rong Chang Limited may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares held by Sen Rong Limited. Rong Chang Limited disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares it holds, except to the extent of its pecuniary interests therein. Rong Chang Limited is a company directly held by two individuals, Ms. Wenjun Wang and Mr. Wenwei Dou, who is our director and a senior attorney in Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd., as nominee shareholders to hold the shares of Rong Chang Limited on behalf of certain senior employees of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. and its subsidiaries or associates, or the RC Beneficiaries. The nominee shareholders act upon, and vote and pass shareholders' resolutions in relation to the matters of Rong Chang Limited in accordance with, instructions from a five-person management committee, or the RC Management Committee. The five members of the RC Management Committee, which consist of Jun Yao, Jianrong Xiao, Peng Gao, Wenwei Dou and Wenjun Wang, represent the RC Beneficiaries in making investment decisions for and supervise the management and operation of Rong Chang Limited. The five members of the RC Management Committee are employees of Ping An Group and its subsidiaries, and none of them is our employee. Except for Mr. Wenwei Dou, who is our director, none of the members of the RC Management Committee is our director or senior management. None of the members of the RC Management Committee is a director or senior management of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd.
The shareholders of Yi Chuan Jin Limited also hold the entire equity interest in Shenzhen Lanxin Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., or Shenzhen Lanxin, which is one of the nominee shareholders of one of our VIEs, Shenzhen OneConnect and holds 22.2% of the equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect. Each of them has granted an option to Shenzhen Ping An Financial Technology Consulting Co., Ltd., the parent company of Bo Yu Limited, to purchase up to 100% of his equity interest in Shenzhen Lanxin or the Onshore Call Options, and together with the Offshore Call Options, the Call Options.
The Call Options are exercisable concurrently, in whole or in part, during the ten-year period beginning one year after the date of this offering, and such ten-year period may be extended by Bo Yu Limited by written notice.
The exercise price of the Offshore Call Options is calculated pursuant to a formula, which is based upon a predetermined value, as adjusted by (1) comparing the market price of our ADSs representing our ordinary shares to the price of our ordinary shares
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paid by our A-round investors and (2) dividends, distributions and certain dilutive events. Bo Yu Limited may only exercise the Offshore Call Options when the exercise price reflects an effective price for our ordinary shares that is at or below the 30 day average closing price immediately prior to the date of exercise. The exercise price of the Onshore Call Options is calculated pursuant to a formula, which is based on a predetermined value of approximately RMB257.6 million plus an amount equal to approximately RMB345.9 million times 6.8% per annum, net of any amounts previously made in respect of such rate.
The aggregate exercise price of the Call Options is expected to be substantially attributable to the exercise price of the Onshore Call Options.
As of the date of this prospectus, none of our ordinary shares outstanding is held by any record holders in the United States.
Except as described hereof, we are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.
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Contractual Arrangements with Our Variable Interest Entities and Their Shareholders
See "Corporate History and Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our Variable Interest Entities."
Private Placements
See "Description of Share Capital—History of Securities Issuances."
Shareholders Agreement
See "Description of Share Capital—Shareholders Agreement."
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See "Management—Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements."
Share Incentive Plans
See "Management—Share Incentive Plans."
Transactions with Ping An Group and Its Associates
In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we provided a series of products and services, primarily consisting of banking, investment and insurance related solutions, for RMB283.3 million, RMB712.6 million (US$103.8 million) and RMB447.2 million (US$65.1 million) to Ping An Group and certain of its associates, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and June 30, 2019, we had RMB12.4 million, RMB145.5 million (US$21.2 million) and RMB274.3 million (US$40.0 million) due from Ping An Group and certain of its associates, respectively.
In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we purchased services, primarily consisting of technology support, customer acquisition service and human resource support, for RMB358.1 million, RMB675.8 million (US$98.4 million) and RMB250.5 million (US$36.5 million) from Ping An Group, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and June 30, 2019, we had RMB277.7 million, RMB308.7 million (US$45.0 million) and RMB179.1 million (US$26.1 million) due to Ping An Group in relation to the purchase of services.
In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we received RMB22.6 million, RMB102.6 million (US$14.9 million) and RMB30.5 million (US$4.4 million) net gain from wealth management products issued by Ping An Group, respectively.
In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we incurred RMB46.8 million, RMB41.2 million (US$6.0 million) and RMB7.9 million (US$1.2 million) leasing expenses to Ping An Group, respectively.
We extended entrusted loans totaling RMB200.0 million to one of Ping An Group's associates in 2017 with an interest rate of 5.90% per annum. We extended entrusted loans totaling RMB15.0 million to Ping An Group in 2018 with an interest rate of 6.30% per annum. In the six months ended June 30, 2019, we extended two additional entrusted loans totaling RMB15.0 million to Ping An Group with interest rates of 5.00% and 10.67% per annum. In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we received RMB2.0 million, RMB193.2 thousand (US$28.1 thousand) and RMB417.4 thousand (US$60.8 thousand) interest income from Ping An Group and its associates in relation to these loans. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and June 30, 2019, we had zero, RMB15.0 million (US$2.2 million) and zero due from Ping An Group and its associates, respectively.
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Ping An Group extended loans to us totaling RMB1,500.0 million, RMB4,196.3 million (US$611.3 million) and RMB2,300.0 million (US$335.0 million) in 2017, 2018 and the six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively, bearing interest rates ranging from 4.55% to 7.30%. In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we incurred interest expenses of RMB79.5 million, RMB139.2 million (US$20.3 million) and RMB51.9 million (US$7.6 million) to Ping An Group in relation to these loans. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and June 30, 2019, we had RMB1,502.2 million, RMB3,072.8 million (US$447.6 million) and RMB1,210.8 million (US$176.4 million) due to Ping An Group, respectively, representing the balance of the short-term loans Ping An Group lent to us and outstanding interest payable on the loans.
In 2017, 2018 and in the six months ended June 30, 2019, we received RMB2.0 million, RMB117.2 million (US$17.1 million) and RMB44.2 million (US$6.4 million) interest income from our deposit in Ping An Group. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and June 30, 2019, we had RMB758.4 million, RMB4,317.4 million (US$628.9 million) and RMB2,141.2 million (US$311.9 million) cash and restricted cash deposit in Ping An Group, consisting of bank deposit and guarantee deposit to secure our obligation under the loan facility granted by Ping An Group.
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We are a Cayman Islands company and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended from time to time, and the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, which we refer to as the Companies Law below.
As of the date of this prospectus, our authorized share capital is US$50,000 divided into 5,000,000,000 shares, par value of US$0.00001 each, all are ordinary shares. As of the date of this prospectus, 1,001,748,500 ordinary shares are issued and outstanding. All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid.
Upon the completion of this offering, we will have ordinary shares issued and outstanding. Our authorized share capital post-offering will be US$ divided into ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.00001 each. All of our ordinary shares issued and outstanding prior to the completion of the offering are and will be fully paid, and all of our ordinary shares to be issued in the offering will be issued as fully paid.
Our Post-Offering Memorandum and Articles
We will adopt a third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which will become effective and replace our current amended and restated memorandum and articles of association in its entirety immediately prior to the completion of this offering. The following are summaries of material provisions of the post-offering memorandum and articles of association and of the Companies Law, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
Ordinary Shares
General. All of our outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and transfer their ordinary shares.
Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. Our third amended and restated articles of association provide that dividends may be declared and paid out of our profits, realized or unrealized, or from any reserve set aside from profits which our board of directors determine is no longer needed. Dividends may also be declared and paid out of share premium account or any other fund or account which can be authorized for this purpose in accordance with the Companies Law. Holders of ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will be entitled to the same amount of dividends, if declared.
Voting Rights. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one or more shareholders who together hold not less than 10% of the nominal value of the total issued voting shares of our company present in person or by proxy. An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast at a meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast attaching to the outstanding ordinary shares at a meeting. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares. Subject to the restrictions contained in our third amended and restated articles of association, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
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Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
If our directors refuse to register a transfer, they shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice required of the [NYSE/Nasdaq], be suspended and the register of members closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register of members closed for more than 30 days in any year as our board may determine.
Liquidation. On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately.
Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 clear days prior to the specified time of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption of Ordinary Shares. The Companies Law and our third amended and restated articles of association permit us to purchase our own shares. In accordance with our third amended and restated articles of association and provided the necessary shareholders or board approval have been obtained, we may issue shares on terms that are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such manner, including out of capital, as may be determined by our board of directors.
Variations of Rights of Shares. All or any of the special rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to the provisions of the Companies Law, be varied with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing class of shares.
General Meetings of Shareholders
Shareholders' meetings may be convened by a majority of our board of directors or our chairman. Advance notice of at least ten clear days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders'
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meeting and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for and throughout a meeting of shareholders consists of at least one shareholder entitled to vote and present in person or by proxy or (in the case of a shareholder being a corporation) by its duly authorized representative representing not less than one-third of all voting power of our share capital in issue.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records. However, we will in our articles provide our shareholders with the right to inspect our list of shareholders and to receive annual audited financial statements. See "Where You Can Find Additional Information."
Changes in Capital
We may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
We may by special resolution, subject to any confirmation or consent required by the Companies Law, reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.
Exempted Company
We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the Companies Law. The Companies Law in the Cayman Islands distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges listed below:
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"Limited liability" means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company. Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers. We currently intend to follow home country practices and rely on certain exemptions in lieu of the [NYSE/Nasdaq] rules. [The [NYSE/Nasdaq] rules require that every company listed on the [NYSE/Nasdaq] hold an annual general meeting of shareholders.] In addition, our third amended and restated articles of association allow directors to call special meeting of shareholders pursuant to the procedures set forth in our articles.
Differences in Corporate Law
The Companies Law is modelled after that of England and Wales but does not follow recent statutory enactments in England. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
A merger of two or more constituent companies under Cayman Islands law requires a plan of merger or consolidation to be approved by the directors of each constituent company and authorization by a special resolution of the members of each constituent company.
A merger between a Cayman parent company and its Cayman subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization by a resolution of shareholders. For this purpose a subsidiary is a company of which at least ninety percent (90%) of the issued shares entitled to vote are owned by the parent company.
The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest over a constituent company is required unless this requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands.
Save in certain circumstances, a dissentient shareholder of a Cayman constituent company is entitled to payment of the fair value of his shares upon dissenting to a merger or consolidation. The exercise of appraisal rights will preclude the exercise of any other rights save for the right to seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.
In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made, and who must, in addition, represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
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When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If an arrangement and reconstruction is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Shareholders' Suits
In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, there are exceptions to the foregoing principle, including when:
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company's articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association permit indemnification of officers and directors for losses, damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such unless such losses or damages arise from dishonesty or fraud which may attach to such directors or officers. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation. In addition, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and senior executive officers that will provide such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Memorandum and Articles of Association
Some provisions of our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
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Directors' Fiduciary Duties
Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty requires that a director act in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He or she must not use his or her corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented concerning a transaction by a director, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes the following duties to the company—a duty to act bona fide in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his or her position as director (unless the company permits him to do so) and a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his or her personal interest or his or her duty to a third party. A director of a Cayman Islands company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Our third amended and restated articles of association provide that shareholders may not approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general meeting without a meeting being held.
Shareholder Proposals
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
Neither Cayman Islands law nor our third amended and restated articles of association allow our shareholders to requisition a shareholders' meeting. As an exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders' annual general meetings.
Cumulative Voting
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporation's certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to which the shareholder is entitled on a single
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director, which increases the shareholder's voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands law, our third amended and restated articles of association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Removal of Directors
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Under our third amended and restated articles of association, directors may be removed by an ordinary resolution of shareholders.
Transactions with Interested Shareholders
The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an "interested shareholder" for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target's outstanding voting stock within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target's board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Dissolution; Winding Up
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation. Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation's outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board. Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.
Under the Companies Law and our third amended and restated articles of association, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by the vote of holders of two-thirds of our shares voting at a meeting
Variation of Rights of Shares
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of
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incorporation provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and our third amended and restated articles of association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class only with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class.
Amendment of Governing Documents
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation's governing documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. As permitted by Cayman Islands law, our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may only be amended by a special resolution of shareholders.
Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders
There are no limitations imposed by our second amended and restated memorandum and articles of association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition, there are no provisions in our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Directors' Power to Issue Shares
Subject to applicable law, our board of directors is empowered to issue or allot shares or grant options and warrants with or without preferred, deferred, qualified or other special rights or restrictions.
History of Securities Issuances
The following is a summary of our securities issuances in the past three years.
Ordinary Shares
In October 30, 2017, we issued one ordinary share to the initial subscriber and this one ordinary share was transferred to Bo Yu Limited on the same day.
In December 2017, we issued 398,699,999 ordinary shares to Bo Yu Limited and 501,300,000 ordinary shares to Sen Rong Limited, respectively, in connection with our corporate restructuring to mirror the then-shareholding structure in Shenzhen OneConnect.
In January and April 2018, we issued an aggregate of 99,999,999 ordinary shares to our A-round investors, namely, FinTech Business Innovation LPS, SBI Holdings, Inc., SBI Stellars Fintech Fund I LP, SBI Stellars Fintech Fund II LP, SBI Stellars Fintech Fund III LP, Jumbo Sheen Fintech Investment Co., Ltd., Oceanwide Financial Technology Co., Ltd., BOCOMI Hermitage Global Fintech Fund LP, Fangyuan Investment Management Limited, Huateng Fintech Co., Ltd., Bloom Vast Limited and SVF FAX SUBCO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD., for a total consideration of US$750.0 million.
In March 2019, National Dream Limited, an offshore company set up by the selling shareholder of Vantage Point Technology, subscribed for 1,748,501 ordinary shares from us for a total subscription price of US$13.1 million; a portion of the subscription price was paid using the consideration we paid to them for our acquisition of Vantage Point Technology.
In June 2019, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology acquired an 80% equity interest in Beijing BER. Blossom View Limited and Gold Planning Limited, which are the offshore entities designated by certain selling shareholders of Beijing BER, have entered into agreements with us in September 2019 to subscribe for our ordinary shares at a subscription price of US$7.5 per share for a total subscription price of the U.S dollar equivalent of RMB44 million, a portion of the subscription price will be paid using the proceeds from the Beijing BER acquisition. We and certain selling shareholders of Beijing BER have also agreed
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upon certain value adjustment mechanism. Pursuant to such mechanism, the ordinary shares that will be issued to Gold Planning Limited, which accounted for 20% of the ordinary shares that will be issued Blossom View Limited and Gold Planning Limited in aggregation, will be pledged to the party designated by us upon issuance. If Beijing BER fails to meet certain revenue goal within three years from July 1, 2019, we are entitled to repurchase at nominal price certain number of those pledged ordinary shares based on a formula, or in lieu thereof, receive the proceeds from any sale of those ordinary shares by Beijing BER.
On August 30, 2019, we acquired 100% of the shares of View Foundation. In consideration of the acquisition, we shall pay RMB276.7 million in installments to the selling shareholder of View Foundation, Chau Jessica Tsz Wa, and the nominee shareholders of View Foundation's consolidated subsidiary that hold an aggregate of 98.9% equity interest in Shenzhen CA. RMB124.4 million of such consideration has already been paid as of the date of this prospectus. Upon our payment of an additional RMB104.3 million of such consideration, View Foundation's selling shareholder shall apply the U.S. dollar equivalent of RMB66.6 million from the proceeds to subscribe for a certain number of our shares at a subscription price of US$7.5 per share, subject to customary closing conditions, including compliance with warranties and government registration. The share subscription will be pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act and the closing of the share subscription is not conditioned upon the completion of this offering. If the relevant regulatory authority issues any objection to the reports regarding the changes of beneficial ownership or equity structure of Shenzhen CA in connection with our acquisition of View Foundation within a specified period after the written reports for these changes are submitted, we may unwind the acquisition of View Foundation and the issuance of our shares to View Foundation's selling shareholder.
Share Options
We have granted options to purchase our ordinary shares to certain of our directors, executive officers and employees. See "Management—Share Incentive Plan."
Shareholders Agreement
We entered into a shareholders agreement with our shareholders in April 2018. This shareholders agreement provides for certain shareholders rights, including board appointment rights pursuant to which Sen Rong Limited can appoint or nominate five directors to our board, Bo Yu Limited can appoint or nominate four directors to our board, and subject to certain minimum holding requirement, SBI Holdings, Inc. can appoint or nominate one director to our board. As of the date of this prospectus, among our directors, Wangchun Ye, Rong Chen and Wenwei Dou were nominated by Sen Rong Limited, Sin Yin Tan and Rui Li were nominated by Bo Yu Limited, and Min Zhu was nominated by SBI Holdings, Inc. [Except for customary registration rights, all shareholders rights under the shareholders agreement will terminate upon the completion of this offering.]
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Shares
, as depositary will issue the ADSs which you will be entitled to receive in this offering. Each ADS will represent an ownership interest in ordinary shares which we will deposit with the custodian, as agent of the depositary, under the deposit agreement among ourselves, the depositary and yourself as an ADR holder. In the future, each ADS will also represent any securities, cash or other property deposited with the depositary but which they have not distributed directly to you. Unless specifically requested by you, all ADSs will be issued on the books of our depositary in book-entry form and periodic statements will be mailed to you which reflect your ownership interest in such ADSs. In our description, references to American depositary receipts or ADRs shall include the statements you will receive which reflect your ownership of ADSs.
The depositary's office is located at .
You may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, by having an ADS registered in your name on the books of the depositary, you are an ADR holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of an ADR holder described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
As an ADR holder, we will not treat you as a shareholder of ours and you will not have any shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. Because the depositary or its nominee will be the shareholder of record for the shares represented by all outstanding ADSs, shareholder rights rest with such record holder. Your rights are those of an ADR holder. Such rights derive from the terms of the deposit agreement to be entered into among us, the depositary and all registered holders from time to time of ADSs issued under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and its agents are also set out in the deposit agreement. Because the depositary or its nominee will actually be the registered owner of the shares, you must rely on it to exercise the rights of a shareholder on your behalf. The deposit agreement and the ADSs are governed by New York law.
The following is a summary of what we believe to be the material terms of the deposit agreement. Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR which contains the terms of your ADSs. You can read a copy of the deposit agreement which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms apart. You may also obtain a copy of the deposit agreement at the SEC's Public Reference Room which is located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-732-0330. You may also find the registration statement and the attached deposit agreement on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov.
Share Dividends and Other Distributions
How will I receive dividends and other distributions on the shares underlying my ADSs?
We may make various types of distributions with respect to our securities. The depositary has agreed that, to the extent practicable, it will pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, after converting any cash received into U.S. dollars and, in all cases, making any necessary deductions provided for in the deposit agreement. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying securities that your ADSs represent.
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Except as stated below, the depositary will deliver such distributions to ADR holders in proportion to their interests in the following manner:
We have no obligation to file a registration statement under the Securities Act in order to make any rights available to ADR holders.
If the depositary determines that any distribution described above is not practicable with respect to any specific registered ADR holder, the depositary may choose any method of distribution that it deems practicable for such ADR holder, including the distribution of foreign currency, securities or property, or it may retain such items, without paying interest on or investing them, on behalf of the ADR holder as deposited securities, in which case the ADSs will also represent the retained items.
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Any U.S. dollars will be distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents. Fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the depositary in accordance with its then current practices.
The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADR holders.
There can be no assurance that the depositary will be able to convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any property, rights, shares or other securities at a specified price, nor that any of such transactions can be completed within a specified time period.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How does the depositary issue ADSs?
The depositary will issue ADSs if you or your broker deposit shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian and pay the fees and expenses owing to the depositary in connection with such issuance. In the case of the ADSs to be issued under this prospectus, we will arrange with the underwriters named herein to deposit such shares.
Shares deposited in the future with the custodian must be accompanied by certain delivery documentation and shall, at the time of such deposit, be registered in the name of , as depositary for the benefit of holders of ADRs or in such other name as the depositary shall direct.
The custodian will hold all deposited shares (including those being deposited by or on our behalf in connection with the offering to which this prospectus relates) for the account of the depositary. ADR holders thus have no direct ownership interest in the shares and only have such rights as are contained in the deposit agreement. The custodian will also hold any additional securities, property and cash received on or in substitution for the deposited shares. The deposited shares and any such additional items are referred to as "deposited securities."
Upon each deposit of shares, receipt of related delivery documentation and compliance with the other provisions of the deposit agreement, including the payment of the fees and charges of the depositary and any taxes or other fees or charges owing, the depositary will issue an ADR or ADRs in the name or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the number of ADSs to which such person is entitled. All of the ADSs issued will, unless specifically requested to the contrary, be part of the depositary's direct registration system, and a registered holder will receive periodic statements from the depositary which will show the number of ADSs registered in such holder's name. An ADR holder can request that the ADSs not be held through the depositary's direct registration system and that a certificated ADR be issued.
How do ADR holders cancel an ADS and obtain deposited securities?
When you turn in your ADR certificate at the depositary's office, or when you provide proper instructions and documentation in the case of direct registration ADSs, the depositary will, upon payment of certain applicable fees, charges and taxes, deliver the underlying shares to you or upon your written order. At your risk, expense and request, the depositary may deliver deposited securities at such other place as you may request.
The depositary may only restrict the withdrawal of deposited securities in connection with:
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This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Record Dates
The depositary may, after consultation with us if practicable, fix record dates for the determination of the registered ADR holders who will be entitled (or obligated, as the case may be):
Voting Rights
How do I vote?
If you are an ADR holder and the depositary asks you to provide it with voting instructions, you may instruct the depositary how to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie your ADSs. As soon as practicable after receiving notice of any meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies from us, the depositary will distribute to the registered ADR holders a notice stating such information as is contained in the voting materials received by the depositary and describing how you may instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie your ADSs. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in the manner and on or before the date specified. No voting instructions may be deemed given to the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us if no instructions are received by the depositary from you on or before the response date established by the depositary. The depositary will try, as far as is practical, subject to the provisions of and governing the underlying shares or other deposited securities, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. The depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion. Furthermore, neither the depositary nor its agents are responsible for any failure to carry out any voting instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any vote. Notwithstanding anything contained in the deposit agreement or any ADR, the depositary may, to the extent not prohibited by law or regulations, or by the requirements of the stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed, in lieu of distribution of the materials provided to the depositary in connection with any meeting of, or solicitation of consents or proxies from, holders of deposited securities, distribute to the registered holders of ADRs a notice that provides such holders with, or otherwise publicizes to such holders, instructions on how to retrieve such materials or receive such materials upon request (i.e., by reference to a website containing the materials for retrieval or a contact for requesting copies of the materials).
[Under our constituent documents the depositary would be able to provide us with voting instructions without having to personally attend meetings in person or by proxy. Such voting instructions may be provided to us via facsimile, email, mail, courier or other recognized form of delivery and we agree to accept any such delivery so long as it is timely received prior to the meeting. We will endeavor to provide the depositary with written notice of each meeting of shareholders promptly after determining the date of such meeting so as to enable it to solicit and receive voting instructions. In general, the depositary will require that voting instructions be received by the depositary no less than five business days prior to the date of each meeting of shareholders. Under the post-offering memorandum and articles of association that we expect to adopt, the minimum notice period required to convene a general meeting is seven days. The depositary may not have sufficient time to solicit voting instructions, and it is possible that you, or
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persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.]
Notwithstanding the above, we have advised the depositary that under the Cayman Islands law and our constituent documents, each as in effect as of the date of the deposit agreement, voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the results of the show of hands) demanded. In the event that voting on any resolution or matter is conducted on a show of hands basis in accordance with our constituent documents, the depositary will refrain from voting and the voting instructions (or the deemed voting instructions, as set out above) received by the depositary from holders shall lapse. The depositary will not demand a poll or join in demanding a poll, whether or not requested to do so by holders of ADSs.
There is no guarantee that you will receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote.
Reports and Other Communications
Will ADR holders be able to view our reports?
The depositary will make available for inspection by ADR holders at the offices of the depositary and the custodian the deposit agreement, the provisions of or governing deposited securities, and any written communications from us which are both received by the custodian or its nominee as a holder of deposited securities and made generally available to the holders of deposited securities.
Additionally, if we make any written communications generally available to holders of our shares, and we furnish copies thereof (or English translations or summaries) to the depositary, it will distribute the same to registered ADR holders.
Fees and Expenses
What fees and expenses will I be responsible for paying?
The depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of shares, issuances in respect of share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose ADRs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered, as the case may be. The depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of a share distribution, rights and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.
The following additional charges shall be incurred by the ADR holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing shares or by any party surrendering ADSs or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is applicable:
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dates set by the depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable in the manner described in the next succeeding provision);
We will pay all other charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the depositary. The charges described above may be amended from time to time by agreement between us and the depositary.
Our depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses and exchange application and listing fees. Neither the depositary nor we can determine the exact amount to be made available to us because (i) the number of ADSs that will be issued and outstanding, (ii) the level of fees to be charged to holders of ADSs and (iii) our reimbursable expenses related to the ADR program are not known at this time. The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The depositary will generally set off the amounts owing from distributions made to holders of ADSs. If, however, no distribution exists and payment owing is not timely received by the depositary, the depositary may refuse to provide any further services to holders that have not paid those fees and expenses owing until such fees and expenses have been paid. At the discretion of the depositary, all fees and charges owing under the deposit agreement are due in advance and/or when declared owing by the depositary.
Payment of Taxes
ADR holders must pay any tax or other governmental charge payable by the custodian or the depositary on any ADS or ADR, deposited security or distribution. If an ADR holder owes any tax or other governmental charge, the depositary may (i) deduct the amount thereof from any cash distributions, or (ii) sell deposited securities (by public or private sale) and deduct the amount owing from the net
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proceeds of such sale. In either case the ADR holder remains liable for any shortfall. Additionally, if any taxes or other governmental charges (including any penalties and/or interest) shall become payable by or on behalf of the custodian or the depositary with respect to any ADR, any deposited securities represented by the ADSs evidenced thereby or any distribution thereon, including, without limitation, any PRC Enterprise Income Tax owing if the Circular Guoshuifa [2009] No. 82 issued by the SAT or any other circular, edict, order or ruling, as issued and as from time to time amended, is applied or otherwise, such tax or other governmental charge shall be paid by the holder thereof to the depositary and by holding or having held an ADR the holder and all prior holders thereof, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify, defend and save harmless each of the depositary and its agents in respect thereof. If any tax or governmental charge is unpaid, the depositary may also refuse to effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of deposited securities or withdrawal of deposited securities until such payment is made. If any tax or governmental charge is required to be withheld on any cash distribution, the depositary may deduct the amount required to be withheld from any cash distribution or, in the case of a non-cash distribution, sell the distributed property or securities (by public or private sale) to pay such taxes and distribute any remaining net proceeds to the ADR holders entitled thereto.
By holding an ADR or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to indemnify us, the depositary, its custodian and any of our or their respective directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained.
Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
If we take certain actions that affect the deposited securities, including (i) any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or other reclassification of deposited securities or (ii) any distributions not made to holders of ADRs or (iii) any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, then the depositary may choose to:
If the depositary does not choose any of the above options, any of the cash, securities or other property it receives will constitute part of the deposited securities and each ADS will then represent a proportionate interest in such property.
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADSs without your consent for any reason. ADR holders must be given at least [30] days' notice of any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of ADR holders. Such notice need not describe in detail the specific amendments effectuated thereby, but must give ADR holders a means to access the text of such amendment. If an ADR holder continues to hold an ADR or ADRs after being so notified, such ADR holder is deemed to agree to such amendment and to be bound by the deposit
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agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the deposit agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, we and the depositary may amend or supplement the deposit agreement and the ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or supplement may take effect before a notice is given or within any other period of time as required for compliance. No amendment, however, will impair your right to surrender your ADSs and receive the underlying securities, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary may, and shall at our written direction, terminate the deposit agreement and the ADRs by mailing notice of such termination to the registered holders of ADRs at least [30] days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination; provided, however, if the depositary shall have (i) resigned as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement within [45] days of the date of such resignation, and (ii) been removed as depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the depositary shall not be provided to registered holders of ADRs unless a successor depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement on the [90]th day after our notice of removal was first provided to the depositary. After termination, the depositary's only responsibility will be (i) to deliver deposited securities to ADR holders who surrender their ADRs, and (ii) to hold or sell distributions received on deposited securities. As soon as practicable after the expiration of six months from the termination date, the depositary will sell the deposited securities which remain and hold the net proceeds of such sales (as long as it may lawfully do so), without liability for interest, in trust for the ADR holders who have not yet surrendered their ADRs. After making such sale, the depositary shall have no obligations except to account for such proceeds and other cash.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADS Holders
Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the depositary; limits on liability to ADR holders and holders of ADSs
Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or cancellation of any ADRs, or the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, and from time to time, we or the depositary or its custodian may require:
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The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits of shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or the withdrawal of shares, may be suspended, generally or in particular instances, when the ADR register or any register for deposited securities is closed or when any such action is deemed advisable by the depositary; provided that the ability to withdrawal shares may only be limited under the following circumstances: (i) temporary delays caused by closing transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books or the deposit of shares in connection with voting at a shareholders' meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes, and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any laws or governmental regulations relating to ADRs or to the withdrawal of deposited securities.
The deposit agreement expressly limits the obligations and liability of the depositary, ourselves and our respective agents. Neither we nor the depositary nor any such agent will be liable if:
Neither the depositary nor its agents have any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs. We and our agents shall only be obligated to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs, which in our opinion may involve us in expense or liability, if indemnity satisfactory to us against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability is furnished as often as may be required. The depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the deposit agreement, any registered holder or holders of ADRs, any ADRs or otherwise related to the deposit agreement or ADRs to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators. The depositary shall not be liable for the acts or omissions made by any securities depository, clearing agency or settlement system in connection with or arising out of book-entry settlement of deposited securities or otherwise. Furthermore, the depositary shall not be responsible for, and shall incur no liability in connection with or arising from, the insolvency of any custodian that is not a branch or affiliate of . The depositary and the custodian(s) may use third party delivery services and providers of information regarding matters such as pricing, proxy voting, corporate actions, class action litigation and other services in connection with the ADRs and the deposit agreement, and use local agents to provide extraordinary services such as attendance at annual meetings of issuers of securities. Although the depositary and the custodian will use reasonable care (and cause their agents to use reasonable care) in the selection and retention of such third party providers and local agents, they will not be responsible for any errors or omissions made by them in providing the relevant information or services.
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Additionally, none of us, the depositary or the custodian shall be liable for the failure by any registered holder of ADRs or beneficial owner therein to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such holder's or beneficial owner's income tax liability. Neither we nor the depositary shall incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by holders or beneficial owners on account of their ownership of ADRs or ADSs.
Neither the depositary nor its agents will be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote any of the deposited securities, for the manner in which any such vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. Neither the depositary nor any of its agents shall be liable to registered holders of ADRs or beneficial owners of interests in ADSs for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including, without limitation, lost profits) of any form incurred by any person or entity, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the type of action in which such a claim may be brought.
In the deposit agreement each party thereto (including, for avoidance of doubt, each holder and beneficial owner and/or holder of interests in ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in any suit, action or proceeding against the depositary and/or the company directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to the shares or other deposited securities, the ADSs or the ADRs, the deposit agreement or any transaction contemplated therein, or the breach thereof (whether based on contract, tort, common law or any other theory).
The depositary may own and deal in any class of our securities and in ADSs.
Jurisdiction and Arbitration
The laws of the State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs. We have agreed with the depositary that the federal or state courts in the City of New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine any dispute arising from or in connection with the deposit agreement and that the depositary will have the right to refer any claim or dispute arising from the relationship created by the deposit agreement, including any claims under the U.S. federal securities laws and claims not in connection with this offering, to arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. As arbitration provisions in commercial agreements have generally been respected by federal courts and state courts of New York, we believe that the arbitration provision in the deposit agreement is enforceable under federal law and the laws of the State of New York. Although ADS holders, including holders that acquired ADSs in a secondary transaction, beneficial owners of ADSs and holders of interest in the ADSs, are subject to the arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement, the arbitration provisions do not preclude ADS holders from pursuing claims under the U.S. federal securities laws in federal courts. The arbitration provision of the deposit agreement is not intended to be deemed a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs of the Company's or the depositary's compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Jury Trial Waiver
The deposit agreement provides that, to the extent permitted by law, each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial owner and holder of interest in the ADSs) waives the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claims under the U.S. federal securities laws and claims not in connection with this offering. If we or the depositary were to oppose a jury trial demand based on such waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based upon the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with applicable state and federal law, including whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. ADS holders, including holders that acquired ADSs in a secondary transaction, are subject to these provisions of the deposit agreement to the extent permitted by applicable law. The waiver of the right to a jury trial contained in the deposit agreement is not intended to be deemed a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs of the
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Company's or the depositary's compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Disclosure of Interest in ADSs
To the extent that the provisions of or governing any deposited securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of deposited securities, other shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, you agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable instructions we may provide in respect thereof. We reserve the right to instruct you to deliver your ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of the deposited securities so as to permit us to deal with you directly as a holder of shares and, by holding an ADS or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to comply with such instructions.
Books of Depositary
The depositary or its agent will maintain a register for the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADRs, which register shall include the depositary's direct registration system. Registered holders of ADRs may inspect such records at the depositary's office at all reasonable times, but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of the business of our company or a matter relating to the deposit agreement. Such register may be closed from time to time, when deemed expedient by the depositary.
The depositary will maintain facilities for the delivery and receipt of ADRs.
Pre-release of ADSs
In its capacity as depositary, the depositary shall not lend shares or ADSs; provided, however, that the depositary may issue ADSs prior to the receipt of shares (each such transaction a "pre-release"). The depositary may receive ADSs in lieu of shares (which ADSs will promptly be canceled by the depositary upon receipt by the depositary). Each such pre-release will be subject to a written agreement whereby the person or entity (the "applicant") to whom ADSs are to be delivered (a) represents that at the time of the pre-release the applicant or its customer owns the shares that are to be delivered by the applicant under such pre-release, (b) agrees to indicate the depositary as owner of such shares in its records and to hold such shares in trust for the depositary until such shares are delivered to the depositary or the custodian, (c) unconditionally guarantees to deliver to the depositary or the custodian, as applicable, such shares, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or requirements that the depositary deems appropriate. Each such pre-release will be at all times fully collateralized with cash, U.S. government securities or such other collateral as the depositary deems appropriate, terminable by the depositary on not more than five (5) business days' notice and subject to such further indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary deems appropriate. The depositary will normally limit the number of ADSs involved in such pre-release at any one time to thirty percent (30%) of the ADSs outstanding (without giving effect to pre-released ADSs outstanding), provided, however, that the depositary reserves the right to change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The depositary may also set limits with respect to the number of ADSs involved in pre-release with any one person on a case-by-case basis as it deems appropriate. The depositary may retain for its own account any compensation received by it in conjunction with the foregoing. Collateral provided in connection with pre-release transactions, but not the earnings thereon, shall be held for the benefit of the registered holders of ADRs (other than the applicant).
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Appointment
In the deposit agreement, each registered holder of ADRs and each person holding an interest in ADSs, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement will be deemed for all purposes to:
Governing Law
The deposit agreement and the ADRs shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. In the deposit agreement, we have submitted to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and appointed an agent for service of process on our behalf. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any action based on the deposit agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted by the depositary and holders in any competent court in the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, China and/or the United States or through the commencement of an English language arbitration either in New York, New York in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association or in Hong Kong following the arbitration rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).]
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Upon completion of this offering, we will have ADSs outstanding, representing approximately % of our outstanding ordinary shares, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option. All of the ADSs sold in this offering will be freely transferable by persons other than by our "affiliates" without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our ADSs. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or the ADSs. We intend to apply to list the ADSs on the [NYSE/Nasdaq Global Market], but we cannot assure you that a regular trading market will develop in the ADSs. We do not expect that a trading market will develop for our ordinary shares not represented by the ADSs.
Lock-up Agreements
We have agreed, for a period of [180 days] after the date of this prospectus, not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale, lend or otherwise dispose of, except in this offering, any of our ordinary shares or ADSs or securities that are substantially similar to our ordinary shares or ADSs, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase our ordinary shares, ADSs or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, our ordinary shares, ADSs or any such substantially similar securities (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date such lock-up agreement was executed), without the prior written consent of the representatives of the underwriters.
Furthermore, [each of our officers, directors and shareholders [and certain option holders]] has also entered into a similar lock-up agreement for a period of [180] days from the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions, with respect to our ordinary shares, ADSs and securities that are substantially similar to our ordinary shares or ADSs. [These restrictions also apply to any ADSs acquired by our directors and executive officers in the offering pursuant to the directed share program, if any. These parties collectively own [all of] our outstanding ordinary shares, without giving effect to this offering.]
The restrictions described in the preceding paragraphs will be automatically extended under certain circumstances. See "Underwriting."
Other than this offering, we are not aware of any plans by any significant shareholders to dispose of significant numbers of our ADSs or ordinary shares. However, one or more existing shareholders or owners of securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for our ADSs or ordinary shares may dispose of significant numbers of our ADSs or ordinary shares in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our ADSs or ordinary shares, or the availability of ADSs or ordinary shares for future sale, will have on the trading price of our ADSs from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of our ADSs or ordinary shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs.
Rule 144
All of our ordinary shares that will be outstanding upon the completion of this offering, other than those ordinary shares sold in this offering, are "restricted securities" as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act and may be sold publicly in the United States only if they are subject to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement such as those provided by Rule 144 and Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act. In general, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who at the time of a sale is not, and has not been during the three months preceding the sale, an affiliate of ours and has beneficially owned our restricted securities for at least six months will be entitled to sell the restricted securities without registration under the Securities Act, subject only to the
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availability of current public information about us, and will be entitled to sell restricted securities beneficially owned for at least one year without restriction. Persons who are our affiliates and have beneficially owned our restricted securities for at least six months may sell a number of restricted securities within any three-month period that does not exceed the greater of the following:
Sales by our affiliates under Rule 144 are also subject to certain requirements relating to manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information about us.
Rule 701
In general, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act as currently in effect, each of our employees, consultants or advisors who purchases our ordinary shares from us in connection with a compensatory stock plan or other written agreement executed prior to the completion of this offering is eligible to resell those ordinary shares in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with some of the restrictions, including the holding period, contained in Rule 144. However, the Rule 701 shares would remain subject to lock-up arrangements and would only become eligible for sale when the lock-up period expires.
Form S-8
We intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering all ordinary shares which are either subject to outstanding equity incentive awards granted prior to this offering or that may be issued pursuant to equity awards which may be granted in future under our Share Option Plan. We expect to file the registration statement on Form S-8 as soon as practicable after the date of this prospectus. Shares registered on Form S-8 generally may be sold in the open market, except to the extent that the shares are subject to vesting restrictions or lock-up or other contractual restrictions.
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The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this registration statement, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, China and the United States.
Cayman Islands Taxation
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought within the jurisdiction of, the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our ADSs or ordinary shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our ADSs or ordinary shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our ADSs or ordinary shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our ADSs or ordinary shares or on an instrument of transfer in respect of our ADSs or ordinary shares.
PRC Taxation
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside China with a "de facto management body" within China is considered as a resident enterprise. The implementation rules define the term "de facto management body" as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular Regarding the Determination of Chinese-Controlled Overseas Incorporated Enterprises as PRC Tax Resident Enterprises on the Basis of De Facto Management Bodies, 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 China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise's financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in China; (iii) the enterprise's primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in China. In 2011, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Administrative Measures for Enterprise Income Tax of Chinese-Controlled Overseas Incorporated Resident Enterprises (Trial Version), or Bulletin No. 45, which further clarifies certain issues related to the determination of tax resident status and competent tax authorities. It also specifies that when provided with a copy of Recognition of Residential Status from a resident Chinese-
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controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise, a payer does not need to withhold income tax when paying certain PRC-sourced income such as dividends, interest and royalties to such Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise.
We believe that OneConnect is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. OneConnect is not controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group and we do not believe that OneConnect meets all of the conditions above. OneConnect is a company incorporated outside China and its records (including the minutes and resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained outside China. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term "de facto management body."
If the PRC tax authorities determine that OneConnect is 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, including the holders of our ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from within China. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) 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 OneConnect would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and China in the event that OneConnect is treated as a PRC resident enterprise. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—You may be subject to PRC income tax on dividends from us or on any gain realized on the transfer of our ADSs."
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a summary of material U.S. federal income tax considerations that are likely to be relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of our ordinary shares or ADSs by a U.S. Holder (as defined below).
This summary is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and regulations, rulings and judicial interpretations thereof, in force as of the date hereof. Those authorities may be changed at any time, perhaps retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those summarized below.
This summary is not a comprehensive discussion of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor's decision to purchase, hold, or dispose of ordinary shares or ADSs. In particular, this summary is directed only to U.S. Holders that hold ordinary shares or ADSs as capital assets and does not address all of the tax consequences to U.S. Holders who may be subject to special tax rules, such as banks, brokers or dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities electing to mark to market, financial institutions, insurance companies, tax exempt entities, partnerships (including any entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and the partners therein, holders that own or are treated as owning 10% or more of our shares (measured by vote or value), persons holding ordinary shares or ADSs as part of a hedging or conversion transaction or a straddle, or persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar. Moreover, this summary does not address state, local or non-U.S. taxes, the U.S. federal estate and gift taxes, the Medicare contribution tax applicable to net investment income of certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, or alternative minimum tax consequences of acquiring, holding or disposing of ordinary shares or ADSs.
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For purposes of this summary, a "U.S. Holder" is a beneficial owner of ordinary shares or ADSs that is a citizen or individual resident of the United States or a U.S. domestic corporation or that otherwise is subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of such ordinary shares or ADSs.
You should consult your own tax advisors about the consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ordinary shares or ADSs, including the relevance to your particular situation of the considerations discussed below and any consequences arising under non-U.S., state, local or other tax laws.
ADSs
In general, if you are a U.S. Holder of ADSs, you will be treated, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as the beneficial owner of the underlying ordinary shares that are represented by those ADSs.
Taxation of Dividends
Subject to the discussion below under "Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules," the gross amount of any distribution of cash or property with respect to our ordinary shares or ADSs (including amounts, if any, withheld in respect of PRC taxes) that is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will generally be includible in your taxable income as ordinary dividend income on the day on which you receive the dividend, in the case of ordinary shares, or the date the depositary receives the dividends, in the case of ADSs, and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to U.S. corporations under the Code.
We do not expect to maintain calculations of our earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. U.S. Holders therefore should expect that distributions generally will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the dividends received by a non-corporate U.S. Holder with respect to the ordinary shares or ADSs will be subject to taxation at a preferential rate if the dividends are "qualified dividends." Dividends paid on the ordinary shares or ADSs will be treated as qualified dividends if:
We will apply to list the ADSs on the [NYSE/NASDAQ Global Market], and the ADSs will qualify as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as they are so listed. Based on our audited financial statements, the manner in which we conduct our business, relevant market data and our current expectations regarding the value and nature of our assets and the sources and nature of our income, we do not expect to be a PFIC for our current taxable year or in the foreseeable future.
Because the ordinary shares are not themselves listed on a U.S. exchange, dividends received with respect to the ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs may not be treated as qualified dividends. U.S. Holders of ordinary shares or ADSs should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in light of their own particular circumstances.
In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (see "Taxation—PRC Taxation"), a U.S. Holder may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares. In that case, we may, however, be eligible for the benefits of the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People's Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with
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Respect to Taxes on Income (the "Treaty"). If we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by the ADSs, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation described above (assuming we are not a PFIC in the year the dividend is paid or the prior year). Dividend distributions with respect to our ordinary shares or ADSs generally will be treated as "passive category" income from sources outside the United States for purposes of determining a U.S. Holder's U.S. foreign tax credit limitation. Subject to the limitations and conditions provided in the Code and the applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, a U.S. Holder may be able to claim a foreign tax credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability in respect of any PRC income taxes withheld at the appropriate rate applicable to the U.S. Holder from a dividend paid to such U.S. Holder. Alternatively, the U.S. Holder may deduct such PRC income taxes from its U.S. federal taxable income, provided that the U.S. Holder elects to deduct rather than credit all foreign income taxes for the relevant taxable year. The rules with respect to foreign tax credits are complex and involve the application of rules that depend on a U.S. Holder's particular circumstances. Accordingly, U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit or the deductibility of foreign taxes under their particular circumstances.
U.S. Holders that receive distributions of additional ADSs or ordinary shares or rights to subscribe for ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a pro rata distribution to all our shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax in respect of the distributions.
Taxation of Dispositions of ADSs or Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion below under "Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules," upon a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, U.S. Holders will realize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the ADS or ordinary shares have been held for more than one year. Long-term capital gain realized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder generally is subject to taxation at a preferential rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Gain, if any, realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as U.S.-source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Consequently, if a PRC tax is imposed on the sale or other disposition, a U.S. Holder that does not receive significant foreign-source income from other sources may not be able to derive effective U.S. foreign tax credit benefits in respect of such PRC tax. However, in the event that gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares is subject to tax in the PRC, and a U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty, such U.S. Holder may elect to treat such gain as PRC-source gain under the Treaty. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the foreign tax credit rules to their investment in, and disposition of, the ADSs or ordinary shares.
Deposits and withdrawals of ordinary shares by U.S. Holders in exchange for ADSs will not result in the realization of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
Special U.S. tax rules apply to companies that are considered to be PFICs. We will be classified as a PFIC in a particular taxable year if either
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For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents (other than royalties and rents derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and not derived from a related person). If we own at least 25% (by value) of the stock of another corporation, for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC, we will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the other corporation's assets and receiving our proportionate share of the other corporation's income. Although the law in this regard is not entirely clear, we treat our VIEs as being owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes because we control their management decisions and are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits associated with them.
The asset test is applied using the fair market values of our assets for any year for which we are a "publicly traded corporation" ("publicly traded"). For any year for which we are not publicly traded and we also are a CFC, the test is applied using the adjusted tax bases of our assets. We would expect to be treated as a PFIC for such a year because a significant portion of our active assets are intangible assets that have low or zero tax bases. We may be a CFC and we expect to become publicly traded in the fourth quarter of our current taxable year. The application of these rules to a corporation that is publicly traded for only a portion of a tax year is not entirely clear. We believe it is reasonable under current law for U.S. Holders to use the fair market values of our assets for the fourth quarterly testing date of our current taxable year, although the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") could take a different position. Recently proposed Treasury regulations would, if finalized in their current form, clarify the law by providing that the fair market values of our assets may be used only if our stock is publicly traded for a majority of the year or we are not a CFC for a majority of the year. Those regulations are proposed to be effective, however, only for taxable years of U.S. Holders that begin after the regulations are published in final form, which would mean that they will not be effective until at least 2020 for any holder that uses the calendar year as its taxable year. We expect we would be treated as publicly traded for 2020 and subsequent years. U.S. Holders (including in particular such holders that have a tax year other than the calendar year) should consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of these rules and the appropriate valuation of our assets for purposes of the PFIC asset test, as well as the desirability of making a mark-to-market election (discussed below) with respect to our ADSs.
Subject to the foregoing discussion, based on our audited financial statements, the manner in which we conduct our business, relevant market data and our current expectations regarding the value and nature of our assets (and using the fair market values of our assets for the fourth quarterly testing date of our current taxable year as discussed above) and, the sources and nature of our income, we do not anticipate being a PFIC for our current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. However, because the PFIC tests must be applied each year, and the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets may change, and because the treatment of our VIEs for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not entirely clear, it is possible that we may become a PFIC in the current or a future year. In particular, because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test may be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs, fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to become a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years. The determination of whether we are a PFIC also may be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in this offering. If we do not deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of being a PFIC may increase.
In the event that we are classified as a PFIC in any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ordinary shares or ADSs and such U.S. Holder does not make a mark-to-market election, as described in the following paragraph, the U.S. Holder will be subject to a special tax at ordinary income tax rates on "excess distributions," including certain distributions by us (generally, distributions that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or the U.S. Holder's holding period for the ordinary shares or ADSs) and gain that the U.S. Holder recognizes on the sale or other disposition of our ordinary shares or ADSs. The amount of income tax on any excess distributions will be increased by an interest charge to compensate for tax deferral, calculated as if the excess distributions were earned ratably over the period that the U.S. Holder holds its ordinary
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shares or ADSs. Further, if we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ordinary shares or ADSs, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all subsequent years during which such U.S. Holder holds our ordinary shares or ADSs unless we cease to be a PFIC and the U.S. Holder makes a special "purging" election on IRS Form 8621. Classification as a PFIC may also have other adverse tax consequences, including, in the case of individuals, the denial of a step-up in the basis of his or her ordinary shares or ADSs at death.
A U.S. Holder may be able to avoid the unfavorable rules described in the preceding paragraph by electing to mark its ADSs to market, provided the ADSs are treated as "marketable stock." The ADSs generally will be treated as marketable stock if the ADSs are "regularly traded" on a "qualified exchange or other market" (which includes the [NYSE/NASDAQ Global Market]). It should also be noted that it is intended that only the ADSs and not the ordinary shares will be listed on the [NYSE/NASDAQ Global Market]. Consequently, a U.S. Holder that holds ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs may not be eligible to make a mark-to-market election. If the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, (i) the U.S. Holder will be required in any year in which we are a PFIC to include as ordinary income the excess of the fair market value of its ADSs at year-end over the U.S. Holder's basis in those ADSs and (ii) the U.S. Holder will be entitled to deduct as an ordinary loss in each such year the excess of the U.S. Holder's basis in its ADSs over their fair market value at year-end, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in its ADSs will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the mark-to-market rules. In addition, any gain the U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale of the U.S. Holder's ADSs in a year in which we are PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income in the year of sale, and any loss the U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale will be treated as ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-mark election.
The unfavorable rules described above may also be avoided if a U.S. Holder is eligible for and makes a valid qualified electing fund election, or QEF election. If a QEF election is made, such U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in income on a current basis its pro rata share of the PFIC's ordinary income and net capital gains. We do not intend, however, to prepare or provide the information that would enable U.S. Holders to make QEF elections.
A U.S. Holder that owns an equity interest in a PFIC must annually file IRS Form 8621. A failure to file one or more of these forms as required may toll the running of the statute of limitations in respect of each of the U.S. Holder's taxable years for which such form is required to be filed. As a result, the taxable years with respect to which the U.S. Holder fails to file the form may remain open to assessment by the IRS indefinitely, until the form is filed.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries is also a PFIC, such U.S. Holder will be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of the PFIC rules. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors about the possible application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax considerations discussed above and the desirability of making a mark-to-market election.
Foreign Financial Asset Reporting
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals that own "specified foreign financial assets" with an aggregate value in excess of US$50,000 are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on IRS Form 8938, with respect to such assets. "Specified foreign financial assets" include any financial accounts held at a non-U.S. financial institution, as well as securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer (which would include the ordinary shares and the ADSs) that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad
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and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in specified foreign financial assets based on certain objective criteria. U.S. Holders that fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. In addition, the statute of limitations for assessment of tax would be suspended, in whole or part. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the ordinary shares or the ADSs, including the application of the rules to their particular circumstances.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Dividends paid on, and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, the ADSs or ordinary shares that are paid to a U.S. Holder generally may be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Code and may be subject to backup withholding unless the U.S. Holder provides an accurate taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification or otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a refund or credit against the U.S. Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
A holder that is a foreign corporation or a non-resident alien individual may be required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to establish its exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
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We[, the selling shareholders] and the underwriters named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the ADSs being offered. Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of ADSs indicated in the following table. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited, BofA Securities, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and UBS Securities LLC are acting as joint bookrunners of this offering and as the representatives of the underwriters.
Underwriters
|
Number of ADSs |
|
---|---|---|
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC |
||
Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. |
||
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC |
||
Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited |
||
BofA Securities, Inc. |
||
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. |
||
UBS Securities LLC |
||
CLSA Limited |
||
KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. |
||
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated |
||
| | |
Total |
||
| | |
| | |
| | |
The underwriters are offering the ADSs subject to their receipt and acceptance of the ADSs from us [and the selling shareholders] and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the ADSs offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated, severally and not jointly, to take and pay for all of the ADSs offered by this prospectus if any such ADSs are taken, other than the ADSs covered by the underwriters' option to purchase additional ADSs described below. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated.
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the ADSs directly to the public at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part of the ADSs to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of US$ per ADS from the initial public offering price. After the initial offering of the ADSs, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the underwriters.
Certain of the underwriters are expected to make offers and sales both inside and outside the United States through their respective selling agents. Any offers or sales in the United States will be conducted by broker-dealers registered with the SEC. Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. will offer ADSs in the United States through its SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliate in the United States, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC. Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited has agreed that it does not intend to and will not offer or sell any of our ADS in the United States or to U.S. persons in connection with this offering. CLSA Limited is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC. CLSA Limited has agreed that it does not intend to, and will not, offer or sell any of our ADSs in the United States in connection with this offering.
The address of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is 1585 Broadway, New York, New York 10036, United States. The address of Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. is 68th Floor, Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong. The address of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is 383 Madison Avenue, New York,
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NY 10179, United States. The address of Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited is Unit 3601, 36/F, the Center, 99 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong. The address of BofA Securities, Inc. is One Bryant Park, New York, NY 10036, United States. The address of HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. is 452 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10018, United States. The address of UBS Securities LLC is 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, United States. The address of CLSA Limited is 18/F, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong. The address of KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. is 127 Public Square, 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44114, United States. The address of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated is One Montgomery Street, 37th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104, United States.
Option to Purchase Additional ADSs
We [and the selling shareholders] have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of additional ADSs from us [and additional ADSs from the selling shareholders] at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriters discounts and commissions. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become severally obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase additional ADSs approximately proportionate to each underwriter's initial amount reflected in the table above.
Commissions and Expenses
Total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters represent % of the total amount of the offering. The following table shows the per ADS and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters by us [and the selling shareholders]. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional ADSs.
|
|
Total | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Per ADS | No exercise | Full exercise | |||||||
Public offering price |
US$ | US$ | US$ | |||||||
Discounts and commissions paid by us |
US$ | US$ | US$ | |||||||
[Discounts and commissions paid by the selling shareholders] |
US$ | US$ | US$ |
The estimated offering expenses payable by us [and the selling shareholders], exclusive of the underwriting discounts and commissions, are approximately US$ million, which includes legal, accounting, and printing costs and various other fees associated with the registration of our ordinary shares and ADSs.
Lock-Up Agreements
[We have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters and subject to certain exceptions, we will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus, (i) issue, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, offer or issue, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise dispose of, any ordinary shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such ordinary shares or ADSs or enter into a transaction which would have the same effect; (ii) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the ordinary shares or ADSs; (iii) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in the ordinary shares or ADSs within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act; (iv) file any registration statement with the SEC relating to the offering of any ordinary shares, ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ordinary shares or ADSs; or (v) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, in each case regardless of
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whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of ordinary shares, ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Each of our directors and executive officers, [the selling shareholders and other] current shareholders [and certain of option holders] has agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters and subject to certain exceptions, it will not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of directly or indirectly, any ordinary shares or ADSs or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such ordinary shares or ADSs, (ii) enter into a transaction which would have the same effect or enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the ordinary shares, ADSs or any of our securities that are substantially similar to the ADSs or ordinary shares or any options or warrants to purchase any of the ADSs or ordinary shares or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive the ADSs or ordinary shares, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, owned directly by it or with respect to which it has beneficial ownership within the rules and regulations of the SEC, whether any of these transaction is to be settled by delivery of ordinary shares or ADSs or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (iii) publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or enter into any such transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement.]
Listing
We will apply to list the ADSs on the [New York Stock Exchange/NASDAQ Global Market] under the symbol " ."
Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell ADSs in the open market. These transactions may include short sales in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of ADSs than they are required to purchase in the offering. "Covered" short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters' option to purchase additional ADSs in the offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional ADSs or purchasing ADSs in the open market. In determining the source of ADSs to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of ADSs available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase additional ADSs pursuant to the option granted to them. "Naked" short sales are any sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing ADSs in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the ADSs in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for, or purchases of, ADSs made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased ADSs sold by, or for the account of, such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Purchases to cover a short position and stabilizing transactions, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the ADSs, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise
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affect the market price of the ADSs. As a result, the price of the ADSs may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they are required to be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and they may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on the [New York Stock Exchange/NASDAQ Global Market], the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Electronic Distribution
A prospectus in electronic format will be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or one or more securities dealers. One or more of the underwriters may distribute prospectuses electronically. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of ADSs for sale to their online brokerage account holders. ADSs to be sold pursuant to an Internet distribution will be allocated on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, ADSs may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell ADSs to online brokerage account holders.
[Directed ADS Program
At our request, the underwriters have reserved up to % of the ADSs being offered by this prospectus (assuming exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional ADSs) for sale at the initial public offering price to certain of our directors, executive officers, employees, business associates and members of their families. The directed ADS program will be administered by . We do not know if these individuals will choose to purchase all or any portion of these reserved ADSs, but any purchases they do make will reduce the number of ADSs that are available to the general public. Any reserved ADSs that are not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same terms as the other ADSs offered by this prospectus.]
Discretionary Sales
The underwriters do not intend sales to discretionary accounts to exceed 5% of the total number of ADSs offered by them.
Indemnification
We [and the selling shareholders] have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Relationships
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include the sales and trading of securities, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, financing, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates may have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, a variety of such activities and services for us and for persons or entities with relationships with us for which they received or will receive customary fees, commissions and expenses.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, directors, officers and employees may at any time purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments, and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to the assets, securities and/or instruments of us (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with us. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent
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research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments. In addition, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.
Ping An of China Securities (Hong Kong) Company Limited, an underwriter in this offering, is a subsidiary of Ping An Group. Bo Yu Limited, one of our principal shareholders, is ultimately controlled by Ping An Group.
Pricing of the Offering
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our ordinary shares or ADSs. The initial public offering price was determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters. Among the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price of the ADSs, in addition to prevailing market conditions, were our historical performance, estimates of our business potential and earnings prospects, an assessment of our management and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of companies in related businesses. Neither we nor the underwriters can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our ordinary shares or ADSs, or that our ordinary shares or ADSs will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.
Selling Restrictions
No action has been taken in any jurisdiction (except in the United States) that would permit a public offering of the ADSs, or the possession, circulation or distribution of this prospectus or any other material relating to us or the ADSs in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. Accordingly, the ADSs may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, and neither this prospectus nor any other material or advertisements in connection with the ADSs may be distributed or published, in or from any country or jurisdiction except in compliance with any applicable laws, rules and regulations of any such country or jurisdiction.
Australia. This prospectus:
The ADSs may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the ADSs may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any ADSs may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the ADSs, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.
As any offer of ADSs under this prospectus will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months
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may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the ADSs you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the ADSs, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those securities to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.
Canada. The ADSs may be sold only to purchasers resident or located in the Provinces of Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia, purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the ADSs must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser's province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Cayman Islands. This prospectus does not constitute a public offer of the ADSs or ordinary shares, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the Cayman Islands. ADSs or ordinary shares have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the Cayman Islands.
Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC. This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority ("DFSA"). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for this prospectus. The securities to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
In relation to its use in the DIFC, this prospectus is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC.
European Economic Area. In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive was implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date), an offer of the ADSs to the public may not be made in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the ADSs which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that, with effect from and including the Relevant
211
Implementation Date, an offer of ADSs may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time:
For the purposes of this provision, the expression "an offer of the ADSs to the public" in relation to any ADS in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the ADSs to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the ADSs, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State. The expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and any amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State) and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State, and the expression "2010 PD Amending Directive" means Directive 2010/73/EU.
Hong Kong. The ADSs may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), (ii) to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules promulgated thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the ADSs may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to ADSs which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules promulgated thereunder.
Japan. ADSs will not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in Japan or to, or for the benefit of any Japanese person or to others, for re-offering or re-sale directly or indirectly in Japan or to any Japanese person, except in each case pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Securities and Exchange Law of Japan and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations of Japan. For purposes of this paragraph, "Japanese person" means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.
Kuwait. Unless all necessary approvals from the Kuwait Ministry of Commerce and Industry required by Law No. 31/1990 "Regulating the Negotiation of Securities and Establishment of Investment Funds," its Executive Regulations and the various Ministerial Orders issued pursuant thereto or in connection therewith, have been given in relation to the marketing and sale of the ADSs, these may not be marketed, offered for sale, nor sold in the State of Kuwait. Neither this prospectus (including any related document), nor any of the information contained therein is intended to lead to the conclusion of any contract of whatsoever nature within Kuwait.
212
Malaysia. No prospectus or other offering material or document in connection with the offer and sale of the ADSs has been or will be registered with the Securities Commission of Malaysia ("Commission") for the Commission's approval pursuant to the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the ADSs may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the ADSs be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Malaysia other than (i) a closed end fund approved by the Commission; (ii) a holder of a Capital Markets Services License; (iii) a person who acquires the ADSs, as principal, if the offer is on terms that the ADSs may only be acquired at a consideration of not less than RM250,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) for each transaction; (iv) an individual whose total net personal assets or total net joint assets with his or her spouse exceeds RM3 million (or its equivalent in foreign currencies), excluding the value of the primary residence of the individual; (v) an individual who has a gross annual income exceeding RM300,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) per annum in the preceding twelve months; (vi) an individual who, jointly with his or her spouse, has a gross annual income of RM400,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies), per annum in the preceding twelve months; (vii) a corporation with total net assets exceeding RM10 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currencies) based on the last audited accounts; (viii) a partnership with total net assets exceeding RM10 million (or its equivalent in foreign currencies); (ix) a bank licensee or insurance licensee as defined in the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010; (x) an Islamic bank licensee or takaful licensee as defined in the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010; and (xi) any other person as may be specified by the Commission; provided that, in the each of the preceding categories (i) to (xi), the distribution of the ADSs is made by a holder of a Capital Markets Services License who carries on the business of dealing in securities. The distribution in Malaysia of this prospectus is subject to Malaysian laws. This prospectus does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of public offering or an issue, offer for subscription or purchase, invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities requiring the registration of a prospectus with the Commission under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007.
People's Republic of China. This prospectus may not be circulated or distributed in the PRC and the ADSs may not be offered or sold, and will not offer or sell to any person for re-offering or resale directly or indirectly to any resident of the PRC except pursuant to applicable laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. For the purpose of this paragraph only, the PRC does not include Taiwan and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.
Qatar. In the State of Qatar, the offer contained herein is made on an exclusive basis to the specifically intended recipient thereof, upon that person's request and initiative, for personal use only and shall in no way be construed as a general offer for the sale of securities to the public or an attempt to do business as a bank, an investment company or otherwise in the State of Qatar. This prospectus and the underlying securities have not been approved or licensed by the Qatar Central Bank or the Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority or any other regulator in the State of Qatar. The information contained in this prospectus shall only be shared with any third parties in Qatar on a need to know basis for the purpose of evaluating the contained offer. Any distribution of this prospectus by the recipient to third parties in Qatar beyond the terms hereof is not permitted and shall be at the liability of such recipient.
Saudi Arabia. This prospectus may not be distributed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia except to such persons as are permitted under the Offers of Securities Regulations issued by the Capital Market Authority. The Capital Market Authority does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this prospectus, and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss arising from, or incurred in reliance upon, any part of this prospectus. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered hereby should conduct their own due diligence on the accuracy of the information relating to the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial adviser.
213
Singapore. This prospectus or any other offering material relating to our ADSs has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the SFA. Accordingly, (a) our ADSs have not been, and will not be, offered or sold or made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase of such ADSs in Singapore, and (b) this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of our ADSs have not been and will not be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to the public or any member of the public in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor as specified in Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275 of the SFA) and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.
Switzerland. The ADSs will not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This prospectus has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to our company or the ADSs have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this prospectus will not be filed with, and the offer of the ADSs will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, and the offer of the ADSs has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (the "CISA"). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of the ADSs.
Taiwan. The ADSs have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitutes an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan that requires a registration or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering and sale of the ADSs in Taiwan.
Thailand. This prospectus does not, and is not intended to, constitute a public offering in Thailand. The ADSs may not be offered or sold to persons in Thailand, unless such offering is made under the exemptions from approval and filing requirements under applicable laws, or under circumstances which do not constitute an offer for sale of the shares to the public for the purposes of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1992 of Thailand, nor require approval from the Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand.
United Arab Emirates. The ADSs have not been offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the United Arab Emirates, except: (1) in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations of the United Arab Emirates; and (2) through persons or corporate entities authorized and licensed to provide investment advice and/or engage in brokerage activity and/or trade in respect of foreign securities in the United Arab Emirates. The information contained in this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law (Federal Law No. 8 of 1984 (as amended)) or otherwise and is not intended to be a public offer and is addressed only to persons who are sophisticated investors.
United Kingdom. This prospectus is only being distributed to and is only directed at: (1) persons who are outside the United Kingdom; (2) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"); or (3) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons falling within (1)-(3) together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The ADSs are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire the ADSs will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus or any of its contents.
214
EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS OFFERING
Set forth below is an itemization of the total expenses, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, that we expect to incur in connection with this offering. With the exception of the SEC registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, filing fee, and the stock exchange application and listing fee, all amounts are estimates.
SEC Registration Fee |
US$ | |
FINRA Fee |
||
Stock Exchange Application and Listing Fee |
||
Printing and Engraving Expenses |
||
Legal Fees and Expenses |
||
Accounting Fees and Expenses |
||
Miscellaneous |
||
| | |
Total |
US$ | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
215
We are being represented by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. Clifford Chance US LLP is acting as our special counsel with respect to certain matters. The underwriters are being represented by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP with respect to certain legal matters as to United States federal securities and New York State law. The validity of the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs offered in this offering will be passed upon for us by Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP. Certain legal matters as to PRC law will be passed upon for us by Haiwen & Partners and for the underwriters by Grandall Law Firm (Shanghai). Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP may rely upon Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP with respect to matters governed by Cayman Islands law and Haiwen & Partners with respect to matters governed by PRC law. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett may rely upon Grandall Law Firm (Shanghai) with respect to matters governed by PRC law.
216
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2018 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The office of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP is located 34/F, Tower A, Kingkey100, 5016 Shennan East Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518000, the People's Republic of China.
217
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement, including relevant exhibits, with the SEC on Form F-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the underlying ordinary shares represented by the ADSs to be sold in this offering. We have also filed a related registration statement on Form F-6 with the SEC to register the ADSs. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement on Form F-1, does not contain all of the information contained in the registration statement. You should read our registration statements and their exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and our ADSs.
Immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form F-1 of which this prospectus forms a part, we will become subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we will be required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. We maintain our website at http://www.oneconnectft.com/en/.
As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we will not be required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. However, we intend to furnish the depositary with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with IFRS, and all notices of shareholders' meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, if we so request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders' meeting received by the depositary from us.
218
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd.
|
Page | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 |
||||
F-2 |
||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 |
F-3 | |||
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 |
F-4 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 |
F-5 | |||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 |
F-6 | |||
F-7 | ||||
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Information for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 |
||||
F-90 |
||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019 |
F-91 | |||
F-92 | ||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 |
F-93 | |||
F-94 |
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows for the years then ended, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/
PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China
July 15, 2019
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2018.
F-2
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
Year ended December 31, | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
||||||
Revenue |
5 | 581,912 | 1,413,489 | ||||||
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below |
6 |
(284,715 |
) |
(797,858 |
) |
||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
6 | (230,906 | ) | (260,088 | ) | ||||
Research and development expenses |
6 | (504,144 | ) | (426,099 | ) | ||||
Selling and marketing expenses |
6 | (208,035 | ) | (441,932 | ) | ||||
General and administrative expenses |
6 | (270,275 | ) | (522,019 | ) | ||||
Other income, gains or loss-net |
8 | 25,860 | (79,860 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
(890,303 | ) | (1,114,367 | ) | |||||
Finance income |
9 |
2,128 |
129,435 |
||||||
Finance costs |
9 | (85,711 | ) | (163,442 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Finance costs—net |
9 | (83,583 | ) | (34,007 | ) | ||||
Share of losses of associate |
14 | (2,747 | ) | (15,442 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax |
(976,633 | ) | (1,163,816 | ) | |||||
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
10 |
369,677 |
(26,469 |
) |
|||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year |
(606,956 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss attributable to: |
|||||||||
—Owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | |||||
—Non-controlling interests |
— | 5,427 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
|
(606,956 | ) | (1,190,285 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
|||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
— | 396,520 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year |
(606,956 | ) | (793,765 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss attributable to: |
|||||||||
—Owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (799,192 | ) | |||||
—Non-controlling interests |
— | 5,427 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
|
(606,956 | ) | (793,765 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss per share attributable to owners of the Company (expressed in RMB per share) |
|||||||||
—Basic and diluted |
11 | (0.90 | ) | (1.29 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
F-3
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
Year ended December 31, | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
||||||
ASSETS |
|||||||||
Non-current assets |
|||||||||
Property and equipment |
12 | 160,949 | 319,668 | ||||||
Intangible assets |
13 | 367,078 | 758,075 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets |
30 | 370,040 | 348,672 | ||||||
Investment in associate |
14 | 37,253 | 29,452 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income |
16 | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
Contract assets |
5 | 10,266 | 63,120 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total non-current assets |
950,586 | 1,523,987 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Current assets |
|||||||||
Loan to related party |
32 | — | 15,027 | ||||||
Trade receivables |
18 | 36,888 | 270,530 | ||||||
Contract assets |
5 | 6,294 | 133,661 | ||||||
Prepayments and other receivables |
19 | 309,639 | 337,214 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
20 | 863,266 | 2,540,925 | ||||||
Restricted cash |
21 | 1,100 | 3,996,238 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
22 | 847,767 | 565,027 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total current assets |
2,064,954 | 7,858,622 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total assets |
3,015,540 | 9,382,609 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
|||||||||
Equity |
|||||||||
Share capital |
23 | 60 | 66 | ||||||
Shares held for share option scheme |
25 | (88,280 | ) | (88,280 | ) | ||||
Other reserves |
24 | 1,200,376 | 6,151,453 | ||||||
Accumulated losses |
(1,147,040 | ) | (2,342,752 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Equity attributable to equity owners of the Company |
(34,884 | ) | 3,720,487 | ||||||
Non-controlling interests |
— |
110,601 |
|||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total equity |
(34,884 | ) | 3,831,088 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES |
|||||||||
Non-current liabilities |
|||||||||
Trade and other payables |
26 | 173,099 | 403,228 | ||||||
Contract liabilities |
5 | 15,843 | 7,423 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
30 | — | 18,480 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total non-current liabilities |
188,942 | 429,131 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities |
|||||||||
Trade and other payables |
26 | 1,142,874 | 1,280,641 | ||||||
Payroll and welfare payables |
205,999 | 394,828 | |||||||
Contract liabilities |
5 | 10,363 | 58,383 | ||||||
Short-term borrowings |
27 | 1,502,246 | 3,386,100 | ||||||
Derivative financial liabilities |
28 | — | 2,438 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities |
2,861,482 | 5,122,390 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities |
3,050,424 | 5,551,521 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total equity and liabilities |
3,015,540 | 9,382,609 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
F-4
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
|
|
Attributable to owners of the Company | |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | Share capital |
Shares held for share option scheme |
Other reserves |
Accumulated losses |
Total | Non- controlling interest |
Total equity |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
||||||||||||||||
As at January 1, 2017 |
— | (88,280 | ) | 862,162 | (540,084 | ) | 233,798 | — | 233,798 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year |
— | — | — | (606,956 | ) | (606,956 | ) | — | (606,956 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year |
— | — | — | (606,956 | ) | (606,956 | ) | — | (606,956 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transactions with equity holders: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital contribution from the then owners |
24 | — | — | 337,838 | — | 337,838 | — | 337,838 | ||||||||||||||||
Issuance of ordinary shares |
23 | 60 | — | — | — | 60 | — | 60 | ||||||||||||||||
Share-based payments |
25 | — | — | 376 | — | 376 | — | 376 | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total transactions with equity holders at their capacity as equity holders for the year |
60 | — | 338,214 | — | 338,274 | — | 338,274 | |||||||||||||||||
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As at December 31, 2017 |
60 | (88,280 | ) | 1,200,376 | (1,147,040 | ) | (34,884 | ) | — | (34,884 | ) | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year |
— | — | — | (1,195,712 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | 5,427 | (1,190,285 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
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—Foreign currency translation differences |
24 | — | — | 396,520 | — | 396,520 | — | 396,520 | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year |
— | — | 396,520 | (1,195,712 | ) | (799,192 | ) | 5,427 | (793,765 | ) | ||||||||||||||
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Transactions with equity holders: |
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Issuance of ordinary shares |
23, 24 | 6 | — | 4,730,375 | — | 4,730,381 | — | 4,730,381 | ||||||||||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary |
33 | — | — | — | — | — | 105,174 | 105,174 | ||||||||||||||||
Recognition of redemption liability |
33 | — | — | (183,569 | ) | — | (183,569 | ) | — | (183,569 | ) | |||||||||||||
Share-based payments |
25 | — | — | 7,751 | — | 7,751 | — | 7,751 | ||||||||||||||||
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Total transactions with equity holders at their capacity as equity holders for the year |
6 | — | 4,554,557 | — | 4,554,563 | 105,174 | 4,659,737 | |||||||||||||||||
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As at December 31, 2018 |
66 | (88,280 | ) | 6,151,453 | (2,342,752 | ) | 3,720,487 | 110,601 | 3,831,088 | |||||||||||||||
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F-5
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
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|
Year ended December 31, | |||||||
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Note | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||
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RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
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Cash flows from operating activities |
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Cash used in operations |
31(a) | (228,685 | ) | (489,138 | ) | ||||
Income tax paid |
— | (99 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in operating activities |
(228,685 | ) | (489,237 | ) | |||||
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Cash flows from investing activities |
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Payment for acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired |
33 | — | (165,020 | ) | |||||
Payments for property and equipment |
(15,721 | ) | (84,828 | ) | |||||
Payment for intangible assets |
(2,265 | ) | (374,978 | ) | |||||
Capital injection to associate |
14 | (40,000 | ) | — | |||||
Payment for loan to related party |
— | (15,027 | ) | ||||||
Payments for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
(6,150,538 | ) | (6,102,153 | ) | |||||
Payment for restricted cash |
(1,100 | ) | (3,590,548 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
6,060,116 | 4,427,875 | |||||||
Interest received on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
22,667 | 99,201 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in investing activities |
(126,841 | ) | (5,805,478 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities |
|||||||||
Capital contribution from the then owners |
24 | 337,838 | — | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares |
23, 24, 26 | 431,257 | 4,409,771 | ||||||
Proceeds from short-term borrowings |
31(c) | 1,000,000 | 7,909,280 | ||||||
Share issue transaction costs |
24 | — | (20,585 | ) | |||||
Payments for lease liabilities |
31(c) | (50,432 | ) | (83,727 | ) | ||||
Repayments of short-term borrowings |
31(c) | (500,000 | ) | (6,093,943 | ) | ||||
Interest paid |
(93,528 | ) | (121,393 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Net cash generated from financing activities |
1,125,135 | 5,999,403 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Net increase /(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
769,609 | (295,312 | ) | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year |
78,158 | 847,767 | |||||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
— | 12,572 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year |
847,767 | 565,027 | |||||||
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F-6
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation
1.1 General information
OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (the "Company") was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on October 30, 2017 as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law (Cap. 22, Law 3 of 1961 as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands. The address of the Company's registered office is PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
The Company, its subsidiaries, its controlled structured entities ("Structured Entities", "Variable Interest Entities" or "VIEs") and their subsidiaries ("Subsidiaries of VIEs") are collectively referred to as the "Group". The Group is principally engaged in providing cloud-platform-based Fintech solutions, online information service and operating support service to financial institutions (the "Listing Business") in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC"). The Company does not conduct any substantive operations of its own but conducts its primary business operations through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, VIEs and subsidiaries of VIEs in the PRC.
These financial statements have been approved for issue by management on July 15, 2019.
1.2 History and recapitalization of the Group
Prior to the completion of recapitalization (as described below) of the Group, the Listing Business was carried out through a domestic company and its subsidiaries, incorporated in the PRC, namely Shanghai OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. ("Shanghai OneConnect"). Shanghai OneConnect was incorporated on December 29, 2015 by Shenzhen Ping An Financial Technology Consulting Co., Ltd. ("Ping An Financial Technology"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An Group") and Urumqi Guang Feng Qi Investments Limited Partnership ("Guang Feng Qi") with respective ownership of 70% and 30% after capital injection in May 2016.
On December 29, 2016, Ping An Financial Technology and Guang Feng Qi set up Shanghai Jin Ning Sheng Enterprise Management Limit Partnership ("Jin Ning Sheng") with 3.5% and 1.5% of the shares of Shanghai OneConnect respectively.
On February 17, 2017, Urumqi Guang Feng Rong Equity Investment Limited Partnership ("Guang Feng Rong") purchased 2.35% of the shares of Shanghai OneConnect from Guang Feng Qi.
Recapitalization of the Group
For the purpose of introduction of overseas investors and preparation for a listing of the Company's shares on an overseas market, Ping An Group underwent a series of recapitalization (the "Recapitalization") to establish the Company as the ultimate holding company of the Listing Business. The Recapitalization mainly involved the following:
F-7
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
Rong Chang is a special purpose vehicle set up by the same individual shareholders of Guang Feng Qi. Xin Ding Heng is a special purpose vehicle set up by the same individual shareholders of Jin Ning Sheng. Yi Chuan Jin is a special purpose vehicle set up by the same individual shareholders of Shenzhen Lanxin Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. ("Shenzhen Lanxin"), a company set up by Li Jie and Xu Liang ("Lanxin Shareholders"). Sen Rong was then owned as to 46.95%, 39.85% and 13.2% by Rong Chang, Yi Chuan Jin and Xin Ding Heng, respectively.
F-8
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
Other changes of the Company's shareholders subsequent to the Recapitalization
The Company completed Round A investments (the "Round A Investments") with 12 institutional investors (the 12 institutional investors collectively, the "Round A Investors") in April 2018. The Round A Investors have subscribed for 99,999,999 ordinary shares of the Company at a total consideration of USD750,000,000 (approximately RMB4,750,966,000).
Upon completion of Round A Investments, Bo Yu, Sen Rong, and the "Round A Investors" become shareholders of the Company, holding respectively 39.87%, 50.13%, and 10.00% shareholding interests in the Company.
Further details of the Contractual Arrangements are set out in Note 1.2 (a) below.
As at December 31, 2018, the Company had direct or indirect interests in the following major subsidiaries including consolidated structured entities.
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Equity interest held by the Group |
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December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Company name |
Place and date of incorporation / establishment |
Issued and paid-in capital |
2017 | 2018 | Principal activities / Place of operations |
Note | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jin Tai Yuan Limited |
British Virgin Islands / October 27, 2017 | USD0.00001 | 100 | % | 100 | % | Investment holding, BVI | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jin Cheng Long Limited |
Hong Kong /October 30, 2017 | USD1 | 100 | % | 100 | % | Investment holding, Hong Kong | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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OneConnect Financial Technology (HongKong) Limited |
Hong Kong /March 15, 2018 | USD1 | — | 100 | % | Software and technology service, information transmission. HongKong, the PRC. | (a) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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OneConnect Financial Technology (Singapore) Co., Pte. Ltd. |
Singapore /March 26, 2018 | SGD20,000,000 | — | 100 | % | Software and technology service, information transmission. Singapore | (a) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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PT OneConnect Financial Technology Indonesia |
Indonesia/December 04, 2018 | IDR10,000,000,000 | — | 100 | % | Software and technology service, information transmission. Indonesia | (b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shenzhen OneConnect Technology |
the PRC /January 04, 2018 | RMB10,000,000 | — | 100 | % | Technology promotion and computer application services, Shenzhen, the PRC | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Beijing Vantage Point Technology Co., Ltd. ("Vantage Point Technology") |
the PRC /July 18, 2008 | RMB13,333,529 | — | 51.67 | % | Software and technology service, information transmission. Beijing, the PRC. | Note 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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F-9
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
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Attributable equity interest of the Group |
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December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Company name |
Place and date of incorporation / establishment |
Issued and paid-in capital |
2017 | 2018 | Principal activities / Place of operations |
Note | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shenzhen OneConnect |
the PRC / September 15, 2017 | RMB1,200,000,000 | 100 | % | 100 | % | Software and technology service, information transmission. Shenzhen, the PRC. | (c) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Shenzhen Kechuang Insurance Assessment Co., Ltd. ("Kechuang")* |
the PRC / August 27, 2001 | RMB4,000,000 | — | 99.90 | % | Insurance survey and loss adjustment. Shenzhen, the PRC. | (c)(d) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shanghai OneConnect* |
the PRC / December 29, 2015 | RMB1,200,000,000 | 100 | % | 100 | % | Software and technology service, asset management and consulting. Shanghai, the PRC. | (c) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Notes:
PRC laws and regulations prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of companies that provide certain Internet-based business, which include activities and services provided by the Group. The Group operates its business operations in the PRC through a series of contractual arrangements entered into among a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, VIEs that legally owned by equity holders ("Nominee Shareholders") authorized by the Group, the shareholders of VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs (collectively, "Contractual Arrangements"). The Contractual Arrangements include Exclusive Equity Option Agreement, Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, Exclusive Asset Option Agreement, Equity Pledge Agreement, Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement, Letters of Undertaking and Spousal Consent Letters.
Under the Contractual Arrangements, the Company has the power to control the management, and financial and operating policies of the VIEs, has exposure or rights to variable returns from its involvement with the VIEs, and has the ability to use its power over the VIEs to affect the amount of the returns. As a result, all these VIEs are accounted for as consolidated structured entities of the Company and their financial statements have also been consolidated by the Company.
F-10
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
The principal terms of the Contractual Arrangements are further described below:
(a) Contractual agreements with Shenzhen OneConnect
—Exclusive Equity Option Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive equity option agreement dated January 29, 2018 entered into between Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect and the direct shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, as well as the indirect shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, namely Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou (each refer to as the "Indirect Shareholder"), or the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders (the "Exclusive Equity Option Agreement"), Shenzhen OneConnect Technology has the irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or to designate one or more persons to purchase, from Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders all or any part of their equity interests in Shenzhen OneConnect at any time and from time to time in Shenzhen OneConnect Technology's absolute discretion to the extent permitted by PRC laws. The term of this agreement will remain effective as long as the shareholders continue to hold equity interests in Shenzhen OneConnect.
—Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive business cooperation agreement dated January 29, 2018 entered into between Shenzhen OneConnect Technology and Shenzhen OneConnect, Shenzhen OneConnect agreed to engage Shenzhen OneConnect Technology as its exclusive provider of business support, technical and consulting services, including but not limited to, technical services, network support, business consultation, equipment, leasing, market consultancy, system integration, product research and development and system maintenance. In exchange for these services, Shenzhen OneConnect shall pay a service fee, which is equal to Shenzhen OneConnect's profit before tax, after deducting any accumulated losses of Shenzhen OneConnect and its subsidiaries from the preceding fiscal year, working capital, costs, expenses, tax and other statutory contribution in relation to the respective fiscal year. The service fee shall be paid annually and shall be wired to the designated bank account of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology upon issuance of invoice by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology. The initial term of this agreement is 10 years and may be extended for 5-year terms indefinitely.
—Exclusive Asset Option Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive asset option agreement dated January 29, 2018 entered into between Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect and the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders (the "Exclusive Asset Option Agreement"), Shenzhen OneConnect Technology has the irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or to designate one or more persons to purchase, from Shenzhen OneConnect all or any part of its assets at any time at Shenzhen OneConnect Technology's absolute discretion and to the extent permitted by PRC laws. The consideration shall be the higher of (a) a nominal price or (b) the lowest price as permitted under applicable PRC laws.
The Exclusive Asset Option Agreement is for an initial term of ten years and may be extended for five-year terms indefinitely.
F-11
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
—Equity Pledge Agreement
Pursuant to the equity pledge agreement dated January 29, 2018 entered into between Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect and the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders (the "Equity Pledge Agreement"), the Registered Shareholders agreed to pledge as first charge all of their equity interests in Shenzhen OneConnect to Shenzhen OneConnect Technology as collateral security for any and all of the guaranteed debt under the Contractual Arrangements and to secure the performance of their obligations under the Contractual Arrangements. During the pledge period, Shenzhen OneConnect Technology is entitled to receive any dividends or other distributable benefits arising from the equity.
The pledge in favor of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology takes effect upon the completion of registration with the relevant administration for industry and commerce and shall remain valid until after all the contractual obligations of the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders and Shenzhen OneConnect under the Contractual Arrangements have been fully performed and all the outstanding debts of the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders and Shenzhen OneConnect under the Contractual Arrangements have been fully paid.
—Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement
Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, the Shenzhen OneConnect Shareholders and the subsidiaries of Shenzhen OneConnect entered into a shareholder voting proxy agreement on January 29, 2018. Pursuant to this agreement, each shareholder of Shenzhen OneConnect and its subsidiaries irrevocably authorizes the persons designated by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology to act on its behalf to exercise all of such shareholder's voting and other rights associated with the shareholder's equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect and the subsidiaries of Shenzhen OneConnect, such as the right to appoint or designate directors, supervisors and officers, as well as the right to sell, transfer, pledge or dispose of all or any portion of the shares held by such shareholder. The term of the shareholder voting proxy agreement is the same as that of the business cooperation agreement described above.
—Letters of Undertakings
Each Indirect Shareholder signed a letter of undertakings to the Company on January 29, 2018. Under these letters, the signing Indirect Shareholder has separately irrevocably undertaken, in the event of his or her death or loss of capacity or any other events that could possibly affect his or her capacity to fulfil his or her obligations under the contractual arrangement of Shenzhen OneConnect, that he or she will unconditionally transfer his or her equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect to any person designated by Shenzhen OneConnect Technology and the transferee will be deemed to be a party to the contractual arrangements and will assume all of his or her rights and obligations as such under the contractual arrangements. Each signing Indirect Shareholder represents that his or her spouse has no ownership interest in his or her equity interests in Shenzhen OneConnect. Each signing Indirect Shareholder further represents that in any circumstances, he or she will not, directly or indirectly, commit any conduct, measure, action or omission that is contrary to the purpose and intention of the contractual arrangements, that leads or may lead to any conflict of interest between Shenzhen OneConnect and OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries, and that if, during his or her performance of the contractual arrangements, there is a conflict of interest between the signing Indirect Shareholder and OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries, the signing Indirect Shareholder will
F-12
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
protect the legal interests of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology under the contractual arrangements and follow the instructions of the Company.
—Spousal Consent Letters
The spouses of Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou each signed a spousal consent letter on January 29, 2018. Under these letters, each signing spouse respectively agreed that he or she was aware of the equity interest beneficially owned by his or her spouse in Shenzhen OneConnect and the relevant Contractual Arrangements in connection with such equity interest. The signing spouse unconditionally and irrevocably confirmed that he or she does not have any equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect and committed not to impose any adverse assertions upon his or her spouse's respective equity interest. Each signing spouse further confirmed that such equity interest may be disposed of pursuant to the relevant Contractual Arrangements, and committed that he or she will take all necessary measures for the performance of those arrangements.
(b) Risks in relation to the VIEs
In the opinion of the Company's management, the Contractual Arrangements discussed above have resulted in the Company and Shenzhen OneConnect Technology having the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the VIEs, including appointing key management, setting up operating policies, exerting financial controls and transferring profit or assets out of the VIEs at its discretion. The Company has the power to direct activities of the VIEs and can have assets transferred out of the VIEs under its control. Therefore, the Company considers that there is no asset in any of the VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs, except for registered capital, capital reserve and PRC statutory reserves of the VIEs totalling RMB1,200 million and RMB1,208 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Currently there is no contractual arrangement that could require the Company to provide additional financial support to the VIEs. As the Company is conducting its Internet-related business mainly through the VIEs, the Company may provide such support on a discretional basis in the future, which could expose the Company to a loss. As the VIEs organized in the PRC were established as limited liability companies under PRC law, their creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of Shenzhen OneConnect Technology for the liabilities of the VIEs, and Shenzhen OneConnect Technology does not have the obligation to assume the liabilities of these VIEs.
The Company determines that the Contractual Arrangements are in compliance with PRC law and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Group's ability to enforce the Contractual Arrangements.
On March 15, 2019, the Foreign Investment Law was formally passed by the thirteenth National People's Congress and it will take effect on January 1, 2020. The Foreign Investment Law will replace the Law on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures and the Law on Foreign-Capital Enterprises to become the legal foundation for foreign investment in the PRC.
The Foreign Investment Law stipulates certain forms of foreign investment. However, the Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly stipulate contractual arrangements such as those we rely on as a form of foreign investment. Notwithstanding the above, the Foreign Investment Law stipulates that foreign investment includes "foreign investors investing through any other methods under laws, administrative
F-13
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council." Future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council may possibly regard Contractual Arrangements as a form of foreign investment. If this happens, it is uncertain whether the Contractual Arrangements with the VIE, its subsidiaries and its shareholders would be recognized as foreign investment, or whether the Contractual Arrangements would be deemed to be in violation of the foreign investment access requirements. As well as the uncertainty on how the Contractual Arrangements will be handled, there is substantial uncertainty regarding the interpretation and the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law. The relevant government authorities have broad discretion in interpreting the law. Therefore, there is no guarantee that the Contractual Arrangements, the business of the VIEs and financial conditions of the Company will not be materially and adversely affected.
The Company's ability to control VIEs also depends on rights provided to Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, under the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement, to vote on all matters requiring shareholder approval. As noted above, the Company believes the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement is legally enforceable, but they may not be as effective as direct equity ownership. In addition, if the corporate structure of the Group or the Contractual Arrangements between the Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, the VIEs and their respective shareholders and subsidiaries were found to be in violation of any existing PRC laws and regulations, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities could:
The following are major financial statements amounts and balances of the Group's VIEs and subsidiaries of VIEs as of and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
|
As at December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Total current assets |
1,647,766 | 5,200,044 | |||||
Total non-current assets |
821,660 | 609,798 | |||||
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Total assets |
2,469,426 | 5,809,842 | |||||
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Total current liabilities |
2,210,275 | 5,679,863 | |||||
Total non-current liabilities |
203,764 | 74,464 | |||||
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Total liabilities |
2,414,039 | 5,754,327 | |||||
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F-14
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
1 General information, recapitalization and basis of presentation (Continued)
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Total revenue |
581,912 | 1,344,412 | |||||
Net loss |
(605,733 | ) | (15,264 | ) | |||
Net cash used in operating activities |
(280,216 | ) | (649,200 | ) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(125,741 | ) | (2,262,895 | ) | |||
Net cash generated from financing activities |
744,309 | 2,606,830 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
338,352 | (305,265 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the year |
78,158 | 416,510 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of the year |
416,510 | 111,245 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The above financial statements amounts and balances have included intercompany transactions which have been eliminated on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the total assets of Group's VIEs were mainly consisting of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivable, prepayments and other receivables, financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, intangible assets and deferred tax assets. As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the total liabilities property and equipment of VIEs were mainly consisting of trade and other payable, payroll and welfare payables, contract liabilities and short-term borrowings.
1.3 Basis of presentation
Immediately prior to and after the Recapitalization, the Listing Business is held by Shanghai OneConnect. Pursuant to the Recapitalization, Shanghai OneConnect and the Listing Business are transferred to and controlled by the Company. The Company and those companies newly set up during the Recapitalization have not been involved in any other business prior to the Recapitalization and their operations do not meet the definition of a business. The Recapitalization is merely a recapitalization of the Listing Business with no change in management of such business and the ultimate owners of the Listing Business remain the same.
Accordingly, the Group resulting from the Recapitalization is regarded as a continuation of the Listing Business conducted under Shanghai OneConnect. The consolidated financial statements of the Group has been prepared and presented using the carrying amounts of the income, expenses, assets and liabilities of the consolidated financial statements of Shanghai OneConnect for all periods presented.
2 Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented unless otherwise stated.
2.1 Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") issued by the International Accounting Standards
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
Board ("IASB"). The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and derivative financial liabilities, which are carried at fair value and subsequent changes are recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRSs requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgment in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in Note 3 below.
Recent accounting pronouncements
(a) New and amended standards and interpretations adopted by the Group
IFRS 9, "Financial instruments", addresses the classification, measurement and recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities, and introduces new rules of hedge accounting and a new impairment model for financial assets. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted.
IFRS 15, "Revenue from contracts with customers" replaces the previous revenue standards IAS 18 'Revenue' and IAS 11 'Construction Contracts' and related interpretations. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and early adoption is permitted.
IFRS 16, "Leases" results in almost all leases being recognized on the balance sheet by lessees, as the distinction between operating and finance leases is removed. Under the new standard, an asset (the right to use the leased item) and a financial liability to pay rentals are recognized. The only exceptions are short-term and low-value leases. The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019 and early adoption is permitted only if IFRS 15 is adopted at the same time.
The Group has adopted IFRS 9, IFRS15 and IFRS16 using the full retrospective method in the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
(b) New standards and amendments to standards and interpretations not yet adopted
A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued but not effective during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and have not been early adopted by the Group in preparing these consolidated financial statements:
|
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after | |||
Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 |
Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture |
To be determined |
||
Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 2018 |
Revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting | January 1, 2020 | ||
Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 |
Definition of Material | January 1, 2020 | ||
Amendments to IFRS 3 |
Definition of a Business | January 1, 2020 | ||
IFRS 17 |
Insurance Contracts | January 1, 2021 |
The above new standards, new interpretations and amended standards are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.
2.2 Principles of consolidation and equity accounting
2.2.1 Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are all entities (including structured entities or VIEs as stated in Note 1.2 above) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the activities of the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.
Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the transferred asset. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.
Non-controlling interests in the results and equity of subsidiaries are shown separately in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of changes in equity and consolidated balance sheet, respectively.
2.2.2 Associates
An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence but not control, generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. Significant influence could be demonstrated for an investment of less than 20%, for example, by representation on the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the investee.
Investments in associates are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, the investment is initially recognized at cost, and the carrying amount is increased or decreased to
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
recognize the investor's share of the profit or loss of the investee after the date of acquisition. The Group's investments in associates include goodwill identified on acquisition. Upon the acquisition of the ownership interest in an associate, any difference between the cost of the associate and the Group's share of the net fair value of the associate's identifiable assets and liabilities is accounted for as goodwill.
If the ownership interest in an associate is reduced but significant influence is retained, only a proportionate share of the amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income is reclassified to profit or loss where appropriate.
The Group's share of post-acquisition profit or loss is recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, and its share of post-acquisition movements in other comprehensive income is recognized in other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying amount of the investment. When the Group's share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, including any other unsecured receivables, the Group does not recognize further losses, unless it has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate.
The Group determines at each reporting date whether there is any objective evidence that the investment in the associate is impaired. If this is the case, the Group calculates the amount of impairment as the difference between the recoverable amount of the associate and its carrying value and recognizes the amount adjacent to "share of loss of associate" in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Profits and losses resulting from upstream and downstream transactions between the Group and its associate are recognized in the Group's financial statements only to the extent of unrelated investor's interests in the associates. Unrealized losses are eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of associates have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.
Gain or losses on dilution of equity interest in associates are recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
2.3 Structured Entities
A structured entity is an entity that has been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity, such as when any voting rights relate to administrative tasks only, and the relevant activities are directed by means of contractual or related arrangements.
The Group determines whether it is an agent or a principal in relation to those structured entities in which the Group acts as an asset manager on management's judgement. If an asset manager is agent, it acts primarily on behalf of others and so does not control the structured entity. It may be principal if it acts primarily for itself, and therefore controls the structured entity.
With respect to the PRC Operating Entities, the Group acts as a principal and the determination of the consolidation of PRC Operating Entities is set out in Note 1.2. The unconsolidated structured entities in which the Group acts as an asset manager is set out in Note 34.
2.4 Business combination
Except for business combinations under common control, the Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
The Group recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. Non-controlling interests in the acquiree that are present ownership interests and entitle their holders to a proportionate share of the entity's net assets in the event of liquidation are measured at either fair value or the present ownership interests' proportionate share in the recognized amounts of the acquiree's identifiable net assets. All other components of non-controlling interests are measured at their acquisition date fair value, unless another measurement basis is required by IFRS.
Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.
If the business combination is achieved in stages, the acquisition date carrying value of the acquirer's previously held equity interest in the acquiree is re-measured to fair value at the acquisition date; any gains or losses arising from such re-measurement are recognized in profit or loss.
Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognized at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability is recognized in profit or loss. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured, and its subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity.
The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If the total of consideration transferred, non-controlling interest recognized and previously held interest measured is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognized directly in the income statement.
Intra-group transactions, balances and unrealized gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Unrealized losses are also eliminated. When necessary, amounts reported by subsidiaries have been adjusted to conform with the Group's accounting policies.
2.5 Segment reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision makers, who are responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments and making strategic decisions. The Group's chief operating decision makers have been identified as the executive directors of the Company, who review the consolidated results of operations when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group as a whole.
For the purpose of internal reporting and management's operation review, the chief operating decision-makers and management personnel do not segregate the Group's business by product or service lines. Hence, the Group has only one operating segment. In addition, the Group does not distinguish between markets or segments for the purpose of internal reporting. As the Group's assets and liabilities are substantially located in the PRC, substantially all revenues are earned and substantially all expenses incurred in the PRC, no geographical segments are presented.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
2.6 Foreign currency translation
Functional and presentation currency
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group's entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the "functional currency"). The functional currency of the Company is the United States dollar ("US$"). RMB is the functional currency of the subsidiaries in PRC. As the major operations of the Group during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are within the PRC, the directors of the Company have chosen to present the Group's financial statements in RMB (the presentation currency).
Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at year end exchange rates are generally recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings are presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, within finance costs. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income on a net basis within other income, gains or loss—net.
Non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value was determined. Translation differences on assets and liabilities carried at fair value are reported as part of the fair value gain or loss. For example, translation differences on non-monetary assets and liabilities such as equities held at fair value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss as part of the fair value gain or loss and translation differences on non-monetary assets such as equities classified as fair value through other comprehensive income are recognized in other comprehensive income.
Group companies
The results and financial position of foreign operations (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of any net investment in foreign entities, and of borrowings and other financial instruments designated as hedges of such investments, are recognized in other comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is sold or any borrowings forming part of the net investment are repaid, the associated exchange differences are reclassified to profit or loss, as part of the gain or loss on sale.
2.7 Property and equipment
Property and equipment are stated at historical cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attribute to the acquisition of the items.
Depreciation on property and equipment is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost to their residual values over their estimated useful lives or, in case of a leasehold improvements, the shorter lease term as follows:
Category
|
Expected useful life | |
---|---|---|
Office and telecommunication equipment |
5 years | |
Leasehold improvements |
5 years |
The assets' residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted quarterly if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period.
An asset's carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset's carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.
Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognized within 'Other income, gains or loss—net' in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
2.8 Intangible assets
The Group's intangible assets include application and platform, purchased software, development cost in progress, goodwill and others.
Intangible assets can be recognized only when future economic benefits expected to be obtained from the use of the item will flow into the Group and its cost can be measured reliably. Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination is the fair value as at the date of acquisition.
Costs associated with maintaining application and platform are recognized as an expense as incurred. Development costs that are directly attributable to the development and testing of identifiable application and platform controlled by the Group are recognized as intangible assets when the following criteria are met:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
Directly attributable costs that are capitalized include employee costs, technology service fee and an appropriate portion of relevant overheads.
Research expenditure and development expenditure that do not meet the criteria above are recognized as an expense as incurred. Development costs previously recognized as an expense are not recognized as an asset in a subsequent period. Capitalized development costs are recorded as intangible assets and amortized from the point at which the asset is ready for use.
The useful lives of intangible assets are assessed by the period of bringing economic benefits for the Group.
The useful lives of intangible assets are set as follows:
|
Expected useful life | |
---|---|---|
• Application and platform |
3 years | |
• Purchased software |
2 - 5 years |
Intangible assets with finite lives are subsequently amortized on the straight-line basis over the useful economic life. The amortization period and the amortization method for an intangible asset with a finite useful life are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at least at each year end.
A significant portion of the application and platform within intangible assets of the Company has been used in the provision of services to customers and concurrently been used as the foundation to research and to develop new or upgraded products and services. The amortization of intangible assets is presented separately as a single line on the face of consolidated statement of comprehensive income and no allocation of the amortization of intangible assets between cost of revenue and research and development expenses has been made.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are subject to annual impairment assessment.
2.9 Impairment of non-financial assets
The Group assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that a non-financial asset other than deferred tax assets may be impaired. If any such indication exists, or when annual impairment testing for a non-financial asset is required, the Group makes an estimate of the asset's recoverable amount. A non-financial asset's recoverable amount is the higher of the asset's or cash-generating unit's fair value less costs to sell and its value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets, in which case the recoverable amount is determined for the cash-generating unit to which the asset
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
belongs. Where the carrying amount of a non-financial asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. In determining fair value less costs to disposal, an appropriate valuation model is used. These calculations are corroborated by valuation multiples, quoted share prices for publicly traded subsidiaries or other available fair value indicators.
For non-financial assets other than goodwill, an assessment is made at each reporting date as to whether there is any indication that previously recognized impairment losses may no longer exist or may have decreased. If such an indication exists, the Group makes an estimate of the recoverable amount. A previously recognized impairment loss is reversed only if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset's recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. If that is the case, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to its recoverable amount. That increased amount cannot exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years. Such a reversal is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.
Goodwill is reviewed for impairment, annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. Impairment is determined by assessing the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit (or group of cash-generating units), to which the goodwill relates. The recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value less costs of disposal and its value-in-use, determined on an individual asset (or cash-generating unit) basis, unless the individual asset (or cash-generating unit) does not generate cash flows that are largely independent from those of other assets or groups of assets (or groups of cash-generating units). Impairment losses recognized in relation to goodwill are not reversed for subsequent increases in its recoverable amount.
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives and development costs in progress are tested for impairment annually at each year end either individually or at the cash-generating unit level, as appropriate.
2.10 Financial assets
Classification
The Group classifies its financial assets in the following measurement categories:
The classification depends on the entity's business model for managing the financial assets and the contractual terms of the cash flows.
For assets measured at fair value, gains and losses will either be recorded in profit or loss or other comprehensive income. For investments in debt instruments, this will depend on the business model in which the investment is held and the cash flow characteristics of the asset. For investments in equity
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
instruments, this will depend on whether the Group has made an irrevocable election at the time of initial recognition to account for the equity investment at fair value through other comprehensive income.
The Group reclassifies debt investments when and only when its business model for managing those assets changes.
Recognition and measurement
At initial recognition, the Group measures a financial asset at its fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the financial asset. Transaction costs of financial assets carried at fair value through profit or loss are expensed in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
(a) Debt instruments
Subsequent measurement of debt instruments depends on the Group's business model for managing the asset and the cash flow characteristics of the asset. There are three measurement categories into which the Group classifies its debt instruments:
(b) Equity instruments
The Group subsequently measures all equity investments at fair value. Where the Group's management has elected to present fair value gains and losses on equity investments in other comprehensive income, there is no subsequent reclassification of fair value gains and losses to profit or loss following the derecognition of the investment. Dividends from such investments continue to be recognized in profit or loss.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
Changes in the fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are recognized in profit or loss. Impairment losses (and reversal of impairment losses) on equity investments measured at FVOCI are not reported separately from other changes in fair value.
(c) Impairment
The group assesses on a forward looking basis the expected credit losses associated with its debt instruments carried at amortized cost and FVOCI. The impairment methodology applied depends on whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk.
Expected credit loss refers to the weighted average amount of credit loss of financial instruments based on the probability of default. Credit loss refers to the difference between all contractual cash flows receivable and all cash flows that the entity expects to receive, discounted at the original effective interest rate.
For trade receivables and contract assets, the Group applies the simplified approach permitted by IFRS 9, which requires expected lifetime losses to be recognized from initial recognition of the assets. The impairment matrix is determined based on historical observed default rates over the expected life of the contract assets and trade receivables with similar credit risk characteristics and is adjusted for forward-looking estimates. At every reporting date the historical observed default rates are updated and changes in the forward-looking estimates are analysed.
Impairment on other receivables are measured as either 12-month expected credit losses or lifetime expected credit losses, depending on whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition. If a significant increase in credit risk of a receivable has occurred since initial recognition, then impairment is measured as lifetime expected credit losses.
Offsetting financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. The legally enforceable right must not be contingent on future events and must be enforceable in the normal course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the company or the counterparty.
2.11 Financial guarantee contracts
Financial guarantee payables
Financial guarantee contracts are recognized as a financial liability at the time the guarantee is issued. The liability is initially measured at fair value and subsequently at the higher of
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
term of the loan as the borrower repays the loan on monthly basis, guarantee income is recognized on a pro rata basis over the term of the loan.
The fair value of financial guarantees is determined based on the present value of the difference in cash flows between the contractual payments required to be paid by the borrower to the lender under the debt instrument and the payments that would be required to be paid by the borrower to the lender without the guarantee, or the estimated amount that would be payable to a third party for assuming the obligations.
Financial guarantee fee receivables
Financial guarantee fee receivables are financial assets recognized relates to fees attributable to the guarantee that are collected from the borrower over the term of guarantee period, which is the term of loan. They are initially measured at the fair value of the corresponding financial guarantee liabilities at inception of the underlying loans, and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method to unwind the financing impact, resulting in interest being recognized in the statement of comprehensive income/(loss).
At each reporting date, the Group estimates the impairment loss on these receivables according to the expected credit losses methodology (Note 2.10 (c)).
2.12 Trade receivables
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for products sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. If collection of trade and other receivables is expected in one year or less, they are classified as current assets. If not, they are presented as non-current assets.
Trade receivables are recognized initially at the amount of consideration that is unconditional unless they contain significant financing components, when they are recognized at fair value. The group holds the trade receivables with the objective to collect the contractual cash flows and therefore measures them subsequently at amortized cost using the effective interest method. See Note 18 for further information about the Group's accounting for trade receivables and Note 3 for a description of the group's impairment policies.
2.13 Cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of presentation in the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.
2.14 Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
2.15 Borrowings
Borrowings are initially recognized at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently measured at amortized cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption amount is recognized in profit or loss over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognized as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw down occurs. To the extent there is no evidence that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down, the fee is capitalized as a prepayment for liquidity services and amortized over the period of the facility to which it relates.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period.
2.16 Trade and other payables
These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Group prior to the end of the financial year which are unpaid. Trade and other payables are presented as current liabilities unless payment is not due within 12 months after the reporting period. They are recognized initially at their fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method.
2.17 Leases
The group leases various properties. Rental contracts are typically made for fixed periods of 1 to 5 years but may have extension options. Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. The lease agreements do not impose any covenants, but leased assets may not be used as security for borrowing purposes.
Leases are recognized as a right-of-use asset and a corresponding liability at the date at which the leased asset is available for use by the group. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The right-of-use asset is depreciated over the lease term on a straight-line basis.
Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:
The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease, if that rate can be determined, or the group's incremental borrowing rate.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:
Right-of-use assets related to lease of properties are recorded under property and equipment (Note 12). Lease liabilities are recorded under trade and other payables (Note 26).
Payments associated with short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognized on a straight-line basis as an expense in profit or loss.
2.18 Employee benefits
The employees of the Group are mainly covered by various defined contribution pension plans. The Group makes and accrues contributions on a monthly basis to the pension plans, which are mainly sponsored by the related government authorities that are responsible for the pension liability to retired employees. Under such plans, the Group has no other significant legal or constructive obligations for retirement benefits beyond the said contributions, which are expensed as incurred. Certain employees are also provided with group life insurance but the amounts involved are insignificant.
The employees of the Group are entitled to participate in various government-sponsored housing funds. The Group contributes on a monthly basis to these funds based on certain percentages of the salaries of the employees. The Group's liability in respect of these funds is limited to the contributions payable in each period.
The Group makes monthly contributions for medical benefits to the local authorities in accordance with relevant local regulations for the employees. The Group's liability in respect of employee medical benefits is limited to the contributions payable in each period.
2.19 Share-based payments
An equity-settled share-based compensation plan was granted to the employees, under which the entity receives services from employees as consideration for equity instruments (options) of the Group. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognized as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
At the end of each reporting period, the Group revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on the non-market performance and service conditions. It recognizes the impact of the revision to original estimates, if any, in the statement of comprehensive income, with a corresponding adjustment to equity.
If the terms of an equity-settled award are modified, at a minimum an expense is recognized as if the terms had not been modified. An additional expense is recognized for any modification that increases the total fair value of the share-based payment arrangement, or is otherwise beneficial to the employee, as measured at the date of modification.
If an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any expense not yet recognized for the award is recognized immediately. However, if a new award is substituted for the cancelled award, and designated as a replacement award on the date that it is granted, the cancelled and new award are treated as if they were a modification of the original award, as described in the previous paragraph.
2.20 Revenue recognition
Revenues are recognized when or as control of the asset or service is transferred to the customer. Depending on the terms of the contract and the laws that apply to the contract, control of the goods and services may be transferred over time or at a point in time. Control of the goods and services is transferred over time if the Group's performance:
If control of the goods and services transfers over time, revenue is recognized over the period of the contract by reference to the progress towards complete satisfaction of that performance obligation. Otherwise, revenue is recognized at a point in time when the customer obtains control of the goods and services.
The progress towards complete satisfaction of the performance obligation is measured based on one of the following methods that best depict the Group's performance in satisfying the performance obligation:
When either party to a contract has performed, the Group presents the contract in the statement of financial position as a contract asset or a contract liability, depending on the relationship between the entity's performance and the customer's payment.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
A contract asset is the Group's right to consideration in exchange for goods or services that the Group has transferred to a customer. If the value ascribed to the services rendered by the Group exceed the payment, a contract asset is recognized. Judgement is required in determining whether a right to consideration is unconditional and thus qualifies as a receivable.
A receivable is recorded when the Group has an unconditional right to consideration on the date the payment is due even if it has not yet performed under the contract.
If a customer pays consideration or the Group has a right to an amount of consideration that is unconditional, before the Group transfers a good or service to the customer, the Group presents the contract as a contract liability when the payment is made or the payment is due (whichever is earlier). A contract liability is the Group's obligation to transfer goods or services to a customer for which the Group has received consideration (or an amount of consideration is due) from the customer. A contract liability is recognized as revenue upon transfer of control to the customers of the promised license, products and services.
Some of the Group's contracts with customers contain multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, the Group account for individual performance obligations separately if they are distinct. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. Although each of the performance obligations sometimes has a separate contractual price agreed in the contract, the management compares the contractual price with observable standalone market price, if any, or cost plus a margin price to assess the reasonableness of the pricing. If the contractual price for each performance obligation is assessed to be on market price basis, the Group use the contractual price to measure and recognize revenue for each performance obligation. If the contractual price for each performance obligation is assessed to be not on market price basis, the Group reallocates the total contract price to the identified performance obligations based on its best estimated standalone selling price of each performance obligation.
Only the contracts for business origination services (Note 2.20(b)) contain significant financing components. As a practical expedient, the Group does not account for financing components if the period between when the Group transfers the promised goods or services to the customer and when the customer pays for those goods or services is one year or less.
Incremental costs of obtaining customer contract primarily consist of sales commissions and are capitalized as an asset. The Group amortized assets recognized from capitalizing costs to obtain a contract on a systematic basis to profit or loss, consistent with the pattern of revenue recognition to which the asset relates. As a practical expedient, the Group recognize the incremental costs of obtaining a contract as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the Group otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.
The following is a description of the accounting policy for the principal revenue streams of the Group.
Implementation services represent customer-specific software development or customization services provided to customers for the use of the Group's software in cloud offerings or on-premise IT environment. The contract term for implementation services is typically within one year. The
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
implementation contract is either on a time and material basis or fixed-fee basis. The Group invoices fees for implementation services monthly based on actual time and material incurred to date or according to pre-agreed payment schedules. After development, the license to use the software is granted to the customer with an indefinite life. The customer cannot benefit from the implementation service on its own without the license. The perpetual license is a result of the implementation service. The implementation service and the perpetual license are highly interrelated and within the context of the contract, the promise of the Group is to transfer the implementation service together with the perpetual license as one output to its customers. Both the implementation service and the perpetual license to use the software are not distinct and thus should be combined together as one performance obligation. And there is no sales/usage based royalty for the license to use the software in the arrangement.
Post-implementation support services mainly represent post implementation maintenance services and post implementation cloud services such as computing services, storage, server and bandwidth. The cloud-based infrastructure is hosted by another company engaged by the Group where the Group is the principal in provision of cloud services because the Group control the cloud services in advance before transferring those services to the customer. The Group is the primary obligor who is responsible for making sure the cloud services can fulfill customer's needs and requirements and the Group has full discretion in establishing the price for post-implementation cloud services. Periodic fixed fees for post-implementation support services are typically invoiced yearly or quarterly in advance.
The Group's customer contracts often include both implementation services and post-implementation support services. Judgement is required in determining whether implementation services and post-implementation support services are separate performance obligations. Customers can benefit from implementation service and post-implementation support service on their own, and those services are clearly stated in the contract and are separately identifiable, they are not integrated or interrelated with each other, and do not significantly affect each other. The Group has concluded that implementation services and post-implementation support services qualify as separate performance obligations and the portion of the contractual fee allocated to them is recognized separately.
Implementation contracts are for software developed for specific needs of individual customers and therefore it does not have any alternative use for the Group. Moreover, implementation contracts provide the Group with an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. Accordingly, revenue for implementation contracts is recognized over the contract terms by reference to the progress of work performed, which is measured based on costs incurred toward satisfying the performance obligation, relative to total costs expected to be incurred to the complete satisfaction of the performance obligation. The corresponding implementation costs are recognized as incurred under cost of revenue.
For post development maintenance services, the performance obligation is to stand ready to provide technical support and unspecified updates and upgrades on a when-and-if-available basis. The customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these support services as the Group perform and revenue is recognized based on time elapsed and thus ratably over the term of the support arrangement.
Post implementation cloud services provided on a subscription basis, where the performance obligation is the grant of the right to continuously use the cloud services for a certain term, are recognized based on time elapsed and thus ratably over the contract terms.
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FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
The Group derives its transaction based service revenue primarily from business origination services, risk management service, operation support service and other services.
Business origination service
The Group provides business origination services by assisting financial institutions in customer acquisition for their products including loans, wealth management products and insurance policies etc.. The revenue for business origination is recognized when a referral is successfully accepted by financial institutions.
The Group provides lending solutions to financial institutions which could involve multiple performance obligations including business origination, post-lending management service and a financial guarantee (the Group has ceased providing financial guarantee before the end of January 2018, and facilitates the borrower's purchase of insurance policies instead; contracts without a financial guarantee obligation are referred to as "non-guarantee model" and contracts with a financial guarantee obligation are referred to as "guarantee model"). Under the guarantee model, the Group considers both borrower and lender its customers where the Group receives consideration from borrowers. Under the non-guarantee model, the Group considers borrowers, lenders and insurance companies its customers where the Group receive consideration from insurance companies.
The Group determined that it is not the legal lender and legal borrower (or receiver of deposits from investors) in the loan origination and repayment process. Therefore, the Group does not record loans receivable and payable arising from the loans between lenders and borrowers. The Group acts as an agent to facilitate such loans.
The Group generally collects on a monthly basis over the loan period the entire consideration relating to business origination, post-lending management services and the financial guarantee, if any, as one combined fee. Loan contracts facilitated by the Group typically have a term of 36 months. Thus, the contract contains a significant financing component as the services for the borrower referral are provided up front but paid for over time. The total consideration is also variable. Under the guarantee model, the fee rate is fixed and the variability is mainly related to the prepayment risk of borrowers that the borrower can early repay the loans and the monthly service fee for the remaining period will be waived. Under the non-guarantee model, the fee includes a fixed component and a variable component which depends on the performance of the underlying loans, therefore the variability is mainly related to actual default rates of the portfolios of loans, along with the same prepayment risk. Variable fees are included as part of the total transaction price to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal of the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable fee is subsequently resolved. The Group considers estimated prepayment risk and estimated default risk in determining its transaction price, using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information and current trends of prepayments and default. Further, given the service fees are collected over the typical loan term of 36 months, the transaction price is calculated as the present value of all probable collections, discounted using a discount rate that reflects the customers' credit worthiness. In determining the appropriate discount rate, the Group considers credit characteristics of the customer unless already dealt
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
with when arriving at the transaction price as well as the rate that would be used in a separate financing transaction between the Group and the customers for the probable payments involved.
The total transaction price is allocated to the business origination and post-lending management services. Under the guarantee model, the Group first allocates the total transaction price to the financial guarantee liability (refer to Note 2.11), then the remaining consideration is allocated to the business origination services and post-lending management services on the basis of the relative standalone selling prices, determined by using the cost plus margin approach.
The Group considers the business origination services and post-lending management services as distinct performance obligations because borrowers, lenders and other financial institutions can benefit from the loan facilitation services and post-lending management services on their own, and those services are clearly stated in the contract and are separately identifiable, they are not integrated or interrelated with each other, and do not significantly affect each other. Although the Group does not sell these services separately, the Group determined that both deliverables have standalone value. The Group uses the expected-cost-plus-a-margin approach to determine its best estimate of the standalone selling prices of different performance obligations as the basis for allocation. In estimating its standalone selling price for the business origination services and post-lending management services, the Company considers the cost incurred to deliver such services, profit margin for similar arrangements, customer demand, effect of competitors on the Company's services, and other market factors. The total service fee allocated to business origination is recognized as revenue upon execution of loan agreements between lenders and borrowers. The service fees allocated to post-lending management services are deferred and recognized over the period of the loan on a straight-line method, which approximates the pattern of when the underlying services are performed. When the cash received is different from the revenue recognized, a "Contract Asset" or "Contract Liability" shall be recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position.
Risk management services
Risk management services mainly represent credit risk assessment, identity verification service, risk management services used in insurance loss assessment and anti-fraud services provided to financial institutions.
For risk management services contracts, the Group normally charges its customers based on usage of the services at fixed charge rates, and invoices the fees on periodical basis. The revenue from these services is recognized when the customers receive and consume the benefits of these services each time the Group performs, based on the amount charged for such services.
Operation support services
Operation support services mainly represent messaging services, calling services and insurance loss assessment services, asset monitoring services and consulting services provided to financial institutions. Revenue from the aforementioned post-lending management services (details described in section (b) above) is also included in the revenue of operation support services.
For contracts which the Group charges its customers based on usage of the services at fixed charge rates, and invoices the fees on periodical basis, the revenue from these services is recognized when the
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
customers receive and consume the benefits of these services each time the Group performs, based on the amount charged for such services.
For contracts which the Group charges its customers based on the term of services and invoices the fee on periodical basis, and the performance obligation is to stand ready to provide operation support, such as post-lending management services, the customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of these support services as the Group performs and revenue is recognized based on time elapsed and thus ratably over the term of the support arrangement.
When the cash received is different from the revenue recognized, a "Contract Asset" or "Contract Liability" shall be recognized in the consolidated statement of financial position.
Other
Other revenue mainly represents sales of products and asset management services provided by the Group.
For sales of products, the Group recognizes revenue net of discounts and return allowances upon the time when the products are delivered to customers.
For asset management services, the service revenues are recognized ratably over the term of the service contracts.
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets, refers to the costs directly associated with revenue generating activities. Specifically, they primarily consist of direct technology service fee, direct employee benefit expenses, business origination fee and other operating expenses directly associated with revenue generation.
2.21 Interest income
Interest income from financial assets at FVPL is included in the net fair value gains/(losses) on these assets, see Note 8 below.
Interest income on financial assets at amortized cost and financial assets at FVOCI calculated using the effective interest method is recognized in the statement of profit or loss as part of other income.
Interest income is presented as finance income where it is earned from financial assets that are held for cash management purposes, see Note 9 below. Any other interest income is included in other income.
Interest income is recognized using the effective interest method. When a financial asset is impaired, the Group reduces the carrying amount to its recoverable amount, being the estimated future cash flow discounted at the original effective interest rate of the instrument, and continues unwinding the discount as interest income. Interest income on impaired loans and receivables is recognized using the original effective interest rate.
Interest income is calculated by applying the effective interest rate to the gross carrying amount of a financial asset except for financial assets that subsequently become credit-impaired. For credit-impaired financial assets the effective interest rate is applied to the net carrying amount of the financial asset (after deduction of the loss allowance).
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
2.22 Dividend income
Dividend income is recognized when the right to receive payment is established.
2.23 Government grants
Grants from the government are recognized at their fair value where there is a reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and the Group will comply with all attached conditions.
Government grants relating to costs are deferred and recognized in the income statement over the period necessary to match them with the costs that they are intended to compensate.
2.24 Tax
Income tax comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income, or in other comprehensive income or in equity if it relates to items that are recognized in the same or a different period directly in other comprehensive income or in equity.
Current tax assets and liabilities for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities.
Deferred tax is provided, using the liability method, on all temporary differences at the end of the reporting period between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences, except:
Deferred tax assets are recognized for all deductible temporary differences, the carry-forward of unused tax credits and any unused tax losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and the carry-forward of unused tax credits and unused tax losses can be utilized, except:
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
2 Summary of significant accounting policies (Continued)
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilized. Conversely, previously unrecognized deferred tax assets are reassessed at the end of each reporting period and are recognized to the extent that it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilized.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period.
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.
3 Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The Group makes estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities in these financial statements. Estimates and judgments are continually assessed based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
In the process of applying the Group's accounting policies, management has made the following judgments and accounting estimation, which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements.
The Group considers implementation and post-implementation support services as distinct performance obligations (Note 2.20 (a)), and the business origination and post-lending management services as distinct performance obligations (Note 2.20 (b)). However, the Group does not provide these services separately, and the third-party evidence of selling price does not exist either, as public information is not available regarding the amount of fees competitors charge for these services. As a result, the Group uses the expected-cost-plus-a-margin approach to determine its best estimate of selling prices of the different deliverables as the basis for allocation. When estimating the selling prices, the Group considers the costs related to such services, profit margin, customer demand, effect of competition, and other market factors, if applicable.
The total consideration for business origination service and post-lending management service provided by the Group to financial institution lenders is variable. Under guarantee model, the fee rate is fixed and the variability is mainly related to the prepayment risk of borrowers that the borrower can early repay the loans and the monthly service fee for the remaining period will be waived. Under non-guarantee model, the fee includes a fixed component and a variable component which depends on the performance portfolios of the underlying loans, therefore the variability is mainly related to actual default rates portfolios of the loans, as well as the prepayment risk. Variable fees are included as part of the total transaction price to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal of the amount of
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
3 Critical accounting estimates and judgments (Continued)
cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable fee is subsequently resolved. The Group considers estimated prepayment risk and estimated default risk in determining its transaction price, using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information and current trends of prepayments and default. Further, given the service fees are collected over the typical loan term of 36 months, the transaction price is calculated as the present value of all probable collections, discounted using a discount rate that reflects the customers' credit worthiness. During the year ended December 31, 2018, no revenue was recognized in relation to performance based fees because it is not highly probable that actual default rates of the portfolio of the underlying loans would be lower than the threshold rate which enable the Group to charge performance based fees. Based on the actual default rate information as at December 31, 2018, no performance based fees is expected to be recognized over the remaining terms of the underlying loan portfolios.
As mentioned in Note 25, an equity-settled share-based compensation plan was granted to the employees. The directors have used the Binomial option-pricing model to determine the grant date fair value of the options granted to employees, which is to be expensed over the vesting period. Significant estimate on assumptions, such as the underlying equity value, risk-free interest rate, expected volatility and dividend yield, is required to be made by the directors in applying the Binomial option-pricing model. In addition, The Group is required to estimate the percentage of grantees that will remain in employment with the Group and if the performance conditions for vesting will be met at the end of the vesting period. The Group only recognizes an expense for those share options expected to vest over the vesting period.
Costs incurred in upgrading existing application and platform (primarily relating to upgrade of the existing features or additions of new features/modules) and developing new application and platform are capitalized as intangible assets when recognition criteria as detailed in Note 2.8 are fulfilled. Management has applied its professional judgement in determining whether these application and platform could generate probable future economic benefits to the Group based on the historical experience of the existing products and the prospects of the markets. Any severe change in market performance or technology advancement will have an impact on the development costs capitalized.
The Group is subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Judgement is required in determining the provision for income taxes. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact current income tax and deferred income tax in the period in which such determination is made.
Deferred tax assets are recognized for all unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the unused tax losses can be utilized. In assessing whether such unused tax losses can be utilized in the future, the Group needs to make judgments and estimates on the ability of each of its subsidiaries to generate taxable income in the future years.
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
3 Critical accounting estimates and judgments (Continued)
As at 31 December 2018, the carrying amount of application and platform was RMB306,979,000 (2017: RMB 367,078,000). The Group estimates the useful life of the application and platform to be at least 3 years based on the expected technical obsolescence of such assets. However, the actual useful life may be shorter or longer than 3 years, depending on technical innovations and competitor actions. If it were only 2 years, the carrying amount would be RMB156,095,000 as at 31 December 2018. If the useful life were estimated to be 5 years, the carrying amount would be RMB541,375,000.
The Group is required to test goodwill and intangible assets not ready for use on an annual basis. Other intangible assets are tested whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those assets exceeds its recoverable amount. Intangible assets are tested for impairment based on the recoverable amount of the CGU to which these assets are related. The recoverable amount is determined based on the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use.
Determination of the value in use is an area involving management judgment in order to assess whether the carrying value of intangible assets can be supported by the net present value of future cash flows. In calculating the net present value of the future cash flows, certain assumptions are required to be made in respect of highly uncertain areas including management's expectations of (i) future unlevered free cash flows; (ii) long-term growth rates; and (iii) the selection of discount rates to reflect the risks involved.
The management of the Group consider that no impairment charge was required after performing the impairment assessment for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
The Group applies expected credit losses model in measuring impairment of trade receivables, contract assets and other receivables. The expected loss rates are based on the Group's past loss experiences, existing market conditions as well as forward looking estimates at the end of each reporting periods.
Details of the methodology and key inputs used are disclosed in Note 4.1(b).
The financial guarantee liability is initially recognized at fair value. The fair value is determined by the Group using a discounted cash flow method, and takes into account the timing and amount of expected payouts under the guarantee based on historical loss data, and other observable data such as the amount that are charged by other market participants to issue similar guarantees in a standalone arm's length transaction. The discount rates adopted take into account time value of the money as well as an adjustment for the Group's credit worthiness.
Subsequent to initial recognition, the guarantee liabilities are measured at the higher of the amount determined in accordance with the expected credit loss model under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and the amount initially recognized less, where appropriate, the cumulative amount of income recognized in accordance with the principles of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The measurement of
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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
3 Critical accounting estimates and judgments (Continued)
the expected credit loss of the underlying guaranteed loans takes into account the historical loss record of the Group and those of other comparable companies in the market/industry, current and forward looking economics conditions.
As disclosed in Note 1.2, the Group exercises control over the VIEs and has the right to recognize and receive substantially all the economic benefits through the Contractual Arrangements. The Group considers that it controls the VIEs notwithstanding the fact that it does not hold direct equity interests in the VIEs, as it has power over the financial and operating policies of the VIEs and receive substantially all the economic benefits from the business activities of the VIEs through the Contractual Arrangements. Accordingly, all these VIEs are accounted for as controlled structured entities and their financial statements have also been consolidated by the Company.
4 Management of financial risk
The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (comprising currency risk and interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group's overall risk management program focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimize potential adverse effects on the Group's financial performance. Risk management is carried out by the senior management of the Group.
4.1 Financial risk factors
(a) Market risk
Currency risk
Foreign currency risk is the risk of loss resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Fluctuations in exchange rates between the RMB and other currencies in which the Group conducts business may affect its financial position and results of operations. The foreign currency risk assumed by the Group mainly comes from movements in the USD/RMB exchange rates.
The Company and overseas intermediate holding companies' functional currency is USD. They are mainly exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from their cash and cash equivalents and loans to group companies dominated in RMB. The Group has entered into spot-forward USD/RMB currency swaps to hedge its exposure to foreign currency risk arising from loans to group companies denominated in RMB. Under the Group's policy, the critical terms of the swaps must substantially align with the hedge items.
The subsidiaries of the Group are mainly operates in mainland China with most of the transactions settled in RMB. The Group considers that the business in mainland China is not exposed to any significant foreign exchange risk as there are no significant financial assets or liabilities of the these subsidiaries denominated in the currencies other than the respective functional currency.
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FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
The analysis below is performed for reasonably possible movements in key variables with all other variables held constant, showing the post-tax impact on profit and equity.
|
At December 31, | At December 31, | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | 2017 | 2018 | |||||||||
|
Impact on post tax profit |
Impact on other components of equity |
|||||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
USD+5% |
— | 20,636 | — | 240,809 | |||||||||
USD–5% |
— | (20,636 | ) | — | (240,809 | ) |
Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the value/future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. Floating rate instruments expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk, whereas fixed rate instruments expose the Group to fair value interest risk.
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk primarily in relation to term deposits and short-term borrowings. The Group generally assumes borrowings to fund capital expenditures and working capital requirements. The risk is managed by the Group by matching the terms of interest rates of term deposits and short-term borrowings.
As at December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Group's borrowings were mainly carried at fixed rates and mature in one year, which did not expose the Group to significant interest rate risk.
(b) Credit risk
(i) Credit risk management
The Group's credit risk is mainly associated with cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables, contract assets, other receivables and financial guarantee contracts. The carrying amounts of each class of the above financial assets represent the Group's maximum exposure to credit risk in relation to financial assets except for the financial guarantee as disclosed in Note 4.1 (b) (ii).
To manage this risk arising from cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, the Group mainly transacts with state-owned or reputable financial institutions in the PRC and reputable international financial institution outside the PRC. The Group considers that there is no significant credit risk and the Group will not suffer any material losses due to the default of the other parties.
The Group's trade receivables and contract assets mainly come from customers. The Group mitigates the credit risk by assessing the credit quality, setting a shorter credit period or arranging the instalment payment and prepayment method. The impairment loss allowance for trade receivables and contract assets are disclosed in Note 18 and Note 5.
For other receivables (except for financial guarantee fee receivables), management make periodic collective assessments as well as individual assessment on the recoverability based on historical settlement records and forward looking information.
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ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
For financial guarantee contracts and relevant financial guarantee fee receivables, in order to minimise the credit risk, the Group has established policies and systems for monitoring and control of credit risk. The management has delegated different divisions responsible for determination of credit limits, credit approvals and other monitoring processes. In addition, management reviews the financial guarantee contracts and financial guarantee fee receivables collectively at each reporting date to ensure that adequate allowance for impairment losses and relevant liabilities are made.
(ii) ECL measurement
For financial assets whose impairment losses are measured using expected credit loss ("ECL") model, the Group assesses whether their credit risk has increased significantly since their initial recognition, and applies a three-stage impairment model to calculate their impairment allowance and recognize their ECL, as follows:
The Group considers the credit risk characteristics of different financial instruments when determining if there is significant increase in credit risk. For financial instruments with or without significant increase in credit risk, 12-month or lifetime expected credit losses are provided respectively. The expected credit loss is the result of discounting the product of Exposure at Default, Probabilities of Default and Loss given Default.
According to whether the credit risk has increased significantly or whether the assets have been impaired, the Group measures the impairment loss allowance with the expected credit losses of 12-month or the lifetime due to the credit risk characteristics of different assets.
The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach in measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected impairment loss allowance for all trade receivables and contract assets of implementation service.
Judgement of significant increase in credit risk ("SICR")
Under IFRS 9, when considering the impairment stages for financial assets, the Group evaluates the credit risk at initial recognition and also whether there is any significant increase in credit risk for each reporting period.
The Group set quantitative and qualitative criteria to judge whether there has been a SICR after initial recognition. The judgement criteria mainly includes the Probabilities of Default changes of the
F-41
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
debtors, changes of credit risk categories and other indicators of SICR, etc.. In the judgement of whether there has been a SICR after initial recognition, the Group has not rebutted the 30 days past due as presumption of SICR.
The definition of credit-impaired assets
Under IFRS 9, in order to determine whether credit impairment occurs, the defined standards adopted by the Group are consistent with the internal credit risk management objectives for relevant financial assets while considering quantitative and qualitative indicators. When the Group assesses whether the debtor has credit impairment, the following factors are mainly considered:
The credit impairment of financial assets may be caused by the joint effects of multiple events, and may not be caused by separately identifiable event.
Forward-looking information
The historical loss rates are adjusted to reflect current and forward-looking information on macroeconomic factors affecting the ability of the debtors to settle the receivables. The Group has identified the Gross Domestic Product ("GDP") to be the most relevant factor, and accordingly adjusts the historical loss rates based on expected changes in these factors.
Credit risk exposure
Without considering the impact of collateral and other credit enhancement, for on-balance sheet assets, the maximum exposures are based on net carrying amounts as reported in the consolidated financial statements.
(1) Trade receivables and contract assets
To measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables and contract assets of implementation service have been grouped based on shared credit risk characteristics and the ageing analysis. The contract assets relate to unbilled work in progress and have substantially the same risk characteristics as the trade receivables for the same types of contracts. The Group has therefore concluded that the expected loss rates
F-42
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
for trade receivables are a reasonable approximation of the loss rates for the contract assets. The impairment loss allowance was determined as follows:
|
As at December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Related parties |
Up to 1 year |
1 year to 2 year |
2 year to 3 year |
Above 3 years |
Total | |||||||||||||
Expected loss rate |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Gross carrying amount of trade receivables |
12,371 |
24,517 |
— |
— |
— |
36,888 |
|||||||||||||
Gross carrying amount of contract assets of implementation service |
— | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||
Loss allowance |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
As at December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Related parties |
Up to 1 year |
1 year to 2 year |
2 year to 3 year |
Above 3 years |
Total | |||||||||||||
Expected loss rate |
— | 2.32 | % | 9.71 | % | 25.00 | % | 86.36 | % | 3.55 | % | ||||||||
Gross carrying amount of trade receivables |
145,468 |
124,191 |
1,499 |
193 |
2,815 |
274,166 |
|||||||||||||
Gross carrying amount of contract assets of implementation service |
— | 82,791 | 6,749 | 643 | 5,665 | 95,848 | |||||||||||||
Loss allowance |
|||||||||||||||||||
—Trade receivables (Note 18) |
— | 647 | 126 | 48 | 2,815 | 3,636 | |||||||||||||
—contract assets of implementation service |
— | 4,148 | 675 | 161 | 4,508 | 9,492 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
— | 4,795 | 801 | 209 | 7,323 | 13,128 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Movements in the impairment loss allowance of contract assets of implementation service are as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | — | |||||
Reversal of impairment loss |
— | 538 | |||||
Addition from acquisition of subsidiary |
— | (10,030 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
— | (9,492 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-43
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
The impairment loss allowance of contract assets of transaction based and support service was determined as follows:
|
As at December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Gross carrying amount |
|||||||
Stage 1 |
16,560 | 111,934 | |||||
Stage 2 |
— | 451 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
16,560 | 112,385 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Loss allowance |
|||||||
Stage 1 |
— | 1,653 | |||||
Stage 2 |
— | 307 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
— | 1,960 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Movements in the impairment loss allowance of contract assets of transaction based and support service are as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | — | |||||
Charge of impairment loss |
— | (2,826 | ) | ||||
Addition from acquisition of subsidiary |
— | (476 | ) | ||||
Write-off |
— | 1,342 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
— | (1,960 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-44
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
(2) Other receivables
Credit risk exposure of other receivables is mainly from financial guarantee fee receivables.
|
As at December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Financial guarantee fee receivables |
|||||||
Gross carrying amount |
|||||||
Stage 1 |
191,888 | 148,933 | |||||
Stage 2 |
5,162 | 8,033 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
197,050 | 156,966 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Loss allowance |
|||||||
Stage 1 |
3,091 | 15,273 | |||||
Stage 2 |
772 | 5,509 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
3,863 | 20,782 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(3) Financial guarantee contracts
The following table contains an analysis of the maximum credit risk exposure from financial guarantee contracts.
|
As at December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Stage 1 |
1,779,849 | 1,273,104 | |||||
Stage 2 |
46,621 | 75,446 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,826,470 | 1,348,550 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The Group normally makes a full settlement of the outstanding principal and interest to lenders when the underlining loans are overdue by a number of days (typically 80 days). When the loans become overdue for more than 80 days, the loans are considered impaired and there is no reasonable expectation of recovery from such loans. The financial guarantee liability balance will be reduced by the respective payouts made by the Group. As such, there are no stage 3 credit risk exposures for financial guarantee contracts as at December 31, 2017 and 2018.
(c) Liquidity risk
The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash and cash equivalents and reserve borrowing facilities, by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows, and by matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.
The liquidity risk of the currency swap is managed by aligning the critical terms of such swaps with the hedge items.
F-45
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
The table below analyses the Group's financial liabilities into relevant maturity grouping based on the remaining period at the end of each reporting period to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are undiscounted contractual cash flows.
|
As at December 31, 2017 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Within 1 year |
1 to 5 years |
Total | |||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||
Non-derivative financial liabilities: |
||||||||||
Short-term borrowings |
1,532,555 |
— |
1,532,555 |
|||||||
Trade and other payables |
1,143,409 | 182,949 | 1,326,358 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
2,675,964 | 182,949 | 2,858,913 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Financial guarantees |
||||||||||
Maximum guarantee exposure* |
1,826,470 | — | 1,826,470 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
As at December 31, 2018 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Within 1 year |
1 to 5 years |
Total | |||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||
Short-term borrowings |
3,437,432 | — | 3,437,432 | |||||||
Trade and other payables |
1,284,256 | 420,542 | 1,704,798 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Non-derivative financial liabilities: |
4,721,688 | 420,542 | 5,142,230 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Gross settled (foreign currency swaps) |
||||||||||
—(inflow) |
(480,812 | ) | — | (480,812 | ) | |||||
—outflow |
483,250 | — | 483,250 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Derivative financial liabilities |
2,438 | — | 2,438 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total |
4,724,126 | 420,542 | 5,144,668 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Financial guarantees |
||||||||||
Maximum guarantee exposure* |
1,348,550 | — | 1,348,550 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
4.2 Capital management
The Group's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group's ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to enhance shareholders' value in the long-term.
F-46
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
The Group monitors capital (including share capital and reserves) by regularly reviewing the capital structure. As a part of this review, the Company considers the cost of capital and the risks associated with the issued share capital. The Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or repurchase the Company's shares. In the opinion of the Directors of the Company, the Group's capital risk is low as at December 31, 2018.
4.3 Fair value estimation
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about financial instruments. When an active market exists, such as an authorized securities exchange, the market value is the best reflection of the fair values of financial instruments. For financial instruments where there is no active market, fair value is determined using valuation techniques.
The Group's financial assets measured at fair value mainly include financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income.
Determination of fair value and fair value hierarchy
All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the consolidated financial statements are categorised within the fair value hierarchies. The fair value hierarchy categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
The level of fair value calculation is determined by the lowest level input that is significant in the overall calculation. As such, the significance of the input should be considered from an overall perspective in the calculation of fair value.
For Level 2 financial instruments, valuations are generally obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets, or through the use of valuation methodologies using observable market inputs, or recent quoted market prices. Valuation service providers typically gather, analyse and interpret information related to market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources, and through the use of widely accepted internal valuation models, provide a theoretical quote on various securities.
For Level 3 financial instruments, prices are determined using valuation methodologies such as discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques. Determinations to classify fair value measurement within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy are generally based on the significance of the
F-47
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
unobservable factors to the overall fair value measurement, and valuation methodologies such as discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques.
For assets and liabilities that are recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorization (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.
The following tables provide the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Group's financial assets and liabilities:
|
As at December 31, 2017 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
Assets measured at fair value |
|||||||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
— | 863,266 | — | 863,266 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (Note 16) |
— | — | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
As at December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
Assets measured at fair value |
|||||||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
— | 2,540,925 | — | 2,540,925 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (Note 16) |
— | — | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial liabilities |
|||||||||||||
Derivative financial liabilities |
— | 2,438 | — | 2,438 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, there were no transfers among different levels of fair values measurement.
Movements of Level 3 financial instruments measured at fair value is as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | 5,000 | |||||
Additions (Note 16) |
5,000 | — | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
5,000 | 5,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables, contract assets, loan to related party, current portion of other receivable, short-term borrowings and trade and other
F-48
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
payables approximated their fair value due to short term maturities of these financial instruments as at December 31, 2017 and 2018.
Contract assets and non-current portion of other receivables are measured at amortized cost using discounted rates reflected time value of money. As the market interest rate is relatively stable during the reporting period, the carrying amounts of contract assets and non-current portion of other receivables also approximated their fair values as at December 31, 2017 and 2018.
5 Revenue
(a) Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||||
|
2017 | 2018 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
RMB'000 | RMB'000 | |||||||
|
Implementation |
50,738 | 295,916 | |||||||
|
Transaction based and support revenue |
|||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Business origination services* |
451,244 | 554,957 | |||||||
|
—Risk management services |
86 | 205,160 | |||||||
|
—Operation support services |
51,105 | 309,502 | |||||||
|
—Post-implementation support services |
5,257 | 27,442 | |||||||
|
—Others |
23,482 | 20,512 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
581,912 | 1,413,489 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-49
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
5 Revenue (Continued)
Disaggregation of Revenue by timing of transfer of services over time or at a point in time is set out below:
|
|
At a point in time |
Over time | Total | |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
||||||||
|
Year ended December 31, 2017 |
||||||||||||
|
Implementation |
— | 50,738 | 50,738 | |||||||||
|
Transaction based and support revenue |
||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Business origination services |
451,244 | — | 451,244 | |||||||||
|
—Risk management services |
86 | — | 86 | |||||||||
|
—Operation support services |
3,769 | 47,336 | 51,105 | |||||||||
|
—Post-implementation support services |
— | 5,257 | 5,257 | |||||||||
|
—Others |
— | 23,482 | 23,482 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
455,099 | 126,813 | 581,912 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
||||||||||||
|
Implementation |
— | 295,916 | 295,916 | |||||||||
|
Transaction based and support revenue |
||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Business origination services |
554,957 | — | 554,957 | |||||||||
|
—Risk management services |
205,160 | — | 205,160 | |||||||||
|
—Operation support services |
243,112 | 66,390 | 309,502 | |||||||||
|
—Post-implementation support services |
— | 27,442 | 27,442 | |||||||||
|
—Others |
13,171 | 7,341 | 20,512 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
1,016,400 | 397,089 | 1,413,489 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Group mainly operated in PRC and most of the revenue were generated in PRC.
The major customers (and for the Group's lending solution services, the parties to whom service fees were charged(i)) which contributed more than 10% of the total revenue of the Group for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are listed as below:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
% of total revenue |
% of total revenue |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
18.60 | % | 45.78 | % | |||
Lufax and its subsidiaries |
30.09 | % | 27.39 | % | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
48.69 | % | 73.17 | % | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-50
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
5 Revenue (Continued)
The major customers (and for the Group's lending solution services, the lender(ii)) which contributed more than 10% of the total revenue of the Group for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are listed as below:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
% of total revenue |
% of total revenue |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
40.51 | % | 37.33 | % | |||
Lufax and its subsidiaries |
30.09 | % | 27.39 | % | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
70.60 | % | 64.72 | % | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Note:
F-51
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
5 Revenue (Continued)
(b) Contract assets and liabilities
The Group has recognized the following revenue-related contract assets and liabilities:
|
|
At January 1, |
At December 31, | |
|||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2017 | 2017 | 2018 | |
||||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
||||||||
|
Contract assets |
||||||||||||
|
—Implementation |
— | — | 95,848 | |||||||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
— | 6,294 | 49,265 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Post implementation support services |
— | — | 4,279 | |||||||||
|
—Business origination services |
— | 6,294 | 44,986 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
— | 6,294 | 145,113 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Less: Impairment loss allowance (Note i) |
||||||||||||
|
—Implementation |
— | — | (9,492 | ) | ||||||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
— | — | (1,960 | ) | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Post implementation support services |
— | — | (450 | ) | ||||||||
|
—Business origination services |
— | — | (1,510 | ) | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
— | — | (11,452 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Current contract assets, net |
— | 6,294 | 133,661 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Transaction based and support |
— | 10,266 | 63,120 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Non-current contract assets, net |
— | 10,266 | 63,120 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
— | 16,560 | 196,781 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Contract liabilities |
||||||||||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
— | 10,363 | 58,383 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Post implementation support services |
— | — | 11,102 | |||||||||
|
—Risk management services |
— | — | 35,188 | |||||||||
|
—Operation support services |
— | 10,363 | 12,093 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Current contract liabilities |
— | 10,363 | 58,383 | |||||||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
— | 15,843 | 7,423 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Risk management services |
— | — | 47 | |||||||||
|
—Operation support services |
— | 15,843 | 7,376 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Non-current contract liabilities |
— | 15,843 | 7,423 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
— | 26,206 | 65,806 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Increase in contract assets during the year was in line with the growth of the Group's contracted sales and also due to an amount of RMB72,694,000 (Note 33) recognized in relation to business combination.
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, there were no material cumulative catch-up adjustments to revenue that affect the corresponding contract asset or contract liability, including
F-52
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
5 Revenue (Continued)
adjustments arising from a change in the measure of progress, a change in an estimate of the transaction price or a contract modification, there were also no revenue recognized in the reporting year from performance obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in previous years.
(i) Movements in the impairment loss allowance of contract assets are as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | — | |||||
Charge to profit or loss |
— | (2,288 | ) | ||||
Additions from acquisition of subsidiary |
— | (10,506 | ) | ||||
Write-off |
— | 1,342 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
— | (11,452 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(ii) Revenue recognized in relation to contract liabilities
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year |
— | 10,363 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(iii) Remaining performance obligations of long-term contracts
|
For the year ended December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 | RMB'000 | |||||
Aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to long-term contracts that are partially or fully unsatisfied at the end of each year |
|||||||
Expected to be recognized within one year |
36,406 | 52,838 | |||||
Expected to be recognized in one to two years |
35,922 | 45,305 | |||||
Expected to be recognized in two to three years |
24,113 | 22,391 | |||||
Expected to be recognized beyond three years |
— | 14,880 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
96,441 | 135,414 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The remaining performance obligations disclosed above represent post-implementation support services, risk management services and operation support services that have an original contractual term of more than one year. As a practical expedient, the remaining performance obligation of a contract that has an original contractual term of one year or less are not disclosed. Moreover, the amounts disclosed above do not include variable consideration, which presently is fully constrained.
F-53
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
6 Expenses by nature
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Employee benefit expenses (Note 7) |
563,548 | 737,399 | |||||
Technology service fee |
260,052 | 614,311 | |||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
230,906 | 260,088 | |||||
Business origination fee |
187,628 | 224,405 | |||||
Outsourcing labor costs |
27,976 | 131,198 | |||||
Depreciation of property and equipment |
56,648 | 93,939 | |||||
Telecommunication expenses |
29,590 | 78,175 | |||||
Travelling expenses |
24,929 | 50,207 | |||||
Marketing and advertising fee |
46,183 | 74,013 | |||||
Professional service fee |
16,620 | 60,782 | |||||
Impairment loss of financial assets |
— | 2,224 | |||||
Others |
53,995 | 121,255 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total cost of revenue, research and development expenses, selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and amortization of intangible assets |
1,498,075 | 2,447,996 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Research and development costs |
|||||||
—Employee benefit expenses |
254,665 | 397,488 | |||||
—Technology service fee |
248,306 | 375,085 | |||||
—Others |
1,173 | 15,786 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Amounts incurred |
504,144 | 788,359 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Less: capitalized |
|||||||
—Employee benefit expenses |
— | (219,195 | ) | ||||
—Technology service fee |
— | (142,995 | ) | ||||
—Others |
— | (70 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
|
— | (362,260 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
|
504,144 | 426,099 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-54
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
7 Employee benefit expenses
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Wages and salaries |
457,050 | 587,940 | |||||
Welfare and other benefits |
106,122 | 141,708 | |||||
Share-based payments (Note 25) |
376 | 7,751 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
563,548 | 737,399 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
8 Other income, gains or loss—net
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
22,667 | 102,582 | |||||
Interest income from shareholder for late capital injection |
— | 15,088 | |||||
Gain on dilution of interest in associate (Note 14) |
— | 7,641 | |||||
Gain on disposal of lease assets and derecognition of lease liabilities |
— | 5,232 | |||||
Guarantee gain/(loss), net (Note a) |
1,526 | (200,080 | ) | ||||
Net foreign exchange loss |
— | (10,951 | ) | ||||
Fair value adjustment to derivatives |
— | (2,438 | ) | ||||
Others |
1,667 | 3,066 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
25,860 | (79,860 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) Guarantee gains / (loss), net
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Interest income on financial guarantee fee receivables (Note 19(a)) |
8,485 | 44,289 | |||||
Impairment loss of financial guarantee fee receivables (Note 19(a)) |
(9,271 | ) | (40,762 | ) | |||
Release of financial guarantee liabilities |
2,312 | — | |||||
Guarantee charge arising from changes in estimates under financial guarantee contract |
— | (203,607 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,526 | (200,080 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-55
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
9 Finance costs—net
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Finance income |
|||||||
Interest income on bank deposits |
2,128 | 129,435 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Finance costs |
|||||||
Interest expense on borrowings |
(79,454 | ) | (145,968 | ) | |||
Interest expense on lease liabilities |
(6,136 | ) | (10,175 | ) | |||
Interest expense on redemption liability |
— | (4,511 | ) | ||||
Bank charges |
(121 | ) | (2,788 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
(85,711 | ) | (163,442 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
(83,583 | ) | (34,007 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
10 Income tax benefit/(expense)
The income tax benefit/(expense) of the Group for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 is analyzed as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Current income tax |
(87 | ) | (99 | ) | |||
Deferred income tax |
369,764 | (26,370 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
369,677 | (26,469 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-56
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
10 Income tax benefit/(expense) (Continued)
The tax on the Group's loss before income tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the statutory tax rate applicable to loss of the consolidated entities as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Loss before income tax |
976,633 | 1,163,816 | |||||
Tax calculated at PRC statutory income tax rate of 25% |
244,158 | 290,954 | |||||
Differential of income tax rates applicable to subsidiaries |
— |
(179,909 |
) |
||||
Expense not deductible for tax purposes |
(2,909 | ) | (85,795 | ) | |||
Incomes not subject to tax |
— | 7,549 | |||||
Tax losses and temporary differences for which no deferred income tax asset was recognized |
— | (221 | ) | ||||
Deferred tax assets recognized for previously unrecognized tax losses and temporary differences |
128,428 | — | |||||
Derecognization of deferred tax assets on tax losses |
— | (60,337 | ) | ||||
Additional deductible allowance for research and development expenses |
— | 407 | |||||
Adjustments for current tax of prior periods |
— | 883 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Income tax benefit/(expense) |
369,677 | (26,469 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The unused tax losses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 is analyzed as follows:
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognized |
— | 244,027 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The expiry dates of the unused tax losses not recognized as deferred tax assets for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are listed as follows:
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Year 2022 |
— | 241,348 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Notes:
(a) PRC Enterprise Income Tax ("EIT")
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (the "EIT Law"), the standard enterprise income tax rate for domestic enterprises and foreign invested enterprises is 25%.In accordance with the implementation rules of the EIT Law, a qualified "High and New Technology Enterprise"("HNTE") is eligible for a
F-57
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
10 Income tax benefit/(expense) (Continued)
preferential tax rate of 15% and a "Software Enterprise"("SE") is entitled to exemption from income taxation for the first two years, counting from the year the enterprise makes profits, and half reduction for the next three years. In accordance with the relevant rules of the EIT Law, for eligible enterprises in Shenzhen Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone ("Qianhai"), EIT shall be levied at a reduced tax rate of 15%.
(b) Cayman Islands Income Tax
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and is not subject to Cayman Islands income tax.
(c) Hong Kong Income Tax
The Hong Kong income tax rate is 16.5%. No Hong Kong profits tax was provided for as there was no estimated assessable profit that was subject to Hong Kong profits tax during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
(d) Singapore Income Tax
The income tax provision of the Group in respect of its operations in Singapore was calculated at the tax rate of 17% on the assessable profits for the year ended December 31, 2018 based on the existing legislation, interpretations and practices in respect thereof.
(e) PRC Withholding Tax ("WHT")
According to the EIT Law and other regulations, distribution of profits earned by PRC companies since January 1, 2008 to overseas investors is subject to withholding tax of 5% or 10%, depending on the region of incorporation of the overseas investor, upon the distribution of profits to overseas-incorporated immediate holding companies.
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, no deferred income tax liability on WHT was accrued because the subsidiaries of the Group were loss making.
11 Loss per share
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Net loss for the year attributable to owners of the Company |
(606,956 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | |||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (in'000 shares) |
671,197 | 923,691 | |||||
Basic loss per share (RMB yuan) |
(0.90 |
) |
(1.29 |
) |
|||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Diluted loss per share (RMB yuan) |
(0.90 | ) | (1.29 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-58
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
11 Loss per share (Continued)
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to owners of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
For the purpose of calculation of loss per share, 900,000,000 ordinary shares issued as part of the Recapitalization of the Group (Note 23) have been deemed to be issued at the same time when the then owners of the Listing Business made capital contribution to the Group. 66,171,600 shares held for share option scheme purpose have been treated as treasury shares from January 1, 2017. Accordingly, for purpose of calculation of loss per share, the issued and outstanding number of ordinary shares as at January 1, 2017, December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018, taking into account the shares held for share option scheme purpose, were 580,417,958 shares, 833,828,400 shares and 933,828,399 shares, respectively.
The effects of all outstanding share options granted under the Share Option Scheme, which represent 19,515,600 and 24,541,500 shares (Note 25), for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share as the vesting conditions have not been met as of the reporting date, and their effects would be anti-dilutive. Accordingly, dilutive loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 were the same as basic loss per share for the years.
F-59
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
12 Property and equipment
|
Office and telecommunication equipment |
Right-of-use properties |
Leasehold improvements |
Total | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
As at January 1, 2017 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
36,388 | 150,274 | 4,441 | 191,103 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(2,613 | ) | (19,408 | ) | (245 | ) | (22,266 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
33,775 | 130,866 | 4,196 | 168,837 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2017 |
|||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
33,775 | 130,866 | 4,196 | 168,837 | |||||||||
Additions |
6,905 | 33,039 | 8,816 | 48,760 | |||||||||
Depreciation charge |
(8,997 | ) | (45,929 | ) | (1,722 | ) | (56,648 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
31,683 | 117,976 | 11,290 | 160,949 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2017 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
43,293 | 183,313 | 13,257 | 239,863 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(11,610 | ) | (65,337 | ) | (1,967 | ) | (78,914 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
31,683 | 117,976 | 11,290 | 160,949 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
|||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
31,683 | 117,976 | 11,290 | 160,949 | |||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary (Note 33) |
272 | — | 176 | 448 | |||||||||
Additions |
42,305 | 225,638 | 42,523 | 310,466 | |||||||||
Disposals, net |
(9 | ) | (58,247 | ) | — | (58,256 | ) | ||||||
Depreciation charge |
(12,044 | ) | (76,958 | ) | (4,937 | ) | (93,939 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
62,207 | 208,409 | 49,052 | 319,668 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2018 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
85,861 | 268,992 | 55,956 | 410,809 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(23,654 | ) | (60,583 | ) | (6,904 | ) | (91,141 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
62,207 | 208,409 | 49,052 | 319,668 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-60
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
13 Intangible assets
|
Application and platform |
Purchased Software |
Development costs in progress |
Goodwill | Others* | Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||||
As at January 1, 2017 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
690,910 | 910 | — | — | — | 691,820 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(96,042 | ) | (59 | ) | — | — | — | (96,101 | ) | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
594,868 | 851 | — | — | — | 595,719 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2017 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
594,868 | 851 | — | — | — | 595,719 | |||||||||||||
Additions |
— | 2,265 | — | — | — | 2,265 | |||||||||||||
Amortization |
(230,271 | ) | (635 | ) | — | — | — | (230,906 | ) | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
364,597 | 2,481 | — | — | — | 367,078 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2017 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
690,910 | 3,175 | — | — | — | 694,085 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(326,313 | ) | (694 | ) | — | — | — | (327,007 | ) | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
364,597 | 2,481 | — | — | — | 367,078 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
364,597 | 2,481 | — | — | — | 367,078 | |||||||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary (Note 33) |
— | 74,628 | 6,854 | 126,015 | 68,610 | 276,107 | |||||||||||||
Additions |
— | 11,758 | 362,260 | — | 960 | 374,978 | |||||||||||||
Transfer |
44,033 | — | (44,033 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Amortization |
(237,483 | ) | (12,835 | ) | — | — | (9,770 | ) | (260,088 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
171,147 | 76,032 | 325,081 | 126,015 | 59,800 | 758,075 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2018 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
734,943 | 89,561 | 325,081 | 126,015 | 69,570 | 1,345,170 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(563,796 | ) | (13,529 | ) | — | — | (9,770 | ) | (587,095 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
171,147 | 76,032 | 325,081 | 126,015 | 59,800 | 758,075 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(a) Impairment tests for long-lived assets
Goodwill arises from the Group's acquisition of Vantage Point Technology on July 31, 2018 (Note 33).
Goodwill and development costs in progress not ready for use are tested annually based on the recoverable amount of related CGU determined based on a value-in-use calculation which uses cash flow projection approved by the directors. Assumed growth rate is used to extrapolate the cash flows in the following years. The financial budgets are prepared business plan which is appropriate after considering
F-61
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
13 Intangible assets (Continued)
the sustainability of business growth, stability of core business developments and achievement of business targets.
The key assumptions used for value-in-use calculations of goodwill are as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | ||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
||
Revenue growth rate |
Not applicable | 8% - 55% | ||
Long term growth rate |
Not applicable | 3% | ||
Pre-tax discount rate |
Not applicable | 20.91% |
14 Investment in associate
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
At beginning of year |
— | 37,253 | |||||
Additions |
40,000 | — | |||||
Share of losses of associate |
(2,747 | ) | (15,442 | ) | |||
Gain on dilution of interest in associate (Note 8) |
— | 7,641 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
At end of year |
37,253 | 29,452 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
On March 28, 2017, Shanghai OneConnect set up Pingan Puhui Lixin Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("Puhui Lixin") with Pingan Puhui Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Lufax Holding Ltd. (Note 32), by investing capital amount of RMB40,000,000. The Group has a currently exercisable option to make additional investment to hold an additional equity interest of 26.67% in Puhui Lixin and the Group account for the investment as an associate.
The investment in associate as at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2018 are as follows:
|
|
|
Percentage of equity interest |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
As at December 31, |
||||||||
|
Place of business and incorporation |
|
|||||||||
|
Principal activities | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||
Puhui Lixin |
Shanghai, PRC | Technology consulting services | 20.00 | % | 13.33 | % |
F-62
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
15 Financial instruments by category
The Group holds following financial instruments:
|
|
For the year ended December 31 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||
|
|
RMB'000 | RMB'000 | ||||||
Financial assets |
|||||||||
Financial assets at amortized cost |
|||||||||
—Loan to related party |
32 | — | 15,027 | ||||||
—Trade receivables |
18 | 36,888 | 270,530 | ||||||
—Prepayments and other receivables (excluding non-financial asset items) |
19 | 265,452 | 245,711 | ||||||
—Restricted cash |
21 | 1,100 | 3,996,238 | ||||||
—Cash and cash equivalents |
22 | 847,767 | 565,027 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) |
16 | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL) |
|||||||||
—Wealth management products |
20 | 863,266 | 2,540,925 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total |
2,019,473 | 7,638,458 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Financial liabilities |
|||||||||
Liabilities at amortized cost |
|||||||||
—Trade and other payables (excluding non-financial liability items) |
26 | 1,163,973 | 1,253,502 | ||||||
—Short-term borrowings |
27 | 1,502,246 | 3,386,100 | ||||||
Derivative financial liability |
|||||||||
— Held at FVPL |
28 | — | 2,438 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total |
2,666,219 | 4,642,040 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
16 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Unlisted securities |
|||||||
—Equity securities(Note a) |
5,000 | 5,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
) at a consideration of RMB5,000,000.
F-63
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
17 Leases
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Right-of-use assets (Note 12) |
|||||||
—Properties |
117,976 | 208,409 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Lease liabilities (Note 26) |
|||||||
—Non current |
84,819 | 126,868 | |||||
—Current |
35,893 | 82,452 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
120,712 | 209,320 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Additions to the right-of-use assets during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are RMB 33,039,000 and RMB 225,638,000 respectively.
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Depreciation charge of right-of-use assets |
45,929 | 76,958 | |||||
Interest expenses (included in finance cost) |
6,136 | 10,175 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
52,065 | 87,133 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The total cash outflow for leases in 2017 and 2018 are RMB 50,432,000 and RMB 83,727,000 respectively.
Expense recognized in relation to short-term leases for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 amounted to RMB 2,068,000 and RMB 11,000, respectively.
18 Trade receivables
|
|
At December 31, | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
At January 1, 2017 |
|||||||||
|
2017 | 2018 | ||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||
Trade receivables |
21,070 | 36,888 | 274,166 | |||||||
Less: impairment loss allowance |
— | — | (3,636 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
21,070 | 36,888 | 270,530 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-64
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
18 Trade receivables (Continued)
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | — | |||||
Additions |
— | 15 | |||||
Acquisition of subsidiary |
(3,651 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
— | (3,636 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
19 Prepayments and other receivables
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Financial guarantee fee receivable, gross |
197,050 | 156,966 | |||||
Less: impairment loss allowance |
(3,863 | ) | (20,782 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Financial guarantee fee receivable, net (Note a) |
193,187 | 136,184 | |||||
Deposit |
72,265 | 98,097 | |||||
Value-added-tax deductible |
15,419 | 38,688 | |||||
Advance to staffs |
6,455 | 13,339 | |||||
Receivables for value-added-tax paid on behalf of wealth management products |
— | 12,498 | |||||
Others |
22,313 | 39,476 | |||||
Less: impairment loss allowance |
— | (1,068 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
|
309,639 | 337,214 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Opening balance |
— | 193,187 | |||||
Addition arising from new contracts |
215,673 | 50,889 | |||||
Cash received |
(22,209 | ) | (114,076 | ) | |||
Unwinding interest income including value-added-tax (Note 8(a)) |
8,994 | 46,946 | |||||
Impairment loss(Note 8(a)) |
(9,271 | ) | (40,762 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Ending balance |
193,187 | 136,184 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-65
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
19 Prepayments and other receivables (Continued)
Movements in the impairment loss allowance of financial guarantee fee receivables are as follows:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | (3,863 | ) | ||||
Additions |
(9,271 | ) | (40,762 | ) | |||
Write off |
5,408 | 23,843 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
(3,863 | ) | (20,782 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the year |
— | — | |||||
Acquisition of subsidiary |
— | (1,117 | ) | ||||
Reversal |
— | 49 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the year |
— | (1,068 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
20 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Wealth management products |
863,266 | 2,540,925 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The Group invested in wealth management products issued by its related parties which are redeemable upon request by holders.
21 Restricted cash
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Pledged bank deposits |
1,100 | 3,910,516 | |||||
Accrued interest |
— | 85,722 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,100 | 3,996,238 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2018, RMB 3,884,434,000(USD 565,980,000) of the bank deposits were pledged for short-term borrowings of the Group with interest rate of 3.15% per annum, RMB 24,021,000
F-66
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
21 Restricted cash (Continued)
(USD 3,500,000) were pledged for currency forwards and swaps, and RMB 2,061,000 was pledged for business guarantee.
22 Cash and cash equivalents
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Cash on hand |
6 | 7 | |||||
Cash at banks |
847,761 | 565,020 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
847,767 | 565,027 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
USD |
431,257 | 421,806 | |||||
RMB |
416,510 | 140,292 | |||||
SGD |
— | 2,929 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
847,767 | 565,027 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
23 Share capital
|
Number of shares | USD | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Authorized |
|||||||
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at incorporation date of the Company(Note a) |
900,000,000 | 9,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at December 31, 2017 |
900,000,000 | 9,000 | |||||
Newly authorized |
4,100,000,000 | 41,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at December 31, 2018 |
5,000,000,000 | 50,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-67
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
23 Share capital (Continued)
|
Number of shares | USD | Equivalent to RMB |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Issued |
||||||||||
Newly issued ordinary shares at incorporation date of the Company |
1 | — | — | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Newly issued ordinary shares(Note b) |
899,999,999 | 9,000 | 59,838 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at December 31, 2017 |
900,000,000 | 9,000 | 59,838 | |||||||
Newly issued ordinary shares(Note c) |
99,999,999 | 1,000 | 6,331 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at December 31, 2018 |
999,999,999 | 10,000 | 66,169 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-68
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
24 Other reserves
|
Recapitalization reserve |
Share premium |
Share-based compensation reserve |
Foreign currency translation differences |
Others | Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||||
As at January 1, 2017 |
862,162 | — | — | — | — | 862,162 | |||||||||||||
Capital contribution from the then owners(a) |
337,838 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
337,838 |
|||||||||||||
Share-based payments —Value of employee services (Note 25) |
— | — | 376 | — | — | 376 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2017 |
1,200,000 | — | 376 | — | — | 1,200,376 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income |
|||||||||||||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
— | — | — | 396,520 | — | 396,520 | |||||||||||||
Share premium from issuance of ordinary shares(b) |
— | 4,730,375 | — | — | — | 4,730,375 | |||||||||||||
Share-based payments —Value of employee services (Note 25) |
— | — | 7,751 | — | — | 7,751 | |||||||||||||
Recognition of redemption liability to acquire non-controlling interests (Note 33) |
— | — | — | — | (183,569 | ) | (183,569 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2018 |
1,200,000 | 4,730,375 | 8,127 | 396,520 | (183,569 | ) | 6,151,453 | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-69
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
25 Share-based payments
For the purpose of share option scheme, Xin Ding Heng was set up in 2017 as a special purpose vehicle to indirectly hold 66,171,600 ordinary shares of the Company through Sen Rong. As the Company has the power to govern the relevant activities of Xin Ding Heng and can derive benefits from the services to be rendered by the grantees, the directors of the Company consider that it is appropriate to consolidate Xin Ding Heng. As the equity interest for 66,171,600 shares was originally reserved by the Registered Shareholders through Jin Ning Sheng and Guang Feng Rong before the Recapitalization of the Group, the aggregate consideration of RMB 88,280,000 for 66,171,600 shares and is recognized as "shares held for share option scheme" under equity from January 1, 2017.
On November 7, 2017, equity-settled share-based compensation plan ("the Share Option Scheme") was set up with the objective to recognize and reward the contribution of eligible directors, employees and other persons (collectively, the "Grantees") for the growth and development of the Group. The Share Option Plan is valid and effective for 10 years from the grant date.
On November 7, 2017 and November 8, 2018, 19,515,600 and 8,597,400 share options were granted to Grantees respectively, which were recognized under equity of the Group.
Subject to the Grantee continuing to be a service provider, 100% of these options will be vested over 4 years upon fulfilling the service conditions and non-market performance conditions prescribed in the share option agreement.
The options should be exercised no earlier than 12 months after the Company successfully completes an initial public offering and the Company's shares get listed in the stock exchange ("IPO and Listing") and no later than 8 years from the grant date. The vesting date is determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
The share-based compensation expenses recognized during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are summarized in the following table:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Share-based compensation expense |
|||||||
—Value of employee's services (Note 7) |
376 | 7,751 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Movements in the number of share options granted to employees are as follows:
|
Number of share options | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
At the beginning of the year |
— | 19,515,600 | |||||
Granted |
19,515,600 | 8,597,400 | |||||
Forfeited |
— | (3,571,500 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
At the end of the year |
19,515,600 | 24,541,500 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-70
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
25 Share-based payments (Continued)
For the outstanding share options, the weighted-average exercise price was RMB1.86 and RMB19.05 per share and the weighted-average remaining contractual life was 7.86 and 6.86 years respectively, as at December 31, 2017 and 2018.
Share options outstanding at the balance sheet dates have the following expiry dates and exercise prices.
|
|
|
|
Number of share options |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
At December 31, | |||||||||||
|
Expiry Year |
Exercise price |
Fair value of options |
||||||||||||
Grant Year
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||||||||||
2017 | 2027 | RMB1.33 | RMB0.62 | 4,001,200 | 3,149,100 | ||||||||||
2017 | 2027 | RMB2.00 | RMB0.52 | 15,514,400 | 12,980,000 | ||||||||||
2018 | 2028 | RMB52.00 | RMB26.00 | — | 8,412,400 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
19,515,600 | 24,541,500 | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Company have used the discounted cash flow method to determine the underlying equity fair value of the Company to determine the fair value of the underlying ordinary share. Key assumptions, such as discount rate and projections of future performance, are required to be determined by the Company with best estimate.
Based on fair value of the underlying ordinary share of the Company, the Company used Binomial option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the share option as at the grant dates. Key assumptions are set as below:
Date of grant
|
November 7, 2017 |
November 8, 2018 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discount rate |
24.0 | % | 17.0 | % | |||
Risk-free interest rate |
3.9 | % | 3.6 | % | |||
Volatility |
51.6 | % | 51.2 | % | |||
Dividend yield |
0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
The Binomial Model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the China Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected dividend yield was estimated based on the Company's expected dividend policy over the expected life of the options. The Company estimates the volatility of its ordinary shares at the date of grant based on the historical volatility of similar U.S. public companies for a period equal to the expected life preceding the grant date.
F-71
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
26 Trade and other payables
|
As at December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Trade payables |
|||||||
Due to related parties |
140,878 | 250,687 | |||||
Due to third parties |
67,623 | 65,809 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
208,501 | 316,496 | |||||
Accrued expenses |
41,684 |
255,852 |
|||||
Financial guarantee payables (Note a) |
209,782 | 250,338 | |||||
Redemption liability (Note 33) |
— | 188,080 | |||||
Lease liabilities |
120,712 | 209,320 | |||||
Service fee refundable |
110,316 | 140,028 | |||||
Investment deposit received from investors |
431,257 | 90,002 | |||||
Amounts payable for purchase of shares held for share option scheme (Note 25) |
88,280 | 88,280 | |||||
Other tax payables |
— | 34,487 | |||||
Security deposit |
21,764 | 25,588 | |||||
Amount due to related parties |
16,113 | 19,366 | |||||
Others |
67,564 | 66,032 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,315,973 | 1,683,869 | |||||
Less: non—current portion |
|||||||
Redemption liability (Note 33) |
— | (188,080 | ) | ||||
Lease liabilities |
(84,819 | ) | (126,868 | ) | |||
Amounts payable for purchase of shares held for share option scheme (Note 25) |
(88,280 | ) | (88,280 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,142,874 | 1,280,641 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) Financial guarantee payables
|
RMB'000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year ended December 31, 2017 |
||||
Opening balance |
— | |||
Addition arising from new contracts |
215,673 | |||
Credit to profit or loss, net |
(3,124 | ) | ||
Payouts during the year, net |
(2,767 | ) | ||
| | | | |
Ending balance |
209,782 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
F-72
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
26 Trade and other payables (Continued)
|
RMB'000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
||||
Opening balance |
209,782 | |||
Addition arising from new contracts |
50,889 | |||
Charge to profit or loss, net |
198,640 | |||
Payouts during the year, net |
(208,973 | ) | ||
| | | | |
Ending balance |
250,338 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
27 Short-term borrowings
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Secured |
— | 3,386,100 | |||||
Unsecured |
1,502,246 | — | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,502,246 | 3,386,100 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2017, the unsecured borrowing was borrowed from Ping An Financial Technology, and bore a fixed interest rate of 4.89% per annum.
As at December 31, 2018, out of the secured borrowings, RMB 3,373,100,000 were secured by restricted cash of RMB 3,884,434,000 (Note 21), RMB 8,000,000 is secured by Mrs. Li Che's (the non-controlling shareholder's spouse) real estate located in Beijing and RMB 5,000,000 is guaranteed by Mr. Xi Wang (non-controlling shareholder of the Group). The weighted average interest rate of all short-term borrowings is 4.78% per annum as at December 31, 2018.
28 Derivative financial liability
|
At December 31, | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||||||||
|
Nominal amount |
Fair value | Nominal amount |
Fair value | |||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||
Currency swaps |
— | — | 480,424 | 2,438 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
29 Dividends
No dividends have been paid or declared by the Company during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
F-73
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
30 Deferred income tax
The movements of deferred tax assets were as follows:
|
Tax losses | Accelerated amortization of intangible assets |
Contract liabilities |
Others | Total | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||
At January 1, 2017 |
— | — | — | 276 | 276 | |||||||||||
Recognized in the profit or loss |
294,604 | 57,203 | 6,551 | 11,406 | 369,764 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
At December 31, 2017 |
294,604 | 57,203 | 6,551 | 11,682 | 370,040 | |||||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary (Note 33) |
7,857 | — | — | — | 7,857 | |||||||||||
Recognized in the profit or loss |
(179,134 | ) | 151,505 | 6,593 | (1,558 | ) | (22,594 | ) | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
At December 31, 2018 |
123,327 | 208,708 | 13,144 | 10,124 | 355,303 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The movements of deferred tax liabilities were as follows:
|
Intangible assets |
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||
At 3January 1, 2017 |
— | — | — | |||||||
Recognized in the profit or loss |
— | — | — | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
At December 31, 2017 |
— | — | — | |||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary(Note 33) |
21,335 | — | 21,335 | |||||||
Recognized in the profit or loss |
(2,855 | ) | 6,631 | 3,776 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
At December 31, 2018 |
18,480 | 6,631 | 25,111 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Deferred tax assets after offsetting |
370,040 | 348,672 | |||||
Deferred tax liabilities after offsetting |
— | 18,480 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-74
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
31 Cash flow information
(a) Cash used in operations
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Loss before income tax |
(976,633 | ) | (1,163,816 | ) | |||
Depreciation and amortization |
287,554 | 354,027 | |||||
Gain on disposal of lease assets and derecognition of lease liabilities |
— | (5,232 | ) | ||||
Expected credit loss on financial guarantee contracts |
11,229 | 286,387 | |||||
Share-based payments expenses |
376 | 7,751 | |||||
Fair value adjustment to derivatives |
— | 2,438 | |||||
Net gain on financial assets at fair value through profits or loss |
(22,667 | ) | (102,582 | ) | |||
Share of losses of associate |
2,747 | 15,442 | |||||
Gain on dilution of investment in associate |
— | (7,641 | ) | ||||
Finance costs |
85,590 | 160,654 | |||||
Interest from restricted cash |
— | (104,234 | ) | ||||
Changes in working capital : |
|||||||
Trade receivables |
(15,818 | ) | (218,290 | ) | |||
Contract assets |
— | (107,527 | ) | ||||
Prepayments and other receivables |
(250,889 | ) | 34,458 | ||||
Trade and other payable |
515,585 | 130,598 | |||||
Contract liabilities |
26,206 | 39,600 | |||||
Payroll and welfare payables |
108,035 | 188,829 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
(228,685 | ) | (489,138 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(b) Non-cash investing and financing activities
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Acquisition of right-of-use properties by leasing (Note 12) |
33,039 | 225,638 | |||||
Recognition of redemption liability to acquire non-controlling interests (Note 33) |
— | 188,080 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
33,039 | 413,718 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-75
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
31 Cash flow information (Continued)
(c) Net debt reconciliation
This section sets out an analysis of net debt and the movements in net debt for each of the periods presented.
|
|
At December 31, | |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Net debt
|
2017 | 2018 | |
|||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
||||||
Restricted cash |
1,100 | 3,996,238 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
847,767 | 565,027 | ||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
863,266 | 2,540,925 | ||||||||
Lease liabilities (Note 26) |
(120,712 | ) | (209,320 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—due within one year |
(35,893 | ) | (82,452 | ) | |||||
|
—due after one year |
(84,819 | ) | (126,868 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Borrowings—repayable within one year |
(1,502,246 | ) | (3,386,100 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net debt |
89,175 | 3,506,770 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and liquid investments |
1,712,133 | 7,102,190 | ||||||||
Gross debt—fixed interest rates |
(1,622,958 | ) | (3,595,420 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net debt |
89,175 | 3,506,770 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
|
|
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
Liabilities from financing activities |
|
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Restricted cash |
Cash and cash equivalents |
Lease liabilities |
Borrowings | Total | ||||||||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||||
Net debt as at January 1, 2017 |
— | 78,158 | 772,844 | (131,970 | ) | (1,016,320 | ) | (297,288 | ) | ||||||||||
Cash flows |
1,100 |
769,609 |
90,422 |
50,432 |
(500,000 |
) |
411,563 |
||||||||||||
Acquisition of right-of-use assets |
— | — | — | (33,039 | ) | — | (33,039 | ) | |||||||||||
Other Changes(i) |
— | — | (6,135 | ) | 14,074 | 7,939 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net debt as at December 31, 2017 |
1,100 | 847,767 | 863,266 | (120,712 | ) | (1,502,246 | ) | 89,175 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows |
3,590,548 | (295,312 | ) | 1,674,278 | 83,727 | (1,815,337 | ) | 3,237,904 | |||||||||||
Acquisition of right-of-use assets |
— | — | — | (225,638 | ) | — | (225,638 | ) | |||||||||||
Other Changes(i) |
404,590 | 12,572 | 3,381 | 53,303 | (68,517 | ) | 405,329 | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net debt as at December 31, 2018 |
3,996,238 | 565,027 | 2,540,925 | (209,320 | ) | (3,386,100 | ) | 3,506,770 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-76
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
32 Related party transactions
The following significant transactions were carried out between the Group and its related parties during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. In the opinion of the Directors of the Company, the related party transactions were carried out in the normal course of business and at terms negotiated between the Group and the respective related parties.
(a) Names and relationships with related parties
The following companies are related parties of the Group that had balances and/or transactions with the Group during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
Name of related parties
|
Relationship with the Group | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
At December 31, 2017 / For the year ended December 31, 2017 | At December 31, 2018 /For the year ended December 31, 2018 | ||
Sen Rong Limited |
Not applicable |
Parent Company |
||
Bo Yu Limited |
Not applicable | A shareholder that has significant influence over the Group | ||
Ping An Group |
Ultimate parent company of Bo Yu | Ultimate parent company of Bo Yu | ||
Subsidiaries of Ping An Group |
Controlled by Ping An Group | Controlled by Ping An Group | ||
Lufax Holding Ltd. ('Lufax') |
Significant influenced by Ping An Group | Not applicable* | ||
Lufax Group excluding Puhui Lixin |
Lufax and its subsidiaries | Not applicable* | ||
Puhui Lixin |
Subsidiary of Lufax Group and significant influenced by the Group in the meanwhile | Subsidiary of Lufax Group, significant influenced by the Group |
F-77
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
32 Related party transactions (Continued)
(b) Significant transactions with related parties
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||
Revenue |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries* |
108,228 | 647,086 | |||
Puhui Lixin |
17,648 | 65,544 | |||
Lufax Group excluding Puhui Lixin |
157,445 | Not applicable (Note 32(a)) | |||
| | | | | |
|
283,321 | 712,630 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
The Group also provided lending solution services to third party lenders through contractual arrangement with another subsidiary of Ping An Group while the Group directly charged the related service fees to the subsidiary of Ping An Group. The revenue generated from such transactions for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, was included in the above revenue from Ping An Group and its subsidiaries, amounted to RMB Nil and RMB 129,927,000, respectively.
Revenue generated by providing implementation and support service jointly with Ping An Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, a related party, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 amounted to RMB Nil and RMB 9,255,000, respectively.
Purchase of services |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
358,077 | 675,793 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Net gain from wealth management products issued by related parties |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
22,550 | 102,582 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Investment income from loan to related party |
|||||
Lufax Group excluding Puhui Lixin |
1,967 | Not applicable | |||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
— | 193 | |||
| | | | | |
|
1,967 | 193 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Interest income on bank deposits |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
1,955 | 117,172 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
Leasing payment |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
46,768 | 41,217 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
F-78
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
32 Related party transactions (Continued)
Interest expenses paid |
|||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
79,454 | 139,237 | |||
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
(c) Year end balances with related parties
|
At December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Loan to related party |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(i) |
— | 15,027 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Trade receivables |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(ii) |
5,942 | 142,223 | |||||
Puhui Lixin(ii) |
— | 3,245 | |||||
Lufax Group excluding Puhui Lixin(ii) |
6,429 | Not applicable | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
12,371 | 145,468 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Contract assets |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
— | 75,383 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Prepayment and other receivables |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(ii) |
38,597 | 40,848 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (Note 20) |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
863,266 | 2,540,925 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cash and restricted cash |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
758,430 | 4,317,364 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Trade and other payables |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(ii) |
277,703 | 308,700 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Short-term borrowings (Note 27) |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
1,502,246 | 3,072,755 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Derivative financial liabilities |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
— | 2,438 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-79
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
32 Related party transactions
(d) Key management personnel compensations
Key management includes directors (executive and non-executive) and senior officers. The compensations paid or payable by the Group to key management for employee services are shown below:
|
For the year ended December 31, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Wages and salaries |
14,502 | 23,389 | |||||
Welfare and other benefits |
1,948 | 2,253 | |||||
Share-based payments |
37 | 360 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
16,487 | 26,002 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
33 Business combination
On July 31, 2018 ("Acquisition Date"), the Group completed its acquisition of 51.67% equity interest of Vantage Point Technology and Vantage Point Technology became a subsidiary of the Group thereafter. The principal activities of Vantage Point Technology are to provide risk management and profit management consultation, system implementation and training services.
The purchase consideration for the acquisition of 51.67% equity interest was RMB 238,592,000. The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method.
F-80
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
33 Business combination (Continued)
The following table summarizes the consideration paid, the net assets acquired and goodwill, also the net cash outflow arising on the acquisition:
|
Notes | Fair value | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
RMB'000 |
||||
Property and equipment |
12 | 448 | ||||
Intangible assets |
13 | 150,092 | ||||
Deferred tax assets |
30(a) | 7,857 | ||||
Prepayments and other receivables |
13,355 | |||||
Trade receivables |
15,351 | |||||
Contract assets |
72,694 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
61,702 | |||||
Restricted cash |
2,005 | |||||
| | | | | | |
Total assets |
323,504 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Trade and other payables |
40,476 | |||||
Short-term borrowings |
43,942 | |||||
Deferred tax liability |
30(b) | 21,335 | ||||
| | | | | | |
Total liabilities |
105,753 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net identifiable assets |
217,751 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Less: non-controlling interest |
(105,174 | ) | ||||
Add: goodwill |
13 | 126,015 | ||||
| | | | | | |
Net assets acquired |
238,592 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Total purchase consideration |
238,592 | |||||
Less: Unpaid Consideration: |
(11,870 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalent acquired by the Group from |
(61,702 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | |
Net cash outflow for acquisition of subsidiary: |
165,020 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
The goodwill is attributable to the workforce and synergies of the acquired business. It will not be deductible for tax purposes.
The Group wrote a put option on the remaining 48.33% equity in Vantage Point Technology. The put option provides the non-controlling shareholders of Vantage Point Technology with the right to require the Group to purchase the remaining equity interest subject to the terms and conditions of the put option. A financial liability (redemption liability) of RMB183,569,000 was initially recognized on the Acquisition Date to account for the put option and other reserve of the same amount were debited accordingly. The redemption liability was subsequently measured at amortized cost. As at December 31, 2018, the redemption liability amounted to RMB 188,080,000.
F-81
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
33 Business combination (Continued)
The Group recognizes non-controlling interests in an acquired entity either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the acquired entity's net identifiable assets. This decision is made on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. For the non-controlling interests in Vantage Point Technology, the Group elected to recognize the non-controlling interests at its proportionate share of the acquired net identifiable assets. See Note 2.4 for the Group's accounting policies for business combinations.
The acquired business contributed revenues of RMB63,446,000 and net profit of RMB11,223,000 to the Group for the period from August 1 to December 31, 2018.
If the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2018, consolidated pro-forma revenue and net loss of the Group for the year ended December 31, 2018 would have been increased by RMB51,822,000 and RMB11,503,000 respectively. These amounts have been calculated using the subsidiary's results and adjusting them for:
34 The Group's maximum exposure to unconsolidated structured entities
The Group has determined that all of assets management products managed by the Group and its investments in wealth management products, which are not controlled by the Group, are unconsolidated structured entities.
The Group invests in wealth management products managed by related parties for treasury management purposes. The Group also managed some assets management fund products as fund manager to generate fees from managing assets on behalf of other investors, mainly Ping An Group and its subsidiaries. The assets management fund products are financed by capital contribution from investors.
The following table shows the Group's maximum exposure to the unconsolidated structured entities which represents the Group's maximum possible risk exposure that could occur as a result of the Group's arrangements with structured entities. The maximum exposure is contingent in nature and approximates the sum of direct investments made by the Group. The direct investments made by the Group are classified as FVPL.
F-82
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
34 The Group's maximum exposure to unconsolidated structured entities (Continued)
The size of unconsolidated structured entities and the Group's funding and maximum exposure are shown below:
|
Unconsolidated structured entities | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 31, 2017
|
Size | Carrying amount |
The Group's maximum exposure |
Interest held by the Group |
|||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
|||||||
Asset management products managed by the Group |
11,268,073 | — | — | Service fee | |||||||
Wealth management products managed by related parties |
Note a | 863,266 | 863,266 | Investment income |
|
Unconsolidated structured entities | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 31, 2018
|
Size | Carrying amount |
The Group's maximum exposure |
Interest held by the Group |
|||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
|||||||
Asset management products managed by the Group |
4,420,839 | 2,649 | 2,649 | Service fee | |||||||
Wealth management products managed by related parties |
Note a | 2,540,925 | 2,540,925 | Investment income |
35 Contingencies
The Group did not have any material contingent liabilities as at December 31, 2017 and 2018.
36 Events occurring after the reporting period
On June 30, 2019, the Group acquired 80% of the equity interest of Beijing BER Technology Company Ltd. ("BER Technology") and obtained the control of BER Technology, which is a service provider specialized in scenario-basic retail digital banking platform establishment and operation.
F-83
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
36 Events occurring after the reporting period (Continued)
The following table summarizes the acquisition-date fair value of the total consideration, the net assets acquired and goodwill arising on the acquisition:
|
Fair value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
|||
Property and equipment |
7,560 | |||
Intangible assets |
51,778 | |||
Deferred tax assets |
4,625 | |||
Prepayments and other receivables |
4,561 | |||
Trade receivables |
9,724 | |||
Contract assets |
40,488 | |||
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,993 | |||
| | | | |
Total assets |
120,729 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Trade and other payables |
18,287 | |||
Short-term borrowings |
9,850 | |||
Payroll and welfare payables |
4,178 | |||
Deferred tax liability |
7,442 | |||
| | | | |
Total liabilities |
39,757 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Net identifiable assets |
80,972 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Less: non-controlling interest |
(16,194 | ) | ||
Add: goodwill |
29,784 | |||
| | | | |
Net assets acquired |
94,562 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Cash consideration |
58,728 | |||
Share consideration |
37,272 | |||
| | | | |
Consideration to be paid |
96,000 | |||
Contingently returnable consideration |
(1,438 | ) | ||
| | | | |
Total purchase consideration |
94,562 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Contingently returnable consideration represents fair value of the right that the Group has to repurchase 20% of the consideration shares at a nominal price if BER technology fails to meet certain revenue goal within three years from July 1, 2019.
The Group wrote a put option on the remaining 20% equity in BER Technology. The put option provides the non-controlling shareholders of BER Technology with the right to require the Group to purchase the remaining equity interest subject to the terms and conditions of the put option. A financial liability (redemption liability) of RMB 44,105,000 was initially recognized on the acquisition date to account for the put option and other reserve of the same amount were debited accordingly. The redemption liability was subsequently measured at amortized cost.
F-84
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
37 Restricted net assets
Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by the subsidiaries, the VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs incorporated in the PRC only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of the Company's subsidiaries, the VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs is required to annually appropriate 10% of net after-tax income to the statutory general reserve fund prior to payment of any dividends, unless such reserve funds have reached 50% of its respective registered capital. As a result of these and other restrictions under PRC laws and regulations, the subsidiaries and the Consolidated Affiliated Entities are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company either in the form of dividends, loans or advances of the Group's total consolidated net assets. As of December 31, 2018, the total restricted net assets of the Company's subsidiaries and the VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs incorporated in PRC and subjected to restriction amounted to approximately RMB1,137,372,000. Even though the Company currently does not require any such dividends, loans or advances from the PRC entities for working capital and other funding purposes, the Company may in the future require additional cash resources from them due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and development, or merely to declare and pay dividends or distributions to its shareholders. Except for the above, there is no other restriction on the use of proceeds generated by the Company's subsidiaries and the VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs to satisfy any obligations of the Company.
38 Parent company only condensed financial information
Parent Company only financial statements have been provided pursuant to the requirements of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X Rule 12-04(a), which require condensed financial information as to financial position, cash flows and results of operations of a parent company as of the same dates and for the same periods for which audited consolidated financial statements have been presented, as the restricted net assets of the Company's consolidated subsidiaries, including VIEs, as of December 31, 2018 exceeded the 25% threshold, using the same accounting policies as set out in the Group's consolidated financial statements, except that the Company uses the equity method to account for investments in its subsidiaries and VIEs. Certain information and footnote disclosures generally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRSs have been condensed and omitted. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information relating to the operations of the Company, as such, these statements are not the general-purpose financial statements of the reporting entity and should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
The Company did not have significant capital and other commitments or guarantees as of December 31, 2018. The subsidiaries did not pay any dividend to the Company for the years presented.
F-85
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
38 Parent company only condensed financial information (Continued)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
|
Year ended December 31, 2017 |
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
General and administrative expenses |
— | (25,164 | ) | ||||
Other income, gains or loss-net |
— | 20,747 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
— | (4,417 | ) | ||||
Finance income |
— |
22,730 |
|||||
Share of loss of subsidiaries and VIEs |
(606,956 | ) | (1,214,025 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Loss for the year |
(606,956 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | |||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
|||||||
— Foreign currency translation differences |
— | 396,520 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss |
(606,956 | ) | (799,192 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-86
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
38 Parent company only condensed financial information (Continued)
Condensed Balance Sheets
|
As at December 31, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2017 | 2018 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
ASSETS |
|||||||
Non-current assets |
|||||||
Investment in subsidiaries |
53,336 | 3,715,759 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total non-current assets |
53,336 | 3,715,759 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Current assets |
|||||||
Amount due from subsidiaries |
— | 31,297 | |||||
Prepayments and other receivables |
60 | 265 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
431,257 | 159,644 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total current assets |
431,317 | 191,206 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total assets |
484,653 | 3,906,965 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
|||||||
Equity |
|||||||
Share capital |
60 | 66 | |||||
Shares held for share option scheme |
(88,280 | ) | (88,280 | ) | |||
Reserves |
1,200,376 | 6,151,453 | |||||
Accumulated loss |
(1,147,040 | ) | (2,342,752 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Total equity |
(34,884 | ) | 3,720,487 | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Liabilities |
|||||||
Non-current liabilities |
|||||||
Amounts payable for purchase of shares held for share option scheme |
88,280 | 88,280 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total non-current liabilities |
88,280 | 88,280 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Current liabilities |
|||||||
Investment deposit received from investors |
431,257 | 90,002 | |||||
Accrued expenses |
— | 8,196 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities |
431,257 | 98,198 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total liabilities |
519,537 | 186,478 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total equity and liabilities |
484,653 | 3,906,965 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-87
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
38 Parent company only condensed financial information (Continued)
Condensed Statements of Changes in Equity
|
Share capital | Shares held for share option scheme |
Reserves | Accumulated losses |
Total | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||
As at January 1, 2017 |
— | (88,280 | ) | 862,162 | (540,084 | ) | 233,798 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year |
— | — | — | (606,956 | ) | (606,956 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transactions with equity holders: |
||||||||||||||||
Capital contribution from the then owners |
— | — | 337,838 | — | 337,838 | |||||||||||
Issuance of ordinary shares |
60 | — | — | — | 60 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based payments |
— | — | 376 | — | 376 | |||||||||||
Total transactions with equity holders at their capacity as equity holders for the period |
60 | — | 338,214 | — | 338,274 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2017 |
60 | (88,280 | ) | 1,200,376 | (1,147,040 | ) | (34,884 | ) | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the year |
— | — | — | (1,195,712 | ) | (1,195,712 | ) | |||||||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
||||||||||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
— | — | 396,520 | — | 396,520 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the year |
— | — | 396,520 | (1,195,712 | ) | (799,192 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transactions with equity holders: |
||||||||||||||||
Issuance of ordinary shares |
6 | — | 4,730,375 | — | 4,730,381 | |||||||||||
Recognition of redemption liability |
— | — | (183,569 | ) | — | (183,569 | ) | |||||||||
Share-based payments |
— | — | 7,751 | — | 7,751 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total transactions with equity holders at their capacity as equity holders for the year |
6 | — | 4,554,557 | — | 4,554,563 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As at December 31, 2018 |
66 | (88,280 | ) | 6,151,453 | (2,342,752 | ) | 3,720,487 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-88
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED December 31, 2017 and 2018
38 Parent company only condensed financial information (Continued)
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
|
Year ended December 31, 2017 |
Year ended December 31, 2018 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Cash generated from operating activities |
|||||||
Cash generated in operations |
— | 13,672 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Net cash generated from operating activities |
— | 13,672 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities |
|||||||
Payment for investment in subsidiaries, net of cash acquired |
— | (4,655,746 | ) | ||||
Payment for loan to subsidiaries |
— | (31,297 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Net cash used in investing activities |
— | (4,687,043 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities |
|||||||
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares |
431,257 | 4,409,771 | |||||
Share issue transaction costs |
— | (20,585 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Net cash generated from financing activities |
431,257 | 4,389,186 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Net increase /(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
431,257 | (284,185 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period/year |
— | 431,257 | |||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
— | 12,572 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year |
431,257 | 159,644 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-89
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
Six months ended June 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||
|
|
(Unaudited) RMB'000 |
(Unaudited) RMB'000 |
||||||
Revenue |
5 | 540,498 | 970,184 | ||||||
Cost of revenue, exclusive of amortization of intangible assets shown separately below |
6 |
(297,723 |
) |
(501,381 |
) |
||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
6 | (116,728 | ) | (202,105 | ) | ||||
Research and development expenses |
6 | (111,037 | ) | (409,332 | ) | ||||
Selling and marketing expenses |
6 | (137,250 | ) | (269,338 | ) | ||||
General and administrative expenses |
6 | (154,623 | ) | (325,412 | ) | ||||
Other income, gains or loss-net |
8 | (31,045 | ) | (77,089 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating loss |
(307,908 | ) | (814,473 | ) | |||||
Finance income |
9 |
48,947 |
62,231 |
||||||
Finance costs |
9 | (62,506 | ) | (90,894 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Finance costs—net |
9 | (13,559 | ) | (28,663 | ) | ||||
Share of losses of associate |
14 | (7,740 | ) | (5,727 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax |
(329,207 | ) | (848,863 | ) | |||||
Income tax (expense)/benefit |
10 |
(31,052 |
) |
90,978 |
|||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the period |
(360,259 | ) | (757,885 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss attributable to: |
|||||||||
—Owners of the Company |
(360,259 | ) | (754,883 | ) | |||||
—Non-controlling interests |
— | (3,002 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
|
(360,259 | ) | (757,885 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
|||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
204,607 | (1,970 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the period |
(155,652 | ) | (759,855 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss attributable to: |
|||||||||
—Owners of the Company |
(155,652 | ) | (756,853 | ) | |||||
—Non-controlling interests |
— | (3,002 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
|
(155,652 | ) | (759,855 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Loss per share attributable to owners of the Company (expressed in RMB per share) |
|||||||||
—Basic and diluted |
11 | (0.39 | ) | (0.81 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
F-90
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
Note | As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(Audited) RMB'000 |
(Unaudited) RMB'000 |
||||||
ASSETS |
|||||||||
Non-current assets |
|||||||||
Property and equipment |
12 | 319,668 | 348,817 | ||||||
Intangible assets |
13 | 758,075 | 698,281 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets |
348,672 | 443,240 | |||||||
Investment in an associate |
14 | 29,452 | 123,725 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income |
16 | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
Contract assets |
5 | 63,120 | 75,056 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total non-current assets |
1,523,987 | 1,694,119 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Current assets |
|||||||||
Loans to related parties |
29(c) | 15,027 | — | ||||||
Trade receivables |
17 | 270,530 | 613,590 | ||||||
Contract assets |
5 | 133,661 | 197,969 | ||||||
Prepayments and other receivables |
18 | 337,214 | 336,494 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
19 | 2,540,925 | 1,053,784 | ||||||
Restricted cash |
20 | 3,996,238 | 3,293,157 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
21 | 565,027 | 1,048,916 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total current assets |
7,858,622 | 6,543,910 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total assets |
9,382,609 | 8,238,029 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES |
|||||||||
Equity |
|||||||||
Share capital |
22 | 66 | 66 | ||||||
Shares held for share option scheme |
24 | (88,280 | ) | (88,280 | ) | ||||
Other reserves |
23 | 6,151,453 | 6,227,896 | ||||||
Accumulated losses |
(2,342,752 | ) | (3,097,635 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Equity attributable to equity owners of the Company |
3,720,487 | 3,042,047 | |||||||
Non-controlling interests |
110,601 |
172,793 |
|||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total equity |
3,831,088 | 3,214,840 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
LIABILITIES |
|||||||||
Non-current liabilities |
|||||||||
Trade and other payables |
25 | 403,228 | 444,932 | ||||||
Contract liabilities |
5 | 7,423 | 2,195 | ||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
18,480 | 22,341 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total non-current liabilities |
429,131 | 469,468 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities |
|||||||||
Trade and other payables |
25 | 1,280,641 | 1,219,033 | ||||||
Payroll and welfare payables |
394,828 | 335,598 | |||||||
Contract liabilities |
5 | 58,383 | 52,902 | ||||||
Short-term borrowings |
26 | 3,386,100 | 2,943,018 | ||||||
Derivative financial liabilities |
27 | 2,438 | 3,170 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total current liabilities |
5,122,390 | 4,553,721 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities |
5,551,521 | 5,023,189 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Total equity and liabilities |
9,382,609 | 8,238,029 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
F-91
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
|
|
Attributable to owners of the Company | |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | Share capital |
Shares held for share option scheme |
Other reserves |
Accumulated losses |
Total | Non- controlling interest |
Total equity |
||||||||||||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
||||||||||||||||
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of January 1, 2018 |
60 | (88,280 | ) | 1,200,376 | (1,147,040 | ) | (34,884 | ) | — | (34,884 | ) | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loss for the period |
— | — | — | (360,259 | ) | (360,259 | ) | — | (360,259 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
23 | — | — | 204,607 | — | 204,607 | — | 204,607 | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the period |
— | — | 204,607 | (360,259 | ) | (155,652 | ) | — | (155,652 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transactions with equity holders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of ordinary shares |
22,23 | 6 | — | 4,730,375 | — | 4,730,381 | — | 4,730,381 | ||||||||||||||||
Share-based payments |
24 | — | — | 740 | — | 740 | — | 740 | ||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total transactions with equity holders at their capacity as equity holders for the period |
6 | — | 4,731,115 | — | 4,731,121 | — | 4,731,121 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2018 |
66 | (88,280 | ) | 6,136,098 | (1,507,299 | ) | 4,540,585 | — | 4,540,585 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
As of January 1, 2019 |
66 | (88,280 | ) | 6,151,453 | (2,342,752 | ) | 3,720,487 | 110,601 | 3,831,088 | |||||||||||||||
Loss for the period |
— |
— |
— |
(754,883 |
) |
(754,883 |
) |
(3,002 |
) |
(757,885 |
) |
|||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
23 | — | — | (1,970 | ) | (1,970 | ) | — | (1,970 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total comprehensive loss for the period |
— | — | (1,970 | ) | (754,883 | ) | (756,853 | ) | (3,002 | ) | (759,855 | ) | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Transactions with equity holders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of ordinary shares |
22 | — | — | 88,030 | — | 88,030 | — | 88,030 | ||||||||||||||||
Share-based payments |
24 | — | — | 34,488 | — | 34,488 | — | 34,488 | ||||||||||||||||
Acquisition of a subsidiary |
30 | — | — | — | — | — | 16,194 | 16,194 | ||||||||||||||||
Recognition of redemption liability |
30 | — | — | (44,105 | ) | — | (44,105 | ) | — | (44,105 | ) | |||||||||||||
Contribution from non-controlling interests |
— | — | — | — | — | 49,000 | 49,000 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total transactions with equity holders at their capacity as equity holders for the period |
— | — | 78,413 | — | 78,413 | 65,194 | 143,607 | |||||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2019 |
66 | (88,280 | ) | 6,227,896 | (3,097,635 | ) | 3,042,047 | 172,793 | 3,214,840 | |||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-92
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
Six months ended June 30, | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Note | 2018 | 2019 | |||||||
|
|
(Unaudited) |
(Unaudited) |
|||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||
Cash flows from operating activities |
||||||||||
Cash used in operations |
(350,266 | ) | (1,027,222 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash used in operating activities |
(350,266 | ) | (1,027,222 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities |
||||||||||
Payment for acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired |
40 | (34,196 | ) | |||||||
Payments for property and equipment |
(9,016 | ) | (55,662 | ) | ||||||
Payment for intangible assets |
(174,207 | ) | (60,748 | ) | ||||||
Capital injection to associate |
14 | — | (100,000 | ) | ||||||
Payment for loans to related parties |
— | (5,000 | ) | |||||||
Payments for financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
(4,563,590 | ) | (3,037,999 | ) | ||||||
Payment for restricted cash |
(4,486,540 | ) | — | |||||||
Receipts of loans to related parties |
— | 20,000 | ||||||||
Proceeds from sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
2,082,000 | 4,530,000 | ||||||||
Refund of restricted cash |
— | 744,277 | ||||||||
Interest received from loans to related parties |
— | 444 | ||||||||
Interest received on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
41,268 | 25,481 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash (used in) / generated from investing activities |
(7,110,045 | ) | 2,026,597 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities |
||||||||||
Capital injections from non-controlling interests |
— | 49,000 | ||||||||
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares |
4,730,441 | — | ||||||||
Proceeds from short-term borrowings |
4,196,280 | 2,957,366 | ||||||||
Payments for lease liabilities |
(36,680 | ) | (39,481 | ) | ||||||
Repayments of short-term borrowings |
(1,850,000 | ) | (3,394,246 | ) | ||||||
Interest paid |
(28,404 | ) | (95,476 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net cash generated from / (used in) financing activities |
7,011,637 | (522,837 | ) | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents |
(448,674 | ) | 476,538 | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period |
847,767 | 565,027 | ||||||||
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
(10,319 | ) | 7,351 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period |
388,774 | 1,048,916 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-93
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
2019
1 General information and basis of preparation
1.1. General information
OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. (the "Company") was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on October 30, 2017 as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law (Cap. 22, Law 3 of 1961 as consolidated and revised) of the Cayman Islands. The address of the Company's registered office is PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
The Company, its subsidiaries, its controlled structured entities ("Structured Entities", "Variable Interest Entities" or "VIEs") and their subsidiaries ("Subsidiaries of VIEs") are collectively referred to as the "Group". The Group is principally engaged in providing cloud-platform-based Fintech solutions, online information service and operating support service to financial institutions (the "Listing Business") in the People's Republic of China (the "PRC"). The Company does not conduct any substantive operations of its own but conducts its primary business operations through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs in the PRC.
The condensed consolidated financial information comprises the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2019, the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the six-month period then ended, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes (the "Interim Financial Information"). The Interim Financial Information is presented in Renminbi ("RMB"), unless otherwise stated. The Interim Financial Information has not been audited.
The condensed consolidated financial information was approved by management for issue on September 30, 2019.
1.2. Significant transactions
During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Group completed an ordinary shares issuance to an investor, details of which have been disclosed in Note 22.
During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Group made capital contribution of RMB51,000,000 to Shenzhen OneConnect Information Technology Serviced Co., Ltd, a newly established subsidiary. Shenzhen Ping An Investment Development Co., Ltd , a subsidiary of Ping An Group, made capital contribution of RMB49,000,000 to Shenzhen OneConnect Information Technology Serviced Co., Ltd. which was recognised as capital contribution from non-controlling interest. The Group and Shenzhen Ping An Investment Development Co., Ltd owned the equity interest in Shenzhen OneConnect Information Technology Serviced Co., Ltd as to 51% and 49%, respectively.
The Group acquired 80% of the equity interest of Beijing BER Technology Company Ltd. ("BER Technology") on June 30, 2019 and obtained the control of BER Technology, details of which have been disclosed in Note 30.
1.3. Consolidation of VIEs
PRC laws and regulations prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of companies that provide certain internet-based businesses, which include activities and services provided by the Group. The Group operates its business operations in the PRC through a series of contractual arrangements entered into among a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, VIEs that are legally owned by equity holders
F-94
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
1 General information and basis of preparation (Continued)
("Nominee Shareholders") authorized by the Group, the shareholders of VIEs and Subsidiaries of VIEs (collectively, "Contractual Arrangements"). Under the Contractual Arrangements, the Company has the power to control the management, and financial and operating policies of the VIEs, has exposure or rights to variable returns from its involvement with the VIEs, and has the ability to use its power over the VIEs to affect the amount of the returns. As a result, all these VIEs are accounted for as consolidated structured entities of the Company and their financial statements have also been consolidated by the Company. There were no changes in any Contractual Arrangements during the six months ended June 30, 2019.
1.4. Basis of preparation
The Interim Financial Information has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard ("IAS") 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' issued by the International Accounting Standards Board and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 of the Company ("Annual Financial Statements"), which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by International Accounting Standards Board ("IFRS as issued by IASB").
2 Significant accounting policies
The accounting policies and method of computation used in the preparation of the Interim Financial Information are consistent with those used in the Annual Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by IASB under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and derivative financial liabilities, which are carried at fair values.
Recent accounting pronouncements
(a) New standards and amendments to standards and interpretations not yet adopted
A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued but not effective during the period beginning on January 1, 2019 and have not been early adopted by the Group in preparing the Interim Financial Information:
|
Effective for annual periods beginning on or after | |||
Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 |
Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture |
To be determined |
||
Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting 2018 |
Revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting | January 1, 2020 | ||
Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8 |
Definition of Material | January 1, 2020 | ||
Amendments to IFRS 3 |
Definition of a Business | January 1, 2020 | ||
IFRS 17 |
Insurance Contracts | January 1, 2021 |
F-95
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
2 Significant accounting policies (Continued)
The above new standards, new interpretations and amended standards are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.
3 Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The preparation of the Interim Financial Information requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
In preparing the Interim Financial Information, the nature of significant judgments made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were consistent with those described in the Annual Financial Statements.
4 Management of financial risk
4.1 Financial risk factors
The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk and interest risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.
The Interim Financial Information does not include all financial risk management information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the Annual Financial Statements.
There were no changes in any material risk management policies during the six months ended June 30, 2019.
4.2 Capital management
The Group's objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group's ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to enhance shareholders' value in the long term.
The Group monitors capital (including share capital and reserves) by regularly reviewing the capital structure. As a part of this review, the Company considers the cost of capital and the risks associated with the issued share capital. The Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or repurchase the Company's shares. In the opinion of the Directors of the Company, the Group's capital risk is low as of June 30, 2019.
4.3 Fair value estimation
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market information and information about financial instruments. When an active market exists, such as an authorized securities exchange, the market value is the best reflection of the fair values of financial instruments. For financial instruments where there is no active market, fair value is determined using valuation techniques.
The Group's financial assets measured at fair value mainly include financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income.
F-96
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
Determination of fair value and fair value hierarchy
All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the consolidated financial statements are categorized within the fair value hierarchies. The fair value hierarchy categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
The levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
The level of fair value calculation is determined by the lowest level input that is significant in the overall calculation. As such, the significance of the input should be considered from an overall perspective in the calculation of fair value.
For Level 2 financial instruments, valuations are generally obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets, or through the use of valuation methodologies using observable market inputs, or recent quoted market prices. Valuation service providers typically gather, analyze and interpret information related to market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources, and through the use of widely accepted internal valuation models, provide a theoretical quote on various securities.
For Level 3 financial instruments, prices are determined using valuation methodologies such as discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques. Determinations to classify fair value measurement within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy are generally based on the significance of the unobservable factors to the overall fair value measurement, and valuation methodologies such as discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques.
For assets and liabilities that are recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorization (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.
F-97
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
The following tables provide the fair value measurement hierarchy of the Group's financial assets and liabilities:
|
As of December 31, 2018 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
Assets measured at fair value |
|||||||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
— | 2,540,925 | — | 2,540,925 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income |
— | — | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial liabilities |
|||||||||||||
Derivative financial liabilities |
— | 2,438 | — | 2,438 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
As of June 30, 2019 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
Assets measured at fair value |
|||||||||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
— | 1,052,346 | 1,438 | 1,053,784 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income |
— | — | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial liabilities |
|||||||||||||
Derivative financial liabilities |
— | 3,170 | — | 3,170 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, there were no transfers among different levels of fair value measurement.
Movements of Level 3 financial instruments measured at fair value are as follows:
|
For the six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the period |
5,000 | 5,000 | |||||
Additions |
— | 1,438 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the period |
5,000 | 6,438 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, trade receivables, contract assets, loans to related parties, current portion of other receivables, short-term borrowings and trade and other payables approximated their fair values due to short term maturities of these financial instruments as of December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019.
F-98
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
4 Management of financial risk (Continued)
Contract assets and non-current portion of other receivables are measured at amortized cost using discounted rates reflecting time value of money. As the market interest rate is relatively stable during the reporting period, the carrying amounts of contract assets and non-current portion of other receivables also approximated their fair values as of December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019.
5 Revenue
(a) Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers
|
|
For the six months ended June 30, |
|
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Revenue by nature
|
2018 | 2019 | |
||||||
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
||||||
|
Implementation |
74,645 | 220,209 | |||||||
|
Transaction based and support revenue |
|||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Business origination services* |
284,429 | 358,537 | |||||||
|
—Risk management services |
66,849 | 180,130 | |||||||
|
—Operation support services |
97,104 | 172,522 | |||||||
|
—Post-implementation support services |
12,629 | 21,064 | |||||||
|
—Others |
4,842 | 17,722 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
540,498 | 970,184 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-99
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
5 Revenue and segment information (Continued)
Disaggregation of revenue by timing of transfer of services over time or at a point in time is set out below:
|
|
At a point in time |
Over time | Total | |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
||||||||
|
Six months ended June 30, 2018 |
||||||||||||
|
Implementation |
— | 74,645 | 74,645 | |||||||||
|
Transaction based and support revenue |
— | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Business origination services |
284,429 | — | 284,429 | |||||||||
|
—Risk management services |
66,849 | — | 66,849 | |||||||||
|
—Operation support services |
55,479 | 41,625 | 97,104 | |||||||||
|
—Post-implementation support services |
— | 12,629 | 12,629 | |||||||||
|
—Others |
— | 4,842 | 4,842 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
406,757 | 133,741 | 540,498 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Six months ended June 30, 2019 |
||||||||||||
|
Implementation |
— | 220,209 | 220,209 | |||||||||
|
Transaction based and support revenue |
||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Business origination services |
358,537 | — | 358,537 | |||||||||
|
—Risk management services |
180,130 | — | 180,130 | |||||||||
|
—Operation support services |
91,086 | 81,436 | 172,522 | |||||||||
|
—Post-implementation support services |
— | 21,064 | 21,064 | |||||||||
|
—Others |
16,261 | 1,461 | 17,722 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
646,014 | 324,170 | 970,184 | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, the Group mainly operated in PRC and most of the revenue was generated in PRC.
F-100
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
5 Revenue and segment information (Continued)
(b) Contract assets and liabilities
The Group has recognized the following revenue-related contract assets and liabilities:
|
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
||||||
|
Contract assets |
|||||||||
|
—Implementation |
95,848 | 152,083 | |||||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
49,265 | 59,291 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Post implementation support services |
4,279 | 2,744 | |||||||
|
—Business origination services |
44,986 | 56,547 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
145,113 | 211,374 | ||||||||
|
Less: Impairment loss allowance (i) |
|||||||||
|
—Implementation |
(9,492 | ) | (11,582 | ) | |||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
(1,960 | ) | (1,823 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Post implementation support services |
(450 | ) | (228 | ) | |||||
|
—Business origination services |
(1,510 | ) | (1,595 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
(11,452 | ) | (13,405 | ) | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Current contract assets, net |
133,661 | 197,969 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Transaction based and support |
|||||||||
|
—Business origination services |
63,120 | 75,056 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Non-current contract assets, net |
63,120 | 75,056 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
196,781 | 273,025 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Contract liabilities |
|||||||||
|
—Transaction based and support |
|||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Post implementation support services |
11,102 | 8,502 | |||||||
|
—Risk management services |
35,188 | 31,071 | |||||||
|
—Operation support services |
12,093 | 13,329 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Current contract liabilities |
58,383 | 52,902 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Transaction based and support |
|||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
—Risk management services |
47 | 81 | |||||||
|
—Operation support services |
7,376 | 2,114 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
Non-current contract liabilities |
7,423 | 2,195 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
|
65,806 | 55,097 | ||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-101
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
5 Revenue and segment information (Continued)
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the period |
— | (11,452 | ) | ||||
Additions of impairment loss |
— | (2,175 | ) | ||||
Reversal of impairment loss |
— | 222 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the period |
— | (13,405 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Revenue recognized that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period |
5,182 | 52,248 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
6 Expenses by nature
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Employee benefit expenses (Note 7) |
253,289 | 682,560 | |||||
Technology service fee |
188,525 | 325,488 | |||||
Amortization of intangible assets |
116,728 | 202,105 | |||||
Business origination fee |
101,773 | 137,239 | |||||
Outsourcing labor costs |
17,169 | 88,231 | |||||
Depreciation of property and equipment |
41,258 | 58,149 | |||||
Telecommunication expenses |
24,560 | 55,621 | |||||
Travelling expenses |
16,910 | 37,350 | |||||
Marketing and advertising fee |
22,586 | 19,249 | |||||
Professional service fee |
3,007 | 12,290 | |||||
Impairment loss of financial assets |
— | 3,355 | |||||
Others |
31,556 | 85,931 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Total cost of revenue, research and development expenses, selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and amortization of intangible assets |
817,361 | 1,707,568 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-102
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
6 Expenses by nature (Continued)
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Research and development costs |
|||||||
—Employee benefit expenses |
153,944 | 261,075 | |||||
—Technology service fee |
123,654 | 180,594 | |||||
—Others |
5,172 | 26,555 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Amounts incurred |
282,770 | 468,224 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Less: capitalized |
|||||||
—Employee benefit expenses |
(103,716 | ) | (29,768 | ) | |||
—Technology service fee |
(68,017 | ) | (17,590 | ) | |||
—Others |
— | (11,534 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
|
(171,733 | ) | (58,892 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
111,037 | 409,332 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
7 Employee benefit expenses
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Wages and salaries |
200,242 | 515,513 | |||||
Welfare and other benefits |
52,307 | 132,559 | |||||
Share-based payments (Note 24) |
740 | 34,488 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
253,289 | 682,560 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-103
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
8 Other income, gains or loss—net
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
38,272 | 28,903 | |||||
Interest income from shareholder for late capital injection |
14,598 | — | |||||
Gain on disposal of lease asset and derecognition of lease liabilities |
5,232 | — | |||||
Guarantee loss, net (a) |
(88,965 | ) | (118,177 | ) | |||
Net foreign exchange gain |
— | 595 | |||||
Fair value adjustment to derivatives |
— | (732 | ) | ||||
Government grants |
762 | 7,290 | |||||
Others |
(944 | ) | 5,032 | ||||
| | | | | | | |
|
(31,045 | ) | (77,089 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Interest income on financial guarantee fee receivables (Note 18(a)) |
26,644 | 17,108 | |||||
Impairment loss of financial guarantee fee receivables (Note 18(a)) |
(13,721 | ) | (10,858 | ) | |||
Guarantee charge arising from changes in estimates under financial guarantee contract |
(101,888 | ) | (124,427 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
(88,965 | ) | (118,177 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-104
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
9 Finance costs—net
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Finance income |
|||||||
Interest income on bank deposits |
48,947 | 62,231 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Finance costs |
|||||||
Interest expense on borrowings |
(57,355 | ) | (79,424 | ) | |||
Interest expense on lease liabilities |
(2,789 | ) | (4,656 | ) | |||
Interest expenses on redemption liability |
— | (5,560 | ) | ||||
Bank charges |
(2,362 | ) | (1,254 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
(62,506 | ) | (90,894 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Finance costs—net |
(13,559 | ) | (28,663 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
10 Income tax (expense)/benefit
The Income tax (expense)/benefit of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 is analyzed as follows:
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Current income tax |
(2,486 | ) | (2,545 | ) | |||
Deferred income tax |
(28,566 | ) | 93,523 | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Income tax (expense)/benefit |
(31,052 | ) | 90,978 | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Notes:
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (the "EIT Law"), the standard enterprise income tax rate for domestic enterprises and foreign invested enterprises is 25%. In accordance with the implementation rules of the EIT Law, a qualified "High and New Technology Enterprise"("HNTE") is eligible for a preferential tax rate of 15% and a "Software Enterprise"("SE") is entitled to exemption from income taxation for the first two years, counting from the year the enterprise makes profits, and half reduction for the next three years. In accordance with the relevant rules of the EIT Law, for eligible enterprises in Shenzhen Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone ("Qianhai"), EIT shall be levied at a reduced tax rate of 15%.
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands and is not subject to Cayman Islands income tax.
F-105
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
10 Income tax (expense)/benefit (Continued)
The Hong Kong income tax rate is 16.5%. No Hong Kong profits tax was provided for as there was no estimated assessable profit that was subject to Hong Kong profits tax for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019.
The income tax provision of the Group in respect of its operations in Singapore was calculated at the tax rate of 17% on the assessable profits for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, based on the existing legislation, interpretations and practices in respect thereof.
According to the EIT Law and other regulations, distribution of profits earned by PRC companies since January 1, 2008 to overseas investors is subject to withholding tax of 5% or 10%, depending on the region of incorporation of the overseas investor, upon the distribution of profits to overseas-incorporated immediate holding companies.
During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, no deferred income tax liability on WHT was accrued because the subsidiaries of the Group were loss making.
11 Loss per share
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Net loss for the period attributable to owners of the Company |
(360,259 | ) | (754,883 | ) | |||
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (in'000 shares) |
912,217 | 934,904 | |||||
Basic loss per share (RMB yuan) |
(0.39 | ) | (0.81 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Diluted loss per share (RMB yuan) |
(0.39 | ) | (0.81 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to owners of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, which excluded 66,171,600 shares held for share option scheme purpose.
The effects of all outstanding share options granted under the Share Option Scheme (Note 24), which represent 17,721,900 and 25,548,700 shares for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 have been excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share as the vesting conditions have not been met as of the reporting date, and their effects would be anti-dilutive.
F-106
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
12 Property and equipment
|
Office and telecommunication equipment |
Right-of-use properties |
Leasehold improvements |
Total | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||
As of January 1, 2018 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
43,293 | 183,313 | 13,257 | 239,863 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(11,610 | ) | (65,337 | ) | (1,967 | ) | (78,914 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
31,683 | 117,976 | 11,290 | 160,949 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period ended June 30, 2018 |
|||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
31,683 | 117,976 | 11,290 | 160,949 | |||||||||
Additions |
3,490 | 160,431 | 5,526 | 169,447 | |||||||||
Disposals, net |
— | (58,247 | ) | — | (58,247 | ) | |||||||
Depreciation charge |
(5,271 | ) | (34,457 | ) | (1,530 | ) | (41,258 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
29,902 | 185,703 | 15,286 | 230,891 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2018 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
46,783 | 285,497 | 18,783 | 351,063 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(16,881 | ) | (99,794 | ) | (3,497 | ) | (120,172 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
29,902 | 185,703 | 15,286 | 230,891 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of January 1, 2019 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
85,861 | 268,992 | 55,956 | 410,809 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(23,654 | ) | (60,583 | ) | (6,904 | ) | (91,141 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
62,207 | 208,409 | 49,052 | 319,668 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period ended June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
62,207 | 208,409 | 49,052 | 319,668 | |||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary |
896 | 6,664 | — | 7,560 | |||||||||
Additions |
43,372 | 25,473 | 11,637 | 80,482 | |||||||||
Depreciation charge |
(10,720 | ) | (41,620 | ) | (5,809 | ) | (58,149 | ) | |||||
Exchange differences |
(271 | ) | (37 | ) | (436 | ) | (744 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
95,484 | 198,889 | 54,444 | 348,817 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||
Cost |
130,129 | 301,129 | 67,593 | 498,851 | |||||||||
Accumulated depreciation |
(34,374 | ) | (102,203 | ) | (12,713 | ) | (149,290 | ) | |||||
Exchange differences |
(271 | ) | (37 | ) | (436 | ) | (744 | ) | |||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
95,484 | 198,889 | 54,444 | 348,817 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-107
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
13 Intangible assets
|
Application and platform |
Purchased Software |
Development costs in progress |
Goodwill | Others | Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||||
As of January 1, 2018 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
690,910 | 3,175 | — | — | — | 694,085 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(326,313 | ) | (694 | ) | — | — | — | (327,007 | ) | ||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
364,597 | 2,481 | — | — | — | 367,078 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period ended June 30, 2018 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
364,597 | 2,481 | — | — | — | 367,078 | |||||||||||||
Additions |
— | 2,474 | 171,733 | — | 960 | 175,167 | |||||||||||||
Transfer |
8,790 | — | (8,790 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Amortization |
(115,918 | ) | (730 | ) | — | — | (80 | ) | (116,728 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
257,469 | 4,225 | 162,943 | — | 880 | 425,517 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2018 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
699,700 | 5,649 | 162,943 | — | 960 | 869,252 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(442,231 | ) | (1,424 | ) | — | — | (80 | ) | (443,735 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
257,469 | 4,225 | 162,943 | — | 880 | 425,517 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of January 1, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
734,943 | 89,561 | 325,081 | 126,015 | 69,570 | 1,345,170 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(563,796 | ) | (13,529 | ) | — | — | (9,770 | ) | (587,095 | ) | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
171,147 | 76,032 | 325,081 | 126,015 | 59,800 | 758,075 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period ended June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Opening net book amount |
171,147 | 76,032 | 325,081 | 126,015 | 59,800 | 758,075 | |||||||||||||
Acquisition of subsidiary (Note 30) |
51,198 | — | 580 | 29,784 | — | 81,562 | |||||||||||||
Additions |
— | 1,856 | 58,892 | — | — | 60,748 | |||||||||||||
Transfer |
317,157 | — | (317,157 | ) | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
Amortization |
(175,351 | ) | (15,158 | ) | — | — | (11,596 | ) | (202,105 | ) | |||||||||
Exchange differences |
— | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Closing net book amount |
364,151 | 62,731 | 67,396 | 155,799 | 48,204 | 698,281 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||||||||||
Cost |
1,103,298 | 91,417 | 67,396 | 155,799 | 69,570 | 1,487,480 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated amortization |
(739,147 | ) | (28,687 | ) | — | — | (21,366 | ) | (789,200 | ) | |||||||||
Exchange differences |
— | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net book amount |
364,151 | 62,731 | 67,396 | 155,799 | 48,204 | 698,281 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
F-108
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
14 Investment in associate
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
At beginning of period |
37,253 | 29,452 | |||||
Additions |
— | 100,000 | |||||
Share of losses of associate |
(7,740 | ) | (5,727 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
At end of period |
29,513 | 123,725 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
On March 28, 2017, Shanghai OneConnect set up Pingan Puhui Lixin Asset Management Co., Ltd. ("Puhui Lixin") with Pingan Puhui Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Lufax Holding Ltd., by investing capital amount of RMB40,000,000. In January 2019, Shanghai OneConnect made an additional capital injection of RMB100,000,000 in Puhui Lixin. The Group has a currently exercisable option to make additional investment to hold an additional equity interest of 5% in Puhui Lixin and the Group account for the investment as an associate.
The investment in associate as at December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019 are as follows:
|
|
|
Percentage of equity interest | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Place of business and incorporation |
Principal activities | As at December 31, 2018 |
As at June 30, 2019 |
|||||||
Puhui Lixin |
Shanghai, PRC | Technology consulting services | 13.33 | % | 35.00 | % |
F-109
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
15 Financial instruments by category
The Group holds the following financial instruments:
|
Note | As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
||||||
Financial assets |
|||||||||
Financial assets at amortised cost |
|||||||||
—Trade receivables |
17 | 270,530 | 613,590 | ||||||
—Prepayments and other receivables (excluding non-financial asset items) |
18 | 245,711 | 191,593 | ||||||
—Restricted cash |
20 | 3,996,238 | 3,293,157 | ||||||
—Cash and cash equivalents |
21 | 565,027 | 1,048,916 | ||||||
—Loan to related party |
29 | 15,027 | — | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) |
16 | 5,000 | 5,000 | ||||||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (FVPL) |
19 | 2,540,925 | 1,053,784 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total |
7,638,458 | 6,206,040 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Financial liabilities |
|||||||||
Liabilities at amortised cost |
|||||||||
—Trade and other payables (excluding non-financial liability items) |
25 | 1,253,502 | 1,154,090 | ||||||
—Short-term borrowings |
26 | 3,386,100 | 2,943,018 | ||||||
Derivative financial liability |
|||||||||
—Held at FVPL |
27 | 2,438 | 3,170 | ||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
Total |
4,642,040 | 4,100,278 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
16 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Unlisted securities |
|||||||
—Equity securities(a) |
5,000 | 5,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-110
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
17 Trade receivables
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Trade receivables |
274,166 | 618,133 | |||||
Less: impairment loss allowance (a) |
(3,636 | ) | (4,543 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
270,530 | 613,590 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) Movements in the impairment loss allowance of trade receivables are as follows:
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the period |
— | (3,636 | ) | ||||
Charge to profit or loss |
— | (907 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the period |
— | (4,543 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
18 Prepayments and other receivables
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Financial guarantee fee receivable, gross |
156,966 | 113,100 | |||||
Less: impairment loss allowance |
(20,782 | ) | (22,797 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Financial guarantee fee receivable, net (a) |
136,184 | 90,303 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Deposit |
98,097 | 89,375 | |||||
Value added tax deductible |
38,688 | 66,403 | |||||
Advance to staffs |
13,339 | 26,272 | |||||
Payment of value added tax on behalf of private equity funds |
12,498 | 16,073 | |||||
Others |
39,476 | 49,631 | |||||
Less: impairment loss allowance (b) |
(1,068 | ) | (1,563 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
337,214 | 336,494 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-111
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
18 Prepayments and other receivables (Continued)
(a) Financial guarantee fee receivables, net
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Opening balance |
193,187 | 136,184 | |||||
Addition arising from new contracts |
45,433 | — | |||||
Cash received |
(55,588 | ) | (53,158 | ) | |||
Unwinding interest income , including value-added-tax (Note 8(a)) |
28,243 | 18,135 | |||||
Impairment loss (Note 8(a)) |
(13,721 | ) | (10,858 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
Ending balance |
197,554 | 90,303 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, financial guarantee receivables of RMB8,388,000 and RMB8,843,000 were written off against impairment loss allowance.
(b) Movements in the impairment loss allowance of prepayments and other receivables are as follows:
|
Six months ended June 30 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Beginning of the period |
— | (1,068 | ) | ||||
Additions |
— | (495 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
End of the period |
— | (1,563 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
19 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Contingent returnable consideration (Note 30) |
— | 1,438 | |||||
Wealth management products |
2,540,925 | 1,052,346 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
2,540,925 | 1,053,784 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The Group invested in wealth management products issued by its related parties which are redeemable upon request by holders.
F-112
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
20 Restricted cash
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Pledged bank deposits |
3,910,516 | 3,255,201 | |||||
Accrued interest |
85,722 | 37,956 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
3,996,238 | 3,293,157 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2018, RMB3,884,434,000 (USD565,980,000) of the bank deposits were pledged for short-term borrowings of the Group with weighted average interest rate of 3.16% per annum, RMB24,021,000 (USD3,500,000) were pledged for currency forwards and swaps, and RMB2,061,000 was pledged for business guarantee.
As of June 30, 2019, RMB3,217,360,000 (USD468,000,000) of the above bank deposits were pledged for short-term borrowings of the Group with weighted average interest rate of 3.26% per annum, RMB36,092,000 (USD5,250,000) was pledged for currency forwards and swaps, and RMB1,749,000 was pledged for business guarantee.
21 Cash and cash equivalents
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Cash on hand |
7 | 11 | |||||
Cash at banks |
565,020 | 1,048,905 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
565,027 | 1,048,916 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
USD |
421,806 | 354,189 | |||||
RMB |
140,292 | 144,986 | |||||
SGD |
2,929 | 10,154 | |||||
IDR |
— | 16,219 | |||||
HKD |
— | 523,368 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
565,027 | 1,048,916 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-113
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
22 Share capital
|
Number of shares |
USD | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Authorised |
|||||||
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at January 1, 2018 |
900,000,000 | 9,000 | |||||
Newly authorized |
100,000,000 | 1,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at June 30, 2018 |
1,000,000,000 | 10,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at January 1, 2019 |
5,000,000,000 | 50,000 | |||||
Newly authorized |
— | — | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at June 30, 2019 |
5,000,000,000 | 50,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
|
Number of shares |
USD | Equivalent to RMB |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Issued |
||||||||||
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at January 1, 2018 |
900,000,000 | 9,000 | 59,838 | |||||||
Newly issued ordinary shares |
99,999,999 | 1,000 | 6,331 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at June 30, 2018 |
999,999,999 | 10,000 | 66,169 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at January 1, 2019 |
999,999,999 | 10,000 | 66,169 | |||||||
Newly issued ordinary shares(a) |
1,748,501 | 17 | 118 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
Ordinary shares of USD0.00001 at June 30, 2019 |
1,001,748,500 | 10,017 | 66,287 | |||||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
F-114
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
23 Other reserves
|
Recapitalization reserve |
Share premium |
Share-based compensation reserve |
Foreign currency translation differences |
Others | Total | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||||
As of January 1, 2018 |
1,200,000 | — | 376 | — | — | 1,200,376 | |||||||||||||
Share premium from issuance of ordinary shares |
— | 4,730,375 | — | — | — | 4,730,375 | |||||||||||||
Share-based payments |
|||||||||||||||||||
—Value of employee services (Note 24) |
— | — | 740 | — | — | 740 | |||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation differences |
— | — | — | 204,607 | — | 204,607 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2018 |
1,200,000 | 4,730,375 | 1,116 | 204,607 | — | 6,136,098 | |||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of January 1, 2019 |
1,200,000 | 4,730,375 | 8,127 | 396,520 | (183,569 | ) | 6,151,453 | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
|||||||||||||||||||
—Foreign currency translation differences |
— | — | — | (1,970 | ) | — | (1,970 | ) | |||||||||||
Share premium from issuance of ordinary shares(a) |
— | 88,030 | — | — | — | 88,030 | |||||||||||||
Share-based payments |
|||||||||||||||||||
—Value of employee services (Note 24) |
— | — | 34,488 | — | — | 34,488 | |||||||||||||
Recognition of redemption liability to acquire non-controlling interests (Note 30) |
— | — | — | — | (44,105 | ) | (44,105 | ) | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
As of June 30, 2019 |
1,200,000 | 4,818,405 | 42,615 | 394,550 | (227,674 | ) | 6,227,896 | ||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
24 Share-based payments
For the purpose of share option scheme, Xin Ding Heng was set up in 2017 as a special purpose vehicle to indirectly hold 66,171,600 ordinary shares of the Company through Sen Rong. As the Company has the power to govern the relevant activities of Xin Ding Heng and can derive benefits from the services to be rendered by the grantees, the directors of the Company consider that it is appropriate to consolidate Xin Ding Heng. As the equity interest for 66,171,600 shares was originally reserved by the Registered Shareholders through Jin Ning Sheng and Guang Feng Rong before the Recapitalization of the Group, aggregate consideration of RMB 88,280,000 for 66,171,600 shares and is recognized as "shares held for share option scheme" under equity from January 1, 2017.
F-115
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
24 Share-based payments (Continued)
On November 7, 2017, equity-settled share-based compensation plan ("the Share Option Scheme") was set up with the objective to recognize and reward the contribution of eligible directors, employees and other persons (collectively, the "Grantees") for the growth and development of the Group. The Share Option Plan is valid and effective for 10 years from the grant date.
On November 7, 2017 and November 8, 2018 and June 1, 2019, 19,515,600 and 8,597,400 and 2,431,000 share options were granted to Grantees respectively, which were recognized under equity of the Group.
Subject to the Grantee continuing to be a service provider, 100% of these options will be vested over 4 years upon fulfilling the service conditions and non-market performance conditions prescribed in the share option agreement.
The options should be exercised no earlier than 12 months after the Company successfully completes an initial public offering and the Company's shares get listed in the stock exchange ("IPO and Listing") and no later than 8 years from the grant date. The vesting date is determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
The share-based compensation expenses recognized during six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 are summarized in the following table:
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Share-based compensation expense |
|||||||
—Value of employee's services (Note 7) |
740 | 34,488 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
Movements in the number of share options granted to employees are as follows:
|
Number of share options | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Six months ended June 30, 2018 |
Six months ended June 30, 2019 |
|||||
At the beginning of the period |
19,515,600 | 24,541,500 | |||||
Granted |
1,000,000 | 2,431,000 | |||||
Forfeited |
(2,793,700 | ) | (1,423,800 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
At the end of the period |
17,721,900 | 25,548,700 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
For the outstanding share options, the weighted-average exercise price was RMB1.87 and RMB22.35 per share and the weighted-average remaining contractual life was 7.36 and 6.82 years, respectively, as of June 30, 2018 and 2019.
F-116
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
24 Share-based payments (Continued)
Share options outstanding at the balance sheet dates have the following expiry dates and exercise prices.
|
|
|
|
Number of share options | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grant Year
|
Expiry Year |
Exercise price |
Fair value of options |
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||
2017 |
2027 | RMB1.33 | RMB0.62 | 3,149,100 | 3,016,500 | |||||||||||
2017 |
2027 | RMB2.00 | RMB0.52 | 12,980,000 | 12,093,800 | |||||||||||
2018 |
2028 | RMB52.00 | RMB26.00 | 8,412,400 | 8,007,400 | |||||||||||
2019 |
2029 | RMB52.00 | RMB23.42 | — | 2,431,000 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
24,541,500 | 25,548,700 | ||||||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The Company have used the discounted cash flow method to determine the underlying equity fair value of the Company to determine the fair value of the underlying ordinary share. Key assumptions, such as discount rate and projections of future performance, are required to be determined by the Company with best estimate.
Based on fair value of the underlying ordinary share, the Company have used Binomial option-pricing model to determine the fair value of the share option as at the grant date. Key assumptions are set as below:
Date of grant
|
November 7, 2017 |
November 8, 2018 |
June 1, 2019 |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Discount rate |
24.0 | % | 17.0 | % | 17.0 | % | ||||
Risk-free interest rate |
3.9 | % | 3.6 | % | 3.3 | % | ||||
Volatility |
51.6 | % | 51.2 | % | 46.0 | % | ||||
Dividend yield |
0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | ||||
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
The Binomial Model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the China Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected dividend yield was estimated based on the Company's expected dividend policy over the expected life of the options. The Company estimates the volatility of its ordinary shares at the date of grant based on the historical volatility of similar U.S public companies for a period equal to the expected life preceding the grant date.
F-117
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
25 Trade and other payables
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Trade payables |
|||||||
Due to related parties |
250,687 | 94,568 | |||||
Due to third parties |
65,809 | 52,642 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
316,496 | 147,210 | |||||
Accrued expenses |
255,852 |
354,295 |
|||||
Financial guarantee payables (a) |
250,338 | 289,719 | |||||
Redemption liabilities |
188,080 | 237,745 | |||||
Lease liability |
209,320 | 207,146 | |||||
Service fee refundable |
140,028 | 112,472 | |||||
Investment deposit received from investors |
90,002 | — | |||||
Amounts payable for purchase of shares for share option scheme (Note 24) |
88,280 | 88,280 | |||||
Other tax payables |
34,487 | 43,108 | |||||
Security deposit |
25,588 | 61,029 | |||||
Unpaid business acquisition consideration of BER Technology (Note 30) |
— | 59,811 | |||||
Others |
85,398 | 63,150 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,683,869 | 1,663,965 | |||||
Less: non-current portion |
|||||||
Redemption liabilities |
(188,080 | ) | (237,745 | ) | |||
Lease liability |
(126,868 | ) | (118,907 | ) | |||
Amounts payable for purchase of shares for share option scheme (Note 24) |
(88,280 | ) | (88,280 | ) | |||
| | | | | | | |
|
1,280,641 | 1,219,033 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
(a) Financial guarantee payables
|
RMB'000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Six months ended June 30, 2018 |
||||
Opening balance |
209,782 | |||
Addition arising from new contracts |
45,368 | |||
Charge to profit or loss |
99,136 | |||
Payouts during the period, net |
(94,602 | ) | ||
| | | | |
Ending balance |
259,684 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
F-118
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
25 Trade and other payables (Continued)
|
RMB'000 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Six months ended June 30, 2019 |
||||
Opening balance |
250,338 | |||
Addition arising from new contracts |
— | |||
Charge to profit or loss |
121,819 | |||
Payouts during the period, net |
(82,438 | ) | ||
| | | | |
Ending balance |
289,719 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
26 Short-term borrowings
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Secured |
3,386,100 | 2,938,018 | |||||
Unsecured |
— | 5,000 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
3,386,100 | 2,943,018 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
As of December 31, 2018, out of the secured borrowings, RMB3,373,100,000 were secured by restricted cash of RMB3,884,434,000 (Note 20), RMB8,000,000 was secured by Mrs. Li Che's (the non-controlling shareholder's spouse) real estate located in mainland China, and RMB5,000,000 was guranteed by Mr. Xi Wang (non-controlling shareholder of the Group). The weighted average interest rate of all short-term borrowings is 4.78% per annum as of December 31, 2018.
As of June 30, 2019, out of the secured borrowings, RMB2,929,018,000 was secured by restricted cash of RMB3,217,360,000(Note 20) and RMB9,000,000 was guaranteed by a third party financial guarantee company. The weighted average interest rate of all short-term borrowings is 4.61% per annum as of June 30, 2019.
27 Derivative financial liability
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nominal amount |
Fair value |
Nominal amount |
Fair value |
|||||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||||||||
Currency swaps |
480,424 | 2,438 | 653,097 | 3,170 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
28 Dividends
No dividends have been paid or declared by the Company during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019.
F-119
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
29 Related party transactions
The following significant transactions were carried out between the Group and its related parties during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019. In the opinion of the Directors of the Company, the related party transactions were carried out in the normal course of business and at terms negotiated between the Group and the respective related parties.
(a) Names and relationships with related parties
The following companies are related parties of the Group that had balances and/or transactions with the Group during the six months ended June 30, 2019.
Name of related parties
|
Relationship with the Group | |
---|---|---|
|
As of June 30, 2019 / For the period ended June 30, 2019 | |
Sen Rong Limited |
Parent Company |
|
Bo Yu Limited |
A shareholder that has significant influence over the Group | |
Ping An Group |
Ultimate parent company of Bo Yu | |
Subsidiaries of Ping An Group |
Controlled by Ping An Group | |
Puhui Lixin |
Subsidiary of Lufax Holdings Ltd., significant influenced by the Group |
(b) Significant transactions with related parties
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Revenue |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
239,577 | 440,837 | |||||
Puhui Lixin |
29,166 | 6,405 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
268,743 | 447,242 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The Group also provided lending solution services to third party lenders through contractual arrangement with another subsidiary of Ping An Group while the Group directly charged the related service fees to the subsidiary of Ping An Group. The revenue generated from such transactions for the 6 months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019, was included in revenue by amounts charged to Ping An Group and its subsidiaries, amounted to RMB77,170,000 and RMB7,901,000, respectively.
F-120
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
29 Related party transactions (Continued)
Revenue generated by providing implementation and support service jointly with Ping An Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd, a related party, for the 6 months ended June 30, 2018 and 2019 amounted to RMB Nil and RMB1,512,000, respectively.
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Purchase of services |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
240,126 | 250,539 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Net gain from wealth management products issued by related parties |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
46,710 | 30,451 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Investment income from loans to related parties |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
— | 417 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Interest income on bank deposits |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
48,860 | 44,157 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Leasing payment |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
24,933 | 7,898 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Interest expenses paid |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
58,315 | 51,894 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-121
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
29 Related party transactions (Continued)
(c) Year/period end balances with related parties
|
As of December 31, 2018 |
As of June 30, 2019 |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Loans to related parties |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(i) |
15,027 | — | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Trade receivables |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(ii) |
142,223 | 262,926 | |||||
Puhui Lixin(ii) |
3,245 | 11,365 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
145,468 | 274,291 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Contract assets |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
75,383 | 77,407 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Prepayment and other receivables |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(ii) |
40,848 | 27,706 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (Note 19) |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
2,540,925 | 1,046,660 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Cash and restricted cash |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
4,317,364 | 2,141,168 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Trade and other payables |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries(ii) |
308,700 | 179,068 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Short-term borrowings |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries (Note 26) |
3,072,755 | 1,210,768 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Derivative financial liabilities |
|||||||
Ping An Group and its subsidiaries |
2,438 | 3,170 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
F-122
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
29 Related party transactions (Continued)
(d) Key management personnel compensations
Key management includes directors (executive and non-executive) and senior officers. The compensations paid or payable to key management for employee services are shown below:
|
Six months ended June 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2018 | 2019 | |||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|||||
Wages and salaries |
5,221 | 6,090 | |||||
Welfare and other benefits |
1,127 | 1,011 | |||||
Share-based payments |
148 | 744 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
|
6,496 | 7,845 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
30 Business Combination
On June 30, 2019 ("Acquisition Date"), the Group acquired 80% of the equity interest of BER Technology and obtained the control of BER Technology, which is a service provider specialized in scenario-basic retail digital banking platform establishment and operation.
F-123
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
30 Business Combination (Continued)
The following table summarizes the acquisition-date fair value of the total consideration, the net assets acquired and goodwill arising on the acquisition:
|
Notes | Fair value | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
RMB'000 |
||||
Property and equipment |
12 | 7,560 | ||||
Intangible assets |
13 | 51,778 | ||||
Deferred tax assets |
4,625 | |||||
Prepayments and other receivables |
4,561 | |||||
Trade receivables |
9,724 | |||||
Contract assets |
40,488 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
1,993 | |||||
| | | | | | |
Total assets |
120,729 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Trade and other payables |
18,287 | |||||
Short-term borrowings |
9,850 | |||||
Payroll and welfare payables |
4,178 | |||||
Deferred tax liability |
7,442 | |||||
| | | | | | |
Total liabilities |
39,757 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Net identifiable assets |
80,972 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Less: non-controlling interest |
(16,194 | ) | ||||
Add: goodwill |
13 | 29,784 | ||||
| | | | | | |
Net assets acquired |
94,562 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
Cash consideration |
58,728 | |||||
Share consideration |
37,272 | |||||
| | | | | | |
Consideration to be paid |
96,000 | |||||
| | | | | | |
Contingent returnable consideration |
(1,438 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | |
Total purchase consideration |
94,562 | |||||
| | | | | | |
Total cash consideration to be paid |
58,728 | |||||
Less: Unpaid cash consideration |
(22,539 | ) | ||||
Cash and cash equivalent acquired by the Group from BER Technology |
(1,993 | ) | ||||
| | | | | | |
Net cash outflow for acquisition of subsidiary: |
34,196 | |||||
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
The goodwill is attributable to the workforce and synergies of the acquired business. It will not be deductible for tax purposes. As at June 30, 2019, share consideration of RMB37,272,000 has not yet been settled.
Contingently returnable consideration represents fair value of the right that the Group has to repurchase 20% of the consideration shares at a nominal price if BER Technology fails to meet certain revenue goal within three years from July 1, 2019.
F-124
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
30 Business Combination (Continued)
The Group wrote a put option on the remaining 20% equity in BER Technology. The put option provides the non-controlling shareholders of BER Technology with the right to request the Group to purchase the remaining equity interest subject to the terms and conditions of the put option. A financial liability (redemption liability) of RMB44,105,000 was initially recognized on the acquisition date to account for the put option and other reserve of the same amount were debited accordingly. The redemption liability was subsequently measured at amortized cost.
The Group recognizes non-controlling interests in an acquired entity either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the acquired entity's net identifiable assets. This decision is made on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. For the non-controlling interests in BER Technology, the Group elected to recognize the non-controlling interests at its proportionate share of the acquired net identifiable assets.
The operation result of BER Technology was not included in the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2019 as the acquisition date is June 30, 2019.
If the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019, consolidated pro-forma revenue and net loss of the Group for the six months ended June 30, 2019 would have been increased by RMB21,383,000 and RMB9,353,000 respectively. These amounts have been calculated using the subsidiary's results and adjusting them for:
31 The Group's maximum exposure to unconsolidated structured entities
The Group has determined that all of assets management products managed by the Group and its investments in wealth management products, which are not controlled by the Group, are unconsolidated structured entities.
The Group invests in wealth management products managed by related parties for treasury management purposes. The Group also managed some assets management fund products as fund manager to generate fees from managing assets on behalf of other investors, mainly Ping An Group and its subsidiaries. The assets management fund products are financed by capital contribution from investors.
The following table shows the Group's maximum exposure to the unconsolidated structured entities which represents the Group's maximum possible risk exposure that could occur as a result of the Group's arrangements with structured entities. The maximum exposure is contingent in nature and approximates the sum of direct investments made by the Group. The direct investments made by the Group are classified as FVPL.
F-125
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
31 The Group's maximum exposure to unconsolidated structured entities (Continued)
The size of unconsolidated structured entities and the Group's funding and maximum exposure are shown below:
|
Unconsolidated structured entities | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
December 31, 2018
|
Size | Carrying amount |
The Group's maximum exposure |
Interest held by the Group |
|||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
|||||||
Asset management products managed by the Group |
4,420,839 | 2,649 | 2,649 | Service fee | |||||||
Wealth management products managed by related parties |
Note a | 2,540,925 | 2,540,925 | Investment income |
|
Unconsolidated structured entities | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 30, 2019
|
Size | Carrying amount |
The Group's maximum exposure |
Interest held by the Group |
|||||||
|
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
RMB'000 |
|
|||||||
Asset management products managed by subsidiary |
3,365,079 | 4,198 | 4,198 | Service fee | |||||||
Wealth management products managed by related parties |
Note a | 1,052,346 | 1,052,346 | Investment income |
32 Contingencies
The Group did not have any material contingent liabilities as of June 30, 2019.
33 Events occurring after the reporting period
On August 12, 2019, the Group entered into an agreement to acquire View Foundation International Limited ("View Foundation") which effectively controls 98.9% of the equity interest in Shenzhen E-Commerce Safety Certificates Administration Co. Ltd. ("Shenzhen CA") through a series of contractual arrangements. The aggregate consideration of this acquisition is RMB276,700,000. Shenzhen CA is engaged in the provision of digital certification and related services and solutions.
On August 30, 2019, the Group completed the acquisition of View Foundation which effectively controls 98.9% of the equity interest in Shenzhen CA through a series of contractual arrangements.
F-126
ONECONNECT FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Continued)
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2019
33 Events occurring after the reporting period (Continued)
The following table summarizes the acquisition-date fair value of the total consideration, the net identifiable assets acquired and goodwill arising on the acquisition:
|
Fair value | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
RMB'000 |
|||
Property and equipment |
10,564 | |||
Intangible assets |
120,189 | |||
Inventories |
895 | |||
Prepayments and other receivables |
43,614 | |||
Trade receivables |
10,421 | |||
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss |
34,020 | |||
Cash and cash equivalents |
14,644 | |||
| | | | |
Total assets |
234,347 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Deferred tax liabilities |
16,961 | |||
Trade and other payables |
14,128 | |||
Contract liabilities |
56,038 | |||
Payroll and welfare payables |
2,302 | |||
| | | | |
Total liabilities |
89,429 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Net identifiable assets |
144,918 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Less: non-controlling interest |
(1,580 | ) | ||
Add: goodwill |
133,362 | |||
| | | | |
Net assets acquired |
276,700 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
Purchase consideration in cash |
276,700 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
The goodwill is attributable to the workforce and synergies of the acquired business. It will not be deductible for tax purposes. As at August 30, 2019, out of total purchase consideration of RMB276,7000,000, RMB152,290,000 has not been paid.
Accounting policy choice for non-controlling interests
The Group recognizes non-controlling interests in an acquired entity either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest's proportionate share of the acquired entity's net identifiable assets. This decision is made on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. For the non-controlling interests in Shenzhen CA, the Group elected to recognize the non-controlling interests at its proportionate share of the acquired net identifiable assets.
Due to the timing of the completion of the acquisition, the Group is still in the process of preparing certain necessary information for the disclosure purpose. Consequently, certain disclosures in relation to the business combination, such as the effects of business combination on revenue and profit, have not been presented.
F-127
[Page intentionally left blank for graphics]
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Cayman Islands law does not limit the extent to which a company's articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime.
The post-offering memorandum and articles of association that we expect to adopt and to become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering provide that we shall indemnify our directors and officers (each an indemnified person) against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such indemnified person, other than by reason of such person's own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company's business or affairs (including as a result of any mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such indemnified person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the Cayman Islands or elsewhere.
Pursuant to the indemnification agreements the form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this registration statement, we agree to indemnify our directors and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a director or officer.
The underwriting agreement, the form of which will be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, will also provide indemnification for us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Item 7. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
During the past three years, we have issued the following securities. We believe that each of the following issuances was exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act regarding transactions not involving a public offering or in reliance on Regulation S under
II-1
the Securities Act regarding sales by an issuer in offshore transactions. No underwriters were involved in these issuances of securities.
Securities/Purchaser
|
Date of Sale or Issuance | Number of Securities | Consideration | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mapcal Limited |
October 30, 2017 | 1 | nil | |||
Bo Yu Limited |
December 4, 2017 | 398,699,999 | nil | |||
Sen Rong Limited |
December 4, 2017 | 501,300,000 | nil | |||
FinTech Business Innovation LPS |
January 31, 2018 | 1,333,334 | US$10,000,005 | |||
SBI Holdings, Inc. |
January 31, 2018 | 1,333,334 | US$10,000,005 | |||
SBI Stellars Fintech Fund I LP |
January 31, 2018 | 27,333,334 | US$205,000,005 | |||
SBI Stellars Fintech Fund II LP |
January 31, 2018 | 1,999,998 | US$14,999,985 | |||
SBI Stellars Fintech Fund III LP |
January 31, 2018 | 32,000,000 | US$240,000,000 | |||
Jumbo Sheen Fintech Investment Co., Ltd. |
January 31, 2018 | 5,333,334 | US$40,000,005 | |||
Oceanwide Financial Technology Co., Ltd. |
January 31, 2018 | 4,000,000 | US$40,000,005 | |||
BOCOMI Hermitage Global Fintech Fund LP |
January 31, 2018 | 4,666,666 | US$34,999,995 | |||
Fangyuan Investment Management Limited |
January 31, 2018 | 4,666,666 | US$34,999,995 | |||
Huateng Fintech Co., Ltd. |
January 31, 2018 | 2,000,000 | US$15,000,000 | |||
Bloom Vast Limited |
January 31, 2018 | 2,000,000 | US$15,000,000 | |||
SVF FAX SUBCO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD. |
April 10, 2018 | 13,333,333 | US$100,000,000 | |||
National Dream Limited |
March 11, 2019 | 1,748,501 | US$13,113,758 | |||
Share Incentive Awards |
|
|
|
|||
Certain directors, officers and employees |
From November 7, 2017 to September 2019 |
Outstanding options to purchase 24,697,650 ordinary shares and 2,347,000 outstanding performance share units |
Past and future services to us |
Item 8. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
a) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index beginning on page II-4 of this registration statement.
The agreements included as exhibits to this registration statement contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) were not intended to be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) may have been qualified in such agreement by disclosure that was made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement; (iii) may apply contract standards of "materiality" that are different from "materiality" under the applicable securities laws; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement.
II-2
We acknowledge that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, we are responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosure of material information regarding material contractual provisions is required to make the statements in this registration statement not misleading.
b) Financial Statement Schedules
Schedules have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
II-3
OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd.
Exhibit Index
Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | ||
---|---|---|---|
1.1 | * | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
3.1 | Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant, as currently in effect | ||
3.2 | Form of Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant, effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering | ||
4.1 | * | Registrant's Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.3) | |
4.2 | * | Registrant's Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares | |
4.3 | * | Form of Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, the depositary and the holders and beneficial owners of American Depositary Shares issued thereunder | |
4.4 | * | Registration Rights Agreement between Registrant and other parties thereto date [ ], 2019 | |
5.1 | * | Opinion of Maples & Calder (Hong Kong) LLP regarding the validity of the ordinary shares being registered and certain Cayman Islands tax matters | |
8.1 | * | Opinion of Maples & Calder (Hong Kong) LLP regarding certain Cayman Islands tax matters (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
8.2 | * | Opinion of Haiwen & Partners regarding certain PRC tax matters (included in Exhibit 99.2) | |
10.1 | Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers | ||
10.2 | * | English translation of Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers | |
10.3 | English translation of the executed amended and restated equity pledge agreement entered into by and among Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou dated September 16, 2019 | ||
10.4 | English translation of the executed amended and restated shareholder voting proxy agreement entered into by and among Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, subsidiaries of Shenzhen OneConnect, shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou dated September 16, 2019 | ||
10.5 | English translation of the form letter of undertakings | ||
10.6 | English translation of the form spousal consent letters issued by the spouses of Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou | ||
10.7 | English translation of the executed amended and restated exclusive business cooperation agreement entered into by and between Shenzhen OneConnect Technology and Shenzhen OneConnect dated September 16, 2019 | ||
10.8 | English translation of the executed amended and restated exclusive equity option agreement entered into by and among Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou dated September 16, 2019 | ||
II-4
Exhibit Number |
Description of Document | ||
---|---|---|---|
10.9 | English translation of the executed amended and restated exclusive asset purchase option agreement entered into by and among Shenzhen OneConnect Technology, Shenzhen OneConnect, shareholders of Shenzhen OneConnect, Jie Li, Liang Xu, Wenjun Wang and Wenwei Dou dated September 16, 2019 | ||
10.10 | English translation of letter of confirmation entered into by Shanghai OneConnect Block Chain Technology Co., Ltd. dated September 16, 2019 | ||
10.11 | Share Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and Blossom View Limited dated September 23, 2019 | ||
10.12 | Share Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and Gold Planning Limited dated September 23, 2019 | ||
10.13 | Share Subscription Agreement between the Registrant, Great Lakes Global Limited and Ms. Chau Jessica Tsz Wa dated August 27, 2019 | ||
10.14 | English translation of Strategic Cooperation Agreement between the Registrant and Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. dated July 11, 2019 | ||
10.15 | † | English translation of Technology Service Agreement between the Registrant Ping An Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Ping An Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Shanghai branch and Shenzhen Ping An Communication Technology Co., Ltd. dated September 1, 2019 | |
10.16 | † | English translation of Comprehensive Credit Facility Agreement between the Registrant and Ping An Bank dated April 16, 2018 | |
10.17 | English translation of Amendment dated May 20, 2019 to the Comprehensive Credit Facility Agreement between the Registrant and Ping An Bank dated April 16, 2018 | ||
10.18 | † | English translation of Loan Agreement between the Registrant and Ping An Bank dated March 28, 2019 | |
10.19 | English translation of 2019 Plan of the Registrant | ||
21.1 | Principal Subsidiaries of the Registrant | ||
23.1 | * | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm | |
23.2 | * | Consent of Maples & Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
23.3 | * | Consent of Haiwen & Partners (included in Exhibit 99.2) | |
24.1 | * | Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) | |
99.1 | Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant | ||
99.2 | * | Opinion of Haiwen & Partners regarding certain PRC law matters | |
99.3 | * | Consent of Oliver Wyman |
II-5
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-1 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Shenzhen, China, on , 2019.
|
OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. | |||||
|
By: |
|
||||
|
Name: | Wangchun Ye | ||||
|
Title: | Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Wangchun Ye as attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution for him in any and all capacities to do any and all acts and all things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary or desirable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of ordinary shares of the registrant (the "Shares"), including, without limitation, the power and authority to sign the name of each of the undersigned in the capacities indicated below to the Registration Statement on Form F-1 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to such Shares, to any and all amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement, whether such amendments or supplements are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement, to any related Registration Statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in connection with such Registration Statement or any and all amendments thereto, whether such amendments are filed before or after the effective date of such Registration Statement; and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms all that such attorney and agent shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wangchun Ye |
Chief Executive Officer, Director (principal executive officer) |
|||||
Rong Chen |
Director and Co-General Manager |
|||||
Sin Yin Tan |
Director |
II-6
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rui Li |
Director | |||||
Wenwei Dou |
Director |
|||||
Min Zhu |
Director |
|||||
Qi Liang |
Director |
|||||
Yaolin Zhang |
Director |
|||||
Tianruo Pu |
Director |
|||||
Yiming Fei |
Acting Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) |
II-7
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE IN THE UNITED STATES
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of OneConnect Financial Technology Co., Ltd. has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto in , United States on , 2019.
|
Authorized U.S. Representative | |||||
|
By: |
|
||||
|
Name: | |||||
|
Title: |
II-8