UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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OR |
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended |
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OR |
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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OR |
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SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) |
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(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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Beijing |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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Contact Person: Chief Financial Officer ( Beijing |
*(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person) |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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Trading Symbol(s) |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Class A ordinary shares |
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N/A
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* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares representing such Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
☐ Yes ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
☐ Yes ☒
Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ |
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Accelerated filer ☐ |
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Emerging growth company |
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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
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.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
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International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐ |
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Other ☐ |
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.
☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Yes
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.
☐ Yes ☐ No
PHOENIX NEW MEDIA LIMITED
FORM 20-F ANNUAL REPORT
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
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4 |
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ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS |
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4 |
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57 |
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93 |
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93 |
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109 |
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115 |
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118 |
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119 |
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119 |
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ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
125 |
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES |
126 |
128 |
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128 |
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ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
128 |
128 |
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129 |
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129 |
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129 |
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ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES |
130 |
ITEM 16E. PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS |
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130 |
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130 |
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131 |
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ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS |
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Conventions that Apply to this Annual Report on Form 20-F
In this annual report, unless otherwise indicated:
1
On May 23, 2022, we effected a change of the ratio of our ADSs to Class A ordinary shares from the then ADS ratio of one (1) ADS to eight (8) Class A ordinary shares to a new ADS ratio of one (1) ADS to forty-eight (48) Class A ordinary shares. Unless otherwise indicated, ADSs and per ADS amount in this annual report have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the change in ratio for all periods presented.
This annual report contains statistical data that we obtained from various government and private publications. We have not independently verified the data in these reports and database. Statistical data in these publications also include projections based on a number of assumptions. If any one of the assumptions underlying the statistical data turns out to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions.
This annual report on Form 20-F includes our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and as of December 31, 2021 and 2022.
Our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FENG.”
Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this annual report are made at a rate of RMB6.8972 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of December 30, 2022 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. We make no representation that any Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts 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.
2
Forward-Looking Information
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of 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 “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely to,” “may,” “plan,” “will” 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, operating results, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include:
our growth strategies, including without limitation strategies to grow particular products or services;
our future business development, operating results and financial condition;
expected changes in our revenues, including in components of our total revenues, and cost or expense items;
our ability to continue and manage the expansion of our operations; and
changes in general economic and business conditions in China.
The forward-looking statements made in this annual report on Form 20-F relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this annual report on Form 20-F. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this annual report on Form 20-F and the documents that we reference in this annual report on Form 20-F and have filed as exhibits hereto with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.
Other sections of this annual report on Form 20-F include additional factors that could adversely impact 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.
3
PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not required.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not required.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
Our Corporate Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure as of the date of this annual report, including our subsidiaries, the VIEs and their subsidiaries that are significant subsidiaries as defined in rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X:
Our Corporate Structure and Contractual Arrangements with the VIEs
Phoenix New Media Limited is not an operating company in China but a Cayman Islands holding company, which has no equity ownership in the VIEs, with operations primarily conducted by our PRC subsidiaries and through contractual arrangements with the VIEs based in China. Currently, VIEs are (i) Fenghuang Ronghe and (ii) Tianying Jiuzhou. Under the PRC laws and regulations, the operation and provision of internet information services to the public, value-added telecommunication-based online marketing, internet audio visual program services and internet culture operations (except for music) in the PRC is subject to foreign investment restrictions and license requirements. Therefore, we operate such businesses in China through the VIEs, and rely on contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, the VIEs and their respective shareholders to control the business operations of the VIEs. Revenue contributed by the VIEs and their subsidiaries accounted for 42.2%, 44.7% and 44.5% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. As used in this annual report, “we,” “us,” “our company,” “our” and “Phoenix New Media” refer to Phoenix New Media Limited, a Cayman Islands company and its subsidiaries, and, in the context of describing its operations and consolidated financial information, its VIEs in China, including but not limited to Tianying Jiuzhou and Fenghuang Ronghe. Investors in our ADSs are not purchasing equity interest in our operating entities in China, but instead are purchasing an equity interest in Phoenix New Media Limited, a Cayman Islands holding company. The VIEs are consolidated with our results of operations for accounting purposes. However, we do not own equity interest in Fenghuang Ronghe or Tianying Jiuzhou.
4
Furthermore, Phoenix New Media Limited, as our holding company, does not conduct operating activities other than holding investment in certain of our equity investees.
Our PRC subsidiaries, the VIEs and their respective shareholders have entered into a series of contractual agreements, including loan agreements, equity pledge agreements, exclusive equity option agreements, exclusive technical consulting and service agreements, voting right entrustment agreements, and spousal consent letters. Terms contained in the contractual arrangements with each of the VIEs and their respective shareholders are substantially similar. For more details of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements with the VIEs.”
The contractual arrangements may not be as effective as ownership in providing us with control over the VIEs. If the VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under these contractual arrangements, our recourse to the assets held by the VIEs is indirect and we may have to incur substantial costs and expend significant resources to enforce such arrangements in reliance on legal remedies under PRC law. These remedies may not always be effective, particularly in light of uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations. Furthermore, in connection with litigation, arbitration or other judicial or dispute resolution proceedings, assets under the name of any of record holder of equity interest in the VIEs, including such equity interest, may be put under court custody. As a consequence, we cannot be certain that the equity interest will be disposed pursuant to the contractual arrangement or ownership by the record holder of the equity interest. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—We rely on contractual arrangements with the VIEs in China, and their shareholders, for our business operations, which may not be as effective in providing operational control or enabling us to derive economic benefits as through ownership of controlling equity interest,” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—The shareholders of the VIEs may have potential conflicts of interest with us.”
Our corporate structure is subject to risks associated with our contractual arrangements with the VIEs. Investors may never directly hold equity interest in the VIEs. If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our business do not comply with PRC laws and regulations, or if these regulations or their interpretations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties, forced to relinquish our interests in those operations or required to restructure our ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements with the VIEs or deregistering the equity pledge of the VIEs, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert effective control over the VIEs and thus have a material effect on our operations and result in the value of our ADSs diminishing substantially and our ADSs may become worthless. Our holding company, our PRC subsidiaries, the VIEs, and investors of our company face uncertainty regarding potential future actions by the PRC government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the VIEs and, consequently, significantly affect the financial performance of the VIEs and our company as a whole.
There are also substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules regarding the status of the rights of our Cayman Islands holding company with respect to its contractual arrangements with the VIEs and their respective shareholders. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If we or any of the VIEs is found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations to take action in dealing with such violations or failures. See “—D. Risk Factors—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 PRC governmental restrictions on foreign investment in Internet businesses, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we would be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations,” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.”
We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties associated with being based in or having our operations primarily in China and the country’s complex and evolving laws and regulations. For example, we face risks associated with regulatory approvals on offerings conducted overseas by and foreign investment in China-based issuers, the use of the VIEs, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, which may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or list on a United States or other foreign exchange outside of China. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For a detailed description of risks related to doing business in China, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China.” Furthermore, the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended, or the HFCA Act, may affect our ability to maintain our listing on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE. See “—D. Risks Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China— If the PCAOB determines that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor at any point in the future, our ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCA Act, and any such trading prohibition on our ADSs or threat thereof may materially and adversely affect the price of our ADSs and value of your investment.”
5
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Pursuant to the HFCA Act, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has a branch or office that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, has determined that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in the foreign jurisdiction, the SEC will identify us as a “covered issuer”, or SEC-identified issuer, shortly after we file with the SEC a report required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act (such as our annual report on Form 20-F) that includes an audit report issued by such accounting firm, and if we are so identified for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our securities (including our shares or the ADSs) from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, including our auditor. In May 2022, the SEC conclusively listed us as an SEC-identified Issuer under the HFCA Act following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. As such, we do not expect to be identified as an SEC-identified Issuer under the HFCA Act after we file this annual report on Form 20-F. However, the PCAOB may change its determination as to whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions, at any time. If PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we continue to use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we may be identified as an SEC-identified Issuer again. There can be no assurance that we will not be identified as an SEC-identified Issuer in the future, and if we are so identified for two consecutive years, our securities will become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCA Act. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China— If the PCAOB determines that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor at any point in the future, our ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCA Act, and any such trading prohibition on our ADSs or threat thereof may materially and adversely affect the price of our ADSs and value of your investment.”
Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for Our Operations
We conduct our business primarily through our PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs in China. Our business operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. As of the date of this annual report, our PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs have received all material permissions that are, or may be, required for our business operations in China, and no material permission has been denied from us by relevant authorities in China, except those as disclosed in “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Our lack of an Internet audio-visual program transmission license has exposed, and may continue to expose, us to administrative sanctions, including the banning of our paid mobile video services and video advertising services, which would materially and adversely affect our business and results of operation,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Our lack of an Internet news license may expose us to administrative sanctions, including an order to cease our Internet information services or to cease the Internet access services provided by third parties to us. In 2022, approximately 87.1% of our total revenues were derived from Internet information services and services that relied on Internet access services from third parties,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Failure to obtain NRTA’s approval for introducing and broadcasting foreign television programs could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business,” “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Failure to obtain certain permits for our advertising services that contain drug-related information would subject us to penalties,” and “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—If we fail to obtain or maintain all applicable permits and approvals, or fail to comply with PRC regulations, relating to Internet publishing services, our ability to conduct our digital reading business and certain other businesses could be affected and we could be subject to penalties and other administrative sanctions.” Given the uncertainties of interpretation and implementation of relevant laws and regulations and the enforcement practice by relevant government authorities, we may be required to obtain additional licenses, permits, filings or approvals for the functions and services of our platform in the future.
In connection with our issuance of securities to foreign investors, under currently effective PRC laws, regulations and regulatory rules, as of the date of this annual report, we, our PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs, (i) are not required to obtain permissions from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, (ii) have not been involved in any cybersecurity review initiated by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, and (iii) have not received or were denied such requisite permissions by any PRC authority.
6
However, the PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. For more detailed information, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—The approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC, CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required under PRC law in connection with our issuance of securities overseas. Our failure to obtain these approvals, if required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our ADSs.”
Cash and Asset Flows through Our Organization
Under PRC law, we may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or loans, and to the VIEs only through loans, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. For risks relating to the fund flows of our operations in China, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
Phoenix New Media Limited transfers cash to our wholly-owned Hong Kong subsidiaries, by making capital contributions or providing loans, and our Hong Kong subsidiaries transfer cash to our PRC subsidiaries by making capital contributions or providing loans to them. Because Phoenix New Media Limited and our subsidiaries have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIEs and provide them with economic benefits of the VIEs through contractual arrangements, they are not able to make direct capital contribution to the VIEs and their subsidiaries. However, they may transfer cash to the VIEs by loans or by making payment to the VIEs for inter-group transactions.
In 2020, Phoenix New Media Limited, through our Hong Kong subsidiaries, provided capital contribution of RMB78.4 million to our PRC subsidiaries. Subsequently there was no additional capital contribution or loan investment from Phoenix New Media Limited to our PRC subsidiaries. In 2021, the primary beneficiary of the VIEs withdrew RMB9.6 million of investment in the VIEs during the contractual reorganization incurred in 2021, under which Fenghuang On-line terminated the contractual agreements with Yifeng Lianhe and then entered into a series of new contractual arrangements with Fenghuang Ronghe. In 2022, Qieyiyou (Beijing) Information Technology Co., Ltd., or Qieyiyou, terminated the contractual agreements with Beijing Chenhuan Technology Co., Ltd., or Chenhuan.
Our subsidiaries repaid RMB72.3 million, RMB39.2 million of debt financing they received in 2019 to Phoenix New Media Limited for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively, and received RMB0.06 million (US$0.01 million) of debt financing from Phoenix New Media Limited in 2022. The VIEs repaid RMB225.5 million, RMB33.4 million and RMB77.6 million (US$11.3 million) of debt financing they received in 2019 to our subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no dividends or distributions were made to Phoenix New Media Limited by our subsidiaries. Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs are subject to certain restrictions with respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to us. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned enterprise out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE. The amounts restricted include the paid-up capital and the statutory reserve funds of our PRC subsidiaries and the VIEs, totaling RMB636.5 million, RMB646.3 million and RMB409.3 million (US$59.3 million) as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Furthermore, cash transfers from our PRC subsidiaries to entities outside of China are subject to PRC government control of currency conversion. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may temporarily delay the ability of our PRC subsidiaries and VIEs to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated obligations. For risks relating to the fund flows of our operations in China, see “Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” We do not have a cash management policy to dictate how funds are transferred between the VIEs and our subsidiaries.
Phoenix New Media Limited has no present plan to pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See
7
“Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy.” For PRC and United States federal income tax considerations of an investment in our ADSs, see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, no assets other than cash were transferred through our organization.
Taxation on Dividends or Distributions
Phoenix New Media Limited’s source of dividend partly comes from dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries, including the primary beneficiary of the VIEs, which in part depends on payments received from the VIEs under the contractual arrangements with the VIEs. None of our subsidiaries has declared or paid any dividend or distribution to Phoenix New Media Limited. Phoenix New Media Limited does not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on its ordinary shares in the foreseeable future and we currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. The undistributed earnings that are subject to dividend tax are expected to be indefinitely reinvested for the foreseeable future.
For purposes of illustration, the following discussion reflects the hypothetical taxes that we might be required to pay within mainland China, assuming that: (i) we have taxable earnings, and (ii) we determine to pay a dividend in the future:
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Tax calculation (1) |
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Hypothetical pre-tax earnings (2) |
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100.0 |
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% |
Tax on earnings at statutory rate of 25% (3) |
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(25.0 |
) |
% |
Net earnings available for distribution |
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75.0 |
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% |
Withholding tax at standard rate of 10% (4) |
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(7.5 |
) |
% |
Net distribution to Parent/Shareholders |
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67.5 |
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% |
Notes:
The table above has been prepared under the assumption that all profits of the VIEs will be distributed as fees to our PRC subsidiaries under tax neutral contractual arrangements. If, in the future, the accumulated earnings of the VIEs exceed the service fees paid to our PRC subsidiaries (or if the current and contemplated fee structure between the intercompany entities is determined to be non-substantive and disallowed by Chinese tax authorities), the VIEs could make a non-deductible transfer to our PRC subsidiaries for the amounts of the stranded cash in the VIEs. This would result in such transfer being non-deductible expenses for the VIEs but still taxable income for the PRC subsidiaries. Our management believes that there is only a remote possibility that this scenario would happen.
8
Financial Information Related to the VIEs
The following tables present the condensed consolidating schedule of financial performance, financial position and cash flows for the VIEs and other entities for the periods and as of the dates presented.
Selected Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Data
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For the Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
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Phoenix New Media Limited |
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Other Subsidiaries |
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Primary Beneficiary of the VIEs |
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The VIEs and the VIEs’ Subsidiaries |
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Eliminating Adjustments |
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Consolidated Totals |
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RMB (in thousands) |
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Inter-company revenues (1) (4) |
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— |
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6,862 |
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8,199 |
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26,392 |
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(41,453 |
) |
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— |
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Third-party revenues |
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— |
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435,987 |
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(8 |
) |
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349,728 |
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— |
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785,707 |
|
Inter-company cost of revenues (1) (4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(26,368 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(13,714 |
) |
|
|
40,082 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Third-party cost of revenues |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(243,133 |
) |
|
|
(55,817 |
) |
|
|
(249,555 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(548,505 |
) |
Gross profit |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
173,348 |
|
|
|
(47,626 |
) |
|
|
112,851 |
|
|
|
(1,371 |
) |
|
|
237,202 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(16,945 |
) |
|
|
(141,735 |
) |
|
|
(108,785 |
) |
|
|
(171,803 |
) |
|
|
10,631 |
|
|
|
(428,637 |
) |
(Loss)/income from operations |
|
|
(16,945 |
) |
|
|
31,613 |
|
|
|
(156,411 |
) |
|
|
(58,952 |
) |
|
|
9,260 |
|
|
|
(191,435 |
) |
Income from non-operations* |
|
|
(33,291 |
) |
|
|
22,123 |
|
|
|
7,717 |
|
|
|
8,033 |
|
|
|
(9,260 |
) |
|
|
(4,678 |
) |
Share of (loss)/income from the subsidiaries (2) |
|
|
(123,773 |
) |
|
|
(178,684 |
) |
|
|
21,380 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
281,077 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loss from the VIEs (2) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(30,712 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
30,712 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loss before tax* |
|
|
(174,009 |
) |
|
|
(124,948 |
) |
|
|
(158,026 |
) |
|
|
(50,919 |
) |
|
|
311,789 |
|
|
|
(196,113 |
) |
Income tax benefit/(expense)* |
|
|
64,357 |
|
|
|
(1,706 |
) |
|
|
722 |
|
|
|
7,021 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
70,394 |
|
Net loss |
|
|
(109,652 |
) |
|
|
(126,654 |
) |
|
|
(157,304 |
) |
|
|
(43,898 |
) |
|
|
311,789 |
|
|
|
(125,719 |
) |
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,881 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
13,186 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
16,067 |
|
Net loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
(109,652 |
) |
|
|
(123,773 |
) |
|
|
(157,304 |
) |
|
|
(30,712 |
) |
|
|
311,789 |
|
|
|
(109,652 |
) |
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
Other Subsidiaries |
|
|
Primary Beneficiary of the VIEs |
|
|
The VIEs and the VIEs’ Subsidiaries |
|
|
Eliminating Adjustments |
|
|
Consolidated Totals |
|
||||||
|
|
RMB (in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Inter-company revenues (1) (4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6,769 |
|
|
|
36,020 |
|
|
|
27,038 |
|
|
|
(69,827 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Third-party revenues |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
570,038 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
|
460,285 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,030,331 |
|
Inter-company cost of revenues (1) (4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(48,736 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(19,845 |
) |
|
|
68,581 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Third-party cost of revenues |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(299,015 |
) |
|
|
(58,723 |
) |
|
|
(239,659 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(597,397 |
) |
Gross profit |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
229,056 |
|
|
|
(22,695 |
) |
|
|
227,819 |
|
|
|
(1,246 |
) |
|
|
432,934 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(16,556 |
) |
|
|
(228,824 |
) |
|
|
(122,595 |
) |
|
|
(402,300 |
) |
|
|
1,246 |
|
|
|
(769,029 |
) |
(Loss)/income from operations |
|
|
(16,556 |
) |
|
|
232 |
|
|
|
(145,290 |
) |
|
|
(174,481 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(336,095 |
) |
Income from non-operations |
|
|
10,930 |
|
|
|
42,265 |
|
|
|
2,955 |
|
|
|
27,460 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
83,610 |
|
Share of (loss)/income from the subsidiaries (2) |
|
|
(200,075 |
) |
|
|
(228,466 |
) |
|
|
1,038 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
427,503 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loss from the VIEs (2) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(86,131 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
86,131 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loss before tax |
|
|
(205,701 |
) |
|
|
(185,969 |
) |
|
|
(227,428 |
) |
|
|
(147,021 |
) |
|
|
513,634 |
|
|
|
(252,485 |
) |
Income tax expense |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(14,028 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(6,553 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(20,581 |
) |
Net loss |
|
|
(205,701 |
) |
|
|
(199,997 |
) |
|
|
(227,428 |
) |
|
|
(153,574 |
) |
|
|
513,634 |
|
|
|
(273,066 |
) |
Net (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(78 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
67,443 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
67,365 |
|
Net loss attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
(205,701 |
) |
|
|
(200,075 |
) |
|
|
(227,428 |
) |
|
|
(86,131 |
) |
|
|
513,634 |
|
|
|
(205,701 |
) |
9
|
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
Other Subsidiaries |
|
|
Primary Beneficiary of the VIEs |
|
|
The VIEs and the VIEs’ Subsidiaries |
|
|
Eliminating Adjustments |
|
|
Consolidated Totals |
|
||||||
|
|
RMB (in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Inter-company revenues (1) (4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
18,751 |
|
|
|
74,270 |
|
|
|
11,038 |
|
|
|
(104,059 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Third-party revenues |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
698,469 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
510,376 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,208,845 |
|
Inter-company cost of revenues (1) (4) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(82,736 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(19,583 |
) |
|
|
102,319 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Third-party cost of revenues |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(296,659 |
) |
|
|
(22,551 |
) |
|
|
(240,076 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(559,286 |
) |
Gross profit |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
337,825 |
|
|
|
51,719 |
|
|
|
261,755 |
|
|
|
(1,740 |
) |
|
|
649,559 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(39,303 |
) |
|
|
(289,678 |
) |
|
|
(125,961 |
) |
|
|
(298,933 |
) |
|
|
1,740 |
|
|
|
(752,135 |
) |
(Loss)/income from operations |
|
|
(39,303 |
) |
|
|
48,147 |
|
|
|
(74,242 |
) |
|
|
(37,178 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(102,576 |
) |
Income/(loss) from non-operations* |
|
|
594,014 |
|
|
|
26,898 |
|
|
|
34,317 |
|
|
|
(9,425 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
645,804 |
|
Share of (loss)/income from the subsidiaries (2) |
|
|
(40,129 |
) |
|
|
(104,860 |
) |
|
|
9,465 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
135,524 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Loss from the VIEs (2) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(64,935 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
64,935 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Income/(loss) before tax from continuing operations* |
|
|
514,582 |
|
|
|
(29,815 |
) |
|
|
(95,395 |
) |
|
|
(46,603 |
) |
|
|
200,459 |
|
|
|
543,228 |
|
Income tax expense* |
|
|
(96,606 |
) |
|
|
(12,746 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(6,231 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(115,583 |
) |
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations |
|
|
417,976 |
|
|
|
(42,561 |
) |
|
|
(95,395 |
) |
|
|
(52,834 |
) |
|
|
200,459 |
|
|
|
427,645 |
|
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(62,366 |
) |
|||||
Net income/(loss) |
|
|
417,976 |
|
|
|
(42,561 |
) |
|
|
(95,395 |
) |
|
|
(52,834 |
) |
|
|
200,459 |
|
|
|
365,279 |
|
Net loss/(income) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,432 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(12,101 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(9,669 |
) |
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,759 |
|
|||||
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,432 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(12,101 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
15,090 |
|
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
417,976 |
|
|
|
(40,129 |
) |
|
|
(95,395 |
) |
|
|
(64,935 |
) |
|
|
200,459 |
|
|
|
417,976 |
|
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(37,607 |
) |
|||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
417,976 |
|
|
|
(40,129 |
) |
|
|
(95,395 |
) |
|
|
(64,935 |
) |
|
|
200,459 |
|
|
|
380,369 |
|
Note:
* The previously reported gain on disposal of available-for-sale debt investments of RMB477.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 was presented net of accrued PRC withholding tax of RMB96.6 million. After further assessment, we reached the conclusion that the gain on disposal of available-for-sale debt investments should be presented at the gross amount of RMB573.9 million with the accrued PRC withholding tax presented as part of the income tax expense, and therefore, the gain on disposal of available-for-sale debt investments, income before tax from continuing operations and the income tax expense for Phoenix New Media and consolidated totals for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been restated. Refer to Note 2(b) of the accompanying consolidated financial statements for further information. The previously reported gain on disposal of available-for-sale debt investments of RMB64.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 in our press release dated March 14, 2023 (Beijing, China time) reporting the unaudited consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 has been revised to nil with the tax benefit of RMB64.4 million presented as part of the income tax benefit. The gain on disposal of available-for-sale debt investments for the year ended December 31, 2019 should also be presented at the gross amount of RMB1,143.8 million with the accrued PRC withholding tax of RMB142.6 million presented as part of the income tax expense.
10
Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Data
|
|
As of December 31, 2022 |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Phoenix New Media Limited |
|
|
Other Subsidiaries |
|
|
Primary Beneficiary of the VIEs |
|
|
The VIEs and the VIEs’ Subsidiaries |
|
|
Eliminating Adjustments |
|
|
Consolidated Totals |
|
||||||
|
|
RMB (in thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
10,552 |
|
|
|
47,310 |
|
|
|
4,494< |