JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. [JKS] Filings

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

(Mark One)

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☐                  REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

☒                 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

OR

☐                  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

☐                  SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report

For the transition period from                         to

Commission file number: 001-34615

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

N/A

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

1 Yingbin Road

Shangrao Economic Development Zone

Jiangxi Province, 334100

People’s Republic of China

(86-793) 858-8188

(Address of principal executive offices)

Mengmeng (Pan) Li, Chief Financial Officer

1 Yingbin Road

Shangrao Economic Development Zone

Jiangxi Province, 334100

People’s Republic of China

Tel: (86-793) 858-8188

Fax: (86-793) 846-1152

E-mail: pan.li@jinkosolar.com

(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:

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* Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing of the American depositary shares on New York Stock Exchange.

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Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

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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.

201,189,189 ordinary shares, excluding 67,668 ADSs representing 270,672 ordinary shares reserved for future grants under our share incentive plans and conversion of our convertible notes and 2,945,840 ordinary shares as treasury stock, as of December 31, 2022.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☒ No ☐

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 ☐ No ☒

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.

Yes ☒ No ☐

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).

Yes ☒ No ☐

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 definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐

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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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 ☐ No ☒

(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 Sections 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 ☐

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CONVENTIONS THAT APPLY TO THIS ANNUAL REPORT

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Unless otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F to:

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Names of certain companies provided in this annual report are translated or transliterated from their original Chinese legal names.

Discrepancies in any table between the amounts identified as total amounts and the sum of the amounts listed therein are due to rounding.

This annual report on Form 20-F includes our audited consolidated financial statements for 2020, 2021 and 2022 and as of December 31, 2021 and 2022.

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Exchange Rate Information

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We publish our consolidated financial statements in Renminbi. The conversion of Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this annual report is solely for the convenience of readers. The exchange rate refers to the exchange rate as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this annual report were made at a rate of RMB6.8972 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect as of December 30, 2022. The Renminbi is not freely convertible into foreign currency. 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, the rates stated below, or at all. On April 21, 2023, the exchange rate, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board, was RMB6.8920 to US$1.00.

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Safe Harbor

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We make “forward-looking statements” throughout this annual report. Whenever you read a statement that is not simply a statement of historical fact (such as when we describe what we “believe,” “expect” or “anticipate” will occur, what “will” or “could” happen, and other similar statements), you must remember that our expectations may not be correct, even though we believe that they are reasonable. We do not guarantee that the transactions and events described in this annual report will happen as described or that they will happen at all. You should read this annual report completely and with the understanding that actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. The forward-looking statements made in this annual report relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though our situation will change in the future.

Whether actual results will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and reflect future business decisions that are subject to change. Some of the assumptions, future results and levels of performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements we make inevitably will not materialize, and unanticipated events may occur which will affect our results. “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” describes the principal contingencies and uncertainties to which we believe we are subject. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

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PART I

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ITEM 1.               IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

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Not Applicable.

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ITEM 2.               OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

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Not Applicable.

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ITEM 3.               KEY INFORMATION

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Our Holding Company Structure

The Company is not a Chinese operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company with operations primarily conducted by its subsidiaries based in China. Investors in the ADSs are purchasing equity interest in the Cayman Islands holding company. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our principal operating subsidiary, and limitations on their ability to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.” In addition, we face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties related to doing business in mainland China. A significant part of our business operations in China are conducted through our subsidiaries in the PRC, and we and our subsidiaries are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations. For example, we and our subsidiaries in the PRC face risks associated with regulatory approvals on offshore offerings, which may impact our ability to conduct certain businesses, accept foreign investments, or list on a United States or other foreign exchange. These risks could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of the ADSs, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, or cause such securities to significantly decline in value. In addition, we are subject to risks arising from China’s legal system, including the uncertainty in the interpretation and the enforcement of the PRC laws and regulations. See “—Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer and a China-based Company” and “—The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act.” Recently, Chinese regulators have announced regulatory actions targeting certain sectors of China’s economy, including the for-profit education sector and technology platforms that have a quantitatively significant number of users located in China. Although the solar energy industry does not appear to be the focus of these regulatory actions, we cannot guarantee that the Chinese government will not in the future take regulatory actions that materially and adversely affect the business environment and financial markets in China as they relate to us, our ability to operate our business, our liquidity and our access to capital. For a detailed description of risks related to doing business in China, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China.”

The PRC government’s significant authority in regulating our operations and its oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, adopting new laws and regulations related to data security, expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement, and adopting new rules to request China-based companies to fulfill relevant filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC for overseas offerings. While we do not believe that these regulatory changes would have any material impact on us, we cannot assure you that the regulators will agree with us or will not in the future adopt regulations that restrict our business operations or access to capital. Further, implementation of industry-wide regulations, including data security or anti-monopoly related regulations, in this nature may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China— PRC regulations relating to overseas investment by PRC residents may restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activities and adversely affect the implementation of our strategy as well as our business and prospects.” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities is required under PRC law in connection with our future issuance of securities overseas, which could impose uncertainty on our capital raising activities.”

Risks and uncertainties arising from the legal system in China, including risks and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and quickly evolving rules and regulations in China, could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of the ADSs. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties and limitations with respect to the PRC legal system, including the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on us.”

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Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer and a China-based Company

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 of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Moreover, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, will be less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. In addition, as a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the NYSE listing standards. These practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the NYSE listing standards.

Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. As of the date of this annual report, our PRC subsidiaries have obtained the requisite licenses and permits from the PRC government authorities that are material for their business operations in China. We are exposed to legal and operational risks associated with being based in and having the majority of our operations in China. We are subject to risks arising from China’s legal system, including uncertainties in the interpretation and the enforcement of the PRC laws and regulations. In addition, rules and regulations in China can change quickly. Recent regulatory actions and statements made by Chinese government, such as those related to data security or anti-monopoly concerns, may impact our ability to conduct business, accept foreign investments, or continue to list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange. Although the solar power industry does not appear to be the focus of these regulatory actions, we cannot guarantee that the Chinese government will not in the future take regulatory actions that materially and adversely affect the business environment and financial markets in China as they relate to us, our ability to operate our business, our liquidity and our access to capital.

The PRC government may also intervene or influence our operations at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, including us, at any time, substantial intervention and influence over the manner of our operations, which could result in a material change in our operations or the value of the ADSs. Any actions by the PRC government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and statements to regulate business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, adopting new laws and regulations related to data security, expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement, and adopting new rules to request China-based companies to fulfill relevant filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC for overseas offerings. While we do not believe that these regulatory changes would have any material impact on us, we cannot assure you that the regulators will agree with us or will not in the future adopt regulations that restrict our business operations or access to capital.

With the trend of strengthening anti-monopoly supervision around the world, the PRC government issued a series of anti-monopoly laws and regulations in 2021, paying more attention to corporate compliance. On February 7, 2021, the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council of the PRC promulgated the Guidelines for Anti-monopoly in the field of Platform Economy. On November 15, 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation of the PRC promulgated the Guidelines for the Overseas Anti-monopoly Compliance of Enterprises. We believe that these regulations currently have little impact on us, but we cannot guarantee that regulators will agree with us or that these regulations will not affect our business operations in the future.

Cybersecurity and data privacy and security issues are subject to increasing legislative and regulatory focus in China. For example, the State Council of the PRC promulgated the Regulation on the Protection of the Security of Critical Information Infrastructure on July 30, 2021, which took effect on September 1, 2021. This regulation requires, among others, certain competent authorities to identify critical information infrastructures. In Novemmber 2021, the Cybersecurity Administration of China, or CAC, promulgated the Draft Administrative Regulations on Cyber Data Security, or the Draft Cyber Data Security Regulations, for public comment. These draft regulations set forth different scenarios under which data processors would be required to apply for cybersecurity review. However, there is no definite timetable as to when these draft regulations will be enacted. In addition, the CAC and a number of other departments under the State Council promulgated the Measures for Cybersecurity Review on December 28, 2021, which became effective on February 15, 2022. According to this regulation, critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products and services and data processors carrying out data processing activities, which affect or may affect national security, are required to conduct cybersecurity review. On July 7, 2022, the CAC issued the Measures for the Security Assessment of Data Cross-border Transfer, or the Security Assessment Measures, which became effective on September 1, 2022. In accordance with the Security Assessment Measures, a data processor should apply to the CAC for a security assessment under certain circumstances. We believe that these regulations have little impact on us, because we are neither a critical information infrastructure operator nor a data processor within the meanings of these regulations.

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On September 1, 2021, the PRC Data Security Law became effective, which imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals conducting data-related activities, and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system. In addition, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law (the “PIPL”) on August 20, 2021, which took effect on November 1, 2021. The PIPL further emphasizes processors’ obligations and responsibilities for personal information protection and sets out the basic rules for processing personal information and the rules for cross-border transfer of personal information. We do not expect to have significant data security or privacy issues given that the nature of our business does not involve collecting and use of vast personal data. Under the current PRC laws, regulations and regulatory rules, as of the date of this annual report, we and our PRC subsidiaries, (i) are not required to obtain permissions from the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, (ii) are not required to go through cybersecurity review by the CAC, and (iii) have not received or were denied such permissions by the CSRC or the CAC.While we do not believe that these regulatory changes would have any material impact on us, we cannot assure you that the regulators will agree with us or will not in the future adopt regulations that restrict our business operations or access to capital.

On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies. These opinions proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems, to deal with the risks and incidents facing China-based overseas-listed companies and the demand for cybersecurity and data privacy protection. These opinions and any related implementation rules to be enacted may subject us to additional compliance requirement. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released a set of regulations consisting of six documents, including the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five supporting guidelines, collectively, the Overseas Listing Filing Rules, which came into effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Overseas Listing Filing Rules, China-based companies that have already offered shares or been listed overseas prior to the implementation of such new regulations qualify as “Stock Enterprises”, and Stock Enterprises are not required to apply for the filing immediately until a subsequent re-financing event occurs. However, the Overseas Listing Filing Rules, among others, require the issuer or its main operational entity in the PRC to file with the CSRC for its follow-on securities offerings in the same offshore market within three business days after the completion of such offerings, and file with the CSRC for its offerings or listing in offshore stock market other than the stock market of its initial public offering or listing within three business days after the submission of offering application outside mainland China.

We had been listed on the New York Stock Exchange prior to the implementation of the Overseas Listing Filing Rules. Therefore, we are qualified as a “Stock Enterprise” and are not required to apply for the filing immediately until a subsequent re-financing event occurs according to the Overseas Listing Filing Rules. However, we are required to file with the CSRC for its follow-on securities offerings in the same offshore market within three business days after the completion of such offerings, and file with the CSRC for our offerings or listing in offshore stock market other than the stock market of our initial public offering or listing within three business days after the submission of offering application outside mainland China. Failure to comply with the filing requirements for any offering, listing or any other capital raising activities, may result in administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines and other penalties, on the companies, the controlling shareholders, the actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons. As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanctions or regulatory objection from the CSRC. Given the uncertainties surrounding the CSRC filing requirements at this stage, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the filings and fully comply with the relevant new rules on a timely basis, or at all, if we conduct listing in other offshore stock markets or follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds, exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities in the future.

Since these regulatory actions are relatively new, it is uncertain how soon legislative or administrative regulation making bodies will respond and what existing or new laws or regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations will be modified or promulgated, if any, or the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, or our ability to accept foreign investments and listing on a U.S. or other foreign exchanges. PRC laws and their interpretations and enforcement continue to develop and are subject to change, and the PRC government may adopt other rules and restrictions in the future. Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protection available to you and us, hinder our ability to continue to offer the ADSs, result in a material adverse effect on our business operations, and damage our reputation, which might further cause the ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Recent regulatory developments in China may subject us to additional regulatory review and disclosure requirements, expose us to government interference, or otherwise restrict or completely hinder our ability to offer securities and raise capital outside China, which could adversely affect our business operations and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless.”

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The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit 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 or Hong Kong, including our auditor. On May 26, 2022, the SEC conclusively listed us as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCAA 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 announced its determination that it has been able to inspect and investigate audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong completely for purposes of the HFCAA, and the PCAOB vacated its December 16, 2021 determinations. However, the PCAOB stated that should PRC authorities obstruct the PCAOB’s ability to inspect or investigate completely in any way and at any point in the future, the PCAOB Board will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations consistent with the HFCAA. If the 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 would be identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCAA.

While we currently do not expect the HFCAA to prevent us from maintaining the trading of the ADSs in the U.S., uncertainties exist with respect to future determinations of the PCAOB in this respect and any further legislative or regulatory actions to be taken by the U.S. or Chinese governments that could affect our listing status in the U.S. If the ADSs are prohibited from trading in the United States, there is no certainty that we will be able to list on a non-U.S. exchange or that a market for our shares will develop outside of the United States. Such a prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase the ADSs when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of the ADSs, and materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Also, such a prohibition would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and prospects. For a detailed description of risks related to the HFCAA, see “—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—The ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.”

Cash Flows through Our Organization

The cash transfers within our organization are generally made in the following manners: (i) the Company transfers cash to its subsidiaries by way of providing loans, making capital contributions and providing operating cash, and (ii) the Company’s subsidiaries transfer cash to the Company by way of repayment of loans and repayment of operating cash due to the Company. Other than cash transfers, no transfer of other assets has occurred between the Company and its subsidiaries. The following table presents cash transfers between the Company and its subsidiaries for 2020, 2021 and 2022:

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For 2020, 2021 and 2022 and up to the date of this annual report, the Company’s subsidiaries did not make any dividend or distribution to the Company. Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and Implementation Regulations for the Corporate Income Tax Law (the “CIT Law”), a withholding tax rate of 10% would apply to any dividends paid by a PRC “resident enterprise” to a foreign enterprise investor, unless such non-resident enterprise’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a reduced rate of withholding tax and such non-resident enterprise is the beneficial owner of the dividends. The Cayman Islands, where the holding company is incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. The CIT Law provides that PRC resident enterprises are generally subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on their worldwide income. Therefore, if we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise, we will be subject to PRC income tax on our worldwide income at the 25% uniform tax rate, which could have an impact on our effective tax rate and an adverse effect on our net income and results of operations, although we would be exempted from enterprise income tax on dividends distributed from our PRC subsidiaries to us, since such income received by PRC resident enterprise is tax exempted under the CIT Law.

In addition, we have not made any dividend or distribution to any U.S. investor as of the date of this annual report. As an offshore holding company, we may rely upon dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in the PRC to pay dividends and to finance any debt we may incur. If our subsidiaries or any newly formed subsidiaries 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 subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC laws and regulations, each of our Chinese subsidiaries are required to set aside a portion of their net profits each year to fund a statutory surplus reserve which are no less than 10% of their net profits each year until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. This reserve is not distributable as dividends. As a result, our Chinese subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of its net assets to us in the form of dividends, loans or advances. As an offshore holding company, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding from the proceeds of our offshore fund-raising activities to our subsidiaries in China only through loans or capital contributions, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable government registration and approval requirements. Before providing loans to our PRC subsidiaries, we will be required to make filings about details of the loans with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the PRC (the “SAFE”) in accordance with relevant PRC laws and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries that receive the loans are only allowed to use the loans for the purposes set forth in these laws and regulations. Under regulations of the SAFE, Renminbi is not convertible into foreign currencies for capital account items, such as loans, repatriation of investments and investments outside of China, unless the prior approval of the SAFE is obtained and prior registration with the SAFE is made. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Taxation” for more details.

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations are subject to various changing business, competitive, economic, political and social conditions in China and worldwide. In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this annual report, the following are some of the important factors that could adversely affect our operating results, financial condition and business prospects, and cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

Summary of Risk Factors

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Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

Our future growth and profitability depend on the demand for and the prices of solar power products and the development of photovoltaic technologies.

The rate and extent of market acceptance for solar power depends on the availability of government subsidies and the cost-effectiveness, performance and reliability of solar power relative to conventional and other renewable energy sources. Changes in government policies towards solar power and advancements in PV, technologies could significantly affect the demand for solar power products.

Demand for solar power products is also affected by macroeconomic factors, such as energy supply, demand and prices, as well as regulations and policies governing renewable energies and related industries. For example, in June 2016, the FIT in China for utility-scale projects was significantly reduced. As a result, subsequent to a strong demand in the first half of 2016, the domestic market was almost frozen and the competition in the global market also intensified in the second half of 2016. In 2022, the energy intensity exacerbates the supply shortage and rising price of silicon materials in the industry, which affected the demand and price of solar modules. The current international political environment, including existing and potential changes to United States and China trade and tariffs policies, have resulted in uncertainty surrounding the future of the global economy. Due to the transition to renewable energy in most regions of the world, the increase in electricity prices, financing support and other favorable policies, clients are more willing to accept higher prices of solar modules. Consequently, the average selling price of our solar modules, which represented 96.5% of our total revenue in 2022, increased from 2021 to 2022.

However, any reduction in the price of solar modules will have a negative impact on our business and results of operations, including our margins. As a result, we may not continue to be profitable on a quarterly or annual basis. In addition, if demand for solar power products weakens in the future, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.

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The reduction, modification, delay or elimination of government subsidies and other economic incentives in solar energy industry may reduce the profitability of our business and materially adversely affect our business.

We believe that market demand for solar power and solar power products in the near term will continue to substantially depend on the availability of government incentives because the cost of solar energy currently exceeds, and we believe will continue to exceed in the near term, the cost of conventional fossil fuel energy and certain non-solar renewable energy, particularly in light of the low level of oil prices in recent years. Examples of government sponsored financial incentives to promote solar energy include subsidies from the central and local governments, preferential tax rates and other incentives. The availability and size of such subsidies and incentives depend, to a large extent, on political and policy developments relating to environmental concerns and other macro-economic factors. Moreover, government incentive programs are expected to gradually decrease in scope or be discontinued as solar power technology improves and becomes more affordable relative to other types of energy. Negative public or community response to solar energy projects could adversely affect the government support and approval of our solar energy business. Adverse changes in government regulations and policies relating to solar energy industry and their implementation, especially those relating to economic subsidies and incentives, could significantly reduce the profitability of our business and materially adversely affect the state of the industry.

We received government grants totaling RMB192.0 million, RMB465.7 million and RMB1.09 billion (US$158.0 million) for 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, which included government grants for our production scale expansion, technology upgrades and export market development. We cannot assure you that we will continue to receive government grants and subsidies in future periods at a similar level or at all.

As a substantial part of our operations are in the PRC, the policies and regulations adopted by the PRC government towards the solar energy industry are important to the continuing success of our business. Although there has been regulatory support for solar power generation such as subsidies, preferential tax treatment and other economic incentives in recent years, future government policies may not be as supportive. The PRC central government may reduce or eliminate existing incentive programs for economic, political, financial or other reasons. In addition, the provincial or local governments may delay the implementation or fail to fully implement central government regulations, policies or initiatives. Until the solar energy industry becomes commercially profitable without subsidies, a significant reduction in the scope or the discontinuation of government incentive programs in the PRC or other jurisdictions could materially and adversely affect market demand for our products and negatively impact our revenue and profitability.

Besides the PRC, various foreign governments have used policy initiatives to encourage or accelerate the development and adoption of solar power and other renewable energy sources, including certain countries in Europe, notably Italy, Germany, France, Belgium and Spain; certain countries in Asia, including Japan, India and South Korea; countries in North America, such as the United States and Canada; as well as Australia. Examples of government-sponsored financial incentives to promote solar power include capital cost rebates, FIT, tax credits, net metering and other incentives to end-users, distributors, project developers, system integrators and manufacturers of solar power products.

Governments may reduce or eliminate existing incentive programs for political, financial or other reasons, which will be difficult for us to predict. Reductions in FIT programs may result in a significant fall in the price of and demand for solar power and solar power products. For example, subsidies have been reduced or eliminated in some countries such as China, Germany, Italy, Spain and Canada. In May 2018, the National Development and Reform Commission of China (the “NDRC”), the Ministry of Finance and the National Energy Administration in China (the “NEA”) issued a joint notice temporarily halting subsidies for utility-scale solar projects, slashing the quota on distributed solar projects which are eligible for subsidies in 2018 and greatly reducing FIT. The German market represents a major portion of the European solar market for ground-mounted systems and a stable residential and commercial rooftop market. The first subsidy-free grid parity projects of the industry were connected to the grid in 2020, which act as a driver for the additional market growth. Starting from 2011, major export markets for solar power and solar power products such as Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom continued to reduce their FIT as well as other incentive measures. For example, from 2012 to 2022, the Japanese government cut down its FIT from JPY40 to JPY17 for projects below 10 KW, from JPY42 to JPY11 for certain projects of 10 KW to 50 KW, and to JPY10 for projects above 50 KW. In 2023, the Japanese government further cut down its FIT to JPY16 for projects below 10 KW and to JPY10 for certain projects of 10 KW or above.

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In 2022, we generated 58.1% of our total revenue from overseas markets, and North America, Asia Pacific (except China which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan) and Europe represented 4.5%, 13.6% and 23.6% of our total revenue, respectively. As a result, any significant reduction in the scope or discontinuation of government incentive programs in the overseas markets, especially where our major customers are located, could cause demand for our products and our revenue to decline and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, the announcement of a significant reduction in incentives in any major market may have an adverse effect on the trading price of the ADSs.

We require a significant amount of cash to fund our operations and future business developments. If we cannot obtain additional funding on terms satisfactory to us when we need it, our growth prospects and future profitability may be materially and adversely affected.

We require a significant amount of cash to fund our operations, including payments to suppliers for our polysilicon feedstock. We may also require additional cash due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue, as well as our research and development activities in order to remain competitive.

Our working capital was RMB3.39 billion (US$491.7 million) as of December 31, 2022. Our management believes that our cash position as of December 31, 2022, the cash expected to be generated from operations, and funds available from borrowings under our credit facilities will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months from the date of this annual report.

Our ability to obtain external financing is subject to a number of uncertainties, including:

Any additional equity financing may be dilutive to our shareholders and any debt financing may require restrictive covenants. Additional funds may not be available on terms commercially acceptable to us. Failure to manage discretionary spending and raise additional capital or debt financing as required may adversely impact our ability to achieve our intended business objectives. See “—Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.”

Uncertainty about the future of LIBOR and certain other interest “benchmarks” may adversely affect our business.

LIBOR, the London Interbank Offered Rate, is widely used as a reference for setting interest rates on loans globally. LIBOR and certain other interest “benchmarks” may be subject to regulatory guidance and/or reform that could cause interest rates under our current or future debt agreements to perform differently than in the past or cause other unanticipated consequences.

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On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates the LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR to the administrator of LIBOR after 2021. In June 2019, the FCA asked banks and markets to stop using the LIBOR as a basis for pricing contracts. These announcements indicate that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and has not been guaranteed since 2021. It is impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans or other financial arrangements, given LIBOR’s role in determining market interest rates globally. On March 25, 2020, the FCA stated that although the central assumption that firms cannot rely on LIBOR being published after the end of 2021 has not changed, the outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted the timing of many firms’ transition planning, and the FCA will continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transition timelines and update the marketplace as soon as possible. It is unclear if after 2021 LIBOR will cease to exist or if new methods calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021.

Moreover, on July 12, 2019, the Staff of the SEC’s Division of Corporate Finance, Division of Investment Management, Division of Trading and Markets, and Office of the Chief Accountant issued a statement about the potentially significant effects on financial markets and market participants when LIBOR was discontinued in 2021 and no longer available as a reference benchmark rate. The Staff encouraged all market participants to identify contracts that reference LIBOR and begin transitions to alternative rates. On December 30, 2019, the SEC’s Chairman, Division of Corporate Finance and Office of the Chief Accountant issued a statement to encourage audit committees in particular to understand management’s plans to identify and address the risks associated with the elimination of LIBOR, and, specifically, the impact on accounting and financial reporting and any related issues associated with financial products and contracts that reference LIBOR, as the risks associated with the discontinuation of LIBOR and transition to an alternative reference rate will be exacerbated if the work is not completed in a timely manner.

Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and other interest rates. In the event that a published LIBOR rate was unavailable after 2021, the value of such securities, loans or other financial arrangements may be adversely affected, and, to the extent that we are the issuer of or obligor under any such instruments or arrangements, our cost thereunder may increase. Currently, the manner and impact of this transition and related developments, as well as the effect of these developments on our funding costs, investment and trading securities portfolios and business, is uncertain, which may adversely affect our business, prospects, liquidity, capital resources, financial performance or financial condition.

The oversupply of solar cells and modules in the solar industry may cause substantial downward pressure on the prices of our products and reduce our revenue and earnings.

If the solar industry experience oversupply across the value chain in the future, and continued increases in solar module production in excess of market demand may result in further downward pressure on the price of solar cells and modules, including our products. Increasing competition could also result in us losing sales or market share. If we are unable, on an ongoing basis, to procure silicon, solar wafers and solar cells at reasonable prices, or mark up the price of our solar modules to cover our manufacturing and operating costs, our revenue and gross margin will be adversely impacted, either due to higher costs compared to our competitors or due to inventory write-downs, or both. In addition, our market share may decline if our competitors are able to price their products more competitively.

We face risks associated with the manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of our products internationally and the construction and operation of our overseas manufacturing facilities, and if we are unable to effectively manage these risks, our business and operations abroad may be adversely affected and our ability to maintain, develop and expand our business abroad may be restricted.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022, we generated 81.9%, 75.2% and 58.1%, respectively, of our total revenue from sales outside China. We also have manufacturing facilities in the United States and Malaysia, and our monocrystalline silicon wafer factory in Vietnam compeleted construction and reached full production capacity in 2022. In January 2018, we entered into a master solar module supply agreement (the “Master Agreement”) with NextEra Energy, Inc., or NextEra. Under the Master Agreement, as amended in March 2018, we will supply NextEra up to 2,750 MW of high-efficiency solar modules over four years. In conjunction with the Master Agreement, we established our first U.S. factory in Jacksonville, Florida, which commenced production in the third quarter of 2018 and reached full production capacity of 400 MW in the first half of 2019. Our 7GW monocrystalline silicon wafer plant in Vietnam commenced production in the first quarter of 2022 and reached full production capacity in the third quarter of 2022. Thus, we currently have approximately 7 GW of integrated mono wafer-cell-module manufacturing capacity overseas.

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The manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sale of our products internationally, as well as the construction and operation of our manufacturing facilities outside of China may expose us to a number of risks, including those associated with: