UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
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 |
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
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) |
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(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
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People’s Republic of |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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Telephone: |
People’s Republic of |
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
| Name of each exchange on which registered |
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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:
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 ☒
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.
☒
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).
☒
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 ☐ |
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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:
☒ |
| International Financial Reporting Standards as issued |
| 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
☐ 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 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
Table of Contents
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89 | ||||
91 | ||||
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102 | ||||
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MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS | 103 | |||
103 | ||||
106 | ||||
107 | ||||
107 | ||||
107 | ||||
107 | ||||
108 | ||||
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS | 108 | |||
108 | ||||
109 | ||||
109 | ||||
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS | 109 | |||
110 | ||||
110 | ||||
111 | ||||
111 | ||||
111 | ||||
112 |
3
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements in this annual report with respect to the Company’s current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of the Company. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those statements using words such as “believe,” “expect,” “plans,” “strategy,” “prospects,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “could” or “should,” and words of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operations, financial performance, events or conditions. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other materials released to the public. These statements are based on management’s assumptions, judgments and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. The Company cautions investors that a number of important risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks contained in reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore, investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
4
PART I
We are a Cayman Islands holding company. We are not a Chinese operating company, and do not conduct business operations directly in China. All China operations are conducted by our subsidiaries established in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC” or “China”) and in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (“HKSAR” or “Hong Kong”), and by our contractual arrangements with variable interest entities, or “VIEs,” and the VIEs’ subsidiaries located in China. This structure involves unique risks to investors. The VIE structure provides contractual exposure to foreign investment in Chinese-based companies, pursuant to which U.S. GAAP accounting rules require us to consolidate such VIEs’ financial results in our financial statements. VIE structures are generally used where Chinese law prohibits direct foreign investment in the operating companies. Investors may never directly hold equity interests in the Chinese operating companies. Unless otherwise stated, as used in this report and in the context of describing our operations and consolidated financial information, “we,” “us,” “Company,” or “our,” refers to Recon Technology, Ltd, a Cayman Islands exempted limited company, together with our subsidiaries. “Our subsidiaries” refer to Recon Investment Ltd., Recon Hengda Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Shandong Recon Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd. and Guangxi Recon Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd. or Recon-IN, Recon-BJ, Recon-SD, and Recon-GX, respectively. “VIEs” refers to the PRC variable interest entities and their subsidiaries (Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Gan Su BHD Environmental Technology Co. Ltd, Huang Hua BHD Petroleum Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and Qing Hai BHD New Energy Technology Co. Ltd., Future Gas Station (Beijing) Technology, Ltd., or “Nanjing Recon,” “BHD,” “Gan Su BHD,” “HH BHD,” “Qing Hai BHD,” and “FGS” respectively). You are not investing in Nanjing Recon, BHD, Gan Su BHD, HH BHD, Qing Hai BHD, or FGS. Instead, we entered into certain contracts (the “VIE Agreements”) dated April 1, 2019, which are used to provide investors exposure to foreign investment in China-based companies where Chinese law prohibits or restricts direct foreign investment in the operating companies. A wholly foreign-owned entity (“WFOE”) is a limited liability company based in the People’s Republic of China but wholly owned by foreign investors. In our instance, Recon-BJ is a WFOE wholly owned by us through our subsidiary, Recon-IN, a Hong Kong limited company. As a result of our direct ownership in the WFOE and the VIE Agreements, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of the VIE for accounting purposes.
We mainly conduct our business through the VIEs, Nanjing Recon, BHD and their respective subsidiaries by means of Contractual Arrangements. Because we do not hold equity interests in the VIEs and their subsidiaries, we are subject to risks due to the uncertainty of the interpretation and application of the PRC laws and regulations regarding VIEs and the VIE structure, including but not limited to regulatory review of overseas listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the contractual arrangements with the VIEs. We are also subject to the risk that the PRC government could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and as a result the value of Securities may depreciate significantly or become worthless. At the time of this filing, the Contractual Agreements have not been tested in a court of law.
For U.S. GAAP purposes, each VIE has its own operating cash flow. Cash flow between our Company and the VIEs primarily consists of transfers from us to the VIEs for supplemental working capital, which is mainly used in purchase of materials and payment of operating expenses and investments. In addition, the VIEs occasionally make payments on our behalf when we experience a cash shortage. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, the net cash transferred from the Company to the VIEs were RMB84,211,565, RMB69,562,912 and RMB55,569,342, respectively. There were no cash transferred from the VIEs to the Company or fees paid on behalf of the Company by the VIEs during the years ended June 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022. Neither we nor the VIEs have present plans to distribute earnings or settle amounts owed under the Contractual Agreements. Cash in the VIEs are expected to be retained for business growth and operation. No dividends or distributions have been declared to pay to us from our subsidiaries or the VIEs. No dividends or distributions were made to any U.S. investors.
5
We are also subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in and having the majority of the Company’s and VIEs’ operations in China. These risks may result in a material change in our operations, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become 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 using variable interest entity structures, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement.
On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued an announcement to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. On July 10, 2021, the PRC State Internet Information Office issued the Measures of Cybersecurity Review (Revised Draft for Comments, not yet effective), which requires cyberspace operators with personal information of more than 1 million users who want to list abroad to file a cybersecurity review with the Office of Cybersecurity Review. Furthermore, the Chinese education sector is going through a series of reforms and new laws and guidelines have been recently promulgated and released to regulate our industry. As of the date of this report, these new laws and guidelines have not impacted the Company’s ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange because the Company and the VIEs are not involved in the education industry and do not maintain data of more than 1 million users; however, there are uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of these new laws and guidelines, which could materially and adversely impact our business and financial outlook. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Trial Measures, domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures within three working days following its submission of initial public offerings or listing application. If a domestic company fails to complete required filing procedures or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration for Overseas Securities Offering and Listing which was issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009, or the Provisions. The revised Provisions is issued under the title the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding its application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including but not limited to (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations.
Any failure or perceived failure by the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries in China or the VIE to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in that the relevant entities would be held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime. As there are still uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of such regulatory guidance, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with new regulatory requirements relating to our future overseas capital-raising activities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date of this report, we are not aware of any Chinese laws or regulations in effect requiring that we obtain permission from any Chinese authority to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection to our initial public offering from the CSRC.
6
As advised by Jingtian & Gongcheng, our PRC counsel, as we completed our IPO and listing prior to September 30, 2023, we were not required to complete the filing procedures pursuant to the Trial Measures for our initial public offering. However, as we are planning to conduct further offerings in the U.S., we are now required to complete the filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures. Based on the above and our understanding of the Chinese laws and regulations currently in effect as of the date of this report, we are not aware of any PRC laws or regulations in effect requiring that we obtain permission or approval from any PRC authorities for our subsidiaries or the VIE’s operations and to issue securities to foreign investors, and we have not received any inquiry, notice, warning, sanction, or any regulatory objection to our initial offerings from the CSRC, the CAC, or any other PRC authorities that have jurisdiction over our operations. However, there remains uncertainty as to the enactment, interpretation and implementation of regulatory requirements related to overseas securities offerings and other capital markets activities. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval, complete required filing or procedures, or a rescission of any such approval or filing obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operations in China, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of the Class A Ordinary Shares. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding such an approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of the Class A Ordinary Shares.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with Ministry of Finance of the PRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China, revised the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration for Overseas Securities Offering and Listing which was issued by the CSRC, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China in 2009, or the Provisions. The revised Provisions is issued under the title the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and came into effect on March 31, 2023 together with the Trial Measures. One of the major revisions to the revised Provisions is expanding its application to cover indirect overseas offering and listing, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, including but not limited to (a) a domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals or entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any documents and materials that contain state secrets or working secrets of government agencies, shall first obtain approval from competent authorities according to law, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level; and (b) domestic company that plans to, either directly or indirectly through its overseas listed entity, publicly disclose or provide to relevant individuals and entities including securities companies, securities service providers and overseas regulators, any other documents and materials that, if leaked, will be detrimental to national security or public interest, shall strictly fulfill relevant procedures stipulated by applicable national regulations.
Any failure or perceived failure by the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries in China or the VIE to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in that the relevant entities would be held legally liable by competent authorities, and referred to the judicial organ to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime. As there are still uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of such regulatory guidance, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with new regulatory requirements relating to our future overseas capital-raising activities. Any failure or perceived failure of us to fully comply with such new regulatory requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Risk Factor — Risks Related to Doing Business in China — The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.”
7
ITEM 1.IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
ITEM 2.OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable for annual reports on Form 20-F.
ITEM 3.KEY INFORMATION
A. | Selected Financial Data. |
The following table presents the selected consolidated financial information for our company. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the three years ended June 30, 2022, 2023 and 2024 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2022, 2023 and 2024 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements set forth in “Item 18 – Financial Statements”. The selected consolidated balance sheet data for the year ended June 30, 2022 have been derived from our audited consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2022, which is not included in this annual report. Our historical results do not necessarily indicate results expected for any future periods. The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below. Our audited consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America, or U.S. GAAP.
Following the one-for-five reverse stock split of our Class A Ordinary Shares effective on December 27, 2019, and following the dual class structure divided into Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares effective on April 5, 2021, and 2024 Reverse Split, all share and per share amounts disclosed throughout this annual report, in the table below and in our consolidated financial statements have been retroactively updated to reflect this change in capital structure, unless otherwise indicated. Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—History and Development of the Company”.
(All amounts in Renminbi, except for shares outstanding)
Statement of operations data:
| For the years ended June 30, | |||||
2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | ||
RMB¥ | RMB¥ | RMB¥ | ||||
Revenue |
| 68,854,280 |
| 67,114,378 |
| 83,777,571 |
Loss from operations |
| (71,637,911) |
| (69,332,735) |
| (82,313,417) |
Net income (loss) attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd |
| (49,871,259) |
| (59,167,301) |
| 95,586,795 |
Earnings (loss) per share* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-Basic |
| (9.88) |
| (27.43) |
| 55.52 |
-Diluted |
| (9.88) |
| (27.43) |
| 55.52 |
Weighted average number of Class A and Class B Ordinary Shares used in computation* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
-Basic |
| 5,048,952 |
| 2,157,158 |
| 1,721,529 |
-Diluted |
| 5,048,952 |
| 2,157,158 |
| 1,721,529 |
*Retrospectively restated for the 1-for-18 reverse stock split effective on May 1, 2024.
8
Balance sheet data:
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2022 | |
RMB¥ | RMB¥ | RMB¥ | ||||
Current assets | 506,485,249 | 504,413,173 | 445,617,041 | |||
Total assets | 552,389,514 | 531,824,577 | 490,242,084 | |||
Current liabilities | 47,477,363 | 61,032,862 | 52,878,284 | |||
Total liabilities | 61,455,617 | 92,673,674 | 77,357,323 | |||
Total shareholder’s equity | 502,554,537 | 449,206,962 | 420,631,729 | |||
Shares outstanding (Class A Ordinary Shares)* | 7,987,959 | 2,306,295 | 1,704,766 | |||
Shares outstanding (Class B Ordinary Shares) | 7,100,000 | 7,100,000 | 4,100,000 |
*Retrospectively restated for the 1-for-18 reverse stock split on May 1, 2024.
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable by 20-F as an annual report.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable by 20-F as an annual report.
D. Risk Factors
Investing in our Class A Ordinary Shares involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our Class A Ordinary Shares, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, business prospects, financial condition or results of operations could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section above entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to Our Business
We operate in a very competitive industry and may not be able to maintain our revenue and profitability.
Since the 1990s, several international companies engaged in supplying integrated automation services for the petroleum extraction industry have been qualified in China. These competitors have significantly greater financial and marketing resources and name recognition than we have. In addition, at least five domestic private competitors also compete with us, and more competitors may enter the market as Chinese petroleum companies seek to reduce oil production costs and improve efficiencies. There can be no assurance that we will be able to compete effectively in our industry.
In addition, our competitors may introduce new systems. If these new systems are more attractive to customers than the systems we currently use or may develop, our customers may switch to our competitors’ services, and we may lose market share. We believe that competition may become more intense as more integrated automation service providers, including Chinese/foreign joint ventures, are qualified to conduct business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete successfully against any new or existing competitors, or against any new systems our competitors may implement. Any of these competitive factors could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and profitability.
9
We must continually research and develop new technologies and products to remain competitive.
Because our industry is so competitive, we will need to continually research, develop and refine new technologies and offer new products to compete effectively. Many factors may limit our ability to develop and refine new products, including the availability of funds to dedicate to this portion of our business and access to new products and technologies that we can incorporate into our products, as well as marketplace resistance to new products and technologies. We believe that the Domestic Companies (defined in the following paragraph) and our products are able to compete in the marketplace based upon, among other things, our intellectual property. We cannot assure investors that applications of our and the Domestic Companies’ technologies or those of third parties, if developed, will not be rendered superfluous or obsolete by research efforts and technological advances by others in these fields.
Our company and our subsidiaries, Recon Investment Ltd. (“Recon-IN”), Recon Hengda Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Recon-BJ”), Shandong Recon Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd. (“Recon-SD”) and Guangxi Recon Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd. (“Recon-GX) are contractually engaged with the following PRC VIE companies and their subsidiaries: Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (“BHD”), Future Gas Station (Beijing) Technology, Ltd. (“FGS”), Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (“Nanjing Recon”), Gan Su BHD Environmental Technology Co. Ltd. (“Gan Su BHD”), Huang Hua BHD Petroleum Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (“HH BHD”), and Qing Hai BHD New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (“Qing Hai BHD”) (collectively, the “Domestic Companies”). As new technologies are developed, the Domestic Companies and we may need to adapt and change our products and services, our method of marketing or delivery or alter our current business in ways that may adversely affect revenue and our ability to achieve our proposed business goals. Accordingly, there is a risk that the Domestic Companies’ and our technology will not support a viable commercial enterprise.
Our financial performance is dependent upon the sale and implementation of petroleum mining and extraction software and hardware and related services, a single, concentrated group of products.
We derive substantially all of our revenue from the license and implementation of software applications and hardware innovations for the Chinese petroleum industry. The life cycle of our products and services is difficult to estimate due in large measure to the potential effect of new software and hardware applications and enhancements, including those we introduce, and the maturation in both the Chinese petroleum and software/hardware industries. If we are unable to continually improve our software and hardware to address the changing needs of the Chinese petroleum industry, we may experience a significant decline in the demand for the Domestic Companies’ and our products and services. In such a scenario, our revenue may significantly decline.
A failure by our third-party vendors to fulfill their obligations would negatively affect our ability to operate profitably.
In the ordinary course of business, our third-party vendors have historically required advance payments before they deliver goods and services to us that enable our operations. These advance payments are often substantial, and we dedicate a material amount of our liquidity to advance these to such third-party vendors. There is no guarantee that the services we require will be delivered, whether due to supply chain disruptions or any other reason after we provide our advance payments, and many of our vendors lack sufficient insurance to protect us against such failures to deliver. Moreover, if a third-party vendor declares bankruptcy or we engage in litigation, we be unable to recover the advance fees in their entirety, if at all.
As a technology-oriented business, our ability to operate profitably is directly related to our ability to develop and protect our proprietary technology.
We rely on a combination of trademark, trade secret, nondisclosure, copyright and patent law to protect the Domestic Companies’ and our software and hardware, which may afford only limited protection.
10
Although the Chinese government has issued Nanjing Recon and BHD over fifty copyrights on software and Nanjing Recon and BHD over sixty patents on products, we cannot guarantee that competitors will be unable to develop technologies that are similar or superior to the Domestic Companies’ and our technology. Despite our efforts to protect the Domestic Companies’ and our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties, including customers, may attempt to reverse engineer or copy aspects of the Domestic Companies’ and our products or to obtain and use information that the Domestic Companies and we regard as proprietary. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop substantially equivalent or superior proprietary information and techniques, reverse engineer information and techniques, or otherwise gain access to our proprietary technology. In the future, we cannot guarantee that others will not use the Domestic Companies’ and our technology without proper authorization. In addition, under the Chinese intellectual property law, the 50-year protection period for software copyright and 10-year patent protection period are not subject to renewal upon expiration.
The Domestic Companies and we develop our software products on third-party middleware software programs that are licensed by our customers from third parties, generally on a non-exclusive basis. The termination of any such licenses, or the failure of the third-party licensors to adequately maintain or update their products, could result in delay in our ability to develop, market or ship certain of our products while we seek to implement technology offered by alternative sources. While it may be necessary or desirable in the future to obtain other licenses, there can be no assurance that they will be able to do so on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
In addition, the Domestic Companies and we may initiate claims or litigation against third parties for infringement of our proprietary rights or to establish the validity, scope or enforceability of our proprietary rights. Any such claims could be time consuming, result in costly litigation, cause product development or shipment delays or force the Domestic Companies or us to enter into royalty or license agreements rather than dispute the merits of such claims, thereby impairing our financial performance by requiring the Domestic Companies or us to pay additional royalties and/or license fees to third parties. There is always a risk that patents, if issued, may be subsequently invalidated, either in whole or in part and this could diminish or extinguish protection for any technology we may license. In addition, the laws of China may not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as U.S. law. Therefore, we may be unable to meaningfully protect our rights in trade secrets, technical know-how and other non-patented technology. Any failure to enforce or protect the Domestic Companies’ and our rights could cause us to lose the ability to exclude others from issuing technology to develop or sell competing products.
We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property, which could cause us to be less competitive and negatively impact our business.
We rely on trademark, patent and trade secret law, as well as confidentiality agreements with certain of our employees to protect our proprietary rights. The product patents owned by the Company are employee service patents invented by the Company’s key employees. We generally require the Domestic Companies’ and our employees, consultants, advisors and collaborators to execute appropriate confidentiality agreements with, as applicable, the respective Domestic Companies and us. These agreements typically provide that all material and confidential information developed or made known to the individual during the course of the individual’s relationship with us is owned by the us and will be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties except in specific circumstances. These agreements may be breached, and in some instances, we may not have an appropriate remedy available for breach of the agreements.
We may be accused of infringing the intellectual property rights of others.
In the future, the Domestic Companies and we may receive notices claiming that we are infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. We cannot guarantee that the Domestic Companies and we will not become the subject of infringement claims or legal proceedings by third parties with respect to the Domestic Companies’ and our current programs or future software developments. Our standard software license agreements contain an infringement indemnity clause under which we agree to indemnify and hold harmless our customers and business partners against liability and damages arising from claims of various copyright or other intellectual property infringement by our products. Neither the Domestic Companies nor we have been the subject of an intellectual property claim since our formation.
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Our software products may contain integration challenges, design defects or software errors that could be difficult to detect and correct.
Despite extensive testing, we may, from time to time, discover defects or errors in the Domestic Companies’ and our software only after use by a customer. We may also experience delays in shipment of our software during the period required to correct such errors. In addition, we may, from time to time, experience difficulties relating to the integration of the Domestic Companies’ and our software products with other hardware or software in the customer’s environment that are unrelated to defects in such software products. Such defects, errors or difficulties may cause future delays in product introductions and shipments, result in increased costs and diversion of development resources, require design modifications or impair customer satisfaction with the Domestic Companies’ and our software. Since these software products are used by our customers to perform mission-critical functions related to petroleum mining and extraction, design defects, software errors, misuse of these products, incorrect data from external sources or other potential problems within or out of our control that may arise from the use of the Domestic Companies’ and our products could result in financial or other damages to our customers. We do not maintain product liability insurance. Although our license agreements with customers contain provisions designed to limit our exposure to potential claims as well as any liabilities arising from such claims, such provisions may not effectively protect us against such claims and the liability and costs associated therewith. To the extent we are found liable in a product liability case, we could be required to pay substantial amount of damages to an injured customer, thereby impairing our financial condition.
We are dependent on the state of the PRC’s economy as the majority of our business is conducted in the PRC.
Currently, the majority of our business operations are conducted in the PRC, and most of our customers are also located in the PRC. Accordingly, any significant slowdown in the PRC economy may cause our customers to reduce expenditures or delay the building of new facilities or projects. This may in turn lead to a decline in the demand for our products and services. That would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our future success depends on our ability to help our customers find, develop and acquire petroleum reserves.
To remain competitive in our industry, our products must help our customers locate and develop or acquire new crude oil reserves to replace those depleted by production. Without successful exploration or acquisition activities, our customers’ reserves, production and revenue will decline rapidly. If the Domestic Companies’ and our technology is less well accepted for helping our customers locate additional reserves than our competitors’ technology, our customers may terminate their relationships with us, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and future growth prospects.
Our customers are companies engaged in the petroleum industry and the greater energy industry, and, consequently, our financial performance is dependent upon the economic conditions of those industries.
We have derived most of our revenue to date from providing integrated automation services to Chinese petroleum companies at oilfields within China and other energy industry companies in China. Our customers’ success is intrinsically linked to economic conditions in China and in the petroleum and energy industries in general and the volatility of prices of crude oil, refined oil products and coal chemical products in particular. Each of the petroleum industry and energy industry is subject to intense competitive pressures and is affected by overall economic conditions. Demand for our services could be harmed by volatility in those industries. There can be no assurance that we will be able to continue our historical revenue growth or sustain our profitability on a quarterly or annual basis or that our results of operations will not be adversely affected by continuing or future volatility in those industries.
Our revenue are highly dependent on a very limited number of customers, which subjects our business to high seasonality. Our contracts with such customers may be terminated at any time, materially and adversely affecting our business.
Historically, we derived the majority of our revenue from two customers, (i) China National Petroleum Corporation (“CNPC”) and (ii) China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (“Sinopec”).
Since the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, Sinopec accounted for less than 10% of our revenue. A we developed new product lines, revenue from Sinopec increased and account for 19%, 32% and 28% of our revenue in the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
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We provide products and services to CNPC under a series of agreements, each of which is terminable without notice. We first began to provide services to CNPC in 2000. CNPC accounted for approximately 48%, 43% and 50% of our revenue in the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and any termination of our business relationships with CNPC would materially harm our operations.
In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2019, we had established a solid relationship with Shenhua Group Corporation Limited (“Shenhua Group”) and revenue from it in the fiscal year 2022 accounted for approximately 10% of our revenue. For fiscal year 2023, revenue from Shenhua accounted for 8% of our revenue as competition became fierce. For fiscal year 2024, affected by temporary changes in market participation requirements from Shenhua Group, our business from this basis was temporary disrupted and revenue from Shenhua Group accounted for 0% of our revenue.
Because we derive such a high percentage of our revenue from CNPC and a few new clients, our revenue has been subject to high seasonality. We recognize revenue when it is realized and earned. Revenue is recognized based on the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations; (v) recognize revenue when (or as) each performance obligation is satisfied. Because these matters depend on reaching agreements with these clients, revenue recognition occurs, to a large extent, on their schedule. Accordingly, revenue recognized in the first quarter is usually the smallest in proportion to that for the whole year, due to our clients’ budgeting and planning schedules. If these clients were to change their budgeting or planning schedule our high and low quarters could also shift. This seasonality limits our ability to make accurate long-term predictions about our performance and makes it difficult to compare our revenue across quarters.
Changes in environmental and regulatory factors may harm our business.
To date, the oil drilling industry in China to date has not been subject to the type and scope of regulation seen in Europe and the United States. However, the Chinese government may implement new legislation or regulations or may enforce existing laws more stringently. For example, the Energy Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft), issued on April 26, 2024, is China’s first draft energy law that encourages the optimization of the layout and structure of the petroleum processing and conversion industry through the use of advanced and intensive processing methods, though it has not yet come into effect. Either of these scenarios may have a significant impact on our customers’ mining and extraction operations and may require us or our customers to significantly change operations or to incur substantial costs. We believe that the Domestic Companies’ and our operations in China are in compliance with China’s applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, there can be no assurance that China’s central or local governments will not impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures.
Petroleum reserve degradation and depletion may reduce our customers’ and our profitability.
Our profitability depends substantially on our ability to help our customers exploit their oil reserves at competitive costs. Replacement reserves may not be available to our customers when required or, if available, may not be drilled at costs comparable to those characteristics of the depleting oilfield. The Domestic Companies’ and our technology may not enable our customers to accurately assess the geological characteristics of any new reserves, which may adversely affect their decision to use the Domestic Companies’ and our products in the future.
We are heavily dependent upon the services of experienced personnel who possess skills that are valuable in our industry, and we may have to actively compete for their services.
Our company is much smaller than our main foreign competitors, including Schneider-electric, Siemens, Honeywell International, Emerson Process Management and Rockwell Automation, and we compete in large part on the basis of the quality of services we are able to provide our clients. As a result, we are heavily dependent upon our ability to attract, retain and motivate skilled personnel to serve our clients. Many of our personnel possess skills that would be valuable to all companies engaged in the integrated automation services industry. Consequently, we expect that we will have to actively compete for these employees. Some of our competitors may be able to pay our employees more than we are able to pay to retain them. Our ability to profitably operate is substantially dependent upon our ability to locate, hire, train and retain our personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain our current personnel, or that we will be able to attract or assimilate other personnel in the future. If we are unable to effectively obtain and maintain skilled personnel, the development and quality of our technological products and the effectiveness of installation and training could be materially impaired.
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We are substantially dependent upon our key personnel, particularly Mr. Yin Shenping, our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chen Guangqiang, our Chief Technology Officer and Ms. Liu Jia, our Chief Financial Officer.
Our performance is substantially dependent on the performance of our executive officers and key employees. In particular, we rely on the services of:
● | Mr. Yin Shenping, Chief Executive Officer; |
● | Mr. Chen Guangqiang, Chief Technology Officer; and |
● | Ms. Liu Jia, Chief Financial Officer. |
Each of these individuals would be difficult to replace. We do not have in place “key person” life insurance policies on any of our employees. The loss of the services of any of our executive officers or other key employees could substantially impair our ability to successfully develop new systems and develop new programs and enhancements. In addition, we would need to spend considerable time and other resources to seek suitable replacements, which might detract from our efforts to develop our business.
Our business is capital intensive and our growth strategy may require additional capital, which may not be available on favorable terms or at all.
We may require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions, implementation of our growth strategy or potential investments or acquisitions we may pursue. To meet our capital needs, we may sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit facilities. The sale of additional equity securities or other securities convertible into such equity securities could result in dilution of your holdings. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could require us to agree to operating and financial covenants that would restrict our operations. Financing may not be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Any failure by us to raise additional funds on terms favorable to us, or at all, could limit our ability to expand our business operations and could harm our overall business prospects.
We do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future and there are certain restrictions on the payment of dividend under PRC laws.
We have not previously paid any cash dividends, and we do not anticipate paying any dividends on our Class A Ordinary Shares. As we intend to remain in a growth mode, we intend to reinvest any profits in the foreseeable future to grow the business. We cannot assure you that our operations will continue to result in sufficient revenue to enable us to operate at profitable levels or to generate positive cash flows. Furthermore, there is no assurance our board of directors will declare dividends even if we are profitable. Dividend policy is subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our earnings, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors. If we decide to pay dividends on any of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the future, we will be dependent, in large part, on receipt of funds from the Domestic Companies.
We are a holding company with no operations of our own and substantially all of our operations are conducted through Nanjing Recon and BHD, hereafter referred to as the Domestic Companies, which are established as variable interest entities (“VIEs”) under the laws of the PRC. Our ability to pay dividends is dependent upon dividends and other distributions from the Domestic Companies. Chinese legal restrictions permit payment of dividends to us by the Domestic Companies only out of their respective accumulated net profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Under Chinese law, the Domestic Companies are required to set aside a portion (at least 10%) of their after-tax net income (after discharging all cumulated loss), if any, each year for compulsory statutory reserve until the amount of the reserve reaches 50% of the Domestic Companies’ registered capital. These funds may be distributed to shareholders at the time of each Domestic Company’s wind-up. Payments of dividends by Domestic Companies to us are also subject to restrictions including primarily the restriction that foreign invested enterprises may only buy, sell and/or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents. There are no such similar foreign exchange restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
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Our certificates, permits, and license are subject to governmental control and renewal, and the failure to obtain renewal would cause all or part of our operations to be suspended and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.
We are subject to various PRC laws and regulations pertaining to automation services for the petroleum extraction industry. We have obtained certain certificates, permits, and licenses required for the operation of an automation services provider for the petroleum extraction industry and the manufacturing and distribution of software and hardware products in the PRC.
During the application or renewal process for our licenses and permits, we will be evaluated and re-evaluated by the appropriate governmental authorities and must comply with the prevailing standards and regulations, which may change from time to time. In the event that we are not able to obtain or renew the certificates, permits and licenses, all or part of our operations may be suspended by the government, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Furthermore, if escalating compliance costs associated with governmental standards and regulations restrict or prohibit any part of our operations, it may adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.
Failure to renew expired Hazardous Waste Operating Permit and unutilized ICP License could adversely affect our operations and financial performance
Gansu BHD operates a facility with an annual capacity of 60,000 tons for the comprehensive utilization and harmless treatment of oilfield oily waste. This facility primarily handles oily sludge, which contains mineral oil components that pose significant environmental risks if not properly managed. Therefore, compliance with the Solid Waste Sludge Environmental Protection Law and the Hazardous Waste Operating Permit Management Regulations is mandatory for the proper treatment and disposal of oily sludge. However, the company’s Hazardous Waste Operating Permit, which is essential for the legal operation of the facility, expired on July 26, 2023, and has not yet been renewed. While Gansu BHD ceased relevant operations after the permit expired and is actively pursuing renewal, the expired permit could negatively impact the company’s revenue streams and operational efficiency. Moreover, the timeline and outcome of the renewal process remain uncertain. Administrative delays or denial of the renewal could further prevent the company from resuming hazardous waste management activities, adversely affecting its future operations and financial stability.
In addition, Future Gas Station holds an ICP license that has been continuously renewed despite not being utilized. This situation may lead to inefficiencies and additional costs without generating revenue, ultimately impacting the company’s profitability and financial health. The ongoing renewal of the ICP license without active use may also raise concerns among regulatory authorities about the validity of the license and the company’s intentions. This could lead to increased scrutiny or potential regulatory compliance issues.
Failure to comply with laws and regulations applicable to our business in China could subject us to fines and penalties and could also cause us to lose customers or otherwise harm our business.
Our business is subject to regulation by various governmental agencies in China, including agencies responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with various legal obligations, such as value-added telecommunication laws and regulations, privacy and data protection-related laws and regulations, intellectual property laws, employment and labor laws, workplace safety, environmental laws, consumer protection laws, governmental trade laws, import and export controls, anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and tax laws and regulations. In certain jurisdictions, these regulatory requirements may be more stringent than in China. These laws and regulations impose added costs on our business. Noncompliance with applicable regulations or requirements could subject us to:
● | investigations, enforcement actions, and sanctions; |
● | mandatory changes to our network and products; |
● | disgorgement of profits, fines, and damages; |
● | civil and criminal penalties or injunctions; |
● | claims for damages by our customers or channel partners; |
● | termination of contracts; |
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● | loss of intellectual property rights; |
● | failure to obtain, maintain or renew certain licenses, approvals, permits, registrations or filings |
● | necessary to conduct our operations; and |
● | temporary or permanent debarment from sales to public service organizations. |
If any governmental sanctions are imposed, or if we do not prevail in any possible civil or criminal litigation, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, responding to any action will likely result in a significant diversion of our management’s attention and resources and an increase in professional fees. Enforcement actions and sanctions could materially harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Additionally, companies in the technology industry have recently experienced increased regulatory scrutiny. Any similar reviews by regulatory agencies or legislatures may result in substantial regulatory fines, changes to our business practices, and other penalties, which could negatively affect our business and results of operations.
Changes in social, political, and regulatory conditions or in laws and policies governing a wide range of topics may cause us to change our business practices. Further, our expansion into a variety of new fields also could raise a number of new regulatory issues. These factors could negatively affect our business and results of operations in material ways.
Moreover, we are exposed to the risk of misconduct, errors and failure to functions by our management, employees and parties that we collaborate with, who may from time to time be subject to litigation and regulatory investigations and proceedings or otherwise face potential liability and penalties in relation to noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations, which could harm our reputation and business.
Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
Our contractual arrangements with the Domestic Companies and their respective shareholders may not be as effective in providing control over these entities as direct ownership.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. As a holding company with no material operations of our own, we conduct a substantial majority of our operations through our Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (“WFOE”) and the VIEs and their subsidiaries in China providing certain technical and consultation services. A WFOE is a limited liability company based in the People’s Republic of China but wholly owned by foreign investors. In our instance, Recon Hengda Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd (“Recon-BJ”) is a WFOE wholly owned by Recon Investment Ltd. (“Recon-IN”), a Hong Kong limited company, which in turn is wholly owned by us. We consolidated the financial results of BHD and Nanjing Recon into our financial statements based on the VIE agreements entered into on April 1, 2019. Most, if not all, of our revenue derives from operations of the VIEs and their subsidiaries. Our Ordinary Shares are shares of our offshore holding company instead of shares of the VIEs or our PRC subsidiary. These Contractual Arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over the VIEs as direct ownership. For example, BHD could fail to take actions required for our business or fail to pay dividends to Recon-BJ despite its contractual obligation to do so. If the Domestic Companies fail to perform under their agreements with us, we may have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, which may not be effective. In addition, these agreements have not been tested in a court of law.
If we had direct ownership of the VIEs, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of the VIEs, which in turn could effect changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the current Contractual Arrangements, we rely on the performance by the VIEs and their shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to exercise control over the VIEs. We cannot assure you that any of the Domestic Companies’ shareholders would always act in our best interests. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate our business through the Contractual Arrangements with the VIEs. If any dispute relating to these contracts remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through the operations of PRC law and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. Therefore, our Contractual Arrangements with the VIEs may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be.
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We have no equity ownership interest in the Domestic Companies and rely on contractual arrangements to control and operate such businesses. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing control over the Domestic Companies as direct ownership.
We conduct our business through BHD, Nanjing Recon, FGS and their respective subsidiaries by means of Contractual Arrangements. If the PRC courts or administrative authorities determine that these contractual arrangements do not comply with applicable regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties and our business could be adversely affected. In addition, changes in such PRC laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our business.
There are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws, rules and regulations, including the laws, rules and regulations governing the validity and enforcement of the Contractual Arrangements between the Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (“WFOE”). A WFOE is a limited liability company based in the People’s Republic of China but wholly owned by foreign investors. In our instance, Recon Hengda Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd (“Recon-BJ”) is a WFOE wholly owned by Recon Investment Ltd. (“Recon-IN”), a Hong Kong limited company, which in turn is wholly owned by us. Recon-BJ and Nanjing Recon, BHD and their respective subsidiaries. We have been advised by our PRC counsel, JingTian & GongCheng LLP, based on their understanding of the current PRC laws, rules and regulations, that (i) the structure for operating our business in China (including our corporate structure and Contractual Arrangements with the Recon-BJ, Nanjing Recon, BHD and their respective subsidiaries) will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and (ii) the Contractual Arrangements among the Recon-BJ and Nanjing Recon, BHD and their respective subsidiaries governed by PRC law are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect. However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations concerning foreign investment in the PRC, and their application to and effect on the legality, binding effect and enforceability of the contractual arrangements. In particular, we cannot rule out the possibility that PRC regulatory authorities, courts or arbitral tribunals may in the future adopt a different or contrary interpretation or take a view that is inconsistent with the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. Therefore, the Contractual Arrangements may be determined by PRC authorities to be inconsistent with the laws and regulations of the PRC, including those related to foreign investment in certain industries. Therefore, the relevant Chinese regulatory authorities could disallow this structure and hinder our ability to exert contractual control over the Domestic Companies, which would likely result in a material change in operations and/or value of the Company’s ordinary shares, including that it could cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.
If any of the Domestic Companies or their ownership structure or the Contractual Arrangements are determined to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws, rules or regulations, or any of our PRC entities fail to obtain or maintain any of the required governmental permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including:
● | revoking the business and operating licenses; |
● | discontinuing or restricting the operations; |
● | imposing conditions or requirements with which the PRC entities may not be able to comply; |
● | requiring us and our PRC entities to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations, including termination of the contractual agreements with the VIE and deregistering the equity pledge of the VIE, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert effective control the VIE; |
● | imposing fines or confiscating the income from our PRC subsidiaries or the VIE. |
The imposition of any of these penalties would severely disrupt our ability to conduct business and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
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Our majority stake in Future Gas Station (Beijing), which now consists of a large operating segment of our business, exposes us to risks related to consumer energy consumption and online payment technologies.
As the energy consumption market opened to private and foreign companies, and as the online payment technology continually developed, we began investing in the downstream oil industry. Over the years, we developed a close relationship with Future Gas Station (Beijing) (also referred to as “FGS”) and we now own 51% of the equity of FGS. As such, our majority stake in FGS presents both a substantial investment in the downstream of the oil industry and comprises a large part of our operations. As such, our controlling interest in FGS represents both a significant investment in the downstream of the oil industry and a large part of our business. The development of FGS depends on its cooperation with gas stations. At present, most of the gas stations in China are owned by the sales companies of PetroChina and Sinopec, so FGS’s business expansion is largely dependent on the development of electronic payment systems and online settlement systems of these major oil companies and their cooperation decisions. As these major oil companies gradually increase their efforts in research and development and deployment of self-built systems, their willingness to cooperate with third-party service and operations support companies such as FGS will decrease or the depth of their cooperation will decrease, resulting in FGS’s growth potential being limited and unable to meet our expectations at the time we acquired FGS. We may suffer a significant loss on our substantial investment in FGS.
Our contractual arrangements with the Domestic Companies may result in adverse tax consequences to us.
As a result of our corporate structure and contractual arrangements between Recon-BJ and the Domestic Companies, we are effectively subject to several PRC taxes on both revenue generated by Recon-BJ’s operations in China and revenue derived from Recon-BJ’s contractual arrangements with the Domestic Companies. Moreover, we would be subject to adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities were to determine that the contracts between Recon-BJ and the Domestic Companies were not on an arm’s length basis and therefore constitute a favorable transfer pricing. As a result, the PRC tax authorities could request that we adjust our taxable income upward for PRC tax purposes. If the PRC tax authorities took such action, such authorities would be able to establish in its sole discretion the amount of tax payable by Recon-BJ, so we cannot predict the effect of such action on our company other than the likely effect that our profits would decrease. Such a pricing adjustment could adversely affect us by:
● | increasing our tax expenses, which could subject Recon-BJ to late payment fees and other penalties for under-payment of taxes; and/or |
● | resulting in Recon-BJ’s loss of preferential tax treatment. |
The shareholders of the VIEs may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.
The shareholders of the VIEs may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us. The shareholders may refuse to sign or breach, or cause the VIEs to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and the VIEs, which would have a material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively control the VIEs and receive economic benefits from them. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with the VIEs to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise the shareholder will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between the shareholders and our company. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and the shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
The principal shareholders of the Domestic Companies have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may adversely affect our business.
Yin Shenping, our Chief Executive Officer, and Chen Guangqiang, our Chief Technology Officer, are significant shareholders in our company. They are also the principal shareholders of each of the Domestic Companies and collectively control the Domestic Companies. Conflicts of interests between their duties to our company and the respective Domestic Companies may arise. For example, Mr. Yin and Mr. Chen could cause a Domestic Company to fail to take actions that are in the best interests of our Company or to fail to pay dividends to Recon-BJ despite its contractual obligation to do so if making such payment would harm the Domestic Company.
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As Mr. Yin and Mr. Chen are also directors and executive officers of our company, they have duties of loyalty and care to us under Cayman Islands law when there are any potential conflicts of interests between our company and the Domestic Companies. Each of Mr. Yin and Mr. Chen has executed an irrevocable power of attorney to appoint the individual designated by us to be his attorney-in-fact to vote on his behalf on all matters related to the Domestic Companies requiring shareholder approval. We cannot assure you, however, that if conflicts of interest arise, they will act completely in our interests or that conflicts of interests will be resolved in our favor. In addition, Mr. Yin and Mr. Chen could violate their respective employment agreements with us or their legal duties by diverting business opportunities from us to others. If we cannot resolve any conflicts of interest between us and Mr. Yin and Mr. Chen, as applicable, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in the disruption of our business.
Any deterioration of the relationship between Recon-BJ and the Domestic Companies could materially and adversely affect the overall business operation of our company.
Our relationship with the Domestic Companies is governed by their agreements with Recon-BJ, which are intended to provide us, through our indirect ownership of Recon-BJ, with effective control over the business operations of the Domestic Companies. However, these agreements may not be effective in providing control over the applications for and maintenance of the licenses required for our business operations. The Domestic Companies could violate these agreements, go bankrupt, suffer from difficulties in its business or otherwise become unable to perform its obligations under these agreements and, as a result, our operations, reputation, business and stock price could be severely harmed.
If Recon-BJ exercises its purchase option of the Domestic Companies’ equity pursuant to the Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement, payment of the purchase price could materially and adversely affect our financial position.
Under the Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement, Recon-BJ holds an option to purchase all or a portion of the equity of the Domestic Companies at a price, based on the capital paid in by the Domestic Company shareholders. If applicable PRC laws and regulations require an appraisal of the equity interest or provide other restriction on the purchase price, the purchase price shall be the lowest price permitted under the applicable PRC laws and regulations. As the Domestic Companies are already contractually controlled affiliates to our company, Recon-BJ’s purchase of the Domestic Companies’ equity would not bring immediate benefits to our company and the exercise of the option and payment of the purchase prices could adversely affect our financial position and available working capital.
Our dual class structure may be dilutive to the voting power of Class A Ordinary Shareholders.
At the 2021 annual meeting, our shareholders approved a special resolution to implement a dual class structure establishing Class A and Class B Ordinary Shares. The dual class structure of our ordinary shares has the effect of concentrating voting control with holders of Class B Ordinary Shares. Our Class B Ordinary Shares have stronger voting power than our Class A Ordinary Shares and certain existing shareholders have substantial influence over our Company and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders.
Our classified board structure may prevent a change in our control.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. The current terms of the directors expire in 2025, 2026 and 2027. Directors of each class are chosen for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms, and each year one class of directors is elected by the shareholders. The staggered terms of our directors may reduce the possibility of a tender offer or an attempt at a change in control, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our shareholders.
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Shareholder rights under Cayman Islands law may differ materially from shareholder rights in the United States, which could adversely affect the ability of us and our shareholders to protect our and their interests.
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, by the Companies Act (2023 Revision) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The right of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders, and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law in the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority but are not binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and some states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate laws. Moreover, our company could be involved in a corporate combination in which dissenting shareholders would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations. However, Cayman Islands statutory law does provide a mechanism for a dissenting shareholder in a merger or consolidation to apply to the Grand Court for a determination of the fair value of the dissenter’s shares if it is not possible for the dissenter and the Company to agree a fair price within the time limits prescribed. Also, our Cayman Islands counsel is not aware of a significant number of reported derivative actions having been brought in Cayman Islands courts. Class actions are not recognized in the Cayman Islands, but groups of shareholders with identical interests may bring representative proceedings which are similar. Such actions are ordinarily available in respect of United States corporations in U.S. courts. Finally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate shareholder derivative action before the federal courts of the United States. As a result, our public shareholders may face different considerations in protecting their interests in actions against the management, directors or our controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, and our ability to protect our interests may be limited if we are harmed in a manner that would otherwise enable us to sue in a United States federal court.
As we are a Cayman Islands company and most of our assets are outside the United States, it will be extremely difficult to acquire jurisdiction and enforce liabilities against us and our officers, directors and assets based in China.
We are a Cayman Islands exempt company, and our corporate affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association and by the Cayman Islands Companies Act (2023 Revision) and other applicable Cayman Islands laws. Certain of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States. In addition, the Company’s assets will be located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible to effect service of process within the United States upon our directors or officers and our subsidiaries, or enforce against any of them court judgments obtained in United States’ courts, including judgments relating to United States federal securities laws. In addition, there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands and of other offshore jurisdictions would recognize or enforce judgments of United States’ courts obtained against us predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof on the grounds that such provisions are penal in nature, or be competent to hear original actions brought in the Cayman Islands or other offshore jurisdictions predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state thereof. Our Cayman Islands’ counsel has advised us that although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize and enforce a foreign judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction if such judgment is final, for a liquidated sum, provided it is not in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands’ judgment in respect of the same matters, and was not obtained in a manner which is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands court may stay proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. Furthermore, because the majority of our assets are located in China, it would also be extremely difficult to access those assets to satisfy an award entered against us in United States court.
We may have difficulty in enforcing any rights we may have under the VIE Agreements in PRC.
As all of the VIE Agreements are governed by the PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC, they would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC is not as developed as in the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could further limit our ability to enforce these VIE Agreements. Furthermore, these VIE Agreements may not be enforceable in China if PRC government authorities or courts take a view that such VIE Agreements contravene PRC laws and regulations or are otherwise not enforceable for public policy reasons. In the event we are unable to enforce these VIE Agreements, we may not be able to exert effective control over the VIEs, and our ability to conduct our business may be materially and adversely affected.
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Risks Related to Doing Business in China
The recent state government interference into business activities on U.S. listed Chinese companies may negatively impact our existing and future operations in China.
Recently, the Chinese government announced that it would step up supervision of Chinese firms listed offshore. Under the new measures, China will improve regulation of cross-border data flows and security, crack down on illegal activity in the securities market and punish fraudulent securities issuance, market manipulation and insider trading, China will also check sources of funding for securities investment and control leverage ratios. The Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) has also opened a cybersecurity probe into several U.S.-listed tech giants focusing on anti-monopoly, financial technology regulation and more recently, with the passage of the Data Security Law, how companies collect, store, process and transfer data. If we are subject to such a probe or if we are required to comply with stepped-up supervisory requirements, valuable time from our management and money may be expended in complying and/or responding to the probe and requirements, thus diverting valuable resources and attention away from our operations. This may, in turn, negatively impact our operations.
Because of the VIEs and their subsidiaries in China and given the Chinese government’s significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business operations there, the Chinese government may seek to affect our operations, including our ability to offer securities to investors, list our securities on a U.S. or other foreign exchange, conduct our business or accept foreign investment. The Chinese government may intervene or influence the Company’s current and future operations in China at any time, or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in issuers likes ourselves.
If any or all of the foregoing were to occur, this could lead to a material change in the Company’s operations and/or the value of our ordinary shares and/or 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.
We have engaged in transactions with related parties, and such transactions present possible conflicts of interest that could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We entered into a number of transactions with related parties. All material related party transactions must be approved by our board of directors. Such material related party transactions must be made or entered into on bona fide terms in the best interests of the Company and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
Transactions with related parties present potential for conflicts of interest, as the interests of related party may not align with the interests of our shareholders. Although we believe these transactions were in our best interests, we cannot assure you that these transactions were entered into on terms as favorable to us as those that could have been obtained in an arms-length transaction. We may also engage in transactions with related parties in the future. Conflicts of interests arise when we transact business with related parties. These transactions, individually or in aggregate, may have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations or may result in government enforcement actions or other litigation.
The Chinese government exerts substantial influence over the manner in which we must conduct our business activities and may intervene or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to securities regulation, data protection, cybersecurity and mergers and acquisitions and other matters. The central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations.
Government actions in the future could significantly affect economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof and could require us to materially change our operating activities or divest ourselves of any interests we hold in Chinese assets. Our business may be subject to various government and regulatory interference in the provinces in which we operate. We may incur increased costs necessary to comply with existing and newly adopted laws and regulations or penalties for any failure to comply. Our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.
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Given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, any such action 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 become worthless. It is uncertain when and whether we will be required to obtain permission from the PRC government to offering securities in the U.S. in the future, and even when such permission is obtained, whether we will be denied or rescinded. Although we are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC regulatory authorities to obtain such permission and has not received any denial regarding our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the entry into the VIE Agreements, our operations could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by existing or future laws and regulations relating to our business or industry.
Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the PCAOB determines that it cannot inspect or investigate completed our auditors for two consecutive years.
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCA Act, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCA Act states if the SEC determines that a company has filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021, the SEC shall prohibit such shares from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the U.S.
On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. The interim final rule applies to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in that jurisdiction. Consistent with the HFCAA, the interim final rule requires the submission of documentation to the SEC establishing that such a registrant is not owned or controlled by a government entity in that foreign jurisdiction and also requires disclosure in a foreign issuer’s annual report regarding the audit arrangements of, and government influence on, such registrants. On May 13, 2021, the PCAOB issued proposed PCAOB Rule 6100, Board Determinations Under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act for public comment. The proposed rule provides a framework for making determinations as to whether PCAOB is unable to inspect an audit firm in a foreign jurisdiction, including the timing, factors, bases, publication and revocation or modification of such determinations, and such determinations will be made on a jurisdiction-wide basis in a consistent manner applicable to all firms headquartered in the jurisdiction. In November 2021, the SEC approved PCAOB Rule 6100. On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to final rules implementing the disclosure and submission requirements of the HFCAA.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill titled as the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or AHFCA Act which, if passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law, would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act from three years to two.
Further, the PCAOB adopted a final rule on September 22, 2021 implementing the HFCA Act. Such final rule, however, remains subject to the SEC’s approval and it remains when the SEC will complete its rulemaking and when such rules will become effective and what, if any, of the PWG recommendations and or PCAOB’s rule will be adopted.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report on its determinations that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong because of positions taken by PRC and Hong Kong authorities in those jurisdictions.
The PCAOB adopted a final rule on September 22, 2021 implementing the HFCA Act, subject to SEC approval. The final rules adopted by the SEC relating to the HFCA Act became effective on January 10, 2022.
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On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a SOP with the CSRC and the MOF of the PRC regarding cooperation in the oversight of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in the PRC and Hong Kong which establishes a method for the PCAOB to conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms in the PRC and Hong Kong, as contemplated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Under the agreement, (a) the PCAOB has sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates without consultation with, or input from, PRC authorities; (b) procedures are in place for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed; (c) the PCAOB has direct access to interview and take testimony from all personnel associated with the audits the PCAOB inspects or investigates; and (d) the PCAOB shall have the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the SEC can use the information for all regulatory purposes, including administrative or civil enforcement actions. The PCAOB was required to reassess its determinations as to whether it is able to carry out inspections and investigations completely and without obstruction by the end of 2022. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and vacated its previous determinations. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
Congress passed fiscal year 2023 Omnibus spending legislation in December 2022, which contained provisions to accelerate the HFCAA timeline for implementation of trading prohibitions from three years to two years. As a result, the SEC is required to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections or complete investigations for two consecutive years.
Our predecessor auditors, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (“Marcum Asia”) and Friedman LLP (“Friedman”), both of which are independent registered public accounting firms and which Friedman issued the audit report included elsewhere in this report, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and firms registered with the PCAOB, are subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess our auditor’s compliance with the applicable professional standards. Marcum Asia did not issue an audit report.
On February 7, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors determined and ratified the Audit Committee’s approval of the proposed appointment of Marcum Asia as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The services previously provided by Friedman are now provided by Marcum Asia.
The Company was notified by Friedman, the Company’s then independent registered public accounting firm, that effective September 1, 2022, Friedman combined with Marcum LLP and continued to operate as an independent registered public accounting firm. Friedman continued to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm through February 1, 2023. On February 1, 2023, the Audit Committee approved the engagement of Marcum Asia to serve as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company.
On August 22, 2023, we appointed Enrome LLP as its independent registered public accounting firm. Enrome LLP replaced Marcum Asia which we dismissed on August 22, 2023. The appointment of Enrome LLP was made after careful consideration and evaluation process and has been approved by our audit committee of our board of directors. Our decision to make this change was not the result of any disagreement between the Company and Marcum Asia on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure. The Company’s decision to terminate Marcum Asia was based on cost control concerns.
Marcum Asia and formerly Friedman are headquartered in New York, New York and have been subject to inspection by the PCAOB on a regular basis. Our current auditor, Enrome LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has been retained to audit the financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. Enrome LLP is subject to PCAOB inspections and the PCAOB is able to inspect our auditor. We cannot assure you whether NASDAQ or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements. In the event that there is a lack of inspection or if Enrome LLP, Marcum Asia or Friedman are unable to permit an inspection by the PCAOB, however unlikely, our shares would be prohibited under the HFCA Act which may lead a securities exchange to determine to delist our shares. Such potential delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our shares when you wish to do so, and such risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting due to a lack of inspection would have a negative impact on the price of our shares.
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Additional compliance procedures may be required due to the promulgation of the new filing-based administrative rules for overseas offering and listing by domestic companies in China, which could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Ordinary Shares to investors and could cause the value of our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline or become worthless.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Measures and five supporting guidelines, which went into effect on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to Article 16 of the Trial Measures, domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures within three working days following its submission of initial public offerings or listing application. Where an issuer offers securities in the same overseas market after overseas initial public offerings or listing, it shall complete filing procedures with the CSRC within three working days after completion of offering. The required filing materials with the CSRC in relation to the offering in the same overseas market include (without limitation): (i) record-filing reports and related undertakings; and (ii) PRC legal opinions issued by domestic law firms (with related undertakings).
Pursuant to the Trial Administrative Measures, we have to file with the CSRC with respect to public offering, and the CSRC will conclude the filing procedures and publish the filing results on the CSRC website within twenty working days after receiving the filing documents, if the filing documents are complete and in compliance with stipulated requirements. However, during the filing process, the CSRC may request the Company to supply additional documents or may consult with competent authorities, the time for which will not be counted in the twenty working days. As advised by Jingtian & Gongcheng, our PRC counsel, we were not required to complete the filing procedures pursuant to the Trial Measures for our initial public offering because we completed our IPO and listing prior to September 30, 2023. However, we are now required to complete the filing procedures with the CSRC pursuant to the requirements of the Trial Measures for subsequent offerings conducted in the U.S. Based on the above and our understanding of the Chinese laws and regulations currently in effect as of the date of this report, any failure or perceived failure of the Company to fully comply with the filing requirements could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which could materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, potentially causing the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
PRC regulations relating to investments in offshore companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC-resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiaries or limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits.
SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75” promulgated by SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle.” SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC resident holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of foreign exchange controls.
SAFE promulgated the Notice of SAFE on Further Simplifying and Improving Policies for the Foreign Exchange Administration of Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, on February 13, 2015, which was effective on June 1, 2015. SAFE Circular 13 cancels two administrative approval items: foreign exchange registration under domestic direct investment and foreign exchange registration under overseas direct investment, instead. Banks shall directly examine and handle foreign exchange registration under domestic direct investment and foreign exchange registration under overseas direct investment, and SAFE and its branch shall indirectly regulate the foreign exchange registration of direct investment through banks.
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In 2008, to protect our shareholders from possible future foreign ownership restrictions, our Founders signed a series of agreements with Recon-JN, BHD and Nanjing Recon, so Recon-JN became the primary beneficiary of BHD and Nanjing Recon for accounting purposes. On April 1, 2019, as part of our planned organizational restructuring, Recon-BJ entered into a series of VIE agreements with BHD and Nanjing Recon, respectively, under the same terms and conditions as that of the VIE agreements previously entered into by Recon-JN. As a result, the VIEs were effectively transferred from Recon-JN to Recon-BJ. Our beneficial owners, Mr. Chen Guangqiang and Mr. Yin Shenping, both PRC residents, initially completed their SAFE registration at the Jining branch of SAFE. However, they failed to comply with the required procedures to update and amend their SAFE registration in a timely manner.
Failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may subject Mr. Chen, Mr. Yin and our PRC subsidiaries to fines and legal sanctions. The non-compliance could also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries and restrict their ability to distribute dividends to our company. Additionally, it may constrain our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits. Such risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Due to the lack of interconnection between the SAFE registration systems in Jining and Beijing, Mr. Chen and Mr. Yin have established two new BVI offshore companies to transfer their previously held shares and update their SAFE registration. However, whether the amendment registration can be completed remains uncertain. We urge investors to fully consider these associated risks.
PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain and any changes in such laws and regulations may impair our ability to operate profitably.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business and the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in certain circumstances. The laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. The effectiveness and interpretation of newly enacted laws or regulations, including amendments to existing laws and regulations, may be delayed, and our business may be affected if we rely on laws and regulations which are subsequently adopted or interpreted in a manner different from our understanding of these laws and regulations. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. Recon cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our business.
The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Prior court decisions are encouraged to be used for reference but it remains unclear to what extent the prior court decisions may impact the current court ruling as the encouragement policy is new and there is limited judicial practice in this regard. Since a large number of laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and the enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.
In 1979, the PRC government began to promulgate a comprehensive system of laws and regulations governing economic matters in general. The overall effect of legislation over the past four decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system, and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. Since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy. These uncertainties may affect our judgment on the relevance of legal requirements and our ability to enforce our contractual rights or tort claims. In addition, the regulatory uncertainties may be exploited through unmerited or frivolous legal actions or threats in attempts to extract payments or benefits from us.
Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of its contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, and any failure to respond to changes in the regulatory environment in China could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
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We are also subject to the legal and operational risks associated with being based in and having substantially all operations in China. These risks may result in material changes in operations, or a complete hindrance of Recon’s ability to offer or continue to offer its securities to investors, and could cause the value of Recon’s securities to significantly decline or become 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 using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. On July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued an announcement to crack down on illegal activities in the securities market and promote the high-quality development of the capital market, which, among other things, requires the relevant governmental authorities to strengthen cross-border oversight of law-enforcement and judicial cooperation, to enhance supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, and to establish and improve the system of extraterritorial application of the PRC securities laws. On December 28, 2021, Cybersecurity Review Measures (2021 version) was issued, which became effective on February 15, 2022. As of the date of this report, the above regulations have not impacted our ability to conduct the business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange; however, there are uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of these new laws and guidelines, which could materially and adversely impact our overall business and financial outlook.
Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our future business and operations.
The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies.
The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China. Such developments could adversely affect our future business and operating results, lead to reduction in demand for our services and adversely affect our competitive position. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate adjustment, to control the pace of economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, which may adversely affect our future business and operating results.
Adverse changes in China’s political, economic or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of China, which could reduce the demand for our products and materially adversely affect our competitive position.
We conduct substantially all of our operations and generate most of our revenue in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects are affected significantly by economic, political and legal developments in China. The PRC economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including:
● | the higher level of government involvement; |
● | the early stage of development of the market-oriented sector of the economy; |
● | the relatively rapid growth rate; |
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● | the higher level of control over foreign exchange; and |
● | the allocation policies of resources. |
While the PRC economy has grown significantly since the late 1970s, the growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, but may also have a negative effect on our business. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us.
The PRC economy has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. The PRC government continues to exercise significant control over economic growth in China through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and imposing policies that impact particular industries or companies in different ways.
We may be exposed to liabilities under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Chinese anti-corruption law.
In connection with any future offering, we may be subjected to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We may also be subjected to Chinese anti-corruption laws, which strictly prohibit the payment of bribes to government officials. Going forward, we may have operations, agreements with third parties, and make sales in China, which may experience corruption. Our future activities in China may create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by one of the employees of our Company, because sometimes these employees are out of our control. Violations of the FCPA or Chinese anti-corruption laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.
The PRC government may issue further restrictive measures in the future.
We cannot assure you that the PRC’s government will not issue further restrictive measures in the future. The PRC government’s restrictive regulations and measures could increase our existing and future operating costs in adapting to these regulations and measures, limit our access to capital resources or even restrict our existing and future business operations, which could further adversely affect our business and prospects.
We may be subject to a variety of laws and other obligations regarding cybersecurity and data protection, and any failure to comply with applicable laws and obligations could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be subject relating various risks and costs associated with to the collection, use, sharing, retention, security, and transfer of confidential and private information, such as personal information and other data. This data is wide ranging and relates to our investors, employees, contractors and other counterparties and third parties. The relevant PRC laws apply not only to third-party transactions, but also to transfers of information between us, the Domestic Companies, our subsidiaries and other parties with which we have commercial relations.
The PRC regulatory and enforcement regime with regard to privacy and data security is evolving. The PRC Cybersecurity Law which was promulgated on November 7, 2016 and became effective on June 1, 2017 provides that personal information and important data collected and generated by operators of critical information infrastructure in the course of their operations in the PRC should be stored in the PRC, and the law imposes heightened regulation and additional security obligations on operators of critical information infrastructure. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures promulgated by the Cyberspace Administration of China and certain other PRC regulatory authorities in April 2020, which became effective in June 2020, operators of critical information infrastructure must pass a cybersecurity review when purchasing network products and services which do or may affect national security.
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On June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the Data Security Law which shall take effect in September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law provides for data security and privacy obligations of entities and individuals carrying out data activities, prohibits entities and individuals in China from providing any foreign judicial or law enforcement authority with any data stored in China without approval from the competent PRC authority, and sets forth the legal liabilities of entities and individuals found to be in violation of their data protection obligations, including rectification order, warning, fines of up to RMB10 million, suspension of relevant business, and revocation of business permits or licenses.
On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the Personal Information Security Law, which shall come into force as of November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law includes the basic rules for personal information processing, the rules for cross-border provision of personal information, the rights of individuals in personal information processing activities, the obligations of personal information processors, and the legal responsibilities for illegal collection, processing, and use of personal information.
In addition, on July 10, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (Revision Draft for Comments) for public comments, which proposes to authorize the relevant government authorities to conduct cybersecurity review on a range of activities that affect or may affect national security, including listings in foreign countries by companies that possess personal data of more than one million users. The PRC National Security Law covers various types of national security, including technology security and information security.
On December 28, 2021, the CAC, the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”), and several other administrations jointly issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the Revised Review Measures. According to the Revised Review Measures, if an “online platform operator” that is in possession of personal data of more than one million users intends to list in a foreign country, it must apply for a cybersecurity review. Given the recency of the issuance of the Revised Review Measures, there is a general lack of guidance and substantial uncertainties exist with respect to their interpretation and implementation.
We do not collect, process or use personal information of entities or individuals other than what is necessary for our business and do not disseminate such information. We do not operate mobile apps and we do not possess information on more than a million entities/individuals. Although we believe we currently are not required to obtain clearance from the Cyberspace Administration of China under the Measures for Cybersecurity Review or the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities, we face uncertainties as to the interpretation or implementation of such regulations or rules, and if required, whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all.
Compliance with the PRC Cybersecurity Law, the PRC National Security Law, the Data Security Law, the Personal Information Protection Law, the Cybersecurity Review Measures, as well as additional laws and regulations that PRC regulatory bodies may enact in the future, including data security and personal information protection laws, may result in additional expenses to us and subject us to negative publicity, which could harm our reputation among users and negatively affect the trading price of our shares in the future. There are also uncertainties with respect to how the PRC Cybersecurity Law, the PRC National Security Law and the Data Security Law will be implemented and interpreted in practice. PRC regulators, including the Ministry of Public Security, the MIIT, the SAMR and the Cyberspace Administration of China, have been increasingly focused on regulation in the areas of data security and data protection, including for mobile apps, and are enhancing the protection of privacy and data security by rule-making and enforcement actions at central and local levels. We expect that these areas will receive greater and continued attention and scrutiny from regulators and the public going forward, which could increase our compliance costs and subject us to heightened risks and challenges associated with data security and protection. If we are unable to manage these risks, we could become subject to penalties, including fines, suspension of business, prohibition against new user registration (even for a short period of time) and revocation of required licenses, and our reputation and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
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It may be difficult for overseas shareholders and/or regulators to conduct investigation or collect evidence within China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or Article 177, which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator, such as the Department of Justice, the SEC, the PCAOB and other authorities, to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
Some of our business operations are conducted in Hong Kong and the PRC. In the event that the U.S. regulators carry out investigation on us and there is a need to conduct investigation or collect evidence within the territory of the PRC, the U.S. regulators may not be able to carry out such investigation or evidence collection directly in the PRC under the PRC laws. The U.S. regulators may consider cross-border cooperation with securities regulatory authority of the PRC by way of judicial assistance, diplomatic channels or regulatory cooperation mechanism established with the securities regulatory authority of the PRC.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could limit the legal protections available to you and us.
We conduct substantially all of our business through our operating subsidiary in the PRC, Recon-BJ, which is a wholly foreign owned enterprise in China. Recon-BJ is generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign invested enterprises in China and intellectual property protections. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes, and prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. Since the late 1970s, a series of new PRC laws and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to intellectual property rights and various forms of foreign investments in China. However, since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involve uncertainties, which may limit legal protections available to you and us. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
We do not have business interruption, litigation or natural disaster insurance.
The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development. In particular PRC insurance companies offer limited business products. As a result, we do not have any business liability or disruption insurance coverage for our operations in China. Any business interruption, litigation or natural disaster may result in our business incurring substantial costs and the diversion of resources.
We may be subject to foreign exchange controls in the PRC.
Our PRC subsidiary and affiliates are subject to PRC rules and regulations on currency conversion. In the PRC, the State Administration for Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) regulates the conversion of the RMB into foreign currencies. Currently, foreign investment enterprises (“FIEs”) are required to apply to SAFE for “Foreign Exchange Registration Certificate for FIEs.” Recon-BJ is an FIE. With such registration certifications (which need to be renewed annually), FIEs are allowed to open foreign currency accounts including the “recurrent account” and the “capital account.” Currently, conversion within the scope of the “recurrent account” can be affected without requiring the approval of SAFE. However, conversion of currency in the “capital account” (e.g. for capital items such as direct investments, loans, securities, etc.) still requires the approval of SAFE. Accordingly, compliance with SAFE requirements may limit how we are able to use our funds, in ways that we would not be limited if we operated in countries other than China.
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Fluctuations in exchange rates could adversely affect the value of our securities.
Changes in the value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other foreign currencies are affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. Any significant revaluation of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on the value of, and any dividends payable on our shares in U.S. dollar terms. For example, if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of paying dividends on our ordinary shares or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
Since July 2005, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.
Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions. We do not plan to enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our foreign currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currencies.
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PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose vehicles by PRC residents, if applied to us, may subject our PRC resident shareholders to personal liability and limit our ability to acquire PRC companies or to inject capital into Recon-IN and Recon-BJ, limit Recon-IN’s and Recon-BJ’s ability to distribute profits to us or otherwise materially adversely affect us.
On October 21, 2005, SAFE issued a public notice, the Notice on Relevant Issues in the Foreign Exchange Control over Financing and Return Investment Through Special Purpose Companies by Residents Inside China, or the SAFE notice, which requires PRC residents, including both legal persons and natural persons, to register with the competent local SAFE branch before establishing or controlling any company outside of China, referred to as an “offshore special purpose company,” for the purpose of overseas equity financing involving onshore assets or equity interests held by them. In addition, any PRC resident that is the shareholder of an offshore special purpose company is required to amend its SAFE registration with the local SAFE branch with respect to that offshore special purpose company in connection with any increase or decrease of capital, transfer of shares, merger, division, equity investment or creation of any security interest over any assets located in China. Moreover, if the offshore special purpose company was established and owned the onshore assets or equity interests before November 1, 2005, a retroactive SAFE registration is required to have been completed before March 31, 2006. If any PRC shareholder of any offshore special purpose company fails to make the required SAFE registration and amendment, the PRC subsidiaries of that offshore special purpose company (Recon-IN, Recon-BJ, Recon-SD and Recon-GX for our company) may be prohibited from distributing their profits and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to the offshore special purpose company. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration and amendment requirements described above could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
Due to lack of official interpretation, some of the terms and provisions in the SAFE notice remain unclear and implementation by central SAFE and local SAFE branches of the SAFE notice has been inconsistent since its adoption. Because of uncertainty over how the SAFE notice will be interpreted and implemented, we cannot predict how it will affect our business operations or future strategies. For example, Recon-IN’s, Recon-BJ’s, Recon-SD’s, Recon-GX’s and any prospective PRC subsidiaries’ ability to conduct foreign exchange activities, such as the remittance of dividends and foreign currency-denominated borrowings, may be subject to compliance with the SAFE notice by our company’s PRC resident beneficial holders. In addition, such PRC residents may not always be able to complete the necessary registration procedures required by the SAFE notice. We also have little control over either our present or prospective direct or indirect shareholders or the outcome of such registration procedures. A failure by our PRC resident beneficial holders or future PRC resident shareholders to comply with the SAFE notice, if SAFE requires it, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit our subsidiary’s ability to make distributions or pay dividends or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, we may be classified as a “resident enterprise” of China, which could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
The EIT Law and its implementing rules provide that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises” under PRC tax laws. The implementing rules promulgated under the EIT Law define the term “de facto management bodies” as a management body which substantially manages, or has control over the business, personnel, finance and assets of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, issued a circular, known as Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management bodies” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. However, there are no further detailed rules or precedents governing the procedures and specific criteria for determining “de facto management body.” Although our board of directors and management are located in the PRC, it is unclear if the PRC tax authorities would determine that we should be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise.”
If we are deemed a PRC “resident enterprise,” we will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on our worldwide income at a uniform tax rate of 25%, although dividends distributed to us from our existing subsidiaries in China or the VIE and any other subsidiaries in China or the VIE which we may establish from time to time could be exempt from the PRC dividend withholding tax due to our PRC “resident recipient” status. This could have a material and adverse effect on our overall effective tax rate, our income tax expenses and our net income. Furthermore, dividends, if any, paid to our shareholders may be decreased as a result of the decrease in distributable profits. In addition, if we were considered a PRC “resident enterprise”, any dividends we pay to our non-PRC investors, and the gains realized from the transfer of our Class A Ordinary Shares may be considered income derived from sources within the PRC and be subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty). It is unclear whether holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. This could have a material and adverse effect on the value of your investment in us and the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
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Risk of potential adverse impact on our business and operations in China due to tax compliance issues in equity transfers of our PRC subsidiaries.
Several of our PRC subsidiaries have undergone multiple equity transfers in the past. According to the Individual Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China (IIT Law, 2018 Amendment), where an individual undergoes modification registration for transfer of equities, the registration authority of the market participant shall verify the payment receipt of individual income tax related to the equity transaction. Since we have successfully completed the modification registration processes, taxes related to the previous equity transfers have been duly paid. However, as of the date of this prospectus, we are unable to provide tax certificates for all individual transferors involved in these transactions.
This lack of documentation could expose the company to potential risks, including tax investigations or penalties imposed by the tax authorities. If the tax authorities determine that the transferors did not fully comply with their tax obligations, our PRC subsidiaries or the company may be held liable for any unpaid taxes, penalties, or interest, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, the absence of such certificates may lead to further scrutiny by tax authorities, which could result in delays or additional costs in completing future transactions involving equity transfers.
There are significant uncertainties under the EIT Law relating to the withholding tax liabilities of our PRC subsidiary, and dividends payable by our PRC subsidiary to our offshore subsidiaries may not qualify to enjoy certain treaty benefits.
Under the PRC EIT Law and its implementation rules, the profits of a foreign invested enterprise generated through operations, which are distributed to its immediate holding company outside the PRC, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. Pursuant to a special arrangement between Hong Kong and the PRC, such rate may be reduced to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the equity interest in the PRC company. Our PRC subsidiary is wholly-owned by our Hong Kong subsidiary. Moreover, under the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues regarding the Administration of the Dividend Provision in Tax Treaties promulgated on February 20, 2009, the taxpayer needs to satisfy certain conditions to enjoy the benefits under a tax treaty. These conditions include: (1) the taxpayer must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends, and (2) the corporate shareholder to receive dividends from the PRC subsidiary must have continuously met the direct ownership thresholds during the 12 consecutive months preceding the receipt of the dividends. Further, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated the Notice on How to Understand and Recognize the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties on October 27, 2009, which limits the “beneficial owner” to individuals, projects or other organizations normally engaged in substantive operations, and sets forth certain detailed factors in determining the “beneficial owner” status. In current practice, a Hong Kong enterprise must obtain a tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain the tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not commenced the application process for a Hong Kong tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority, and there is no assurance that we will be granted such a Hong Kong tax resident certificate.
Even after we obtain the Hong Kong tax resident certificate, we are required by applicable tax laws and regulations to file required forms and materials with relevant PRC tax authorities to prove we can enjoy the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. Recon HK intends to obtain the required materials and file with the relevant tax authorities when it plans to declare and pay dividends, but there is no assurance that the PRC tax authorities will approve the 5% withholding tax rate on dividends received from Recon HK.
PRC regulations and potential registration requirements relating to acquisitions of PRC companies by foreign entities may create regulatory uncertainties that could restrict or limit our ability to operate.
On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including the PRC Ministry of Commerce (“MOC”), the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the State Administration of Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and SAFE, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which came into effect on September 8, 2006 and was amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules significantly revised China’s regulatory framework governing onshore-to-offshore restructurings and foreign acquisitions of domestic enterprises. These new rules signify greater PRC government attention to cross-border merger, acquisition and other investment activities, by confirming MOC as a key regulator for issues related to mergers and acquisitions in China and requiring MOC approval of a broad range of merger, acquisition and investment transactions. Further, the new rules establish reporting requirements for acquisition of control by foreigners of companies in key industries and reinforce the ability of the Chinese government to monitor and prohibit foreign control transactions in key industries.
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Among other things, the M&A Rules include new provisions that purport to require that an offshore SPV, formed for listing purposes and controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies or individuals must obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such SPV’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published on its official website procedures specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by SPVs seeking CSRC approval of their overseas listings. However, the application of this PRC regulation remains unclear with no consensus currently existing among the leading PRC law firms regarding the scope and applicability of the CSRC approval requirement.
If the PRC regulatory authorities take the view that the VIE Agreements constitute a reverse merger acquisition or round-trip investment in related party transactions without the approval of the national offices of MOC, they could invalidate the VIE Agreements. Additionally, the PRC regulatory authorities may take the view that any public offering plan will require the prior approval of CSRC. If we cannot obtain MOC or CSRC approval in case we are required to do so, our business and financial performance will be materially adversely affected. We may also face regulatory actions or other sanctions from the MOC or other PRC regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the PRC, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds of any other offering into the PRC, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Also, if the CSRC later requires that we obtain its approval, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of the CSRC approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties and/or negative publicity regarding this CSRC approval requirement could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Severe and Lawful Crackdown on Illegal Securities Activities, which was available to the public on July 6, 2021. 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. Moreover, the CAC issued the Measures of Cybersecurity Review (Revised Draft for Comments) on July 10, 2021, which requires certain operators who wish to list abroad to file a cybersecurity review with the Office of Cybersecurity Review, such as operators with personal information of more than one million users. The Cybersecurity Administration of China issued the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review (“Revised Review Measures”) on December 28, 2021. The New Measures amends the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (Draft Revision for Comments) released on July 10, 2021. The New Measures came into effect on February 15, 2022. The aforementioned policies and any related implementation rules to be enacted may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future. As these opinions were recently issued, official guidance and interpretation of the opinions remain unclear in several respects at this time. We cannot assure you, however, that the regulators will not take a contrary view or will not subsequently require us to undergo the approval procedures and subject us to penalties for non-compliance. Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will remain fully compliant with all new regulatory requirements of these opinions or any future implementation rules on a timely basis, or at all.
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PRC registration requirements for stock option plans of overseas publicly-listed companies may restrict our ability to adopt equity compensation plans for our directors and employees or otherwise limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute profits to us.
In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice on the Administration of Foreign Exchange Matters for Domestic Individuals Participating in the Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Listed Companies, or the Stock Option Notice, which replaced the Application Procedures of Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plans or Stock Option Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies issued by SAFE on March 28, 2007. Under the Stock Option Notice and other relevant rules and regulations, PRC residents who participate in stock incentive plan in an overseas publicly-listed company are required to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. Participants of a stock incentive plan who are PRC residents must collectively retain a qualified PRC agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas publicly listed company or another qualified institution selected by such PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the stock incentive plan on behalf of its participants. Such participants must also collectively retain an overseas entrusted institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of stock options, the purchase and sale of corresponding stocks or interests and fund transfers. In addition, the PRC agent is required to amend the SAFE registration with respect to the stock incentive plan if there is any material change to the stock incentive plan, the PRC agent or the overseas entrusted institution or other material changes. We and our PRC employees who have been granted stock options are subject to these regulations. Failure of our PRC stock option holders to complete their SAFE registrations may subject these PRC residents to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to compensate our employees and directors through equity compensation, limited our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business.
The Chinese government could change its policies toward private enterprise or even nationalize or expropriate private enterprises, which could result in the total loss of our investment in that country.
Our business is subject to significant political and economic uncertainties and may be adversely affected by political, economic and social developments in China. Over the past several years, the Chinese government has pursued economic reform policies including the encouragement of private economic activity and greater economic decentralization. The Chinese government may not continue to pursue these policies or may significantly alter them to our detriment from time to time with little, if any, prior notice.
Changes in policies, laws and regulations or in their interpretation or the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, restrictions or prohibitions on dividend payments to shareholders, devaluations of currency or the nationalization or other expropriation of private enterprises could have a material adverse effect on our business. Nationalization or expropriation could even result in the total loss of our investment in China and in the total loss of your investment in us.
We may be unable to establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, and as a result we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
The PRC has historically lagged in western style management, governance and financial reporting concepts and practices, as well as in modern banking, and other control systems. Our current management has little experience with western style management, governance and financial reporting concepts and practices, and we may have difficulty in hiring and retaining a sufficient number of qualified employees to work in the PRC. As a result of these factors, and especially given that we are a publicly listed company in the U.S. and subject to regulation as such, we may experience difficulty in establishing management, governance, legal and financial controls, collecting financial data and preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records and instituting business practices that meet western standards. We may have difficulty establishing adequate management, governance, legal and financial controls in the PRC. Therefore, we may, in turn, experience difficulties in implementing and maintaining adequate internal controls as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. This may result in significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal controls which could impact the reliability of our financial statements and prevent us from complying with SEC rules and regulations and the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Any such deficiencies, weaknesses or lack of compliance could have a materially adverse effect on our business and the public announcement of such deficiencies could adversely impact our stock price.
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The recent joint statement by the SEC, proposed rule changes submitted by NASDAQ, and an act passed by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, all call for additional and more stringent criteria to be applied to emerging market companies. These developments could add uncertainties to our future offerings, business operations share price and reputation.
U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered on financial and accounting irregularities and mistakes, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in many cases, allegations of fraud.
On December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. On April 21, 2020, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton and PCAOB Chairman William D. Duhnke III, along with other senior SEC staff, released a joint statement highlighting the risks associated with investing in companies based in or have substantial operations in emerging markets including China, reiterating past SEC and PCAOB statements on matters including the difficulty associated with inspecting accounting firms and audit work papers in China and higher risks of fraud in emerging markets and the difficulty of bringing and enforcing SEC, Department of Justice and other U.S. regulatory actions, including in instances of fraud, in emerging markets generally.
On May 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act requiring a foreign company to certify it is not owned or controlled by a foreign government if the PCAOB is unable to audit specified reports because the company uses a foreign auditor not subject to PCAOB inspection. If the PCAOB is unable to inspect the company’s auditors for three consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited to trade on a national exchange. On December 2, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The PCAOB adopted a final rule on September 22, 2021 implementing the HFCA Act. The final rules adopted by the SEC relating to the HFCA Act became effective on January 10, 2022.
On May 21, 2021, NASDAQ filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in a “Restrictive Market”, (ii) prohibit Restrictive Market companies from directly listing on NASDAQ Capital Market, and only permit them to list on NASDAQ Global Select or NASDAQ Global Market in connection with a direct listing and (iii) apply additional and more stringent criteria to an applicant or listed company based on the qualifications of the company’s auditors.
On August 26, 2022, the SEC announced that the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the CRSC and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC, which sets out specific arrangements on conducting inspections and investigations by both sides over relevant audit firms within the jurisdiction of both sides, including the audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong. This agreement marks an important step towards resolving the audit oversight issue that concern mutual interests, and sets forth arrangements for both sides to cooperate in conducting inspections and investigations of relevant audit firms, and specifies the purpose, scope and approach of cooperation, as well as the use of information and protection of specific types of data.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB determined that the PCAOB was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong and voted to vacate its previous determinations. However, should PRC authorities obstruct or otherwise fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB will consider the need to issue a new determination.
In December 2022, Congress passed fiscal year 2023 Omnibus spending legislation, which contained provisions to accelerate the HFCAA timeline for implementation of trading prohibitions from three years to two years. As a result of the legislation, the SEC is required to prohibit an issuer’s securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections or complete investigations for two consecutive years.
The recent regulatory developments have resulted in additional regulatory compliance costs and uncertainties to our future capital raise activities, business and our share price. In addition, any additional actions, proceedings or rules resulting from these efforts could create new uncertainties for our shareholders, and the market price of our shares could be adversely affected,
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As a result of these scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on us, our future offerings, business and our share price. If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend our Company. This situation will be costly and time consuming and distract our management from developing our growth. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, we and our business operations will be severely affected and you could sustain a significant decline in the value of our shares.
Risks Related to Our Ordinary Shares
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.
Because we are a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:
● | the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC; |
● | the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
● | the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and |
● | the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD. |
We are required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Capital Market. Press releases relating to financial results and material events are also furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC is less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer. As a Cayman Islands company listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market, we are subject to the NASDAQ Capital Market corporate governance listing standards. However, NASDAQ Capital Market rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the NASDAQ Capital Market corporate governance listing standards. To the extent that we choose to utilize the home country exemption for corporate governance matters, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under the NASDAQ Capital Market corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. We follow home country practice with respect to annual shareholders meetings.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional Class A Ordinary Shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Class A Ordinary Shares at prices that may not be the same as the price per share you paid. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by existing investors, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional Class A Ordinary Shares, or securities convertible or exchangeable into Class A Ordinary Shares, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by existing investors.
We do not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
We have never paid cash dividends on our Class A Ordinary Shares. We currently intend to retain our future earnings, if any, to finance the operation and growth of our business and currently do not plan to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
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Future sales of a significant number of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
Future sales of a substantial number of our Class A Ordinary Shares in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our Class A Ordinary Shares and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. If any existing shareholder or shareholders sell a substantial amount of our Class A Ordinary Shares, the prevailing market price for our Class A Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected. In addition, if we pay for our future acquisitions in whole or in part with additionally issued Class A Ordinary Shares, your ownership interests in our company would be diluted and this, in turn, could have a material and adverse effect on the price of our Class A Ordinary Shares.
If we fail to satisfy applicable listing standards, our ordinary shares may be delisted from the NASDAQ Capital Market.
Since the Company effected an eighteen-for-one reverse stock split on May 1, 2024, the Company received a letter dated May 22, 2024 from the Listing Qualifications Hearings Department of Nasdaq notifying the Company that (i) the Company’s bid price deficiency had been cured and (ii) the Company was in compliance with all applicable listing standards. Accordingly, the Compliance Letter provided that the Company’s scheduled hearing had been determined to be moot and had been cancelled, and the Company’s ordinary shares will continue to be listed and traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market. As previously reported, on April 27, 2023, Recon Technology Ltd. received a written notice (the “Initial Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that for 30 consecutive business days preceding the date of the Notice, the bid price of the Company’s ordinary shares had closed below the $1.00 per share minimum required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to the Minimum Bid Price Rule. The Company was provided 180 calendar days, or until October 24, 2023, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule. On October 25, 2023, the Staff granted an additional 180 calendar days, or until April 22, 2024 to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Rule.
Additionally, as previously disclosed, on April 23, 2024 the Company received a subsequent written notice from the Staff indicating that the Staff had determined to delist the Company’s securities from The Nasdaq Capital Market based upon the Company’s continued non-compliance with the $1.00 bid price requirement unless the Company timely requested a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel. The Company timely requested a hearing before the Panel, and a hearing was scheduled.
Delisting could also have other negative results, including the potential loss of confidence by employees, the loss of institutional investor interest and fewer business development opportunities. If our common stock is delisted by the NASDAQ the price of our ordinary shares decline.
The market price for our securities may be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
The market price for our Class A Ordinary Shares has been, and is likely to remain, volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors including the following:
● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; |
● | changes in the Chinese petroleum and energy industries; |
● | changes in the Chinese economy; |
● | announcements by our competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; |
● | future sales of our Class A Ordinary Shares; |
● | period to period fluctuations in our financial results; |
● | low trading volume of our Class A Ordinary Shares; |
● | additions or departures of key personnel; or |
● | potential litigation. |
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We expect that any other securities of our Company are likely to be similarly volatile. In addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result, to the extent shareholders sell our securities in negative market fluctuation, they may not receive a price per share that is based solely upon our business performance. We cannot guarantee that shareholders will not lose some of their entire investment in our securities.
There has been and may continue to be significant volatility in the volume and price of our ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The market price of our ordinary shares has been and may continue to be highly volatile. Factors, including changes in the Chinese petroleum and energy industry, changes in the Chinese economy, potential infringement of our intellectual property, relating to agreements, patents or proprietary rights, may have a significant impact on the market volume and price of our shares. Unusual trading volume in our shares occurs from time to time.
NASDAQ may apply additional and more stringent criteria for our continued listing.
NASDAQ Listing Rule 5101 provides NASDAQ with broad discretionary authority over the continued listing of securities in NASDAQ and NASDAQ may use such discretion to deny apply additional or more stringent criteria for the continued listing of particular securities, or suspend or delist particular securities based on any event, condition, or circumstance that exists or occurs that makes continued listing of the securities on NASDAQ inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of NASDAQ, even though the securities meet all enumerated criteria for continued listing on NASDAQ. In addition, NASDAQ has used its discretion to deny continued listing or to apply additional and more stringent criteria in the instances, including but not limited to where the company engaged an auditor that has not been subject to an inspection by PCAOB, an auditor that PCAOB cannot inspect, or an auditor that has not demonstrated sufficient resources, geographic reach, or experience to adequately perform the company’s audit. For the aforementioned concerns, we may be subject to the additional and more stringent criteria of NASDAQ for our continued listing.
ITEM 4.INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
Recon Technology, Ltd (the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands on August 21, 2007 by Mr. Yin Shenping, Mr. Chen Guangqiang and Mr. Li Hongqi (the “Founders”) as a company with limited liability. We provide oilfield specialized equipment, automation systems, tools, chemicals and field services to petroleum companies mainly in the PRC. The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Recon Technology Co., Limited (“Recon-HK”) was incorporated on September 6, 2007 in Hong Kong. On November 15, 2007, Recon-HK established one wholly owned subsidiary, Jining Recon Technology Ltd. (“Recon-JN”) under the laws of the PRC, and later dissolved on April 10, 2019 as part of our previously disclosed organizational restructuring. Recon-HK did not own any assets or conduct any operations and was dissolved on May 15, 2020. On November 19, 2010, the Company established another wholly owned subsidiary, Recon Investment Ltd. (“Recon-IN”) under the laws of HK. On December 18, 2014, Recon-IN established one wholly owned subsidiary, Recon Hengda Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Recon-BJ”) under the laws of the PRC. Other than the equity interest in Recon-BJ, Recon-IN does not own any assets or conduct any operations. On October 10, 2023, the Company established wholly owned subsidiary, Shandong Recon Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd. (“Recon-SD”) under the laws of HK. On February 22, 2024, Guangxi Recon Renewable Resources Technology Co., Ltd. (“Recon-GX”) was also established under the laws of HK. Recon-SD and Recon-GX will carry out wasted plastic chemical recycling business to serve customers located in different areas.
Currently, we mainly conduct our business through the following PRC legal entities that are consolidated as variable interest entities (“VIEs”) and operate in the Chinese oilfield equipment & service industry and energy industry:
1. | Beijing BHD Petroleum Technology Co., Ltd. (“BHD”), and |
2. | Nanjing Recon Technology Co., Ltd. (“Nanjing Recon”). |
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Chinese laws and regulations currently do not prohibit or restrict foreign ownership in petroleum businesses. However, Chinese laws and regulations do prevent direct foreign investment in certain industries. On January 1, 2008, to protect our shareholders from possible future foreign ownership restrictions, the Founders, who also held the controlling interest of BHD and Nanjing Recon, reorganized the corporate and shareholding structure of these entities by entering into certain exclusive agreements with Recon-JN, which entitled Recon-JN to receive a majority of the residual returns. On May 29, 2009 Recon-JN and BHD and Nanjing Recon entered into an operating agreement to provide full guarantee for the performance of such contracts, agreements or transactions entered into by BHD and Nanjing Recon. As a result of the new agreement, Recon-JN absorbed 100% of the expected losses and received 90% of the expected net income of BHD and Nanjing Recon, which resulted in Recon-JN being the primary beneficiary of these Companies.
Recon-JN also entered into Share Pledge Agreements with the Founders, who pledged all their equity interest in these entities to Recon-JN. The Share Pledge Agreements, which were entered into by each Founder, pledged each of the Founders’ equity interest in BHD and Nanjing Recon as a guarantee for the service payment under the Service Agreement.
The Service Agreement entered into on January 1, 2008, between Recon-JN and BHD and Nanjing Recon, obligated Recon-JN to provide technical consulting services to BHD and Nanjing Recon in exchange for 90% of their annual net income as a service fee.
On April 1, 2019, as part of our planned organizational restructuring, Recon-BJ entered into a series of VIE agreements with BHD and Nanjing Recon, respectively, under the same terms and conditions as that of the VIE agreements previously entered into by Recon-JN. As a result, the VIEs were effectively transferred from Recon-JN to Recon-BJ. Accordingly, Recon-BJ bears all the economic risk of losses and receives 90% of the expected profits of BHD and Nanjing Recon, and consequently becomes the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. As part of the plan of reorganization, Recon-JN was dissolved on April 10, 2019. As Recon-JN’s parent company, Recon-HK did not own any assets or conduct any operations, and therefore was dissolved on May 15, 2020.
Based on the VIE agreements, we consolidated BHD and Nanjing Recon as VIEs as required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 810, Consolidation because we are the primary beneficiary of the VIEs. Management performed an ongoing reassessment of whether Recon-BJ is the primary beneficiary of BHD and Nanjing Recon.
On August 28, 2000, a founder of the Company purchased a controlling interest in BHD which was organized under the laws of the PRC on June 29, 1999. Through December 15, 2010, the Founders held a 67.5% ownership interest in BHD. From December 16, 2010 to June 30, 2012, Messrs. Yin Shenping and Chen Guangqiang held an 86.24% ownership interest of BHD. From June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2019, Mr. Chen Guangqiang continued to devote his personal patent to BHD and increased his ownership interest of BHD. On September 16, 2020, Yin Shenping transferred the ownership interest of ¥750,000 held by him to Chen Guangqiang. As of the date of this report, Mr. Chen Guangqiang hold a 95.47% ownership interest of BHD. BHD is combined with the Company through the date of the exclusive agreements, and has been consolidated following January 1, 2008, the date of the agreements based on ASC Topic 810. The Company allocates net income 90% and 100%, respectively, based upon the control agreements. Profits allocated to the minority interest are the remaining amount (10%).
On July 4, 2003, Nanjing Recon was organized under the laws of the PRC. On August 27, 2007, the Founders of the Company purchased a majority ownership of Nanjing Recon from a related party who was a majority owner of Nanjing Recon. Through December 15, 2010, the Founders held 80% ownership interest in Nanjing Recon. From December 16, 2010 to June 30, 2012, Messrs. Yin Shenping and Chen Guangqiang held 80% ownership interest of Nanjing Recon. On November 27, 2020, Chen Guangqiang transferred the ownership interest of ¥200,000 held by him to Yin Shenping. As of the date of this report, Mr. Yin Shenping hold a 99.7501% ownership interest of Nanjing Recon. Nanjing Recon is combined with the Company through the date of the exclusive agreements, and is consolidated following January 1, 2008, the date of the agreements based on ASC Topic 810. The Company allocates net income 90% and 100%, respectively, based upon the control agreements. Profits allocated to the non-controlling interest are the remaining amount (10%).
On January 29, 2015, we increased our authorized shares from 25,000,000 to 100,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares.
BHD, one VIE, controls following subsidiaries:
1) | On December 17, 2015, Huang Hua BHD Petroleum Equipment Manufacturing Co. LTD (“HH BHD”), a fully owned subsidiary established by BHD was organized under the laws of the PRC, focusing on the production of high efficiency heating furnaces. As of June 30, 2024, BHD had invested a total of ¥5.09 million to HH BHD. BHD owns an interest of 100% of HH BHD. |
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2) | On May 23, 2017, Gan Su BHD Environmental Technology Co., Ltd (“Gan Su BHD”) was established by BHD and another investor under the laws of the PRC, with registered capital of ¥50 million. It is focusing on oilfield sewage treatment and oily sludge disposal projects. As of June 30, 2020, BHD had invested a total of ¥15.98 million Gan Su BHD. The paid in capital of Gan Su BHD contributed by all investors was ¥20.74 million ($2.93 million) as of June 30, 2020. Based on its revised chapter dated August 11, 2017, BHD owns an interest of 51% of Gan Su BHD. The paid in capital was ¥22,935,000 ($3,551,489) as of June 30, 2021. On April 26, 2021, the minority shareholder of Gan Su BHD transferred 15.4% of the equity interest hold to BHD. On May 19, 2021, the minority shareholder transferred 3.6% equity shares and BHD transferred 15.4% equity shares of Gan Su BHD to Nanjing Recon. Thus, by June 30, 2021, BHD owns an interest of 51% and Nanjing Recon owns an interest of 19% of Gan Su BHD. |
3) | On October 16, 2017, Qing Hai BHD New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Qinghai BHD”) was established by BHD and a few other investors under the laws of the PRC, with registered capital of ¥50 million. It is focusing on design and production and sales of solar energy heating furnaces. As of June 30, 2020, BHD had invested a total of ¥4.2 million to Qinghai BHD. The paid in capital was ¥4.2 million ($0.59 million) as of June 30, 2020. BHD owns an interest of 55% of Qinghai BHD. The paid in capital was ¥4,200,000 ($650,371) as of June 30,2021. BHD owned an interest of 55% of Qinghai BHD previously; however, based on an agreement signed by the shareholders of Qinghai BHD dated October 23, 2018, each of the other two individual shareholders agreed to reduce 10% of their equity interests. As a result, Qinghai BHD returned ¥200,000 paid in capital back to one of the individual shareholders. After the new arrangement, BHD owns a total interest of 75% of Qinghai BHD. |
On December 15, 2017, we, through VIEs, BHD and Nanjing Recon, entered into a subscription agreement with Future Gas Station (Beijing) Technology, Ltd (“FGS”), pursuant to which we acquired an 8% equity interest in FGS. Established in January 2016, FGS is a service company focusing on providing new technical applications and data operations to gas stations and provides solutions to gas stations to improve their operations and their customers’ experience. On August 21, 2018, we entered into an investment agreement and a supplemental agreement (collectively, the “Investment Agreement”) with FGS and the other shareholders of FGS. Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, our ownership interest in FGS shall increase from 8% to 43%, in exchange for our investment in FGS for a total amount of RMB10 million in cash and the issuance of 2,435,284 (135,294 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) restricted Class A Ordinary Shares to the other shareholders of FGS with certain conditions. On September 24, 2019, the Company agreed to extend the agreement for six more months as negotiated with FGS to ensure the founding team can better meet its obligations under the agreement. On March 17, 2020, the Company, FGS and the other shareholders of FGS signed the third supplemental agreement to extend another 12 months to February 20, 2021 as the number of the gas stations was the only performance goal that was not achieved. As of June 30, 2020, we had invested an aggregate amount of RMB35,579,586 ($5,032,666) in FGS and issued 487,057 (27,059 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) restricted shares in total to other shareholders of FGS, and our ownership interest in FGS has increased to 43%. On February 4, 2021, Nanjing Recon and BHD, entered into the fourth supplemental agreement to the investment agreement with FGS and FGS’ founding shareholders to acquire 8% equity ownership of FGS. As a result, Nanjing Recon and BHD collectively own 51% interest of FGS, with 25.5% ownership interests to each of Nanjing Recon and BHD. Through the fourth supplemental agreement, the Nanjing Recon and BHD waived the requirement on FGS’ performance goal about the number of gas stations. Accordingly, Nanjing Recon and BHD agreed to pay for the balance of the investment and cancelled the related lock-up terms on the restricted shares, in exchange of additional 8% equity ownership of FGS. See “Our Corporate Structure” for more information illustrating the ownership interests between Nanjing Recon and BHD.
On April 5, 2021, at the 2021 annual meeting, to implement a dual class structure, our shareholders approved (i) a special resolution that the authorized share capital of the Company be amended from US$1,850,000, divided into 20,000,000 ordinary shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0925 each, to US$15,725,000, divided into 150,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0925 each and 20,000,000 Class B ordinary shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0925 each, and (ii) a special resolution that the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company to substitute the Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association. On April 7, 2021, we filed the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with the Companies Register of the Cayman Islands. Our Class A ordinary shares began to trade on the NASDAQ Capital Market on April 12, 2021 under the same symbol, “RCON.”
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On December 5, 2021, our board of directors and its compensation committee approved issuances of a total of 2,500,000 Class B Ordinary Shares from such shares reserved under the Company’s 2021 Equity Incentive Plan to directors and officers Shenping Yin and Guangqiang Chen. The compensation committee recommended and the board approved the Class B Ordinary Shares grants to Shenping Yin and Guangqiang Chen, each of whom has received a one-time share grant of 1,250,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. On February 28, 2022, our board approved an additional grant of 1,600,000 Class B shares to Shenping Yin and Guangqiang Chen, each of whom has received a one-time share grant of 800,000 Class B Ordinary Shares.
On March 9, 2023, our board approved an additional grant of 3,000,000 Class B shares to Shenping Yin and Guangqiang Chen, each of whom has received a one-time share grant of 1,500,000 Class B Ordinary Shares. On March 15, 2023, the Company signed a consulting agreement with a Company’s employee and some business consultants (the “Consultants”). As the service consideration, the Company issued 2,000,000 (111,111 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) restricted Class A Ordinary Shares to the Consultants as compensation for acting as advisors to the Company on new business exploration.
On March 15, 2023, the “Company and certain institutional Investors entered into that certain securities purchase agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to such Investors an aggregate of 8,827,500(490,417 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0925 (US$1.67 post 2024 Reverse Split) per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) and 1,175,000 (65,278 pre-funded warrants post 2024 Reverse Split) pre-funded warrants (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to purchase ordinary shares in a registered direct offering, and warrants to purchase up to 10,002,500 (555,694 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) Class A Ordinary Shares in a concurrent private placement, for gross proceeds of approximately $8.0 million before deducting the placement agent’s fees and other estimated offering expenses.
Ordinary share purchase warrants to purchase an aggregate of 7,950,769 (441,710 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) ordinary shares previously issued by the Company to certain institutional investors on June 16, 2021 had the exercise price reduced to $0.80 ($14.40 post 2024 Reverse Split). A sticker amendment was filed on April 14, 2023 with the SEC to effectuate the reduced exercise price of $0.80 ($14.40 post 2024 Reverse Split) from $6.24 ($112.32 post 2024 Reverse Split).
On October 16, 2023, 1,175,000 (65,278 pre-funded warrants post 2024 Reverse Split) pre-funded warrants issued on March 15, 2023 were exercised by investor and 1,175,000 (65,278 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) Class A Ordinary shares were issued and being outstanding.
On December 14, 2023, the Company entered into a Warrant Purchase Agreement with certain accredited investors pursuant to which the Company agreed to buy back an aggregate of 17,953,269 (997,404 warrants post 2024 Reverse Split) warrants from the investors, and the investors agreed to sell the Warrants back to the Company. The purchase price for each Warrant is $0.25 ($4.50 post 2024 Reverse Split).
On January 31, 2024, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell securities to various purchasers (the “Purchasers”) in a private placement transaction (the “Private Placement”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to transfer, assign, set over and deliver to the Purchasers and the Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to acquire from the Company in the aggregate 100,000,000 (5,555,559 shares post 2024 Reverse Split) of the Company’s Class A ordinary shares (the “Shares”) at $0.11 ($1.98 post 2024 Reverse Split) per share for $11,000,000. On February 2, 2024, the Company closed the Private Placement.
On February 26, 2024, the Company granted 6,255,483 (347,527 shares post 2024 Reverse Split, as defined below) restricted Class A shares and 12,900,000 restricted Class B shares to its management and staff. The fair value of the Class A restricted shares was $988,366 based on the fair value of share price $0.158 ($2.844 post 2024 Reverse Split) at February 26, 2024. The fair value of the Class B restricted shares was $2,130,000 based on the fair value of share price $0.17 at February 26, 2024.
On March 29, 2024, the Company’s shareholders approved the reverse shares split of the Company’s Class A Ordinary Shares at the ratio of one-for-eighteen with the market effective date of May 1, 2024 (the “2024 Reverse Split”). In connection with the reverse stock split, on March 29, 2024 the Company’s shareholder approved and authorized the Company’s registered office service agent to file the Fourth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association with local registry, and change its authorized share capital from: US$15,725,000 divided into 150,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0925 each, and 20,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0925 each, to: US$58,000 divided into 500,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each and 80,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a nominal or par value of US$0.0001 each (the “2024 change in capital structure”).
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Exclusive Technical Consulting Service Agreement
Pursuant to the exclusive technical consulting service agreement between Recon-BJ and each of BHD and Nanjing Recon, Recon-BJ has the exclusive right to provide each of BHD and Nanjing Recon with technical support services, consulting services and other services, including granting use rights of intellectual property rights, software services, network support, database support, hardware services, technical support, employee training, research and development of technology and market information, business management consulting, marketing and promotion services, customer management and services, lease hardware and device, and the others necessary for each of BHD and Nanjing Recon’s needs. In exchange, Recon-BJ is entitled to a service fee that equals to all of the consolidated profit after offsetting the previous year’s accumulated deficit, operating costs, expenses, taxes, and other contributions and reasonable operation profit of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon. In addition to the services fees, each of BHD and Nanjing Recon will reimburse all reasonable costs, reimbursed payments and out-of-pocket expenses, paid or incurred by Recon-BJ in connection with its performance.
Under the exclusive technical consulting service agreement, without Recon-BJ’s prior written consent, each of BHD and Nanjing Recon agrees not to engage in any transaction which may materially affect its asset, business, employment, obligation, right or operation.
The exclusive technical consulting service agreement remains effective, unless terminated pursuant to the exclusive technical consulting service agreement or upon the written notice of Recon-BJ.
Exclusive Equity Interest Purchase Agreement
Pursuant to the amended and restated exclusive equity interest purchase agreement, among Recon-BJ, each of BHD and Nanjing Recon and the shareholder who owned all the equity interests of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon, such shareholders grant Recon-BJ an exclusive right to purchase his equity interests in each of BHD and Nanjing Recon. The purchase price shall be the lowest price then permitted under applicable PRC laws. Recon-BJ or its designated person may exercise such right at any time to purchase all or part of the equity interests in each of BHD and Nanjing Recon until it has acquired all equity interests of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon, which is irrevocable during the term of the agreement.
The amended and restated exclusive equity interest purchase agreement remains in effect until all equity interests held by the shareholders have been transferred or assigned to Recon-BJ and/or any other person designated by Recon-BJ. However, Recon-BJ has the right to terminate these agreements unconditionally upon giving prior written notice to each of BHD and Nanjing Recon at any time.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Pursuant to the amended and restated equity interest pledge agreement among the shareholders who owned all the equity interests of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon, such shareholders pledge all of the equity interests in each of BHD and Nanjing Recon to Recon-BJ as collateral to secure the obligations of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon under the exclusive technical consulting service agreement and the amended and restated exclusive equity interest purchase agreement. The shareholders of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon are prohibited or may not transfer the pledged equity interests without prior consent of Recon-BJ unless transferring the equity interests to Recon-BJ or its designated person in accordance with the amended and restated exclusive equity interest purchase agreement.
The amended and restated equity interest pledge agreement shall come into force the date on which the pledged interests is recorded, under each of BHD and Nanjing Recon’s register of shareholders and is registered with competent administration for industry and commerce of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon until all of the liabilities and debts to Recon-BJ have been fulfilled completely by each of BHD and Nanjing Recon. Each of BHD and Nanjing Recon and the shareholders who owned all the equity interest of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon shall not terminate this agreement in any circumstance for any reason.
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Shareholders’ Power of Attorney
Pursuant to the shareholders’ amended and restated power of attorney, the shareholders of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon gives Recon-BJ irrevocable proxies to act on their behaves on all matters pertaining to each of BHD and Nanjing Recon and to exercise all of their rights as shareholders of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon, including the right to execute and deliver shareholder resolutions, to dispose any or all equity interests, to nominate, elect, designate, or appoint officers and directors, to supervise company’s performance, to approve submission of any registration documents, to attend shareholders meetings, to exercise voting rights and all of the other rights, to take legal actions against the harmful actions by directors or officers, to approve the amendments to the articles of association of the company, and any other rights under the articles of association of the company. The amended and restated power of attorney shall remain in effect while the shareholders of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon hold the equity interests in each of BHD and Nanjing Recon.
Based on the foregoing Contractual Arrangements, which grant Recon-BJ effective control of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon and enable Recon-BJ to receive all of their expected residual returns, we account for each of BHD and Nanjing Recon as a VIE. Accordingly, we consolidate the accounts of each of BHD and Nanjing Recon, in accordance with Regulation S-X-3A-02 promulgated by the SEC and Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810-10, Consolidation.
Because we do not directly hold equity interest in the VIEs, we are subject to risks due to uncertainty of the interpretation and the application of the PRC laws and regulations, including limitation on foreign ownership of internet technology companies, regulatory review of oversea listing of PRC companies through a special purpose vehicle, and the validity and enforcement of the VIE Agreements. We are also subject to the risks of uncertainty about any future actions of the PRC government in this regard that could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and the value of Class A Ordinary Shares may depreciate significantly or become worthless.
Our Contractual Arrangements may be less effective in providing control over each of BHD and Nanjing Recon than direct ownership. See “Risk Factors – Risks related to our Corporate Structure – We conduct our business through BHD, Nanjing Recon, FGS and their respective subsidiaries by means of Contractual Arrangements. If the PRC courts or administrative authorities determine that these contractual arrangements do not comply with applicable regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties and our business could be adversely affected. In addition, changes in such PRC laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our business.” for more details.
We may also be subject to sanctions imposed by PRC regulatory agencies including the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission, or CSRC, if we fail to comply with their rules and regulations. See “Risk Factors — PRC regulations and potential registration requirements relating to acquisitions of PRC companies by foreign entities may create regulatory uncertainties that could restrict or limit our ability to operate.” for more details.
We are subject to certain legal and operational risks associated with the VIEs’ operations in China. PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain, and therefore, these risks may result in a material change in the VIEs’ operations, significant depreciation of the value of our Class A Ordinary Shares, or a complete hindrance of our ability to offer or continue to offer our securities to investors. See “Risk Factors - We conduct our business through BHD, Nanjing Recon and their respective subsidiaries by means of Contractual Arrangements. If the PRC courts or administrative authorities determine that these contractual arrangements do not comply with applicable regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties and our business could be adversely affected. In addition, changes in such PRC laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our business.” 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 using variable interest entity structure, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding the efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. Since these statements and regulatory actions are new, it is highly 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, and the potential impact such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operation, the ability to accept foreign investments and list on an U.S. exchange.
43
Permission Required from the PRC Authorities for the VIEs’ Operation
We are currently not required to obtain permission from any of the PRC authorities to operate and issue our Class A Ordinary Shares to foreign investors. In addition, we, our subsidiaries, or the VIEs are not required to obtain permission or approval from the PRC authorities including CSRC or Cyberspace Administration of China for the VIEs’ operation, nor have we, our subsidiaries, or the VIEs applied for or received any denial for the VIEs’ operation. However, recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the “Opinions on Severely Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities According to Law,” or the Opinions, which was made available to the public on July 6, 2021. The Opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities, and the need to strengthen the supervision over overseas listings by Chinese companies. Effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems will be taken to deal with the risks and incidents of China-concept overseas listed companies, and cybersecurity and data privacy protection requirements and similar matters. The Opinions and any related implementing rules to be enacted may subject us to compliance requirement in the future. Given the current regulatory environment in the PRC, we are still subject to the uncertainty of interpretation and enforcement of the rules and regulations in the PRC, which can change quickly with little advance notice, and any future actions of the PRC authorities.
Transfer of Cash in the VIEs
We are an exempted holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Ordinary Shares in the future, as an exempted holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (“WFOE”). A WFOE is a limited liability company based in the People’s Republic of China but wholly owned by foreign investors. In our instance, Recon Hengda Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd (“Recon-BJ”) is a WFOE wholly owned by Recon Investment Ltd. (“Recon-IN”), a Hong Kong limited company, which in turn is wholly owned by us.
Under the Exclusive Technical Consultation and Service Agreements signed between Recon-BJ and the VIEs, Recon-BJ is entitled to 90% of the expected profits of the VIEs in exchange for providing exclusive technical consulting services to the VIEs. Recon-BJ also bears all the economic risk of losses. Current PRC regulations permit our indirect PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to its shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, according to the current effective laws in Cayman Islands and Hong Kong, the resident companies could pay dividends to their shareholders. And there are no foreign exchange restrictions on these two areas. Therefore, Recon-BJ can distribute the income obtained under the Contractual Arrangement to Recon-IN in the form of dividends, with Recon-IN in turn distributing such revenue to us in the form of dividends, with we in turn would distribute such revenue to U.S. investors in the form of dividends.
Each VIE has its own operating cash flow. Cashflow between our Company and the VIEs primarily consists of transfers from us to the VIEs for supplemental working capital, which is mainly used in purchase of materials and payment of operating expenses and investments. In addition, the VIEs occasionally make payments on our behalf when we experience a cash shortage. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2024, 2023 and 2022, net cash transferred from the Company to the VIEs was RMB84,211,565, RMB69,562,912 and RMB55,569,342, respectively. Neither we nor the VIEs have present plans to distribute earnings or settle amounts owed under the Contractual Agreements. We currently plan to retain the cash in the VIEs for business growth and operation. No dividends or distributions have been declared to pay to us from our subsidiaries or the VIEs. No dividends or distributions were made to any U.S. investors. For a description of our corporate structure and VIE contractual arrangements, see “Corporate History and Structure.” See also “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”
44
U.S. Dollar as the Functional Currency under FASB ASC 830-10-45-4
The functional currency of the Company, as a Cayman Islands holding entity, is the U.S. Dollar. Management has determined that the intercompany receivable is denominated in U.S. Dollars for several reasons: first, our functional currency (as the Cayman Islands holding entity) is the U.S. Dollar; and second, the inter-company receivable is ultimately paid in U.S. Dollars. Although transactions involving the Domestic Companies may involve the RMB from time to time, the transactions are ultimately denominated in U.S. Dollars to reflect our functional currency. For these reasons, because our functional currency is the U.S. Dollar, and because the inter-company receivables are ultimately paid in U.S. Dollars, we believe there are no exchange rate fluctuations as the parent company.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Domestic Companies, and Recon-BJ classify the RMB as their functional currencies. Because our functional currency, as the Cayman Islands holding entity, is the U.S. Dollar, we are exposed to foreign exchange risks from fluctuations with the exchange rates among the U.S. Dollar and the RMB. Notwithstanding that Domestic Companies conduct operations and transactions in RMB, we ultimately believe that there should not be any U.S. Dollar/RMB exchange rate fluctuations because the inter-company receivable is denominated in U.S. Dollars. Thus, the transactions and operations reported by the Domestic Companies are ultimately paid in U.S. Dollars as the inter-company receivables, which reflect our functional currency in U.S. Dollars as the parent company. See “Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure - There are possible economic risks posed by foreign exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. Dollar and RMB.”
Select Condensed Financial Statements on Consolidated VIEs
The following table below provides a condensed consolidating schedule depicting the financial position, cash flows, and results of operations for the parent, the consolidated VIEs, and any eliminating adjustments separately as of the same dates and for the same periods for which audited consolidated financial statements are required.
45
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
| Recon |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Technology, | |||||||||||||||
Ltd. | |||||||||||||||
(Cayman | “Non-VIE Subsidiaries | VIEs and VIE’s | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
Islands) | (Hong Kong and PRC)” | subsidiaries (PRC) | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||
Revenue |
| ¥ | — |
| ¥ | — |
| ¥ | 68,854,280 |
| ¥ | — |
| ¥ | 68,854,280 |
Cost of Revenue |
| — |
| 135,705 |
| 47,841,131 |
| — |
| 47,976,836 | |||||
Gross Profit |
| — |
| (135,705) |
| 21,013,149 |
| — |
| 20,877,444 | |||||
Operating expenses | 44,012,602 | 3,200,926 | 45,301,827 | — | 92,515,355 | ||||||||||
Loss from operations | (44,012,602) | (3,336,631) | (24,288,678) | — | (71,637,911) | ||||||||||
Other income (expenses), net | 16,452,789 | (778,939) | 4,528,251 | — | 20,202,101 | ||||||||||
Loss from subsidiaries | — | (18,195,846) | — | 18,195,846 | — | ||||||||||
Loss from VIEs | (22,311,446) | — | — | 22,311,446 | — | ||||||||||
Income tax expenses | — | 30 | — | — | 30 | ||||||||||
Net loss | (49,871,259) | (22,311,446) | (19,760,427) | 40,507,292 | (51,435,840) | ||||||||||
Non-controlling interest | — | — | (1,564,581) | — | (1,564,581) | ||||||||||
Net Loss Attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd | ¥ | (49,871,259) | ¥ | (22,311,446) | ¥ | (18,195,846) | ¥ | 40,507,292 | ¥ | (49,871,259) |
For the Year Ended June 30, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Recon |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Technology, | |||||||||||||||
Ltd. | |||||||||||||||
(Cayman | “Non-VIE Subsidiaries | VIEs and VIE’s | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
Islands) | (Hong Kong and PRC)” | subsidiaries (PRC) | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||
Revenue | ¥ | — |
| ¥ | — | ¥ | 67,114,378 |
| ¥ | — |
| ¥ | 67,114,378 | ||
Cost of Revenue |
| — |
| — |
| 48,247,395 |
| — |
| 48,247,395 | |||||
Gross Profit |
| — |
| — |
| 18,866,983 |
| — |
| 18,866,983 | |||||
Operating expenses | 50,352,631 | 1,343,355 | 36,503,732 | — | 88,199,718 | ||||||||||
Loss from operations | (50,352,631) | (1,343,355) | (17,636,749) | — | (69,332,735) | ||||||||||
Other income (expenses), net | 16,224,783 | 343,437 | (8,693,538) | — | 7,874,682 | ||||||||||
Loss from subsidiaries | — | (24,039,535) | — | 24,039,535 | — | ||||||||||
Loss from VIEs | (25,039,453) | — | — | 25,039,453 | — | ||||||||||
Income tax expenses | — | — | 18,339 | — | 18,339 | ||||||||||
Net loss | (59,167,301) | (25,039,453) | (26,348,626) | 49,078,988 | (61,476,392) | ||||||||||
Non-controlling interest | — | — | (2,309,091) | — | (2,309,091) | ||||||||||
Net Loss Attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd | ¥ | (59,167,301) | ¥ | (25,039,453) | ¥ | (24,039,535) | ¥ | 49,078,988 | ¥ | (59,167,301) |
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For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 | |||||||||||||||
| Recon |
|
|
|
| ||||||||||
Technology, | |||||||||||||||
Ltd. | |||||||||||||||
(Cayman | “Non-VIE Subsidiaries | VIEs and VIE’s | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
Islands) | (Hong Kong and PRC)” | subsidiaries (PRC) | Eliminations | Total | |||||||||||
Revenue | ¥ | — |
| ¥ | — |
| ¥ | 83,777,571 |
| ¥ | — |
| ¥ | 83,777,571 | |
Cost of Revenue |
| — |
| — |
| 64,352,834 |
| — |
| 64,352,834 | |||||
Gross Profit |
| — |
| — |
| 19,424,737 |
| — |
| ¥ | 19,424,737 | ||||
Operating expenses | 64,842,004 | 1,170,913 | 35,725,237 | — | 101,738,154 | ||||||||||
Loss from operations | (64,842,004) | (1,170,913) | (16,300,500) | — | (82,313,417) | ||||||||||
Other income (expenses), net | 178,590,691 | (108,074) | (2,493,679) | — | 175,988,938 | ||||||||||
Loss from subsidiaries | — | (16,882,905) | — | 16,882,905 | — | ||||||||||
Loss from VIEs | (18,161,892) | — | — | 18,161,892 | — | ||||||||||
Income tax benefit | — | — | (613,874) | — | (613,874) | ||||||||||
Net loss | 95,586,795 | (18,161,892) | (18,180,305) | 35,044,797 | 94,289,395 | ||||||||||
Non-controlling interest | — | — | (1,297,400) | — | (1,297,400) | ||||||||||
Net income(loss) Attributable to Recon Technology, Ltd | ¥ | 95,586,795 | ¥ | (18,161,892) | ¥ | (16,882,905) | ¥ | 35,044,797 | ¥ | 95,586,795 |
47
SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
| As of June 30, 2024 | ||||||||||||||
Recon | |||||||||||||||
Technology, | |||||||||||||||
Ltd. | |||||||||||||||
(Cayman | Non-VIE Subsidiaries | VIEs and VIE’s | Consolidated | ||||||||||||
Islands) |
| (Hong Kong and PRC) |
| subsidiaries (PRC) |
| Eliminations |
| Total | |||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| ¥ | 16,473,018 |
| ¥ | 58,161,122 | ¥ | 35,357,534 |
| ¥ | — | ¥ | 109,991,674 | ||
Restricted cash |
| — | — | 848,936 | — | 848,936 | |||||||||
Short-term investments |
| 88,091,794 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 88,091,794 | |||||
Other current assets |
| 170,158,947 |
| 13,263,107 |
| 125,157,390 |
| — |
| 308,579,444 | |||||
Intercompany receivables |
| 375,736,992 |
| 157,821,815 |
| — |
| (533,558,807) |
| — | |||||
Total current assets |
| 650,460,751 |
| 229,246,044 |
| 161,363,860 |
| (533,558,807) |
| 507,511,848 | |||||
Investments in subsidiaries and VIEs | (145,408,577) |
| — |
| — |
| 145,408,577 |
| — | ||||||
Benefits through VIEs and VIE’s subsidiaries | — |
| (129,879,588) |
| — |
| 129,879,588 |
| — | ||||||
Other non-current assets | — |
| 15,044,379 | 29,833,287 | — | 44,877,666 | |||||||||
Total non-current assets | (145,408,577) | (114,835,209) | 29,833,287 | 275,288,165 | 44,877,666 | ||||||||||
Total Assets | 505,052,174 | 114,410,835 | 191,197,147 | (258,270,642) | 552,389,514 | ||||||||||
Intercompany payables | — | 264,135,617 | 269,423,190 |