Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Ltd [ZHYBF] Filings

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

OR

OR

OR

Commission File Number: 000-55631

ZHONG YUAN BIO-TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LIMITED

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Cayman Islands

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

Suite 901, Tesbury Centre

28 Queen’s Road East

Wanchai, Hong Kong

(Address of principal executive offices)

CHANG TingTing

Telephone: + 852 2919-8916

Email: tinachang@zybioholdings.com

Suite 901, Tesbury Centre

28 Queen’s Road East

Wanchai, Hong Kong 00000

(Name, telephone, email and/or fax number and address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None.

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

ORDINARY SHARES, PAR VALUE $0.001

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.

17,679,618 Ordinary Shares, $0.001 par value, at March 31, 2023

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.

No Yes ☐ No ☒

If the report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company.

Large Accelerated Filer ☐ Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☒ Emerging Growth Company ☒

If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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. ☐

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the Registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Registrant has elected to follow:

Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)

Yes ☐ No ☒

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (the “Company” or “we”) is an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Since inception and through our operating subsidiaries in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”), our goal is to provide a complete solution for neurological disorders, from screening to intervention. We are dedicated to the development of early detection kits for brain diseases, plant-derived nervonic acid health supplements and new drugs for neurological diseases. Over the past decade, we have focused on research related to neurological diseases and discovered that nervonic acid can be used as a core molecular marker laying the foundation for the development of the detection kits and drugs. More recently, we have made breakthroughs in the research and development of new drugs to treat cognitive impairment, brain atrophy and other encephalopathies caused by brain white matter damage.

Our equity structure is a direct holding structure. The overseas entity that is trading on the OTCQB Market in the United States is Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands company. The Company has four wholly-owned subsidiaries and one majority-owned subsidiary as follows:

All of the above-referenced companies are either direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company. China Bio, Zhong-Yuan-HK and Zhong Yuan-SZ are holding companies and do not conduct any business operations. Bao Feng and BF Internet are our operating subsidiaries, both of which conduct business operations in China (collectively, our “Operating Subsidiaries”).

The Chinese government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business in China and may intervene in or influence our Operating Subsidiaries’ operations at any time, which could result in a material change in their operations and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, we may be materially affected by 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 companies including, but not limited to, cybersecurity review and regulatory review of the overseas listing of our Ordinary Shares through an offshore holding company. We are also subject to the risks of uncertainty about any future actions the Chinese government may take in this regard.

If the Chinese government were to choose to exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our Operating Subsidiaries’ businesses, it may intervene in or influence our Operating Subsidiaries’ operations. Such governmental actions:

Cybersecurity Review Measures

Our operations are conducted exclusively in China; therefore, we are subject to legal and operational risks associated with such operations, including risks related to the legal, political and economic policies of the Chinese government, the relations between China and the United States and Chinese or United States regulations, which risks could result in a material change in our operations and/or cause our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline in value or to become worthless and could affect our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. Recently, the PRC government initiated a series of regulatory actions and made a number of public statements on the regulation of business operations in China with little advance notice, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews and expanding efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. New laws, such as the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to overseas investors and cause such securities to significantly decline in value or to be worthless.

The PRC, through the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”), has recently enacted new rules and enacted new laws that would require companies collecting or holding large amounts of data to undergo a cybersecurity review prior to listing in foreign countries, a move that would significantly tighten oversight over China-based Internet giants. Pursuant to Article 6 of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (Draft for Comments), companies holding data on more than 1 million users must apply for cybersecurity approval when seeking listings in other nations due to the risk that such data and personal information could be “affected, controlled, and maliciously exploited by foreign governments.” On January 4, 2022 and effective February 15, 2022, the CAC issued the Revised Measures on Cyberspace Security (the “Revised Measures”), which requires that operators of critical information infrastructure (“CII”) intending to procure network products and services that may affect national security undergo cybersecurity review. This has impacted and could potentially impact a broad range of data-rich tech companies. The Revised Measures expand the scope of reviewed business entities to now include network platform (“NP”) operators intending to engage in certain activities, such as applying to list abroad. The Revised Measures establish a Cybersecurity Review Office (the “CRO”), an administrative body within the CAC, to formulate the regulations for cybersecurity review and to lead the cybersecurity review process. Applicable CII operators and NP operators are required to submit an application to the CRO, and the CRO will assess whether a cybersecurity review is required.

If an entity is a CII operator or an NP operator, it is required to apply for cybersecurity review if any of the following three conditions is met: (i) the CII operator proposes to procure network products and services that affect or may affect national security; (ii) the NP operator proposes to carry out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security; (iii) or the NP operator controls personal information of more than 1,000,000 users and proposes to apply for overseas listing. The term “overseas listings” is often interpreted as listings outside of China, such as in the U.S.; “network products and services” include core network equipment, high capability computers and servers, high capacity data storage, large databases and applications, network security equipment and cloud computing services; and “data processing” means the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision and disclosure of data.

Our operations in China involve the development of early detection kits for brain diseases, plant-derived nervonic acid health supplements and new drugs for neurological diseases. Over the past decade, we have focused on research related to neurological diseases and discovered that nervonic acid can be used as a core molecular marker laying the foundation for the development of the detection kits and drugs. Our businesses may involve the collection of user data, implicate cybersecurity or involve another type of restricted industry.

Our PRC counsel, Tahota (Beijing) Law Firm, has advised us that none of our Operating Subsidiaries is subject to cybersecurity review under the Revised Measures nor are the Ordinary Shares subject to the review or prior approval of the CAC or the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”). Uncertainties still exist, however, due to the possibility that laws, regulations or policies in the PRC could change rapidly in the future. Any future action by the PRC government expanding the categories of industries and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to review by the CSRC or the CAC could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to overseas investors and could cause such securities to significantly decline in value or to be worthless.

Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”), which became law in December 2020, our Ordinary Shares may be prohibited from trading on a U.S. exchange if our auditor cannot be fully inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”). The HFCAA originally prohibited foreign companies from listing their securities on U.S. exchanges if the company’s auditor has been unavailable for PCAOB inspection or investigation for three consecutive years beginning in 2021. On December 29, 2022, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, the time period for the delisting of foreign companies under the HFCAA was reduced from three consecutive years to two consecutive years.

On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination Report (the “Determination Report”), which found that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in: (1) mainland China of the People’s Republic of China because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China; and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. In addition, the Determination Report identified specific registered public accounting firms subject to these determinations.

On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC (the “SOP”), pursuant to which the PCAOB has independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC. The determinations as to mainland China and Hong Kong were vacated by the PCAOB as of December 15, 2022 as a result of the PCAOB’s having been able to conduct extensive and thorough inspections and investigations of mainland China and Hong Kong firms in 2022 under the SOP; however, if the PCAOB encounters any impediment, in the future, to conducting an inspection or investigation of auditors in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of a position taken by an authority in either jurisdiction, it may issue new determinations consistent with the HFCAA.

The public accounting firm that audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, Centurion ZD CPA & Co (“Centurion ZD”), is headquartered in Hong Kong.

Effective February 25, 2022, to protect our investors and to carry out the PCAOB’s mandate, we dismissed Centurion ZD as our independent registered public accounting firm and we engaged K.R. Margetson Ltd. (“Margetson”), whose principal office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as our new independent registered public accounting firm. Our financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 were audited by Margetson. In April 2023, Margetson resigned as our independent registered public accounting firm and we re-engaged Centurion ZD to audit our financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023 and after. Based on the PCAOB’s current position and China’s compliance with the SOP, we do not expect to be affected by the HFCAA at this time. However, should PRC authorities fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB may consider the need to issue a new determination, which may affect our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on a U.S. national securities exchange, including Nasdaq, and the trading of them in the over-the-counter trading market.

In addition to subjecting our securities to the possibility of being prohibited from trading or delisted from a U.S. exchange, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of our auditors’ work papers in China or Hong Kong would make it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our auditor’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to PCAOB inspections. As a result, our investors would be deprived of the benefits of the PCAOB’s oversight of our auditor through such inspections and they may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements. Also, we cannot assure you that U.S. regulatory authorities will not apply additional or more stringent criteria to us. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of our Ordinary Shares to be materially and adversely affected. See Part I. Item 3. “Key Information. Part D. Risk Factors – Risks Related to our Company – If the PCAOB issues another negative determination, our Ordinary Shares could be delisted and prohibited from trading on a U.S. exchange” on page __ of this Annual Report. 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Foreign Private Issuer

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”). As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from specified disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. These exemptions include:

We may take advantage of these provisions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company upon the earliest to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenue; (ii) the date we qualify as a “large accelerated filer,” with at least $700 million of equity securities held by non-affiliates; (iii) the issuance, in any three-year period, by our Company of more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (iv) the last day of the fiscal year ending after the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of common equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement.

We are also considered a “foreign private issuer” and will report under the Exchange Act as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. This means that, even after we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:

We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents; (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States; or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States.

We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced burdens. We have taken advantage of reduced reporting requirements in this Annual Report. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different from the information you receive from our competitors that are public companies, or other public companies in which you have made an investment.

Cash Flows

The structure of cash flows within our organization, and a summary of the applicable regulations, is as follows:

1. Our equity structure is a direct holding structure, that is, the overseas entity that is trading on the OTC Market in the United States is Zhong Yuan Cayman. Zhong Yuan Cayman directly controls China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (“China Bio”), a Seychelles company. China Bio directly controls Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (“Zhong Yuan HK”), a Hong Kong company. Zhong Yuan HK directly controls Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Shenzhen) Limited (“Zhong Yuan SZ”), a China company and a wholly foreign owned entity (“WFOE”). Our WFOE conducts its operations through Bao-Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited (“Bao-Feng”), a China company and, currently, our primary operating subsidiary. See Part I. Item 4. “Information on the Company -- Our Business -- History and Development of the Company” and “Our Business -- Corporate Structure” for additional details.

2. Within our direct holding structure and based on our compliance with current foreign exchange regulations, the cross-border transfer of funds within our corporate group is legal and compliant with the laws and regulations of the PRC. After investors’ funds enter into Zhong Yuan Cayman, the funds can be directly transferred to Zhong Yuan HK. Zhong Yuan HK can then directly transfer funds to Zhong Yuan SZ, and those funds can then be transferred to Bao-Feng. However, as these foreign exchange regulations, including their interpretation and implementation, have been evolving, it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulations concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our foreign exchange activities, such as cross-border transfer of funds, remittance of dividends and foreign currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

If the Company intends to distribute dividends, Bao-Feng will distribute dividends to Zhong Yuan SZ, our WFOE, which will then directly distribute dividends to Zhong Yuan HK in accordance with the laws and regulations of the PRC. Zhong Yuan HK will transfer dividends to China Bio, which will transfer them to the Company. The Company will then distribute dividends to all of its shareholders in proportion to the Ordinary Shares they hold, regardless of whether the shareholders are U.S. investors or investors in other countries or regions.

3. As of the date of this Annual Report, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has ever paid dividends or made distributions to U.S. investors. Since consummation of the Share Exchange, the Company has not transferred any funds to its subsidiaries to fund their business operations, nor has it received any transfer of funds from its subsidiaries. In the future, any cash proceeds raised from financing activities may be transferred by us to our subsidiaries via capital contribution or shareholder loans, as the case may be.

4. Our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. See “Part I. Item 4. Information on the Company -- Regulations in China Applicable to Our Business -- Regulations On Dividend Distribution” for more information.

Foreign Exchange

To address persistent capital outflows and the RMB’s depreciation against the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, implemented a series of capital control measures, including stricter vetting procedures for China-based companies to remit foreign currency for overseas acquisitions, dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls and our PRC subsidiaries’ dividends and other distributions may be subject to tightened scrutiny in the future. The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of the PRC. Therefore, we may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures, primarily registration with SAFE, required pursuant to SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16, necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency for the payment of dividends from our profits, if any. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries in the PRC incur debt on their own in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments.

Any transfer of funds by us to our PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, is subject to approval by or registration or filing with relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with the Ministry of Commerce in its local branches and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE. In addition, (i) any foreign loan procured by our PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with SAFE or its local branches or filed with SAFE in its information system; and (ii) our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between their total investment amount and registered capital or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the calculation approach and limitation as provided in the People’s Bank of China Notice No. 9 (“PBOC Notice No. 9”). Any medium- or long-term loan to be provided by us to our PRC-based subsidiaries must be registered with the National Development and Reform Commission and SAFE or its local branches.

In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations, for example, SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16, on loans to, and direct investment in, a PRC subsidiary by offshore holding companies, and the fact that the PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans by us to a PRC subsidiary or with respect to future capital contributions by us to a PRC subsidiary. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to conduct our business and to capitalize or otherwise fund PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. See Part I. Item 3. “Key Information. Part D. Risk Factors -- Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China” on page 40.

In addition, the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules provide that a withholding tax at a rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by Chinese companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless reduced under treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and the governments of other countries or regions where the non-PRC-resident enterprises are tax resident. Pursuant to the tax agreement between mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the withholding tax rate in respect of the payment of dividends by a PRC enterprise to a Hong Kong enterprise may be reduced to 5% from the standard rate of 10%. However, if the relevant tax authorities determine that our transactions or arrangements are for the primary purpose of enjoying a favorable tax treatment, the relevant tax authorities may adjust the favorable withholding tax in the future. Accordingly, there is no assurance that the reduced 5% withholding rate will apply to dividends received by our Hong Kong subsidiary from our PRC subsidiaries. This withholding tax will reduce the amount of dividends we may receive from our PRC subsidiaries.

Recent PRC regulations have extended the PRC tax jurisdiction to transactions involving the transfer of taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding company. Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, which is an “Indirect Transfer,” the non-resident enterprise as either transferor or transferee, or the PRC entity that directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring the PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who pays for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable taxes currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the transferee may be subject to penalties under the PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes. Our Company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if we are the transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our Company is the transferee in such transactions.

Payment of Dividends

Dividends payable by us to our foreign investors and gain on the sale of our Ordinary Shares may be subject to PRC income taxes. Pursuant to the EIT Law and the EIT Rules, subject to any applicable tax treaty or arrangement between the PRC and the jurisdiction of residence of our investors that provides a different income tax arrangement, the payment of dividends by a PRC resident enterprise to investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises (including enterprises that do not have an establishment or place of business in the PRC and enterprises that have an establishment or place of business in the PRC but the income of which is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business) or any gain realized on the transfer of shares by such investors is generally subject to PRC income tax at a rate of 10% to the extent that such dividend has its source in the PRC or such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC. Under the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC and its implementation rules, dividends sourced within the PRC paid to foreign individual investors who are not PRC residents and gains from PRC sources realized on the transfer of our Ordinary Shares by such investors would be subject to PRC income tax at a rate of 20%, subject to any reduction or exemption set out in applicable tax treaties and PRC laws.

It is uncertain whether we will be considered a PRC ‘‘resident enterprise.’’ If we are considered a PRC ‘‘resident enterprise,’’ dividends payable by us with respect to our Ordinary Shares or any gain realized from the transfer of our Ordinary Shares may be treated as income derived from sources within the PRC and may be subject to PRC income tax, subject to the interpretation, application and enforcement of the EIT Law and the EIT Rules by the relevant tax authorities. If we are required under the EIT Law or other related regulations to withhold PRC income tax on our dividends payable to foreign holders of our Ordinary Shares which are ‘‘non-resident enterprises,’’ or if our Shareholders are required to pay PRC income tax on the transfer of our Ordinary Shares under PRC tax laws, the value of an investment in our Ordinary Shares may be materially and adversely affected.

Enforcement of Civil Liabilities

Our Company is an exempted company incorporated with limited liability under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands because of certain benefits associated with being a Cayman Islands company, such as political and economic stability, an effective judicial system, a favorable tax system, the absence of foreign exchange control or currency restrictions and the availability of professional and support services. However, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection for investors. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the U.S. federal courts.

All of our current operations are conducted outside of the United States and all of our current assets are located outside of the United States, with the majority of our operations and current assets being located in China. Moreover, all of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States and substantially all of their assets are located outside the United States. As of the date of this Annual Report; (i) Ms. Chang, our President, Chief Executive Officer and a director, Dr. Dong and Dr. Ning, both independent directors, reside in China; and (ii) Ms. Fang, our Chief Financial Officer and a director, and Mr. Tse, one of our independent directors, reside in Hong Kong. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or any such persons or to enforce in the United States any judgment obtained in a U.S. court against us or any of such persons, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws or any U.S. state or territory.

In particular, residence and location of assets in China may make it even more difficult to enforce any judgments obtained from foreign courts (including from a U.S. state or federal court) against such persons compared to the circumstance of residence in another non-U.S. and non-China jurisdiction. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law and other applicable laws, regulations and interpretations based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the U.S. or with many other jurisdictions that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments from the U.S. and many other jurisdictions. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S and many other jurisdictions. In addition, the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other U.S. authorities and the comparable authorities from many other jurisdictions may also have difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against us or our directors or officers in the PRC.

We have appointed Cogency Global Inc., 122 East 42^nd Street, 18^th Floor, New York, New York 10168 as our agent upon whom process may be served in any action brought against us under the securities laws of the United States.

Cayman Islands

Harney Westwood & Riegels, our counsel as to Cayman Islands law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of the U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or executive officers that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. securities laws or any U.S. state; or (ii) entertain original actions brought in the Cayman Islands against us or our directors or executive officers that are predicated upon the U.S. securities laws or the securities laws of any U.S. state.

Hong Kong

CFN Lawyers, our counsel with respect to Hong Kong law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of Hong Kong would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States; or (ii) entertain original actions brought in Hong Kong against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

A judgment of a court in the United States predicated upon U.S. federal or state securities laws may be enforced in Hong Kong at common law by bringing an action in a Hong Kong court on that judgment for the amount due thereunder and then seeking summary judgment on the strength of the foreign judgment, provided that the foreign judgment, among other things, is (i) for a debt or a definite sum of money (not being taxes or similar charges to a foreign government taxing authority or a fine or other penalty); and (ii) final and conclusive on the merits of the claim, but not otherwise. Such a judgment may not, in any event, be so enforced in Hong Kong if (i) it was obtained by fraud; (ii) the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed to natural justice; (iii) its enforcement or recognition would be contrary to the public policy of Hong Kong; (iv) the court of the United States was not jurisdictionally competent; or (v) the judgment was in conflict with a prior Hong Kong judgment. Hong Kong has no arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the United States. As a result, there is uncertainty as to the enforceability in Hong Kong, in original actions or in actions for enforcement, of judgments of U.S. courts of civil liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state or territory within the United States.

PRC

Tahota (Beijing) Law Firm, our counsel as to PRC law, has confirmed that there is uncertainty as to whether PRC courts would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, or (ii) entertain original actions brought against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States.

Tahota (Beijing) Law Firm has further confirmed that the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. There exists no treaty and few other forms of reciprocity between China and the United States or the Cayman Islands governing the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments as of the date of this Annual Report. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. Under the PRC Civil Procedures Law, foreign shareholders may originate actions based on PRC law before a PRC court against a company for disputes relating to contracts or other property interests, and the PRC court may accept a cause of action based on the laws or the parties’ express mutual agreement in contracts choosing PRC courts for dispute resolution if such foreign shareholders can establish sufficient nexus to China for a PRC court to have jurisdiction and meet other procedural requirements, including, among others, that the plaintiff must have a direct interest in the case, that there must be a specific defendant, a concrete claim, a factual basis and a cause for the case, and that the action must fall within the range of civil actions accepted by the people’s courts and within the jurisdiction of the people’s court with which it is filed. The PRC court will determine whether to accept the complaint in accordance with the PRC Civil Procedures Law. The shareholder may participate in the action by itself or entrust any qualified person or PRC legal counsel to participate on behalf of such shareholder. Foreign citizens and companies will have the same rights as PRC citizens and companies in an action unless the home jurisdiction of such foreign citizens or companies restricts the rights of PRC citizens and companies. However, it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders to originate actions against us in China in accordance with PRC laws because we are incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and it will be difficult for U.S. shareholders, by virtue only of holding the Ordinary Shares, to establish a connection to China for a PRC court to have jurisdiction as required under the PRC Civil Procedures Law.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements. A forward-looking statement is a projection about a future event or result, and whether the statement comes true is subject to many risks and uncertainties. These statements often can be identified by the use of terms such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "approximate" or "continue," or the negative thereof. The actual results or activities of the Company will likely differ from projected results or activities of the Company as described in this Annual Report, and such differences could be material.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results and performance of the Company to be different from any future results, performance and achievements expressed or implied by these statements. In other words, our performance might be quite different from what the forward-looking statements imply. You should review carefully all information included in this Annual Report.

You should rely only on the forward-looking statements that reflect management's view as of the date of this Annual Report. We undertake no obligation to publicly revise or update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should also carefully review the risk factors described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Private Securities Reform Act of 1995 contains a safe harbor for forward-looking statements on which the Company relies in making such disclosures. In connection with the "safe harbor," we hereby identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the section titled "Risk Factors" under Part I. Item 3. – "Key Information."

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND CURRENCY PRESENTATION

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and publish our financial statements in United States Dollars.

REFERENCES

In this Annual Report, “China” or “PRC” refers to all parts of the People's Republic of China other than the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong. The terms “we,” “our,” “us,” and “the “Company” refer to Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries. The terms “Operating Subsidiaries” and “PRC Subsidiaries” refer to Bao Feng and Dandong BF. References to “dollars,” “U.S. Dollars,” “$” or “US$” are to United States Dollars, “HK$” are to Hong Kong Dollars, “Euros” or “euro” are to the European Monetary Union's Currency and “RMB” are to Chinese Renminbi.

PART I

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

Not Applicable.

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not Applicable.

Item 3. Key Information

Not Applicable.

Not Applicable.

You should carefully consider the following risks, together with all other information included in this Annual Report. The realization of any of the risks described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and future prospects.

Risks Related to Our Company

Our limited operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and results of operations.

We, through our Operating Subsidiaries, are in the process of developing our business and have a limited operating history. You should consider our Operating Subsidiaries’ future prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties experienced by early-stage companies. Some of these risks and uncertainties relate to our Operating Subsidiaries’ ability to:

The Company has incurred net losses in the past and may incur losses again in the future.

The Company has experienced negative cash flow and losses from operations. During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company experienced net losses in the amount of $2,285,857 and $1,125,565, respectively. There can be no assurance that the Company will not continue to experience negative cash flow and losses from operations, which could result in a loss of your entire investment in the Ordinary Shares.

We envision a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources that, if not effectively managed, could impair our growth.

Our strategy for our Operating Subsidiaries envisions a period of rapid growth that may impose a significant burden on our administrative and operational resources. The growth of our business will require significant investments of capital and management’s close attention. Our ability to effectively manage our growth will require us to substantially expand the capabilities of our administrative and operational resources and to attract, train, manage and retain qualified management, research and development, sales and marketing and other personnel; we may be unable to do so. In addition, our failure to successfully manage our growth could result in our sales not increasing commensurately with capital investments. If we are unable to successfully manage our growth, we may be unable to achieve our goals.

We may not be able to raise the additional capital necessary to execute our business strategy, which could result in the curtailment of our operations.

We will need to raise additional funds to fully fund our existing operations and for development and expansion of our Operating Subsidiaries’ businesses. We have no current arrangements with respect to sources of additional financing, and the needed additional financing may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, on a timely basis or at all. The inability to obtain additional financing when needed would have a negative effect on us, including possibly requiring us to curtail our operations. If any future financing involves the sale of equity securities, the Ordinary Shares held by our shareholders could be diluted substantially. If we borrow money or issue debt securities, the Company will be subject to the risks associated with indebtedness, including the risk that interest rates may fluctuate and the possibility that it may not be able to pay principal and interest on the indebtedness when due. Insufficient funds would prevent us from implementing our business plan and would require us to delay, scale back or eliminate certain of our operations.

We will be required to hire and retain skilled managerial, research and development and sales and marketing personnel.

Our continued success depends in large part on our ability to attract, train, motivate and retain qualified management, research and development and sales and marketing personnel. Any failure to attract and retain the required personnel who are integral to our business may have a negative impact on our operations, which would have a negative impact on revenues. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract and retain skilled persons, and the loss of skilled personnel would adversely affect us.

We are dependent upon our officers and management for direction, and the loss of any of these persons could adversely affect our operations and results.

We are dependent on our and Bao Feng’s officers for implementation of our proposed strategy and execution of our business plan. The loss of any of our or Bao Feng’s officers could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. We do not maintain “key person” life insurance for any of our or Bao Feng’s officers. The loss of any of our or Bao Feng’s officers could delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives.

We currently have only one revenue-generating Operating Subsidiary and one line of products.

We are a holding company with a total of five subsidiaries. However, at present, only one Operating Subsidiary, Bao Feng, is conducting revenue-generating operations. Our second Operating Subsidiary, BF Internet, is primarily engaged in advertising Bao Feng’s products over the Internet and does not generate significant revenues on its own. Although we plan to expand the marketing and sale of Bao Feng’s products into the international arena and have a different subsidiary, Zhong Yuan HK, handle the international business, it is expected that China will remain our primary market. In addition, the products sold in the international market will be the same products developed by Bao Feng. Therefore, we will remain primarily dependent on Bao Feng for our revenue. If Bao Feng is not profitable, our business, results of operations and cash flows could be significantly and adversely affected.

Our Operating Subsidiaries may not be able to obtain or maintain all necessary licenses, permits and approvals and to make all necessary registrations and filings for their business activities in multiple jurisdictions and related to residents therein, especially in the PRC, or otherwise relating to PRC residents.

As of the date of this Annual Report, our Operating Subsidiaries have received all necessary governmental approvals and licenses for operations in the PRC, including the business approvals and licenses issued by the PRC State Administration for Market Regulation, and neither of them has been denied any such approvals. However, in the event that our Operating Subsidiaries have erroneously concluded that certain licenses, permits or approvals are not required or if applicable laws, regulations or interpretations change and they are required to obtain additional permissions or approvals in the future, our Operating Subsidiaries may incur significant costs and expenses and may need to budget additional resources to comply with any such requirements. Moreover, if either of our Operating Subsidiaries fails to renew its relevant licenses or filings or fails to obtain future required licenses, permits or approvals, it may become subject to fines and other penalties, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and financial condition.

We may be sued or become a party to litigation, which could require significant management time and attention and result in significant legal expenses and may result in an unfavorable outcome, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We may be subject to lawsuits from time to time arising in the ordinary course of our business. The expense of defending ourselves against such litigation may be significant. The amount of time to resolve these lawsuits is unpredictable, and defending ourselves may divert management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of our business, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, an unfavorable outcome in such litigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows.

Future sales of our securities, or the perception in the markets that these sales may occur, could depress our stock price.

We currently have issued and outstanding 17,679,618 Ordinary Shares. Of these Shares, 2,236,192 were previously registered under a registration statement declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 20, 2022. We have filed a registration statement on Form F-1 (the “Registration Statement”) to register an additional 2,500,000 Ordinary Shares; however, as of the date of this Annual Report, the Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Upon closing of that offering, all such registered Shares will be available for sale in the public market. The remaining 14,443,426 Ordinary Shares also may be sold in the future if registered under the Securities Act or if the shareholder qualifies for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, or another applicable exemption. The market price of our capital stock could drop significantly if the holders of these restricted Ordinary Shares sell them or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. These factors also could make it more difficult for us to raise capital or make acquisitions through the issuance of additional Ordinary Shares or other equity securities.

The ability of the Board of Directors of the Company to issue preferred shares and any anti-takeover provisions we adopt may depress the value of our Ordinary Shares.

Our Articles of Association authorize our Board of Directors to provide, out of unissued shares, for preferred shares in one or more classes or series within a class upon the authority of the Board without further shareholder approval. While no preferred shares are currently issued or outstanding, we may issue preferred shares in the future. Any preferred shares issued in the future may rank senior to the Ordinary Shares with respect to the payment of dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or both, and any such preferred shares may have class or series voting rights. The future issuance of preferred shares could materially and adversely affect the rights of the holders of our Ordinary Shares and dilute the ordinary shareholders’ holdings.

In addition, the Board of Directors may, in the future, adopt anti-takeover measures (albeit the Board of Directors may not introduce any anti-takeover measures in our Articles of Association within a Special Resolution of Shareholders). The authority of the Board of Directors to issue preferred shares and any future anti-takeover measures it may adopt may, in certain circumstances, delay, deter or prevent takeover attempts and other changes in our control not approved by the Board of Directors. As a result, our shareholders may lose opportunities to dispose of their Ordinary Shares at favorable prices generally available in takeover attempts or that may be available under a merger proposal, and the market price of the Ordinary Shares and the voting and other rights of our shareholders may also be affected.

Our shareholders may face difficulties in protecting their interests, and their ability to protect their rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and all of our directors and officers reside outside the United States.

We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands and conduct substantially all of our operations in China. All of our directors and officers reside outside the United States, and their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for a shareholder to effect service of process or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the Cayman Islands or in Hong Kong or China in the event that a shareholder believes that his rights have been infringed under the securities laws or otherwise. Even if a shareholder is successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong and China may render the shareholder unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. There is no statutory recognition in the Cayman Islands or Hong Kong of judgments obtained in the United States, although the courts of the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong will generally recognize and enforce a non-penal judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without retrial on the merits.

 Our corporate affairs are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, as amended and restated from time to time, and by the Companies Act (Revised) and common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against us and our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which provides persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States and provides significantly less protection to investors. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have the standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in U.S. federal courts.

PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other form of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedure Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest.

As a result, our shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our management, our directors or our major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.

It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.

Shareholder claims or regulatory investigations 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. While 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 United States may not be efficient in the absence of a 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 or implementation of the rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability of an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may result in difficulties faced by our shareholders in protecting their interests.

There may be conflicts of interest between our management and our non-management shareholders.

Conflicts of interest create the risk that our officers and directors may have an incentive to act adversely to the interests of the Company. A conflict of interest may arise between our officers’ and directors’ personal pecuniary interests and their fiduciary duty to our shareholders.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, shareholders could lose confidence in our financial and other public reporting, which would harm our business and the future trading price of our Ordinary Shares.

Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, is designed to prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. Ineffective internal control could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the future trading price of our Ordinary Shares.

We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the Company and in China Bio and its subsidiaries. As defined in Regulation 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Specifically, we determined that we had the following material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting: (i) we had limited controls over information processing; (ii) we had inadequate segregation of duties; (iii) we did not have a formal audit committee with a financial expert; and (iv) we did not have sufficient formal written policies and procedures for accounting and financial reporting with respect to the requirements and application of both generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP, and SEC guidelines.

As a result, on August 1, 2022, our Board of Directors appointed three independent directors, two of whom the Board has determined qualify as financial experts under the applicable SEC rules, and formed an audit committee comprised of three independent directors. However, although the financial statements and footnotes are now reviewed by our management and our audit committee, we still do not have a formal policy to review significant accounting transactions and the accounting treatment of such transactions.

Even if we develop effective internal controls over financial reporting, such controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with such policies or procedures may deteriorate, which could result in the discovery of additional material weaknesses and deficiencies. In any event, the process of determining whether our existing internal control over financial reporting is compliant with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“Section 404”) and is sufficiently effective requires the investment of substantial time and resources by our senior management. As a result, this process may divert internal resources and take a significant amount of time and effort to complete. In addition, we cannot predict the outcome of this process and whether we will need to implement remedial actions in order to establish effective controls over financial reporting. The determination of whether our internal controls are sufficient and any remedial actions required could result in our incurring additional costs that we did not anticipate, including the hiring of additional outside consultants. We may also fail to timely complete our evaluation, testing and any remediation required to comply with Section 404.

We are required, pursuant to Section 404, to furnish a report by management on, among other things, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for as long as we are a “smaller reporting company,” our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404. While we could be a smaller reporting company for an indefinite amount of time and thus relieved of the above-mentioned attestation requirement, an independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could detect problems that our audit committee’s assessment might not. Such undetected material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.

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 offering, business operations, Ordinary Share price and reputation.

U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China (including in Hong Kong) 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 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 that 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, 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 December 18, 2020, Congress enacted the HFCAA requiring foreign companies to certify that they are 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 two consecutive years, the issuer’s securities are prohibited from trading on a national exchange.

On May 21, 2021, Nasdaq filed three proposals with the SEC to (i) apply a minimum offering size requirement for companies primarily operating in a “Restrictive Market,” (ii) prohibit Restrictive Market companies from directly listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market and only permit them to list on the 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.

As a result of this 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 offering, our business and our Ordinary 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 ourselves. This situation would be costly and time consuming and would 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 Ordinary Shares.

To the extent that our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit documentation related to their audit reports for the Company may, in the future, be located in China or in Hong Kong, our Ordinary Shares could be delisted and prohibited from trading on a U.S. exchange. 

The HFCAA, as amended, prohibits foreign companies from listing their securities on U.S. exchanges if the company’s auditor has been unavailable for PCAOB inspection or investigation for two consecutive years beginning in 2021. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued the Determination Report, which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in (i) mainland China of the People’s Republic of China because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China; and (ii) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in Hong Kong. In addition, the Determination Report identified specific registered public accounting firms subject to these determinations.

On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC (the “SOP”). Pursuant to the SOP, the PCAOB has independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC. The determinations as to mainland China and Hong Kong were vacated by the PCAOB as of December 15, 2022 as a result of the PCAOB’s having been able to conduct extensive and thorough inspections and investigations of mainland China and Hong Kong firms in 2022 under the SOP; however, if the PCAOB encounters any impediment, in the future, to conducting an inspection or investigation of auditors in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of a position taken by an authority in either jurisdiction, it may issue new determinations consistent with the HFCAA.

Centurion ZD, who audited our financial statements for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2020 and 2021, is headquartered in Hong Kong. Therefore, to protect our investors and to carry out the PCAOB’s mandate, we dismissed Centurion ZD as our independent registered public accounting firm effective February 25, 2022 and we engaged K.R. Margetson Ltd., whose principal office is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, as our new independent registered public accounting firm. Our financial statements for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 were audited by Margetson. In April 2023, Margetson resigned as our independent registered public accounting firm and we re-engaged Centurion ZD to audit our financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2023 and after. Based on the PCAOB’s current position and China’s compliance with the SOP, we do not expect to be affected by the HFCAA at this time. However, should PRC authorities fail to facilitate the PCAOB’s access in the future, the PCAOB may consider the need to issue a new determination, which may affect our ability to maintain the listing of our securities on a U.S. national securities exchange, including Nasdaq, and the trading of them in the over-the-counter trading market.

As our auditor’s work papers have again become located in Hong Kong as a result of our re-engagement of Centurion ZD as our independent registered accounting firm, such work papers may not be available for inspection by the PCAOB if authorities in Hong Kong were to take a position at that time that would prevent the PCAOB from continuing to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in Hong Kong. If such lack of inspection were to extend for the requisite period of time under the HFCAA, and if the PCAOB were then to issue new determinations based on its inability to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in Hong Kong because of a position taken by an authority in those jurisdictions, our Ordinary Shares could be delisted and prohibited from trading on a U.S. exchange. In addition, our investors would be deprived of the benefits of the PCAOB’s oversight of our auditor through such inspections, and they may lose confidence in our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements. Also, we cannot assure you that U.S. regulatory authorities will not apply additional or more stringent criteria to us. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of our Ordinary Shares to be materially and adversely affected.

The war in Ukraine could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

The recent outbreak of war in Ukraine has already affected global economic markets, including a dramatic increase in the price of oil and gas, and the uncertain resolution of this conflict could result in protracted and/or severe damage to the global economy. Russia’s recent military interventions in Ukraine have led to, and may lead to, additional sanctions being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia. Russia’s military incursion and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect global energy and financial markets and thus could affect our customers’ businesses and our business, even though we do not have any direct exposure to Russia or the adjoining geographic regions. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions caused by Russian military action or resulting sanctions may magnify the impact of other risks described herein. We cannot predict the progress or outcome of the situation in Ukraine, as the conflict and governmental reactions are rapidly developing and beyond their control. Prolonged unrest, intensified military activities or more extensive sanctions impacting the region could have a material adverse effect on the global economy, and such effect could in turn have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We are exposed to risks in respect of acts of war, terrorist attacks, epidemics, political unrest, adverse weather conditions and other uncontrollable events.

Unforeseeable circumstances and other factors such as power outages, labor disputes, adverse weather conditions or other catastrophes, epidemics or outbreaks of communicable diseases such as COVID-19, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Ebola or other contagious diseases, may disrupt our operations and cause loss and damage to our production facilities, and acts of war, terrorist attacks or other acts of violence may further materially and adversely affect the global financial markets and consumer confidence. Any of such incidents may have a widespread effect on our business operations, which could in turn adversely and materially affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our revenue is susceptible to changes in the economic conditions and regulatory environment, social and/or political conditions, and civil disturbance or disobedience. We cannot assure that there will be no political or social unrest in the near future or that there will not be other events that could lead to widespread protests or the disruption of the economic, political and social conditions in the PRC. If such events persist for a prolonged period of time or the economic, political and social conditions in the PRC are disrupted, our overall business and results of operations may be adversely affected.

Our business may also be affected by macroeconomic factors in the countries where our customers are located, such as general economic conditions, market sentiment and regulatory, fiscal and other governmental policies, all of which are beyond our control. Any such events may cause damage or disruption to our business, markets, customers and suppliers, any of which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Risks Related to the Business of Bao Feng

Bao Feng’s business depends on the market recognition of its brand. If we are not able to maintain our reputation and enhance our brand recognition, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.

The quality and acceptance of our products will determine whether our brand becomes recognized as a leading brand in the industry. We believe that market recognition of our brand is a key factor to ensuring our future success. As we continue to grow in size and broaden the scope of our product offerings, however, it may become increasingly difficult to maintain the quality and consistency of the products we offer, which may negatively impact our brand and the popularity of our products offered thereunder.

Our brand value will also be affected by customer perceptions. Those perceptions are affected by a number of factors, some of which are based on first-hand observation of our product quality and effectiveness, while others may be based on indirect information from media or other sources. Incidents and any negative publicity related thereto, even if factually incorrect, may lead to significant deterioration of our brand image and reputation and consequently negatively affect customers’ interest in our products, as well as top-notch sales and marketing personnel’s interest in being associated with our brand. Particularly in the age of digital media and social network, impacts of negative publicity associated with any single incident could be easily amplified and potentially cause impacts that go beyond our estimation or control.

In addition, scientific studies on health products are constantly evolving and new or innovative conclusions on effectiveness may affect customers’ perception of our products. If we are unable to maintain our reputation, enhance our brand recognition or increase positive awareness of our products, it may be difficult to maintain and grow our customer base and distribution channels, and our business and growth prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We may face increasing competition in our industry and may not be able to successfully compete with our competitors.

Our business is in an industry that we expect to become increasingly competitive, and many of our competitors, both local and international, may have substantially greater technical, financial and marketing resources than we have. As a result, we may be unable to compete successfully with these competitors. As competition increases, we may also face pressures on pricing, which could result in lower margins. Lower margins may affect our ability to cover our costs, which could have a material negative impact on our operations and our business.

We may not be successful in introducing new products or enhancing our existing products.

We currently offer four health supplement products. We intend to continue developing new products, as well as further enhancing our existing products. This process is subject to risks and uncertainties, such as unexpected technical, regulatory, operational, logistical or other problems that could delay the process temporarily or permanently. Moreover, we cannot assure you that any of these new products or enhancements of existing products will fulfill customer needs, match the quality or popularity of those developed by our competitors, achieve widespread market acceptance or generate incremental revenues.

In addition, introducing new products or enhancing existing products requires us to make various investments in research and development, incur personnel expenses and potentially reallocate other resources. If we are unable to develop new products or cannot do so in a cost-effective manner or are otherwise unable to effectively manage the quality of those products, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

Our business is affected by global, national and local economic conditions, as the products we sell are discretionary.

We depend upon factors relating to discretionary consumer spending in China. These factors include economic conditions, consumers, employment rates, the amounts of consumers' disposable income, business conditions, interest rates, consumer debt, availability of credit and applicable taxation in regional and local markets where we sell our products. There can be no assurance that consumer spending for our products will not be adversely affected by changes in economic conditions.

Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

Substantially all of our assets and operations are located in the PRC. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in the PRC generally. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, 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 the PRC 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 the PRC’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 past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy. Any adverse changes in economic conditions in the PRC, in the policies of the Chinese government or in the laws and regulations in the PRC could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth of the PRC. Such developments could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to a reduction in demand for our products 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 the PRC, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.

Our ability to establish effective marketing and advertising campaigns is the key to our success.

Our advertisements promote our products and the pricing of such products. If we are unable to increase awareness of our brands and our products, we may not be able to attract new customers. Our marketing activities may not be successful in promoting or pricing our products or retaining and enlarging our customer base. We cannot assure you that our marketing programs will be adequate to support our future growth, which may lead to material adverse effects on our results of operations.

Consumer preferences in the health care industry change rapidly and are difficult to predict.

The success of our business depends on our ability to accurately anticipate and respond to future changes in consumer demand, maintain the correct inventory, deliver the appropriate products at the right prices and produce our products at minimum costs. We must optimize our product selection and inventory based on consumer preferences and sales trends. If we fail to anticipate, identify or react appropriately to changes in consumer demand, we could experience excess inventories, higher than normal markdowns or be unable to sell the products, which would reduce our revenue, financial position and results of operations.

While we must maintain sufficient inventory to operate our business successfully and meet our customers' demands, we must be careful not to overstock.

Changing consumer demands and uncertainty surrounding new product launches expose us to increasing inventory risks. Demand for products can change rapidly and unexpectedly, affecting product availability and back-order time. We carry four different products for which we must maintain sufficient inventory amounts. In the event that consumer demand for one or more of our products decreases, we may be unable to sell our inventory of those products. Our inventory holding costs will increase if we maintain excess inventory. Conversely, if we do not have sufficient inventory to fulfill customer orders, we may lose orders or customers, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we can accurately predict consumer demand and events and avoid over-stocking or under-stocking products.

We primarily depend on a few products for our revenue.

We currently rely on four products for our revenue. We do not currently have any other products on which we could rely to support our operations if we were to experience any difficulty with the manufacture, marketing, sale or distribution of these product lines. If we were to become unable to sustain or increase the price or sales levels for these product lines, our business could be harmed.

If we expand our product offerings, or if we experience increased capital requirements for any reason, we may need to raise additional capital.

We primarily depend on our Neuro Enhancer product line for more than 65% of our revenue. We may decide to expand our product portfolio, which would entail increased research and development expenses. If cash generated from operations is insufficient to satisfy our requirements in this regard, we may need to raise additional capital. If we are unable to raise the additional required capital in a timely manner or on acceptable terms, we could be forced to reduce our growth plans. There can be no assurance that additional capital will be available to us or that it will be available on acceptable terms.

We depend on our largest customers for a significant portion of our sales revenue, and we cannot be certain that sales to these customers will continue.

During the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, three customers accounted for approximately 28.1% and 28.0% of Bao Feng’s sales, respectively. We do not enter into long-term contracts with our customers but manufacture based upon purchase orders and therefore cannot be certain that sales to these customers will continue. If sales to these customers do not continue, then our sales revenue will decline and our business will be negatively impacted. Unless we were able to replace them with other customers, the loss of any of our three largest customers would have a material negative impact on our sales revenue and our business. There can be no assurance that we would be able to compensate for the loss of any of these major customers.

Product liability claims could adversely affect our business.

As a manufacturer of products that are ingested, we could face product liability claims if, among other things, our products are alleged to result in injury to a consumer. If we are found liable for product liability claims, we could be required to pay substantial monetary damages. Furthermore, even if we successfully defend ourselves against this type of claim, we could be required to spend significant management, financial and other resources, which could disrupt our business.

In addition, any product liability claims or adverse side effects, even if caused by improper use of our product, may result in adverse publicity regarding us and our products, which would harm our reputation.

If we fail to protect our trademarks and trade names, then our ability to compete could be negatively affected, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.

The market for our products depends to a significant extent upon the goodwill associated with our trademarks and trade names. We own the material trademark and trade name rights used in connection with the packaging, marketing and distribution of our products in the markets where those products are sold. Therefore, trademark and trade name protections are important to our business. Our trademarks are registered in China, and Chinese law may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. The loss or infringement of our trademarks or trade names could impair the goodwill associated with our brands and harm our reputation, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.

There is limited protection of intellectual property available in China. Accordingly, we face the risk in China that unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain or use our trademarks, copyrights, product formulations or other intellectual property. Further, because Chinese commercial law is relatively undeveloped, we may have limited legal recourse in the event that we encounter significant difficulties with intellectual property theft or infringement. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be able to adequately protect our product formulations or other intellectual property.

Our manufacturing activity is subject to certain risks.

We manufacture all of our products through contractual arrangements with various manufacturers. As a result, we are dependent upon the uninterrupted and efficient operation of their manufacturing facilities, over which we have no control. In addition, our Acer truncatum trees are grown on several tree farms in Inner Mongolia, in China. The facilities manufacturing our products and the tree farms at which our Acer truncatum trees are grown are subject to the risk of catastrophic loss due to, among other things, earthquake, fire, flood or other natural or man-made disasters, and the manufacturing facilities are also subject to the risk of significant equipment failures. If any of these facilities were to experience a catastrophic loss, it would be expected to disrupt their operations and could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Cyber security risks and the failure to maintain the integrity of data belonging to our Company, employees and customers could expose us to data loss, litigation and liability, and our reputation could be significantly harmed.

We collect and retain large volumes of data relating to our business and from our employees and customers for business purposes, including for transactional and promotional purposes, and our various information technology systems enter, process, summarize and report such data. The integrity and protection of this data is critical to our business. We are subject to significant security and privacy regulations, as well as requirements imposed by the credit card industry. Maintaining compliance with these evolving regulations and requirements could be difficult and may increase our expenses. In addition, a penetrated or compromised data system or the intentional, inadvertent or negligent release or disclosure of data could result in theft, loss or fraudulent or unlawful use of data relating to our Company or our employees, independent distributors or customers, which could harm our reputation, disrupt our operations or result in remedial and other costs, fines or lawsuits.

Difficulties in registering our products for sale in Mainland China could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Although Bao Feng has obtained all required approval documents for its current products, which are considered dietary supplements, if it expands into the medical market, it will need to apply for medical qualifications. This process may involve an extended period of time and significant man-hours and may delay us from offering new medical products for sale or prevent us from launching new product initiatives.

For example, products marketed in China as “health foods” or for which certain claims are used are subject to “blue cap” or “blue hat” registrations, which involve extensive laboratory and clinical analysis by governmental authorities. This registration process can take anywhere from 18 months to 3 years, but may be substantially longer. We currently market dietary supplements. However, if government officials should determine that our products should be categorized as health foods, this could end or limit our ability to market such products in China and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Our business is subject to risks arising from epidemic diseases, such as the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.

In December 2019, a novel strain of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, China. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization categorized it as a pandemic. The Chinese government, as well as other governments worldwide, employed various measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including city lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions, suspension of business activities and school closures.

Our business has been and may continue to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 epidemic. Both Bao Feng and BF Internet are located in China, as are all of their employees and Bao Feng’s suppliers, product manufacturers and distributors. Although Bao Feng’s online sales were not significantly affected by the epidemic, its total sales for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased by approximately 60.7% as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. Bao Feng’s production capacity was significantly reduced due to the government lockdown, and orders were filled through existing inventory. In addition, Bao Feng’s planned business expansion was delayed due to travel restrictions and other factors which prevented the company from working towards expanding its distribution network.

Although Bao Feng resumed operations in September 2020, there is still uncertainty about the duration, severity and long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, both in China and globally, and the extent of the long-term disruption to business and the economy remains unknown. A number of COVID variants have emerged since the original strain, the most recent of which exhibit increased contagiousness and antibody resistance, and, although the World Health Organization has officially declared the pandemic under control, a resurgence of the disease could negatively affect our production capacity or the collection of customer payments or result in disruption of our supply chain. The future impact of COVID-19 and its variants is still highly uncertain and cannot be predicted as of the date of this Annual Report. We are uncertain as to when any new outbreaks of COVID-19 may occur and how long it may take for them to be contained, and we cannot predict if the impact of any such outbreaks or associated containment measures will be short-lived or long-lasting. If future outbreaks of COVID-19 are not effectively controlled within a short period of time, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

We may also experience negative effects from other future public health crises beyond our control. These events are impossible to forecast, their negative effects may be difficult to mitigate and they could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Risks Related to the People’s Republic of China

Because our operations are in China and our principal executive offices are in Hong Kong, our business is subject to the complex and rapidly evolving laws and regulations there. The Chinese government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business, including our business in Hong Kong, and may intervene in or influence our operations at any time, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our Ordinary Shares.

As a business operating in China, we are subject to the laws and regulations of the PRC, which can be complex and evolve rapidly. The PRC government has the power to exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business, and the regulations to which we are subject may change rapidly and with little notice to us or our shareholders. As a result, the application, interpretation and enforcement of new and existing laws and regulations in the PRC are often uncertain. In addition, these laws and regulations may be interpreted and applied inconsistently by different agencies or authorities and inconsistently with our current policies and practices. New laws, regulations and other government directives in the PRC may also be costly to comply with, and such compliance or any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions may: (i) delay or impede our development; (ii) result in negative publicity or increase our operating costs; (iii) require significant time and attention of management; and (iv) subject us to remedies, administrative penalties and even criminal liabilities that may harm our business, including fines assessed for our current or historical operations. 

The promulgation of new laws or regulations, or the new interpretation of existing laws and regulations, in each case that restrict or otherwise unfavorably impact the ability or manner in which we conduct our Operating Subsidiaries’ businesses, could require us to change certain aspects of their businesses to ensure compliance, which could decrease demand for Bao Feng’s products, reduce revenues, increase costs, require our Operating Subsidiaries to obtain more licenses, permits, approvals or certificates or subject us to additional liabilities. To the extent that any new or more stringent measures are required to be implemented, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected, which could materially decrease the value of our Ordinary Shares.

Any changes to Hong Kong's legal, financial and monetary system resulting from actions by China could negatively impact Hong Kong’s economic and political prospects and adversely affect the Company. Hong Kong's evolving relationship with the central government in Beijing has been a source of political unrest and may result in economic disruption. To the extent that any stringent measures imposed by China on Hong Kong could affect our business, our financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. Recent developments with respect to the relationship between China and Hong Kong may result in the legal and operational risks of doing business in China also to apply to Hong Kong.

If the Chinese government were to impose new requirements for approval from the PRC authorities to issue the Company’s Ordinary Shares to foreign investors or list on a foreign exchange, such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause such securities to significantly decline in value or become worthless. 

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 were 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.

Based on the advice of PRC counsel, Tahota (Beijing) Law Firm, and our understanding of currently applicable PRC laws and regulations, the Company and its PRC subsidiaries: (i) are not currently required to obtain permissions from any PRC authorities to operate or to issue securities to foreign investors; (ii) are not subject to permission requirements from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (the “CSRC”), the Cyberspace Administration of China (the “CAC”) or any other entity that is required to approve their operations; and (iii) have not been denied any permissions by any PRC authorities. In addition, Zhong Yuan-HK, our Hong Kong subsidiary that owns 100% of the outstanding shares of Zhong Yuan-Shenzhen, is afforded the legal protections of national treatment under the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China.

If we have erroneously concluded that these permission requirements do not apply to us, or if applicable laws, regulations or interpretations change, and it is determined in the future that the permission requirements become applicable to us, we may be subject to review, may face challenges in addressing these requirements and may incur substantial costs in complying with these requirements, which could result in material adverse changes in our business operations and financial position. In addition, if we are not able to fully comply with the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) or if the Opinions are determined to be applicable to us, our ability to offer or to continue to offer securities to investors may be significantly limited or completely hindered, and our securities may significantly decline in value or become worthless.

The New Overseas Listing Rules and other relevant rules promulgated by the CSRC may subject us to additional compliance requirements in the future.

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Trial Measures”) and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC also issued the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “CSRC Notice”). Pursuant to the Trial Measures and the CSRC Notice, among other things, (i) a domestic company that seeks to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, must complete certain filing procedures with the CSRC within three working days following its submission of an initial public offering or listing application; and (ii) domestic companies which have already, directly or indirectly, offered and listed securities in overseas markets prior to the effectiveness of the Trial Measures are required to fulfill their filing obligations and report relevant information to the CSRC within three working days after conducting a follow-on offering of equity securities on the same overseas market. If the issuer meets both of the following criteria, the overseas offering and listing conducted by such issuer shall be deemed an indirect overseas offering and listing by a PRC domestic company: (i) 50% or more of any of the issuer’s operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets as documented in its audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year were derived from PRC domestic companies; and (ii) the majority of the issuer’s business activities are carried out in mainland China, or its main place(s) of business are located in mainland China, or the majority of its senior management team in charge of its business operations and management are PRC citizens or have their usual place(s) of residence located in mainland China. Where a PRC domestic company is seeking an indirect overseas offering and listing in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC. If a domestic company fails to complete the 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 an order to rectify, warnings and 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.

We have filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the SEC with respect to a proposed initial public offering of our Ordinary Shares and, in conjunction therewith, we have filed an application for listing of our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. As of the date of this Annual Report, the registration statement has not been declared effective nor has our Nasdaq listing application been approved. We have been advised by Tahota (Beijing) Law Firm, our PRC counsel, that, because our Ordinary Shares have been trading on the US OTC Market, our initial public offering may be considered to be an offering in the same overseas market and, therefore, we are not required to file with the CSRC immediately but we are required to so file within three working days after completion of the offering.

On February 24, 2023, the CSRC and other PRC governmental authorities jointly revised the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration for Overseas Securities Offering and Listing, which were issued in 2009 (the “Provisions”). The revised Provisions were 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 in the revised Provisions is the expansion of their application to cover indirect overseas offerings and listings, as is consistent with the Trial Measures. The revised Provisions require that, among other things, (i) 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 (ii) a 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. On or after March 31, 2023, any failure or perceived failure by the Company and its subsidiaries to comply with the above confidentiality and archives administration requirements under the revised Provisions and other PRC laws and regulations may result in the relevant entities being held legally liable by competent authorities and referred to the judicial branch to be investigated for criminal liability if suspected of committing a crime.

As of the date of this Annual Report, we have not received any formal inquiry, notice, warning, sanction or any regulatory objection from the CSRC with respect to our proposed public offering. However, the Trial Measures and the revised Provisions recently issued by PRC authorities may subject us to additional compliance requirements in the future, as there are still uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of such regulatory guidance, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with all the new regulatory requirements of the Trial Measures, the revised Provisions or any future implementing rules on a timely basis, or at all. Any failure by us to fully comply with the new regulatory requirements, including but not limited to the failure to complete the filing procedures with the CSRC, may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our Ordinary Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our Ordinary Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless.

Furthermore, the PRC government authorities may further strengthen oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Any such action may adversely affect our operations and significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to you and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.

Changes in international trade policies, tariffs and rising political tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, may adversely impact our business and operating results.

In recent years, international market conditions and the international regulatory environment have been increasingly affected by competition among countries and geopolitical frictions. In particular, the U.S. administration has advocated for and taken steps toward restricting trade in certain goods, particularly from China. China and the United States have implemented certain increasingly protective trade measures with continuing trade tensions, including significant tariff increases, between these countries. Although the United States and China successfully reached an interim trade deal in January 2020 that de-escalated the trade tensions with both sides rolling back tariffs, the extent to which the trade deal will continue to be implemented is unpredictable.

The institution of trade tariffs both globally and between the U.S. and China specifically carries the risk of negatively affecting China’s overall economic condition, which could have a negative impact on us by negatively impacting our potential customers’ discretionary income. Furthermore, the imposition of tariffs could have a negative impact on our supply chain and on foreign demand for our products and, thus, could have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

If the Chinese government chooses to exert greater oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China based issuers, such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to overseas investors and cause such securities to significantly decline in value or to be worthless.

Recent statements by the Chinese government have indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investments in China based issuers. The PRC has recently proposed new rules that would require companies collecting or holding large amounts of data to undergo a cybersecurity review prior to listing in foreign countries, a move that would significantly tighten oversight over China based Internet giants. Pursuant to Article 6 of the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 Version), companies holding data on more than 1 million users must now apply for cybersecurity approval when seeking listings in other nations due to the risk that such data and personal information could be “affected, controlled, and maliciously exploited by foreign governments.”

We are in the business of nervonic acid research, the development of nervonic acid based herbal and chemical drugs, developing and marketing nervonic acid-based health supplements, which does not involve the collection of user data, implicate cybersecurity or involve any other type of restricted industry. Based on the advice of PRC counsel, Tahota (Beijing) Law Firm, and our understanding of currently applicable PRC laws and regulations, our Ordinary Shares are not subject to the review or prior approval of the CAC or the CRSC. Uncertainties still exist, however, due to the possibility that laws, regulations or policies in the PRC could change rapidly in the future. Any future action by the PRC government expanding the categories of industries and companies whose foreign securities offerings are subject to review by the CRSC or the CAC could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to overseas investors and could cause such securities to significantly decline in value or to be worthless.

The market price for our Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected by increased tensions between the United States and China.

Recently, there have been heightened tensions in the economic and political relations between the United States and China. On June 30, 2020, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People's Congress issued the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). This law defines the duties and government bodies of the HKSAR for safeguarding national security and four categories of offences—secession, subversion, terrorist activities and collusion with a foreign country or external elements to endanger national security—and their corresponding penalties. On July 14, 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, or HKAA, into law, authorizing the U.S. administration to impose blocking sanctions against individuals and entities who are determined to have materially contributed to the erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy. On August 7, 2020 the U.S. government imposed HKAA-authorized sanctions on eleven individuals, including HKSAR chief executive Carrie Lam. The HKAA further authorizes secondary sanctions, including the imposition of blocking sanctions, against foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct a significant transaction with foreign persons sanctioned under this authority. The imposition of sanctions such as those provided in the HKAA is in practice discretionary and highly political, especially in a relationship as extensive and complex as that between the United States and China. It is difficult to predict the full impact of the HKAA on Hong Kong and companies like the Company. Furthermore, legislative or administrative actions in respect of Sino-U.S. relations could cause investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and the market price of our Ordinary Shares could be adversely affected.

The Chinese government may exert substantial influence over the manner in which we conduct our Operating Subsidiaries’ business operations in China.

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 conduct our Operating Subsidiaries’ operations in China may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to regulation of the health product industry, taxation, import and export tariffs, environmental regulations, land use rights, property ownership and other matters. We believe that our Operating Subsidiaries’ operations in China are in material compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments of the jurisdictions in which our Operating Subsidiaries operate 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. Accordingly, government actions in the future could have a significant effect on us and our business.

China’s economic growth rate and policies could affect our Operating Subsidiaries’ businesses.

Substantially all of our assets are located in China, and all of our revenue is currently derived from our Operating Subsidiaries’ operations in China. Accordingly, our results of operations and prospects are subject, to a significant extent, to economic, political and legal developments in China.

While China’s economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been irregular, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and, other than for a large spike in 2021, the rate of growth has been slowing since 2012. Further, China’s economy grew by only 3.0% in 2022 compared with 8.4% growth seen in 2021 and 2.2% in 2020. (Source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?end=2022&locations=CN&start=2020) Sluggish income growth, lingering uncertainty about the recovery in the labor market, and high household precautionary saving could hold back consumer spending. Although the property sector is showing signs of stabilization, excessive leverage among developers remains largely unaddressed, and persistent weakness in the real estate sector threatens China’s anticipated 5.6% annual economic growth target for 2023. (Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/06/14/priority-reforms-key-for-sustaining-growth-and-achieving-china-s-long-term-goals-world-bank-report#:~:text=China%20Economic%20Update%20%2D%20June%202023&text=China's%20GDP%20growth%20is%20projected,weak%20global%20growth%20impacting%20exports.)

A slowdown in economic growth in China could adversely affect our business and operating results, lead to a reduction in demand for our products 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 benefit the overall economy of China but may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our operating results and financial condition may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations.

The economy of China has been transitioning from a planned economy to a more market-oriented economy. In recent years, 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; however, a substantial portion of productive assets in China are still owned by the Chinese government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. It also exercises significant control over China's economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.

Many of the economies in Asia, including China, are experiencing substantial inflationary pressures, which may prompt governments to take action to control the growth of the economy and inflation that could lead to a significant decrease in our profitability.

While many of the economies in Asia, including China, have experienced rapid growth over the last two decades, they currently are experiencing inflationary pressures. Inflationary pressures may result in government intervention in the economy, including policies that may adversely affect the overall performance of the respective countries’ economy, which could, in turn, adversely affect our operations and the price of our Ordinary Shares. As governments take steps to address the current inflationary pressures, there may be significant changes in the availability of bank credit, interest rates, limitations on loans and restrictions on currency conversion and foreign investment. There also may be imposition of price controls. If prices for products from our suppliers and/or own products rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on our profitability because of a decrease in revenue. In addition, if these or other similar restrictions are imposed by a government to influence the economy, it may lead to a slowing of economic growth.

Inflation, measures to contain inflation and speculation about potential measures can also contribute to significant uncertainty in relation to the economy and weaken investor confidence, which could affect our ability to access finance, including access to equity of international capital markets. Future measures by the governments, including increases in interest rates, intervention in the foreign exchange market and actions to adjust or fix the value of monetary denominations may trigger further increases in inflation, adversely affecting the overall performance of the respective economies. Inflation can also increase our costs and expenses, and we may not be able to transfer such costs to our customers, which would reduce our profits and net profit margins.

Fluctuation of the RMB may affect our financial condition by affecting the volume of cross-border money flow.

The value of the RMB fluctuates and is subject to changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. Since July 2005, the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including USD, has been based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China, which are set based on the interbank foreign exchange market rates and the current exchange rates of a basket of currencies on the world financial markets.

We may face obstacles from the communist system in the PRC.

Foreign companies conducting operations in the PRC face significant political, economic and legal risks. The communist regime in the PRC may hinder Western investment in the Company.

We may have difficulty establishing adequate management, legal and financial controls in the PRC.

The PRC historically has been deficient in Western-style management and financial reporting concepts and practices, as well as in modern banking, computer and other control systems. 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, we may experience difficulty in establishing management, 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.

The PRC legal system embodies uncertainties, which could limit the legal protections available to us.

The PRC legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, decided legal cases have little precedence. 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 several decades has significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investment in China. Our PRC Operating Subsidiaries are subject to PRC laws and regulations. However, these laws and regulations change frequently, and their interpretation and enforcement involve uncertainties. For instance, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce the legal protection to which we are entitled by law or contract. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting statutory and contractual terms, it may be difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of law enforcement that we would receive in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based partly on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until some time after the violation. In addition, confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the PRC legal system, particularly with regard to our business, including the promulgation of new laws. This may include changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.

Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.

Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate their businesses. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. Our failure in making contributions to various employee benefit plans and in complying with applicable PRC labor-related laws may subject us to late payment penalties. We may be required to make up the contributions for these plans as well as to pay late fees and fines. If we are subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.

We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

We are a Cayman Islands holding company, and we rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, including for servicing any debt we may incur. Our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends is based upon their distributable earnings. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to their respective shareholders only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of their registered capital. Our PRC subsidiaries, as foreign invested enterprises, (“FIEs”), are also required to further set aside a portion of their after-tax profit to fund an employee welfare fund, although the amount to be set aside, if any, is determined at their discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. If our PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to their shareholders could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds we receive from offshore financing activities to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our two PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand business.

Any transfer of funds by us to our two PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, is subject to approval by or registration or filing with relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the approval of or filing with the Ministry of Commerce in its local branches and registration with a local bank authorized by SAFE. In addition, (i) any foreign loan procured by our PRC subsidiaries is required to be registered with SAFE or its local branches or filed with SAFE in its information system; and (ii) our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed the difference between their total investment amount and registered capital or, as an alternative, only procure loans subject to the calculation approach and limitation as provided in the People’s Bank of China Notice No. 9 (“PBOC Notice No. 9”). Any medium- or long-term loan to be provided by us to our PRC-based subsidiaries must be registered with the National Development and Reform Commission and SAFE or its local branches. We may not be able to obtain these government approvals or complete such registrations on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future capital contributions or foreign loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to receive such approvals or complete such registration or filing, our ability to use the proceeds we receive from our offshore financing activities and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and ability to fund and expand our business. There is, in effect, no statutory limit on the amount of capital contribution that we can make to our PRC subsidiaries. This is because there is no statutory limit on the amount of registered capital for our PRC subsidiaries, and we are allowed to make capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries by subscribing for their initial registered capital and increased registered capital, provided that the PRC subsidiaries complete the relevant filing and registration procedures.

With respect to loans to our PRC subsidiaries by us, (i) if the PRC subsidiaries adopt the traditional foreign exchange administration mechanism, or the Current Foreign Debt Mechanism, the outstanding amount of the loans shall not exceed the difference between the total investment and the registered capital of the PRC subsidiaries; and (ii) if the PRC subsidiaries adopt the foreign exchange administration mechanism as provided in Notice of the People’s Bank of China on Matters concerning the Macro-Prudential Management of Full-Covered Cross-Border Financing, or the PBOC Notice No. 9, the risk-weighted outstanding amount of the loans, which shall be calculated based on the formula provided in PBOC Notice No. 9, shall not exceed 200% of the net asset of the PRC subsidiaries. According to the PBOC Notice No. 9, after a transition period of one year since the promulgation of PBOC Notice No. 9, the PBOC and SAFE will determine the cross-border financing administration mechanism for the foreign-invested enterprises after evaluating the overall implementation of PBOC Notice No. 9. As of the date of this Annual Report, neither the PBOC nor SAFE has promulgated and made public any further rules, regulations, notices or circulars in this regard. It is uncertain which mechanism will be adopted by the PBOC and SAFE in the future and what statutory limits will be imposed on us when providing loans to our PRC subsidiaries. Currently, our PRC subsidiaries have the flexibility to choose between the Current Foreign Debt Mechanism and the Notice No. 9 Foreign Debt Mechanism. However, if a more stringent foreign debt mechanism becomes mandatory, our ability to provide loans to our two PRC subsidiaries may be significantly limited, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

The Circular on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 19, effective as of June 1, 2015, as amended by Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement under the Capital Account, or SAFE Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, allows FIEs to settle their foreign exchange capital at their discretion, but continues to prohibit FIEs from using the Renminbi fund converted from their foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond their business scopes, and also prohibit FIEs from using such Renminbi fund to provide loans to persons other than affiliates unless otherwise permitted under our business scope. As a result, we are required to apply Renminbi funds converted from the net proceeds we received from our offshore financing activities within the business scopes of our PRC subsidiaries. SAFE Circular 19 and SAFE Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to use Renminbi converted from the net proceeds from our offshore financing activities to fund the establishment of new entities in China by our PRC subsidiaries, to invest in or acquire any other PRC companies through our PRC subsidiaries, or to establish new consolidated subsidiary in China, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

Changes to PRC tax laws may subject us to greater taxes.

We base our tax position upon the anticipated nature and conduct of our business and upon our understanding of the tax laws of the various administrative regions and countries in which we have assets or conduct activities. However, our tax position is subject to review and possible challenge by taxing authorities and to possible changes in law, which may have retroactive effect. We cannot determine in advance the extent to which some jurisdictions may require us to pay taxes or make payments in lieu of taxes.

Risks Related to Doing Business in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s political and legal systems are evolving and have inherent uncertainties including Hong Kong’s relationship with mainland China.

We conduct our operations in China and our principal executive offices are located in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong political and legal systems embody uncertainties, including the relationship between Hong Kong and mainland China, which could limit the legal protections available to you and us.

As one of the conditions for the handover of the sovereignty of Hong Kong to China, China had to accept some conditions such as Hong Kong’s Basic Law. The Basic Law ensured Hong Kong would retain its own currency (the Hong Kong Dollar), legal system, parliamentary system and people’s rights and freedom for fifty years from 1997. This agreement gave Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy. The Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong is responsible for its own domestic affairs including, but not limited to, the judiciary and courts of last resort, immigration and customs, public finance, currencies and extradition. Hong Kong continues using the English common law system.

Some international observers and human rights organizations have expressed doubts about the future of the relative political freedoms enjoyed in Hong Kong and the PRC’s earlier pledge to allow a high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong. They considered, for example, that the proposals in Article 23 of the Basic Law in 2003 (which was withdrawn due to mass opposition) might have undermined autonomy. On June 10, 2014, Beijing released a new report asserting its authority over the territory. This ignited criticism from many people in Hong Kong who said that the Communist leadership was reneging on its pledges to abide by the “one country, two systems” policy that allows for a democratic, autonomous Hong Kong under Beijing’s rule. On October 26, 2022, President Xi Jinping said in a speech at the opening of the one-in-five year Communist Party congress in Beijing that “China has achieved comprehensive control over Hong Kong turning it from chaos to governance.”

Recent developments with respect to the relationship between China and Hong Kong may result in the legal and operational risks of doing business in China also applying to Hong Kong. If the PRC were to, in fact, renege on its agreement to allow Hong Kong to function autonomously, this could potentially impact Hong Kong’s common law legal system and may in turn bring about uncertainty in, for example, the enforcement of contractual rights, property rights and human rights. This could, in turn, materially and adversely affect our business and operations. Additionally, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in Hong Kong may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. Accordingly, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in the Hong Kong legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the preemption of local regulations by national laws. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us, including our ability to enforce our agreements with our customers and conduct our business.

China’s legal system is a civil law system based on written statutes. Unlike common law systems, it is a system in which prior court decisions have limited value as precedents. Since 1979, the PRC government has promulgated laws and regulations governing economic matters in general, such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system. As a result, recently-enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new and the limited volume of published cases and their non-binding nature, interpretation and enforcement of these newer laws and regulations involve greater uncertainties than those in jurisdictions available to you. In addition, China’s legal system is based in part on government policies and administrative rules and many have retroactive effects. As a result, we cannot predict the effect of future developments in China’s legal system, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, or the pre-emption of local regulations by national laws, nor their implications or effect on Hong Kong.

Risks Related to the Company’s Ordinary Shares

There is currently only a limited trading market for our Ordinary Shares.

There currently is only a limited trading market for our Ordinary Shares. Our unregistered outstanding Ordinary Shares cannot be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred unless subsequently registered pursuant to, or exempt from registration under, the Securities Act and any other applicable federal or state securities laws or regulations in the United States. These restrictions will limit the ability of certain of our shareholders to liquidate their investment.

We have applied for our Ordinary Shares to be listed on Nasdaq. However, there can be no assurance that a regular public market for our Ordinary Shares will ever develop. If a regular trading market for our securities does not develop, you will likely not be able to sell your Ordinary Shares, and we cannot predict the extent, if any, to which investor interest will lead to the development of a viable trading market in our Ordinary Shares. With a limited trading market, there is a risk that the absence of potential buyers will prevent you from selling your Ordinary Shares.

Certain recent initial public offerings of companies with public floats comparable to ours have experienced extreme volatility that was seemingly unrelated to the underlying performance of the company. We may experience similar volatility, which may make it difficult for prospective investors to assess the value of our Ordinary Shares.

In addition to the risks addressed below in “—It is likely that there will be significant volatility in the trading price of our Ordinary Shares” our Ordinary Shares may be subject to extreme volatility that is seemingly unrelated to the underlying performance of our business. Recently, companies with comparable public floats and initial public offering sizes have experienced instances of extreme stock price run-ups followed by rapid price declines where such stock price volatility was seemingly unrelated to the company’s underlying performance. Although the specific cause of such volatility is unclear, our public float may amplify the impact that the actions of a few shareholders have on the price of our Ordinary Shares, which may cause our share price to deviate, potentially significantly, from a price that better reflects the underlying performance of our business. Should our Ordinary Shares experience run-ups and declines that are seemingly unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance and financial condition or prospects, our shareholders and their prospective purchasers may have difficulty assessing the rapidly changing value of our Ordinary Shares. In addition, investors in our Ordinary Shares may experience losses, which may be material, if the price of our Ordinary Shares declines or if such investors purchase our Ordinary Shares prior to any price decline.

Holders of our Ordinary Shares may also not be able to readily liquidate their investment or may be forced to sell at depressed prices due to low volume trading. Broad market fluctuations and general economic and political conditions may also adversely affect the market price of our Ordinary Shares. As a result of this volatility, investors may experience losses on their investment in our Ordinary Shares. Furthermore, the potential extreme volatility may confuse the public investors regarding the value of our stock, distort the market perception of our stock price and our Company’s financial performance and public image and negatively affect the long-term liquidity of our Ordinary Shares, regardless of our actual or expected operating performance. If we encounter such volatility, including any rapid stock price increases and declines seemingly unrelated to our actual or expected operating performance and financial condition or prospects, it will likely make it difficult and confusing for prospective investors to assess the rapidly changing value of our Ordinary Shares and understand the value thereof.

Nasdaq may apply additional and more stringent criteria for our initial application to list on the Nasdaq Capital Markets, and for our continued listing.

We have applied for the listing of our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5101 provides Nasdaq with broad discretionary authority over the initial and continued listing of securities on Nasdaq and Nasdaq may use such discretion to deny initial listing, apply additional or more stringent criteria for the initial or continued listing of particular securities or suspend or delist particular securities based on any event, condition or circumstance that exists or occurs that makes initial or continued listing of the securities on Nasdaq inadvisable or unwarranted in the opinion of Nasdaq, even though the securities meet all enumerated criteria for initial or continued listing on Nasdaq. In addition, Nasdaq has used its discretion to deny initial or continued listing or to apply additional and more stringent criteria in instances including but not limited to (i) where a company engaged an auditor that has not been subject to an inspection by the 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; (ii) where a company planned a small public offering, which would result in insiders holding a large portion of the company’s listed securities and Nasdaq was concerned that the offering size was insufficient to establish the company’s initial valuation, and there would not be sufficient liquidity to support a public market for the company; and (iii) where a company did not demonstrate sufficient nexus to the U.S. capital market, including having no U.S. shareholders, operations or members of the board of directors or management. As a result of the aforementioned concerns, we may be subject to the additional and more stringent criteria both for our initial listing approval and our continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. This could cause delay or even denial of the listing application for our Ordinary Shares.

We may not maintain the listing of our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our Ordinary Shares and subject us to additional trading restrictions.

If our application to list our Ordinary Shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market is approved, we must maintain certain financial and share price levels in order to continue listing our Shares on Nasdaq, and we may be unable to meet these requirements in the future. We cannot assure you that our Ordinary Shares will be listed on Nasdaq or, if listed, that they will continue to be listed on Nasdaq in the future. If Nasdaq delists our Ordinary Shares and we are unable to list our Shares on another national securities exchange, we will endeavor to have our Ordinary Shares quoted on an over-the-counter market in the United States. If this were to occur, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:

As long as our Ordinary Shares are listed on Nasdaq, U.S. federal law prevents or preempts the states from regulating their sale. However, the law does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar their sale. Further, if we were no longer listed on Nasdaq, we would be subject to regulations in each state in which we offer our Ordinary Shares.

Risks relating to low priced stocks.

Our Ordinary Shares currently are quoted on the OTCQB and will continue to be quoted on the OTCQB if our application for listing on Nasdaq is not approved or is not maintained. If the inside bid quotation price of the Ordinary Shares should drop below $5.00, trading in the Ordinary Shares may be subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Exchange Act, which require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (generally, any non-Nasdaq equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions) and a two business day “cooling off period” before broker-dealers can effect transactions in penny stocks. For these types of transactions, the broker-dealer must make a special suitability determination for the purchaser and have received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the sale. The broker-dealer also must disclose the commissions payable to the broker-dealer, current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market-maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market. These, and the other burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by the penny stock requirements, could discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our Ordinary Shares, which could severely limit the market liquidity of our Ordinary Shares and the ability of holders of our Ordinary Shares to sell them.

It is likely that there will be significant volatility in the trading price of our Ordinary Shares.

In the event that a public market for our Ordinary Shares is created or maintained in the future, market prices for the Ordinary Shares will be influenced by many factors and will be subject to significant fluctuations in response to variations in operating results of Bao Feng and other factors. Our stock price will also be affected by the trading price of the stock of our competitors, investor perceptions of Bao Feng, interest rates, general economic conditions and those specific to our industry, developments with regard to Bao Feng’s operations and activities, our future financial condition and changes in our management.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our Ordinary Shares, the market price for our Ordinary Shares and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our Shares will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or more analysts downgrade our Shares, the market price for our Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our Shares to decline.

Because we do not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future, you must rely on price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares for a return on your investment.

We currently intend to retain all of our available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our Ordinary Shares as a source for any future dividend income. Our Board of Directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. Even if our Board of Directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our securities will likely depend entirely upon any future price appreciation of our Ordinary Shares. There is no guarantee that our Ordinary Shares will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which you purchase our Ordinary Shares. You may not realize a return on your investment in our Ordinary Shares and you may even lose your entire investment.

We are controlled by our principal shareholders, whose interests may differ from those of the other shareholders.

As of the date of this Annual Report, our principal shareholders consisting of Yu Chang, father of Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, Ting Ting Chang, Prime Legend Limited which is wholly owned by Fung Ming Pang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, and Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer, own approximately 78.4% of our Ordinary Shares. Our principal shareholders are in a position to elect the Board of Directors and to control our business and affairs, including significant corporate actions such as mergers and acquisitions, the sale or purchase of assets and the issuance and sale of our securities. We may also be prevented from entering into transactions that could be beneficial to our other shareholders. The interests of our principal shareholders may differ from the interests of our other shareholders.

Our principal shareholders may engage in a transaction to cause us to repurchase our Ordinary Shares.

In order to provide an interest in us to a third party, our principal shareholder may choose to cause us to sell our securities to third parties, with the proceeds of such sale being utilized by us to repurchase our Ordinary Shares. As a result of such transaction, our management, principal shareholders and Board of Directors may change.

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements and information relating to us, our industry and other businesses.

The forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used in this Annual Report, the words "estimate," "project," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in our forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Annual Report. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Annual Report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and will take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements applicable to other reporting companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for so long as we are an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect not to comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.

The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised financial accounting standards. We have elected to use the extended transition period for complying with new or revised financial accounting standards under Section 102(b)(2) of the JOBS Act that allows us to delay the adoption of new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until those standards apply to private companies.

Emerging growth companies may also take advantage of certain reduced disclosure requirements. Compliance with these reduced disclosure requirements may make our Ordinary Shares less attractive to investors.

If we are classified as a passive foreign investment company, United States taxpayers who own our Ordinary Shares may have adverse United States federal income tax consequences.

A non-U.S. corporation such as ourselves will be classified as a passive foreign investment company, which is known as a PFIC, for any taxable year if, for such year, either:

Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and royalties (other than rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business) and gains from the disposition of passive assets.

If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. taxpayer who holds our ordinary shares, the U.S. taxpayer may be subject to increased U.S. federal income tax liability and may be subject to additional reporting requirements.

It is possible that, for our 2023 taxable year or for any subsequent year, more than 50% of our assets may be assets that produce passive income. We will make this determination following the end of any particular tax year. Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat our consolidated affiliated entities as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operation of such entities but also because we are entitled to substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their operating results in our consolidated financial statements. For purposes of the PFIC analysis, in general, a non-U.S. corporation is deemed to own its pro rata share of the gross income and assets of any entity in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the equity by value.

Certain Legal Consequences of Foreign Incorporation and Operations

Judgments against us and our management may be difficult to obtain or enforce.

We are organized as an exempted company under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our principal executive offices are located in Hong Kong and we conduct all of our operations in China. All of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States and substantially all of their assets are located outside the United States. As of the date of this Annual Report; (i) Ms. Chang, our President, Chief Executive Officer and a director, Dr. Dong and Dr Ning, both independent directors, reside in China; and (ii) Ms. Fang, our Chief Financial Officer and a director, and Mr. Tse, one of our independent directors, reside in Hong Kong. As a result, outside the United States, it may be difficult for investors to enforce judgments obtained against us in actions brought in the United States, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws. In addition, since all of our officers and directors reside outside the United States and their assets are located outside the United States, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon them or to enforce against us or them judgments predicated upon the liability provisions of United States federal securities laws. There is substantial doubt as to the enforceability against us or our officers and directors in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States courts in claims for liability based on the civil liability provisions of United States federal securities laws.

In particular, residence and location of assets in China may make it even more difficult to enforce any judgments obtained from foreign courts (including from a U.S. state or federal court) against such persons compared to the circumstance of residence in another non-U.S. and non-China jurisdiction. The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law and other applicable laws, regulations and interpretations based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the U.S. and many other jurisdictions that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments from the U.S. and many other jurisdictions. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law, the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the U.S and many other jurisdictions. In addition, the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice and other U.S. authorities and the comparable authorities from many other jurisdictions may also have difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against us or our directors or officers in the PRC.

No treaty exists between Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands and the United States providing for the reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments. However, the courts of Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands are generally prepared to accept a foreign judgment as evidence of a debt due. An action may then be commenced in Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands for the recovery of this debt. A Hong Kong or Cayman Islands court will only accept a foreign judgment as evidence of a debt due if:

Enforcement of a foreign judgment in Hong Kong or the Cayman Islands may also be limited or affected by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, arrangement and moratorium, or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and will be subject to a statutory limitation of time within which proceedings may be brought.

The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the judgment is made or on reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the United States or the Cayman Islands that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedure Law, courts in the PRC will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC law or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a court in the United States or in the Cayman Islands. See “Enforceability of Civil Liabilities” on page 48.

Because we are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, you may not have the same protections as shareholders of U.S. corporations.

We are organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Principles of law relating to matters affecting the validity of corporate procedures, the fiduciary duties of our management, directors and controlling shareholder and the rights of our shareholders differ from, and may not be as protective of shareholders as, those that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction within the United States. Our directors have the power to take certain actions without shareholder approval, including approving certain fundamental corporate transactions, such as reorganizations and the sale or transfer of assets. In addition, there is doubt that the courts of the Cayman Islands would enforce liabilities predicated upon United States federal securities laws.

Our shareholders do not have the same protections or information generally available to shareholders of U.S. corporations because the reporting requirements for foreign private issuers are more limited than those applicable to public corporations organized in the United States.

We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. We are not subject to certain provisions of the Exchange Act applicable to United States public companies, including: the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K, the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations with respect to a security registered under the Exchange Act and the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and establishing insider liability for profits realized from any “short-swing” trading transaction (i.e., a purchase and sale, or sale and purchase, of the issuer’s equity securities within six months or less). Because we are not subject to these rules, our shareholders are not afforded the same protections or information generally available to investors in public companies organized in the United States.

Item 4. Information on the Company

History and Development of the Company

The Company was originally incorporated in Delaware as “Agate Island Acquisition Corporation” on April 4, 2016 to engage in any lawful corporate undertaking, including, but not limited to, selected mergers and acquisitions. On March 13, 2017, the Company’s name was changed to China Biotech Holdings Limited in anticipation of entering into a transaction with a company in China engaged in the Biopharma or Biotech industry. Effective August 21, 2018, the Company was redomiciled from Delaware to the Cayman Islands by merging into its wholly-owned Cayman Islands subsidiary, Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (the “Redomicile Merger”). As a result of the Redomicile Merger, the Company’s name was changed to Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology Holdings Limited.

The Share Exchange

On August 31, 2019, the Company closed on a Share Exchange Agreement with Zhong Yuan Investment whereby the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of China Bio, which was wholly-owned by Zhong Yuan Investment, in exchange for the issuance by the Company of 161,500,000 Ordinary Shares to Zhong Yuan Investment. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, China Bio became the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary and Zhong Yuan Investment became the owner of approximately 95% of the Company’s then outstanding Shares.

Immediately prior to the Share Exchange, the Company was a “shell company” (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) with nominal assets and no business operations. The acquisition of China Bio by the Company has been accounted for as a reverse merger because on a post-merger basis, the former shareholder of China Bio held a majority of the Company’s outstanding Ordinary Shares on a voting and fully diluted basis. As a result of the Share Exchange, the Company is engaged in the business of developing and marketing nervonic acid-based health supplements through its indirect Operating Subsidiary, Bao Feng, and management of the Company believes that the Company is no longer a shell company. Also as a result of the Share Exchange, the Company changed its fiscal year end from December 31 to March 31.

Immediately subsequent to the Share Exchange, the Company had 170,000,000 Ordinary Shares outstanding.

Reverse Stock Split

On July 24, 2020, the Company completed a one-for-ten reverse stock split of the Company’s Ordinary Shares (the “Reverse Stock Split”). As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the authorized share capital of the Company was decreased from 500,000,000 Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each to 50,000,000 Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.001 each, and the number of issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares was decreased from 171,450,000 Ordinary Shares to 17,145,000 Ordinary Shares.

Prior Private Securities Offerings

On December 13, 2019, the Company closed on the sale of 1,450,000 Ordinary Shares (pre Reverse Stock Split, as defined below) to unrelated parties at a purchase price of $0.10 per Ordinary Share, pursuant to a private securities offering (the “2019 Private Offering”), which was conducted under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. In accordance with Regulation S, the Ordinary Shares were offered and sold solely outside the United States to investors who are not U.S. persons, as defined in Regulation S.

On November 17, 2020, the Company sold 50,000 Ordinary Shares (post Reverse Stock Split, as defined below) to an unrelated party at a purchase price of $1.00 per Ordinary Share, pursuant to a private securities offering (the “2020 Private Offering”) conducted under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. In accordance with Regulation S, the Ordinary Shares were offered and sold solely outside the United States to an investor who is not a U.S. person, as defined in Regulation S.

On November 15, 2021, the Company sold 130,000 Ordinary Shares to unrelated parties at a purchase price of $2.00 per Ordinary Share with one warrant for each ten Ordinary Shares sold (“Warrant”), pursuant to a private securities offering conducted under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. Each Warrant entitled the holder to subscribe for one Share at a price of $4.00 per share for the one-year period ended November 15, 2022. As of November 15, 2022, none of the Warrants had been exercised. In accordance with Regulation S, the Shares were offered and sold solely outside the United States to an investor who is not a U.S. Person, as defined in Regulation S.

On April 29, 2022, the Company sold 100,000 Ordinary Shares to Mr. Yong Sheng, the 49% shareholder of BF Internet, at a purchase price of $4.00 per Share, and in June 2022, it sold 20,000 Ordinary Shares to current shareholders of the Company at a purchase price of $4.00 per Ordinary Share and 12,500 Ordinary Shares to unrelated parties at a purchase price of $5.00 per Ordinary Share, pursuant to private securities offerings conducted under Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act. In accordance with Regulation S, the Shares were offered and sold solely outside the United States to an investor who is not a U.S. Person, as defined in Regulation S.

Cancellation of Shares

On November 17, 2020, the Company acquired 25,000 of its Ordinary Shares (post Reverse Stock Split) from one of the shareholders of the Company. The Shares were acquired for no consideration; however, the Company paid the shareholder’s expenses related to the transaction in the amount of $25,000. These Shares were thereafter cancelled.

On November 18, 2020, the Company acquired 25,000 of its Ordinary Shares (post Reverse Stock Split) from one of the shareholders of the Company. The Shares were acquired for no consideration; however, the Company paid the shareholder’s expenses related to the transaction in the amount of $25,000. These Shares were thereafter cancelled.

Acquisition and Sale of Dandong BF

On December 31, 2020, Bao Feng completed its acquisition of a 100% equity interest in Dandong BF from Yu Chang, the record owner of 41.6% of the outstanding shares of Zhong Yuan Investment and the father of Ting Ting Chang, our CEO and director, for a total consideration of RMB10,500,000 (approximately $1,500,000). A deposit of RMB3,160,000 (approximately $465,460 as of September 30, 2020) was paid upon signing of the Equity Transfer Agreement on March 1, 2020. The balance of RMB7,340,000 (approximately $1,082,000 as of September 30, 2020) was settled by offsetting the amounts due from related companies of which Yu Chang is the owner and director.

Dandong BF was incorporated in the PRC on March 11, 2019 and is principally engaged in the research, development, growing and sale of Acer Truncatum seedlings in Dandong city, Liaoning Province, in the north-eastern region of the PRC.

On September 30, 2022, Bao Feng sold its 100% interest in Dandong BF to Zhong Yuan Nervonic Acid Bio-technology Co. Ltd., of which Yu Chang, the Company’s major shareholder and father of Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, is a director, general manager and a major shareholder, for a total consideration of RMB5 million. RMB1million of the purchase price was paid in cash and the balance of RMB4 million was exchanged for a 7% interest in Yanbian Bao Feng Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“Yanbian BF”), of which Yu Chang is the legal representative and the ultimate majority beneficial shareholder. Yanbian BF was incorporated in the PRC on May 24, 2018 and is in the process of building an extraction factory to extract nervonic acid from Acer truncatum seeds. As a result of the sale, Dandong BF is no longer owned by Bao Feng and is not a subsidiary of Zhong Yuan Cayman.

Shares transferred from Zhong Yuan Investment to its shareholders

On December 30, 2021, Zhong Yuan Investment transferred 6,425,287 Shares, 2,656,388 Shares, 2,656,388 Shares, 2,125,111 Shares, and 318,767 Shares (totaling 14,181,941 Shares) to Yu Chang, father of Ting Ting Chang, our Chief Executive Officer and director, Ting Ting Chang, Prime Legend Limited which is wholly owned by Fung Ming Pang, our Chief Financial Officer and director, Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer and Shuju Chen respectively. After these Share transfers, Zhong Yuan Investment does not hold any Shares of the Company.

Exercises of Options

On December 2, 2021, Fung Ming Pang exercised 300,000 options granted under the employment agreement dated May 4, 2020 between the Company and Ms. Pang (the “Pang Employment Agreement”). Under the terms of the Pang Employment Agreement, Ms. Pang was granted options (“Options”) to purchase an aggregate of 600,000 post-reverse stock split Ordinary Shares at an exercise price of $0.50 per Ordinary Share. The Options were exercisable on a cashless basis. An aggregate of 300,000 Options vested upon commencement of trading of the Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB. We issued an aggregate of 272,118 Ordinary Shares in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Pang Employment Agreement upon Ms. Pang’s cashless exercise of the 300,000 Options.

Formation of Beijing Baofeng Internet Bio-technology Co., Limited (“BF Internet”)

BF Internet was incorporated under the laws of the PRC on May 23, 2022. It is owned 51% by BF Beijing and 49% by Yong Sheng, a shareholder of the Company. The principal activities of BF Internet are to sell and market Bao Feng’s nervonic acid-based health supplements over the Internet.

When we refer in this Annual Report to business and financial information for periods prior to the consummation of the Share Exchange, we are referring to the business and financial information of Zhong Yuan Investment and its subsidiaries unless the context suggests otherwise. When we use phrases such as “we,” “our,” “company” and “us,” we are referring to the Company and all of its subsidiaries, as a combined entity.

Corporate Structure

The following chart sets forth our corporate structure as of the date of this Annual Report.

China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited (“China Bio”) was incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Seychelles on June 27, 2016 under the name Hua Hong Powerloop Technology Limited. On February 13, 2017, its name was changed to China Bio-Technology Limited, and on March 6, 2017 it was changed to China Bio-Technology Holdings Limited. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company in August 2019 as a result of the Share Exchange described above.

Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Hong Kong) Limited (“Zhong Yuan-HK”) was incorporated in Hong Kong on June 13, 2016. The original shareholders transferred all of the shares to China Bio on February 27, 2017.

Zhong Yuan Bio-Technology (Shenzhen) Limited (“Zhong Yuan-SZ”), our WFOE, was established under the laws of the PRC on June 10, 2014. The original shareholders transferred all of the shares to Zhong Yuan-HK on May 12, 2017.

Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited (“Bao Feng)” was incorporated in the PRC on August 30, 2012 under the name Beijing Acer Truncatum Century Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. On August 10, 2017, the company’s name was changed to Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhong Yuan-SZ on February 13, 2019. Bao Feng is currently the Company’s primary operating subsidiary.

Beijing Baofeng Internet Bio-technology Co., Limited (“BF Internet”) was established under the laws of the PRC on May 23, 2022 and is owned 51% by Bao Feng and 49% by Yong Sheng, a shareholder of the Company. The principal activities of BF Internet are to sell and market Bao Feng’s nervonic acid-based health supplements over the Internet.

Business of Bao Feng

General

Bao Feng is in the business of nervonic acid research, the development of nervonic acid based herbal and chemical drugs and the sale of health supplements containing nervonic acid. Nervonic acid is a long chain unsaturated omega 9 fatty acid that is an important component in myelin biosynthesis in the central and peripheral nervous system. Myelin insulates nerve cell axons to increase the speed at which information (encoded as an electrical signal) travels from one nerve cell body to another or from a nerve cell to another type of cell in the body. It is thought that nervonic acid may enhance brain function and prevent demyelination of nerve cells, and that, therefore, it may be effective in retaining or improving the health of the brain, for example in preventing or ameliorating attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (“ADHD”) in children, Alzheimer's disease and mental degradation in the elderly and cerebrovascular disease, as well as promoting normal brain development in premature infants. The role of nervonic acid is also being studied with respect to psychotic illnesses, such as schizophrenia.

Nervonic acid is not present in many foods. Since it is considered to be an important biomarker for many neurological diseases, such as ADHD in children and neuro-degenerative diseases in the elderly, it is in high demand among those populations. The price of nervonic acid in the world market ranges from approximately $2,000 to approximately $6,000 per kilogram, depending on the purity.

Bao Feng’s marketing efforts are primarily aimed at the elderly population. The problem of the aging of the world population is becoming more and more serious. According to the United Nations’ “World Population Ageing 2019: Highlights” report, in 2019, there were 703 million persons aged 65 years or over in the world population, or approximately 10% of the global population. It is estimated that by 2050 the world’s 65 and over population will double to 1.5 billion so that one in six people in the world will be aged 65 years or over. According to census statistics released by the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2022, China has 267 million persons aged 60 or over, representing 18.9% of its total population, and 14% of the country’s population is aged 65 or over.

In the past, nervonic acid was derived from the brains of sharks. However, the extraction process from that source is difficult and the cost is too high for commercialization. In addition, sharks are protected by the United Nations and many countries in the world. Another good source of nervonic acid is the Malania oleifera plant, which is native to southern China. That plant is said to have up to 40.9% to 50% nervonic acid; however, it is a threatened species in the world and is on the list of key wild plants for state protection. It was also found that the dried seeds of the Acer truncatum tree, which is a type of maple native to northern China, Mongolia and Korea, contain 5.8% nervonic acid. Therefore, the seed oil is considered to be a good source of natural nervonic acid, as well as other compounds such as Vitamin E.

The table below contains a list of natural plant and animal sources of nervonic acid, with nervonic acid content shown in milligrams/100 grams.

Nervonic Acid Content (mg/100g)

The raw material sources of nervonic acid are insufficient to meet the demand in China. Therefore, Bao Feng has a contract with the Wengniuteqi government pursuant to which it obtains Acer truncatum seeds and seedlings both for use in making its products.

When Bao Feng was formed in 2012, its management was aware of only three major competitors engaged in nervonic acid biotechnology, making Bao Feng one of the first enterprises specializing in the production and application of nervonic acid in China. Our team of scientists has over 30 years combined experience in the field of Acer truncatum tree research, and more than 10 years in nervonic acid applications. In addition, Bao Feng achieved the National High-Tech Enterprise Award in 2017. This award recognizes the continuous research and development and the transformation of technological achievements in the high-tech fields supported by the state, forming the core independent intellectual property rights of the enterprise, and the carrying on of business activities on this basis in China (not including resident enterprises registered in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) for more than one year.

The Science Behind Our Product Development

Bao Feng’s business is centered around lipids, especially nervonic acid, and their structural compounds as a means to screen for and intervene in diseases of the nervous system such as cognitive disorders, white matter atrophy and stroke. Nervonic acid, which falls within the fatty acid category of lipids, comprises up to 35% of the long chain fatty acids in the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve fiber and is, therefore, necessary for the repair of nerve degeneration and injury. Ideally, there is a balance between the breakdown of the myelin sheath around a nerve fiber, which serves as an insulator and allows faster transmission of electrical impulses, and its regeneration utilizing nervonic acid. However, due to the length of the fatty acid chain, the body’s efficiency in synthesizing nervonic acid is low. Studies have shown a correlation between the level of nervonic acid and such diseases as Alzheimer’s disease (Song et al., 2018; Vozella, Basit, Misto & Piomelli, 2017), multiple sclerosis (Tanaka, Shimizu, Ohtsuka, Kamashiro & Oshida, 2007), schizophrenia (Amminger et al, 2012), attention deficit disorder in children (Chen et al., 2011) and recurrent depression (Johanna et al., 2010), as well as premature versus full-term infants.

Bao Feng has participated in numerous studies, using metabolomics, mass spectrometry, artificial intelligence and big data mining technology, that have found a high correlation between nervonic acid deficiency and cognitive impairment, neuromyelitis and multiple sclerosis, confirming that nervonic acid is a core marker for leukoencephalopathy (brain white matter diseases).

Research in Cooperation with Hospitals

China Medical University. Bao Feng has conducted numerous academic and scientific research projects in cooperation with China Medical University, the first top-tier medical institution established in China. In 2017, China Medical University established the Research Center of Plateau Medicine, for which Dr. Xianyang Chen, Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer, served as deputy director of the academic department, to carry out systematic research on cerebral hypoxia. Bao Feng and the Research Center of Plateau Medicine have jointly conducted numerous research projects for which the results have been published, including ‘research on the biological process and molecular mechanism of nervonic acid participating in brain hypoxia nerve repair,’ ‘clinical research on the alleviation of high altitude hypoxia brain injury by nervonic acid,’ and ‘research on the mechanism of nervonic acid treating neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in plateau area.’ In 2018, the ‘Demonstration Meeting of High Altitude Medical Research Center’ was called to demonstrate the effect of nervonic acid on alleviating brain nerve injury caused by high altitude hypobaric hypoxia and on alleviating nerve injury of pregnant women and infants caused by high altitude hypobaric hypoxia, as well as the use of nervonic acid in the development of new drugs for alleviating cognitive impairment. The Research Center of Plateau Medicine and Bao Feng are currently jointly conducting research on the repair effect of nervonic acid on demyelinating loss caused by hypoxia.

Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University. Xuanwu Hospital is a pre-eminent general hospital in both geriatrics and neuroscience. Bao Feng has participated in the following research projects in cooperation with the National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders of Xuanwu Hospital: (i) research on nervonic acid as a biomarker for nervous system diseases (the world's innovation technology); (ii) clinical research on the effectiveness of nervonic acid on nervous system diseases; and (iii) research on the metabolism of the nervous system data analysis and processing system. Among them, Bao Feng, which holds the relevant patents, had primary responsibility for providing the experiment technology and data analysis; Xuanwu Hospital National Geriatric Disease Clinical Research Center has primary responsibility for clinical trial design, sample case collection and clinical effect evaluation.

Bao Feng has entered into a cooperation agreement with the National Geriatric Disease Clinical Medical Research Center at Xuanwu Hospital for a scientific research project on "White Matter and Parkinson's Disease Markers Verification Research and Drug Development." This cooperative project aims to verify the effectiveness of molecular markers and their combinations for leukoencephalopathy and Parkinson's Disease. The project will also involve research and development of plant extracts and small chemical molecules of drug efficacy.

Our Nervonic Acid Source

We extract the nervonic acid utilized in our products from the seeds of Acer truncatum trees. Our seeds are supplied by the Wengniuteqi District government farm in Inner Mongolia, which contains approximately 70,000 mu of wild 100-year old Acer truncatum trees. In March 2017, Bao Feng entered into a cooperation agreement with the Wengniuteqi District under which Bao Feng provides the seedlings for an additional 10,000 mu of Acer truncatum trees and the government farm provides the land and plants and maintains the seedlings. The government farm harvests the seeds, which are currently estimated to be approximately 400,000 tons per year, and Bao Feng has the exclusive right to purchase the seeds from both the old and the new trees.

Bao Feng’s breeding base of seedlings results from agricultural technology developed by scientists under contract with Bao Feng. The concentration of nervonic acid from young trees is significantly lower than that from older trees. Our breeding base serves as a strategic reserve for the supply of raw materials for non-high-content nervonic acid products. Low levels of nervonic acid are used for daily supplements, medium levels for health care and high levels for future use in medicine and therapy. As the young trees mature, the concentration of nervonic acid in the seeds of those trees will increase. Therefore, our breeding base is an important part of Bao Feng’s strategy for corporate sustainability.

The nervonic acid is extracted from the Acer truncatum seeds and our products are produced by Inner Mongolia Xingyuan Vegetable Oil Co., Ltd., located in Mongolia, and by Heze Zonghoo Jianyuan Biotech Co., Ltd., which is located in Shandong Province, China, under contract with Bao Feng. Under the agreements, Bao Feng provides the Acer truncatum seeds, the extraction technology and the formula for producing the products, while the other party extracts the nervonic acid from the seeds, provides the other raw materials and manufactures and packages the finished products in accordance with the specifications of Bao Feng.

Our Current Products

We currently sell three categories of products – Life’s NA, Dietary Formula and Re’seen Series. Our nervonic acid products are 100% organic.

1. Life’s NA

Our Life’s NA group of products consists of nutritional supplements containing high-purity and high-absorption natural nervonic acid extracted from Acer Truncatum seeds.

Acer Truncatum Seed oil and NEURO ENHANCER Nervonic Acid Oil

Acer Truncatum Seed Oil Nervonic acid 5.61%	NEURO ENHANCER Nervonic Acid Oil Nervonic acid 6.89%

There are 12 kinds of fatty acids in our nervonic acid oils, more than 90% of which are unsaturated fatty acids in our NEURO ENHANCER Nervonic Acid Oil and more than 80% of which are unsaturated fatty acids in our Acer Truncatum Seed Oil. The products contain 18 amino acids, 8 of which are essential to the human body, high levels of vitamin E and various trace elements. The special functional fatty acid - nervonic acid - is up to 6.89% in our NEURO ENHANCER Nervonic Acid Oil and 5.61% in our Acer Truncatum Seed Oil, which is intended to provide enough nutrition for the brain with the goal of preventing and improving brain diseases.

Nervonic Acid Candy

Nervonic Acid Candy	Nervonic Acid Candy Gift Set

Nervonic Acid Candy is a composite gel candy with omega 9 nervonic acid, omega 3 DHA and other omega 6 fatty acids. The formula was determined based on expert recommendations and preliminary clinical trials, and it contains a complex combination of neurotrophic agents which is prospectively designed and innovative. In addition, the product tastes good and the active ingredients are easy to absorb.

2. Dietary Formula

Our dietary formula products add high-purity and high-absorption natural nervonic acid to commonly used food products.

Chifeng Acer Truncatum Tea	Miraculous Maple Edible Vegetable Blended Oil

Chifeng Acer Truncatum Tea is rich in natural flavonoids, a variety of vitamins and other biologically and physiologically active substances, and contains 8 different amino acids, including nervonic acid. Miraculous Maple Edible Vegetable Blended Oil integrates flavorful, nutritious cooking and brain health.

3. Re’Seen Series

Re'Seen StarNight Drink	Re'Seen Collagen Drink

Re'Seen StarNight Drink selects three core natural botanicals: patented Bao Feng nervonic acid with Double Nutri permeation technology, American NDI happy banana peel ingredients and high-purity GABA with theanine. Small molecules and high permeability promote absorption. Our Re'Seen Collagen Drink skin revitalizer includes safety grade, high-purity nervonic acid, Japanese NIPPI deep-sea, small-molecule bonito collagen peptide and elastin and Brazilian emerald cherry.

Products Under Development

Biomarker screening kits

At present, most early screening for brain diseases is not sensitive or requires expensive equipment, like MRI. Bao Feng has used lipidomics strategy based on LC-MS (liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry), a powerful technique used for separation, identification and quantification, to develop in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits. This new LC-MS method could assist in the diagnosis of related diseases with an accuracy rate of more than 90%, which is extremely close to clinical golden standard.

Bao Feng has 15 patents to support findings in nervonic acid- like biomarkers assisting in the diagnosis of neurological diseases. It is in the process of developing the following early screening kits for brain diseases in an attempt to promote early detection:

All three early screening kits are in the development stage.

Plant-based and synthetic drugs

Bao Feng has improved its purification process so as to produce high (medical) grade nervonic acid in the laboratory and is currently working on building factories in order to achieve mass production. The next step will be the development of pharmaceutical products or the sale of raw materials for nervonic acid products in China and abroad.

Based on Bao Feng’s findings about pharmacodynamic molecules in the body and the structures that can cross the blood-brain barrier after supplementation with Acer truncatum seed oil, it obtained a patent titled “A biomarker for the pharmaceutical effect of nervonic acid from Acer truncatum seed oil and its medicinal application.” The patent was authorized by the National Patent Office in only 61 working days due to its originality and huge market potential. This discovery - that a structural compound of nervonic acid could be used as a marker - laid the foundation for the development of a nervonic acid medicine. It also proved the effectiveness of nervonic acid products produced by Bao Feng for future disease interventions.

This research and patent are significant because they lay a theoretical foundation for Acer truncatum as a Chinese traditional medicine in that they prove the effect and molecular markers in vivo for Acer truncatum seed oil supplementation, which is central for a traditional Chinese medicine judgement. We recently obtained the identification of Acer truncatum as a local standard for Chinese medicinal materials. In the meantime, Bao Feng has also started the application for China's innovative botanicals. To date, botanical extracts have been obtained through the supercritical extraction scheme, and preliminary efficacy research in mice has been completed. Bao Feng is currently engaged in pre-clinical approval work with respect to these applications.

Additionally, Bao Feng has found that biomarkers for diagnosis of cognitive impairment are nervonic acid-like molecules. This discovery has been patented as "Biomarker for diagnosing cognitive impairment and its application." Based on the innovation and market value of the patent, the National Patent Office completed the authorization of this patent within 56 working days. The significance of this study and patent is that we have found that nervonic acid-like molecules can indicate cognitive impairment, especially demyelinating Alzheimer's disease, and can serve as a target molecule for our chemical drugs. A series of modified molecules based on nervonic acid-like biomarkers are being used in a pre-clinical study for a potential new drug. The discovery that nervonic acid structural compounds can be used as core markers of neurological diseases is of great significance in the development of chemical drugs. It also can be used as a detection method in the development of screening kits.

Application of Acer truncatum seed oil for regulation of intestinal flora

Bao Feng has found that supplementation of Acer truncatum seed oil can regulate intestinal flora, and significant regulatory effects were observed on changes of Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, etc. Bao Feng has protected future medical applications of this discovery through its patent titled "Application of Acer truncatum seed oil in preparation of drugs for regulating intestinal flora." Bao Feng’s research in this area found that after taking nervonic acid oil, the abundance of Firmicobacterium, which increases with Alzheimer's disease, showed a downward trend, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes, which decreases with Alzheimer's disease, showed an upward trend. Therefore, we believe that taking nervonic acid oil may help to improve Alzheimer's disease.

Future potential pharmaceutical applications of nervonic acid

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease is mainly concentrated in Aβ senile plaques, tau protein metabolic abnormalities, neuroinflammation and metabolic syndrome. Therefore, due to the above pathogenesis, drug target design focuses on β amyloid protein clearance, tau protein modification, neuroinflammatory inhibition and synaptic plasticity and protection.

At present, there are at least 15 types of Aβ disease modifying drugs, such as aducanumab, lecanemab, ALZ-801, etc.; 19 types of disease modifying drugs targeting neuritis, such as NE3107, AL002, BCG vaccine, etc.; and 15 drugs targeting synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection, including AGB101, AR1001, ATH-1017, etc. Pfizer, Roche, Eli Lilly, Biogen and other pharmaceutical companies all have relevant drug development plans for treating Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, Biogen’s aducanumab is a monoclonal antibody that selectively targets Aβ protein. It is the only pharmaceutical drug that has progressed to the stage of market application, but its marketing was temporarily frustrated because it did not obtain the support of the FDA expert advisory committee in November 2021.

As the main component of the myelin outer membrane, nervonic acid accounts for more than 30% of long-chain fatty acids, and it plays an important role in myelin synthesis (plasticity). It has been reported that nervonic acid can enhance the repair of the myelin sheath (Cell, 2019, 8 (8), 786), and Bao Feng’s work demonstrates that the supplementary intake of nervonic acid can improve the cognitive ability of rats (Food & Function, 2021, DOI: 10.1039 / d1fo03671h). Its mechanism is that nervonic acid regulates the lipid remodeling of blood and brain, which enriches the "beneficial" fat in the blood and brain. Ultimately, this achieves Omega 3 / Omega 6 / Omega 9 fatty acid re-balancing within the body. Especially for rats with hypoxia (low oxygen level) and ischemia (blood deficiency), supplementation with nervonic acid can effectively improve motor ability, cognitive ability and even mental health level (results not yet published). Meanwhile, clinical trials of nervonic acid extract as a nutritional food are being carried out in many hospitals. The registration number of the China Clinical Trial Registration Center is ChiCTR2000041229.

Presently, as with the research and development of biological drugs, the extraction process of nervonic acid extracts has undergone only small-scale testing. It is in the pilot testing stage, and management intends to obtain the certification of CMC (Chemical Manufacturing and Control).

Future Business Plan

In the future, Bao Feng aims to achieve full coverage of products in the fields of food, health care products and medicine, and become the preeminent brand for brain health supplements.

Sales and Marketing

We market and sell our products through multiple channels: (i) direct sales force, including our own employees and independent sales agents, and direct online sale platform; and (ii) distribution network, including our domestic and export distributors.

Direct Sales Force and Direct Online Sales Platform  

Our Sales Team 

As of the date of this Annual Report, our direct sales team consists of 10 employees. Our sales team provides us with direct access to our customers and is capable of addressing our customers’ needs quickly and efficiently. They also coordinate with our distributors and independent sales agents regarding marketing and sales of our products.

The compensation package for our sales team includes a fixed base salary plus commissions based on collected revenues from their sales. We provide our sales team with regular training and internally developed systems to assist them in quickly becoming proficient and productive sales personnel.

Direct Online Sales Platform

We have established our own e-commerce channel on the WeChat Mini Program platform to promote and sell our products directly to individual customers. In addition, BF Internet markets and sells our Re’seen drinks over the Tiktok platform.

Distribution Network 

Bao Feng currently has approximately 55 domestic distributors and 2 export distributors, Distributors usually purchase products from us at a lower price and then resell our products to end customers both domestically and internationally at a comparatively higher price and earn the price difference.

Our partners mainly utilize the following channels:

Management intends to expand Bao Feng’s marketing to include:

Customers

Bao Feng markets and sells its products both to individuals and to wholesale and retail outlets in China. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, sales revenue from our three largest customers, combined, was $605,086 and $652,478 or approximately 36.4% and 28.0% of our total sales, respectively. There was only one customer that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the year ended March 31, 2023, whereas there were two customers that each accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s total revenues for the year ended March 31, 2022.

Raw Materials

Nervonic acid. We obtain Acer truncatum seeds, from which we extract nervonic acid, from the Inner Mongolia government farm and individual farmers, with whom we have cooperation agreements, and from large suppliers. We are not dependent on any individual suppliers.

It normally takes five to six years to get seeds from an Acer truncatum tree. Our company’s unique variety of Acer truncatum, developed with our proprietary technology, has a higher yield than other kinds of Acer truncatum trees and a shorter time to maturity, normally three to four years, which result in increased production of nervonic acid.

Seasonality

Nervonic acid. Nervonic acid product sales are not seasonal. The amount of sales is stable throughout the year, except for increased sales during the holidays.

Competition

The nervonic acid health product industry is in its early stages; therefore, Bao Feng does not face as much competition as it would in a more established industry. However, as more companies enter the market the competition may be expected to become more intense. Management of Bao Feng plans to preempt the effect of such competition by (i) increasing its Acer truncatum production; (ii) increasing its investment in research and development; (iii) obtaining certification for innovation class III products and drugs; and (iv) enhancing its purification of nervonic acid technology to enter the medical usage market. We will also continue to emphasize marketing in an effort to maintain and strengthen the company’s position in the nervonic acid health product market and will attempt to build the leading nervonic acid health product brand in China.

Currently, Bao Feng’s main competitors in the nervonic acid products market in China are:

At present, these companies are still in the early stage of industrial development. They obtained raw materials of Acer truncatum seed oil and initially processed it into products for sale in the market at prices similar to Bao Feng’s, but the content of nervonic acid is about 4%-5% on average, while the content of nervonic acid produced by Bao Feng can reach 6.89%.

In addition, Bao Feng enjoys the following competitive advantages:

Business of BF Internet

BF Internet commenced operations in May, 2022. It is owned 51% and 49%, respectively, by Bao Feng and Yong Sheng, a shareholder of the Company. The principal activities of BF Internet are to sell and market Bao Feng’s nervonic acid-based health supplements over the Internet to supplement the traditional sale distribution channels that Bao Feng utilizes. 

Properties

Bao Feng

Bao Feng leases approximately 750 square meters of office space located at Room 525, South Building, No. 10 Anxiang Street, Shunyi District, Beijing, China as the Company’s headquarters. The lease term commenced on May 12, 2020 and expires on May 31, 2029. The lease provides for a rent-free period from May 12, 2020 to May 31, 2022; an annual rental of RMB700,478 (approximately US$102,270) for the period from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2025 and an annual rental of RMB975,667 (approximately US$142,447) for the period from June 1, 2025 to May 31, 2029.

In addition, Bao Feng leases approximately 400 square meters of office space located at Room 1002, Building 1, East Shilibao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. The current lease term commenced on June 8, 2023 and expires on June 7, 2026. The lease provides for an annual rental of RMB553,176 (approximately US$80,764) for the first two years of the lease and RMB586,920 (approximately US$85,690) for the third year. Rent is payable semi-annually. Bao Feng is responsible for paying for all utilities.

Bao Feng also leases approximately 314 square meters of warehouse space in which it stores its inventory. The lease for this space, which commenced on August 15, 2018 and expires on August 14, 2024, provides for a rental of RMB24,000 (US$3,631) to be paid quarterly. In addition, Bao Feng is responsible for paying for all utilities, management and maintenance fees, leasing tax and other expenses.

BF Internet

BF Internet uses office space of its shareholder, who is also a shareholder of the Company, free of charge.

We believe that our existing office facilities will be sufficient for our operations for the next year.

Intellectual Property

Patents. The following table contains a list of all patents obtained by Bao Feng as of March 31, 2023.

Copyrights. The following table contains a list of all copyrights obtained by Bao Feng as of March 31, 2023.

Trademarks. Bao Feng has registered the following trademarks.

No.	Trademark	Status	Registration No.	Validity Period
1	素颜姐姐 Pretty Ladies	Registered	55483069	11/28/2021 to 11/27/2031
2	图形	Registered	49423266	08/21/2021 to 08/20/2031
3	瑙优能  LIFE’S NA	Registered	50631290	06/28/2021 to 06/27/2031
4	瑙动力  NEURO ENHANCER	Registered	50307049	07/14/2021 to 07/13/2031
5	BAOFENG BIOTECH	Registered	49426820	07/14/2021 to 07/13/2031
6	保卫五点零  Vision protection 5.0	Registered	42961505	10/14/2020 to 10/13/2030
7	木之源脑动力  Muzhiyuan Neuro enhancer	Registered	42187448	07/14/2020 to 07/13/2030
8	木之源脑动力  Muzhiyuan Neuro enhancer	Registered	38984285	02/28/2020 to 02/27/2030
9	春草秋灌 CHUN CAO QIU GUAN	Registered	37113375	02/07/2020 to 02/06/2030
10	春草秋灌 CHUN CAO QIU GUAN	Registered	37108814	12/28/2019 to 12/27/2029
11	木之源脑动力  Muzhiyuan Neuro enhancer	Registered	34025681	06/14/2019 to 06/13/2029
12	木之源脑动力  Muzhiyuan Neuro enhancer	Registered	33318371	06/28/2019 to 06/27/2029
13	木之源 Muzhiyuan	Registered	31473050	05/21/2019 to 05/20/2029
14	高原伴旅 Plateau partner	Registered	23778723	04/21/2018 to 04/20/2028
15	古茶枫润  Gu Cha Feng Run	Registered	23358402	03/21/2018 to 03/20/2028
16	赤枫  Chi Feng	Registered	23358307	06/07/2018 to 06/06/2028
17	枫之吻  Fantastic Kiss	Registered	22551933	02/14/2018 to 02/13/2028
18	FANTASTIC KISS	Registered	22518641	02/14/2018 to 02/13/2028
19	图形	Registered	20241222	07/28/2017 to 07/27/2027
20	木之源 Muzhiyuan	Registered	16233849	04/14/2016 to 04/13/2026

Business of BF Internet

Currently, the principal activities of BF Internet are selling and marketing Bao Feng’s recently developed Re’seen nervonic acid-based drinks over the Tiktok platform. The Company intends that, in the future, BF Internet will also market and sell other products of the Company over the Internet. 

Regulations In China Applicable To Our Business

Consumer Protection

According to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests (the “Consumer Protection Law”), as amended in October 2013 and effective in March 2014, the rights and interests of consumers who buy or use commodities or receive services for the purposes of daily consumption are protected and all producers, service providers and distributors involved (collectively, the “Operator”) must ensure that the products and services will not cause damage to persons and properties. The amended Consumer Protection Law further strengthens the protection of consumers and imposes more stringent requirements and obligations on the Operators selling through the Internet. For example, consumers are entitled to return goods purchased online, subject to certain exceptions, within seven days after receipt of such goods for no reason. Violations of the Consumer Protection Law may result in indemnification liabilities and/or the imposition of fines. In addition, if the circumstances are serious, the Operators will be ordered to suspend their operations and their business licenses will be revoked. Criminal liability may be incurred in some serious cases in accordance with the relevant PRC laws.

Product Quality

According to the Product Quality Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Product Quality Law”) as amended and effective in December 2018, consumers who sustain losses or damages from defective products are entitled to be indemnified by either manufacturers or distributors. Nevertheless, if manufacturers are responsible for the defective products and the losses or damage caused thereby, the distributors which have indemnified consumers for their losses may seek claims on the indemnities against the manufacturers. In addition, products offered for sale must satisfy the relevant quality and safety standards. Enterprises shall not produce or sell counterfeit products in any fashion. Violations of the Product Quality Law may result in civil liabilities and administrative penalties, such as compensation for damages, fines, suspension or shutdown of business, as well as confiscation of products illegally produced and sold and the proceeds from such sales. Severe violations may subject the responsible individual or enterprise to criminal liabilities.

Competition Law

Pursuant to the Anti-unfair Competition Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Competition Law”), as amended and effective in April 2019, business operators shall abide by the principles of voluntariness, equality, fairness, honesty and credibility, comply with laws and business ethics, and shall not conduct any act that disrupts the order of market competition or causes damage to the lawful rights and interests of other operators or consumers in violation of the Competition Law. Violations of the Competition Law may result in civil liability, the imposition of fines and, in serious cases, revocation of the operator’s business license as well as incurrence of criminal liability.

Administrative Measures for the Administration of Sales Promotion Activities of Retailers

According to the Administrative Measures for the Sales Promotion Activities of Retailers as promulgated in September 2006 and effective in October 2006, when undertaking sales promotion activities, retailers should follow the principles of lawfulness, fairness and good faith and may not impair the lawful rights and interests of consumers or other business operators. Furthermore, when undertaking sales promotion activities, a retailer should display the promotion contents at an eye-catching place in its business site and clearly mark the prices with the price tags; a retailer shall not cheat or induce the consumers to buy commodities by giving them a discount on the basis of a false original price or by marking a misleading price or taking a misleading price method; and a retailer shall not reduce the quality or after-sale service level for the promotion commodities. No retailer may undertake any sales promotion activity by making up a reason such as rummage sale, store dismantlement, termination of business, suspension of business or shifting to another business. Violations of the above rules may result in relevant administrative or criminal responsibilities.

Regulations Related to Online Trading

Administrative Measures for Online Trading.  According to the Administrative Measures for Online Trading as promulgated in January 2014 and effective in March 2014, where a company engages in online commodity trading and related services, it shall (a) obtain relevant administrative license for the commodities sold or services provided as required by law; (b) disclose the basic information indicated on its business license or give a hyperlink to its business license at a notable position of the homepage of its website or the webpage on its business operations; (c) state integral information of its commodities and the dealing details; (d) ensure the integrity of such commodities or services; (e) issue such purchase vouchers or service receipts such as invoices to consumers; (f) allow consumers to return the commodities within seven days from receiving the commodities without cause and refund the prices paid by consumers; (g) employ bold manners to remind consumers of clauses of significant interests to consumers; (h) not by standard terms and conditions and other means, impose unfair or unreasonable rules on consumers to exclude or restrict consumer rights, reduce or remit the responsibilities of dealers, aggravate the responsibilities of consumers, among others, or force consumers into any transactions by standard terms and conditions and technical means; and (i) protect the consumers’ private information. In addition, online commodity operators may not use unauthorized similar domain name, name or logo to mislead consumers, conduct misleading and false propaganda, make lottery sales, harm competitors’ business reputation or conduct other unfair competition acts. Violations of the above rules may result in the imposition of warning and the order to make corrections, and fines may be imposed if the violator refuses to do so.

Electronical Commerce Law. According to the Electronical Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “E-commerce Law”) as promulgated in August 2018 and effective in January 2019, a series of requirements on e-commerce are stipulated, i.e. natural persons, legal persons and unincorporated associations that are engaged in business activities of selling products or providing services over the Internet and other information networks, which shall include e-commerce platform operators, persons doing online business over e-commerce platforms, and e-commerce operators that sell products or provide services over their own websites or through other network services. Pursuant to the currently effective Administrative Measures for Online Trading, a natural person engaging in online trading of commodities and provision of relevant services shall conduct business activities through a third-party trading platform, and provide the platform with his or her valid and true contact and identity information, and if registration conditions are met, the natural person shall undergo industrial and commercial registration formalities in accordance with the law. However, the E-Commerce Law requires all e-commerce operators to go through the formalities for the registration of market entities, i.e. industrial and commercial registration formalities in accordance with the law, except for certain limited cases as stipulated in the E-commerce Law. According to Measures for the Investigation and Punishment of Unpermitted and Unlicensed Business Operations as promulgated in August 2017 and effective in October 2017, whoever engages in business operation without going through industrial and commercial registration formalities may be subject to punishment by local administrative authority for industry and commerce, including but not limited to being ordered to stop illegal conduct, confiscation of the illegal gains and imposition of fines of not more than RMB10,000. The E-commerce Law also requires e-commerce operators to protect consumers’ right to know as well as their right to choose, protect their personal information, and also requires e-commerce operators to clearly point out to consumers their tie-in sales in which additional services or products are added by merchants to a purchase, and not to assume consumers’ consent to such tie-in sales by default.

Regulations related to Foreign Invested Enterprises

According to the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2019) (the “Negative List”) as promulgated and effective in July 2019, the original Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (2018) was repealed. Overseas investors are not allowed to invest in any foreign investment prohibited field on the Negative List and shall have an access permit for investing in a non-prohibited investment field on the Negative List. Fields not included in the Negative List for the market entry of foreign investment must be managed according to the principle of equal treatment of domestic and foreign investment.

The business scope of Bao Feng is nervonic acid research, the development of nervonic acid based herbal and chemical drugs and the sale of health supplements containing nervonic acid. According to the Negative List, the business scope of Bao Feng does not fall in any field on the Negative List and therefore is not subject to any special management measures for the access of foreign investment.

The Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Foreign Investment Law”), which was promulgated in March 2019 and became effective on January 1, 2020, replaced the three legacy laws on foreign invested enterprises including the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprises Law”) which was previously applicable to Bao Feng. The organizational form, organization structure and activities of a foreign-invested enterprise are now governed by the provisions of the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Partnership Enterprise Law of the People’s Republic of China and other relevant laws. However, the Foreign Investment Law sets up a transitional period of 5 years after the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law, during which foreign-invested enterprises established according to the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law before the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law may maintain their original organization forms, etc. Specific implementing measures are to be prescribed by State Council.

Regulations on Intellectual Property Protection

Intellectual property rights, also known as “knowledge ownership rights,” refer to “property rights enjoyed by right holders for the intellectual work created by their intellectual work,” and are generally only valid for a limited time. Various intellectual creations such as inventions, designs, literary and artistic works, as well as signs, names and images used in commerce, can all be considered intellectual property owned by a person or organization. Since the 1980s, while continuously improving the construction of the domestic legal system, China has successively joined some major international conventions, treaties and agreements for the protection of intellectual property rights. In particular, on December 11, 2001, China became a member of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights.

Trademark. The Trademark Law of the PRC was passed by the National People’s Congress on August 23, 1982 and last amended in April 2019 (effective November 1, 2019). The law states that an applicant for trademark registration should fill in the product category and product name of the used trademark in accordance with the stipulated commodity classification form and file an application for registration. Trademark registration applicants can apply for registration of the same trademark for multiple categories of goods through one application. A registered trademark is valid for a period of ten years from the date of approval of the registration. If the registered trademark has expired and it needs to continue to be used, the trademark registrant must go through the renewal formalities within 12 months before the expiration of the time limit; if it cannot be handled during this period, it may grant a grace period of six months. Each renewal registration is valid for a period of ten years, counting from the date following the expiration of the previous validity period of the mark. If registrants fail to complete the renewal formalities at the expiration of the time limit, their registered trademarks are cancelled. In addition, if the registered trademark is a well-known trademark, it is managed in accordance with the Regulations on the Recognition and Protection of Well-known Trademarks issued by the State Administration of Industry and Commerce on July 3, 2014. The regulation states that well-known trademarks are trademarks that are well-known to the relevant public in China. The relevant public includes consumers who are related to the use of a certain type of goods or services marked by the trademark, other operators who produce the aforementioned goods or provide services and the sellers and related personnel involved in the distribution channels. The recognition of well-known trademarks follows the principle of case identification and passive protection.

As of March 31, 2023, Bao Feng has registered, or filed applications to register, 20 trademarks in the PRC.

Copyright. The Copyright Law as amended in February 2010 and effective in April 2010, and the Regulations for the Implementation of Copyright Law as amended in January 2013 and effective in March 2013, provide protection to copyright of the works of Chinese citizens, legal persons or other organizations, whether published or not. The copyright includes multiple types of personal rights and property rights: right of publication, authorship, alteration, integrity, reproduction, distribution, rental, exhibition, performance, projection, broadcasting, dissemination via information network, cinematography, adaptation, translation, compilation and so on. The protection of an author’s rights of authorship, alteration and integrity shall not be subject to a limit, while the term of protection with respect to a citizen’s work for the right of publication, reproduction and others is the lifetime of the author plus 50 years. The term of protection for the right of publication and other rights to the work of a legal person or other organization, or a work for hire in which the copyrights (excluding the right of authorship) shall vest in a legal person or other organization, shall be 50 years, and shall end on December 31 of the 50th year after the work’s first publication. Use of another’s work shall be subject to conclusion of a licensing contract while under certain circumstances a work may be used without authorization and without payment of remuneration, such as for personal study, research or enjoyment.

As of March 31, 2023, Bao Feng owns 18 computer software copyrights in the PRC.

Patent. According to the Patent Law as amended in December 2008 and effective in October 2009, and Rules for the Implementation of the Patent Law as amended in January 2010 and effective in February 2010, inventions, utility models and designs are encouraged and the lawful rights and interests of patentees are protected. Invention patents are valid for 20 years, while design patents and utility model patents are valid for 10 years, from the date of application. The Chinese patent system adopts a first-to-file principle, which means that where more than one person files a patent application for the same invention, a patent will be granted to the person who files the application first. To be patentable, invention or utility models must meet three criteria: novelty, inventiveness and practicability. Any organization or individual that intends to exploit the patent of another person shall conclude a license contract with the patentee and pay the royalties. The use of a patent without the consent of or a proper license from the patent owner constitutes an infringement of the owner’s patent rights.

As of March 31, 2023, Bao Feng owns 19 invention patents in the PRC.

Foreign Currency Exchange

The Regulations on Foreign Exchange Management of the PRC were promulgated by the State Council of the PRC on January 29, 1996 and revised on January 14, 1997 and August 1, 2008, respectively. The regulations stipulate that foreign exchange income from current accounts of domestic institutions shall be sold to the designated foreign exchange bank in accordance with the provisions of the State Council concerning the management of foreign exchange, sales of foreign exchange and payment of foreign exchange, or be approved to open foreign exchange accounts in designated foreign exchange banks. The remittances used by domestic institutions for the current account shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the State Council concerning the management of foreign exchange, sales of foreign exchange and payment of foreign exchange, with valid certificates and commercial documents, to foreign exchange designated banks. Foreign exchange collections and import payments made by domestic institutions shall be subject to verification procedures in accordance with the regulations of the State on the management of the cancellation of foreign exchange receipts for export and the verification of the import payment and foreign exchange cancellation. Foreign exchange earnings from capital accounts of domestic institutions shall be subject to the opening of foreign exchange accounts in designated foreign exchange banks in accordance with the relevant regulations of the State and shall be approved by the foreign exchange administrative authority if they are sold to designated foreign exchange banks.

On October 21, 2005, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) issued a Circular on the Relevant Issues Concerning Domestic Investors Financing through Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles and Foreign Exchange Management of Return Investment, namely Circular 75, which came into effect on November 1, 2005. The term “special purpose company” as mentioned in the circular refers to an overseas company directly established or indirectly controlled for the purpose of overseas equity financing (including convertible bond financing) by a domestic resident legal person or a domestic resident natural person with the assets or equity of a domestic company held by it. The “return investment” in the circular refers to the direct investment activities carried out by domestic residents through the special purpose company, including but not limited to the following methods: purchasing or replacing the Chinese company’s equity in a domestic company, setting up a foreign-invested enterprise in the country and purchasing or negotiating the control of domestic assets through the company, negotiating the purchase of domestic assets, establishing a foreign-invested enterprise with the investment in the asset and increasing the capital of the domestic enterprise. The “domestic resident legal person” in the circular refers to a legal person and other economic organization legally established in China; “domestic resident natural person” refers to a natural person holding a legal ID card such as an ID card or passport of the PRC, or natural persons habitually residing in China because of economic interests although they do not have legal status in China. The term “control” in this circular refers to the acquisition, trust, holding, voting right, repurchase, convertible bonds, etc. of domestic residents to acquire the operating right, income right or decision-making right of a special purpose company or a domestic company. Before a domestic resident establishes or controls an overseas special purpose company, he must, with relevant materials, apply to the local foreign exchange branch and foreign exchange administration department (hereinafter referred to as the SAFE) to apply for foreign exchange registration procedures for overseas investment. Domestic residents who inject the assets or equity of domestic enterprises owned by them into special purpose companies or conduct overseas equity financing after injecting assets or equity into special purpose companies, must go through the formalities for the change in the foreign exchange registration of overseas investment in relation to their equity in the special purpose company and their changes, and they should provide relevant materials when handling. After injecting a special purpose company or investing in foreign equity financing after injecting assets or equity into a special purpose company, the company shall handle the foreign exchange registration change procedures for overseas investment in relation to the equity of the special purpose company and its changes and shall provide relevant material. After completing procedures for the foreign exchange registration and change of overseas investment in accordance with regulations, the domestic residents may pay special purpose companies for profits, dividends, liquidation, equity conversion, capital reduction, etc. If a special purpose company has any significant capital changes such as capital increase or reduction, equity transfer or replacement, merger or division, long-term equity or debt investment, external guarantee, etc. and does not involve return investment, the domestic residents must apply to SAFE for handling the change of foreign exchange registration of overseas investment or filing procedures within 30 days from the occurrence of major events. If a domestic resident set up or controlled a special purpose company abroad before the implementation of this notice and completed the return investment but failed to register the foreign investment registration of the foreign investment according to the provisions, he was required to go to the local SAFE to renew the foreign investment registration of the foreign investor before March 31, 2006 according to the provisions of this notice. After completing the renewing registration of foreign exchange registration of overseas investment, SAFE may handle foreign exchange registration procedures for foreign investment and foreign debt for the relevant domestic enterprise.

On August 29, 2008, SAFE issued a Circular on the Improvement of the Business Operations Related to Foreign Exchange Capital Payment and Foreign Exchange Capital Management of Foreign-invested Enterprises, that is, Circular No. 142. The circular indicates that the RMB funds received from the foreign exchange enterprise’s capital gains shall be used within the business scope approved by the government approval department. Unless otherwise specified, the RMB funds obtained through settlement shall not be used for domestic equity investment. Excluding commercial real estate investment enterprises, foreign-funded enterprises may not purchase domestic real estate that is not for their own use in the form of RMB funds obtained through capital settlement. The use of RMB funds from foreign exchange-funded enterprises for capital investment in securities shall be implemented in accordance with relevant state regulations.

On November 9, 2011, SAFE issued a circular on further clarifying and standardizing issues concerning the management of foreign exchange operations for certain capital accounts, namely Circular 45, which clarified the scope of application of Circular 142. The circular pointed out that foreign-invested enterprises must not use the RMB funds derived from the foreign exchange capital settlement for domestic equity investment. Foreign-invested enterprises with equity investment approved by the relevant competent authorities must use their foreign exchange capital and domestic Chinese-funded institutions must use the foreign exchange funds in the asset liquidation account for domestic equity investments, with reference to the principle of foreign exchange capital contribution management of foreign-invested companies. Foreign-funded enterprises must not issue entrusted loans, repay inter-enterprise loans (including third-party advances) or repay bank loans that are re-lending to third parties in the form of RMB funds derived from foreign exchange capital settlement. Foreign-funded enterprises may not, in principle, deliver various types of deposits in the form of RMB funds derived from foreign exchange capitalization. Funds in the dedicated deposit account may not be settled.

On July 4, 2014, SAFE issued a circular on the issues relating to the pilot reform of foreign exchange capital management of foreign-invested enterprises in certain regions (i.e., Circular 36). The circular pointed out that since August 4, 2014, pilot projects for the reform of the management of foreign exchange capital in foreign exchange enterprises will be carried out in some regions. The foreign exchange capital recognized in the capital contribution account of a foreign-invested enterprise through the foreign exchange administration where it is located can be processed at the bank according to the actual business needs of the enterprise. The capital of a foreign-invested enterprise and the RMB funds derived from its settlement of foreign exchange shall not be used for the following purposes:

Also, on July 14, 2014, SAFE issued a circular on the related issues concerning Domestic Residents’ Foreign Investment through Special Purpose Companies and Foreign Exchange Management for Return Investment (“Circular 37”), which replaced Circular 75. Compared with Circular 75, Circular 37 further simplified and facilitated the cross-border capital transactions of domestic residents involved in investment and financing activities through special purpose companies. The circular stipulates that SAFE shall exercise registration management for the establishment of special purpose companies for domestic residents. Before a domestic resident can use the legal assets or rights at home and abroad to invest in a special purpose company, he shall apply to SAFE for the foreign exchange registration formalities for overseas investment. If the domestic residents’ profits and bonuses obtained from special purpose companies are transferred back to China, they shall be handled in accordance with the current regulations on foreign exchange management; if the foreign exchange income from capital changes is transferred back to China, they shall be handled in accordance with the foreign exchange management provisions for capital accounts.

On March 30, 2015, SAFE issued a notice on reforming the foreign exchange capital management of foreign-invested enterprises, namely, Circular No. 19, which took effect on June 1, 2015. The circular indicates that SAFE has decided to implement the reform of foreign exchange capital management of foreign-invested enterprises on a nation-wide basis after summarizing the pilot experience in previous regions. At the same time, Circular 142 and Circular 36 were repealed.

Regulations on Dividend Distribution

Regulations on Labor

According to the Labor Law of the PRC (promulgated in 1994, amended in 2009), Labor Contract Law of the PRC (promulgated in 2007, amended in 2012) and Implementation Regulations of the Labor Contract Law of the PRC (promulgated in 2008), it is stipulated that employers and laborers should establish labor contracts when they establish labor relations. The labor contract concluded according to law is binding, and employers and laborers shall perform the obligations stipulated in the labor contract. Where a labor relationship has been established and a written labor contract has not been concluded at the same time, a written labor contract shall be concluded within one month from the date of employment. Where an employer and a laborer conclude a labor contract prior to employment, the labor relationship shall be established from the date of employment. The state implements a minimum wage security system. The specific standards for minimum wages are stipulated by the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and reported to the State Council for the record. The employer’s payment of laborers’ wages must not be less than the local minimum wage standard. The employer must provide laborers with labor safety and hygiene conditions that are in compliance with the state regulations and necessary labor protection supplies. Workers engaged in occupational hazard operations should carry out regular health checks.

The provisions concerning the employment of foreigners in China are mainly based on the Regulations on the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China jointly issued by the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on January 22, 1996, as amended on November 12, 2010 and March 13, 2017. The regulation states that employers employing foreigners must apply for employment permits for the foreigner. Foreigners can only be hired after obtaining permission and obtaining the Employment License for Foreigners of the PRC (hereinafter referred to as “permit”). Foreigners employed in China should enter the country on a Z-visa (if they have a mutual visa exemption agreement, they should be dealt with according to the agreement). After entering China and obtain the Foreigner’s Employment Permit (hereinafter referred to as “employment permit”), they will be able to obtain employment in China. Foreigners who have not obtained a residence permit (namely, those with F, L, C and G visas), foreigners studying in China or performing internships and dependents of foreigners holding a Z visa may not be employed in China. In exceptional circumstances, the employer may apply for a permit in accordance with the approval procedures stipulated in these Regulations. Foreigners employed with a permit to the public security agency change their status and apply for an employment permit or residence permit. Employing units and foreigners hired shall conclude labor contracts according to law. The duration of a labor contract must not exceed five years. When the employment contract signed between the foreigner and the employing unit expires, the employment permit will be invalid.

The circular concerning the Handling of Work Permits for Foreign Experts Coming to China issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs on September 30, 2004, states that foreign experts hired to work in China should obtain the Work Permit for Foreign Experts to Come to China. Foreign experts applying for Work Permits for Foreign Experts to Work in China shall abide by Chinese laws and regulations, be in good health, have no criminal record and meet one of the following conditions:

Foreign experts in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) shall have a bachelor’s degree or above and more than 5 years of relevant work experience. All units intending to hire foreign experts shall be entitled to Accreditation of Foreign Experts Units and obtain the Certificate of Employment of Foreign Expert Units. This certificate is the basic proof of foreign nationals applying for work permits, invitation letters, foreign expert certificates and residence procedures in China. The Provincial Foreign Experts Bureaus, State Council related ministries and commissions, and the directly affiliated agencies’ foreign affairs divisions (bureaus) are responsible for the annual inspection work of the local or department according to the annual inspection notice issued by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and submit the regional annual inspection report to the State Administration of Foreign Experts Bureau by the end of December. The National Bureau of Foreign Experts conducts annual inspections of all eligible units from January 1 to January 31 every year.

According to the decision regarding the cancellation of 13 administrative licenses of the State Council issued by the State Council on February 13, 2016, the accreditation of foreign experts by the State Foreign Experts Bureau was cancelled.

On March 28, 2017, the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued a notice on the Full Implementation of the Work Permit System for Foreigners to Come to China. The circular states that foreigners allowed to work in China will receive Work Permits for Foreigners to Come to China to replace Foreigner Employment Permits and Foreign Experts to Work Permits in China since April 1, 2017.

Although Bao Feng does not currently employ any foreigners, management hopes to employ foreigners and foreign experts in the future as part of its expansion plan.

Tax regulations

PRC corporate income tax. On March 6, 2007, the National People’s Congress of the PRC issued the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, which was implemented on January 1, 2008 and revised on February 24, 2017. The tax law stipulates that foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises have an income tax rate of 25%.

On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a notice on Relevant Issues of Overseas Registered Chinese-Funded Controlled Enterprises Recognized as Resident Enterprises on the Basis of Actual Management Institutional Standards, which became effective on January 1, 2008. The circular states that overseas Chinese-invested enterprises that meet the following conditions shall determine that they are resident companies of the actual administrative agency in China (hereinafter referred to as non-domestically registered resident enterprises), implement corresponding tax administration and collect corporate income tax on their income from inside and outside China:

On July 27, 2011, the State Administration of Taxation issued an announcement on the issuance of the Administrative Measures on the Income Tax of Overseas-registered Chinese-controlled Holding Enterprises (Trial), which took effect on September 1, 2011. The measure points out that non-domestic-registered resident enterprises shall, in accordance with relevant Chinese laws and regulations and regulations of the competent departments of finance and taxation under the State Council, formulate financial and accounting statements, and shall, within 15 days from the date of receipt of tax registration certificates, submit the enterprise’s financial and accounting systems or financial accounting, the handling methods and related information to the competent tax authorities for the record. Non-domiciled registered resident companies that obtain dividends, bonuses and other equity investment income derived from China, income from interest, rent, royalties, transfer of property income and other income, shall issue a copy of the company’s Certificate of Resident Identity of Overseas-registered Chinese-controlled Enterprises issued by the company. According to Article 26 of the Corporate Income Tax Law of the PRC and Articles 17, 18 and 91 of the Implementation Regulations on Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, the following income of enterprises is tax exempt income:

The applicable tax rate for income obtained by non-resident enterprises is 20%. Corporate income tax on income earned by non-resident enterprises is levied at the rate of 10%. That is to say, general overseas companies transferring 10% of the corporate income tax shall be subject to the transfer of equity in Chinese enterprises or the dividend distribution of Chinese enterprises. However, if the non-resident enterprise is a resident enterprise belonging to a country or region that has signed a tax treaty or arrangement with China, it may enjoy preferential tax treaty provisions.

Small-scale and low-profit enterprises that meet certain conditions are subject to a 10% income tax rate. According to Notice 13 (2019) on Implementing the Policy of Inclusive Tax Relief for Small and Micro Enterprises issued by the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation on January 17, 2019 that become effective from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021, in order for an enterprise to qualify as a small-scale and low-profit enterprise, its annual taxable income must not be more than RMB3 million; its number of employees must not exceed 300; and its total assets must not exceed RMB50 million. A qualified small-scale and low-profit enterprise can enjoy a reduced income tax rate of 5%, as compared with a general income tax rate of 25%, on annual taxable income not exceeding RMB1 million, and the remaining income (i.e. annual taxable income from RMB1 million to RMB3 million) can enjoy a reduced income tax rate of 10%.

High and new technology enterprises that satisfy regulatory requirements on high and new technology area, science and technology personnel, R&D expense, high and new technology income, innovation capability, etc., are taxed at a preferential income tax rate of 15%.

Bao Feng qualifies as a small scale and low-profit enterprise as well as a high and new technology enterprise, and is subject to the following income tax rates:

PRC withholding tax. Foreign enterprises have no institutions or places in China, but have obtained profits, interest, rent, royalties and other income from China, or have established institutions or places, but the above-mentioned income has no actual connection with institutions and places. The amount of income is subject to withholding income tax. In accordance with the accrued method, the payer (payer) pays the tax on the proceeds (payments) to the beneficiary (the payee). The withholding income tax belongs to personal income tax or corporate income tax, but it is only a source of income tax control. It is a taxation of a personal income tax or corporate income tax.

In 2008, China began to impose a dividend withholding income tax on foreign-invested enterprises at a tax rate of 20%, generally levied at 10%. Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Seychelles and others have signed tax treaties with China or have special taxes. The preferential national tax rate for the countries in the arrangement is as low as 5%. Therefore, when a Hong Kong company affiliated to the group obtains the after-tax profits distributed by the mainland Chinese company it invests, the mainland Chinese company must withhold and pay 5% of the withholding income tax.

In addition, Notice No. 88 (2017) on “the Issues Concerning the Direct Investment of Foreign Investors in Distributing the Withholding Income Tax Policy” stipulates that foreign investors who meet the conditions of direct investment shall not be subject to withholding tax.

PRC Business Tax and Value-Added Tax (VAT). On March 23, 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation issued a circular on the Full Implementation of the Business Tax Levy of VAT Pilots. The circular indicates that since May 1, 2016, pilots for the change of business tax to VAT have been fully promoted throughout the country, and all business tax taxpayers, including Bao Feng, were included in the scope of the pilot and were changed from paying business tax to paying VAT. According to notice No. 36 (2016) issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation, the Comprehensive Project replaces Business Tax with Value-added Tax. VAT standard rates are 6% to 17% of the gross sales price. A credit is available whereby VAT paid on the purchase of semi-finished products or raw materials used in the production of the Company’s finished products can be used to offset the VAT due on sales of the finished products and services.

According to notice No. 13 (2019), the VAT small-scale taxpayers with monthly sales of less than RMB100,000 are exempt from VAT. The implementation date of this paper is from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021. According to the "Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Exemption of Value-Added Tax for Small and Micro Enterprises" (State Administration of Taxation Announcement No. 52 of 2017, now abolished), from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 sales of small-scale VAT taxpayers shall not exceed RMB 30,000 (tax payment of RMB90,000 per quarter) and enjoy the preferential policy of exemption from VAT.

Bao Feng currently pays a value-added tax of either 9% or 13% on sales, depending on the product, and 6% on technical services.

Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments

Not Applicable

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's financial statements, which are included elsewhere in this Form 20-F.

Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.

For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022

Continuing Operations

Revenue

We generated $1,662,600 of net revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 as compared to $2,328,526 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

Net revenue decreased by $665,926 or 28.6%, over the year as a result of the following:

Cost of Sales

The cost of sales was $144,683 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 compared to the cost of sales of $420,273 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, for a decrease of $275,590 or 65.6%. A breakdown of our cost of sales by product or service is as follows:

The decrease in total cost of sales during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 primarily resulted from the absence of cost of sales for technical support services, which resulted from the Company’s not outsourcing any work to external parties whereas the Company outsourced and incurred a cost of $261,710 for these works to external parties for the year ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in the cost of sales of nervonic acid-based health supplements by $13,880 or 8.8% was in line with the decrease in sales of nervonic acid-based health supplements over the prior year.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was $1,517,917 and $1,908,253, respectively. The following table shows the breakdown of the increase in gross profit by product or service:

The decrease in gross profit for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 over the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 by $390,336 or 20.5 % was the result of the decreases in revenue and cost of sales, as discussed above.

Gross Profit Margin

Gross profit margin for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 was 91.3% and 82.0%, respectively. The increase in gross profit margin over the year was mainly attributable to the absence of cost of sales for technical support services for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.

Gross profit margin of nervonic acid-based health supplements was 90.3% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 as compared to 91.2% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The slight decrease in gross profit margin of nervonic acid-based health supplements by 0.9% was attributable to the lower gross profit margin of 73.5% of Re’seen drinks, which were introduced to the market in September 2022.

Because no direct costs of sale of technical support services were incurred for the year ended March 31, 2023, the gross profit margin of technical support services was 100% for the year ended March 31, 2023 as compared to a gross profit margin of 50.6% for the year ended March 31, 2022.

Total operating expenses

During the year ended March 31, 2023, we incurred operating expenses of $2,771,413 as compared to $2,594,012 incurred during the year ended March 31, 2022. Operating expenses are comprised of general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses and selling and marketing expenses. The increase in total operating expenses of $177,401 or 6.8%, was attributable to an increase in selling and marketing expenses of $771,923, offset by decreases in general and administrative and research and development expenses of $272,032 or 26.5%, and $322,490 or 47.4%, respectively.

General and administrative expenses decreased from $1,025,725 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 to $753,693 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. The decrease of $272,032 or 26.5% was mainly attributable to a decrease in stock-based compensation expense of $263,631, from $318,137 for the year ended March 31, 2022 to $54,506 for the year ended March 31, 2023.

Research and development expenses decreased by $322,490 or 47.4% from $680,313 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 to $357,823 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 primarily because of a significant decrease in related parties’ research and development expenses by $395,001 from $609,397 for the year ended March 31, 2022 to $214,396 for the year ended March 31, 2023, which was offset by an increase in staff salaries and related benefits by approximately $24,000, an increase in patent registration fees of approximately $24,300 and an increase in testing related expenses of $19,100 over the prior year.

Selling and marketing expenses increased significantly by $771,923 or 86.9% from $887,974 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 to $1,659,897 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023. The increase was mainly due to an increase in online marketing and promotional expenses by $386,164 and the inclusion of a packaging design fee of $168,866 for launching new products – Re’Seen drinks – to the market during the year ended March 31, 2023.

Loss on disposal of a subsidiary – Dandong Bao Feng Seedling Technology Co. Limited

On September 30, 2022, the Company’s PRC subsidiary, BF Beijing, sold its 100% interest in Dandong BF to Zhong Yuan Nervonic Acid Bio-technology Co. Ltd., of which Mr. Yu Chang, father of Ms. Ting-ting Chang, CEO and director of the Company, is a director and has a controlling interest, in exchange for cash consideration of RMB1 million (US$140,500) and a 7% equity interest in Yanbian Bao Feng Bio-technology Co., Ltd. (“Yanbian BF”) that was valued at RMB4 million ($562,000). The consideration and net assets of Dandong BF at the date of disposal on September 30, 2022 were as follows: 

Net loss from continuing operations

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, the Company had a net loss from continuing operations of $1,750,377 as compared to a net loss from continuing operations of $682,663 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The increase in net loss from continuing operations by $1,067,714 or 156.4% was mainly attributable to a decrease in gross profit by $390,336, an increase in operating expenses of $177,401 and a $525,063 loss on disposal of a subsidiary.

Discontinued Operation

During the year ended March 31, 2023, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, BF Beijing, disposed of its entire interest in Dandong BF. Dandong BF is principally engaged in the research, development and growing of Acer truncatum seedlings in Dandong City, Liaoning Province, in the northeastern region of the PRC.

Accordingly, the results relating to Dandong BF have been presented in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income as “loss from discontinued operations.” Dandong BF was not presented as discontinued operations for the year ended March 31, 2022; therefore, the comparative statement of operations and comprehensive income has been re-presented to show the discontinued operation separately from continuing operations. Dandong BF was de-consolidated from the Company on September 30, 2022

The results from the discontinued operation were as follows:

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

As of March 31, 2023, we had cash at banks of $277,836, total current assets of $1,200,263 and total current liabilities of $2,014,802. Net current liabilities were $814,539 and our working capital ratio was 0.6. As of March 31, 2023, our total assets and total liabilities amounted to $2,280,444 and $2,610,389, respectively. We had a shareholders’ deficit of $346,570 and minority interest of $16,625. We had one-year bank loans of $1,358,221.

The following is a summary of our cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We prepare our financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, which requires management to make certain estimates and apply judgments. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, current trends and other factors that management believes to be important at the time the consolidated financial statements are prepared. On a regular basis, we review our accounting policies and how they are applied and disclosed in our consolidated financial statements.

While we believe that the historical experience, current trends and other factors considered support the preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP, actual results could differ from our estimates, and such differences could be material.

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

Directors and Executive Officers

The names, titles and ages of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and executive officers as of the date of this Annual Report are as set forth in the below table. Our directors are elected annually and serve until their successors take office or until their death, resignation or removal. The executive officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

Ting Ting Chang serves as our Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and director, and has held those positions since May 4, 2017. Since 2013, Ms. Chang has worked at Beijing Acer Truncatum Century Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Limited ("Beijing Acer"), which changed its name to Bao Feng Bio-Technology (Beijing) Limited in August 2017. From 2013 to 2016, she served as Beijing Acer's sales manager responsible for planning, implementing and directing the sales activities of the company including developing strategic plans, budget preparation and coordination of the sales teams. From 2016 to the present, Ms. Chang has served as Beijing Acer's Chief Executive Officer responsible for setting strategy and direction, modeling and setting the company's culture and values, leading and training the senior executive team and allocating capital. In 2013, Ms. Chang received a Master of Sciences degree in Technology and Innovation Management from Sussex University in the United Kingdom and in 2012 she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Product Design from the same university. Ms. Chang is not compensated for serving as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary.

Fung Ming Pang has served as our Chief Financial Officer and director since May 2020. Ms. Pang is a member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Since July 2005, Ms. Pang has served as Managing Director of AGCA CPA Limited, a certified public accounting firm registered with the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which provides audit, tax and advisory services to individuals and corporations. In 1995, she helped start Able Secretarial Services Limited, which currently provides corporate management services to, and serves as government liaison for, approximately 50 companies registered in Hong Kong, and she has served as its Managing Director since February 2012. Ms. Pang holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Chi Wai (Gabriel) Tse was appointed as an independent non-executive director effective August 1, 2022. Mr. Tse has more than 25 years of experience in handling audit related matters, financial advisory and compliance matters as well as market development. He has served as Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Director of BizWell Capital Inc., which intends to apply for listing of its securities on the Nasdaq Global Market, since February 2022 and has served as an independent non-executive director of China Environmental Technology Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 0646), since May 2015 and Great Water Holdings Limited, a company listed on the GEM of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 8196), since December 2015. China Environmental Technology Holdings Limited and Great Water Holdings Limited both specialize in the provision of waste management services in China. From January 2011 until August 2021, Mr. Tse was an executive director of Jihsun Financial Holding Company Limited, a Taiwan listed company that operates bank, securities brokerage and other financial services in Taiwan. From June 2010 to July 2019, Mr. Tse was an executive director, company secretary and chief financial officer of China Information Technology Development Limited (“CITD”), a company listed on the GEM of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (Stock Code: 8178) that specializes in the development and implementation of IT related services in Mainland China. In July 1989, he joined Arthur Andersen & Co., then the largest audit and accounting firm worldwide, where he became a qualified accountant and he left the firm as an audit manager in April 1999. Mr. Tse graduated from the University of Hong Kong in June 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in social science studies (Economics and Management Studies). He is a practicing member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the Institute of Certified Accountants in England and Wales.

Shuo Dong was appointed as our independent non-executive director effective August 1, 2022. Since November 2019, Dr. Dong has been the vice president of research and innovation for Kindstar Global (Beijing) Medicine Technology, Inc. From February 2015 through October 2019, Dr. Dong was an associate professor at Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. From January 2003 through July 2014, Dr. Dong was an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. From March 1999 through February 2008, Dr. Dong was an associate professor at the Shanghai Institute of Hematology/Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University Medical School and from February l996 through February 1999, Dr. Dong held a post-doctoral fellowship in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Hong Kong. The focus of Dr. Dong's research has been the characterization of the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation that are corrupted in hematological malignancies. By identification and molecular dissection of the transcriptional and especially epigenetic networks deregulated by leukemogenic/chimeric 2 transcription factors and epigenetic modulators, his work has been providing novel and important mechanistic insights into the molecular basis of hematological malignancies and, based on these works, providing fruitful avenues for the development of specific therapeutic interventions. In June 1986, Dr. Dong earned a B.S.M. (equivalent to an M.D.) in Medicine at the Tong-Ji Medical University in Wuhan, China. In June 1992, Dr. Dong earned a Master of Science in Molecular Hematology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine where he won the Best Graduate Student Award. In June 1995, Dr. Dong earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Hematology at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Dr. Dong has received several other awards, including: (i) The Award for Improving National Science and Technology (1995); (ii) Chao Award, Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine (2003); and (iii) Science & Technology Progress Awards of Shanghai, First Class (1997). Dr. Dong was touted as one of the top ten authors of high-citation papers by the China Ministry of Science and Technology in Beijing. He has over fifty publications, including the award of Spotlight on Faculty, "Exploring Chromosomal Translocations in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia:” MEDICINE Summer 2005 Vol. 6; No. 3:3, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Chinghai Ning was appointed as an independent non-executive director effective June 16, 2023. Dr. Ning has over 30 years of experience serving in the medical field. While attending medical school at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Dr. Ning was: (i) employed as a counselor in the Department of Biophysics from 1994-1995; (ii) assistant professor at the Department of Biophysics from 1996-1997; (iii) lab director for the Department of Biophysics from 1998-2001; and (iv) intern at the Federal Police Hospital Churruca Vizca from 1997-1999. After graduation in 1999, Dr. Ning was employed as an associate professor of physics science in the Department of Radiology at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina from 1999-2001, a resident physician at the Federal Police Hospital Churruca Vizca from 1999-2002 and a doctor at IOMA where he reviewed medical insurance claims from 2002-2003.

From approximately 2003 through 2011, Dr. Ning was employed as a medical director at Argentina DANDT S.A., an importer and seller of medical equipment, devices and consumables, where he worked with importing and wholesaling, among other things. Subsequently, Dr. Ning served as the director of the purchasing department, where he was responsible for managing foreign trade, and as a vice-president responsible for the planning, strategy and design of all of the company’s product marketing.

From 2011 to 2013, Dr. Ning was employed as the project supervisor of the U.S. in China at OSG Holding Corporation, where he was responsible for orchestrating financing in China. From 2013 through 2016, he was employed at Anhui ZST, an import/export company, where he was responsible for the sale of medical consumables in Latin America. Lastly, from 2016 to the current date, Dr. Ning is employed by SOMECO Electronic S.A., where he is responsible for all of China. Dr. Ning has also been made an independent partner in that company. In addition, Dr. Ning is the chief representative of Argentina’s Salta province in China where he is responsible for promoting bilateral relations and developing economic trade between the sister cities.

Dr. Ning received his medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1999. He is a Member of the Argentina China Industry and Commerce Association.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships among the directors or executive officers of the Company.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee

Mr. Tse, Dr. Dong and Dr. Ning will serve on the audit committee, which will be chaired by Mr. Tse. Our Board of Directors has determined that each are “independent” for audit committee purposes as that term is defined by the rules of the SEC and Nasdaq, and that each has sufficient knowledge in financial and auditing matters to serve on the audit committee. Our Board of Directors has designated Mr. Tse as an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC. The audit committee’s responsibilities include:

Compensation Committee.

Mr. Tse, Dr. Dong and Dr. Ning will serve on the compensation committee, which will be chaired by Dr. Ning. Our Board of Directors has determined that each such member satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. The compensation committee’s responsibilities include:

Nomination Committee

Mr. Tse, Dr. Dong and Dr. Ning will serve on the nomination committee, which will be chaired by Dr. Dong. Our Board of Directors has determined that each member of the nomination committee is “independent” as defined in the applicable Nasdaq rules. The nomination committee’s responsibilities include:

While we do not have a formal policy regarding Board diversity, our nomination committee and Board of Directors will consider a broad range of factors relating to the qualifications and background of nominees, which may include diversity (not limited to race, gender or national origin). Our nomination committee’s and Board of Directors’ priority in selecting Board members is identification of persons who will further the interests of our shareholders through their established record of professional accomplishment, the ability to contribute positively to the collaborative culture among Board members, knowledge of our business, understanding of the competitive landscape and professional and personal experience and expertise relevant to our growth strategy.

Officers, Directors and Key Employees of Bao Feng

Ms. Chang has served as Bao Feng’s Chief Executive Officer since May 2016. For Ms. Chang’s biographical information, see “Officers and Directors of the Company,” above.

Dr. Chen has served as Bao Feng’s Chief Technical Officer since 2016. His work at Bao Feng primarily involves the establishment of a prediction model for Alzheimer's disease and the extraction and purification of nervonic acid from Acer truncatum and its application in the field of brain health. Dr. Chen has served as an honorary professor of the academic department at the Research Center of Plateau medicine at China Medical University since April 2021. Prior to joining Bao Feng, from 2011 to 2015, Mr. Chen was employed as an assistant professor at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences where his work primarily involved metabolomics and data modeling, and where he presided over a natural science foundation project. Mr. Chen has published five articles and co-authored fifteen articles in various scientific journals. Mr. Chen holds a bachelor's degree in grass science from the School of Resources and Environment, Beijing Forestry University and a doctorate degree in developmental biology from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Mr. Gao, Bao Feng’s CMO, received his master’s degree from the School of Management of Renmin University of China in 2005. From May 2017 to October 2018, he was employed as sales director of Kang Tai Chang Long Biotechnology Co., Limited, a private pharmaceutical/bioengineering company. Prior to that position, Mr. Gao was engaged in sales management for several other large and medium-sized companies.

Compensation Of Executive Officers And Directors

The following table summarizes all compensation received or to be received by our directors and our Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer and by the directors, executive officers and key employees of Bao Feng in the years ended March 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

Summary Compensation Table

We did not set aside or accrue any amounts to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors and officers for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, other than contributions to our Provident Fund Plan as social insurances and housing provident fund, which aggregated approximately $14,000 for our officers and directors.

Stock Option Grants and Exercises

On May 4, 2020, the Company issued cashless options (the “Options”) to purchase 600,000 (post-Reverse Stock Split) Ordinary Shares of the Company at $0.50 per Ordinary Share (as adjusted for the Reverse Stock Split) to Ms. Pang, our Chief Financial Officer and director. The Options vested 50% upon commencement of trading of the Company’s Ordinary Shares on the OTCQB on July 15, 2021 and 50% on July 15, 2022. The Options are exercisable for five years after the date of vesting.

On December 2, 2021, Ms. Pang exercised her Options to acquire 300,000 of our Ordinary Shares on a cashless basis. As a result of this exercise, 272,118 Ordinary Shares were issued to Ms. Pang.

Other than the Options issued to Ms. Pang, we have not issued any Options or stock appreciation rights to any officers, employees or directors. We may issue additional Ordinary Share options to our directors and officers in the future at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

Stock Option and Bonus Plans

We currently have not authorized any compensation plans or stock option plans, except the Options issued to Ms. Pang as mentioned above.

Compensation of Directors

Mr. Tse, Dr. Dong and Ms. Huang, a former independent director of the Company, have entered into Director’s Agreements effective on August 1, 2022. Dr. Ning entered into a Director’s Agreement effective on June 16, 2023. The terms and conditions of each such Director’s Agreement are similar in all material respects. Each Director’s Agreement is for an initial term of one year and will continue until the director’s successor is duly elected and qualified. Each director will be up for re-election each year at the annual shareholders’ meeting, and, upon re-election, the terms and provisions of her or his Director’s Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any Director’s Agreement may be terminated for any or no reason by the director or at a meeting called expressly for that purpose by a vote of the shareholders holding more than 50% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Ordinary Shares entitled to vote.