I-Mab
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Apr 3, 2025.
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The yearly report of a company based outside the US. It covers much of what a 10-K does, and may follow accounting rules other than US ones.
FY2024 · Filed Apr 3, 2025
Contents
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ITEM 10. ADDI TIONAL INFORMATION
A.
Share Capital
B.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the sixth amended and restated memorandum and articles of association of our company and of the Companies Act, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
Objects of Our Company. Under our current memorandum and articles of association, the objects of our company are unrestricted and we have the full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or any other law of the Cayman Islands.
Ordinary Shares. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form and our ordinary shares are issued when registered in our register of members. We may not issue shares to bearers. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Dividends. Our directors may from time to time declare dividends (including interim dividends) and other distributions on our shares in issue and authorize payment of the same out of the funds of our company lawfully available therefor. In addition, our company may declare dividends by ordinary resolution, but no dividend should exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Our current memorandum and articles of association provide that dividends may be declared and paid out of the funds of our company lawfully available therefor. Under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our company may pay a dividend out of either profit or our share premium account; provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one shareholder or shareholders collectively holding not less than 5% of the votes attaching to the shares present in person or by proxy.
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast at a meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast at a meeting. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or making changes to our current memorandum and articles of association.
Alteration of Share Capital
We may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution prescribes;
consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares;
subdivide our shares, or any of them, into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by the memorandum of association, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share should be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and
cancel any shares that, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the amount of its share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
We may by special resolution, subject to any confirmation or consent required by the Companies Act, reduce our share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner authorized by law.
General Meetings of Shareholders. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our current memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each calendar year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we should specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting will be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.
Shareholders’ general meetings may be convened by our directors (acting by a resolution of our board). Advance notice of at least 14 calendar days is required for any general shareholders’ meeting. A quorum required for any general meeting of shareholders consists of, at the time when the meeting proceeds to business, one or more of our shareholders holding shares which carry in aggregate (or representing by proxy) not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all of our shares in issue and entitled to vote at such general meeting.
The Companies Act provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our current articles of association allow our shareholders holding in aggregate not less than one-tenth of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that as at the date of the deposit carry the right to vote at general meetings of the company to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our board is obliged to convene an extraordinary general meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. However, our current memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares. Subject to the restrictions in our current memorandum and articles of association as set out below, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board of directors.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and
a fee of such maximum sum as the Nasdaq Global Market may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors may from time to time require is paid to us in respect thereof.
If our directors refuse to register a transfer, they should, within three calendar months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged with our company, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, on ten calendar days’ notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers, by electronic means or by any other means in accordance with the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine; provided, however, that the registration of transfers should not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 calendar days in any calendar year.
Liquidation. On the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution amongst our shareholders are more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus should be distributed amongst our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay the whole of the share capital, such assets will be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares. Subject to the terms of the allotment, our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders in respect of any moneys unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 calendar days prior to the specified time or times of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares. We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by our shareholders by a special resolution. Our company may also repurchase any of our shares on such terms and in such manner as have been approved by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders or are otherwise authorized by the articles of association. Under Cayman Islands law, any redemption or repurchase of shares by our company may be made out of profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if our company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. No such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding, or (c) if our company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Variations of Rights of Shares. Whenever the capital of our company is divided into different classes the rights attached to any such class may, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to any class, only be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of all of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights should not, subject to any rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to them or the redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by our company. The rights of the holders of shares should not be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of shares with preferred or other rights, including, without limitation, the creation of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
Issuance of Additional Shares. Our current memorandum and articles of association authorize our board of directors to issue additional ordinary shares from time to time as our board of directors determines.
Our current memorandum and articles of association also authorize our board of directors to issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
the designation of the series;
the number of preferred shares to constitute such series;
the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and
the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences.
Issuance of these shares may dilute the voting power of holders of ordinary shares.
Inspection of Books and Records. A list of the names of the current directors and alternate directors (if applicable) are made available by the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands for inspection by any person on payment of a fee. Shareholders have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records (save for our memorandum and articles of association, our register of mortgages and charges and special resolutions of our shareholders). However, we intend to provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of our current memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares.
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our current memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Exempted Company. We are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the Companies Act. The Companies Act distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except that an exempted company:
does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
is not required to open its register of members for inspection;
does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
may issue shares with no par value;
may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first instance);
may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
may register as a limited duration company; and
may register as a segregated portfolio company.
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on the shares of the company held by such shareholder (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil).
C.
Material Contracts
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described under this item, in “Item 4. Information on the Company,” “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions,” “Item 10. Additional Information—C. Material Contracts” or elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
D.
Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—PRC Regulation—Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange and the Dividend Distribution.”
E.
Taxation
The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares is based upon laws and interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change. This summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, China and the United States.
Cayman Islands Taxation
According to Harney Westwood & Riegels, our Cayman Islands counsel, the Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares levied by the government of the Cayman Islands, except for stamp duties, which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought to, or produced before a court of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands has a double tax treaty with the United Kingdom entered into force in 2010 but otherwise is not party to any double tax treaties. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of shares by our company and no stamp duty is payable on transfers of shares of our company provided our company does not hold any interest in land in the Cayman Islands and save that stamp duties may be applicable on instruments executed in, or brought to, or produced before a court of the Cayman Islands.
PRC Taxation
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside China with “de facto management body” within China is considered as a Tax Resident Enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and is generally subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on its worldwide income. The implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to Identification of PRC-Controlled Overseas Registered Enterprises as Resident Enterprises in Accordance With the De Facto Standards of Organizational Management, or SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s general position on how the “de facto management body” text should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group is regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is in China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel located in China; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in China.
Our PRC counsel, JunHe LLP, is of the opinion that, based on its understanding of the current PRC Laws and Regulations, as I-Mab does not meet all of the above conditions and given that neither I-Mab nor any of its PRC Subsidiaries has received any notice from the PRC tax authorities confirming, directly or indirectly, that I-Mab is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes as of the date of this annual report, I-Mab should not be considered as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes as of the date of this annual report.
I-Mab is incorporated outside of China and it is not controlled by a PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group. We have structured a clear management guideline in place to segregate the policy set up and business operating execution responsibilities in order to differentiate the effective control from our headquarter office and subsidiaries including record keeping and offshore work location plan.
I-Mab is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, its key assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries, and its key assets are located, and its records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside China. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” We cannot guarantee our investors that PRC tax authorities will not take a different view.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that I-Mab is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, our worldwide income could be subject to 25% enterprise income tax; and any dividends payable to non-resident enterprise holders of our common shares or ADSs may be treated as income derived from sources within China and therefore, subject to a 10% withholding tax (or 20% in the case of non-resident individual holders) unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. In addition, capital gains realized by non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) upon the disposition of our common shares or ADSs may be treated as income derived from sources within PRC and therefore, subject to 10% income tax (or 20% in the case of non-resident individual shareholders or ADS holders) unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares by a U.S. Holder (as defined below) that acquires our ADSs or ordinary shares and holds our ADSs or ordinary shares as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as (the “Code”). This discussion is based upon the Code, U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, in each case as in effect on the date hereof and subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion does not address the estate, gift, Medicare, and alternative minimum tax considerations, or any state, local, and non-U.S. tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares or the special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code. This discussion, moreover, does not discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual investment circumstances or to investors subject to special tax situations such as:
banks and other financial institutions;
insurance companies;
pension plans;
cooperatives;
regulated investment companies;
real estate investment trusts;
broker-dealers;
traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting;
certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents;
tax-exempt entities (including private foundations);
governmental entities;
investors who are not U.S. Holders;
investors who own (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value);
investors who acquire their ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as compensation;
investors that will hold their ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or
investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;
all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those discussed below. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, and local and non-U.S. income and other tax considerations of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the law of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person under the Code.
If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. Partnerships holding our ADSs or ordinary shares and their partners are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is generally expected that a U.S. Holder of ADSs will be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADSs. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a U.S. Holder of our ADSs will be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADSs. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Dividends
Subject to the discussion below under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations,” any cash distributions (including the amount of any tax withheld) paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income on the day actually or constructively received by the U.S. Holder. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, any distribution we pay will generally be reported as a “dividend” for U.S.
federal income tax purposes. Dividends received on our ADSs or ordinary shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.
A non-corporate U.S. Holder will generally be subject to tax on dividend income from a “qualified foreign corporation” at a lower applicable capital gains rate rather than the marginal tax rates generally applicable to ordinary income provided that certain conditions are satisfied, including that (1) our ADSs or ordinary shares on which the dividends are paid are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (2) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid and the preceding taxable year; and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. Our ADSs (but not our ordinary shares) are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market and we anticipate that our ADS should be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. There can be no assurance, however, that our ADSs will be considered readily tradable on an established securities market. Since we do not expect that our ordinary shares will be listed on an established securities market, we do not believe that dividends that we pay on our ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs will meet the conditions required for the reduced tax rate.
Dividends will generally be treated as income from foreign sources for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes and will generally constitute passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a U.S. Holder may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares. See “—PRC Taxation” above. In that case, depending on the U.S. Holder’s individual facts and circumstances, a U.S. Holder may be eligible, subject to a number of complex limitations, to claim a foreign tax credit not in excess of any applicable treaty rate in respect of any foreign withholding taxes imposed on dividends received on our ADSs or ordinary shares. A U.S. Holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld may instead claim a deduction, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholding, but only for a year in which such holder elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex and their outcome depends in large part on the U.S. Holder’s individual facts and circumstances. Accordingly, U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
As discussed above, we believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2023, and we will likely be classified as a PFIC for our current taxable year. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced rate of taxation on dividends with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
Sale or Other Disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion below under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” a U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if the ADSs or ordinary shares have been held for more than one year and will generally be U.S. source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gain of non-corporate U.S. Holders is generally eligible for a reduced rate of taxation. The deductibility of a capital loss is subject to limitations. The rules regarding foreign tax credits and deduction of foreign taxes are complex. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit or deduction in light of their particular circumstances, including their eligibility for benefits under the United States-PRC income tax treaty and the potential impact of U.S. Treasury Regulations.
As discussed below, we believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2024, and we will likely be classified as a PFIC for our current taxable year. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax considerations of the sale or other disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-U.S. corporation, such as us, will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, cash and assets readily convertible into cash are each categorized as a passive asset and the company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are taken into account. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, certain rents and royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. In addition, we will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more (by value) of the stock.
Based upon the nature and composition of our assets (in particular, the retention of substantial amounts of cash and investments) and income (in particular, the generation of interest income and lack of active income), and the market price of our ADSs, we believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2024, and we will likely be a PFIC for our current taxable year unless the market price of our ADSs significantly increases and/or we invest a substantial amount of the cash and other passive assets we hold in assets that produce or are held for the production of active income. Because the determination of whether we are a PFIC for a taxable year is fact-intensive and made after the close of such taxable year applying principles and methodologies that in some circumstances are unclear and subject to varying interpretations, we cannot provide any assurances as to our PFIC status, and our U.S. counsel expresses no opinion with respect to our PFIC status.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years during which such U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares. However, if we cease to be a PFIC, provided that a U.S. Holder has not made a mark-to-market election, as described below, such U.S. Holder may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC regime by making a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable. If such election is made, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold our ADSs or ordinary shares it holds at their fair market value and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the rules described in the next paragraph. After the deemed sale election, so long as we do not become a PFIC in a subsequent taxable year, the ADSs or ordinary shares with respect to which such election was made will not be treated as shares in a PFIC. The rules dealing with deemed sale elections are very complex. Each U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisors regarding the possibility and considerations of making a deemed sale election.
If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, and unless the U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules, regardless of whether we remain a PFIC, on (i) any excess distribution that we make to the U.S. Holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. Holder that is greater than 125 percent of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares), and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition (including, under certain circumstances, a pledge) of ADSs or ordinary shares. Under such rules:
the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares;
the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years in the U.S. Holder’s holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC, or a pre-PFIC year, will be taxable as ordinary income; and
the amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that year, increased by an additional tax equal to the interest on the resulting tax deemed deferred with respect to each such taxable year.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our subsidiaries is also a PFIC, which we refer to as a lower-tier PFIC, such U.S. Holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of such lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
Certain elections, if available, may be made to result in an alternative to the foregoing rules. A U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to such stock, provided that such stock is regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in the applicable U.S. Treasury regulations. For those purposes, our ADSs, but not our ordinary shares, are listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, which is a qualified exchange. The ADSs will be treated as “regularly traded” in any calendar year in which more than a de minimis quantity of the ADSs are traded on a qualified exchange on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter (subject to the rule that trades that have as one of their principal purposes the meeting of the trading requirement are disregarded). We anticipate that our ADSs should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard. If a U.S. Holder makes this election, the holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of ADSs held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ADSs and (ii) deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over the fair market value of such ADSs held at the end of the taxable year, but such deduction will only be allowed to the extent of the amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs would be adjusted to reflect any income or deductible loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of a corporation classified as a PFIC and such corporation ceases to be classified as a PFIC, the holder will not be required to take into account the gain or loss described above during any period that such corporation is not classified as a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of our ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will only be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ADSs are no longer treated as marketable stock or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder will continue to be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A “qualified electing fund,” QEF, election, if available and made, also would result in an alternative to the PFIC rules described above. However, we do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. Holders to make QEF elections for the taxable year ended December 31, 2024.
If a U.S. Holder owns our ADSs or ordinary shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, the holder must generally file an annual IRS Form 8621. The PFIC rules are complex, and each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing ADSs or ordinary shares if we are or become a PFIC, including the possibility and advisability of making any elections under the PFIC rules and the PFIC reporting requirements, in such U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
U.S. Holders generally will be subject to information reporting requirements with respect to dividends on ADSs or ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares that are paid within the United States or through U.S.-related financial intermediaries, unless the U.S. Holder is an “exempt recipient.” In addition, U.S. Holders may be subject to backup withholding on such payments, unless the U.S. Holder provides a taxpayer identification number on a duly executed IRS Form W-9 or otherwise establishes an exemption. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Furthermore, certain individual U.S. Holders are required to report information relating to an interest in ADSs or ordinary shares, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for ADSs or ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by U.S. financial institutions) by filing IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) with their U.S. federal income tax return. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding their information reporting obligations, if any, with respect to their ownership, and disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A SUMMARY OF CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR ADSs OR ORDINARY SHARES, AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. U.S. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AND NON-U.S. INCOME AND NON-INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS IN THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING ANY TAX REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND THE IMPACT OF ANY POTENTIAL CHANGE IN LAW.
F.
Dividends and Paying Agents
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Statement by Experts
H.
Documents on Display
We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers, and are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually an annual report on Form 20-F within four months after the end of each fiscal year, which is December 31. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Our investors can request copies of documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
We will furnish Citibank, the depositary of our ADSs, with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.
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Subsidiary Information
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Annual Report to Security Holders
The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.