ZW Data Action Technologies Inc.

We are a holding company that conducts our businesses through our Hong Kong subsidiaries, PRC subsidiaries and operating entities (the “VIEs”). We primarily operate a one-stop services for our clients on our Omni-channel advertising, precision marketing and data analysis management system. We also develop blockchain enabled web/mobile applications and provides software solutions, i.e., Software-as-a-Service (“SaaS”) services for clients.

We derive our revenue principally by:

We generated total revenues of US$15.44 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with US$30.59 million in 2023. Net loss attributable to our stockholders was US$3.76 million and US$5.97 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

In 2018, we commenced to expand our business into the blockchain industry and the related technology. With the introduction of blockchain technology, we engaged two unrelated parties to develop two blockchain-technology powered platform applications named BO!News and OMG, respectively. The Bo!News application comprises of three key features: Firstly, BO!News is a platform for the business owners and potential entrepreneurs to exchange projects information. BO!News has a blockchain based information assurance checking feature, ensuring every business to provide reliable and truthful information with tracking or tracing of any changes hashed onto the blockchain. Secondly, BO!News contains a social networking forum with an embedded blockchain reward point mechanism for contents-sharing and comments, to encourage interaction between business owners and their customers, and to activate more stickiness of the customers of the business. Last, Bo!News has a blockchain contracting feature, which provides a more efficient and trustworthy contractual relationship signed through the Internet without face to face meeting, and allows operating through blockchain to affirm irrevocability and traceability of the contract for the business conducted through the Internet. OMG is originally planned to be developed for the use of small and medium brand stores’ reward/loyal points exchange. OMG App enables users (consumers and merchants) to integrate other stores’ reward/loyalty point cards into OMG point consolidation and exchange system built on the blockchain infrastructure platform, which helps consumers managing all of their different reward/loyalty points cards in a single way. Users of OMG will be rewarded with loyalty points for conducting transactions on OMG in the form of token. Merchants will also get benefit of using it as a marketing platform to push their advertising or promotion to their and non-competitors’ customer bases. As in our plan, all reward points in form of token issued by these APPs are not associated with any cryptocurrency and will not be listed in any crypto exchange. They can only be used in exchange for the services and/or products offered by our platform.

In 2021, we enhanced the development of our blockchain infrastructure platform, i.e., Blockchain Integrated Framework (“BIF”) platform under the OMG development contract, which platform have membership management, trusted and decentralized payment management and Non-Fungible Token (“NFT”) management etc. features, so that the BIF platform could be further integrated into other blockchain application scenarios to provide data storage, assurance and analysis services to the SMEs. We also developed a more comprehensive and upgraded open-core version of BIF in the SaaS model with an open-end control panel to a greater extent, allowing our clients to use it to develop their own NFTs for their IPs and branding in China for the reauthorization use of both domestic and overseas users. The BIF platform is currently being developed into a subscription model with a starting subscription fee and the fees will be increased in accordance with number of apps subscribed, transactions or the size of data stored through the platform. In addition, our clients will be able to self-code themselves based on the existing modules of the smart contracts for the customization on their own specific needs in a low-code practice, and extra usage fee will be charged on the top of monthly recurring revenue. We completed the development and integration of the BIF platform, and officially launched the BIF and Bo!News by the end of 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2024, we generated an approximately US$0.75 million revenues from this our NFT SaaS services.

During fiscal 2024, we have strategically repositioned our core business, i.e., our Internet advertising and related data service business to have a renewed focus on international markets. We have shifted our client focus away from the distribution of search engine marketing services towards higher margin digital advertising opportunities, including influencer marketing services. We have continued to develop and optimize the functions of our blockchain-based applications, and to market and promote our SaaS services to our SME clients. We are also seeking to acquire and build teams with AI capabilities and proprietary intellectual properties that enable more accurate marketing solutions and cost-effective content creation so that we can better service our clients.

Recent Developments

Acquisition of Rahula

ChinaNet Investment Holding Limited (the “Purchaser”), a British Virgin Islands company and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated as of March 3, 2025 (the “Agreement”) with Vickie Chan, an individual (the “Seller”), pursuant to which the Seller agrees to sell, and the Purchaser agrees to buy, the 10,000 shares of Rahula Digital Media (HK) Limited, a Hong Kong company (the "Rahula") that the Seller owns, transferring full legal and beneficial ownership. Rahula owns 100% equity interest in Shenzhen Shangye Business Consulting Services Co., Ltd., a People’s Republic of China company (together as “Rahula Group”). Rahula Group is principally engaged in the development and monetization of intellectual property rights on agent management, marketing data management, targeted marketing and mass marketing systems and technologies.** **The purchase price is US$600,000. The transaction was completed on March 7, 2025.

Securities Purchase Agreements

On August 23, September 5, September 6, September 25, 2024, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with each of four investors (including one member of our Board of Directors), respectively, pursuant to which each purchaser agreed to purchase 89,606 shares of common stock of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of US$268,818. The number of shares have been restated to reflect the effect of the 1-for-4 reverse stock split on September 30, 2024.

On January 2, January 3, January 15, January 17, 2025, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with each of four investors, respectively, pursuant to which each purchaser agreed to purchase 119,100 shares of common stock of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of US$250,110, representing a purchase price of US$2.1 per share.

The closing of each transaction shall take place on the date mutually agreed by the parties, subject to the closing conditions contained in each such agreement. On the date that the agreement was signed, each purchaser entered into a lock-up agreement with us, respectively, whereby the purchaser agreed not to transfer the shares until six-month anniversary of the date of each agreement.

As of the date of this annual report, the transactions as described above have not completed.

Reverse Stock Split

The Board of Directors of the Company approved a reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”) at a ratio of 1-for-4 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The Reverse Stock Split became effective on September 30, 2024 (the “Effective Date”). As a result, the number of shares of the Company’s authorized Common Stock was reduced from 50,000,000 shares to 12,500,000 shares and the issued and outstanding number of shares of the Common Stock was correspondingly decreased. The Reverse Stock Split has no effect on the par value of the Company’s Common Stock or authorized shares of preferred stock. When the Reverse Stock Split became effective, each four shares of issued and outstanding Common Stock were converted into one newly issued and outstanding share of Common Stock. No fractional shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Any fractional shares of Common Stock that would have otherwise resulted from the Reverse Stock Split were rounded up to the nearest full share. No cash or other consideration was paid in connection with any fractional shares that would otherwise have resulted from the Reverse Stock Split. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, 8,704,506 shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 was reduced to 2,301,205 shares of Common Stock (taking into account the rounding of fractional shares).

Except where otherwise specified, all number of shares, number of warrants, share prices, exercise prices and per share data in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements have been retroactively restated as if the Reverse Stock Split occurred at the beginning of the periods presented.

Regaining Nasdaq Compliance

On April 17, 2024, we received a notice (the “Initial Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying us that due to our failure (the “Initial Delinquent Filing”) to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (the “2023 Form 10-K”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), we were not in compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) Rule”), which requires the timely filing of all required periodic reports with the SEC. The Company received a delinquency notification letter (the “May Notice”) from the Nasdaq on May 17, 2024 due to the Company’s non-compliance with the Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) Rule as a result of the Company’s failure to timely file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the “Form 10-Q”). The May Notice states that the Company had until June 17, 2024, or 60 days from the Initial Notice, to submit to Nasdaq a plan to regain compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The Company submitted a plan of compliance. On July 31, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that based on the June 28, 2024, filing of the Form 10-K and the July 29, 2024, filing of the Form 10-Q, Nasdaq has determined that we have complied with the Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) Rule. Accordingly, this matter was closed.

On November 1, 2023, we received a notice (the “November Notice”) from Nasdaq indicating that its common stock, failed to comply with the $1.00 minimum bid price required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the “Bid Price Requirement”) based upon the closing bid price of the Common Stock for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the November Notice. The Nasdaq rules provided the Company a compliance period of 180 calendar days from the Notice, or until April 29, 2024, to regain compliance with Rule 5550(a)(2). On May 1, 2024, we received another notice (the “Second Notice”) from Nasdaq indicating that, while the Company has not regained compliance with the Bid Price Requirement, Nasdaq has determined that the Company is eligible for an additional 180-day period, or until October 28, 2024, to regain compliance. According to the Second Notice from Nasdaq, the Staff’s determination was based on (i) the Company meeting the continued listing requirement for market value of its publicly held shares and all other Nasdaq initial listing standards, with the exception of the minimum bid price requirement, and (ii) the Company’s written notice to Nasdaq of its intention to cure the deficiency during the second compliance period by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary. We filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada to effect a one-for-four (1 for 4) reverse stock split of our common stock pursuant to NRS Section 78.209, which became effective on September 30, 2024. As a result of the filing of the Certificate, the number of shares of the Company’s authorized Common Stock was reduced from 50,000,000 shares to 12,500,000 shares and the issued and outstanding number of shares of the Common Stock was correspondingly decreased. On October 15, 2024, we received a letter from Nasdaq notifying us that Nasdaq had determined that for 10 consecutive business days, from September 30, 2024 to October 14, 2024, the closing bid price of our Common Stock had been at $1.00 per share or greater. Accordingly, we regained compliance with the Bid Price Requirement and this matter was closed.

Our Subsidiaries, Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) and Ownership Interest Investment Affiliates

As of December 31, 2024, our corporate structure is set forth below:

We were incorporated in the State of Texas in April 2006 and re-domiciled to become a Nevada corporation in October 2006. On June 26, 2009, we consummated a share exchange transaction with China Net Online Media Group Limited (“China Net BVI”) (the “Share Exchange”). As a result of the Share Exchange, China Net BVI became a wholly owned subsidiary of ours and we are now a holding company, which, through certain contractual arrangements with operating companies in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), is primarily engaged in providing Internet advertising, precision marketing, blockchain-based SaaS services and e-commerce online to offline (“O2O”) advertising and marketing and the related data and technical services to SMEs in the PRC.

Effective October 14, 2020, we changed our corporate name from ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. to ZW Data Action Technologies Inc. We made the corporate name change because we believe that the new corporate name reflects more accurately our business activities, corporate development strategies and the current and future nature of our business operations. We believe that the name change is in our and our stockholders’ best interests. Our stockholders approved the corporate name change as part of our annual shareholder meeting held on October 12, 2020. As demonstrated in our organizational structure diagram above, we are not an operating company in China, but a Nevada holding company with no equity ownership in the VIEs. We conduct our operations in China through our PRC subsidiaries, the VIEs, with which we have entered into contractual arrangements, and their subsidiaries in China. The corporate name change did not have any impact on any of our VIE contractual agreements, as these agreements were entered into among Rise King Century Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., one of our indirectly wholly-owned PRC subsidiaries (the “WFOE”), the VIEs and their shareholders in the PRC. ZW Data Action Technologies Inc., our Nevada holding company, was not a party to any of these VIE contractual agreements.

Our subsidiaries and our VIE Structure

Our direct wholly owned subsidiary, China Net BVI, was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on August 13, 2007. On April 11, 2008, China Net BVI became the parent holding company of a group of companies comprised of CNET Online Technology Co. Limited, a Hong Kong company (“China Net HK”), which established, and is the parent company of, Rise King Century Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (“WFOE”) established in the PRC (“Rise King WFOE”). In October 2008, Rise King WFOE acquired control over Business Opportunity Online (Beijing) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Online”) and Beijing CNET Online Advertising Co., Ltd. (“Beijing CNET Online”) (collectively the “PRC Operating Entities” or the “VIEs”) by entering into a series of contracts (the “Contractual Agreements” or the “VIE Agreements”), which enabled Rise King WFOE to operate the business and manage the affairs of the PRC Operating Entities.

China has adopted a reformed system with respect to foreign investment administration, under which the Chinese government applies national treatment to foreign investors in terms of investment entry and the foreign investor needs to comply with the requirements as provided in The Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment (the “Negative List”). The Negative List will be issued by, amended or released upon approval by the State Council, from time to time. The Negative List will consist of a list of industries in which foreign investments are prohibited and a list of industries in which foreign investments are restricted. Foreign investors will be prohibited from making investments in prohibited industries, while foreign investments must satisfy certain conditions for investments in restricted industries, such as: there always a limitation on foreign investment and ownership. Foreign investments and domestic investments in industries outside the scope of the prohibited industries and restricted industries will be treated equally. The most recent version of the Negative List was promulgated jointly by the Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) and the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) on December 27, 2021, which came into effective on January 1, 2022 (the “2021 Negative List”).

The business of the PRC Operating Entities falls under the class of a business that provides Internet content or information services, a type of value-added telecommunication services, for which restrictions upon foreign ownership apply. The 2021 Negative List retains the restrictions on foreign ownership related to value-added telecommunication services. As a result, Rise King WFOE is not allowed to conduct the business the PRC Operating Entities companies are currently pursuing. Advertising business is open to foreign investment but used to require that the foreign investors of a WFOE should have been carrying out advertising business for over three years pursuant to the Foreign Investment Advertising Measures as amended by MOFCOM and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce (“SAIC”, currently known as the State Administration for Market Regulations, (“SAMR”)) on August 22, 2008, which was repealed on June 29, 2015. Before June 29, 2015, Rise King WFOE was not allowed to engage in the advertising business because its shareholder, China Net HK, did not meet such requirements. As a result, in order to have the power to direct activities of the PRC Operating Entities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the PRC Operating Entities and the obligation to absorb the losses and the right to receive benefits of the PRC Operating Entities that could potentially be significant to the PRC Operating Entities in a manner that does not violate the related PRC laws, Rise King WFOE executed the Contractual Agreements with the PRC Shareholders and each of the PRC Operating Entities. As such, Rise King WFOE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the PRC Operating Entities, or the VIEs, that are parties to the relevant VIE agreements, for accounting purposes only, which serves the purpose of consolidating the VIEs’ operating results in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements under the U.S. GAAP.

Summary of the material terms of the VIE Agreements:

Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreements:

Pursuant to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreements entered into by and between Rise King WFOE and each of the PRC Operating Entities, Rise King WFOE has the exclusive right provide to the PRC Operating Entities complete technical support, business support and related consulting services during the term of these agreements, which includes but is not limited to technical services, business consultations, equipment or property leasing, marketing consultancy, system integration, product research and development, and system maintenance. In exchange for such services, each PRC Operating Entity has agreed to pay a service fee consisting of a management fee and a fee for services provided, to Rise King WFOE, which shall be determined by Rise King WFOE according to the following factors: the complexity and difficulty of the services, seniority of and time consumed by the employees, specific contents, scope and value of the services, market price of the same type of services, and operation conditions of the PRC Operating Entities. Each agreement shall remain effective unless terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof or terminated in writing by Rise King WFOE.

Exclusive Option Agreements:

Under the Exclusive Option Agreements entered into by and among Rise King WFOE, each of the PRC Shareholders irrevocably granted to Rise King WFOE, or its designated person, an exclusive option to purchase, to the extent permitted by PRC law, a portion or all of their respective equity interest in any PRC Operating Entities for a purchase price of RMB10, or a purchase price to be adjusted to be in compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations. Rise King WFOE, or its designated person, has the sole discretion to decide when to exercise the option, whether in part or in full. Each of these agreements shall become effective upon execution and remain effective until all equity interests held by the relevant PRC Shareholder(s) in the PRC Operating Entities have been transferred or assigned to Rise King WFOE and/or any other person designated by Rise King WFOE.

Equity Pledge Agreements:

Under the Equity Pledge Agreements entered into by and among Rise King WFOE, the PRC Operating Entities and each of the PRC Shareholders, the PRC Shareholders pledged all of their equity interests in the PRC Operating Entities to guarantee the PRC Operating Entities’ and the PRC Shareholders’ performance of the relevant obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreements and other Contractual Agreements. If the PRC Operating Entities or any of the PRC Shareholders breaches its/his/her respective contractual obligations under these agreements, or upon the occurrence of one of the events regarded as an event of default under each such agreement, Rise King WFOE, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the right to dispose of the pledged equity interests. The PRC Shareholders of the PRC Operating Entities agreed not to dispose of the pledged equity interests or take any actions that would prejudice Rise King WFOE's interest, and to notify Rise King WFOE of any events or upon receipt of any notices which may affect Rise King WFOE's interest in the pledge. Each of the equity pledge agreements will be valid until all the obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreements and other Contractual Agreements have been fulfilled, including the service fee payments related to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement are paid in full.

Irrevocable Powers of Attorney:

The PRC Shareholders have each executed an irrevocable power of attorney to appoint Rise King WFOE as their exclusive attorneys-in-fact to vote on their behalf on all PRC Operating Entities matters requiring shareholder approval. The term of each power of attorney is valid so long as such shareholder is a shareholder of the respective PRC Operating Entity.

As a result of these Contractual Agreements, we through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rise King WFOE, were granted with unconstrained decision making rights and power over key strategic and operational functions that would significantly impact the PRC Operating Entities or the VIEs’ economic performance, which includes, but is not limited to, the development and execution of the overall business strategy; important and material decision making; decision making for merger and acquisition targets and execution of merger and acquisition plans; business partnership strategy development and execution; government liaison; operation management and review; and human resources recruitment and compensation and incentive strategy development and execution. Rise King WFOE also provides comprehensive services to the VIEs for their daily operations, such as operational technical support, office administration technical support, accounting support, general administration support and technical support for products and services. As a result of the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreements, the Equity Pledge Agreements and the Exclusive Option Agreements, Rise King WFOE has the obligation to absorb the losses and the right to receive benefits of the VIEs that could potentially be significant to the VIEs. Rise King WFOE is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the PRC Operating Entities, or the VIEs, for accounting purposes only, which serves the purpose of consolidating the VIEs’ operating results in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements under the U.S. GAAP.

However, there exist substantial uncertainties regarding regulations and their potential effect on our VIE structure and contractual arrangements. As of the date of this annual report, to the best knowledge of our company, our directors and management, our VIE agreements have not been tested in a court of law in the PRC and may not be effective in providing control over the VIEs as would direct equity ownership.

Please refer to the discussion of uncertainties and risks in relation to our VIE Structure on page 12 under Business-Government Regulation contained in Item 1 and page 23 under Risk Factors-Risks Relating to Regulation of Our Business and to Our Structure contained in Item 1A of this Annual Report.

As of December 31, 2024, besides China Net BVI, China Net HK and Rise King WFOE, as discussed above, we have five other indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries, ChinaNet Investment Holding Ltd, a British Virgin Islands company (“ChinaNet Investment BVI”), Grandon Investments Limited, a British Virgin Islands company (“Grandon BVI”), ChinaNet Online Holdings Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“ChinaNet Online Holdings”) and ChinaNet Online (Guangdong) Holdings Co., Ltd., a PRC company (“ChinaNet Online Guangdong Holdings”).

Grandon BVI beneficially owns a 7.69% equity interest in New Business Holdings Limited (“New Business BVI”). New Business BVI is primarily in the business of developing blockchain and e-sports platforms and operating IP data for e-sports and games with strategic partners. ChinaNet Online Guangdong Holdings beneficially owns a 9.09% equity interest in Shenzhen Global Best Products Import & Export Co., Ltd. (“Global Best Products”). Global Best Products is primarily operating an online marketplace for health products retailing. The Business activities of Global Best Products are currently dormant.

Our VIEs, VIEs’** subsidiaries and other ownership interest investment affiliates**

As discussed above, through Rise King WFOE, we beneficially own two VIEs: Business Opportunities Online and Beijing CNET Online. Business Opportunities Online is primarily engaged in providing Internet advertising, precision marketing and related data service to the SMEs. The business activities of Beijing CNET Online are currently dormant.

As of December 31, 2024, Business Opportunity Online has the following directly or indirectly wholly-owned subsidiaries in the PRC: Beijing Chuang Fu Tian Xia Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Chuang Fu Tian Xia”), Business Opportunity Online (Hubei) Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Business Opportunity Online Hubei”), and ChinaNet Online (Guangdong) Technology Co., Ltd. (“ChinaNet Online Guangdong Technology”). As of December 31, 2024, ChinaNet Online Guangdong Technology has the following majority-owned subsidiary with 51% equity interest: Guangzhou Zhongtian Hexin Xibao Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhongtian Hexin”). Except for ChinaNet Online Guangdong Technology, which entity is primarily focuses on developing and operating blockchain technology-based products and services, all other Business Opportunity Online’s wholly-owned subsidiaries are engaged in providing Internet advertising, precision marketing and related data service to the SMEs.

As of December 31, 2024, through our operating VIEs, we also beneficially own a 9.9% equity interest in Hunan Yong Fu Xiang Health Management Co., Ltd (“Yong Fu Xiang”) and a 9.9% equity interest in Wuhan Ju Liang Media Co., Ltd. (“Wuhan Ju Liang"), respectively. Yong Fu Xiang is primarily engaged in providing health care consultancy and health management services, and Wuhan Ju Liang is primarily engaged in providing livestream operations services.

Industry and Market Overview

Overview of the Advertising Market in China

According to the “2024 Global Ad spend forecasts” published by Dentsu International in December 2024, the global advertising spending is expected to grow at a slower 5.9% in 2025. The advertising market in 2025 is expected to retain a positive trajectory in all regions. Growth is driven by continual advertising innovation with algorithmically enabled ad spend estimated to reach 79% in 2027. Advertising spending in the Asia Pacific is expected to grow by 5.8% year-over-year to US$253.4 billion in 2025.

China’s advertising market is slowing in step with its economy and was also adversely affected by a challenging macroeconomic environment. However, China’s advertising market still remains one of the key drivers of global growth of advertising. Dentsu International forecasts that China’s total advertising spending will reach US$128.3 billion with a 4.2% year-over-year growth in 2025 and is expected to grow by 3.6% in 2026.

The growth of China’s advertising market is driven by a number of factors, including the sustained economic growth and increases in disposable income and consumption in China. China was the second largest economy in the world in terms of gross domestic product (“GDP”), which amounted to US$18.5 trillion in 2024, with a year-over-year growth of 5%. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the annual disposable income per capita in urban households increased to RMB54,188 in 2024, with a growth of 4.6%, after adjusted by the price factors.

Overview of the Internet Advertising Industry

According to the “2024 Global Ad spend forecasts” published by Dentsu International in December 2024, global ad-spending growth continues to be dominated by digital channels, which reached US$469.8 billion and achieved 60.8% of the total ad-spend in 2024, and is expected to further increase to 62.7% and 64.4% of the total ad-spending in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

In China, the Internet advertising market growth is expected to stem primarily from a higher internet penetration rate of 78% by the end of June 2024. Total internet users reached approximately 1.1 billion people by the end of June 2024, increased by approximately 7.42 million people when compared to December 2023 (According to the 54 th China Internet Network Development Statistical Report issued by China Internet Network Information Center (the “CNNIC”) in March 2024).

High Demand for the Internet Advertising from SMEs and O2O Business in China

We believe that the Internet advertising market in China has significant potential for future growth due to high demand from the rapid development of SMEs and O2O business.

The development of the SME market is still in its early stages in China. Since their sales channels and distribution networks are still underdeveloped, they are driven to search for new participants by utilizing Internet advertising and precision marketing. The SMEs tend to be smaller, less-developed brands primarily focused on restaurants, garments, building materials, home appliances, and entertainment with low start-up costs. The Chinese government has promulgated a series of laws and regulations to protect and promote the development of SMEs which appeals to entrepreneurs looking to benefit from the central government’s support of increased domestic demand. SMEs are now responsible for over 50% of China’s tax revenues, over 60% of China’s GDP and employment of over 80% of the urban Chinese workforce. SMEs are creating new urban jobs, and they are the main destination for new graduates entering the workforce and workers laid-off from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that re-enter the workforce.

In recent years, the capital market, Internet giants and traditional offline services business in China have all accelerated their O2O business arrangement and development. With the advent of the mobile Internet era, the innovation of user needs, and applications have become the main trend of the Internet, including online payments, location-based services, online and offline interaction and more. Due to the slowdown of China’s economy growth in recent years, the competitive market pressure within the local life services industry has increased. Under these circumstances, more and more traditional offline service providers started to use the Internet-based tools to market and promote their products and services. The rapid development of social media and short-form video applications and tools, such as: WeChat, Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Douyin etc., also have had a very important influence on the development of the O2O market, and using social media and short-form video applications and tools to promote brands and maintain customer relationships has become an important advertising and marketing trend for all offline business. In addition, the growing integration of AI applications in the advertising sector has become a key enabler for businesses seeking cost-effective content creation and accurate marketing solutions

Our Principal Products and Services

Internet Advertising, Precision Marketing and Related Data Services

Founded in 2003 and 2011, respectively, 28.com and liansuo.com are two of the leading Internet portals for information relating to small business opportunities in China, and 28.com is one of the earliest entrants in this sector. In the past few years, we further developed and upgraded the system and tools of our advertising portals, including customer user interface, and integrated our mobile functions. Besides our advertising portals, we also have established solid partnership relations with key search engines in China which entitle us to the distribution of the right to use their search engine marketing service which allows our customers to invest in their online advertising and marketing campaign through multi-channel to maximize market exposure and effectiveness.

Our Internet advertising, precision marketing and related data services provide advertisers with tools to build sales channels directly in the form of franchisees, sales agents, distributors, and/or resellers, and have the following features which enable them to be attractive to the advertisers:

We typically charge our clients a fixed monthly fee for the Internet advertising and related data services that we provide on our ad portals. For distribution of the right to use the search engine marketing service, revenue is recognized on a monthly basis and at a gross amount, based on the direct cost consumed through search engines for providing such services with a premium.

Our Internet advertising, precision marketing and related data services segment also includes our influencer marketing services. We offer influencer marketing services that help our clients enhance their visibility and reach through influencer generated content. We connect brands with the right voices to effectively promote their products and drive engagement.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, we had 426 clients who used our Internet advertising, marketing and data services, compared with 634 clients for the year ended December 31, 2023. We achieved US$14.7 million and US$30.51 million of Internet advertising, precision marketing and related data and technical services revenues for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which accounted for 95.1% and 99.8% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The overall gross profit margin of this business segment increased to 3.7% for the year ended December 31, 2024 from 1.1% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in revenue for this business segment is due to our plans to wind down our distribution of the right to use search engine marketing service business and focus on higher margin marketing services such as influencer marketing.

Blockchain-based SaaS services

From early 2022, we started to introduce our blockchain-based SaaS services to our customers. The SaaS services were designated in providing one-stop blockchain-powered enterprise management solutions via our BIF platform in forms of unique NFT generations, data record, share and storage modules subscriptions etc. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, we generated approximately US$0.75 million and US$0.08 million in revenue from this business segment, respectively.

Sales and Marketing

For the year ended December 31, 2024, we derived 95.1% of total net revenues from our Internet advertising and the provision of related data and technical services, compared with 99.8% for the year ended December 31, 2023.

We employ experienced advertising sales people and provide in-house education and training to our sales people to ensure that they provide our current and prospective clients with comprehensive information about our services, the benefits of using our advertising, marketing and data services and relevant information regarding the advertising industry. We also market our advertising services from time to time by placing advertisements on television and other well-known portals in China, participating in domestic and international franchise exhibitions in China and other countries and acting as a sponsor to third-party programming and shows.

Suppliers

Our suppliers are major search engines and/or their authorized agents, Internet gateways, other advertising resources suppliers, influencer agencies and technical service providers. For the year ended December 31, 2024, internet advertising resources purchased from two of our largest suppliers counted for approximately 51% of our total cost of revenues, in the aggregate, compared with approximately 82% from two of our largest suppliers for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Research and Development

For the year ended December 31, 2024, we did not have any research and development expenses. However, we are strategically shifting our focus towards advancing our research and development efforts towards artificial intelligence and the development of proprietary intellectual property that will enable us to deliver more accurate marketing solutions and cost-efficient content creation for our clients.

Intellectual Property

As of December 31, 2024, we had thirty-one software copyright certificates issued by the State Copyright Office of the PRC, including, but not limited to, software systems covering monitor and management platforms on Internet advertising effects, analysis systems on Internet traffic statistics and Internet user behavior, analysis systems on log-based visit hotspot and browsing trails, analysis systems on mobile advertising platform, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, cloud-compute technology and blockchain technology.

Competition

We compete with other Internet advertising companies for business opportunities in China, including companies that also distribute the right to use the search engine marketing services provide by key search engines in China, such as: Zhong Shi Lian Dong Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Shenzhen Jiu Xing Hu Dong Technology Co., Ltd., and Hao Shang Hui Media (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd, and companies that operate Internet advertising portals for business opportunities of the SMEs, such as 78.cn, zhaoshangbang.com and 1637.com etc. We compete for clients primarily on the basis of network size and coverage, location, price, the range of services that we offer and our brand name. We also compete for overall advertising spending with other alternative advertising media companies, such as wireless telecommunications, street furniture, billboards, frame and public transport advertising companies, and with traditional advertising media, such as television, newspapers, magazines and radio. We also face competition from influencer agencies, who may have established relationships with our potential clients.

Government Regulation

The PRC government imposes extensive controls and regulations over the media industry, including on internet, television, radio, newspapers, magazines, advertising, media content production, and the market research industry. This section summarizes the principal PRC regulations that are relevant to our lines of business.

Regulations on the Value-added Telecommunication Services and Advertising Industry in China

Foreign Investments in Value-added Telecommunication Services

The Negative List restricts foreign investments in value-added telecommunication services, including providing Internet information services (“ICP”). In accordance with the Regulations for the Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises (“FITE Regulations”), which were issued by the State Council of the PRC on December 11, 2001, became effective on January 1, 2002 and was subsequently amended on September 10, 2008, February 6, 2016, and March 29, 2022, respectively. The FITE Regulations stipulate that foreign invested telecommunications enterprises in the PRC (“FITEs”) must be established as Sino-foreign equity joint ventures. Under the FITE Regulations and in accordance with WTO-related agreements, the foreign party to a FITE engaging in value-added telecommunications services may hold up to 50% of the equity of the FITE, with certain exceptions as approved by the relevant government authorities, but no geographic restrictions on the FITE’s operations. On June 30, 2016, the MIIT issued an Announcement of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (the “MIIT”) on Issues concerning the Provision of Telecommunication Services in the Mainland by Service Providers from Hong Kong and Macao, which provides that investors from Hong Kong and Macau may hold more than 50% of the equity in FITEs engaging in certain specified categories of value-added telecommunications services.

For a FITE to acquire any equity interest in a value-added telecommunications business in China, it must satisfy a number of stringent performance and operational experience requirements. FITEs that meet these requirements must obtain approvals from the MIIT or their authorized local counterparts, which retain considerable discretion in granting approvals.

On July 13, 2006, the Notice of the Ministry of Information Industry on Intensifying the Administration of Foreign Investment in Value-added Telecommunications Services (the “MIIT Notice”), which reiterates certain provisions of the FITE Regulations, was issued. Under the MIIT Notice, if a FITE intends to invest in a PRC value-added telecommunications business, the FITE must be established and must apply for a telecommunications business license applicable to the business. Under the MIIT Notice, a domestic company that holds a license for the provision of Internet content services, or an ICP license, is considered to be a type of value-added telecommunications business in China, and is prohibited from leasing, transferring or selling the license to foreign investors in any form, and from providing any assistance, including providing resources, sites or facilities, to foreign investors to conduct value-added telecommunications businesses illegally in China. Trademarks and domain names that are used in the provision of Internet content services must be owned by the ICP license holder or its shareholders. On November 27, 2017, the MIIT promulgated the Notice Regulating the Use of Domain Names in the Provision of Internet-based Information Services, or the Domain Names Notice, which became effective on January 1, 2018. Under the Domain Names Notice, a domain name used by a provider of Internet-based information services must be registered and owned by the provider or, if the provider is an entity, by a shareholder or senior management of the provider.

Foreign Investments in Advertising

In accordance with the Administrative Provision on Foreign Investment in the Advertising Industry, jointly promulgated by the SAMR and MOFCOM on August 22, 2008 and became effective on October 1, 2008, foreign investors can invest in PRC advertising companies either through wholly owned enterprises or joint ventures with Chinese parties. However, the foreign investor must have at least three years of direct operations outside China in the advertising industry as its core business. This requirement was reduced to two years if foreign investment in the advertising company is in the form of a joint venture. The Administrative Provision on Foreign Investment in the Advertising Industry was subsequently repealed by the SAMR and MOFCOM on June 29, 2015.

In consideration of the above discussed restrictions on foreign investments in ICP and advertising business, our whole-owned subsidiary in China, Rise King WFOE, is ineligible to apply for the required licenses for providing Internet information services and was ineligible to apply for the required licenses for providing advertising services in China before June 29, 2015. Our ICP business and advertising business are operated by Business Opportunity Online in China. We have been, and are expected to continue to be, dependent on Business Opportunity Online to operate our ICP business and advertising business. We do not have any equity interest in our PRC Operating Entities, but Rise King WFOE receives the economic benefits of the same through the Contractual Arrangements.

We have been advised by our PRC counsel, as of the date hereof, our current contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their respective shareholders are valid, binding and enforceable. However, there exist substantial uncertainties regarding the application, interpretation and enforcement of current and future PRC laws and regulations and their potential effect on our corporate structure and contractual arrangements.

On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress of the PRC approved the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, replaced the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. For instance, under the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to the investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by foreign individuals, enterprises or other entities in China. Though it does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, there is no assurance that foreign investment via contractual arrangements would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activities under the definition in the future. In addition, the definition contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. In any of these cases, it will be uncertain whether our contractual arrangements will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment under the PRC laws and regulations. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.

Business License and permits for ICP and Advertising Companies

All PRC legal entities may commence operations only upon obtaining a business license from the relevant local branch of the SAMR.

On October 27, 1994, the Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Eighth National People’s Congress adopted the Advertising Law, which became effective on February 1, 1995, and was subsequently amended on April 24, 2015, on October 26, 2018, and on April 29, 2021. According to the Revised Advertising Law and its various implementing rules, companies engaging in advertising activities must obtain from the SAMR or its local branches a business license which specifically includes within its scope the operation of an advertising business. Companies conducting advertising activities without such a license may be subject to penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income and orders to cease advertising operations. The business license of an advertising company is valid for the duration of its existence, unless the license is suspended or revoked due to a violation of any relevant law or regulation. We have obtained such a business license from the local branches of the SAMR as required by existing PRC regulations. We do not expect to encounter any difficulties in maintaining the business license. However, if we seriously violate the relevant advertising laws and regulations, the SAMR or its local branches may revoke our business licenses.

On September 25, 2000, the State Council issued the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services (“ICP Measures”), and was subsequently amended on January 8, 2011. Under the ICP Measures, entities that provide information to online users on the Internet, or ICPs, are obliged to obtain an operating permit from the “MIIT or its local branch. ICP permits are subject to annual inspection. Our PRC operating VIEs engaged in ICP business have obtained their respective ICP permits and comply with the annual inspection and other related provisions. We do not expect to encounter any difficulties in maintaining the ICP operating permits. However, if we seriously violate the relevant ICP laws and regulations, the SAMR or its local branches may revoke our permits.

Advertising Content

PRC advertising laws, rules and regulations set forth certain content requirements for advertisements in China including, among other things, prohibitions on false or misleading content, superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content involving obscenities, superstition, violence, discrimination or infringement of the public interest. Advertisements for anesthetic, psychotropic, toxic or radioactive drugs are prohibited. There are also specific restrictions and requirements regarding advertisements that relate to matters such as patented products or processes, pharmaceutical products, medical procedures, alcohol, tobacco, and cosmetics. In addition, all advertisements relating to pharmaceuticals, medical instruments, agrochemicals and veterinary pharmaceuticals, together with any other advertisements which are subject to censorship by administrative authorities according to relevant laws or regulations, must be submitted to relevant authorities for content approval prior to dissemination.

Advertisers, advertising operators, including advertising agencies, and advertising distributors are required by PRC advertising laws and regulations to ensure that the content of the advertisements they prepare or distribute is true and in full compliance with applicable laws. In providing advertising services, advertising operators and advertising distributors must review the supporting documents provided by advertisers for advertisements and verify that the content of the advertisements complies with applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations. Prior to distributing advertisements that are subject to government censorship and approval, advertising distributors are obligated to verify that such censorship has been performed and approval has been obtained. Violation of these regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. In circumstances involving serious violations, the SAMR or its local branches may revoke violators’ licenses or permits for their advertising business operations. Furthermore, advertisers, advertising operators or advertising distributors may be subject to civil liability if they infringe on the legal rights and interests of third parties in the course of their advertising business.

We do not believe that advertisements containing content subject to restriction or censorship comprise a material portion of the advertisements displayed on our media network. However, there can be no assurance that each advertisement displayed on our network complies with relevant PRC advertising laws and regulations. Failure to comply with PRC laws and regulations relating to advertisement content restrictions governing the advertising industry in China may result in severe penalties.

Regulation on Intellectual Property

Regulation on Trademark

The Trademark Law of the PRC was adopted at the 24th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People’s Congress on August 23, 1982 and amended on February 22, 1993, October 27, 2001, August 30, 2013 and November April 23, 2019, respectively. The Trademark Law sets out the guidelines on administration of trademarks and protection of the exclusive rights of trademark owners. In order to enjoy an exclusive right to use a trademark, one must register the trademark with the Trademark Office of China National Intellectual Property Administration under the SAMR and obtain a registration certificate.

Regulation on Patents

The Patent Law of the PRC was adopted at the 4th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People’s Congress on March 12, 1984 and subsequently amended in 1992, 2000, 2008 and 2020. The Patent Law extends protection to three kinds of patents: invention patents, utility patents and design patents. According to the Implementing Regulations of the Patent Law, promulgated by the State Council of the PRC on June 15, 2001, and subsequently amended in December 28, 2002 and January 9, 2010, respectively, an invention patent refers to a new technical solution relating to a product, a process or improvement. When compared to existing technology, an invention patent has prominent substantive features and represents notable progress. A utility patent refers to any new technical solution relating to the shape, the structure, or their combination, of a product. Utility patents are granted for products only, not processes. A design patent (or industrial design) refers to any new design of the shape, pattern or color of a product or their combinations, which creates an aesthetic feeling and are suitable for industrial application. Inventors or designers must register with the State Intellectual Property Office to obtain patent protection. The term of protection is twenty years for invention patents and ten years for utility patents and design patents. Unauthorized use of patent constitutes an infringement and the patent holders are entitled to claims of damages, including royalties, to the extent reasonable, and lost profits.

Regulation on Copyright

The Copyright Law of the PRC was adopted at the 15th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Seventh National People’s Congress on September 7, 1990 and amended on October 27, 2001, February 26, 2010, and November 11, 2020, respectively. Unlike patent and trademark protection, copyrighted works do not require registration for protection in China. However, copyright owners may wish to voluntarily register with the China Copyright Protection Center to establish evidence of ownership in the event enforcement actions become necessary. Consent from the copyright owners and payment of royalties are required for the use of copyrighted works. Copyrights of movies or other audio or video works usually expire fifty years after their first publication. The amended Copyright Law extends copyright protection to Internet activities, products disseminated over the Internet and software products. The amended Copyright Law also requires registration of the pledge of a copyright.

Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange

Foreign Currency Exchange

Pursuant to the Foreign Currency Administration Rules promulgated in1996 and most recently amended in August 2008 and various regulations issued by SAFE and other relevant PRC government authorities, the Renminbi is freely convertible only to the extent of current account items, such as trade-related receipts and payments, interest and dividends. Capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans and repatriation of investment, unless expressly exempted by laws and regulations, require the prior approval from SAFE or its local branch for conversion of the Renminbi into a foreign currency, such as U.S. dollars, and remittance of the foreign currency outside the PRC.

Payments for transactions that take place within the PRC must be made in Renminbi. Domestic companies or individuals can repatriate foreign currency payments received from abroad or deposit these payments abroad subject to applicable regulations that expressly require repatriation within certain period. Foreign-invested enterprises may retain foreign exchange in accounts with designated foreign exchange banks subject to a cap set by SAFE or its local branch. Foreign currencies received under current account items can be either retained or sold to financial institutions engaged in the foreign exchange settlement or sales business without prior approval from SAFE by complying with relevant regulations. Foreign exchange income under capital account can be retained or sold to financial institutions engaged in foreign exchange settlement and sales business, with prior approval from SAFE unless otherwise provided.

After a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, became effective on June 1, 2015, instead of applying for approvals regarding foreign exchange registrations of foreign direct investment and overseas direct investment from SAFE, entities and individuals will be required to apply for such foreign exchange registrations from qualified banks. The qualified banks, under the supervision of SAFE, directly examine the applications and conduct the registration. On October 23, 2019, SAFE issued the Circular on Further Promoting Cross-border Trade and Investment Facilitation, or SAFE Circular 28. Among others, SAFE Circular 28 relaxes the prior restrictions and allows the foreign-invested enterprises without equity investment as in their approved business scope to use their capital obtained from foreign exchange settlement to make domestic equity investment as long as the investments are real and in compliance with the foreign investment-related laws and regulations. In addition, SAFE Circular 28 stipulates that qualified enterprises in certain pilot areas may use their capital income from registered capital, foreign debt and overseas listing, for the purpose of domestic payments without providing authenticity certifications to the relevant banks in advance for those domestic payments.

Our business operations, which are subject to the foreign currency exchange regulations, have all been implemented in accordance with these regulations. We will take steps to ensure that our future operations comply with these regulations.

Dividend Distribution

The principal laws, rules and regulations governing dividends paid by PRC operating subsidiaries and VIEs include the Company Law of the PRC (1993), as amended in 2018, and the Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Rules (2019). Under these laws and regulations, PRC subsidiaries and VIEs, including wholly owned foreign enterprises, or WFOEs, and domestic companies in China, may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, its PRC subsidiaries and VIEs, including WFOEs and domestic companies, are required to set aside at least 10% of their after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to their statutory capital reserve fund until the cumulative amount of such reserve reaches 50% of their respective registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends.

Tax

On March 16, 2007, the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People’s Congress of PRC passed the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China, or EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and was subsequently amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018, respectively. On November 28, 2007, the State Council at the 197th Executive Meeting passed the Regulation on the Implementation of the Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and was subsequently amended on April 23, 2019. The EIT Law adopted a uniform tax rate of 25% for all enterprises (including foreign-invested enterprises).

Under the EIT Law, enterprises are classified as either “resident enterprises” or “non-resident enterprises.” Pursuant to the EIT Law and the Implementation Rules, enterprises established under PRC laws, or enterprises established outside China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China, are considered “resident enterprises” and subject to the uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate for their global income. According to the Implementation Rules, “de facto management body” refers to a managing body that in practice exercises overall management and control over the production and business, personnel, accounting and assets of an enterprise. Our management is currently based in China and is expected to remain in China in the future. In addition, although the EIT Law provides that “dividends, bonuses and other equity investment proceeds between qualified resident enterprises” is exempted income, and the Implementation Rules refer to “dividends, bonuses and other equity investment proceeds between qualified resident enterprises” as the investment proceeds obtained by a resident enterprise from its direct investment in another resident enterprise, however, it is unclear whether our circumstance is eligible for exemption.

Furthermore, the EIT Law and Implementation Rules provide that the “non-resident enterprises” are subject to the enterprise income tax rate of 10% on their income sourced from China, if such “non-resident enterprises” (i) do not have establishments or premises of business in China or (ii) have establishments or premises of business in China, but the relevant income does not have actual connection with their establishments or premises of business in China. Such income tax may be exempted or reduced by the State Council of the PRC or pursuant to a tax treaty between China and the jurisdictions in which its non-PRC shareholders reside. Under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement between Hong Kong and Mainland China, if the Hong Kong resident enterprise owns more than 25% of the equity interest in a company in China, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise received from such company in China is reduced to 5%. If China Net HK is considered to be a Hong Kong resident enterprise under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and is considered to be a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, the dividends paid to us by Rise King WFOE may be subject to the reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement. However, based on the Notice on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties, issued on February 20, 2009 by the State Administration of Taxation, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment.

Provisions Regarding Overseas Listing and Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors

On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, including CSRC, MOFCOM, SAT, SASAC, SAMR and SAFE, jointly promulgated the M&A Rules, which became effective on September 8, 2006, and was subsequently amended on June 22, 2009, to regulate foreign investment in PRC domestic enterprises. The M&A Rules provide that the MOFCOM must be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise and any of the following situations exist: (i) the transaction involves an important industry in China; (ii) the transaction may affect national “economic security”; or (iii) the PRC domestic enterprise has a well-known trademark or historical Chinese trade name in China. The M&A Rules also contain a provision requiring offshore SPVs formed for the purpose of the overseas listing of equity interests in PRC companies and controlled directly or indirectly by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC issued a clarification that sets forth the criteria and procedures for obtaining any required approval from the CSRC. In December 2020, the NDRC and the MOFCOM promulgated the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment, which came into effect on January 18, 2021.

On July 6, 2021, the State Council and General Office of the CPC Central Committee issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. The opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies.

As a follow-up, on February 17, 2023, the CSRC, as approved by the State Council, released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and a series of associated regulatory guidelines (collectively, the “Filing Rules”), which came into effect from March 31, 2023. The Filing Rules establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings of stocks, depository receipts, convertible corporate bond, or other equity securities, and overseas listing of these securities for trading, by domestic companies. According to the Filing Rules, domestic companies that directly or indirectly offer or list their securities in an overseas market should file with the CSRC. Specifically, the examination and determination of an indirect offering and listing will be conducted on a substance-over-form basis, and an offering and listing should be considered as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company if the issuer meets both of the following conditions: (i) any of the revenue, profits, total assets or net assets of such domestic company in the most recent financial year account for more than 50% of the corresponding data in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; and (ii) the majority of its business operations are conducted in mainland China or its principal place of business is located in the mainland China, or the majority of senior management in charge of business operations are Chinese citizens or have domicile in the mainland China. According to the Filing Rules, the issuer or its affiliated domestic company, as the case may be, must file with the CSRC for its initial public offering, follow-on offering and other equivalent offering activities. Particularly, a listed company like us is required to submit the filing with respect to its follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities, within a specific time frame, which is within three business days after completion of such follow-on offering, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities. Failure to comply with the filing requirements may result in an order of rectification, a warning and fines to the relevant domestic companies, and a warning and fines on the controlling shareholder, the actual controller and other responsible persons. The Filing Rules also sets forth certain regulatory red lines for overseas offerings and listings by domestic enterprises and additional reporting obligations for listed companies in the case of material changes.

In a Q&A released on the CSRC’s official website, the respondent CSRC official stated that the domestic companies which have listed their securities in the overseas market as of March 31, 2023 will be regarded as the existing overseas listed companies, which will not be required to file with the CSRC until they conduct any new offerings subject to the filing requirements under the Filing Rules. The Q&A also addressed the contractual arrangements and pointed out that, as for companies with contractual arrangements seeking overseas offering, the CSRC will solicit opinions from relevant regulatory authorities and complete the filing procedures for companies with contractual arrangements complying with relevant laws and regulations. If we fail to file with the CSRC in a timely manner or at all, for any future offering (including, among others, follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible corporate bonds and exchangeable bonds, and other equivalent offering activities) pursuant to the Filing Rules due to our contractual arrangements, our ability to raise or utilize funds could be materially and adversely affected, and we may even need to unwind our contractual arrangements or restructure our business operations to rectify the failure to complete the filings. However, as the Filing Rules were recently promulgated, there remain substantial uncertainties as to their interpretation, application, and enforcement and how they will affect our operations and our future financing.

On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, jointly with other relevant governmental authorities, promulgated the revised Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Management of Overseas Securities Issuance and Listing by Domestic Enterprises (the “Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions”), which took effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions, domestic companies, whether offering and listing securities overseas directly or indirectly, must strictly abide the applicable laws and regulations when providing or publicly disclosing, either directly or through their overseas listed entities, documents and materials to securities services providers such as securities companies and accounting firms or overseas regulators in the process of their overseas offering and listing. If such documents or materials contain any state secrets or government authorities work secrets, domestic companies must obtain the approval from competent governmental authorities according to the applicable laws, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level with the approving governmental authority. Furthermore, the Confidentiality and Archives Management Provisions also provides that securities companies and securities service providers shall also fulfill the applicable legal procedures when providing overseas regulatory institutions and other relevant institutions and individuals with documents or materials containing any state secrets or government authorities work secrets or other documents or materials that, if divulged, will jeopardize national security or public interest.

Human Capital Resources

Employees Profiles

As of December 31, 2024, we had 25 full-time employees, 6 of whom are in sales and marketing, 6 of whom are in operations and support and 13 of whom are in management and administration.

Employee Benefit Plans

We are compliant with local prevailing wage, contractor licensing and insurance regulations, and have good relations with our employees.

As required by PRC regulations, we participate in various employee benefit plans that are organized by municipal and provincial governments, including pension, work-related injury benefits, maternity insurance, medical and unemployment benefit plans. We are required under PRC laws to make contributions to the employee benefit plans at specified percentages of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time. Members of the retirement plan are entitled to a pension equal to a fixed proportion of the salary prevailing at the member’s retirement date.

Generally, we enter into a standard employment contract with our officers and managers for a set period of years and a standard employment contract with other employees for a set period of years. According to these contracts, all of our employees are prohibited from engaging in any activities that compete with our business during the period of their employment with us. Furthermore, the employment contracts with officers or managers include a covenant that prohibits officers or managers from engaging in any activities that compete with our business for two years after the period of employment.

Corporation Information

Our principal executive offices are located at 8/F. 29 Des Voeux Road Central, Central, Hong Kong. Our telephone number at this address is +852 2669-8078 and our fax number is +852 2669-8178. For more information, see our corporate website at www.zdat.com.