Wetouch Technology Inc

Overview

Through our wholly-owned subsidiaries, we are engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, sales and servicing of medium to large sized projected capacitive touchscreens. We specialize in large-format touchscreens, which are developed and designed for a wide variety of markets and used in the financial terminals, automotive, Point of Sales, gaming, lottery, medical, Human-Machine Interface (“HMI”), and other specialized industries.

Our product portfolio comprises medium to large sized projected capacitive touchscreens ranging from 7.0 inch to 42 inch screens. In terms of the structures of touch panels, we offer (i) Glass-Glass (“GG”), primarily used in GPS/car entertainment panels in mid-size and luxury cars, industrial HMI, financial and banking terminals, POS and lottery machines; (ii) Glass-Film-Film (“GFF”), mostly used in high-end GPS and entertainment panels, industrial HMI, financial and banking terminals, and the lottery and gaming industry; (iii) Plastic-Glass (“PG”), typically adopted by touchscreens in GPS/entertainment panels, motor vehicle GPS, smart home, robotics and charging stations; and (iv) Glass-Film (“GF”), mostly used in industrial HMI.

Maintaining the industry standards for product quality and sustainability is one of our core values. Touchscreens produced by us not only have long life span with low maintenance, but also have strong anti-interference and anti-corrosion solutions, coupled with multi-touch capability and high light-transmittance ratio and stability. As a high technology company, Sichuan Vtouch Technology Co., Ltd., our subsidiary in Mainland China (“Sichuan Vtouch”) has received certifications from domestic and international institutions, such as ISO9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) Certification of Registration, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) Certification of Registration, and RoHS SGS Certification (Restriction of Hazardous Substance Testing Certification).

We generate revenues through sales of our various touchscreen products. For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recognized approximately $39.7 million and $37.9 million, respectively, in revenues.

We sell our touchscreen products both domestically in China and internationally, covering major areas in Mainland China, including but not limited to the eastern, southern, northern and southwest regions of Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Germany. We believe that we have established a strong and diversified client base. For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our domestic sales accounted for 69.6% and 69.7%, respectively, of our revenues, and our international sales accounted for 30.4% and 30.3%, respectively, of our revenues.

Corporate History and Structure

We were originally incorporated under the laws of the state of Nevada on August 31, 1992 as Gulf West Investment Properties, Inc, and were dormant and had no operations for many years.

On February 26, 2019, the Eighth Judicial District Court in and for Clark County, Nevada, Case No. A-19-787151-B, appointed Custodian Ventures LLC, an affiliate of David Lazar, as custodian of the Company (the “Custodian”). Mr. Lazar was appointed as the sole officer and director of the Company. On March 11, 2019, 85,715 shares of common stock of the Company were issued to the Custodian in consideration for the payment of cash and the issuance of a promissory note by the Custodian to the Company. Effective as of June 11, 2019, the court discharged the Custodian’s duties.

On June 18, 2020, we consummated the transactions contemplated by a Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company, the Custodian, Qixun Technology (Samoa) Limited (“Qixun Samoa”) and Qihong Technology (Samoa) Limited(“Qihong Samoa”, Qixun Samoa and Qixun Samoa are referred to as the “Buyers”). Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Buyers acquired all of the 85,715 shares of the Company owned by the Custodian, representing 50.47% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. The Custodian and the Company agreed to indemnify the Buyers from any liabilities of the Company occurring prior to June 18, 2020, and the promissory note issued by the Custodian to the Company was canceled. Immediately following the closing, David Lazar resigned as the sole officer and director of the Company and Jiaying Cai was appointed as president, secretary and treasurer of the Company and as the sole director.

Name Change

Effective September 30, 2020, we changed our name from Gulf West Investment Properties, Inc. to Wetouch Technology Inc. by filing an Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the Nevada Secretary of State to give effect to a name change. As a result of the name change, we changed our trading symbol from “GLFW” to “WETH,” effective November 3, 2020.

The Amended and Restated Articles also effectuated a reverse split of our authorized, issued and outstanding shares of common stock on a 70 for 1 new basis whereby each 70 shares of outstanding common stock was exchanged for one (1) share of new common stock (the “Reverse Split” and, for avoidance of doubt, all share amounts set forth herein shall be post Reverse Split unless otherwise specified) and, consequently, our authorized common stock increased to 300,000,000 shares of common stock and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, and our then issued and outstanding common shares decreased from 11,887,103 to 169,820 shares, all with a par value of $0.001 per share.

Reverse Merger

On October 9, 2020, we entered into a share exchange agreement (the “Share Exchange Agreement”) with Wetouch Holding Group Limited, a British Virgin Islands company incorporated on August 14, 2020 under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“BVI Wetouch”), and all the shareholders of BVI Wetouch (each a “BVI Wetouch Shareholder” and collectively the “BVI Wetouch Shareholders”), to acquire all the issued and outstanding capital stock of BVI Wetouch in exchange for the issuance to the BVI Wetouch Shareholders an aggregate of 28 million shares of our common stock (the “Reverse Merger”). The Reverse Merger closed on October 9, 2020. Immediately after the closing of the Reverse Merger, we had a total of 31,396,394 issued and outstanding shares of common stock. As a result of the Reverse Merger, BVI Wetouch is now our wholly-owned subsidiary.

On October 12, 2020, Guangde Cai was appointed as an additional director and Chairman of the Company. On October 12, 2020, Mr. Zongyi Lian was appointed as president and chief executive officer of the Company, and Mr. Yuhua Huang was appointed as chief financial officer of the Company. On the same day, Jiaying Cai resigned from the capacity of president and treasurer of the Company but remains the secretary and director of the Company.

BVI Wetouch was established under the laws of British Virgin Islands on August 14, 2020 to acquire all the shares of Hong Kong Wetouch Electronics Technology Limited (“Hong Kong Wetouch”). On September 11, 2020, BVI Wetouch acquired all the outstanding shares of Hong Kong Wetouch from the shareholders of Hong Kong Wetouch in consideration of HK$10,000 pursuant to instruments of transfer in accordance with Hong Kong law. As a result of the acquisition, Hong Kong Wetouch became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BVI Wetouch. The shareholders of Hong Kong Wetouch became the shareholders of BVI Wetouch in said transaction, and therefore the shareholders who controlled Hong Kong Wetouch became the controlling shareholders of BVI Wetouch.

Hong Kong Wetouch was incorporated on May 5, 2016 under the laws of Hong Kong. On July 19, 2016, Hong Kong Wetouch acquired all the shares of Sichuan Wetouch Technology Co., Ltd, a PRC company established in Meishan, Sichuan on May 6, 2011 (“Sichuan Wetouch”). As a result of the acquisition, Sichuan Wetouch became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Wetouch.

As BVI Wetouch owns all the outstanding shares of Hong Kong Wetouch, which, in turn, owns all the outstanding shares of Sichuan Wetouch, the Company owns indirectly all the business of Sichuan Wetouch. As a result of the Reverse Merger, Hong Kong Wetouch and Sichuan Wetouch become our indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Acquisition of HK Wetouch

Hong Kong Wetouch Technology Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of Hong Kong (“HK Wetouch”), was incorporated on December 3, 2020 under the laws of Hong Kong. HK Wetouch was established to own all the outstanding shares of Sichuan Vtouch Technology Co., Ltd., which was incorporated on December 30, 2020 in Chengdu, Sichuan, under the laws of The People’s Republic of China (“China,” or the “PRC”).

On March 12, 2021, BVI Wetouch, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, acquired all the outstanding shares of HK Wetouch from the sole shareholder of HK Wetouch, Guangde Cai, who was our former Chairman and Director in consideration of the payment of HK$10,000 pursuant to the instruments of transfer in accordance with Hong Kong law. As a result of the acquisition, HK Wetouch became a wholly-owned subsidiary of BVI Wetouch. Immediately following the acquisition of HK Wetouch, BVI Wetouch owned (i) all the outstanding shares of Hong Kong Wetouch, which, in turn, owned all the outstanding shares of Sichuan Wetouch and (ii) all of the outstanding shares of HK Wetouch, which owned all the shares of Sichuan Vtouch.

On March 2, 2021, HK Wetouch acquired all shares of Hong Kong Wetouch. On June 18, 2021, Hong Kong Wetouch submitted its application for dissolution and was dissolved on March 18, 2022. In addition, as of March 31, 2021, Sichuan Wetouch’s business and operations have been assumed by Sichuan Vtouch.

On March 30, 2023, an independent third party acquired all the shares of Sichuan Wetouch for a nominal amount.

Corporate Structure

The diagram below sets forth our corporate structure as of the date of this Annual Report.

Recent Developments

Private Placement

On January 19, 2023, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain investors, pursuant to which we sold to such investors an aggregate of 160,000,000 shares of the common stock of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $40,000,000, or $0.25 per share. The net proceeds of the offering (after deducting legal and accounting fees and expenses) shall be used by the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes and the repayment of debt. The issuance of the shares in the private placement was exempted from registration pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation S as promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act. The securities are subject to transfer restrictions, and the certificates evidencing the shares will contain an appropriate legend stating that such securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold absent registration or pursuant to an exemption therefrom.

Private Placement Consent Agreement

On March 18, 2023, the Company entered into a private placement consent agreement with a third-party investment bank firm (see Note 10) on the agent fees of US$1.2 million, payable only on the completion of a private placement. If the private placement is not completed by November 1, 2023, the representatives under the agreement reserve their rights to pursue any and all claims, actions or remedies available to them under the engagement between the Company and the private placement representatives. The Company made the full payment in February, 2024.

Reverse Stock Split

On February 17, 2023, our board of directors (the “Board”) authorized a reverse stock split of our common stock at a ratio of not less than one to five (1:5) and not more than one to eighty (1:80), with the exact amount and the timing of the reverse stock split to be as determined by the Chairman of the Board. Upon effectiveness of such reverse stock split, the number of authorized shares of the common stock of the Company will also be decreased in the same ratio.

On July 16, 2023, the Company’s board of directors approved the reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock at a ratio of 1-for-20. On July 16, 2023, the Company filed a certificate of change (with an effective date of July 16, 2023) with the Nevada Secretary of State pursuant to Section 78.209 of the Nevada Revised Statutes to effectuate a 1-for-20 reverse stock split of its common stock. On September 11, 2023, the reverse stock split was approved by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and took effect on September 12, 2023. All share information included in this annual report has been adjusted as if the reverse stock split occurred as of the earliest period presented.

Public Offering

On February 20, 2024, we entered into an underwriting agreement with WestPark Capital, Inc. and Craft Capital Management LLC, as representatives (the “Public Offering Representatives”) of the underwriters listed in the underwriting agreement (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell to the Underwriters in a firm commitment underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) up to an aggregate of 2,484,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a public offering price of $5.00 per share. The Offering was conducted pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (SEC filed No. 333-270726), which was declared effective on February 14, 2024. In connection with the Offering, our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol WETH on February 21, 2024. The Offering closed on February 23, 2024 and generated gross proceeds of $10.8 million. We paid a total of approximately $0.8 million in underwriting discounts and commissions, and approximately $0.8 million for other costs and expenses related to the Offering. Our net proceeds from the Offering, after deducting the underwriting discount, the Underwriters’ fees and expenses, and our Offering expenses, were approximately $9.2 million. We also issued the Representatives’ Warrants (the “Public Offering Representatives’ Warrants”) to the Public Offering Representatives to purchase 43,200 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to 125.0% of the public offering price.

Our Products

We offer medium to large sized projected capacitive touchscreens, which can be categorized as set forth below:

As of December 31, 2023, product types GFF and GG constitute our main stream products, accounting for approximately an average of 41.8% and 51.7%, respectively, of our total revenues, with product types GF and PG and other raw materials accounting for 2.0%, 2.4% and 2.1%, respectively, of our total revenues. As of December 31, 2022, product types GFF and GG constitute our main stream products, accounting for approximately an average of 38.5% and 52.68%, respectively, of our total revenues, with product types GF and PG and other raw materials accounting for 2.55%, 4.4% and 1.87%, respectively, of our total revenues.

Applications of the Company’s Products

Our products are used and applied in the production of a variety of products in a wide range of industries. Our products’ areas of common application are set out below.

Point of Sale (“POS”) Machines

POS machines are used in a variety of retailers, including in department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, boutiques, restaurants, hotels, banks, logistics, telecommunication and other service industries. Due to the frequent use of touchscreens on POS machines, Wetouch has adopted the use of high-end materials which give its products’ a competitive advantage through their anti-scratch, high temperature resistance and long use life qualities.

Car Navigators and Entertainment Systems

Touchscreen products for car navigation and entertainment systems take advantage of the popularity of touchscreen consoles in motor vehicles. Wetouch touchscreens are particularly suitable for motor vehicles GPS and entertainment systems, due to their resistance to temperature variation. These touchscreens may be used in both inbuilt and external car systems.

ATM Machines and Other Financial Machines

ATMs and other similar machines use touchscreens or have a touchscreen function. The touchscreens need to have high-endurance capacities as they are used by the general public and are often located outdoors, such that these screens must withstand weathering. Our products are particularly suited to use in these machines as they are highly durable.

Industrial Equipment

Touchscreens in the industrial sector have broad application, and play an important role in industrial HMI. Industrial HMI systems and equipment often require touchscreen functions. These touchscreens must be resistant to interference, stable and have good touch sensitivity. Our products fully meet these requirements, being temperature variation resistant, dustproof and waterproof.

Gaming Machines

The new generation of gambling machines are commonly adopting a touchscreen function. Gaming machines with a touchscreen function provide an enhanced experience for uses via multi-touch sensory touch systems. Our products are therefore popular amongst gambling machine manufacturers.

Lottery Machines

The self-service lottery ticket vending machine is provided with an operator-oriented touch display device, an input device, a modem, a cash register, printer and security authentication function. The touchscreen display facilitates easy and user-friendly operation of the lottery machine.

Ticket Machines and Kiosks

Self-service ticket machines and kiosks contain touchscreen interfaces which are durable and have a long use life. These self-service machines are used in daily lives, and as such there is a continuous demand for high quality and effective touchscreens. Our products are widely used in these ticketing machines and kiosks.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, we had approximately $9.8 million in revenues generated from the sales of automotive touchscreens, accounting for 24.6% of our total revenues, with industrial HMI touchscreens accounting for 19.9%, POS touchscreens for 16.7%, gaming touchscreens accounting for 14.2%, medical touchscreens for 14.6%, and multi-functional printer touchscreens for 10.1%, of our total revenues. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we had approximately $9.3 million in revenues generated from the sales of automotive touchscreens, accounting for 24.5% of our total revenues, with industrial HMI touchscreens accounting for 21.1%, POS touchscreens for 6.6%, gaming touchscreens accounting for 5.2%, multi-functional printer touchscreens for 3.8%, of our total revenues.

Our Customers

We have six and six customers each accounting for more than 10% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, our top five customers, namely (1) Siemens Industrial Automation Products (Chengdu) Co., Ltd., (2) Shanghai Sigang Electronics Co., Ltd., (3) E-Lead Electronic Co. Ltd., (4) MultimediaLink Inc., and (5) Suzhou Weinview Co., Ltd., accounted for approximately 22.5%, 16.5%, 15.7%, 14.1% and 11.3%, respectively, of our total revenues.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, our top six customers, namely (1) Siemens Industrial Automation Products (Chengdu) Co., Ltd., (2) Shanghai Sigang Electronics Co., Ltd., (3) E-Lead Electronic Co. Ltd., (4) MultimediaLink Inc., (5) Suzhou Weinview Co., Ltd., and (6) Canon (Suzhou) Ltd. accounted for approximately 21.2%, 16.1%, 14.8%, 13.7%, 11.9% and 10.1%, respectively, of our total revenues.

As Sichuan Wetouch’s business and operations have been assumed by Sichuan Vtouch, Sichuan Vtouch entered into sales framework agreements, which were entered into by Sichuan Wetouch previously, with our top customers on December 31, 2021. The material terms of the sales framework agreements with our top five customers provide:

We do not typically enter into sales framework agreements with other customers but sell products to them through purchase orders.

The key terms of our purchase order typically include the following:

Sichuan Vtouch is obligated to provide 1) products per the specific requirements of the orders, and 2) unconditional defect warranty for our products. Any violation of the order terms may result in termination of the orders or replacement of our products.

For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not provide any extended payment terms to any of our customers. Our customers are required to make full payment within three to six months from the delivery date. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in January 2020, collection activities from some of our customers affected by the pandemic resulted in longer payment terms.

Sales and Marketing

We source our customers through multiple channels: (i) from our own research through Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) and outreach, (ii) through referrals from our present customers, (iii) through our websites, which provide product information for sale, as well as telephone and email contact information; and (iv) through industry exhibitions/expos.

Our main target markets are economically developed countries and regions, including eastern, southern, northern and southwest regions of Mainland China, South Korea, and Germany. We believe that we have established a strong client base, including global well-known institutional customers. Overseas sales were approximately $12.1 million in 2023 as compared to $11.5 million in 2022.

We target these overseas customers mainly via our online marketing efforts. In order to market our products, occupy more market share and secure more quality customers, we frequently participate in, and promote our products at, specific touchscreen technology exhibitions held internationally.

Our products are produced to order and are marketed directly by our own sales personnel. We do not rely on distributors to sell our products.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, the revenues generated from our domestic customers amounted to approximately $27.6 million, constituting approximately 69.6% of our total revenues, with overseas customers accounting for approximately $12.1 million, constituting approximately 30.4% of our total revenues, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the revenues generated from our domestic customers amounted to approximately $26.4 million, constituting approximately 69.7% of our total revenues, with overseas customers accounting for approximately $11.5 million, constituting approximately 30.3% of our total revenues, respectively.

Our Suppliers

Sichuan Vtouch does not typically enter into supply agreements with our suppliers. We can utilize any supplier we determine and there are no minimum purchase requirements when we place orders with our suppliers.

We place purchase orders with suppliers of raw materials for the production of our products. The general terms of the purchase order include specifications for product name, quantity, price, order amount, and delivery date, as well as delivery methods, packaging, inspection procedures, breach terms, and dispute resolution, all tailored to each order. Payment terms are also specified in each order. Additionally, all products must meet nationally or industry-prescribed quality standards, with each order requiring a supplier’s quality certification. The supplier must unconditionally accept returns and either refund the purchase price in full or provide replacements if the products do not meet the required quality standards, are damaged, or significantly differ from what was ordered.

We do not consider any of our suppliers to be material to our business and we can utilize any supplier we determine at our sole discretion. Although we can utilize any supplier we determine, we believe that we have established healthy and stable relationships with our significant suppliers.

We purchase our raw materials through various suppliers. Raw material purchases from one and four suppliers, each of which individually exceeded 10% of the Company’s total raw material purchases, accounted for approximately 13.3% and 47.2% of the Company’s total raw material purchases for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The general terms of the purchase order include specifications for product name, quantity, price, order amount, and delivery date, as well as delivery methods, packaging, inspection procedures, breach terms, and dispute resolution, all tailored to each order. Payment terms are also defined per order. Additionally, all products must meet nationally or industry-prescribed quality standards, with each order requiring a supplier’s quality certification. The supplier must unconditionally accept returns and either refund the purchase price in full or provide replacements if the products do not meet the required quality standards, are damaged, or significantly differ from what was ordered.

Production and Quality Control

The Company has adopted a made-to-order production model as follows:

This process is subject to continuous review and monitoring by the management team in consultation with engineers, electricians and other technical experts to ensure that finished products are of the highest quality and meet customer requirements and ISO9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) standard.

In order to maintain product safety and a high standard of product quality, the Company implements a strict set of quality control policies and inspection protocols. These policies and protocols are enforced by the Company’s senior management and officers along every step of the production to post-production process. Their management guidelines along with key company quality policies are set out below:

The Company has strict production standards in place that govern what constitutes acceptable quality for its products. This ensures that the Company’s products fulfill product certification standards. The production team adheres to the following criteria when making its product standard assessment:

The products are inspected before they are delivered to our customers. All products must pass the following inspections:

Seasonality

There is no significant seasonality in our business.

Research and Development

We are committed to our own research and development projects as well as partnership initiatives in order to continuously and systematically upgrade our touchscreen technology. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have 11 employees in our R&D department.

Intellectual Property

Our business is dependent on a combination of trademarks, patents, domain names, trade names, trade secrets and other proprietary rights in order to protect our intellectual property rights. As of the date of this Annual Report, Sichuan Vtouch has one registered trademark in Mainland China and five pending patent applications.

Trademarks

Set forth below is a detailed description of our current trademark:

Patents

Sichuan Vtouch has applied for five patents with the Patent Office of China National Intellectual Property Administration. As of the date of this Annual Report, the patent applications are still pending.

Set forth below is a detailed description of our pending patent applications:

Patents registered in Mainland China cannot be enforced in other jurisdictions to which the Company supplies its products. We currently have pending patent applications only in Mainland China. We plan to submit patent registration applications in our target market jurisdictions including United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India and Russia by the end of 2024.

Environmental Matters

Our business in Mainland China is subject to various pollution control regulations in Mainland China with respect to noise, water and air pollution and the disposal of waste. Specifically, the major environmental regulations applicable to us include the PRC Environmental Protection Law, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Air Pollution, the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Solid Waste Pollution, and the PRC Law on the Prevention and Control of Noise Pollution.

Sichuan Vtouch originally received the Pollutant Discharge Permit from Renshou County environmental protection agency, which expired on May 15, 2019. Pursuant to a Statement on Change of Pollutant Discharge Permit to Stationary Pollution Source Registration Form dated September 1, 2020, the environmental protection system in Renshou County, Sichuan, was changed from permission to registration due to local administrative division change. Sichuan Vtouch is registered under the new system by the issuance of the Stationary Pollution Source Registration Form as of the date of this Annual Report.

The Company is not aware of any investigations, prosecutions, disputes, claims or other proceedings in respect of environmental protection, nor has the Company been punished or can foresee any punishment to be made by any environmental administration authorities of the PRC.

Competition

The markets for touchscreen products are highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in its markets are product characteristics such as touch performance, durability, optical clarity and price, as well as supplier characteristics such as quality, service, delivery time and reputation. The Company believes that it competes favorably with respect to these factors, although there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to compete successfully in the future.

Despite that touchscreen products are highly competitive as a whole, we face fewer competitors, as we produce medium to large size touchscreens which are specially tailored to certain industries, such as industrial HMI, gaming, financing, lottery, automotive, medical, and POS, among others, and require more stable supply and longer guaranty and life span, compared with small size touchscreens, which are characterized by shorter life cycles and guaranty but more demand in quantity.

We believe the following companies may be our competitors:

Industry

Since inception, we have positioned ourselves in the professional touchscreen display industry. Touchscreen is an input and output device and layered on top of an electronic visual display of an information processing system, allowing individuals to access information and interact with the device simply by touching the device’s screen with a finger or a specialized tool. Accordingly, the ease of use offered by touchscreen-based systems makes the systems well suited both for applications for the general public and for specialized applications for institutional users and trained computer users.

Although touchscreen has become mainstream only over the last decade, the concept of a touch-sensitive computer display was developed as early as 1965. Since the introduction of Apple’s iPhone in 2007, touchscreen technology has made rapid inroads into various electronics markets, with a number of other significant companies also incorporating this technology into their products (as opposed to using a mouse, keyboard, keypad or trackball). Viewed today as the most important tool to facilitate interaction between the individual and machine, touchscreen technology is now an integral part of a wide range of computing products.

Regulations

Overview

We operate our business in Mainland China under a legal regime consisting of the National People’s Congress, which is the country’s highest legislative body, the State Council, which is the highest authority of the executive branch of the PRC central government, and several ministries and agencies under its authority, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation (“SAMR”) and their respective local offices.

This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in Mainland China.

Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment in Mainland China

On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress promulgated the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced three existing laws on foreign investments in China, namely, the PRC Equity Joint Venture Law, the PRC Cooperative Joint Venture Law, and the Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected Mainland China 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-invested enterprises in Mainland China. The Foreign Investment Law establishes the basic framework for the access to, and the promotion, protection, and administration of foreign investments in view of investment protection and fair competition.

Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by one or more natural persons, business entities, or otherwise organizations of a foreign country within Mainland China, or foreign investors, and the investment activities include the following situations: (i) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, establishes an Foreign Investment Entity (“FIE”) in Mainland China; (ii) a foreign investor acquires stock shares, equity shares, shares in assets, or other similar rights and interests of an enterprise within Mainland China; (iii) a foreign investor, individually or collectively with other investors, invests in a new project in Mainland China; and (iv) investments in other means as provided by laws, administrative regulations, or the State Council.

Investment activities in Mainland China by foreign investors are principally governed by theGuidance Catalogue of Industries for Foreign Investment, or the Catalogue, which was promulgated and is amended from time to time by the Ministry of Commerce, or the MOFCOM, and the National Development and Reform Commission, or the NDRC. Restricted and prohibited industries are listed in the Catalogue. The Catalogue sets out a unified basis for the special administrative measures for foreign investment access. Fields not mentioned in the list for foreign investment access, including touchscreen manufacturing, are administered under the principle of equal treatment for domestic and foreign capital.

Industries not listed in the Catalogue are generally deemed as constituting a “permitted” category. According to the Catalogue, touchscreen manufacturing is classified as industry where foreign investments are permitted.

Furthermore, the Foreign Investment Law provides that FIEs established according to the existing laws regulating foreign investment may maintain their structure and corporate governance within five years after the implementation of the Foreign Investment Law.

In addition, the Foreign Investment Law also provides several protective rules and principles for foreign investors and their investments in Mainland China, including, among others, that local governments must abide by their commitments to the foreign investors; FIEs are allowed to issue stocks and corporate bonds; expropriation or requisition of the investment of foreign investors is prohibited except for special circumstances, in which case statutory procedures must be followed and fair and reasonable compensation must be made in a timely manner; mandatory technology transfer is prohibited; and the capital contributions, profits, capital gains, proceeds out of asset disposal, licensing fees of intellectual property rights, indemnity or compensation legally obtained, or proceeds received upon settlement by foreign investors in Mainland China may be freely remitted inward and outward in Renminbi or foreign currencies. Also, foreign investors or FIEs should be imposed legal liabilities for failing to report investment information in accordance with the requirements.

On December 26, 2019, the PRC State Council approved the Implementation Rules of Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. The Implementation Rules of Foreign Investment Law restates certain principles of the Foreign Investment Law and further provides that, among others, (i) if the legal form or the governing structure of an FIE established prior to the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law does not comply with the compulsory provisions of the PRC Company Law or the PRC Partnership Enterprises Law, such FIE should complete amendment registration accordingly no later than January 1, 2025; if it fails to do so, the enterprise registration authority will not process other registration matters of the FIE and may publicize such non-compliance; and (ii) the provisions regarding transfer of equity interests, distribution of profits and remaining assets as stipulated in the joint venture contracts of an existing FIE may survive the Foreign Investment Law during its joint venture term.

Regulations on Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection Law

TheEnvironmental Protection Law of the PRC, or the Environmental Protection Law, was promulgated and effective on December 26, 1989, and most recently amended on April 24, 2014, which amendments became effective January 1, 2015. This Environmental Protection Law has been formulated for the purpose of protecting and improving both the living environment and the ecological environment, preventing and controlling pollution, other public hazards and safeguarding people’s health.

According to the provisions of theEnvironmental Protection Law, in addition to other relevant laws and regulations of the PRC, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and its local counterparts take charge of administering and supervising said environmental protection matters. Pursuant to theEnvironmental Protection Law, the environmental impact statement on any construction project must assess the pollution that the project is likely to produce and its impact on the environment, and stipulate preventive and curative measures; the statement shall be submitted to the competent administrative department of environmental protection for approval. Installations for the prevention and control of pollution in construction projects must be designed, built and commissioned together with the principal part of the project.

Permission to commence production at or utilize any construction project shall not be granted until its installations for the prevention and control of pollution have been examined and confirmed to meet applicable standards by the appropriate administrative department of environmental protection that examined and approved the environmental impact statement. Installations for the prevention and control of pollution shall not be dismantled or left idle without authorization. Where it is absolutely necessary to dismantle any such installation or leave it idle, prior approval shall be obtained from the competent local administrative department of environmental protection.

TheEnvironmental Protection Law makes it clear that the legal liabilities of any violation of said law include warning, fine, rectification within a time limit, compulsory cease operation, compulsory reinstallation of dismantled installations of the prevention and control of pollution or compulsory reinstallation of those left idle, compulsory shutout or closedown, or even criminal punishment.

Order on Ecosystem by The Ministry of Ecology and Environment 2019 Classification-based Management on Fixed Pollutant Source

Pursuant to the Order on Ecosystem by The Ministry of Ecology and Environment, which was issued on July 28, 2017 and most recently amended on December 20, 2019, The Ministry of Ecology and Environment implements a classification-based management on the environmental impact assessment, or EIA, of pollutants according to pollutant amount and the impact of the pollutants on the environment as below

The touchscreen manufacturing is classified as to fill in a Registration Form. Pursuant to a Statement on Change of Pollutant Discharge Permit to Stationary Pollution Source Registration Form by the local government dated September 1, 2020, the environmental protection system in Renshou County, Sichuan, was changed from permission to registration due to local administrative division change. Therefore, upon submission of all required documentation, we are registered under the new system by filling in Stationary Pollution Source Registration Form.

Regulations on Consumer Rights Protection

Our business is subject to a variety of consumer protection laws, including the PRC Consumer Rights and Interests Protection Law, which was amended in 2013 and became effective on March 15, 2014. It imposes stringent requirements and obligations on business operators. Failure to comply with these consumer protection laws could subject us to administrative sanctions, such as the issuance of a warning, confiscation of illegal income, imposition of fines, an order to cease business operations, revocation of business licenses, and potential civil or criminal liabilities.

As of the date of this Annual Report, we are not aware of any warning, investigations, prosecutions, disputes, claims or other proceedings in respect of customer rights protection, nor have we been punished or can foresee any punishment to be made by any government authorities of the PRC.

Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights

Regulations on Trademark

Trademarks are protected by the PRC Trademark Law adopted in 1982 and subsequently amended as well as the Implementation Regulations for the Trademark Law of the PRC in 2002 and subsequently amended in 2014 and 2019. The Trademark Office of the SAMR is responsible for the registration and administration of trademarks and the Trademark Review and Adjudication Committee established by the SAMR is responsible for resolving trademark disputes in Mainland China. Registered trademarks are valid for ten years from the date the registration is approved. A registrant may apply to renew a registration within twelve months before the expiration date of the registration. If the registrant fails to apply in a timely manner, a grace period of six additional months may be granted. If the registrant fails to apply before the grace period expires, the registered trademark shall be deregistered. Renewed registrations are valid for ten years. In April 2014, the State Council issued the revised Implementation of the Trademark Law, which specified the requirements of applying for trademark registration and review. As of the date of this Annual Report, we had 1 registered trademark in Mainland China.

Regulations on Patent Law

According to the PRC Patent Law, which was issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in 1984 and last amended on October 17, 2020, effective on June 1, 2021, and Implementation Rules of the Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China, which were promulgated by the State Council in 2001 and last amended on January 9, 2010. Draft amendments to the Implementation Rules of the Patent Law are currently under review. The Patent Law and its implementation rules provide for three types of patents: “invention,” “utility model” and “design.” “Invention” refers to any new technical solution relating to a product, a process or improvement thereof; “utility model” refers to any new technical solution relating to the shape, structure, or their combination, of a product, which is suitable for practical use; and “design” refers to any new design of the whole or partial shape, pattern, color or the combination of any two of them, of a product, that creates an aesthetical feeling and is suitable for industrial application. Invention patents are valid for 20 years, while design patents and utility model patents are valid for 15 years and 10 years, respectively, each calculated from the date of application. To be patentable, invention or utility models must meet three criteria: novelty, inventiveness and practicability. Except under certain specific circumstances provided by law, any third-party user must obtain consent or a proper license from the patent owner to use the patent. Otherwise, the use constitutes an infringement of the patent rights. As of the date of this Annual Report, we had five pending patent applications.

Regulations on Foreign Exchange

General Administration of Foreign Exchange

Under the PRC Foreign Currency Administration Rules promulgated on January 29, 1996 and most recently amended on August 5, 2008 and various regulations issued by the SAFE, and other relevant PRC government authorities, Renminbi is convertible into other currencies for current account items, such as trade-related receipts and payments and payment of interest and dividends. The conversion of Renminbi into other currencies and remittance of the converted foreign currency outside Mainland China for capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans, and repatriation of investment, requires the prior approval from the SAFE or its local office.

Payments for transactions that take place in Mainland China must be made in Renminbi. Unless otherwise approved, Mainland China companies may not repatriate foreign currency payments received from abroad or retain the same abroad. FIEs may retain foreign exchange in accounts with designated foreign exchange banks under the current account items subject to a cap set by the SAFE or its local branch. Foreign exchange proceeds under the current accounts may be either retained or sold to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange pursuant to relevant SAFE rules and regulations. For foreign exchange proceeds under the capital accounts, approval from the SAFE is generally required for the retention or sale of such proceeds to a financial institution engaged in settlement and sale of foreign exchange.

Pursuant to the Circular of the SAFE on Notice of State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Improvements and Adjustments to Foreign Exchange Control Policies for Direct Investment, which was promulgated on November 19, 2012, became effective on December 17, 2012, and was further amended on May 4, 2015, October 10, 2018, and December 30, 2019, approval of the SAFE is not required for opening a foreign exchange account and depositing foreign exchange into the accounts relating to the direct investments. This circular also simplifies foreign exchange-related registration required for foreign investors to acquire equity interests of PRC companies and further improve the administration on foreign exchange settlement for FIEs.

The Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Simplifying and Improving the Foreign Exchange Management Policies for Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015 and was amended on December 30, 2019, cancels the administrative approvals of foreign exchange registration of direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment and simplifies the procedure of foreign exchange-related registration. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 13, investors should register with banks for direct domestic investment and direct overseas investment.

The Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, which was promulgated on March 30, 2015, became effective on June 1, 2015, and was amended on December 30, 2019, provides that an FIE may, according to its actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign exchange capital in its capital account for which the relevant foreign exchange administration has confirmed monetary capital contribution rights and interests (or for which the bank has registered the injection of the monetary capital contribution into the account). Pursuant to this circular, for the time being, FIEs are allowed to settle 100% of their foreign exchange capital on a discretionary basis; an FIE should truthfully use its capital for its own operational purposes within the scope of its business; where an ordinary FIE makes domestic equity investment with the amount of foreign exchanges settled, the FIE must first go through domestic re-investment registration and open a corresponding account for foreign exchange settlement pending payment with the foreign exchange administration or the bank at the place where it is registered.

The Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Policies for Reforming and Regulating the Control over Foreign Exchange Settlement under the Capital Account, which was promulgated and became effective on June 9, 2016, provides that enterprises registered in Mainland China may also convert their foreign debts from foreign currency into Renminbi on a self-discretionary basis. This circular also provides an integrated standard for conversion of foreign exchange under capital account items (including, but not limited to, foreign currency capital and foreign debts) on a self-discretionary basis, which applies to all enterprises registered in Mainland China.

On January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Notice of State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Improving the Check of Authenticity and Compliance to further Promote Foreign Exchange Control, which stipulates several capital control measures with respect to the outbound remittance of profit from domestic entities to offshore entities, including: (i) banks should check board resolutions regarding profit distribution, the original version of tax filing records, and audited financial statements pursuant to the principle of genuine transactions; and (ii) domestic entities should hold income to account for previous years’ losses before remitting the profits. Moreover, pursuant to this circular, domestic entities should make detailed explanations of the sources of capital and utilization arrangements, and provide board resolutions, contracts, and other proof when completing the registration procedures in connection with an outbound investment.

On October 25, 2019, the SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Promoting the Facilitation of Cross-border Trade and Investment, which, among other things, allows all FIEs to use Renminbi converted from foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in Mainland China, as long as the equity investment is genuine, does not violate applicable laws, and complies with the negative list on foreign investment. However, since this circular is newly promulgated, it is unclear how the SAFE and competent banks will carry it out in practice.

According to the Regulations of the PRC on Administration of Company Registration, which were promulgated by the State Council on June 24, 1994, became effective on July 1, 1994, and were amended on February 6, 2016, and other laws and regulations governing FIEs and company registrations, the establishment of an FIE and any capital increase and other major changes in an FIE should be registered with the State Administration for Market Regulation or its local counterparts and filed via the enterprise registration system.

Pursuant to SAFE Circular 13 and other laws and regulations relating to foreign exchange, when setting up a new FIE, the enterprise should register with the bank located at its registered place after obtaining the business license, and if there is any change in capital or other changes relating to the basic information of the FIE, including, without limitation, any increase in its registered capital or total investment, the FIE must register such changes with the bank located at its registered place after obtaining approval from or completing the filing with relevant authorities. Pursuant to the relevant foreign exchange laws and regulations, such foreign exchange registration with the banks will typically take less than four weeks upon the acceptance of the registration application.

Based on the foregoing, if we intend to provide funding to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries through capital injection at or after their establishment, we must register the establishment of and any follow-on capital increase in our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries with the State Administration for Market Regulation or its local counterparts, file such via the enterprise registration system, and register such with the local banks for the foreign exchange related matters.

Regulations on Offshore Financing

Under the Circular of the SAFE on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration over the Overseas Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment by Domestic Residents via Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, effective on July 4, 2014, Mainland China residents are required to register with the local SAFE branch prior to the establishment or control of an offshore special purpose vehicle, which is defined as an offshore enterprise directly established or indirectly controlled by Mainland China residents for investment and financing purposes, with the enterprise assets or interests Mainland China residents hold in Mainland China or overseas. The term “control” means to obtain the operation rights, right to proceeds, or decision-making power of a special purpose vehicle through acquisition, trust, holding shares on behalf of others, voting rights, repurchase, convertible bonds, or other means. At the same time, the SAFE has issued the Operation Guidance for the Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration over Round-Trip Investment regarding the procedures for SAFE registration under SAFE Circular 37, which became effective on July 4, 2014 as an attachment of SAFE Circular 37.

The Mainland China residents are also required to amend the registration or filing with the local SAFE branch any material change in the offshore company, such as any change of basic information (including change of such Mainland China residents, name and operation term), increase or decreases in investment amount, transfers or exchanges of shares, or merger or divisions. On February 28, 2015, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which became effective on June 1, 2015. Pursuant to SAFE Notice 13, instead of applying for approvals regarding foreign exchange registrations of foreign direct investment and overseas direct investment from SAFE as required under current laws, entities and individuals will be required to apply for such foreign exchange registrations, including those required under the SAFE Circular 37, from qualified banks. The qualified banks, under the supervision of SAFE, will directly examine the applications and conduct the registration.

Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in the SAFE Circular 37, or making misrepresentation on or failure to disclose controllers of foreign-invested enterprise that is established through round-trip investment, may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the increase of its registered capital, the payment of dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate and the capital inflow from the offshore entities, and may also subject relevant Mainland China residents to penalties under Mainland China foreign exchange administration regulations. Mainland China residents who directly or indirectly hold any shares in our company from time to time are required to register with SAFE in connection with their investments in us. We have requested Mainland China residents holding direct or indirect interest in our company to our knowledge to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments as required under the SAFE Circular 37 and other related rules.

As of the date of this Annual Report, the Mainland China residents have either not completed, or have not applied for, foreign exchange registration under the SAFE Circular 37 and other related rules. Although they are either in the process of making foreign exchange registration or plan to make foreign exchange registrations, they may still be faced with the above possible fines in accordance with the PRC Laws.

Regulations on Dividend Distribution

The principal laws and regulations regulating the distribution of dividends by FIEs in Mainland China include the PRC Company Law, as amended in 2004, 2005, 2013, and 2018, and the 2019 PRC Foreign Investment Law and its Implementation Rules. Under the current regulatory regime in Mainland China, FIEs in Mainland China may pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with Mainland China accounting standards and regulations. A Mainland China company is required to set aside as statutory reserve funds at least 10% of its after-tax profit, until the cumulative amount of such reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital unless laws regarding foreign investment provide otherwise. A Mainland China company cannot distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.

We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. As a result, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not rely on an investment in our common stock as a source for any future dividend income.

Regulations on M&A and Overseas Listing

In August 2006, six PRC governmental agencies jointly promulgated the Provisions on Foreign-funded Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises, or the M&A Rule, as most recently amended in 2009. The M&A Rule requires offshore special purpose vehicles formed to pursue overseas listing of equity interests in Mainland China companies and controlled directly or indirectly by Mainland China companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on any stock exchange overseas.

The M&A Rule further requires that the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor acquires control of a Mainland China domestic enterprise or a foreign company with substantial Mainland China operations, if certain thresholds under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings, issued by the State Council, are triggered. Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the NPC requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds be cleared by the MOFCOM before they can be completed.

On February 17, 2023, with the approval of the State Council, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Administrative Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Trial Administrative Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; (2) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in Mainland China or its main places of business are located in Mainland China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in Mainland China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for initial public offering and listing in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. According to the relevant provisions of the Trial Administrative Measures and its supporting guidelines, the Company is required to fulfill the filing procedures with the CSRC within three days of the closing of the Offering. According to the Trial Administrative Measures, the Company has submitted the filing materials to the CSRC, but the materials were not complete due to lack of a commitment letter from the Company’s lead underwriter for the Offering, and the Company withdrew the filing from the CSRC. The Company will submit the filing materials again when the materials are ready. However, given that the Trial Administrative Measures were recently promulgated, there remain substantial uncertainties as to their interpretation, application, and enforcement and there is no guarantee that the relevant PRC government agencies, including the CSRC, would reach the same conclusion that we and our PRC counsel have reached. If the CSRC has determined that we have failed to comply with the post-offering filing obligations imposed by the Trial Administrative Measures or make a misrepresentation, misleading statement or material omission in the materials we submit to the CSRC, the CSRC would have the right to order rectification, issue a warning and impose a fine on us of between RMB 1 million and RMB 10 million and issuing a warning to the parties responsible for such failure, misrepresentation or material omission and impose a fine on each of such individuals ranging from RMB 500,000 to RMB 5 million.

On February 17, 2023, the CSRC held a press conference for the release of the Trial Administrative Measures and issued the Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that (1) a six-month transition period will be granted to domestic companies which, prior to the effective date of the Trial Administrative Measures, have already obtained the approval from overseas regulatory authorities or stock exchanges, such as completion of registration in the market of the United States, but have not completed the indirect overseas listing; and (2) domestic companies that have already submitted valid applications for overseas offering and listing but have not obtained approval from overseas regulatory authorities or stock exchanges on or prior to the effective date of the Trial Administrative Measures, may reasonably arrange the timing for submitting their filing applications with the CSRC, and shall complete the filing before the completion of their overseas offering and listing.

Regulations on Taxation

Enterprise Income Tax

On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which was amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018. On December 6, 2007, the State Council enacted the Regulations for the Implementation of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and amended on April 23, 2019. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and the relevant implementation regulations, both resident enterprises and non-resident enterprises are subject to tax in Mainland China. Resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are established in Mainland China in accordance with PRC laws, or that are established in accordance with the laws of foreign countries but are actually or in effect controlled from within Mainland China. Non-resident enterprises are defined as enterprises that are organized under the laws of foreign countries and whose actual management is conducted outside Mainland China, but have established institutions or premises in Mainland China, or have no such established institutions or premises but have income generated from inside Mainland China. Under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and relevant implementing regulations, a uniform corporate income tax rate of 25% is applied. However, if non-resident enterprises have not formed permanent establishments or premises in Mainland China, or if they have formed permanent establishment or premises in Mainland China but there is no actual relationship between the relevant income derived in Mainland China and the established institutions or premises set up by them, enterprise income tax is set at the rate of 10% with respect to their income sourced from inside Mainland China.

Value-Added Tax

The PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax were promulgated by the State Council on December 13, 1993, which became effective on January 1, 1994 and were subsequently amended from time to time. The Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax (2011 Revision) was promulgated by the Ministry of Finance on December 25, 1993 and subsequently amended on December 15, 2008 and October 28, 2011. On November 19, 2017, the State Council promulgated the Decisions on Abolishing the PRC Provisional Regulations on Business Tax and Amending the PRC Provisional Regulations on Value-Added Tax. Pursuant to these regulations, rules and decisions, all enterprises and individuals engaged in sale of goods, provision of processing, repair, and replacement services, sales of services, intangible assets, real property, and the importation of goods within Mainland China territory are VAT taxpayers. On March 21, 2019, the Ministry of Finance, the SAT, and the General Administration of Customs jointly issued the Announcement on Relevant Policies on Deepen the Reform of Value-Added Tax. Sales revenue represents the invoiced value of goods, net of VAT. The VAT is based on gross sales price and VAT rates range up to 17%, starting from May 1, 2018, VAT rate was lowered to 16%, and starting from April 1, 2019, VAT rate was further lowered to 13%.

Dividend Withholding Tax

The Enterprise Income Tax Law provides that since January 1, 2008, an income tax rate of 10% will normally be applicable to dividends declared to non-Mainland China resident investors that do not have an establishment or place of business in Mainland China, or that have such establishment or place of business but the relevant income is not effectively connected with the establishment or place of business, to the extent such dividends are derived from sources within Mainland China.

Pursuant to the Arrangement Between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital, and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent Mainland China tax authority to have met the relevant conditions and requirements under this arrangement and other applicable laws, the 10% withholding tax on the dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise receives from a Mainland China resident enterprise may be reduced to 5%. However, based on the Circular on Certain Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties issued on February 20, 2009, if the relevant Mainland China tax authorities determine, in their discretions, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-driven, such Mainland China tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Circular on Several Questions regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which was issued on February 3, 2018 by the SAT and became effective on April 1, 2018, when determining the applicant’s status as the “beneficial owner” regarding tax treatments in connection with dividends, interests, or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors, including, without limitation, whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than 50% of his or her income in twelve months to residents in third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes the actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax or grant any tax exemption on relevant incomes or levy tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account, and such factors will be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of the specific cases. This circular further provides that an applicant who intends to prove his or her status as the “beneficial owner” must submit the relevant documents to the relevant tax bureau pursuant to the Announcement on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Non-Resident Taxpayers’ Enjoyment of the Treatment under Tax Agreements.

Regulations on Employment Laws

In accordance with the PRC National Labor Law, which became effective in January 1995 and amended from time to time, and the PRC Labor Contract Law, which became effective in January 2008, as amended subsequently, employers must execute written labor contracts with full-time employees in order to establish an employment relationship. All employers must compensate their employees equal to at least the local minimum wage standards. All employers are required to establish a system for labor safety and sanitation, strictly abide by state rules and standards and provide employees with appropriate workplace safety training. In addition, employers in Mainland China are obliged to pay contributions to the social insurance plan and the housing fund plan for employees.

On December 28, 2021, the Measures for Cybersecurity Review (2021 version) were promulgated and became effective on February 15, 2022 (the “Measures”), which iterates that any “online platform operators” controlling personal information of more than one million users that seeks to list on a foreign stock exchange shall also be subject to cybersecurity review. As we are neither an “operator of critical information infrastructure” nor a “data processor” carrying out data processing activities that affect or may affect national security, we believe that the Measures are not applicable to us even after they take effect in current form. The PRC government is increasingly focused on data security, recently launching cybersecurity review against a number of mobile apps operated by several US-listed Chinese companies and prohibiting these apps from registering new users during the review period. There are great uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws, rules and regulations regarding data and privacy security. We may be required to change our data and other business practices and be subject to regulatory investigations, penalties, and increased cost of operations as a result of these laws and policies.

Employees

As of the date of this Annual Report, we had 131 employees. We have no part time employees or independent contractors.

As required by regulations in China, Sichuan Vtouch participates in various employee social security plans that are organized by local governments, including pension, unemployment insurance, childbirth insurance, work-related injury insurance, medical insurance and housing insurance. Sichuan Vtouch is required under Chinese law to make contributions to 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.

Our employees are not represented by a labor organization or covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees and to date, we have not experienced any significant labor disputes.