BitVentures Limited Sponsored ADR (BVC) Risk Analysis

On January 1, 2016, 2017 and January 8, 2018, Hywin Wealth Management granted 8,998,465 options to its employees and directors to purchase an aggregate of 8,998,465 shares of Hywin Wealth Management under the original 2018 Plan. In August 2018, Hywin Wealth Management repurchased 1,495,995 options issued and outstanding, following which a total of 7,502,470 options remained outstanding. On September 30, 2019, each grantee of such outstanding options entered into an amended grant letter with Hywin Wealth Management and our company, all parties agreed to replace the outstanding options granted by Hywin Wealth Management by options granted by our company, with each one option granted by our company replacing 10 options granted by Hywin Wealth Management, effective immediately (the "restated 2018 Plan"). As of September 30, 2023, 750,247 options to purchase approximately 1.5% issued ordinary shares of our company before the completion of our public offering were granted and outstanding under the restated 2018 Plan, at exercise prices ranging from US$1.894 per share to US$2.801 per share. Due to the expense recognized in the period, we recognized RMB21.9 million, RMB7.3 million, and RMB5.2 million (US$0.8 million) of share-based compensation expenses for the years ended June 30, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-B. Compensation-Share Incentive Plans" and "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-A. Operating Results-Key Components of Results of Operations-Operating Costs and Expenses-Share-based Compensation Expenses/(Benefits)." We may incur such expenses in future periods under the restated 2018 and 2019 Plans and any future awards under other plans. In addition, we may still grant share options and other share-based incentives in the future, which may record significantly share-based compensation expenses in our profit or loss statement. We account for compensation costs for all stock options using a fair-value based method and recognize expenses in our consolidated statement of income in accordance with the relevant rules in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which may have a material adverse effect on our net income. Any additional securities issued under share-based compensation schemes will adversely affect our results of operations and dilute the ownership interests of our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs. We believe the granting of share-based compensation is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain key employees and relationship managers, and we will continue to grant share-based compensation to directors, employees or relationship managers in the future.

As of June 30, 2023, Mr. Han beneficially owns an aggregate of 71.16% of our outstanding share capital. As more than 50% of the voting power for the election of directors is held or directed by Mr. Han Hongwei, we are a "controlled company" within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing rules. As a result of this high level of shareholding, Mr. Han is able to exert a significant degree of influence or actual control over our business, including decisions regarding mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. Mr. Han may take actions that are not in the best interests of us or our other shareholders. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and might reduce the price of our ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders. For more information regarding our principal shareholders and their affiliated entities, see "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-E. Share Ownership."

We rely on contractual arrangements with the VIEs, Hywin Wealth Management, Shanghai Hywin Network Technology, and Shenzhen Panying and their respective shareholders to operate a portion of our operations in China, including wealth management services, asset management services and insurance brokerage services. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over the VIEs. For example, the VIEs and their respective shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to operate our business in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests. These risks exist throughout the period in which we operate our businesses through the contractual arrangements with the VIEs. If we were the controlling shareholder of the VIEs with direct ownership, we would be able to exercise our rights as shareholders to effect changes to their board of directors, which in turn could implement changes at the management and operational level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, as a legal matter, if the VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their obligations, including without limitation, the failure to complete the registration under these contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs to enforce such arrangements, and rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, claiming damages or other contract remedies. We cannot assure you that such enforcement or remedies against the shareholders or third parties will be effective under PRC laws. In the event we are unable to enforce the contractual arrangements, we may not be able to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIEs and their subsidiaries and branches, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected, and we may not be able to consolidate the financial results of the VIEs and their subsidiaries and branches into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Any failure by the VIEs and their subsidiaries or the shareholders of VIEs to perform their obligations under the contractual arrangements would have a material adverse effect on the financial position and performance of our company. For example, the contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with arbitral procedures as contractually stipulated. The commercial arbitration system in China is not as developed as some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the commercial arbitration system or legal system in China could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In addition, if the legal structure and the contractual arrangements were found to violate any existing or future PRC laws and regulations, we may be subject to fines or other legal or administrative sanctions. If the imposition of government actions causes us to lose our right to direct the activities of VIEs and their subsidiaries or our right to receive substantially all the economic benefits from VIEs and their subsidiaries and we are not able to restructure our ownership structure and operations in a satisfactory manner, we would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of VIEs and their subsidiaries.

The trading price of our ADSs is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, like the performance and fluctuation in the market prices or the underperformance or deteriorating financial results of other listed companies based in China. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading performances of other Chinese companies' securities after their offerings, may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States, which consequently may impact the trading performance of the ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or matters of other Chinese companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards Chinese companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have conducted any inappropriate activities. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for our ADSs may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following: - variation in our revenues, earnings, cash flow and data related to our user base or user engagement;- announcements of new investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures by us or our competitors;- announcements of new services and expansions by us or our competitors;- regulatory developments in our target markets affecting us, our clients or our competitors;- conditions in the Chinese wealth management industry;- changes in the economic performance or market valuation of other wealth management companies;- changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;- detrimental adverse publicity about us or our industry;- additions or departures of key personnel;- release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding ADSs;- potential litigation, regulatory investigations or regulatory developments that are perceived to be adverse to our business;- actual or anticipated fluctuations in our interim results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results;- fluctuations of exchange rates between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar; and - sales or perceived potential sales of additional ADSs. In addition, the securities market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also have a material adverse effect on the market price of our ADSs.

The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. There is currently only a limited number of securities or industry analysts covering our Company. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for our ADSs to decline.

Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contains provisions which could limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. For example, our board of directors has the authority without the approval of the shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares, in the form of ADS or otherwise. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected.

We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We conduct substantially all of our operations in Mainland China and substantially all of our assets are located in Mainland China. In addition, a majority of our directors and executive officers reside within Mainland China, and most of the assets of these persons are located within Mainland China. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe your rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of the PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. It may also be difficult for our shareholders to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside Mainland China. As advised by our PRC legal counsel, Mainland China currently does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of court judgments with the Cayman Islands, United States and many other countries and regions. Therefore, with respect to matters that are not subject to a binding arbitration provision, it may be difficult or impossible to recognize and enforce judgments of any of those non-PRC jurisdictions in a court in Mainland China. In addition, you may have difficulties in enforcing court judgments obtained in United States courts against our Hong Kong subsidiaries, including judgments relating to the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state or territory of the United States. There are currently no treaties or other arrangements providing for reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments between Hong Kong and the United States. There is uncertainty as to whether courts in Hong Kong will enforce judgments of United States courts based solely upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state or territory of the United States.

We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (2023 Revision) of the Cayman Islands ("Companies Act") and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States. Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other than the register of mortgages) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors will have discretion under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder resolution or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest. In addition, we conduct substantially all of our business operations in China, and substantially all of our directors and senior management are based in China, which is an emerging market. The SEC, U.S. Department of Justice and other authorities often have substantial difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, in certain emerging markets, including China. Additionally, our public shareholders may have limited rights and few practical remedies in emerging markets where we operate, as shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including class action securities law and fraud claims, generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in many emerging markets, including China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation outside China or otherwise with respect to foreign entities. Although the local authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, the regulatory cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States has not been efficient in the absence of a mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no foreign securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no organization or individual may provide the documents and materials relating to securities business activities to foreign securities regulators. As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States. For a discussion of significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Act and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders, see "Item 10. Additional Information-B. Memorandum and Articles of Association-Differences in Corporate Law."

The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our ordinary shares provides that, subject to the depositary's right to require a claim to be submitted to arbitration, the federal or state courts in the City of New York have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine claims arising under the deposit agreement and in that regard, to the fullest extent permitted by law, ADS holders, including purchasers of ADSs in secondary transactions, waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our ordinary shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws. If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver is enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable U.S. state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court. However, we believe that a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision is generally enforceable, including under the laws of the State of New York, which govern the deposit agreement. In determining whether to enforce a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision, courts will generally consider whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. We believe that this is the case with respect to the deposit agreement and the ADSs. It is advisable that you consult legal counsel regarding the jury waiver provision before investing in the ADSs. If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of ADSs bring a claim against us or the depositary in connection with matters arising under the deposit agreement or the ADSs, including claims under U.S. federal securities laws, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us and/or the depositary. If a lawsuit is brought against us and/or the depositary under the deposit agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have had, including results that could be less favorable to the plaintiff(s) in any such action. Nevertheless, if this jury trial waiver provision is not enforced, to the extent a court action proceeds, it would proceed under the terms of the deposit agreement with a jury trial. No condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs of compliance with, or shall relieve us or the depositary from, our respective obligations to comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Under the deposit agreement, any action or proceeding against or involving the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of owning the ADSs may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and you, as a holder of our ADSs, will have irrevocably waived any objection which you may have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such action or proceeding. The depositary may, in its sole discretion, require that any dispute or difference arising from the relationship created by the deposit agreement be referred to and finally settled by an arbitration conducted under the terms described in the deposit agreement, which may include claims arising under the federal securities laws, although the arbitration provisions of the deposit agreement do not preclude you from pursuing claims under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act in state or federal courts. See "Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities-D. American Depositary Shares."

Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including: - the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K;- the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act;- the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and - the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD. We are required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our results on an interim basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Global Market. Press releases relating to financial results and material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC is less extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information that would be made available to you were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.

As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market board; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market board. For example, as a foreign private issuer, we are not required to: (i) have a majority of the board be independent; (ii) have a compensation committee or a nominating/corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors; or (iii) have regularly scheduled executive sessions with only independent directors each year. We intend to follow home country practice in lieu of the requirements under the Nasdaq Global Market rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards. Accordingly, you may not be provided with the benefits of certain corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market board rules.

In general, a non-U.S. corporation will be PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if, in any particular taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of "passive" income or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year produce or are held for the production of passive income. For purposes of the above calculations, a non-U.S. corporation will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation if it owns, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of such other corporation's stock. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents, royalties and certain gains. Cash is generally a passive asset for these purposes. Goodwill is an active asset under the PFIC rules to the extent attributable to activities that produce active income. Based on the current composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets, including goodwill, which is based on the expected market price of our ordinary shares and the ADSs, we do not expect to be a PFIC for our current taxable year. However, it is not entirely clear how the contractual arrangements between us and the VIEs will be treated for purposes of the PFIC rules, and we may be or become a PFIC if the VIEs are not treated as owned by us. Because the treatment of our contractual arrangements with the VIEs is not entirely clear, because we hold and will continue to hold a substantial amount of cash, and because our PFIC status for any taxable year will depend on the composition of our income and assets and the value of our assets from time to time (which may be determined, in part, by reference to the market price of our ordinary shares and the ADSs, which could be volatile), there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for our current or any future taxable year. Prospective U.S. investors should be aware that if in any taxable year the market price of our ordinary shares and the ADSs significantly decreases while we hold a substantial amount of cash and cash equivalents, there is a risk that we could become a PFIC. If we were a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. investor owns our ADSs or ordinary shares, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to such U.S. investor. See "Item 10. Additional Information-E. Taxation-U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations-Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations."