Metalpha Technology Holding (MATH) Risk Analysis

Our corporate affairs are governed by our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, by the Companies Act (as amended) of the Cayman Islands, and by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by minority shareholders, and the fiduciary responsibilities 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 in the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands and from English common law. Decisions of the Privy Council (which is the final Court of Appeal for British overseas territories such as the Cayman Islands) are binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. Decisions of the English courts, and particularly the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal are generally of persuasive authority but are not binding in the courts of the Cayman Islands. Decisions of courts in other Commonwealth jurisdictions are similarly of persuasive but not binding authority. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws relative to the United States. Therefore, our public shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States.

Our board of directors may, in its sole discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any share unless (i) the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the shares to which it relates and such other evidence as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; (ii) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares; (iii) the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required; (iv) in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the share is to be transferred does not exceed four; (v) the shares transferred are fully paid up and free of any lien in favor of us; and (vi) a fee of such maximum sum as Nasdaq Capital Market may determine to be payable, or such lesser sum as our board of directors may from time to time require, is paid to us in respect thereof. If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers may, on 14 days' notice being given by advertisement in such one or more newspapers or by electronic means, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year. This, however, is unlikely to affect market transactions of the Ordinary Shares held by our public shareholders. Since our Ordinary Shares are listed, the legal title to such Ordinary Shares and the registration details of those Ordinary Shares in the Company's register of members remain with the Depository Trust Company. All market transactions with respect to those Ordinary Shares are carried out without the need for any kind of registration by the directors, as the market transactions are all conducted through the Depository Trust Company systems.

Some provisions of our third amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which became effective on March 31, 2025, may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including, among other things, the following: - provisions that authorize our board of directors to issue shares with preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and - provisions that restrict the ability of our shareholders to call meetings and to propose special matters for consideration at shareholder meetings.

Our Ordinary Shares are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We cannot assure you that our Ordinary Shares will continue to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. In order to maintain our listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, we are required to comply with certain rules of Nasdaq Capital Market, including those regarding minimum shareholder's equity, minimum share price, and certain corporate governance requirements. We may not be able to continue to satisfy continuing listing requirements and other applicable rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market. If we are unable to satisfy the Nasdaq Capital Market criteria for maintaining our listing, our securities could be subject to delisting. We received a written notification on September 21, 2022 from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Department that we were not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirement set forth under the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) (the "Minimum Bid Price Requirement"), as the closing bid price of our Ordinary Shares was below $1.00 per share for a period of 30 consecutive business days. We were provided 180 calendar days, or until March 20, 2023, to regain compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement. In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), to regain compliance, our Ordinary Shares must have a closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days. On March 31, 2023, we received a notice from Nasdaq notifying us that we regained compliance with the Minimum Bid Price Requirement when the closing bid price of the Company's Ordinary Shares maintained $1.00 per share or greater for 19 consecutive business days. In the event that we lose compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) again and do not regain compliance prior to the expiration of the compliance period, we will receive written notification that our securities are subject to delisting. At that time, we may appeal the delisting determination to a hearings panel pursuant to the procedures set forth in the applicable Nasdaq Listing Rules. We received a written notification on August 13, 2023 from the Nasdaq Listing Qualification Department stating that, as a result of not having timely filed our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 (the "FY2023 Annual Report"), we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires timely filing of all periodic financial reports with the SEC. On November 1, 2023, we obtained an extension from Nasdaq permitting us to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) provided we file the FY2023 Annual Report on or before February 12, 2024. On February 15, 2024, we received a notice from Nasdaq notifying us that we regained compliance with the periodic filing requirement set forth under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) after filing the FY2023 Annual Report with the SEC on February 12, 2024. We received an additional written notification on April 8, 2024 from the Nasdaq Listing Qualification Department indicating that we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(2) due to our failure to file an interim balance sheet and income statement as of and for the six months ended September 30, 2023 on Form 6-K. or the Interim Report, with the SEC. On July 26, 2024, we received a notice from Nasdaq notifying us that we regained compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(2) after filing the Interim Report with the SEC on July 12, 2024. We received a written notification on August 15, 2024 from the Nasdaq Listing Qualification Department stating that, as a result of not having timely filed our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024 (the "FY2024 Annual Report"), we were not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires timely filing of all periodic financial reports with the SEC. We had regained compliance with the periodic filing requirement set forth under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) after filing the FY2024 Annual Report with the SEC on October 30, 2024. If we fail to meet any of Nasdaq's listing standards, our securities may be delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market. If the Nasdaq Capital Market subsequently delists our securities from trading, we could face significant consequences, including: - a limited availability for market quotations for our securities;- reduced liquidity with respect to our securities;- a determination that our ordinary share is a "penny stock," which will require brokers trading in our ordinary shares to adhere to more stringent rules and possibly result in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our ordinary shares;- limited amount of news and analyst coverage; and - a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

The market price of our Ordinary Shares may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including: - actual or anticipated fluctuations in our income and other operating results;- the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections;- actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;- announcements by us or our competitors of significant services or features, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments;- price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole;- lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and - other events or factors, including those resulting from war or incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events. In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. Stock prices of many companies have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. In the past, stockholders have filed securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were to become involved in securities litigation, it could subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business, and adversely affect our business.

As a foreign private issuer, we are permitted to take advantage of certain provisions in the Nasdaq Capital Market listing rules that allow us to follow Cayman Islands law for certain governance matters. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands may differ significantly from corporate governance listing standards as, except for general fiduciary duties and duties of care, Cayman Islands law has no corporate governance regime which prescribes specific corporate governance standards. We may follow Cayman Islands corporate governance practices in lieu of the corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market in respect of the following. Cayman law does not require that we make our interim results available to shareholders, although as a Nasdaq listed company, we are required to publicly file interim results for the first six months of our fiscal year. Furthermore, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635 generally provides that shareholder approval is required of U.S. domestic companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market prior to issuance (or potential issuance) of securities (i) equaling 20% or more of the company's common stock or voting power for less than the greater of market or book value (ii) resulting in a change of control of the company; (iii) which is being issued pursuant to a stock option or purchase plan to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended; and (iv) in connection with the acquisition of the stock or assets of another company under certain conditions. However, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5615(a)(3)(A) permits foreign private issuers to follow their home country practice rather than these shareholder approval requirements, and the Cayman Islands laws do not require shareholder approval prior to any of the foregoing types of issuances. The Company has chosen to follow its home country practices with respect to the requirements set forth under Nasdaq Listing Rules 5635(a), 5635(b), 5635(c), and 5635(d), and therefore is not required to obtain shareholder approval prior to (1) the acquisition of stock or assets of another company, (2) the issuance of 20% or more of its outstanding ordinary shares, (3) the issuance of securities pursuant to a stock option or purchase plan to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended, and (4) the issuance of securities when the issuance or potential issuance will result in a change of control of the Company. Also, Nasdaq Listing Rule 5605(b)(1) requires listed companies to have, among other things, a majority of its board members be independent. As a foreign private issuer, however, we are permitted to, and we may follow home country practice in lieu of the above requirements, or we may choose to comply with the above requirement within one year of listing. The corporate governance practice in our home country, the Cayman Islands, does not require a majority of our board to consist of independent directors. Currently, a majority of our board members are independent. However, we may consider following home country practice in lieu of the requirements under Nasdaq Listing Rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards. Since a majority of our board of directors may not consist of independent directors, fewer board members may be exercising independent judgment and the level of board oversight on the management of our Company may decrease as a result. In addition, the Nasdaq listing rules also require U.S. domestic issuers to have a compensation committee, a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors, and an audit committee with a minimum of three members. We, as a foreign private issuer, are not subject to these requirements. We may consider following home country practice in lieu of the requirements under Nasdaq listing rules with respect to certain corporate governance standards. Therefore, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would have under corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. For more information regarding our corporate governance, please see "Item 16G. Corporate Governance."

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from, among others, the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements and the rules relating to selective disclosure of material non-public information under Regulation FD. In addition, our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the short-swing profit and recovery provisions and our principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting requirements contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We are also not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as United States domestic issuers, and we are not required to disclose in our periodic reports all of the information that United States domestic issuers are required to disclose. While we currently qualify as a foreign private issuer, we may cease to qualify as a foreign private issuer in the future.

The trading market for our Ordinary Shares may depend in part on the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade us, the price of our Ordinary Shares would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our Company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which could cause the price of our Ordinary Shares and the trading volume to decline.

Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the "HFCA Act"), if the SEC determines that a company retains a foreign accounting firm that cannot be subject to inspections by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the "PCAOB"), for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit its securities from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report relaying to the SEC its determinations that it was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong. In March 2022, the SEC issued its first "Conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCA Act" indicating that those companies were formally subject to the delisting provisions. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed with the CSRC, and the Ministry of Finance of the PRC a Statement of Protocol, which gives the PCAOB sole discretion to select the firms, audit engagements and potential violations it inspects and investigates and put in place procedures for PCAOB inspectors and investigators to view complete audit work papers with all information included and for the PCAOB to retain information as needed. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report contained in this annual report, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Our auditor is headquartered in Singapore, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in April 2022. We cannot assure you whether Nasdaq or regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us since the majority of our operations are conducted in Hong Kong. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate our auditor, or another independent registered public accounting firm we may engage in the future to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we may be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. There can be no assurance that we would not be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for any future fiscal year, and if we were so identified for two consecutive years, we would become subject to the prohibition on trading under the HFCA Act.

We are regulated by the SEC and our reports and other filings with the SEC are subject to SEC review in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Our SEC reports and other disclosure and public pronouncements are not subject to the review or scrutiny of any PRC or Hong Kong regulatory authority. For example, the disclosure in our SEC reports and other filings are not subject to the review by the China Securities Regulatory Commission or the HKSFC. Accordingly, you should review our SEC reports, filings, and our other public pronouncements with the understanding that no local regulator has done any review of us, our SEC reports, other filings, or any of our other public pronouncements.