Jingbo Technology (SVMB) Risk Analysis

Our operating subsidiaries are incorporated under and governed by the laws of the Chinese Mainland. The Chinese Mainland legal system is based on written statutes with prior court decisions having limited precedential value. Since a significant part of our business is conducted in Chinese Mainland, our operations are principally governed by Chinese Mainland laws and regulations. However, the Chinese Mainland legal system continues to evolve rapidly, and the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform. Enforcement involves uncertainties that may limit legal protections available to us, and evolving laws could impede our ability to obtain or maintain permits or licenses required to conduct business in Chinese Mainland, which could result in material sanctions or penalties. Additionally, some regulatory requirements may not be consistently applied by government authorities, making strict compliance impractical or impossible in some circumstances. The Chinese Mainland legal system is also based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published timely or at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of violations until sometime after they occur. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, could materially and adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations. Furthermore, if Chinese Mainland adopts more stringent standards with respect to corporate social responsibilities or financial regulations, we may incur increased compliance costs or become subject to additional restrictions. Intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in Chinese Mainland may not be as effective as in the United States or other countries. We cannot predict the effects of future developments in the Chinese Mainland legal system on our business operations, including the promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws, or changes in interpretation or enforcement. These uncertainties could limit the legal protections available to us and our investors, and any litigation in Chinese Mainland may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. The Chinese Mainland government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business and may intervene or influence our operations as it deems appropriate. The Chinese Mainland government has recently published new policies significantly affecting certain industries, and we cannot rule out future regulations or policies that could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the Chinese Mainland government has indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over securities offerings and capital markets activities conducted overseas and foreign investment in Chinese Mainland-based companies. On July 6, 2021, the State Council issued the Opinions on Lawfully and Severely Combating Illegal Securities Activities to strengthen cross-border supervision. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of the Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Trial Measures, and five supporting guidelines, effective March 31, 2023. The Trial Measures require Chinese companies seeking to offer and list securities overseas to complete filing procedures with the CSRC, and prohibit such offerings under certain circumstances, including where they may endanger national security, involve corruption or ongoing criminal investigations, or involve material ownership disputes. The Trial Measures apply to indirect overseas offerings by Chinese Mainland domestic companies where (i) 50% or more of the issuer's operating revenue, total profit, total assets or net assets is accounted for by Chinese Mainland domestic companies, and (ii) the main parts of the issuer's business activities are conducted in, or main places of business are located in, Chinese Mainland, or the majority of senior management are Chinese Mainland citizens or have their usual place of residence in Chinese Mainland. Our Shares are currently traded on the OTC Markets, which does not require registration with the CSRC under the Trial Measures. The Trial Measures apply to companies listing on stock exchanges such as NASDAQ or NYSE. If we were to pursue a listing on such an exchange, we would communicate with the CSRC and initiate filing procedures as required. However, given the Trial Measures were recently promulgated, there are substantial uncertainties as to implementation and interpretation. If we fail to complete any required filings in a timely manner or at all, our ability to raise or utilize funds and our operations could be materially and adversely affected. On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, Ministry of Finance, National Administration of State Secrets Protection and National Archives Administration of China promulgated the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Archives Rules, effective March 31, 2023. The Archives Rules require Chinese Mainland domestic companies seeking overseas offerings to strictly abide by applicable laws, enhance state secrets awareness, institute sound confidentiality and archives systems, and take necessary measures to fulfill these obligations. Companies must obtain approval before publicly disclosing documents containing state secrets or working secrets of government agencies. Additionally, Chinese Mainland domestic companies must fulfill relevant procedures before publicly disclosing documents that, if leaked, would be detrimental to national security or public interest, and must comply with applicable regulations when providing accounting archives to securities companies, service providers, overseas regulators, or individuals. Given the Archives Rules were recently promulgated, there are substantial uncertainties as to their implementation and interpretation. We cannot predict the impact of the Trial Measures and Archives Rules on us, including on the maintenance of our listing status or any future securities offerings. Any failure to fully comply with these regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer our Shares, cause significant disruption to our business operations, damage our reputation, materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, and cause our Shares to significantly decline in value or become worthless. Substantially all of our operations are conducted in Chinese Mainland and are governed by Chinese Mainland laws. Our Chinese Mainland subsidiaries and VIEs are subject to laws applicable to foreign investment in Chinese Mainland. Any intervention in or influence on our business operations, or action to exert more oversight and control over securities offerings and capital markets activities, once taken by the Chinese Mainland government, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and the value of our securities, or significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless.

In utilizing the proceeds of our overseas offering, we, as an offshore holding company, are permitted under Chinese Mainland laws and regulations to provide funding to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under Chinese Mainland laws, through loans or capital contributions. However, loans by us to our Chinese Mainland subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE and capital contributions to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary are subject to the requirement of making necessary filings in the Foreign Investment Comprehensive Management Information System, and registration with other governmental authorities in Chinese Mainland. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the Administration of Foreign Exchange Settlement of Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, effective on June 1, 2015 and amended on March 23, 2023, in replacement of the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, the Notice from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Relevant Issues Concerning Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 59, and the Circular on Further Clarification and Regulation of the Issues Concerning the Administration of Certain Capital Account Foreign Exchange Businesses, or Circular 45. According to Circular 19, the flow and use of the RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company is regulated such that RMB capital may not be used for the issuance of RMB entrusted loans, the repayment of inter-enterprise loans or the repayment of bank loans that have been transferred to a third party. Although Circular 19 allows RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign invested enterprise to be used for equity investments within the Chinese Mainland, it also reiterates the principle that RMB converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital of a foreign-invested company may not be directly or indirectly used for purposes beyond its business scope. Thus, it is unclear whether SAFE will permit such capital to be used for equity investments in the Chinese Mainland in actual practice. SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016 and amended on December 4, 2023, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to a prohibition against using such capital to grant loans to non-associated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 and Circular 16 could result in administrative penalties. Circular 19 and Circular 16 may significantly limit our ability to transfer any foreign currency we hold, including the net proceeds from our initial public offering, to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary, which may adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business in the Chinese Mainland. Due to the restrictions imposed on loans in foreign currencies extended to any Chinese Mainland domestic companies, we are not likely to make such loans to any of our consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries, each a Chinese Mainland domestic company. Meanwhile, we are not likely to finance the activities of our consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries by means of capital contributions given the restrictions on foreign investment in the businesses that are currently conducted by our consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries. In light of the various requirements imposed by Chinese Mainland regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, Chinese Mainland entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary or any consolidated variable interest entity or future capital contributions by us to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary. As a result, uncertainties exist as to our ability to provide prompt financial support to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary or consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries when needed. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use foreign currency, including the proceeds we received from our initial public offering, and to capitalize or otherwise fund our Chinese Mainland operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.

On March 15, 2019, the National People's Congress promulgated the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced the existing laws regulating foreign investment in Chinese Mainland, 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. Meanwhile, the Regulations for the Implementation of the Foreign Investment Law, or the FIL Implementations, came into effect on January 1, 2020, which clarified and elaborated the relevant provisions of the Foreign Investment Law. Since the Foreign Investment Law and the FIL Implementations are newly enacted, there is still uncertainties in relation to its interpretation and implementation. The PRC Foreign Investment Law have revised the definition of "foreign investment" and removed all references to the definitions of "actual control" or "variable interest entity structure" under the 2015 Draft Foreign Investment Law. Instead, the PRC Foreign Investment Law stipulates that foreign investment includes "foreign investors invest in China through other methods under laws, administrative regulations, or provisions prescribed by the State Council ". Therefore, there are still possibilities that future laws, administrative regulations or provisions of the State Council may deem contractual arrangements as a way of foreign investment. There can be no assurance that our contractual arrangements will not be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment under the Chinese Mainland laws and regulations. Once an entity falls within the definition of foreign investment entity, it may be subject to foreign investment "restrictions" or "prohibitions" set forth in a "negative list" to be separately issued by the State Council later. If a foreign investment entity proposes to conduct business in an industry subject to foreign investment "restrictions" in the "negative list," it must go through a pre-approval process. The most updated negative list, issued on December 27, 2021 and became effective on January 1, 2022, stipulates that any Chinese Mainland domestic enterprise engaging in the fields prohibited by the negative list shall obtain the consent of the relevant competent Chinese Mainland authorities for overseas listing, and the foreign investors shall not participate in the operation and management of such enterprise, and the shareholding percentage of the foreign investors in such enterprise shall be subject to the relevant administrative provisions of Chinese Mainland domestic securities investment by foreign investors. Such negative list does not further elaborate whether existing overseas listed enterprise will be subject to such requirements. The staff of the NDRC addressed in an interview on December 27, 2021 that certain existing overseas listed enterprises whose foreign investors' shareholding percentage exceed the aforementioned threshold are not required to make adjustment or deduction. If any of the businesses that our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs operate were in the "restricted" category on the "negative list," and the enacted version of the PRC Foreign Investment Law and the final "negative list" mandate further actions to be taken by us, such as a pre-approval process, there is no assurance that our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs can obtain such pre-approval on a timely basis, or at all. Such determination would materially and adversely affect the value of our securities, and such further actions required to be taken by us under the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs may face substantial uncertainties as to whether our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, the PRC Foreign Investment Law provides a five-year period for the existing foreign invested enterprises established according to the existing laws regulating foreign investment to maintain their structure and corporate governance after the implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law. Thus our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs may be required to adjust the structure and corporate governance of certain of our Chinese Mainland entities after the expiration of such period. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.

The SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents' Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as "SAFE Circular 75" promulgated by the SAFE on October 21, 2005. SAFE Circular 37 requires Chinese Mainland residents to register with local branches of the SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such Chinese Mainland residents' legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a "special purpose vehicle." SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by Chinese Mainland individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a Chinese Mainland shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the Chinese Mainland subsidiaries of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its Chinese Mainland subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under Chinese Mainland law for evasion of foreign exchange controls. According to the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Policies for the Foreign Exchange Administration of Direct Investment released on February 13, 2015 and amended on June 1, 2015 by the SAFE, local banks will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration, under SAFE Circular 37 from June 1, 2015. We have notified substantial beneficial owners of ordinary shares who we know are Chinese Mainland residents of their filing obligations. Nevertheless, we may not be aware of the identities of all of our beneficial owners who are Chinese Mainland residents. We do not have control over our beneficial owners and there can be no assurance that all of our Chinese Mainland-resident beneficial owners will comply with SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, and there is no assurance that the registration under SAFE Circular 37 and any amendment will be completed in a timely manner, or will be completed at all. The failure of our beneficial owners who are Chinese Mainland residents to register or amend their foreign exchange registrations in a timely manner pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, or the failure of future beneficial owners of the Company who are Chinese Mainland residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and subsequent implementation rules, may subject such beneficial owners or our Chinese Mainland subsidiary to fines and legal sanctions. Such failure to register or comply with relevant requirements may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital to our Chinese Mainland subsidiary and limit our Chinese Mainland subsidiary's ability to distribute dividends to the Company. These risks may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, according to which, employees, directors, supervisors and other management members who are Chinese Mainland residents and non-Chinese Mainland citizens who reside in Chinese Mainland for a continuous period of not less than one year participating in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be a Chinese Mainland subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit the ability to make payment under our share incentive plans or receive dividends or sales proceeds related thereto, or our ability to contribute additional capital into our wholly-foreign owned enterprises in Chinese Mainland and limit our wholly-foreign owned enterprises' ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional share incentive plans for our directors and employees under Chinese Mainland law. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have not adopted a share incentive plan. In addition, the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, our employees working in Chinese Mainland who exercise share options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to Chinese Mainland individual income tax. Our Chinese Mainland subsidiary has obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes according to relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other Chinese Mainland government authorities.

The net income of the VIEs is denominated in Renminbi. The Renminbi is currently convertible under the "current account," which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the "capital account," which includes foreign direct investment and loans, including loans we may secure from our onshore subsidiary or consolidated VIEs. Currently, certain of our Chinese Mainland subsidiary, may purchase foreign currency for settlement of "current account transactions," including payment of dividends to us, without the approval of the SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, the relevant Chinese Mainland governmental authorities may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, the SAFE and other relevant Chinese Mainland governmental authorities. Since a significant amount of our future net income and cash flow will be denominated in Renminbi, any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize cash generated in Renminbi to fund our business activities outside of the Chinese Mainland or pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our securities, and may limit our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs.