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TuanChe (TC) Risk Analysis

Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning. TuanChe disclosed 88 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. TuanChe reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.

Risk Overview Q4, 2023

Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Dec 31, 2023, filed Mar 28, 2024

Risk Distribution
88Risks
Sector Avg.Finance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Risk Change Over Time

TuanChe disclosed risks per quarterNo. of Risks88Q4Q4Showing: Q4, 2023
Risks removedRisks addedRisks changedTuanChe Risk Factors
New Risk (1)
  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1
    If we do not satisfy the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq Stock Market, the ADSs could be suspended or delisted from Nasdaq.

    The ADSs are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Nasdaq Listing Rules has minimum requirements that a company must meet for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. These requirements include maintaining a minimum closing bid price of US$1.00 per ADS for a period of 30 consecutive trading days. On February 17, 2023, we received a notice from Nasdaq that we failed to comply with the minimum closing bid price requirement set forth in Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules as the closing bid price per ADS had been below US$1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days. The Nasdaq notification letter does not result in the immediate delisting of our securities. Pursuant to Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, we had a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until August 16, 2023 to regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement. On February 9, 2024, we received a notification letter (the "Compliance Notice") from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. ("Nasdaq"), informing us that the closing bid price of the ADSs had been at US$1.00 per ADS or greater for 10 consecutive business days from January 26 through February 8, 2024, and accordingly, we regained compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to meet the financial and corporate governance requirements to qualify for continued listing, including the minimum bid price requirement of at least US$1.00 per ADS pursuant to Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The issuance and sale of any securities in the future may be dilutive to our existing shareholders and may cause the price of the ADSs to decline. The issuance of additional shares by us that has the effect of reducing the price of the trading price of ADSs may also prevent us from being able to maintain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which may result in the ADSs being suspended or delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market. If a suspension or delisting of the ADSs were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted ADSs. In addition, our ability to raise additional capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired.

  • Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
    There are significant uncertainties in certain treaty benefits enjoyed by our PRC subsidiaries with respect to dividends payable by our PRC subsidiaries to our offshore subsidiaries under the PRC enterprise income tax law relating to the withholding tax liabilities.

    Under the PRC enterprise income tax and its implementation rules, the profits of a foreign-invested enterprise generated through operations, which are distributed to its immediate holding company outside China, will be subject to a withholding tax rate of 10.0%. Pursuant to a special arrangement between Hong Kong and China, such rate may be reduced to 5.0% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns at least 25.0% of the equity interest in the PRC company and satisfies other conditions as provided under the special tax arrangement. Our current PRC subsidiaries are wholly owned by our Hong Kong subsidiary. Moreover, under the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues regarding the Administration of the Dividend Provision in Tax Treaties promulgated in February 2009, the taxpayer that is a tax resident of the other contracting party to the tax treaty and also the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends needs to satisfy certain conditions to enjoy the benefits under a tax treaty. These conditions include: (1) the taxpayer should be a company as provided in the tax treaty, (2) the taxpayer must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC subsidiaries, and (3) the corporate shareholder to receive dividends from the PRC subsidiaries must have continuously met the direct ownership thresholds during the 12 consecutive months preceding the receipt of the dividends. Additionally, the SAT promulgated the Notice on Issues Related to the "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties in February 2018, which requires the "beneficial owner" to have ownership and the right to dispose of the income or the rights and properties giving rise to the income and generally engage in substantive business activities and sets forth certain detailed factors in determining the "beneficial owner" status. The SAT promulgated the Announcement on How to Recognize the "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties on June 29, 2012, which further clarified and supplemented the application of the Notice on How to Understand and Recognize the "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties. Furthermore, the SAT promulgated the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties ("Circular 9"), in February 3, 2018, which took effect on April 1, 2018, replaced the Notice on How to Understand and Recognize the "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties and the Announcement on How to Recognize the "Beneficial Owner" in Tax Treaties and provides guidance for determining whether a resident of a contracting party is the "beneficial owner" of an item of income under China's tax treaties and tax arrangements. According to Circular 9, when determining an applicant's status as a "beneficial owner" regarding tax treatments in connection with dividends, interests or royalties in tax treaties, several factors, including without limitation, whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than 50% of its income in 12 months to residents in a third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties does not levy any tax or grant tax exemption on relevant incomes or levy tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account and analyzed based on specific circumstances. Circular 9 further provides that applicants who intend to prove his or her status as a "beneficial owner" shall submit relevant documents to tax bureau according to the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Enterprises to Enjoy Treatments under Tax Treaties. Entitlement to a lower tax rate on dividends according to tax treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions is subject to inspection or approval of the relevant tax authorities. As a result, we cannot assure you that we will be entitled to any preferential withholding tax rate under tax treaties for dividends received from our PRC subsidiaries.

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Risk Highlights Q4, 2023

Main Risk Category
Finance & Corporate
With 36 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
88
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 32
Recent Changes
1Risks added
1Risks removed
6Risks changed
Since Dec 2023
Number of Risk Changed
6
-46
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 1

Risk Word Cloud

our dual-class share structure with different voting rights will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our class a ordinary shares and adss may view as beneficial.our dual-class share structureour dual-class share structure with different voting rights will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our class a ordinary shares and adss may view as beneficial.ability to influence corporate mattersas 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 nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.nasdaq corporate governance listing standardsif we are classified as a prc resident enterprise for prc enterprise income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-prc shareholders and the ads holders.prc enterprise income tax purposesas 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 nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.relation to corporate governance mattersthe performance and reliability of the internet infrastructure and wireless and landline telecommunications networks in china will affect our and the vies' operations and growth, including our and the vies' ability to accommodate prospective customers in the future.ability to accommodate prospective customersit may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within china.overseas regulators to conduct investigationsunintended leakage of consumer information or privacy breaches may materially and adversely affect our and the vies' reputation and business performance.unintended leakage of consumer informationwe may lose the ability to use, or otherwise benefit from, the licenses, approvals and assets held by the vies, which could severely disrupt our business, render us unable to conduct some or all of our business operations and constrain our growth.render us unable to conductthe prc government may exert, at any time, substantial intervention and influence over the manner of our operations, and the rules and regulations to which we are subject, including the ways they are enforced, may change rapidly and with little advance notice to us or our shareholders. any such actions by the chinese government, including any decision to intervene or influence the operations of our subsidiaries in china or the vies or to exert control over any offering of securities conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in china-based issuers, may cause us to make material changes to the operations of our subsidiaries in china or the vies, may limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors, and may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.offering of securities conducted overseas

Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 88

Share Price & Shareholder Rights22 | 25.0%
  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1Changed
    If we do not satisfy the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq Stock Market, the ADSs could be suspended or delisted from Nasdaq.

    The ADSs are currently listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The Nasdaq Listing Rules has minimum requirements that a company must meet for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. These requirements include maintaining a minimum closing bid price of US$1.00 per ADS for a period of 30 consecutive trading days. On February 17, 2023, we received a notice from Nasdaq that we failed to comply with the minimum closing bid price requirement set forth in Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules as the closing bid price per ADS had been below US$1.00 for a period of 30 consecutive business days. The Nasdaq notification letter does not result in the immediate delisting of our securities. Pursuant to Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, we had a compliance period of 180 calendar days, or until August 16, 2023 to regain compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price requirement. On February 9, 2024, we received a notification letter (the "Compliance Notice") from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. ("Nasdaq"), informing us that the closing bid price of the ADSs had been at US$1.00 per ADS or greater for 10 consecutive business days from January 26 through February 8, 2024, and accordingly, we regained compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to meet the financial and corporate governance requirements to qualify for continued listing, including the minimum bid price requirement of at least US$1.00 per ADS pursuant to Rule 5550(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The issuance and sale of any securities in the future may be dilutive to our existing shareholders and may cause the price of the ADSs to decline. The issuance of additional shares by us that has the effect of reducing the price of the trading price of ADSs may also prevent us from being able to maintain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2), which may result in the ADSs being suspended or delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market. If a suspension or delisting of the ADSs were to occur, there would be significantly less liquidity in the suspended or delisted ADSs. In addition, our ability to raise additional capital through equity or debt financing would be greatly impaired.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2
    Your rights to pursue claims against the depositary as a holder of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement and the deposit agreement may be amended or terminated without your consent.

    Under the deposit agreement, any action or proceeding against or involving us or the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of owning the ADSs (including any such action or proceeding that may arise under the U.S. federal securities laws), may only be instituted in a state or federal court in the city of New York, and you, as a holder of the 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. Such exclusive jurisdiction may, among other things, discourage lawsuits against or involving us or the depositary, lead to increased costs to bring a claim or limit your ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum you find favorable. Also, we may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you will be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended, unless such amendment is found to be invalid under any applicable laws, including the U.S. federal securities laws.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3
    The depositary for the ADSs gave us a discretionary proxy to vote our Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs if you do not vote at shareholders' meetings, except in limited circumstances, which could adversely affect your interests.

    Under the deposit agreement for the ADSs, if you do not vote, the depositary will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs at shareholders' meetings if: - we have timely provided the depositary with notice of meeting and related voting materials;- we have instructed the depositary that we wish to receive a proxy to vote uninstructed shares;- we have informed the depositary that we reasonably do not know any substantial opposition as to a matter to be voted on at the meeting; or - we have informed the depositary that such matter to be voted on at the meeting is not materially adverse to the interest of shareholders. The effect of this discretionary proxy is that if you do not vote at shareholders' meetings, you cannot prevent our underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs from being voted, except that we fail to meet the conditions described above. This may make it more difficult for shareholders to influence the management of our company.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4
    The voting rights of holders of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to vote your Class A ordinary shares.

    As a holder of the ADSs, you will only be able to exercise the voting rights with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, you must vote by giving voting instructions to the depositary. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs in accordance with these instructions. You will not be able to directly exercise your right to vote with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs unless you withdraw such shares. Under our memorandum and articles of association, the minimum notice period required for convening a general meeting is seven calendar days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice to withdraw the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs to allow you to vote with respect to any specific matter. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out your voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may have no legal remedy if the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs are not voted as you requested.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5
    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 Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.

    As a Cayman Islands exempted company listed on Nasdaq, we are subject to Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. For instance, we are not required to: (1) have a majority of the board be independent; (2) have a compensation committee or a nominating and corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors; or (3) have regularly scheduled executive sessions with only independent directors each year. We intend to rely on some of these exemptions. As a result, you may not be provided with the benefits of certain corporate governance requirements of the Nasdaq Capital Market. Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. To the extent we choose to follow home country practice with respect to corporate governance matters, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6
    We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to United States domestic public companies.

    Because we are 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 of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K with the SEC - 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 a quarterly basis through press releases, distributed pursuant to the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. 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 will be 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, which would be made available to you, were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7
    Because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law and conduct our operations primarily in emerging markets, you may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited

    We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are governed by, among other things, our memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands (the "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 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 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 responsibilities 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. The courts of the Cayman Islands are unlikely (1) to recognize or enforce against us or our directors or officers judgments of courts of the United States that are predicated upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. securities laws, or (2) in original actions brought in the Cayman Islands to impose liabilities against us or our directors or officers that are predicated upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any state in the United States so far as the liabilities imposed by those provisions are penal in nature. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will, at common law, recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without re-trial of the merits of the underlying disputes based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the liquidated sum for which judgment has been given provided certain conditions are met. For such a foreign judgment to be enforced in the Cayman Islands, such judgment must be final and conclusive and for a liquidated sum, and must not be in respect of taxes or a fine or penalty, is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, is not impeachable on the grounds of fraud and was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is, contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands (awards of punitive or multiple damages may well be held to be contrary to public policy). However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities law if such judgment is determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make payments that are penal or punitive in nature. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere. In addition, we conduct substantially all of our business operations in emerging markets, including China, and substantially all of our directors and senior management are based in China. 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 or impossible 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 for the SEC, the DOJ and other U.S. authorities to obtaining information needed for shareholder investigations or litigation. Although the competent 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 United States has not been efficient in the absence of a mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. In China, 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 large shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the United States.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 8
    Our memorandum and articles of association contains anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs.

    Our memorandum and articles of association contain provisions to 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, subject to any resolution of the shareholders to the contrary, 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 Class A 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 the ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. However, under Cayman Islands law, our board of directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interest of our company.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 9
    Except as otherwise provided in the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants, holders of the Warrants purchased in the November 2022 Offering will have no rights as our shareholders.

    The Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants offered in the November 2022 Offering do not confer any rights as shareholders of our company on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire the ADSs at a fixed price for a limited period of time. Specifically, a holder of the Warrants may exercise the right to acquire one ADS at an exercise price equal to US$2.75 per ADS prior to the 5th anniversary of the original issuance date, upon which date any unexercised Warrants will expire and have no further value. A holder of a Pre-Funded Warrant may exercise the right to acquire one ADS and pay a nominal exercise price at any time. Upon exercise of the Warrants, their holders will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of the ADSs only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date. Holders of the ADSs may only exercise their voting rights with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 10
    The Warrants are speculative in nature.

    For a period of five years commencing upon the date of issuance, holders of the Warrants purchased in the November 2022 Offering may exercise their right to acquire the ADSs at an exercise price of US$2.75 per share. There can be no assurance that the market price of the ADSs will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the Warrants, and consequently, whether it will ever be profitable for holders of the Warrants to exercise them.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 11
    We do not intend to apply for any listing of the warrant instruments issued in connection with our November 2022 Offering on any exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a market to develop for such warrants.

    On November 25, 2022, we completed a registered direct offering (the "November 2022 Offering") with investors for the purchase and sale of (1) 3,654,546 ADSs, (2) certain pre-funded warrants to purchase 1,800,000 ADSs (the "Pre-Funded Warrants") in lieu of the ADSs being offered, and (3) certain warrants to purchase up to 5,454,546 ADSs (the "Warrants"), to certain institutional investors pursuant to a securities purchase agreement dated November 21, 2022. We do not intend to apply for any listing of the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants on Nasdaq Stock Market or any other securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a market to develop for the Warrants or the Pre-Funded Warrants. Without an active market, the liquidity of the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants will be limited. Further, the existence of the Warrants and the Pre-Funded Warrants may act to reduce both the trading volume and the trading price of the ADSs.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 12
    As a "controlled company" under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, we may be exempt from certain corporate governance requirements that could adversely affect our public shareholders.

    Since Mr. Wei Wen, our chairman of the board and chief executive officer, is the beneficial owner of a majority of the voting power of our issued and outstanding share capital following, we qualify as a "controlled company" under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Under these rules a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a controlled company and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirement that a majority of our directors be independent, as defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, and the requirement that our compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees consist entirely of independent directors. Although we do not intend to rely upon any such exemptions, we could elect to rely on any or all of these exemptions in the future. Should we choose to do so, so long as we remain a controlled company relying on any of such exemptions and during any transition period following the time when we are no longer a controlled company, you would not have the same protections afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to all of Nasdaq corporate governance requirements.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 13
    If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our and the VIEs' business, the market price for the ADSs and trading volume could decline.

    The trading market for the ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us, the VIEs or our and the VIEs' business. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who covers us downgrades the ADSs or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our and the VIEs' business, the market price for the 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 the ADSs to decline.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 14
    Trading in our securities on any U.S. stock exchange and the U.S. over-the-counter market may be prohibited under the HFCA Act or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act if the SEC subsequently determines our audit work is performed by auditors that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely, and as a result, U.S. national securities exchanges, such as the Nasdaq, may determine to delist our securities, and our securities may be prohibited from being traded over the counter.

    The HFCA Act was enacted on December 18, 2020. Trading in our securities on U.S. markets, including the over-the-counter market, may be prohibited under the HFCA Act if the PCAOB determines that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor for two consecutive years. On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCA Act. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for the PCAOB to determine, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize the implementation of disclosure and documentation measures, which require us to identify, in our annual report on Form 20-F, (1) the auditors that provided opinions to the financial statements presented in the annual report, (2) the location where the auditors' report was issued, and (3) the PCAOB ID number of the audit firm or branch that performed the audit work. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued the HFCA Act Determination Report to notify the SEC of its determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong (the "2021 Determinations"). On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol (the "Protocol") with the CSRC and Ministry of Finance of China, taking the first step toward opening access for the PCAOB to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Protocol sets forth, among other terms, that (1) the PCAOB has independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation, (2) the PCAOB gets direct access to interview or take testimony from all personnel of the audit firms whose issuer engagements are being inspected or investigated, (3) the PCAOB has the unfettered ability to transfer information to the SEC in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and (4) the PCAOB inspectors can see audit work papers without redactions. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to conduct inspections and investigations completely of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2022. The PCAOB vacated its previous 2021 Determinations accordingly. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to conduct inspections and investigations completely to its satisfaction of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor's, control. The PCAOB is expected to continue to demand complete access to inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in the future. The PCAOB is required under the HFCA Act to make its determination on an annual basis with regards to its ability to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms based in the mainland China and Hong Kong. The possibility of being a "commission-identified issuer" and risk of delisting could continue to adversely affect the trading price of our securities. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCA Act as and when appropriate. Our current auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP ("Marcum Asia"), the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included 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. Marcum Asia is headquartered in New York, New York, and as of the date of this annual report, Marcum Asia is not included in the 2021 Determinations. As a result, we do not expect to be identified as a "commission-identified issuer" under the HFCA Act for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 after we file our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year of 2023. Notwithstanding the foregoing, our ability to retain an auditor subject to PCAOB inspection and investigation, including but not limited to inspection of the audit working papers related to us, may depend on the relevant positions of U.S. and Chinese regulators. If, in the future, we have been identified by the SEC for two consecutive years as a "commission-identified issuer" whose registered public accounting firm is determined by the PCAOB that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by one or more authorities in China, the SEC may prohibit our shares or the ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. In addition, it remains unclear what the SEC's implementation process related to the above rules will entail or what further actions the SEC, the PCAOB or Nasdaq will take to address these issues and what impact those actions will have on companies that have significant operations in China and have securities listed on a U.S. stock exchange (including a national securities exchange or over-the-counter stock market). We cannot assure you whether regulatory authorities would apply additional and more stringent criteria to us after considering the effectiveness of our auditor's audit procedures and quality control procedures, adequacy of personnel and training, or sufficiency of resources, geographic reach or experience as it relates to the audit of our financial statements. If we fail to meet the new listing standards specified in the HFCA Act, we could face possible delisting from the Nasdaq Stock Market, cessation of trading in over-the-counter market, deregistration from the SEC and/or other risks, which may materially and adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs or terminate the trading of the ADSs in the United States. Such a prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase the ADSs when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of the ADSs. Also, such a prohibition would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and prospects.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 15
    Our dual-class share structure with different voting rights will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control transactions that holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.

    Mr. Wei Wen beneficially owns 69.4% of the aggregate voting power of our company as of the date of this annual report. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-E. Share Ownership." As a result of the dual-class share structure and the concentration of ownership, Mr. Wei Wen has considerable influence over matters such as decisions regarding mergers, consolidations, sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. He may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could have the effect of depriving our other shareholders of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and may reduce the price of the ADSs. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions that holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 16
    The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.

    The trading price of the 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, akin to the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. A number of Chinese companies have listed or are in the process of listing their securities on U.S. stock markets. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility, including price declines in connection with their initial public offerings. The trading performances of these Chinese companies' securities after their offerings may affect the perception and attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States in general and consequently may impact the trading performance of the ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and trading volume for the ADSs may be highly volatile due to a number of factors, including the following: - regulatory developments affecting us and the VIEs or our industry, and users of our and the VIEs' online platform;- actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results;- changes in the market condition, market potential and competition in automobile industry;- announcements by us, the VIEs or our and the VIEs' competitors of new automobile services, expansions, investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures;- fluctuations in global and Chinese economies;- changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;- adverse publicity about us and the VIEs;- additions or departures of our and the VIEs' key personnel and senior management;- release of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities;- potential litigation or regulatory investigations; and - sales or perceived potential sales of additional Class A ordinary shares, the ADSs and the ADSs issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which the ADSs will trade. In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management's attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our and the VIEs' results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our and the VIEs' reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIEs' financial condition and results of operations.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 17
    A failure by the beneficial owners of our shares who are PRC residents to comply with certain PRC foreign exchange regulations could restrict our ability to distribute profits, restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activities and subject us to liability under PRC law.

    SAFE has promulgated regulations, including the Notice on Relevant Issues Relating to Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents' Investment and Financing and Round-Trip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles ("SAFE Circular 37"), effective in July 2014, and its appendices, that require PRC residents, including PRC institutions and individuals, to register with local branches of SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such PRC 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." The term "control" under SAFE Circular 37 is broadly defined as the operation rights, beneficiary rights or decision-making rights acquired by the PRC residents in the offshore special purpose vehicles by such means as acquisition, trust, proxy, voting rights, repurchase, convertible bonds or other arrangements. 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 PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event. In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC 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 PRC subsidiaries. Further, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for foreign exchange evasion. These regulations apply to our direct and indirect shareholders who are PRC residents and may apply to any offshore acquisitions or share transfers that we make in the future if our shares are issued to PRC residents. However, in practice, different local SAFE branches may have different views and procedures on the application and implementation of SAFE regulations. As of the date of this annual report, all PRC residents known to us that currently hold direct or indirect interests in our company have completed the necessary registrations with SAFE as required by SAFE Circular 37. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we compel our beneficial owners to comply with the requirements of SAFE Circular 37. As a result, we cannot assure you that these individuals or any other direct or indirect shareholders or beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents will be able to successfully complete the registration or update the registration of their direct and indirect equity interest as required in the future. If they fail to make or update the registration, our PRC subsidiaries could be subject to fines and legal penalties, and SAFE could restrict our cross-border investment activities and our foreign exchange activities, including restricting our PRC subsidiaries' ability to distribute dividends to, or obtain loans denominated in foreign currencies from, our company, or prevent us from contributing additional capital into our PRC subsidiaries. As a result, our and the VIEs' business operations and our ability to make distributions to you could be materially and adversely affected.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 18
    ADSs holders may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under the deposit agreement, which could result in less favorable outcomes to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.

    The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, ADS holders 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 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 was enforceable based on the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable 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, by a federal or state court in the City of New York, which has non-exclusive jurisdiction over matters arising under 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 entering into the deposit agreement. 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 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 permitted by applicable law, an action could 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 or by us or the depositary of compliance with any substantive provision of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 19
    Certain existing shareholders have substantial influence over our company and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other shareholders.

    As of the date of this annual report, our directors, officers and principal shareholders collectively own an aggregate of 69.4% of the total voting power of our outstanding ordinary shares. As a result, they have substantial influence over our and the VIEs' business, including significant corporate actions such as mergers, consolidations, election of directors and other significant corporate actions. They may take actions that are not in the best interest 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 may reduce the price of the ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders. In addition, the significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs due to investors' perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 20
    The shareholders of the VIEs may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

    The shareholders of the VIEs may have actual or potential conflicts of interest with us. These shareholders may refuse to sign or breach, or cause the VIEs to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and the VIEs, which would have a material adverse effect on our ability to effectively control the VIEs and receive economic benefits from them. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with the VIEs to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company, except that we could exercise our purchase option under the exclusive option agreement with these shareholders to request them to transfer all of their equity interests in the variable interest entities to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, to the extent permitted by PRC laws. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and these shareholders, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 21
    Any failure by the VIEs and their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business.

    If the VIEs and their respective shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief or damages, which we cannot assure will be effective. For example, if the shareholders of the VIEs refuse to transfer their equity interest in the VIEs to us or our designee if we exercise the purchase option pursuant to the contractual arrangements, or if they otherwise act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations. In addition, if any third parties claim any interest in such shareholders' equity interests in the VIEs, our ability to exercise shareholders' rights or foreclose the share pledge according to the contractual arrangements may be impaired. All of the contractual arrangements are governed by and interpreted in accordance with PRC law, and disputes arising from the contractual arrangements will be resolved through arbitration in China. Uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. We cannot assure you that we would always succeed in enforcing these contractual arrangements under PRC laws. See "-Risks Related to Doing Business in China-Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could have a material adverse effect on us and the VIEs" in this annual report. Meanwhile, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how contractual arrangements in the context of a variable interest entity should be interpreted or enforced under PRC law. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and if the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would require additional expenses and time. In the event we are unable to enforce the contractual arrangements, or if we spend significant time and costs in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over the VIEs, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.

  • Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 22
    If the custodians or authorized users of our and the VIEs' controlling non-tangible assets, including chops and seals, fail to fulfill their responsibilities, or misappropriate or misuse these assets, our and the VIEs' business and operations may be materially and adversely affected.

    Under PRC law, legal documents for corporate transactions, including agreements and contracts that our and the VIE' business relies on, are executed using the chop or seal of the signing entity or with the signature of a legal representative whose designation is registered and filed with the relevant local branch of State Administration for Market Regulations (the "SAMR"). We and the VIEs generally execute legal documents by affixing chops or seals, rather than having the designated legal representatives sign the documents. We and the VIEs have three major types of chops, corporate chops, contract chops and finance chops. We and the VIEs use corporate chops generally for documents to be submitted to government agencies, such as applications for changing business scope, directors or company name, and for legal letters. We and the VIEs use contract chops for executing leases and commercial contracts. We and the VIEs use finance chops generally for making and collecting payments, including issuing invoices. Use of corporate chops and contract chops must be approved by our and the VIEs' legal department and administrative department, and use of finance chops must be approved by our finance department. The chops of our subsidiary and the VIEs are generally held by the relevant entities so that documents can be executed locally. Although we and the VIEs usually utilize chops to execute contracts, the registered legal representatives of our subsidiary and VIEs and their subsidiaries have the apparent authority to enter into contracts on behalf of such entities without chops, unless such contracts set forth otherwise. In order to maintain the physical security of our and the VIEs' chops, we and the VIEs generally have them stored in secured locations accessible only to the designated key employees of our and the VIEs' legal, administrative or finance departments. Our and the VIEs' designated legal representatives generally do not have access to the chops. Although we and the VIEs have approval procedures in place and monitor our and the VIEs' key employees, including the designated legal representatives of our subsidiaries and the VIEs and their subsidiaries, the procedures may not be sufficient to prevent all instances of abuse or negligence. There is a risk that our and the VIEs' key employees or designated legal representatives could abuse their authority, for example, by binding our subsidiaries and the VIEs and their subsidiaries with contracts against our interests, as we and the VIEs would be obligated to honor these contracts if the other contracting party acts in good faith in reliance on the apparent authority of our and the VIEs' chops or signatures of our and the VIEs' legal representatives. If any designated legal representative obtains control of the chop in an effort to obtain control over the relevant entity, we and the VIEs would need to have a shareholder or board resolution to designate a new legal representative and to take legal action to seek the return of the chop, apply for a new chop with the relevant authorities, or otherwise seek legal remedies for the legal representative's misconduct. If any of the designated legal representatives obtains and misuses or misappropriates our and the VIEs' chops and seals or other controlling intangible assets for whatever reason, we and the VIEs could experience disruption to our and the VIEs' normal business operations. We and the VIEs may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources to resolve while distracting management from our and the VIEs' operations, and our and the VIEs' business and operations may be materially and adversely affected.

See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.

FAQ

What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment. They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result. It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process. Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”. Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report. According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing. You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector. Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements. A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below. 1. Financial & Corporate Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results. Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing. Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments. Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances. 2. Legal & Regulatory Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company. Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation. Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy. Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives. 3. Production Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory. Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers. Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls. Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation. 4. Technology & Innovation Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development. Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology. Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks. Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying. 5. Ability to Sell Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers. Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes. Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration. Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation. 6. Macro & Political Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions. Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19. International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company. Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.