Fanhua Inc.
Annual Report 2022

Plain-text annual report

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 20-F (Mark One) ☐ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 OR ☐ SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of event requiring this shell company report For the transition period from to Commission file number: 001-33768 FANHUA INC. (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) N/A (Translation of Registrant’s name into English) Cayman Islands (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) 60/F, Pearl River Tower No. 15 West Zhujiang Road Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623 People’s Republic of China (Address of principal executive offices) Peng Ge, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +86 20 83883033 E-mail: gepeng@fanhuaholdings.com Fax: +86 20 83883181 60/F, Pearl River Tower No. 15 West Zhujiang Road Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623 People’s Republic of China (Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person) Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of Each Class Ticker Symbol(s) Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered Ordinary shares, par value US$0.001 per share* American depositary shares, each representing 20 ordinary shares FANH The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (The NASDAQ Global Select Market) * Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on The NASDAQ Global Select Market of American depositary shares, each representing 20 ordinary shares. Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None (Title of Class) Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None (Title of Class) Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the Issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. 1,072,842,484 ordinary shares, par value US$0.001 per share as of December 31, 2022 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒ If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Yes ☐ No ☒ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non- accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☒ Emerging growth company ☐ If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards † provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐ † The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒ If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐ Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐ Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing: U.S. GAAP ☒ International Financial Reporting Standards as issued Other ☐ by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐ If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐ (APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. Yes ☐ No ☒ Yes ☐ No ☐ TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART I Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable Item 3. Key Information Item 4. Information on the Company Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions Item 8. Financial Information Item 9. The Offer and Listing Item 10. Additional Information Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities PART II Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds Item 15. Controls and Procedures Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert Item 16B. Code of Ethics Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant Item 16G. Corporate Governance Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure. Item 16I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections. Item 16J. Insider Trading Policies PART III Item 17. Financial Statements Item 18. Financial Statements Item 19. Exhibits ii 1 1 1 1 44 75 75 93 103 103 105 106 116 117 118 118 118 119 121 121 121 122 122 122 122 123 124 124 124 124 124 125 i In this annual report, unless the context otherwise requires: INTRODUCTION ● “we,” “us,” “our company,” “the Company” or “our” refers to Fanhua Inc., formerly known as CNinsure Inc. and its subsidiaries and, in the context of describing its operations and consolidated financial information, its variable interest entities which are its consolidated affiliated entities, if applicable. As described elsewhere in this annual report, we do not own the VIEs, and the results of the VIEs’ operations only accrue to us through contractual arrangements between the VIEs, and the VIEs’ nominee shareholders, and certain of our subsidiaries. Accordingly, in appropriate contexts we will describe the VIEs’ activities separately from those of our direct and indirect owned subsidiaries, and our use of the terms “we,” “us,” and “our” may not include the VIEs in those contexts; ● “Parent” refers to Fanhua Inc., a Cayman Islands holding company; ● ● ● “consolidated VIEs” refers to Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd. (“Xinbao Investment”) Fanhua RONS (Beijing) Technologies Co., Ltd. (“Fanhua RONS Technologies”) and their subsidiaries; “China” or “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, solely for the purpose of this annual report, Taiwan, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“Hong Kong”) and Macau Special Administrative Region(“Macau”); “provinces” of China refers to the 23 provinces, the four municipalities directly administered by the central government (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing), the five autonomous regions (Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia and Guangxi), excluding, solely for the purpose of this annual report, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; ● “shares” or “ordinary shares” refers to our ordinary shares, par value US$0.001 per share; ● “ADSs” refers to our American depositary shares, each of which represents 20 ordinary shares; ● ● ● all references to “RMB” or “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China, all references to “US$” and “U.S. dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States and all references to “HK$” and “HK dollars” are to the legal currency of Hong Kong; “customer” refers to policyholder or our insurance company partner which we define as customer under ASC 606; and all discrepancies in any table between the amounts identified as total amounts and the sum of the amounts listed therein are due to rounding. Our Corporate Structure Fanhua Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through (i) its PRC subsidiaries, including Fanhua Zhonglian Enterprise Image Planning (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., or Zhonglian Enterprise, and Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., or Xinlian Information, and their subsidiaries in which we hold equity ownership interests, and (ii) contractual arrangements among (x) our wholly-owned PRC subsidiaries Fanhua Insurance Sales Service Group Company Limited, or Fanhua Group Company and Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd., or Fanlian Investment, (y) the consolidated VIEs, namely, Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd., or Xinbao Investment, and Fanhua RONS (Beijing) Technologies Co., Ltd., or Fanhua RONS Technologies, two limited liability companies established under PRC law, and (z) the individual nominee shareholder of the consolidated VIEs. Fanhua Inc. holds 49% equity interests in Xinbao Investment. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never directly hold all equity interests in the consolidated VIEs. PRC laws, regulations, and rules restrict and impose conditions on direct foreign investment in certain types of business, and we therefore operate these businesses in China through the consolidated VIEs. For a summary of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company— ii C. Organizational Structure.” As used in this annual report, “we”, “us”, or “our” refers to Fanhua Inc. and its subsidiaries. Our corporate structure is subject to risks relating to our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment, Fanhua RONS Technologies and their individual nominee shareholders. If the PRC government finds these contractual arrangements non-compliant with the restrictions on direct foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if the relevant PRC laws, regulations, and rules or the interpretation thereof change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in the consolidated VIEs or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements. Fanhua Inc. and investors in the ADSs face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and, consequently, significantly affect the financial condition and results of operations of Fanhua Inc. If we are unable to claim our right to control the assets of the consolidated VIEs, the ADSs may decline in value or become worthless. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.” We face various legal and operational risks and uncertainties relating to doing business in China. We operate our business primarily in China, and are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations. For example, we face risks relating to regulatory approvals in connection with a future offering of our securities to foreign investors, oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, and the expanding efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protection available to you and us, hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer the ADSs, result in a material adverse effect on our business operations, and damage our reputation, which might further cause the ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors— Risks Related to Doing Business in China.” The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report notifying the Commission of its determinations that they are unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The report sets forth lists identifying the registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, respectively, that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely. Our financial statements contained in this annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 have been audited by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, or Deloitte, an independent registered public accounting firm that is headquartered in Mainland China and is on such lists. On May 26, 2022, we have been conclusively identified by the Commission as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Company Accountable Act, or the HFCA Act. If, in the future, we have been identified by the Commission for three consecutive years as an 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 Commission may prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the “over-the-counter” trading market in the United States. Additionally, on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law, which, among others, amended the HFCA Act to reduce the number of consecutive years an issuer can be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer before the SEC must impose an initial trading prohibition on the issuer’s securities from three years to two. Therefore, once an issuer is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years, the SEC is required under the HFCA Act to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter market. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Therefore, our auditor is currently able to be fully inspected and investigated by the PCAOB. Accordingly, until such time as the PCAOB issues any new determination, we are at no risk of having our securities subject to a trading prohibition under the HFCA Act. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. In accordance with the HFCA Act, our securities would be prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States if we are identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years in the future. Furthermore, we and our investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of iii the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our securities to lose confidence in the audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality 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, cessation of trading in the “over-the-counter” market, deregistration from the Commission and/or other risks, which may materially and adversely affect, or effectively terminate, our ADSs trading in the United States. iv PART I Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers Not Applicable. Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable Not Applicable. Item 3. Key Information The Consolidated VIEs and China Operations Fanhua Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through (i) its PRC subsidiaries, including Zhonglian Enterprise and Xinlian Information, and their subsidiaries in which we hold equity ownership interests, and (ii) contractual arrangements among (x) our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary Fanhua Group Company and Fanlian Investment, (y) the consolidated VIEs, Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies, limited liability companies established under PRC law, and (z) the individual nominee shareholders of the consolidated VIEs. Fanhua Inc. holds 49% equity interests in Xinbao Investment. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never directly hold all equity interests in the consolidated VIEs. We commenced a restructuring in August 2021 to re-establish the VIE structure for our online insurance business where our direct equity interests in Xinbao Investment were reduced from 100% to 49% and the remaining 51% was nominally held by an employee of the Company on behalf of the Company. The restructuring completed in December 2021. Concurrently, our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, Fanhua Group Company, entered into contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and the individual nominee shareholder. These agreements include:(i) a technology consulting and service agreement, which enables us to receive all of the economic benefits of Xinbao investment and its subsidiaries, (ii) a loan agreement, powers of attorney and an equity pledge agreement, which provide us with effective control over Xinbao Investment, and (iii) an exclusive purchase option agreement, which provides us with the option to purchase part of the equity interests in Xinbao Investment. On June 24, 2022, our wholly owned subsidiary Fanlian Investment transferred all of the equity interests in Fanhua RONS Technologies to Mr. Peng Ge, our chief financial officer to hold the shares of Fanhua RONS Technologies nominally on behalf of the Company. Concurrently, Fanlian Investment entered into contractual arrangements with Fanhua RONS Technologies and Mr. Ge. The contractual arrangements are substantially similar to those among Fanhua Group Company, Xinbao Investment and its individual nominee shareholder. For more details of the restructuring and the contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” In the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel, (i) the ownership structure relating to the consolidated VIEs of the Company is in compliance with PRC laws and regulations; (ii) the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs and the individual shareholders are legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, and enforceable against such party in accordance with their respective terms; and (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of the consolidated VIEs and its shareholders do not result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association and business licenses of the consolidated VIEs, and any violation of any current PRC laws and regulations. However, control through these contractual arrangements may be less effective than direct ownership, and we could face heightened risks and costs in enforcing these contractual arrangements, because there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations, and rules relating to these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court of law. If the PRC government finds such agreements non-compliant with relevant PRC laws, regulations, and rules, or if these laws, regulations, and rules or the interpretation thereof change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the contractual arrangements that establish - 1 - the structure for operating part of our China business does not comply with applicable PRC laws and regulations, we could be subject to severe penalties.” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—We rely on contractual arrangements with our consolidated VIEs, Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies, and their shareholders to conduct a small part of our China operations, which may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership, and these contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court of law.” The following diagram illustrates the corporate structure of us and the consolidated VIEs, including the names, places of incorporation and the proportion of ownership interests in our and the consolidated VIEs’ significant subsidiaries and their respective subsidiaries as of March 31, 2023: The diagram above omits the names of subsidiaries that are immaterial individually and in the aggregate. For a complete list of our subsidiaries as of March 31, 2023, see Exhibit 8.1 to this annual report. Fund Flows between Fanhua Inc., its Subsidiaries and the Consolidated VIEs Under PRC law, we may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or loans, and to the consolidated VIEs only through loans, subject to the satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval requirements. We rely on dividends and other distributions from our PRC subsidiaries to satisfy part of our liquidity requirement. Under the contractual arrangements among Fanhua Group Company, the consolidated VIEs, and the shareholders of the consolidated VIEs, Fanhua Group Company is entitled to all of the economic benefits of the consolidated VIEs and its subsidiaries in the form of service fees. For risks relating to the fund flows of our China operations, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—We rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to - 2 - fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.” Assets Transfer Occurred Between Fanhua Inc., its Subsidiaries and the Consolidated VIEs Under the Contractual Arrangements, Fanhua Group Company and Fanlian Investment provide consultation and training services to the consolidated VIEs and are entitled to receive service fees from the consolidated VIEs in exchange. The Contractual Arrangements provide that the consolidated VIEs shall pay a quarterly fee calculated primarily based on a percentage of its revenues. Technology consulting and service agreements were entered into between (i) Fanhua Group Company and (ii) Xinbao Investment and each of its subsidiaries on March 1, 2022 and consulting and service agreements were entered into between (i) Fanlian Investment and (ii) Fanhua RONS Technologies and each of its subsidiaries. No service fees have been incurred in 2022. The cash flows occurred between our subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs included the following: (1) cash received by the VIEs from our subsidiaries as inter-company advances amounted to RMB43.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022; and (2) commissions received offset by technology services paid by our subsidiaries to the VIEs amounted to RMB94.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Dividends or Distributions on Our ADSs or Ordinary Shares Made to the U.S. Investors and Their Tax Consequences Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to applicable laws. Although Fanhua Inc. has previously paid dividends on a quarterly basis, the amount and form of future dividends will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. See “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Dividend Policy.” In addition, subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed in detail under “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Taxation—Passive Foreign Investment Company”, the gross amount of any distribution that we make to investors with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares (including any amounts withheld to reflect PRC or other withholding taxes) will be taxable as a dividend, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Furthermore, if we are considered a PRC tax resident enterprise for tax purposes, any dividends we pay to our overseas shareholders may be regarded as China-sourced income and as a result may be subject to PRC withholding tax. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Our global income or the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.” For further discussion on PRC and United States federal income tax considerations of an investment in the ADSs, see “Item 10—Additional Information—E. Taxation.” Restrictions on Foreign Exchange and the Ability to Transfer Cash between Entities, Across Borders and to U.S. Investors Our cash dividends were paid in U.S. dollars. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. The majority of our income is received in Renminbi and shortages in foreign currencies may restrict our ability to pay dividends or other payments, or otherwise satisfy our foreign-currency-denominated obligations, if any. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE as long as certain procedural requirements are met. Approval from appropriate government authorities is required if Renminbi is converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may, at its discretion, impose restrictions on access to foreign currencies for current account transactions and if this occurs in the future, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders. Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the PRC companies to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Additionally, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs can only distribute dividends upon approval of the shareholders after they have met the PRC requirements for appropriation to the statutory reserves. As a result of these and other - 3 - restrictions under the PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs are restricted to transfer a portion of their net assets to us either in the form of dividends, loans or advances. Even though we currently do not require any such dividends, loans or advances from our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs for working capital and other funding purposes, we may in the future require additional cash resources from our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and developments, or merely pay dividends to or distributions to our shareholders. Financial Information Related to the VIEs The following tables set forth the summary consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2022 of the Parent, our wholly-owned foreign subsidiary (“WOFEs”), or Fanhua Group Company and Fanlian Investment, that are the primary beneficiaries of the VIEs under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP (the “Primary Beneficiaries of VIEs”), our other subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs and their subsidiaries, and the summary of the consolidated statement of income and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our and the consolidated VIEs’ historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in this annual report. As of December 31, 2022 Consolidated VIEs and their Parent subsidiaries WOFEs Other Subsidiaries Eliminating adjustments Consolidated total Assets Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash Short term investments Accounts receivable, net Contract assets, net Other receivables, net Amounts due from internal companies Investment in an affiliate Investments in subsidiaries and the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries Right-of-use assets, net Property, plant, and equipment, net Other non-current assets Deferred tax assets Other assets Total assets Liabilities Short-term loan Accounts payable Accrued commissions Other payables and accrued expenses Amounts due to internal companies Income tax payable Deferred tax liabilities Operating lease liability Accrued payroll Other tax liabilities Insurance premium payable (RMB in thousands) 38,512 — 27,619 — — — 38,169 112,399 — 27,115 — — — 21,380 — — 1,951 181,086 378,445 53,571 320,135 372,220 659,788 48,012 — — — — — — 417,613 4,035 208,630 943,158 3,056,014 (4,625,415 ) — — — — 567,525 80,686 347,754 393,600 659,788 231,049 — 4,035 2,520,667 — — 1,178,977 13,074 5,273 64,000 (3,763,644 ) — 126,739 — 145,086 — — — — 3,008,446 2,322 1,289 — 5,000 — 1,755 387,545 — — — — 311,595 2,817,528 5,341,006 (8,389,059 ) 94,848 11,400 15,402 140,432 98,459 11,400 20,402 529,732 3,089,516 — — — — 8,600 — — — — 35,679 353,752 267,349 — — — 35,679 362,352 267,349 3,599 3,267 2,597 164,863 — 174,326 1,381,444 — — — — — — 170,839 2,102,968 852 — 14,107 4,853 — — 7,509 — 4,955 10,941 26,147 16,571 972,406 (4,627,657 ) — 121,663 — 102,455 — 117,432 — 80,485 — 10,500 — 9 — 130,024 102,455 136,494 96,279 36,647 16,580 - 4 - Total liabilities Total net assets 1,385,043 1,623,403 248,829 2,125,377 2,226,593 (4,627,657 ) 62,766 692,151 3,114,413 (3,761,402 ) 1,358,185 1,731,331 As of December 31, 2021 Consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries WOFEs Parent Other Subsidiaries Eliminating adjustments Consolidated total Assets Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash Short term investments Accounts receivable, net Contract assets, net Other receivables, net Amounts due from internal companies Investment in an affiliate Investments in subsidiaries and the VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries Right-of-use assets, net Property, plant, and equipment, net Other non-current assets Deferred tax assets Other assets Total assets Liabilities Accounts payable Accrued commissions Other payables and accrued expenses Amounts due to internal companies Income tax payable Deferred tax liabilities Operating lease liability Accrued payroll Other tax liabilities Insurance premium payable Total liabilities Total net assets (RMB in thousands) 14,507 — 34,705 — — — 2,301 211,909 — 30,343 — 537,953 — — 1,590 32,406 — 949 335,907 61,555 298,024 415,698 455,539 58,216 — — — (57,772 ) — — 635,953 6,378 116,351 711,908 3,561,209 (5,025,421 ) — 329,430 — — 564,624 91,898 870,682 390,332 455,539 60,755 — 335,808 3,328,864 — — 416,099 16,113 1,190 500,000 (4,244,963 ) — 208,374 — 225,677 — — — — 4,020,407 1,679 — — 924 — — — — 186,143 1,902,273 6,461,451 (9,328,156 ) 44,937 31,459 12,211 148,892 184 — 6,517 — 46,800 31,459 18,728 149,816 3,242,118 — — 62,132 — — — 330,792 139,706 (57,203 ) — 335,721 139,706 2,903 1,601 4,261 169,392 — 178,157 2,179,619 — — — — — — 2,182,522 1,837,885 35,933 1,346,557 1,463,881 (5,025,990 ) — 6,617 — — — 1,286 — 2,166 — — 24,054 — 133,789 1,377,087 2,671,551 (5,083,193 ) 52,354 525,186 3,789,900 (4,244,963 ) 119,165 73,505 196,938 105,071 73,101 — 4,440 211 17,071 4,435 112 — — 130,222 73,716 215,295 111,672 73,213 24,054 1,281,756 1,960,362 For the year ended December 31, 2022 Consolidated VIEs and their Parent subsidiaries WOFEs Other subsidiaries Eliminating adjustments (1) Consolidated total Total net revenues Third-party revenues Intra-Group revenues Total operating costs and (RMB in thousands) — — — 165,270 — 2,747,360 141,086 — 2,640,528 106,832 24,184 — (131,016 ) — (131,016 ) 2,781,614 2,781,614 — expenses (11,318 ) (173,131 ) (36,227 ) (2,523,279 ) 131,016 (2,612,939 ) - 5 - Third-party operating costs and expenses Intra-Group operating costs and expenses Income (loss) from operations Interest income Investment income Others, net Share of income from (11,062 ) (67,789 ) (36,126 ) (2,497,962 ) — (2,612,939 ) (256 ) (105,342 ) (101 ) (25,317 ) 131,016 — (11,318 ) 5 — 17,495 (7,861 ) (36,227 ) 388 11,606 — 6,600 (149 ) 578 224,081 1,675 11,209 (21,747 ) — — — — 168,675 13,674 17,809 (3,823 ) subsidiaries and the VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries Share of income of affiliates, 96,432 — 156,578 — (253,010 ) — net of impairment Income tax expenses Net income (2,342 ) — 100,272 — — 2,759 (2,906 ) (4,136 ) 135,502 (67,254 ) (40,869 ) 107,095 — — (253,010 ) (69,596 ) (41,016 ) 85,723 Note: (1) The elimination mainly represents (i) the intercompany service fee related to agency services for distributing life insurance products and P&C insurance products on behalf of insurance companies provide by consolidated affiliated entities to subsidiaries and (ii) the intercompany service fee related to technology services provided by our consolidated variable interest entities to our subsidiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2021 Consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries WOFEs Parent Other subsidiaries Eliminating adjustments (1) Consolidated total Total net revenues Third-party revenues Intra-Group revenues Total operating costs and expenses Third-party operating costs and expenses Intra-Group operating costs and expenses Income (loss) from operations Interest income Investment income Others, net Share of income from (RMB in thousands) — — — 16,267 — 3,268,763 16,267 — 3,254,847 13,916 — — (13,916 ) — (13,916 ) 3,271,114 3,271,114 — (331 ) (15,730 ) (37,677 ) (2,929,387 ) 13,916 (2,969,209 ) (331 ) (1,814 ) (37,677 ) (2,929,387 ) — (2,969,209 ) — (13,916 ) — — 13,916 — (331 ) 2 — — 537 (37,677 ) 374 60 — 21,767 90 12,014 339,376 2,535 11,131 21,210 — — — — 301,905 2,971 32,898 33,314 subsidiaries and the VIE and VIE’s subsidiaries Share of loss of affiliates Income tax expenses Net income 254,526 (3,208 ) — 250,989 Note: — 300,599 — — (172 ) 1,760 515 298,837 — (17,365 ) (92,162 ) 264,725 (555,125 ) — — (555,125 ) — (20,573 ) (90,574 ) 259,941 (1) The elimination mainly represents the intercompany service fee related to agency services for distributing life insurance products and P&C insurance products on behalf of insurance companies provide by consolidated affiliated entities to subsidiaries. - 6 - For the year ended December 31, 2022 Consolidated VIEs and their Parent subsidiaries WOFEs Other subsidiaries (RMB in thousands) Eliminating adjustments Consolidated total Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash (used in) provided by transactions with external parties Net cash (used in) provided by transactions with internal companies Cash flows from investing 7,339 3,822 (12,794 ) 139,385 — 137,752 7,339 98,715 (12,794 ) 44,492 — 137,752 — (94,893 ) — 94,893 — — activities: 227,321 (16,214 ) (34,333 ) (1,006,158 ) 701,822 (127,562 ) Net cash provided by (used in) transactions with external parties Net cash provided by (used in) transactions with internal companies Cash flows from financing 917,101 (16,214 ) (34,333 ) (994,116 ) — (127,562 ) (689,780 ) — — (12,042 ) 701,822 — activities: (321,712 ) 43,032 (52,476 ) 1,012,607 (701,822 ) (20,371 ) Net cash used in transactions with external parties (321,712 ) — — 301,341 — (20,371 ) Net cash provided by (used in) transactions with internal companies — 43,032 (52,476 ) 711,266 (701,822 ) — For the year ended December 31, 2021 Parent Consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries WOFEs Other subsidiaries (RMB in thousands) Eliminating adjustments Consolidated total Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash (used in) provided by transactions with external parties Net cash (used in) provided by transactions with internal companies Cash flows from investing (784 ) 32,674 (7,013 ) 101,321 — 126,198 (784 ) 48,923 (7,013 ) 85,072 — 126,198 — (16,249 ) — 16,249 — — activities: 201,339 (73,430 ) (283,323 ) 261,650 344,163 450,399 Net cash provided by (used in) transactions with external parties 43,757 Net cash provided by (used in) transactions with internal companies 157,582 — (283,323 ) 689,965 — 450,399 (73,430 ) — (428,315 ) 344,163 — - 7 - Cash flows from financing activities: (242,518 ) — 501,745 (175,362 ) (344,163 ) (260,298 ) Net cash used in transactions with external parties (242,518 ) — — (17,780 ) — (260,298 ) Net cash provided by (used in) transactions with internal companies — — 501,745 (157,582 ) (344,163 ) — Filing Procedures Required from the PRC Authorities for Offering Securities to Foreign Investors Under applicable laws of mainland China, we and our mainland China subsidiaries may be required to complete certain filing procedures with the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, in connection with future offering and listing in an overseas market, including our follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible bonds, offshore relisting after going-private transactions, and other equivalent offering activities. If we fail to complete such filing procedures for any future offshore offering or listing, including our follow-on offerings, issuance of convertible bonds, offshore relisting after going-private transactions, and other equivalent offering activities, we may face sanctions by the CSRC or other mainland China regulatory authorities, which may include fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, limitations on our operating privileges in mainland China, restrictions on or delays to our future financing transactions offshore, or other actions that could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs. In addition, we are required to file a report to the CSRC after the occurrence and public disclosure of certain material corporate events, including but not limited to, change of control and voluntary or mandatory delisting. For more detailed information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other government authorities may be required in connection with our follow-on offshore offerings and capital raising activities under the laws of mainland China, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.” Summary of Risk Factors Investing in the ADSs involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” and other information contained in this annual report on Form 20-F, before you decide whether to purchase the ADSs. Below please find a summary of the principal risks and uncertainties we face, organized under relevant headings: Risks Related to Our Business and Industry ● We may not be successful in implementing our new strategic initiatives, which may have an adverse impact on our business and financial results. ● ● If and when our contracts with insurance companies are suspended or changed, our business and operating results will be materially and adversely affected. If we fail to attract and retain productive agents, especially entrepreneurial agents, and qualified claims adjustors, our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected. ● Material changes in the regulatory environment could change the competitive landscape of our industry or require us to change the way we do business. The administration, interpretation and enforcement of the laws and regulations currently applicable to us could change rapidly. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties or lose the ability to conduct our business. ● We may be unsuccessful in identifying suitable acquisition candidates, completing acquisitions, integrating acquired companies or the acquired companies may not perform to our expectations, which could adversely affect our growth. - 8 - ● Because the commission and fee we earn on the sale of insurance products is based on premiums, commission and fee rates set by insurance companies, any decrease in these premiums, commission or fee rates may have an adverse effect on our results of operations. ● Our operating structure may make it difficult to respond quickly to operational or financial problems, which could negatively affect our financial results. ● Any significant failure in our information technology systems, cyber-attacks, any failure to protect the confidential information of our customers or other security breaches may disrupt our business, loss of customers, damage our reputation, result in potential liability and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. ● Our business is subject to insurance company partner concentration risks arising from dependence on a single or limited number of insurance company partners. Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure ● Fanhua Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through its subsidiaries and contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never directly hold, all equity interests in the consolidated VIEs. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations, and rules relating to such agreements that establish the VIE structure for the majority of our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations in China, including potential future actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and, consequently, significantly affect the financial condition and results of operations of Fanhua Inc. If the PRC government finds such agreements non- compliant with relevant PRC laws, regulations, and rules, or if these laws, regulations, and rules or the interpretation thereof change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements; ● The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as us. Therefore, investors in the ADSs and the business of us and the consolidated VIEs face potential uncertainty from the PRC government’s policy. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, or government policies could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s business, financial condition, and results of operations; ● Any failure by the VIEs or their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under our Contractual Arrangements with them would have an adverse effect on our business. ● We rely on contractual arrangements to conduct a small part of our China operations, which may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership; and Risks Related to Doing Business in China ● The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other government authorities may be required in connection with our follow-on offshore offerings and capital raising activities under the laws of mainland China, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing. ● Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our ADSs, cause significant disruption to our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations, and severely damage our and the consolidated VIEs’ reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. In addition, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, therefore, our assertions and beliefs of the risks imposed by the Chinese legal and regulatory system cannot be certain. ● Our global income or the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. - 9 - ● We rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. ● PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents and employee stock options granted by overseas-listed companies may increase our administrative burden, restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activity, or otherwise adversely affect us. If our shareholders who are PRC residents, or our PRC employees who are granted or exercise stock options, fail to make any required registrations or filings under such regulations, we may be unable to distribute profits and may become subject to liability under PRC laws. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional equity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC law. Risks Related to Our ADSs ● The Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if enacted, would reduce the time period before our ADSs may be prohibited from trading or delisted. The delisting of our ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct adequate inspections deprives our investors with the benefits of such inspections. ● We may need additional capital, and the sale of additional ADSs or other equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. ● Holders of our ADSs may have fewer rights than holders of our ordinary shares and must act through the depositary to exercise those rights. ● You may have to rely primarily on price appreciation of our ADSs for any return on your investment. ● As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain disclosure requirements under the Exchange Act, which may afford less protection to our shareholders than they would enjoy if we were a domestic U.S. company. ● We may be a passive foreign investment company for United States federal income tax purposes, which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States Holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares. Risks Related to PCAOB Inspections On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report notifying the Commission of its determinations (the “PCAOB Determinations”) that they are unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong. The report sets forth lists identifying the registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, respectively, that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely. Our financial statements contained in this annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 have been audited by Deloitte, an independent registered public accounting firm that is headquartered in Mainland China and is on such lists. On May 26, 2022, we have been conclusively identified by the Commission as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Company Accountable Act, or the HFCA Act. If, in the future, we have been identified by the Commission for three consecutive years as an 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 Commission may prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the “over- the-counter” trading market in the United States. Additionally, on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law, which, among others, amended the HFCA Act to reduce the number of consecutive years an issuer can be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer before the SEC must impose an initial trading prohibition on the issuer’s securities from three years to two. Therefore, once an issuer is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years, the SEC is required under the HFCA Act to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter market. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or - 10 - investigate completely registered public accounting firms. Therefore, our auditor is currently able to be fully inspected and investigated by the PCAOB. Accordingly, until such time as the PCAOB issues any new determination, we are at no risk of having our securities subject to a trading prohibition under the HFCA Act. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. In accordance with the HFCA Act, our securities would be prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States if we are identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years in the future. Furthermore, we and our investors may be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our securities to lose confidence in the audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality 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, cessation of trading in the “over-the-counter” market, deregistration from the Commission and/or other risks, which may materially and adversely affect, or effectively terminate, our ADSs trading in the United States. A. [Reserved] B. Capitalization and Indebtedness Not Applicable. C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds Not Applicable. D. Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business and Industry We may not be successful in implementing our new strategic initiatives, which may have an adverse impact on our business and financial results. In late 2020, we launched new strategic initiatives with focus on (i) building a career-based and professional insurance advisor team with profound insurance knowledge and capabilities to provide family financial asset allocation services to the emerging middle-class and mass-affluent individuals and families and empowering all independent agents and agencies in China to become more efficient and professionalized; (ii) developing digital toolkits and enhancing digital operation capabilities to empower independent agents and increase agent productivity and (iii) offering an open platform to all independent agents and agencies whereby they can have access to compliance support, industry leading IT infrastructure, digital technologies, better products and service offerings, and the library of resources and knowhow to improve their training and skillsets to strengthen their competitiveness in the market. There is no assurance that we will be able to implement these strategic initiatives in accordance with our expectations, which may result in an adverse impact on our business and financial results. If and when our contracts with insurance companies are suspended or changed, our business and operating results will be materially and adversely affected. We primarily act as agents for insurance companies in distributing their products to retail customers. We also provide claims adjusting services principally to insurance companies. Our relationships with the insurance companies are governed by agreements between us and the insurance companies. We have entered into strategic partnership agreements with most of our major insurance company partners for the distribution of life, property and casualty insurance products and the provision of claims adjusting services at the corporate headquarters level. While this approach allows us to obtain more favorable terms from insurance companies by combining the sales volumes and service fees of all of our subsidiaries and branches operating insurance agency and claims adjusting - 11 - businesses, it also means that the termination of a major contract could have a material adverse effect on our business. Under the framework of the headquarter-to-headquarter agreements, our subsidiaries and branches operating insurance agency and claims adjusting businesses generally also enter into contracts at a local level with the respective provincial, city and district branches of the insurance companies. Generally, each branch of these insurance companies has independent authority to enter into contracts with our relevant subsidiaries and branches, and the termination of a contract with one branch has no significant effect on our contracts with the other branches. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Insurance Company Partners.” These contracts establish, among other things, the scope of our authority, the pricing of the insurance products we distribute and our fee rates. These contracts typically have a term of one year, and certain contracts can be terminated by the insurance companies with little advance notice. Moreover, before or upon expiration of a contract, the insurance company that is a party to that contract may agree to renew it only with changes in material terms, including the amount of commissions and fees we receive, which could reduce our revenues to be generated from that contract. For the year ended December 31, 2022, our top five insurance company partners were Sinatay Life Insurance Co., Ltd., or Sinatay, Greatwall Life Insurance Co., Ltd., or Greatwall, Huaxia Life Insurance Co., Ltd., or Huaxia, Aeon Life Insurance Co., Ltd., or Aeon, and Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China, or Ping An by net revenues. Among these top five partners, only Sinatay accounted for more than 10% of our total net revenues individually in 2022, with Sinatay accounting for 19.6%, Greatwall accounting for 9.6%, Huaxia accounting for 9.0%, Aeon accounting for 8.4% and Ping An accounting for 6.8%, respectively. If we fail to attract and retain productive agents, especially entrepreneurial agents, and qualified claims adjustors, our business and operating results could be materially and adversely affected. A substantial portion of our sales of insurance products are conducted through our individual sales agents. Some of these sales agents are significantly more productive than others in generating sales. In recent years, some entrepreneurial management staff or senior sales agents of major insurance companies in China have chosen to leave their employers or principals and become independent agents. We refer to these individuals as entrepreneurial agents. An entrepreneurial agent is usually able to assemble and lead a team of sales agents. We have been actively recruiting and will continue to recruit entrepreneurial agents to join our distribution and service network as our sales agents. Entrepreneurial agents have been instrumental to the development of our life insurance business. In addition, we rely primarily on our in-house claims adjustors to provide claims adjusting services. Because claims adjustment requires technical skills, the technical competence of claims adjustors is essential to establishing and maintaining our brand image and relationships with our customers. As of December 31, 2022, we had 141,088 registered sales agents and 2,170 claims adjustors. Out of the registered sales agents, 60,942 were performing agents, who are defined as sales agents that have sold at least one insurance policy in 2022, and among these performing agents, 26,344 of them sold at least one life insurance policy in 2022. If we are unable to attract and retain the core group of highly productive sales agents, particularly entrepreneurial agents, and qualified claims adjustors, our business could be materially and adversely affected. Competition for sales personnel and claims adjustors from insurance companies and other insurance intermediaries may also force us to increase the compensation of our sales agents, and claims adjustors, which would increase operating costs and reduce our profitability. If our digitalization initiatives are not successful, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We have devoted significant efforts to developing and managing our online platforms and developing digital technologies to empower our business operations. In 2012, we launched Baowang (“保网”) (www.baoxian.com), an online insurance distribution platform operated through its application, WeChat public account and mini program], which aggregates more than 300 insurance products in partnership with over 30 insurers. Its insurance products cover from accident insurance, indemnity medical insurance, travel insurance, homeowner insurance, and a limited number of internet-specific long term regular life insurance products. In August 2014, we unveiled eHuzhu (“e 互助”) (www.ehuzhu.com), an online mutual aid platform that provides risk-protection programs on a mutual commitment basis among program members. In September 2017, we launched Lan Zhanggui (“懒掌 柜”), a mobile internet application and WeChat mini program, which provides end-to-end sales support services to our sales agents. In 2020, we announced an initiative to empower our operation by utilizing digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to gain more customer insight, match sales leads with the most suitable sales agents to maximize their productivity and help customers find the products that suit their different needs - 12 - throughout different stages of their lives. We have launched several digital toolkits including Fanhua RONS Assistant Digital Operating Platform(“泛华榕数助理”), or RONS DOP to empower our agents in online customer engagement, and Fanhua RONS Guanjia (“泛华榕数管家”), a comprehensive digital customer service platform. See detailed description about our online platforms and digital toolkits in “Item 4. Information on the Company— B. Business Overview”. The success of our strategies may depend on a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including but not limited to: ● ● the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns to build brand recognition among consumers and our ability to attract and retain customers; the acceptance of third-party e-commerce platforms as an effective channel for underwriters to distribute their insurance products; ● the acceptance of Lan Zhanggui, RONS DOP, Fanhua RONS Guanjia as effective tools by sales agents; ● public concerns over security of e-commerce transactions, privacy and confidentiality of information; ● increased competition from insurance companies which directly sell insurance products through their own websites, call centers, portal websites which provide insurance product information and links to insurance companies’ websites, and other professional insurance intermediary companies which may launch independent websites in the future; ● increased competition from third-party insurance technology companies; ● ● further improvement in our information technology system designed to facilitate smoother online transactions; and further development and changes in applicable rules and regulations which may increase our operating costs and expenses, impede the execution of our business plan or change the competitive landscape. Our digitalization efforts may not be successful or yield the benefits that we anticipate. As a result, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Regulations on online insurance distribution are evolving rapidly. If we are unable to adapt to regulatory changes and keep compliant, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Since online insurance distribution has emerged only recently in China and is evolving rapidly, the CBIRC may promulgate and implement new rules and regulations to govern this sector from time to time. On December 7, 2020, the CBIRC promulgated the Measures for the Supervision of the Internet Insurance Business, or the Measures, which became effective on February 1, 2021 and replaces the Interim Measures for the Regulation of Internet Insurance Business. The Measures provides clarity on the qualifications for entities to operate online insurance business in China and sets higher requirements on entities which intend to engage in online insurance business. For example, the Measures in effect requires that any insurance institution which conducts internet business through its self-operated online platform to directly own the domain name instead of through its subsidiary, both the insurance institution and its self-operated online platform shall make Internet Content Provider (“ICP”) filing and the insurance institutions engaged in online insurance business shall have IT systems that are certified as at least Safety Level III Computer Information Systems. We operate our online insurance distribution business through Baowang (www.baoxian.com), which accounted for 5.0% of our total net revenues in 2022. Shenzhen Baowang previously owned the domain name of Baowang and held a Value-added Telecommunication Business Operation Permit for ICP services, or ICP license. To remain compliant with the requirements of the Measures, in September 2020, Shenzhen Baowang transferred the domain name of www.baoxian.com to its direct parent company, Fanhua RONS which holds a national insurance service operating license. Fanhua RONS has obtained an ICP license in August 2022. Baowang’s system has been certified as Safety Level III Computer Information System for three consecutive years. As advised by our PRC counsel, we have obtained the necessary approvals and licenses, and our operations meet the qualification requirements of the Measures. In addition, we provide our insurance information and transaction processing services through mobile apps and mini programs such as “Lan Zhanggui”, “RONS DOP” and Fanhua RONS Guanjia. According to the - 13 - Provisions on the Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Services (the “App Provisions”) issued by the CAC on June 28, 2016, which was most recently amended on June 14, 2022, and became effective on August 1, 2022, except for providing internet news information service, any owner or operator providing other internet information services through a mobile internet application, or an “app,” must obtain the relevant qualification(s) as required by the relevant laws and regulations. The App Provisions, however, do not further clarify the scope of “information services,” nor do they specify what “relevant qualification(s)” that a mobile app owner or operator must obtain. In practice, operational activities of a company conducted through an app are subject to the supervision of the local counterparts of the Information Communications Administration, which has different polices on the operational activities conducted through websites and those through mobile apps. In many cases, companies providing information services through standalone mobile apps without any web-based online services are not required to obtain ICP licenses. However, the interpretation and enforcement of such laws and regulations are subject to substantial discretion of the local authorities. We cannot rule out the possibility that the local counterparts of the Information Communications Administration would take the view that our current information services and transaction processing services provided through mobile apps would require an ICP license or that, without such license, we would be prohibited from rendering such services. If we are unable to adapt to any new changes to the regulation governing online insurance business and remain fully compliant, the business operation of Baowang and our mobile applications and mini programs could be suspended, which may adversely impact our business results of operation. There are uncertainties with regard to how the changing laws, regulations and regulatory requirements would apply to our business. We cannot assure you that our operations will remain fully compliant with the changes in and further development of regulations applicable to us or we will be able to obtain the necessary approvals and licenses as required in a timely manner. Any failure to successfully identify the risks as part of our expansion into the online and mobile insurance distribution business may have a material adverse impact on our growth, business prospects and results of operations, which could lead to a decline in the price of our ADSs. All of our personnel engaging in insurance agency, or claims adjusting activities are required under relevant PRC regulations to register with the CBIRC’s Insurance Intermediaries Regulatory Information System. If our sales personnel fail to finish practice registration, our business may be materially and adversely affected. All of our personnel who engage in insurance agency and claims adjusting activities are required under relevant PRC regulations to be registered with the CBIRC’s Insurance Intermediary Regulatory Information System, or the IIRIS, through the insurance company or insurance intermediary company to which he or she belongs. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation.” In addition, under the relevant PRC regulations, such as the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Agents issued on November 12, 2020 and Provisions on the Supervision of Insurance Claims Adjusting Firms issued by the CBIRC in February 2018, an insurance agency or claims adjusting firm that retains a personnel who has not been registered with the IIRIS through the insurance agency or claims adjusting firm to engage in insurance intermediary activities may be subject to rectification request, warning and fines up to RMB10,000 per intermediary by the CBIRC. If a substantial portion of our sales force were found to have not been properly registered with the IIRIS, our business may be adversely affected. Moreover, we may be subject to fines and other administrative proceedings for the failure by our sales agents or sales representatives to register with the CBIRC. Such fines or administrative proceedings could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Material changes in the regulatory environment could change the competitive landscape of our industry or require us to change the way we do business. The administration, interpretation and enforcement of the laws and regulations currently applicable to us could change rapidly. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties or lose the ability to conduct our business. We operate in a highly regulated industry. The laws and regulations applicable to us are evolving and may change rapidly, which could change the competitive environment of our industry significantly and cause us to lose some or all of our competitive advantages. In recent years, the CBIRC and its predecessor have increasingly tightened regulations and supervision of the Chinese insurance market. For example, on April 2, 2019, the CBIRC issued a Notice to Rectify the Irregularities in the Insurance Intermediary Market in 2019 and subsequently on May 26, 2020, the CBIRC issued similar guidelines requiring all insurance companies and insurance intermediaries to conduct self-check on various practices in violation of relevant regulations. In March 2023, the CBIRC issued a Notice to Self-check and Rectify Irregularities in Internet-based Marketing and Publicity by - 14 - Insurance Institutions and Insurance Sales Personnel, requiring all insurance institutions and sales personnel to self-check and rectify irregular marketing activities on the internet starting from April 3, 2023. Insurance institutions are required to complete the rectification by June 15, 2023 and report the results to the CBIRC by June 30, 2023. Although we believe we have not had any material violations to date, we could be required to spend significant time and resources in complying with the requirement and the attention of our management team and key employees could be diverted to these efforts, which may adversely affect our business operations. The CBIRC has extensive authority to supervise and regulate the insurance industry in China. In exercising its authority, the CBIRC is given wide discretion, and the administration, interpretation and enforcement of the laws and regulations applicable to us involve uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. The People’s Bank of China and other government agencies may promulgate new rules governing online financial services. In July 2015, ten government agencies including the People’s Bank of China, the Ministry of Finance and CIRC promulgated a guidance letter on how to promote the healthy growth of internet financial services, which set forth the principles of supervision based on the rule of law, the appropriate level of regulation, proper categorization, cooperation among different government agencies and promoting innovation. Not only may the laws and regulations applicable to us change rapidly, but it may also sometimes be unclear how they apply to our business. For example, the laws and regulations applicable to our online and mobile platforms may be unclear. Our products or services may be determined or alleged to be in violation of the applicable laws and regulations. Any failure of our products or services to comply with these laws and regulations could result in substantial civil or criminal liability, adversely affect demand for our services, invalidate all or a portion of our customer contracts, require us to change or terminate some of our businesses, require us to refund a portion of our services fees, or cause us to be disqualified from serving customers, and therefore could have a material and adverse effect on our business. Although we have not had any material violations to date, we cannot assure you that our operations will always comply with the interpretation and enforcement of the laws and regulations implemented by the CBIRC. Any determination by a provincial or national government authority that our activities or those of our vendors or customers violate any of these laws could subject us to civil or criminal penalties, require us to change or terminate some of our operations or business, or disqualify us from providing services to insurance companies or other customers; and, thus have a materially adverse effect on our business. Our business could be negatively impacted if we are unable to adapt our services to regulatory changes in China. China’s insurance regulatory regime is undergoing significant changes. Some of these changes and the further development of regulations applicable to us may result in additional restrictions on our activities or more intensive competition in this industry, which may adversely affect our business operations. For example, on November 5, 2020, China Insurance Industry Association and China Medical Doctor Association jointly published Definition Framework 2020, announcing changes to the definition of critical illnesses, or CI, which will be adopted after a transition period ending January 31, 2021. After January 31, 2021, all critical illness products based on the previous definition framework will not be sold in China. Major changes to the CI definition framework include, among others, (i) setting the upper limit for insurance benefits for mild illness at no more than 30% of total insured amount; (ii) expanding the types of illnesses covered from 25 types to 28 types of critical illnesses and three types of mild illness; (iii) exclusion of cancer that is in situ from the scope of CI coverage; and (iv) categorizing thyroid cancer at different stages into critical illness category and mild illness category. The expected cessation of the critical illness products under the previous CI definition framework has resulted in strong growth in our sales of critical illness policies in January 2021 followed by a drop afterwards. On October 12, 2021, the CBIRC promulgated the Notice on Further Regulation of Matters Relating to the Internet Life Insurance Business of Insurance Institutions, which, among others, raised the qualification requirements for insurance companies and insurance intermediaries to engage in Internet life insurance business nationwide, limited products that could be sold on the Internet nationwide to accident, health, term life, 10-year (or longer) traditional life, and 10-year (or longer) annuities and capped the preset expense ratio to be no higher than 35% for one-year life insurance and first year preset expense ratio no higher than 60% with average expense ratio no higher than 25% for over-one-year life insurance. Incumbent companies have until the end of 2021 to - 15 - comply with the new regulations. Subsequently, many insurance companies which could not meet the qualification requirements have stopped selling life insurance products online before Jan 1, 2022. As our online insurance business operated through Baowang is subject to this regulation, the disruption in internet life insurance product supply and the cap on expense ratio have adversely impacted and may continue to impact Baowang which contributed to 5.0% of our total net revenues in 2022. Any future change in regulatory requirements may make our products less attractive to consumers or disrupt product supply, and our business results of operations could fluctuate significantly and be adversely affected. On July 10, 2017, the CIRC, the predecessor of CBIRC, promulgated the Interim Measures on Retrospective Management of Insurance Sales Behaviors, effective November 1, 2017 which required (1) ancillary insurance agencies to take video and audio-recording, or double-recording for the sales of all insurance products that they facilitate and (2) other insurance distribution channels to take double-recording for the sales of investment-linked insurance products and for the sale of life insurance products with a payment period of more than one year to the elderly of over 60 years old. On June 11, 2019, the Jiangsu Branch of the CBIRC published the Notice on Deepening the Implementation of the Retrospective Management of Personal Insurance Sales Behaviors or the Notice, requiring all insurance companies and insurance intermediary companies to start double-recording process for the sales of all long-term personal insurance products in Jiangsu Province starting from October 1, 2019. Similar rules have also been implemented in a few other regions, including Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, certain parts of Shandong since mid-2020 and Shanghai since early 2020. In June 2021, the CBIRC promulgated the Measures on Retrospective Management of Insurance Sales Behaviors for public consultation which requires that retrospective management must be conducted for face-to-face sales by sales agents of all life insurance products with a payment period of over one-year or less than one-year but with renewal obligation, and that insurance institutions must establish sound insurance sales retrospective management working mechanism and designated retrospective management information system. Retrospective management specially refers to the recording and preservation of the key insurance sales processes and sales behaviors by means of double recording, sales page management and operation tracking record to ensure future replay of the sales behaviors, search of important information and accountability of insurance institutions. As a significant portion of our insurance products are personal life insurance products with a payment period of over one year and are distributed through our individual sales agents, the sales processes of our sales agents to customers are subject to double recording requirements. As the double recording process can be complicated and time-consuming, our sales activities in those regions that have previously implemented such rules have been adversely impacted. If similar rules are implemented nationwide, our sales activities can be materially impacted, and our compliance cost may be increased, as a result of which our business and results of operations may be adversely affected. On January 12, 2021, the CBIRC promulgated Measures on The Supervision of Informatization of Insurance Intermediary Institutions, or the Informatization Measures, requiring insurance intermediary institutions to establish proper information system and provide specific requirements on the security system, security level protection certification, data security, personal information protection, terminal security and training. Insurance intermediary companies must comply with the Information Security Measures to engage in insurance intermediary business. Insurance intermediaries should conduct self-examination of informatization work in accordance with the Informatization Measures, and complete rectification within one year from the date of implementation of the Informatization Measures. We have completed self-examination and rectification and believe we have met the requirements of the Informatization Measures. However, if more stringent requirements are implemented in the future, our compliance cost may increase which may adversely impact our operation results. Our mutual-aid platform eHuzhu currently is not subject to any license requirement or any other supervision by the CBIRC because the mutual aid plans offered on the platform are not technically insurance. If the CBIRC determines to include mutual aid platform into its supervision in the future, our compliance cost could be increased, and if we are unable to meet the qualification requirement to obtain a proper license, the operation of eHuzhu could be disrupted. In 2021, a few internet giant-backed mutual aid platforms voluntarily chose to shut down operations. As of the date of this filing, eHuzhu hasn’t received any requirement from the CBIRC or other regulatory authority to terminate operations. If the CBIRC determines eHuzhu’s operation is not compliant with current regulations, eHuzhu would be required to terminate its operation, which could harm the interests of the members of eHuzhu and damage our reputation. - 16 - On April 15, 2022, the CBIRC issued the Second Draft Measures for the Supervision of Life Insurance Sales Behavior for public consultation, or the Draft Measure on Life Insurance Sales Behavior, which provides for a comprehensive management on the pre-sale, mid-sale and after-sale behaviors of life insurance distribution of insurance companies, insurance intermediaries and insurance salespeople, with requirements focusing on, among others, (i) establishment of a tiered management mechanism for insurance sales practitioners based on their qualifications and sales abilities before December 31, 2023 for new recruits and before December 31, 2024 for existing sales practitioners; (ii) classification of life insurance products by product types, complexity, risk level and affordability ; (iii) pre-sales product suitability assessment on the policyholders; (iv) restriction on compulsory bundled-sales of insurance products with healthcare and elderly-care services; (v) restriction on inclusion of self- insured policies in sales agents performance assessment and (v) establishment of a compliance management department independent from sales departments dedicated to the review and supervision of the sales behaviors of the sales practitioners of the insurance companies or insurance intermediaries. Some of the requirements, if implemented, may incur additional compliance costs for us. In addition, the Draft Measure on Life Insurance Sales Behavior caps the total commission rate at the pre-set surcharge ratio of life insurance products, which may reduce our commission revenues and adversely affect our financial results. We may be unsuccessful in identifying suitable acquisition candidates, completing acquisitions, integrating acquired companies or the acquired companies may not perform to our expectations, which could adversely affect our growth. Our growth strategy partially includes the acquisition of other insurance intermediaries. We expect a substantial portion of our future growth to come from acquisitions of high-quality independent insurance agencies, brokerages and claims adjusting firms. There is no assurance that we can successfully identify suitable acquisition candidates. Even if we identify suitable candidates, we may not be able to complete an acquisition on terms that are commercially acceptable to us. In addition, we compete with other entities to acquire high-quality independent insurance intermediaries. Many of our competitors may have substantially greater financial resources than we do and may be able to outbid us for these acquisition targets. If we are unable to complete acquisitions, our growth strategy may be impeded and our earnings or revenue growth may be negatively affected. Even if we succeed in acquiring other insurance intermediaries, our ability to integrate an acquired entity and its operations is subject to a number of factors. These factors include difficulties in the integration of acquired operations and retention of personnel, especially the sales agents who are not employees of the acquired company, entry into unfamiliar markets, unanticipated problems or legal liabilities, and tax and accounting issues. The need to address these factors may divert management’s attention from other aspects of our business and materially and adversely affect our business prospects. In addition, costs associated with integrating newly acquired companies could negatively affect our operating margins. Furthermore, the acquired companies may not perform to our expectations for various reasons, including legislative or regulatory changes that affect the insurance products in which a company specializes, the loss of key clients after the acquisition closes, general economic factors that impact a company in a direct way and the cultural incompatibility of an acquired company’s management team with us. If an acquired company can not be operated at the same profitability level as our existing operations, the acquisition would have a negative impact on our operating margin. Our inability to successfully integrate an acquired entity or its failure to perform to our expectations may materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. Competition in our industry is intense and, if we are unable to compete effectively with both existing and new market participants, we may lose customers, and our financial results may be negatively affected. The insurance intermediary industry in China is highly fragmented and competitive, and we expect competition to persist and intensify as more internet giants and other online insurance intermediaries and foreign- invested insurance intermediary companies enter the market. In insurance product distribution, we face competition from insurance companies that use their in-house sales force, exclusive sales agents, telemarketing and internet channels to distribute their products, from business entities that distribute insurance products on an ancillary basis, such as commercial banks, postal offices and automobile dealerships, as well as from other traditional or online insurance intermediaries. In our claims adjusting business, we primarily compete with other independent claims adjusting firms. We compete for customers on the basis of product offerings, customer services and reputation. Many of our competitors, both existing and newly emerging, have greater financial and marketing resources than we do and may be able to offer products and services that we do not currently offer and - 17 - may not offer in the future. If we are unable to compete effectively against those competitors, we may lose customers, and our financial results may be negatively affected. Because the commission and fee we earn on the sale of insurance products is based on premiums, commission and fee rates set by insurance companies, any decrease in these premiums, commission or fee rates may have an adverse effect on our results of operations. We are engaged in life and health insurance, property and casualty insurance and claims adjusting businesses and derive revenues primarily from commissions and fees paid by the insurance companies whose policies our customers purchase and to whom we provide claims adjusting services. Our commission and fee rates are set by insurance companies and are based on the premiums that the insurance companies charge or the amount recovered by insurance companies. Commission and fee rates and premiums can change based on the prevailing economic, regulatory, taxation-related and competitive factors that affect insurance companies. For example, the Draft Measure on the Life Insurance Sales Behaviors sets a cap on total commissions rate of life insurance products at the pre-set surcharge ratio of the life insurance product. These factors, which are not within our control, include the ability of insurance companies to place new business, underwriting and non-underwriting profits of insurance companies, consumer demand for insurance products, the availability of comparable products from other insurance companies at a lower cost, the availability of alternative insurance products such as government benefits and self-insurance plans, as well as the tax deductibility of commissions and fees and the consumers themselves. In addition, premium rates for certain insurance products, such as the mandatory automobile liability insurance that each automobile owner in the PRC is legally required to purchase, are tightly regulated by CBIRC. Because we do not determine, and cannot predict, the timing or extent of premium or commission and fee rate changes, we cannot predict the effect any of these changes may have on our operations. Any decrease in premiums or commission and fee rates may significantly affect our profitability. In addition, our budget for future acquisitions, capital expenditures and other expenditures may be disrupted by unexpected decreases in revenues caused by decreases in premiums or commission and fee rates, thereby adversely affecting our operations. Quarterly and annual variations in our commission and fee revenue may unexpectedly impact our results of operations. Our commission and fee revenue are subject to both quarterly and annual fluctuations as a result of the seasonality of our business, the timing of policy renewals and the net effect of new and lost business. Life insurance commission revenue is usually the highest in the first quarter and lowest in the fourth quarter of any given year as much of the jumpstart sales activities of life insurance companies occur in January and February during which life insurance companies would increase their sales efforts by offering more incentives for insurance agents and insurance intermediaries to increase sales, while the preparation for the jumpstart sales starts in the fourth quarter of each year. Started in 2021, we also record estimated renewal commission revenue for long-term policy based on the expected renewal rate as well as the possibility of achieving performance targets. This, in a way, mitigates some degree of seasonality issue. Apart from the outbreak of epidemic and the recognition of estimated renewal commissions, some other factors that cause the quarterly and annual variations are not within our control. Specifically, regulatory changes to product design may result in cessation of products from time to time and cause quarterly fluctuation in the results of our operations. In addition, consumer demand for insurance products can influence the timing of renewals, new business and lost business, which generally includes policies that are not renewed, and cancellations. As a result, you may not be able to rely on quarterly or annual comparisons of our operating results as an indication of our future performance. Our operating structure may make it difficult to respond quickly to operational or financial problems, which could negatively affect our financial results. We currently operate primarily through our wholly-owned or majority-owned insurance agencies and claims adjusting firms and their branches and to a smaller extent through our consolidated VIEs located in 31 provinces in China. These companies report their financial results to our corporate headquarters monthly. If these companies delay either reporting results or informing corporate headquarters of negative business developments such as losses of relationships with insurance companies, regulatory inquiries or any other negative events, we may not be able to take action to remedy the situation in a timely fashion. This in turn could have a negative effect on our financial results. In addition, if one of these companies were to report inaccurate financial information, we might not learn of the inaccuracies on a timely basis and be able to take corrective measures promptly, which could negatively affect our ability to report our financial results. - 18 - Our future success depends on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and other key personnel, and our business may be harmed if we lose their services. Our future success depends heavily upon the continuing services of the members of our senior management team and other key personnel, in particular, Mr. Yinan Hu, or Mr. Hu, our chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer, Mr. Peng Ge, or, Mr. Ge, our chief financial officer, Mr. Lichong Liu, our chief operating officer and vice president and Mr. Jun Li, our chief digital officer and vice president. If one or more of our senior executives or other key personnel, are unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily, or at all. As such, our business may be disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. Competition for senior management and key personnel in our industry is intense because of a number of factors including the limited pool of qualified candidates. We may not be able to retain the services of our senior executives or key personnel, or attract and retain high-quality senior executives or key personnel in the future. As is customary in the PRC, we do not have insurance coverage for the loss of our senior management team or other key personnel. In addition, if any member of our senior management team or any of our other key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose customers, sensitive trade information, key professionals and staff members. Each of our executive officers and key employees has entered into an employment agreement with us which contains confidentiality and non-competition provisions. These agreements generally have an initial term of three years, and are automatically extended for successive one-year terms unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of the agreement. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management—Employment Agreements” for a more detailed description of the key terms of these employment agreements. If any disputes arise between any of our senior executives or key personnel and us, we cannot assure you of the extent to which any of these agreements may be enforced. Salesperson and employee misconduct is difficult to detect and deter and could harm our reputation or lead to regulatory sanctions or litigation costs. Salesperson and employee misconduct could result in violations of law by us, regulatory sanctions, litigation or serious reputational or financial harm. Misconduct could include: ● making misrepresentations when marketing or selling insurance to customers; ● hindering insurance applicants from making full and accurate mandatory disclosures or inducing applicants to make misrepresentations; ● hiding or falsifying material information in relation to insurance contracts; ● fabricating or altering insurance contracts without authorization from relevant parties, selling false policies, or providing false documents on behalf of the applicants; ● falsifying insurance agency business or fraudulently returning insurance policies to obtain commissions; ● colluding with applicants, insureds, or beneficiaries to obtain insurance benefits; ● engaging in false claims; or ● otherwise not complying with laws and regulations or our control policies or procedures. We have internal policies and procedures to deter salesperson or employee misconduct. However, the measures and precautions we take to prevent and detect these activities may not be effective in all cases. Therefore, salesperson or employee misconduct could lead to a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, the general increase in misconduct in the industry could potentially harm the reputation of the industry and have an adverse impact on our business. Our investments in certain financial products may not yield the benefits we anticipate or incur financial loss, which could adversely affect our cash position. - 19 - In order to improve our return on capital, we may from time to time, upon board approval, invest a certain portion of our cash in financial products, such as trust products, with terms of half a year to two years. These products may involve various risks, including default risks, interest risks, and other risks. We cannot guarantee these investments will yield the returns we anticipate and we could suffer financial loss resulting from the purchase of these financial products. If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. We are subject to reporting obligations under U.S. securities laws. Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, every public company is required to include a management report on the company’s internal controls over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, an independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting. As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules as promulgated by the SEC, our management assessed the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 using criteria established in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022. If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment for our financial reporting, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which could result in inaccuracies in our consolidated financial statements and could also impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and make related regulatory filings on a timely basis. As a result, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs, may be materially and adversely affected. Moreover, if we are not able to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which would negatively impact the trading price of our ADSs. Our reporting obligations as a public company, including our efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, will continue to place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may face legal action by former employers or principals of entrepreneurial agents who join our distribution and service network. Competition for productive sales agents is intense within the Chinese insurance industry. When an entrepreneurial agent leaves his or her employer or principal to join our distribution and service network as our sales agent, we may face legal action by his or her former employer or principal of the entrepreneurial agent on the ground of unfair competition or breach of contract. As of the date of this annual report, there has been no such action filed or threatened against us. We cannot assure you that this will not happen in the future. Any such legal actions, regardless of merit, could be expensive and time-consuming and could divert resources and management’s attention from the operation of our business. If we were found liable in such a legal action, we might be required to pay substantial damages to the former employer or principal of the entrepreneurial agent, and our business reputation might be harmed. Moreover, the filing of such a legal action may discourage potential entrepreneurial agents from leaving their employers or principals, thus reducing the number of entrepreneurial agents we can recruit and potentially harming our growth prospects. If we are required to write down goodwill and investment in affiliates, our financial condition and results may be materially and adversely affected. When we acquire a business, the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to goodwill is determined by the excess of the fair value of purchase price and any controlling interest over the net identifiable tangible assets acquired. As of December 31, 2022, goodwill represented RMB110.0 million (US$15.9 million), or 6.8% of our total shareholders’ equity. Our management performs impairment assessments annually and we did not recognize any impairment loss between 2016 and 2022. Under current accounting standards, if we determine that goodwill is impaired, we will be required to write down the value of such assets and recognize corresponding impairment charges. - 20 - Prior to June 28, 2022, we accounted for our 18.5% of equity interests in CNFinance Holdings Limited (“CNFinance”) using the equity method. We review our equity method investment periodically to determine whether a decline in fair value to an amount below the carrying value is other-than-temporary. As of March 31, 2022, the fair value of the investment in CNFinance as measured by its closing market price was below the carrying value although the investment in CNFinance generated positive equity income. Based on management’s evaluation, it was concluded that the decline in fair value of our investment in CNFinance below its carrying value was deemed to be other-than-temporary. Accordingly, a provision of an impairment of RMB78.3 million (US$12.3 million) on investment in CNFinance was recognized in the first quarter of 2022. On June 28, 2022, we completed distribution of 252,995,600 ordinary shares of CNFinance to the Company’s shareholders in proportion to their then respective shareholdings in the Company as of the record date on June 9, 2022. Following the distribution, Fanhua’s equity stake in CNFinance decreased from approximately 18.5% to approximately 0.01% and we ceased to recognize share of income of CNFinance. Any future write-down related to such goodwill and equity method investments may materially and adversely affect our shareholders’ equity and financial results. Preparing and forecasting our financial results requires us to make judgments and estimates which may differ materially from actual results. Given the evolving regulatory and competitive environment and the inherent limitations in predicting the future, forecasts of our revenues, operating income, net income and other financial and operating data may differ materially from actual results. Such discrepancies could cause a decline in the trading price of our stock. In addition, the preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. Our management base their estimates on historical experience and various other factors which are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, and the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Significant accounting estimates reflected in our consolidated financial statements included estimates of allowance for doubtful receivables and estimates associated with equity-method investment impairment assessments. Actual results could differ from those estimates, which could negatively affect our stock price. Any significant failure in our information technology systems could have a material adverse effect on our business and profitability. Our business is highly dependent on the ability of our information technology systems to timely process a large number of transactions across different markets and products at a time when transaction processes have become increasingly complex and the volume of such transactions is growing rapidly. The proper functioning of our financial control, accounting, customer database, customer service and other data processing systems, together with the communication systems of our various subsidiaries, branches and our main offices in Guangzhou, is critical to our business and our ability to compete effectively. Our business activities could be materially disrupted in the event of a partial or complete failure of any of these primary information technology or communication systems, which could be caused by, among other things, software malfunction, computer virus attacks or conversion errors due to system upgrading. In addition, a prolonged failure of our information technology system could damage our reputation and materially and adversely affect our future prospects and profitability. A computer system failure, cyber-attacks, any failure to protect the confidential information of our customers or other security breaches may disrupt our business, loss of customers, damage our reputation, result in potential liability and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. We use computer systems to store, retrieve, evaluate and utilize customer and company data and information. Our business is highly dependent on our ability to access these systems to perform necessary business functions such as selling insurance products, providing customer support, policy management and claims assistance. Although we have designed and implemented a variety of security measures and backup plans to prevent or limit the effect of failure, our computer systems may be vulnerable to disruptions as a result of natural disasters, man- made disasters, criminal activities, pandemics or other events beyond our control. In addition, our computer systems may be subject to computer viruses or other malicious codes, unauthorized access, cyber-attacks or other computer-related penetrations. The failure of our computer systems for any reason could disrupt our operations - 21 - and may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. Although we have not experienced such a computer system failure or security breach in the past, we cannot assure you that we will not encounter a failure or security breach in the future. Our customer database holds confidential information concerning our customers. We may be unable to prevent third parties, such as hackers or criminal organizations, from stealing information provided by our customers to us. Confidential information of our customers may also be misappropriated or inadvertently disclosed through employee misconduct or mistake. We may also in the future be required to disclose to government authorities certain confidential information concerning our customers. In addition, many of our customers pay for our insurance services through third-party online payment services. In such transactions, maintaining complete security during the transmission of confidential information, such as personal information, is essential to maintaining consumer confidence. We have limited influence over the security measures of third-party online payment service providers. In addition, our third-party merchants may violate their confidentiality obligations and disclose information about our customers. Any compromise of our security or third-party service providers’ security could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Though we have not experienced any material cybersecurity incidents in the past, if our database were compromised by outside sources or if we are accused of failing to protect the confidential information of our customers, we may be forced to expend significant financial and managerial resources in remedying the situation, defending against these accusations and we may face potential liability. Any negative publicity, especially concerning breaches in our cybersecurity systems, may adversely affect our public image and reputation. Though we take proactive measures to protect against these risks and we believe that our efforts in this area are sufficient for our business, we cannot be certain that such measures will prove effective against all cybersecurity risks. In addition, any perception by the public that online commerce is becoming increasingly unsafe or that the privacy of customer information is vulnerable to attack could inhibit the growth of online services generally, which in turn may reduce the number of our customers. Our business is subject to insurance company partner concentration risks arising from dependence on a single or limited number of insurance company partners. We derive a significant portion of net revenues from distributing insurance products supplied by our important insurance company partners. Among the top five of our insurance company partners, Sinatay accounted for 19.6% of our total net revenues in 2022. Because of this concentration in the supply of the insurance products we distribute, our business and operations would be negatively affected if we experience a partial or complete loss of any of these insurance company partners. In addition, any significant adverse change in our relationship with any of these insurance company partners could result in loss of revenue, increased costs and distribution delays that could harm our business and customer relationships. In addition, this concentration can exacerbate our exposure to risks associated with the termination by key insurance company partners of our agreements or any adverse change in the terms of such agreements, which could have an adverse impact on our revenues and profitability. If we are unable to respond in a timely and cost-effective manner to rapid technological change in the insurance intermediary industry, it may result in a material adverse effect. The insurance industry is increasingly influenced by rapid technological change, frequent new product and service introductions and evolving industry standards. For example, the insurance intermediary industry has increased the use of the Internet to communicate benefits and related information to consumers and to facilitate information exchange, transactions and training. We believe that our future success will depend on our ability to anticipate and adapt to technological changes and to offer additional products and services that meet evolving standards on a timely and cost-effective manner. We may not be able to successfully identify new product and service opportunities or develop and introduce these opportunities in a timely and cost-effective manner. In addition, new products and services that our competitors develop or introduce may render our products and services uncompetitive. As a result, if we are not able to respond or adapt to technological changes that may affect our industry in the future, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. We face risks related to health epidemics, including the COVID-19 outbreak, severe weather conditions and other catastrophes, which could materially and adversely affect our business. - 22 - Our business could be materially and adversely affected by the outbreak of health epidemics including COVID-19, severe weather conditions or other catastrophes. The outbreak of the COVID-19 and the measures to contain its spread has from time to time disrupted our operations and adversely affected our business financial condition and results of operations. In late 2022, there were surges of COVID-19 cases in many cities in mainland China, which severely affected our sales activities towards the end of 2022. Mainland China began to modify its zero-COVID policy at the end of 2022, and most of the travel restrictions and quarantine requirements were lifted in December. However, we are unable to predict the continuing duration and extent of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as evolving measures to contain it. Even if the direct impact of COVID-19 gradually recedes, the pandemic will have a lingering, long-term effect on business activities and consumption behavior. There is no assurance that we will be able to adjust our business operations to adapt to these changes and the increasingly complex environment in which we operate. Any occurrence of other adverse public health developments or severe weather conditions may also significantly disrupt our staffing and otherwise reduce the activity level of our work force, thus causing a material and adverse effect on our business operations. We may be at risk of securities class action litigation. Historically, securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following periods of instability in the market price of its securities. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business. Recently, U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in China, have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by some investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in some cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stocks of many U.S.-listed Chinese companies have sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, have become virtually worthless. Some of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting or subject to internal and external investigations into the allegations. We had been targeted by short selling reports in the past and became subject to class action lawsuits which were subsequently dismissed or settled. Shortselling firms or others may in the future publish additional short seller reports with respect to our business, officers, directors and shareholders, and we may become subject to other unfavorable allegations, which might cause further fluctuations in the trading price of our ADSs. Such volatility in our share price could subject us to increased risk of securities class action lawsuits or derivative actions. Any future class action lawsuit against us, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital. 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 financial condition and results of operations. Even if such allegations are ultimately proven to be groundless, the allegations or the process of dealing with them could severely impact our business operations and stockholder’s equity, and any investment in our ADSs could be greatly reduced. We may be subject, from time to time, to adverse actions taken by other parties, including lawsuits and negative reports and regulatory proceedings, which may divert resources and the time and attention of our management and may otherwise adversely affect us. From time to time, we may become a party to litigations incidental to the operation of our business, including class action lawsuits and disputes with other third parties. Litigation usually requires a significant amount of management time and effort, which may adversely affect our business by diverting management’s focus from the needs of our business and the development of strategic opportunities. We cannot predict the outcome of these lawsuits. Regardless of the outcome, these lawsuits, and any other litigation that may be brought against us or our current or former directors and officers, could be time-consuming, result in significant expenses and divert the attention and resources of our management and other key employees. An unfavorable outcome in any of these matters could also exceed coverage provided under applicable insurance policies, which is limited. Any such unfavorable outcome could have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Further, we could be required to pay damages or additional - 23 - penalties or have other remedies imposed against us, or our current or former directors or officers, which could harm our reputation, business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, the CBIRC may from time to time make inquiries and conduct examinations concerning our compliance with PRC laws and regulations. These administrative proceedings have in the past resulted in administrative sanctions, including fines, which have not been material to us. While we cannot predict the outcome of any pending or future examination, we do not believe that any pending legal matter will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. However, we cannot assure you that any future regulatory proceeding will not have an adverse outcome, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or cash flows. Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure Fanhua Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company operating in China primarily through its subsidiaries and a small part of its business through contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never directly hold, all equity interests in the consolidated VIEs. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations, and rules relating to such agreements that establish the VIE structure for our consolidated VIEs’ operations in China, including potential future actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and, consequently, adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of Fanhua Inc. If the PRC government finds such agreements non-compliant with relevant PRC laws, regulations, and rules, or if these laws, regulations, and rules or the interpretation thereof change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish part of our interests in Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements. We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and Fanhua Group Company, our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, is considered a foreign-invested enterprise. We operate our online insurance distribution business, which accounted for 5% of our total net revenues in 2022, through Baoxian.com or Baowang. Previously, the domain name of Baowang was owned by Shenzhen Baowang E-commerce Co., Ltd., or Shenzhen Baowang, while its direct parent company Fanhua RONS Insurance Sales & Service Co. Ltd. (formerly known as Fanhua Century Insurance Sales & Service Co., Ltd.) or Fanhua RONS, one wholly-owned subsidiary of Xinbao Investment, owns a national insurance service operating license. To keep compliance with the Measures on the Supervision of Internet Insurance Business, or the Measures, which became effective on February 1, 2021 which requires any insurance institution that intends to engage in internet insurance business to directly own the online platform instead of through its subsidiary, we determined to register Fanhua RONS as the owner of baoxian.com and apply for a new Value-added Telecommunication Business Operation Permit for ICP services, or an ICP license for Fanhua RONS, although the Measures only requires the online platform owner to make ICP filing. As the applicant for an ICP license may be subject to foreign investment restriction, we commenced a restructuring to re-establish the VIE structure for our online insurance business which was completed in December 2021, pursuant to which our direct equity interests in Xinbao Investment was reduced from 100% to 49% and the remaining 51% is nominally held by an employee of the Company on behalf of the Company. Concurrently, Fanhua Group Company, entered into contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and the individual nominee shareholder, pursuant to which, we are able to: (i) exercise effective control over Xinbao Investment and its subsidiaries; (ii) have an exclusive option to purchase part of the equity interests in Xinbao Investment when and to the extent permitted by PRC law; and (iii) receive all of the economic benefits from the consolidated VIEs in consideration for the services provided by our subsidiaries in China. The Contractual Arrangements allow us to be the primary beneficiary of the consolidated VIE and to consolidate the Consolidated VIE’s results of operations into our financial statements. In preparation for the application of an ICP license for Fanhua RONS Technologies, on June 24, 2022, our wholly owned subsidiary Fanlian Investment transferred all of the equity interests in Fanhua RONS Technologies to Mr. Peng Ge, our chief financial officer to hold the shares of Fanhua RONS Technologies nominally on behalf of the Company. Concurrently, Fanlian Investment entered into contractual arrangements with Fanhua RONS Technologies and Mr. Ge. The contractual arrangements are substantially similar to those among Fanhua Group Company, Xinbao Investment and its individual nominee shareholder. Fanhua RONS Technologies have obtained the ICP license on December 8, 2022. - 24 - If the Contractual Arrangements that establish the structure for operating our and the consolidated VIEs’ business in the PRC are found to be in violation of any existing or any PRC laws or regulations in the future, or the PRC government finds that we, or the consolidated VIEs fails to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities, including the MIIT, MOFCOM and STA, would have broad discretion in dealing with such violations, including: ● revoking the business and operating licenses; ● discontinuing or restricting the operations; ● ● ● ● ● imposing fines or confiscating any of the income from us and the consolidated VIEs that they deem to have been obtained through illegal operations; requiring us to restructure our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations in such a way as to compel us to establish new entities, re-apply for the necessary licenses or relocate our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, staff and assets; imposing additional conditions or requirements with which we and the consolidated VIEs may not be able to comply; restricting or prohibiting the use of proceeds from the initial public offering or other financing activities to finance our and the consolidated VIEs’ business and operations in the PRC; or taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our and the consolidated VIEs’ business. Any of these actions could cause significant disruption or result in a material change to our and the consolidated VIEs’ business operations, and may materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, it is unclear what impact the PRC government actions would have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Techologies and their subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements, if the PRC governmental authorities find the consolidated VIEs’ legal structure and Contractual Arrangements to be in violation of PRC laws, rules and regulations. If any of these penalties results in our inability to direct the activities of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Techologies or their subsidiaries that most significantly impact its economic performance and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Techologies or their subsidiaries, we may not be able to consolidate Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Techologies and/or their subsidiaries into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. If we are unable to claim our right to control the assets of the consolidated VIEs, the ADSs may decline in value or become worthless. The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as us. Therefore, investors in the ADSs and our and the consolidated VIEs’ business face potential uncertainty from the PRC government’s policy. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, or government policies could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, financial condition, and results of operations. Substantially all of our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations are located in China. The PRC government has significant authority to exert influence on the China operations of an offshore holding company, such as us. Despite economic reforms and measures implemented by the PRC government, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating industrial development, allocation of natural and other resources, production, pricing and management of currency, and there can be no assurance that the PRC government will continue to pursue a policy of economic reform or that the direction of reform will continue to be market friendly. Our and the consolidated VIEs’ ability to successfully expand business operations in the PRC depends on a number of factors, including macro-economic and other market conditions. Demand for our and the consolidated VIEs’ services and our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by the following factors: ● political instability or changes in social conditions of the PRC; - 25 - ● changes in laws, regulations, and administrative directives or the interpretation thereof; ● measures which may be introduced to control inflation or deflation; and ● changes in the rate or method of taxation. These factors are affected by a number of variables which are beyond our and the consolidated VIEs’ control. We and the consolidated VIEs are subject to extensive and evolving legal development, non-compliance with which, or changes in which, may materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ business and prospects, and may result in a material change in our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIEs’ ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless. PRC companies are subject to various PRC laws, regulations and government policies and the relevant laws, regulations and policies continue to evolve. Recently, the PRC government is enhancing supervision over companies seeking listings overseas and some specific business or activities such as the use of variable interest entities and data security or anti-monopoly. The PRC government may adopt new measures that may affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations, or may exert more oversight and control over offerings conducted outside of China and foreign investment in China-based companies, and we and the consolidated VIEs may be subject to challenges brought by these new laws, regulations and policies. However, since these laws, regulations and policies are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involve uncertainties. Furthermore, as we and the consolidated VIEs may be subject to additional, yet undetermined, laws and regulations, compliance may require us to obtain additional permits and licenses, complete or update registrations with relevant regulatory authorities, adjust our and the consolidated VIEs’ business operations, as well as allocate additional resources to monitor developments in the relevant regulatory environment. However, under the stringent regulatory environment, it may take much more time for the relevant regulatory authorities to approve new applications for permits and licenses, and complete or update registrations and we cannot assure you that we and the consolidated VIEs will be able to comply with these laws and regulations in a timely manner or at all. The failure to comply with these laws and regulations may delay, or possibly prevent, us to conduct business, accept foreign investments, or listing overseas. The occurrence of any of these events may materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ business and prospects and may result in a material change in our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIEs’ ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. In addition, if any of changes causes us unable to direct the activities of the consolidated VIEs or lose the right to receive their economic benefits, we may not be able to consolidate the VIEs into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which could cause the value of our ADSs to significantly decline or become worthless. It is unclear whether we and the consolidated VIEs will be subject to the oversight of the Cyberspace Administration of China and how such oversight may impact us. Our and the consolidated VIEs’ business could be interrupted or we and the consolidated VIEs could be subject to liabilities which may materially and adversely affect the results of our and the consolidated VIEs’ operation and the value of your investment. Pursuant to the PRC Cybersecurity Law and the Measures for Cybersecurity Censorship, if a critical information infrastructure operator that intends to purchase internet products and services and data processing operators (collectively, the “operators”) engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to the cybersecurity review. According to the Regulations for Safe Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, or the Safe Protection Regulations, which took effect on September 1, 2021, critical information infrastructure refers to important network infrastructure and information systems in public telecommunications, information services, energy sources, transportation and other critical industries and domains, in which any destruction or data leakage will have severe impact on national security, the nation’s welfare, the people’s living and public interests. As of the date hereof, we and the consolidated VIEs have not received any notice from such authorities identifying us as a critical information infrastructure operator or requiring us to going through cybersecurity review by the CAC. - 26 - On December 28, 2021, the CAC, NDRC, MIIT, the MPS, the Ministry of National Security, the MOF, the MOFCOM, the PBOC, the National Radio and Television Administration, the CSRC, the National Administration of State Secrets Protection and the State Cryptography Administration jointly released the Measures for Cybersecurity Review Measures, or the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, the scope of cybersecurity reviews is extended to data processing operators engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. The Cybersecurity Review Measures further requires that any operator applying for listing on a foreign exchange must go through cybersecurity review if it possesses personal information of more than one million users. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, a cybersecurity review assesses potential national security risks that may be brought about by any procurement, data processing, or overseas listing. The review focuses on several factors, including, among others, (i) the risk of theft, leakage, corruption, illegal use or export of any core or important data, or a large amount of personal information, and (ii) the risk of any critical information infrastructure, core or important data, or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled or maliciously exploited by a foreign government after a company is listed overseas. Our PRC counsel is of the view that there is a relatively low likelihood that we and the consolidated VIEs will be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC for a future offering of our securities to foreign investors, given that: (i) we and the consolidated VIEs have not been recognized as critical information infrastructure operators; (ii) data processed in our and the consolidated VIEs’ business do not have an impact or potential impact on national security; and (iii) the Cybersecurity Review Measures require operators of online platforms that hold personal information of more than one million users to file a cybersecurity review with the Cybersecurity Review Office when they go public abroad. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies and five supporting guidelines, or collectively, the Filing Rules, which came into effect on March 31, 2023, pursuant to the new rules, China-based issuers that seek to offer, list their securities or refinancing in an overseas market, are required to fulfill relevant filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC, and other pre-procedure of relevant regulatory authorities before filing to CSRC, including but not limited to CAC. However, there remains uncertainty as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be interpreted and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC and the CSRC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and interpretation related to the Cybersecurity Review Measures and the Filing Rules. If any such new laws, regulations, rules, or implementation and interpretation comes into effect, we and the consolidated VIE will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply and minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us. We cannot assure you that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do, and there is no assurance that we and the consolidated VIEs can fully or timely comply with such laws. In the event that we and the consolidated VIEs are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity review and other specific actions required by the CAC, we and the consolidated VIE face uncertainty as to whether any clearance or other required actions can be timely completed, or at all. Given such uncertainty, we and the consolidated VIEs may be further required to suspend our and the consolidated VIEs’ relevant business, shut down our and the consolidated VIE’s website, or face other penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, financial condition, and results of operations, and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIEs’ ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. In addition, if any of these events causes us unable to direct the activities of the consolidated VIEs or lose the right to receive their economic benefits, we may not be able to consolidate the VIEs into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which could cause the value of our ADSs to significantly decline or become worthless. On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Regulations on the Cyber Data Security (Draft for Comments until December 13, 2021), which further regulate the internet data processing activities and emphasize on the supervision and management of network data security, and further stipulate the obligations of internet platform operators, such as to establish a system for disclosure of platform rules, privacy policies and algorithmic strategies related to data. Specifically, the draft regulations require data processors to, among others, (i) adopt immediate remediation measures when they discover that network products and services they use or provide have security defects and vulnerabilities, or threaten national security or endanger public interest, and (ii) follow a series of detailed requirements with respect to processing personal information, management of important data and proposed overseas transfer of data. The following activities shall apply for cybersecurity review: (i) merger, reorganization or division of internet platform operators that have acquired a large number of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests affects or may affect national security; (ii) listing abroad of data processors processing over one million users’ personal information; (iii) listing in Hong Kong which affects or may affect national security; or (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect - 27 - national security.The draft measures also require data processors that handle important data or are seeking to be listed overseas to complete an annual data security self-assessment or entrust a data security service institution to do so, and file a data security assessment report of previous year to the local branch of applicable regulators before January 31 each year. Such annual assessment, as required by the draft regulations, would encompass areas including but not limited to the status of important data processing, data security risks identified and the rectification measures adopted, the effectiveness of data protection measures, the implementation of national data security laws and regulations, data security incidents that occurred and how they were resolved, and a security assessment with respect to sharing and provision of important data overseas. As of the date hereof, the draft regulations have been released for public comment only and have not been formally adopted. The final provisions, interpretation, implementation and the timeline for its adoption are subject to changes and uncertainties. As there remain uncertainties regarding the interpretation and implementation of such regulatory guidance, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with new regulatory requirements relating to our future overseas capital raising activities, and may be subject to more stringent requirements with respect to matters including data privacy and cross-border investigation and enforcement of legal claims. In the event that we and the consolidated VIEs are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity review and other specific actions required by the CAC, we and the consolidated VIEs face uncertainty as to whether any clearance or other required actions can be timely completed, or at all. Given such uncertainty, we and the consolidated VIEs may be further required to suspend our and the consolidated VIEs’ relevant business, shut down our and the consolidated VIEs’ website, or face other penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, financial condition, and results of operations, and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIEs’ ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. In addition, if any of these events causes us unable to direct the activities of the consolidated VIEs or lose the right to receive their economic benefits, we may not be able to consolidate the VIEs into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which could cause the value of our ADSs to significantly decline or become worthless. The PRC government’s oversight over our and the consolidated VIEs’ business operations could result in a material adverse change in our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations and the value of our ADSs. We conduct our business in China primarily through our PRC subsidiaries, including Fanhua Group Company and its subsidiaries in which we hold equity ownership interests, and the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs. Our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. The PRC government has significant oversight over the conduct of our and the consolidated VIEs’ business, and it regulates and may intervene our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations at any time, which could result in a material adverse change in our and the consolidated VIEs’ operation and/or the value of our ADSs. Also, the PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers like us. Any such action could 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 be worthless. In addition, implementation of industry-wide regulations directly targeting our and the consolidated VIEs’ operations could cause the value of our securities to significantly decline. Therefore, investors of us and the consolidated VIEs and our and the consolidated VIEs’ business face potential uncertainty from actions taken by the PRC government. Any failure by the VIEs or their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under our Contractual Arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business. We have entered into a series of Contractual Arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies, our consolidated VIEs and the shareholders of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies, respectively. For a description of these Contractual Arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” If our consolidated VIEs or the shareholder of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies fail to perform their respective obligations under the Contractual Arrangements, we may incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure you that it will be effective under PRC laws. For example, if the shareholders of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies to us or our designee when we exercise the purchase option pursuant to these Contractual Arrangements, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations. - 28 - All the agreements under our Contractual Arrangements are governed by PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these Contractual Arrangements. 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 laws. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC laws, rulings by arbitrators are final and parties cannot appeal arbitration results in court unless such rulings are revoked or determined unenforceable by a competent court. 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 delay. In the event that we are unable to enforce these Contractual Arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these Contractual Arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and their subsidiaries, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our ADSs, cause significant disruption to our and the consolidated VIEs’ business operations, and severely damage our and the consolidated VIEs’ reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. In addition, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, therefore, our assertions and beliefs of the risks imposed by the Chinese legal and regulatory system cannot be certain.” We rely on contractual arrangements to conduct a small part of our China operations, which may not be as effective in providing operational control as direct ownership. Although we have obtained direct equity ownership in almost all of our insurance intermediary operating companies, we have relied on and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment Fanhua RONS Technologies and their individual nominee shareholder to operate a small part of our business in China. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our consolidated VIEs, and these contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court of law. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” These contractual arrangements may not be as effective in providing us with control over the VIEs as direct ownership. If we had direct controlling ownership of our consolidated VIEs, we would be able to exercise our rights as a controlling shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of these entities, which in turn could effect changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management level. However, under the current contractual arrangements, as a legal matter, if our consolidated VIEs and their shareholders fail to perform their obligations under these contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend significant resources to enforce such arrangements and rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief and claiming damages, which may not be effective. For example, if the shareholders of our consolidated VIEs were to refuse to transfer their equity interest in such entities to us or our designee when we exercise the call option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal action to compel them to fulfill their contractual obligations. All of our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and their individual nominee shareholders are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in the PRC. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal environment in the PRC may bear significant difference from those of other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. In the event we are unable to enforce 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. - 29 - The individual shareholders of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies, our consolidated VIEs, may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition. As of March 31, 2023, Mr. Peng Ge, held 100% of the equity interests in Fanhua RONS Technologies and Mr. Shuangping Jiang, held 51% of the equity interests in Xinbao Investment with the remaining 49% held by our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary Fanhua Group Company. Conflicts of interest may arise between the dual roles of Mr. Ge and Mr. Jiang as shareholders of Fanhua RONS Technologies and Xinbao Investment respectively and as officers of our company. We do not have existing arrangements to address these potential conflicts of interest and cannot assure you that when conflicts arise, Mr. Ge and Mr. Jiang will act in the best interest of our company or that conflicts will be resolved in our favor. Contractual arrangements we have entered into with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities. A finding that we owe additional taxes could substantially reduce our consolidated net income and the value of your investment. Under PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenged by the PRC tax authorities. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements between us and the VIEs are not on an arm’s-length basis and that we adjusted the income of our consolidated VIEs in the form of a transfer pricing adjustment. Particularly, the State Administration of Taxation issued a Public Notice, or Public Notice 16, on March 18, 2015, to further regulate and strengthen the transfer pricing administration on outbound payments by a PRC enterprise to its overseas related parties. In addition to emphasizing that outbound payments by a PRC enterprise to its overseas related parties must comply with arm’s-length principles, Public Notice 16 specifies certain circumstances whereby such payments are not deductible for the purpose of the enterprise income tax of the PRC enterprise, including payments to an overseas related party which does not undertake any function, bear any risk or have any substantial operation or activities, payments for services which do not enable the PRC enterprise to obtain direct or indirect economic benefits, or for services that are unrelated to the functions and risks borne by the PRC enterprise, or relate to the protection of the investment interests of the direct or indirect investor of the PRC enterprise, or for services that have already been purchased from a third party or undertaken by the PRC enterprise itself, and royalties paid to an overseas related party which only owns the legal rights of the intangible assets but has no contribution to the creation of such intangible assets. Although we believe all our related party transactions, including all payments by our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs to our non-PRC entities, are made on an arm’s-length basis and our estimates are reasonable, the ultimate decisions by the relevant tax authorities may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and may materially adversely affect our financial results in the period or periods for which such determination is made. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction, for PRC tax purposes, of expense deductions recorded by our consolidated VIEs, which could in turn increase their respective tax liabilities. Moreover, the PRC tax authorities may impose penalties on our consolidated VIEs for underpayment of taxes. Our consolidated net income may be materially and adversely affected by the occurrence of any of the foregoing. PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from making loans to our PRC subsidiaries or making additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China primarily through our PRC subsidiaries and to a small part through our consolidated VIEs. In order to provide additional funding to our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, we may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, or we may make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs. Any loans we make to any of our directly-held PRC subsidiaries (which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law), namely, Fanhua Zhonglian Enterprise Image Planning (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., or Zhonglian Enterprise, and Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., or Xinlian Information, cannot exceed statutory limits and must be registered with the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, or its local counterparts. Under applicable PRC law, the amount of a foreign-invested enterprise’s registered capital represents shareholders’ equity investments over a defined period of time, and the foreign-invested enterprise’s total investment represents the total of the company’s registered capital plus permitted loans. The registered capital/total investment ratio cannot be lower than the minimum statutory - 30 - requirement and the excess of the total investment over the registered capital represents the maximum amount of borrowings that a foreign-invested enterprise is permitted to have under PRC law. Our directly-held PRC subsidiaries were allowed to incur a total of HK300 million (US$38.2 million) in foreign debts as of March 31, 2023. If we were to provide loans to our directly-held PRC subsidiaries in excess of the above amount, we would have to apply to the relevant government authorities for an increase in their permitted total investment amounts. The various applications could be time-consuming and their outcomes would be uncertain. Concurrently with the loans, we might have to make capital contributions to these subsidiaries in order to maintain the statutory minimum registered capital/total investment ratio, and such capital contributions involve uncertainties of their own, as discussed below. Furthermore, even if we make loans to our directly-held PRC subsidiaries that do not exceed their current maximum amount of borrowings, we will have to register each loan with the SAFE or its local counterpart within 15 days after the signing of the relevant loan agreement. Subject to the conditions stipulated by the SAFE, the SAFE or its local counterpart will issue a registration certificate of foreign debts to us within 20 days after reviewing and accepting our application. In practice, it may take longer to complete such SAFE registration process. Any loans we make to any of our indirectly-held PRC subsidiaries (those PRC subsidiaries which we hold indirectly through Zhonglian Enterprise and Xinlian Information) or to any of our consolidated VIEs, all of which are treated as PRC domestic companies rather than foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law, are also subject to various PRC regulations and approvals. Under applicable PRC regulations, medium- and long-term international commercial loans to PRC domestic companies are subject to approval by the National Development and Reform Commission. Short-term international commercial loans to PRC domestic companies are subject to the balance control system effected by the SAFE. Due to the above restrictions, we are not likely to make loans to any of our indirectly-held PRC subsidiaries. Any capital contributions we make to our PRC subsidiaries, including directly-held and indirectly-held PRC subsidiaries, must be approved by the PRC Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts, and registered with the SAFE or its local counterparts. Such applications and registrations could be time consuming and their outcomes would be uncertain. 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 by us to our PRC subsidiaries, or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to capitalize or otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business. On August 29, 2008, SAFE promulgated Circular 142, a notice regulating the conversion by a foreign- invested company of its capital contribution in foreign currency into RMB. The notice requires that the capital of a foreign-invested company settled in RMB converted from foreign currencies shall be used only for purposes within the business scope as approved by the authorities in charge of foreign investment or by other government authorities and as registered with the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and, unless set forth in the business scope or in other regulations, may not be used for equity investments within the PRC. In addition, SAFE strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the capital of a foreign-invested company settled in RMB converted from foreign currencies. The use of such RMB capital may not be changed without SAFE’s approval, and may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used. Violations of Circular 142 will result in severe penalties, including heavy fines. As a result, Circular 142 may significantly limit our ability to provide additional funding to our PRC subsidiaries through our directly-held PRC subsidiaries in the PRC, which may adversely affect our ability to expand our business. However, on June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated Circular 16, a notice on reforming and standardizing the administrative provisions on capital account foreign exchange settlement, which became effective on June 9, 2016. The new notice states that domestic enterprises (including Chinese-funded enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises, excluding financial institutions) shall be allowed to settle their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis. The discretionary settlement by a foreign-invested enterprise of its foreign exchange capital shall mean that the foreign-invested enterprise may, according to its actual business needs, settle with a bank the portion of the foreign exchange capital in its capital account for which the application of discretionary settlement has been specified by relevant policies (including capitals in foreign currencies, external debts, funds repatriated from overseas listing, etc.). For the time being, foreign-invested enterprises are allowed to settle 100% of their foreign exchange capitals on a discretionary basis. The SAFE may adjust the foregoing percentage as appropriate according to balance of payments situations. As a result, Circular 16 will relax the limitation of our ability to - 31 - provide additional funding to our PRC subsidiaries through our directly-held PRC subsidiaries in the PRC and consolidated VIEs. Risks Related to Doing Business in China The approval of and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our future offshore offerings, capital raising activities and aquisitions or other trading arrangements of domestic enterprises conducted by China-based issuers, and also may be required to go through cybersecurity review under the new laws and the draft laws and regulations of mainland China, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing or other regulatory procedures. On August 8, 2006, MOFCOM, joined by the CSRC, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the SAT, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and SAFE, jointly promulgated regulations entitled the Provisions Regarding Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Entities by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”), which took effect as of September 8, 2006, and as amended on June 22, 2009.On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published on its official website a notice specifying the documents and materials that are required to be submitted for obtaining CSRC approval. The M&A Rules requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of mainland China domestic companies and controlled by mainland China companies or individuals to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear, and our offshore offerings may ultimately require approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore offerings, or a rescission of such approval is obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The new rules for the filing-based administration of overseas securities offerings and listings by Chinese domestic companies released on February 17, 2023, or New Filing Rules, establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings and listings by domestic companies. According to the New Filing Rules, (i) an overseas offering and listing by a domestic company, whether directly or indirectly, shall be filed with the CSRC; and (ii) the issuer or its affiliated domestic company, as the case may be, shall file with the CSRC for its initial public offering, follow-on offering, issuance of convertible bonds, offshore relisting after go-private transactions and other equivalent offing activities. In addition, after a domestic company has offered and listed securities in an overseas markets, it is required to file a report to the CSRC after the occurrence and public disclosure of certain material corporate events, including but not limited to, change of control and voluntary or mandatory delisting. According to the New Filing Rules, the Company shall be deemed to be a domestic enterprise indirectly listed overseas. However, from March 31, 2023, enterprises that have been listed overseas shall constitute existing enterprises and are not required to conduct the overseas listing filing procedure immediately, but shall carry out filing procedures as required if they conduct future offshore offerings or capital raising activities or are involved in other circumstances that require filing with the CSRC. On February 24, 2023, the CSRC, together with other relevant government authorities, issued the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Archives Rules, which became effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Archives Rules, domestic mainland China companies, whether offering and listing securities overseas directly or indirectly, must strictly abide the applicable laws and regulations when providing or publicly disclosing, either directly or through their overseas listed entities, documents and materials to securities services providers such as securities companies and accounting firms or overseas regulators in the process of their overseas offering and listing. If such documents or materials contain any state secrets or government authorities work secrets, domestic companies must obtain the approval from competent governmental authorities according to the applicable laws, and file with the secrecy administrative department at the same level with the approving governmental authority. Furthermore, the Archives Rules also provides that securities companies and securities service providers shall also fulfill the applicable legal procedures when providing overseas regulatory institutions and other relevant institutions and individuals with documents or materials containing any state secrets or government authorities work secrets or other documents or materials that, if divulged, will jeopardize national security or public interest. For more details of the New Filing Rules, please refer to “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulations—Regulations Relating to Overseas Listing.” - 32 - In addition, we cannot assure you that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional requirements on us. If it is determined in the future that approval and filing from the CSRC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures, are required for our offshore offerings or capital raising activities, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. In addition, there are uncertainties with regard to whether any report filed with the CSRC after the occurrence of certain material corporate events will be subject to any further action from the CSRC. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval or completing such filing procedures for our offshore, offerings, capital raising activities or certain material corporate events, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us, would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to seek CSRC approval or filing or other government authorization for our offshore offerings, capital raising activities or certain material corporate events. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in mainland China, limit our operating privileges in mainland China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into mainland China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings or capital raising activities before settlement and delivery and further actions of the shares offered or take any actions regarding our material corporate events. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement, delivery and further actions may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our prior offshore offerings or capital raising activities, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of our listed securities. Uncertainties in the PRC legal system and the interpretation and enforcement of PRC laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to you and us, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our ADSs, cause significant disruption to our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations, and severely damage our and the consolidated VIEs’ reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. In addition, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, therefore, our assertions and beliefs of the risks imposed by the Chinese legal and regulatory system cannot be certain. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes and prior court decisions have limited value as precedents. Since these laws and regulations are relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties. In addition, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, therefore, our assertions and beliefs of the risks imposed by the Chinese legal and regulatory system cannot be certain. In particular, PRC laws and regulations concerning the insurance industry are developing and evolving. Although we have taken measures to comply with the laws and regulations that are applicable to our business operations, and avoid conducting any non-compliant activities under the applicable laws and regulations, such as illegal fund-raising, forming capital pool or providing guarantee to investors, the PRC government authority may promulgate new laws and regulations regulating the insurance industry in the future. We cannot assure you that our practice would not be deemed to violate any new PRC laws or regulations relating to insurance. Moreover, developments in the insurance industry may lead to changes in PRC laws, regulations and policies or in the interpretation and application of existing laws, regulations and policies that may limit or restrict insurance agency and brokerage services like us, which could materially and adversely affect our business and operations. From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of - 33 - our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties, including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, could limit the legal protections available to you and us, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer our ADSs, cause significant disruption to our and the consolidated VIEs’ business operations, and severely damage our and the consolidated VIEs’ reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIEs’ financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless. A downturn in the Chinese or global economy could have a material adverse effect on our business. Substantially all of our business operations are conducted in China. Accordingly, our results of operations, financial condition and prospects are subject to a significant degree to economic, political and legal developments in China. While the PRC economy has experienced significant growth in the past 30 years or so, growth has been uneven across different regions and among various economic sectors. Economic growth in China has been slowing in the past few years. The PRC government has implemented various measures to encourage economic development and guide the allocation of resources. However, these measures may not be successful in transforming the Chinese economy or spurring growth. While some of these measures benefit the overall PRC economy, they may also have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations that are applicable to us. In addition, the global financial markets have experienced significant disruptions between 2008 and 2009, and the United States, Europe and other economies have experienced periods of recessions. The recovery from the economic downturns of 2008 and 2009 has been uneven and is facing new challenges, including the high inflation in the US which creates additional global economic uncertainty. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. There have also been concerns about the economic effect of the geo-political tensions in the relationship between China and the United States. Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets to meet liquidity needs. Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currency out of China. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. Under our current corporate structure, the primary source of our income at the holding company level is dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign-currency-denominated obligations. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency needs, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law may increase the enterprise income tax rate applicable to some of our PRC subsidiaries, which could have a material adverse effect on our result of operations. According to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008, which was subsequently amended on February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018, as further clarified by subsequent tax regulations implementing the EIT Law, foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises are subject to enterprise income tax, or EIT, at a uniform rate of 25%, unless otherwise provided. According to the EIT Law and related regulations, such as the Circular on Issues Regarding Tax-related Preferential Policies for Further Implementation of Western Development Strategy jointly issued by the State - 34 - Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs, China and State Administration for Taxation, enterprises located in the western China regions that fall into the encouraged industries are entitled to 15% EIT preferential tax treatment from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020. The preferential tax treatment is subsequently extended to December 31, 2030, according to No. 23 Announcement Concerning the Extension of the EIT Policies for Enterprises Located in Western China issued by the Ministry of Finance on April 23, 2020. The preferential tax rates enjoyed by some of our PRC subsidiaries incorporated in such regions, will increase to the uniform 25% EIT rate after 2030. An increase in the EIT rates for those entities pursuant to the EIT Law could result in an increase in our effective tax rate, which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Our global income or the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with “de facto management bodies” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the EIT at the rate of 25% on its worldwide income. The Implementation Rules of the EIT Law, or the Implementation Rules, define the term “de facto management bodies” as “establishments that carry out substantial and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc. of an enterprise.” If we are deemed a resident enterprise, we may be subject to the EIT at 25% on our global income, except that the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiary will be exempt from the EIT. If we are considered a resident enterprise and earn income other than dividends from our PRC subsidiaries, a 25% EIT on our global income could significantly increase our tax burden and materially and adversely affect our cash flow and profitability. PR Rules, if we are regarded as a resident enterprise, the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries will be exempt from the EIT. If, however, we are not regarded as a resident enterprise, our PRC subsidiaries will be required to pay a 5% or 10% withholding tax, as the case may be, for any dividends they pay to us. As a result, the amount of fund available to us to meet our cash requirements, including the payment of dividends to our shareholders and ADS holders, could be materially reduced. We rely principally on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. We are a holding company, and we will rely principally on dividends from our subsidiaries in China and service, license and other fees paid to our subsidiaries by our consolidated VIEs for our cash requirements, including any debt we may incur. Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, according to the PRC Company Law, each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year as reported in its PRC statutory financial statements, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. In addition, each of our PRC subsidiaries that are considered foreign-invested enterprises is required to further set aside a portion of its after- tax profits as reported in its PRC statutory financial statements to fund the employee welfare fund at the discretion of its board. In addition, according to the Regulation on the Supervision of Insurance Agents, our insurance agency subsidiaries are required to either procure professional liability insurance with minimum compensation for each accident under the one-year professional liability insurance policy no less than RMB1 million, and accumulative compensation under the one-year insurance policy no less than RMB10 million and the total core business revenue of the professional insurance agency company in the previous year, or make a contribution to deposit which shall represent 5% of its registered capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. As of December 31, 2022, the aggregate undistributed earnings of the Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC that are available for distribution were RMB1.4 billion (US$202.9 million). Furthermore, if our subsidiaries in China incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Any limitation on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute dividends or other payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our businesses, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business. PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents and employee stock options granted by overseas-listed companies may increase our administrative burden, restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activity, or otherwise adversely affect us. If our shareholders who are PRC residents, or our PRC employees who are granted or exercise stock options, fail to make any required - 35 - registrations or filings under such regulations, we may be unable to distribute profits and may become subject to liability under PRC laws. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional equity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC law. On October 21, 2005, the SAFE issued a Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for PRC Residents to Engage in Financing and Inbound Investment via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, generally known in China as SAFE Circular 75, requiring PRC residents to register with the local SAFE branch before establishing or controlling any company outside of China, referred to in the notice as an “offshore special purpose company,” for the purpose of raising capital backed by assets or equities of PRC companies. PRC residents that are shareholders of offshore special purpose companies established before November 1, 2005 were required to register with the local SAFE branch before March 31, 2006. On July 4, 2014, the SAFE issued the Notice on the Administration of Foreign Exchange Involved in Overseas Investment, Financing and Return on Investment Conducted by PRC Residents via Special-Purpose Companies, or SAFE Circular 37, simultaneously repealing SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 also requires PRC residents to register with relevant Foreign Exchange Bureau for foreign exchange registration of overseas investment before making a contribution to a special purpose company, or SPC, with legitimate holdings of domestic or overseas assets or interests. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations on Foreign Exchange— Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC Residents.” We have requested our beneficial owners who to our knowledge are PRC residents to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments as required under SAFE Circular 37 and other related rules. We attempt to comply, and attempt to ensure that our beneficial owners who are subject to these rules comply with the relevant requirements. However, we cannot assure you that all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents will comply with our request to make or obtain any applicable registrations or comply with other requirements under SAFE Circular 37 or other related rules. The failure of these beneficial owners to timely amend their SAFE registrations pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 or the failure of future beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 may subject such beneficial owners to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute capital into our PRC subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to our company or otherwise adversely affect our business. On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, promulgated the Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange, and on January 5, 2007, the SAFE further promulgated implementation rules for those measures. We refer to these regulations collectively as the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules. The Individual Foreign Exchange Rules became effective on February 1, 2007. According to these regulations, PRC citizens who are granted shares or share options by a company listed on an overseas stock market according to its employee share option or share incentive plan are required, through the PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company or any other qualified PRC agent, to register with the SAFE and to complete certain other procedures related to the share option or other share incentive plan. Foreign exchange income received from the sale of shares or dividends distributed by the overseas listed company may be remitted into a foreign currency account of such PRC citizen or be exchanged into Renminbi. Our PRC citizen employees who have been granted share options became subject to the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules upon the listing of our ADSs on the Nasdaq. On February 15, 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Issues Related to Foreign Exchange Administration in Domestic Individuals’ Participation in Equity Incentive Plans of Companies Listed Abroad, or the No. 7 Notice, which supersedes the Operation Rules on Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Holding Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas-Listed Company, or the Stock Option Rule, in its entirety and immediately became effective upon circulation. No. 7 Notice covers all forms of equity compensation plans including employee stock ownership plans, employee stock option plans and other equity compensation plans permitted by relevant laws and regulations. According to the No. 7 Notice, all participants of such plans who are PRC citizens shall register with and obtain approvals from SAFE prior to their participation in the equity incentive plan of an overseas listed company. Domestic individuals, which include any directors, supervisors, senior managerial personnel or other employees of a domestic company who are PRC citizens (including citizens of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) or foreign individuals who consecutively reside in the territory of PRC for one year, who participate in the same equity incentive plan of an overseas listed company shall, through the domestic companies they serve, collectively entrust a domestic agency to handle issues like foreign exchange registration, account opening, funds transfer and remittance, and entrust an overseas institution to handle issues like an exercise of options, purchasing and sale of related stocks or equity, and funds transfer. As an overseas publicly listed company, we and our employees who have been granted stock options or any type of equity awards may be subject to the No. 7 Notice. If we or our - 36 - employees who are subject to the No. 7 Notice fail to comply with these regulations, we may be subject to fines and legal sanctions, which will depend on how the SAFE interprets, applies and enforces Circular 7. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations on Foreign Exchange—SAFE Regulations on Employee Share Options.” Fluctuation in the value of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on your investment. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and economic conditions. With the development of the foreign exchange market and progress towards interest rate liberalization and Renminbi internationalization, the PRC government may in the future announce further changes to the exchange rate system and we cannot assure you that the Renminbi will not appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or United States government policy may impact the exchange rate between the RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future. Our revenues and costs are mostly denominated in RMB, and a significant portion of our financial assets are also denominated in RMB. We rely on dividends and other fees paid to us by our subsidiaries in China. Any significant appreciation or depreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar may affect our cash flows, revenues, earnings and financial position, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in U.S. dollars. For example, a further appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would make any new RMB-denominated investments or expenditures more costly to us, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for such purposes. An appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would also result in foreign currency translation losses for financial reporting purposes when we translate our U.S. dollar-denominated financial assets into the RMB, as the RMB is our reporting currency. Conversely, a significant depreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our reported earnings, and may adversely affect the price of our ADSs. Certain PRC regulations could also make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions. Among other things, Provisions on the Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investor, or the M&A Rule, also established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in some instances that the Ministry of Commerce be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise. In the future, we may grow our business in part by directly acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the new regulations to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the Ministry of Commerce, may prevent us from completing such transactions on a timely basis, or at all, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share. Risks Related to Our ADSs If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, we and our investors may be deprived with the benefits of such inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in the ADSs to lose confidence in the audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements. Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included in our annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, including our auditor. This lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work of any auditors performed in China before 2022, including that performed by Deloitte has made it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections. - 37 - On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms. However, if the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we and investors in our ADSs would be deprived of the benefits of such PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in the ADSs to lose confidence in the audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements. Our ADSs may be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCA Act in the future if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely auditors located in China. The delisting of the ADSs, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. On December 18, 2020, the former U.S. president signed into law the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCA Act. In essence, the HFCA Act requires the SEC to prohibit foreign companies from listing securities on U.S. securities exchanges if a company retains a foreign accounting firm that cannot be inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive years, beginning in 2021. On December 2, 2021, the SEC finalized rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act which would go into effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Registrar. In addition, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill which would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCA Act from three years to two. On February 4, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill which contained, among other things, an identical provision. On December 29, 2022, the U. S. president signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, which, among other things, amended the HFCA Act to reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCA Act from three years to two. Therefore, pursuant to the HFCA Act, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years, the SEC will prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued the PCAOB Determinations that they were unable to inspect or investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and in Hong Kong. The report sets forth lists identifying the registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, respectively, that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely, and our auditor, Deloitte, was on such lists. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed a Statement of Protocol with the CSRC and Ministry of Finance, 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 completely, consistent with U.S. law. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate completely PCAOB- registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The PCAOB also vacated its previous determinations issued in December 2021. Therefore, our auditor is currently able to be fully inspected and investigated by the PCAOB. Accordingly, until such time as the PCAOB issues any new determination, we are at no risk of having our securities subject to a trading prohibition under the HFCA Act. Each year, the PCAOB will determine whether it can inspect and investigate completely audit firms in mainland China and Hong Kong, among other jurisdictions. If the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms in mainland China and Hong Kong and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on our financial statements filed with the SEC, we would be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer following the filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the relevant fiscal year. In accordance with the HFCA Act, our securities would be prohibited from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States if we are identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for two consecutive years in the future. If our shares and ADSs are prohibited from trading in the United States, there is no certainty that we will be able to list on a non-U.S. exchange or that a market for our shares will develop outside of the United States. The prospect and implications of possible regulation on this subject, in addition to the prevailing requirements of the HFCA Act, are uncertain. Such uncertainty could cause the market price of our ADSs to be materially and adversely affected, and our securities could be delisted or prohibited from being traded “over-the-counter” earlier - 38 - than would be required by the HFCA Act as it currently provides. If our securities are unable to be listed on another securities exchange by then, such a delisting would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our ADSs when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with a potential delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our 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. The trading price of our ADSs may be volatile. The trading price of our ADSs may be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, like the performance and fluctuation in the market prices or the underperformance or deteriorating financial results of other listed companies based in China. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading performances of other Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings, may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States, which consequently may impact the trading performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or matters of other Chinese companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards Chinese companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have conducted any inappropriate activities. U.S. government’s recent policies concerning Chinese companies listed in the U.S. may also cause great uncertainty in the listing status of companies like us and result in fluctuation in the trading rice of our ADSs. In addition, securities markets may from time to time experience significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to our operating performance, which may have a material and adverse effect on the trading price of our ADSs. In addition to the above factors, the price and trading volume of our ADSs may be highly volatile due to multiple factors, including the following: ● changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other insurance intermediaries; ● actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results; ● changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts; ● conditions in the Chinese insurance industry; ● announcements by us or our competitors of acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures, capital raisings or capital commitments; ● additions to or departures of our senior management; ● fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar or other foreign currencies; ● potential litigation or administrative investigations; ● sales or perceived potential sales of additional ordinary shares or ADSs; and ● general economic or political conditions in China and abroad. Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and trading price of our ADSs. In addition, the stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies and industries. The volatility resulting from any of the above factors may affect the price at which you could sell the ADSs. We may need additional capital, and the sale of additional ADSs or other equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. - 39 - We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for the foreseeable future. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If these resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. The sale of additional equity securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our ordinary shares, ADSs or other equity securities in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline. Additional sales of our ADSs in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ADSs to decline. If any existing shareholder or shareholders sell a substantial amount of ordinary shares in the form of ADSs, the market price of our ADSs could decline. In addition, we may issue additional ordinary shares as considerations for future acquisitions. If we do so, your ownership interests in our company would be diluted and this in turn could have an adverse effect on the price of our ADSs. Our corporate actions are substantially controlled by our officers, directors and principal shareholders. As of March 31, 2023, our executive officers and directors beneficially owned approximately 24.9% of our outstanding shares. These shareholders could exert substantial influence over matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including electing directors and approving mergers or other business combination transactions, and they may not act in the best interests of other noncontrolling shareholders. This concentration of our share ownership also may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our company and might reduce the price of our ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders. We cannot guarantee that any share repurchase plan will be fully consummated or that any share repurchase plan will enhance long-term shareholder value, and share repurchases could increase the volatility of the trading price of the ADSs and could diminish our cash reserves. On December 20, 2022, our board of directors announced a share repurchase program which authorized us to repurchase up to US$20 million of our American depositary shares (“ADS”) from time to time. As of March 31, 2023, we had repurchased an aggregate of 72,465 ADSs, at an average price of approximately US$7.85 per ADS for a total amount of approximately US$0.6 million under this share repurchase program. Our board of directors also has the discretion to authorize additional share repurchase plans in the future. The share repurchase plans do not obligate us to repurchase any specific dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of ADSs and/or shares. We cannot guarantee that any share repurchase plan will enhance long-term shareholder value. The share repurchase plans could increase the volatility of the trading price of the ADSs and may be suspended or terminated at any time. Furthermore, share repurchases could diminish our cash reserves. Holders of our ADSs may have fewer rights than holders of our ordinary shares and must act through the depositary to exercise those rights. Holders of ADSs do not have the same rights as our registered shareholders. The holders of our ADSs will not have any direct right to attend general meetings of our shareholders or to directly cast any votes at such meetings. The holders of our ADSs will only be able to exercise the voting rights which are carried by the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs indirectly by giving voting instructions to the depositary in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement (“unrestricted deposit agreement”), and the deposit agreement for restricted securities (as defined below) (each also referred to as a “deposit agreement”, and together with the “deposit agreements”). Under the deposit agreements, the holders of our ADSs may vote only by giving voting instructions to the depositary. Upon receipt of the voting instructions from the holders of our ADSs, the depositary will vote the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs in accordance with these instructions. The holders of our ADSs will not be able to directly exercise their right to vote with respect to the underlying ordinary shares unless they withdraw such shares and become the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting. Under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of - 40 - association, the minimum notice period required to be given by our company to our registered shareholders to convene a general meeting is fourteen calendar days. When a general meeting is convened, the holders of our ADSs may not receive sufficient advance notice of the meeting to permit the holders of our ADSs to withdraw the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs and become the registered holder of such shares to allow the holders of our ADSs to attend the general meeting and to cast their vote directly with respect to any specific matter or resolution to be considered and voted upon at the general meeting. Furthermore, under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, for the purposes of determining those shareholders who are entitled to attend and vote at any general meeting, our directors may close our register of members and/or fix in advance a record date for such meeting, and such closure of our register of members or the setting of such a record date may prevent the holders of our ADSs from withdrawing the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs and becoming the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date, so that they would not be able to attend the general meeting or to vote directly. If we ask for their instructions, the depositary will notify the holders of our ADSs of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting materials to them. We cannot assure the holders of our ADSs that they will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that they can instruct the depositary to vote the ordinary shares underlying their ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out the voting instructions of the holders of our ADSs. This means that the holders of our ADSs may not be able to exercise their right to direct how the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs are voted and they may have no legal remedy if the underlying ordinary shares represented by their ADSs are not voted as they requested. In addition, in their capacity as an ADS holder, the holders of our ADSs will not be able to call a shareholders’ meeting. Furthermore, you may not receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote, and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote. Except as described in this annual report and in the deposit agreement, holders of our ADSs will not be able to exercise voting rights attaching to the shares evidenced by our ADSs on an individual basis. Holders of ADSs may instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights attached to the shares represented by the ADSs. If no instructions are received by the depositary on or before a date established by the depositary, the depositary shall deem the holders to have instructed it to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to exercise their voting rights. You may not receive voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote, and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote. Right of holders of our ADSs to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to their holdings. We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make rights available to holders of our ADSs in the United States unless we register both the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements is available. Under the deposit agreements, the depositary will not make rights available to holders of our ADSs unless both the rights and the underlying securities to be distributed to ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective and we may not be able to establish a necessary exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, holders of our ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in their holdings. Holders of our restricted ADSs may be subject to limitations on transfer of their ADSs. Restricted ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of restricted ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we or the depositary deems it advisable to do so because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreements, or for any other reason. Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable. - 41 - We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We conduct our operations outside the United States and substantially all of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, substantially all of our directors and officers are nationals or residents of jurisdictions other than the United States and a substantial portion of their assets are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for our shareholders to bring an action against us or against them in the United States in the event that our shareholders believe that their rights have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if our shareholders are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Cayman Islands, the PRC or other relevant jurisdictions may render our shareholders unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. Since we are a Cayman Islands company, the rights of our shareholders may be more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Under the laws of some jurisdictions in the United States, majority and controlling shareholders generally have certain fiduciary responsibilities to the minority shareholders. Shareholder action must be taken in good faith, and actions by controlling shareholders which are obviously unreasonable may be declared null and void. Cayman Island law protecting the interests of minority shareholders may not be as protective in all circumstances as the law protecting minority shareholders in some U.S. jurisdictions. In addition, the circumstances in which a shareholder of a Cayman Islands company may sue the company derivatively, and the procedures and defenses that may be available to the company, may result in the rights of shareholders of a Cayman Islands company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States. Furthermore, our directors have the power to take certain actions without shareholder approval which would require shareholder approval under the laws of most U.S. jurisdictions. The directors of a Cayman Islands company, without shareholder approval, may implement a sale of any assets, property, part of the business, or securities of the company. Our ability to create and issue new classes or series of shares without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in control of our Company without any further action by our shareholders, including a tender offer to purchase our ordinary shares at a premium over prevailing market prices. Our articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could discourage a third party from acquiring us, which could limit our shareholders’ opportunity to sell their shares, including ordinary shares represented by our ADSs, at a premium. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association contain provisions which have the potential to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. For example, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges and other rights, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our ordinary shares, in the form of ADS or otherwise, at such time and on such terms as they may think appropriate. In the event these preferred shares have better voting rights than our ordinary shares, in the form of ADSs or otherwise, they could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially and adversely affected. You may have to rely primarily on price appreciation of our ADSs for any return on your investment. Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to applicable laws. Although our board of directors has announced a policy to declare and pay dividends on a quarterly basis, the amount and form of future dividends will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ADSs will likely depend primarily upon any future price appreciation of our ADSs. There is no guarantee that our ADSs will appreciate in value or even maintain the price - 42 - at which you purchased the ADSs. You may not realize a return on your investment in our ADSs and you may even lose your entire investment in our ADSs. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain disclosure requirements under the Exchange Act, which may afford less protection to our shareholders than they would enjoy if we were a domestic U.S. company. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements under the Exchange Act. In addition, our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit and recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. We are also not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as domestic U.S. companies with securities registered under the Exchange Act although we have voluntarily filed and will continue to file periodic reports and financial statements. As a result, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would under the Exchange Act rules applicable to domestic U.S. companies. You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through the U.S. federal courts may be limited, because we are incorporated under Cayman Islands law, conduct substantially all of our operations in China and the majority of our officers reside outside the United States. We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and conduct substantially all of our operations in China through our subsidiaries in China. Most of our officers reside outside the United States and some or all of the assets of those persons are located outside of the United States. The legal system in Cayman, the PRC or other relevant jurisdictions may not afford our shareholders the same level of protection as the legal system in the United States would. For instance, the Securities Laws of the PRC regulates only security issuances and trading outside of the PRC to the extent that such issuance and trading disrupts domestic markets and negatively affects the interest of domestic investors in the PRC. As such, investors in the United States may not be able to file a lawsuit under the Securities Law in the PRC. Even if you are successful in bringing an action in the PRC, shareholder claims that are common in the United States, including class action suits securities law and fraud claims, may be difficult or impossible to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in the PRC. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the Cayman Islands or in China in the event that you believe that your rights have been infringed under the securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind outside the Cayman Islands or China, the laws of the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to effect service of process upon, or to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers. The SEC, U.S. Department of Justice, or the DOJ, and other relevant regulatory authorities in the United States play vital roles in enforcing laws and regulations that protect securities investors. These U.S. authorities may face significant legal and other obstacles to obtaining information needed for investigations or litigation. Further, these U.S. authorities may have substantial difficulties in bringing and enforcing actions against non-U.S. companies and non-U.S. persons, including company directors and officers, which will further limit protections available to our shareholders. According to the Securities Laws of the PRC, without the approval of securities regulators and other actors within the Chinese government, no entity or individual in China may provide documents and information relating to securities business activities to overseas regulators. In addition, local authorities in Cayman, the PRC or other relevant jurisdictions often are constrained in their ability to assist U.S. authorities and overseas investors more generally. There are also legal or other obstacles to seeking access to funds in a foreign country. There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, although a judgment obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States courts will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment: (a) is given by a foreign court of competent jurisdiction, (b) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (c) is final, (d) is not in respect of taxes, a fine, or a penalty, and (d) 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. 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. A judgment of a court of another jurisdiction may be reciprocally - 43 - recognized or enforced if the jurisdiction has a treaty with China or if judgments of the PRC courts have been recognized before in that jurisdiction, subject to the satisfaction of other requirements. However, China does not have treaties providing for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments of courts with Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and most other Western countries. Our corporate affairs are governed by our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association and by the Companies Act (As Revised) (the “Companies Act”) and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take legal action against our directors and us, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from English common law, which has persuasive, but not binding, authority on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States, and provides significantly less protection to investors. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have stood to initiate a shareholder derivative action before the federal courts of the United States. As a result of all of the above, our investors may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against our management, directors or major shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States. We may be a passive foreign investment company for United States federal income tax purposes, which could result in adverse United States federal income tax consequences to United States Holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares. Based on the market price of our ADSs, the value of our assets, and the composition of our income and assets, we believe that we were a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 2022, however there can be no assurance to this regard.. We believe we were also a PFIC for 2017 and prior years. In addition, we believe that it is likely that one or more of our subsidiaries were also PFICs for such years. A non-United States corporation will be a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if, applying applicable look-through rules, either (1) at least 75% of our gross income for such year is passive income or (2) at least 50% of the value of our assets (generally determined based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. We must make a separate determination after the close of each taxable year as to whether we were a PFIC for that year. Because the value of our assets for purposes of the PFIC test will generally be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares, our PFIC status will depend in large part on the market price of the ADSs or ordinary shares, which may fluctuate significantly. The determination of whether we will be a PFIC for any taxable year may also depend in part upon the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles not reflected on our balance sheet (which may depend upon the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares from time to time, which may fluctuate significantly) and also may be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend our liquid assets and the cash we generate from our operations and raise in any offering. Unless the market price of our ADSs increases or we reduce the amount of cash, short term investments and other passive assets we hold sufficiently from current levels, we are likely to remain a PFIC for future taxable years. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, does not issue rulings with respect to PFIC status, and we cannot assure you that the IRS, or a court, will agree with any determination we make. Because we believe we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022 (and 2017 and prior years), United States Holders (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation”) of our ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be subject to special and adverse tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” received from us and any gain from a sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. See “Item 10. Additional Information — E. Taxation — United States Federal Income Taxation — Passive Foreign Investment Company.” Item 4. Information on the Company A. History and Development of the Company - 44 - We started our operation in 1999 through Guangzhou Nanyun Car Rental Services Co., Ltd. and Guangdong Nanfeng Automobile Association Co., Ltd. In 2001, we formed China United Financial Services Holdings Limited, or China United Financial Services, a British Virgin Islands company, as the offshore holding company of our PRC subsidiaries. In June 2004, CISG Holdings Ltd., or CISG Holdings was incorporated in British Virgin Islands and became our holding company through share exchanges with China United Financial Services. In anticipation of our initial public offering, we incorporated CNinsure Inc. in the Cayman Islands in April 2007. After a series of restructuring transactions, CNinsure Inc. became the ultimate holding company of our group. On December 6, 2016, our shareholders approved the change of our company name from CNinsure Inc. to Fanhua Inc. On October 31, 2007, we listed our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CISG.” We and certain selling shareholders of our company, completed the initial public offering of 13,526,773 ADSs, each representing 20 ordinary shares, on November 5, 2007. In connection with the name change on December 6, 2016, our ticker symbol was simultaneously changed to “FANH”. In October 2012, we obtained license approval from the then CIRC to establish an insurance sales service group company and commenced a series of restructuring, which resulted in Fanhua Insurance Sales Service Group Company Limited (previously known as Shenzhen Nanfeng Investment Co., Ltd.), or Fanhua Group Company, our wholly-owned subsidiary in the PRC, becoming the onshore holding company of our PRC operating entities. As a result, we currently conduct our business in China primarily through Fanhua Group Company and its subsidiaries and a small part of our business through the consolidated VIEs in China. We also own a 4.5% equity interest in Puyi Inc. (NASDAQ: PUYI), a leading third-party wealth management service provider in China. We began our insurance intermediary business in 1999 by distributing auto insurance products and auto loans on an ancillary basis and expanded our product offerings to other property and casualty insurance products in 2002. We commenced life insurance products distribution in 2006 and began to offer claims adjusting services in 2008. In 2010, we established an insurance brokerage business unit to expand our product offerings from retail to commercial lines. In 2017, we divested our P&C insurance agency operations and our insurance brokerage segment to strategically focus on life insurance distribution. We were approved by our board of directors in May 2022 and completed on June 28, 2022 a distribution of shares of CNFinance Holdings Limited (“CNFinance”) to the Company’s shareholders on a pro rata basis. Fanhua shareholders received 4.71 CNFinance ordinary shares for each 20 outstanding Fanhua ordinary shares held as of June 9, 2022, or 0.2355 CNFinance ADSs for each Fanhua ADS, held as of the close of business on June 9, 2022 set by the depositary for the Fanhua ADSs. We distributed a total of 252,995,600 CNFinance ordinary shares to holders of our ordinary shares in this manner, which include a total of 156,097,200 CNFinance ordinary shares distributed in the form of 7,804,860 CNFinance ADSs to our ADS holders through our depositary bank. Following the completion of the distribution, our equity stake in CNFinance decreased from approximately 18.5% to approximately 0.01%. Our principal executive offices are located at 60/F, Pearl River Tower, No. 15 West Zhujiang Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86-20- 8388-6888. Our registered office is at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Capital Expenditure Our capital expenditures have been used primarily to construct, upgrade and maintain our online platforms and enhance trainings. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources.” B. Business Overview Overview Driven by our cutting-edge digital technologies and professional expertise in the insurance industry, we are the leading independent insurance intermediary group in China, focusing on providing insurance-oriented family - 45 - asset allocation services that covers customers’ full lifecycle and one-stop service platform for individual sales agents and independent insurance intermediaries. With strategic focus on long-term life insurance products, we offer a broad range of insurance product offerings primarily through a network of 141,088 registered sales agents across China as of December 31, 2022. We also provide claims adjusting services through 2,170 in-house claims adjustors. Our extensive offline network enable us to facilitate sales of complex insurance products and offer reliable after-sales services nationwide to our customers, serving as a substantial entry barrier to China’s insurance agency industry. We are devoted to offering all the capabilities that our sales agents need to help them run their best practice. Specifically, we provide a professional support system to empower agents to grow more specialized and professional. Our self-developed digital tools such as Lan Zhanggui, Fanhua RONS Digital Operating Platform (DOP) and Fanhua Guanjia, offer end-to-end business process management, as well data and analytic capabilities to enable our agents to manage all critical aspects of their business more efficiently, and to improve their productivity and service capability. We also operate Baowang (www.baoxian.com), an online insurance platform that provides customers with a one-stop insurance shopping experience from policy comparison, live consultation, policy placement, to claims settlement. A variety of critical illness, term life, accident, medical, travel and homeowner insurance products are available on the platform. Since late 2021, to diversify our service offerings to our customers, we start to offer insurance trust consulting/referral service through our business partners, and healthcare and elderly care services through our healthcare management division. Our vision is to transform from a solely sales-oriented insurance agency to become an industry-level infrastructure platform provider driven by digital technology and professional expertise. We intend to build an open platform to enable various users on the platform, including independent insurance agents and insurance sales organizations, to run the most successful businesses, by offering them a unified compliance service, IT system, digital solutions, diversified product and service offerings, professional training support, capital flow support and capitalization paths. With a rapidly aging society and the rise of the middle-class in China, there is burgeoning demand for elderly care and legacy management among Chinese consumers which provides tremendous growth opportunities in China’s life insurance market over the long run despite industry headwinds in recent years. In addition, the separation of insurance underwriting and distribution is a significant trend in China’s insurance industry. Historically dominated by in-house sales forces and exclusive agents, insurance distribution channels in China have gradually shifted towards independent insurance agencies, as demand for insurance products and services has diversified in recent years, while China’s life insurance intermediary channel is experiencing structural changes towards professionalization, digitalization, decentralization and comprehensive financial services. With strong brand recognition, established relationships with major insurance companies, an extensive distribution and sales network and cutting-edge technology, we intend to take advantage of the opportunities resulting from the growth and transformation of the insurance agency industry in China to increase our market share by professionalizing our sales force, enhancing digital capabilities and opening up our platform to more market participations. Digital Technologies Technological developments and the growth of digital technologies mobile internet access have significantly changed the way we operate our business. We develop digital toolkits to enable more efficient agent and customer engagement which includes the following: ● Lan Zhanggui - an all-in-one insurance sales and service platform that we develop for our sales agents, which allows them to manage their book of insurance business on their fingertips, covering all aspects of the business process from insurance product purchase, team management, agent recruitment, customer engagement, customer service to e-learning. The platform offers substantially all of our insurance products including long-term life and health insurance, accident insurance, travel insurance, and standard medical insurance products. It is available in mobile application and WeChat official account versions and accessible through Fanhua WeCom. - 46 - ● Fanhua RONS Assistant Digital Operating Platform, or RONS DOP —it is a digital marketing platform that we launched in June 2021 for our agents, aiming at empowering them in customer acquisition and relationship maintenance. It provides agents with various educational content in the form of daily news, articles, posters, videos which can be circulated to potential customers through social media, aiming at enhancing customers’ insurance awareness and deepening their understanding of insurance products. It also enables agents to gain better insights into customer needs through behavior tracking and automated tagging. In addition, it provides convenient access to Fanhua RONS livestreaming platform for resourceful online training courses. The platform is accessible through WeChat public account and Fanhua’s Lan Zhanggui and WeCom. ● Fanhua RONS Guanjia –– it is a customer service platform that we launched in June 2021 to directly connect with our customers, through which they can access various insurance services including policy inquiry, policy custody, asset custody, risk assessment, and claims settlement assistance. Service representatives will also be available to customers for exclusive services on a one-on-one basis. The platform is accessible primarily through its WeChat official account and Lan Zhanggui. ● Fanhua WeCom – Launched in June 2021, other than various office supporting solutions, it enables our agents to directly interact with their existing and potential customers in highly efficient manner, with easy access to various supportive tools including knowledge bank, FAQ scripts, and a wide variety of marketing materials. As of March 31, 2023, we, through Fanhua Group Company and contractual arrangements, controlled thirteen insurance intermediary companies in the PRC, of which nine were insurance agencies including two with national operating licenses, two were insurance brokerage firms and two were insurance claims adjusting firms. We also operated one e-commerce insurance platform, one healthcare management company one online mutual aid platform. In addition, as of March 31, 2023, we owned 4.5% of the equity interests in Puyi Inc. (NASDAQ: PUYI), a leading third-party wealth management services provider focusing on mass affluent and emerging middle-class population. Online Mutual Aid Platform In line with our commitment to be socially responsible, in 2014, we launched an online mutual aid platform called eHuzhu (www.ehuzhu.com). The platform provides people with access to alternative risk-protection programs at more affordable costs, especially for the lower-income group. eHuzhu primarily offers programs that provide mutual aid for cancer and accidental death. Users join as members with a small amount of deposits which will be used to evenly contribute to the medical costs or death benefits of the claimants, in exchange for benefits contributed by the rest of the members when in need. As of March 31, 2023, eHuzhu had over 1.7 million paying members, assisting 11,862 families to raise over RMB1.3 billion funds to get through tough times. The platform is accessible primarily through its WeChat official account. In addition, eHuzhu organized a variety of public charity activities focusing on care for breast cancer, veterans and COVID-19 patients, book donations for children and so on. eHuzhu has also set up “Mutual Aid Villages” across the country to lower the medical burden of people in poverty-stricken areas. In order to create more value for its members, in 2022, eHuzhu added medical and health services on its platform, through which its members can access a variety of services including health consultation, medical treatment assistance and medicine delivery. Acquisitions On January 3, 2023, we entered into definitive agreements with the existing shareholders of Zhongrong Smart Finance Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhongrong”), a leading managing general agency for life insurance distribution in China, to acquire 57.73% of the equity interests of Zhongrong. As of March 31, 2023, we have acquired 53.44% of the equity interests of Zhongrong with a capital contribution of RMB122.7 million to Zhongrong. Zhongrong is currently in the process of repurchasing its shares from certain of its existing shareholders which will result in our shareholding in Zhongrong ultimately increasing to 57.73%. On February 6, 2023 and February 8, 2023, respectively, we entered into definitive agreements with the existing shareholders of Jilin Zhongji Shi’An Insurance Agency Co., Ltd (“Zhongji”) and Wuhan Taiping Online - 47 - Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (“Taiping”) to acquire 51% of the equity interests of Zhongji and Taiping, respectively. As of March 31, 2023, the acquisitions of Zhongji and Taiping have been completed. In connection with the acquisitions, we issued 61,853,580 ordinary shares, 9,107,140 ordinary shares and 13,660,720 ordinary shares of the Company to the existing shareholders of Zhongrong SF, Taiping Online and Zhongji, respectively. The considerations are adjustable based on the achievement of such performance targets by the acquired entities from 2023 to 2025 and are subject to a lock-up period of three years. The lock-up will be released in two batches after 2025. Segment Information As of December 31, 2022, we operated two segments: (1) the insurance agency segment, which mainly consists of providing agency services for distributing life insurance products and P&C insurance products on behalf of insurance companies, and (2) the claims adjusting segment, which consists of providing pre-underwriting survey services, claims adjusting services, disposal of residual value services, loading and unloading supervision services, and consulting services. Insurance Agency Segment Our insurance agency segment accounted for 86.0% and 85.4% of our net revenues in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Revenue from this segment is derived from two broad categories of insurance products: (i) life and health insurance products, and (ii) property and casualty insurance products both primarily focused on meeting the insurance needs of individuals. Life and Health Insurance Products Our life and health insurance business accounted for 80.4% of our net revenues in 2022. We expect the sale of life insurance products to be the major source of our revenue in the next several years. The life and health insurance products we distribute can be broadly classified into the categories set forth below. Due to constant product innovation by insurance companies, some of the insurance products we distribute combine features of one or more of the categories listed below: ● ● ● ● ● Individual Whole Life Insurance. The individual whole life insurance products we distribute provide insurance coverage for the insured person’s entire life in exchange for the periodic payment of fixed premiums over a pre-determined period, generally ranging from five to 20 years, or until the insured reaches a certain age. The face amount plus accumulated interest is paid upon the death of the insured. Individual Health Insurance. The individual health insurance products we distribute primarily consist of critical illness insurance products, which provide guaranteed benefits when the insured is diagnosed with specified serious illnesses, and medical insurance products, which provide conditional reimbursement for medical expenses during the coverage period. In return, the insured makes periodic payments of premiums over a pre-determined period. Individual Annuity. The individual annuity products we distribute generally provide annual benefit payments after the insured attains a certain age, or for a fixed time period, and provide a lump sum payment at the end of the coverage period. In addition, the beneficiary designated in the annuity contract will receive guaranteed benefits upon the death of the insured during the coverage period. In return, the purchaser of the annuity products makes periodic payments of premiums during a pre-determined accumulation period. Individual Term Life Insurance. The individual term life insurance products we distribute provide insurance coverage for the insured for a specified time period or until the attainment of a certain age, in return for the periodic payment of fixed premiums over a pre-determined period, generally ranging from five to 20 years. Term life insurance policies generally expire without value if the insured survives the coverage period. Individual Endowment Life Insurance. The individual endowment products we distribute generally provide insurance coverage for the insured for a specified time period and maturity benefits if the insured reaches a specified age. The individual endowment products we distribute also provide to a beneficiary designated by the insured guaranteed benefits upon the death of the insured within the coverage period. - 48 - In return, the insured makes periodic payments of premiums over a pre-determined period, generally ranging from five to 25 years. ● Participating Insurance. The participating insurance products we distribute not only provide insurance coverage but also pay dividends generated from the profits of the insurance company providing the policy. The dividends are typically paid on an annual basis over the life of the policy. In return, the insured makes periodic payments of premiums over a pre-determined period, generally ranging from five to 25 years. The life insurance products we distributed in 2022 were primarily underwritten by Sinatay, Greatwall, Huaxia, Aeon, and Evergrande. Property and Casualty Insurance Products Our property and casualty insurance business accounted for 5.0% of our net revenues in 2022, primarily representing insurance products we distributed through Baowang. Our main property and casualty insurance product in terms of net revenues contribution in 2022 is individual accident insurance and indemnity medical insurance which we distribute through Baowang. We also offer lifestyle insurance such as travel insurance, homeowner insurance, and other innovative products on Baowang. In addition, we have started to offer certain long-term life and health insurance products specifically designed for internet distribution channels since 2019. Net revenues generated from such long-term insurance products were included in the net revenues of our life insurance agency segment. The major insurance products we offer or facilitate to individual customers through Baowang can be further classified into the following categories: ● Individual Accident Insurance. The individual accident insurance products we distribute generally provide a guaranteed benefit during the coverage period, which is usually one year or a shorter period, in the event of death or disability of the insured as a result of an accident, or a reimbursement of medical expenses to the insured in connection with an accident. These products typically require only a single premium payment for each coverage period. Because most of the individual accident insurance products we distribute are underwritten by property and casualty insurance companies, we classify individual accident insurance products as property and casualty insurance products. ● Travel Insurance. The travel insurance products we distribute are short-term insurance providing guaranteed benefit in the event of death or disability and covering travel-related emergencies and losses, either within one’s own country, or internationally. These products typically require only a single premium payment for each coverage period. ● Homeowner Insurance. The homeowner insurance products we distribute primarily cover damages to the insured house, along with furniture and household electrical appliance in the house caused by a number of incidents such as fire, flood and explosion. ● Indemnity medical insurance. The indemnity medical insurance products we facilitate typically have a one-year term and provide conditional reimbursement for medical and surgical expenses during the coverage period. These products typically require only a single premium payment for each coverage period. Because most of these medical insurance products we distribute are underwritten by property and casualty insurance companies, we classify indemnity medical products as property and casualty insurance products. We primarily partnered with Zhong An Online Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited, or Zhong An, Ping An Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited, or Ping An, Ping An Health Insurance Company Limited, China Pacific Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited, or China Pacific, JD Alliance Property and Casualty Insurance Company Limited for the distribution of property and casualty insurance products in 2022. Claims Adjusting Segment Total net revenues derived from our claims adjusting segment accounted for 14.6% of our total net revenues in 2022. We offer the following insurance claims adjusting services: ● Pre-underwriting Survey. Before an insurance policy is sold, we conduct a survey of the item to be insured to assess its current value and help our clients determine the insurable value and the amount to - 49 - be insured. We also help our clients assess the underwriting risk with respect to the item to be insured through surveys, appraisals and analysis. ● Claims Adjusting. When an accident involving the insured subject matter has occurred, we conduct an onsite survey to determine the cause of the accident and assess damage. We then determine the extent of the loss to the insured subject matter and prepare and submit a report to the insurance company summarizing our preliminary findings. Upon final conclusion of the case, we prepare and submit a detailed report to the insurance company setting forth details of the accident, cause of the loss, details of the loss, adjustment and determination of loss, an indemnity proposal and, where appropriate, a request for payment. ● Disposal of Residual Value. In the course of providing claims adjusting services, we also can appraise the residual value of the insured property and offer suggestions on the disposal of such property. Upon appointment by the insurance company, we handle the actual disposal of the insured property through auction, discounted sale, lease or other means. ● Loading and Unloading Supervision. Upon appointment by ship owners, shippers, consignees or insurance companies, we can monitor and record the loading and unloading processes of specific cargos. ● Consulting Services. We provide consulting services to both the insured and the insurance companies on risk assessment and management, disaster and damage prevention, investigation, and loss assessment. We primarily provided claims adjusting services to Ping An, China Pacific, Ant Insurance Agency Co., Ltd., Shanghai Nuanwa Technology Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Zhong An and China Life Property and Casualty Insurance Co. Ltd in 2022. Others We also provide referral of certain insurance trust, health care and senior care services as value-added services to our customers to cater to the needs of the aging population in China. As competition intensifies and the insurance market becomes more mature in China, we believe there will be a further division of labor in the insurance intermediary sector. We expect that more insurance companies will choose to outsource claims adjusting functions to professional service providers while they focus on the core aspects of their business, including product development and asset and risk management. We believe we are well- positioned to capture such outsourcing opportunities. Seasonality See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results—Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations—Seasonality.” Distribution and Service Network and Marketing We have an offline distribution and service network that, as of March 31, 2023, consisted of one insurance sales and service group, nine insurance agencies including two with national operating licenses, and two insurance brokerage firms, two claims adjusting firms, with 124,682 registered independent sales agents, and 2,063 in-house claims adjustors. Our distribution and service network consisted of 672 sales outlets in 24 provinces and 92 claims services outlets in 31 provinces. The following table sets forth additional information concerning our distribution and service network as of March 31, 2023, broken down by provinces: Province Shandong - 50 - Number of Sales and Service Outlets 128 Number of Sales Agents 21,105 Number of In-house Adjustors 79 Hebei Sichuan Guangdong Hunan Zhejiang Anhui Jiangsu Fujian Henan Liaoning Hubei Inner Mongolia Guangxi Chongqing Shaanxi Yunan Tianjin Shanxi Beijing Jiangxi Shanghai Heilongjiang Hainan Jilin Gansu Guizhou Ningxia Qinghai Tibet Xinjiang Total 87 69 58 52 49 37 34 31 29 22 19 18 16 16 12 11 10 8 6 6 6 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 15,373 5,093 9,386 3,650 4,862 6,498 11,329 3,303 9,991 7,199 1,681 5,923 11,027 1,235 1,718 968 1,412 983 1,080 270 39 557 - - - - - - - - 736 124,682 35 88 423 31 145 36 192 59 58 68 96 21 85 22 93 26 22 35 120 75 66 21 16 16 34 53 41 2 - 5 2063 We market and sell long-term personal lines of life and health insurance products and property and casualty insurance products to customers mainly through both independent sales agents, most of whom are not our employees, and insurance advisors who are our employees. We also market and sell certain critical illness, term life, accident, short-term health, travel and homeowner insurance products directly to customers through our online platform Baowang (www.baoxian.com). We market and sell insurance claims adjusting services primarily to insurance companies through our in-house professional claims adjustors. Customers We sell life and health insurance products including critical illness, annuity insurance, whole life insurance and term life insurance and endowment insurance primarily to individual customers as well as property and casualty insurance products including individual accident insurance, homeowner insurance products, liability insurance and travel insurance. Customers for the life and health insurance products we distribute are primarily individuals under 50 years of age. For the year ended December 31, 2022, no single individual customer who has purchased insurance products through us accounted for more than 1% of our net revenues. Our customers for the claims adjusting services are primarily insurance companies and online mutual-aid platforms. As of December 31, 2022, we had accumulated approximately 12.0 million individual customers, of which over 2.0 million have purchased at least one regular long-term life and health insurance policy. By providing certain value-added services to these customers at no additional charge, we seek to build a loyal customer base that generates referrals and cross-selling opportunities. Insurance Company Partners and Others - 51 - As of March 31, 2023, we had established business relationships with 139 insurance companies in the PRC. In the Chinese insurance market, local branches of insurance companies generally have the authority to enter into contracts in their own names with insurance intermediaries. Since 2007, we have sought to establish business relationships with insurance companies at the corporate headquarters level in order to leverage the combined sales volumes of all our subsidiaries located in different parts of China. For the distribution of insurance products, we had outstanding contracts with 43 life insurance companies, 9 health and pension insurance companies and 21 property and casualty insurance companies, most of which were signed at the corporate headquarter level as of March 31, 2023. For the provision of claims adjusting services, we also had business relationship with 104 insurance companies, and 286 other institutions including third party insurance intermediaries, logistics companies, construction companies and marine and cargo companies as of March 31, 2023. Competition A number of industry players are involved in the distribution of insurance products in the PRC. We compete for customers on the basis of product offerings, customer services and reputation. Because we primarily distribute individual insurance products, our principal competitors include: ● Professional insurance intermediaries. The professional insurance intermediary sector in China is highly fragmented. Several insurance intermediary companies have received private equity or venture capital funding in recent years and are actively pursuing expansion. We believe that we can compete effectively with these insurance intermediary companies with our long operating history, strong brand recognition, a strong and stable team of managers, nationwide network of sales professionals enabled by digital tools, leading online platforms and diversified product offerings. With increasing consolidation expected in the insurance intermediary sector in the coming years, we expect competition within this sector to intensify. ● Insurance companies. The distribution of individual life insurance products in China historically has been dominated by insurance companies, which usually use both in-house sales forces and exclusive sales agents to distribute their own products. In addition, in recent years several major insurance companies have increasingly used telemarketing and the Internet to distribute insurance. We believe that we can compete effectively with insurance companies because we focus only on distribution and offer our customers a broad range of choices of insurance products underwritten by multiple insurance companies. ● Entities that offer insurance products online. In recent years, domestic insurance companies, Internet companies and professional insurance intermediaries have begun to engage in the Internet insurance business. However, each of their insurance e-commerce operations has its own limitations. The insurance products offered on an insurance company’s website are usually confined to those under its own brand. Most Internet companies have limited experience in insurance operation with limited or no offline sales and service support. Our better brand recognition, extensive offline sales and service network which enables us to offer online and offline integrated services to customers also differentiate us from internet- based professional insurance intermediaries. We believe that we can compete effectively with these business entities because we offer customers access to a broad range of insurance products underwritten by multiple insurance companies and good after-sale services that are backed by our nation-wide service network and better user experience. ● Other business entities. In recent years, business entities that distribute insurance products as an ancillary business, primarily commercial banks and postal offices, have been playing an increasingly important role in the distribution of insurance products, especially life insurance products. However, the insurance products distributed by these entities are mostly confined to those related to their main lines of business, such as investment-related life insurance products. We believe that we can compete effectively with these business entities because we offer our customers a broader variety of products. We compete primarily with the other major claims adjusting firms in China. We believe that we can compete effectively with other major insurance claims adjusting firms because we offer our customers a diversified range of claims adjusting services covering medical insurance, property insurance, auto insurance, marine and cargo insurance, and personal injury and accident insurance and are able to leverage the business relationships we have developed with insurance companies through the distribution of property and casualty insurance products. Intellectual Property - 52 - Our brand, trade names, trademarks, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights distinguish our business platform, services and products from those of our competitors and contribute to our competitive advantage in the professional insurance intermediary sector. To protect our intellectual property, we rely on a combination of trademark, copyright and trade secret laws as well as confidentiality agreements with our employees, sales agents, contractors and others. As of March 31, 2023, we had 87 registered trademarks in China, including our corporate logo. Our main website is www.fanhuaholdings.com. Risk Management Proactive risk management and a strong risk culture are essential to our long-term success. As a Nasdaq-listed company, we are subject to the requirements of U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002, specifically sections 302 and 404. Accordingly, we have established a comprehensive internal control and risk management structure that enables us to identify and analyze risks early and take appropriate action. Proactive risk management and a strong risk culture are essential to our long-term success. As a Nasdaq-listed company, we are subject to the requirements of U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002, specifically sections 302 and 404. Accordingly, we have established a comprehensive internal control and risk management structure that enables us to identify and analyze risks early and take appropriate action. The Board of Directors is the highest decision-making body for corporate risk management and is responsible for the effectiveness of overall risk management efforts. The Audit Committee under the Board of Directors is established to fully assess the major risks faced by the Company and supervise the effectiveness of the implementation of the Company’s risk management system. We established a risk management and internal audit department which works independently from our operations and directly reports to the Audit Committee. The department holds the primary responsibility of monitoring and supervising risk management of the Company’s business operation in compliance with the requirements of SOX. ● Assisting the management in identifying, measuring and managing risks in daily business activities and periodically reporting to the full board of directors, the Audit Committee and executive suite potential risks facing the Company; ● Supervising the establishment of standard operating processes by various functional departments and business units and conducting risk assessment and internal tests to carry out independent and un-biased checks and evaluation on the appropriateness, compliance and effectiveness of the Company’s business operations and internal control; and ● Monitoring the improvement plans on control weakness and providing recommendations on enhancing risk management capabilities in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. implementation of In order to foster the awareness of compliance among all employees and establish a sustainable and effective compliance mechanism, Fanhua Group Company issued a compliance accountability policy Fanhua Insurance Sales Group Compliance Accountability System which sets forth the responsibilities for keeping in compliance with relevant laws and regulations by staff at various levels and the accountability for non-compliance. It also puts forth the process of reporting potential risks when identified to take further actions. The Compliance Department of the Fanhua Group Comany lead the efforts to monitor and coordinate the implementation of the Compliance Accountability Policy while our functional departments and subsidiaries holds the primary responsibility for risk control and compliance of our business operations. When a risk event occurs, functional departments or subsidiaries shall immediately report it to the Compliance Department to open a case for investigation and management. The functional departments or subsidiaries shall inspect the progress of risk events and implementation of improvement plans each month, and report progress to the Compliance Department. Regulation - 53 - Regulations of the Insurance Industry The insurance industry in the PRC is highly regulated. Between 1998 and March 2018, CIRC was the regulatory authority responsible for the supervision of the Chinese insurance industry. In March 2018, the CBIRC, was established as the result of the merger between CIRC and CBRC, replacing CIRC as the regulatory authority for the supervision of the Chinese insurance industry. Insurance activities undertaken within the PRC are primarily governed by the Insurance Law and the related rules and regulations. Initial Development of Regulatory Framework The Chinese Insurance Law was enacted in 1995. The original insurance law, which we refer to as the 1995 Insurance Law, provided the initial framework for regulating the domestic insurance industry. Among the steps taken under the 1995 Insurance Law were the following: ● Licensing of insurance companies and insurance intermediaries, such as agencies and brokerages. The 1995 Insurance Law established requirements for minimum registered capital levels, form of organization, qualification of senior management and adequacy of the information systems for insurance companies and insurance agencies and brokerages. ● Separation of property and casualty insurance businesses and life insurance businesses. The 1995 Insurance Law classified insurance between property, casualty, liability and credit insurance businesses, on the one hand, and life, accident and health insurance businesses on the other, and prohibited insurance companies from engaging in both types of businesses. ● Regulation of market conduct by participants. The 1995 Insurance Law prohibited fraudulent and other unlawful conduct by insurance companies, agencies and brokerages. ● Substantive regulation of insurance products. The 1995 Insurance Law gave insurance regulators the authority to approve the basic policy terms and premium rates for major insurance products. ● Financial condition and performance of insurance companies. The 1995 Insurance Law established reserve and solvency standards for insurance companies, imposed restrictions on investment powers and established mandatory reinsurance requirements, and put in place a reporting regime to facilitate monitoring by insurance regulators. ● Supervisory and enforcement powers of the principal regulatory authority. The principal regulatory authority, then the PBOC, was given broad powers under the 1995 Insurance Law to regulate the insurance industry. Establishment of the CIRC and 2002 Amendments to the Insurance Law China’s insurance regulatory regime was further strengthened with the establishment of the CIRC in 1998. The CIRC was given the mandate to implement reform in the insurance industry, minimize insolvency risk for Chinese insurers and promote the development of the insurance market. The 1995 Insurance Law was amended in 2002 and the amended insurance law, which we refer to as the 2002 Insurance Law, became effective on January 1, 2003. The major amendments to the 1995 Insurance Law include: ● Authorizing the CIRC to be the insurance supervisory and regulatory body nationwide. The 2002 Insurance Law expressly grants the CIRC the authority to supervise and administer the insurance industry nationwide. ● Expanding the permitted scope of business of property and casualty insurers. Under the 2002 Insurance Law, property and casualty insurance companies may engage in the short-term health insurance and accident insurance businesses upon the CIRC’s approval. - 54 - ● Providing additional guidelines for the relationship between insurance companies and insurance agents. The 2002 Insurance Law requires an insurance company to enter into an agent agreement with each insurance agent that will act as an agent for that insurance company. The agent agreement sets forth the rights and obligations of the parties to the agreement as well as other matters pursuant to law. An insurance company is responsible for the acts of its agents when the acts are within the scope authorized by the insurance company. ● Relaxing restrictions on the use of funds by insurance companies. Under the 2002 Insurance Law, an insurance company may use its funds to make equity investments in insurance-related enterprises, such as asset management companies. ● Allowing greater freedom for insurance companies to develop insurance products. The 2002 Insurance Law allowed insurance companies to set their own policy terms and premium rates, subject to the approval of, or a filing with, the CIRC. 2009 Amendments to the Insurance Law The 2002 Insurance Law was amended again in 2009 and the amended insurance law, which we refer to as the 2009 Insurance Law, became effective on October 1, 2009. The major amendments to the 2009 Insurance Law include: ● Strengthening protection of the insured’s interests. The 2009 Insurance Law added a variety of clauses such as incontestable clause, abstained and estoppels clause, common disaster clause and amending immunity clause, claims-settlement prescription clause, reasons for claims rejection and contract modification clause. ● Strengthening supervision on the qualification of the shareholders of the insurance companies and setting forth specific qualification requirements for the major shareholders, directors, supervisors and senior managers of insurance companies. ● Expanding the business scope of insurers and further relaxing restriction on the use of fund by insurers. ● Strengthening supervision on solvency of insurers with stricter measures. ● Tightening regulations governing the administration of insurance intermediary companies, especially those relating to behaviors of insurance agents. According to the 2009 Insurance Law, the minimum registered capital required to establish an insurance agency or insurance brokerage as a company must comply with the PRC Company Law. The registered capital or the capital contribution of insurance agencies or insurance brokerages must be paid-up capital in cash. The 2009 Insurance Law also sets forth some specific qualification requirements for insurance agency and brokerage practitioners. The senior managers of insurance agencies or insurance brokerages must meet specific qualification requirements, and their appointments are subject to approval of the CIRC. Personnel of an insurance agency or insurance brokerage engaging in the sales of insurance products must meet the qualification requirements set by the CIRC and obtain a qualification certificate issued by the CIRC. Under the 2009 Insurance Law, the parties to an insurance transaction may engage insurance adjusting firms or other independent appraisal firms that are established in accordance with applicable laws, or persons who possess the requisite professional expertise, to conduct assessment and adjustment of the insured subject matters. Additionally, the 2009 Insurance Law specifies additional legal obligations for insurance agencies and brokerages. 2014 Amendments to the Insurance Law The 2002 Insurance Law was amended again in 2014 and the amended insurance law, which we refer to as the 2014 Insurance Law, became effective on August 31, 2014. The major amendments of the 2014 Insurance Law include: ● Relaxing restrictions on actuaries. The 2014 Insurance Law no longer requires Insurance companies shall employ actuaries recognized by the insurance regulatory authority under the State Council. However, an insurance company shall also engage professionals, and establish an actuarial reporting system and a compliance reporting system as before. - 55 - 2015 Amendments to the Insurance Law The 2014 Insurance Law was amended again in 2015 and the amended insurance law, which we refer to as the 2015 Insurance Law, became effective on April 24, 2015. The major amendments of the 2015 Insurance Law include: ● Eliminating the requirement for an insurance agent or broker to obtain a qualification certificate issued by the CIRC before providing any insurance agency or brokerage services. ● Relaxing the requirement for the establishment or other significant corporate events of an insurance agency or brokerage firm. For example, an insurance agency or brokerage firm is allowed to apply for a business permit from the CIRC and a business license from the local AIC simultaneously under the 2015 Insurance Law, while an insurance agency or brokerage firm had to apply for and receive a business permit issued by the CIRC before it could apply for a business license from and register with the relevant local AIC under the 2014 Insurance Law. Prior approval by the CIRC is no longer required for the divesture or mergers of insurance agencies or brokerage firms, the change of their organizational form, or the establishment or winding-up of a branch by an insurance agency or brokerage firm. The CIRC and the CBIRC The CBIRC, which was formed by the merger of China Banking Regulatory Commission (“CBRC”) and CIRC in March, 2018, inherits the authority of CIRC, has extensive authority to supervise insurance companies and insurance intermediaries operating in the PRC, including the power to: ● promulgate regulations applicable to the Chinese insurance industry; ● investigate insurance companies and insurance intermediaries; ● establish investment regulations; ● approve policy terms and premium rates for certain insurance products; ● ● set the standards for measuring the financial soundness of insurance companies and insurance intermediaries; require insurance companies and insurance intermediaries to submit reports concerning their business operations and condition of assets; ● order the suspension of all or part of an insurance company or an insurance intermediary’s business; ● ● approve the establishment, change and dissolution of an insurance company, an insurance intermediary or their branches; review and approve the appointment of senior managers of an insurance company, an insurance intermediary or their branches; and ● punish insurance companies or intermediaries for improper behaviors or misconducts. Regulation of Insurance Agents The principal regulation governing insurance agents is the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Agents, or the PSAIA, issued by the CBIRC on November 12, 2020 and effective on January 1, 2021, replacing the Provision on the Supervision and Administration of Professional Insurance Agencies issued by the CIRC on September 25, 2009 and amended on April 7, 2013, the Measures on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Salespersons issued on January 6, 2013 and the Interim Measures on the Administration of Ancillary- Business Insurance Agency issued on August 4, 2000. - 56 - The term of “insurance agent” refers to an entity or an individual entrusted by insurance companies to handle insurance business by and within the authorization of, and which collects commissions from insurance companies, and includes a professional insurance agency, ancillary-business insurance agency and individual insurance sales agent which refers to a captive insurance agent of an insurance company. The practitioner of an insurance agency refers to an individual engaged in the sales of insurance products or loss assessment and claims settlement services for a professional insurance agency or ancillary-business insurance agency. To engage in insurance agency business, a professional insurance agency shall obtain an insurance agency business permit issued by the CBIRC, after obtaining a business license, and satisfy the requirements prescribed by the PSAIA or other relevant regulations on shareholder and management qualification, capital contribution, articles of association, corporate governance and internal control procedures with viable business model and sound business and financial information system. An insurance agency may take any of the following forms: (i) a limited liability company; or (ii) a joint stock limited company. The name of a professional insurance agency shall contain the words “insurance agency”. The minimum registered capital for establishing a nationwide professional insurance agency is RMB50 million and that for a regional professional insurance agency is RMB20 million. The registered capital of a professional insurance agency must be paid-in monetary capital. To operate outside of its registration place, a nationwide professional insurance agency shall set up local provincial branches first before setting up additional sub-branches and sales offices. Professional insurance agencies shall, within 5 days from the date of occurrence of any of the following circumstances, report to the CBIRC through the supervision information system and make public disclosure: (i) change of name, domicile or business address; (ii) change of shareholders, registered capital or the form of organization; (iii) change of name or capital contribution of a shareholder; (iv) amendments to the articles of association; (v) equity investment in, or establishment of offshore insurance institutions or non-operating institutions; (vi) division, merger, dissolution, or termination of insurance agency business activities of branches; (vii) change of the principal person-in-charge of a sub-branch; (viii) administrative punishment, civil punishment or pending investigation of suspected illegal crime; or (ix) other reportable events prescribed by the insurance regulatory body under the State Council. A professional insurance agency may engage in all or part of the following businesses: (i) selling insurance products on behalf of insurance companies; (ii) collecting insurance premium on behalf of insurance companies; (iii) insurance-related loss survey and claims settlement on behalf of insurance companies; or (iv) other relevant businesses stipulated by the insurance regulatory body under the State Council. Insurance agents shall not engage in insurance agency business beyond the business scope and business area of the insurance companies for which they act as agents. A professional insurance agency and its sales practitioners and individual insurance agents are not allowed to sell non-insurance financial products, except for non-insurance financial products approved by relevant financial regulatory authorities provided that all necessary qualification requirements are being met. A professional insurance agency shall, within 20 days upon obtaining business permits, procure professional liability insurance or make contributions to security deposits. Minimum compensation for each accident under the one-year professional liability insurance policy shall be no less than RMB1 million, and accumulative compensation under the one-year insurance policy shall be no less than RMB10 million and the total core business revenue of the professional insurance agency company in the previous year. If a professional agency intends to pay deposit, the deposit shall be paid at 5% of its registered capital and when it increases its registered capital, the amount of the deposit shall be increased proportionately. The senior managers of a professional insurance agency must meet specific qualification requirements in educational background and relevant industry working experience set forth in the PSAIA. An insurance agent shall perform sales practicing register with the CRIBC’s Insurance Intermediaries Regulatory Information System for its individual insurance agent or sales practitioner. Each individual insurance agent or sales practitioner of an insurance agency can only be allowed to register with one institution. - 57 - Specific information disclosure requirements are also provided in the PSAIA. For example, it is required that a professional insurance agency or its branches shall place its business license and copies of permit in a prominent position in its domicile or business site. Insurance agents shall make full disclosure of all relevant information of insurance products to policyholders and make a clear representation of the clauses in the insurance contract including liability, liability reduction or exemption, cancellation and other expense deductions, cash value, cooling-off period and etc. Regulation of Insurance Brokerages The principal regulation governing insurance brokerages is the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Brokers, or the POSAIB, promulgated by the CIRC on February 1, 2018 and effective May 1, 2018, replacing the Provisions on the Supervision of Insurance Brokerages issued on September 25, 2009, as amended on April 27, 2013, and the Measures on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Brokers and Insurance Claims Adjustors issued by the CIRC on January 6, 2013. The term of “insurance broker” refers to an entity which, representing the interests of insurance applicants, acts as an intermediary between insurance applicants and insurance companies for entering into insurance contracts, and collects commissions for the provision of such brokering services. The term of “insurance brokerage practitioner” refers to a person affiliated with an insurance broker who drafts insurance application proposals or handles the insurance application formalities for insurance applicants or the insured or assists insurance applicants or the insured in claiming compensation or who provides clients with disaster or loss prevention or risk assessment or management consulting services or engages in reinsurance brokerage, among others. To engage in insurance brokerage business within the territory of the PRC, an insurance brokerage shall satisfy the requirements prescribed by the CIRC and obtain an insurance brokerage business permit issued by the CIRC, after obtaining a business license. An insurance brokerage may take any of the following forms: (i) a limited liability company; or (ii) a joint stock limited company. The minimum registered capital of an insurance brokerage company whose business area is not limited to the province in which it is registered is RMB50 million while the minimum registered capital of an insurance brokerage company whose business area is limited to its place of registration is RMB10 million. The name of an insurance broker shall include the words “insurance brokerage.” An insurance brokerage must register the information of its affiliated insurance brokerage practitioners with the IISIS. One person can only be registered with the IISIS through one insurance brokerage. An insurance brokerage may conduct the following insurance brokering businesses: ● making insurance proposals, selecting insurance companies and handling the insurance application procedures for the insurance applicants; ● assisting the insured or the beneficiary to claim compensation; ● reinsurance brokering business; ● providing consulting services to clients with respect to disaster and damage prevention, risk assessment and risk management; and ● other business activities approved by the CIRC. An insurance brokerage shall submit a written report to the CIRC through the IISIS and make public disclosure within five days from the date of occurrence of any of the following matters: (i) change of name, domicile or business premises; (ii) change of shareholders, registered capital or form of organization; (iii) change of names of shareholders or capital contributions; (iv) amendment to the articles of association; (v) equity investment, establishment of offshore insurance-related entities or non-operational organizations; (vi) division, merger and dissolution or termination of insurance brokering business activities of its branches; (vii) change of the primary person in charge of its branches other than provincial branches; (viii) being a subject of administrative or criminal penalties, or under investigation for suspected involvement in any violation of law or a crime; and (x) other reportable events prescribed by the CIRC. - 58 - Insurance brokerage and its practitioners are not allowed to sell non-insurance financial products, except for those products approved by relevant financial regulatory institutions and the insurance brokerage and its practitioners shall obtain relevant qualifications in order to sell non-insurance related financial products that meets regulatory requirements. Personnel of an insurance brokerage and its branches who engage in any of the insurance brokering businesses described above must comply with the qualification requirements prescribed by the CIRC. The senior managers of an insurance brokerage must meet specific qualification requirements set forth in the POSAIB. Regulation of Insurance Claims Adjusting Firms The principal regulation governing insurance adjusting firms is the Provisions on the Supervision and Administration of Insurance Claims Adjustors, or the POSAICA, issued by the CIRC on February 1, 2018 and effective on May 1, 2018, replacing the Provisions on the Supervision of Insurance Claims Adjusting Firms effective on October 1, 2009, as amended on September 29, 2013 and 2015, and the Regulation of Insurance Brokers and Insurance Adjustors effective on July 1, 2013. According to the POSAICA, the term “insurance adjustment” refers to the assessment, survey, authentication, loss estimation and relevant risk assessment of the insured subject matters or the insurance incidents conducted by an appraisal firm and its professional appraisers upon the entrustment of the parties concerned. The term of “insurance adjusting firm” refers to an entity and any of its branches which engages in the aforementioned businesses. The term “insurance adjustment practitioner” refers to a person retained by an insurance claims adjusting firm to conduct the following activities on behalf of an entruster: i) inspecting, appraising the value of and assessing the risks of the subject matter before and after it is insured; ii) surveying, inspecting, estimating the loss of, adjusting and disposing of the residual value of the insured subject matter after a loss has been incurred; and iii) risk management consulting. Insurance adjustment practitioners include claims adjustors and assessment practitioners with claims adjustment knowledge and practical experience. A claims adjustor refers to an individual who has passed the qualification examination for the insurance claims adjustors organized by the CIRC. An insurance claims adjusting firm must meet the requirements prescribed by the China Asset Appraisal Law and applicable regulations issued by the CIRC and must file its business records with the CIRC and its local offices. According to the regulation, an insurance adjusting firm should take the form of a company or a partnership in accordance with applicable law and retains claims adjustment practitioners to engage in insurance claims adjusting businesses. A claims adjusting firm in the form of a partnership must have at least two claims adjustors and two-thirds of its partners should be claims adjustors who have at least three years’ working experience in claims adjustment and have no record of administrative penalties in relation to claims adjustment activities in the past three years. A claims adjusting firm in the form of a company must have at least eight claims adjustors and two shareholders among which at least two-thirds are claims adjustors who have at least three years’ working experience in claims adjustment and have no record of administrative penalties in relations to claims adjustment activities in the past three years. The establishment of an insurance claims adjusting firm only requires the application for a business license from and registration with the AIC, instead of both applying for business license and obtaining approval by the CIRC as previously required. A claims adjusting firm may include a nationwide claims adjusting firm and regional claims adjusting firm. A nationwide claims adjusting firm can conduct business within the territory of the PRC and can establish branches in provinces other than its place of registration while a regional one can only conduct business and establish branches in the province where it is registered. A claims adjusting firm in the form of a company must file its business record with the CIRC if it is a nationwide claims adjusting firm or file with the local offices of the CIRC in the region where it is registered if it is a regional claims adjusting firm. A partnership firm must file its business record with the CIRC. - 59 - An insurance claims adjusting firm must meet certain requirements in order to engage in claims adjustment business which include, among others, i) its shareholders or its partners must meet the requirements mentioned above and its capital contribution must be self-owned, actual and lawful and must not be non-self-owned capital in various forms such as bank loan; and ii) it must have adequate working capital to support its day-to-day operation and risk undertaking in accordance with its business development plan. A nationwide entity must have at least RMB2 million working capital while a regional one must have at least RMB1 million. An insurance adjusting firm may engage in the following businesses: Upon approval of the CIRC, an insurance adjusting firm may engage in the following businesses: ● ● inspecting, appraising the value of and assessing the risks of the subject matter before and after it is insured; surveying, inspecting, estimating the loss of, adjusting and disposing of the insured subject matter after loss has been incurred; ● risk management consulting; and ● other business activities approved by the CIRC. The name of an insurance adjusting firm must contain the words “insurance adjusting” and must avoid duplicating names of existing insurance claims adjusting firms. In any of the following situations, an insurance adjusting firm shall submit a written report to the CIRC when it within five days from the date the resolution for change has been passed: (i) change of name, domicile or business premises; (ii) change of shareholders or partners; (iii) change of registered capital or form of organization; (iv) change of names of shareholders or partners or capital contributions; (v) amendment to the articles of association or the partnership agreement; (vi) equity investment, establishment of offshore insurance related entities or non-operational organization; (vii) division, merger and dissolution or termination of insurance claims adjustment business of its branches; (viii) change of chairman of its board of directors, executive directors or senior management; (ix) being a subject of administrative or criminal penalties, or under investigation for suspected involvement in a crime; and (x) other reportable events specified by the CIRC. Personnel of an insurance adjusting firm or its branches engaged in any of the insurance adjusting businesses described above must comply with the qualification requirements prescribed by the CIRC. The senior managers of an insurance adjusting firm must meet specific qualification requirements set forth in the POSAICA. An insurance claims adjustment practitioner must join an insurance claims adjusting firm in order to conduct insurance claims adjustment activities. The insurance claims adjusting firm to which he or she belongs must register his or her information with the CIRC’s Insurance Intermediary Supervision Information System or IISIS. One person can only conduct insurance adjustment activities for one insurance claims adjusting firm and can only be registered with the IISIS through one insurance claims adjusting firm. At least two insurance claims adjustment practitioners must be appointed to undertake each case of insurance claims adjustment businesses and the claims adjustment report shall be signed by at least two insurance claims adjustment practitioners engaged in the claims adjustment activities and chopped by the claims adjusting firm to which he or she belongs. Regulation of Insurance Intermediary Service Group Companies The principal regulation governing insurance intermediary groups is the Provisional Measures for Supervision and Administration of the Insurance Intermediary Service Group Companies (for Trial Implementation) issued by the CIRC on September 22, 2011 with immediate effect. According to the regulation, the term “insurance intermediary service group company” refers to a professional insurance intermediary company that is established in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and with the approval of the CIRC that exercises sole or shared control of, or is able to exert major influence over, at least two subsidiaries that are professional insurance intermediary companies primarily engaged in the insurance intermediary business. An insurance intermediary service group company must have: - 60 - ● a registered capital of at least RMB100 million; ● no record of material violation by investors of applicable laws and regulations in the previous three years; ● at least five subsidiaries, among which at least two are professional insurance intermediary companies which contribute at least 50% of the total revenues of the group; ● chairman (Executive director) and the senior management with qualifications stipulated by the CIRC; ● perfect governance structure, sound organization, effective risk management and internal control management system; ● business premises and office equipment which are suitable for the development of the businesses; and ● other conditions stipulated by laws, administrative regulations and the CIRC. The name of an insurance intermediary service group must contain the words “Group” or “Holding.” Its principal business must be equity investment, management and provision of supporting services. An insurance intermediary service group company shall, submit a written report to the CIRC and its local counterparts at the place of registration within five working days after the date of occurrence of the following: (i) changing its registered name or address; (ii) changing its registered capital; (iii) changing its equity structure by more than 5% or shareholders holding more than 5% of shares; (iv) changing its articles of association; (v) establishing, acquiring, merging or closing its subsidiary; (vi) engaging in related party transactions between member companies; (vii) disincorporating; (viii) significantly changing its business scope; or (ix) making a major strategic investment, suffering a significant investment loss or experiencing other material events or emergencies that affect or may affect the business management, financial status or risk control of the group. Senior managers of an insurance intermediary service group company must meet specific qualification requirements and appointment of the senior managers of an insurance intermediary service group company is subject to review and approval by the CIRC. Content Related to Insurance Industry in the Legal Documents of China’s Accession to the WTO According to the Circular of the CIRC on Distributing the Content Related to Insurance Industry in the Legal Documents of China’s Accession to the World Trade Organization, or WTO, for the life insurance sector, within three years of China’s accession to the WTO on December 11, 2001, geographical restrictions were to be lifted, equity joint venture companies allowed to provide health insurance, group insurance, and pension/annuity services to Chinese citizens and foreign citizens, and for there to be no other restrictions except those on the proportion of foreign investment (no more than 50%) and establishment conditions. For the non-life insurance sector, within three years of China’s accession, the geographical restrictions were to be lifted and no restrictions allowed other than establishment conditions. For the insurance brokerage sector, within five years of China’s accession, the establishment of wholly foreign-funded subsidiary companies was to be allowed, and no restriction other than establishment conditions and restrictions on business scope. Content Related to Insurance Industry in the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangements Under CEPA Supplement IV signed in June and July 2007 and CEPA Supplement VIII signed in December 2011, local insurance agencies in Hong Kong and Macau are allowed to set up wholly-owned insurance agency companies and conduct insurance intermediary businesses in Guangdong Province (including Shenzhen) on a pilot basis if they fulfill the following criteria: ● The applicant must have operated an insurance brokerage businesses in Hong Kong and Macau for over 10 years; ● The applicant’s average annual revenue of insurance brokerage business for the past three years before application must not be less than HKD500,000 and the total assets as at the end of the year before application must not be less than HKD500,000; ● Within three years before application, there has been no serious misconduct or record of disciplinary action; and - 61 - ● The applicant must have set up a representative office in mainland China for over one year Regulations on Internet Insurance The principal regulation governing the operation of internet insurance business is the Measures for the Supervision of the Internet Insurance Business, or the Measures, promulgated on December 7, 2020 and effective on February 1, 2021, replacing the Interim Measures for the Supervision of the Internet Insurance Business, or the Interim Measures, issued on July 22, 2015 and effective on October 1, 2015. According to the Measures, the term of “internet insurance business” refers to the business of concluding insurance contracts and providing insurance services by insurance institutions with internet technologies. Insurance institutions refer to insurance companies and insurance intermediaries which include insurance agents (except individual insurance agents), insurance brokerage firms and insurance claims adjusting firms. Insurance agents (except individual insurance agents) refer to professional insurance agencies, bancassurance-related ancillary insurance agencies and internet companies that have obtained licenses for engaging in insurance agency business in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Non-insurance institutions are not allowed to conduct internet insurance business, including but not limited to, providing insurance product consultancy services, providing insurance product comparison, price quotation and price comparison services, designing insurance plans for the insureds and handling insurance application formalities on behalf of the insureds and collecting premiums by proxy. A self-operated internet platform refers to an internet platform established by insurance institutions for conducting insurance business, by which insurance institutions can operate business independently and have full access to the data on the platform. The internet insurance business of an insurance institution shall be operated and managed by its headquarter with standardized and centralized business platform, business procedures and management system. To carry out internet insurance business, an insurance institution shall meet the following requirements, among others: (i) making ICP filing in the case of operating a mobile application or website; (ii) maintaining independent information management system and core business system to support its internet insurance business operation; (iii) equipped with a comprehensive working mechanism for network security monitoring, information alert, emergency management, and cybersecurity protection measures for border protection, intrusion detection, data protection and disaster recovery; (vi) equipped with certified Safety Level-III Computer Information System for a self-operated online platform that can facilitate insurance sales and application and no lower than Safety level-II Computer Information System for self-operated online platforms without insurance sales and application functions; (v) having designated department and personnel for managing the internet insurance business; (vi) maintaining sound management system and operating procedures; (vii) having a sound Internet insurance business management system and operating rules; (viii) when an insurance company carries out Internet insurance sales, it shall comply with the relevant regulations of the CBIRC on solvency, supervision and evaluation of consumer rights and interests protection, etc.; (ix) professional insurance intermediaries shall be national institutions, and their business areas shall not be limited to the provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities separately listed on the State plan) where the head office’s business license is registered, and comply with the relevant provisions of the CBIRC on the classified supervision of insurance professional intermediary institutions; (x) other conditions prescribed by the Bancassurance Regulatory Commission. Insurance institutions shall carefully evaluate their own risk management and control capacity and customer service capacity, and rationally determine and choose insurance products and the scope of sales activities suitable for internet operations. Insurance institutions engaging in internet insurance business shall establish official website and set up internet insurance column for information disclosure. The Measures also specifies requirements on disclosure of information such as information regarding insurance products sold on the internet, the qualification of the insurance institutions operating the internet insurance business, contact methods for local support and compliant provides guidelines for the operations of the insurance institutions that engage in internet insurance business. Regulation on Internet Life Insurance - 62 - The Notice on Further Regulation of Matters Relating to the Internet Life Insurance Business of Insurance Institutions, or the Notice, was issued on October 12, 2021, effective immediately. According to the Notice, internet life insurance business refers to the business activities of insurance companies to launch and sell internet life insurance products, conclude insurance contracts and provide insurance services by setting up self-operated network platforms or entrusting insurance intermediaries on their self-operated network platforms. Insurance companies that meet relevant requirements of this Notice can conduct internet life insurance business without branches nationwide. If an insurance company entrusts an insurance intermediary to carry out internet life insurance business, the insurance intermediary should be a national institution. Where internet and offline distributions are both involved in a life insurance business, internet life insurance products shall not be sold, and the business area shall not be extended to areas without branches. In order to carry out internet life insurance business, insurers (excluding internet insurance companies) shall meet the following conditions: (i) the comprehensive solvency ratio shall reach 120% and the core solvency ratio shall be no less than 75% for four consecutive quarters; (ii) the comprehensive risk rating shall be Class B or above for four consecutive quarters; (iii) the liability reserve adequacy ratio shall be higher than 100% for four consecutive quarters; (iv) the corporate governance level shall be C (qualified) or above; and (v) other conditions stipulated by the CBIRC. Internet life insurance products are limited to accident insurance, health insurance (excluding long-term care insurance), term life insurance, life insurance with a coverage period of more than 10 years (excluding term life insurance), annuity insurance with a coverage period of more than 10 years, and other life insurance products stipulated by the CBIRC. Internet life insurance products that do not meet the requirements shall not be sold online, and their sales webpages shall not be publicly displayed on the internet or directly linked to from other webpages. An insurance company applying for approval or distributing a newly approved life insurance with a payment period of more than 10 years (excluding term life insurance) and annuity insurance products with a coverage period of more than 10 years must meet the following conditions: (i) the comprehensive solvency ratio shall exceed 150% and the core solvency ratio shall be no less than 100% for four consecutive quarters; (ii) the comprehensive solvency margin shall exceed RMB3 billion for four consecutive quarters; (iii) the comprehensive risk rating shall be above Class A for four consecutive quarters (or six quarters within two years); (iv) no major administrative penalty imposed on the internet insurance business in the previous year; (v) the corporate governance level shall be B (good) or above; and (vi) other conditions stipulated by the CBIRC. Insurance intermediaries selling life insurance with a payment period of more than 10 years (excluding term life insurance) and annuity insurance products with a coverage period of more than 10 years shall meet the following conditions: (i) experience in internet life insurance business for more than three years; (ii) complete sales management, policy management and customer service systems, as well as a safe, efficient and real-time internet payment and settlement system and process; (iii) no major administrative penalty imposed on the internet insurance business in the previous year; and (iv) other conditions stipulated by the CBIRC. Regulations on Foreign Exchange Foreign Currency Exchange Foreign exchange regulation in China is primarily governed by the following rules: ● Foreign Currency Administration Rules (1996), as amended pursuant to the Decision on Revising the Foreign Currency Administration Rules promulgated by the State Council on January 14, 1997 and the Foreign Currency Administration Rules promulgated by the State Council on August 5, 2008; and ● Administration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange. Under the Foreign Currency Administration Rules, the RMB is convertible for current account items, including the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions. Conversion of RMB for capital account items, such as direct investment, loan, security investment and repatriation of investment, however, is still subject to the approval of the SAFE. - 63 - Under the Administration Rules of the Settlement, Sale and Payment of Foreign Exchange, foreign-invested enterprises may only buy, sell or remit foreign currencies at those banks authorized to conduct foreign exchange business after providing valid commercial documents and, in the case of capital account item transactions, obtaining approval from the SAFE. Capital investments by foreign-invested enterprises outside of China are also subject to limitations, which include approvals by the Ministry of Commerce, the SAFE and the State Development and Reform Commission. Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC Residents Pursuant to the SAFE Circular 37, issued on July 4, 2014, prior to making contribution to a SPC with legitimate holdings of domestic or overseas assets or interests, a PRC resident (including PRC institutions and resident individuals) shall apply to the relevant Foreign Exchange Bureau for foreign exchange registration of overseas investment. A PRC resident who makes contribution with legitimate holdings of domestic assets or interests shall apply for registration to the Foreign Exchange Bureau at its place of registration or the Foreign Exchange Bureau at the locus of the assets or interests of the relevant PRC enterprise. A PRC resident who makes contribution with legitimate holdings of overseas assets or interests shall apply for registration to the Foreign Exchange Bureau at its place of registration or household register. Where a registered overseas SPC experiences changes of its PRC resident individual shareholder, its name, operating period or other basic information, or experiences changes of material matters, such as the increase or reduction of contribution by the PRC resident individual, the transfer or replacement of equity, or merger or division, the PRC resident shall promptly change the foreign exchange registration of overseas investment with the Foreign Exchange Bureau concerned. Under SAFE Circular 37, failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth above may result in the penalties, including imposition of restrictions on a PRC subsidiary’s foreign exchange activities and its ability to distribute dividends to the SPV. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents and employee stock options granted by overseas-listed companies may increase our administrative burden, restrict our overseas and cross-border investment activity, or otherwise adversely affect us. If our shareholders who are PRC residents, or our PRC employees who are granted or exercise stock options, fail to make any required registrations or filings under such regulations, we may be unable to distribute profits and may become subject to liability under PRC laws. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional equity compensation plans for our directors and employees and other parties under PRC law.” SAFE Regulations on Employee Share Options On December 25, 2006, the PBOC promulgated the “Measures for the Administration of Individual Foreign Exchange,” and on January 5, 2007, the SAFE further promulgated the implementation rules on those measures. Both became effective on February 1, 2007. According to the implementation rules, PRC citizens who are granted shares or share options by a company listed on an overseas stock market according to its employee share option or share incentive plan are required, through the PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company or any other qualified PRC agent, to register with the SAFE and to complete certain other procedures related to the share option or other share incentive plan. Foreign exchange income received from the sale of shares or dividends distributed by the overseas listed company may be remitted into a foreign currency account of such PRC citizen or be exchanged into Renminbi. Our PRC citizen employees who have been granted share options are subject to the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules. On March 28, 2007, SAFE promulgated the Operating Rules for Administration of Foreign Exchange in Domestic Individuals’ Participation in Employee Stock Ownership Plans and Stock Option plans of Companies Listed Abroad, or the Operating Rules. Stock Option Rule. On February 15, 2012, SAFE promulgated the No. 7 Notice, which supersedes the Stock Option Rule in its entirety and immediately became effective upon circulation. According to the No. 7 Notice, domestic individuals, which include any directors, supervisors, senior managerial personnel or other employees of a domestic company who are Chinese citizens (including citizens of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) or foreign individuals who consecutively reside in the territory of PRC for one year, who participate in the same equity incentive plan of an overseas listed company shall, through the domestic companies they serve, collectively entrust a domestic agency to handle issues such as foreign exchange registration, account opening, funds transfer and remittance, and entrust an overseas institution to handle issues such as exercise of options, purchasing and sale of related stocks or equity, and funds transfer. Where a domestic agency needs to remit funds out of China as required for individuals’ participation in an equity incentive plan, the domestic agency shall apply with the local office of the SAFE for a foreign exchange payment quota on a yearly basis. A domestic agency shall open a domestic special foreign exchange account in the bank. After repatriation of foreign currency income earned by individuals from participation in an equity incentive plan, the domestic agency shall request the - 64 - bank to transfer the funds from its special foreign currency account to respective personal foreign currency deposit accounts. In the case of any significant change to the equity incentive plan of a company listed abroad (such as amendment to any major terms of the original plan, addition of a new plan, or other changes to the original plan due to merger, acquisition or reorganization of the overseas listed company or the domestic company or other major events), the domestic agency or the overseas trustee, the domestic agency shall, within three months of the occurrence of such changes, go through procedures for change of foreign exchange registration with the local office of the SAFE. The SAFE and its branches shall supervise, administer and inspect foreign exchange operations related to individuals’ participation in equity incentive plans of companies listed abroad, and may take regulatory measures and impose administrative sanctions on individuals, domestic companies, domestic agencies and banks violating the provisions of the No. 7 Notice. We and our employees who have been granted applicable equity awards shall be subject to the No. 7 Notice. If we fail to comply with the No. 7 Notice, we and/or our employees who are subject to the No. 7 Notice may face sanctions imposed by foreign exchange authority or any other PRC government authorities. Foreign Investment Security Review Measures On December 19, 2020, the NDRC and MOFCOM promulgated the Foreign Investment Security Review Measures, which took effect on January 18, 2021. Under the Foreign Investment Security Review Measures, investments in military, national defense-related areas or in locations in proximity to military facilities, or investments that would result in acquiring the actual control of assets in certain key sectors, such as critical agricultural products, energy and resources, equipment manufacturing, infrastructure, transport, cultural products and services, IT, internet products and services, financial services and technology sectors, are required to be approved by designated governmental authorities in advance. Although the term “investment through other means” is not clearly defined under the Foreign Investment Security Review Measures, we cannot rule out the possibility that control through contractual arrangement may be regarded as a form of actual control and therefore require approval from the competent governmental authority. As the Foreign Investment Security Review Measures were recently promulgated, there are great uncertainties with respect to its interpretation and implementation. Accordingly, there are substantial uncertainties as to whether our VIE structure may be deemed as a method of foreign investment in the future. Regulation on Information Security The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the Cybersecurity Law of the PRC, or the Cybersecurity Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017, to protect cyberspace security and order. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity Law, any individual or organization using the network must comply with the constitution and the applicable laws, follow the public order and respect social moralities, and must not endanger cybersecurity, or engage in activities by making use of the network that endanger the national security, honor and interests; incite subversion of state power; overthrow the socialist system; incite secession, undermining national unity, terrorism and extremism promotion, ethnic hatred and discrimination; spread violence and disseminate pornographic information, fabricating and spreading false information that disturbs economic and social order; or infringe on the fame, privacy, intellectual property and other legitimate rights and interests of others. The Cybersecurity Law sets forth various security protection obligations for network operators, which are defined as “owners and administrators of networks and network service providers,” including, among others, complying with a series of requirements of tiered cyber protection systems; verifying users’ real identity; localizing the personal information and important data gathered and produced by key information infrastructure operators during operations within the PRC; and providing assistance and support to government authorities where necessary for protecting national security and investigating crimes. On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, the NDRC, the MIIT, and several other administrations jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures replaces its previous version promulgated on April 13, 2020. According to the Cybersecurity Review Measures, (i) when the purchase of network products and services by a critical information infrastructures operator or the data processing activities conducted by a network platform operator affect or may affect national security, a cybersecurity review shall be conducted pursuant to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. The aforesaid operators shall file for a cybersecurity review with Cybersecurity Review Office under the CAC if their behavior affects or may affect national security; (ii) an application for cybersecurity review shall be made by an issuer who is a network platform operator holding personal information of more than one million users before such issuer applies to list its securities on a foreign stock exchange; and (iii) the relevant PRC governmental authorities may initiate cybersecurity review if such governmental authorities - 65 - determine that the issuer’s network products or services, or data processing activities affect or may affect national security. Cybersecurity reviews focus on assessing the following national security risks factors associated with relevant objects or circumstances: (i) the risk of illegal control, interference or destruction of critical information infrastructure, arising from the purchase and utilization of network products and services; (ii) the harm on the business continuity of critical information infrastructure incurring from a disruption of network products and services supply; (iii) the safety, openness, transparency, diversity of sources of network products and services; the reliability of suppliers; and the risk of supply disruption due to political, diplomatic, trade and other reasons; (iv) the level of compliance with the PRC laws, administrative regulations and ministry rules of the suppliers of network products and services; (v) the risk of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen, leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or illegally exited the country; (vi) the risk of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being affected, controlled, or maliciously used by foreign governments and the network information security risk in relation to listing abroad; and (vii) other factors that may harm critical information infrastructure, cyber security and/or data security. The Administrative Provisions on the Account Information of Internet Users, which was promulgated by the CAC on June 27, 2022 and became effective on August 1, 2022, sets out guidelines on the administration of the account information of internet users. Internet-based information service providers shall perform their responsibilities as the administrative subjects of the account information of internet users, have in place professionals and technical capacity appropriate to the scale of services, and establish, improve and strictly implement the authentication of real identity information, verification of account information, security of information content, ecological governance, emergency responses, protection of personal information and other management systems. On July 7, 2022, the CAC promulgated the Data Outbound Transfer Security Assessment Measures, or the Security Assessment Measures, which became effective on September 1, 2022. The Security Assessment Measures provide that, among others, data processors shall apply to competent authorities for security assessment when (i) the data processors transferring important data abroad; (ii) a CIIO and personal information processor that has processed personal information of more than one million people, transferring personal information abroad; (iii) a data processor who has provided personal information of one hundred thousand individuals or sensitive personal information of ten thousands individuals to overseas recipients, in each case as calculated cumulatively, since January 1 of the previous year; and (iv) other circumstances where the security assessment of data cross- border transfer is required as prescribed by the CAC. To comply with these laws and regulations, we have adopted security policies and measures to to strengthen our defense against security threats and protect our cyber system and customer information, thereby ensuring security and continuity of our services. We also provide regular training to ensure that our employees understand that information security is everyone’s responsibility. Regulation on Internet Privacy Pursuant to the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, effective on August 1, 2016 and amended on June 14, 2022 and effective on August 1, 2022, owners or operators of mobile applications that provide information services shall obtain the relevant qualifications prescribed by laws and regulations, strictly implement their information content administrator responsibilities and carry out certain duties, including to authenticate the real identity information of users, establish and complete information content inspection and management mechanisms, perform the data security protection obligations and regulate personal information processing activities. On May 8, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released the Interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Citizens’ Personal Information, which clarifies several concepts regarding the crime of “infringement of citizens’ personal information” stipulated by Article 253A of the Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China, including “citizen’s personal information,” “provision” and “unlawful acquisition of citizens’ personal information.” Also, it specifies the standards for determining the “serious circumstances” and “particularly serious circumstances” of this crime. On June 10, 2021, the Data Security Law was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and became effective on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law mainly sets forth specific provisions regarding establishing basic systems for data security management, including a hierarchical data classification management system, risk assessment system, monitoring and early warning system, and emergency - 66 - disposal system. In addition, it clarifies the data security protection obligations of organizations and individuals carrying out data activities and implementing data security protection responsibility. On August 20, 2021, the Personal Information Protection Law was promulgated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and became effective on November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law provides for various requirements on personal information protection, including the legal basis for data collection and processing, requirements on data localization and cross-border data transfer, requirements for consent of personal data collection and processing, and requirements on processing sensitive personal information. The Personal Information Protection Law also provides that the customers shall be entitled to opt out of the information recommendation or commercial marketing to individuals conducted by means of automated decision-making, or to be provided simultaneously with options not specific to individuals’ characteristics. To comply with these laws and regulations, we collect and use personal information and data from our customers with their prior consent, and have established information security systems to protect customers’ privacy. There are uncertainties with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these data security laws and regulations, so our data-related measures may be subject to additional compliance requirements and regulatory burdens, and we may be required to make further adjustments to our business practices to comply with the interpretation and implementation of such laws. Regulations on Dividend Distribution Before January 1, 2020, the principal regulations governing dividend distributions of wholly foreign-owned companies include: ● Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law (1986), as amended pursuant to the Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Revising the Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law promulgated on October 31, 2000 and The Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Revising the “Law of the People’s Republic of China on Foreign-invested Enterprises” which promulgated on September 3,2016 and took effect on October 1, 2016; and ● Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise Law Implementing Rules (1990), as amended pursuant to the Decision of the State Council on Amending the Rules for the Implementation of the Law on Foreign- Owned Enterprises promulgated by the State Council on April 12, 2001 and the Decision of the State Council on Amending the Rules for the Implementation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Foreign-capital Enterprises which took effect as of the promulgation date of March 1, 2014. Under these regulations, wholly foreign-owned companies in the PRC may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards. In addition, these wholly foreign-owned companies are required to set aside at least 10% of their respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds, until the accumulative amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends. With the Foreign Investment Law becoming effective on January 1, 2020, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign- invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations are no longer applicable. The Foreign Investment Law and its implementation rule, named as Implementing Regulations of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China, or the Implementing Regulations, does not specify the rules of dividend distribution of wholly foreign-owned companies, however, article 31 of the Foreign Investment Law states that the organizational form, organizational structure and their activities of a foreign- invested enterprise shall be governed by the provisions of the PRC Company Law, PRC Partnership Enterprise Law and other relevant laws, article 46 of the Implementing Regulations states that after the organizational forms, organizational structures, etc. of existing Foreign-invested Enterprises have been adjusted pursuant to the law, existing parties to Sino-foreign equity or cooperative joint ventures may continue to handle relevant matters according to the method of equity or interest transfer, the method of income distribution, the method of surplus assets distribution, etc. agreed in the relevant contracts. Therefore, relevant PRC laws such as PRC Company Law may apply to the dividend distribution of Foreign-owned companies, and the methods of dividend distribution stated in the current articles of association of the foreign-owned companies may still be applicable. Regulation on Overseas Listing - 67 - On August 8, 2006, six PRC regulatory agencies, namely, the PRC Ministry of Commerce, the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the CSRC and the SAFE, jointly adopted the Provisions on Foreign Investors’ Merger with and Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises, or the Order No. 10 (2006) which became effective on September 8, 2006 and was amended on June 22, 2009. The Order No. 10 (2006) purports, among other things, to require offshore SPVs, formed for overseas listing purposes and controlled by PRC companies or individuals, to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to publicly listing their securities on an overseas stock exchange. On September 21, 2006, the CSRC published a notice on its official website specifying documents and materials required to be submitted to it by SPVs seeking CSRC approval of their overseas listings. On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; (2) if the issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company: (i) the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entity of the issuer in the most recent accounting year account for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for the same period; (ii) the senior managers in charge of business operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or have domicile in China, and its main places of business are located in China or main business activities are conducted in China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a major domestic operating entity, which shall, as the filing entity, fulfil the due filing and reporting obligations with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for listing in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted. Simultaneously, the CSRC issued the Notice on the Administrative Arrangements for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that the domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e., March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as existing issuers, or the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filling procedures, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC when subsequent matters such as refinancing are involved. According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, an overseas listed company shall file with the CSRC within three business days after the completion of its subsequent securities offering on the same market, and an overseas listed company shall file with the CSRC within three business days after its application of offering and listing on a different market. If an overseas listed company purchases PRC domestic assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, and such purchase constitutes direct or indirect listing of PRC domestic assets, a filing with the CSRC is also required. In addition, an overseas listed company is required to report to the CSRC the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the occurrence and announcement thereof: (i) a change of control of the listed company; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the listed company; (iii) a change of listing status or transfer of listing segment; and (iv) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the listed company. If an issuer’s main business undergoes material change and is therefore beyond the scope of business stated in the filing, such issuer shall submit to the CSRC an ad hoc report and relevant legal opinion issued by a domestic law firm within three business days after occurrence of the change. Our PRC legal counsel, Hai Run Law Firm, has advised us that, should we seek to (i) offer or list subsequent securities on U.S. stock exchanges, (ii) offer or list securities on other overseas stock exchange, or (iii) purchase PRC domestic assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, and such purchase constitutes direct or indirect listing of PRC domestic assets, we are required to file with the CSRC. However, our PRC legal counsel has further advised us that there are substantial uncertainties as to how the M&A Rules and Overseas Listing Trial Measures will be interpreted or implemented in the context of an overseas offering, and its opinions summarized above are subject to any new laws, rules and regulations or detailed implementations and interpretations in any form relating to the M&A Rules and Overseas Listing Trial Measures. On February 24, 2023, the Provisions on Strengthening the Confidentiality and Archives Administration of Overseas Securities Issuance and Listing by Domestic Enterprises was promulgated, or the Provision on Confidentiality, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Provision on Confidentiality, where a domestic enterprise publicly discloses or provides documents and materials involving state secrets and working - 68 - secrets of state organs, or Relevant Documents and Materials, to the relevant securities companies, securities service institutions, overseas regulatory authorities and other entities and individuals, or provides or publicly discloses Relevant Documents and Materials through its overseas listing subjects, it shall report to the competent department with the examination and approval authority for approval in accordance with the law, and submit to the secrecy administration department of the same level for filing. Where a domestic enterprises provides accounting archives or copies of such archives to entities and individuals such as securities companies, securities service institutions and overseas regulatory authorities, it shall complete the corresponding procedures pursuant to relevant rules of the State. The working materials formed within the territory of the PRC by the securities companies and securities service institutions that provide corresponding services for the overseas issuance and listing of domestic enterprises shall be kept within the territory of the PRC, and outbound transfers of such materials shall go through approval procedures in accordance with relevant rules of the State. At the time of our initial public offering in October 2007, while the application of the M&A Rule remained unclear, our then PRC counsel at the time, Commerce & Finance Law Offices, had advised us that, based on their understanding of the then PRC laws and regulations as well as the procedures announced on September 21, 2006: ● the CSRC had jurisdiction over our initial public offering; ● the CSRC had not issued any definitive rule or interpretation concerning whether offerings like our initial public offering are subject to the M&A Rule; and ● despite the above, given that we had completed our inbound investment before September 8, 2006, the effective date of the M&A Rule, an application was not required under the M&A Rule to be submitted to the CSRC for its approval of the listing and trading of our ADSs on the Nasdaq Global Market, unless we are clearly required to do so by subsequent rules of the CSRC. Based on the advice of our PRC counsel, we did not seek CSRC’s approval for our initial public offering. Any requirement to obtain prior CSRC approval and a failure to obtain this approval, if required, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, reputation and trading price of our ADSs. Regulations on Tax PRC Enterprise Income Tax The PRC EIT is calculated based on the taxable income determined under the PRC accounting standards and regulations, as well as the EIT law. On March 16, 2007, the National People’s Congress of China enacted the EIT Law, a new EIT law which became effective on January 1, 2008, which was subsequently amended on March 16, 2007, February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018. On December 6, 2007, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Rules which also became effective on January 1, 2008. On December 26, 2007, the State Council issued the Notice on Implementation of Enterprise Income Tax Transition Preferential Policy under the EIT Law, or the Transition Preferential Policy Circular, which became effective simultaneously with the EIT Law. The EIT Law imposes a uniform EIT rate of 25% on all domestic enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises unless they qualify under certain exceptions. Under the EIT Law, as further clarified by the Implementation Rules, the Transition Preferential Policy Circular and other related regulations, enterprises that were established and already enjoyed preferential tax treatments before March 16, 2007 will continue to enjoy them in the following manners: (i) in the case of preferential tax rates, for a five-year period starting from January 1, 2008, during which the tax rate will gradually increase to 25%; or (ii) in the case of preferential tax exemption or reduction for a specified term, until the expiration of such term. However, if such an enterprise has not enjoyed the preferential treatments yet because of its failure to make a profit, its term for preferential treatment will be deemed to start from 2008. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law may increase the enterprise income tax rate applicable to some of our PRC subsidiaries which could have a material adverse effect on our result of operations.” Under the New Income Tax law, enterprises are classified as either resident or non-resident. A resident enterprise refers to one that is incorporated under the PRC law or under the law of a jurisdiction outside the PRC with its “de facto management organization” located within the PRC. Non-resident enterprise refers to one that is incorporated under the law of a jurisdiction outside the PRC with its “de facto management organization” located also outside the PRC, but which has either set up institutions or establishments in the PRC or has income originating from the PRC without setting up any institution or establishment in the PRC. Under the New Enterprise Income Tax, Implementation Regulation, or the New EIT Implementation Regulations, “de facto management - 69 - organization” is defined as the organization of an enterprise through which substantial and comprehensive management and control over the business, operations, personnel, accounting and properties of the enterprise are exercised. Under the New Income Tax Law and the New EIT Implementation Regulation, a resident enterprise’s global net income will be subject to a 25% EIT rate. On April 22, 2009, the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT, issued SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. In addition, the SAT issued a bulletin on July 27, 2011 providing more guidance on the implementation of Circular 82 and clarifying matters such as resident status determination. Due to the present uncertainties resulting from the limited PRC tax guidance on this issue and because substantially all of our operations and all of our senior management are located within China, we may be considered a PRC resident enterprise for EIT purposes, in which case: (i) we would be subject to the PRC EIT at the rate of 25% on our worldwide income; and (ii) dividends income received by us from our PRC subsidiaries, however, would be exempt from the PRC withholding tax since such income is exempted under the EIT Law for a PRC resident enterprise recipient. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Our global income or the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.” PRC Business Tax and VAT Taxpayers providing taxable services in China are required to pay a business tax at a normal tax rate of 5% of their revenues, unless otherwise provided. According to the Announcement on the VAT Reform Pilot Program of the Transportation and Selected Modern Service Sectors issued by the State Tax Bureau in July 2012, the transportation and some selected modern service sectors, including research and development and technical services, information technology services, cultural creative services, logistics support services, tangible personal property leasing services, and assurance and consulting service sectors, should pay value-added tax instead of business tax based on a predetermined timetable (hereinafter referred to as the “VAT Reform”), effective September 1, 2012 for entities in Beijing and November 1, 2012 for entities in Guangdong. The VAT Reform expanded nation-wide from August 1, 2013. In March 2016, during the fourth session of the 12th National People’s Congress, it was announced that the VAT reform will be fully rolled out and extended to all industries including construction, real estate, financial services and lifestyle services. Subsequently, the SAT and Ministry of Finance jointly issued a Notice on Preparing for the Full Implementation of the VAT Reform (Cai Shui [2016] No. 36). Accordingly, we started to pay value- added tax instead of business tax from May 1, 2016. Dividend Withholding Tax Under the PRC tax laws effective prior to January 1, 2008, dividends paid to foreign investors by foreign- invested enterprises are exempt from PRC withholding tax. Pursuant to the EIT Law and the Implementation Rules, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and distributed to us by our PRC subsidiaries through our BVI subsidiary are subject to a 10% withholding tax, provided that we are determined by the relevant PRC tax authorities to be a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law. Pursuant to the Avoidance of Double Taxation Arrangement, which became effective on January 1, 2007, which was subsequently amended on January 30, 2008, May 27, 2010, April 1, 2015 and July 19, 2019, dividends from our PRC subsidiaries paid to us through our Hong Kong wholly-owned subsidiary CNinsure Holdings Ltd. are subject to a withholding tax at a rate of 5%. However, as described above, we may be considered a PRC resident enterprise for EIT purposes, in which case dividends received by us from our PRC subsidiary would be exempt from the PRC withholding tax because such income is exempted under the EIT Law for a PRC resident enterprise recipient. In July 2018, CNinsure Holdings Ltd. was determined by Hong Kong Taxation Bureau to be a Hong Kong resident enterprise and completed the application and filing process for enjoying the tax treaty in PRC Taxation Bureau therefore we have applied 5% withholding tax rate for the dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries since then. As there remains uncertainty regarding the interpretation and implementation of the EIT Law and the Implementation Rules, it is uncertain whether any dividends to be distributed by us, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, to our non-PRC shareholders and ADS holders would be subject to any PRC withholding tax. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors— Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Our global income or the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.” C. Organizational Structure - 70 - Corporate Structure As of March 31, 2023, we, through Fanhua Group Company, have controlling equity ownership in one insurance sales services company with a national operating license, one managing general agency with brokerage license, five regional insurance agencies, two insurance claims adjusting firms and one healthcare management service company which also operates an online mutual aid platform. In addition, through contractual arrangements, we control one insurance sales services company with a national operating license to operate online insurance distribution business, two regional insurance agencies and one brokerage firm. We also own 4.5% equity interest of Puyi Inc.. Fanhua Group Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and our consolidated VIEs hold the licenses and permits necessary to conduct our insurance intermediary business and internet insurance distribution business in China. Major Changes in our Corporate Structure Historically, PRC laws and regulations restricted foreign investment in and ownership of insurance intermediary companies and internet companies. Accordingly, from December 2005 to May 2016, we conducted all or part of our business in China through contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, then-existing VIEs and their shareholders. We relied on contractual arrangements to control and receive economic benefits from our then-existing VIEs. In October 2011, we commenced a restructuring of our company. Through a series of equity transfers, we had obtained direct controlling or significant equity ownership in all of our insurance intermediary companies and our online operations by May 2016. The contractual arrangements were terminated between January 2015 and May 2016. In October 2015, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Meidiya Investment entered into act-in-concert agreements with 5 equity interest holders of Fanhua Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Company Limited, or FHISLA and controls 69.0% of voting interests in aggregate. The act-in-concert agreements were effective from October 26, 2015 and will remain effective for as long as FHISLA is in operation, until and only when all contracting parties agree to cease the agreement. Per the act-in-concert agreements, all the disagreements will ultimately be determined by Meidiya Investment, the shareholder of the highest shareholding amongst the act-in- concert group in FHISLA. Accordingly, we control 69.0% of voting rights in aggregate, which exceeds two-thirds of the voting requirement to pass all resolutions in shareholder meetings of FHISLA. To remain compliant with the regulatory requirements for conducting online insurance business through Baoxian.com, we commenced a restructuring of our online operations in 2021. As a result of the restructuring, Fanhua Group Company’s direct equity interests in Xinbao Investment, which directly owns 100% of Fanhua RONS, the licensed operating entity of Baoxian.com, was reduced from 100% to 49% and the remaining 51% equity interests were owned by an individual who is nominally holding the shares on behalf of Fanhua. Concurrently, Fanhua Group Company entered into contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and its individual nominee shareholder to control and receive economic benefits from the consolidated VIEs. On June 24, 2022, our wholly owned subsidiary Fanlian Investment transferred all of the equity interests in Fanhua RONS Technologies to Mr. Peng Ge, our chief financial officer to hold the shares of Fanhua RONS Technologies nominally on behalf of the Company. Concurrently, Fanlian Investment entered into contractual arrangements with Fanhua RONS Technologies and Mr. Ge. The contractual arrangements are substantially similar to those among Fanhua Group Company, Xinbao Investment and its individual nominee shareholder. As a result, we currently conduct our insurance agency and claims adjusting business in China primarily through our wholly-owned subsidiary Fanhua Group Company, and its subsidiaries and a small part of our business through our consolidated VIEs in China. The following diagram illustrates the corporate structure of us and the consolidated VIEs, including the names, places of incorporation and the proportion of ownership interests in our and the consolidated VIEs’ significant subsidiaries and their respective subsidiaries as of March 31, 2023: - 71 - The diagram above omits the names of subsidiaries that are immaterial individually and in the aggregate. For a complete list of our subsidiaries as of March 31, 2023, see Exhibit 8.1 to this annual report. The following is a summary of the key terms of our contractual arrangements with our consolidated VIEs Xinbao Investment, Fanhua RONS Technologies and their respective subsidiaries, and with their respective individual nominee shareholders. Agreements that Provide Us Effective Control over Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies Loan Agreement. Xinbao Investment. On December 6, 2021, Mr. Shuangping Jiang, the shareholder of Xinbao Investment, entered into a loan agreement with Fanhua Group Company, or the Fanhua Group Company Loan. The principal loan amounts extended by Fanhua Group Company to Mr. Shuangping Jiang is RMB4.1 million, equal to his capital contributions to Xinbao Investment. The term of the loan agreement is for ten years, which cannot be automatically extended but may be extended upon written agreement of the parties. If the loan is not extended, then upon its expiration and subject to then applicable PRC laws, the loan can be repaid only with the proceeds from a transfer of the individual shareholder’s equity interests in Xinbao Investment to Fanhua Group Company or another person or entity designated by Fanhua Group Company. Fanhua Group Company may accelerate the loan repayment upon certain events, including if the individual shareholder resigns or is dismissed from employment by us or if Fanhua Group Company exercises its option to purchase the shareholder’s equity interests in Xinbao Investment pursuant to the exclusive purchase option agreements described below. - 72 - The loan agreement contains a number of covenants that restrict the actions the individual shareholder can take or cause Xinbao Investment to take, and also require the individual shareholder to take or cause Xinbao Investment to take specific actions. For example, the individual shareholders must: ● not transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber his equity interests in Xinbao Investment, except for equity pledge for the benefit of Fanhua Group Company, without the prior written consent of Fanhua Group Company; ● not take any action that will have a material impact on the assets, business and liabilities of Xinbao Investment without the prior written consent of Fanhua Group Company; ● not vote for, or execute any resolution to approve, the sale, transfer, mortgage, or disposal of, or the creation of any encumbrance on, any legal or beneficial interests in the equity of Xinbao Investment, except to Fanhua Group Company or its designee, without the prior written consent of Fanhua Group Company; ● not vote for, or execute any resolutions to approve, any merger or consolidation with any person, or any acquisition of or investment in any person by Xinbao Investment without the prior written consent of Fanhua Group Company; ● vote to elect the director candidates nominated by Fanhua Group Company; ● cause Xinbao Investment not to supplement, amend or modify its articles of association in any manner, increase or decrease its registered capital or change the capital structure in any way without the prior written consent of Fanhua Group Company; and ● cause Xinbao Investment not to execute any contract with a value exceeding RMB100,000, except in the ordinary course of business, without the prior written consent of Fanhua Group Company. Fanhua RONS Technologies. The individual shareholder of Fanhua RONS Technologies, being Mr. Peng Ge, who is our chief financial officer, entered into a loan agreement on July 1, 2022 with our subsidiary Fanlian Investment, or the Fanlian Loan, for a zero interest loan from Fanlian Investment. The principal amount lent to Mr. Ge is RMB20.0 million (US$2.9 million). The terms of the Fanlian Loan are similar to those of the Fanhua Group Company Loans described above. Equity Pledge Agreement. Xinbao Investment. Mr. Shuangping Jiang entered into an equity pledge agreement on December 6, 2021, pledging his equity interest in Xinbao Investment to Fanhua Group Company to secure his obligations under the loan agreement. Mr. Jiang also agreed not to transfer or create any encumbrances adverse to Fanhua Group Company on his equity interests in Xinbao Investment. During the term of the equity pledge agreement, Fanhua Group Company is entitled to all the dividends declared on the pledged equity interests. The equity pledge agreement will expire when the individual shareholder fully performs his obligations under the loan agreement. The equity pledge was recorded on the shareholder’ register of Xinbao Investment, and registered with the relevant local administration of industry and commerce. Fanhua RONS Technologies. Mr. Peng Ge, entered into an equity pledge agreement on July 1, 2022, pledging his equity interests in Fanhua RONS Technologies to Fanlian Investment to secure his obligations under the Fanlian Loan. Terms of the equity pledge agreement is substantially similar to equity pledge agreements for Xinbao Investment. Power of Attorney. Xinbao Investment. Mr. Jiang executed powers of attorney on December 6, 2021, each appointing a person designated by Fanhua Group Company as his attorney-in-fact on all matters requiring shareholder approval. Further, if Fanhua Group Company designates the shareholder to attend a shareholder’s meeting of Xinbao Investment, the individual shareholder agrees to vote his shares as instructed by Fanhua Group Company. The term of the power of attorney is for ten years. - 73 - Fanhua RONS Technologies. Mr. Peng Ge, the individual shareholders of Fanhua RONS Technologies, executed powers of attorney on July 1, 2022 appointing a person designated by Fanlian Investment as his attorney- in-fact on all matters requiring shareholder approval. Further, if Fanlian Investment designates the shareholder to attend a shareholder’s meeting of Fanhua RONS Technologies, the individual shareholder agrees to vote his shares as instructed by Fanlian Investment. The term of the power of attorney is for ten years. Agreement that Provides Us the Option to Purchase the Equity Interests in Xinbao Investment Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement. Xinbao Investment. Mr. Jiang entered into an exclusive purchase option agreement on December 6, 2021 to irrevocably grant Fanhua Group Company an exclusive option to purchase all of his equity interests in Xinbao Investment, when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. The purchase price will be the minimum price permitted under applicable PRC law. Fanhua RONS Technologies. Mr. Ge entered into an exclusive purchase option agreement on July 1, 2022 to irrevocably grant Fanlian Investment an exclusive option to purchase all of his equity interests in Fanhua RONS Technologies, when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. The purchase price will be the minimum price permitted under applicable PRC law. Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits to Us Technology Consulting and Service Agreement. Pursuant to technology service agreements between (i) Fanhua Group Company, and (ii) Xinbao Investment and each of its subsidiaries, Fanhua Group Company agreed to provide Xinbao and its subsidiaries with training services and consulting and other services relating to IT platform and internal control compliance. In exchange, Xinbao and its subsidiaries agree to pay a quarterly fee calculated primarily based on a percentage of their revenues, which is currently waved until further written notice by Fanhua Group Company. Each of these agreements has a term of one year and will be automatically renewed for one-year term. Consulting and Service Agreement. Pursuant to the consulting and service agreements entered into between (i) Fanlian Investment, and (ii) Fanhua RONS Technologies and each of its subsidiaries, Fanlian Investment agreed to provide financial and tax consulting services to Fanhua RONS Technologies and each of its subsidiaries in exchange for fees payable quarterly calculated as a percentage of revenues of Fanhua RONS Technologies and each of its subsidiaries. Each of these agreements has an initial term of one year and will be automatically renewed for one-year term. The fee is currently waved by Fanlian Investment until further written notice by Fanlian Investment. Because of our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment, Fanhua RONS Technologies and their subsidiaries and their individual nominee shareholders, we are the primary beneficiary of Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and their subsidiaries and we consolidate them into our consolidated financial statements. For the year ended December 31, 2022, aggregate revenues derived from these consolidated VIEs amounted to 5.1% of our total consolidated net revenues, based on our corporate structure as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the assets of our consolidated VIEs accounted for an aggregate of 3.3% of our consolidated total assets. The cash flows that have occurred between our subsidiaries and our consolidated VIEs are summarized as the following: The cash flows occurred between our subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs included the following: (1) cash received by the VIEs from our subsidiaries as inter-company advances amounted to RMB43.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022; and (2) commissions received offset by technology services paid by our subsidiaries to the VIEs amounted to RMB94.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Due to the restriction on foreign investment in the internet industry, we expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements to control and receive economic benefits from our current consolidated VIEs. In the opinion of Hai Run Law Firm, our PRC legal counsel: - 74 - ● both the direct and indirect controlling equity ownership structures of our subsidiaries and our ● consolidated VIEs in China have complied with all existing PRC laws and regulations the contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, Xinbao Investment, Fanhua RONS Technologies, their subsidiaries, and their individual shareholders governed by PRC law are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and ● the business operations of our PRC subsidiaries and our consolidated VIEs comply in all material respects with existing PRC laws and regulations. We have been advised by our PRC legal counsel, however, that there are uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, such contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may in the future take a view that is contrary to the above opinion of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements establishing the structure for operating our online operations do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the internet industry, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Fanhua Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company operating in China primarily through its subsidiaries and a small part of its business through contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never directly hold, all equity interests in the consolidated VIEs. There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations, and rules relating to such agreements that establish the VIE structure for our consolidated VIEs’ operations in China, including potential future actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies and, consequently, adversely affect the financial condition and results of operations of Fanhua Inc. If the PRC government finds such agreements non-compliant with relevant PRC laws, regulations, and rules, or if these laws, regulations, and rules or the interpretation thereof change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish part of our interests in Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements.” To date we have not encountered any interference or encumbrance from the PRC government on account of operating our business through these agreements. D. Property, Plants and Equipment Our headquarter is located in Guangzhou, China, where we leased approximately 2,828.8 square meters of office space as of December 31, 2022. Office space leased by our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs, including certain space used and paid by sales teams, was approximately 162,087.9 square meters as of December 31, 2022. In 2022, our total rental expenses were RMB98.8 million (US$14.3million). Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments None. Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this annual report. This discussion and analysis contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” or in other parts of this annual report. For discussion of 2020 items and year-over-year comparisons between 2021 and 2020 that are not included in this annual report on Form 20-F, refer to “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” found in our Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2022. A. Operating Results Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations - 75 - As an insurance intermediary in China, our financial condition and results of operations are affected by a variety of factors, including: ● business relationship with important insurance company partners; ● total premium payments to Chinese insurance companies; ● the extent to which insurance companies in the PRC outsource the distribution of their products and claims adjusting functions; ● premium rate levels and commission and fee rates; ● the size and productivity of our sales force; ● commission rates for individual sales agents; ● product and service mix; ● share-based compensation expenses; ● seasonality; and ● Impact on our business and financial results due to the COVID-19 pandemic; ● Successful implementation of our professionalization, digitalization and open platform strategy Business Relationship with Important Insurance Company Partners We derive significant revenue from our important insurance company partners. Among these top five of our insurance company partners, Sinatay accounted for 19.6% of our total net revenues in 2022. As a result, any significant changes to our business relationship with the important insurance company partners could have a material impact on our revenue and profit. Total Premium Payments to Chinese Insurance Companies The Chinese insurance industry has grown substantially in the past decade. Between 2012 and 2022, total insurance premiums increased from RMB1.5 trillion to RMB4.9 trillion, representing a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 12.3%, according to the CBIRC. Although the growth has slowed down significantly from 2020 to 2022 due to economic uncertainty, the impact of COVID-19, tightening regulation and industry transformation, among others, we believe that certain macroeconomic and demographic factors, such as increasing per capita GDP, and an aging population and people’s increasing awareness of insurance protection, have contributed to and will continue to drive the growth of the Chinese insurance industry in the long term. We derive our revenue primarily from commissions and fees paid by insurance companies, typically calculated as a percentage of premiums paid by our customers to the insurance companies. Accordingly, industry- wide premium growth will have a positive impact on us. Any downturn in the Chinese insurance industry, whether caused by a general slowdown of the PRC economy or otherwise, may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. The Extent to Which Insurance Companies in the PRC Outsource the Distribution of their Products and Claims Adjusting Functions Historically, insurance companies in the PRC have relied primarily on their exclusive individual sales agents and direct sales force to sell their products. However, in recent years, as a result of increased competition, consumers’ demand for more choices and regulatory focus on long term protection-oriented life insurance products, more and more insurance companies gradually expanded their distribution channels to include insurance intermediaries such as commercial banks, postal offices, professional insurance agencies and professional insurance brokerages. In addition, because of the increasingly high cost of establishing and maintaining distribution networks of their own, more and more medium-size insurance companies have chosen to rely - 76 - primarily on insurance intermediaries to distribute their products while they focus on other aspects of their business. As insurance companies in the PRC become more accustomed to outsourcing the distribution of their products to insurance intermediaries, they may allow insurance intermediaries to distribute a wider variety of insurance products and may provide more monetary incentives to more productive and effective insurance intermediaries. These and other similar measures designed to boost sales through insurance intermediaries can have a positive impact on our financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, as competition intensifies and the insurance market becomes more mature in China, we expect that more insurance companies will choose to outsource claims adjusting functions to professional service providers such as our affiliated claims adjusting firms while they focus on the core aspects of their business, including product development and asset and risk management. Premium Rate Levels and Commission and Fee Rates Because the commissions and fees we receive from insurance companies for the distribution of insurance products are generally calculated as a percentage of premiums paid by our customers to the insurance companies, our revenue and results of operations are affected by premium rate levels and commission and fee rates. Premium rate levels and commission and fee rates can change based on the prevailing economic conditions, competitive and regulatory landscape, and other factors that affect insurance companies. These other factors include the ability of insurance companies to place new business, underwriting and non-underwriting profits of insurance companies, consumer demand for insurance products, the availability of comparable products from other insurance companies at a lower cost, and the tax deductibility of commissions and fees. In general, we can negotiate for better rates as an incentive for generating a larger volume of business. Since China’s entry into the WTO in December 2001, competition among insurance companies has intensified as a result of a significant increase in the number of insurance companies and the existing insurance companies’ expansion into new geographic markets. This competition has led to a gradual increase in the commission and fee rates offered to insurance intermediaries, and such an increase has had a positive impact on our results of operations. The Size and Productivity of Our Sales Force As a distributor of insurance products, we generate revenue primarily through our sales force who are individual sales agents in our distribution and service network. Some entrepreneurial management staff or senior sales agents of major insurance companies in China have chosen to leave their employers or principals and become independent agents. We refer to these independent agents as “entrepreneurial agents.” An entrepreneurial agent is usually able to assemble and lead a team of sales agents. We have been actively recruiting and will continue to recruit entrepreneurial agents to join our distribution and service network as our sales agents. Entrepreneurial agents have been instrumental to the development of our life insurance business. The size of our sales force, its productivity, as measured by the average number of insurance products sold per performing sales agent that refers to a sales agent who has sold at least one insurance policy, the average premium per product sold and the average premiums generated per performing sales agent during any specified period, directly affect our revenue and results of operations. In recent years, as the result of our efforts to streamline our sales force with more focus on better performing sales agents as well as the adverse impact of the COVID-19 on the sales activities of our sales agents, the size of our sales force has decreased substantially which had adversely affected our financial results. However, we have embarked on a series of strategic initiatives to professionalize our sales force and recruit more productive agents, which we expect to bring positive results on the number of our performing agents and their productivity and as a result have positive impact on our financial performance within the next few years. Commission Rates for Individual Sales Agents A large component of our operating costs is commissions paid to our individual sales agents. In order to retain sales agents, we must pay commissions at a level comparable to the commissions paid by our competitors. Intensified competition for productive sales agents within the Chinese insurance industry and rising salaries in China may lead to a significant increase in commission rates which could have a negative impact on our results of operations. Product and Service Mix - 77 - We began distributing auto insurance products in 1999, expanded our product offerings to other property and casualty insurance products in 2002, and started distributing long-term individual life and health insurance products in 2006, primarily to individual customers. We further broadened our service offering to cover insurance claims adjusting services in 2008. Insurance Agency Segment Our largest segment by revenue, the insurance agency segment, provides a broad range of life and health and property and casualty insurance products to individual customers. Most individual life and health insurance policies we distribute require periodic payment of premiums, typically annually, during a pre-determined payment period, generally ranging from three to 25 years. For each of such policies that we distribute, insurance companies will pay us a first-year commission and fee based on a percentage of the first-year premiums, and subsequent commissions and fees based on smaller percentages of the renewal premiums paid by the insured throughout the renewal term of the policy. Therefore, once we distribute a life and health insurance policy with a periodic payment schedule, it can bring us a steady flow of commission and fee revenue throughout the renewal term as long as the insured fulfills his or her premium payment commitment and continuously renews the policy. Because of the recurring nature of commissions derived from long term life and health insurance business, and the higher gross margin of our life insurance business than that of our property and casualty insurance business, we intend to continue our focus on distributing more long-term life and health insurance products, which we believe will have a positive impact on our revenue and gross margin in the long term. The property and casualty insurance policies we distribute primarily consist of individual accident insurance, indemnity medical insurance, travel insurance, and homeowner insurance that we distribute through Baoxian.com. Because the insurance products that we distribute through Baoxian.com are mostly underwritten by property and casualty insurance companies, we classify them as property and casualty insurance products. These property and casualty insurance policies we distribute are typically for a one-year term, with a single premium payable at the beginning of the term. As a result, the insured has to purchase new policies through us every year. Accordingly, we receive a single commission or fee for each property and casualty policy we distribute. Claims Adjusting Segment The fees we receive for our claims adjusting services are calculated based on the types of insurance products involved. For services provided in connection with property and casualty insurance (other than marine cargo insurance and automobile insurance), our fees are calculated as a percentage of the recovered amount from insurance companies plus travel expenses. For services provided in connection with marine cargo insurance, our fees are charged primarily on an hourly basis and, in some cases, as a percentage of the amount recovered from insurance companies. For services provided in connection with auto insurance, individual accident insurance and health insurance, our fees are generally fixed and the amounts collected are based on the types of services provided. In some cases, our fees are charged based on the number of claims adjustors involved in providing the services. We pay our in-house claims adjustors a base salary plus a commission calculated based on a small percentage of the service fees we receive from insurance companies or the insured. The claims adjusting business has become and likely will continue to be a steady source of our net revenues. The operating margin of our claims adjusting segment are generally lower than those of our insurance agency segment although its gross margin is relatively higher. We expect revenues from our claims adjusting business as a percentage of our total net revenues to remain stable over the next few years. Share-based Compensation Expenses Our historical results of operations have been affected by the share-based compensation expenses incurred. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results—Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations——Share-based Compensation Expenses” for a more detailed discussion of our historical share-based compensation expenses. In order to attract and retain the best personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of our business, we adopted share incentive plans in 2007 and 2022. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentives—2007 Share Incentive Plan.” All of the share-based compensation expenses related to the options granted under the 2007 Share Incentive Plan have been amortized as of December 31, 2016. On June 14, 2018, we announced the 521 Plan, which enabled the Participants, - 78 - consisting of certain key employees and independent sales agent team leaders, to invest in the Company by purchasing a total of 280,000,000 ordinary shares of the Company, representing 14 million of the Company’s ADSs at the subscription price of US$27.38 per ADS. Accordingly, we recognized share-based compensation expenses in 2019. In 2020, RMB0.4 million of cumulative cost recognized in prior periods related to the 521 Plan was reversed as the performance target was not probable to be met. In December 2020, the 521 Plan was canceled without any replacement awards. In 2021, no share-based compensation expenses were incurred. On August 12, 2022, our board of directors adopted a new share incentive plan under which we have reserved 161,143,768 ordinary shares for issuance, which was approximately 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of June 30, 2022. Simultaneously, our board of directors approved the grant of options to purchase an aggregate of 4,000,000 ordinary shares to independent directors pursuant to the 2022 Share Incentive Plan (the “2022 Option 1”). Accordingly, we recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB461,000 in 2022. In February 2023, our board of directors approved the grant options to purchase an aggregate of 13,680,000 ordinary shares to certain top agents. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentives— 2022 Share Incentive Plan.” We expect share-based compensation expenses to be a significant component of our operating expenses in the near future. Seasonality Our quarterly results of operations are affected by seasonal variations caused by business mix, insurance companies’ business practices and consumer demand. For life insurance business, much of the jumpstart sales activities of life insurance companies occur during the first quarter of a year, while business activities slow down in the fourth quarter of a year as life insurance companies focus on the preparation for the jumpstart sales season of the coming year by preparing to launch new products, making marketing plans and organizing training. During the jumpstart sales season, life insurance companies will offer incentives that are more attractive to insurance intermediaries and sales agents to boost sales. Accordingly, our commission and fee revenue derived from life insurance business is generally the highest in the first quarter of a year and the lowest in the fourth quarter of a year. For property and casualty insurance products that we distribute on Baoxian.com, there was no obvious seasonal fluctuation. Impact on our business and financial results due to the COVID-19 pandemic In 2022, the PRC government adopted a dynamic zero-case policy to contain the periodic resurgences of the COVID-19 pandemic which has largely been effective. However, our business was negatively impacted, primarily because (i) consumers’ consumption confidence for non-necessity products or services was adversely affected due to increased uncertainty in China’s economic outlook; and (ii) offline activities related to customer engagement, agent recruitment and training were disrupted from time to time as a result of the social-distancing measures imposed in regions where there were new coronavirus cases. In addition, the business operation of our non-consolidated affiliated investees has also been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak which had affected the fair value of our investment in affiliates. Successful implementation of our professionalization, digitalization and open platform strategy In late 2020, we launched new strategic initiatives to upgrade our sales organization by developing high- caliber, productive and professional insurance advisor teams in economically developed cities in China. We also intend to build an integrated digital platform utilizing artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing to optimize the use of data to provide the most appropriate products for existing and potential customers and increase agent productivity. In addition, we intend to build an open platform to share our advantages in technology, system, contractual relationship, and nationwide network with various industry participants to help them monetize their existing customer resources and to strengthen our value proposition to the market. We expect these new strategic initiatives to be new engines to drive our long-term growth. There is no assurance that we will be able to implement important strategic initiatives in accordance with our expectations, which may result in an adverse impact on our business and financial results. Key Performance Indicators As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we operated two segments: (1) the insurance agency segment, which mainly consisted of providing agency services for distributing life insurance products and P&C insurance products on behalf of insurance companies, and (2) the claims adjusting segment, which consists of providing pre- - 79 - underwriting survey services, claims adjusting services, disposal of residual value services, loading and unloading supervision services, and consulting services. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by our chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Net Revenues Our revenues are net of PRC tax surcharges and value-added tax incurred. In 2021 and 2022, we generated net revenues of RMB3,271.1 million (US$513.3 million) and RMB2,781.6 million (US$403.3 million), respectively. We derive net revenues from the following sources: ● Insurance agency segment: commissions paid by insurance companies for the distribution of (i) life and health insurance products, and (ii) commoditized property and casualty products sold through Baoxian.com, which accounted for 86.0% and 85.4% of our net revenues for 2021 and 2022, respectively; ● Claims adjusting segment: commissions and fees primarily paid by the insurance companies for the provision of claims adjusting services, which accounted for 14.0% and 14.6% of our net revenues for 2021 and 2022, respectively; The following table sets forth our total net revenues earned from each of our reporting segments both in absolute amounts and as percentages of total net revenues, for the periods indicated: Agency Life insurance business P&C insurance business Claims adjusting Total net revenues Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB % RMB 2022 US$ % (in thousands except percentages) 2,811,936 2,679,720 132,216 459,178 3,271,114 86.0 2,376,851 344,611 81.9 2,237,312 324,380 20,231 4.1 139,539 14.0 404,763 58,685 100.0 2,781,614 403,296 85.4 80.4 5.0 14.6 100.0 Insurance agency segment primarily covers distribution of life and health insurance products and property and casualty insurance products to individuals. Net revenues from the insurance agency segment decreased from 2021 to 2022 in both absolute amount and as a percentage of our total net revenues. Net revenues generated from distribution of long-term life and health insurance products have become our primary source of revenue. We began distributing individual life and health insurance products in 2006. Net revenues generated from distribution of life and health insurance products decreased from 2021 to 2022, both in absolute amounts and as a percentage of our net revenues primarily due to the impact of COVID-19. The decrease was mainly due to (i) high base in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of the strong sales of critical illness products prior to the transition to the new critical illness definition framework and (ii) the decrease in the weighted average renewal commission rate of renewal premium collected, and to a lesser extent, due to the change in the product mix. We expect our life insurance business to grow and bring in significant revenue that will continue to represent a high percentage of our total net revenues in the next several years. We believe this growth will be driven by a number of factors including stronger demand for traditional life and health insurance products as a result of the aging population and the Chinese consumers’ increasing awareness of the benefits of insurance. Net revenues generated from distribution of property and casualty insurance products increased from 2021 to 2022 in absolute amounts of our net revenues, primarily due to the contribution from a newly acquired brokerage firm. We expect our net revenues to be derived from distribution of property and casualty insurance products to remain stable in 2022. We began providing claims adjusting services in 2008. Net revenues from our claims adjusting segment decreased from 2021 to 2022, primarily due to the impact of COVID-19. We expect that net revenues from claims adjusting services as a percentage of our total net revenues will be stable in the next few years. - 80 - The commissions and fees we receive from the distribution of insurance products are based on a percentage of the premiums paid by the insured. Commission and fee rates generally depend on the type of insurance products, the particular insurance company and the region in which the insurance products are sold. We typically receive payment of the commissions and fees from insurance companies for insurance products on a monthly basis. Some of the fees are paid to us annually or semi-annually in the form of additional performance bonuses after we achieve specified premium volume or policy renewal goals as agreed upon between the insurance companies and us. We are compensated primarily by insurance companies for our claims adjusting services. The fees we receive for our claims adjusting services depend on the types of insurance products involved. For services provided in connection with marine cargo insurance, our fees are charged primarily on an hourly basis and, in some cases, as a percentage of the amount recovered from insurance companies. For claims adjusting services related to auto insurance, individual accident insurance and health insurance, our fees are generally fixed on a per claim basis, or in some cases, on a per head basis. These fees are typically paid to us on a quarterly basis. For services provided in connection with other property and casualty insurance, our fees are calculated as a percentage of the recovered amount from insurance companies plus travel expenses. We typically receive payment for these fees on a semi- annual or annual basis. Operating Costs and Expenses Our operating costs and expenses consist of costs incurred in connection with the distribution of insurance products and the provision of claims adjusting services, selling expenses and general and administrative expenses. The following table sets forth the components of our operating costs and expenses, both in absolute amounts and as percentages of our net revenues, for the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB % RMB 2022 US$ % (in thousands except percentages) 3,271,114 (2,115,167 ) (306,463 ) (547,579 ) (2,969,209 ) 100.0 2,781,614 403,296 (64.7 ) (1,795,603 ) (260,338 ) (39,539 ) (9.4 ) (16.7 ) (78,964 ) (90.8 ) (2,612,939 ) (378,841 ) (272,706 ) (544,630 ) 100.0 (64.6 ) (9.8 ) (19.6 ) (94.0 ) Total net revenues Operating costs Selling expenses General and administrative expenses Total operating costs and expenses Operating Costs We incur costs primarily in connection with the distributions of insurance products and the provision of claims adjusting services. Our operating costs decreased from 2021 to 2022, which was in line with the decrease in revenue during the same period. We rely mainly on individual sales agents and to a much lesser degree, on Baoxian.com for the distributions of insurance products. For claims adjusting services, we rely mainly on our in- house claims adjustors. Operating costs incurred as a percentage of net revenues decreased from 2021 to 2022, primarily due to the slower growth of our renewal life insurance business and the decrease in volume-based commission from new life insurance business. We anticipate that our operating costs as a percentage of our total net revenues to remain stable. Selling Expenses Our selling expenses primarily consist of: ● salaries and employment benefits for employees who work in back office below the provincial management level; ● office rental, telecommunications and office supply expenses incurred in connection with sales activities; and ● advertising and marketing expenses. - 81 - Selling expenses in 2022 were RMB272.7 million (US$39.5 million) , representing a decrease of 11.0% from RMB306.5 million in 2021. The decrease was due to decreased sales events and rental costs of our sales outlets, partially offset by increased headcount in our Yuntong branches. We expect that our selling expenses will increase as we grow in size, and we also intend to spend more on marketing and advertising to enhance our brand recognition and promote our online platforms. General and Administrative Expenses Our general and administrative expenses principally comprise: ● salaries and benefits for our administrative staff; ● share-based compensation expenses for managerial and administrative staff; ● research and development expenses in relation to our mobile and online programs; ● professional fees paid for valuation, market research, legal and auditing services; ● bad debt expenses for doubtful receivables; ● compliance-related expenses, including expenses for professional services; ● depreciations and amortizations; ● office rental expenses; ● travel and telecommunications expenses; ● entertainment expenses; ● office supply expenses for our administrative staff; and ● foreign exchange loss. General and administrative expenses were RMB544.6 million (US$79.0 million) for 2022, representing a decrease of 0.5% from RMB547.6 million in 2021. The decrease was mainly due to cost savings from office expenses, partially offset by increased headcount in our IT center. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase as we hire additional administrative personnel, pay higher labor costs and incur additional costs in connection with the expansion of our business, and our efforts to invest in digital capabilities and develop our online insurance platforms. Share-based compensation expenses In 2021, no share-based compensation expenses were incurred. On August 12, 2022, our board of directors adopted a new share incentive plan under which we have reserved 161,143,768 ordinary shares for issuance, which was approximately 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of June 30, 2022. Simultaneously, our board of directors approved the grant of options to purchase an aggregate of 4,000,000 ordinary shares to independent directors pursuant to the 2022 Share Incentive Plan (the “2022 Option 1”). Accordingly, we recognized share- based compensation expenses of RMB0.5 million in 2022. In February 2023, our board of directors approved the grant options to purchase an aggregate of 13,680,000 ordinary shares to certain top agents. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentives—2022 Share Incentive Plan.” We expect share-based compensation expenses to be a significant component of our operating expenses in the near future. Taxation We and each of our subsidiaries file separate income tax returns. The Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong - 82 - Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands, we and our subsidiaries incorporated in the British Virgin Islands are not subject to income or capital gains taxes. In addition, dividend payments are not subject to withholding tax in those jurisdictions. On March 21, 2018, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 7) Bill 2017 (the “Bill”) which introduces the two-tiered profits tax rates regime. The Bill was signed into law on March 28, 2018 and was gazetted on the following day. Under the two-tiered profits tax rates regime, the first 2 million Hong Kong Dollar of profits of the qualifying group entity will be taxed at 8.25%, and profits above HK$2 million will be taxed at 16.5%. The provision for current income taxes of the subsidiaries operating in Hong Kong has been calculated by applying the current rate of taxation of 8.25% for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022. Payment of dividends is not subject to withholding tax in Hong Kong. PRC EIT According to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008 and was subsequently amended on March 16, 2007, February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018, as further clarified by subsequent tax regulations implementing the EIT law, foreign invested enterprises and domestic enterprises are subject to enterprise income tax, or EIT, at a uniform rate of 25%. Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, Shenzhen Huazhong United Technology Co., Ltd., or Shenzhen Huazhong, our wholly-owned subsidiary, was recognized as a software company and thus exempted from PRC Income Tax for two years starting from its first profit-making year, followed by a 50% reduction for the next three years. For Shenzhen Huazhong, 2017 was the first profit-making year and accordingly it has made a 12.5% tax provision for its profits for the years ended December 31, 2021. Its tax holiday expired in 2021. Pursuant to the Circular on Issues Regarding Tax-related Preferential Policies for Further Implementation of Western Development Strategy jointly issued by the State Ministry of Finance, General Administration of Customs, China and State Administration for Taxation, enterprises located in the western China regions that fall into the encouraged industries are entitled to 15% EIT preferential tax treatment from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020. The preferential tax treatment is extended to December 31, 2030, pursuant to No. 23 Announcement Concerning the Extension of the EIT Policies for Enterprises Located in Western China issued by the Ministry of Finance on April 23, 2020. In September 2018, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Fanhua Lianxing Insurance Sales Co., Ltd. (“Lianxing”), which is the holding vehicle of our life insurance operations, was relocated to Tianfu New Area, Sichuan province, PRC. Subsequently, Lianxing will enjoy 15% EIT tax rate instead of a unified 25% from September 1, 2018 to December 31, 2030. Tibet Zhuli Investment Co. Ltd. (“Tibet Zhuli”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, was entitled to a preferential tax rate of 9% for the period from 2015 to 2020, and 15% for 2021 as it was established with approval in Tibet, PRC, before January 1, 2018. Tibet Zhuli was not entitled to the tax holiday in 2022. Pursuant to the Circular on Inclusive Tax Relief Policies for Small Low-Profit Enterprises (“SLPEs”), or Circular [2019] No. 13, jointly issued by the State Ministry of Finance and State Administration for Taxation in January 2019, an SLPE is entitled to a preferential tax rate of 20% with a 75% reduction on its annual taxable income for the portion not exceeding RMB1 million and a 50% reduction for the portion between RMB1 million to RMB3 million. Further to the Circular [2019] No. 13, Announcement on Preferential Tax Policies for SLPEs and Individually-owned Businesses (“IOBs”) was jointly issued by the State Ministry of Finance and State Administration for Taxation in April 2021, which provides SLPEs and IOBs an additional 50% reduction on annual taxable income for the portion not exceeding RMB1 million. Pursuant to the Circular on Inclusive Tax Relief Policies for Small Low-Profit Enterprises (“SLPEs”), or Circular [2022] No. 13, jointly issued by the State Ministry of Finance and State Administration for Taxation in March 2022, an SLPE is entitled to a preferential tax rate of 20% with a 75% reduction on its annual taxable income for the portion between RMB1 million to RMB3 million. Accordingly, Shenzhen Baowang E-commerce Co., Ltd., the wholly-owned subsidiary of one of the VIEs enjoyed a preferential tax rate of 20% with a 75% reduction on their annual taxable income from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2022. Shenzhen Fanhua Training Co., Ltd. a subsidiary of our claims adjusting segment, enjoy a preferential tax rate of 20% with 75% on their annual taxable income from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 and an 87.5% reduction on their annual taxable income from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Shanghai Fanhua Teamhead Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd., enjoyed a preferential tax rate of 20% with a 87.5% reduction on its annual taxable income for the portion not exceeding RMB1 million and a 50% - 83 - reduction for the portion between RMB1 million to RMB3 million from January 1 2020 to December 31, 2021, and enjoyed a preferential tax rate of 20% with a 87.5% reduction on its annual taxable income for the portion not exceeding RMB1 million and a 75% reduction for the portion between RMB1 million to RMB3 million for the fiscal year of 2022. Suzhou Feibao Smart Service Consulting Co., Ltd. (previously known as Suzhou Junzhou Healthcare Management Co., Ltd.) is currently entitled to a tax exemption as it has not yet achieved profitability. Business Tax and VAT With respect to all of our PRC entities for the period immediately prior to the implementation of the VAT reform program, revenues from our services are subject to a 5% PRC business tax. Revenues from our online advertising services are subject to an additional 3% cultural business construction fee. In March 2016, during the fourth session of the 12th National People’s Congress, it was announced that the VAT reform will be fully rolled out and extended to all industries including construction, real estate, financial services and lifestyle services. Subsequently, the State Administration of Taxation and Ministry of Finance jointly issued a Notice on Preparing for the Full Implementation of the VAT Reform (Cai Shui [2016] No. 36). Accordingly, revenues from our services are subject to value-added tax instead of business tax starting from May 1, 2016. PRC Urban Maintenance and Construction Tax and Education Surcharge Any entity, foreign-invested or purely domestic, or individual that is subject to consumption tax, VAT and business tax is also required to pay PRC urban maintenance and construction tax. The rates of urban maintenance and construction tax are 7%, 5% or 1% of the amount of consumption tax, VAT and business tax actually paid depending on where the taxpayer is located. All entities and individuals who pay consumption tax, VAT and business tax are also required to pay education surcharge at a rate of 3%, and local education surcharges at a rate of 2%, of the amount of VAT, business tax and consumption tax actually paid. Results of Operations The following table sets forth our net revenues, operating costs and expenses and income from operations by reportable segments for the periods indicated. We are currently operating under two reporting operating segments: (1) insurance agency, and (2) claims adjusting. For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 to 2022 Percentage Change 2022 % RMB US$ 2021 RMB (in thousands except percentages) 2,811,936 2,679,720 132,216 459,178 3,271,114 (15.5 ) 2,376,851 344,611 (16.5 ) 2,237,312 324,380 5.5 139,539 20,231 58,685 (11.9 ) 404,763 (15.0 ) 2,781,614 403,296 (1,835,825 ) (1,742,640 ) (93,185 ) (279,342 ) (2,115,167 ) (306,463 ) (547,579 ) (16.8 ) (1,527,572 ) (221,477 ) (17.6 ) (1,436,606 ) (208,288 ) (13,189 ) (2.4 ) (90,966 ) (4.0 ) (268,031 ) (38,861 ) (15.1 ) (1,795,603 ) (260,338 ) (39,539 ) (11.0 ) (272,706 ) (78,964 ) (0.5 ) (544,630 ) - 84 - Consolidated Statement of Income Data Net revenues: Agency Life insurance business P&C insurance business Claims adjusting Total net revenues Operating costs and expenses: Operating costs: Agency Life insurance business P&C insurance business Claims adjusting Total operating costs Selling expenses General and administrative expenses Total operating costs and expenses Income from operations Insurance agency Claims adjusting Other Income from operations Other income, net: Investment income Interest income Others, net Income from operations before income taxes and share (2,969,209 ) 393,492 16,829 (108,416 ) 301,905 (12.0 ) (2,612,939 ) (378,841 ) (21.5 ) 308,657 N/A (11,856 ) 18.6 (128,126 ) (44.1 ) 168,675 44,751 (1,720 ) (18,576 ) 24,455 32,898 2,971 33,314 (45.9 ) 360.2 N/A 17,809 13,674 (3,823 ) 2,582 1,983 (554 ) of income and impairment of affiliates, net Income tax expense Share of income and impairment of affiliates, net Net income Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders 371,088 (90,574 ) (20,573 ) 259,941 (47.1 ) 196,335 (41,016 ) (54.7 ) (69,596 ) 238.3 85,723 (67.0 ) 28,466 (5,947 ) (10,090 ) 12,429 8,952 N/A (14,549 ) (2,109 ) 250,989 (60.0 ) 100,272 14,538 - 85 - Year ended December 31, 2022 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2021 Net Revenues Our total net revenues decreased by 15.0% from RMB3, 271.1 million in 2021 to RMB2,781.6 million (US$403.3 million) in 2022. ● Net revenues from our insurance agency segment decreased by 15.5% from RMB2,811.9 million in 2021 to RMB2,376.8 million (US$344.6 million) in 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in net revenues derived from life insurance business, from RMB2,679.7 million in 2021 to RMB2,237.3 million (US$324.4 million) in 2022, while net revenues derived from the P&C insurance business were RMB139.5 million (US$20.2million) for 2022, which remained relatively stable compared with RMB132.2 million in 2021. ● The decrease in net revenues generated from the life insurance agency business was partially offset by the revenue recognized related to variable consideration estimates amounting to RMB245.7 million. Excluding the estimated amount, the decrease in net revenues was mainly due to changes in product mix, despite an increase in total life insurance GWP. The decrease was mainly due to (i) high base in the first quarter of 2021 as a result of the strong sales of critical illness products prior to the transition to the new critical illness definition framework and (ii) the decrease in the weighted average renewal commission rate of renewal premium collected, and to a lesser extent, due to the change in the product mix. In 2022, total life insurance GWP increased by 10.2% year-over-year to RMB12,409.0 million, of which FYP increased by 2.0% year-over-year to RMB 2,556.9 million and renewal premiums increased by 12.6% year-over-year to RMB9,852.1 million. Revenues for the P&C insurance business were mainly derived from commissions generated for internet- based insurance products sold on Baowang, including medical insurance, accident insurance, travel insurance and homeowner insurance products. Net revenues generated from the P&C insurance business accounted for 5.0% of our total net revenues in 2022. ● Net revenues from our claims adjusting segment decreased by 11.8% from RMB459.2 million in 2021 to RMB404.8 million (US$58.7 million) for 2022. The decrease was due to the disruption to our claims adjusting business as a result of the lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 outbreaks in multiple areas in China and contraction of our medical-insurance related claims adjusting business. Revenues generated from the claims adjusting business accounted for 14.6% of our total net revenues in 2022. Operating Costs and Expenses Operating costs and expenses decreased by 12.0% from RMB2,969.2 million in 2021 to RMB2,612.9 million (US$378.8 million)for 2022. Operating Costs. Our operating costs decreased by 15.1% from RMB2,115.2 million in 2021 to RMB1,795.6 million (US$260.3 million) in 2022, primarily because of the decrease in operating cost in life insurance business. ● Operating costs for our insurance agency segment decreased by 16.8% from RMB1,835.8 million in 2021 to RMB1,527.6 million (US$221.5 million) in 2022, primarily due to a decrease of 17.6% in costs for the life insurance agency business from RMB1,742.6 million in 2021 to RMB1,436.6 million (US$208.3 million) in 2022, which was mainly due to decline in revenue generated from our life business, and a decrease of 2.4% in costs for the property and casualty insurance agency business from RMB93.2 million in 2021 to RMB91.0 million (US$13.2 million) in 2022, which is in line with the decrease in revenue generated from the property and casualty insurance agency business. ● Operating costs for our claims adjusting segment decreased by 4.0% from RMB279.3 million in 2021 to RMB268.0 million (US$38.9 million) in 2022, largely in line with the decrease in costs for the claims adjusting business. - 86 - Selling Expenses. Our selling expenses decreased by 11.0% from RMB306.5 million in 2021 to RMB272.7 million (US$39.5 million) in 2022, primarily attributable to decreased sales events and rental costs of our sales outlets, partially offset by increased headcount in our Yuntong branches. General and Administrative Expenses. Our general and administrative expenses decreased by 0.5% from RMB547.6 million in 2021 to RMB544.6 million (US$79.0 million) in 2022, primarily due to the cost savings from office expenses, partially offset by increased headcount in our IT center Income from Operations As a result of the foregoing factors, we recorded an operating income of RMB168.7 million (US$24.5 million) for 2022, decreased by 44.1% from RMB301.9 million in 2021. ● Income from operations for our agency insurance segment decreased by 21.6% from RMB393.5 million in 2021 to RMB308.7 million (US$44.8 million) in 2022, which was primarily due to the decrease of life insurance business. ● Operations loss for our claims adjusting segment was RMB11.9 million (US$1.7million) in 2022, as compared to operating income of RMB16.8 million in 2021. ● Other loss from operations represented operating loss incurred by the headquarters, which was not allocated to each business segment. Operating loss incurred by the headquarters increased by 18.2% from RMB108.4million in 2021 to RMB128.1 million (US$18.6million) in 2022, mainly due to increased expenditures for the execution of the Professionalization, Digitalization and Open Platform strategy. Other Income Investment Income. Investment income represents income received from short-term investments in interbank deposits. Our investment income decreased by 45.9% from RMB32.9 million in 2021 to RMB17.8 million (US$2.6 million) in 2022. The decrease in yields from short-term investments in financial products was mainly due to decrease in investable cash primarily due to dividend payments and share buyback. Interest Income. Our interest income increased by from RMB3.0 million in 2021 to RMB13.7million (US$2.0 million) in 2022. Income Tax Expense Our income tax expense decreased by 54.7% from RMB90.6 million in 2021 to RMB41.0 million (US$5.9 million) in 2022. The effective tax rate for 2022 was 20.9% compared with 24.4% in 2021. Share of Income of Affiliates, net of Impairment Our share of income of affiliates, net of impairment was a loss of RMB69.6 million(US$10.1 million) for 2022, as compared to the share of income of affiliates, net of impairment of a loss of RMB20.6 million in 2021. The share of income and impairment of affiliates included (i) an other-than-temporary impairment loss of RMB78.3 million (US$11.3 million) on investment in CNFinance, reflecting a write-down to the fair value of the investment as measured by its closing market price on March 31, 2022, compared to the impairment loss of RMB29.3 million in 2021, and (ii) share of income from CNFinance of RMB11.3million (US$1.6 million) for 2022, compared to share of income from CNFinance of RMB12.0 million in 2021. Net Income Attributable to the Non-controlling Interests The net loss attributable to the non-controlling interests was RMB14.5 million (US$2.1 million) in 2022, as compared to the net income attributable to the non-controlling interests of RMB9.0 million in 2021, primarily due to the decrease in profits from our subsidiaries operating claims adjusting business in which we currently own 44.7% equity interests. - 87 - Net Income Attributable to the Company’s Shareholders As a result of the foregoing factors, our net income attributable to our shareholders decreased by 60.0% from RMB251.0 million in 2021 to RMB100.3 million (US$14.5 million) in 2022. Foreign Currency We have foreign currency bank deposits which are primarily denominated in U.S. dollars. The exchange rate between U.S. dollar and RMB has declined from an average of RMB8.2264 per U.S. dollar in July 2005 to RMB6.8972 per U.S. dollar in December 2022. The fluctuation of the exchange rate between the RMB and U.S. dollar and HK dollar resulted in a foreign currency translation gain of RMB3.7 million (US$0.5 million) in 2022, when we translated our financial assets from U.S. dollar and HK dollar into RMB. We have not hedged exposures to exchange fluctuations using any hedging instruments. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Fluctuation in the value of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on your investment.” and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Foreign Exchange Risk.” B. Liquidity and Capital Resources Cash Flows and Working Capital Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash generated from our operating activities. As of December 31, 2022, we had RMB567.5 million (US$82.3 million) in cash and cash equivalents, and RMB347.8 million (US$50.4 million) in short-term investments. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank deposits and our short term investments consisting of short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and have an insignificant risk of changes in value related to changes in interest rates. Our principal uses of cash have been to fund dividend distribution, maintenance and development of online and digital platforms including Lan Zhanggui, Baoxian.com, eHuzhu, Fanhua RONS DOP, Fanhua RONS Guanjia, Fanhua WeCom, investment to digitalize our mid-office and back-office functions, establishment of new branches and sales outlets, working capital requirements, automobiles and office equipment purchases, office renovation and rental deposits. We expect to require cash to fund our ongoing business needs, particularly acquisitions of quality insurance intermediary companies which we expect to fund in stock payment and cash to a lesser degree, further expansion of our distribution and service network with the focus on developing a more professional sales force in major cities and the development of digital capabilities. We also intend to spend more on marketing and advertising to enhance our brand recognition and promote our online platforms. We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs, including our cash needs for working capital and capital expenditures, for at least the next 12 months. We may, however, require additional cash due to changing business conditions or other future developments, including any investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our existing cash is insufficient to meet our requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity securities, debt securities or borrow from lending institutions. Financing may be unavailable in the amounts we need or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. The sale of additional equity securities, including convertible debt securities, would dilute our earnings per share. The incurrence of debt would divert cash for working capital and capital expenditures to service debt obligations and could result in operating and financial covenants that restrict our operations and our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders. If we are unable to obtain additional equity or debt financing as required, our business operations and prospects may suffer. The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated: Year Ended December 31, Net cash generated from operating activities Net cash generated from (used in) investing activities - 88 - 2022 US$ 2021 RMB RMB (in thousands) 126,198 137,752 450,399 (127,562 ) 19,972 (18,495 ) (20,371 ) (260,298 ) Net cash used in from financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash 316,299 (10,181 ) Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year 350,098 656,522 656,522 648,211 Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year (2,954 ) (1,477 ) 95,187 93,981 Operating Activities Net cash generated from operating activities amounted to RMB137.8million (US$20.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily attributable to (i) a net income of RMB85.7 million (US$12.4 million), (ii) adjustments of depreciation expense of RMB19.5 million (US$2.8 million), non-cash operating lease expense of RMB90.4 million (US$13.1 million), provision for allowance for credit losses on financial assets of RMB30.7 million (US$4.5 million), share of income of affiliates, net of impairment of RMB69.6 million (US$10.1 million) and investment income of RMB10.9 million (US$1.6 million), which were non-cash items and, (iii) increases of contract assets of RMB204.2 million (US$29.6 million), accrued commissions of RMB127.6 million (US$18.5 million) and accounts payable of RMB22.1 million (US$3.2 million), offset by decrease of other current asset of RMB8.6 million (US$1.3 million), other receivables of RMB37.3 million (US$5.4 million) insurance premium payables of RMB7.4 million (US$1.1 million) related to property and casualty insurance business contributed by channel vendors of Baowang, other payables and accrued expenses of RMB16.3million (US$2.4 million), accrued payroll of RMB15.8 million (US$2.3 million), other tax liability of RMB36.6 million (US$5.3 million) and lease liability of RMB88.6 million (US$12.8 million). Net cash generated from operating activities amounted to RMB126.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily attributable to (i) a net income of RMB259.9 million (ii) adjustments of depreciation expense of RMB18.3 million, non-cash operating lease expense of RMB101.4 million, and investment income of RMB3.2 million, which were non-cash items and, (iii) increases of accounts receivable of RMB5.5 million, contract assets of RMB257.2 million, other receivables of RMB31.1 million, accrued commissions of RMB139.7 million and accrued payroll of RMB6.3 million, offset by (i) decrease of accounts payable of RMB37.1 million, (ii) decrease of insurance premium payables of RMB1.4 million related to property and casualty insurance business contributed by channel vendors of Baowang, (iii) decrease of income tax payable of RMB15.9million, and (iv) decrease of lease liability of RMB101.2 million. Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2022 was RMB127.6 million (US$18.5 million), primarily attributable to cash used to purchase short-term investment products of RMB2,550.3 million (US$369.8 million), prepayment for purchase of short-term investments of RMB540.0 million (US$78.3 million), cash lent to third parties of RMB205.8 million(US$29.8 million), purchase of property, plant and equipment of RMB77.7 million (US$11.3 million) and payment for business acquisition of RMB21.6 million(US$3.1 million), offset by proceeds from the disposal of short-term investments of RMB3,239.6 million (US$469.7 million) that matured and repayment of loan receivables from a third party of RMB24.5 million(US$3.6 million). Net cash generated from investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 was RMB450.4 million, primarily attributable to proceeds from the disposal of short-term investments of RMB8,646.5 million that matured offset by cash used to purchase short-term investment products of RMB8,184.4 million and purchase of property, plant and equipment of RMB30.8 million. Financing Activities Net cash used in financing activities was RMB20.4 million (US$3.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2022, attributable to settlement of dividend payable payments totaling RMB52.1 million (US$7.5 million), partially offset by proceeds from bank and other borrowings of RMB35.7million(US$5.2 million). Net cash used in financing activities was RMB260.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, attributable to dividend payments totaling RMB242.5 million. Material cash requirements Our material cash requirements as of December 31, 2022 and any subsequent interim period primarily include our capital expenditures, operating lease obligations and tax liabilities. - 89 - We incurred capital expenditures of RMB15.3 million, RMB30.8 million and RMB77.7 million (US$11.3 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Our capital expenditures have been used primarily to construct our IT infrastructure and online platforms, and to purchase automobiles and office equipment for newly-established sales outlets. We estimate that our cash commitments including our capital expenditures will increase substantially in the following two or three years as we pursue selective acquisitions of quality insurance intermediaries companies in combination of stock payments and cash to accelerate the expansion of our open platform and we increase investments to enhance the professional skills of our existing sales force through training and digital empowerment, maintain and upgrade our IT infrastructure and digital platforms and enhance digital operation capabilities. We anticipate funding our future capital expenditures primarily with net cash flows from financing and operating activities. Our operating lease obligations consist of undiscounted minimum lease payment included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities under the lease agreements for our office premises. Our leasing expense was RMB106.6 million, RMB114.6 million and RMB98.8 million (US$14.3 million) in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The majority of our operating lease commitments are related to our office lease agreements in China. We had uncertain tax liabilities of RMB36.6 million (US$5.3 million) for 2022. As we are unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the period of cash settlement with the respective taxing authority, such liabilities are excluded from the contractual obligations discussed above. Other than the contractual obligations and commercial commitments discussed above, we did not have any other material long-term debt obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations or other material long-term liabilities as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, total outstanding of balance short-term loans amounted to nil and RMB35,679, respectively, which consisted of RMB denominated borrowings made by the Company’s subsidiaries from financial institutions in mainland China and were repayable within one year. Holding Company Structure We are a holding company with no material operations of our own. We conduct our operations through our subsidiaries and our consolidated VIEs, Xinbao Investment, Fanhua RONS Technologies and their affiliates in China. As a result, our ability to pay dividends and to finance any debt we may incur depends upon dividends paid by our subsidiaries and service fees paid by our consolidated VIEs. If our subsidiaries or consolidated VIEs incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. Our wholly-owned subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to us only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits as reported in the PRC statutory financial statements each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve until such reserve reach 50% of its registered capital, and before the Foreign Investment Law becomes effective on January 1, 2020, our wholly-owned subsidiaries had to set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund at the discretion of its board. Although the statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of liquidation of the companies. Furthermore, the EIT Law that took effect on January 1, 2008 has eliminated the exemption of EIT on dividends derived by foreign investors from foreign-invested enterprises and imposes on foreign-invested enterprises an obligation to withhold tax on dividends distributed by such foreign-invested enterprises. As of December 31, 2022, our restricted net asset was RMB1,461.2 million (US$211.9 million). This amount is composed of the registered equity of our PRC subsidiaries and the statutory reserves described above. Our ability to pay dividends primarily depends upon dividends paid by our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2022, we had aggregate undistributed earnings of approximately RMB1,399.7 million (US$202.9 million) that were available for distribution. These undistributed earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested, and will be subject to PRC dividend withholding taxes upon distribution. C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Intellectual Property.” D. Trend Information Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022 that are reasonably likely to - 90 - have a material adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions. E. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates We prepare financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities and the disclosure of our contingent assets and liabilities at the end of each fiscal period, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during each fiscal period. We continually evaluate these judgments and estimates based on our own historical experience, knowledge and assessment of current business and other conditions, our expectations regarding the future based on available information and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable. This forms our basis for making judgments about matters that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, our actual results could differ from those estimates. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application. The selection of critical accounting policies, the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of those policies and the sensitivity of reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions are factors that should be considered when reviewing our financial statements. The following descriptions of critical accounting estimates should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included in this annual report. For further information, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in this annual report. Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services is transferred to our customers in an amount of consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. We derive agency revenue by serving as a sales agent to distribute various life insurance and P&C insurance products on behalf of the insurance companies by which we are entitled to receive initial commission from the insurance companies based on the premium paid by the policyholders for the related insurance policy sold. For life insurance agency, we are also entitled to subsequent renewal commission and compensation, and renewal performance bonus (collectively referred to as “renewal commissions”) which represent variable considerations and are contingent on future renewals of initial policies or we achieve our performance target as such life insurance products are long-term products. When estimating the variable consideration, we use the expected value method based on accumulated historical data and experiences. We also consider constraints when determining the estimated variable consideration, which we refer to as “estimated constrained values”. For years prior to 2021, revenue related to the variable consideration is recorded when it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur, i.e., when a policyholder pays the renewal premium to the insurance company, and the policy is renewed because we were not able to conclude a significant reversal to the estimated variable consideration is not probable, considering factors such as a) we have limited history of selling our current life insurance products with our current customers, such that our past experience in outdated products is of little predictive value in renewal(s) rate estimate; b) the occurrence of renewal is outside of our control and the estimate of renewal premium rates is complex and requires significant assumptions; and c) the contingency lasts across a long period of time. We perform ongoing evaluation of the appropriateness of the constraint applied, and consider the sufficiency of evidence that would suggest that the long-term expectation underlying the assumptions has changed. Starting from January 1, 2021, we believe that we have already accumulated sufficient historical data and experiences at a confidence level that through which we can utilize to make a reasonable estimate of variable considerations of the portfolio of contracts. The estimated renewal commissions are contingent on future renewals of initial policies or achievement of certain performance targets. Given the material uncertainty around the subsequent renewal of the insurance policies, the estimated renewal commissions expected to be collected are recognized as revenue only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is subsequently resolved. With the passage of time and accumulation of historical experiences and data, the judgment and assumptions are to be continuously re-evaluated and adjusted as needed when more information becomes available. - 91 - The following describes how we apply the expected value method and our key considerations and judgments under the expected value method: ● Determining portfolio of contracts: We set up portfolios segregated by renewal term of the underlying policies which we refer to as a “batch” under the expected value method, by grouping long-term life insurance policies into batches of policies with various renewal terms. ● Accumulating historical data and experiences: We believe that accumulating sufficient renewal years’ data for new products sold as the basis for the estimate is necessary for making a reasonable estimate that is representative and comparable to those policies sold in subsequent periods. On-going accumulation of historical renewal data and experiences represents the growth of our confidence for making a reasonable estimate without a significant subsequent reversal in revenue recognized. ● Estimating variability for each variable renewal consideration: For each of the variable renewal commissions, there is only one underlying variability (i.e., the renewal rates for each of the subsequent years of the policy period which is contingent on policyholders’ renewal). Given the payment term for each of the renewal commissions is different, we thus separately estimate the future renewal rates of batches of policies based on accumulated historical renewal information. ● Considering constraints on estimates: In estimating the variable consideration, we evaluated the following factors that could increase the likelihood or magnitude of a reversal: - we have limited history of selling our current life insurance products and co-operating with our current customers, such that our confidence for making a reasonable estimate of future renewal(s) of long-term life insurance policies is limited; - - the occurrence of renewal is outside our control and the estimate of renewal rates is complex and requires significant judgment; the estimate of variable consideration associated with policy renewals has a broad range of possible consideration amounts; and - the contingency is not expected to be resolved for a long period of time Along with the accumulation of historical renewal data and experiences, we re-evaluate the appropriateness of the constraint applied on an on-going basis and adjust the constraint accordingly when we observe more evidence that would suggest that the long-term expectation underlying the assumptions has changed. Accordingly, the constraint applied to the total estimated renewal commissions we expect to receive for all sold long-term life insurance products decreased from 86% as of December 31, 2021 to 69% as of December 31, 2022. ● Ongoing reassessment of the estimated constrained values: We continue to reassess the estimated constrained values at the end of each reporting period on a quarterly basis, including continuing to review and evaluate the reasonableness of the applied assumptions by comparing the original estimated constrained values with the actual renewal commissions collected to monitor and determine whether any changes to the assumptions are needed. Investment in Affiliates We use the equity method of accounting for investments in which we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but do not have a controlling interest. We continually review our investment in equity investees to determine whether a decline in fair value to an amount below the carrying value is other-than temporary. The primary factors we consider in our determination are the duration and severity of the decline in fair value; the financial condition, operating performance and the prospects of the equity investee; and other company specific information such as the stock price of the investee and its corresponding volatility, if publicly traded, our intent and ability to hold the investment until recovery, and changes in the macro-economic, competitive and operational environment of the investee. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the equity investee is written down to fair value. - 92 - The fair values of the investments in equity investees are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available, including but not limited to such as quoted prices for the investments or similar investments in active markets, the investees’ current and expected future performance, industry trend and projected revenue growth rates and profit margin, forecasted cash flows based on discounted rates and terminal growth rates, etc. Recent Accounting Pronouncements No recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations. Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees A. Directors and Senior Management The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report. Directors and Executive Officers Yinan Hu Age Peng Ge Lichong Liu Jun Li Yunxiang Tang Stephen Markscheid Allen Warren Lueth Mengbo Yin 57 51 50 49 77 69 54 67 Position/Title Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors Chief Financial Officer and Director Chief Operating Officer and Vice President Chief Digital Officer and Vice President Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director Independent Director Mr. Yinan Hu is our co-founder and has been our chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer since December 2021 and has been our director since our inception in 1998. He is currently a member of the board of directors of Puyi Inc., which is a public company listed in the U.S. From 1998 to September 2017, he was the chairman of our board of directors. From 1998 to October 2011, Mr. Hu served as our chief executive officer. From 1993 to 1998, Mr. Hu served as chairman of the board of directors of Guangdong Nanfeng Enterprises Co., Ltd., a company he co-founded that engaged in import and export, manufacturing of wooden doors and construction. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Hu was an instructor of money and banking at Guangdong Institute for Managers in Finance and Trade. Mr. Hu received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in economics from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China. Mr. Peng Ge has been our chief financial officer since April 2008 and has been our director since December 2016. From 2005 to April 2008, he served as the general manager of the finance and accounting department and vice president of our company. From August 2007 to September 2008, he was also a director of our company. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. Ge headed our Beijing operations. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Ge was a financial manager at a subsidiary of China National Native Produce and Animal By-Products Import & Export Corporation. Mr. Ge received his bachelor’s degree in international accounting and his MBA degree from the University of International Business and Economics in China. Mr. Lichong Liu has been our chief operating officer since March 2022 and has served as chairman of Fanhua Group Company since January 2022. Mr. Lichong Liu joined Fanhua in 2006, and has previously served in various leadership positions including chief executive officer of Fanhua Group Company, vice president of Fanhua’s life insurance unit, and general manager of Fanhua Hebei and Shandong agency branches. Prior to that, he had served as general manager of the sub-branches of Pingan Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Taikang Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and New China Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and held managerial roles in the provincial branches of these companies. Mr. Liu holds a bachelor’s degree of Finance from Renmin University of China and a master’s degree of Advanced Business Administration from the Business School of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Mr. Jun Li has been our chief digital officer since March 2022 and has been the vice president of Fanhua Group Company since January 2022. Mr. Li joined Fanhua in 2008, and has previously served as chief technology officer of Fanhua Insurance Sales Service Group Company Limited and Baowang, the company’s online insurance - 93 - distribution platform, general manager of Fanhua’s Information Technology Department and director of Fanhua’s Information Center. Prior to joining Fanhua, he had served as head of technology development in China Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and Aviva-COFCO Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Mr. Li holds a master’s degree of Computer Application from Wuhan University, and certificates for Senior Engineer, System Analyst, and Certified Database Tuning Expert. Mr. Yunxiang Tang, a senior economist, has been our independent director since May 2012. Mr. Tang served as general manager of the People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Limited, or the PICC and chairman of the Board of Directors of PICC P&C, PICC Asset Management Company Limited, PICC Life Insurance Company Limited and PICC Health Insurance Company Limited from 2000 to 2007. He was the president of Insurance Association of China from 2001 to 2003 and vice chairman of the CIRC from 1998 to 2000. Prior to that, he served in different senior leadership roles in the financial regulatory authorities, including head of the PBOC Guangdong Branch and chief of State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Guangdong Branch and assistant governor of the PBOC. Mr. Stephen Markscheid has been our independent director since August 2007. Mr. Markscheid is managing partner of Aerion Capital, a family office. He is a member of the board of directors of Jinko Solar, Inc., UGE Inc., Monterey Capital Acquisition, and Four Leaf Acquisition, which are public companies listed in U.S. and Kingwisoft Technology Group Limited, a public company listed in Hong Kong. He is also a trustee emeritus of Princeton-in-Asia, a nonprofit social service organization affiliated with Princeton University. He was a member of the board of directors of a number of other listed companies, including TKK Symphony Acquisition Corporation (currently named Glory Star New Media Group Holdings Limited), Ener-Core, Inc., China Ming Yang Wind Power Group and ChinaCast Education Corporation. He acted as a director and interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Fellazo Inc. in 2020. From 2014 to 2017, he was a partner of Wilton Partners, a Shanghai-based boutique investment bank. From 2007 to 2011, he was the chief executive officer of Synergenz BioScience, Inc., a genomics company based in Hong Kong. Prior to that, Mr. Markscheid was the chief executive officer of HuaMei Capital Company, Inc., a Sino-U.S. investment advisory firm from 2006 to 2007. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. Markscheid worked for GE Capital. During his time with GE Capital, he led GE Capital’s business development activities in China and Asia Pacific, primarily acquisitions and direct investments. Prior to joining GE, Mr. Markscheid worked with the Boston Consulting Group throughout Asia from 1994 to 1997. Prior to that, Mr. Markscheid had been a commercial banker for ten years in London, Chicago, New York, Hong Kong and Beijing with Chase Manhattan Bank and First National Bank of Chicago. Prior to that, he worked with the US- China Business Council in Washington D.C. and Beijing. Mr. Markscheid received his bachelor’s degree in East Asian studies from Princeton University, a master’s degree in international affairs and economics from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA degree from Columbia University. Mr. Allen Lueth has been our independent director since August 2007. Mr. Lueth is currently a member of the board of directors of Greatview Aseptic Packaging Company Limited, a company listed in Hong Kong. Since February 2021, Mr. Lueth has served as CEO of Great Leap Brewery, a company engaged in the brewing and selling of beer in the PRC through third-party sales and its restaurants. From September 2019 to February 2021 Mr. Lueth served as the president and chief financial officer of International Institute of Education Group, a company mainly engaged in language education in the PRC. From 2017 to 2019 and 2010 to 2017, Mr. Lueth served as a chief financial officer for Asia-Pacific region and a vice president of finance for the PRC region for Cardinal Health, a Fortune 500 company engaged in the healthcare industry, respectively. From 2005 to 2010, Mr. Lueth served as a vice president of finance and strategy for the PRC region for Zuellig Pharma China, which was then acquired by Cardinal Health in 2010. Mr. Lueth worked for GE Capital from 1998 to 2004 in a variety of roles, including chief financial officer and chief executive officer for the Taiwan operations, and the representative for China. Earlier, he served with Coopers & Lybrand as an auditor. Mr. Lueth obtained his certificate as a certified public accountant in 1991 and a certified management accountant in 1994. Mr. Lueth received his bachelor of science in accounting degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA degree from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management. Dr. Mengbo Yin has been our independent director since September 2008. He is currently a PhD advisor at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China, where he also serves as head of the university’s postgraduate department. Previously, he was the dean of the university’s school of finance from 1996 to 2007. Professor Yin received his master’s and PhD degrees in finance from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China. Employment Agreements - 94 - Each of our executive officers has entered into an employment agreement with us. Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is employed for a specified time period. We may terminate the employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the employee, including but not limited to a conviction or plea of guilty to a felony, negligence or dishonesty to our detriment, failure to perform the agreed- to duties after a reasonable opportunity to cure the failure and failure to achieve the performance measures specified in the employment agreement. An executive officer may terminate his employment at any time with one-month prior written notice if there is a material reduction in his authority, duties and responsibilities or in his annual salary before the next annual salary review. Furthermore, we may terminate an executive officer’s employment at any time without cause upon two-month advance written notice. In the event of a termination without cause by us, we will provide the executive officer a lump-sum severance payment in the amount of RMB0.5 million, unless otherwise specifically required by applicable law. Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the employment agreement expires or is earlier terminated, in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his duties in connection with the employment, any confidential information, trade secrets and know-how of our company or the confidential information of any third-party, including our consolidated VIE and our subsidiaries, received by us. In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition restrictions set forth in his employment agreement. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to, while employed by us and for one year following the termination or expiration of the employment agreement, (i) approach our clients, customers or contacts or other persons or entities introduced to the executive officer for the purpose of doing business with such person or entities, and will not interfere with the business relationship between us and such persons and/or entities; (ii) assume employment with or provide services as a director for any of our competitors, or engage, whether as principal, partner or otherwise, in any business which is in direct or indirect competition with our business; or (iii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any of our employees who is employed by us at the date of the executive officer’s termination, or in the year preceding such termination. B. Compensation In 2022, the aggregate cash compensation, including reimbursement of expenses, to our executive officers which include executive directors was approximately RMB4.9 million (US$0.7 million), and the aggregate cash compensation to our non-executive directors was approximately RMB1.8 million (US$0.3 million). We did not set aside or accrue any amounts to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for our executive officers and directors except for statutory social security payment. Share Incentives 2007 Share Incentive Plan In order to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, provide additional incentive to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of our business, a share incentive plan was adopted by our board of directors and shareholders in 2007, as amended and restated in December 2008. We have reserved 136,874,658 ordinary shares for issuance under our 2007 Share Incentive Plan, which was approximately 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares at the time we authorized the number of ordinary shares reserved for issuance. The 2007 Share Incentive Plan expired upon the tenth anniversary of the shareholder approval of the 2007 Share Incentive Plan. As of March 31, 2023, all of the options under 2007 Share Incentive Plan had been exercised or forfeited, of which options to purchase 35,806,518 ordinary shares were cash exercised and collectively held by two employee shareholding vehicles on behalf of employees who beneficially own the shares. 2022 Share Incentive Plan On August 12, 2022, our board of directors adopted a share incentive plan under which we have reserved 161,143,768 ordinary shares for issuance, which was approximately 15% of our outstanding ordinary shares as of June 30, 2022. Simultaneously, our board of directors approved the grant of options to purchase an aggregate of 4,000,000 ordinary shares to independent directors pursuant to the 2022 Share Incentive Plan (the “2022 Option 1”). The exercise price of these options is US$0.2305 per ordinary share, equal to the closing price of our ADS on the Nasdaq Global Select Market one day prior to the grant date (after adjusting for the 20 ordinary shares to 1 ADS - 95 - ratio). The options are scheduled to vest over a four-year period starting from August 31, 2023, subject to their continued service with us. On February 6, 2023, our board of directors approved the grant options to purchase an aggregate of 13,680,000 ordinary shares to certain top agents who have met the requirements for Million Dollar Round Table Membership, pursuant to the 2022 Share Incentive Plan (the “2022 Option 2”). The exercise price of these options is US$0.05 per ordinary share. The options are scheduled to vest over a two-year period starting from March 31, 2024, subject to the achievement of certain key performance indicators by the option holders and their continued service with us. The following paragraphs describe the principal terms of 2022 Share Incentive Plan as currently in effect. Types of Awards. The types of awards we may grant under our 2022 Share Incentive Plan include the following: ● options to purchase our ordinary shares; ● ● restricted shares, which represent non-transferable ordinary shares, that may be subject to forfeiture, restrictions on transferability and other restrictions; and restricted share units, which represent the right to receive our ordinary shares at a specified date in the future, which may be subject to forfeiture. Awards may be designated in the form of ADSs instead of ordinary shares. If we designate an award in the form of ADSs, the number of shares issuable under the 2007 Share Incentive Plan will be adjusted to reflect the ratio of ADSs to ordinary shares. Eligibility. We may grant awards to employees, directors and consultants of our company or any of our related entities, which include our subsidiaries or any entities in which we hold a substantial ownership interest. However, we may grant options that are intended to qualify as incentive share options, or ISOs, only to our employees and employees of our majority-owned subsidiaries. Plan Administration. The compensation committee of our board of directors, or a committee designated by the compensation committee, will administer the 2022 Share Incentive Plan. However, awards made to our independent directors must be approved by the entire board of directors. The compensation committee or the full board of directors, as appropriate, will determine the individuals who will receive grants, the types of awards to be granted and terms and conditions of each award grant, including any vesting or forfeiture restrictions. Award Agreement. Awards granted under our 2022 Share Incentive Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement that will set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each award. In addition, in the case of options, the award agreement may also specify whether the option constitutes an ISO or a non-qualifying share option. Acceleration of Awards upon Corporate Transactions. The outstanding awards will accelerate upon occurrence of a change-of-control corporate transaction where the successor entity does not assume our outstanding awards under the 2007 Share Incentive Plan. In such event, each outstanding award will become fully vested and immediately exercisable, and the transfer restrictions on the awards will be released and any forfeiture provisions will terminate immediately before the date of the change-of-control transaction. If the successor entity assumes our outstanding awards and later terminates the grantee’s service without cause within 12 months of the change-of-control transaction, the outstanding awards will automatically become fully vested and exercisable. Exercise Price and Term of Awards. The exercise price per share subject to an option will be determined by the plan administrator and set forth in the award agreement which may be a fixed or variable price related to the fair market value of our ordinary shares; provided, however, that no options may be granted to an individual subject to taxation in the United States at less than the fair market value on the date of grant. To the extent not prohibited by applicable laws or any exchange rule, a downward adjustment of the exercise prices of any outstanding options may be made in the absolute discretion of the plan administrator and will be effective without the approval of our shareholders or the approval of the affected participants. If we grant an ISO to an employee - 96 - who, at the time of that grant, owns shares representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of our share capital, the exercise price cannot be less than 110% of the fair market value of our ordinary shares on the date of that grant. The term of each award will be stated in the award agreement. The term of an award shall not exceed 10 years from the date of the grant, except that five years is maximum term of an ISO granted to an employee who holds more than 10% of the voting power of our share capital. Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the 2022 Share Incentive Plan. Amendments to the 2022 Share Incentive Plan are subject to shareholder approval to the extent required by law, or stock exchange rules or regulations. Additionally, shareholder approval will be specifically required to increase the number of shares available for issuance under the 2022 Share Incentive Plan or to extend the term of an option beyond ten years. Unless terminated earlier, the 2022 Share Incentive Plan will expire and no further awards may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the shareholder approval of the 2007 Share Incentive Plan. As of March 31, 2023, options to purchase 17,680,000 ordinary shares of the Company were outstanding. The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2023, the outstanding options that we granted to our directors and to other individuals as a group. Name Yunxiang Tang Stephen Markscheid Allen Warren Lueth Mengbo Yin Exercise Price (Per Ordinary Options Outstanding Share)( US$) Grant Date 1,600,000 0.2305 800,000 0.2305 800,000 0.2305 800,000 0.2305 Expiration Date August 12, 2032 August 12, 2032 August 12, 2032 August 12, 2032 February 6, 2033 August 12, 2022 August 12, 2022 August 12, 2022 August 12, 2022 February 6, 2023 Other individuals as a group 13,680,000 0.05 C. Board Practices Board of Directors Our board of directors consists of six directors. Under our currently effective amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, a director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification. A director may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract or arrangement in which he is materially interested. The directors may exercise all the powers of our company to borrow money, mortgage its undertaking, property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any obligation of our company or of any third-party. The directors may receive such remuneration as our board of directors may determine from time to time. There is no age limit requirement for directors. The Board conducts self-assessment of its performance annually in compliance with corporate governance requirements, which encompasses the directors’ involvement in business operations, the effectiveness of board oversight, board composition, board culture, management of major issues, and processes of board operation. In compliance with Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, a majority of our directors and all of the committee members of our board of directors are independent directors. During 2022, our board of directors met in person or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent six times. In addition, our independent directors held executive sessions without the presence of non-independent directors or members of management twice during 2022. We have no specific policy with respect to director attendance at our annual general meetings of shareholders. We have a diverse board consisting of members from a wide variety of backgrounds, expertise, skills, and experiences. The members of the board consisted of industry professionals with insurance and financial backgrounds including one independent director who has worked in financial risk assessment. - 97 - The membership of our Board currently does not include women. But we are in the process of actively seeking female directors to refresh the composition of our Board, and adding new independent members to further strengthen the Board’s expertise and skill set and to introduce fresh perspectives. Committees of the Board of Directors We have established four committees under the board of directors: the audit committee, the compensation committee, the corporate governance and nominating committee and financial reporting and disclosure committee and have adopted a charter for each of the committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below. Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Allen Lueth (chairman), Stephen Markscheid and Mengbo Yin, all of whom satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things: ● selecting the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the independent auditors; ● reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response; ● reviewing and approving all proposed related-party transactions; ● discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors; ● reviewing major issues as to the adequacy of our internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control deficiencies; ● annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter; ● meeting separately and periodically with management, the independent auditors and the internal auditor; and ● reporting regularly to the full board of directors. In 2022, our audit committee held meetings or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent four times. Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Stephen Markscheid (chairman), Allen Lueth and Yunxiang Tang, all of whom satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Our compensation committee assists the board of directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure of our directors and executive officers, including all forms of compensation to be provided to our directors and executive officers. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things: ● ● ● ● reviewing and recommending to the board with respect to the total compensation package for our chief executive officer; approving and overseeing the total compensation package for our executives other than the chief executive officer; reviewing and making recommendations to the board with respect to the compensation of our directors; and reviewing periodically and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, employee pension and welfare benefit plans. - 98 - In 2022, our compensation committee held meetings or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent twice. Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Our corporate governance and nominating committee consists of Mengbo Yin (chairman), Allen Lueth and Stephen Markscheid, all of whom satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The corporate governance and nominating committee assists our board of directors in identifying individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board and its committees. The corporate governance and nominating committee is responsible for, among other things: ● ● ● ● identifying and recommending to the board nominees for election or re-election to the board, or for appointment to fill any vacancy; reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board in light of the characteristics of independence, skills, experience and availability of service to us; identifying and recommending to the board the names of directors to serve as members of the audit committee and the compensation committee, as well as the corporate governance and nominating committee itself; advising the board periodically with respect to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance, as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of corporate governance and on any corrective action to be taken; and ● monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to ensure proper compliance. In 2022, our corporate governance and nominating committee held meetings or passed resolutions by unanimous written consent twice. Financial Reporting and Disclosure Committee. Our financial reporting and disclosure committee consists of Peng Ge (chairman), Allen Lueth, and two of our non-executive employees including our financial controller and our internal legal counsel. The financial reporting and disclosure committee assist our CEO and CFO (collectively, the “Senior Officers”) in fulfilling their responsibility to oversee the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of our public reporting and disclosure. The financial reporting and disclosure committee is responsible for, among other things: ● ● ● reviewing and, as necessary, helping revise our controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that: (i) information required to be disclosed by us to the SEC and other information that our company publicly discloses is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and on a timely basis; and (ii) information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Senior Officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding such reporting and disclosure (collectively, the “Reporting and Disclosure Controls and Procedures”); assisting in documenting and monitoring the integrity and effectiveness of our Reporting and Disclosure Controls and Procedures; and reviewing the Company’s: (i) periodic and current reports, proxy statements, information statements, registration statements and any other information filed with or furnished to the SEC; (ii) press releases containing financial information, earnings guidance, information about material acquisitions or dispositions or other information material to the Company’s securityholders; (iii) correspondence broadly disseminated to securityholders; (iv) other relevant communications or presentations (collectively, the “Reporting and Disclosure Statements”); and (v) unusual and complex transactions, new accounting standard adoption and disclosure, new SEC reporting requirements. In 2022, our financial reporting and disclosure committee held meetings by unanimous written consent twice. Duties of Directors - 99 - Under Cayman Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to our company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly, and a duty to act in what they consider in good faith to be in our best interests. Our directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Our directors also owe a duty to our company to act with skill and care. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association as amended and restated from time to time. Our company has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached. In certain limited circumstances, it may be possible for our shareholders to bring a derivative action on behalf of our company if a duty owed by our directors to our company is breached. Terms of Directors and Executive Officers All directors hold office until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. Outside of certain specified circumstances, including resigning, becoming bankrupt or being of unsound mind or being absent from board meetings without special leave of absence for six consecutive months and the board of directors resolves that his office be vacated, a director may only be removed by a special resolution of the shareholders. Officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors. We do not have contracts in place with any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of employment. For the period during which the directors and executives have served in the office, please see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management.” Board Diversity Board Diversity Matrix (As of March 31, 2023) Country of Principal Executive Offices: Foreign Private Issuer Disclosure Prohibited Under Home Country Law Total Number of Directors Part I: Gender Identity Directors Part II: Demographic Background Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction LGBTQ+ Did Not Disclose Demographic Background D. Employees Employees, Sales Agents and Training China Yes No 6 Non- Binary Did Not Disclose Gender Female Male 0 6 - - - - - We had 4,926, 5,785 and 5,328 employees as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We consider our relations with our employees to be good. The following table sets forth the number of our employees by function as of December 31, 2022: Management Administrative staff Financial and accounting staff Professional claims adjustors Information technology staff Total - 100 - Number of Employees 583 2,308 197 1,950 200 5,238 % of Total 11.1 44.1 3.8 37.2 3.8 100.0 The following table sets forth the number of our employees by gender as of December 31, 2022: Management Other staff Total Female Male 170 1,911 2,081 413 2,744 3,157 The following table sets forth the number of our employees by age as of December 31, 2022: < 30 years old 30-40 years old > 40 years old Total Persons 1,765 2,568 905 5,238 % of Total 33.7 49.0 17.3 100.0 As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had 362,580, 284,053 and 141,088 registered sales agents respectively. A majority of these sales agents are independent sales agents who are not our employees and are only compensated by commissions. We have contractual relationships with these sales agents. Our insurance advisors are our employees and are compensated by both base salaries and commissions. We primarily distribute life insurance policies with a periodic premium payment schedule. For the sale of each of such life insurance policy, we pay the sales agent who has generated the sale periodic commissions based on a percentage of the commissions and fees we receive from the insurance companies for the sale and renewal of that policy, generally up to the first five years of the premium payment period, and retain all commissions and fees we continue to receive from insurance companies for the rest of the premium payment period. For the sale of each life insurance policy with a single premium payment schedule or property and casualty insurance policy, we pay the sales agent who has generated the sale a single commission based on a percentage of the commission and fee we receive from insurance companies for the sale of that policy. For our traditional sales force, our life insurance sales agents are typically organized into sales teams with a multilevel hierarchy, typically with five layers. A life insurance sales agent not only receives a commission for the insurance policies that he or she sells, but also a commission for insurance policies sold by agents under his or her management. As to our Yuntong branches, our insurance advisors are organized in two layers consisting of one senior financial advisor leading several junior financial advisors. Our sales agents, in-house sales representatives and claims adjustors are valuable to us and are instrumental in helping us build and maintain long-term relationships with our customers. Therefore, we place a strong emphasis on training our sales force. We provide training to both new sales agents and existing sales agents, on a monthly or quarterly basis, both offline and online. For new sales agents, we offer orientation courses that are designed to familiarize them with corporate culture, insurance products, and sales skills. For the existing sales agents, we offer on-the-job training courses that aim to enhance their sales skills and knowledge of various insurance products and develop skills to build and manage their own sales teams. Online training courses are also available on Lan Zhanggui and Fanhua RONS Livestreaming Platform, which enable sales agents to attend the courses anytime anywhere. We have also established an open source lecturer platform which allows insurance veterans to upload self-developed courses and viewable on fee basis. As part of our efforts to professionalize our sales force, we will allocate more resources to enhance training. With the data insight gained through digital technologies, agents will be categorized into different levels based on various criteria including their qualification, capabilities and productivity and targeted training courses will be provided to help improve their professional skills and productivity. We believe in our employees’ potential and provide training and development opportunities intended to maximize their performance and professional growth. To ensure that new employees integrate into our culture and their daily work, we provide a robust new-hire experience, as well as extensive ongoing training for existing employees to acquaint them with our business. We require all of our employees to complete courses in key regulatory areas, such as insider trading and anti-money laundering compliance, and we offer professional development opportunities through training sessions and cross-departmental workshops, resulting in over 140,000 completed courses and workshops and approximately 134,000 development hours for our employees. In addition, we have mentorship programs that pair newer employees with more experienced professionals, giving mentees - 101 - access to experience, expertise, and guidance. Finally, to help employees determine the next steps in their careers, we have a Career Growth Portal that provides employees with tools, resources, training courses and assessments as they chart their career paths. We need employees well-equipped with professional knowledge to support our frontline sales agents and provide our clients with best quality of services. To maximize their performance and professional growth, we provide ample training opportunities through our well-established training platform e-learning system and “Fanhua Academy” available through Lan Zhanggui. Various courses were delivered by a large team of internal lecturers which include the Group’s senior management, department heads and senior employees with deep experience in various areas of our operations and external courses to acquaint them with our business and unlease their potential. To maintain training standards, we evaluate our lecturers and present awards for outstanding performance on an annual basis. E. Share Ownership We currently do not have specific stock ownership requirements for our CEO and other members of our management. The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares, as of March 31, 2023, by: ● each of our current directors and executive officers; and ● each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our shares. As of March 31, 2023, there were 1,157,463,924 ordinary shares outstanding. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Directors and Executive Officers: Yinan Hu(2) Peng Ge(3) Lichong Liu(4) Jun Li Stephen Markscheid Allen Warren Lueth Mengbo Yin All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group Principal Shareholders: Sea Synergy Limited(5) Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned(1) Number % 210,400,770 53,562,260 23,119,600 * * * * 290,305,670 18.2 % 4.6 % 2.0 % * * * * 25.1 % 189,698,110 16.4 % * Less than 1% of our total outstanding ordinary shares. † Except for our independent directors, the business address of our directors and executive officers is c/o 60/F, Pearl River Tower, No. 15 West Zhujiang Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623, People’s Republic of China. (1) Percentage of beneficial ownership of each director and executive officer is based on 1,157,463,924 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2023. (2) Includes (i) 10,041,200 ordinary shares in the form of ADSs directly held by Mr. Hu, (ii) 189,698,110 ordinary shares of our company directly held by Sea Synergy Limited, or Sea Synergy, and (iii) 10,661,460 ordinary shares of our company held through Kingsford Resources Ltd., or Kingsford Resources. Sea Synergy is 100% held by a family trust, of which Mr. Hu is the settlor and co-beneficiary. Pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, Mr. Hu may be deemed to beneficially own all of the Ordinary Shares of the Issuer held by Sea Synergy. Kingsford Resources is a shareholding vehicle that we established to hold shares of the Company on behalf of certain executive officers. Mr. Hu directly holds - 102 - 27.2% of the equity interests of Kingsford Resources which directly holds 39,252,100 ordinary shares of the Issuer. (3) Includes (i) 48,562,260 ordinary share held by Green Ease, which is 100% held by High Rank Investments Limited, or High Rank and (ii) 5,000,000 ordinary shares held through Kingsford Resources. High Rank was 100% held by a family trust, of which Mr. Ge is the settlor and co-beneficiary. Pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, High Rank Investments and Mr. Ge may be deemed to beneficially own all of the Ordinary Shares of the Issuer held by High Rank. Mr. Ge directly holds 12.7% of the equity interests of Kingsford Resources. (4) Includes (i) 22,787,600 ordinary share held through Kingsford Resources; and (ii) 332,000 ordinary shares in the form of ADSs directly held by Mr. Liu. Mr. Liu directly holds 58.1% of the equity interests of Kingsford Resources. (5) Includes 189,698,110 ordinary shares of the Company directly held by Sea Synergy. The registered address of Sea Synergy is P.O. Box 957, Offshore Incorporations Centre, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. None of our existing shareholders have different voting rights from other shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company. As of March 31, 2023, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., or J.P. Morgan, the depositary for our ADS program, is our only record holder in the United States, holding approximately 57.3% of our total outstanding ordinary shares. The number of beneficial owners of our ADSs in the United States is likely much larger than the number of record holders of our ordinary shares in the United States. Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions A. Major Shareholders Please refer to “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.” B. Related Party Transactions Proposed Going Private Transaction On December 16, 2021, our board of directors received a preliminary non-binding proposal letter from a consortium led by Mr. Yinan Hu, our founder, chairman and CEO, proposing to acquire all of the outstanding ordinary shares of the Company not already owned by the consortium for $9.8 per ADS, or $0.49 per ordinary share in a going private transaction. On December 19, 2022, Mr. Hu withdrew the preliminary non-binding going private proposal, effective immediately. Transactions with Puyi Inc. On December 28, 2020, we entered into a framework strategic partnership agreement, or the Agreement, with Puyi Enterprise Management Advisory Co., Ltd., or Puyi Enterprise, an affiliate of Puyi Inc., pursuant to which, both parties, on the basis of full compliance with relevant regulatory and legal requirements, will share customer and channel resources and explore collaboration opportunities on the provision of value-added asset management services to Chinese households, by leveraging both parties’ respective strength in insurance and financial services. Pursuant to the framework agreement, starting from January 2021, Puyi Enterprise has been providing referral and marketing services of our insurance products to their clients when their clients have such needs while our agents will be responsible for handling the purchasing procedures and other services. In 2022, we incurred a total of RMB13.5 million commission cost and RMB7.0 million training cost to Puyi Enterprise and the balance of accounts payable as of December 31, 2022 was RMB5.0 million. Employment Agreements See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management— Employment Agreements” for a description of the employment agreements we have entered into with our senior executive officers. - 103 - Share Options Please refer to “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation.” C. Interests of Experts and Counsel Not applicable. Item 8. Financial Information A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information See “Item 18. Financial Statements.” Legal and Regulatory Proceedings We are currently not a party to any material litigation or legal proceeding that may have a material adverse impact on our business or operations. However, we are and may continue to be subject to various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In addition, the CBIRC may make inquiries and conduct examinations concerning our compliance with PRC laws and regulations from time to time. These administrative proceedings have resulted in administrative sanctions, including fines of RMB1.0 million in aggregate in 2022, which were not material to us. While we cannot predict the outcome of any pending or future examination, we do not believe that any pending legal matter will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. However, we cannot assure you that any future regulatory proceeding will not have an adverse outcome, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results or cash flows. Dividend Policy Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that our company may only pay dividends out of profits or share premium account, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid unless, immediately following the date on which it is to be paid, our company will be able to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. The timing, amount and form of dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. On February 28, 2017, our board of directors approved a cash dividend policy, which provided for an annual cash dividend to shareholders of no less than 30% of our net income attributable to shareholders in the previous fiscal year. On April 20, 2017, our board of directors declared an annual cash dividend of US$0.006 per ordinary share, or US$0.12 per ADS, payable on or around May 18, 2017 to shareholders of record on May 8, 2017. On September 18, 2017, our board of directors modified the dividend policy to adopt a quarterly payment schedule in lieu of an annual dividend, with the dividend payout ratio of no less than 50% of net operating income attributable to the Company’s shareholders instead of no less than 30% under the annual dividend policy previously announced on April 20, 2017. The following table summarizes the quarterly dividend payments since the announcement of the quarterly dividend policy. Declaration Date November 20, 2017 March 9, 2018 May 12, 2018 August 18, 2018 Quarterly Dividend (Per Ordinary Share) ( US$) Quarterly Dividend (Per ADS) ( US$) Record Date December 8, 2017 Payable Date December 22, 2017 0.20 0.20 March 26, 2018 April 10, 2018 June 11, 2018 0.25 September 19, 2018 June 4, 2018 September 5, 2018 0.25 0.01 0.01 0.0125 0.0125 - 104 - November 17, 2018 March 18, 2019 May 22, 2019 August 20, 2019 November 20, 2019 March 18, 2020 May 26, 2020 August 24, 2020 November 24, 2020 March 22, 2021 May 27, 2021 August 23, 2021 November 23, 2021 March 28, 2022 0.0125 0.0125 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0150 0.0125 0.0125 0.0125 0.0125 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 0.0075 December 5, 2018 December 20, 2018 0.25 0.25 March 21, 2019 April 3, 2019 June 20, 2019 0.30 September 19, 2019 December 19, 2019 June 6, 2019 September 4, 2019 December 5, 2019 0.30 0.30 0.30 April 2, 2020 0.25 June 10, 2020 September 8, 2020 December 9, 2020 0.25 April 16, 2020 June 24, 2020 September 22, 2020 December 23, 2020 0.25 0.25 March 31, 2021 April 15, 2021 June 25, 2021 0.15 June 11, 2021 September 23, September 7, 2021 2021 December 22, December 8, 2021 2021 0.15 0.15 April 12, 2022 April 26, 2022 0.15 On May 26, 2022, in lieu of cash dividend, our board of directors approved the distribution of 252,995,600 ordinary shares of CNFinance to the Company’s shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 9, 2022. The Company’s shareholders of record received 4.71 ordinary shares of CNFinance for each 20 issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company, or 0.2355 ADSs of CNFinance for each ADS of the Company. The distribution was completed on June 28, 2022, after which our equity stake in CNFinance decreased from approximately 18.5% to approximately 0.01%. When we pay dividends, we pay our ADS holders to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Any dividend we declare will be distributed by the depositary bank to the holders of our ADSs. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, will be paid in U.S. dollars. Currently, we have no plan to repatriate the remaining undistributed earnings from our subsidiaries in China and we intend to retain all of our available funds held by subsidiaries in China and their future earnings to operate and expand our business. We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We rely on dividends from our subsidiaries and service fees from our consolidated VIEs in China or share premium to fund our payment of dividends, if any, to our shareholders. Current PRC regulations permit our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs in China is required to set aside a certain amount of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserves. These reserves may not be distributed as cash dividends. Further, if our subsidiaries and consolidated VIEs in China incur debt on their own behalf, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us. Furthermore, there are still uncertainties under the new PRC EIT law and the related regulations regarding whether the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries or dividends paid to our shareholders will be subject to PRC withholding tax. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China— Our global income or the dividends we receive from our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC tax under the EIT Law, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.” B. Significant Changes We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report. Item 9. The Offer and Listing A. Offer and Listing Details Not applicable - 105 -  B. Plan of Distribution Not applicable. C. Markets Our ADSs, each representing 20 ordinary shares, are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “FANH.” From October 31, 2007 until December 6, 2016, our ticker symbol was “CISG.” From October 31, 2007 until January 1, 2009, our ADSs were listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. D. Selling Shareholders Not applicable. E. Dilution Not applicable. F. Expenses of the Issue Not applicable. Item 10. Additional Information A. Share Capital Not applicable. B. Memorandum and Articles of Association The following are summaries of material provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as adopted by our shareholders by special resolution at the extraordinary general meeting held on December 6, 2016, as well as the Cayman Companies Act insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares. Registered Office and Objects The registered office of our company is at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands, or at such other place within the Cayman Islands as our board of directors may decide. The objects for which our company is established are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Companies Act or as the same may be revised from time to time, or any other law of the Cayman Islands. Board of Directors See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices—Board of Directors.” Ordinary Shares General. Our authorized share capital consists of 10,000,000,000 ordinary shares, with a par value of US$0.001 each. All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our shareholders who are nonresidents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares. Dividend Rights. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Act. Voting Rights. On a show of hands, each shareholder present in person or by proxy (or, for a corporation or other non-natural person, present by its duly authorized representative or proxy) at a general meeting shall have - 106 - one vote and on a poll, shall have one vote for each share registered in his name in the register of members of our company. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by any one or more shareholders together holding at least ten percent of our paid-up voting share capital, present in person or by proxy. A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of shareholders holding in aggregate not less than one-third of our issued voting share capital present in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative. We may, but are not obliged, to hold an annual general meeting of shareholders. General meetings may be convened by our board of directors on its own initiative or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding in aggregate not less than one-third of our voting share capital. Advance notice of at least 14 calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other shareholders’ meetings. An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting or may be approved in writing by all of the shareholders entitled to vote at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast in a general meeting or may be passed as a unanimous written resolution. A special resolution is required for important matters such as a change of name. Holders of the ordinary shares may effect certain changes by ordinary resolution, including consolidating and dividing all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares, and canceling any shares which have not been taken or agreed to be taken. Transfer of Shares. Subject to the restrictions of our articles of association, as applicable, any of our shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by our board. Liquidation. On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares may be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares as determined by the liquidator, subject to sanction of an ordinary resolution of our company. Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture. Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and our articles of association, we may issue shares on terms that they are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders, on such terms and in such manner as our board of directors may determine before the issue of such shares. We also may purchase our own shares, provided that our shareholders have approved the manner of purchase by ordinary resolution or the manner of purchase is in accordance with that specified in our articles of association. The manner of purchase specified in our articles of association, which cover purchases of shares listed on an internationally recognized stock exchange and shares not so listed, is in accordance with Section 37(2) of the Companies Act or any modification or reenactment thereof for the time being in force. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration. Pursuant to the Companies Act, upon the repurchase, redemption or surrender of shares, the board of directors can determine whether or not to cancel those shares or hold them as treasury shares pending cancellation, transfer or sale. The company must obtain authorization to hold such shares as treasury shares either in accordance with the procedures set out in the company’s articles of association or (if there are none) by a board resolution before being repurchased, redeemed or surrendered in accordance with the usual rules and articles. Variations of Rights of Shares. If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any class of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class) may, subject to our articles of association, be varied or abrogated with the written consent of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our ordinary shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our register of members or our corporate records (other than our memorandum and articles of association, special resolutions, and our register of mortgages and charges). However, we make - 107 - our annual reports, which contain our audited financial statements, available to our shareholders. See “Item 10. Additional Information—H. Documents on Display.” C. Material Contracts We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4. Information on the Company” or elsewhere in this annual report. D. Exchange Controls See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations on Foreign Exchange.” E. Taxation The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, PRC and United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to prospective and retroactive change and is included here for information purposes only. This summary is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice, does not consider any investor’s particular circumstances, and does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under state, local and other tax laws. Cayman Islands Taxation According to Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our Cayman Islands counsel, the Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of inheritance tax, estate duty or gift tax. No Cayman Islands stamp duty will be payable unless an instrument is executed in, or after execution brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands, or produced before a court of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is a party to a double tax treaty with the United Kingdom but otherwise is not a party to any double tax treaties. There are no exchange control regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands. PRC Taxation Under the former PRC Income Tax Law for Enterprises with Foreign Investment and Foreign Enterprises, any dividends payable by foreign-invested enterprises to non-PRC investors were exempt from any PRC withholding tax. In addition, any interest or dividends payable, or distributions made, by us to holders or beneficial owners of our ADSs or ordinary shares would not have been subject to any PRC tax, provided that such holders or beneficial owners, including individuals and enterprises, were not deemed to be PRC residents under the PRC tax law and had not become subject to PRC tax. Under the EIT Law, which took effect as of January 1, 2008, which was subsequently amended on March 16, 2007, February 24, 2017 and December 29, 2018, enterprises established under the laws of non-PRC jurisdictions but whose “de facto management body” is located in China are considered “resident enterprises” for PRC tax purposes. Under the implementation regulations issued by the State Council relating to the new law, “de facto management bodies” are defined as the bodies that have material and overall management control over the business, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. On April 22, 2009, SAT, issued SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC- controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. In addition, the SAT issued a bulletin on July 27, 2011 providing more guidance on the implementation of Circular 82 and clarifying matters such as resident status determination. Substantially all of our management are currently based in China, and may remain in China in the future. If we were treated as a “resident enterprise” for PRC tax purposes, we would be subject to PRC income tax on our worldwide income at a uniform tax rate of 25%, but dividends received by us from our PRC subsidiaries may be exempt from the income tax. Under the new law and its implementation regulations, dividends paid to a non-PRC investor are generally subject to a 10% or 5% PRC withholding tax, if such dividends are derived from sources within China and the non-PRC investor is considered to be a non-resident enterprise without any establishment or place of business - 108 - within China or if the dividends paid have no connection with the non-PRC investor’s establishment or place of business within China, unless such tax is eliminated or reduced under an applicable tax treaty. Similarly, any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or shares by such an investor is also subject to a 10% or 5% PRC withholding tax if such gain is regarded as income derived from sources within China, unless such tax is eliminated or reduced under an applicable tax treaty. If we were considered a PRC “resident enterprise,” it is possible that the dividends we pay with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares, or the gain you may realize from the transfer of our ADSs or ordinary shares, would be treated as income derived from sources within China and be subject to the 10% or 5% PRC withholding tax. Income Tax and Withholding Tax The EIT Law, applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises. The EIT Law imposes a withholding tax of 10% on dividends distributed by a PRC foreign- invested enterprise to its immediate holding company outside of China, if such immediate holding company is considered a “non-resident enterprise” without any establishment or place within China or if the received dividends have no connection with the establishment or place of such immediate holding company within China, unless such immediate holding company’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement. Holding companies in Hong Kong, for example, are subject to a 5% withholding tax rate. The Cayman Islands, where we are incorporated, does not have such a tax treaty with China. Thus, dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries in China may be subject to the 10% withholding tax if we are considered a “non-resident enterprise” under the EIT Law. Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, any interest or premium with respect to the notes and any gains realized on the transfer of the notes by holders who are deemed under the EIT Law as non-resident enterprise may be subject to PRC enterprises income tax if such interest, premium or gains are regarded as income derived from sources within the PRC. Under the EIT Law, a “non-resident enterprise” means an enterprise established under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the PRC and whose actual administrative organization is not in the PRC but has established offices or premises in the PRC, or which has not established any offices or premises in the PRC but has obtained incomes derived from sources within the PRC. The EIT Law provides that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered “resident enterprises” and are therefore subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% with respect to their income sourced from both within and outside of China. The Implementing Regulation defines the term “de facto management body” as a management body that exercises substantial and overall control and management over the production and operations, personnel, accounting and properties of an enterprise. Circular 82 provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China. The Resident Enterprise Administrative Measures provide clarification for resident status determination and competent tax authorities. However, Circular 82 and the Resident Enterprise Administrative Measures apply only to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises, not those invested in or controlled by PRC individuals, like our company. Currently there are no further detailed rules or precedents applicable to us regarding the procedures and specific criteria for determining “de facto management body” for a company of our type. It is still unclear if the PRC tax authorities would determine that we should be classified as a PRC “resident enterprise.” Although we have not been notified that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise, we cannot assure you that we will not be treated as a “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law, any aforesaid circulars or any amended regulations in the future. If we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, among other things, we would be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income. Furthermore, if we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise, payments of dividends and/or other expenses of similar nature by us may be regarded as derived from sources within the PRC and therefore we may be obligated to withhold PRC income tax at 10% on payments of dividends on the ADSs or shares and/or interest or other expenses of similar nature on the notes to non-PRC resident enterprise investors. In the case of non-PRC resident individual investors, the tax may be withheld at a rate of 20%. In addition, if we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise, any gain realized on the transfer of the ADSs and/or ordinary shares by non-PRC resident investors may be regarded as derived from sources within the PRC and accordingly may be subject to a 10% PRC income tax in the case of non-PRC resident enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC resident individuals. The PRC tax on interest or gains may be reduced or exempted under applicable tax treaties between the PRC and the ADS holder’s home country. For example, according to an - 109 - arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong, for the avoidance of double taxation, ADS holders who are Hong Kong residents, including both enterprise holders and individual holders, may be exempted from PRC income tax on capital gains derived from a sale or exchange of the notes. United States Federal Income Taxation The following discussion describes the material United States federal income tax considerations to a United States Holder (as defined below), of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares. This discussion is based on the federal income tax laws of the United States as of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, including the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority, published administrative positions of the United States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other applicable authorities, all as of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to differing interpretations or changes, which could apply retroactively or significantly affect the tax considerations described below. We have not sought any ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made or the conclusions reached in the following discussion and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our statements or conclusions. In addition, this summary of the United States federal income tax considerations does not discuss the Medicare Tax on net investment income, any tax considerations arising under the United States federal non-income tax laws (such as estate or gift tax), or the laws of any state, local, or non-United States taxing jurisdiction. This discussion applies only to a United States Holder (as defined below) that holds ADSs or ordinary shares as “capital assets” for United States federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). The discussion neither addresses the tax considerations to any particular investor nor describes all aspects of the tax considerations applicable to persons in special tax situations, such as: ● banks and certain other financial institutions; ● insurance companies; ● regulated investment companies; ● real estate investment trusts; ● brokers or dealers in stocks and securities, or currencies; ● persons who use or are required to use a mark-to-market method of accounting; ● certain former citizens or residents of the United States subject to Section 877 of the Code; ● entities subject to the United States anti-inversion rules; ● tax-exempt organizations and entities; ● persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code; ● persons whose functional currency is other than the United States dollar; ● persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction; ● persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through a bank, financial institution or other entity, or a branch thereof, located, organized or resident outside the United States; ● persons that actually or constructively own ADSs or ordinary shares representing 10% or more of our voting power or value; ● persons who acquired ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; - 110 - ● partnerships or other pass-through entities, or persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares through such entities; ● persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; or ● persons that hold, directly, indirectly or by attribution, ADSs, ordinary shares or other ownership interests in us prior to our initial public offering. If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a flow-through entity for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partnership or a partner in a partnership holding our ADSs or ordinary shares should consult its tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of investing in and holding our ADSs or ordinary shares. The following discussion is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for careful tax planning and advice. Investors should consult their tax advisors with respect to the application of the United States federal income tax laws to their particular situations, as well as any tax consequences arising under the federal estate or gift tax laws or the laws of any state, local or non-Untied States taxing jurisdiction and under any applicable tax treaty. For purposes of the discussion below, a “United States Holder” is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares that is, for United States federal income tax purposes: ● an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; an estate, the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or a trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over its administration and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all of its substantial decisions or (ii) in the case of a trust that was treated as a domestic trust under the law in effect before 1997, a valid election is in place under applicable Treasury Regulations to treat such trust as a domestic trust. ● ● ● ADSs If you own our ADSs, then you should be treated as the owner of the underlying ordinary shares represented by those ADSs for United States federal income tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a United States Holder of our ADSs will be treated in this manner. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs should not be subject to United States federal income tax. Passive Foreign Investment Company Based on the market price of our ADSs, the value of our assets and the composition of our income and assets, we believe we were a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for United States federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ending December 31, 2022, however there can be no assurance to this regard. We believe we were also a PFIC for 2017 and prior years. In addition, we believe that it is likely that one or more of our subsidiaries were also PFICs for such years. A non-United States corporation such as ourselves will be treated as a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if, applying applicable look-through rules, either: ● at least 75% of our gross income for such year is passive income; or ● at least 50% of the value of our assets (generally determined based on a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. - 111 - For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties and rents (other than certain royalties and rents derived in the active conduct of a trade or business and not derived from a related person). We will be treated as owning a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% by value of the stock. Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat the VIEs as being owned by us for United States federal income tax purposes, because we exercise effective control over the operation of such entities and because we are entitled to substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their results of operations in our consolidated United States GAAP financial statements. The composition of our income and assets will be affected by the market price of our ADSs and how, and how quickly, we spend our liquid assets and the cash we generate from our operations and raise in any offering. Unless the market price of our ADSs increases or we reduce the amount of cash, short term investments and other passive assets we hold sufficiently from current levels, we believe that we are likely to remain a PFIC for future taxable years. However, the determination of PFIC status is based on an annual determination that cannot be made until the close of a taxable year, involves extensive factual investigation, including ascertaining the fair market value of all of our assets on a quarterly basis and the character of each item of income that we earn, and is subject to uncertainty in several respects. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not take a contrary position. Changes in the composition of our income and assets may cause us to cease to be or become a PFIC. The determination of whether we will be a PFIC for any taxable year may depend in part upon the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles not reflected on our balance sheet (which may depend upon the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares from time to time, which may fluctuate significantly) and also may be affected by how, and how quickly, we spend our liquid assets and the cash we generate from our operations and raise in any offering. Among other matters, if our market capitalization increases, we may cease to be a PFIC because our liquid assets and cash (which are for this purpose considered assets that produce passive income) may then represent a smaller percentage of our overall assets. Further, while we believe our classification methodology and valuation approach is reasonable, it is possible that the IRS may challenge our classification or valuation of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, which may result in our being or becoming a non-PFIC for the current or one or more future taxable years. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (as we believe we were for 2022, 2017 and prior years) during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to you for all succeeding years during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, unless we cease to be a PFIC (as we believe we did in 2018) and you make a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicable. If such an election is made, you will be deemed to have sold the ADSs or ordinary shares you hold at their fair market value and any gain from such deemed sale would be subject to the rules described in the following two paragraphs. After the deemed sale election, so long as we do not become a PFIC in a subsequent taxable year, the ADSs or ordinary shares with respect to which such election was made will not be treated as shares in a PFIC and, as a result, you will not be subject to the rules described below with respect to any “excess distribution” you receive from us or any gain from an actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. You are strongly urged to consult your tax advisors as to the possibility and consequences of making a deemed sale election if we are and then cease to be a PFIC and such an election becomes available to you. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (as we believe we were for 2022, 2017 and prior years) during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, then, unless you make a “mark-to-market” election (as discussed below), you generally will be subject to special and adverse tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” that you receive from us and any gain that you recognize from a sale or other disposition, including a pledge, of the ADSs or ordinary shares. For this purpose, distributions that you receive in a taxable year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions that you received during the shorter of the three preceding taxable years or your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these rules: ● ● the excess distribution or recognized gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares; the amount of the excess distribution or recognized gain allocated to the taxable year of distribution or gain, and to any taxable years in your holding period prior to the first taxable year in which we were treated as a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and - 112 - ● the amount of the excess distribution or recognized gain allocated to each other taxable year will be subject to the highest tax rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as applicable, for each such year and the resulting tax will be subject to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (as we believe we were for 2022, 2017 and prior years) during which you hold our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our non-United States subsidiaries that are corporations (or other corporations in which we own equity interests) is also a PFIC, you would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of each such non-United States entity classified as a PFIC (each such entity, “a lower-tier PFIC”) for purposes of the application of these rules. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our lower-tier PFICs. If we are a PFIC for any taxable year (as we believe we were for 2022, 2017 and prior years) during which you hold ADSs or ordinary shares, then in lieu of being subject to the tax and interest-charge rules discussed above, you may make an election to include gain on our ADSs or ordinary shares as ordinary income under a mark-to-market method, provided that our ADSs or ordinary shares constitute “marketable stock” (as defined below). If you make a mark-to-market election for our ADSs or ordinary shares, you will include in gross income for each year that we are a PFIC an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the ADSs or ordinary shares you hold as of the close of your taxable year over your adjusted basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. You will be allowed a deduction for the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the ADSs or ordinary shares over their fair market value as of the close of the taxable year. However, deductions will be allowable only to the extent of any net mark-to-market gains on the ADSs or ordinary shares included in your income for prior taxable years. Amounts included in your income under a mark-to-market election, as well as any gain from the actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, will be treated as ordinary income. Ordinary loss treatment will apply to the deductible portion of any mark-to-market loss on the ADSs or ordinary shares, as well as to any loss from the actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, to the extent that the amount of such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included for such ADSs or ordinary shares. Your basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. If you make a valid mark-to-market election, any distributions we make would generally be subject to the tax rules discussed below under “Item. 10 Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Taxation— Dividends and Other Distributions on the ADSs or Ordinary Shares,” except the lower capital gains rate applicable to qualified dividend income generally would not apply. The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock.” Marketable stock is stock that is regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable Treasury Regulations. Our ADSs, but not our ordinary shares, are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which is a qualified exchange or other market for these purposes. Consequently, if the ADSs remain listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and are regularly traded, and you are a holder of ADSs, we expect that the mark-to-market election will be available to you, but no assurances are given in this regard. If you make a mark-to-market election, it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ADSs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. You are urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable in your particular circumstances. Because a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower tier PFICs that we may own, if we were a PFIC for any taxable year (as we believe we were for 2022, 2017 and prior years), a United States Holder that makes the mark-to-market election may continue to be subject to the tax and interest charges under the general PFIC rules with respect to such United States Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes. In certain circumstances, a United States shareholder in a PFIC may avoid the adverse tax and interest-charge regime described above by making a “qualified electing fund” election to include in income its share of the corporation’s income on a current basis. However, you may make a qualified electing fund election with respect to your ADSs or ordinary shares only if we agree to furnish you annually with a PFIC annual information statement as specified in the applicable Treasury Regulations. We do not intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable you to make a qualified electing fund election. A United States Holder that holds our ADSs or ordinary shares in any year in which we are a PFIC (as we believe we were for 2022, 2017 and prior years) will be required to file an annual report containing such - 113 - information as the United States Treasury Department may require. You are strongly urged to consult your tax advisors regarding the impact of our being a PFIC in 2022 on your investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares, as well as the application of the PFIC rules to your investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares and the availability, application and consequences of the elections discussed above. Dividends and Other Distributions on the ADSs or Ordinary Shares Subject to the passive foreign investment company rules discussed above, the gross amount of any distribution that we make to you with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares (including any amounts withheld to reflect PRC or other withholding taxes) will be taxable as a dividend, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles. Such income (including any withheld taxes) will be includable in your gross income on the day actually or constructively received by you, if you own the ordinary shares, or by the depositary, if you own ADSs. Because we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of United States federal income tax principles, any distribution paid will generally be reported as a “dividend” for United States federal income tax purposes. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to qualifying corporations under the Code. Dividends received by a non-corporate United States Holder may qualify for the lower rates of tax applicable to “qualified dividend income,” if the dividends are paid by a “qualified foreign corporation” and other conditions discussed below are met. A non-United States corporation is treated as a qualified foreign corporation (i) with respect to dividends paid by that corporation on shares (or American depositary shares backed by such shares) that are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or (ii) if such non-United States corporation is eligible for the benefits of a qualifying income tax treaty with the United States that includes an exchange of information program. However, a non-United States corporation will not be treated as a qualified foreign corporation if it is a passive foreign investment company in the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year. Under a published IRS Notice, common or ordinary shares, or American depositary shares representing such shares, are considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as are our ADSs (but not our ordinary shares). Based on existing guidance, it is unclear whether the ordinary shares will be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, because only the ADSs, and not the underlying ordinary shares, are listed on a securities market in the United States. We believe, but we cannot assure you, that dividends we pay, if any, on the ordinary shares that are represented by ADSs, but not on the ordinary shares that are not so represented, will, subject to applicable limitations, be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation. In addition, if we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC tax law (see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—PRC Taxation”), then we may be eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC. If we are eligible for such benefits, then dividends that we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless of whether such shares are represented by ADSs, would, subject to applicable limitations, be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation. Even if dividends would be treated as paid by a qualified foreign corporation, a non-corporate United States Holder will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation if it does not hold our ADSs or ordinary shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-dividend date or if the United States Holder elects to treat the dividend income as “investment income” pursuant to Section 163(d)(4) of the Code. In addition, the rate reduction will not apply to dividends of a qualified foreign corporation if the non-corporate United States Holder receiving the dividend is obligated to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income for any dividends that we pay with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, as well as the effect of any change in applicable law after the date of this annual report on Form 20-F. Any PRC or other non-United States withholding taxes imposed on dividends paid to you with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against your United States federal income tax liability, subject to the various limitations and disallowance rules that apply to foreign tax credits generally. For purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit, dividends paid to you with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares will be treated as income from sources outside the United States and generally will constitute passive category income. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex and recently issued Treasury Regulations have introduced additional requirements and limitations to the foreign tax credit rules. - 114 - You should consult your tax advisors regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit in your particular circumstances. Disposition of the ADSs or Ordinary Shares You will recognize gain or loss on a sale or exchange of the ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and your tax basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares. Subject to the discussion under “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Taxation—Passive Foreign Investment Company,” above, such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss. Capital gains of a non-corporate United States Holder, including an individual that has held the ADSs or ordinary shares for more than one year currently are eligible for reduced tax rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss that you recognize on a disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as United States-source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. However, if we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes and PRC tax is imposed on gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares (see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—PRC Taxation”), then a United States Holder that is eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC may elect to treat the gain as PRC-source income for foreign tax credit purposes. If such an election is made, the gain so treated will be treated as a separate class or “basket” of income for foreign tax credit purposes. You should consult your tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of gain or loss, as well as the availability of a foreign tax credit, in your particular circumstances. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Information reporting to the IRS and backup withholding generally will apply to dividends in respect of our ADSs or ordinary shares, and the proceeds from the sale or exchange of our ADSs or ordinary shares, that are paid to you within the United States (and in certain cases, outside the United States), unless you furnish a correct taxpayer identification number and make any other required certification, generally on IRS Form W-9 or you otherwise establish an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding generally are allowed as a credit against your United States federal income tax liability, and you may be entitled to obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules if you file an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnish any required information in a timely manner. United States Holders who are individuals (and certain entities closely held by individuals) generally will be required to report our name, address and such information relating to an interest in the ADSs or ordinary shares as is necessary to identify the class or issue of which the ADSs or ordinary shares are a part. These requirements are subject to exceptions, including an exception for ADSs or ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions and an exception applicable if the aggregate value of all “specified foreign financial assets” (as defined in the Code) does not exceed US$50,000. United States Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules. F. Dividends and Paying Agents Not applicable. G. Statement by Experts Not applicable. H. Documents on Display We previously filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-146605) and a prospectus under the Securities Act with respect to the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs. We also filed with the SEC a related registration statement on Form F-6 (File Number 333-146765) with respect to the ADSs. - 115 - We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the SEC. All documents filed by us with the SEC can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1- 800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules of the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act. We intend to furnish J.P. Morgan, the depositary of our ADSs, with all notices of shareholders’ meetings and other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our written request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us. In accordance with Rule 5250(d) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules, we will post this annual report on Form 20-F on our website at http://ir.fanhuaholdings.com/sec.cfm. In addition, we will provide hard copies of our annual report free of charge to shareholders and ADS holders upon request. I. Subsidiary Information For a list of our subsidiaries as of March 31, 2023, see Exhibit 8.1 to this annual report. Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk Interest Rate Risk Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated by bank deposits and short- term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less, and interest expenses incurred by short- term borrowing. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk, and our future interest income may be lower than expected. We have not been exposed nor do we anticipate being exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. We have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. Foreign Exchange Risk Substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in RMB. Our exposure to foreign exchange risk primarily relates to the cash and cash equivalent denominated in U.S. dollars that we keep offshore for dividend payments. We have not hedged exposures denominated in foreign currencies using any derivative financial instruments. Although in general, our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited, the value of your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollars and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in RMB, while the ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars. The value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, has been based on rates set by the PBOC. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging the value of the RMB to the U.S. dollar. Under such policy, the RMB is permitted to fluctuate within a narrow and managed band against a basket of certain foreign currencies. Removal of the U.S. dollar peg has resulted in an approximately more than 25.0% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar over the following eight years. In April 2012, the trading band has been widened to 1%, and in March 2014 it was further widened to 2%, which allows the Renminbi to fluctuate against the U.S. dollar by up to 2% above or below the central parity rate published by the PBOC. In August 2015, the PBOC changed the way it calculates the mid-point price of Renminbi against U.S. dollar, requiring the market-makers who submit for the PBOC’s reference rates to consider the previous day’s closing spot rate, foreign-exchange demand and supply as - 116 - well as changes in major currency rates. This change, and other changes such as widening the trading band that may be implemented, may increase volatility in the value of the Renminbi against foreign currencies. The PRC government may from time to time make further adjustments to the exchange rate system in the future. To the extent that we need to convert our U.S. dollar or other currencies-denominated assets into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar or other currencies would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we receive from the conversion. We had U.S. dollar-denominated financial assets amounting to US$6.2 million and HK dollar-denominated financial assets amounting to HK$5.3 million as of December 31, 2022. A 10% appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar and HK dollar would have resulted in a decrease of RMB4.7 million (US$0.7 million) in the value of our U.S. dollar-denominated and HK dollar-denominated financial assets. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB denominated cash amounts into U.S. dollars amounts or other currencies amounts for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar or other currencies against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar or other currencies amount available to us. Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities A. Debt Securities Not applicable. B. Warrants and Rights Not applicable. C. Other Securities Not applicable. D. American Depositary Shares Fees Payable by ADS Holders We have appointed J.P. Morgan as our depositary. A copy of our Form of Deposit Agreement with J.P. Morgan was filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Form F-6 registration statement initially filed on October 17, 2007 and amended on December 7, 2016 and November 28, 2017, or the Deposit Agreement. Pursuant to the Deposit Agreement, holders of our ADSs may have to pay to J.P. Morgan, either directly or indirectly, fees or charges up to the amounts set forth in the table below. Category (a) Depositing or substituting the underlying shares Depositary Actions Each person to whom American depositary receipts (“ADRs”) are issued against deposits of shares, including deposits and issuances in respect of: Associated Fees US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) evidenced by the new ADRs delivered ● Share distributions, stock split, rights, merger (b) Receiving or distributing dividends (c) Selling or exercising rights (d) Withdrawing an underlying security ● Exchange of securities or any other transaction or event or other distribution affecting the ADSs or the Deposited Securities Distribution of dividends US$0.02 or less per ADS Distribution or sale of securities, the fee being in an amount equal to the fee for the execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities Acceptance of ADRs surrendered for withdrawal of deposited securities US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or portion thereof) evidenced by the ADRs surrendered (e) Transferring, Transfers, combining or grouping of depositary receipts US$1.50 per ADS splitting or - 117 - grouping receipts (f) General ● Other services performed by the depositary in depositary services, particularly those charged on an annual basis. administering the ADRs ● Provide information about the depositary’s right, if any, to collect fees and charges by offsetting them against dividends received and deposited securities (g) Expenses of the depositary Expenses incurred on behalf of Holders in connection with ● Compliance with foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment ● The depositary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or regulation ● Stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges ● Cable, telex, facsimile transmission/delivery ● Expenses of the depositary in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars (which are paid out of such foreign currency) ● Any other charge payable by depositary or its agents US$0.02 per ADS (or portion thereof) not more than once each calendar year and payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing Holders or by deducting such charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions Expenses payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing Holders or by deducting charges from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions Payment from the Depositary Direct Payments J.P. Morgan, as depositary, has agreed to reimburse certain reasonable company expenses related to our ADR program and incurred by us in connection with the program. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the depositary reimbursed US$1.1 million and US$2.6 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, 30% of the depositary reimbursement has been deducted as withholding income tax, respectively. The amounts the depositary reimbursed are not perforce related to the fees collected by the depositary from ADR holders. PART II Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies None. Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds A.–D. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders None. E. Use of Proceeds None. Item 15. Controls and Procedures Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures - 118 - Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a- 15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report, as required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based upon this evaluation, our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in by the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such item is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for our company. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of a company’s assets, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that a company’s receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of a company’s management and directors, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of a company’s assets that could have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules as promulgated by the SEC, our management assessed the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 using criteria established in “Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022, based on the criteria established in “Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)” issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. - 119 - Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Fanhua Inc. Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Fanhua Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, of the Company and our report dated April 25, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and included explanatory paragraphs relating to the translation of Renminbi amounts into United States dollars amounts on those financial statements and the financial statements. Basis for Opinion The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. /s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Shenzhen, the People’s Republic of China April 25, 2023 Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting - 120 - Management has evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, whether any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal year have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Based on the evaluation we conducted, management has concluded that except for the changes implemented by management in controls over the process to estimate variable renewal commissions in relation to long-term life insurance products and the change in control owner of certain control activities due to change to management, there has been no such change during the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F. Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert Our board of directors has determined that Allen Lueth, an independent director (under the standards set forth in Rule 5605 of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act) and member of our audit committee, is an audit committee financial expert. Item 16B. Code of Ethics Our board of directors adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees. We have posted a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics on our investor relations website at http://ir.fanhuaholdings.com/governance.cfm. Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services On August 25, 2021, we engaged Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP (“Deloitte”) as our independent registered public accounting firm, and dismissed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (“Deloitte Hong Kong”). See also “Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.” The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Deloitte Hong Kong and Deloitte (PCAOB No. 1113) for the periods indicated. Audit fees(1) Audit-related fees(2) Tax fees(3) All other fees(4) For the Year Ended December 31, 2021 2022 (US$ in thousands) 1,650.0 — — — 1,550.0 — — — (1) “Audit fees” meant the aggregate fees billed and expected to be billed in each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of quarterly financial statements included in our reports on Form 6- K, services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for those fiscal years. (2) “Audit-related fees” meant the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for assurance and related services by our independent registered public accounting firm that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit fees.” (3) “Tax fees” meant the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. (4) “All other fees” means the aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for products and services provided by our principal accountant, other than the services reported in the other categories. The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services as described above, which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. - 121 - Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees Not applicable. Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers On December 20, 2022, our board of directors announced a share repurchase program which authorized us to repurchase up to US$20 million of its American depositary shares (“ADS”) from time to time. As of March 31, 2023 we had repurchased an aggregate of 72,465 ADSs (representing 1,449,300 ordinary shares) of the Company, at an average price of approximately US$7.85 per ADS for a total amount of approximately US$0.6 million under this share repurchase program. The following table summarizes the shares repurchase activity for the periods indicated. Period December 20, 2022 to December 31, 2022 Total Total Number of ADSs Purchased Average Price Paid per ADSs Total Number of ADSs Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs Approximate Dollar Value of ADSs that May Yet Be Purchased under the Program 72,465 US$ 7.8473 7.8473 72,465 US$ 72,465 US$ 72,465 US$ 19,431,348.2 19,431,348.2 There were no other purchases of any class of registered equity securities of the Company by the Company or, to our knowledge, by any affiliated purchaser. Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant On August 25, 2021, we engaged Deloitte as our independent registered public accounting firm, and dismissed Deloitte Hong Kong. The change of our independent registered public accounting firm had been approved by our board and the audit committee of our board, and the decision was not made due to any disagreements between us and Deloitte Hong Kong. The reports of Deloitte Hong Kong on our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and the subsequent interim period through August 25, 2021, there have been no (i) disagreements between us and Deloitte Hong Kong on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or audit scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the satisfaction of Deloitte Hong Kong would have caused them to make reference thereto in their reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, or (ii) reportable events as defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of the instructions to Form 20-F. We have provided Deloitte Hong Kong with a copy of the disclosures here under this Item 16F and required under Item 16F of Form 20-F and requested from Deloitte Hong Kong a letter addressed to the SEC indicating whether it agrees with such disclosures. A copy of Deloitte Hong Kong’s letter dated April 29, 2022 was attached as Exhibit 15.5 in our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2020 and the subsequent interim period through August 25, 2021, neither we nor anyone on behalf of us has consulted with Deloitte regarding (i) the application of accounting principles to a specific transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on our consolidated financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to us that Deloitte concluded was an important factor considered by us in reaching a decision as to any accounting, audit, or financial reporting issue, (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement pursuant to Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of the instructions to Form 20-F, or (iii) any reportable event pursuant to Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of the instructions to Form 20-F. Item 16G. Corporate Governance - 122 - Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5620(a) requires each issuer to hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after the end of the issuer’s fiscal year-end. However, Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5615(a)(3) permits foreign private issuers like us to follow “home country practice” in certain corporate governance matters. Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our Cayman Islands counsel, has provided a letter to the Nasdaq Stock Market certifying that under Cayman Islands law, we are not required to hold annual shareholder meetings every year. We followed home country practice with respect to annual meetings and did not hold an annual meeting of shareholders from 2009 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2021. However, we held an extraordinary general meeting on December 6, 2016 and obtained requisite shareholders’ approval to change the Company name from “CNinsure Inc.” to “Fanhua Inc.”. We may hold annual or extraordinary shareholder meetings in the future if there are significant issues that require shareholders’ approvals. We obtained approvals from the board of directors on November 27, 2014 and December 12, 2014 to issue up to 150,000,000 ordinary shares of the Company (the “Shares”) to our employees, excluding directors and officers. The purchase prices for the Shares are based on the average closing prices for the then 20 trading days prior to the board approvals. On August 29, 2018, we obtained approvals from the board of directors to resell 28,475,480 ordinary shares, in the form of 1,423,774 ADS of treasury stocks and newly issue and sell 101,524,520 ordinary shares in the form of 5,076,226 ADSs to participants in our 521 plan consisting of our key employees and entrepreneurial team leaders, at $25.52 per ADS, or the weighted average of the closing prices of the share repurchases under the 2018 Share Repurchase Program. On August 12, 2022, our board of directors adopted a share incentive plan under which we have reserved 161,143,768 ordinary shares for issuance, which was approximately 15% of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares as of June 30, 2022. Pursuant to the Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c), shareholder approval is required prior to the issuance of securities when a stock option or purchase plan is to be established or materially amended or other equity compensation arrangement made or materially amended, pursuant to which stock may be acquired by officers, directors, employees, or consultants, except for a few situations stated thereunder. In relations to the 521 Plan Transaction and the 2022 Share Incentive Plan mentioned above, Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our Cayman Island counsel, has provided letters to the Nasdaq Stock Market certifying that under Cayman Islands law, we are not required to obtain shareholder approval in respect of the issuance of securities in the circumstances set out in Nasdaq Stock Market Rule 5635(c). We follow home country practices accordingly. Other than the annual meeting and share purchase plan to employees practices described above, there are no significant differences between our corporate governance practices and those followed by U.S. domestic companies under Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure. Not applicable. Item 16I. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections. In May 2022, we were conclusively listed by the SEC as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the HFCAA following the filing of our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Our auditor, a registered public accounting firm that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate completely in 2021, issued the audit report for us for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it has secured complete access to inspect and investigate completely PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The PCAOB also vacated its previous determinations issued in December 2021. For this reason, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission- Identified Issuer under the HFCAA after we file this annual report on Form 20-F. As of the date of this annual report, to our knowledge, no governmental entities in the Cayman Islands own any shares of Fanhua Inc. or the consolidated VIEs in China. As of the date this annual report, Hongkong Chiho Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, holds 0.3% of the total outstanding ordinary shares of Fanhua Inc. China’s state-owned legal persons indirectly own - 123 - 100% of the equity interests in Hongkong Chiho Limited and in turn indirectly holds approximately 0.3% of the total outstanding ordinary shares of Fanhua Inc. To our knowledge, no other governmental entities in China own any shares of Fanhua Inc. or the consolidated VIEs as of the date of this annual report. The governmental entities in China do not have a controlling financial interest in Fanhua Inc. or the consolidated VIEs as of the date of this annual report. As of the date of this annual report, to our knowledge, (i) none of the members of the board of directors of Fanhua Inc. or our operating entities, including the consolidated VIEs, is an official of the Chinese Communist Party, and (ii) none of the currently effective memorandum and articles of association (or equivalent organizing document) of Fanhua Inc. or the consolidated VIEs contains any charter of the Chinese Communist Party. Item 16J. Insider Trading Policies. Not applicable. PART III Item 17. Financial Statements We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18. Item 18. Financial Statements The consolidated financial statements of Fanhua Inc. and its subsidiaries and VIEs are included at the end of this annual report. - 124 - Item 19. Exhibits Exhibit Number 1.1 1.2 1.3 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5† 4.6† 4.7† 4.8† 4.9† 4.10* 4.11*† Exhibit Number Description of Document Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-146605), as adopted by special resolution dated December 6, 2016, initially filed with the Commission on October 10, 2007) Amendments to the Articles of Association adopted by the shareholders of the Registrant on December 18, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on December 22, 2008) Amendments to the Articles of Association adopted by the shareholders of the Registrant on December 6, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 of our annual report on Form 20-F initially filed with the Commission on April 19, 2017) Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.3) Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-146605), as amended, initially filed with the Commission on October 10, 2007) Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, the depositary and holder of the American Depositary Receipts, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.(a) of our F-6 registration statement (File No. 333-146765), filed with the Commission on November 28, 2017 Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 of our annual report on Form 20- F (File No. 001-33768), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2022) 2007 Share Incentive Plan (as amended and restated effective December 18, 2008) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 of our report on Form 6-K furnished to the Commission on December 22, 2008) Form of Indemnification Agreement with the Registrant’s directors and officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-146605), as amended, initially filed with the Commission on October 10, 2007) Form of Director Agreement with Independent Directors of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-146605), as amended, initially filed with the Commission on October 10, 2007) Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and an Executive Officer of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on May 15, 2009) English translation of Loan Agreement dated December 6, 2021 between Fanhua Insurance Sales and Service Group Company Limited and Shuangping Jiang (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022) English translation of Equity Pledge Contract dated December 6, 2021 among Fanhua Insurance Sales and Service Group Company Limited, Shuangping Jiang and Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022) English translation of Exclusive Purchase Option Contract dated December 6, 2021 among Fanhua Insurance Sales and Service Group Company Limited, Shuangping Jiang and Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022) English translation of Power of Attorney dated December 6, 2021 of Shuangping Jiang (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022) English translation of Technology Consulting and Service Agreement dated March 1, 2022 between Fanhua Insurance Sales and Service Group Company Limited and Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022) 2022 Share Incentive Plan English translation of Loan Agreement dated July 1, 2022 between Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd. and Peng Ge Description of Document - 125 - 4.12*† 4.13*† 4.14*† 4.15* 8.1* 11.1 12.1* 12.2* 13.1** 13.2** 15.1* 15.2* 15.3* 15.4* 15.5 15.6* 101* 104 English translation of Equity Pledge Contract dated July 1, 2022 among Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd., Peng Ge and Fanhua RONS (Beijing) Technologies Co., Ltd. English translation of Exclusive Purchase Option Contract dated July 1, 2022 among Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd., Peng Ge and Fanhua RONS (Beijing) Technologies Co., Ltd. English translation of Power of Attorney dated July 1, 2022 of Peng Ge English translation of Form of Consulting and Service Agreement among Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd. and Fanhua RONS Technologies Co., Ltd. and each of its subsidiaries Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities of the Registrant Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our F-1 registration statement (File No. 333-146605), as amended, initially filed with the Commission on October 10, 2007) CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP Consent of Hai Run Law Firm Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Letter from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu to the Securities and Exchange Commission, dated April 29, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 15.5 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 29, 2022) Submission under Item 16I(a) of Form 20-F in relation to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act Financial information from Registrant for the year ended December 31, 2022 formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Shareholder’s Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022; (v) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements; and Schedule 1 — Condensed Financial Information of Fanhua Inc. Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) * Filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F. ** Furnished with this Annual Report on Form 20-F. † Portions of this exhibit have been omitted in accordance with Instruction 4 to Item 19 of Form 20-F - 126 - The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf. SIGNATURES FANHUA INC. By: /s/ Yinan Hu Name: Yinan Hu Title: Chief Executive Officer Date: April 25, 2023 - 127 - EXHIBIT 8.1 List of Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities (As of March 31, 2023) Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities(1) 1. CISG Holdings Ltd. (2) 2. Minkfair Insurance Management Limited (3) 3. CNinsure Holdings Ltd. (4) 4. Fanhua Zhonglian Enterprise Image Planning (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (5) 5. Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (5) 6. Fanhua Insurance Sales Service Group Company Limited (6) 7. Guangdong Meidiya Investment Co., Ltd. (7) 8. Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd. (8) 9. Guangzhou Zhongqi Enterprise Management Consulting Co., Ltd. (9) 10. Tibet Zhuli Investment Co. Ltd.(9) 11. Fanhua RONS (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (previously known as Litian Zhuoyue Software (Beijing) Co., Ltd.) (10) 12. Ying Si Kang Information Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (11) 13. Sichuan Yihe Investment Co., Ltd.(12) 14. Shenzhen Dianliang Information Technology Co., Ltd. (13) 15. Fanhua RONS Service Co., Ltd. (13) 16. Fanhua Yuntong Enterprise Management Advisory (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Previously known as Shenzhen Bangbang Auto Services Co., Ltd.) (7) 17. Guangdong Fanhua Bluecross Health Management Co., Ltd (14) - 128 - Percentage Attributable to Our Company 100% 100% Place of Incorporation BVI Hong Kong 100% BVI& Hong Kong 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities(1) Insurance Agencies 18. Fanhua Lianxing Insurance Sales Co., Ltd. (15) 19. Jiangsu Fanhua Lianchuang Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (14) 20. Zhejiang Fanhua Tongchuang Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (14) 21. Liaoning Fanhua Gena Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (14) 22. Shanghai Fanhua Guosheng Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (14) 23. Hunan Fanhua Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (16) 24. Zhongrong Smart Finance Information Technology Co., Ltd. (17) 25. Beijing Smart Finance Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. (18) 26. Rong Hui Hui(Qingdao) Technologies Service Co., Ltd. (18) 27. Jilin Zhongji Shi’an Agency Co., Ltd. (19) 28. Wuhan Taiping Online Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (19) 29. Kafusi Insurance Brokerage Co., Ltd. (20) 30. Foshan Tuohua Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (21) Insurance Claims Adjusting Segment 31. Fanhua Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd. (22) 32. Shanghai Fanhua Teamhead Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd. (23) 33. Shenzhen Fanhua Training Co., Ltd. (24) 34. Shenzhen Fanhua Software Technology Co., Ltd. (24) 35. Shenzhen Huazhong United Technology Co., Ltd. (25) 36. Suzhou Feibao Smart Service Consulting Co., Ltd. (Previously known as Suzhou Junzhou Healthcare Management Co. Ltd.) (26) - 129 - Percentage Attributable to Our Company Place of Incorporation 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 77% 53.44% 53.44% 53.44% 51% 51% 100% 20% 44.7% 44.2% 44.7% 44.7% 44.7% 44.7% PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC Subsidiaries and Affiliated Entities(1) Percentage Attributable to Our Company Place of Incorporation 37. Shenzhen Chetong Network Co., Ltd.(27) 14.9% PRC Affiliated Entities 1. Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd. (28) 2. Fanhua RONS Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd. (Previously known as Fanhua Century Insurance Sales & Service Co., Ltd.) (29) 3. Shenzhen Baowang E-commerce Co., Ltd. (30) 4. Puyi Inc.(31) 5. Shanghai Teamhead Automobile Surveyors Co., Ltd. (32) 100% 100% 100% 4.5% 17.7% 6. Cheche Technology Inc.(33) 3.1645% PRC PRC PRC PRC PRC CI - 130 - (1) The official names of those companies registered in PRC are in Chinese. The English translation is for reference only. (2) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Inc. (3) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by CISG holdings Ltd. (4) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Minkfair Insurance Management Limited. (5) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by CNinsure Holdings Ltd. (6) We beneficially own 100% equity interests in this Company, of which 7.2%, 10.8% and 82% of the equity interests in this company are held by Fanhua Zhonglian Enterprise Image Planning (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd and Tibet Zhuli Investment Co. Ltd., respectively. (7) 100% of the equity interests in these companies are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Sales Service Group Company Limited. (8) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (9) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd. (10) We beneficially own 100% of the equity interests in this company through contractual arrangement. (11) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua RONS Technologies (Beijing) Co., Ltd.. (12) We beneficially own 100% equity interests in this company, of which 39.14%, 40.86% and 20% of the equity interests in this company are held by Fanhua Zhonglian Enterprise Image Planning (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. and Fanhua Insurance Sales Group Company Limited, respectively. (13) 100% of the equity interests in these companies are held directly by Tibet Zhuli Investment Co., Ltd. (14) 100% of the equity interests in each of these companies are held directly by Fanhua Lianxing Insurance Sales Co., Ltd. (15) We beneficially owned 100% of the equity interests in this company, of which 99% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Sales Service Group Company Limited., Ltd. and the remaining 1 % by Fanhua Xinlian Information Technology Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (16) 77% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Lianxing Insurance Sales Co., Ltd. (17) 53.44% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Sales Group Co., Ltd. (18) 100% of the equity interests in these companies are held directly by Zhongrong Smart Finance Information Technology Co. Ltd.. (19) We beneficially owned 51% of the equity interests in these companies through contractual arrangements. (20) 76% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Ying Si Kang Information Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. and the remaining 26% of the equity interests held by Fanhua Insurance Sales Group Co., Ltd. (21) 20% of the equity interests in the company are sheld directly by Fanhua Lianxing Insurance Sales Co., Ltd. (22) 44.7% of the equity interests in the company are held directly by Guangdong Meidiya Investment Co., Ltd. (23) 99% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd. (24) 100% of the equity interests in each of these companies are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd., in which we beneficially own 44.7% of the equity interests. (25) 100% of the equity interests in the company are held directly by Shenzhen Fanhua Software Technology Co., Ltd., in which we beneficially own 44.7% of the equity interests. (26) 100% of the equity interests in the company are held directly by Shenzhen Huazhong United Technology Co., Ltd., in which we beneficially own 44.7% of the equity interests. (27) 33.39% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd., in which we beneficially own 44.7% of the equity interests. (28) We beneficially own 100% equity interests in this company, of which 49% of the equity interests are held directly by Fanhua Insurance Sales Group Company Limited and the remaining 51% by a nominee individual shareholder. (29) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Management Co., Ltd. (30) 100% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Fanhua RONS Insurance Sales & Service Co., Ltd. (31) We directly own 4.5% of the equity interests in this company. (32) 40% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by Shanghai Fanhua Teamhead Surveyors & Loss Adjustors Co., Ltd., in which we beneficially own 44.2% of the equity interests. (33) 3.1645% of the equity interests in this company are held directly by CISG Holdings Ltd. Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 EXHIBIT 12.1 I, Yinan Hu, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”); 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The Company’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The Company’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: April 25, 2023 By: /s/Yinan Hu Name: Yinan Hu Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 EXHIBIT 12.2 I, Peng Ge, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”); 2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; 4. The Company’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have: (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The Company’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): (a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Date: April 25, 2023 By: /s/Peng Ge Name: Peng Ge Title: Chief Financial Officer Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 EXHIBIT 13.1 In connection with the Annual Report of Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Yinan Hu, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: April 25, 2023 By: /s/Yinan Hu Name: Yinan Hu Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 EXHIBIT 13.2 In connection with the Annual Report of Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Peng Ge, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge: (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: April 25, 2023 By: /s/Peng Ge Name: Peng Ge Title: Chief Financial Officer EXHIBIT 15.1 [Letterhead of Maples and Calder] Our ref Direct tel Email YCU/628018-000001/26353550V1 +852 3690 7529 Charmaine.chow@maples.com Fanhua Inc. 60/F, Pearl River Tower No. 15 West Zhujiang Road Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623 People’s Republic of China April 25, 2023 Dear Sirs Re: Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”) We consent to the reference to our firm under the headings “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Cayman Islands Taxation” and “Item 16G. Corporate Governance” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, which will be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in the month of April 2023. We further consent to the incorporation by reference of the summary of our opinion under the heading “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Cayman Islands Taxation” and “Item 16G. Corporate Governance” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, into the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-151271), dated May 30, 2008, pertaining to the Company’s Share Incentive Plan. Yours faithfully /s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP [Letterhead of Hai Run Law Firm] EXHIBIT 15.2 April 25, 2023 To: Fanhua Inc. 60/F, Pearl River Tower No. 15 West Zhujiang Road Guangzhou, Guangdong 510623 People’s Republic of China Dear Sirs, We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the headings “Risk Factors”, “Regulation” and “Organizational Structure” in Fanhua Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in April 2023. Yours faithfully, /s/ Hai Run Law Firm Hai Run Law Firm EXHIBIT 15.3 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-151271 on Form S-8 of our reports dated April 25, 2023, relating to the financial statements of Fanhua Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20- F of Fanhua Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2022. /s/Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Shenzhen, the People’s Republic of China April 25, 2023 Exhibit 15.4 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-151271 on Form S-8 of our report dated April 28, 2021, relating to the financial statements of the Fanhua Inc., appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022. /s/Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants Hong Kong April 25, 2023 Exhibit 15.6 April 25, 2023 VIA EDGAR Office of Finance Division of Corporation Finance Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Fanhua Inc. Submission under Item 16I(a) of Form 20-F Dear Sir/Madam, In compliance with the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the “HFCAA”), Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”) is submitting via EDGAR the following information as required under Item 16I(a) of Form 20-F. On May 26, 2022, the Company was conclusively identified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a Commission-Identified Issuer pursuant to the HFCAA because it filed an annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 with the SEC on April 29, 2022 with an audit report issued by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, a registered public accounting firm retained by the Company for the preparation of the audit report on the Company’s financial statements included therein. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP is a registered public accounting firm headquartered in mainland China, a jurisdiction where the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”) determined that it was unable to inspect or investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered there until December 2022 when the PCAOB vacated its previous determination. In response to Item 16I(a) of Form 20-F, the Company believes that the following information establishes that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in China. To the Company’s knowledge and based on an examination of its register of members and public filings made by its shareholders, including among others, the Schedule 13D/A filed jointly by Sea Synergy Limited and Mr. Yinan Hu on December 23, 2022 and the Schedule 13G/A filed by Bank of America Corporate Center on February 14, 2023, the Company respectfully submits that it is not owned or controlled by a governmental entity in China as of the date of this submission. As of March 31, 2023, Mr. Yinan Hu, our chairman and chief executive officer, beneficially owned 18.2% and Sea Synergy Limited beneficially owned 16.4% of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares, respectively. Sea Synergy Limited is 100% held by a family trust, of which Mr. Hu is the settlor and co-beneficiary. Pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, Mr. Hu may be deemed to beneficially own all of the ordinary shares of the Company held by Sea Synergy Limited. Based on an examination of the Company’s register of members and public filings made by the Company’s shareholders, no other shareholder owned more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares as of March 31, 2023. As of the date hereof, Hongkong Chiho Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong, holds 0.3% of the total outstanding ordinary shares of Fanhua Inc. China’s state-owned legal persons indirectly own 100% of the equity interests in Hongkong Chiho Limited and in turn indirectly hold approximately 0.3% of the total outstanding ordinary shares of Fanhua Inc. To our knowledge, no other governmental entities in China possess, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. Should you have any questions or comments regarding the Company’s submission set forth above, please do not hesitate to contact me, or you may contact our outside legal counsel, David Zhang at david.zhang@kirkland.com or at + 852 3761 3318 (work) or +852 9124 8324 (cell), or Steve Lin at steve.lin@kirkland.com or at +86 10 5737 9315 (work) or +86 186 1049 5593 (cell) of Kirkland & Ellis. Thank you. Very truly yours, By: /S/Yinan Hu Name: Yinan Hu Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer cc: David Zhang, Esq., Kirkland & Ellis Steve Lin, Esq., Kirkland & Ellis FANHUA INC. INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Page Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP (PCAOB No. 1113) Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm - Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (PCAOB No. 1104) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 F-2 F-5 F-6 F-9 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 F-11 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements Schedule I—Condensed Financial Information of Fanhua Inc. F-13 F-15 F-57 F-1 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Fanhua Inc. Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Fanhua Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and schedule I (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We did not audit the financial statements of CNFinance Holdings Limited, or CNFinance, the Company’s investment in which is accounted for by use of the equity method. The accompanying financial statements of the Company include its equity investment in CNFinance of RMB329 million as of December 31, 2021, and its equity earnings in CNFinance of RMB11 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for CNFinance, is based solely on the report of the other auditors. We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 25, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Convenience Translation Our audits also comprehended the translation of Renminbi amounts into United States dollar amounts and, in our opinion, such translation has been made in conformity with the basis stated in Note 2(u) to the financial statements. Such United States dollar amounts are presented solely for the convenience of readers outside of People’s Republic of China. Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. Critical Audit Matter F-2 The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates. Revenue recognition: Estimate of variable renewal commissions for long-term life insurance products and impact on revenue recognized — Refer to Note 2(q) to the financial statements Critical Audit Matter Description The Company recognized agency revenues for the life insurance business of approximately RMB2,237.3 million in 2022 of which RMB245.7 million relates to estimated variable renewal commissions for long-term life insurance products. As described in Note 2(q) to its financial statements, the Company uses the expected value method and considers constraints as well to estimate variable renewal commissions, which are contingent on future renewals of initial policies or achievement of certain performance targets. Given the material uncertainty around the future renewal of the insurance policies, the estimated renewal commissions expected to be collected are recognized as revenue only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is subsequently resolved. Auditing management’s determination of estimated variable renewal commissions was complex and highly judgmental due to the complexity of the models used and the subjectivity required by the Company to estimate the amount for future renewals of policies, calculate the amount of commission revenue that is probable of not being reversed, and determine the timing and amount of any revenue adjustment that results from changes in the estimates of previously recorded estimated renewal commissions. The Company utilizes statistical methodologies to estimate renewal rate(s), which is a key driver when estimating the amount of future renewals of policies. To determine the constraint to be applied to estimated renewal commissions, the Company evaluates historical experiences and data and applies judgment. For the ongoing evaluation of assumptions, the Company also analyzes whether circumstances have changed and considers any known or potential modifications to the inputs into estimated renewal commissions model and the factors that can impact the amount of renewal commissions expected to be collected in future periods such as commission rates, insurance products composition, renewal terms of insurance products and changes in relevant laws and regulations. The judgment and assumptions are continuously re-evaluated and adjusted as needed along with the accumulation of historical experiences and data when new information becomes available. Given the significant judgment required to determine the amount of estimated variable renewal commissions, performing audit procedures to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s assessment required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort. How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit Our audit procedures related to the evaluation of the reasonableness of the Company’s estimate of variable renewal commissions for long-term life insurance products discussed above included the following, among others: ● We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of the controls over the Company’s process to estimate variable renewal commissions for long-term life insurance products. ● We engaged our internal actuarial specialists to assist in our evaluation of the appropriateness of the methodology, including the determination of portfolio of contracts, and assumptions used by management to estimate variable renewal commissions by benchmarking the methods and assumptions against general market practice within the insurance industry. ● We tested the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data that served as the basis for our substantial analytical procedures. F-3 ● We developed a range of independent estimates and comparing those to the renewal rate selected by management for evaluating the reasonableness of management’s assumptions. ● We performed substantive analytical procedures by developing an independent expectation for comparison to the Company’s estimate applying our own methods as well as assumptions with the Company’s data, and evaluation of significant unexpected differences, if any. ● We performed retrospective review to compare the actual realized renewal commissions with the estimated value that has been recognized as revenues. /s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP Shenzhen, the People’s Republic of China April 25, 2023 We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021. F-4 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Fanhua Inc. Opinion on the Financial Statements We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of Fanhua Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) for the year ended December 31, 2020, and the related notes and schedule I (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditor, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We did not audit the financial statements of CNFinance Holdings Limited, or CNFinance, the Company’s investment in which is accounted for by use of the equity method. The accompanying financial statements of the Company include its equity earnings in CNFinance of RMB18 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This statement was audited by other auditors whose report (which, as to 2020, included an explanatory paragraph concerning completion of a reorganization) has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for CNFinance, is based solely on the report of the other auditors. Basis for Opinion These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. /s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants Hong Kong April 28, 2021 We began serving as the Company’s auditor in 2007. In 2021 we became the predecessor auditor. F-5 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) ASSETS: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Restricted cash (including restricted cash of the consolidated VIEs and 2021 RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note 2(u) 564,624 567,525 82,283 VIEs’ subsidiaries that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs of RMB24,082 and RMB15,832 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) 76,303 59,957 8,693 Short term investments (including investments measured at fair value of RMB857,682 and RMB331,228 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) 870,682 347,754 50,420 Accounts receivable, net of allowances of RMB27,934 and RMB15,361 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively 390,332 393,600 57,066 Contract assets, net of allowances of RMB53 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively Other receivables, net Other current assets, net Total current assets 263,425 273,954 60,755 231,049 39,947 419,735 39,720 33,499 60,856 2,266,068 2,293,574 332,537 15,595 20,729 3,005 46,800 18,728 335,808 31,459 55,941 192,114 385,834 14,275 98,459 15,948 109,869 109,997 2,958 20,402 585 4,035 1,653 11,400 225,677 145,086 21,036 976,050 795,942 115,401 3,242,118 3,089,516 447,938 Non-current assets: Restricted bank deposit – non-current (including restricted cash of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs of RMB6,261 and RMB11,283 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Contract assets - non-current, net of allowances of RMB38 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively Property, plant, and equipment, net Goodwill, net Deferred tax assets Investments in affiliates Other non-current assets Right of use assets Total non-current assets Total assets F-6 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets—(Continued) (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) 2021 RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note 2(u) — 35,679 5,173 335,721 362,352 74,432 41,837 52,536 10,792 24,054 16,580 2,404 178,157 174,326 25,275 111,672 96,279 13,959 130,222 130,024 18,852 87,012 9,033 908,675 951,976 138,024 62,304 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY: Current liabilities: Short-term loan Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB4,929 and RMB8,600 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Accrued commissions Insurance premium payables (including insurance premium payables of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB24,054 and RMB16,571 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Other payables and accrued expenses (including other payables and accrued expenses of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB1,601 and RMB3,267 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Accrued payroll (including accrued payroll of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB2,166 and RMB10,941 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Income taxes payable (including income taxes payable of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB6,617 and RMB7,509 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Current operating lease liability (including current operating lease liability of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB733 and RMB3,569 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Total current liabilities F-7 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets—(Continued) (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) 2021 RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note 2(u) 97,869 192,917 27,970 36,647 73,213 73,716 102,455 5,313 14,855 10,756 128,283 74,190 373,081 406,209 58,894 1,281,756 1,358,185 196,918 Non-current liabilities: Accrued commissions – non-current Other tax liabilities (including other tax liability of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of nil and RMB26,147 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Deferred tax liabilities Non-current operating lease liability (including non-current operating lease liability of the consolidated VIEs and VIEs’ subsidiaries without recourse to the Company of RMB553 and RMB1,386 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Total non-current liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Equity: Ordinary shares (Authorized shares:10,000,000,000 at US$0.001 each; issued 1,073,891,784 and 1,074,291,784 shares, of which 1,073,891,784 and 1,072,842,484 shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Treasury stock Additional paid-in capital Statutory reserves Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total shareholders’ equity Noncontrolling interests Total equity Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity 8,089 — — 1,173 8,091 (1 ) (10 ) 67 461 557,221 559,520 81,123 1,311,715 1,087,984 157,743 (4,733 ) 1,837,885 1,623,403 235,372 122,477 107,928 15,648 1,960,362 1,731,331 251,020 3,242,118 3,089,516 447,938 (39,140 ) (32,643 ) The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-8 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) Year Ended December 31, 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note 2(u) 2,834,997 2,811,936 2,376,851 344,611 2,703,584 2,679,720 2,237,312 324,380 20,231 58,685 3,268,145 3,271,114 2,781,614 403,296 139,539 404,763 131,413 433,148 132,216 459,178 (93,185 ) (279,342 ) (87,517 ) (260,121 ) (1,953,744 ) (1,835,825 ) (1,527,572 ) (221,477 ) (1,866,227 ) (1,742,640 ) (1,436,606 ) (208,288 ) (13,189 ) (38,861 ) (2,213,865 ) (2,115,167 ) (1,795,603 ) (260,338 ) (39,539 ) (78,964 ) (2,965,959 ) (2,969,209 ) (2,612,939 ) (378,841 ) 24,455 (272,706 ) (544,630 ) (90,966 ) (268,031 ) (288,460 ) (463,634 ) (306,463 ) (547,579 ) 168,675 302,186 301,905 34,789 13,420 11,907 32,898 2,971 33,314 17,809 13,674 (3,823 ) 2,582 1,983 (554 ) 362,302 (83,387 ) (2,738 ) 276,177 7,923 268,254 371,088 (90,574 ) (20,573 ) 259,941 8,952 250,989 196,335 (41,016 ) (69,596 ) 85,723 (14,549 ) 100,272 28,466 (5,947 ) (10,090 ) 12,429 (2,109 ) 14,538 Net revenues: Agency Life insurance business P&C insurance business Claims adjusting Total net revenues Operating costs and expenses: Agency Life insurance business P&C insurance business Claims adjusting Total operating costs Selling expenses General and administrative expenses Total operating costs and expenses Income from operations Other income, net: Investment income related to the realized gain on available- for-sale investments Interest income Others, net Income before income taxes, share of income and impairment of affiliates, net Income tax expense Share of income of affiliates, net of impairment Net income Less: net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders F-9 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income—Continued (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) Net income per share: Basic Diluted: Shares used in calculating net income per share: Basic: Diluted Net income Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Foreign currency translation adjustments Unrealized net gains (loss) on available-for-sale investments Share of other comprehensive (loss) gain of affiliates Total comprehensive income Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Year Ended December 31, 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note 2(u) 0.25 0.25 0.23 0.23 0.09 0.09 0.01 0.01 1,073,891,784 1,073,891,784 1,074,196,310 1,074,196,310 1,074,291,360 1,074,291,194 1,074,457,821 1,074,457,821 276,177 259,941 85,723 12,429 9,639 (9,116 ) 3,728 23,811 6,252 (1,919 ) 541 (278 ) (3,016 ) 306,611 (1,281 ) 255,796 4,688 92,220 680 13,372 the noncontrolling interests 7,923 8,952 (14,549 ) (2,109 ) Comprehensive income attributable to the Company’s shareholders 298,688 246,844 106,769 15,481 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-10 Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) FANHUA INC. Share Capital Additional Treasury Stock Accumulated Other Number of Share Amounts Paid-in Capital Number of Share Amounts Statutory Reserves Retained Earnings Comprehensive Loss Noncontrolling Interests Total RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB Balance as of January 1, 2020 1,252,367,264 9,235 393 178,475,480 (1,146 ) 508,739 1,479,494 (65,429 ) 113,182 2,044,468 — — — — — (7,523 ) 268,254 — — — 45,172 (45,172 ) — (388,499 ) — — 9,639 — — — — — — — — 23,811 (3,016 ) — (7,523 ) 7,923 276,177 — — — — 9,639 — (393 ) — — (388,499 ) — — 23,811 (3,016 ) 553,911 1,306,554 (34,995 ) 121,105 1,954,664 — — 250,989 — 8,952 259,941 — (9,116 ) 3,310 (3,310 ) — (242,518 ) — — — — (9,116 ) — (7,580 ) (250,098 ) — — — — 6,252 (1,281 ) — — 6,252 (1,281 ) 557,221 1,311,715 (39,140 ) 122,477 1,960,362 Cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning balance from adoption of ASU 2016-13 Net income Foreign currency translation — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Cancellation of treasury shares (178,475,480 ) (1,146 ) — (178,475,480 ) 1,146 Share-based compensation (Note 2(o)) Provision for statutory reserves Distribution of dividend Unrealized net gains on available-for-sale investments Share of other comprehensive loss of affiliates — — — — — — — — — — Balance as of December 31, 2020 1,073,891,784 8,089 Net income Foreign currency translation Provision for statutory reserves Distribution of dividend Unrealized net gains on available-for-sale investments Share of other comprehensive loss of affiliates — — — — — — — — — — — — Balance as of December 31, 2021 1,073,891,784 8,089 (393 ) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — F-11 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity—(Continued) (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) Share Capital Additional Treasury Stock Accumulated Other Number of Share Amounts Paid-in Capital Number of Share Amounts Statutory Reserves Retained Earnings Comprehensive Loss Noncontrolling Interests Total RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB 100,272 — (14,549 ) 85,723 Net income (loss) Foreign currency translation Exercise of share options Repurchase of ordinary shares from open market Share-based compensation Provision for statutory reserves Cash dividend Pro rata distribution of equity method investee’s shares to shareholders (Note 8) Unrealized net loss on available-for-sale investments Share of other comprehensive gain of affiliates — — 400,000 — — — — — — — — — 2 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1,449,300 461 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — (10 ) — — — — — — — — — — — — — (3,974 ) — 2,299 (2,299 ) — (52,069 ) — (265,661 ) 3,728 — — — — — — — — — — (1,919 ) 4,688 — — — — — — 3,728 2 (3,984 ) 461 — (52,069 ) — (265,661 ) — — (1,919 ) 4,688 Balance as of December 31, 2022 1,074,291,784 8,091 461 1,449,300 (10 ) 559,520 1,087,984 (32,643 ) 107,928 1,731,331 Balance as of December 31, 2022 in US$ (Note 2(u)) 1,074,291,784 1,173 67 1,449,300 (1 ) 81,123 157,743 (4,733 ) 15,648 251,020 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-12 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash generated from operating activities: Depreciation expense Amortization of intangible assets Non-cash operating lease expense Provision for (reversal of) allowance for credit losses on financial assets Compensation expenses associated with stock options Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment Investment income Gain on disposal of subsidiaries Share of income of affiliates, net of impairment Deferred taxes Interest accrued for other receivables (loan receivables) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable Contract assets Insurance premium receivables Other receivables Other current assets Other non-current assets Accounts payable Accrued commissions Insurance premium payables Other payables and accrued expenses Accrued payroll Income taxes payable Lease liability Other tax liabilities Net cash generated from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of short term investments Proceeds from disposal of short term investments Purchase of property, plant and equipment Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment Disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash disposed of nil, Year Ended December 31, 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note 2(u) 276,177 259,941 85,723 12,429 17,658 281 95,423 18,342 45 101,448 19,473 — 90,419 2,823 — 13,109 18,837 (393 ) 1,295 (14,321 ) — 2,738 15,778 — 157,844 (67,294 ) 5,067 4,452 13,839 2,245 (5,496 ) — 17,520 (32,159 ) 4,075 (9,269 ) (98,866 ) (3,131 ) 402,300 (235 ) — 1,394 (3,171 ) (2,051 ) 20,573 23,905 — (5,528 ) (257,182 ) — (31,066 ) 1,201 2,284 (37,104 ) 139,706 (1,367 ) (131 ) 6,265 (15,880 ) (101,186 ) 5,995 126,198 30,701 461 2,825 (10,963 ) — 69,596 27,845 (3,353 ) (1,491 ) (204,249 ) — 37,262 8,623 (51 ) 22,099 127,643 (7,375 ) (16,264 ) (15,771 ) (262 ) (88,573 ) (36,566 ) 137,752 4,451 67 410 (1,590 ) — 10,090 4,037 (486 ) (216 ) (29,613 ) — 5,402 1,250 (7 ) 3,204 18,506 (1,068 ) (2,358 ) (2,286 ) (38 ) (12,842 ) (5,302 ) 19,972 (7,947,662 ) (8,184,363 ) (2,550,300 ) (369,759 ) 8,287,924 8,646,532 3,239,556 469,691 (11,272 ) 551 (77,746 ) 3,799 (15,250 ) 324 (30,785 ) 1,025 RMB2,040 and nil in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively Cash lent to third parties — (90,000 ) 960 — — (205,800 ) — (29,838 ) F-13 FANHUA INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—(Continued) (In thousands) Year Ended December 31, Repayment of loan receivables from third parties Prepayment for purchase of short-term investments Payment for business acquisition, net of cash acquired Others Net cash generated from (used in) investing activities Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from bank borrowings Repayment of refundable share rights deposits to the 521 Plan participants Dividends paid Dividend distributed to noncontrolling interest Repurchase of ordinary shares from open market Others Net cash used in financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, and 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 6,830 90,000 — — — 24,500 — (540,000 ) (21,571 ) — — 10,200 325,336 450,399 (127,562 ) 2022 US$ Note 2(u) 3,552 (78,293 ) (3,127 ) — (18,495 ) — — 35,679 5,173 (250,312 ) — (388,499 ) (242,518 ) (7,580 ) — (10,200 ) (638,811 ) (260,298 ) — — — — (52,069 ) — (3,984 ) 3 (20,371 ) — (7,549 ) — (578 ) — (2,954 ) restricted cash 88,825 316,299 (10,181 ) (1,477 ) Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end 265,605 350,098 656,522 95,187 (4,332 ) (9,875 ) 1,870 271 of the year 350,098 656,522 648,211 93,981 Reconciliation in amounts on the consolidated balance sheets: Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year Restricted cash at the end of the year Total of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at 245,428 564,624 567,525 80,686 104,670 91,898 82,283 11,698 the end of the year 350,098 656,522 648,211 93,981 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Income taxes paid Supplemental disclosure of non-cash operating activity: Effect on operating assets upon the adoption of ASU 79,063 74,323 47,029 6,819 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 7,523 — — — Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities: Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations, net of decrease of right-of-use assets for early terminations 108,178 125,487 4,462 647 Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities: Dividend distribution in equity method investee’s shares — — 265,661 38,517 The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-14 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (1) Organization and Description of Business Fanhua Inc. (the “Company”) (formally known as “CNinsure Inc.”) was incorporated in the Cayman Islands on April 10, 2007 and listed on the Nasdaq on October 31, 2007. The Company, its subsidiaries and the consolidated variable interest entities (the “VIEs”) are collectively referred to as the “Group”. The Group is principally engaged in the provision of agency services and insurance claims adjusting services in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”). (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (a) Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, all its subsidiaries and those VIEs of which the Company is the primary beneficiary from the dates they were acquired or incorporated. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In order to comply with the PRC laws and regulations which prohibit or restrict foreign control of companies involved in provision of internet content and other restricted businesses, the Group operates certain of its businesses which are subject to restrictions in the PRC through PRC domestic companies, whose equity interests are held by certain individuals (“Nominee Shareholders”). The Group obtained control over these PRC domestic companies by entering into a series of contractual arrangements with these PRC domestic companies and their respective Nominee Shareholders. Management concluded that these PRC domestic companies are consolidated VIEs of the Group, of which the Group is the primary beneficiary. As such, the Group consolidated the financial results of these PRC domestic companies and their subsidiaries in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. See Note 10 for details. (b) Use of Estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management of the Group to make a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reported period. The Group evaluates estimates, including those related to the amounts of variable considerations of revenue contracts with respect to long-term life insurance products, the allowance for credit losses of accounts receivable, contract assets, other receivables, fair values of certain debt and equity investments, the useful lives of property, plant and equipment, impairment of long-lived assets, goodwill, investments in affiliates and other long-term equity investments, and deferred tax valuation allowance among others. The Group, based their estimates on historical experience and various other factors, believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, that the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. F-15 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (c) Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, bank deposits and short-term, highly liquid investments, which have original maturities of three months or less, and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and have insignificant risk of changes in value related to changes in interest rates. In its capacity as an insurance agent, the Group collects premiums from the insureds and remits the premiums to the appropriate insurance companies. Accordingly, as reported in the consolidated statements of balance sheets, “premiums” are receivables from the insureds of RMB24,459 and RMB15,847 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Unremitted net insurance premiums are held in a fiduciary capacity until disbursed by the Group. The Group invests these unremitted funds only in cash accounts held for a short term, and reports such amounts as restricted cash in the consolidated balance sheets. Also, restricted cash balance includes the entrustment deposit received from the members of eHuzhu, an online mutual aid platform operated by the Group, which is to be used during the one- year operating cycle and is therefore classified as a current asset. The balance for entrustment deposit was RMB51,844 and RMB44,110 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Further, restricted cash balance includes guarantee deposit required by China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (“CBIRC”) in order to protect insurance premium appropriation by insurance agency which is restricted as to withdrawal for other than current operations. Thus, the Group classified the balance for guarantee deposit as a non-current asset. The balance for guarantee was RMB15,595 and RMB20,729 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. (d) Short Term Investments All highly liquid investments with original maturities less than twelve months or investments that are expected to be realized in cash during the next twelve months are classified as short-term investments. The Group accounts for short-term debt investments in accordance with ASC Topic 320, Investments – Debt Securities (“ASC 320”). The Company classifies the short-term investments in debt securities as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale, whose classification determines the respective accounting methods stipulated by ASC 320. Dividend and interest income for all categories of investments in securities are included in earnings. Any realized gains or losses on the sale of the short- term investments are determined on a specific identification method, and such gains and losses are reflected in earnings during the period in which gains or losses are realized. Securities that the Group has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity securities and stated at amortized cost less allowance for credit losses. The Group has no debt investments classified as trading. The Group’s short term investments are mainly available-for-sale debt securities that do not have a quoted market price in an active market. Available-for-sale investments are carried at fair values and the unrealized gains or losses from the changes in fair values are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss. The Group benchmarks the values of its other investments against fair values of comparable investments and reference to product valuation reports as of the balance sheet date, and categorizes all fair value measures of short term investments as level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. F-16 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (d) Short Term Investments (Continued) The Group evaluates each individual available-for-sale debt securities periodically for impairment. For investments where the Group does not intend to sell, the Group evaluates whether a decline in fair value is due to deterioration in credit risk. Credit-related impairment losses, not to exceed the amount that fair value is less than the amortized cost basis, are recognized through an allowance for credit losses on the consolidated balance sheet with corresponding adjustment in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Subsequent increases in fair value due to credit improvement are recognized through reversal of the credit loss and corresponding reduction in the allowance for credit loss. Any decline in fair value that is non-credit related is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income as a component of shareholder’s equity. As of December 31, 2022, there were no investments held by the Group that had been in continuous unrealized loss position. No impairment loss on short term investments was identified for years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. (e) Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets Accounts receivable are recorded at the amount that the Group expects to collect and do not bear interest. Accounts receivables represent fees receivable on agency and claims adjusting services primarily from insurance companies. The Group evaluates the collectability of its trade receivables and contract assets based on a combination of factors. The Group generally does not require collateral on trade receivables and contract assets as the majority of the Group’s customers are large, well-established insurance companies. The Group estimates allowances for expected credit losses using relevant available information from internal and external sources, related to past events, the age of the accounts receivable and contract assets balances, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Credit loss expenses are assessed quarterly and included in general and administrative expense on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. Accounts receivable and Contract Assets, net is analyzed as follows: As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 418,266 408,961 455,630 659,788 (15,361 ) 845,871 1,053,388 (28,025 ) Accounts receivable Contract Assets (See Note 2(q)) Allowance for doubtful accounts Accounts receivable and Contract Assets, net F-17 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (e) Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets (Continued) The following table summarizes the movement of the Group’s allowance for expected credit losses of accounts receivable and contract assets: Balance at the beginning of the year Cumulative-effect adjustment upon adoption of ASU 2016-13 Current period provision (reversal of) for expected credit losses Write-offs Balance at the end of the year (f) Property, Plant and Equipment 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 20,495 7,436 4,831 (3,762 ) 29,000 29,000 — 2,095 (3,070 ) 28,025 28,025 — (1,378 ) (11,286 ) 15,361 Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight- line method over the following estimated useful lives, taking into account residual value: Building Office equipment, furniture and fixtures Motor vehicles Leasehold improvements Estimated useful life (Years) 20-36 Estimated residual value 0% 3-5 5-10 5 0%-3% 0%-3% 0% The depreciation methods and estimated useful lives are reviewed regularly. The following table summarizes the depreciation expense recognized in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income: Operating costs Selling expenses General and administrative expenses Depreciation expense 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 199 7,350 10,109 17,658 791 5,778 11,773 18,342 822 5,106 13,545 19,473 (g) Business combinations and non-controlling interests In determining whether a particular set of activities and assets is a business, the Group assesses whether the set of assets and activities acquired includes, at a minimum, an input and substantive process and whether the acquired set has the ability to produce outputs. The Group has an option to apply a ‘concentration test’ that permits a simplified assessment of whether an acquired set of activities and assets is not a business. The optional concentration test is met if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. F-18 Transactions in which the acquired is considered a business are accounted for as a business combination as described below. Conversely, transactions not considered as business acquisition are accounted for as acquisition of assets and liabilities. In such transactions, the cost of acquisition is allocated proportionately to the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities, based on their proportionate fair value on the acquisition date. In an assets acquisition, no goodwill is recognized, and no deferred taxes are recognized in respect of the temporary differences existing on the acquisition date. The Group accounts for its business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations”. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the acquisition date fair value of the assets transferred, liabilities incurred by the Group to the sellers and equity instruments issued. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition are expensed as incurred. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are measured separately at their fair value as of the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any non-controlling interests. The excess of (i) the total costs of acquisition, fair value of the non-controlling interests and acquisition date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over (ii) the fair value of the identifiable net assets of the acquiree, is recorded as goodwill. For the Group’s majority-owned subsidiaries, VIEs and subsidiaries of VIEs, a non-controlling interest is recognized to reflect the portion of their equity which is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the Group. Consolidated net income on the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income includes the net income attributable to non-controlling interests. The cumulative results of operations attributable to non-controlling interests, are recorded as non-controlling interests on the Group’s consolidated balance sheets. (h) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill and amortization of intangible assets Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair value of net assets of businesses acquired in a business combination. Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level at least on an annual basis at the balance sheet date or more frequently if certain indicators arise. The Group operated in two reporting units for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022. The impairment test is performed as of year-end or if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill is not impaired and no further testing is required. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The impairment review is highly judgmental and involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions have a significant impact on the amount of any impairment charge recorded. Estimates of fair value are primarily determined by using discounted cash flows. Discounted cash flows method is dependent upon assumptions of future sales trends, market conditions and cash flows of each reporting unit over several years. Actual cash flows in the future may differ significantly from those previously forecasted. Other significant assumptions include growth rates and the discount rate applicable to future cash flows. F-19 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (h) Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Continued) Goodwill and amortization of intangible assets (Continued) In 2021 and 2022, management compared the carrying value of each reporting unit, inclusive of assigned goodwill, to its respective fair value. The fair value of all reporting units was estimated by using the income approach. Based on this quantitative test, it was determined that the fair value of each reporting unit tested exceeded its carrying amount and, therefore, the management concluded that goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2021and 2022, respectively. Identifiable intangibles assets are required to be determined separately from goodwill based on their fair values. In particular, an intangible asset acquired in a business combination should be recognized as an asset separate from goodwill if it satisfies either the “contractual-legal” or “separability” criterion. Intangible assets with a finite economic life are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization for identifiable intangible assets categorized as customer relationships is computed using the accelerated method, while amortization for other identifiable intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over the intangible assets’ economic lives. Intangible assets with indefinite economic lives are not amortized but carried at cost less any subsequent accumulated impairment losses. If an intangible asset that is not being amortized is subsequently determined to have a finite economic life, it will be tested for impairment and then amortized prospectively over its estimated remaining economic life and accounted for in the same manner as other intangible assets that are subject to amortization. Intangible assets with indefinite economic lives are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that they might be impaired. The intangible assets, net consisted of trade names with a cost of RMB8,898 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The trade names have an estimated useful life of 9.4 to 10 years and accumulated amortization of RMB8,898 as of December 31, 2021and 2022, respectively. The residual balance is nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Aggregate amortization expenses for intangible assets were RMB281, RMB44 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Impairment of intangible assets with definite lives The Group evaluates the recoverability of identifiable intangible assets with determinable useful lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that these assets’ carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The Group measures the carrying amount of identifiable intangible assets with determinable useful lives against the estimated undiscounted future cash flows associated with each asset. Impairment exists when the sum of the expected future net cash flows is less than the carrying value of the asset being evaluated. Impairment loss is calculated as the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. Fair value is estimated based on various valuation techniques, including the discounted value of estimated future cash flows. The evaluation of asset impairment requires the Group to make assumptions about future cash flows over the life of the asset being evaluated. These assumptions require significant judgment and actual results may differ from assumed and estimated amounts. The Group recognized no impairment losses on identifiable intangible assets with determinable useful lives in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets An intangible asset that is not subject to amortization is tested for impairment at least annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. Such impairment test is to compare F-20 the fair values of assets with their carrying amounts and an impairment loss is recognized if and when the carrying amounts exceed the fair values. The estimates of fair values of intangible assets not subject to amortization are determined using various discounted cash flow valuation methodologies. Significant assumptions are inherent in this process, including estimates of discount rates or market price. Discount rate assumptions are based on an assessment of the risk inherent in the respective intangible assets. Market prices are based on a potential purchase quote from a third party, if any. The Group recognized no impairment losses on its indefinite-lived intangible assets in the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (i) Investment in Affiliates The Group uses the equity method of accounting for investments in which the Group has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have a controlling interest. The Group continually reviews its investment in equity investees to determine whether a decline in fair value to an amount below the carrying value is other-than-temporary. The primary factors the Group considers in its determination are the duration and severity of the decline in fair value; the financial condition, operating performance and the prospects of the equity investee; and other company specific information such as the stock price of the investee and its corresponding volatility, if publicly traded, the Group’s intent and ability to hold the investment until recovery, and changes in the macro-economic, competitive and operational environment of the investee. If the decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the equity investee is written down to fair value. (j) Long-term Equity Investments Other non-current assets mainly represent long-term equity investments accounted for under the measurement alternative method. Equity securities without readily determinable fair value The Group has long-term investments in equity security of certain privately held companies which the Group exerts no significant influence or a controlling interest. As a result of adoption of “Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016-01”) in January 1, 2019, equity securities without readily determinable fair values that do not qualify for the practical expedient in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure to estimate fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) of the investment, are measured and recorded using a measurement alternative that measures the securities at cost less impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from qualifying observable price changes. Significant judgments are required to determine whether observable price changes are orderly transactions and identical or similar to an investment held by the Group. During each reporting period, the Group makes a qualitative assessment considering impairment indicators to separately evaluate whether each of its equity securities without readily determinable fair value is impaired. Impairment indicators that the Group considers include, but are not limited to a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, credit rating, asset quality, or business prospects of the investee, factors such as negative cash flows from operations and working capital deficiencies that raise significant concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern, current economic and market conditions and other specific information. If a qualitative assessment indicates that the investment is impaired, the entity has to estimate the investment’s fair value in accordance with the principles of ASC 820. If the fair value is less than the investment’s carrying value, the Group recognizes an impairment loss in earnings equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value. The Group recorded an impairment of RMB10,929, nil and RMB20,110 during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. (k) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Property, plant, and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be F-21 generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. (l) Insurance Premium Payables Insurance premium payables are insurance premiums collected on behalf of insurance companies but not yet remitted as of the balance sheet dates. (m) Treasury Shares Treasury shares represent ordinary shares repurchased by the Group that are no longer outstanding and are held by the Group. The repurchased ordinary shares are recorded whereby the total par value of shares acquired is recorded as treasury stock and the difference between the par value and the amount of cash paid is recorded in additional paid- in capital. If additional paid-in capital is not available or is not sufficient, the remaining amount is to reduce retained earnings. (n) Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements, net operating loss carryforwards and credits by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Group records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) it determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Group recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority. The Group recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits, if any, on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. Accrued interest or penalties are included on the other tax liabilities line in the consolidated balance sheets. (o) Share-based Compensation All forms of share-based payments to employees and nonemployees, including stock options and stock purchase plans, are treated the same as any other form of compensation by recognizing the related cost in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. The Group recognizes compensation cost for an award with only service conditions that has a graded vesting schedule on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award, provided that the amount of compensation cost recognized at any date must at least equal to the portion of the grant-date value of the award that is vested at that date. For awards with both service and performance conditions, if each tranche has an independent performance condition for a specified period of service, the Group recognizes the compensation cost of each tranche as a separate award on a straight-line basis; if each tranche has performance conditions that are dependent of activities that occur in the prior service periods, the Group recognizes the compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in-substance, multiple awards. The Group has made an accounting policy election to account for forfeitures when they occur for an award with only service conditions. For an award with a performance condition, the Group continues to assess at each reporting period whether it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. No compensation cost is recognized for instruments that employees and nonemployees forfeit because a service condition or a performance condition is not satisfied. F-22 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (o) Share-based Compensation (Continued) Employee share-based compensation Compensation cost related to employee stock options or similar equity instruments is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized over the service period, which is usually the vesting period. If an award requires satisfaction of one or more performance or service conditions (or any combination thereof), compensation cost is recognized if the requisite service is rendered, while no compensation cost is recognized if the requisite service is not rendered. Nonemployee share-based compensation Consistent with the accounting requirement for employee share-based compensation, nonemployee share-based compensation within the scope of Topic 718 are measured at grant-date fair value of the equity instruments, which the Group is obligated to issue when the service has been rendered and any other conditions necessary to earn the right to benefit from the instruments have been satisfied. Classification of award Options or similar instruments on shares shall be classified as liabilities instead of equity if either of the following conditions is met: ● The underlying shares are classified as liabilities; ● The Group can be required under any circumstances to settle the option or similar instrument by transferring cash or other assets. The Group measures a liability award under a share-based payment arrangement based on the award’s fair value remeasured at each reporting date until the date of settlement. The corresponding credit is recorded as a share-based liability. Compensation cost for each period until settlement shall be based on the change (or a portion of the change, depending on the percentage of the requisite service that has been rendered at the reporting date) in the fair value of the instrument for each reporting date. The Group measures an equity award based on the awards’ fair value on grant date and recognizes the compensation cost over the vesting periods, with the corresponding credit recorded as additional paid-in capital. F-23 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (o) Share-based Compensation (Continued) Modification of an Award A change in any of the terms or conditions of the awards is accounted for as a modification of the award. Incremental compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before its terms are modified, measured based on the fair value of the awards and other pertinent factors at the modification date. For vested awards, the Group recognizes incremental compensation cost in the period the modification occurs. For unvested awards, the Group recognizes over the remaining requisite service period, the sum of the incremental compensation cost and the remaining unrecognized compensation cost for the original award on the modification date. If the fair value of the modified award is lower than the fair value of the original award immediately before modification, the minimum compensation cost the Group recognizes is the cost of the original award. Cancellation of an Award A cancellation of an award that is not accompanied by the concurrent grant of (or offer to grant) a replacement award or other valuable consideration shall be accounted for as a repurchase for no consideration. Accordingly, any previously unrecognized compensation cost shall be recognized immediately at the cancellation date. Share-based compensation expenses of RMB(393), nil and RMB461 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, were included in the selling, general and administrative expenses. During fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the Group reversed cumulative cost recognized in prior periods as the stock option were not probable to be vested because the performance target was not probable to be met. (p) Employee Benefit Plans As stipulated by the regulations of the PRC, the Group’s subsidiaries in the PRC participate in various defined contribution plans organized by municipal and provincial governments for its employees. The Group is required to make contributions to these plans at a percentage of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of the employees. Under these plans, certain pension, medical and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. The Group has no other material obligation for the payment of employee benefits associated with these plans other than the annual contributions described above. The contributions are charged to the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the above mentioned defined contribution plans. (q) Revenue Recognition The Group’s revenue from contracts with insurance companies is derived principally from the provision of agency and claims adjusting services, and insurance companies are defined as the Group’s customers under ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASC 606”). The Group disaggregates its revenue from different types of service contracts with customers by principal service categories, as the Group believes it best depicts the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of its revenue and cash flows. See Note 22 for detailed disaggregated revenue information that is disclosed for each reportable segment. The following is a description of the accounting policy for the principal revenue streams of the Group. F-24 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (q) Revenue Recognition (Continued) Insurance agency services revenue The Group derives agency revenue serving as a sales agent to distribute various life insurance and property and casualty (“P&C”) insurance products on behalf of insurance companies by which the Group is entitled to receive an initial commission from the insurance companies based on the premium paid by the policyholders for the related insurance policy sold. For life insurance agency, the Group is also entitled to renewal commissions when the policyholder renews the policy within the renewal term of the original policy as such life insurance products are typically long-term products. The Group has identified its promise to sell insurance products on behalf of an insurance company as the performance obligation in its contracts with the insurance companies. The Group’s performance obligation to the insurance company is satisfied and revenue is recognized at a point in time when an insurance policy becomes effective. Specifically for life insurance agency business, certain contracts include the promise to provide certain post-sales administrative services to policyholders on behalf of the insurance company, such as responding to the policyholder inquiries, facilitating the renewal process and/or gathering information from the policyholder to assist the insurance companies to update the contact information of the policy holder, the Group has concluded such services are administrative in nature and immaterial, and none of these activities on their own results in a transfer of a good or services to the insurance company in the context of the contract. Accordingly, no performance obligation exists after a policy becomes effective. Initial placement of an insurance policy The Group recognizes agency revenue related P&C insurance products (which is short term in nature and related premiums are collected upfront) when an insurance policy becomes effective. The commission to be earned is required to be partially refunded contingently on policy cancellations. Based on its past experience, subsequent commission adjustments in connection with P&C insurance policy cancellations have been de minims to date, and are recognized upon notification from the insurance carriers. Actual commission and fee adjustments in connection with the cancellation of P&C insurance policies were 0.2%, 0.1% and 0.1% of the total commission and fee revenues during years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. For life insurance products, there is generally a 10 to 15 days hesitation period after an initial placement of a life insurance policy, during which the policyholder has a legal right to unconditionally cancel the effective policy regardless of the reasons. According to relevant terms of the insurance agency contracts with customers, the Group reconciles information of policies sold which also includes policies that have been cancelled by policyholders within the hesitation period, with the insurance companies on a monthly basis. Therefore, the Group estimates cancellation of policies that have become effective but are still within the hesitation period based on subsequent actual data at each reporting date. The cancellation of an effective life insurance policy by the policyholder after the hesitation period does not require the Group to refund initial commission to insurance companies, but rather impacts the Group’s estimate on future commission related to renewal(s) of the policy. In addition, for life insurance agency, the Group may receive a performance bonus from insurance companies as agreed and per contract provisions. Once the Group achieves a certain sales volume based on respective agency agreements, the bonus will become due. Performance bonus represents a form of variable consideration associated with certain sales volume, for which the Group earns commissions. The Group estimates the amount of consideration with a constraint applied that will be received in the coming year such that a significant reversal of revenue is not probable, and includes performance bonus as part of the transaction price. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized contingent performance bonus of RMB17,265, RMB3,887 and RMB11,387, respectively. F-25 (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (q) Revenue Recognition (Continued) Insurance agency services revenue (Continued) Initial placement of an insurance policy (Continued) In addition, for life insurance agency, the Group may receive a performance bonus from insurance companies as agreed and per contract provisions. Once the Group achieves a certain sales volume based on respective agency agreements, the bonus will become due. Performance bonus represents a form of variable consideration associated with certain sales volume, for which the Group earns commissions. The Group estimates the amount of consideration with a constraint applied that will be received in the coming year such that a significant reversal of revenue is not probable, and includes performance bonus as part of the transaction price. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized contingent performance bonus of RMB17,265, RMB3,887 and RMB11,387, respectively. Renewals of a life insurance policy For the long-term life insurance products, in addition to the initial commission earned, the Group is also entitled to subsequent renewal commission and compensation, and renewal performance bonus which represents variable considerations and are contingent on future renewals of initial policies or the Group achieves its performance target. When making estimates of the amount of variable consideration to which the Group expects to be entitled, the Group uses the expected value method and evaluates many factors, including but not limited to, insurance companies mix, product mix, renewal term of various products, renewal premium rates and commission rates, to determine the method(s) of measurement, relevant inputs and the underlying assumptions. The Group considers constraints as well when determining the amount which should be included in the transaction price. For years prior to 2021, revenue related to the variable consideration is recorded when it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur, i.e., when a policyholder pays the renewal premium to the insurance company, and the policy is renewed because the Group was not able to conclude a significant reversal to the estimated variable consideration is not probable, considering factors such as a) the Group has limited history of selling its current life insurance products with its current customers, such that the Group’s past experience in outdated products is of little predictive value in renewal(s) rate estimate; b) the occurrence of a renewal is outside the Group’s control and the estimate of renewal premium rates is complex and requires significant assumptions; and c) the contingency lasts across a long period of time. The Group performs ongoing evaluation of the appropriateness of the constraint applied, and will consider the sufficiency of evidence that would suggest that the long-term expectation underlying the assumptions has changed. Starting from January 1, 2021, the Group believes that it has already accumulated adequate scale of historical data and experiences at a confidence level that through which the Group can utilize to make a reasonable estimate of variable considerations over its portfolio of contracts. The estimated renewal commissions are contingent on future renewals of initial policies or achievement of certain performance targets. Given the material uncertainty around the future renewal of the insurance policies, the estimated renewal commissions expected to be collected are recognized as revenue only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is subsequently resolved. The judgment and assumptions are continuously re- evaluated and adjusted as needed along with the accumulation of historical experiences and data when new information becomes available. Actual renewal commissions in the future may differ significantly from those previously estimated. For the year ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized revenues related to estimated variable renewal commissions with respect to long-term life insurance products amounting to nil, RMB258,715 and RMB245,717, respectively. F-26 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (q) Revenue Recognition (Continued) Insurance agency services revenue (Continued) Renewals of a life insurance policy (Continued) For the year ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized revenues related to estimated variable renewal commissions with respect to long-term life insurance products amounting to nil, RMB258,715 and RMB245,717, respectively. Insurance claims adjusting services revenue For insurance claims adjusting services, performance obligations are considered met and revenue is recognized when the services are rendered and completed, at the time loss adjusting reports are confirmed being received by insurance companies. The Group does not accrue any service fee before the receipt of an insurance company’s acknowledgement of receiving the adjusting reports. Any subsequent adjustments in connection with discounts which have been de minims to date are recognized in revenue upon notification from the insurance companies. Contract balances The Group’s contract balances include accounts receivable and contract asset. The balances of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 are all derived from contracts with customers. Started in 2021, the Group recognized revenues and correspondent contract assets derived from estimated renewal commissions. Accordingly, the Group presented separately, in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Group has no advance from customers in advance of revenue recognition, or contract liability and, therefore, none of the revenue recognized in the current period was previously recognized as a contract liability. Practical expedients and exemptions The Group generally expenses sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would have been one year or less. These costs are recorded within sales and marketing expenses in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, as the amortization period is less than one year and the Group has elected the practical expedient included in ASC 606. The Group has applied the optional exemption provided by ASC 606 to not disclose the value of remaining performance obligations not yet satisfied as of period end for contracts with original expected duration of one year or less. Value-added tax and surcharges The Group presents revenue net of tax surcharges and value-added taxes incurred. The tax surcharges amounted to RMB20,610, RMB19,235 and RMB14,681 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Total value-added taxes paid by the Group during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 amounted to RMB179,663, RMB179,183 and RMB130,743 respectively. F-27 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (r) Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair value is considered to be the price that would be received from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. The established fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value include: Level 1 Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2 Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets); or model-derived valuations in which significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data. Level 3 Applies to assets or liabilities for which there are unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. The carrying values of the Group’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, insurance premium payables, other receivables, accounts payable and other payables, approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. Measured at fair value on a recurring basis As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, information about inputs into the fair value measurements of the Group’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis in periods subsequent to their initial recognition is as follows. Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Description Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) RMB RMB RMB As of December 31, 2021 RMB Short-term investments - debt security 857,682 — 857,682 — F-28 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (r) Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Continued) Measured at fair value on a recurring basis (Continued) Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using Description Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) RMB RMB RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB Short-term investments - debt security 331,228 — 331,228 — The majority of debt security consists of investments in bank financial products, trust products and asset management plans that normally pay a prospective fixed rate of return. These investments are recorded at fair values on a recurring basis. The Group measured these investments at fair values and the unrealized gains or losses from the changes in fair values are included in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, at the balance sheet date. It is classified as Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy since fair value measurement at the reporting date is benchmarked against fair value of comparable investments. Measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis The Group measures certain assets, including equity securities without readily determinable fair values, equity method investments and intangible assets, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when they are deemed to be impaired. The fair values of these investments and intangible assets are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available, and may include management judgments, future performance projections, etc. An impairment charge to these investments is recorded when the cost of the investment exceeds its fair value and this condition is determined to be other-than-temporary. Impairment charge to the intangible assets is recorded when their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Goodwill (Note 7) and intangible assets (Note 2(h)) with indefinite lives are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, and they are recorded at fair value only when impairment is recognized by applying unobservable inputs such as forecasted financial performance of the acquired business, discount rate, etc. to the discounted cash flow valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of these assets (Level 3). Investments in affiliates (Note 8) are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, and they are recorded at fair value only when there is other-than-temporary-impairment. The fair value of investment in an affiliate that is publicly listed is determined based on the market value of its share (Level 1) on the date such impairment is recorded. (s) Foreign Currencies The functional currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“USD”). Assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rates at the balance sheet date, equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates and revenues, F-29 expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments are reported as cumulative translation adjustments and are shown as a separate component of other comprehensive income or loss in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. The Group has chosen the Renminbi (“RMB”) as their reporting currency. The functional currency of most of the Company’s subsidiaries is RMB. Transactions in other currencies are recorded in RMB at the rates of exchange prevailing when the transactions occur. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in other currencies are translated into RMB at rates of exchange in effect at the balance sheet dates. Exchange gains and losses are recorded in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income. (t) Foreign Currency Risk The RMB is not a freely convertible currency. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People’s Bank of China, controls the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies. The value of RMB is subject to changes in central government policies and international economic and political developments that affect supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System market of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. The Group had aggregate amounts of RMB595,428 and RMB600,901 of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash denominated in RMB as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. (u) Translation into USD The consolidated financial statements of the Group are stated in RMB. Translations of amounts from RMB into USD are solely for the convenience of the readers outside of China and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.8972, representing the noon buying rate in the City of New York for cable transfers of RMB on December 30, 2022, the last business day in fiscal year 2022, as set forth in H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The translation is not intended to imply that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into USD at such rate. (v) Segment Reporting As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group operated two segments: (1) the insurance agency segment, which mainly consists of providing agency services for P&C insurance products and life insurance products to individual clients, and (2) the claims adjusting segment, which consists of providing pre-underwriting survey services, claim adjusting services, disposal of residual value services, loading and unloading supervision services, and consulting services. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Group’s chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Substantially all revenues of the Group are derived in the PRC and all long-lived assets are located in the PRC. (w) Earnings per Share (“EPS”) or ADS Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares /ADS outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS is calculated by using the weighted average number of ordinary shares /ADS outstanding adjusted to include the potentially dilutive effect of outstanding share- based awards, unless their inclusion in the calculation is anti-dilutive. The contingently issuable shares /ADS related to the 521 Plan (see Note 21(b) for details), are subject to fulfillment of the performance conditions as stipulated under the 521 Plan. Therefore, these shares are excluded from basic earnings per share until the shares are fully vested upon the achievement of performance conditions under the 521 Plan by the Participants. In December 2020, the Group cancelled the 521 Plan and no impact in 2021 and 2022. F-30 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (x) Advertising Costs Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs amounted to RMB37,389, RMB35,300 and RMB18,822 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. (y) Leases The Group leases office space, vehicles and certain equipment under operating leases for terms ranging from short term (under 12 months) to 7 years. The Group does not have options to extend or terminate leases, as the renewal or termination of relevant lease is on negotiation basis. As a lessee, the Group does not have any financing leases and none of the leases contain material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. The Group’s office space leases typically have initial lease terms of 2 to 7 years, and vehicles and equipment leases typically have an initial term of 12 months or less. The Group’s office space leases include fixed rental payments. The lease payments for the Group’s office space leases do not consist of variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate. The Group determines whether a contract contains a lease at contract inception. A contract contains a lease if there is an identified asset and the Group has the right to control the use of the identified asset. At the commencement of each lease, management determines its classification as an operating or finance lease. For leases that qualify as operating leases, the Group recognizes a right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability based on the present value of the lease payments over the lease term in the consolidated statements of balance sheets at commencement date. As all of the leases do not have implicit rates available, the Group uses incremental borrowing rates based on the information available at lease commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The incremental borrowing rates are estimated to approximate the interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments, and in economic environments where the leased assets are located. The ROU asset is measured at the amount of the lease liabilities with adjustments, if applicable, for lease prepayments made prior to or at lease commencement, initial direct costs incurred and lease incentives. For office space leases, the Group identifies the lease and non-lease components (e.g., common-area maintenance costs) and accounts for non-lease components separately from lease component. The Group’s office space lease contracts have only one separate lease component and have no non-components (e.g., property tax or insurance). Most of the office space lease contracts have no non-lease components. For the office space lease contracts include non-lease components, the fixed lease payment is typically itemized in the office space lease contract for separate lease component and non-lease components. Therefore, the Group does not allocate the consideration in the contract to the separate lease component and the non-lease components. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Group has made an accounting policy election to exempt leases with an initial term of 12 months or less without a purchase option that is likely to be exercised from being recognized on the balance sheet. Payments related to those leases continue to be recognized in the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. In addition, the Group does not have any related-party leases or sublease transactions. F-31 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) (z) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income The Group presents comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income with net income in a continuous statement. Accumulated other comprehensive income mainly represents foreign currency translation adjustments, changes in fair value of short term investments and share of other comprehensive income of the affiliates for the period. (aa) Government grants Government grants primarily consist of financial subsidies received from provincial and local governments for operating a business in their jurisdictions and compliance with specific policies promoted by the local governments. The Group records such government subsidies as other income or reduction of expenses or cost of revenues when it has fulfilled all of its obligation related to the subsidy. The Group recognized RMB27,352, RMB17,448 and RMB10,396 in the year ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (ab) Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements Government Assistance (Topic 832) – In November 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-10, Government Assistance (Topic 832) — Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance (“ASU 2021-10”). It requires issuers to make annual disclosures about government assistance, including the nature of the transaction, the related accounting policy, the financial statement line items affected and the amounts applicable to each financial statement line item, as well as any significant terms and conditions, including commitments and contingencies. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities within their scope for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2022 with no material impact on its audited consolidated financial statements. Business Combinations (Topic 805) – In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805) — Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2021- 08”), which provides guidance on the acquirer’s accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination. The amendments require an acquirer to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination at the acquisition date in accordance with ASC 606 as if it had originated the contracts. This guidance also provides certain practical expedients for acquirers when recognizing and measuring acquired contract assets and contract liabilities from revenue contracts in a business combination. The new guidance should be applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the date of adoption. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods therein. Early adoption is permitted. The Group early adopted the new standard beginning January 1, 2022 with no material impact on the consolidated financial statements. (3) Acquisitions and disposals Acquisition of an agency intermediate company in 2022 In August of 2022, to support the Group’s new strategy on “Open Platform”, the Group acquired 100% equity interest in an agency intermediate for cash consideration of RMB31,390. The Group accounted for this acquisition as business combination. F-32 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (3) Acquisitions and disposals (Continued) The consideration, fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as goodwill resulted from the acquisition are as follows: Consideration: Cash Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed: Cash and cash equivalents Short term investments Accounts receivables Other receivable and current assets Property and equipment Right of use assets Total assets acquired Accounts payables Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Lease liability Total liabilities assumed Net assets acquired Goodwill RMB 31,390 9,819 5,360 401 33,192 11 521 49,304 (4,532 ) (13,045 ) (465 ) (18,042 ) 31,262 128 Goodwill arising from the acquisition of this agency intermediate was attributable to the benefit of expected synergies as of the date of acquisition and recorded in insurance agency segment. The resulted goodwill is not expected to be tax deductible for tax purposes. The result of operation of aforementioned acquisition has been consolidated by the Group from August 2022, and the results of operations for the aforementioned acquisition is not material to the Group’s consolidated financial statements as a whole. Pro forma financial information is not presented for the aforementioned business acquisition in the fiscal year 2022 as it is immaterial to the reported results. Disposal of subsidiaries in 2021 In 2021, the Group disposed of two subsidiaries for a total consideration of RMB3,600 and recognized a gain of RMB2,051 in aggregate. As of December 31, 2021, RMB600 of the consideration remained outstanding as a payable which was subsequently settled in 2022. (4) Other Receivables, net Other receivables, net consist of the following: Advances to staff (i) Advances to entrepreneurial agents (i) Advances to a third party channel vendor (ii) Rental deposits Amount due from third parties (iii) F-33 As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 16,437 907 17,898 21,864 11,397 81 22,818 19,535 — 183,353 Other Less: Allowance for current expected credit losses Other receivables, net 4,451 (802 ) 4,841 (10,976 ) 60,755 231,049 (i) Amounts represented advances to staffs or entrepreneurial agents of the Group for daily business operations, which are unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand. (ii) Amount represented advances to Shenzhen Chetong Technology Co., Ltd. (“Chetong”) who provides platform services to the Group. The advances were unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand. With the cease of cooperation with Chetong in 2022, the Group requested repayment of the advances. The Group estimated the net amount expected to be collected was RMB14,736 and accordingly recorded an allowance for credit losses of RMB8,082 in others, net of the consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income. (iii) Amount represented 1) term-loan (matures in June 2023) to Sichuan Tianyi Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. (“Sichuan Tianyi”) of RMB80,000 and corresponding interest receivable RMB3,353 as of December 31, 2022. The loan is guaranteed by the ultimate controlling owner of Sichuan Tianyi, whom is jointly liable, with interest rate 7.2% per annum. 2) term-loan (matures in June 2023) to Shenzhen Yingxin Asset Management Co., Ltd. of RMB100,000 as of December 31, 2022, with the interest rate 7.3% per annum. The interest accrued until December 31, 2022 has been paid. These loan receivables are expected to be settled within one year. (5) Property, Plant and Equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net, is comprised of the following: As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB Building Office equipment, furniture and fixtures Motor vehicles Leasehold improvements Total Less: Accumulated depreciation Construction in progress 12,317 19,694 36,791 12,317 141,313 162,573 18,641 39,993 210,115 233,524 (163,315 ) (191,945 ) 56,880 — 98,459 46,800 No impairment for property, plant and equipment was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (6) Other current assets, net Other current assets consist of the following: Prepayment for acquisition of short-term investments Prepaid operating costs Prepaid miscellaneous daily expenses Other Less: Allowance for current expected credit losses F-34 2021 RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB — 390,000 12,594 16,146 2,790 (1,795 ) 39,947 419,735 15,206 22,744 1,997 — FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (7) Goodwill, net The gross amount of goodwill and accumulated impairment losses by reporting unit as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 are as follows: Gross as of December 31, 2021 Addition in 2022 Accumulated impairment loss as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 Net as of December 31, 2021 Agency segment RMB 131,977 128 (22,108 ) 109,869 Claims Adjusting segment Total RMB RMB — (21,137 ) 21,137 153,114 128 (43,245 ) — 109,869 Net as of December 31, 2022 109,997 — 109,997 The Group performed annual impairment analysis as of the balance sheet date. No impairment loss was recognized in goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. (8) Investments in Affiliates As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group’s investments accounted for under the equity method were as follows: CNFinance Others Total As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 329,158 6,650 335,808 — 4,035 4,035 Investment in CNFinance Holdings Limited (“CNFinance”) The Group invested 18.5% equity interest of CNFinance after CNFinance’s listing in New York Stock Exchange “NYSE” (symbol: CNF) on November 7, 2018. CNFinance is a leading home equity loan service provider incorporated in the Cayman Islands and based in Guangzhou, PRC. Investment in CNFinance is accounted for using the equity method as the Group has significant influence by the right to nominate one board member out of seven. On May 27, 2022 (the “Declare Date”), the board of directors authorized and approved the Group’s distribution of 252,995,600 ordinary shares of CNFinance to its shareholders on a pro rata basis. The distribution was completed on June 28, 2022, after which the Group’s equity stake in CNFinance decreased from approximately 18.5% to approximately 0.01%. Upon the completion of the distribution, the Company ceased to account for the remaining equity investment in CNFinance using equity method as the Company no longer has significant influence over this investee. For the year ended December 31, 2022, due to the continued decline in the share price of CNFinance, the Group recognized an other-than-temporary impairment of RMB78,277 (for the year ended December 31, 2021 RMB29,316) to reduce the carrying value of the investment to reflect the market value of the shares held by the Group up to the date of disposal. F-35 The summarized financial information of equity method investees is illustrated as below: Statements of Balance Sheet Total assets Total liabilities Results of Operation Income from operations Net profit (loss) As of December 31, 2021 RMB 14,883,038 10,783,449 Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB 2020 RMB 115,656 89,820 1,462 (7,089 ) Upon the completion of the disposal of CNFinance, the remaining two investees did not meet the significance test in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X, Rule 1-02(w) (i.e., the asset, investment, or income test). In accordance with SEC Regulation S-X, Rules 4-08(g), the Group did not disclose the investee’s summarized financial information for the year ended December 31, 2022. F-36 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (9) Leases The Group’s lease for office space include only fixed rental payments with no variable lease payment terms. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, there were no leases that have not yet commenced. The following represents the aggregate ROU assets and related lease liabilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2022: Operating lease ROU assets Current operating lease liability Non-current operating lease liability Total operating leased liabilities As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 225,677 145,086 62,304 87,012 74,190 128,283 215,295 136,494 The weighted average lease term and discount rate as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 were as follows: Weighted average lease term: Operating leases Weighted average discount rate: Operating leases As of December 31, 2022 2021 3.37 2.83 4.41 % 4.28 % The components of lease expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 were as follows: Operating lease expense Short term lease expense Total As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 111,197 3,373 114,570 97,576 1,227 98,803 Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 were as follows: Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities: Operating cash flows for operating leases Supplemental noncash information: Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations net of decrease in right- As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 99,150 90,438 of-use assets for early determinations 125,487 4,462 F-37  FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (9) Leases (Continued) Maturities of lease liabilities at December 31, 2022: Year ending December 31: 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Thereafter Total remaining undiscounted lease payments Less: Interest Total present value of lease liabilities Less: Current operating lease liability Non-current operating lease liability (10) Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) Minimum Lease Payment RMB 66,924 37,435 22,498 13,516 3,135 2,162 145,670 9,176 136,494 62,304 74,190 VIE related to Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies The Measures on the Supervision of Internet Insurance Business implemented in February 2021 requires an insurance institution conducts online insurance business through its own online platform who owns the domain name. Fanhua RONS Insurance Sales & Services Co., Ltd., (“Fanhua RONS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shenzhen Xinbao Investment Co., Ltd. (“Xinbao Investment”), used to conduct its online P&C insurance business through an online platform (www.baoxian.com) owned and operated by another subsidiary within the Group. To comply with the newly implemented rules, the Group transferred the domain name and ICP license to Fanhua RONS. As the applicant for an ICP license may be subject to foreign investment restriction, the Group commenced a restructuring to re- establish the VIE structure. Xinbao Investment was a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group who in December 2021 became 49% owned by the Group where the remaining 51% equity interests were transferred to Mr. Shuangping Jiang at nominal value who holds the interest on behalf of the Group, because Xinbao Investment is, under the new rule, prohibited to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunications service provider, i.e., Fanhau RONS. Through the contractual arrangements entered in December 2021, with Xinbao Investment and its nominee shareholder, the Group has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact to and entitles to receive economic benefits from Xinbao Investment, the consolidated VIE. In preparation for the application of an ICP license for Fanhua RONs (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. (“Fanhua RONS Technologies”), in July 2022, Beijing Fanlian Investment Co., Ltd. (“Fanlian Investment”), a wholly owned subsidiary, transferred its entire equity interests holding in Fanhua RONS Technologies to Mr. Peng Ge, the chief financial officer of the Group, who holds the equity interests on behalf of Fanlian Investment. Concurrently, Fanlian Investment entered into contractual arrangements with Fanhua RONS Technologies and Mr. Ge which are substantially similar to those among Fanhua Group Company, Xinbao Investment and its individual nominee shareholder. F-38 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (10) Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) (Continued) VIE related to Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies (Continued) As a result, the Group currently conducts its insurance agency and claims adjusting business in China primarily through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Fanhua Group Company and Fanlian Investment (collectively the “relevant PRC entities”), and its subsidiaries and the VIEs for part of its online insurance business in China. The following is a summary of the contractual agreements that the Group entered into with Xinbao Investment, Fanhua RONS Technologies and their individual nominee shareholders: Agreements that Provide the Group Effective Control over Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies ● Loan Agreement Mr. Jiang and Mr. Ge (collectively the “nominee shareholders”) entered into a loan agreement, with the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. The principal loan amounts equal to the capital contributions to VIEs. The term of the loan agreement is for ten years, which may be extended only upon written agreement of the parties. If the loan is not extended, then upon its expiration and subject to then applicable PRC laws, the loan can be repaid only with the proceeds from a transfer of the individual shareholder’s equity interests in VIEs to relevant PRC entities or another person or entity designated by them. Relevant PRC entities may accelerate the loan repayment upon certain events, including but not limited to if the individual shareholder resigns or is dismissed from employment by us or if relevant PRC entities exercise its option to purchase the shareholder’s equity interests in VIEs pursuant to the exclusive purchase option agreements described below. ● Equity Pledge Agreement Relevant nominee shareholders entered into an equity pledge agreement, pledging their respective equity interests in VIEs to relevant PRC entities to secure their obligations under the loan agreement. Relevant nominee shareholders also agreed not to transfer or create any encumbrances adverse to relevant PRC entities on their equity interests in VIEs. During the term of the equity pledge agreement, relevant PRC entities are entitled to all the dividends declared on the pledged equity interests. The equity pledge agreements will expire when the individual shareholders fully performs their respective obligations under the loan agreement. The equity pledge was recorded on the shareholder’ register of VIEs, and registered with the relevant local administration of industry and commerce. ● Power of Attorney Relevant nominee shareholders executed powers of attorney, each appointing a person designated by relevant PRC entities as his attorney-in-fact on all matters requiring shareholder approval. Further, if relevant PRC entities designate the shareholder to attend a shareholder’s meeting of VIEs, the individual shareholder agrees to vote his shares as instructed by relevant PRC entities. The term of the power of attorney is for ten years. Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits to the Group ● Exclusive Purchase Option Agreement Relevant nominee shareholders entered into an exclusive purchase option agreement to irrevocably grant relevant PRC entities an exclusive option to purchase part or all of their equity interests in VIEs, when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. The purchase price will be the minimum price permitted under applicable PRC law. F-39 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (10) Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) (Continued) VIE related to Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies (Continued) Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits to the Group (Continued) ● Technology Consulting and Service Agreement Pursuant to technology service agreements between (i) relevant PRC entities, and (ii) VIEs, relevant PRC entities agreed to provide VIEs with training services and consulting and other services relating to IT platform and internal control compliance. In exchange, VIEs agree to pay a quarterly fee calculated primarily based on a percentage of its revenues. The agreement has a term of one year and can be renewed each year upon mutual agreement. Because of contractual arrangements with VIEs and their nominee shareholders, the Group is the primary beneficiary of VIEs and their subsidiaries and consolidated them into consolidated financial statements. VIEs related to the 521 Plan On June 14, 2018, the Group announced that its board of directors approved a 521 Share Incentive Plan (the “521 plan”). The 521 Plan is designed to incentivize the Group’s employees and independent sales agents (collectively the “Participants”). The 521 Plan provides Participants an opportunity to benefit from appreciation of the Company’s ordinary shares by purchasing the Company’s ordinary shares at a stated subscription price in exchange for employee and non-employee services, if service and performance conditions are achieved. 10% of the subscription price is paid by the Participant on or around the grant date, while the remaining 90% of the subscription prices is financed through interest-bearing loans from the Group. The vesting of the awards is contingent on performance conditions being met during the requisite service periods. Pursuant to the 521 Plan, the Group set up three companies which are Fanhua Employees Holdings Limited, Step Tall Limited and Treasure Chariot Limited (collectively the “521 Plan Employee Companies”) to hold the Group’s ordinary shares on behalf of the Participants of the 521 Plan. Each of the 521 Plan Employee Companies is a legal entity formed in the British Virgin Islands with a sole shareholder appointed by the Group. Each shareholder is either an employee, or a founder who is also a shareholder and director of the Group. The following is a summary of the contractual agreements that the Group entered into relating to the 521 Plan: The nature and structure of the 521 Plan Employee Companies is that they are investment vehicle companies holding the Company’s shares on behalf of the Participants for the purpose of the 521 Plan. Loan agreements and entrusted share purchase agreements were signed among the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary CISG Holdings Ltd., the 521 Plan Employee Companies and each of the Participants. To effect the 521 Plan, Participants agreed to pay 10% of the subscription price and executed a loan agreement with the Group for a loan representing 90% of the subscription price of the ordinary shares under the 521 Plan. Participants executed an entrusted share purchase agreement with one of the 521 Employee Companies whereby the 521 Plan Employee Company will legally hold the ordinary shares on behalf of the Participants. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the loan agreements provide a total of US$184,815 and US$344,988, respectively, in loans to the VIEs and Participants of the 521 Plan with the sole purpose of providing funds necessary for the purchase of the Group’s ordinary shares under the 521 Plan. All the ordinary shares are pledged as collateral to the Group for the loans and are not yet vested, the Participants cannot direct the sale of the ordinary shares without the consent of the Group until the ordinary shares are fully vested in accordance with the 521 Plan’s agreed target performance. The loan agreement and the entrusted share purchase agreement shall terminate after five years or upon termination of agency relationship and employment relationship or the settlement of the loan, whichever comes first. F-40 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (10) Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) (Continued) VIE related to Xinbao Investment and Fanhua RONS Technologies (Continued) Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits to the Group (Continued) VIEs related to the 521 Plan (Continued) The sole director and sole shareholder of each of the 521 Plan Employee Companies is either a significant shareholder and director, or an employee of the Group, who has executed powers of attorney on behalf of the Group. Under the power of attorney, they will follow, without any conditions, the Group’s instructions to manage all the activities of each of the 521 Plan Employee Companies. In addition, the Group can replace the sole director and shareholder of each of the 521 Plan Employee Companies to another designated party at its discretion. The ordinary shares are the only significant assets held by the 521 Plan Employee Companies. Through the loan agreements, entrusted share purchase agreements and letters of undertaking described above, the Group controls the decision-making rights of the 521 Plan Employee Companies with respect to the shares held by the 521 Plan Employee Companies as collateral to the loans issued to the Participants during the vesting period. Given the only substantial recourse to the loans issued by the Group are the ordinary shares, the Group has potential exposure to the economics of the 521 Plan Employee Companies resulting from the fluctuation in value of the ADS (principally decreases), which is more than insignificant. Further, the Group will also participate in the variability and absorb the economic benefits of the 521 Plan Employee Companies, through an increase in value of the shares held by the 521 Plan Employee Companies, if the performance conditions are not met or partially met based on the profit distribution arrangements. Based on above, the Group is the primary beneficiary of the 521 Plan Employee Companies and consolidates them because it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the 521 Plan Employee Companies’ economic performance, and the obligation to absorb losses of the 521 Plan Employee Companies that could potentially be significant to them and the right to receive benefits from the 521 Plan Employee Companies that could potentially be significant to the 521 Plan Employee Companies. Therefore, the Group has variable interests in the 521 Plan Employee Companies during the vesting period. As disclosed in Note 21(b), the Group entered into supplemental agreements with all remaining Participants in December 2020 to cancel the 521 Plan upon which the 521 Plan Employee Companies returned all subscribed 280,000,000 ordinary shares to the Group, and as a condition, the Group refunded all share rights deposits back to the Participants, and terminated the Participants’ obligation to repay the Group the non-recourse loan principal and interest, and all the relevant original contractual agreements including the loan agreements, entrusted share purchase agreements and letters of undertaking described above were agreed to be terminated and lapsed. As a result, the Group no longer has power to direct the significant activities of the 521 Plan Employee Companies, and no longer bears potentially significant economic exposure through its indirect interests to the 521 Plan Employee Companies, and stopped consolidating the 521 Plan Employee Companies upon the cancellation of the 521 Plan. In December 2020, upon the cancellation of the 521 Plan, the Group refunded all share rights deposits amounted to RMB266,901 back to the Participants which was presented as cash outflows from financing activities. Risks in relation to the VIE Arrangement (Continued) In the opinion of the Company’s legal counsel, (i) the ownership structure relating to the consolidated VIEs of the Company is in compliance with PRC laws and regulations; (ii) the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIEs and the individual shareholders are legal, valid and binding obligation of such party, and enforceable against such party in accordance with their respective terms; and (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of the consolidated VIEs and its shareholders do not result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association and business licenses of the VIEs, and any violation of any current PRC laws and regulations. F-41 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (10) Variable Interest Entities (“VIEs”) (Continued) Risks in relation to the VIE Arrangement (Continued) Uncertainties in the PRC legal system could cause the Company’s current corporate structure to be found in violation of any existing and/or future PRC laws or regulations and could limit the Company’s ability, through the Primary Beneficiary, to enforce its rights under these contractual arrangements. Furthermore, the shareholders of the VIEs may have interests that are different from those of the Company, which could potentially increase the risk that the shareholders would seek to breach the existing terms of the aforementioned agreements. In addition, if the current structure or any of the contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws, the Company may be subject to penalties, which may include but not be limited to, the cancellation or revocation of the Company’s business and operating licenses, being required to restructure the Company’s operations or discontinue the Company’s operating activities. The imposition of any of these or other penalties may result in a material and adverse effect on the Company’s ability to conduct its operations. In such case, the Company may not be able to operate or control VIEs, which may result in deconsolidation of VIEs. Summarized below is the information related to VIEs, including total assets, total current liabilities, total liabilities, net revenues, total operating costs and expenses, net income (loss) and cash flows after intercompany elimination are as follows: Total assets Total current liabilities Total liabilities As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 69,792 102,965 (50,457 ) (40,100 ) (77,990 ) (40,653 ) Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2020 RMB Net revenues Operating costs and expenses Net income (loss) Net cash generated from operating activities Net cash used in financing activities — — — — (266,901 ) 16,267 141,086 67,788 (4,136 ) 98,715 — 1,814 14,431 48,923 — As of December 31, 2022 there were no consolidated VIE assets that are collateral for the VIE’s obligations or are restricted solely to settle the VIEs’ obligations, other than aforementioned in the restricted cash as described in Note 2(c). In the year ended December 31, 2022, aggregate revenues derived from these VIEs contributed 5.1% of the total consolidated net revenues, based on the corporate structure as of the end of 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the VIEs accounted for an aggregate of 3.3% of the consolidated total assets. The creditors of the VIEs’ third-party liabilities did not have recourse to the general credit of the Company in normal course of business. The Company has not provided any financial support that it was not previously contractually required to provide to the VIEs. F-42 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (11) Other Payables and Accrued Expenses Components of other payables and accrued expenses are as follows: Business and other tax payables Refundable deposits from employees and agents Professional fees Accrued expenses to third parties Contributions from members of eHuzhu mutual aid program (Note 2(c)) Others Total (12) Short-term loan As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 65,228 21,284 8,998 23,719 51,144 7,784 77,502 19,789 3,586 29,861 43,140 448 178,157 174,326 Short-term loans and total outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 amounted to nil and RMB35,679, respectively, which is RMB-denominated borrowing made by the Company’s subsidiaries from financial institutions in mainland China. In 2022, insurance agency segment borrowed RMB35,679 one-year loan for its general working capital purposes. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the weighted average interest rates for the outstanding borrowings were approximately nil and 4.50%, respectively, and the aggregate amounts of unused lines of credit for short-term loans were nil and RMB164,321, respectively. (13) Employee Benefit Plans Employees of the Group located in the PRC are covered by the retirement schemes defined by local practice and regulations, which are essentially defined contribution plans. In addition, the Group is required by law to contribute a certain percentage of applicable salaries for medical insurance benefits, unemployment and other statutory benefits. The contribution percentages may be different from district to district which is subject to the specific requirement of local regime government. The PRC government is directly responsible for the payments of the benefits to these employees. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group contributed and accrued RMB52,942, RMB118,837 and RMB131,385, respectively. F-43 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (14) Income Taxes The Company is a tax exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, the Company is not subject to tax on its income or capital gains. In addition, upon any payments of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax is imposed. Subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax rate at 16.5%, and foreign-derived income is exempted from income tax. Under the two-tiered profits tax rates regime, the provision for current income taxes of the subsidiaries operating in Hong Kong has been calculated by applying the current rate of taxation of 8.25% for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs incorporated in the PRC are subject to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax and a unified 25% enterprise income tax rate, except for certain entities that are entitled to preferential tax treatments. Preferential EIT rates at 15% is available for qualified enterprises located in the western China regions in an industry sector encouraged by the PRC government. Fanhua Lianxing Insurance Sales Co., Ltd., the Group’s wholly- owned subsidiary, which is the holding entity of the Group’s life insurance operations, was entitled to a preferential tax rate of 15% for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Tibet Zhuli Investment Co. Ltd. (“Tibet Zhuli”), the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary, was entitled to a preferential tax rate of 15% for the year ended December 31, 2020. Tibet Zhuli  no longer enjoys such a preferential rate from 2021 to 2022. Pursuant to the relevant laws and regulations in the PRC, Shenzhen Huazhong United Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen Huazhong”), a subsidiary of the Group, was regarded as a software company and thus exempted from PRC Income Tax for two years starting from its first profit-making year, followed by a 50% reduction for the next three years. For Shenzhen Huazhong, year 2017 was the first profit-making year and accordingly it has made a 12.5% tax provision for its profits for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, Shenzhen Huazhong no longer enjoys such a preferential rate from 2022. The Group’s subsidiaries that are the PRC tax resident are required to withhold the PRC withholding tax of 10% on dividend payment to their non-PRC resident immediate holding company, unless such dividend payment is qualified for the 5% reduced tax rate under the Arrangement between Mainland China and Hong Kong for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (the “PRC-HK DTA”). One of the Group’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, CNinsure Holdings Limited, was determined by Hong Kong Taxation Bureau to be a Hong Kong resident enterprise since July 2018. The Hong Kong resident certificate was issued by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department valid till the year ending December 31, 2022. Accordingly, CNinsure Holdings Limited qualified as a Hong Kong resident and was entitled to enjoy a reduced tax rate of 5% for the dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 under Bulletin [2018] No. 9 (e.g. beneficial ownership, shareholding percentage and holding period). The Group accounts for uncertain income tax positions by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold in the financial statements. The Group’s liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits were included in other tax liabilities. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the balance of unrecognized tax benefits is comprised of amounts mainly arising from gain on disposal of subsidiaries and certain transfer pricing arrangements. F-44 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (14) Income Taxes (Continued) The movements of unrecognized tax benefits are as follows: Balance as of January 1, 2020 Change in unrecognized tax benefits Decrease in tax positions Balance as of December 31, 2020 Change in unrecognized tax benefits Increase in tax positions Balance as of December 31, 2021 Change in unrecognized tax benefits Decrease in tax positions Balance as of December 31, 2022 RMB 70,350 — (3,131 ) 67,219 — 5,994 73,213 — (36,566 ) 36,647 The uncertain tax positions are related to tax years that remain subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities. Based on the outcome of any future examinations, or as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations for specific jurisdictions, it is reasonably possible that the related unrecognized tax benefits for tax positions taken regarding previously filed tax returns, might materially change from those recorded as liabilities for uncertain tax positions in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. In addition, the outcome of these examinations may impact the valuation of certain deferred tax assets (such as net operating losses) in future periods. The Group’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax benefits, if any, as a component of income tax expense. The Group does not anticipate any significant increases or decreases to its liability for unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of income taxes is due to computational errors made by the taxpayer. The statute of limitations will be extended to five years under special circumstances, which are not clearly defined, but an underpayment of income tax liability exceeding RMB100 is specifically listed as a special circumstance. In the case of a transfer pricing related adjustment, the statute of limitations is ten years. There is no statute of limitations in the case of tax evasion. During the current year, the Group reversed transfer pricing related uncertain tax position amounting to RMB36,566 when its statute of limitation expired in 2022. Income tax expenses are comprised of the following: Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2020 RMB Current tax expense Deferred tax expense Income tax expense 67,609 15,778 83,387 66,665 23,909 90,574 13,169 27,847 41,016 F-45 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (14) Income Taxes (Continued) The principal components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows: Deferred tax assets: Operating loss carryforward Intangible assets, net Less: valuation allowances Total Deferred tax liabilities: Fair value adjustments in relation to short-term investments Estimated profit arising from future renewal commissions PRC dividend withholding taxes Total As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2021 RMB 53,179 3,675 (38,126 ) 18,728 96,173 2,856 (78,627 ) 20,402 13,954 14,734 59,271 29,752 29,230 29,230 73,716 102,455 The Group considers positive and negative evidence to determine whether some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will more likely than not be realized. This assessment considers, among other matters, the nature, frequency and severity of recent losses, forecasts of future profitability, the duration of statutory carry forward periods, the Group’s experience with tax attributes expiring unused and tax planning alternatives. Valuation allowances have been established for deferred tax assets based on a more-likely-than-not threshold. The Group’s ability to realize deferred tax assets depends on its ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carry forward periods provided for in the tax law. The Group has provided RMB38,126 and RMB78,627 valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Group had total operating loss carry-forwards of RMB213,184 and RMB385,155 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, all of the operating loss carry-forwards will expire in the years from 2023 to 2027. During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, RMB5,321, RMB8,314 and RMB18,349, respectively, of tax loss carried forward has been expired and canceled. F-46 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (14) Income Taxes (Continued) Reconciliation between the provision for income taxes computed by applying the PRC enterprise income rate of 25% to net income before income taxes and income of affiliates, and the actual provision for income taxes is as follows: Income from continuing operations before income taxes, share of income Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2020 RMB of affiliates, net PRC statutory tax rate Income tax at statutory tax rate Expenses not deductible for tax purposes: —Entertainment —Other Effect of tax holidays on concessionary rates granted to PRC entities Effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions Change in valuation allowance Deferred income tax for dividend distribution Effect of non-taxable income* Unrecognized tax benefits arising transfer pricing from certain arrangements Other Income tax expense 362,302 371,088 196,335 25 % 90,576 25 % 92,772 25 % 49,084 2,428 202 (18,114 ) 2,732 (3,355 ) 18,483 (13,648 ) 2,950 81 (13,523 ) 2,070 2,999 10,349 (13,777 ) 2,099 479 (12,671 ) 2,342 40,501 — (4,620 ) — 4,083 83,387 5,994 659 90,574 (36,566 ) 368 41,016 * The effect of non-taxable income represents an income tax exemption according to the Notice (Cai Shui [2002] No. 128) promulgated by the State Administration of Taxation and Ministry of Finance in China on dividend income derived from a purchased open-end securities investment fund product that the Group recorded as short term investment. Additional PRC income taxes that would have been payable without the tax exemption amounted to approximately RMB18,114, RMB13,523 and RMB12,671 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Without such exemption, the Group’s basic net profit per share for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 would have been decreased by RMB0.02, RMB0.01and RMB0.01, and diluted net profit per share for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 would have been decreased by RMB0.02, RMB0.01and RMB0.01, respectively. If the entities were to be non-resident for PRC tax purposes, dividends paid to it out of profits earned after January 1, 2008 would be subject to a withholding tax. In the case of dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries, the withholding tax would be 10%, whereas in the case of dividends paid by PRC subsidiaries which are 25% or more directly owned by tax residents in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the withholding tax would be 5%. The Group’s subsidiary, CNinsure Holdings Limited qualified as Hong Kong resident and was entitled to enjoy a 5% reduced tax rate under Bulletin [2018] No. 9 for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively. Aggregate undistributed earnings of the Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC that are available for distribution to the Group of approximately RMB1,283,166 and RMB1,399,701 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 respectively, are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. If those earnings were to be distributed or they were determined to be no longer permanently reinvested, the Group would have to record a deferred tax liability in respect of those undistributed earnings of approximately RMB64,158 and RMB69,985, respectively. F-47 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (14) Income Taxes (Continued) During the years ended December 31, 2020，2021 and 2022, the Group provided RMB18,483, RMB10,349 and nil, respectively, deferred income tax for the declared dividend distribution based on a 5% withholding tax rate. Under applicable accounting principles, a deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting over tax basis, including those differences attributable to a more-than-50-percent-owned domestic subsidiary. However, recognition is not required in situations where the tax law provides a means by which the reported amount of that investment can be recovered tax-free and the enterprise expects that it will ultimately use that means. (15) Capital Structure During 2022, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 72,465 ADSs from the open market, representing 0.1% of the total shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022, at an average price of US$7.85 per ADS for a total amount of approximately RMB3,984, under its share buyback program to repurchase up to US$20 million ADSs, as previously announced by its board of directors in December 2022. The Group accounts for repurchased ordinary shares under the par value method and includes such treasury stock as a component of the shareholders’ equity. (16) Net Income per Share The computation of basic and diluted net income per ordinary share is as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB 2020 RMB 2022 RMB Basic: Net income Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders 276,177 7,923 268,254 259,941 8,952 250,989 85,723 (14,549 ) 100,272 Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding 1,073,891,784 1,073,891,784 1,074,196,310 Basic net income per ordinary share Basic net income per ADS 0.25 5.00 0.23 4.67 0.09 1.87 F-48 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (16) Net Income per Share (Continued) Year Ended December 31, 2021 RMB 2020 RMB 2022 RMB Diluted: Net income Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders 276,177 7,923 268,254 259,941 8,952 250,989 85,723 (14,549 ) 100,272 Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding Weighted average number of dilutive potential ordinary shares from share options Total Diluted net income per ordinary share Diluted net income per ADS (17) Distribution of Profits 1,073,891,784 1,073,891,784 1,074,196,310 399,576 261,511 1,074,291,360 1,074,291,194 1,074,457,821 399,410 0.25 4.99 0.23 4.67 0.09 1.87 As stipulated by the relevant PRC laws and regulations applicable to China’s foreign investment enterprise, the Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC are required to maintain non-distributable reserves which include a statutory surplus reserve as of December 31, 2021 and 2022. Appropriations to the statutory surplus reserve are required to be made at not less than 10% of individual company’s net profit as reported in the PRC statutory financial statements of the Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs. The appropriations to statutory surplus reserve are required until the balance reaches 50% of the registered capital of respective subsidiaries and VIEs. The statutory surplus reserve is used to offset future losses. These reserves represent appropriations of retained earnings determined according to PRC law and may not be distributed. The accumulated amounts contributed to the statutory reserves were RMB557,221 and RMB559,520 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Under PRC laws and regulations, there are restrictions on the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs with respect to transferring certain of their net assets to the Company either in the form of dividends, loans, or advances. Amounts of restricted net assets include paid in capital and statutory surplus reserve of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the net assets of the VIEs in which the Company has no legal ownership, totaling RMB1,458,915 and RMB1,461,214 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively, which were not eligible to be distributed. (18) Related-party Balances and Transactions The principal related-party balances as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, and transactions for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are as follows: (i) On December 28, 2020, the Group entered into a framework strategic partnership agreement, or, the “Agreement”, with Puyi Enterprise Management Consulting Co., Ltd (“Puyi Consulting”), which was controlled by Puyi, the Group’s affiliate. Pursuant to the Agreement, both parties, on the basis of full compliance with relevant regulatory and legal requirements will share customer and channel resources and explore collaboration opportunities on the provision of value-added asset management services to Chinese households, by leveraging both parties’ respective strength in insurance and financial services. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group incurred RMB5,386 commission cost to Puyi Consulting and the balance of accounts payable as of December 31, 2021 was RMB2,894. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Group incurred RMB13,548 commission cost to Puyi Consulting and the balance of account payable as of December 31, 2022 was RMB4,987. In order to diversify the Group’s services and product F-49 offerings, the Group provided referral services of publicly-raised and privately-raised fund products provided by Puyi’s clients, the Group referred Puyi’s financial advisors to their clients and Puyi’s financial advisors will be responsible for providing product information and handling purchasing procedures. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Group incurred RMB1,166 referral service fee from Puyi and the balance of account receivable as of December 31, 2022 was RMB1. (ii) On March 7, 2022, the Group entered into an agreement with Puyi Consulting. Pursuant to this agreement, Puyi Consulting provided training services and customer salon support services to the Group. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Group incurred RMB7,017 services expense to Puyi Consulting and the balance of other payable as of December 31, 2022 was RMB4,177. (19) Commitments and Contingencies (i) See Note 9 for the Group’s commitments for future minimum lease payments under operating leases. (ii) As of December 31, 2022, there was no pending legal proceeding to which the Group is a party that will have a material effect on the Group’s business, results of operations or cash flows. (20) Concentrations of Credit Risk Concentration risks Customers accounting for 10% or more of total net revenues excluding estimated renewal commissions are as follows: Sinatay Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Sinatay”) Aeon Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (“Aeon”). Huaxia Life Insurance Company Limited (“Huaxia”) Evergrande Life Insurance Co., Ltd. Year ended December 31, 2020 RMB 504,489 560,341 % of sales 2021 RMB 15.4 % 451,840 17.1 % 437,132 % of sales 2022 RMB 15.0 % 497,143 * 14.5 % % of sales 19.6 % * 606,581 18.6 % 323,800 10.7 % * * (“Evergrande”) Subtotal 339,567 2,010,978 10.4 % * 61.5 % 1,212,772 * * 40.2 % 497,143 * 19.6 % * represented less than 10% of total net revenues for the year. F-50 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (20) Concentrations of Credit Risk (Continued) Concentration risks (Continued) Customers which accounted for 10% or more of gross accounts receivable excluding estimated renewal commissions are as follows: Sinatay Greatwall Life Insurance Co., Ltd Subtotal % % 2021 RMB 186,289 * 186,289 As of December 31, 2022 RMB 31.1 % 124,847 85,616 31.1 % 210,463 * 23.4 % 16.0 % 39.4 % * represented less than 10% of accounts receivable as of the year end. The Group performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable. The Group places its cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments with financial institutions with low credit risk. (21) Share-based Compensation (a) 2012 Option G On March 12, 2012, the Company granted options (“2012 Options G”) to its directors and employees to purchase up to 92,845,000 ordinary shares of the Company. Pursuant to the option agreements entered into between the Company and the option grantees, the options shall vest over a five-year service period from 2012 to 2016. The expiration date of the 2012 Options is March 12, 2022. The 2012 Options G had an exercise price of US$0.30 (RMB1.90) and an intrinsic value of US$0.04 (RMB0.26) per ordinary share, except for the 3,200,000 options granted to the two independent directors which had an exercise price of US$0.31 (RMB1.98) and an intrinsic value of US$0.03(RMB0.17) per ordinary share. The exercise price for Option G was later modified to US$0.001 (RMB0.006) and the number of shares are reduced by half with no incremental cost as a result of such option modification in November 2014. The fair value of the options was determined by using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, share-based compensation expenses of nil were recognized in connection with the 2012 Options G, respectively. F-51 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (21) Share-based Compensation (Continued) (a) 2012 Option G (Continued) For the year ended December 31, 2022, changes in the status of total outstanding options, were as follows: Outstanding as of January 1, 2022 Exercised Forfeited Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 Exercisable as of December 31, 2022 Weighted average remaining contractual life (years) Weighted average exercise price in RMB Aggregate Intrinsic Value RMB 0.25 — — — — 0.01 — — — — 924 — — — — Number of options 400,000 (400,000 ) — — — As of December 31, 2022, all of the above options were fully vested and exercised. (b) The 521 Plan The 521 Plan was designed to incentivize the Participants and was originally accounted for as grant of share options. The Participants’ rights to ownership benefits of the shares are subject to the Participants’ achievement of service and performance vesting conditions. Each award agreement contains a condition for service from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023 (which coincides with loan maturity date) as well as individually determined performance conditions based on cumulative sales over the service period. Upon a modification of the settlement terms of the 521 Plan from cash settlement to net share settlement of vested ADS options in November 2019, the Group will settle the vested ADS option with shares of the Group at a value equal to the excess of the settlement date fair value of the ADS over the loan principal plus interest. The modification resulted in a change of awards’ classification from liability to equity. At the modification date, the Group reclassified the amounts previously recorded as a share-based compensation liability as a component of equity in the form of a credit to additional paid-in capital. In December 2020, the Group entered into supplemental agreements with all remaining Participants to cancel the 521 Plan. In accordance with the supplemental agreements, all the relevant original contractual agreements were terminated and lapsed and upon which, the 521 Plan Employee Companies returned a total of 280,000,000 subscribed ordinary shares to the Group, and as a condition, the Group refunded all share rights deposits amounting RMB250,312 back to the Participants, and terminated the Participants’ obligation to repay the Group the non-recourse loan principal and accumulated interest. By the end of 2020, the transaction was completed and the returned shares were all cancelled. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Group recognized RMB393 share-based compensation expense related to the 521 plan, while for the year ended December 31, 2020, the Group reversed RMB393 as the stock options related to the 521 Plan were estimated to be improbable to vest. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, there was no unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to the 521 Plan. F-52 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (21) Share-based Compensation (Continued) (c) 2022 Options On August 12, 2022, the Company granted share options (“2022 Options”) to its independent directors to purchase up to 4,000,000 ordinary shares of the Company. Pursuant to the option agreements entered into between the Company and the option grantees, the options vest over a four-year service period starting from the date of grant, with 30% (“Option D1”), 30% (“Option D2”), 20% (“Option D3”) and the remaining 20% (“Option D4”) of the options being vested on August 31 of each of the years starting from 2023 to 2026, respectively, subject to the continuous service of the option grantees. The 2022 Options expire no later than August 1, 2032, subject to earlier termination upon an optionee’s cessation of service. The 2022 Options had an exercise price of US$0.2305 (RMB1.59) and an intrinsic value of US$0.0020 (RMB0.01) per ordinary share on the date of grant. The Group used the Black-Scholes option pricing model in determining the fair value of the options granted, which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected life of the stock option, stock price volatility, dividend rate and risk-free interest rate. The assumptions used in determining the fair value of the 2022 Options on the grant date were as follows: Assumptions Expected dividend yield (Note i) Risk-free interest rates (Note ii) Expected volatility (Note iii) Expected life in years (Note iv) Fair value of options on grant date (i) Expected dividend yield: August 12, 2022 3.69% 2.92% ~ 2.96% 119.9% ~ 131.9% 5.54 ~ 7.04 US$0.1590 ~ US$0.1646 The expected dividend yield was estimated by the Group based on its historical and future dividend policy. (ii) Risk-free interest rate: Risk-free interest rate was estimated based on the US Government Bond yield and pro-rated according to the tenor of the options as of the valuation date. (iii) Expected volatility: The volatility of the underlying ordinary shares was estimated based on the annualized standard deviation of the continuously compounded rate of return on the daily average adjusted share price of the Group as of the Valuation Date. (iv) Expected life: The expected life was estimated based on the midpoint between the end of the vesting period and the contractual term of the award of the 2022 Options. As of December 31, 2022, the Group had reserved 161,143,768 ordinary shares available to be granted as options under the 2022 Options. No actual forfeitures occurred for the independent directors for the year ended December 31, 2022. F-53 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (21) Share-based Compensation (Continued) (c) 2022 Options (Continued) A summary of share options outstanding as of December 31, 2022, and activity during the year then ended, is presented below: Outstanding as of January 1, 2022 Granted Exercised Forfeited Outstanding as of December 31, 2022 - 4,000,000 - - 4,000,000 - 0.2305 - - 0.2305 Weighted average exercise price in USD Number of options Weighted average remaining contractual life (In years) - 6.19 - - 6.19 Aggregate Intrinsic Value USD 558 For the year ended December 31, 2022, share-based compensation expenses of RMB461 were recognized in connection with the 2022 Options. As of December 31, 2022, unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to unvested share options granted to the independent directors totaled US$572 (RMB3,942), which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.6 years. The aggregate intrinsic value of the share options as of December 31, 2022 was US$558 (RMB3,849). (22) Segment Reporting As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group operated two segments: (1) the insurance agency segment, which mainly consists of providing agency services for distributing life and P&C insurance products on behalf of insurance companies, and (2) the claims adjusting segment, which consists of providing pre-underwriting survey services, claim adjusting services, disposal of residual value services, loading and unloading supervision services, and consulting services. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available and evaluated regularly by the Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Group’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer. F-54 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (22) Segment Reporting (Continued) The following table shows the Group’s operations by business segment for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Other represents revenue and expenses that are not allocated to reportable segments and corporate related items. Year ended December 31, 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Net revenues Agency Claims Adjusting Total net revenues Operating costs and expenses Agency Claims Adjusting Other Total operating costs and expenses Income (loss) from operations Agency Claims Adjusting Other Income from operations Segment assets Agency Claims Adjusting Other Total assets 2,834,997 2,811,936 2,376,851 344,611 58,685 3,268,145 3,271,114 2,781,614 403,296 404,763 433,148 459,178 (2,481,219 ) (2,418,444 ) (2,068,194 ) (299,860 ) (60,405 ) (18,576 ) (2,965,959 ) (2,969,209 ) (2,612,939 ) (378,841 ) (416,619 ) (128,126 ) (416,241 ) (68,499 ) (442,349 ) (108,416 ) 353,778 16,907 (68,499 ) 302,186 393,492 16,829 (108,416 ) 301,905 308,657 (11,856 ) (128,126 ) 168,675 44,751 (1,720 ) (18,576 ) 24,455 2021 RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2022 US$ 1,259,973 1,513,449 219,429 302,592 252,130 36,555 1,679,553 1,323,937 191,954 3,242,118 3,089,516 447,938 Substantially all of the Group’s revenues for the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were generated from the PRC. A substantial portion of the identifiable assets of the Group is located in the PRC. Accordingly, no geographical segments are presented. F-55 FANHUA INC. Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) (23) Subsequent events Acquisitions of quality insurance intermediaries companies On January 3, 2023, the Group entered into definitive agreements with the existing shareholders of Zhongrong Smart Finance Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhongrong”), to acquire 57.73% of the equity interests of Zhongrong. As of March 31, 2023, the Group has acquired 53.44% of the equity interests of Zhongrong with a capital contribution of RMB122.7 million to Zhongrong. Zhongrong is currently in the process of repurchasing its shares from certain of its existing shareholders which will result in its shareholding in Zhongrong ultimately increasing to 57.73%. In connection with the acquisition, 61,853,580 ordinary shares of the Company have been issued to the existing shareholders of Zhongrong as of March 31, 2023. The consideration, adjustable based on the achievement of certain performance targets in the next three years by Zhongrong, is subject to a lock-up period of three years and will be released from lock-up in two batches after 2025. On February 6, 2023, the Group entered into a definitive agreement with the existing shareholders of Jilin Zhongji Shi’An Insurance Agency Co., Ltd (“Zhongji”), to acquire 51% of the equity interests of Zhongji. In connection with the acquisition, 13,660,720 ordinary shares of the Company have been issued to the existing shareholders of Zhongji as of March 31, 2023. The consideration, adjustable based on the achievement of certain performance targets in the next three years by Zhongji, is subject to a lock-up period of three years and will be released from lock-up in two batches after 2025. On February 8, 2023, the Group entered into an another definitive agreement with the existing shareholders of Wuhan Taiping Online Insurance Agency Co., Ltd. (“Taiping”), to acquire 51% of the equity interests of Taiping. In connection with the acquisition, 9,107,140 ordinary shares of the Company have been issued to the existing shareholders of Taiping as of March 31, 2023. The consideration, adjustable based on the achievement of certain performance targets in the next three years by Taiping, is subject to a lock-up period of three years and will be released from lock-up in two batches after 2025. The Group is in the process of assessing the accounting treatment of the above mentioned acquisitions. Share incentive plan On February 6, 2023, the board of directors (the “board”) has approved the grant options to purchase an aggregate of 13,680,000 ordinary shares to certain top agents who have met the requirements for Million Dollar Round Table (the “MDRT”) Membership. Pursuant to the MDRT share incentive program, the exercise price of these options is US$0.05 per ordinary share. The options are scheduled to vest over a two-year period starting from March 31, 2024, subject to the achievement of certain key performance indicators by the option holders and their continued service with the Group. The Group is in the process of assessing the accounting treatment of the above mentioned share incentive program. F-56 FANHUA INC. SCHEDULE I—CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY Balance Sheets (In thousands, except for shares and per share data) ASSETS: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Short term investments Other receivables and amounts due from subsidiaries and affiliates Total current assets Non-current assets: Investment in subsidiaries Investment in an affiliate Total assets 2021 RMB As of December 31, 2022 RMB 2022 US$ Note2(u) 14,507 34,705 38,512 27,619 635,953 417,613 685,165 483,744 5,584 4,004 60,549 70,137 3,328,864 2,520,667 365,463 585 4,020,407 3,008,446 436,185 6,378 4,035 2,182,522 1,385,043 200,813 2,182,522 1,385,043 200,813 8,091 (10 ) 461 8,089 — — 1,173 (1 ) 67 1,868,936 1,647,504 238,866 (4,733 ) 1,837,885 1,623,403 235,372 4,020,407 3,008,446 436,185 (39,140 ) (32,643 ) LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: Current liabilities: Other payables and accrued expenses and amounts due to subsidiaries Total liabilities Ordinary shares (Authorized shares:10,000,000,000 at US$0.001 each; issued 1,073,891,784 and 1,074,291,784 shares, of which 1,073,891,784 and 1,072,842,484 shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively) Treasury Stock Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Total equity Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity F-57 FANHUA INC. SCHEDULE I—CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY—(Continued) Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income (In thousands) Year Ended December 31, 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2022 US$ (11,318 ) General and administrative expenses — Selling expenses 5 Interest income 17,495 Others, net Equity in earnings of subsidiaries and an affiliate 94,090 Net Income attributable to the Company’s shareholders 268,254 250,989 100,272 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation adjustments Unrealized net gains on available-for-sale investments Share of other comprehensive (loss) gain of affiliates Comprehensive income attributable to the Company’s (331 ) — 2 — 271,133 251,318 (4,204 ) 281 1,044 — 9,639 23,811 (3,016 ) 3,728 (1,919 ) 4,688 (9,116 ) 6,252 (1,281 ) (1,641 ) — 1 2,536 13,642 14,538 541 (278 ) 680 shareholders 298,688 246,844 106,769 15,481 F-58 FANHUA INC. SCHEDULE I—CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY—(Continued) Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) Cash flow from operating activities: Net income Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: Year Ended December 31, 2020 RMB 2021 RMB 2022 RMB 2022 US$ 268,254 250,989 100,272 14,538 Equity in earnings of subsidiaries and an affiliate Compensation expenses associated with stock options Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Other receivables Other payables Net cash (used in) from operating activities Cash flows (used in) generated from investing activities Purchase of short-term investments Changes in investment in subsidiaries and an affiliate Advances to subsidiaries and affiliates Proceeds from disposal of short-term investments Net cash generated from investing activities Cash flows generated from (used in) financing activities: Proceeds on exercise of stock options Dividends paid Repurchase of ordinary shares from open market Repayment of subscription from the 521 Plan participants Net cash generated used in financing activities Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at (271,133 ) (251,318 ) — (393 ) 26 (7,707 ) (10,953 ) (71,382 ) 26,195 392 (847 ) (784 ) — (94,090 ) 461 (13,642 ) 67 — 696 7,339 — 102 1,065 43,757 907,006 131,504 660,004 157,582 (689,780 ) (100,009 ) 1,464 — 32,959 10,095 688,127 201,339 227,321 73,310 — — 2 (388,499 ) (242,518 ) (317,730 ) (3,984 ) — (250,312 ) — (638,811 ) (242,518 ) (321,712 ) (87,052 ) — — (41,963 ) 38,363 — (46,067 ) (578 ) — (46,645 ) (12,621 ) beginning of year Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the year 32,314 66,345 14,507 2,103 (4,332 ) (9,875 ) 111,057 16,102 66,345 14,507 38,512 5,584 F-59 FANHUA INC. Note to Schedule I (In thousands, except for shares) Schedule I has been provided pursuant to the requirements of Rule 12-04(a), 5-04(c) and 4-08(e)(3) of Regulation S-X, which require condensed financial information as to the financial position, cash flows and results of operations of a parent company as of the same dates and for the same periods for which audited consolidated financial statements have been presented when the restricted net assets of the consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries (including variable interest entities) together exceed 25 percent of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. As of December 31, 2022, RMB1,461,214 of the restricted capital and reserves are not available for distribution, and as such, the condensed financial information of the Company has been presented for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. As of December 31, 2022, there were no material contingencies, significant provisions of long-term obligations, and mandatory dividend or redemption requirements of redeemable shares or guarantees of the Company except for those which have been separately disclosed in the consolidated financial statements, if any. Basis of preparation The condensed financial information of the Company has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the accompanying consolidated financial statements except that the equity method has been used to account for investments in its subsidiaries. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information relating to the operations of the Company and, as such, these statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial statements of the Group as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 and the years ended 2020, 2021 and 2022. F-60  

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