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
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
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
For the transition period from to
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
Commission file number: 001-38806
Jiayin Group 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)
18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza,
428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong
New Area, Shanghai 200122
People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)
Chunlin Fan, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: 86 21-6190-6826
E-mail: fanchunlin@jiayinfintech.cn
18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza,
428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong
New Area, Shanghai 200122
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
American Depositary Shares, each representing
four Class A ordinary shares, par value
US$0.000000005 per share
Class A ordinary shares, par value
US$0.000000005 per share*
Trading
Symbol(s)
JFIN
Name of each exchange on
which registered
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
* Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market of American depositary 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.
There were 213,727,404 ordinary shares outstanding, consisting of 105,727,404 Class A ordinary shares and 108,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value
US$0.000000005 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.
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). 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
by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐
Other ☐
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. Item
17 ☐ Item 18 ☐
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). Yes ☐ No ☒
(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 ☐
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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
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Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires in this annual report on Form 20-F:
INTRODUCTION
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“ADSs” refers to our American depositary shares, each of which represents four Class A ordinary shares;
“China” or the “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, including, for the purposes of this annual report only, Hong Kong and
Macau, unless referencing specific laws and regulations adopted by the People’s Republic of China and other legal and tax matters
applicable only to mainland China; “PRC subsidiaries” and “PRC entities” refer to entities established in accordance with laws and
regulations of mainland China;
“consolidated VIE” refers to Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. (“Jiayin Finance”);
“investment volume” for a certain period refers to the sum of the principal amount of all investment transactions executed by investors
through our and the VIE Group’s platform during such period. The calculation of the investment volume of an investment made by an
investor through the automated investment program does not take into account automated reinvestments enabled by the automated
investment program;
“investors” include our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners and prior to the completion of our and the VIE Group’s funding
source transition to only institutional funding partners in April 2020, individual investors;
“loan origination volume” refers to the total amount of loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform during a certain period;
“M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage” refers to the total amount of principal for all loans in a vintage for which any repayment was more
than 90 days past due as of a particular date, less the total amount of past due principal recovered for such loans, and divided by the total
amount of principal for all loans in such vintage. M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage for quarter vintage is calculated as the weighted
average of M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage for each month in such quarter by loan origination volume;
number of “borrowings” for a certain period refers to the total borrowing applications which were funded during such period;
number of “borrowers” for a certain period refers to the total number of borrowers whose loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s
platform were funded during such period;
number of “investment transactions” for a certain period refers to the total number of investment transactions executed by investors through
our and the VIE Group’s platform during such period. An investment through our and the VIE Group’s automated investment programs is
counted as a single investment transaction though the amount may be facilitated to match multiple loans, and the calculation does not take
into account automated reinvestments enable by the automated investment program;
number of “investors” in a certain period refers to the total number of investors who executed investment transactions through our and the
VIE Group’s platform during such period;
“outstanding principal” refers to the aggregate principal amount of loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform and
historically loans covered by the investor assurance program that was acquired from Shanghai Niwodai Financial Information Services Co.,
Ltd., (“Niwodai Finance”) that were not repaid by borrowers or repaid by the investor assurance programs;
“Parent” refers to Jiayin Group Inc., a Cayman Islands holding company;
“registered users” refer to individuals who have registered on our and the VIE Group’s platform;
“repeat borrowers” during a certain period refers to borrowers who borrowed in such period and have borrowed at least twice since such
borrowers’ registration with us until the end of such period;
“ordinary shares” refers to our Class A and Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.000000005 per share;
“RMB” and “Renminbi” refer to the legal currency of China;
“US$,” “U.S. dollars,” “$,” and “dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States;
“vintage” refers to borrowings facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform during a certain period;
“we,” “us,” “our company,” “the Company” and “our” refer to the Parent and its subsidiaries; and
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“VIE Group” refers to Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries.
Our reporting currency is the Renminbi because our business is mainly conducted in China and all of our revenues are denominated in Renminbi.
This annual report contains translations of Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars at specific rates solely for the convenience of the reader. The conversion of
Renminbi into U.S. dollars in this annual report is based on the rate certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Unless
otherwise noted, all translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this annual report were made at RMB6.8972 to
US$1.00, the noon buying rate on December 30, 2022 set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. We make no representation
that any Renminbi or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted into U.S. dollars or Renminbi, as the case may be, at any particular rate,
the rates stated below, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in part through direct regulation of the conversion
of Renminbi into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade.
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. Known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those listed under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors,” may cause our actual results,
performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements are made
under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995.
You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,”
“intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely
on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy
and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
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our mission and strategies;
our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;
the expected growth of the online consumer finance market in China;
our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our products and services;
our expectations regarding our relationships with borrowers and institutional funding partners;
competition in our industry;
general economic and business condition in China and elsewhere;
relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry; and
the impact of COVID-19.
These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that our expectations expressed in these forward-
looking statements are reasonable, our expectations may later be found to be incorrect. Our actual results could be materially different from our
expectations. You should thoroughly read this annual report and the documents that we refer to with the understanding that our actual future results may be
materially different from and worse than what we expect. In addition, the rapidly changing nature of the online consumer finance industry results in
significant uncertainties for any projections or estimates relating to the growth prospects or future condition of our market. Furthermore, if any one or more
of the assumptions underlying the market data are later found to be incorrect, actual results may differ from the projections based on these assumptions.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
The forward-looking statements made in this annual report relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in
this annual report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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PART I
Jiayin Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through (i) its PRC subsidiaries, including Shanghai Kunjia
Technology Co., Ltd., or Shanghai Kunjia, and Shanghai Chuangzhen Technology Co., Ltd., or Chuangzhen Technology, and its subsidiaries in which we
hold equity ownership interests, and (ii) contractual arrangements among (x) Shanghai Kunjia, (y) the consolidated variable interest entity, or the
consolidated VIE, namely, Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., or Jiayin Finance, a limited liability company established under PRC law, and (z)
the shareholders of the consolidated VIE. Jiayin Group Inc. does not hold any equity interest in the consolidated VIE. Investors in the ADSs thus are not
purchasing, and may never hold, equity interests in the consolidated VIE. PRC laws, regulations, and rules restrict and impose conditions on direct foreign
investment in China-based companies that engage in certain types of business, and we therefore operate these businesses in China through the VIE
structure which provides investors with exposure to foreign investment in the Chinese operating companies. For a summary of these contractual
arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” As used in this annual report, “we,” “us” or “our” refers to Jiayin
Group Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Our corporate structure is subject to risks relating to our contractual arrangements with Jiayin Finance and its shareholders. These contractual
arrangements have not been tested in a court of law. 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 beneficial interest in the consolidated VIE or forfeit our rights under the contractual
arrangements. Jiayin Group Inc, the VIE Group and investors of our company face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC government,
which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Jiayin Finance and, consequently, significantly affect the financial condition and
results of operations of Jiayin Group Inc. If we are unable to claim our right to control the assets of the consolidated VIE, the ADSs may decline in value or
become worthless. In addition, changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, or government policies may cause our and the consolidated
VIE’s underlying operations in China to become prohibitive, which could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s business, financial
condition, and results of operations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating 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. The recent statements and regulatory actions by China’s government, such as those related
to the use of data security, anti-monopoly concerns, and the regulatory approvals on overseas listings, may impact our ability to conduct the business,
accept foreign investments and/or list on a U.S. or other foreign exchange. 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 Relating to Doing Business in China.”
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 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 and the VIE Group’s financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 contained in this annual
report have been audited by Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (formerly known as "Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP"), or Marcum Asia, an independent
registered public accounting firm that is headquartered in Manhattan, New York, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last
inspection in 2020. As of the date hereof, Marcum Asia is not included in the list of PCAOB identified firms in the PCAOB Determination Report issued
on December 16, 2021. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that it was able to conduct inspections and investigations completely of PCAOB-
registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2022. The PCAOB vacated its previous determinations issued in
December 2021 accordingly. As a result, we do not expect to be identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCAA for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2022 after we file our annual report on Form 20-F for such fiscal year. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to conduct inspections
and investigations completely to its satisfaction of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject
to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control, including positions taken by authorities of the PRC. The PCAOB is
expected to continue to demand complete access to inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong
Kong in the future and states that it has already made plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond. The PCAOB is required under the
HFCAA to make its determination on an annual basis with regards to its ability to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms based in the
mainland China and Hong Kong. The possibility of being a “Commission-Identified Issuer” and risk of delisting could continue to adversely affect the
trading price of our securities. Should the PCAOB again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a
result of positions taken by any authority in either jurisdiction, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCAA as and when appropriate.
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In addition, on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law, which, among others, amended the HFCAA 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 HFCAA to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter
market. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Trading in our securities may be
prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, if it is later
determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor, and as a result, U.S. national securities exchanges, such as Nasdaq,
may determine to delist our securities.”
Fund Flows Between Jiayin Group Inc., Its Subsidiaries and the Consolidated VIE
Under PRC law, we may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or loans, and to the consolidated VIE 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 Shanghai Kunjia, the consolidated VIE,
and the shareholders of the consolidated VIE, Shanghai Kunjia is entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits of the consolidated VIE 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
Relating to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental
control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and any further offerings to make loans to or
make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our
ability to fund and expand our business.” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We rely on
dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on
the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
Transfer of funds between any entities in our consolidated group is subject to our cash management policy that outlines appropriate internal control
procedures on the handling, depositing, receiving, transferring, safeguarding, and documentation and recording of cash assets. The finance department at
the Jiayin Group Inc. level with authorized persons at each entity has the centralized responsibility for undertaking cash handling activity. Based on the
dollar amount of a fund transfer and the nature of the use of funds, requisite internal approval must be obtained prior to each fund transfer: all transactions
require, at a minimum, the approval of the financial controller; for certain transactions with large dollar amounts, approval of our vice president of finance,
and in some instances, approval of both our vice president of finance and chief executive officer, is also required.
Assets Transfer Occurred Between the Parent, Its Subsidiaries and the Consolidated VIE
Under the Contractual Arrangements, Shanghai Kunjia provides services to the consolidated VIE and is entitled to receive service fees from the
consolidated VIE in exchange. The Contractual Arrangements provide that for any fiscal quarter where the consolidated VIE records pre-tax profit, the
consolidated VIE shall pay to Shanghai Kunjia a service fee at an amount equivalent to its pre-tax profit excluding service fees under U.S. GAAP after
making up the accumulated losses under U.S. GAAP from prior years, subject to compliance with applicable PRC laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
pursuant to the Contractual Arrangements, Shanghai Kunjia is entitled to adjust the service fee based on the operating status and needs for business
development of the consolidated VIE, and by considering among other things, the complexity of the services, the actual costs that may be incurred to
provide the services, as well as the value and comparable price on the market of such services.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the consolidated VIE was in an accumulated deficit position. The consolidated VIE had
accumulated deficits of RMB1,222 million, RMB1,130 million and RMB965 million (US$139.9 million) as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022,
respectively. In light of that, Shanghai Kunjia did not charge the consolidated VIE for any service fees, and consequently, the consolidated VIE had not
paid any service fees to Shanghai Kunjia as of December 31, 2022. Shanghai Kunjia intends to charge the consolidated VIE for service fees after the pre-
tax profit under U.S. GAAP of the consolidated VIE exceeds its accumulated losses under U.S. GAAP, pursuant to the Contractual Arrangements. For the
year ended December 31, 2022, there was no cash flows or transfers of other assets between the Parent, its PRC subsidiaries, and the consolidated VIE.
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We provide loans to some of our overseas subsidiaries to support their business growth. We provided loans of RMB36 million in aggregate to some
of our overseas subsidiaries primarily in Mexico and Indonesia to extend small credit loan business to individual borrowers in 2020. We provided loans of
RMB51 million in aggregate to our overseas subsidiaries in Indonesia and Nigeria to extend small credit loan business to individual borrowers in 2021. We
provided loans of RMB21 million (US$3.0 million) to our overseas subsidiaries in Nigeria to extend small credit loan business to individual borrowers in
2022. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, we did not make any capital contribution or provide any loan to our PRC subsidiaries or the consolidated VIE.
Neither the subsidiaries of the Parent nor the consolidated VIE is obligated to make dividends or distributions to the Parent under the Contractual
Arrangements. As of the date of this annual report, no dividends or distributions have been made to the Parent by the Parent’s subsidiaries or the
consolidated VIE.
Dividends or Distributions on Our ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares Made to the U.S. Investors and Their Tax Consequences
Jiayin Finance paid a cash dividend of RMB400 million to its shareholders in March 2018 before entering into the Contractual Arrangements. The
dividend was distributed to facilitate the delisting of Jiayin Finance from the National Equities Exchange and Quotations Co., Ltd., or the NEEQ, and to
fund the settlement of related party balances.
Jiayin Group Inc. has not previously declared or paid cash dividends on our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. On March 28, 2023, our board of
directors, or the Board, approved and adopted a dividend policy, under which we and the VIE Group may choose to declare and distribute cash dividend
twice each fiscal year, starting from 2023, at an aggregate amount of no less than 15% of the net income after tax of we and the VIE Group in the previous
fiscal year on a consolidated basis. For more details, 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—
Passive Foreign Investment Company”, the gross amount of any distribution that we make to investors with respect to our ADSs or Class A 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 Relating to Doing Business in China—If we are classified as a PRC resident
enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS
holders.” 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, if any, will be 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 mainland 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 mainland 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 VIE 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
restrictions under the PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE 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 VIE for working capital and other funding purposes, we may in the future require additional cash resources from our PRC
subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE due to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and developments, or merely declare and pay
dividends to or distributions to our shareholders.
6
For our Hong Kong subsidiary, Geerong (HK) Limited, there are no restrictions or limitations on its ability to transfer cash out of Hong Kong under
the laws and regulations of Hong Kong that are in place as of the date of this annual report. However, if Geerong (HK) Limited is not able to transfer cash
out of Hong Kong, we will not be able to fund operations in other regions or have it available to distribute to our investors.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not had difficulties in transferring cash between any entities in our consolidated group whether in the
form of dividends or payments of intercompany obligations.
For a diagram illustrating the typical fund flow among Jiayin Group Inc., our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE, see “Item 3. Key
Information—Restrictions on Foreign Exchange and the Ability to Transfer Cash between Entities, Across Borders and to U.S. Investors.”
For a condensed consolidating schedule depicting the financial position, cash flow and results of operations for the Parent, the consolidated VIE, and
any eliminating adjustments separately, see “Item 3. Key Information—VIE Consolidation Schedule.”
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 VIE and China Operations
Jiayin Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through (i) its PRC subsidiaries, including Shanghai Kunjia
and Chuangzhen Technology and its subsidiaries, in which we hold equity ownership interests, and (ii) contractual arrangements among(x) Shanghai
Kunjia, (y) the consolidated VIE, namely, Jiayin Finance, and (z) the shareholders of the consolidated VIE. We do not own any equity interest in Jiayin
Finance. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never hold, equity interests in the Jiayin Finance. PRC laws, regulations, and rules restrict
and impose conditions on direct foreign investment in China-based companies that engage in certain types of business, and we therefore operate these
businesses in China through the VIE structure which provides investors with exposure to foreign investment in the Chinese operating companies.
We have control over Jiayin Finance through Shanghai Kunjia. In June 2018, Shanghai Kunjia entered into a series of contractual arrangements with
Jiayin Finance and its shareholders, allowing us to exercise effective control over Jiayin Finance. These agreements or their forms include:(i) an exclusive
consultation and service agreement, which enables us to receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries, (ii) powers
of attorney and an equity pledge agreement, which provide us with effective control over Jiayin Finance, and (iii) an exclusive call option agreement, which
provides us with the option to purchase all of the equity interests in Jiayin Finance. For more details of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4.
Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the Shareholders of
Jiayin Finance.”
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 beneficial interest in Jiayin Finance or
forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law of the PRC and how it
may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations,” “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government deems that the Contractual Arrangements in relation to Jiayin Finance do not comply
with PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change
in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our beneficial interest in those operations,” and “Item 3. Key Information—
D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—We rely on Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and shareholders of Jiayin
Finance for a significant portion of our business operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control, and these
contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court of law.”
7
The following diagram illustrates the corporate structure of us and the consolidated VIE, including the names, places of incorporation and the
proportion of ownership interests in our and the consolidated VIE’s significant subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities and their subsidiaries as of
the date of this annual report:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Jiayin Southeast Asia Holdings Limited was established in February 2018 to develop and operate our overseas business.
Jiayin Finance is owned as to 58% by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer, 27% by Shanghai Jinmushuihuotu
Investment Center (Limited Partnership), or Jinmushuihuotu Investment, 12% by Mr. Guanglin Zhang, and 3% by Mr. Yuanle Wu, who both are
employees of our company. Jinmushuihuotu Investment is established in connection with the share incentive plan of Jiayin Finance. See “Item 6.
Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plans—2019 Share Incentive Plan.” The general partner of
Jinmushuihuotu Investment is Shanghai Jinmushuihuotu Marketing and Planning Co., Ltd., or Jinmushuihuotu Marketing, which is controlled by
Mr. Dinggui Yan.
Jiayin Finance entered into Contractual Arrangements with Shanghai Kunjia. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational
Structure—Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the shareholders of Jiayin Finance.”
On January 28, 2022, Shanghai Niwodai Internet Services Co., Ltd. changed its corporate name to Shanghai Wuxingjia Information Technology
Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Wuxingjia”), Shanghai Wuxingjia operates our online consumer finance platform.
Geerong Yun (Shanghai) Enterprise Development Co., Ltd. (“Geerong Yun”, formerly known as “Jirongyun (Shanghai) Enterprise Development
Co., Ltd.”). became our wholly-owned subsidiary after the business combination in September 2019.
Shanghai Jiajie Internet Finance Information Services Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Jiajie”) became our wholly-owned subsidiary after the business
combination in July 2019.
8
(7)
(8)
(9)
Shanghai Chuangzhen Software Co., Ltd. was established in April 2020.
PT. Jayindo Fintek Pratama is owned as to 85% by us and it became our subsidiary after the business combination in April 2019.
Jiayin Shuke Information Technology Co., Ltd. was established in January 2021.
(10) Hainan Yinke Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd was established in August 2021.
Fund Flows Between Jiayin Group Inc., Its Subsidiaries and the Consolidated VIE
Under PRC law, we may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or loans, and to the consolidated VIE 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 Shanghai Kunjia, the consolidated VIE,
and the shareholders of the consolidated VIE, Shanghai Kunjia is entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits of the consolidated VIE and its
subsidiaries in the form of service fees.
For risks relating to the fund flows of our China operations, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Item 3. Key Information—D.
Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China” including, but not limited to, the following:
•
•
•
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency
conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and any further offerings to make loans to or make
additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity
and our ability to fund and expand our business;
We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may
have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to
conduct our business; and
Governmental control of conversion and remittance of foreign currency may limit our ability to transfer cash out of China to fund any cash
and financing requirements we may have, and may affect the value of your investment.
For a condensed consolidating schedule depicting the financial position, cash flow and results of operations for the Parent, the consolidated VIE, and
any eliminating adjustments separately, see “Item 3. Key Information—VIE Consolidation Schedule.”
Transfer of funds between any entities in our consolidated group is subject to our cash management policy that outlines appropriate internal control
procedures on the handling, depositing, receiving, transferring, safeguarding, and documentation and recording of cash assets. The finance department at
the Jiayin Group Inc. level with authorized persons at each entity has the centralized responsibility for undertaking cash handling activity. Based on the
dollar amount of a fund transfer and the nature of the use of funds, requisite internal approval must be obtained prior to each fund transfer: all transactions
require, at a minimum, the approval of the financial controller; for certain transactions with large dollar amounts, approval of our vice president of finance,
and in some instances, approval of both our vice president of finance and chief executive officer, is also required.
Assets Transfer Occurred Between the Parent, Its Subsidiaries and the Consolidated VIE
Under the Contractual Arrangements, Shanghai Kunjia provides services to the consolidated VIE and is entitled to receive service fees from the
consolidated VIE in exchange. The Contractual Arrangements provide that for any fiscal quarter where the consolidated VIE records pre-tax profit, the
consolidated VIE shall pay to Shanghai Kunjia a service fee at an amount equivalent to its pre-tax profit excluding service fees under U.S. GAAP after
making up the accumulated losses under U.S. GAAP from prior years, subject to compliance with applicable PRC laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
pursuant to the Contractual Arrangements, Shanghai Kunjia is entitled to adjust the service fee based on the operating status and needs for business
development of the consolidated VIE, and by considering among other things, the complexity of the services, the actual costs that may be incurred to
provide the services, as well as the value and comparable price on the market of such services.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the consolidated VIE was in an accumulated deficit position. The consolidated VIE had
accumulated deficits of RMB1,222 million, RMB1,130 million and RMB965 million (US$139.9 million) as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022,
respectively. In light of that, Shanghai Kunjia did not charge the consolidated VIE for any service fees, and consequently, the consolidated VIE had not
paid any service fees to Shanghai Kunjia as of December 31, 2022. Shanghai Kunjia intends to charge the consolidated VIE for service fees after the pre-
tax profit under U.S. GAAP of the consolidated VIE exceeds its accumulated losses under U.S. GAAP, pursuant to the Contractual Arrangements. For the
year ended December 31, 2022, there was no cash flows or transfers of other assets between the Parent, its PRC subsidiaries, and the consolidated VIE.
9
We provide loans to some of our overseas subsidiaries to support their business growth. We provided loans of RMB36 million in aggregate to some
of our overseas subsidiaries primarily in Mexico and Indonesia to extend small credit loan business to individual borrowers in 2020. We provided loans of
RMB51 million in aggregate to our overseas subsidiaries in Indonesia and Nigeria to extend small credit loan business to individual borrowers in 2021. We
provided loans of RMB21 million (US$3.0 million) to our overseas subsidiaries in Nigeria to extend small credit loan business to individual borrowers in
2022. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, we did not make any capital contribution or provide any loan to our PRC subsidiaries or the consolidated VIE.
Neither the subsidiaries of the Parent nor the consolidated VIE is obligated to make dividends or distributions to the Parent under the Contractual
Arrangements. As of the date of this annual report, no dividends or distributions have been made to the Parent by the Parent’s subsidiaries or the
consolidated VIE.
Restrictions on Foreign Exchange and the Ability to Transfer Cash between Entities, Across Borders and to U.S. Investors
Jiayin Finance paid a cash dividend of RMB400 million to its shareholders in March 2018 before entering into the Contractual Arrangements. The
dividend was distributed to facilitate the delisting of Jiayin Finance from the National Equities Exchange and Quotations Co., Ltd., or the NEEQ, and to
fund the settlement of related party balances.
Jiayin Group Inc. has not previously declared or paid cash dividends on our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. On March 28, 2023, our Board
approved and adopted a dividend policy, under which the Company may choose to declare and distribute cash dividend twice each fiscal year, starting from
2023, at an aggregate amount of no less than 15% of the net income after tax of the Company in the previous fiscal year on a consolidated basis. For more
details, 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—
Passive Foreign Investment Company”, the gross amount of any distribution that we make to investors with respect to our ADSs or Class A 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 Relating to Doing Business in China—If we are classified as a PRC resident
enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS
holders.” 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, if any, will be 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 mainland 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 mainland 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, such as our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE, to pay dividends only out of
their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Each of our PRC subsidiaries and the
consolidated VIE that is in retained earnings position as of the end of each year is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any,
to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. The aforementioned registered capital refers to the total
amount of share capital subscribed by all shareholders or the amount of capital contribution made by all shareholders, as registered with the registration
authority. Furthermore, each of our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting
standards to a discretionary surplus fund at their discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary surplus funds are not distributable as cash
dividends. After our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE have generated retained earnings and met the requirements for appropriation to the
statutory reserves and until such reserves reach 50% of its registered capital, respectively, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated
10
VIE can distribute dividends upon approval of the shareholders. As a result of these and other restrictions under the PRC laws and regulations, our PRC
subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE 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 does not require any such dividends, loans or advances from our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE for working capital and
other funding purposes, we may in the future require additional cash resources from our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE due to changes in
business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and developments, or merely declare and pay dividends to or distributions to our shareholders.
For our Hong Kong subsidiary, Geerong (HK) Limited, there are no restrictions or limitations on its ability to transfer cash out of Hong Kong under
the laws and regulations of Hong Kong that are in place as of the date of this annual report. However, if Geerong (HK) Limited is not able to transfer cash
out of Hong Kong, we will not be able to fund operations in other regions or have it available to distribute to our investors.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not had difficulties in transferring cash between any entities in our consolidated group whether in the
form of dividends or payments of intercompany obligations.
The following diagram illustrates the typical fund flow among Jiayin Group Inc., our PRC subsidiaries, and the consolidated VIE.
11
VIE Consolidation Schedule
The following tables set forth the summary consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 of (i) the Parent, (ii) the
WFOE, (iii) the other subsidiaries of the Parent inside and outside mainland China, separately, and (iv) the VIE Group, and the summary of the
consolidated statement of income and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Our and the VIE Group’s consolidated financial
statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. Our and the VIE
Group’s historical results are not necessarily indicative of results expected for future periods. You should read this information together with our and the
VIE Group’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” included elsewhere in
this annual report.
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
Shanghai Kunjia
(WFOE)
As of December 31, 2022
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland China
(RMB in thousands)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland China
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
8,567
16,294
1,391
240,816
23,950
—
291,018
—
71,184
—
—
—
1,661,034
—
—
90,497
—
—
1,732,218
90,497
1,087,634
154,113
3,248
1,253,562
—
84,569
231,126
403,173
—
(1,300 )
—
91
—
(8,878 )
629,935
2,522,907
—
(228,504 )
42,977
(71,080 )
(1,087,634 )
—
(149 )
(1,087,783 )
—
286,705
—
345,908
212
Total net assets/(liabilities)
1,243,084
—
10,478
10,478
188,300
285,585
760,590
(357,417 )
—
82
82
9
—
661,309
1,007,217
1,515,690
—
937
1,149
(72,229 )
—
(149 )
(149 )
(1,087,634 )
* Intercompany balances resulted from regular transactions in the business operations of the entities, and no service fees were charged by Shanghai Kunjia.
12
—
—
907,137
3,020,870
632,825
188,300
958,242
1,779,367
1,241,503
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable and
contract assets, net
Long-term investment
Investment in subsidiaries
and
VIEs and VIEs'
subsidiaries
Intercompany balances*
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Tax payables
Other payable related to the
disposal of Shanghai
Caiyin
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
As of December 31, 2021
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland
China
(RMB in thousands)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
7,861
14,759
7,720
103,406
48,805
—
182,551
—
—
30,846
—
—
—
471,585
—
—
90,528
—
(155,566 )
173,310
2,838
28,443
—
(86 )
94,149
139,668
—
(7,603 )
—
117
—
29,442
74,721
679,154
—
155,566
(195,063 )
25,020
(30,710 )
(806 )
154,760
502,431
90,528
—
—
195,922
971,432
—
272,964
—
137,274
(1,175 )
—
409,063
—
579
579
27,864
322,028
103,969
698,961
(559,293 )
—
—
—
117
—
109,403
246,677
432,477
—
1,447
272
(30,982 )
—
(806 )
(806 )
155,566
322,028
214,592
945,683
25,749
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable and
contract assets, net
Long-term investment
Investment in subsidiaries and
VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries
Intercompany balances*
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Tax payables
Other payable related to the
disposal of Shanghai Caiyin
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Total net assets/(liabilities)
* Intercompany balances resulted from regular transactions in the business operations of the entities, and no service fees were charged by Shanghai Kunjia.
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
As of December 31, 2020
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland
China
(RMB in thousands)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
21,213
12,469
4,199
44,530
34,909
—
117,320
—
—
(652,193 )
167,887
855
(462,238 )
9
—
—
117,938
52,612
183,028
—
—
158,055
—
—
87,551
—
—
158,064
87,551
—
(3,636 )
—
563
—
(101,358 )
52,968
154,195
—
652,193
(180,831 )
54,460
(3,911 )
1,542
653,735
—
—
162,437
525,372
—
232,730
—
36,818
9,835
—
279,383
—
2,385
2,385
(464,623 )
566,532
50,602
849,864
(666,836 )
—
562
562
1
—
78,011
114,829
39,366
—
10,120
19,955
(23,866 )
—
1,542
1,542
652,193
566,532
143,222
989,137
(463,765 )
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable and
contract assets, net
Long-term investment
Investment in subsidiaries and
VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries
Intercompany balances*
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Tax payables
Other payable related to the
disposal of Shanghai Caiyin
Other liabilities
Total liabilities
Total net assets/(liabilities)
* Intercompany balances resulted from regular transactions in the business operations of the entities, and no service fees were charged by Shanghai Kunjia.
13
Net revenue
Total operating cost and expenses
(Loss) Income from operations
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
and VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries
Net income (loss)
Net revenue
Total operating cost and expenses
(Loss) Income from operations
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
and VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries
Net income (loss)
Net revenue
Total operating cost and expenses
(Loss) Income from operations
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
and VIEs and VIEs' subsidiaries
Net income (loss)
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2022
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland China
(RMB in thousands)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
—
(6,494 )
(6,494 )
972,029
(919,825 )
52,204
1,199,673
1,179,658
—
164,741
—
(45 )
(45 )
—
(19 )
2,979,683
(1,798,121 )
1,181,562
44,100
(89,308 )
(45,208 )
(724,398 )
724,398
—
3,271,414
(2,089,395 )
1,182,019
—
35,173
—
35,173
(1,199,673 )
(234,494 )
—
1,180,232
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
—
(6,979 )
(6,979 )
680,790
(696,592 )
(15,802 )
479,220
472,086
—
89,149
For the year ended December 31, 2021
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland China
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
(RMB in thousands)
—
—
—
—
21
1,571,104
(1,102,656 )
468,448
65,092
(78,803 )
(13,711 )
(536,496 )
536,496
—
1,780,490
(1,348,534 )
431,956
—
393,161
—
(6,472 )
(479,220 )
(480,184 )
—
467,761
Parent
Consolidated VIE
and its
subsidiaries
—
(6,740 )
(6,740 )
319,091
252,883
624,868
(394,453 )
230,415
—
254,283
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland
China
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
(RMB in thousands)
—
—
—
—
1
696,914
(605,781 )
91,133
61,468
(74,169 )
(12,701 )
(83,090 )
83,090
—
1,300,160
(998,053 )
302,107
—
79,919
—
(15,112 )
(319,091 )
(321,908 )
—
250,066
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
For the year ended December 31, 2022
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland
China
(RMB in thousands)
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
(21,917 )
—
8,807
(7,265 )
15,020
—
146,876
(9,466 )
(15,194 )
(6,218 )
—
—
133,592
(22,949 )
8,783
—
(21,349 )
—
—
—
(12,566 )
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
For the year ended December 31, 2021
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland
China
(RMB in thousands)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by financing
activities
(12,317 )
—
98,486
(96,180 )
(534 )
—
60,489
(1,612 )
38,416
(28,430 )
—
—
184,540
(126,222 )
3,296
—
4,056
—
2,586
—
9,938
14
Parent
Consolidated
VIE and its
subsidiaries
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Other
subsidiaries
inside
mainland
China
(RMB in thousands)
Subsidiaries
outside
mainland
China
Shanghai
Kunjia
(WFOE)
Eliminations
Consolidated
total
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities
Net cash provided by financing
activities
(38,027 )
(40,071 )
4,199
21,493
16,901
—
(35,505 )
37,372
6,982
(62 )
—
(657 )
(3,427 )
—
33,226
—
—
—
3,613
—
10,595
The following table sets forth the roll-forward of the line item titled “investments in subsidiaries and VIEs” in the Parent’s financial statements:
Roll-forward of
“investments in subsidiaries and VIEs”
Investments in subsidiaries
and VIEs
(RMB in thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2020
Equity in earnings of VIEs
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
Share-based compensation*
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2020
Equity in earnings of VIEs
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
Share-based compensation*
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2021
Equity in earnings of VIEs
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
Share-based compensation*
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 31, 2022
(1,003,436 )
254,283
64,808
30,652
1,500
(652,193 )
92,356
386,864
15,186
2,221
(155,566 )
164,741
1,034,932
42,548
979
1,087,634
* Share-based compensation expense attributable to subsidiaries and VIEs accounted for as investments in subsidiaries and VIEs.
Approvals Required from the PRC Authorities for Offering Securities to Foreign Investors
We are required to complete filing or fulfill other requirements of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC within three business
days after the closing of our future offerings, according to the Trial Administrative Measures (as defined below). We do not believe we are required to
obtain any approvals from the CAC or other PRC government authorities under PRC law in connection with a future offering of our securities to foreign
investors.
Approval Required from the China Securities Regulatory Commission
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic
Enterprises, or the Trial Administrative Measures, and five supporting guidelines, which became effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Trial
Administrative Measures, we are required to complete the filing procedures with the CSRC for any future follow-on offerings within three business days
after the closing of the offering.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC and other relevant government authorities published the Provisions on Strengthening Confidentiality and Archives
Management of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Enterprises, or the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management, which
became effective on March 31, 2023. According to the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management, PRC domestic enterprises that seek to
offer and list securities in overseas markets shall establish confidentiality and archives management system. The PRC domestic enterprises shall obtain
approval from the competent authority and file with the confidential administration department at the same level when providing or publicly disclosing
documents and materials related to state secrets or secrets of the governmental authorities to the underwriters or other agencies or the offshore regulatory
15
authorities, and shall complete corresponding procedures when providing or publicly disclosing documents and materials which may adversely influence
national security and the public interest. The PRC domestic enterprises shall provide written statements on the implementation on the aforementioned rules
to the underwriter and other agencies. Nevertheless, the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management do not provide a clear scope of materials
that, if divulged, will jeopardize national security or public interest, and the PRC government authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and
enforcement of the applicable laws. Given the uncertainties surrounding the interpretation of the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management,
we cannot assure you that we will not be required to obtain any approval from or complete filing procedures with the competent authorities for our future
offerings.
As advised by our PRC legal counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, the Trial Administrative Measures and the Provisions on Confidentiality and
Archives Management may subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future for a future securities offering, including completion of filing
procedures and obtaining required approval. We cannot assure you that we will be able to get the clearance of filing procedures or obtain the required
approval on a timely basis, or at all. Any failure of us to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our
ability to offer or continue to offer our securities, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which would
materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless,
see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—The approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC, the
CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required under PRC law in connection with a future offering of our securities to foreign investors.”
Approval from the Cyberspace Administration of China or Other PRC Government Authorities
With respect to the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, as advised by our PRC legal counsel, we believe that there is a relatively low
likelihood that we and the consolidated VIE will be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC for a future offering of our securities to foreign
investors, given that: (i) neither we nor the consolidated VIE has been recognized as critical information infrastructure operators. The aforementioned
critical information infrastructure refers to important network infrastructure and information system 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, people’s living and public interests; (ii) data processed in our and the consolidated VIE’s business do not have impact or
potential impact on national security; and (iii) it is still uncertain whether the Cybersecurity Review Measures (as defined below) will be applicable to a
future offering conducted by China-based companies listed overseas. For further discussion on the risks relating to the oversight of the CAC, see “Item 3.
Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—It is unclear whether we and the consolidated VIE will be subject to the
oversight of the CAC and how such oversight may impact us. Our and the consolidated VIE’s business could be interrupted or we and the consolidated VIE
could be subject to liabilities which may materially and adversely affect the results of our and the consolidated VIE’s operation and the value of your
investment.”
As advised by our PRC legal counsel, we believe that approvals or permissions from the CSRC are not required for the operations of the
consolidated VIE and our other subsidiaries, and that there is a relatively low likelihood that the operations of the consolidated VIE and our other
subsidiaries will be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC, given that: (i) neither the consolidated VIE nor any of our other subsidiaries has been
recognized as critical information infrastructure operators; and (ii) data processed in the consolidated VIE and our other subsidiaries’ business do not have
impact or potential impact on national security. Furthermore, our and the VIE Group’s online platform, operated by Geerong Yun, Geerong Yunke
Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Geerong Yunke”), Shanghai Wuxingjia and Shanghai Jiajie may be deemed to be providing commercial Internet
information services, which would require the aforementioned companies to obtain certain value-added telecommunications business license. We cannot
assure you that we can obtain these licenses in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure to obtain the relevant approvals or licenses may subject us to
sanctions, including rectification orders and warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, and, in case of significant infringement, orders to close our online
platform, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For further discussion on the risks relating
to the regulatory oversight of the online platform, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We and
the VIE Group may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulation of Internet-related businesses and companies, and
any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our and the VIE Group’s business may have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE
Group’s business and results of operations.”
Except as otherwise disclosed in the foregoing, we do not believe we are required to obtain any approvals from the CAC or other PRC government
authorities under PRC law in connection with a future offering of our securities to foreign investors as of the date of this annual report.
16
If we inadvertently conclude any prior approval is not required and the CSRC, the CAC or other relevant PRC regulatory agencies subsequently
determine that prior approval is required for any of our future offerings of securities overseas or to maintain the listing status of our ADSs, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to obtain such approval in a timely manner, or at all, or to maintain such approval once we receive it. The CSRC, the CAC or
other PRC regulatory agencies also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, not to proceed with such offering or maintain the listing
status of our ADSs. If we proceed with any of such offering or maintain the listing status of our ADSs without obtaining these regulatory agencies’
approval to the extent it is required, or if we are unable to comply with any new approval requirements which might be adopted for future offerings, we
may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies. For example, regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our
operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the
proceeds from offering of securities overseas into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of the ADSs.
Furthermore, if we are required to obtain any other approvals from or complete filings and/or other regulatory procedures with the CSRC, the CAC
or other PRC regulatory agencies as a result of change in applicable laws, regulations or interpretations for any future offering or the listing of the ADSs,
we cannot assure you that we can obtain the required approval or complete the required filings and/or other regulatory procedures in a timely manner, or at
all. Any failure to obtain such approval or complete such filings and/or other regulatory procedures may subject us to regulatory actions or other sanctions
taken by the relevant government authorities, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Relating to the Consolidated VIE and China Operations
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. In particular, we are subject
to risks and uncertainties relating to our corporate structure and doing business in China, including, but not limited to, the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jiayin Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through its subsidiaries and contractual arrangements
with Jiayin Finance. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never directly hold, equity interests in the consolidated VIE.
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 VIE’s operations in China, including potential
future actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Jiayin Finance and,
consequently, significantly affect the financial condition and results of operations of Jiayin Group 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 beneficial interest in Jiayin Finance 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 VIE face potential uncertainty from the PRC government’s
policy. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, or government policies may cause our and the consolidated VIE’s
underlying operations in China to become prohibitive, which could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s business,
financial condition, and results of operations;
We and the consolidated VIE 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 VIE’s business and prospects, and may result in a material change in our and the
consolidated VIE’s operations and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIE’s
ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless;
It is unclear whether we and the consolidated VIE will be subject to the oversight of the CAC and how such oversight may impact us. Our
and the consolidated VIE’s business could be interrupted or we and the consolidated VIE could be subject to liabilities which may materially
and adversely affect the results of our and the consolidated VIE’s operation and the value of your investment;
The PRC government’s oversight over our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations could result in a material adverse change in our
and the consolidated VIE’s operations and the value of our ADSs;
The approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required under PRC law in connection
with our future offering;
17
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law of the PRC
and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations;
If the PRC government deems that the Contractual Arrangements in relation to Jiayin Finance do not comply with PRC regulatory
restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the
future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our beneficial interest in those operations;
We rely on Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and shareholders of Jiayin Finance for a significant portion of our business
operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control, and these contractual arrangements have not
been tested in a court of law;
Any failure by Jiayin Finance or shareholders of Jiayin Finance to perform their obligations under our Contractual Arrangements with them
would have a material adverse effect on our business;
The shareholders of the consolidated VIE may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our
business and financial condition;
Contractual Arrangements in relation to the consolidated VIE may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine
that we or consolidated VIE owe additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment;
We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by the VIE Group that are material to the operation of our business if the entities within
the VIE Group declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding;
Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE
Group’s business and results of operations;
A downturn in the Chinese or global economy could reduce the demand for consumer loans and investments, which could materially and
adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business and financial condition;
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 VIE’s reputation, which would
materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 and the VIE Group may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulation of Internet-related
businesses and companies, and any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our and the VIE Group’s business may have
a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations;
We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may
have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to
conduct our business;
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency
conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and any further offerings to make loans to or make
additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and
expand our business;
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of our ADSs;
Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our net revenues effectively and affect the value of your
investment;
Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans and withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries as
required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties;
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign
investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China;
18
•
•
•
•
•
•
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their
registered capital or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC
law;
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee share incentive plans may subject the PRC
plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions;
If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax
consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders;
We may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to us through our Hong
Kong subsidiary;
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies;
and
The PRC government’s oversight over our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations could result in a material adverse change in our
and the consolidated VIE’s operations and the value of our ADSs.
For further details on the regulatory, liquidity and enforcement risks relating to our corporate structure and the fact that we conduct substantially all
of our operations in China, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure” and “Item 3. Key Information—
D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China.”
Risks Related to PCAOB Inspections
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 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 and the VIE Group’s financial statements as of December 31, 2022 and for the year ended December 31, 2022 contained in this annual
report have been audited by Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, or Marcum Asia, an independent registered public accounting firm that is headquartered in
Manhattan, New York, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular basis with the last inspection in 2020. As of the date hereof, Marcum Asia is not
included in the list of PCAOB identified firms in the PCAOB Determination Report issued on December 16, 2021. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB
announced that it was able to conduct inspections and investigations completely of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland
China and Hong Kong in 2022. The PCAOB vacated its previous determinations issued in December 2021 accordingly. As a result, we do not expect to be
identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCAA for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 after we file our annual report on Form 20-F
for such fiscal year. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to conduct inspections and investigations completely to its satisfaction of PCAOB-
registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of
our, and our auditor’s, control, including positions taken by authorities of the PRC. The PCAOB is expected to continue to demand complete access to
inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in the future and states that it has already made
plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond. The PCAOB is required under the HFCAA to make its determination on an annual basis with
regards to its ability to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms based in the mainland China and Hong Kong. The possibility of being a
“Commission-Identified Issuer” and risk of delisting could continue to adversely affect the trading price of our securities. Should the PCAOB again
encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of positions taken by any authority in either
jurisdiction, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCAA as and when appropriate.
In addition, on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law, which, among others, amended the HFCAA 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 HFCAA to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter
market. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Trading in our securities may be
prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, if it is later
determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor, and as a result, U.S. national securities exchanges, such as Nasdaq,
may determine to delist our securities.”
19
Enforceability of Civil Liability
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands. We conduct substantially all of our operations in
China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, a majority of our directors and executive officers reside within China, and most of
the assets of these persons are located within China. None of our directors and executive officers resides in Hong Kong, and their assets are primarily
located outside Hong Kong. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these
individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe your rights have been infringed
under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of Cayman Islands and of the
PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman
Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), however, the courts of the Cayman Islands will, at
common law, recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without any re-examination of the merits of the
underlying dispute based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the
liquidated sum for which such judgment has been given, 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 (e) 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. Because such a determination has not yet been made by a court of the Cayman Islands, it is uncertain whether such civil liability judgments from
U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being
brought elsewhere.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and
enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country
where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the
United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law,
the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our director and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of
PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment
rendered by a court in the United States.
There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of Hong Kong would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or
our directors or officers predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States or (ii)
entertain original actions brought in Hong Kong against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state
in the United States.
A judgment of a court in the United States predicated upon U.S. federal or state securities laws may be enforced in Hong Kong at common law by
bringing an action in a Hong Kong court on that judgment for the amount due thereunder, and then seeking summary judgment on the strength of the
foreign judgment, provided that the foreign judgment, among other things, is (i) for a debt or a definite sum of money (not being taxes or similar charges to
a foreign government taxing authority or a fine or other penalty) and (ii) final and conclusive on the merits of the claim, but not otherwise. Such a judgment
may not, in any event, be so enforced in Hong Kong if (a) it was obtained by fraud; (b) the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed
to natural justice; (c) its enforcement or recognition would be contrary to the public policy of Hong Kong; (d) the court of the United States was not
jurisdictionally competent; or (e) the judgment was in conflict with a prior Hong Kong judgment.
Hong Kong has no arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the United States. As a result, there is uncertainty as to the
enforceability in Hong Kong, in original actions or in actions for enforcement, of judgments of United States courts of civil liabilities predicated solely
upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any State or territory within the United States.
A.
[Reserved]
20
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D.
Risk Factors
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry
We and the VIE Group operate in China’s online consumer finance marketplace, an emerging and evolving industry, which makes it difficult to
evaluate our and the VIE Group’s future prospects.
China’s online consumer finance industry is relatively new and may not develop as expected. The regulatory framework for this industry is also
evolving and may remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. China’s online consumer finance industry in general remains at a rather preliminary
development stage and may not develop at the anticipated growth rate. It is possible that the PRC laws and regulations may change in ways that do not
favor our and the VIE Group’s development. If that happens, there may not be adequate loans facilitated on our and the VIE Group’s platform, and our and
the VIE Group’s current business model may be negatively affected. As a new industry, there are very few established players whose business models we
and the VIE Group can follow or build upon. Potential borrowers and investors may not be familiar with this new industry and may have difficulty
distinguishing our and the VIE Group’s services from those of our and the VIE Group’s competitors. Attracting and retaining borrowers and institutional
funding partners is critical to increase the volume of loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform. The emerging and evolving online
consumer finance market makes it difficult to effectively assess our and the VIE Group’s future prospects. In addition, our and the VIE Group’s business
has grown substantially in recent years, but our and the VIE Group’s past growth rates may not be indicative of our and the VIE Group’s future growth.
You should consider our and the VIE Group’s business and prospects in light of the risks and challenges we and the VIE Group encounter or may
encounter in this developing and rapidly evolving industry. These risks and challenges include our and the VIE Group’s ability to, among other things:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
navigate an evolving regulatory environment;
expand the base of borrowers and institutional funding partners served on our and the VIE Group’s platform;
maintain our and the VIE Group’s credit standards;
enhance our and the VIE Group’s risk management capabilities;
improve our and the VIE Group’s operational efficiency;
continue to scale our and the VIE Group’s technology infrastructure to support the growth of our and the VIE Group’s platform and higher
transaction volume;
operate without being adversely affected by the negative publicity about the industry in general and our and the VIE Group’s company in
particular;
maintain the security of our and the VIE Group’s platform and the confidentiality of the information provided and utilized across our and the
VIE Group’s platform;
cultivate a vibrant consumer finance ecosystem;
attract, retain and motivate talented employees; and
defend ourselves in litigation, and against regulatory, intellectual property, privacy or other claims.
If the market for our and the VIE Group’s platform does not develop as we and the VIE Group expect, if we and the VIE Group fail to educate
potential users and funding sources about the value of our and the VIE Group’s platform and services, or if we and the VIE Group fail to address the needs
of our and the VIE Group’s target customers, our and the VIE Group’s reputation, business and results of operations will be materially and adversely
affected.
21
The laws and regulations governing online consumer finance industry in China are developing and evolving and subject to changes. If we and the VIE
Group fail to comply with existing and future applicable laws, regulations or requirements of local regulatory authorities, our and the VIE Group’s
business, financial conditions and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
Due to the relatively short history of the online consumer finance industry in China, the PRC government has yet to establish a comprehensive
regulatory framework governing our and the VIE Group’s industry. Before any industry-specific regulations were introduced in mid-2015, the PRC
government relied on general and basic laws and regulations for governing the online consumer finance industry, including the Civil Code of the PRC and
related judicial interpretations promulgated by the Supreme People’s Court. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—
Regulation—Regulations Relating to Online Consumer Finance Services.”
In July 2015, the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, together with nine other PRC regulatory agencies jointly issued a series of policy measures
applicable to the online finance industry titled the Guidelines on Promoting the Healthy Development of Online Finance Industry, or the Guidelines. The
Guidelines formally introduced for the first time the regulatory framework and basic principles governing the online finance industry. Following the core
principles of the Guidelines, a series of additional restrictions and affirmative obligations were imposed on online lending information intermediaries by (i)
the Circular on Regulating and Rectifying of “Cash Loan” Services in December 2017, or the Circular 141, (ii) the Interim Measures for the Administration
of Online Loans by Commercial Banks issued in July 2020, or the Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures, (iii) the Notice on Further Regulating
Commercial Banks Online Lending issued in February 2021, or the Circular 24, (iv) the Notice on Further Strengthening the Regulation and Management
Work of Internet Consumer Loan for College Students in February 2021, or the Notice on Internet Consumer Loan for College Students, and (v) the
Announcement No. 3 issued by the PBOC on March 2021.
The laws, regulations, rules and governmental policies are expected to continue to evolve in our and the VIE Group’s industry. The growth in
popularity of online consumer finance in China increases the likelihood for the government authorities to further regulate our and the VIE Group’s industry.
We and the VIE Group are unable to predict with certainty the impact, if any, that future legislation, judicial interpretations or regulations relating to the
online consumer finance industry, or the status and scrutiny of implementation thereof will have on our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition
and results of operations. To the extent that we and the VIE Group are not able to fully comply with any applicable laws or regulations, our and the VIE
Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
If our and the VIE Group’s practice is deemed to violate any PRC laws and regulations, our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition and
results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
The PRC regulatory regime with respect to the online consumer finance industry is relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and
enforcement are subject to significant uncertainties, which result in difficulties in determining whether our and the VIE Group’s existing practices may be
interpreted to violate any applicable laws and regulations.
To comply with existing laws, regulations, rules and governmental policies relating to the online consumer finance industry, we and the VIE Group
have implemented various policies and procedures to conduct our and the VIE Group’s business and operations. However, due to the lack of detailed
implementation rules on certain key requirements of the regulations and different interpretation of the regulations by the local authorities, we and the VIE
Group cannot be certain that our and the VIE Group’s existing practices would not be deemed to be in violation of any existing or future laws, rules and
regulations that are applicable to our and the VIE Group’s business.
Circular 141 requires banking financial institutions that participate in the “cash loan” business to ensure that no third parties will charge borrowers
any interest or fees from borrowers and they themselves will not accept any credit enhancement services or other similar services from third parties without
qualification to provide guarantee. Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group have proactively made an adjustment to our and the VIE Group’s
cooperation model with institutional funding partners through Geerong Yunke and Geerong Yun. To comply with Circular 141, we and the VIE Group
cooperate with certain institutional partners such as commercial banks, consumer finance companies, trusts and microcredit companies by having them
charge fees directly from borrowers and pay service fees for credit assessment, borrower matching and information support to us. However, due to the lack
of interpretation and implementation rules and the fact that the laws and regulations are rapidly evolving, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that our
and the VIE Group’s business model will be in full compliance with existing and future laws and regulations.
Moreover, Circular 141 prohibits banking financial institutions from outsourcing core businesses, such as credit examination and risk control.
Currently, loans facilitated by Geerong Yunke and Geerong Yun are directly funded to the borrowers. We and the VIE Group refer to such institutional
funding partners qualified credit applications from borrowers, and only provide initial screening, preliminary credit examination and technical services.
They will then review the applications and conduct risk controls themselves.
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However, we and the VIE Group cannot rule out the possibility that government authorities could consider our and the VIE Group’s services to be in
violation of Circular 141. If any of our and the VIE Group’s services are deemed to be in violation of Circular 141, we and the VIE Group could face
penalties, including but not limited to suspensions of operation, orders to rectify and condemnation. If this is the case, our and the VIE Group’s business,
financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, on October 9, 2019, CBIRC issued the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Supplementary Provisions on the Supervision and
Management of Financing Guarantee Companies (the “CBIRC Circular 37”), which explicitly provides that institutions providing customer promotion,
credit assessment and other services for various lending institutions shall not provide financing guarantee services without approval. For the loans
facilitated between borrowers and institutional funding partners, we and the VIE group have engaged licensed third-party financing guarantee companies
(the “Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers”) to provide financing guarantees to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners. If any borrower
defaults, the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers are obligated to repay the overdue amount and interest to the corresponding institutional funding
partner. The Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers also demand counter-guarantees by another credit enhancement company in some contracts cases.
Under certain circumstances, we and the VIE Group also provide additional commitment to certain institutional funding partners or the Licensed Credit
Enhancement Providers. To better manage the associated risks, we and the VIE Group in turn obtain a back-to-back guarantee from another third-party
company.
Despite our and the VIE Group’s efforts to reduce regulatory risks, we and the VIE group cannot assure you that the relevant government authorities
would not interpret the commitments we and the VIE Group provided to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners or the Licensed Credit
Enhancement Providers as an operation of financing guarantee business without approval. If relevant government authorities take the view that the
commitments we and the VIE Group provided to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners or the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers is a
provision of financing guarantee business without approval, we and the VIE Group would be subject to licensing requirements,fines and other
administrative penalties. As a result, our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
To further reduce the regulatory risks, apart from licensed third-party financing guarantee companies, starting January, 2022, we and the VIE Group
established our and the VIE Group’s wn financing guarantee companies to provide additional commitment to certain institutional funding partners or the
Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers, or provide financing guarantee services directly to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners for the
loans funded by them. According to the regulations on financial guarantee, the maximum amount of outstanding guarantee liabilities of a financing
guarantee company may not exceed ten times of its net assets. As a result, the maximum amount of outstanding guarantee liabilities that can be provided by
our and the VIE Group’s own guarantee companies cannot meet the needs of all of our institutional funding partners.
Furthermore, it is reported that, in July 2021, the Credit Bureau of the PBOC issued a notice to the online platform operators, requiring online
platforms to achieve full “disconnection” of personal information from financial institutions. Online platform operators which provide online loan
facilitating services, shall not provide information submitted by individuals, information generated within the online platform or information obtained from
external sources directly to financial institutions in the name of application information, identity information, basic information, personal profile scoring
information, etc. During our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with certain institutional funding partners since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE
Group provide the personal information of individual borrowers after initial screening to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners. We and the
VIE Group have been discussing with Baihang Credit Co., Ltd. and PuDao Credit Information Co., Ltd. to find a feasible regulatory-approved specific plan
for “disconnection”, and will complete the deployment of risk control strategy and corresponding system modification under the “disconnection” by the
end of April 2023. After that, we and the VIE Group will gradually realize the disconnection with our and the VIE Group’s cooperating financial
institutions in accordance with the regulatory requirements.
In addition, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that the business operations of our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners currently
are, or will continue to be, in compliance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations. Failure of our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners to
comply with the relevant PRC laws and regulations may materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, results of operations, financial
condition and prospects. For example, the Implementation Measures of the PBOC for Protecting Rights and Interests of Financial Consumers provide that
banks and payment institutions shall follow the principles of voluntariness, equality, fairness and good faith, and protect the legitimate rights and interests
of consumers of financial products and services when providing financial products or services to consumers. The aforementioned Measures also specify
various requirements on banks and payment institutions to protect consumers’ financial information, including requirements on the collection, disclosure,
notification, use, management, storage and confidentiality of such information. In the event our and the VIE Group’s funding partners violate the provisions
in the measures, they could become subject to penalties, including warnings, fines, suspension of business
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and revocation of required licenses, and as a result, we and the VIE Group may need to modify our and the VIE Group’s business practices and our and the
VIE Group’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
As of the date of this annual report, we and the VIE Group have not been subject to any material fines or other penalties under any PRC laws or
regulations, including those governing the online consumer finance industry in China. If our and the VIE Group’s practice is deemed to violate any laws,
regulations and rules, we and the VIE Group may face, among others, regulatory warning, corrective order, condemnation, fines and criminal liability. If
such situations occur, our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects would be materially and adversely
affected.
The growth of our and the VIE Group’s business is limited by PRC laws and regulations, and we and the VIE Group have changed our and the VIE
Group’s business into loan facilitation platform.
The rapid growth of China’s online consumer finance industry has attracted a large number of market players. However, business failures of, or
accusations of fraud and unfair dealing against, certain companies in the online consumer finance industry in China have surfaced in recent years, creating
a negative public perception of online consumer finance market players. In an effort to manage risks and maintain market integrity, PRC regulatory
authorities have issued various guidelines and policies that impose stricter requirements on online consumer finance platforms. Further, certain of these
policies impose limits on the growth of the online consumer finance industry and market.
Considering the regulatory environment on loan facilitation information intermediaries, we and the VIE Group ceased to offer new loans for online
individual investors’ subscription since April 2020 and transitioned to a full institutional funding partner model. In November 2020, the outstanding loan
balance of our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business was reduced to zero.
As we and the VIE Group transitioned to a full institutional funding partner model, we and the VIE Group have worked with a diversified group of
funding partners, which includes commercial banks, consumer finance companies, trusts and microcredit companies. We and the VIE Group believe our
and the VIE Group’s capital-light strategy of pursuing diversified funding sources will support our and the VIE Group’s continuous growth, allow us to
facilitate a wide variety of loans under changing market conditions. We and the VIE Group will further optimize and diversify our and the VIE Group’s
funding sources by cooperating with additional entities, while also seeking to strengthen our and the VIE Group’s mutually beneficial relationships with
existing funding partners by leveraging our and the VIE Group’s technology and data services to ensure the scalability, stability and sustainability of our
and the VIE Group’s funding. The growth and success of our and the VIE Group’s future operations depend on the availability of adequate lending capital,
at a commercially reasonable cost, to meet borrower demand for loans facilitated on our and the VIE Group’s platform.
If the funding partners’ risk appetite changes due to changes in economic conditions, regulatory regime, any unexpected shortage of funds,
availability of licensed third party credit enhancement service providers or other reasons, funding partners may choose to offer different investment terms,
which are not acceptable to us, or choose to not invest in loans facilitated on our and the VIE Group’s platforms. To the extent that it is necessary to obtain
additional lending capital from funding partners, such lending capital may not be available to our and the VIE Group’s platforms on acceptable terms or at
all. If adequate funds are not available to meet borrowers’ demand for loans when they arise, our and the VIE Group’s platforms may not be able to fulfill
all loan requests and the volume of loans facilitated on our and the VIE Group’s platforms may be significantly impacted. If the volume of loans facilitated
on our and the VIE Group’s platforms are unable to fulfill all loan requests of potential borrowers on a timely basis, we and the VIE Group may experience
a loss of market share or slower than expected growth, in which case our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations could
be materially and adversely affected.
Our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with institutional funding partners may expose us to regulatory uncertainties and we and the VIE Group may be
required to obtain additional government approval or license due to our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with institutional funding partners.
We and the VIE Group have expanded our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partner base and the volume of loans funded by our and the
VIE Group’s institutional funding partners in 2020 and since April 2020, we and the VIE Group collaborate exclusively with institutional funding partners
to fund our and the VIE Group’s loans. Our and the VIE Group’s collaboration with institutional funding partners has exposed us to and may continue to
expose us to additional regulatory uncertainties faced by such institutional funding partners. For example, Circular 141 provides a series of guidance on the
cash loan business of financial institutions. In July 2020, the CBIRC issued the Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures to provide detailed rules on
online loans provided by commercial banks. Further, on February 19, 2021, the CBIRC further issued the Notice of Further Regulating Online Loan
Business of Commercial Banks, also known as Circular 24, which provides that the commercial banks shall independently carry out the risk management
of online loans and are forbidden from outsourcing the material procedures of loan management. Circular 24 will also
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apply by analogy to branches of foreign banks, trusts, consumer finance companies and auto finance companies. To comply with such guidance, our and
the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners, such as commercial banks, consumer finance companies, trusts and microcredit companies, may need to
change their cooperation model with their business partners, including us, which may adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business. In addition, we
and the VIE Group cannot assure you that the business operations of our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners currently are or will be in
compliance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations, and in the event that our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners do not operate their
businesses in accordance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations, they will be exposed to various regulatory risks and therefore, our and the VIE
Group’s business, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
In addition, CBIRC Circular 37 explicitly provides that institutions providing customer promotion, credit assessment and other services for various
lending institutions shall not provide financing guarantee services without approval. For the loans facilitated between borrowers and institutional funding
partners, we and the VIE Group have engaged the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers to provide financing guarantees to our and the VIE Group’s
institutional funding partners. If any borrower defaults, the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers are obligated to repay the overdue amount and interest
to the corresponding institutional funding partner. The Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers also demand counter-guarantees by another credit
enhancement company in some contracts cases. Under certain circumstances, we and the VIE Group also provide additional commitment to certain
institutional funding partners or the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers. To better manage the associated risks, we and the VIE Group in turn obtain a
back-to-back guarantee from another third-party company. Despite our and the VIE Group’s efforts to reduce regulatory risks, we and the VIE Group
cannot assure you that the relevant government authorities would not interpret the commitments we and the VIE Group provided to our institutional
funding partners or the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers as an operation of financing guarantee business without approval. If relevant government
authorities take the view that the commitments we provided to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners or the Licensed Credit Enhancement
Providers is a provision of financing guarantee business without approval, we and the VIE Group would be subject to licensing requirements, fines and
other administrative penalties. As a result, our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition, and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Because we conduct businesses in many countries and intend to continue to expand in international markets, we are subject to legal, reputational and
operational risks, as well as a broad array of local legal and regulatory requirements that could adversely affect our operations.
While we operate our businesses with a focus on the China market, we have been exploring opportunities in other developing countries with a
significant size of low- to mid- income population in recent years and intend to continue to expand our businesses in international markets. For example, in
2019, we established our Indonesia office to supervise our rapid development in Southeast Asia. In September 2021, we commenced our businesses in
Nigeria and intend to continue to ramp up our business in Nigeria in the future.
Operating a multinational business creates difficulties associated with staffing, managing our global operations, as well as complying with local
legal and regulatory requirements. Our existing operations in international markets may not succeed eventually, and may expose us to increased risks
associated with different market dynamics and competition in the international markets. We are subject to a variety of local laws and regulations that
involve matters central to our business, including, among others, financial services, data privacy and security, competition, consumer protection and
taxation. These laws can be particularly restrictive in certain jurisdictions, as they constantly evolve and remain subject to change. In addition, the
application and interpretation of these laws and regulations, which are often uncertain and subject to change, could result in government inquiries, claims,
disputes, changes to our business practices, increased cost of operations and declines in user growth, retention or engagement, any of which could seriously
harm our business.
Furthermore, we expect our operations to continue to expand in many jurisdictions. Some of these jurisdictions have undergone significant political,
economic and social change in recent years and the risk of new, unforeseen changes in these jurisdictions remains greater than in the U.S. or other more
developed countries. Although we have engaged experienced staffs and consultants in jurisdictions in which we deem appropriate, we cannot assure you
that we will continue to be found to be operating in compliance with all applicable laws or regulations which we may be subject to. We may also be subject
to increased reputational risk, or be scrutinized for compliance with labor, social security or tax requirements in connection with certain of our employment
practices in different jurisdictions. In addition, we cannot assure you that laws and regulations applicable to us will not be modified or interpreted in ways
that could adversely affect our business. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if we cannot
effectively manage our business to address the market demands and complexities of operating a multinational business.
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If we and the VIE Group are unable to maintain and increase the number of our and the VIE Group’s borrowers or the volume of loans facilitated
through our and the VIE Group’s platform, our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations will be adversely affected.
The total loan origination volume facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform was RMB11.6 billion in 2020, RMB21.9 billion in 2021, and
RMB55.5 billion (US$8.0 billion) in 2022, respectively. To maintain the high growth momentum of our and the VIE Group’s platform, we and the VIE
Group must continuously increase the volume of loans by retaining current participants and attracting more users whose financing needs can be met on our
and the VIE Group’s platform. If there are insufficient institutional funding sources, borrowers may not be able to obtain capital through our and the VIE
Group’s platform and may turn to other sources for their borrowing needs. If we and the VIE Group are unable to attract qualified borrowers and sufficient
institutional funding, or if borrowers do not continue to participate in our and the VIE Group’s platform at the current rates due to any changes or other
business or regulatory reasons, we and the VIE Group may be required to modify the way we and the VIE Group conduct our and the VIE Group’s
business to ensure compliance with existing or new PRC laws and regulations, we and the VIE Group might not be able to increase our and the VIE
Group’s loan transaction volume and revenues as we and the VIE Group expect, and our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations may be
adversely affected.
If we and the VIE Group are unable to secure funding from institutional funding partners on terms acceptable to us, or at all, our and the VIE Group’s
reputation, results of operations and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
We and the VIE Group collaborate with institutional funding partners to fund certain loans we and the VIE Group facilitate. Our and the VIE
Group’s current institutional funding partners include commercial banks, consumer finance companies, trusts and microcredit companies.
The availability of funding from institutional funding partners depends on many factors, some of which are out of our and the VIE Group’s control.
Some of our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners have limited operating history, and there can be no assurance that we and the VIE Group
will be able to rely on their funding in the future. Our and the VIE Group’s ability to cooperate with new institutional funding partners may be subject to
regulatory or other limitations. In addition, regardless of our and the VIE Group’s risk management efforts, loans facilitated by us may nevertheless be
considered riskier and have a higher delinquency rate than loans provided by traditional financial institutions. In the event there is a sudden or unexpected
shortage of funds from our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners, or if our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners have determined
not to continue to collaborate with us, we and the VIE Group may not be able to maintain necessary levels of funding without incurring high costs of
capital, or at all. While we and the VIE Group have managed to diversify our and the VIE Group’s funding sources, there can be no assurance that our and
the VIE Group’s funding sources will remain or become increasingly diversified in the future. If we and the VIE Group become dependent on a small
number of institutional funding partners and any such institutional funding partner determines not to collaborate with us or limits the funding that is
available, our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow may be materially and adversely affected.
Our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners typically agree to provide funding to our and the VIE Group’s users who meet their
predetermined criteria, subject to their approval process. In addition, while our and the VIE Group’s users’ loan requests are usually approved if they fall
within the parameters set and agreed upon by us and our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners, they may implement additional requirements
in their approval process outside of our and the VIE Group’s monitor and control. Thus, there is no assurance that our and the VIE Group’s institutional
funding partners could provide reliable, sustainable and adequate funding to support the required liquidity as they could decline to fund user loans
originated on our and the VIE Group’s platform. In addition, if PRC laws and regulations impose more restrictions on cooperation with institutional
funding partners, these institutional funding partners will become more selective in choosing cooperation partners, which may drive up the funding costs
and the competition among loan facilitation platforms to cooperate with a limited number of institutional funding partners as well as other non-institutional
funding sources. Any of the above may materially increase our and the VIE Group’s funding costs, which may adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s
results of operations and profitability. Furthermore, if PRC laws and regulations are issued that prohibit our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with our and
the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners, our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with our and the VIE Group’s funding partners may have to be
terminated or suspended, which may materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we and the VIE Group are unable to provide a high-quality user experience, our and the VIE Group’s business and reputation may be materially and
adversely affected.
The success of our and the VIE Group’s business largely depends on our and the VIE Group’s ability to provide high-quality user experience, which
in turn depends on a variety of factors. These factors include our and the VIE Group’s ability to continue to offer loan facilitation services at competitive
amount of financing interest and service fees and adequate credit limits, reliable and user-friendly website interface and mobile apps for users to browse,
apply for credit, and further improve our and the VIE Group’s online transaction
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process. If users are not satisfied with our and the VIE Group’s services, or our and the VIE Group’s system is severely interrupted or otherwise fail to meet
the borrowers’ requests, our and the VIE Group’s reputation and borrower loyalty could be adversely affected.
In addition, if our and the VIE Group’s user service representatives fail to provide satisfactory service, or if waiting time for our and the VIE
Group’s user service hotline is too long due to the high volume of inquiries from users at peak times, our and the VIE Group’s brands and borrower loyalty
may be adversely affected. In addition, any negative publicity or poor feedback regarding our and the VIE Group’s borrower service may harm our and the
VIE Group’s brands and reputation and in turn cause us to lose borrowers and market share. As a result, if we and the VIE Group are unable to continue to
maintain or enhance our and the VIE Group’s borrower experience and provide a high-quality borrower service, we and the VIE Group may not be able to
retain borrowers or attract prospective borrowers, which could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition and
results of operations.
Furthermore, our and the VIE Group’s platform features a high proportion of repeat borrowers. Out of the total loan volume facilitated through our
and the VIE Group’s platform in 2020, 2021 and 2022, 72.8%, 62.3% and 71.6%, respectively, was attributable to repeat borrowers who had successfully
borrowed on our and the VIE Group’s platform before. The loan size of repeat borrowing of repeat borrowers tends to be larger than that of first time
borrowing. Repeat borrowing also generally contributes to a higher overall credit quality of borrowers on our and the VIE Group’s platform as we and the
VIE Group only permit borrowers with positive repayment histories to become repeat borrowers. If we and the VIE Group are unable to maintain a high-
quality user experience in the future, the numbers of our and the VIE Group’s repeat borrowing rate and repeat borrowers on our and the VIE Group’s
platform will decrease. As a result, the credit quality, amount of transaction and service fees and overall profitability of our and the VIE Group’s platform
may be adversely affected.
Any negative publicity with respect to us, the online consumer finance industry in general and our third-party partners may materially and adversely
affect our business and results of operations.
Reputation of our brand is critical to our business and competitiveness. Factors that are vital to our reputation include but are not limited to our
ability to:
•
•
•
•
•
maintain the quality and reliability of our and the VIE Group’s platform;
provide borrowers and institutional funding partners with a superior experience in our and the VIE Group’s platform;
enhance and improve our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment;
effectively manage and resolve borrower and investor complaints; and
effectively protect personal information and privacy of borrowers and institutional funding partners.
Any malicious or negative allegation made by the media or other parties about the foregoing or other aspects of our company, including but not
limited to our management, business, compliance with law, financial condition or prospects, whether with merit or not, could severely compromise our
reputation and harm our business and operating results.
As the China online consumer finance industry is new and the regulatory framework for this industry is also evolving, negative publicity about this
industry may arise from time to time. Negative publicity about China’s online consumer finance industry in general may also have a negative impact on our
reputation, regardless of whether we have engaged in any inappropriate activities. The PRC government has recently instituted specific rules to develop a
more transparent regulatory environment for the online consumer finance industry. Any players in China’s online consumer finance industry who are not in
compliance with these regulations may adversely impact the reputation of the industry as a whole. Furthermore, any negative development in, or negative
perception of, the online consumer finance industry as a whole, even if factually incorrect or based on isolated incidents, could compromise our image,
undermine the trust and credibility we have established and impose a negative impact on our ability to attract new funding partners and borrowers.
Negative developments in the online consumer finance industry, such as widespread borrower defaults, fraudulent behavior and/or the closure of other
online consumer finance platforms, may also lead to tightened regulatory scrutiny of the sector and limit the scope of permissible business activities that
may be conducted by online consumer finance platforms like us. For instance, there were a number of reports of business failures of, or accusations of
fraud and unfair dealing against, certain companies in the online consumer finance industry in China. Although the market exits of these companies may
result in more healthy and stable development of the overall online consumer finance industry, to the extent borrowers or funding partners associate our
company with these companies, they may be less willing to initiate transactions on our platform. Our business, financial condition and results of operations
were adversely affected by such unfavorable market developments. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” There is still substantial
uncertainty with respect to PRC regulatory policies in this field and the condition of the online consumer finance market, and we cannot assure you that
similar negative news reports will not appear again in the future.
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In addition, negative publicity about our partners, service providers or other counterparties, such as negative publicity about their loan collection
practices and any failure by them to adequately protect the information of our funding partners and borrowers, to comply with applicable laws and
regulations or to otherwise meet required quality and service standards could harm our reputation. If any of the foregoing takes place, our business and
results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Changes in PRC regulations relating to interest rates for marketplace and microcredit lending could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE
Group’s business.
According to the relevant PRC laws and regulations, in the context of lending activities between individuals, entities or other organizations that are
not licensed financial institutions, if the interest rate of a loan exceeds 36% per annum, the exceeding part of the interest rate is invalid and void; if the
interest rate of a loan exceeds 24% per annum but is no more than 36% per annum, the exceeding part will be treated as natural obligation—valid but not
enforceable in the PRC judicial system, while the enforceability of the 24% per annum part will not be affected. In addition, on August 4, 2017, the
Supreme People’s Court promulgated the Circular of Several Suggestions on Further Strengthening the Judicial Practice Regarding Financial Cases, which
provides, among others, that (i) the claim of a borrower under a financial loan agreement to adjust or cut down the part of interest exceeding 24% per
annum on the basis that the aggregate amount of interest, compound interest, default interest, liquidated damages and other fees collectively claimed by the
lender is overly high shall be supported by the PRC courts; and (ii) in the context of online finance disputes, if the online loan facilitation platforms and the
lender circumvent the upper limit of the judicially protected interest rate by charging intermediary fee, it shall be ruled as invalid. In addition, under
Circular 141, the overall borrowing costs charged to borrowers should be calculated by loan interest together with all relevant fees and presented in an
annualized form.
On July 20, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly released the Opinions on Providing
Judicial Services and Safeguards for Accelerating the Improvement of the Socialist Market Economic System for the New Era. This document states that if
the interest and fees, including interest, compound interest, penalty interest, liquidated damages and other fees, claimed by one party to the loan contract
exceed the upper limit under judicial protection, the claim will not be supported by the court, and if the parties to the loan disguise the financing cost in an
attempt to circumvent the upper limit, the rights and obligations of all parties to the loan will be determined by the actual loan relationship.
On September 1, 2015, the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private
Lending Cases came into effect and was then amended on August 20, 2020 and January 1, 2021. Under these amendments, if the service fees or other fees
that we and the VIE Group charge are deemed to be loan interest or fees related to loans (inclusive of any default rate and default penalty and any other
fee), then in the event that the sum of the annualized interest that lenders charge and fees we and the VIE Group and our and the VIE Group’s business
partners charge exceed four times the one-year Loan Prime Rate at the time of the establishment of the agreement, the borrower may refuse to pay the
portion that exceeds the limit. In that case, PRC courts will not uphold our and the VIE Group’s request to demand the payment of fees that exceed the limit
from the borrower. The aforementioned one-year Loan Prime Rate refers to the one-year loan market quoted interest rate issued by the National Bank
Interbank Funding Center. The one-year Loan Prime Rate issued by the National Bank Interbank Funding Center on April 20, 2022 was 3.7%, and we and
the VIE Group cannot assure you that the one-year Loan Prime Rate or the upper limit on interest and fee rates will not decrease in the future. As to the
cases accepted by PRC courts of first instance on or after August 20, 2020 and in which the loan contracts were established before August 20, 2020, if the
lender requests that the court apply the previous limits of 24% and 36% for calculating the loan interest accrued from the establishment of the loan
contracts up to August 19, 2020, such request will be supported by the court, but the loan interest accrued from August 20, 2020 to the date of the loan
repayment shall be calculated by applying the new limit of four times the one-year Loan Prime Rate at the time of the filing of the lawsuit.
On December 29, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court also issued the Reply Regarding the Scope of Application of the New Private Lending Judicial
Interpretation, which provides that the two amendments are not applicable to disputes arising from the relevant financial business of microcredit
companies, financing guarantee companies, and five other types of local financial organizations which are regulated by local financial authorities.
However, there remain uncertainties in the interpretation and implementation of the two amendments, including their applicability in practice, the basis of
the formula used to calculate the interest limit, and the scope of inclusion of related fees, as well as inconsistencies between the standard and the level of
enforcement by different PRC courts. If we and the VIE Group are unable to comply with such regulatory requirements, supervision or guidance or are
deemed to be charging above the maximum interest rates permitted by the relevant laws, regulations, policies or guidance, we and the VIE Group could be
subject to orders of suspension, cessation or rectification, cancellation of qualifications, or other penalties, and our and the VIE Group’s business, financial
condition, results of operations and our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with business partners could be materially and adversely affected as a result.
To further clarify the way of calculating “total annual interest rate,” the PBOC issued the Announcement No. 3 on March 2021, which confirms that
the annualized rate of a loan should be calculated as the annualized ratio of total costs (to borrower) to outstanding
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principal amount. The costs include interest and other fees and charges directly related to the loan. The amount of principal should be specified in the loan
contract or other loan certificates. If the loan is repaid in installments, the outstanding principal amount should be the balance after each repayment. The
calculation of the annualized interest rate may be based on compound interest or simple interest. The calculation based on compound interest is equivalent
to that of the internal rate of return, and the simple-interest approach should be specified as such.
Consequently, PRC courts will not uphold our and the VIE Group’s request to demand the payment of fees that exceed the limit from the borrower.
If the borrower has already paid the fees that exceed the limit, the borrower may request that our own financing guarantee companies which directly
provide financing guarantee services to the institutional partners refund the portion exceeding the limit and the PRC courts may uphold such requests. To
ensure compliance with the caps, our and the VIE Group’s own financing guarantee companies may need to reduce the fees they charge to our and the VIE
Group’s borrowers, subject to further negotiation with them. Institutional funding partners may further lower the annual percentage rate of charge of their
loans from time to time if the cap of aggregated borrowing costs charged by licensed financial institutions is further lowered by any newly adopted, or by
the application of any existing, laws, regulations or ruling. If our and the VIE Group’s funding partners or us are unable to comply with such regulatory
requirements, supervision or guidance or are deemed to be charging above the limits permitted by the relevant laws and regulations, our and the VIE
Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with our and the VIE Group’s funding partners could
be materially and adversely affected.
We and the VIE Group are subject to credit cycles and the risk of deterioration of credit profiles of borrowers.
Our and the VIE Group’s business is subject to credit cycle, which is in turn associated with the volatility of general economy. If economic
conditions deteriorate, we and the VIE Group may face increased risk of default or delinquency of borrowers, which will result in lower returns or even
losses. In the event that the creditworthiness of our and the VIE Group’s borrowers deteriorates or we and the VIE Group cannot track the deterioration of
their creditworthiness, the criteria we and the VIE Group use for the analysis of borrower credit profiles may be rendered inaccurate, and our and the VIE
Group’s risk management system may be subsequently rendered ineffective. This in turn may lead to higher default rates and adverse impact on our and the
VIE Group’s reputation, business, results of operations and financial positions.
Broader macro, political and socio-economic factors and regulatory environment in China affecting market conditions can materially and adversely
affect our and the VIE Group’s business and operating results.
General economic, macro, political and socio-economic factors beyond our and the VIE Group’s control and regulatory environment in China may
deter borrowers’ interest in seeking loans through our and the VIE Group’s platform, and similarly, funding partners’ willingness to lend. Such factors
include the general interest rate, unemployment rates, residential home values and availability of other investment opportunities. If any of these risk factors
should materialize, the volume of loans facilitated on our and the VIE Group’s platform will necessarily decline, and our and the VIE Group’s revenues and
operating results may be adversely affected. For instance, from the second quarter of 2019, the loan origination volume on our and the VIE Group’s
platform decreased due to regulatory requirements that an online lending intermediary to reduce the number of individual investors, business volume and
number of borrowers. In view of the changing regulatory environment, we and the VIE Group have stopped funding our and the VIE Group’s loans with
individual investors in April 2020, which negatively affected our and the VIE Group’s business and financial performance in 2020.
Economic conditions in China are subject to domestic economic and political policies, and are also sensitive to global economic conditions, regional
instability and tension, as well as the relationship among China and other countries. While the economy in China has grown significantly over the past
decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the rate of growth has been slowing in recent years.
The global macroeconomic environment is also facing challenges. Unrest, terrorist threats and the potential for war in the Middle East and elsewhere may
increase market volatility across the globe. The conflict in Ukraine and the imposition of broad economic sanctions on Russia could raise energy prices and
disrupt global markets. There have also been concerns about the relationship between China and other countries, including the surrounding Asian countries,
which may result in or intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial disputes. In addition, there is significant uncertainty about the future relationship
between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. Any severe or prolonged slowdown in the
global or Chinese economy may further adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
We and the VIE Group cannot guarantee that economic conditions will remain favorable for our and the VIE Group’s business or industry and that
demand and supply for consumer loans such as those we and the VIE Group primarily facilitate over our and the VIE Group’s platform will continue to be
met at current levels. If demand or supply reduces, or if the default rate increases, our and the VIE Group’s growth and revenue will be negatively
impacted.
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Credit and other information that we and the VIE Group receive from prospective borrowers and third parties about a borrower may be inaccurate or
may not accurately reflect the borrower’s creditworthiness, which may compromise the accuracy of our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment.
For the purpose of credit assessment, we and the VIE Group obtain from prospective borrowers and third parties certain information of the
prospective borrowers, which may not be complete, accurate or reliable. The third parties whom we and the VIE Group collaborate with include industry
anti-fraud service providers, Internet or wireless service providers, online shopping websites and payment service providers. A credit score assigned to a
borrower may not reflect that particular borrower’s actual creditworthiness because the credit score may be based on outdated, incomplete or inaccurate
borrower information. Additionally, once we and the VIE Group have obtained a borrower’s information, the borrower may subsequently (i) become
delinquent in the payment of an outstanding obligation; (ii) default on a pre-existing debt obligation; (iii) take on additional debt; or (iv) sustain other
adverse financial events, making the information we and the VIE Group have previously obtained inaccurate. We and the VIE Group currently cannot
determine whether borrowers have outstanding loans through other online consumer finance platforms at the time they obtain a loan from us. This creates
the risk that a borrower may borrow money through our and the VIE Group’s platform in order to pay off loans on other online consumer finance platforms
and vice versa. If a borrower incurs additional debt before fully repaying any loan such borrower takes out on our and the VIE Group’s platform, the
additional debt may impair the ability of that borrower to make payments on his or her loan and the funding partner’s ability to receive returns associated
with such loan. In addition, the additional debt may adversely affect the borrower’s creditworthiness generally, and could result in the financial distress or
insolvency of the borrower. To the extent that a borrower has or incurs other indebtedness and cannot repay all of his or her indebtedness, the obligations
under the loans will rank pari passu to each other and the borrower may choose to make payments to other creditors rather than to funding partners on our
and the VIE Group’s platform. The additional debt may adversely affect the borrower’s creditworthiness generally, and could result in the financial distress
or insolvency of the borrower, impairing the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the funding partner’s ability to receive investment returns associated
with such loan. In addition, if a borrower incurs debt on other online loan facilitation platforms in order to repay our and the VIE Group’s loans, the
borrower’s ability to repay such loans is limited by the availability of funding sources subject to factors beyond the borrower’s control, which may
adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s results of operations. For instance, in the first half of 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic increased
market uncertainties and resulted in an unexpected short-term volatility of borrower credit performance across our and the VIE Group’s industry, and in
particular, we and the VIE Group observed a slightly increase in our and the VIE Group’s delinquency rate in the first quarter of 2020. Such inaccurate or
incomplete borrower information could compromise the accuracy of our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment and adversely affect the effectiveness of
our and the VIE Group’s risk management, which could in turn harm our and the VIE Group’s reputation, and as a result our and the VIE Group’s business
and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We and the VIE Group rely on our and the VIE Group’s proprietary credit assessment model in assessing the creditworthiness of our and the VIE
Group’s borrowers and the risks associated with loans. If our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment model is flawed or ineffective, or if we and the
VIE Group otherwise fail or are perceived to fail to manage the default risks of loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform, our and
the VIE Group’s reputation and market share would be materially and adversely affected, which would severely impact our and the VIE Group’s
business and results of operations.
Our and the VIE Group’s ability to attract funding partners and borrowers to, and build trust in, our and the VIE Group’s platform is significantly
dependent on our and the VIE Group’s ability to effectively evaluate borrowers’ credit profiles and likelihood of default. To conduct this evaluation, we and
the VIE Group utilize our and the VIE Group’s proprietary and open credit assessment model, which is built based on massive data collected through
various channels and strengthened by our and the VIE Group’s sophisticated artificial intelligence and advanced machine learning techniques. Our and the
VIE Group’s credit assessment model conducts in-depth anti-fraud and delinquency history analysis of the borrowers, assigns the borrowers a credit score
based on their risk profile. However, our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment model may not effectively assess the credit risk of the borrower or predict
future delinquency rate and loan losses. If we and the VIE Group are unable to effectively classify borrowers into the relative risk categories, We and the
VIE Group may be unable to effectively manage the default risks of loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform, which may adversely
affect our and the VIE Group’s ability to accurately account for risks related to such loans. Although the institutional funding partners on our and the VIE
Group’s platform have their own risk management systems and our and the VIE Group’s main business is to connect them with borrowers, we and the VIE
Group may still be subject to liabilities because of borrowers’ defaults.
In addition, if a borrower’s financial condition worsens after his or her loan application is approved, we and the VIE Group may not be able to take
measures to prevent default on the part of the borrower and thereby maintain a reasonably low default rate for loans facilitated through our and the VIE
Group’s platform. Our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment model may not be able to timely and accurately adjust down the credit rating assigned to a
borrower if such borrower’s creditworthiness deteriorates. In addition, certain line items on our and the VIE Group’s financial statements, including
allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract assets, loans receivable and others, are and were recorded based on the default rate that we and the VIE
Group estimate. Since our and the VIE
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Group’s estimate of the risks might be inaccurate, our and the VIE Group’s consolidated financial statements may be materially misstated.
While we and the VIE Group continuously refine the algorithms, data processing and machine learning used by our and the VIE Group’s credit
assessment model to reduce the likelihood of mispricing loans or misclassifying borrower, our and the VIE Group’s approval process could be negatively
affected if any of these decision-making and scoring systems contain programming or other errors, are ineffective or the data provided by borrowers or
third parties are incorrect or stale. If any of the foregoing were to occur in the future, borrowers may reduce the use of our and the VIE Group’s platform
for financing, and our and the VIE Group’s reputation and market share would be materially and adversely affected, which would severely impact our and
the VIE Group’s business and results of operations.
We and the VIE Group have obligations to verify information relating to borrowers and detecting fraud. If we and the VIE Group fail to perform such
obligations to meet the requirements of relevant laws and regulations, we and the VIE Group may be subject to liabilities. Our and the VIE Group’s
reputation may be harmed if information supplied by borrowers is inaccurate, misleading or incomplete.
Our and the VIE Group’s business of connecting funding partners and borrowers constitutes an intermediary service, and our and the VIE Group’s
contracts with funding partners and/or borrowers are intermediation contracts under the Civil Code. Under the Civil Code, an intermediary that
intentionally conceals any material information or provides false information in connection with the conclusion of an intermediation contract which results
in harm to the client’s interests may not claim any service fee for its intermediary services, and is liable for any damage incurred by the client. Therefore, if
we and the VIE Group fail to provide material information to funding partners and are found to be at fault for our and the VIE Group’s failure or deemed
failure to exercise proper care to conduct adequate information verification or supervision, we and the VIE Group could be subject to liabilities as an
intermediary under the Civil Code. Furthermore, if we and the VIE Group fail to complete our and the VIE Group’s obligations under the agreements with
institutional funding partners and borrowers, we and the VIE Group could also be held liable for damages caused to borrowers or institutional funding
partners pursuant to the Civil Code. We and the VIE Group leverage a large database of fraudulent account information and sophisticated rule-based
detection technology to detect fraudulent behaviors. We and the VIE Group update our and the VIE Group’s database on a daily basis based on new data
collected and fraudulent behavior detected during the ordinary course of our and the VIE Group’s business operations. Although we and the VIE Group
believe that as an information intermediary, we and the VIE Group should not bear the credit risk for funding partners as long as we and the VIE Group
take reasonable measures to detect fraudulent behavior, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that we and the VIE Group would not be subject to
liability if we and the VIE Group fail to detect any fraudulent behavior. Any such liability could materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s
results of operations and financial condition.
We and the VIE Group do not impose restrictions on borrowers’ use of loans facilitated by our and the VIE Group’s platform or prohibit our and the
VIE Group’s borrowers from incurring other debt or impose financial covenants on borrowers during the term of the loan, which will increase the risk
of non-payment on our and the VIE Group’s loans.
We and the VIE Group are faced with the risk that borrowers borrow money by using loan facilitation services provided by us and the VIE Group to
pay off loans on other online consumer finance platforms. Subject to credit assessment result, borrowers may take out new loans on our and the VIE
Group’s platform to pay off their other existing loans facilitated by others. We and the VIE Group also do not prohibit our and the VIE Group’s borrowers
from incurring additional indebtedness, which may impair the borrower’s ability to observe his or her payment obligations under loan facilitation services
on our and the VIE Group’s platform and therefore adversely affect the relevant funding partner’s returns. Although we and the VIE Group take certain
measures to monitor our and the VIE Group’s borrowers’ credit records and indebtedness, we and the VIE Group may not be able to effectively prevent the
occurrence of such behavior given the practical difficulty in tracking and controlling the usage of borrowed funds and the financial activities of our and the
VIE Group’s borrowers.
If a borrower becomes insolvent or otherwise run into financial distress, any unsecured loan (including those obtained through our and the VIE
Group’s platform) will rank pari passu to each other and the borrower may cherry-pick among his or her creditors and our and the VIE Group’s funding
partners may suffer losses. For secured loans, the ability of other secured lenders to exercise remedies against the assets of the borrower may impair the
borrower’s ability to repay the loan to our and the VIE Group’s funding partners. Funding partners may lose their confidence in us and our and the VIE
Group’s reputation and business may be adversely affected.
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Fraudulent activity on our and the VIE Group’s platform could negatively impact our and the VIE Group’s operating results, brand and reputation and
cause the use of our and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services to decrease.
We and the VIE Group are subject to the risk of fraudulent activity both on our and the VIE Group’s platform and associated with borrowers,
funding partners and third parties handling borrower and funding partner information. Our and the VIE Group’s resources, technologies and fraud detection
tools may be insufficient to accurately detect and prevent fraud. Significant increases in fraudulent activity could negatively impact our and the VIE
Group’s brand and reputation, result in losses suffered by the funding partners, reduce the volume of loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s
platform and lead us to take additional steps to reduce fraud risk, which could increase our and the VIE Group’s costs and expenses. High profile fraudulent
activity could even lead to regulatory intervention and litigation, and may divert our and the VIE Group’s management’s attention and cause us to incur
additional expenses and costs. If any of the foregoing were to occur, our and the VIE Group’s results of operations and financial condition could be
materially and adversely affected.
Our and the VIE Group’s risk management system comprising our and the VIE Group’s policy framework, credit assessment and fraud detection
technology and modules may not be adequate, which may adversely affect the reliability of our and the VIE Group’s platform, and in turn damage our
and the VIE Group’s reputation, business and results of operations.
The success of our and the VIE Group’s online platform relies heavily on our and the VIE Group’s ability to detect, assess and control credit risk,
and therefore to prevent fraud. Despite the measures we and the VIE Group take to assess and manage risk, the information and data we and the VIE Group
collect may not be sufficient to allow us to adequately capture a borrower applicant’s credit risk. Such information and data include, among others,
demographic information, credit history with us and with other financial institutions, and employment information and blacklists maintained by other
forums and organizations. We and the VIE Group constantly update and optimize our and the VIE Group’s risk management system, but the system may
have loopholes or defects which may prevent us from effectively identifying risks, or the data provided may be inaccurate or stale or insufficient, such that
we and the VIE Group may misjudge the risk and misalign the risk profile and loan price. The information may also not be sufficient for prediction of
future non-payment. Such risks and errors may erode funding partner confidence in our and the VIE Group’s platform and therefore harm our and the VIE
Group’s reputation and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations.
Interim period results can vary significantly due to a host of variables and may not accurately reflect the underlying performance of our and the VIE
Group’s business.
Our and the VIE Group’s interim period results of operations, including operating revenue, expenses, the number of loans and other key
performance indicators, may fluctuate significantly such that comparisons of our and the VIE Group’s operating results period-on-period may not be
meaningful. Results of any interim period cannot accurately indicate future performance. Fluctuations may be due to any number of variables, including
some beyond our and the VIE Group’s control, such as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
our and the VIE Group’s ability to grow our and the VIE Group’s users base by attracting new and retaining repeat borrowers;
the volume and quality of the loans we and the VIE Group facilitated and the acquisition of funding partners and borrowers;
the level of operating expenses in the acquisition of funding partners and borrowers, the growth and maintenance of our and the VIE Group’s
business, operations and infrastructure and the timing;
disruptions to the telecommunications network or security breaches;
general macroeconomic and socio-political factors affecting the market and industry, particularly with respect to interest rates, consumer
spending and levels of disposable income;
seasonality of our and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services, which are generally higher in the third and fourth quarters due to national
holidays and consumer spending patterns;
our and the VIE Group’s strategy with a focus on long-term growth instead of immediate profitability; and
The incurring of expenses related to acquisitions activities of businesses or technologies and potential future charges for impairment of
goodwill, if any.
Fluctuations in our and the VIE Group’s interim period results may affect the price of our ADSs in an adverse manner.
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We and the VIE Group incurred net losses in the past and may not be able to achieve and sustain profitability in the future. Furthermore, we and the
VIE Group experienced net cash outflows in the past and may experience liquidity pressure in the future.
We and the VIE Group had net income of RMB250.1 million, RMB467.8 million and RMB1,180.2 million (US$171.1 million) in 2020, 2021 and
2022, respectively. In addition, we and the VIE Group had accumulated deficits of RMB1,266.8 million and RMB794.8 million as of December 31, 2020
and 2021, respectively, and turned positive retained earnings of RMB384.9 million (US$55.8 million) as of December 31, 2022. Although we and the VIE
Group achieved net profitability in the past three fiscal years and was in retained earnings position as of the end of 2022, we and the VIE Group incurred
net losses in the past. We and the VIE Group cannot assure you that we and the VIE Group will be able to continue to achieve and sustain profitability in
the future.
Furthermore, we and the VIE Group experienced net cash inflows from operating activities in 2022 of RMB133.6 million (US$19.4 million), we
and the VIE Group cannot assure you that we and the VIE Group will be able to continue to grow our and the VIE Group’s revenue and operating cash
inflows. We and the VIE Group generate a substantial majority of our and the VIE Group’s total revenues from service fees we and the VIE Group collect
from our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners. Any material decrease in our and the VIE Group’s service fees would have a substantial
impact on our and the VIE Group’s profit margin and liquidity status. We and the VIE Group may also experience a decrease in our and the VIE Group’s
operating cash outflows as we and the VIE Group anticipate that our and the VIE Group’s operating cost and expenses may increase in the foreseeable
future as we and the VIE Group continue to grow our and the VIE Group’s business, attract funding partners and borrowers and further enhance and
develop our and the VIE Group’s products, enhance our and the VIE Group’s risk management capabilities and increase brand recognition. These efforts
may prove more costly than we and the VIE Group currently anticipate, and we and the VIE Group may not succeed in increasing our and the VIE Group’s
revenue sufficiently to offset these higher expenses. There are other factors that could negatively affect our and the VIE Group’s financial condition.
Furthermore, we and the VIE Group have adopted share incentive plans in the past and may adopt new share incentive plans in the future, which have
caused, and will result in, significant share-based compensation expenses to us, which will decrease our and the VIE Group’s net income. As a result of the
foregoing and other factors, our and the VIE Group’s net income margins may decline or we and the VIE Group may incur additional net losses in the
future and may not be able to maintain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Furthermore, our and the VIE Group’s liquidity status may deteriorate.
In addition, our and the VIE Group’s ability to satisfy our and the VIE Group’s liquidity and capital needs may be affected by additional factors and events
that affects the online consumer finance industry, as well as other macroeconomic and socio-political factors that increase our and the VIE Group’s cash
needs making us face continuing or greater liquidity pressure.
Our and the VIE Group’s failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s results of operations and market share.
The online consumer finance market is an emerging industry in China. We and the VIE Group face competition from other online consumer finance
platforms, online platforms that engage in online loan facilitation and traditional financial institutions. We and the VIE Group compete with other online
platforms that engage in online lending businesses for borrowers. We and the VIE Group also compete with traditional financial institutions, including
credit card issuers, online consumer finance business units in commercial banks and other online consumer finance companies.
Our and the VIE Group’s competitors operate with different business models, have different cost structures or participate selectively in different
market segments. They may ultimately prove more successful or more adaptable to new regulatory, technological and other developments. Some of our and
the VIE Group’s current and potential competitors have significantly more financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we and the VIE Group
do and may be able to devote greater resources to the development, promotion, sale and support of their platforms. Our and the VIE Group’s competitors
may also have more extensive borrower or funding partner bases, greater brand recognition and brand loyalty and broader partner relationships than us.
Additionally, a current or potential competitor may acquire one or more of our and the VIE Group’s existing competitors or form a strategic alliance with
one or more of our and the VIE Group’s competitors. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, results of operations,
financial condition and future growth.
In addition, our and the VIE Group’s competitors may be better at developing new products, responding faster to new technologies. When new
competitors seek to enter our and the VIE Group’s target market, or when existing market participants seek to increase their market share, they sometimes
undercut the pricing and/or terms prevalent in that market, which could adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s market share or ability to exploit new
market opportunities. Also, since the online consumer finance industry in China is relatively new and fast evolving, potential funding partners and
borrowers may not fully understand how our and the VIE Group’s platform works and may not be able to fully appreciate the additional customer
protections and features that we and the VIE Group have invested in and adopted on our and the VIE Group’s platform as compared to others. Our and the
VIE Group’s pricing and terms could deteriorate if we and the VIE Group fail to act to meet these competitive challenges. Furthermore, to the extent that
our and the VIE Group’s competitors are able to offer more attractive terms to our and the VIE Group’s business partners, such business partners may
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choose to terminate their relationships with us. If we and the VIE Group are unable to compete with such companies and meet the need for innovation in
our and the VIE Group’s industry, the demand for our and the VIE Group’s platform could stagnate or substantially decline, we and the VIE Group could
experience reduced revenues and our and the VIE Group’s platform could fail to achieve or maintain more widespread market acceptance, any of which
could harm our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations.
If we and the VIE Group fail to promote and maintain our and the VIE Group’s brand in a cost-efficient way, our and the VIE Group’s business and
results of operations may be harmed.
We and the VIE Group believe that developing and maintaining awareness of our and the VIE Group’s brand effectively is critical to attracting new
and retaining existing funding partners and borrowers to our and the VIE Group’s platform. This depends largely on the effectiveness of our and the VIE
Group’s marketing efforts and the success of the channels we and the VIE Group use to promote our and the VIE Group’s platform. If any of our and the
VIE Group’s current marketing channels become less effective, if we and the VIE Group are unable to continue to use any of these channels, or if the cost
of using these channels were to significantly increase or if we and the VIE Group are not successful in generating new channels, we and the VIE Group
may not be able to attract new funding partners and borrowers in a cost-effective manner or convert potential funding partners and borrowers into active
funding partners and borrowers on our and the VIE Group’s platform.
We and the VIE Group have incurred expenses on a variety of brand promotion and borrower and investor acquisition efforts designed to enhance
our and the VIE Group’s brand recognition and increase the number of borrowers and investors on our and the VIE Group’s platform. The costs of any such
branding and marketing activities are likely to be considerable. These efforts may not result in increased revenues in the immediate future or at all and,
even if they do, any increases in revenues may not offset the expenses incurred. If we and the VIE Group fail to successfully promote and maintain our and
the VIE Group’s brand and increase revenues while incurring substantial expenses, our and the VIE Group’s results of operations and financial condition
would be adversely affected, which may impair our and the VIE Group’s ability to grow our and the VIE Group’s business.
We and the VIE Group operate in a market where the credit infrastructure is still at an early stage of development.
China’s credit infrastructure is still at an early stage of development. The nationwide financial basic credit reporting system operated by the Credit
Reference Center, which was established by the People’s Bank of China in 2006, only records limited credit information, such as tax payments, civil
lawsuits, foreclosure and bankruptcy. Moreover, this credit database is accessible to data owners themselves and data users who have obtained written
authorization from the data owners. In 2015, the People’s Bank of China announced that it would open the credit reporting market to private sectors with a
view to spurring competition and innovation, but it may be a long-term process to establish a widely- applicable, reliable and sophisticated credit
infrastructure in the market we and the VIE Group operate.
Our and the VIE Group’s fee rates may decline in the future.
We and the VIE Group generate a substantial majority of our and the VIE Group’s total revenues from service fees we and the VIE Group collect
from our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners. These fee rates may be affected by the loan volume and quality we and the VIE Group
facilitated, the macroeconomic factors as well as the competition in the online consumer finance industry. We and the VIE Group may be unable to offer
attractive service fee rates while driving the growth and profitability of our and the VIE Group’s business. Furthermore, our and the VIE Group’s
competitors may lower their fee rates in an effort to lure funding partners away from us. If we and the VIE Group reduce our and the VIE Group’s fee rates
in order to compete more effectively, the profitability of our and the VIE Group’s business could be adversely affected. If we and the VIE Group do not
reduce our and the VIE Group’s fee rates, funding partners may leave our and the VIE Group’s platform, and the total service fees we and the VIE Group
collect may decline. Any material decline in our and the VIE Group’s fee rates or the fees we and the VIE Group collect could have a material adverse
effect on our and the VIE Group’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our business depends on the continued efforts of our senior management. If one or more of our key executives were unable or unwilling to continue in
their present positions, our business may be severely disrupted.
Our business operations depend on the continued services of our senior management, particularly the executive officers named in this annual report.
While we have provided different incentives to our management, we cannot assure you that we can continue to retain their services. There have been
departures of our senior management members in the past and we cannot assure you that our existing senior management members will not terminate their
employment with us in the future. If one or more of our key executives were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able
to replace them easily or at all, our future growth may be
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constrained, our business may be severely disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we
may incur additional expenses to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel. In addition, although we have entered into confidentiality and non-
competition agreements with our management, there is no assurance that any member of our management team will not join our competitors or form a
competing business. If any dispute arises between our current or former officers and us, we may have to incur substantial costs and expenses in order to
enforce such agreements in China or we may be unable to enforce them at all.
We face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations
We are vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins,
war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or Internet
failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to provide products
and services on our platform.
Our business could also be adversely affected by the effects of coronavirus, Ebola virus disease, Zika virus disease, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, avian flu,
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, or other epidemics. Our business operations could be disrupted if any of our employees is suspected of
having coronavirus, Ebola virus disease, Zika virus disease, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, avian flu, SARS or other epidemic, since it could require our employees
to be quarantined and/or our offices to be disinfected. In particular, the outbreak of a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, first reported in December
2019, has spread rapidly throughout the world. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a “pandemic” on March 11, 2020. The global
outbreak has caused market panics, which materially and negatively affected the global financial markets. Such disruption and the potential slowdown of
China’s and the world’s economy has had and could continue to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. In
particular, we, our institutional funding partners and third-party collection agencies have experienced business disruptions due to quarantine measures to
contain the spread of this outbreak. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that the outbreak harms the Chinese
economy in general. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic affects our operations and financial performance will depend on future developments,
which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and the actions to
contain the coronavirus, such as the availability of effective vaccines or cure, among others. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our
business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described in this annual report, such as those relating to our
level of indebtedness, our need to generate sufficient cash flows to service our indebtedness and our ability to comply with the covenants contained in the
agreements that govern our indebtedness.
Our headquarters are located in Shanghai, where most of our directors and management and a large majority of our employees currently reside. In
addition, most of our system hardware and back-up systems are hosted in leased facilities located in Shanghai. Consequently, if any of the abovementioned
natural disasters, health epidemics or other outbreaks were to occur in Shanghai or other locations where we operate in, our operation may experience
material disruptions, such as temporary closure of our offices and suspension of services, which may materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Our business operation could also be disrupted if any of our employees are suspected of having contracted any contagious disease or condition,
since it could require our employees to be quarantined or our offices to be closed down and disinfected. All of these would have a material adverse effect
on our results of operations and financial condition in the near terms. Additionally, if the outbreak persists or escalates, we may be subject to further
negative impact on our business operations and financial condition. Our operation could also be severely disrupted if our users or business partners were
affected by such natural disasters or health epidemics.
Misconduct, errors and failure to function by our and the VIE Group’s employees and third-party service providers could harm our and the VIE
Group’s business and reputation.
We and the VIE Group are exposed to many types of operational risks, including the risk of misconduct and errors by our and the VIE Group’s
employees and third-party service providers. Our and the VIE Group’s business depends on our and the VIE Group’s employees and third-party service
providers to interact with potential funding partners and borrowers, process large numbers of transactions and support the loan collection process, all of
which involve the use and disclosure of personal information. We and the VIE Group could be materially adversely affected if transactions were redirected,
misappropriated or otherwise improperly executed, if personal information was disclosed to unintended recipients or if an operational breakdown or failure
in the processing of transactions occurred, whether as a result of human error, purposeful sabotage or fraudulent manipulation of our and the VIE Group’s
operations or systems. In addition, the manner in which we and the VIE Group store and use certain personal information and interact with funding partners
and borrowers through our and the VIE Group’s platform is governed by various PRC laws. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct or
errors by employees or third-party service providers, and the precautions we and the VIE Group take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective
in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses. If any of our and the VIE Group’s
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employees or third-party service providers take, convert or misuse funds, documents or data or fail to follow protocol when interacting with funding
partners and borrowers, we and the VIE Group could be liable for damages and be subject to regulatory actions and penalties. We and the VIE Group could
also be perceived to have facilitated or participated in the illegal misappropriation of funds, documents or data, or the failure to follow protocol, and
therefore be subject to civil or criminal liability. In addition to our and the VIE Group’s own collecting team, we and the VIE Group also use certain third-
party service providers for loan collection services. Aggressive practices or misconduct by any of our and the VIE Group’s third-party service providers in
the course of collecting loans could damage our and the VIE Group’s reputation.
Cyber-attacks, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar disruptions of us and the VIE Group or of a third-party, including events
beyond our and the VIE Group’s control, could result in disclosure or misuse of confidential information and misappropriation of funds of our and the
VIE Group’s funding partners and borrowers, subject us to liabilities, reduce the attractiveness of our and the VIE Group’s platform and cause
reputational harm and adversely impact our and the VIE Group’s results of operations and financial condition.
Our and the VIE Group’s platform collects, stores and processes certain personal and other sensitive data from our and the VIE Group’s funding
partners and borrowers. The massive data that we and the VIE Group have processed and stored makes us or third-party service providers who host our and
the VIE Group’s servers a target and potentially vulnerable to cyber-attacks, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar disruptions. While
we and the VIE Group have taken steps to protect the confidential information that we and the VIE Group have access to, our and the VIE Group’s security
measures could be breached. Because techniques used to sabotage or obtain unauthorized access to systems change frequently and generally are not
recognized until they are launched against a target, we and the VIE Group may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate
preventative measures. Any accidental or willful security breaches or other unauthorized access to our and the VIE Group’s platform could cause
confidential borrower and funding partner information to be stolen and used for criminal purposes. As personally identifiable and other confidential
information is increasingly subject to legislation and regulations in numerous domestic and international jurisdictions, any inability to protect confidential
information of our and the VIE Group’s funding partners and borrowers could result in additional cost and liability for us, damage our and the VIE Group’s
reputation, inhibit the use of our and the VIE Group’s platform and harm our and the VIE Group’s business.
We and the VIE Group also face indirect technology, cybersecurity and operational risks relating to the third parties whom we and the VIE Group
work with to facilitate or enable our and the VIE Group’s business activities, including, among others, third-party online payment service providers who
manage accounts for certain borrower and funding partner funds and external cloud service provider. As a result of increasing consolidation and
interdependence of technology systems, a technology failure, cyber-attack or other information or security breach that significantly compromises the
systems of one entity could have a material impact on its counterparties. Any cyber-attack, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar
disruptions of such third-party payment service providers could, among other things, adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s ability to serve our and the
VIE Group’s users, and could even result in misappropriation of funds of our and the VIE Group’s funding partners and borrowers. If that were to occur,
both we and the VIE Group and third-party payment service providers could be held liable to funding partners and borrowers who suffer losses from the
misappropriation.
Security breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information could also expose us to liability related to the loss of the information, time-
consuming and expensive litigation and negative publicity. If security measures are breached because of third-party action, employee error, malfeasance or
otherwise, or if design flaws in our and the VIE Group’s technology infrastructure are exposed and exploited, our and the VIE Group’s relationships with
funding partners and borrowers could be severely damaged, we and the VIE Group could incur significant liability and our and the VIE Group’s business
and operations could be adversely affected.
If we and the VIE Group are unable to protect the confidential information of our and the VIE Group’s users and adapt to the relevant regulatory
framework regarding protection of such information, our and the VIE Group’s business and operations may be adversely affected.
The PRC government authorities have enacted a series of laws and regulations on the protection of personal information, under which Internet
service providers and other network operators are required to comply with the principles of legality, justification and necessity, to clearly indicate the
purposes, methods and scope of any information collection and usage, and to obtain the consent of users, as well as to establish a user information
protection system with appropriate remedial measures. We and the VIE Group have obtained written consent from our and the VIE Group’s users to use
their personal information within the scope of authorization and we and the VIE Group have taken technical measures to ensure the security of such
personal information and to prevent any loss or divergence of personal information from. However, there is uncertainty as to the interpretation and
application of such laws. If such laws or regulations are to be interpreted and applied in a manner inconsistent with our and the VIE Group’s current
policies and practices, changes to the features of our and the VIE Group’s system may be required and additional costs may be incurred. We and the VIE
Group
36
cannot assure you that our and the VIE Group’s existing user information protection system and technical measures will be considered sufficient under
applicable laws and regulations. If we and the VIE Group are unable to address any information protection concerns, or to comply with the then applicable
laws and regulations, we and the VIE Group may incur additional costs and liability and our and the VIE Group’s reputation, business and operations might
be adversely affected. See ‘‘Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Internet Companies—
Regulations on Privacy Protection’’ for more details.
On June 1, 2017, the Cyber Security Law of the PRC became effective. The law requires network products and services providers as we and the VIE
Group are, among other things, to strictly preserve the secrecy of user information they collect and to store within mainland China data that is gathered or
produced by such network products and services provider in the country. If we and the VIE Group are deemed to have violated the law, potential penalties
include, depending on the nature of violation, forced shut down of our and the VIE Group’s websites, revocation of business licenses, freezing of assets,
and fines imposed on the company ranging from approximately RMB10,000 to RMB1 million or management personnel ranging from approximately
RMB5,000 to RMB1 million.
Due to the relatively new nature of the Cyber Security Law of the PRC and the lack of clarity in the statutory law itself as to the circumstances and
standard under which the law should apply and violations may be found, there are great uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of the law.
The law’s vagueness in its own statutory language also indicates that the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, the designated
government enforcement agency, will have broad latitude to direct how the law is interpreted and enforced, thus creating greater uncertainties with regard
to the interpretation and application of the law since the government enforcement agency has yet to provide further guidance on the enforcement
mechanism of the law. If we and the VIE Group are found to have violated the Cyber Security Law of the PRC in a government enforcement action, we and
the VIE Group may face severe penalties that may result in monetary losses, losses of access to assets essential for daily operation of our and the VIE
Group’s business or for the continuance of service provision, and temporary or total disruption of our and the VIE Group’s business for an extended period
of time. In addition, the finding of a violation of the Cyber Security Law of the PRC, even if later repealed, may cause damages to our and the VIE Group’s
reputation and our and the VIE Group’s brand name, causing users to lose confidence in our and the VIE Group’s service and to refrain from choosing or
continuing to use our and the VIE Group’s products and services. All of these consequences may have a material adverse impact on our and the VIE
Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Furthermore, the stringent reporting obligation imposed by the Cyber Security Law of the PRC itself, without a finding of violation, may have a
material adverse impact on our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations. As we and the VIE Group are obligated by the law to inform our
and the VIE Group’s users of any security flaw or vulnerability as they are discovered, users may become wary of the existence or frequency of such
reports and lose confidence in the security of our and the VIE Group’s system, and thus may be discouraged from choosing or continuing to use our and the
VIE Group’s services, even if the security flaws or vulnerabilities are readily fixable and can be easily overcome.
In addition, the Personal Information Security Specification came into force in May 2018, and the final amended version of it came into force on
October 1, 2020. Although the Personal Information Security Specification is not yet a mandatory regulation, it nonetheless has a key implementing role
under China’s Cyber Security Law with respect to protecting personal information in China. Furthermore, it is likely that the Personal Information Security
Specification will be relied on by Chinese government agencies as a standard to determine whether businesses have abided by China’s data protection rules.
Meanwhile, under the Personal Information Security Specification, the data controller must provide the purpose of collecting and using personal
information, as well as the business functions of such purpose, and the Personal Information Security Specification requires the data controller to
distinguish its core function from additional functions to ensure the data controller will only collect personal information as needed.
In addition, on June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, or the SCNPC, promulgated the PRC Data Security Law,
which took effect in September 2021. The Data Security Law provides for a security review procedure for the data activities that may affect national
security. On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC issued the Personal Information Protection Law, effective since November 1, 2021, which reiterates the
circumstances under which a personal information processor could process personal information and the requirements for such circumstances. The Personal
Information Protection Law clarifies the scope of application, the definition of personal information and sensitive personal information, the legal basis of
personal information processing and the basic requirements of notice and consent. On December 28, 2021, the CAC published the Measures for
Cybersecurity Review, which took effect on January 15, 2022 and further restates and expands the applicable scope of the cybersecurity review. Pursuant to
the draft measures, critical information infrastructure operators that intend to purchase internet products and services and online platform operators
engaging in data processing activities that affect or may affect national security must be subject to the cybersecurity review.
The relevant regulatory authorities in China continue to monitor websites and apps in relation to the protection of personal data, privacy and
information security, and may impose additional requirements from time to time. We and the VIE Group believe that we and the VIE Group have
conformed our and the VIE Group’s practices in line with current requirements. However, we and the VIE
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Group cannot assure that our and the VIE Group’s existing user information protection system and technical measures will be considered sufficient under
all applicable laws and regulations. There are uncertainties as to the interpretation and application of laws in one jurisdiction which may be interpreted and
applied in a manner inconsistent to another jurisdiction and may conflict with our and the VIE Group’s current policies and practices or require changes to
the features of our and the VIE Group’s system. If we and the VIE Group are unable to address any information protection concerns, any compromise of
security that results unauthorized disclosure or transfer of personal data, or to comply with the then applicable laws and regulations, we and the VIE Group
may incur additional costs and liability and result in governmental enforcement actions, litigation, fines and penalties or adverse publicity and could cause
our and the VIE Group’s users and clients to lose trust in us, which could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business, results of
operations, financial condition and prospects.
The trend of tightening regulations on protection of data security also appear in other jurisdictions. For example, in May 2018, a new data protection
regime, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation became applicable; the General Data Protection Regulation can apply to the processing
of personal data by companies outside of the European Union, including where the processing of personal data relates to the offering of goods and services
to, or monitoring the behavior of, individuals in the European Union. The General Data Protection Regulation and data protection laws in other
jurisdictions may apply to our and the VIE Group’s processing of personal data in the future. The application of these laws to our and the VIE Group’s
business would impose on us more stringent compliance requirements with more significant penalties for non-compliance than PRC data protection laws
and regulations, and our and the VIE Group’s compliance with such requirements could require significant resources and result in substantial costs, which
may materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
We and the VIE Group collect, process and store personal information concerning our and the VIE Group’s borrowers, as well as personal
information pertaining to our and the VIE Group’s business partners and employees. Compliance with applicable personal information and information
security laws and regulations is a rigorous and time-intensive process. As global information protection laws and regulations increase in number and
complexity, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that our and the VIE Group’s information protection systems will be considered sufficient under all
applicable laws and regulations due to factors including the uncertainty of the interpretation and implementation of these laws and regulations.
Furthermore, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that the information we and the VIE Group receive from our and the VIE Group’s third-party data
partners are obtained and transmitted to us in full compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Moreover, there could be new laws, regulations or
industry standards that require us to change our and the VIE Group’s business practices and privacy policies, and we and the VIE Group may also be
required to put in place additional mechanisms ensuring compliance with new information protection laws, all of which may increase our and the VIE
Group’s costs and materially harm our and the VIE Group’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Any failure or perceived
failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations could result in reputational damage or proceedings or actions against us by governmental
entities, individuals or others. These proceedings or actions could subject us to significant civil or criminal penalties and negative publicity, result in the
delayed or halted processing of personal information that we and the VIE Group need to undertake to carry on our and the VIE Group’s business, as well as
the forced transfer or confiscation of certain personal information.
Any failure by our and the VIE Group’s third-party service providers or institutional funding partners to comply with applicable anti-money laundering
and anti-terrorism financing laws and regulations could damage our and the VIE Group’s reputation.
Currently, we and the VIE Group rely on our and the VIE Group’s third-party service providers, in particular payment companies that handle the
transfer of funds between borrowers and lenders, to have their own appropriate anti-money laundering policies and procedures. For institutional funding
partners, they generally transfer the funds to borrowers directly. The payment companies and our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners are
subject to anti-money laundering obligations under applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations and are regulated in that respect by the People’s
Bank of China. If any of our and the VIE Group’s third-party service providers or institutional funding partners fails to comply with applicable anti-money
laundering laws and regulations, our and the VIE Group’s reputation could suffer and we and the VIE Group could become subject to regulatory
intervention, which could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, our and the VIE Group’s platform is subject to anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing in PRC and other jurisdictions where
we and the VIE Group operate. While we and the VIE Group are in the process of formulating policies and procedures, including internal controls and
“know-your-customer” procedures, aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorism financing, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that we and
the VIE Group will be able to establish and maintain effective anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing policies and procedures to protect our
and the VIE Group’s platform from being exploited for money laundering or terrorism financing purposes or that such policies and procedures, if adopted,
will be deemed to be in compliance with applicable anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing laws and regulations.
We and the VIE Group have not been subject to fines or other penalties, or suffered business or other reputational harm, as a result of actual or
alleged money laundering or terrorist financing activities in the past. However, our and the VIE Group’s policies and procedures may not be completely
effective in preventing other parties from using us, any of our and the VIE Group’s users, clients or
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third-party partners as a conduit for money laundering (including illegal cash operations), terrorist financing or sanctioned activities without our and the
VIE Group’s knowledge. If we and the VIE Group were to be associated with money laundering (including illegal cash operations), terrorist financing or
sanctioned activities, our and the VIE Group’s reputation could suffer and we and the VIE Group could become subject to regulatory fines, sanctions, or
legal enforcement, including being added to any “blacklists” that would prohibit certain parties from engaging in transactions with us, all of which could
have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the laws and regulations on anti-money
laundering and anti-terrorist financing might be tightened in the future, which may impose more obligations on us and our and the VIE Group’s users,
clients and third-party partners. Even if we, our and the VIE Group’s users, clients and business partners comply with the applicable domestic and overseas
anti-money laundering laws and regulations, we and the VIE Group may not be able to fully eliminate money laundering and other illegal or improper
activities in light of the complexity and the secrecy of these activities.
If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our results
of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud.
We are a public company in the United State subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. Among other things, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, adopted rules requiring every public
company, including us, to include a management report on the company’s internal control over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains
management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting. We are required to include such report in our
annual report on Form 20-F starting from the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company,” as
such term is defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (as amended by the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act of 2015), or the
JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm may be required to attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting.
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officers, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness
of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our management has concluded
that our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective as of December 31, 2022 due to the material weaknesses in our internal control over
financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal controls, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a
material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
One material weakness relates to lack of sufficient accounting staff with U.S. GAAP knowledge and SEC reporting experience related to the
accounting and reporting of complex transactions. The other material weakness relates to our lack of formal risk assessment process and internal control
framework over financial reporting. We lack of a formal group-wide risk assessment process to identify, assess, address or mitigate the risks identified, and
internal control over financial reporting framework to maintain effective internal controls within the organization, which may increase risk of error, fraud,
misstatement of financial reporting, or non-compliance with related regulations for a U.S. listed group. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures—Changes in
Internal Control over Financial Reporting.”
In response to the identified material weaknesses, we have implemented the following measures to address the material weaknesses previously
identified, including (i) participating in training and seminars provided by professional services firms, (ii) providing internal training to our accounting
team on U.S. GAAP knowledge and standard updates, (iii) setting up a systematic accounting manual for U.S. GAAP and the financial closing process and
(iv) implementing updated internal control framework. We are also in the process of implementing the following measures, including (i) monitoring
internal control effectiveness on a continuous basis, and (ii) engaging professional service companies to help implement SOX 404 compliance together
with the establishment of an internal audit function.
Although we have begun to implement measures to address the material weaknesses, the implementation of these measures may not fully address
the material weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, and we cannot conclude that they have been fully remedied. In the
future we may determine that we have additional material weaknesses, or our independent registered public accounting firm may disagree with our
management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls. Our failure to correct the material weaknesses and control deficiencies or our failure
to discover and address any other material weaknesses or control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and could also impair
our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and 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, ineffective
internal control over financial reporting significantly hinders our ability to prevent fraud.
Furthermore, it is possible that, had our independent registered public accounting firm conducted an audit of our internal control over financial
reporting, such accountant might have identified additional material weaknesses and deficiencies. As we are subject to
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the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, we are required to include a report from management on the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2020. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined in the JOBS Act, our independent registered
public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Our management may conclude that
our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting
is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing, may issue a report that is qualified if it is not
satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are designed, implemented and operated, or if it interprets the relevant requirements
differently from us. In addition, as a public company, our reporting obligations may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial
resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation.
During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, we may identify
other weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control
over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis
that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal
control environment, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely
cause funding partners to lose confidence in our reported financial information. This could in turn limit our access to capital markets, harm our results of
operations, and lead to a decline in the trading price of our ADSs. Additionally, ineffective internal control over financial reporting could expose us to
increased risk of fraud or misuse of corporate assets and subject us to potential delisting from the stock exchange on which we list, regulatory
investigations and civil or criminal sanctions. We may also be required to restate our financial statements from prior periods.
Borrower growth and activity on mobile devices depend upon effective use of mobile operating system, networks and standards, which we and the VIE
Group do not control.
Our and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services are mostly offered through mobile apps. As new mobile devices and platforms are released, it is
difficult to predict the problems we and the VIE Group may encounter in developing applications for these new devices and platforms, and we and the VIE
Group may need to devote significant resources to the development, support and maintenance of such applications. In addition, our and the VIE Group’s
future growth and our and the VIE Group’s results of operations could suffer if we and the VIE Group experience difficulties in the future in integrating our
and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services into mobile devices or if problems arise with our and the VIE Group’s relationships with providers of mobile
operating systems or mobile app stores, or if we and the VIE Group face increased costs to distribute or have users utilize our and the VIE Group’s loan
facilitation services on mobile devices. We and the VIE Group are further dependent on the interoperability of providing our and the VIE Group’s loan
facilitation services on popular mobile operating systems that we and the VIE Group do not control, such as iOS and Android, and any changes in such
systems that degrade the accessibility of our and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services or give preferential treatment to competing products could
adversely affect the usability of our and the VIE Group’s services on mobile devices. In the event that it is more difficult for our and the VIE Group’s users
to access and utilize our and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services on their mobile devices, or if our and the VIE Group’s users choose not to access or
utilize our and the VIE Group’s loan facilitation services on their mobile devices or to use mobile operating systems that do not offer access to our and the
VIE Group’s loan facilitation services, our and the VIE Group’s user growth could be harmed and our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition
and operating results may be adversely affected.
Our and the VIE Group’s operations depend on the performance of the Internet infrastructure and telecommunications networks in China.
Almost all access to the Internet in China is maintained through state-owned telecommunication operators under the administrative control and
regulatory supervision of the MIIT. We and the VIE Group primarily rely on a limited number of telecommunication service providers to provide us with
data communications capacity through local telecommunications lines and Internet data centers to host our and the VIE Group’s servers. We and the VIE
Group have limited access to alternative networks or services in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s Internet infrastructure or
the fixed telecommunications networks provided by telecommunication service providers. With the expansion of our and the VIE Group’s business, we and
the VIE Group may be required to upgrade our and the VIE Group’s technology and infrastructure to keep up with the increasing traffic on our and the VIE
Group’s platform. We and the VIE Group cannot assure you that the Internet infrastructure and the fixed telecommunications networks in China will be
able to support the demands associated with the continued growth in Internet usage.
In addition, we and the VIE Group have no control over the costs of the services provided by telecommunication service providers. If the prices we
and the VIE Group pay for telecommunications and Internet services rise significantly, our and the VIE Group’s results
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of operations may be adversely affected. Furthermore, if Internet access fees or other charges to Internet users increase, our and the VIE Group’s user
traffic may decline and our and the VIE Group’s business may be harmed.
Our and the VIE Group’s platform and internal systems rely on software that is highly technical, and if it contains undetected errors, our and the VIE
Group’s business could be adversely affected.
Our and the VIE Group’s platform and internal systems rely on software that is highly technical and complex. In addition, our and the VIE Group’s
platform and internal systems depend on the ability of such software to store, retrieve, process and manage immense amounts of data. In particular, we and
the VIE Group used to open credit assessment platforms to these expert consultants, where they have access to a limited amount of desensitized, grouped
and tagged borrower data, based on which they used such data to develop their own credit assessment models. The software on which we and the VIE
Group rely may have contained, and may now or in the future contain, undetected errors or bugs. Some errors may only be discovered after the code has
been released for external or internal use. Errors or other design defects within the software on which we and the VIE Group rely may result in a negative
experience for funding partners and borrowers using our and the VIE Group’s platform, delay introductions of new features or enhancements, result in
errors or compromise our and the VIE Group’s ability to protect borrower or funding partner data or our and the VIE Group’s intellectual property. Any
errors, bugs or defects discovered in the software on which we and the VIE Group rely could result in harm to our and the VIE Group’s reputation, loss of
borrowers or funding partners or liability for damages, any of which could adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, results of operations and
financial condition.
We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We regard our trademarks, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we
rely on a combination of intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements, including confidentiality, invention assignment and non-compete
agreements with our employees and others to protect our proprietary rights. See also “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—
Intellectual Property.” Despite these measures, any of our intellectual property rights could be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or misappropriated, or
such intellectual property may not be sufficient to provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, because of the rapid pace of technological change in
our industry, parts of our business rely on technologies developed or licensed by third parties, and we may not be able to obtain or continue to obtain
licenses and technologies from these third parties on reasonable terms, or at all.
It is often difficult to maintain and enforce intellectual property rights in China. Statutory laws and regulations are subject to judicial interpretation
and enforcement and may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation. Confidentiality, invention assignment and
non-compete agreements may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to us for any such breach. Accordingly, we
may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our contractual rights in China. Preventing any unauthorized use of our
intellectual property is difficult and costly and the steps we take may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our intellectual property. In the event
that we resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, such litigation could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managerial and
financial resources. We can provide no assurance that we will prevail in such litigation. In addition, our trade secrets may be leaked or otherwise become
available to, or be independently discovered by, our competitors. To the extent that our employees or consultants use intellectual property owned by others
in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related know-how and inventions. Any failure in protecting or enforcing our intellectual property
rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt our business and operations.
We cannot be certain that our operations or any aspects of our business do not or will not infringe upon or otherwise violate trademarks, patents,
copyrights, know-how or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. We may be from time to time in the future subject to legal proceedings and
claims relating to the intellectual property rights of others. In addition, there may be third-party trademarks, patents, copyrights, know-how or other
intellectual property rights that are infringed by our products, services or other aspects of our business without our awareness. Holders of such intellectual
property rights may seek to enforce such intellectual property rights against us in China, the United States or other jurisdictions. If any third-party
infringement claims are brought against us, we may be forced to divert management’s time and other resources from our business and operations to defend
against these claims, regardless of their merits. As the date of this annual report, the applications for certain trademarks filed by us are still pending. If we
are unable to complete these registrations, we may not be able to prohibit unauthorized use or prevent other infringements of these trademarks. In addition,
certain of the trademarks we use for the daily operation or promotion of our business have already been registered by independent third parties outside of
our control, and such trademarks are currently subject to administrative or legal proceedings. In the
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event that these administrative and legal proceedings are resolved adversely to us, we may be prohibited from using such trademarks and subject to fines
and other legal or administrative sanctions, and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Additionally, the application and interpretation of China’s intellectual property right laws and the procedures and standards for granting trademarks,
patents, copyrights, know-how or other intellectual property rights in China are still evolving and are uncertain, and we cannot assure you that PRC courts
or regulatory authorities would agree with our analysis. If we were found to have violated the intellectual property rights of others, we may be subject to
liability for our infringement activities or may be prohibited from using such intellectual property, and we may incur licensing fees or be forced to develop
alternatives of our own. As a result, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We and the VIE Group may be held liable for information or content displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our and the VIE Group’s mobile
applications, which may materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business and operating results.
In addition to our and the VIE Group’s website, we and the VIE Group also offer online consumer finance products through our and the VIE
Group’s mobile applications, which are regulated by the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, or the app
Provisions, promulgated by the CAC, on June 28, 2016 and amended on June 14, 2022. According to the app Provisions, the providers of mobile
applications shall not create, copy, publish or distribute information and content that is prohibited by laws and regulations. We and the VIE Group have
implemented internal control procedures screening the information and content on our and the VIE Group’s mobile applications to ensure their compliance
with the app Provisions. However, we and the VIE Group cannot assure that all the information or content displayed on, retrieved from or linked to our and
the VIE Group’s mobile applications complies with the requirements of the app Provisions at all times. If our and the VIE Group’s mobile applications
were found to be violating the app Provisions, we and the VIE Group may be subject to administrative penalties, including warning, service suspension or
removal of our and the VIE Group’s mobile applications from the relevant mobile application store, which may materially and adversely affect our and the
VIE Group’s business and operating results.
We may from time to time be subject to claims, controversies, lawsuits and legal proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and reputation.
We may from time to time become subject to or involved in various claims, controversies, lawsuits, and legal proceedings. Claims, lawsuits, and
litigations are subject to inherent uncertainties, and we are uncertain whether the foregoing claim would develop into a lawsuit. Lawsuits and litigations
may cause us to incur defense costs, utilize a significant portion of our resources and divert management’s attention from our day-to-day operations, any of
which could harm our business. Any settlements or judgments against us could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows. In addition, negative publicity regarding claims or judgments made against us may damage our reputation and may result in a
material adverse impact on us.
In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of instability
in the market price of their securities. For example, on September 11, 2020, a securities class action complaint was filed against us and our officers and
directors in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York. An amended complaint was filed on February 1, 2021, which added as
defendants the underwriters for our initial public offering. The plaintiff asserted claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 based on
purported misstatements and omissions in Form F-1 registration statement for our initial public offering. The plaintiff brought his claims individually and
on behalf of all other persons who acquired our American Depositary Shares pursuant and/or traceable to our initial public offering, and seeks
compensatory damages, rescission, injunctive relief, and costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expert fees in unidentified amounts. On August
15, 2022, the Court entered an order of preliminary approval of a settlement in the Action. The Court has approved the settlement and the case has been
dismissed. Under the terms of the settlement, we paid an aggregate of US$2.0 million in 2022 as a full and final settlement to resolve all claims that arise
out of or relate to the subject matter of the class action as to all parties involved in the action.
The class action suit that we are aware of and if we were involved in a class action suit in the future, it could divert a significant amount of our
management’s attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could
harm our results of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our
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reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant
damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
From time to time we may evaluate and potentially consummate strategic investments or acquisitions, which could require significant management
attention, disrupt our business and adversely affect our financial results.
We may evaluate and consider strategic investments, combinations, acquisitions or alliances to further increase the value of our platform and better
match funding partners and borrowers. These transactions could be material to our financial condition and results of operations if consummated. If we are
able to identify an appropriate business opportunity, we may not be able to successfully consummate the transaction and, even if we do consummate such a
transaction, we may be unable to obtain the benefits or avoid the difficulties and risks of such transaction.
Strategic investments or acquisitions will involve risks commonly encountered in business relationships, including:
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difficulties in assimilating and integrating the operations, personnel, systems, data, technologies, rights, platforms, products and services of
the acquired business;
inability of the acquired technologies, products or businesses to achieve expected levels of revenue, profitability, productivity or other
benefits;
difficulties in retaining, training, motivating and integrating key personnel;
diversion of management’s time and resources from our daily operations;
difficulties in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies within the combined organizations;
difficulties in retaining relationships with our funding partners and borrowers, employees and suppliers of the acquired business;
risks of entering markets in which we have limited or no prior experience;
regulatory risks, including remaining in good standing with existing regulatory bodies or receiving any necessary pre-closing or post-closing
approvals, as well as being subject to new regulators with oversight over an acquired business;
assumption of contractual obligations that contain terms that are not beneficial to us, require us to license or waive intellectual property rights
or increase our risk for liability;
failure to successfully further develop the acquired technology;
liability for activities of the acquired business before the acquisition, including intellectual property infringement claims, violations of laws,
commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other known and unknown liabilities;
potential disruptions to our ongoing businesses; and
unexpected costs and unknown risks and liabilities associated with strategic investments or acquisitions.
We have made certain investments and acquisitions during past years, including setting up a subsidiary in Indonesia, Nigeria and a joint venture
company with local partners in Mexico to expand our overseas business. Also, we have acquired certain equity interest in Keen Best Investments Limited
(“Keen Best”) and Shanghai Bweenet Network Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Bweenet”). See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions—Related Party Transactions.” Keen Best principally engages in the internet microcredit business in the PRC. Shanghai Bweenet principally
engages in sale of hardware. However, our investments and acquisitions may not be successful, may not benefit our business strategy, may not generate
sufficient revenues to offset the associated acquisition costs or may not otherwise result in the intended benefits. In addition, we cannot assure you that any
future investment in or acquisition of new businesses or technology will lead to the successful development of new or enhanced loan facilitation services
provided by our and the VIE Group’s platform or that any new or enhanced loan facilitation services, if developed, will achieve market acceptance or prove
to be profitable.
Competition for employees is intense, and we may not be able to attract and retain the qualified and skilled employees needed to support our business.
We believe our success depends on the efforts and talent of our employees, including risk management, software engineering, financial and
marketing personnel. Our future success depends on our continued ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain qualified and skilled employees.
Competition for highly skilled technical, risk management and financial personnel is extremely intense. We may
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not be able to hire and retain these personnel at compensation levels consistent with our existing compensation and salary structure. Some of the companies
with which we compete for experienced employees have greater resources than we have and may be able to offer more attractive terms of employment.
In addition, we invest significant time and expenses in training our employees, which increases their value to competitors who may seek to recruit
them. If we fail to retain our employees, we could incur significant expenses in hiring and training new employees, and the quality of our services and our
ability to match funding partners and borrowers could diminish, resulting in a material adverse effect to our business.
Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The economy in China has experienced increases in inflation and labor costs in recent years. As a result, average wages in the PRC are expected to
continue to increase. In addition, we are required by PRC laws and regulations to pay various statutory employee benefits, including pension, housing fund,
medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of
our employees. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to control our labor
costs or pass on these increased labor costs to our users by increasing the fees of our services, our financial condition and results of operations may be
adversely affected.
Loss of or failure to maintain relationships with our and the VIE Group’s business partners may adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business
and results of operations.
We and the VIE Group currently work with a number of business partners in various aspects of our and the VIE Group’s business. Pursuing,
establishing and maintaining relationships with business partners require significant time and resources as does integrating third-party data and services
with our and the VIE Group’s system. Our and the VIE Group’s current agreements with business partners generally do not prohibit them from working
with our and the VIE Group’s competitors or from offering competing services. Our and the VIE Group’s competitors may be more effective in providing
incentives to our and the VIE Group’s business partners to favor their products or services, which may in turn reduce the volume of loans facilitated
through our and the VIE Group’s platform. Certain types of business partners may devote more resources to support their own competing businesses. In
addition, these business partners may not perform as expected under our and the VIE Group’s agreements with them, and we and the VIE Group may have
disagreements or disputes with them, which could adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s brand and reputation. If we and the VIE Group cannot
successfully enter into and maintain effective relationships with business partners, our and the VIE Group’s business will be harmed.
We and the VIE Group do not have any business insurance coverage.
Insurance companies in China currently do not offer as extensive an array of insurance products as insurance companies in more developed
economies. Currently, we and the VIE Group do not have any business liability or disruption insurance to cover our and the VIE Group’s operations. We
and the VIE Group have determined that the costs of insuring for these risks and the difficulties associated with acquiring such insurance on commercially
reasonable terms make it impractical for us to have such insurance. Any uninsured business disruptions may result in our and the VIE Group’s incurring
substantial costs and the diversion of resources, which could have an adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s results of operations and financial
condition.
We and the VIE Group may not be able to obtain additional capital on favorable terms or at all.
We and the VIE Group believe our and the VIE Group’s cash and cash equivalents on hand will be sufficient to meet our and the VIE Group’s
current and anticipated needs for general corporate purposes. However, we and the VIE Group need to make continued investments in facilities, hardware,
software, technological systems and to retain talents to remain competitive. Due to the unpredictable nature of the capital markets and our and the VIE
Group’s industry, we and the VIE Group cannot assure you that we and the VIE Group will be able to raise additional capital on terms favorable to us, or at
all, if and when required, especially if we and the VIE Group experience disappointing operating results. If adequate capital is not available to us as
required, our and the VIE Group’s ability to fund our and the VIE Group’s operations, take advantage of unanticipated opportunities, develop or enhance
our and the VIE Group’s infrastructure or respond to competitive pressures could be significantly limited, which would adversely affect our and the VIE
Group’s business, financial condition and results of operations. If we and the VIE Group do raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or
convertible debt securities, the ownership interests of our and the VIE Group’s shareholders could be significantly diluted. These newly issued securities
may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing shareholders.
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Some aspects of our and the VIE Group’s digital operations include open source software, and any failure to comply with the terms of one or more of
these open source licenses could negatively affect our and the VIE Group’s business.
Some aspects of our and the VIE Group’s digital operations include software covered by open source licenses. The terms of various open source
licenses have not been interpreted by PRC courts, and there is a risk that such licenses could be construed in a manner that imposes unanticipated
conditions or restrictions on our and the VIE Group’s online and mobile-based channels. If portions of our and the VIE Group’s proprietary software are
determined to be subject to an open source license, we and the VIE Group could be required to publicly release the affected portions of our and the VIE
Group’s source code, re-engineer all or a portion of our and the VIE Group’s technologies if required so by the license, or otherwise be limited in the
licensing of our and the VIE Group’s technologies, each of which could reduce or eliminate the value of our and the VIE Group’s technologies and loan
facilitation services. In addition to risks related to license requirements, usage of open source software can lead to greater risks than use of third-party
commercial software, as open source licensors generally do not provide warranties or controls on the origin of the software. Many of the risks associated
with use of open source software cannot be eliminated, and could adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business.
Trading in our securities may be prohibited under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act or the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies
Accountable Act, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely our auditor, and as a result, U.S. national
securities exchanges, such as Nasdaq, may determine to delist our securities.
On December 18, 2020, the former U.S. president signed into law the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA. In essence, the
HFCAA 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 March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final rules relating to
the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCAA. On December 2, 2021, the SEC adopted amendments to finalize
rules implementing the submission and disclosure requirements in the HFCAA which will go into effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Registrar.
The SEC may propose additional rules or guidance that could impact us if our auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspection.
On December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 was signed into law, which, among others, amended the HFCAA 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 HFCAA to prohibit the trading of the issuer’s securities on a national securities exchange and in the over-the-counter market.
On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a new rule related to its responsibilities under the HFCAA, which provides a framework for the
PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCAA, whether it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public
accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction. The new rule became effective
on November 4, 2021.
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 current auditor, Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, or Marcum Asia, the independent registered public accounting firm that
issues the audit report included elsewhere in this annual report, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered
with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the
applicable professional standards. Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, is headquartered in New York, New York, and has been inspected by the PCAOB on a regular
basis with the last inspection in 2020 and, as of the date of this annual report, was not included in the list of PCAOB identified firms in the PCAOB
Determination Report issued on December 16, 2021.
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 was able to conduct inspections and investigations completely of PCAOB-registered public
accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2022. The PCAOB vacated its previous determinations issued in December 2021
accordingly. As a result, we do not expect to be identified as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” under the HFCAA for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2022 after we file our annual report on Form 20-F for such fiscal year. However, whether the PCAOB will continue to conduct inspections and
investigations completely to its satisfaction of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong is subject to
uncertainty and depends on a number
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of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control, including positions taken by authorities of the PRC. The PCAOB is expected to continue to demand
complete access to inspections and investigations against accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong in the future and states that it
has already made plans to resume regular inspections in early 2023 and beyond. The PCAOB is required under the HFCAA to make its determination on an
annual basis with regards to its ability to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms based in the mainland China and Hong Kong. The possibility
of being a “Commission-Identified Issuer” and risk of delisting could continue to adversely affect the trading price of our securities. Should the PCAOB
again encounter impediments to inspections and investigations in mainland China or Hong Kong as a result of positions taken by any authority in either
jurisdiction, the PCAOB will make determinations under the HFCAA as and when appropriate.
Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure
Jiayin Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through its subsidiaries and contractual arrangements with
Jiayin Finance. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never hold, equity interests in the consolidated VIE. 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 VIE’s operations in China, including potential future actions by the PRC
government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Jiayin Finance and, consequently, significantly affect the
financial condition and results of operations of Jiayin Group 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 beneficial interest in Jiayin Finance or forfeit our rights under the contractual arrangements.
We are a company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and Shanghai Kunjia, our indirectly wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, is
considered a foreign-invested enterprise. However, PRC laws and regulations place certain restrictions and conditions on foreign ownership of certain areas
of businesses. To comply with PRC laws and regulations, we conduct our business activities through the consolidated VIE in China. As such, Shanghai
Kunjia entered into the Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and the shareholders of Jiayin Finance, among others, pursuant to which, we are able
to:(i) exercise effective control over Jiayin Finance; (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries; (iii) have an
exclusive call option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in and/or assets of Jiayin Finance when and to the extent permitted by laws; (iv) have an
exclusive option to purchase, or designate one or more persons to purchase from Jiayin Finance all or any part of its assets at any time and from time to
time in our absolute direction to the extent permitted by PRC laws; (v) appoint us or our designated person to exercise all shareholder rights in Jiayin
Finance; and (vi) have all of the equity interests in Jiayin Finance pledged to us as a continuing first priority security interest for performance of the
Contractual Arrangements. The Contractual Arrangements allow the results of operation and assets and liabilities of Jiayin Finance to be consolidated into
our results of operations and assets and liabilities under U.S. GAAP as if it was our wholly-owned subsidiary.
If the Contractual Arrangements that establish the structure for operating our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE 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:
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operations;
revoking the business and operating licenses;
discontinuing or restricting the operations;
imposing fines or confiscating any of the income from us and the consolidated VIE that they deem to have been obtained through illegal
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requiring us to restructure our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE’s business, staff and assets;
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imposing additional conditions or requirements with which we and the consolidated VIE 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
VIE’s business and operations in the PRC; or
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taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our and the consolidated VIE’s business.
Any of these actions could cause significant disruption or result in a material change to our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations, and may
materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries in our
consolidated financial statements, if the PRC governmental authorities find
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the consolidated VIE’s 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 Jiayin Finance or its subsidiaries that most significantly impact its economic performance and/or our failure to
receive the economic benefits from Jiayin Finance or its subsidiaries, we may not be able to consolidate Jiayin Finance and/or its 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 VIE, 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 VIE’s business face potential uncertainty from the PRC government’s policy. Changes in China’s
economic, political or social conditions, or government policies may cause our and the consolidated VIE’s underlying operations in China to become
prohibitive, which could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Substantially all of our and the consolidated VIE’s operations are located in China and as a result, the continuation of the underlying operations in
China is vital to our and the consolidated VIE’s success. 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 VIE’s ability to successfully conduct and 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 VIE’s services and our and the consolidated VIE’s business,
financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected by the following factors:
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political instability or changes in social conditions of the PRC;
changes in laws, regulations, and administrative directives or the interpretation thereof;
• measures which may be introduced to control inflation or deflation; and
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changes in the rate or method of taxation.
These factors are affected by a number of variables which are beyond our and the consolidated VIE’s control. In the event that our or the
consolidated VIE’s underlying operations in China become prohibitive, we and the consolidated VIE may not be able to relocate and/or reproduce
operating activities elsewhere, which could cause significant business disruptions and materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s
business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We and the consolidated VIE 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 VIE’s business and prospects, and may result in a material change in our and the consolidated VIE’s
operations and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIE’s 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. The recent statements and regulatory actions by China’s government, such as those related to the use of data security, anti-monopoly concerns, and
the regulatory approvals on overseas listings, may impact our ability to conduct the business, accept foreign investments and/or list on a U.S. or other
foreign exchange In addition, the PRC government may adopt new measures that may affect our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE 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 VIE 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 VIE’s 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 VIE 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.
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The occurrence of any of these events may materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s business and prospects and may result in a
material change in our and the consolidated VIE’s operations and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the
consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE or lose the right to receive their economic benefits, we may not be able to consolidate the VIE 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 VIE will be subject to the oversight of the CAC and how such oversight may impact us. Our and the
consolidated VIE’s business could be interrupted or we and the consolidated VIE could be subject to liabilities which may materially and adversely
affect the results of our and the consolidated VIE’s operation and the value of your investment.
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, or the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which took effect on February 15, 2022. According to the
Cybersecurity Review Measures, (i) critical information infrastructure operators that intend to purchase internet products and services and (ii) online
platform 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 system 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, people’s living and public interests. As of the date hereof, neither we nor the consolidated VIE has received any notice from
government authorities identifying us or the consolidated VIE as a critical information infrastructure operator. If we and the consolidated VIE are identified
as an infrastructure operator in the future, we and the consolidated VIE must be subject to cybersecurity review.
Furthermore, online platform operators 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. 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. Nevertheless, it is still uncertain whether the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be
applicable to a future offering conducted by China-based companies listed overseas. As of the date hereof, neither we nor the consolidated VIE has
received any notice from government authorities requiring us to going through cybersecurity review by the CAC.
In light of the foregoing, as advised by our PRC legal counsel, we believe that there is a relatively low likelihood that we and the consolidated VIE
will be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC for a future offering of our securities to foreign investors, given that: (i) neither we nor the
consolidated VIE has been recognized as critical information infrastructure operators; (ii) data processed in our and the consolidated VIE’s business do not
have impact or potential impact on national security; and (iii) it is still uncertain whether the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be applicable to a future
offering conducted by China-based companies listed overseas. However, there remains uncertainty as to how the Cybersecurity Review Measures will be
interpreted and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules, or detailed implementation and
interpretation related to the Cybersecurity Review Measures. 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 to 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 and our PRC legal counsel do, and there is
no assurance that we and the consolidated VIE can fully or timely comply with such laws. In addition, we and/or the consolidated VIE may be required to
go through cybersecurity review by the CAC as a result of change in applicable laws, regulations or interpretations. In the event that we and the
consolidated VIE 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 VIE
may be further required to suspend our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE’s 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 VIE’s 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 VIE or lose the right to receive their economic
benefits, we may not be able to consolidate the VIE 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.
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On November 14, 2021, the CAC published the Regulations on the Network Data Security (Draft for Comments), 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. In addition,
the draft regulations require data processors that handle important data or are seeking to be listed overseas to complete an annual data security assessment
and file a data security assessment report to applicable regulators. 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 and the timeline for its adoption are subject to changes and
uncertainties. If the Regulations on the Network Data Security (Draft for comments) is enacted in their current forms, we may be required to comply with
the regulations regarding protection of personal information and the obligations of Internet platform operators, and to carry out annual data security
evaluation and submit the evaluation report to the municipal cyberspace administration authority. Any failure to comply with the regulations or to carry out
the annual data security evaluation may subject us to regulatory actions or other sanctions taken by the relevant government authorities, which may have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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 VIE 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 VIE
may be further required to suspend our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE’s 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 VIE’s 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 VIE or lose the right to receive their economic
benefits, we may not be able to consolidate the VIE 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 VIE’s business operations could result in a material adverse change in our and the
consolidated VIE’s operations and the value of our ADSs.
We conduct our business in China primarily through our PRC subsidiaries, including Shanghai Kunjia and Chuangzhen Technology and its
subsidiaries in which we hold equity ownership interests, and the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIE. Our and the consolidated VIE’s
operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. The PRC government has significant oversight over the conduct of our and the
consolidated VIE’s business, and it regulates and may intervene our and the consolidated VIE’s operations at any time, which could result in a material
adverse change in our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE’s operations could cause
the value of our securities to significantly decline. Therefore, investors of us and the consolidated VIE and our and the consolidated VIE’s business face
potential uncertainty from actions taken by the PRC government.
The approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC, the CAC or other PRC government authorities may be required under PRC law in connection
with a future offering of our securities to foreign investors.
We are required to complete filing or fulfill other requirements of the CSRC within three business days after the closing of our future offerings,
according to the Trial Administrative Measures. We do not believe we are required to obtain any approvals from the CAC or other PRC government
authorities under PRC law in connection with a future offering of our securities to foreign investors as of the date of this annual report.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures and five supporting guidelines, which became effective on March
31, 2023. The Trial Administrative Measures lay out filing procedures for PRC domestic enterprises to file their
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initial public offerings and follow-on overseas offerings with the CSRC. PRC domestic enterprises are required to file follow-on offerings with the CSRC
within three business days after the closing of such offerings.
According to the Trial Administrative Measures, an overseas offering and listing is prohibited under any of the following circumstances: (i) if the
intended securities offering and listing is specifically prohibited by laws, regulations or relevant national provisions; (ii) if the intended securities offering
and listing may constitute a threat to or endangers national security as reviewed and determined by competent authorities under the State Council in
accordance with law; (iii) if, in the past three years, the PRC domestic enterprise or its controlling shareholders or actual controllers have committed
corruption, bribery, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or other criminal offenses disruptive to the order of the socialist market economy; (iv) if
the PRC domestic enterprise is currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of criminal offenses, or is under investigation for suspicion of material
violations of law; and (v) if there are material ownership disputes over the equity held by the controlling shareholder or held by the shareholder controlled
by the controlling shareholder or actual controller.
As a result, we are required to complete the filing procedures with the CSRC for any future follow-on offerings within three business days after the
closing of the offering.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC and other relevant government authorities published the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management.
According to the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management, PRC domestic enterprises that seek to offer and list securities in overseas
markets shall establish confidentiality and archives management system. The PRC domestic enterprises shall obtain approval from the competent authority
and file with the confidential administration department at the same level when providing or publicly disclosing documents and materials related to state
secrets or secrets of the governmental authorities to the underwriters or other agencies or the offshore regulatory authorities, and shall complete
corresponding procedures when providing or publicly disclosing documents and materials which may adversely influence national security and the public
interest. The PRC domestic enterprises shall provide written statements on the implementation on the aforementioned rules to the underwriter and other
agencies. Nevertheless, the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management do not provide a clear scope of materials that, if divulged, will
jeopardize national security or public interest, and the PRC government authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of the
applicable laws. Given the uncertainties surrounding the interpretation of the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management, we cannot assure
you that we will not be required to obtain any approval from or complete filing procedures with the competent authorities for our future offerings.
The Trial Administrative Measures and the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives Management, as advised by our PRC legal counsel, may
subject us to additional compliance requirement in the future for a future securities offering, including completion of filing procedures and obtaining
required approval. We cannot assure you that we will be able to get the clearance of filing procedures or obtain the required approval on a timely basis, or
at all. Any failure of us to fully comply with new regulatory requirements may significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to
offer our securities, cause significant disruption to our business operations, and severely damage our reputation, which would materially and adversely
affect our financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or become worthless.
With respect to the Cyberspace Administration of China, or the CAC, as advised by our PRC legal counsel, we believe that there is a relatively low
likelihood that we and the consolidated VIE will be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC for a future offering of our securities to foreign
investors, given that: (i) neither we nor the consolidated VIE has been recognized as critical information infrastructure operators; (ii) data processed in our
and the consolidated VIE’s business do not have impact or potential impact on national security; and (iii) it is still uncertain whether the Cybersecurity
Review Measures will be applicable to a future offering conducted by China-based companies listed overseas. For further discussion on the risks relating to
the oversight of the CAC, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure——It is unclear whether we and the
consolidated VIE will be subject to the oversight of the CAC and how such oversight may impact us. Our and the consolidated VIE’s business could be
interrupted or we and the consolidated VIE could be subject to liabilities which may materially and adversely affect the results of our and the consolidated
VIE’s operation and the value of your investment.”
As advised by our PRC legal counsel, we believe that approvals or permissions from the CSRC are not required for the operations of the
consolidated VIE and our other subsidiaries, and that there is a relatively low likelihood that the operations of the consolidated VIE and our other
subsidiaries will be subject to the cybersecurity review by the CAC, given that: (i) neither the consolidated VIE nor any of our other subsidiaries has been
recognized as critical information infrastructure operators; and (ii) data processed in the consolidated VIE and our other subsidiaries’ business do not have
impact or potential impact on national security. Furthermore, our and the VIE Group’s online platform, operated by Geerong Yun, Geerong Yunke,
Shanghai Wuxingjia and Shanghai Jiajie may be deemed to be providing commercial Internet information services, which would require the
aforementioned companies to obtain certain value-added telecommunications business license. We cannot assure you that we can obtain these licenses in a
timely manner, or at all. Any failure to obtain the relevant approvals or licenses may subject us to sanctions, including rectification orders and warnings,
fines, confiscation of illegal gains, and, in case of significant infringement, orders to close our online platform, which may have a material
50
adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For further discussion on the risks relating to the regulatory oversight of the
online platform, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We and the VIE Group may be adversely
affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulation of Internet-related businesses and companies, and any lack of requisite approvals,
licenses or permits applicable to our and the VIE Group’s business may have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business and results of
operations.”
Except as otherwise disclosed in the foregoing, we do not believe we are required to obtain any approvals from the CAC or other PRC government
authorities under PRC law in connection with a future offering of our securities to foreign investors as of the date of the annual report.
If we inadvertently conclude any prior approval is not required and the CSRC, the CAC or other relevant PRC regulatory agencies subsequently
determine that prior approval is required for any of our future offerings of securities overseas or to maintain the listing status of our ADSs, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to obtain such approval in a timely manner, or at all, or to maintain such approval once we receive it. The CSRC, the CAC or
other PRC regulatory agencies also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, not to proceed with such offering or maintain the listing
status of our ADSs. If we proceed with any of such offering or maintain the listing status of our ADSs without obtaining these regulatory agencies’
approval to the extent it is required, or if we are unable to comply with any new approval requirements which might be adopted for future offerings, we
may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies. For example, regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our
operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the
proceeds from offering of securities overseas into China or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of the ADSs.
Furthermore, if we are required to obtain any other approvals from or complete filings and/or other regulatory procedures with the CSRC, the CAC
or other PRC regulatory agencies as a result of change in applicable laws, regulations or interpretations for any future offering or the listing of the ADSs,
we cannot assure you that we can obtain the required approval or complete the required filings and/or other regulatory procedures in a timely manner, or at
all. Any failure to obtain such approval or complete such filings and/or other regulatory procedures may subject us to regulatory actions or other sanctions
taken by the relevant government authorities, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted Foreign Investment Law of the PRC and how
it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress adopted the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, which became effective on January 1, 2020
and replaced three existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-owned
Enterprises, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures , the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign
Cooperative Joint Ventures , together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law of the PRC embodies an
expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts
to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation
to its interpretation and implementation. For example, the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC adds a catch-all clause to the definition of “foreign
investment” so that foreign investment, by its definition, includes “investments made by foreign investors in China through other means defined by other
laws or administrative regulations or provisions promulgated by the State Council” without further elaboration on the meaning of “other means”. It leaves
leeway for the future legislations promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. On December
26, 2019, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Regulations on the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, or the Implementation Regulations,
which came into effect on January 1, 2020. However, the Implementation Regulations on the Foreign Investment Law still remains silent on whether
contractual arrangements should be deemed as a form of foreign investment. It is therefore uncertain whether our corporate structure will be seen as
violating the foreign investment rules as we are currently leveraging the contractual arrangement to operate certain businesses in which foreign investors
are prohibited from or restricted from investing. Furthermore, if future legislations prescribed by the State Council mandate further actions to be taken by
companies with respect to existing contractual arrangement, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely
manner, or at all. If we fail to take appropriate and timely measures to comply with any of these or similar regulatory compliance requirements, our current
corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations could be materially and adversely affected.
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If the PRC government deems that the Contractual Arrangements in relation to Jiayin Finance do not comply with PRC regulatory restrictions on
foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be
subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our beneficial interest in those operations.
Foreign investors are generally not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunication service provider
(except e-commerce, domestic multi-party communication, storage and forwarding and call center) and major foreign investor must have experience in
providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record in accordance with the Provisions on Administration of
Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises promulgated by the State Council on December 11, 2001, as amended, and the Special Administrative
Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Version). Pursuant to the Decision of the State Council to Amend and Repeal Certain
Administrative Regulations (2022) which was promulgated on March 29, 2022 and became effective on May 1, 2022, except as otherwise stipulated by the
state, foreign investor contemplating to acquire equity interest in a value-added telecommunications services provider in China will not be required to
demonstrate experience in operating value-added telecommunication business overseas and good track records.
We are a Cayman Islands company and our subsidiaries in the PRC, or PRC subsidiaries, are considered foreign invested enterprises. However, PRC
laws and regulations place certain restrictions and conditions on foreign ownership of certain areas of businesses. To comply with PRC laws and
regulations, we hold a value-added telecommunications license through our subsidiary, Shanghai Yixin Network Technology Co., Ltd., and our another
subsidiary, Fujian Jiaxi Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd., had obtained the value-added telecommunication business license from the relevant local
telecommunication regulatory authority. Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in, among other areas, value-added
telecommunications services, we set up a series of Contractual Arrangements entered into among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the shareholders of
Jiayin Finance to conduct our operations in China. For a detailed description of these Contractual Arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company
—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the Shareholders of Jiayin Finance.” As a result of
these Contractual Arrangements, we exert control over Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries and consolidate their operating results in our financial statements
under U.S. GAAP.
In the opinion of our PRC legal counsel, King & Wood Mallesons, our current ownership structure, the ownership structure of Shanghai Kunjia,
Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries, and the Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the shareholders of Jiayin Finance are
not in violation of existing PRC laws, regulations and rules; and these Contractual Arrangements are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with
their terms and applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect. However, King & Wood Mallesons has also advised us that there are substantial
uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws, rules and regulations and there can be no assurance that the PRC
government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with the opinion of our PRC legal counsel, King & Wood Mallesons. We have been further
advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our online loan facilitating
information services and Internet related value-added business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the aforesaid
business we engage in, we could be subject to severe penalties including being prohibited from continuing operations.
It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws, regulations or rules relating to the “variable interest entity” structure, or the VIE structure, will be
adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If the ownership structure, Contractual Arrangements and business of our company, our subsidiaries, Jiayin
Finance or its subsidiaries are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or we fail to obtain or maintain any of the required
permits or approvals, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including levying fines,
confiscating our income or the income of Jiayin Finance or its subsidiaries, revoking the business licenses or operating licenses of Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin
Finance or its subsidiaries, shutting down our servers or blocking our online platform, discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our
operations, requiring us to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring, restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from our initial public offering to
finance our business and operations in China, and taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. Any of these
actions could cause significant disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of these occurrences results in our inability to direct the activities of Jiayin Finance
and its subsidiaries, and/or our failure to receive economic benefits from Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries, we may not be able to consolidate their results
into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
We rely on Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and shareholders of Jiayin Finance for a significant portion of our business operations,
which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control, and these contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court
of law.
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on Contractual Arrangements with the consolidated VIE, Jiayin Finance and the shareholders of Jiayin
Finance and its subsidiaries, to operate our online consumer finance platform business, including, among others, the operation of www.niwodai.com and
our apps, as well as certain other complementary businesses.
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For a description of these Contractual Arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual
Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the Shareholders of Jiayin Finance.” These Contractual Arrangements may not be as effective as
direct ownership in providing us with control over the consolidated VIE, and these contractual arrangements have not been tested in a court of law. For
example, Jiayin Finance, or shareholders of Jiayin Finance may fail to fulfill their contractual obligations with us, such as failure to maintain our website
and use the domain names and trademarks in a manner as stipulated in the Contractual Arrangements, or taking other actions that are detrimental to our
interests.
If we had direct ownership of the consolidated VIE, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of
directors of consolidated VIE, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational
level. However, under the current Contractual Arrangements, we rely on the performance by Jiayin Finance, shareholders of Jiayin Finance of their
obligations under the Contractual Arrangements to exercise control over the consolidated VIE. The consolidated VIE and its shareholders may not act in
the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to
operate our business through the Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and shareholders of Jiayin Finance. If any of Jiayin Finance and
shareholders of Jiayin Finance is uncooperative or any dispute relating to these contracts remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these
contracts through the operations of PRC laws and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings, the outcome of which will be subject to uncertainties.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—Any failure by Jiayin Finance or shareholders of Jiayin
Finance to perform their obligations under our Contractual Arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business.” Therefore, our
Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and shareholders of Jiayin Finance may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion
of our business operations as direct ownership would be.
Any failure by Jiayin Finance or shareholders of Jiayin Finance 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 Jiayin Finance, the consolidated VIE and the shareholders of Jiayin Finance. For a
description of these Contractual Arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” If the consolidated VIE or the
shareholders of Jiayin Finance 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 Jiayin
Finance were to refuse to transfer their equity interests in Jiayin Finance 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.
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 Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected. See “Item
3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating 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 VIE’s business operations, and severely damage our and the
consolidated VIE’s reputation, which would materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 shareholders of the consolidated VIE may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and
financial condition.
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The equity interests of the consolidated VIE are held by their respective shareholders. Their interests may differ from the interests of our company
as a whole. These shareholders may breach, or cause the consolidated VIE to breach, the existing Contractual Arrangements we have with them and the
consolidated VIE, which would have a material adverse effect on our ability to effectively control the consolidated VIE and subsidiaries of the consolidated
VIE, and receive economic benefits from them. For example, the shareholders of Jiayin Finance may be able to cause our agreements with Jiayin Finance
to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the Contractual Arrangements to us on a timely
basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests of our company or such
conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company, except that we
could exercise our call option under the exclusive call option agreement with shareholders of Jiayin Finance to request them to transfer all of their equity
interests in Jiayin Finance to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, to the extent permitted by PRC laws. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest
or dispute between us and the shareholders of the consolidated VIE, we would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in the disruption of our
business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
Contractual Arrangements in relation to the consolidated VIE may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or
consolidated VIE owe additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment.
Under applicable PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC
tax authorities. The PRC enterprise income tax law requires every enterprise in China to submit its annual enterprise income tax return together with a
report on transactions with its related parties to the relevant tax authorities. The tax authorities may impose reasonable adjustments on taxation if they have
identified any related party transactions that are inconsistent with arm’s length principles. We may face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC
tax authorities determine that the Contractual Arrangements in relation to the consolidated VIE were not entered into on an arm’s length basis in such a way
as to result in an impermissible reduction in taxes under applicable PRC laws, regulations and rules, and adjust the income of Jiayin Finance in the form of
a transfer pricing adjustment. A transfer pricing adjustment could, among other things, result in a reduction of expense deductions recorded by Jiayin
Finance for PRC tax purposes, which could in turn increase their tax liabilities without reducing tax expenses of Shanghai Kunjia. In addition, if Shanghai
Kunjia requests the shareholders of Jiayin Finance to transfer their equity interests in Jiayin Finance at nominal or no value pursuant to these Contractual
Arrangements, such transfer could be viewed as a gift and subject Shanghai Kunjia to PRC income tax. Furthermore, the PRC tax authorities may impose
late payment fees and other penalties on Jiayin Finance for the adjusted but unpaid taxes according to the applicable regulations. Our financial position
could be materially and adversely affected if Jiayin Finance’s tax liabilities increase or if they are required to pay late payment fees and other penalties.
We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by the VIE Group that are material to the operation of our business if the entities within the VIE
Group declare bankruptcy or become subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.
The VIE Group holds certain assets that are material to the operation of our business, including, among others, intellectual properties, hardware and
software. Under the Contractual Arrangements, the VIE Group may not, and the shareholders of the VIE Group may not cause them to, in any manner, sell,
transfer, mortgage or dispose of their assets or their legal or beneficial interests in the business without our prior consent. However, in the event the VIE
Group’s shareholders breach these Contractual Arrangements and voluntarily liquidate any entity within the VIE Group, or the entities within the VIE
Group declare bankruptcy and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, or are otherwise disposed of without our
consent, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition
and results of operations. If the entities within the VIE Group undergo a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, independent third-party creditors
may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Relating to Doing Business in China
Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s
business and results of operations.
Substantially all of our and the VIE Group’s operations are located in China. Accordingly, our and the VIE Group’s business, prospects, financial
condition and results of operations may be influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally and by
continued economic growth in China as a whole.
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The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government involvement,
level of development, growth rate, and control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has implemented
measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of
improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the
Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies. The Chinese government also
exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations,
setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among
various sectors of the economy. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of
resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our and the VIE Group’s
financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. In
addition, in the past the Chinese government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate increases, to control the pace of economic growth.
These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, and since 2012, the Chinese economy has slowed down. Any prolonged slowdown in the
Chinese economy may reduce the demand for our and the VIE Group’s products and services and materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s
business and results of operations.
A downturn in the Chinese or global economy could reduce the demand for consumer loans and investments, which could materially and adversely
affect our and the VIE Group’s business and financial condition.
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 announcement of Brexit which creates additional global economic uncertainty and the slowdown of the Chinese economy since 2012. It is
unclear whether the Chinese economic growth will resume its high growth rate. 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 over unrest in the Middle East and Africa, which have resulted in volatility in financial and other
markets. There have also been concerns about the economic effect of the tensions in the relationship between China and other countries, including the
surrounding Asian countries. Economic conditions in China are sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic and
political policies and the expected or perceived overall economic growth rate in China. Any prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may
reduce the demand for consumer loans and investments and have a negative impact on our and the VIE Group’s business, results of operations and financial
condition. Additionally, continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s ability to access the capital
markets to meet liquidity needs.
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 VIE’s reputation, which would materially and adversely affect
our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 online consumer finance industry are developing and evolving. Although we have taken
measures to comply with the laws and regulations that are applicable to our business operations, including the regulatory principles raised by the CBIRC,
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 online consumer finance 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 online consumer finance.
Moreover, developments in the online consumer finance industry may lead to changes in PRC laws, regulations and policies or in the interpretation and
application of existing laws,
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regulations and policies that may limit or restrict online consumer finance platform 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 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 VIE’s business operations, and severely damage our and the consolidated VIE’s reputation, which would materially and
adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s financial condition and results of operations and cause our ADSs to significantly decline in value or
become worthless.
We and the VIE Group may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulation of Internet-related businesses and
companies, and any lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our and the VIE Group’s business may have a material adverse effect
on our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations.
The PRC government extensively regulates the Internet industry, including foreign ownership of, and the licensing and permit requirements
pertaining to, companies in the Internet industry. These Internet-related laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and
enforcement involve significant uncertainties. As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to determine what actions or omissions may be
deemed to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations.
The evolving PRC regulatory system for the Internet industry may lead to the establishment of new regulatory agencies. For example, in May 2011,
the State Council announced the establishment of a new department, the CAC (with the involvement of the State Council Information Office, the MIIT, and
the Ministry of Public Security). The primary role of this new agency is to facilitate the policy-making and legislative development in this field, to direct
and coordinate with the relevant departments in connection with online content administration and to deal with cross-ministry regulatory matters in relation
to the Internet industry.
Our and the VIE Group’s online platform, operated by Geerong Yun, Geerong Yunke, Shanghai Wuxingjia and Shanghai Jiajie may be deemed to be
providing commercial Internet information services, which would require the aforementioned companies to obtain certain value-added telecommunications
business license. We cannot assure you that we can obtain these licenses in a timely manner, or at all. Any failure to obtain the relevant approvals or
licenses may subject us to sanctions, including rectification orders and warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, and, in case of significant
infringement, orders to close our online platform, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Internet Companies—Regulations on Value-
Added Telecommunication Services.” Furthermore, it is uncertain if Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries will be required to obtain a separate operating
license with respect to our and the VIE Group’s mobile applications in addition to the value-added telecommunications business license.
The interpretation and application of existing PRC laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies relating to the
Internet industry have created substantial uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and the businesses and activities
of, Internet businesses in China, including our and the VIE Group’s business. We and the VIE Group cannot assure you that we and the VIE Group have
obtained all the permits or licenses required for conducting our and the VIE Group’s business in China or will be able to maintain our and the VIE Group’s
existing licenses or obtain new ones. If the PRC government considers that we and the VIE Group were operating without the proper approvals, licenses or
permits or promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses or imposes additional restrictions on the operation of any part
of our and the VIE Group’s business, it has the power, among other things, to levy fines, confiscate our and the VIE Group’s net income, revoke our and the
VIE Group’s business licenses, and require us to discontinue our and the VIE Group’s relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of our
and the VIE Group’s business. Any of these actions by the PRC government may have a material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business and
results of operations.
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We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and
any limitation on the ability of our PRC 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 rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing
requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our
PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other
distributions to us. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may require our PRC subsidiaries to adjust its taxable income under the Contractual Arrangements it
currently has in place with Jiayin Finance and its shareholders and Shanghai Wuxingjia in a manner that would materially and adversely affect their ability
to pay dividends and other distributions to us. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure—Contractual
Arrangements in relation to the consolidated VIE may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or consolidated
VIE owe additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment.”
Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the PRC companies, such as our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE, to pay dividends only out of
their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Each of our PRC subsidiaries and the
consolidated VIE that is in retained earnings position as of the end of each year is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any,
to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. The aforementioned registered capital refers to the total
amount of share capital subscribed by all shareholders or the amount of capital contribution made by all shareholders, as registered with the registration
authority. Furthermore, each of our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting
standards to a discretionary surplus fund at their discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary surplus funds are not distributable as cash
dividends. After our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE have generated retained earnings and met the requirements for appropriation to the
statutory reserves and until such reserves reach 50% of its registered capital, respectively, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE can distribute
dividends upon approval of the shareholders. The foregoing restrictions on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a
material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may
delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and any further offerings to make loans to or make additional capital
contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
Any funds we transfer to our PRC subsidiaries, either as a shareholder loan or as an increase in registered capital, are subject to approval by or
registration with relevant governmental authorities in China. According to the relevant PRC regulations on foreign-invested enterprises in China, capital
contributions to our PRC subsidiaries are subject to the requirement of registration with PRC State Administration for Market Regulation or its local
counterparts, and filed with the Ministry of Commerce or its local counterparts. In addition, (a) any foreign loan procured by our PRC subsidiaries is
required to be registered with SAFE, or its local branches, and (b) each of our PRC subsidiaries may not procure loans which exceed statutory limits. Any
medium or long term loan to be provided by us to a VIE of our company must be recorded and registered by the National Development and Reform
Committee and the SAFE or its local branches. We may not complete such recording or registrations on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future
capital contributions or foreign loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such recording or registration, our ability to use the foreign
currency we hold, including the proceeds of our initial public offering and any further offerings, and to capitalize our PRC operations may be negatively
affected, which could adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
In 2008, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the Payment
and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, which used to regulate the conversion by foreign-
invested enterprises of foreign currency into Renminbi by restricting the usage of converted Renminbi. On March 30, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the
Circular on Reforming the Management Approach Regarding the Foreign Exchange Capital Settlement of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular
19. SAFE Circular 19 took effect as of June 1, 2015 and superseded SAFE Circular 142 on the same date. SAFE Circular 19 launched a nationwide reform
of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of foreign-invested enterprises and allows foreign-invested enterprises to settle their
foreign exchange capital at their discretion, but continues to prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from using the Renminbi fund converted from their
foreign exchange capitals for expenditures beyond their business scopes. On June 9, 2016, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Reforming and
Standardizing the Administrative Provisions on Capital Account Foreign Exchange, or SAFE Circular 16. SAFE Circular 16 continue to prohibit foreign-
invested enterprises from, among other things, using RMB fund converted from its foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond its business scope,
investment and financing (except for security investment or guarantee products issued by bank), providing loans to non-affiliated enterprises or
constructing or purchasing real estate not for self-use. On October 23, 2019, SAFE promulgated the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign
Exchange on Further Promoting the Facilitation of Cross-Border
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Trade and Investment, which removes the restrictions on domestic equity investments by non-investment foreign-invested enterprises with their capital
funds, provided that certain conditions are met. If the consolidated VIE requires financial support from us or our PRC subsidiaries in the future, and we
find it necessary to use foreign currency-denominated capital to provide such financial support, our ability to fund the consolidated VIE’s operations will be
subject to statutory limits and restrictions, including those described above. The applicable foreign exchange circulars and rules may limit our ability to
transfer the net proceeds from our initial public offering and any future offerings to our PRC subsidiaries and convert the net proceeds into RMB, which
may adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the price of our ADSs.
The value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in political and
economic conditions in China and by China’s foreign exchange policies. On July 21, 2005, the PRC government changed its decade-old policy of pegging
the value of the Renminbi to the U.S. dollar, and the Renminbi appreciated more than 20% against the U.S. dollar over the following three years. Between
July 2008 and June 2010, this appreciation halted and the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S. dollar remained within a narrow band. Since
June 2010, the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. 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 U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S.
dollar in the future. Significant revaluation of the Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment. For example, to the extent that we
need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from our initial public offering into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S.
dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into
U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our Class A ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the
U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. As of the date of this annual report, we
have not entered into any hedging transactions in an effort to reduce our exposure to foreign currency exchange risk. While we may decide to enter into
hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these hedges may be limited and we may not be able to adequately hedge our
exposure or at all.
In addition, our currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert Renminbi into
foreign currency.
Governmental control of conversion and remittance of foreign currency may limit our ability to transfer cash out of China to fund any cash and
financing requirements we may have, and may affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls and restrictions on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the
remittance of foreign currency out of mainland China. We receive substantially all of our net revenues in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, our
company in the Cayman Islands relies on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing
requirements we may have. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We rely on dividends and other
distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our
PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as dividends, profit distributions and trade and service-
related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural
requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the
condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulation, such as the
overseas investment registrations by the beneficial owners of our company who are PRC residents. In contrast, approval from or registration with
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.
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In light of the flood of capital outflows of China in 2016 due to the weakening RMB, the PRC government has imposed more restrictive foreign
exchange policies and stepped up scrutiny of major outbound capital movement. More restrictions and substantial vetting process have been put in place by
SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions falling under the capital account. As such, there should be no assurance that the PRC government will not
intervene or impose more restrictions on payments of current account items, including the conversion and remittance of foreign currency out of mainland
China for dividend payments. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies and transfer such out of
China, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.
Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans and withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries as required by
PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social
insurance, housing provident funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of
salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations
where we operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China
given the different levels of economic development in different locations. Companies are required to make payments to the employee benefit plans for its
employees in accordance with the percentages stipulated under relevant regulations and are required to withhold the amounts that are required to be
contributed by employees. Companies operating in China are also required to withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries based on the actual
salary of each employee upon payment.
Prior to March 2018, we failed to make adequate employee benefit plan payments or employee individual income tax withholdings. We have
recorded accruals for estimated underpaid amounts in our financial statements accordingly. As of the date of the annual report, we have not received any
notification from the relevant PRC authorities alleging that we have not made adequate payments and demanding payment of the same. We also are not
aware of any employee’s complaint or demand for payment of the same, nor have we received any notification from labor arbitration tribunals or the PRC
courts regarding disputes with respect to social welfare and housing provident fund contributions. Remitting such underpaid amounts involves conditions
on the implementation level, including, for instance, varying levels of acceptance by our employees of the employee benefit plans, some of which are
beyond our control. In accordance with relevant PRC laws and regulations, we may be required to settle such underpaid amounts of employee benefit
payments or employee withholding individual income tax payments on our own before a stipulated deadline, which would adversely affect our liquidity
status. Furthermore, we may also be subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid amounts. For instance, we may be subject to a late fee of 0.05%
or 0.2%, depending on the circumstances, of the amount of overdue social insurance payments per day and a fine ranging from one to three times of the
overdue amount. In addition, we may be subject to a fine in relation to the overdue employee withholding payments ranging from 50% to three times of the
overdue amount. If we are subject to late fees or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits or withhold individual income tax on employees’
salaries, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors,
which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory
agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions 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 MOC be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic enterprise.
Moreover, the Anti-Monopoly Law requires that the MOC shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain thresholds are
triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by the MOC that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and acquisitions by
foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may acquire de facto
control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by the MOC, and the rules prohibit any activities
attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. The MOC in December
2020 have established procedures and requirements that are expected to make merger and acquisition activities in China by foreign investors more time-
consuming and complex. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-
mentioned regulations and other relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time consuming, and any required approval processes, including
obtaining approval from the MOC or its local counterparts may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to
expand our business or maintain our market share.
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PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital
or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC law.
The SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to PRC Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through
Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection
with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. In addition, such PRC residents or
entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to any change of basic
information (including change of such PRC residents or entities, name and operation term), increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or
exchanges of shares, or mergers or divisions. According to the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange
Concerning Direct Investment released on February 13, 2015 by the SAFE, local banks will examine and handle foreign exchange registration for overseas
direct investment, including the initial foreign exchange registration and amendment registration, under Circular 37.
If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities do not complete their registration with the local SAFE branches, our PRC subsidiaries may be
prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our
ability to contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration described above could result in
liability under PRC laws for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
As of the date of this annual report, Mr. Dinggui Yan, Mr. Guanglin Zhang and Mr. Yuanle Wu, who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman
Islands holding company and who are known to us as being PRC residents have completed the foreign exchange registrations in accordance with SAFE
Circular 37.
However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can we
compel our beneficial owners to comply with the requirements of SAFE Circular 37. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or
beneficial owners who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals
required by, SAFE Circular 37. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE Circular 37, or failure by us to amend the foreign
exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit
our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and
prospects.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee share incentive plans may subject the PRC plan
participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who participate in stock incentive plans in overseas non-publicly-listed companies may submit
applications to SAFE or its local branches for the foreign exchange registration with respect to offshore special purpose vehicles. In the meantime, our
directors, executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens, subject to limited exceptions, and who have been granted stock options by us, may
follow the Circular on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plan of Overseas
Publicly-Listed Company, promulgated by the SAFE in 2012, or 2012 SAFE Notices. Pursuant to the 2012 SAFE Notices, PRC citizens and non-PRC
citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of no less than one year who participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed
company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiaries of such
overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures. In addition, an overseas entrusted institution must be retained to handle matters in
connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We and our directors, executive officers and other
employees who are PRC citizens or who reside in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who have been granted stock options are
subject to these regulations. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions, and may also limit our ability to
contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face regulatory
uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law. See “Item
4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange—Regulations on Employee Share
Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company.”
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The State Administration of Taxation, or SAT, has issued certain circulars concerning employee stock options and restricted shares. Under these
circulars, our employees working in China who exercise stock options or are granted restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our
PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee stock options or restricted shares with relevant tax authorities and to withhold
individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options. If our employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes
according to relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC governmental authorities. See “Item 4.
Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange—Regulations on Employee Share
Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company.”
If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us
and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management
body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The
implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of
the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the SAT issued a circular, known as 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. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled
by PRC individuals or foreigners like us, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management
body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated
enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by virtue of having its “de facto management
body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the senior
executives and core management departments in charge of the day-to-day operations have their presence mainly in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the
enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s
primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least
50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. See “Item 10. Additional Information— E.
Taxation—People’s Republic of China Tax Considerations.” However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax
authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” As substantially all of our management
members are based in China, it remains unclear how the tax residency rule will apply to our case. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Jiayin Group
Inc. or any of our subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, then Jiayin Group Inc. or such
subsidiary could be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on its world- wide income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we will also
be subject to PRC enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Furthermore, if the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for
enterprise income tax purposes, dividends we pay on, and gains realized on the sale or other disposition of, our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares may be
subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions
of any applicable tax treaty), if deemed to be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the
benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax
may reduce the returns on your investment in the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.
We may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to us through our Hong Kong
subsidiary.
We are a holding company incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands and as such rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from our
PRC subsidiaries to satisfy part of our liquidity requirements. Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a withholding tax rate of 10% currently
applies to dividends paid by a PRC “resident enterprise” to a foreign enterprise investor, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has
a tax treaty with China that provides for preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, and Circular 81
issued by the SAT, such withholding tax rate may be lowered to 5% if the PRC enterprise is at least 25% held by a Hong Kong enterprise for at least 12
consecutive months prior to distribution of the dividends and is determined by the relevant PRC tax authority to have satisfied other conditions and
requirements under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable PRC laws. Furthermore, under the Announcement of the State Taxation
Administration on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Non-resident Taxpayers’ Enjoyment of Treaty Benefits, which became effective in
January 2020, the non-resident enterprises shall determine whether they are qualified to enjoy the
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preferential tax treatment under the tax treaties and file the Information Reporting Form for Non-resident Taxpayers Claiming Treaty Benefits. The non-
resident enterprises shall directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate when performing tax filings and collet and retain relevant supporting documents,
which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities. There are also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding
tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. See “Item 10. Additional Information— E. Taxation—People’s Republic of China Tax
Considerations.” We cannot assure you that our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment will not be challenged by
the relevant PRC tax authority or we will be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant PRC tax authority and enjoy the preferential
withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiaries to Geerong (HK) Limited
(“Geerong (HK)”, formerly known as “Jiayin (HK) Limited”), our Hong Kong subsidiary.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
According to the Bulletin of the SAT on Several Issues Concerning the Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-Resident
Enterprises, or SAT Bulletin 7, promulgated by the SAT in February 2015, if a non-resident enterprise transfers the equity interests of a PRC resident
enterprise indirectly by transfer of the equity interests of an offshore holding company (other than a purchase and sale of shares issued by a PRC resident
enterprise in public securities market) without a reasonable commercial purpose, the PRC tax authorities have the power to reassess the nature of the
transaction and the indirect equity transfer will be treated as a direct transfer. As a result, the gain derived from such transfer, which means the equity
transfer price minus the cost of equity, will be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%. Under the terms of SAT Bulletin 7, a transfer which
meets all of the following circumstances shall be directly deemed as having no reasonable commercial purposes: (i) over 75% of the value of the equity
interests of the offshore holding company are directly or indirectly derived from PRC taxable properties; (ii) at any time during the year before the indirect
transfer, over 90% of the total properties of the offshore holding company are investments within PRC territory, or in the year before the indirect transfer,
over 90% of the offshore holding company’s revenue is directly or indirectly derived from PRC territory; (iii) the function performed and risks assumed by
the offshore holding company are insufficient to substantiate its corporate existence; or (iv) the foreign income tax imposed on the indirect transfer is lower
than the PRC tax imposed on the direct transfer of the PRC taxable properties. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—
Regulation—Regulations Relating to Tax.”
We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of certain past and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such
as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries or investments. Our company and our non-PRC resident investors may be subject to
filing obligations or taxed or subject to withholding obligations in such transactions, under SAT Bulletin 7. See “Item 10. Additional Information— E.
Taxation—People’s Republic of China Tax Considerations.” For transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises, our
PRC subsidiaries may be requested to assist in the filing under SAT Bulletin 7. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply
with SAT Bulletin 7 or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets to comply with these circulars, or to establish that our
company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The PRC government’s oversight over our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations could result in a material adverse change in our and the
consolidated VIE’s operations and the value of our ADSs.
We conduct our business in China primarily through our PRC subsidiaries, including Shanghai Kunjia and Chuangzhen Technology and its
subsidiaries in which we hold equity ownership interests, and the contractual arrangements with the consolidated VIE. Our and the consolidated VIE’s
operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. The PRC government has significant oversight over the conduct of our and the
consolidated VIE’s business, and it regulates and may intervene our and the consolidated VIE’s operations at any time, which could result in a material
adverse change in our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 VIE’s operations could cause
the value of our securities to significantly decline. Therefore, investors of us and the consolidated VIE and our and the consolidated VIE’s business face
potential uncertainty from actions taken by the PRC government.
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Risks Relating to our American Depositary Shares
The market price for our ADSs may be volatile.
The trading prices of our ADSs are likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of
broad market and industry factors, like the performance and fluctuation in the market prices or the underperformance or deteriorating financial results of
other listed Internet or other companies based in China that have listed their securities in the United States in recent years. The securities of some of these
companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in their trading
prices. The trading performances of other Chinese companies’ securities after their offerings, including Internet and e-commerce companies, 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 other matters of other Chinese companies may also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards
Chinese companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have conducted any inappropriate activities. In addition, securities markets may from
time to time experience significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to our operating performance, such as the large decline in share prices
in the United States, China and other jurisdictions in late 2008, early 2009, the second half of 2011 and the first quarter of 2020 and the second half of
2021, which may have a material adverse effect on the market 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:
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regulatory developments affecting us, our users, or our industry;
conditions in the online consumer finance industries;
announcements of studies and reports relating to the quality of our service offerings or those of our competitors;
changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other online consumer finance market;
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;
announcements by us or our competitors of new product and service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures or capital
commitments;
additions to or departures of our senior management;
detrimental negative publicity about us, our management or our industry;
fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar;
release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding shares or ADSs; and
sales or perceived potential sales of additional Class A ordinary shares or ADSs
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our
ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business.
If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs or
publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease
coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market
price or trading volume for our ADSs to decline.
You may need to rely primarily on price appreciation of our ADSs for return on your investment as you may not receive any dividends in any given year
which is permitted under our 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, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result
in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of
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business. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our
directors. On March 28, 2023, our board of directors approved and adopted a dividend policy to declare and distribute cash dividend twice each fiscal year,
starting from 2023, at an aggregate amount of no less than 15% of the net income after tax of the Company in the previous fiscal year on a consolidated
basis. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon factors such as our results of operations,
cash flow, general financial condition, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant.
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 in the future or even maintain the price 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.
Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
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. The
Class A ordinary shares held by our existing shareholders may be sold in the public market subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable provided
in Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act.
Certain holders of our ordinary shares may cause us to register under the Securities Act the sale of their shares. Registration of these shares under
the Securities Act would result in ADSs representing these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon
the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the form of ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
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 June 16, 2022, we announced that our board of directors authorized a share repurchase plan under which the Company may repurchase its
ordinary shares in the form of ADSs with an aggregate value of US$10.0 million during the 12-month period beginning on June 13, 2022, which had not
been fully consummated as of the date of this annual report. As of March 31, 2023, the Company had repurchased approximately 1.5 million of its ADSs
for approximately US$3.5 million under the share repurchase plan.
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.
The voting rights of holders of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to direct the
voting of the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs.
As a holder of our ADSs, you will not have any direct right to attend general meetings of our shareholders or to cast any votes at such meetings. You
will only be able to exercise the voting rights which attach to the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs indirectly by
giving voting instructions to the depositary in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, you may vote only by
giving voting instructions to the depositary, as the holder of the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs. Upon receipt of
your voting instructions, the depositary will endeavor to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with your instructions in the event
voting is by poll, and in accordance with instructions received from a majority of holders of ADSs who provide instructions in the event voting is by show
of hands. The depositary will not join in demanding a vote by poll. You will not be able to directly exercise any right to vote with respect to the underlying
Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs unless you 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 association, the minimum notice period required to be given by
our company to our registered shareholders for convening a general meeting is seven calendar days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not
receive sufficient advance notice to enable you to withdraw the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs and become the
registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting to allow you to attend the general meeting or to vote directly with respect to
any specific matter or resolution which is to be considered and voted upon at the general meeting. In addition, 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
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of members or the setting of such a record date may prevent you from withdrawing the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your
ADSs and becoming the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date, so that you would not be able to attend the general meeting or to vote
directly. Where any matter is to be put to a vote at a general meeting, the depositary will, if we request, and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement,
endeavor to notify you of the upcoming vote and to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in
time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your 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 your voting instructions. This
means that you may not be able to exercise your right to direct the voting of the underlying Class A ordinary shares which are represented by your ADSs,
and you may have no legal remedy if the underlying Class A ordinary shares are not voted as you requested.
ADS holders may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to claims arising under the deposit agreement, which could result in less favorable outcomes
to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.
The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our Class A ordinary shares provides that holders and beneficial owners of ADSs
irrevocably waive the right to a trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the deposit agreement or the ADSs, including in respect of
claims under federal securities laws, against us or the depositary to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. If this jury trial waiver provision is
prohibited by applicable law, an action could nevertheless proceed under the terms of the deposit agreement with a jury trial. To our knowledge, the
enforceability of a jury trial waiver under the federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by a federal court. However, we believe that a jury
trial waiver provision is generally enforceable under the laws of the State of New York, which govern the deposit agreement, by a court of the State of New
York or a federal court, which has non-exclusive jurisdiction over matters arising under the deposit agreement, applying such law. In determining whether
to enforce a jury trial waiver provision, New York courts and federal courts will consider whether the visibility of the jury trial waiver provision within the
agreement is sufficiently prominent such that a party has knowingly waived any right to trial by jury. We believe that this is the case with respect to the
deposit agreement and the ADSs. In addition, New York courts will not enforce a jury trial waiver provision in order to bar a viable setoff or counterclaim
sounding in fraud or one which is based upon a creditor’s negligence in failing to liquidate collateral upon a guarantor’s demand, or in the case of an
intentional tort claim (as opposed to a contract dispute), none of which we believe are applicable in the case of the deposit agreement or the ADSs. No
condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of ADSs or by us or the
depositary of compliance with any provision of the federal securities laws. If you or any other holder or beneficial owner of ADSs brings a claim against us
or the depositary in connection with such matters, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a jury trial with respect to such
claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us and/or the depositary. If a lawsuit is brought against us and/or the
depositary under the deposit agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would be conducted according to
different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have had, including results that could be less favorable to the
plaintiff(s) in any such action, depending on, among other things, the nature of the claims, the judge or justice hearing such claims, and the venue of the
hearing.
Except in limited circumstances, the depositary for our ADSs will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our underlying Class A ordinary shares
represented by your ADSs if you do not instruct the depositary how to vote such shares, which could adversely affect your interests.
Under the deposit agreement for our ADSs, the depositary will give us (or our nominee) a discretionary proxy to vote our Class A ordinary shares
underlying your ADSs at shareholders’ meetings if you do not give voting instructions to the depositary as to how to vote the Class A ordinary shares
underlying your ADSs at any particular shareholders’ meeting, unless:
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we have failed to timely provide the depositary with our notice of meeting and related voting materials;
we have instructed the depositary that we do not wish a discretionary proxy to be given;
we have informed the depositary that there is substantial opposition as to a matter to be voted on at the meeting;
a matter to be voted on at the meeting may have a material adverse impact on shareholders; or
voting at the meeting is made on a show of hands.
The effect of this discretionary proxy is that, if you fail to give voting instructions to the depositary as to how to vote the Class A ordinary shares
underlying your ADSs at any particular shareholders’ meeting, you cannot prevent our underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs from
being voted at that meeting, absent the situations described above, and it may make it more difficult for shareholders to influence our management. Holders
of our ordinary shares are not subject to this discretionary proxy.
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Your rights to pursue claims against the depositary as a holder of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement and the deposit agreement
may be amended or terminated without your consent.
Under the deposit agreement, any action or proceeding against or involving the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or the
transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of owning the ADSs may only be instituted by you in a state or federal court in the City of New York, and
you, as a holder of our ADSs, will have irrevocably waived any objection which you may have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and
irrevocably submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such action or proceeding instituted by any person. Also, we may amend or
terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be
bound by the deposit agreement as amended. See “Item 12. Description of Securities other than Equity Securities—D. American Depositary Shares.”
Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings.
We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make such rights
available to you 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 agreement, the depositary will not make rights available to you 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, you
may be unable to participate in our rights offerings in the future and may experience dilution in your holdings.
You may not receive dividends or other distributions on our Class A ordinary shares and you may not receive any value for them if it is illegal or
impractical to make them available to you.
The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our Class A ordinary
shares or other deposited securities underlying our ADSs, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the
number of Class A ordinary shares your ADSs represent. However, the depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a
distribution available to any holders of ADSs. For example, it would be unlawful to make a distribution to a holder of ADSs if it consists of securities that
require registration under the Securities Act but that are not properly registered or distributed under an applicable exemption from registration. The
depositary may also determine that it is not feasible to distribute certain property through the mail. Additionally, the value of certain distributions may be
less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may determine not to distribute such property. We have no obligation to register under U.S.
securities laws any ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities received through such distributions. We also have no obligation to take any other action
to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive distributions we make
on our Class A ordinary shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may cause a
material decline in the value of our ADSs.
You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.
Your 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 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 agreement, or for any other reason.
Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands. We conduct substantially all of our operations in
China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, a majority of our directors and executive officers reside within China, and most of
the assets of these persons are located within China. None of our directors and executive officers resides in Hong Kong, and their assets are primarily
located outside Hong Kong. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United States upon these
individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe your rights have been infringed
under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of Cayman Islands and of the
PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
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There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman
Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), however, the courts of the Cayman Islands will, at
common law, recognize and enforce a foreign money judgment of a foreign court of competent jurisdiction without any re-examination of the merits of the
underlying dispute based on the principle that a judgment of a competent foreign court imposes upon the judgment debtor an obligation to pay the
liquidated sum for which such judgment has been given, 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 and conclusive, (d) is not in respect of taxes, a
fine or a penalty, (e) is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the same matter, and (f) is not impeachable on the grounds of fraud
and was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands.
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. Because such a determination has not yet been made by a court of the Cayman Islands, it is uncertain whether such civil liability judgments from
U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if concurrent proceedings are being
brought elsewhere.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and
enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country
where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the
United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law,
the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our director and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of
PRC laws or national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment
rendered by a court in the United States.
In addition, judgment of United States courts will not be directly enforced in Hong Kong. There are currently no treaties or other arrangements
providing for reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments between Hong Kong and the United States. There is uncertainty as to whether the courts of
Hong Kong would (i) recognize or enforce judgments of United States courts obtained against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the civil
liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States or (ii) entertain original actions brought in Hong Kong
against us or our directors or officers predicated upon the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. A judgment of a court in the
United States predicated upon U.S. federal or state securities laws may be enforced in Hong Kong at common law by bringing an action in a Hong Kong
court on that judgment for the amount due thereunder, and then seeking summary judgment on the strength of the foreign judgment, provided that the
foreign judgment, among other things, is (i) for a debt or a definite sum of money (not being taxes or similar charges to a foreign government taxing
authority or a fine or other penalty) and (ii) final and conclusive on the merits of the claim, but not otherwise. Such a judgment may not, in any event, be so
enforced in Hong Kong if (a) it was obtained by fraud; (b) the proceedings in which the judgment was obtained were opposed to natural justice; (c) its
enforcement or recognition would be contrary to the public policy of Hong Kong; (d) the court of the United States was not jurisdictionally competent; or
(e) the judgment was in conflict with a prior Hong Kong judgment. Hong Kong has no arrangement for the reciprocal enforcement of judgments with the
United States. As a result, there is uncertainty as to the enforceability in Hong Kong, in original actions or in actions for enforcement, of judgments of
United States courts of civil liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States or the securities laws of any State or territory
within the United States.
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests, and your ability to protect your rights through U.S. courts may be limited, because we are
incorporated under Cayman Islands law and we conduct the majority of our operations in China and all of our directors and officers reside outside the
United States.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of Cayman Islands with limited liability. Our corporate affairs are governed by our
memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act (As Revised) of Cayman Islands and the common law of Cayman Islands. The rights of
shareholders to take action against the directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors owed to us under Cayman
Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of Cayman Islands. The common law of Cayman Islands is derived in part from
comparatively limited judicial precedent in Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive
authority, but are not binding, on a court in Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under Cayman Islands
law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In particular, Cayman
Islands have a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially
interpreted bodies of corporate law than Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative
action in a federal court of the United States.
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Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to
obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies (save for our memorandum and articles of association, special resolutions of our shareholders and
our register of mortgages and charges). Our directors have discretion under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to determine
whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our
shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder resolution or to
solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
In addition, as a company primarily operating in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles for U.S. authorities to obtaining information
needed for investigations or litigations. In China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory
investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities
regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities
regulatory authorities in the United States or other jurisdictions may not be efficient in the absence of mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Similar
limitations apply to the pursuit of actions against individuals, including officers, directors and individual gatekeepers, who may have engaged in fraud or
other wrongdoing. Moreover, local authorities often are constrained in their ability to assist U.S. authorities and overseas investors more generally.
According to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct
investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC, and without the consent by the Chinese securities regulatory authorities and
the other competent governmental agencies, no entity or individual may provide documents or materials related to securities business to any foreign party.
Accordingly, without the consent of the competent PRC securities regulators and relevant authorities, no organization or individual may provide the
documents and material relating to securities business activities to overseas parties. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under the
article have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within
China and the potential obstacles for information provision may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed
to directly conduct investigations or evidence collection activities within the PRC territory.
As a result, our public shareholders and holders of our ADSs may have more difficulty in protecting their interests through actions against us, our
management, our directors or our major shareholders and limited remedies than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the
United States.
Our dual-class share structure will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage others from pursuing any change of control
transactions that holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.
We have a dual-class share structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares with disparate
voting powers. In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share
is entitled to ten votes, voting together as one class. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder
thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. As of March 31, 2023, Mr. Dinggui Yan, the
beneficial owner of our Class B ordinary shares, beneficially owned approximately 91.2% of the aggregate voting power of our company. As a result, Mr.
Dinggui Yan will have considerable influence over matters such as electing directors and approving material mergers, acquisitions or other business
combination transactions. Upon any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of Class B ordinary share by a shareholder to any person or
entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, or the direct or indirect transfer or assignment of the voting power attached to such number of Class B
ordinary shares through voting proxy or otherwise to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder, such Class B ordinary shares shall be
automatically and immediately converted into the equivalent number of Class A ordinary shares. The concentrated control associated with our dual-class
share structure will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could also discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other
change of control transactions, which could have the effect of depriving the holders of our Class A ordinary shares and the ADSs of the opportunity to sell
their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price.
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The dual-class structure of our ordinary shares may adversely affect the trading market for our ADSs.
S&P Dow Jones and FTSE Russell have changed their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain indices, including
the S&P 500, to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares and companies whose public shareholders hold no more than 5% of total voting power
from being added to such indices. In addition, several shareholder advisory firms have announced their opposition to the use of multiple class structures. As
a result, the dual class structure of our ordinary shares may prevent the inclusion of our ADSs representing Class A ordinary shares in such indices and may
cause shareholder advisory firms to publish negative commentary about our corporate governance practices or otherwise seek to cause us to change our
capital structure. Any such exclusion from indices could result in a less active trading market for our ADSs. Any actions or publications by shareholder
advisory firms critical of our corporate governance practices or capital structure could also adversely affect the value of our ADSs.
If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding
our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or
more analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or
fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the market price or trading volume for our
ADSs to decline.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could discourage a third party from acquiring us and adversely
affect the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company,
including a provision that grants authority to our board of directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without
action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series. These provisions could have
the effect of depriving our shareholders and ADS holders of the opportunity to sell their shares or ADSs at a premium over the prevailing market price by
discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transactions.
Certain existing shareholders have substantial influence over our company and their interests may not be aligned with the interests of our other
shareholders.
As of March 31, 2023, Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer, beneficially owned approximately 91.2% of the total
voting power of our Company. As a result, he has substantial influence over our business, including significant corporate actions such as mergers,
consolidations, sales of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate actions.
Mr. Yan may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. This concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or
prevent a change in control of our company, which could deprive our shareholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale
of our company and may reduce the price of the ADSs. These actions may be taken even if they are opposed by our other shareholders. In addition, the
significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs due to investors’ perception that conflicts of interest may
exist or arise. In addition, this concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could also discourage others from pursuing any
potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions, which could have the effect of depriving the holders of our ordinary shares and our
ADSs of the opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over the prevailing market price. For more information regarding our principal shareholders and
their affiliated entities, see “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.”
We have granted, and may continue to grant, share incentive awards, which may result in increased share-based compensation expenses.
Jiayin Finance first adopted our 2016 Share Incentive Plan in September 2016, which allowed Jiayin Finance to grant share-based compensation
awards to our founders, employees and officers to incentivize their performance and align their interests with ours. We account for compensation costs for
all share options using a fair-value based method and recognize expenses in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income in accordance with U.S.
GAAP. In February 2019, we adopted a new share incentive plan, or the 2019 Share Incentive Plan, which became effective after the completion of our
initial public offering in May 2019. All outstanding options granted under the 2016 Share Incentive Plan have been cancelled or replaced with options
granted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2022, we had granted options to purchase an aggregate of 3,576,720 Class A ordinary
shares (excluding options that were forfeited, cancelled, or exercised after the relevant grant date) and restricted share units (“RSUs”) to receive an
aggregate of 7,600,000 Class A ordinary shares (excluding RSUs that were forfeited, cancelled, or vested after the relevant grant date),
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pursuant to the 2019 Share Incentive Plan. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plans.”
We believe the granting of share incentive awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain employees, and we will continue to
grant share incentive awards to employees in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase, which may have
an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We are an emerging growth company and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements
applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor
attestation requirements of Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we are an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect not to
comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.
The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards
until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. However, we have elected to “opt
out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies.
This decision to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable
to U.S. domestic public companies.
Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and regulations
in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:
•
•
•
•
the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K;
the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the
Exchange Act;
the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for
insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and
the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.
We will be required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our
results on a quarterly basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq. Press releases relating to financial results and
material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less
extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be offered the same
protections or information that would be made available to you if you were investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.
As an exempted company incorporated in Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate
governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to
shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. We currently follow and intent to continue to follow our
home country practice in lieu of certain requirements of the Rule 5600 Series of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules, including:
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▪
▪
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have a majority of the board be independent (although all of the members of the audit committee must be independent under the Exchange
Act);
have an audit committee of at least three independent directors;
have a nominating and corporate governance committee consisting entirely of independent directors; and
hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after the end of our fiscal year.
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We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and, as a result, can rely on exemptions from certain corporate
governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.
We are a “controlled company” as defined under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules since Mr. Dinggui Yan beneficially owns more than 50% of our
total voting power. For so long as we remain a controlled company under this definition, we are also permitted to elect to rely on certain exemptions from
corporate governance rules. As a result, you will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate
governance requirements.
If we are a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes, United States Holders of our ADSs or Class A
ordinary shares could be subject to adverse United States federal income tax consequences.
We will be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if, applying the
applicable look-through rules, either (i) at least 75% of our gross income for such year is passive income or (ii) 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 or are held for the
production of passive income. Based on the market price of our ADSs, the value of our assets and the nature and composition of our income and assets, we
do not believe that we were a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 2022, although there can be no
assurances in this regard. A separate determination must be made after the close of each taxable year as to whether we were a PFIC for that year. Moreover,
the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects, and we cannot assure you that the United States Internal Revenue Service, or
the IRS, will not take a contrary position to any determination we make. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will not be treated as a PFIC for
any taxable year or that the IRS will not take a contrary position to any determination we make.
Changes in the value of our assets and/or the nature or composition of our income or assets may cause us 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 Class A 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. In
estimating the value of our assets and other unbooked intangibles, we have taken into account our market capitalization. Among other matters, if our
market capitalization declines, we may be more likely 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 greater percentage of the value of our overall assets. Further, while we believe our classification
methodology and valuation approach are 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 a PFIC for one or more taxable years.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a United States Holder (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information––E. Taxation––United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations”) hold our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, certain adverse United States federal income tax consequences
could apply to such United States Holder, including burdensome reporting requirements. Prospective investors who are United States Holders are strongly
encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of the PFIC rules. See “Item 10. Additional Information— E. Taxation—Passive
Foreign Investment Company.”
We will incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we cease to qualify as an “emerging growth company.”
As a U.S. public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we have not incurred as a private company. The Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the Nasdaq, impose various requirements on the corporate governance
practices of public companies. As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in gross annual revenue for our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging
growth company” pursuant to the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that
are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting and permission to delay
adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. However, we have elected to “opt out” of this
provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies. This decision
to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.
We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more time-
consuming and costly. After we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management
effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC.
For example, as a result of becoming a public company, we will need to increase the number of independent directors and adopt policies regarding internal
controls and disclosure controls and procedures. We also
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expect that operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we
may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will
incur additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on
our board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we
cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
In the past, shareholders of a public company often brought securities class action suits against the company following periods of instability in the
market price of that company’s securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and
other resources from our business and operations, which could harm our results of operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit.
Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is
successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A.
History and Development of the Company
The origin of our business can be traced back to 2011. Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer, commenced a consumer
finance platform in 2011 through several entities controlled by him in China. In June 2015, Mr. Dinggui Yan acquired Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology
Co., Ltd., or Jiayin Finance, a shell company previously known as Furen Technology Limited and listed on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations
Co., Ltd., or the NEEQ.
In September 2015, Shanghai Wuxingjia was established as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiayin Finance to develop our online consumer finance
platform business. Mr. Dinggui Yan launched Shanghai Caiyin Asset Management Co., Ltd., or Shanghai Caiyin, in September 2015. We entered into a
collaboration agreement with Shanghai Caiyin in 2015 to engage Shanghai Caiyin to provide post-origination loan management services and manage our
investor assurance program for loans facilitated prior to April 28, 2018. In December 2015, Shanghai Caiyin also acquired the servicing rights and
obligations of all outstanding loan contracts facilitated by Niwodai Finance, which operated our founder’s consumer finance platform at that time, as well
as the obligation to continue to provide guarantee on those loans. Niwodai Finance subsequently ceased to operate the individual financing business. We
launched our online individual financing platform in December 2015.
In December 2017, we incorporated Jiayin Group Inc. under the laws of the Cayman Islands as our offshore holding company, and in January 2018,
we established a wholly-owned subsidiary in the British Virgin Islands, Jiayin Holdings Limited, and a wholly-owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Geerong
(HK), as our intermediate holding companies, to facilitate our initial public offering in the United States. Jiayin Finance was delisted from NEEQ in April
2018.
In June 2018, we incorporated Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd., or Shanghai Kunjia, as a wholly-foreign owned entity in China. As a result of
the restructuring in 2018, we hold equity interest in Shanghai Kunjia through our current offshore structure. At the same time, Shanghai Kunjia entered into
a series of contractual arrangements with Jiayin Finance and its shareholders, among which several agreements were terminated and simultaneously
replaced by a series of contractual arrangements with substantially same terms in October 2018 for the purpose of registering pledges of equity interest in
Jiayin Finance with the government authority. As a result of these contractual arrangements, or the Contractual Arrangements, we are the primary
beneficiary of Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries for accounting purposes, and, therefore, have consolidated the financial results of Jiayin Finance and its
subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
On May 10, 2019, our ADSs commenced trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol “JFIN”. We raised a total of approximately US$35.0 million in
net proceeds from the initial public offering, after the underwriter’s full exercise of their option to purchase additional ADSs, and after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions as well as other estimated offering expenses.
In September 2019, we disposed of Shanghai Caiyin, a consolidated affiliated entity. On September 16, 2019, Shanghai Wuxingjia a consolidated
affiliated entity of our Company, entered into an agreement with Shenzhen Rongxinbao Non-Financial Guarantee Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen Rongxinbao”), an
independent third-party guarantee company, and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Services Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Jiayin”), a company controlled by Mr. Dinggui
Yan, the founder, director and chief executive officer of our Company, which wholly owns the equity interest of Shanghai Caiyin, pursuant to which
Shanghai Jiayin agreed to transfer all of its equity interest in Shanghai Caiyin to Shenzhen Rongxinbao. After the disposal, Shanghai Caiyin continues to
provide services for loans under the investor assurance program it managed.
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In September 2019, we conducted a business combination with Geerong Yun, an innovative fintech-driven platform connecting financial
institutions. Prior to the combination, Geerong Yun and our Company were under the common control of Mr. Dinggui Yan, the founder, director and chief
executive officer of our Company. After the combination, Geerong Yun became a wholly-owned subsidiary of our Company. The combination is intended
to support the growth of our institutional funding sources, as well as to strengthen our big data analytics and fintech R&D.
In September 2020, our wholly owned subsidiary Geerong (HK) acquired, from China Smartpay Group Holdings Limited (“China Smartpay”), a
Hong Kong listed company, 35% equity interest in Keen Best, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Smartpay, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands
holding 100% equity interests in certain PRC entities engaging in microcredit business.
In November 2020, the outstanding loan balance of our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business was reduced to zero.
On April 1, 2021, our wholly consolidated VIE, Jiayin Finance, entered into a framework acquisition agreement with Shanghai Bweenet and its
shareholders, pursuant to which, Jiayin Finance agreed, subject to certain conditions, to subscribe for certain equity interests of Shanghai Bweenet and
acquire certain equity interests held by current shareholders of Shanghai Bweenet, for an aggregate consideration of RMB95.0 million. Following the
completion of the transaction, Jiayin Finance owned 95% of the equity interests of Shanghai Bweenet.
On December 29, 2021, Jiayin Finance entered into a share acquisition framework agreement with Shenzhen Rongxinbao, an independent third-
party guarantee company, pursuant to which, Jiayin Finance agreed to transfer 95% equity interest of Shanghai Bweenet to Shenzhen Rongxinbao for an
aggregate consideration of RMB93.3 million. Following the completion of the proposed transaction, Jiayin Finance no longer owned any equity interest in
Shanghai Bweenet.
On January 28, 2022, Shanghai Niwodai Internet Services Co., Ltd. changed its corporate name to Shanghai Wuxingjia Information Technology
Co., Ltd.
In August 2022, Hainan Yinke Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd., or Hainan Yinke, was incorporated as a wholly-owned PRC subsidiary of Geerong
Yunke. Hainan Yinke provides commitment to certain institutional funding partners or the Licensed Credit Enhancement Providers.
Our principal executive offices are located at 18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza, 428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong New Area,
Shanghai 200122, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 21-6190-6826. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is
located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Our agent for
service of process in the United States is Cogency Global Inc., located at 10 East 40th Street, 10th Floor, New York NY, 10016.
B.
Business Overview
We and the VIE Group are a leading fintech platform in China committed to facilitating effective, transparent, secure and fast connections between
underserved individual borrowers and financial institutions funding partners. We and the VIE Group operate a highly secure and open platform with a
comprehensive risk management system and a proprietary and effective risk assessment model which employs advanced big data analytics and
sophisticated algorithms to accurately assess the risk profiles of potential borrowers. Our and the VIE Group’s online platform embraces significant
opportunities presented by a financial system that leaves many creditworthy individuals underserved. We and the VIE Group provide borrowers with fast
and convenient access to credit at affordable and competitive rates.
We and the VIE Group strategically focus on facilitating mid- to long-term consumer loans, as we and the VIE Group believe such loan facilitation
services are best positioned to generate attractive returns for our and the VIE Group’s funding partners, and at the same time, capture the financing needs of
quality borrowers. With a highly scalable capital-light business model, we and the VIE Group have been able to grow our and the VIE Group’s platform
and reinforce our and the VIE Group’s strengths through network effects.
Our and the VIE Group’s borrowers are typically creditworthy individuals with stable salary income and/or credit history but underserved by
traditional financial institutions. We and the VIE Group primarily utilize diverse online borrower acquisition channels including online advertising channels
such as websites, search engines, app stores, information feeds as well as online partnerships with online traffic marketplaces which have access to quality
borrowers. Our and the VIE Group’s online average borrower acquisition cost per new borrower was RMB340.0 (US$49.3) in 2022, representing 3.5% of
the average loan principal borrowed by our and the VIE Group’s borrowers in 2022.
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We and the VIE Group operate a highly secure and open platform with a proprietary and effective risk assessment model and a comprehensive risk
management system. We and the VIE Group build our and the VIE Group’s risk assessment model based on our and the VIE Group’s first-hand and
proprietary user and transaction data generated from our and the VIE Group’s loan process as well as multiple layers of background and behavioral data
from more than ten third-party sources. Our and the VIE Group’s model employs advanced big data analytics and sophisticated algorithms to accurately
assess the risk profiles of potential borrowers. We and the VIE Group have also established reliable systematic risk management procedures. To supplement
our and the VIE Group’s risk management efforts, we and the VIE Group also selectively collaborate with expert consultants with strong credit assessment
capabilities to help us further screen and re-assess the creditworthiness of applicants and identify creditworthy potential borrowers based on desensitized
user data.
Historically, we and the VIE Group helped investors on our and the VIE Group’s platform to allocate their assets into different consumer loan
products facilitated by us and the VIE Group through our and the VIE Group’s investor apps. Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group started
to expand our and the VIE Group’s investor base of individuals to institutional funding partners, including commercial banks, consumer finance companies,
trusts and microcredit companies. In 2022, we and the VIE Group had 44 institutional funding partners and they invested an aggregate investment volume
of RMB55.5 billion (US$8.0 billion). We and the VIE Group completed the transition of our and the VIE Group’s funding model in April 2020, with new
loans only funded by institutional funding partners. The outstanding loan balance of our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business has been
reduced to zero in November 2020. We and the VIE Group now generate a substantial majority of our and the VIE Group’s total revenues from service fees
we and the VIE Group collect from our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners. As a leading fintech platform, we and the VIE Group do not use
our and the VIE Group’s own capital to invest in loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform in Mainland China.
Our and the VIE Group’s Users
Borrowers
We and the VIE Group target the large and growing number of creditworthy individual borrowers in China who are underserved by traditional
financial institutions and receptive to online finance solutions. Our and the VIE Group’s borrowers typically belong to the young urban working class with
stable salary and/or credit history.
From the launch of our and the VIE Group’s business through December 31, 2022, we and the VIE Group had successfully facilitated loan
transactions for over 12.6 million borrowers. The number of our and the VIE Group’s borrowers grew by 7.3 times from approximately 0.2 million in 2016
to approximately 1.5 million in 2022. We and the VIE Group strategically target the young generation and cultivate their loyalty on our and the VIE
Group’s platform, aiming to capture the vast growth opportunities as our and the VIE Group’s borrowers enter into different stages of their lives and qualify
for higher credit limits. In 2022, 55.4% of our and the VIE Group’s borrowers were between 20 and 35 years of age.
Funding Partners and Investors
When we and the VIE Group started our and the VIE Group’s business, our and the VIE Group’s funding base was comprised of individual
investors only. Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group have successfully expanded our and the VIE Group’s funding base to cover
institutional funding partners, including commercial banks, consumer finance companies, trusts and microcredit companies. Since April 2020, we and the
VIE Group have stopped funding loans with individual investors and started to fund all loans with institutional funding partners.
In 2022, we and the VIE Group had 44 institutional funding partners. We and the VIE Group expect these institutional funding partners to provide
stable funding to borrowers on our and the VIE Group’s platform, which will allow us to increase our and the VIE Group’s loan origination volume and
generate more revenue. We and the VIE Group will further develop our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with institutional funding partners in 2023.
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Our and the VIE Group’s Services
Loan Facilitation Services Offered to Borrowers
We and the VIE Group facilitate primarily standard loan facilitation services online, which are all unsecured consumer loans to our and the VIE
Group’s borrowers. All of the loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform feature fixed interest rates. To provide a transparent platform,
interest rates, service fees and other charges are all clearly disclosed to borrowers upfront. We and the VIE Group strategically design our and the VIE
Group’ loan facilitation services to target borrowers with different types of available credentials and therefore different credit limits varying from RMB500
to RMB60,000.
We and the VIE Group believe that our and the VIE Group’s dedication and devotion to superior user service is a significant contributor to our and
the VIE Group’s growth. To better serve our and the VIE Group’s borrowers, we and the VIE Group adopt user-oriented business practices, including
offering user service hotlines and online user service support on our and the VIE Group’s mobile apps and WeChat account. We and the VIE Group also
offer clear and concise guidelines on our and the VIE Group’s website and within our and the VIE Group’s app to guide borrowers throughout the
transaction process. In addition, we and the VIE Group provide an online discussion forum, where our and the VIE Group’s current and potential borrowers
can communicate with each other and our and the VIE Group’s user service agents. Finally, our and the VIE Group’s user service team frequently reaches
out to our and the VIE Group’s users to seek their feedback. We and the VIE Group maintain a user complaint feedback channel to improve our and the
VIE Group’s products and services.
Services Offered to Institutional Funding Partners
Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group have expanded our and the VIE Group’s investor base of individuals to institutional funding
partners, including commercial banks, consumer finance companies, trusts and microcredit companies. Starting in April 2020, new loans were only funded
by institutional funding partners.
We and the VIE Group introduce borrowers to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners and provide preliminary risk assessment
services as well as other services to them. The service arrangement between our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners and us varies depending
on the type of institutional funding partners. For institutional funding partners with a license to extend loans, such as banks, online microcredit companies,
they typically extend loans with their own funds directly to the borrowers introduced by us. In 2022, we and the VIE Group had 44 institutional funding
partners and they invested an aggregate investment volume of RMB55.5 billion (US$8.0 billion).
Services Offered to Individual Investors
Historically, we and the VIE Group helped investors on our and the VIE Group’s platform to allocate their assets into different consumer loan
products facilitated by us and the VIE Group through our and the VIE Group’s apps. Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group started to
transition our and the VIE Group’s funding sources to institutional funding partners, and completed the transition in April 2020, with new loans only
funded by institutional funding partners. The outstanding loan balance of our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business has been reduced to zero in
November 2020.
Our and the VIE Group’s Platform and Transaction Processes
We and the VIE Group provide a streamlined and smooth user experience for borrowers. The process on our and the VIE Group’s mobile apps and
website is designed to be simple, seamless and efficient while our and the VIE Group’s platform leverages sophisticated, proprietary technologies to make
it possible.
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Transaction Process for Institutional Funding Partners
Our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners provide us with pre-determined criteria for borrowers and we and the VIE Group will use our
and the VIE Group’s credit assessment model to assess the applicants in our and the VIE Group’s platform and select qualified applicants for the
institutional funding partners for further approval. Institutional funding partners will assess the applicants through their own credit assessment process and
once they approve the loans, our and the VIE Group’s system will generate a multilateral loan agreement among the borrower, the institutional partner,
guarantor and us, which will become effective immediately. We and the VIE Group will then instruct the institutional partner to transfer the funding to the
borrower’s account directly and we and the VIE Group are also not involved in the repayment of principal and interest between borrowers and institutional
funding partners.
Transaction Process for Borrowers
Application
An applicant can submit a loan application after he or she has registered a user account using a valid mobile phone number. First-time applicants are
required to present their PRC identity cards to us via their phone camera or webcam for identity verification. The images of their identity cards will be
automatically captured and recognized by our and the VIE Group’s authentication module and authenticated against personal identity data in the database
of the Ministry of Public Security of China. In addition, based on the instructions within our and the VIE Group’s apps or on our and the VIE Group’s
website, applicants are also required to do specific poses facing the front camera to complete automatic biometric recognition. Our and the VIE Group’s
system authenticates the face recognition result against the database of the Ministry of Public Security of China to detect if it matches the identity card
provided by the applicant.
In addition to the identity card, applicants are required to provide basic personal information, including educational level, marital status, occupation,
address and bank account information for our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment. Applicants also authorize us to collect data from third parties for
purposes of credit assessment. If the applicants have previously applied for loans through our and the VIE Group’s platform, they do not need to go through
the procedures again, but may supplement or update their personal information if there are any changes. Furthermore, certain loan products facilitated by us
and the VIE Group require applicants to provide other specific credentials, including credit card information, payroll account information.
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Credit Assessment and Approval
Our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment model automatically computes a credit score for the applicant upon receipt of his or her credit
information. If the applicants have previously applied for loans on our and the VIE Group’s platform, their credit scores may be adjusted upwards or
downwards based on their performance of repayment obligations and updated personal information. Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B.
Business Overview—Credit Assessment and Risk Management System” for a detailed description of our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment and risk
management system. For funds provided by institutional funding partners, we and the VIE Group use a variety of technological tools to pre-screen the
applicants and qualified applicants still need approvals from the institutional funding partners.
Funding
For funds provided by institutional funding partners, upon confirmation of the loan amount by the borrower and credit approval from the
institutional funding partners, our and the VIE Group’s system will generate a multilateral loan agreement among the borrower, the institutional partner,
guarantor and us, which will become effective immediately. We and the VIE Group will then instruct the institutional partner to transfer the funding to the
borrower’s account directly.
Loan Servicing and Collection
Prior to April 2020, when we and the VIE Group ceased funding loans with individual investor funding sources, we and the VIE Group provided
loan servicing and collection services. Under our and the VIE Group’s current institutional funding partner model, we and the VIE Group no longer provide
such services.
Credit Assessment and Risk Management System
We and the VIE Group operate a highly secure and open platform with proprietary and effective credit assessment model and comprehensive risk
management system. Leveraging advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and big data analytics, we and the VIE Group continuously refine,
test and optimize our and the VIE Group’s model as our and the VIE Group’s platform continues to accumulate and collect more credit data in our and the
VIE Group’s operations.
Our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment model and risk management system have undergone significant evolution. We and the VIE Group have
been building an online credit assessment model since the launch of our and the VIE Group’s online platform in December 2015. As we and the VIE Group
engaged substantial numbers of borrowers offline in 2016 and 2017, we and the VIE Group collected information of such borrowers offline in collaboration
with our and the VIE Group’s related party Jiayin Credit and manually input such information into our and the VIE Group’s system. We and the VIE Group
also utilized traditional risk management methodologies such as in-person interviews for borrowers engaged offline for a brief period after the inception of
our and the VIE Group’s business. Our and the VIE Group’s borrower engagement efforts gradually shifted from offline to online as our and the VIE
Group’s online credit assessment capabilities improved. We and the VIE Group no longer offer offline loan products since February 2018 and have fully
automated data collection and risk management methodologies accordingly. With data accumulation and model optimization, we currently utilize
proprietary intelligent system known as Mingjian, which has achieved the risk management through the life cycle of loans involving application stage,
customer management stage, risk monitoring and early warning stage to empower multiple operating processes.
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Data Collection and Pre-processing
The first step of our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment process is to collect data from the applicant, which consists of information directly
provided by the applicant and information that we and the VIE Group collect from third parties with the applicant’s authorization. The list below presents
the typical types of data that we and the VIE Group used as input for our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment.
Proprietary Data
• Data directly provided by the applicant, including PRC identity card
Data from Third Parties
• Personal identity information maintained by an organization authorized
OCR verification and live biometric verification as well as the
applicant’s debit/credit card number or bank card number, mobile
number, job-related information, self-reported income and debt
information and education degree
• Device related information
by the Ministry of Public Security of China
• Credit assessment result from third-parties
• Online data maintained by industry anti-fraud service providers for
cross-checking
• Historical credit data accumulated through our and the VIE Group’s
• Online data from Internet service providers
platform
• Behavioral data of the applicant’s behavior on our and the VIE
Group’s platform
• Online shopping and payment behaviors on certain popular Chinese
online retail and mobile commerce platforms
• Recent application of loans in other consumer lending platforms
• Repayment performance data for repeat borrowers
• Transaction related information of applicant’s debt card
We and the VIE Group feed the raw, unstructured data that we and the VIE Group collect into our and the VIE Group’s data pre-processing module
to generate high quality structured data as input for our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment modules. Our and the VIE Group’s data pre-processing
procedures involve data cleaning, data normalization and feature extraction.
Credit Assessment Model
Our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment system includes three main modules-authentication module, anti-fraud module and scorecard module.
We and the VIE Group continuously optimize these models and strengthen our risk management capability.
•
Authentication Module
The authentication module is a personal information authentication system that verifies and authenticates the identity of the applicant through the
information provided by the applicant and third parties. With OCR and facial recognition technologies, the authentication module is able to automatically
verify the identity card provided by applicants and their self-taken video against the Ministry of Public Security identity card database. We and the VIE
Group also cross check the personal and credit information, against data from third parties to verify the authenticity of the data. Using the proprietary
intelligent risk management system, we and the VIE Group have achieved the whole process life cycle risk control of pre-loan risk screening, risk
monitoring and pre-warning in 2021.
•
Anti-Fraud Module
We and the VIE Group have a large database of past fraud accounts information and sophisticated rules in detecting fraudulent behaviors. We and
the VIE Group have been working closely with multiple partners in a joint effort to identify emerging fraudulent schemes, scams, trends, threats, and
criminal organizations and have accumulated massive data relating to fraud. The database we and the VIE Group maintain enables us to fine-tune the rules
we and the VIE Group set and enhance our and the VIE Group’s fraud detection capabilities. Utilizing graph mining technology, this module analyzes each
applicant’s social proximity or relationships, to known fraudsters in our and the VIE Group’s database to determine the applicant’s likelihood of also being
a fraudster. In addition, this module also takes into consideration variables such as specific login device, GPS location, IP address and Wi-Fi network
connectivity to detect inconsistency and unusual features of applicants. We and the VIE Group also continuously evolve this module to detect fraud clusters
across device, environment, behavior and social dimensions. We and the VIE Group also maintain a blacklist after detecting any fraudulent borrowers. We
and the VIE Group put the transaction link into the anti-fraud control, according to the customer risk level using different means of verification, in order to
achieve the whole process risk management. We and the VIE Group have independently developed and built the knowledge graph platform known as
Xingkong in 2021, on which multi-relational graphs are built based on the graph database technology and potential risks are identified. We and the VIE
Group also incorporate the transaction process into the anti-fraud module as different means of verification are adopted according to the risk level of the
borrowers.
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•
Scorecard Module
After a prospective borrower has passed the fraud detection module, we and the VIE Group initiate a credit review using our and the VIE Group’s
proprietary scorecard module to generate a score for the prospective borrower, which ultimately drives the decision on whether to extend credit and the
amount to be extended. Our and the VIE Group’s scorecard module utilizes data we and the VIE Group collected from the borrower, such as the credit card
transaction record and repayment history, and data from external parties we and the VIE Group are authorized by the borrower to collect. We and the VIE
Group generally assign the highest score for borrowers who demonstrate the most solid financial position and consistent repayment history. We and the VIE
Group started using the scorecard module since 2016 and it evolved over time as our and the VIE Group’s product mix evolved and our and the VIE
Group’s credit assessment capabilities improve. As part of our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment efforts, we and the VIE Group also adapt our and the
VIE Group’s scorecard module to our and the VIE Group’s borrower base, which shifted from offline to online and has evolved as We and the VIE Group
engage borrowers through different channels from time to time. Our and the VIE Group’s scorecard module analyzes a different set of data for each loan
application compared to earlier versions of the module and we and the VIE Group continually test, validate and optimize it by changing the types of data it
analyzes and the relative weights of various types of data. In particular, as the quality and availability of various data from third parties which is input in
our and the VIE Group’s scorecard module changes over time, we and the VIE Group refine our and the VIE Group’s scorecard module accordingly. We
and the VIE Group currently collaborate with more than 30 third-party data providers. At the same time, deep learning algorithms, techniques and graphs
are introduced to model and maximize the value of data mining to optimize access strategies and grant credit lines, and effectively extract high-quality
customers. In 2021, based on the traditional scorecard module and original learning algorithm, we and the VIE Group have incorporated advanced learning
algorithms, NLP technology and multi-relational graphs into the feature engineering and model construction to maximize the value of data mining,
optimize access strategies and effectively identify creditworthy borrowers. Continuously refined by machine learning algorithms and the high volume of
transaction data we and the VIE Group collect, especially proprietary credit repayment records, our and the VIE Group’s scorecard module currently
analyzes a large number of variables for each loan application and enables us to better differentiate between creditworthy borrowers and lower quality
borrowers. We and the VIE Group also enhanced the stability of our and the VIE Group’s scorecard module in view of increased amounts of loan
applications we and the VIE Group receive. As our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment capabilities evolve, we and the VIE Group are increasingly
capable of identifying creditworthy borrowers, some of which we and the VIE Group were unable to identify previously. We and the VIE Group also
benefit from the growth of our and the VIE Group’s platform and the larger pool of borrower applicants our and the VIE Group’s platform attracts, among
which we and the VIE Group are able to identify more creditworthy borrowers. As such, the credit scores generated by our and the VIE Group’s scorecard
module are not directly comparable across different time periods. Currently, the credit scores of our and the VIE Group’s borrowers range from 0 to 100,
while 100 represents the lowest credit risk associated with the borrower and 0 represents the highest. We and the VIE Group generally reject borrowers
with a credit score lower than 0, who we and the VIE Group believe have low repayment willingness or capability. Set forth below is a breakdown of loan
origination volume by the range of the credit scores of our and the VIE Group’s borrowers as of the time of the loan origination.
Credit Risk Level
60+
40-60
20-40
0-20
Total
Risk Management Team
2020
2021
2022
(in RMB
millions)
%
(in RMB
millions)
%
(in RMB
millions)
%
6,869
4,016
664
3
11,552
59.5
34.8
5.7
0.0
100.0
14,980
5,751
1,076
108
21,915
68.4
26.2
4.9
0.5
100.0
48,669
6,574
250
16
55,509
87.7
11.8
0.5
0.0
100.0
We and the VIE Group have a risk management committee, comprised of nine members, that meets regularly to examine the credit, liquidity and
operational risks on our and the VIE Group’s platform. Our and the VIE Group’s risk management team is responsible for designing and implementing the
risk management and credit assessment policies and processes, loan performance analysis, credit model validation and credit decisioning performance. Our
and the VIE Group’s risk management team engages in various risk management activities, including reporting on performance trends, monitoring of loan
concentrations and stability, performing economic stress tests on loans, randomly auditing loan decisions by our and the VIE Group’s credit assessment
model and conducting peer benchmarking and external risk assessments.
Investor Assurance Program Managed by Independent Third-Party Guarantors
Historically, we and the VIE Group worked with third-party guarantors who entered into credit consulting and service agreement with borrowers
and us to provide investor assurance programs for loans funded by individual investors. Since the reduction of the outstanding loan balance of our and the
VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business to zero in November 2020, there were no longer such loans covered by investor assurance programs managed by
independent third-party guarantors.
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Guarantee Arrangements for Institutional Funding Partners
For the loans facilitated between borrowers and institutional funding partners, we and the VIE Group engage licensed third-party financing
guarantee companies to provide financing guarantees to our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners. For loans guaranteed by third-party
financing guarantee companies, when borrower defaults, the third-party guarantee companies compensate institutional funding partners for the unpaid
principal and interest. The guarantee companies also demand counter-guarantees by other companies in some contracts. Meanwhile, we and the VIE Group
also provide commitment letter of balance complements to the institutional funding partners or the guarantee companies. To manage the risk exposure, we
and the VIE Group in turn obtain a back-to-back guarantee from another third-party company. The fair value of our and the VIE Group’s guarantee
liabilities as a secondary guarantor was inconsequential and no compensation was made by us during the year of 2021. As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and
2022, the outstanding loan balance for which we and the VIE Group provide commitment letter was RMB1,586.6 million, RMB5,728.7 million and
RMB14,425.9 million (US$2,091.6 million), respectively.
In some cases, our own financing guarantee companies provide provide financing guarantee services directly to our and the VIE Group’s
institutional funding partners for loans funded by them or provide counter-guarantee services to the third-party guarantee companies. As of December 31,
2020, 2021 and 2022, the outstanding loan balance for which our and the VIE Group’s own financing guarantee companies engaged was nil, nil and
RMB6,484.2 million (US$940.1 million), respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the expected lifetime credit losses of the
underlying loans covered by the guarantee obligation after netting off the expected recoveries from the third-party asset management company was
inconsequential.
Overseas Development
Leveraging on the proprietary technology and operation experience accumulated in China, we are exploring business opportunities in other
developing countries with a significant size of low-to mid- income population. We believe that these low-to mid- income populations is currently
underserved by local financial systems similar to the financial market situation in China and our credit assessment and risk management system can be
readily deployed in these countries.
The technical expertise and operational experience we have accumulated in China continues to support the growth of our overseas business. With
our proprietary credit assessment and risk management system, we aim to provide more accessible financial solutions to low-and-middle income groups in
multiple developing countries. In 2022, we are increasing our investments in Indonesia to explore more business opportunities in the local market. We also
substantially expanded the scale of our loan origination and revenue generation in Nigeria.
We plan to further explore overseas markets, such as Indonesia, to expand our customer base. In the future, we plan to broaden our financing
channels through partnerships with local banks and other financial institutions. With our risk management technologies and the localization capabilities, we
will be able to deliver more accessible and convenient financial services to better serve our customers.
Our and the VIE Group’s Technology and IT Infrastructure
The success of our and the VIE Group’s business is dependent on our and the VIE Group’s strong technological capabilities that support us in
delivering superior user experience, safeguarding information on our and the VIE Group’s platform, increasing operational efficiency and enabling
innovations. Principal components of our and the VIE Group’s technology system include:
•
•
Big data analytics capabilities. Leveraging a massive borrower base, we and the VIE Group have been continuously improving our and the
VIE Group’s data mining and user behavior analytics capabilities, which enable us to build a comprehensive credit profile for each borrower
as the basis for our and the VIE Group’s quick and accurate credit decisions. Our and the VIE Group’s data mining and analytics capabilities
also allow us to empower numerous aspects of our and the VIE Group’s operations, such as management of the loan lifecycle for borrowers,
proprietary fraud detection, graph mining, risk management and financial modeling.
Artificial Intelligence technologies. We and the VIE Group put together a dedicated team focusing on internal Artificial Intelligence
technologies development. Based on the comprehensive range of voice, image and video data collected through our and the VIE Group’s
platform, we and the VIE Group have strengthened our and the VIE Group’s data-centric machine learning technologies. We and the VIE
Group also achieved important milestones in the areas of human-computer interaction, OCR and facial recognition, which have been utilized
in our and the VIE Group’s risk management system and enabled us to build up a secured and stable platform.
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•
•
•
Highly automated process. Throughout the life cycle of the loan products facilitated by us and the VIE Group, we and the VIE Group
maintain a highly automated management process to monitor the registration, application, verification, credit assessment, decision making,
funding and collections. Our and the VIE Group’s user-friendly apps gives borrowers convenient access to our and the VIE Group’s product
features and help them find the loan products that match their needs.
Data security. We and the VIE Group maintain an effective cyber security system to monitor and manage the traffic to our and the VIE
Group’s platform on a real-time basis. Our and the VIE Group’s system is designed to automatically defect suspicious activities and an alert
will be instantly sent to our and the VIE Group’s IT team. To minimize the risk of a cyber-attack, we and the VIE Group keep and constantly
update an internal blacklist of malicious IP addresses. For our and the VIE Group’s daily operation, we and the VIE Group collect and store
certain personal information, including sensitive information such as people’s ID card numbers and bank accounts information. We and the
VIE Group retrieve such information only upon user’s consent and store all data in an encrypted form. We and the VIE Group also
implement multiple layers of security to insulate our and the VIE Group’s databases from unauthorized access and use sophisticated security
protocols for communication among applications.
Stability. We and the VIE Group utilize multiple data centers in different cities and maintain data redundancy through a real-time multi-layer
data backup system to ensure the reliability of our and the VIE Group’s network. We and the VIE Group have implemented a disaster
recovery program which enables us to react appropriately in an emergency and instantly start transferring our and the VIE Group’s data to a
back-up data center if needed.
Intellectual Property
We and the VIE Group regard our trademarks, domain names, copyrights, know-how, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as
critical to our success, and we and the VIE Group rely on trademark and trade secret law and confidentiality, invention assignment and non-compete
agreements with our employees and others to protect our proprietary rights. We and the VIE Group have registered 161 trademarks in the PRC. We and the
VIE Group are the registered holder of 29 domain names, including www.jiayinfintech.cn. We and the VIE Group also have 104 copyrights for our and the
VIE Group’s proprietary techniques in connection with our and the VIE Group’s systems.
Competition
Online consumer finance market is an emerging industry in China. We and the VIE Group face competition from other online consumer finance
platforms, online platforms that engage in online loan facilitation and traditional financial institutions. We and the VIE Group compete with other online
consumer finance platforms directly for both investors and borrowers. In addition, we and the VIE Group compete with other online platforms that engage
in online lending businesses for borrowers. We and the VIE Group also compete with traditional financial institutions, including credit card issuers,
consumer finance business units in commercial banks and other consumer finance companies. Some of our and the VIE Group’s larger competitors have
substantially broader products or service offerings and richer financial resources to support heavy spending on sales and marketing. We and the VIE Group
believe that our and the VIE Group’s ability to compete effectively for funding partners and borrowers depends on many factors, including our and the VIE
Group’s ability to attract and retain borrowers and institutional funding partners and borrower experience on our and the VIE Group’s platform, the
effectiveness of our and the VIE Group’s risk management system, the returns and reliance offered to funding partners, our and the VIE Group’s marketing
and selling efforts and the strength and reputation of our and the VIE Group’s brand.
In addition, as our and the VIE Group’s business continues to grow rapidly, we and the VIE Group face significant competition for talents, including
management, engineers, product managers and risk management personnel. The success of our and the VIE Group’s growth strategy depends in part on our
and the VIE Group’s ability to retain existing personnel and attract additional talents.
Regulation
This section sets forth a summary of the most significant laws, regulations and rules that affect our and the VIE Group’s business activities in the
PRC and our and the VIE Group’s shareholders’ rights to receive dividends and other distributions from us.
Regulations Relating to Online Consumer Finance Services
Due to the relatively brief history of the online consumer finance industry in China, the regulatory framework governing our and the VIE Group’s
industry has not developed comprehensively. Even though few specific regulations on online consumer finance industry have been issued in the past few
years, detailed guidance and interpretation has yet to be promulgated by the regulators. Under PRC laws and regulations, our and the VIE Group’s business
practice of online consumer finance services is usually categorized as online lending information intermediary services.
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Regulations Relating to Cooperation with Institutional Finance Partners
On July 18, 2015, the Guidelines on Promoting the Healthy Development of Online Finance Industry, or the Guidelines, were promulgated by ten
PRC regulatory authorities, including the PBOC, the MIIT and the CBRC. Pursuant to the Guidelines, a company that provides online lending information
intermediary services shall function clearly as an information intermediary and provide information services rather than provide credit enhancement
services or engage in illegal fund-raising.
On December 1, 2017, the Office of the Leading Group for the Special Campaign against Internet Financial Risks and the Office of the Leading
Group for the Special Campaign against Online Lending Risks jointly issued the Circular on Regulating and Rectifying of “Cash Loan” Services, or
Circular 141. Circular 141 sets out the principles and general requirements for the conduct of “cash loan” business by banking financial institutions (for the
purpose of Circular 141, including banks, trust companies and consumer financial companies). Circular 141 focuses on regulating the “cash loans” with
features of no user scenario, specified uses of loan proceeds, specified customer base, or collateral, etc. Circular 141 sets forth several general principles
with respect to the regulation of “cash loan” business, including: (i) no organization or individual may conduct the “cash loan” lending business without
obtaining relevant approval; (ii) the aggregated borrowing costs of borrowers charged by institutions in the form of interest and various fees should be
annualized and subject to the limit on interest rate of private lending provided by the judicial department; (iii) institutions engaged in cash, among others,
loan business must follow the “know-your-customer” process and prudentially assess and determine the borrower’s suitability, credit limit and cooling-off
period, etc.; and (iv) all institutions engaged in cash, among others, loan business must enhance their internal risk control and prudentially use the “data-
driven” risk management models.
The Circular 141 also sets forth several requirements on banking financial institutions participating in “cash loan” business, including, among other
things, (i) such banking financial institutions shall not extend loans jointly with any third-party institution which has not obtained approvals for the lending
business, or fund such institution for the purpose of extending loans in any form; (ii) with respect to the loan business conducted in cooperation with third-
party institutions, such banking financial institutions shall not outsource the core business (including the credit assessment and risk control), and shall not
accept any credit enhancement service whether or not in a disguised form (including the commitment to taking default risks) provided by any third-party
institutions with no guarantee qualification and (iii) such banking financial institutions must require and ensure that the third-party institutions shall not
collect any interests or fees from the borrowers. Any violation of the Circular 141 may result in penalties, including but not limited to suspension of
operation, orders to make rectification, condemnation, revocation of license, order to cease business operation, and criminal liabilities.
Moreover, Circular 141 also sets forth certain specific requirements related to online small loan companies and banking financial institutions in cash
loan business. Any violation of Circular 141 may result in penalties, including but not limited to suspensions of operation, orders to make rectification,
condemnation, revocations of license, orders to cease business operation, and criminal liabilities.
On July 12, 2020, the Interim Measures for the Administration of Online Loans by Commercial Banks came into effect, or the Commercial Banks
Online Lending Measure, which formulates the regulation regime for online lending business conducted by commercial banks. For example, the
Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures require that a commercial bank shall not grant an individual with a credit line more than RMB200,000 and
the term of the personal credit loan extended under such credit shall not exceed one year in the case of repayment of the principal due in a lump sum.
Meanwhile, reading of the loan contract by a borrower shall be mandatory in the loan application process and reasonable time limit shall be set therefor.
In addition, the Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures set several rules for commercial banks to collaborate with external institutions on
online lending, including: (i) commercial banks shall conduct pre-admission assessments on cooperative external institutions and manage such external
institutions by a name list; (ii) commercial banks shall not accept any credit enhancement services directly or in disguised form, from third parties without
qualification to provide guarantee, credit insurance or guarantee insurance; (iii) the cooperative external institutions (except for an insurance company or an
institution with guarantee qualification) shall not charge any interest or expense to the borrower in any form; (iv) commercial banks shall independently
conduct the credit approval, contract execution and other core risk control business; (v) the collaboration agreement between the commercial banks and the
cooperative external institutions shall be executed in writing and specify the cooperation scope, data confidentiality, transitional arrangement for change or
termination of the matters under cooperation, and the commitment of the external institutions for cooperating with the commercial bank in accepting the
inspection by the banking regulatory authorities; and (vi) the commercial banks shall fully disclose, in conspicuous place of relevant page, the information
of the cooperative external institutions, the information of the cooperative product, as well as rights and responsibilities of the commercial bank and the
cooperative external institutions.
The Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures set forth a transitional period of these measures, which is two years from the date on which the
Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures is implemented. The business newly increased in the transitional period shall comply with the requirement
therein, and a plan to rectify the online lending business within such transitional period shall be formulated and submitted to the banking regulatory
authority within one month from the implementation date. The Commercial Banks Online Lending Measures shall also apply as reference to the online
lending business conducted by consumer finance companies and auto finance companies (except for the above-mentioned requirements on the terms of
personal credit loan).
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On February 19, 2021, the CBIRC further issued the Notice of Further Regulating Online Loan Business of Commercial Banks, also known as
Circular 24, which provides that the commercial banks shall independently carry out the risk management of online loans and are forbidden from
outsourcing the material procedures of loan management. Circular 24 will also apply by analogy to branches of foreign banks, trusts, consumer finance
companies and auto finance companies. Circular 24 also provides for the transition periods, and further requirements may be imposed by CBIRC and its
local counterparts based on the provisions of Circular 24.
In February 2021, the CBRC, the PBOC, the Ministry of Education, the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and the Ministry of
Public Security jointly issued the Notice on Further Strengthening the Regulation and Management Work of Internet Consumer Loan for College Students,
or the Notice on Internet Consumer Loan for College Students. The Notice on Internet Consumer Loan for College Students provides that the microcredit
companies are prohibited to provide internet consumer loans to college students. In addition, it sets forth several requirements on the banking financial
institutions participating in internet consumer loans for college students, including without limitation: (i) the banking financial institutions and its
cooperative institution shall not conduct online precision marketing aimed at college students, and shall complete necessary filings and reports with
relevant authorities before offline promotion in campus; (ii) the banking financial institutions shall strictly check credit qualifications and the identities of
college students and their use of loans, conduct comprehensive credit assessment, and receive the written confirm from the second repayment sources (such
as parents, guardians, or other administrator of the college students) that they agree such internet consumer loan provided to such college student and they
will guarantee the repayment of such internet consumer loan; and (iii) all credit information of internet consumer loan for college students shall be
submitted to the financial credit information database in a timely, complete and accurate manner, and college students who do not agree to submit such
credit information shall not be extended the loan.
On December 31, 2021, the PBOC, the MIIT, the CAC, the CBIRC, the CSRC, the SAFE, and the State Intellectual Property Office jointly issued
the Measures for the Management of Online Marketing of Financial Products (Draft for Comments), or the Draft Measures for Online Marketing, to further
regulate Financial Institutions or their cooperation with third-party internet platform operators entrusted by them. Financial Institutions refer to institutions
engaged in financial business approved by relevant financial department. Financial products refer to products and services designed, developed and sold by
Financial Institutions, including but not limited to deposits, loans, asset management products, insurance, payments, precious metals, etc.
The Draft Measures for Online Marketing also requires that: (i) Financial Institutions shall undertake the responsibility if entrusted to third-party
internet platform operators to carry out online marketing of financial products. The third-party Internet platform operators shall bear the relevant
responsibility if not perform their fiduciary duties as agreed, and damage the rights and interests of financial consumers or cause other adverse effects; (ii)
the third-party Internet platform operators shall not intervene or disguise their involvement in the sales of financial products business, including but not
limited to interactive consultation with consumers on financial products, financial consumer suitability assessment, sales contract signing, fund transfer, etc.
without the approval of the financial management, and shall not disguise their participation in the financial business revenue sharing by setting various fee
mechanisms linked to loan size and interest scale; (iii) Financial Institutions using third-party Internet platforms for cyberspace business premises, should
ensure business independence, technical security, data and personal information security. Third-party Internet platform operators should adhere to the
information technology services propriety, shall not be disguised as financial business activities, shall not help the cooperation of financial institutions to
circumvent regulation by technical means; (iv) Financial Institutions should sign written cooperation agreements with third-party Internet platform
operators; (v) Financial Institutions shall continuously evaluate the compliance and security of third-party Internet platform operators and the performance
of agreements, and promptly identify, evaluate and prevent risks resulting from default or operational failure of third-party Internet platform operators; (vi)
Financial Institutions and third-party Internet platforms should take the necessary technical security measures to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity
of data transmission and prevent other institutions and individuals from illegally decrypting, intercepting and storing relevant data; and (vii) Third-party
Internet platform operators should obtain the appropriate financial business qualifications or financial information services business qualifications when
using financial-related words in their website, mobile Internet applications, small programs, self-media. While the Draft Measures for Online Marketing
had been released for consultation purpose, there is still uncertainty regarding the Draft Measures for Online Marketing as to its final content, its adoption
timeline or effective date, its final interpretation and implementation, and other aspects.
On January 15, 2022, the CBIRC issued the Guidelines on Regulating the Management of Market-regulated Pricing of Banking Services, or the
Guidelines on the Management of Market-regulated Pricing, which took effect on May 1, 2022. According to the Guidelines on the Management of
Market-regulated Pricing, banks shall fully understand the service contents and price standards provided by online platforms and other institutional
partners, agree in the cooperation agreement the requirements for the service prices disclosure, responsibilities and obligations for resolving disputes
among three parties, prohibit institution partners from charging any fees from customers in the name of banks and terminate cooperating with any
institution partners whose service charges do not match the quality in a timely manner.
In addition, on July 12, 2022, the CBIRC issued the Notice on Strengthening Management of Online Lending Business of Commercial Banks and
Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Financial Services, which stipulates that (i) if commercial banks engage
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in online lending business through cooperating with other institutions to obtain customers, conduct payment and settlement services, they shall strengthen
the management of core risk control and shall not reduce risk control standards due to business cooperation; (ii) if commercial banks cooperate with an
institution providing personal information process services, they shall effectively and properly carry out security assessment on the cooperative institution,
including but not limited to the compliance system for protection of personal information, supervision mechanism, information processing standards and
safety and security measures; (iii) commercial banks shall regulate its cooperation in online lending business with third-party institutions, signing
cooperation agreements and clarifying the rights and responsibilities of each party for co-financing, IT cooperation and other businesses by category and
shall not mix other services in the loan agreement or the capital contribution agreement. Commercial banks shall regularly assess the comprehensive
financing costs for the loans cooperating with other institutions and shall restrict or terminate the cooperation if the cooperative institutions or their related
parties pool the loan funds in violation of PRC laws, set unfair and unreasonable conditions for cooperation, fail to provide the necessary information for
loan management, charge service fees not matching the service quality, or violate other provisions on online lending; (vi) commercial banks shall
strengthen the compliance management of the marketing and promotional activities of the cooperative institutions, and clearly agreeing on relevant
prohibited behaviors in the cooperation agreement.
Regulations on Loans
The Civil Code of PRC, which was promulgated by the National People's Congress in May 2020 and became effective in January 2021, requires that
the interest rates charged under a loan agreement must not violate applicable provisions of the PRC laws and regulations. In the meantime, it also provides
that the interest shall not be deducted from the proceeds of the loan in advance, and if the interest is deducted from the proceeds in advance, the loan shall
be repaid and the interest shall be calculated based on the actual loan amount.
The Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases issued by
the Supreme People’s Court, which came into effect on September 1, 2015, provided that agreements between lenders and borrowers on loans with interest
rates below 24% per annum are valid and enforceable. As to the loans with interest rates per annum between 24% (exclusive) and 36% (inclusive), if the
interest on the loans has already been paid to the lender, and so long as such payment has not damaged the interest of the state, the community and any third
parties, the courts will turn down the borrower’s request to demand the return of the excess interest payment. If the annual interest rate of a private loan is
higher than 36%, the agreement on the excess part of the interest is invalid, and if the borrower requests the lender to return the part of interest exceeding
36% of the annual interest that has been paid, the courts will support such requests. In addition, on August 4, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court issued the
Several Opinions on Further Strengthening the Judicial Work in the Finance Sector, which provided that (i) if the total amount of interest, compounded
interest, default interest and other fees charged by a lender under a loan contract substantially exceeds the actual loss of such lender, the request by the
debtor under such loan contract to reduce or to adjust the part of the aforementioned fees exceeding the amount accrued at an annual rate of 24% will be
upheld; and (ii) in the context of private lending disputes, if the online lending information intermediaries and lenders circumvent the statutory limit of the
interest rate by charging intermediary fees, such fees shall be deemed invalid.
The Supreme People’s Court amended the Provisions of the Supreme People’s Court on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the
Trial of Private Lending Cases on August 20, 2020, and then again on January 1, 2021. Under these amendments, if the service fees or other fees that we
and the VIE Group charge are deemed to be loan interest or fees related to loans (inclusive of any default rate and default penalty and any other fee), then
in the event that the sum of the annualized interest that lenders charge and fees we and the VIE Group and our and the VIE Group’s business partners
charge exceed four times the one-year Loan Prime Rate at the time of the establishment of the agreement, the borrower may refuse to pay the portion that
exceeds the limit. In that case, PRC courts will not uphold our and the VIE Group’s request to demand the payment of fees that exceed the limit from the
borrower. The aforementioned one-year Loan Prime Rate refers to the one-year Loan Prime Rate issued by the National Bank Interbank Funding Center.
These new limits replace the upper limits on interest rates of 24% and 36% described in the Private Lending Judicial Interpretations. Moreover, if the
lender and the borrower agree on both the overdue interest rate and the liquidated damages or other fees, the lender may choose to claim any or all of them,
but the portion of the total exceeding the limit shall not be supported by the people’s court. The new limits apply to new first-instance cases of private
lending disputes accepted by the people’s court after August 20, 2020. As to the cases in which the loan contract was established before August 20, 2020, if
the lender requests that the court apply the old limits of 24% and 36% for calculating the loan interest accrued from the establishment of the loan contracts
up to August 19, 2020, such request will be supported by the court, but the loan interest accrued from August 20, 2020 to the date of the loan repayment
shall be calculated by applying the new limit of four times the one-year Loan Prime Rate at the time of the filing of the lawsuit.
On December 29, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court also issued the Reply Regarding the Scope of Application of the New Private Lending Judicial
Interpretation, which provides that the two amendments are not applicable to disputes arising from the relevant financial business of microcredit
companies, financing guarantee companies, and five other types of local financial organizations which are regulated by local financial authorities.
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Furthermore, under Circular 141, the overall borrowing costs charged to borrowers should be calculated by loan interest together with all relevant
fees and presented in an annualized form, which shall comply with above provisions on private lending. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Changes in PRC regulations relating to interest rates for marketplace and microcredit lending could have a
material adverse effect on our and the VIE Group’s business.”
On July 20, 2020, the Supreme People’s Court and the NDRC jointly released the Opinions on Providing Judicial Services and Safeguards for
Accelerating the Improvement of the Socialist Market Economic System for the New Era. This document states that if the interest and fees, including
compound interests, penalty interests and liquid damages, claimed by one party to the loan contract exceed the upper limit under judicial protection, the
claim will not be supported by the court, and if the parties to the loan disguise the financing cost in an attempt to circumvent the upper limit, the rights and
obligations of all parties to the loan will be determined by the actual loan relationship. In addition, this document indicates that the relevant governmental
authorities should promptly revise and improve the judicial interpretation of the legal issues for private lending trial cases and significantly reduce the
upper limit of private lending rates under judicial protection. The timetable and other details of the regulatory revisions proposed by this document remain
uncertain.
In March 2021, the PBOC releases the Announcement No.3, or the Announcement, to ensure orderly competition in the loan market and protect the
legitimate rights and interests of financial consumers, all loan products are required to expressly list their annualized interest rates, specifically: (i) all
lending institutions are required to display the annualized rate of each loan product prominently on the website, mobile app, poster, and any other channels
where the product is marketed, and specify the annualized rate in the loan contract. Daily and monthly interest rates may also be displayed if necessary, but
not more prominently than the annualized interest rates; (ii) lending institutions include but are not limited to depository financial institutions, automobile
finance companies, consumer finance companies, micro-lending companies, and internet platforms that advertise or display loan services; (iii) the
annualized rate of a loan should be calculated as the annualized ratio of total costs (to borrower) to outstanding principal amount. The costs include interest
and other fees and charges directly related to the loan. The amount of principal should be specified in the loan contract or other loan certificates. If the loan
is repaid in installments, the outstanding principal amount should be the balance after each repayment; and (iv) the calculation of the annualized interest
rate may be based on compound interest or simple interest. The calculation based on compound interest is equivalent to that of the internal rate of return,
and the simple-interest approach should be specified as such.
Regulations on Financial Guarantee
The Regulations on the Administration of Financing Guarantee Companies, or the Financing Guarantee Regulations, was promulgated by the State
Council on August 2, 2017 and took effect on October 1, 2017. According to the Financing Guarantee Regulations, the establishment of financing
guarantee companies should be subject to the approval of the competent government authority, and unless otherwise stipulated, no entity is allowed to
operate the financing guarantee business without such approval. If any entity operates the financing guarantee business without such approval, the entity
may be subject to penalties, including termination or suspension of business, fines of RMB500,000 to RMB1,000,000, confiscation of illegal gains if any,
and if the violation constitutes a criminal offense, criminal liability shall be imposed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations. The maximum
amount of outstanding guarantee liabilities of a financing guarantee company may not exceed ten times of its net assets.
In addition, on October 9, 2019, CBIRC issued the Notice on Printing and Distributing the Supplementary Provisions on the Supervision and
Management of Financing Guarantee Companies, which provides that any entity providing client referral or credit assessment services to the lending
institutions may not provide financing guarantee services in a direct or a disguised form without the regulatory approval. If any entity operates financing
guarantee business without appropriate approval, its business operations will be banned by the regulatory authorities and it will be required to properly
settle existing business.
On July 14, 2020, the CBIRC issued the Guidelines for Off-Site Supervision of Financing Guarantee Companies, or the Off-Site Supervision
Guidelines, which took effect on September 1, 2020. The Off-Site Supervision Guidelines provides, among others, that (i) the relevant regulatory
authorities and CBIRC shall collect data and non-data information from the financing guarantee companies and banks respectively; (ii) financing guarantee
companies shall establish and implement an off-site supervision information report system and submit data and non-data information timely according to
the requirements of the competent regulatory authorities; and (iii) for the off-site supervision, the competent regulatory authorities shall mainly focus on the
external operating environment, corporate governance, internal control, risk management capabilities, guarantee business, associated guarantee risks, asset
quality, liquidity indicators and investment conditions of financing guarantee companies.
On December 31, 2021, the PBOC issued the Regulations on Local Financial Supervision and Management (draft for comment), or the Draft
Regulations on Local Financial Supervision and Management. The Draft Regulations on Local Financial Supervision and Management stipulate: (i) In
addition to the establishment of regional equity markets, the establishment of other Local Financial Organizations shall be approved by the provincial local
financial supervision and management departments while the establishment of
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regional equity markets should be publicized by the provincial people's government, and reported to the State Council securities supervision and
management agencies for the record. Local Financial Organizations refer to the establishment of microfinance companies, financial guarantee companies,
regional equity markets, financial leasing companies, commercial factoring companies, local asset management companies and other institutions engaged
in local financial business; (ii) Local Financial Organizations should serve the local, in principle, and shall not carry out business across the provinces; (iii)
The financial management department of the State Council and local financial supervision and management departments should strengthen the monitoring,
identification and disposal of illegal financial activities; (iv) Local Financial Organizations established before the implementation of the Draft Regulations
on Local Financial Supervision and Management, shall meet the prescribed conditions within the period specified by the local financial supervision and
management departments. As for the Local Financial Organizations carry out our and the VIE Group’s business crossed the provincial administrative
regions, the financial supervision and management departments of the State Council shall clarify the transitional arrangements to achieve a smooth
transition and shall not carry out the relevant local financial business if do not meet the requirements within a prescribed time. While the Draft Regulations
on Local Financial Supervision and Management had been released for consultation purpose, there is still uncertainty regarding the Draft Regulations on
Local Financial Supervision and Management as to its final content, its adoption timeline or effective date, its final interpretation and implementation, and
other aspects.
Regulations on Sharing Information of and Imposing Disciplinary Measures on Discredited Parties subject to Enforcement
The Several Provisions on Announcement of the List of Discredited Parties Subject to Enforcement promulgated by the Supreme People’s Court on
July 16, 2013, and amended on February 28, 2017, or Several Provisions, provides the framework for collecting and sharing information of discredited
parties which are subject to law enforcement actions. According to the Several Provisions, where a party subject to enforcement fails to perform the
obligations determined in a valid legal document, under any of the following circumstances, a people’s court shall record him/her in the list of discredited
parties subject to enforcement, and impose credit-related disciplinary measures pursuant to the law in cases if: (i) he/she has the capacity to perform but
refuses to perform the obligations determined in the valid legal document; (ii) he/she hinders or resists enforcement by way of forging evidence, violence or
coercion; (iii) he/she circumvents enforcement by way of false lawsuit, false arbitration or concealment or removal of properties; (iv) there is a violation of
property reporting system; (v) there is a violation of order to restrict consumption; or (vi) he/she refuses to perform settlement agreement for enforcement
without a valid reason.
The Several Provisions further provide that people’s courts at all levels shall record the information of the discredited parties subject to enforcement
in the database of the Supreme People’s Court, and announce such information to the public on a unified basis through such database. Furthermore, the
people’s court at all levels may, based on the actual conditions of the locality, announce the list of discredited parties subject to enforcement by way of
newspapers, radio, television, Internet, bulletin board of the court, and may hold press conference or engage other methods for announcement of
implementation status of lists of discredited parties subject to enforcement by these courts and courts within their respective jurisdictions.
In accordance with the Notice on Issuing the Memorandum of Cooperation on Jointly Imposing Disciplinary Measures against Discredited Parties
Subject to Enforcement promulgated by the NDRC and other government agencies on January 20, 2016, or the Joint Disciplinary Measures Memorandum,
the NDRC will, on the basis of the national credit information sharing platform, establish a system for joint disciplinary measures against discredited acts.
Through said system, Supreme People’s court shall provide other governmental agencies who have signed this Joint Disciplinary Measures Memorandum
with the information of discredited parties subject to enforcement, and update such information according to the relevant provisions. Other governmental
agencies shall obtain the information of discredited parties subject to enforcement via said system, implement or assist in implementing the disciplinary
measures specified in the Joint Disciplinary Measures Memorandum, and report the information on implementation of such measures to the Supreme
People’s Court and the NDRC via said system. The disciplinary measures for the discredited parties include, among others, (i) restrictions on participation
in government procurement; (ii) restrictions on establishment of insurance companies and financing guarantee companies; (iii) provision of relevant
information as a prudent reference for all financial institutions when financial institutions approve credit applications; (iv) restrictions on support of subsidy
or social security funds; (v) provision of reference for accreditation of preferential policies; (vi) for individuals, restrictions on serving as legal
representative, director or supervisor of wholly state-owned enterprises, legal representative of public institutions, public servants or staff members of
public institutions; (vii) for individuals, restrictions on luxurious consumptions, including but not limited to taking airplanes, luxurious sleeping
compartments on trains, higher star-rated hotels, night clubs or golf courses, and other consumption unnecessary for living and working.
Regulations on Illegal Fund-Raising
The Measures for the Banning of Illegal Financial Institutions and Illegal Financial Business Operations promulgated by the State Council in July
1998 and revised in 2011, and the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning the Penalty on Illegal Fund-Raising issued by the General Office of the State
Council in July 2007, explicitly prohibit illegal public fund-raising.
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According to Regulations on Preventing and Dealing with Illegal Fundraising, which came into effect in May 2021 and replaced the Measures for
the Banning of Illegal Financial Institutions and Illegal Financial Business Operations, illegal fundraising involves collecting funds from non-specific
targets with promised principal and interest or other investment returns, without lawful permission from the State Council’s financial management
departments or in violation of China’s financial management rules. Provincial-level governments should have overall responsibility for anti-illegal
fundraising efforts within their respective administrative regions, and local governments should build necessary work mechanisms. Financial and non-
banking payment institutions should report large-value and suspicious transactions as required, and analyze and identify related accounts having suspected
association with illegal fundraising.
We and the VIE Group act as an information intermediary for and are not a party to the loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform.
We and the VIE Group rely on third-party payment platforms in handling funds transfer and settlement. We and the VIE Group signed a custody account
arrangement with AIBANK in November 27, 2019 and changed our and the VIE Group’s custodian institution into AIBANK since December 2019.
Regulations on Anti-money Laundering
The PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, which became effective in January 2007, stipulates that special non-financial institutions which are required
by relevant regulations to perform obligations of anti-money laundering shall comply with the anti-money laundering obligations. The PBOC and other
regulatory authorities issued a series of administrative regulations and rules to specify the anti-money laundering obligations of financial institutions and
special non-financial institutions.
In cooperation with our and the VIE Group’s institutional partners, we and the VIE Group have adopted various policies and procedures, including
“know-your-customer” procedures, Customer due diligence, and Customer screening procedures, for anti-money laundering purposes. However, as the
detailed anti-money laundering regulations of loan facilitators have not been published, there is uncertainty as to how the anti-money laundering
requirements will be interpreted and implemented and whether loan service providers like us must abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the PRC
Anti-money Laundering Law that are applicable to nonfinancial institutions with anti-money laundering obligations. We and the VIE Group cannot assure
you that our and the VIE Group’s existing anti-money laundering policies and procedures will be deemed to be in full compliance with any anti-money
laundering laws and regulations that may become applicable to us in the future.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
Investments in the PRC by foreign investors and foreign-invested enterprises are regulated by the Special Administrative Measures for Access of
Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List. The establishment of wholly foreign-owned enterprises is generally allowed
in industries not included in the 2021 Negative List. Industries not listed in the 2021 Negative List are generally open to foreign investments unless
specifically restricted by other applicable Chinese regulations. Under the 2021 Negative List, foreign equity in companies providing value-added
telecommunications services, excluding e-commerce, domestic multi-party communications, data collection and transmission services, and call centers,
should not exceed 50%.
Foreign investment in telecommunications companies in the PRC is also governed by the Provisions on Administration of Foreign-Invested
Telecommunications Enterprises, or the Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises Provisions, which was promulgated by the State Council on
December 11, 2001, and amended on September 10, 2008 and February 6, 2016. The Foreign-Invested Telecommunications Enterprises Provisions prohibit
a foreign investor from holding over 50% of the total equity interest in any value-added telecommunication service business in China. In addition, the
major foreign investor who invests in a foreign-invested value-added telecommunications enterprise and operates the value-added telecommunication
service business in China must demonstrate a good track record and experience in operation of value-added telecommunication service business. Pursuant
to the Decision of the State Council to Amend and Repeal Certain Administrative Regulations (2022) which was promulgated on March 29, 2022 and will
be effective on May 1, 2022, except as otherwise stipulated by the state, the foreign investor contemplating to acquire equity interest in a value-added
telecommunications services provider in China will not be required to demonstrate experience in operating value-added telecommunication business
overseas and good track records.
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The National People’s Congress adopted the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC on March 15, 2019 and its implementation regulation later on
December 26, 2019, which became effective on January 1, 2020 and replaced three then existing laws on foreign investments in China, namely, the PRC
Equity Joint Venture Law, the PRC Cooperative Joint Venture Law and the Wholly Foreign-owned Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules
and ancillary regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime
in line with prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic invested
enterprises in China. The Foreign Investment Law establishes the basic framework for the access to, and the promotion, protection and administration of
foreign investments in view of investment protection and fair competition. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, China will grant national
treatment to foreign invested entities, except for those foreign invested entities that operate in industries that fall within “restricted” or “prohibited”
categories as prescribed in the “negative list” to be released or approved by the State Council.
Furthermore, the Interim Administrative Measures for the Record-filing of the Incorporation and Change of Foreign-invested Enterprises (amended
in 2018) was replaced by Measures for the Reporting of Foreign Investment Information, or the Foreign Investment Information Measures. Since January 1,
2020, for foreign investors carrying out investment activities directly or indirectly in the PRC, foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises shall submit
investment information through the Enterprise Registration System and the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System operated by the State
Administration for Market Regulation. Foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises shall disclose their investment information by submitting reports
for their establishments, modifications and cancellations and their annual reports in accordance with the Foreign Investment Information Measures. If a
foreign-invested enterprise investing in the PRC has finished submitting its reports for its establishment, modifications and cancellation and its annual
reports, the relevant information will be shared by the competent market regulation department to the competent commercial department, and does not
require such foreign-invested enterprise to submit the reports separately.
Regulations Relating to Internet Companies
Regulations on Value-Added Telecommunication Services
The Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC, or the Telecommunications Regulations, promulgated by the State Council on September 25, 2000
and amended on July 29, 2014 and February 6, 2016, provide a regulatory framework for telecommunication service providers in the PRC. The
Telecommunications Regulations require telecommunication service providers to obtain an operating license prior to the commencement operations. The
Telecommunications Regulations categorize telecommunication services into basic telecommunication services and value-added telecommunication
services. According to the Catalog of Telecommunication Business, attached to the Telecommunications Regulations, both information services and online
data processing and transaction processing services provided via fixed network, mobile network and Internet fall within value-added telecommunication
services.
In July 2017, the MIIT promulgated the Administrative Measures on Telecommunication Business Operating Licenses. Under these regulations, a
commercial operator of value-added telecommunication services must first obtain a license for value-added telecommunication service business, or VATS
License, from the MIIT or its provincial level counterparts.
In July 2006, the Ministry of Information Industry of the PRC, the predecessor of the MIIT, issued the Circular on Strengthening the Administration
of Foreign Investment in the Operation of Value-added Telecommunication Business, which prohibits holders of telecommunication business licenses from
leasing, transferring or selling their licenses in any form, or providing any resource, sites or facilities, to any foreign investor intending to conduct such
business in China.
Regulation on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services
In addition to the Telecommunications Regulations and other regulations above, mobile application information service providers are especially
regulated by the Administrative Provisions on Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, or the APP Provisions, which were promulgated by the
CAC, on June 28, 2016 and amended on June 14, 2022. According to the APP Provisions, the CAC and its local counterparts shall be responsible for the
supervision and administration of nationwide or local mobile application information, respectively.
Under the APP Provisions, the APP information service providers shall satisfy relevant qualifications required by laws and regulations, strictly
fulfill their responsibilities of information security management, and perform the following duties: (i) verify identities with the registered users through
mobile phone numbers etc.; (ii) establish a mechanism for examining the content of the information; (iii) obtain an internet news and information services
license or other administrative licenses for information services. In particular, the APP Provisions stipulate the obligations in relation to cyber security, data
security and personal information protection, emphasizing the necessity for personal information collection and the fact that users shall not be denied the
use of the basic function services of certain applications merely on account of their refusal to provide unnecessary personal information. The APP
Provisions
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also set out the requirements for application distribution platforms, which include, among others, (i) filing the required information with the local network
information administration authority within 30 days from the time the platform has become operational; and (ii) establishing classification management
systems. If the applications violate the amended provisions, relevant laws and regulations, and service agreements, the application distribution platform
shall take such measures as giving warnings, suspension of services, removal of the application from the platform, etc. It shall also keep relevant records
and report the breach to competent authorities.
The MIIT issued the Notice on the Further Special Rectification of Apps Infringing upon Users’ Personal Rights and Interests, or the Further
Rectification Notice, on July 22, 2020. The notice requires that certain conducts of app service providers should be inspected with respect to (i) collecting
personal information without the user’s consent, collecting or using personal information beyond the necessary scope of providing services, and forcing
users to receive advertisements; (ii) requesting user’s permission in a compulsory and frequent manner, or frequently launching third-parties apps; and (iii)
deceiving and misleading users into downloading apps or providing personal information. The notice also set forth that the period for the regulatory
specific inspection on apps and that the MIIT will order the non-compliant entities to modify their business within five business days, or otherwise to make
public announcement to remove the apps from the app stores and impose other administrative penalties.
We and the VIE Group have implemented necessary programs in our and the VIE Group’s mobile application to make sure the collection, protection
and preservation of user information are in compliance with the APP Provisions in all material aspects.
Regulations on Internet Security
Internet information in China is regulated and restricted from a national security standpoint. The Standing Committee of the National People’s
Congress, or the SCNPC, has enacted the Decisions on Maintaining Internet Security on December 28, 2000 and further amended on August 27, 2009,
which may subject violators to criminal punishment for any effort to: (i) gain improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance; (ii)
disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets; (iv) spread false commercial information; or (v) infringe intellectual property rights.
In 1997, the MPS has promulgated measures that prohibit use of the Internet in ways which, among other things, result in a leakage of state secrets or a
spread of socially destabilizing content. If an Internet information service provider violates these measures, the MPS and its local counterparts may revoke
its operating license and shut down its websites.
Pursuant to the Cyber Security Law of the PRC promulgated by the SCNPC on November 7, 2016 and effective on June 1, 2017, network operators,
including Internet information service providers, shall comply with laws and regulations and fulfill their obligations to safeguard security of the network
when conducting business and providing services, and take all necessary measures pursuant to laws, regulations and compulsory national requirements to
safeguard the safe and stable operation of the networks, respond to network security incidents effectively, prevent illegal and criminal activities, and
maintain the integrity, confidentiality and usability of network data.
The Measures for Cybersecurity Review were jointly issued on December 28, 2021 and took effect on February 15, 2022. The measures provide
detailed rules regarding cyber security review, and any operator in violation of the regulations shall be penalized in accordance with the Cyber Security
Law, and the Data Security Law. The Measures for Cybersecurity Review specifies that the procurement of network products and services by operator of
critical information infrastructure and the activities of data process carried out by online platform operator that raise or may raise “national security”
concerns are subject to strict cyber security review by Office of Cyber Security Review established by the CAC. In addition, online platform operators that
possesses the personal data of at least one million users must apply for a review by the Cyber Security Review Office, if they plan listing of companies in
foreign countries. The CAC may voluntarily conduct cyber security review if any network products and services, activities of data process or listing of
companies overseas affects or may affect national security.
The Administrative Provisions for Text Message and Voice Call Service (Draft) were published to solicit public comments on August 31, 2020. It
provides that no entity or individual can send commercial text messages or make commercial calls to users without user consent. In case of violation, the
relevant governmental authorities may order to make rectification, impose warnings or fines, make public announcements, or enforce other administrative
measures. Under severe circumstances, the relevant governmental authorities may revoke the telecommunication licenses and phone number sources of the
violating entity or individual.
The Ministry of Public Security issued the Guiding Opinions on Implementing the Network Security Level Protection System and Critical
Information Infrastructure Security Protection System on July 22, 2020, which stipulate that internet operators shall cooperate with public security
authorities to crack down on illegal and criminal online activities. In the event of online crimes, material cyber security threats and incidents, the internet
operators shall promptly report to and provide necessary assistance to the public security authorities.
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The PRC Data Security Law became effective on September 1, 2021. It establishes a data protection system based on the category and security level
of the data in terms of its importance for economic and social development and the potential harm caused by illegal use of such data to national security,
public interest or rights and interests of individuals and organizations. Competent governmental authorities shall be responsible to formulate lists for “key
data.” Higher level of protection shall apply to “national core data” which refers to data that are vital to national security, economy, people’s livelihood and
major public interests. According to the Data Security Law, data activities affecting or likely to affect national security will be subject to national security
review under the data security review system. The data relating to safeguarding national security and interests and performance of international obligations
shall be subject to export control of China. In addition, the Data Security Law provides that key data processors shall appoint a data security officer and
establish a management department to take charge of data security, and such processors shall evaluate the risk of their data activities periodically and file
assessment reports with the relevant regulatory authorities. Furthermore, data transaction intermediary service providers shall check the sources of the data,
the identities of parties involved in the data transactions and keep records accordingly. Violation of Data Security Law may subject the relevant entities or
individuals to warning, fines, suspension of business for rectification, revocation of permits or business licenses, and/or even criminal liabilities. According
to the Data Security Law, the maximum monetary fine imposed on the breaching party is RMB10 million. Since the Data Security Law is relatively new,
uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation.
On July 30, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Safe Protection Regulations which took effect on September 1, 2021. Pursuant to the Safe
Protection Regulations, critical information infrastructure refers to important network infrastructure and information system 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. The Safe Protection Regulations provide specific requirements for
the responsibilities and obligations of the operator: (i) the operator shall establish and improve the cyber security protection system and responsibility
system, and ensure the input of manpower, financial and material resources; (ii) the operator shall set up a special security management department, and
review the security background of the person in charge of the special security management department and the personnel in key positions; (iii) the operator
shall guarantee the operation funds of the special security management department, allocate corresponding personnel, and have the personnel of the special
security management department participate in the decision-making relating to cyber security and informatization; (iv) the operators shall give priority to
the purchase of safe and reliable network products and services; network products and services procured that may affect the national security shall be
subject to the security review in accordance with the national provisions on network security. The Safe Protection Regulations clarity the measures for
dealing with the failure of key information infrastructure operators to perform their responsibilities for security protection, such as imposing fines.
The Administrative Provisions on Security Vulnerability of Network Products, or the Provisions was jointly promulgated by the MIIT, the CAC and
the Ministry of Public Security on July 12, 2021 and became effective on September 1, 2021. Network product providers, network operators as well as
organizations or individuals engaging in the discovery, collection, release and other activities of network product security vulnerability are subject to the
Provisions and shall establish channels to receive information of security vulnerability of their respective network products and shall examine and fix such
security vulnerability in a timely manner. Network product providers are required to report relevant information of security vulnerability of network
products with the MIIT within two days and to provide technical support for network product users. Network operators shall take measures to examine and
fix security vulnerability after discovering or acknowledging that their networks, information systems or equipment have security loopholes. According to
the Provisions, the breaching parties may be subject to monetary fine as regulated in accordance with the Cyber Security Law. Since the Provisions is
relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation.
In addition, on November 14, 2021, the Administration Regulations on the Network Data Security (Draft for Comments) was proposed by the CAC
for public comments until December 13, 2021. It sets out general guidelines, protection of personal information, security of important data, security
management of cross-border data transfer, obligations of online platform operators, supervision and management, and legal liabilities. Key requirements
include: data processors should be in compliance with the requirements of multi-level cybersecurity protection, strengthen the data processing system, data
transmission network, data storage environment and other security protection, processing of important data systems in principle should meet the third level
or above of multi-level cybersecurity protection and critical information infrastructure security protection requirements; data processors should establish a
data security emergency response mechanism, and promptly start the emergency response mechanism in the event of a data security incident; the detailed
rules for data processors to apply when providing personal information to third parties, or sharing, trading or entrusting important data to third parties; the
scenarios of cybersecurity review; the definitions of important data and operators’ security protection obligations; the detailed rules on cross-border data
transfer; data processors processing personal information of more than one million people shall also comply with the regulations for processing of
important data; data processors dealing with important data or listing overseas (including Hong Kong) should carry out an annual data security assessment
by themselves or by entrusting data security service agencies, and each year before January 31, data security assessment report for the previous year shall
be submitted to the districted city level cyberspace administration department. The draft measures reiterate that data processors which process the personal
information of at least one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review if they plan listing of companies in foreign countries, and the draft
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measures further require the data processors that carry out the following activities to apply for cybersecurity review in accordance with the relevant laws
and regulations: (i) the merger, reorganization or division of internet platform operators that have gathered a large number of data resources related to
national security, economic development and public interests affects or may affect national security; (ii) other data processing activities that affect or may
affect national security. In addition, in one of the following situations, data processors shall delete or anonymize personal information within 15 business
days: (i) the purpose of processing personal information has been achieved or the purpose of processing is no longer needed; (ii) the storage term agreed
with the users or specified in the personal information processing rules has expired; (iii) the service has been terminated or the account has been canceled
by the individual; or (iv) unnecessary personal information or personal information unavoidably collected due to the use of automatic data collection
technology but without the consent of the individual. Any failure to comply with such requirements may subject us to, among others, suspension of
services, fines, revoking relevant business permits or business licenses and penalties. Since the revised draft has not been formally adopted as of the date of
this annual report, the revised draft (especially its operative provisions) and its anticipated adoption or effective date are subject to further changes with
substantial uncertainty.
We and the VIE Group have, in accordance with relevant provisions on the state network security and the requirements of the state’s system for
classified protection of information security, conducted the record-filing of class determination and class testing of information system, possessed perfect
network security facility and management system such as firewall, intrusion detection, data encryption and disaster recovery, etc.
Regulations on Privacy Protection
The Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, issued by the MIIT in December 2011, provide that an
Internet information service provider may not collect any user personal information or provide any such information to third parties without the consent of
a user. An Internet information service provider must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of
such user personal information and may only collect such information necessary for the provision of its services. An Internet information service provider
is also required to properly maintain the user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of the user personal information, online
information service providers must take immediate remedial measures and, in severe circumstances, make an immediate report to the telecommunication
regulatory authority.
In addition, pursuant to the Decision on Strengthening the Protection of Online Information issued by the SCNPC in December 2012 and the Order
for the Protection of Telecommunication and Internet User Personal Information issued by the MIIT in July 2013, any collection and use of user personal
information must be subject to the consent of the user, abide by the principles of legality, rationality and necessity and be within the specified purposes,
methods and scopes.
Pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law of the PRC issued by the SCNPC in August 2015 and became effective in November, 2015
any Internet service provider that fails to fulfill the obligations related to Internet information security administration as required by applicable laws and
refuses to rectify upon orders shall be subject to criminal penalty. On May 8, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate
released the Interpretations on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Citizens’
Personal Information, or the Personal Information Judicial Interpretations, which became effective on June 1, 2017. The Personal Information Judicial
Interpretations provide more practical conviction and sentencing criteria for the infringement of citizens’ personal information and mark a milestone for the
criminal protection of citizens’ personal information.
The Civil Code of PRC, which was issued by the National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020 and became effective from January 1, 2021, provides
that personal information of natural persons is protected by law. The Civil Code defines the processing of personal information as the collection, storage,
use, processing, transmittal, provision and disclosure of personal information. Furthermore, according to the Civil Code of PRC, any entity that engages in
the processing of personal information must follow the principles of lawfulness, fairness, and necessity and may not overuse personal information, and they
must obtain the consent of the natural person or his or her guardian, except as otherwise provided by laws and regulations.
On August 20, 2021, the SCNPC issued the Personal Information Protection Law, which came into effect from November 1, 2021. The Personal
Information Protection Law reiterates the circumstances under which a personal information processor could process personal information and the
requirements for such circumstances, such as when (1) the individual’s consent has been obtained; (2) the processing is necessary for the conclusion or
performance of a contract to which the individual is a party; (3) the processing is necessary to fulfill statutory duties and statutory obligations; (4) the
processing is necessary to respond to public health emergencies or protect natural persons’ life, health and property safety under emergency circumstances;
(5) the personal information that has been made public is processed within a reasonable scope in accordance with this Law; (6) personal information is
processed within a reasonable scope to conduct news reporting, public opinion-based supervision, and other activities in the public interest; or (7) under
any other circumstance as provided by any law or regulation. It also stipulates the obligations of a personal information processor. The Personal
Information
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Protection Law provides that a personal information processor could process publicly disclosed information within the reasonable scope in accordance
therewith on the basis of the six circumstances already specified thereunder. The Personal Information Protection Law clarifies the definition of “Sensitive
Personal Information”, which means personal information that, once leaked or illegally used, may give rise to discrimination against individuals or
seriously endanger personal or property security, including information on race, ethnicity, religious beliefs, personal biometric features, medical health,
financial accounts, and personal whereabouts, among others. To process sensitive personal information based on an individual’s consent, a personal
information processor shall obtain the separate consent from the individual. Where any law or administrative regulation provides that written consent shall
be obtained for processing sensitive personal information, such provision shall prevail. In terms of cross-border transmission of personal information,
pursuant to the Personal Information Protection Law, a personal information processor, providing personal information to any party outside the territory of
the PRC, shall notify individuals of the overseas recipient’s identity, contact information, processing purposes, processing methods, categories of personal
information, the methods in which individuals exercise the rights over the overseas recipient, and other matters, and obtain individuals’ separate consent.
Furthermore, critical information infrastructure operators and the personal information processors that process the personal information reaching or
exceeding the threshold specified by the national cyberspace administration in terms of quantity shall store domestically the personal information collected
and generated within the territory of the PRC. Where it is truly necessary to provide the information abroad, the security assessment organized by the
national cyberspace administration shall be passed, unless otherwise regulated by laws, administrative regulations, or provisions issued by the national
cyberspace administrative authorities. The Personal Information Protection Law provides that if an overseas organization or individual engages in personal
information processing activities that damage the rights and interests relating to personal information of citizens of the PRC or compromise national
security or public interests of the PRC, the national cyberspace administration may include it or him in a list of those the provision of personal information
to whom is restricted or prohibited, make an announcement, and take measures such as restricting or prohibiting the provision of personal information to it
or him. On the other hand, personal information processors shall themselves, on the basis of the purposes of the processing of personal information,
processing methods, categories of personal information, the impacts on individuals, and potential security risks, among others, take necessary measures to
ensure that personal information processing activities comply with the provisions of laws and administrative regulations, and prevent unauthorized access
to as well as the leakage, tampering or loss of personal information.
While we and the VIE Group have taken measures to protect the confidential information that we and the VIE Group have access to, our and the
VIE Group’s security measures could be breached. Any accidental or willful security breaches or other unauthorized access to our and the VIE Group’s
platform could cause confidential information of lenders and borrowers to be stolen and used for criminal purposes. Security breaches or unauthorized
access to confidential information could also expose us to liability related to the loss of information, time-consuming and expensive litigation and negative
publicity. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—If we and the VIE Group are unable to protect
the confidential information of our and the VIE Group’s users and adapt to the relevant regulatory framework regarding protection of such information, our
and the VIE Group’s business and operations may be adversely affected.”
Regulations on Internet Advertising
The Interim Measures for Administration of Internet Advertising, or the Internet Advertising Measures, were promulgated by the SAIC and became
effective on September 1, 2016. According to the Internet Advertising Measures, Internet advertisers are responsible for the authenticity of the content of
advertisements. Internet advertisements shall be distinguishable and prominently marked as “advertisements” in order to enable consumers to identify them
as advertisements. It is required that publishing and circulating advertisements through the Internet shall not affect the normal use of the Internet by users.
It is not allowed to induce users to click on the content of advertisements by any fraudulent means, or to attach advertisements or advertising links in the
emails without permission.
Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights
The PRC has adopted comprehensive legislation governing intellectual property rights, including copyrights, patents, trademarks and domain names.
Copyright. Copyright in the PRC, including copyrighted software, is principally protected under the PRC Copyright Law and related regulations and
rules. Under the PRC Copyright Law, the term of protection for copyrighted software is 50 years.
Patent. The PRC Patent Law provides for patentable inventions, utility models and designs, which must meet three conditions: novelty,
inventiveness and practical applicability. The State Intellectual Property Office under the State Council is responsible for examining and approving patent
applications. The duration of a patent right is either 10 years or 20 years from the date of application, depending on the type of patent right.
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Trademark. The PRC Trademark Law promulgated on August 23, 1982 and most recently revised on April 23, 2019 and became effective on
November 1, 2019, and its implementation rules promulgated on August 3, 2002 and revised on April 29, 2014, protect registered trademarks. The PRC
Trademark Law has adopted a “first-to-file” principle with respect to trademark registration. The Trademark Office under the SAIC is responsible for the
registration and administration of trademarks throughout the PRC, and grants a term of 10 years to registered trademarks and another 10 years if requested
upon expiry of the initial or extended term. Trademark license agreements must be filed with the Trademark Office for record.
Domain Name. Domain names are protected under the Administrative Measures on the Internet Domain Names promulgated by the MIIT and
effective on November 1, 2017. The MIIT is the major regulatory authority responsible for the administration of the PRC Internet domain names. The
registration of domain names in PRC is on a “first-apply-first-registration” basis. A domain name applicant will become the domain name holder upon the
completion of the application procedure. Our and the VIE Group’s major domain name “niwodai.com” has been registered.
Regulations Relating to Mergers and Acquisitions and Overseas Listings
Six PRC regulatory authorities, including the CSRC, jointly adopted the Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by
Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, which became effective in September 2006 and were amended on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules, among other
things, require offshore SPVs formed for overseas listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies 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 February 17, 2023, the CSRC promulgated the Trial Administrative Measures and five supporting guidelines, which became effective on March
31, 2023. Pursuant to the Trial Administrative Measures, PRC domestic enterprises that directly or indirectly offer or list their securities in an overseas
market, which include (i) any PRC company limited by shares, and (ii) any offshore company that conducts its business operations primarily in China and
contemplates to offer or list its securities in an overseas market based on its onshore equities, assets or similar interests, are required to complete the filing
with the CSRC. Specifically, (i) where PRC domestic enterprises conduct overseas initial public offering or listing, or offer and list securities in other
overseas markets upon completion of overseas offering and listing, PRC domestic enterprises shall file with the CSRC within three business days after its
application for overseas offering and listing is submitted; and (ii) where PRC domestic enterprises offer securities in the same overseas market upon
completion of overseas offering and listing, PRC domestic enterprises shall file with the CSRC within three business days after completion of offering. In
addition, PRC domestic enterprises are required to report detailed information of material events after the completion of overseas offering and listing within
three business days after the relevant events occur and are announced, including (i) change of control right; (ii) investigation, penalties or other measures
imposed by overseas securities regulatory authorities or competent departments; (iii) change of listing status or listing board; and (iv) voluntary termination
of listing or compulsory termination of listing. Failure to complete the filing under the Trial Administrative Measures may subject a PRC domestic
enterprise to rectification ordered by the CSRC, warning, and fine of RMB1 million to RMB10 million.
On February 24, 2023, the CSRC and other relevant government authorities promulgated the Provisions on Confidentiality and Archives
Management, which became effective on March 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Provision on Confidentiality and Archives Management, PRC domestic
enterprises that seek to offer and list securities in overseas markets shall establish confidentiality and archives management system. The PRC domestic
enterprises shall obtain approval from the competent authority and file with the confidential administration department at the same level when providing or
publicly disclosing documents and materials related to state secrets or secrets of the governmental authorities to the underwriters or other agencies or the
offshore regulatory authorities, and shall complete corresponding procedures when providing or publicly disclosing documents and materials which may
adversely influence national security and the public interest.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange
Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange
The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, most recently
amended in August 2008. Under the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions, interest
payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the SAFE by
complying with certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate regulatory authorities is required where
Renminbi is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital account items, such as direct investment, repayment of foreign
currency-denominated loans, repatriation of investment and investment in securities outside of China.
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On March 30, 2015, the SAFE promulgated SAFE Circular 19, which was partially abolished on December 30, 2019, to expand the reform
nationwide. Under SAFE Circular 19, the foreign exchange capital in the capital account of foreign-invested enterprises upon the confirmation of rights and
interests of monetary contribution by the local branches of the SAFE (or the book-entry registration of monetary contribution by the banks) can be settled
at the banks based on the actual operation needs of the enterprises. The proportion of discretionary settlement of foreign exchange capital of foreign-
invested enterprises is currently 100%. The SAFE can adjust such proportion in due time based on the circumstances of international balance of payments.
On June 9, 2016, the SAFE promulgated the SAFE Circular 16, SAFE Circular 16 continue to prohibit foreign-invested enterprises from, among other
things, using Renminbi fund converted from its foreign exchange capitals for expenditure beyond its business scope, investment and financing (except for
security investment or guarantee products issued by bank), providing loans to non-affiliated enterprises or constructing or purchasing real estate not for
self-use. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment
in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our
initial public offering and any further offerings to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially
and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.”
On January 26, 2017, the SAFE issued the Circular on Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness
and Compliance Verification, or SAFE Circular 3, which stipulates several capital control measures with respect to the outbound remittance of profit from
domestic entities, including (i) under the principle of genuine transaction, banks shall check board resolutions regarding profit distribution, the original
version of tax filing records and audited financial statements; and (ii) domestic entities shall hold income to account for previous years’ losses before
remitting the profits. Moreover, pursuant to SAFE Circular 3, domestic entities shall make detailed explanations of the sources of capital and utilization
arrangements, and provide board resolutions, contracts and other proof when completing the registration procedures in connection with an outbound
investment.
On April 14, 2020, SAFE issued the Notice on Optimizing Foreign Exchange Administration to Support the Development of Foreign-related
Business. It stipulates that on the premise of ensuring the true and compliant use of funds and compliance with the existing regulations on use of income
under the capital account, enterprises which satisfy the criteria are allowed to use income under the capital account, such as capital funds, foreign debt and
overseas listing for domestic payment, without prior provision of proof materials for veracity to the bank for each transaction. The authority to process the
deregistration of qualified overseas loans under domestic guarantee and overseas lending shall be delegated to banks.
Regulations on Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investment by PRC Residents
The SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to PRC Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through
Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, on July 4, 2014, which replaced the former circular commonly known as “SAFE Circular 75.” SAFE
Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of the SAFE in connection with their direct establishment or indirect control of an
offshore entity, for the purpose of offshore investment and financing, with such PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic
enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle.” SAFE Circular 37 further requires amendment to
the registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to the special purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by
PRC residents, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or other material event.
On February 13, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange
Concerning Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, the attachment of which was partially abolished on December 30, 2019. After SAFE Circular 13
became effective on June 1, 2015, instead of applying for approvals regarding foreign exchange registrations of foreign direct investment and offshore
direct investment from the SAFE, entities and individuals will be required to apply for such foreign exchange registrations from qualified banks. The
qualified banks, under the supervision of the SAFE, will directly examine the applications and conduct the registration.
In the event that a PRC shareholder holding interests in a special purpose vehicle fails to fulfill the required SAFE registration, the PRC subsidiaries
of that special purpose vehicle may be prohibited from making profit distributions to the offshore parent and from carrying out subsequent cross-border
foreign exchange activities, and the special purpose vehicle may be restricted in its ability to contribute additional capital into its PRC subsidiaries.
Furthermore, failure to comply with the various SAFE registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of
foreign exchange controls. Mr. Dinggui Yan, Mr. Guanglin Zhang and Mr. Yuanle Wu, who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands
holding company and who are known to us as being PRC residents, have completed their SAFE registration pursuant to SAFE Circular 37.
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Regulations on Employee Share Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company
Pursuant to the Circular on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Share Incentive Plan
of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company , issued by the SAFE in February 2012, individuals participating in any share incentive plan of any overseas publicly
listed company who are PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year, subject to a few
exceptions, are required to register with the SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas publicly listed
company, and complete certain other procedures. We and our executive officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens who reside
in China for a continuous period of not less than one year and have been granted options are subject to these regulations. Failure by these individuals to
complete their SAFE registrations may subject us and them to fines and other legal sanctions. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks
Relating to Doing Business in China—Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee share incentive
plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.”
The SAT has issued certain circulars concerning employee share options and restricted shares. Under these circulars, our and the VIE Group’s
employees working in China who exercise share options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file
documents related to employee share options with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their
share options. If our and the VIE Group’s employees fail to pay or we and the VIE Group fail to withhold their income taxes according to relevant laws and
regulations, we and the VIE Group may face sanctions imposed by the tax authorities or other PRC regulatory authorities.
Regulations on Dividend Distribution
Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries, which are
wholly foreign-owned enterprises incorporated in China, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. The principal regulations governing
distribution of dividends of foreign-invested enterprises is the Company Law of the PRC. Under the Company Law of the PRC, companies in China may
pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, companies
in China are required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until the cumulative amount of
such statutory reserves reaches 50% of its registered capital. The aforementioned registered capital refers to the total amount of share capital subscribed by
all shareholders or the amount of capital contribution made by all shareholders, as registered with the registration authority. Furthermore, companies in
China may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at their discretion. The statutory
reserve funds and the discretionary surplus funds are not distributable as cash dividends. After our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE have
generated retained earnings and met the requirements for appropriation to the statutory reserves and until such reserves reach 50% of its registered capital,
respectively, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE can distribute dividends upon approval of the shareholders.
Regulations Relating to Employment
The PRC Labor Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law require that employers must execute written employment contracts with full-time
employees. All employers must compensate their employees with wages equal to at least the local minimum wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor
Law and the PRC Labor Contract Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative sanctions, and serious violations may result in
criminal liabilities.
Enterprises in China are required by PRC laws and regulations to participate in certain employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds,
namely a pension fund, a medical insurance fund, an unemployment insurance fund, a work-related injury insurance fund and a maternity insurance fund,
and a housing provident fund, and contribute to the funds in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of the
employees as specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate their businesses or where they are located. According to
the Social Insurance Law of the PRC and Interim Regulation on the Collection and Payment of Social Insurance Premiums, an employer that fails to make
social insurance contributions may be ordered to rectify the non-compliance and pay the required contributions within a stipulated deadline and be subject
to a late fee of up to 0.05% or 0.2% per day, as the case may be. If the employer still fails to rectify the failure to make social insurance contributions within
the stipulated deadline, it may be subject to a fine ranging from one to three times the amount overdue. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.” In addition,
the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC requires companies operating in China to withhold individual income tax on employees’ salaries based on the
actual salary of each employee upon payment.
Prior to March 2018, we and the VIE Group failed to make adequate contributions to employee benefit plans or adequate employee individual
income tax withholdings, as required by applicable PRC laws and regulations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
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Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans and withhold individual
income tax on employees’ salaries as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.” We and the VIE Group have recorded accruals for the
estimated underpaid amounts in our and the VIE Group’s financial statements. Since March 2018, we and the VIE Group have made adequate payments for
the social welfare and housing provident fund and withholding individual tax for our and the VIE Group’s employees in accordance with relevant laws and
regulations.
Regulations Relating to Tax
Dividend Withholding Tax
Pursuant to the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the PRC, or the EIT Law and its implementation rules, which became effective on January 1, 2008
and amended on December 29, 2018, if a non-resident enterprise has not set up an organization or establishment in the PRC, or has set up an organization
or establishment but the income derived has no actual connection with such organization or establishment, it will be subject to a withholding tax on its
PRC-sourced income at a rate of 10%. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the
Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, the withholding tax rate in respect to the payment of dividends by a PRC resident enterprise to a
Hong Kong resident enterprise is reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10% if the Hong Kong enterprise directly holds at least 25% of the PRC enterprise.
Pursuant to the Circular on Issues Concerning the Application of the Dividend Clauses of Tax Agreements issued by the SAT, or SAT Circular 81, a Hong
Kong resident enterprise must meet the following conditions, among others, in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax: (i) it must directly own the
required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC resident enterprise; and (ii) it must have directly owned such percentage in the PRC
resident enterprise throughout the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends. There are also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate
according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. In October 2019, the SAT promulgated the Announcement of the State Taxation Administration on
Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Non-resident Taxpayers’ Enjoyment of Treaty Benefits, or SAT circular 35, which became effective on
January 1, 2020, replacing the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Taxpayers to Enjoy Treatments under Tax Treaties. SAT Circular 35 provides that
non-resident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax rate. Instead,
non-resident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty
benefits are met, file the Information Reporting Form for Non-resident Taxpayers Claiming Treaty Benefits and directly apply the reduced withholding tax
rate when performing tax filings, and collet and retain relevant supporting documents, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant
tax authorities. Accordingly, Geerong (HK) may be able to enjoy the 5% withholding tax rate for the dividends they receive from our and the VIE Group’s
PRC subsidiaries, if it satisfies the conditions prescribed under SAT Circular 81 and other relevant tax regulations and rules. However, according to SAT
Circular 81 and SAT Circular 35, if the relevant tax authorities consider the transactions or arrangements we and the VIE Group have are for the primary
purpose of enjoying a favorable tax treatment, the relevant tax authorities may adjust the favorable withholding tax in the future. According to the Circular
on Several Issues regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties , which was issued on February 3, 2018 by the SAT, effective as of April 1, 2018, when
determining the applicant’s status of the “beneficial owner”, several factors in connection with dividends, interests or royalties in the tax treaties, including
without limitation, whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than 50% of his or her income in twelve months to residents of third country or region,
whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes actual business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties levy
no tax, grant tax exemption on relevant incomes or levy tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account. The applicant’s status will be analyzed in
light of actual circumstances of specific cases. This circular further provides that applicants who intend to prove his or her status of the “beneficial owner”
shall submit the relevant documents to the relevant tax bureau according to SAT Circular 35.
Enterprise Income Tax
The EIT Law and its implementing rules are the principal regulations governing enterprise income tax in the PRC. The EIT Law imposes a uniform
enterprise income tax rate of 25% on all resident enterprises in the PRC, including foreign-invested enterprises. Under the EIT Law, an enterprise
established outside China with its “de facto management body” located within China is considered a “resident enterprise”, which means that it is treated in
a manner similar to a PRC domestic enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the EIT Law define “de facto management
body” as a managing body that in practice exercises “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel,
accounting, and properties” of the enterprise.
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The SAT issued the Circular on Issues Concerning the Identification of Chinese-Controlled Offshore Incorporated Enterprises as Resident
Enterprises in Accordance With the Actual Standards of Organizational Management, or SAT Circular 82 in 2009. According to SAT Circular 82, a
Chinese-controlled offshore incorporated enterprise will be regarded as a PRC resident enterprise by virtue of having a “de facto management body” in
China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its worldwide income only if all of the following criteria are met:(i) the senior executives and
core management departments in charge of the day-to-day operations have their presence mainly in China; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s
financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by organizations or personnel in China; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets,
accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholders meeting minutes are located or maintained in China; and (iv) 50% or more of
voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in China.
If we were to be considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on our global income.
In such case, our profitability and cash flow may be materially reduced as a result of our global income being taxed under the EIT Law. We believe that
none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to
determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.”
In the event that we are considered to be a PRC resident enterprise, interest paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC
resident enterprises as well as gains realized by such shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs may be regarded as PRC-
sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC withholding tax at a rate of up to 10%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax
treaties, and similarly, dividends paid to our overseas shareholders or ADS holders who are non-PRC resident individuals, as well as gains realized by such
shareholders or ADS holders from the transfer of our shares or ADSs, may be regarded as PRC-sourced income and as a result be subject to PRC
withholding tax at a rate of 20%, subject to any reduction or exemption set forth in relevant tax treaties.
SAT issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or SAT Bulletin 7, on
February 3, 2015, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under the circular commonly known as “SAT Circular 698.” Under SAT Bulletin
7, an “indirect transfer” of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and
treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose
of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax.
According to SAT Bulletin 7, “PRC taxable assets” include assets attributed to an establishment in China, immoveable properties in China, and equity
investment in PRC resident enterprises. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the relevant gain is to be regarded as
effectively connected with the PRC establishment and therefore included in its enterprise income tax filing, and would consequently be subject to PRC
enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties in China or to equity investment in a PRC
resident enterprise, which is not effectively connected to a PRC establishment of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would
apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the
transfer payments has the withholding obligation. There is uncertainty as to the implementation details of SAT Bulletin 7. If SAT Bulletin 7 was determined
by the tax authorities to be applicable to some of our transactions involving PRC taxable assets, our offshore subsidiaries conducting the relevant
transactions might be required to spend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 7 or to establish that the relevant transactions should not be taxed
under SAT Bulletin 7. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We face uncertainty with respect to
indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.”
Under applicable PRC laws, payers of PRC-sourced income to non-PRC residents are generally obligated to withhold PRC income taxes from the
payment. In the event of a failure to withhold, the non-PRC residents are required to pay such taxes on their own. Failure to comply with the tax payment
obligations by the non-PRC residents will result in penalties, including full payment of taxes owed, fines and default interest on those taxes.
PRC Value-Added Tax
In November 2011, the MOF and the SAT promulgated the Pilot Plan for Imposition of Value-Added Tax to Replace Business Tax, pursuant to
which, a VAT was imposed to replace the business tax in the transport and shipping industry and some of the modern service industries in certain pilot
regions from January 1, 2012. The pilot plan for replacing business tax with VAT was expanded to all regions and industries as of May 1, 2016 according to
the Circular on Fully Promoting the Pilot Plan for Replacing Business Tax with Value-Added Tax promulgated by the MOF and the SAT in March 2016.
Entities or individuals conducting business in the service industry in the PRC are required to pay a valued-added tax, or VAT, at a rate of 6% with respect to
revenues derived from the provision of online information services. A taxpayer is allowed to offset the qualified input VAT paid on taxable purchases
against the output VAT chargeable on the revenue from services provided.
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C.
Organizational Structure
The following diagram illustrates the corporate structure of us and the consolidated VIE, including the names, places of incorporation and the
proportion of ownership interests in our and the consolidated VIE’s significant subsidiaries and consolidated affiliated entities and their subsidiaries as of
the date of this annual report:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Jiayin Southeast Asia Holdings Limited was established in February 2018 to develop and operate our overseas business.
Jiayin Finance is owned as to 58% by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer, 27% by Shanghai Jinmushuihuotu
Investment Center (Limited Partnership), or Jinmushuihuotu Investment, 12% by Mr. Guanglin Zhang, and 3% by Mr. Yuanle Wu, who both are
employees of our company. Jinmushuihuotu Investment is established in connection with the share incentive plan of Jiayin Finance. See “Item 6.
Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plans—2019 Share Incentive Plan.” The general partner of
Jinmushuihuotu Investment is Shanghai Jinmushuihuotu Marketing and Planning Co., Ltd., or Jinmushuihuotu Marketing, which is controlled by
Mr. Dinggui Yan.
Jiayin Finance entered into Contractual Arrangements with Shanghai Kunjia. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational
Structure—Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the shareholders of Jiayin Finance.”
On January 28, 2022, Shanghai Niwodai Internet Services Co., Ltd. changed its corporate name to Shanghai Wuxingjia Information Technology
Co., Ltd. Shanghai Wuxingjia operates our online consumer finance platform.
Geerong Yun became our wholly-owned subsidiary after the business combination in September 2019.
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Shanghai Jiajie became our wholly-owned subsidiary after the business combination in July 2019.
Shanghai Chuangzhen Software Co., Ltd. was established in April 2020.
PT. Jayindo Fintek Pratama is owned as to 85% by us and it became our subsidiary after the business combination in April 2019.
Jiayin Shuke Information Technology Co., Ltd. was established in January 2021.
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(10) Hainan Yinke Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd was established in August 2021.
Risks Relating to the Consolidated VIE and China Operations
We are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to our corporate structure, including, but not limited to, the following:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jiayin Group Inc. is a Cayman Islands holding company primarily operating in China through its subsidiaries and contractual arrangements
with Jiayin Finance. Investors in the ADSs thus are not purchasing, and may never hold, equity interests in the consolidated VIE. 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 VIE’s operations in China, including potential future
actions by the PRC government, which could affect the enforceability of our contractual arrangements with Jiayin Finance and, consequently,
significantly affect the financial condition and results of operations of Jiayin Group 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 beneficial interest in Jiayin Finance 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 VIE face potential uncertainty from the PRC government’s
policy. Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions, or government policies may cause our and the consolidated VIE’s
underlying operations in China to become prohibitive, which could materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s business,
financial condition, and results of operations;
We and the consolidated VIE 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 VIE’s business and prospects, and may result in a material change in our and the
consolidated VIE’s operations and/or the value of our ADSs or could significantly limit or completely hinder our and the consolidated VIE’s
ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or be worthless;
It is unclear whether we and the consolidated VIE will be subject to the oversight of the CAC and how such oversight may impact us. Our
and the consolidated VIE’s business could be interrupted or we and the consolidated VIE could be subject to liabilities which may materially
and adversely affect the results of our and the consolidated VIE’s operation and the value of your investment;
The PRC government’s oversight over our and the consolidated VIE’s business operations could result in a material adverse change in our
and the consolidated VIE’s operations and the value of our ADSs;
The approval, filing or other requirements of the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required under PRC law in connection
with our future offering;
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 VIE’s reputation, which would
materially and adversely affect our and the consolidated VIE’s 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 with Jiayin Finance and shareholders of Jiayin Finance for a significant portion of our business
operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control, and these contractual arrangements have not
been tested in a court of law; and
Any failure by Jiayin Finance or shareholders of Jiayin Finance to perform their obligations under our Contractual Arrangements with them
would have a material adverse effect on our business.
For further details on the regulatory, liquidity, and enforcement risks relating to our corporate structure and the fact that we conduct substantially all
of our operations in China, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Corporate Structure”
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and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China.” You should also carefully consider other 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.
Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the Shareholders of Jiayin Finance
Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in, among other areas, value-added telecommunications services, which include
the operations of Internet content providers, or ICPs, we, similar to all other entities with foreign incorporated holding company structures operating in our
industry in China, currently conduct these activities mainly through Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries over which we exercise effective control through
Contractual Arrangements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and its shareholders.
The Contractual Arrangements allow us to:
•
•
•
exercise effective control over Jiayin Finance
receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Jiayin Finance; and
have an exclusive call option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in and/or assets of Jiayin Finance when and to the extent permitted
by laws.
As a result of these Contractual Arrangements, we are the primary beneficiary of Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries for accounting purposes, and,
therefore, have consolidated the financial results of Jiayin Finance and its subsidiaries in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S.
GAAP.
In the opinion of King & Wood Mallesons, our PRC legal counsel:
•
•
the ownership structure of Jiayin Finance is not in violation of applicable PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and
the Contractual Arrangements among Jiayin Finance and its shareholders, governed by PRC law are valid and binding in accordance with
their terms and applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect.
However, King & Wood Mallesons has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current
or future PRC laws, rules and regulations and there can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with the
opinion of our PRC legal counsel, King & Wood Mallesons. We have been further advised by our PRC legal counsel that if the PRC government finds that
the agreements that establish the structure for operating our online loan facilitating information services and Internet related value-added business do not
comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in the aforesaid business we engage in, we could be subject to severe penalties including
being prohibited from continuing operations.
The following is a summary of the currently effective Contractual Arrangements by and among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and the
shareholders of the Jiayin Finance.
Agreements that provide us with effective control over Jiayin Finance
Power of Attorney. Pursuant to the power of attorney issued by Jiayin Finance and its shareholders, each shareholder of Jiayin Finance, has
irrevocably appointed the board of directors of Shanghai Kunjia to act as such shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights,
including the right to attend and vote on shareholder’s meetings and appoint legal representatives, directors, supervisors and executive officers. In addition,
the board of directors of Shanghai Kunjia is also entitled to appropriate, use or otherwise dispose of all dividends and other distributions. Furthermore, all
activities of the board of directors of Shanghai Kunjia in connection with the equity interest of Jiayin Finance shall be considered activities of the
shareholders of Jiayin Finance, including in the execution of the exclusive call option agreement. The board of directors of Shanghai Kunjia may delegate
the power of attorney prescribed under this power of attorney to others without prior approval or notification. Jiayin Finance disclaims all rights and
powers entrusted to the directors of Shanghai Kunjia. The power of attorney will remain in force for so long as the shareholder remains a shareholder of
Jiayin Finance.
Equity Pledge Agreement. Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and each of the shareholders of
Jiayin Finance, the shareholders of Jiayin Finance have pledged all of their equity interest in Jiayin Finance as a continuing first priority security interest, as
applicable, to respectively guarantee Jiayin Finance’ performance of its obligations under
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the relevant Contractual Arrangements, which include the exclusive consultation and service agreement, exclusive call option agreement and power of
attorney agreement provided that the guaranteed obligation shall not exceed the expected market capitalization of Jiayin Finance, which is US$20 billion,
multiplied by their respective shareholding percentage. If Jianyin Finance breaches its contractual obligations under these agreements, Shanghai Kunjia, as
pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights regarding the pledged equity interests. In the event of such breaches, Shanghai Kunjia’s rights include forcing the
auction or sale of all or part of the pledged equity interests of Jiayin Finance and receiving proceeds from such auction or sale in accordance with PRC law
to the extent the rights of Shanghai Kunjia under the Contractual Arrangements are satisfied. In the event of significant decrease in value of the equity
interest of Jiayin Finance, in addition to the foregoing remedies, Shanghai Kunjia is also entitled to entrust notary with the proceeds from such auction or
sale, or requiring the shareholders, as pledgor, to provide other forms of security acceptable to Shanghai Kunjia. It is also agreed that any subscription of
additional registered capital of Jiayin Finance or any equity interests transferred among those shareholders will automatically be subject to this agreement
and the shareholders will be obligated to register pledge of such equity interest in ten business days. During the term of the applicable equity interest
pledges, such shareholder will not dispose of the pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests. Each equity
interest pledge will remain effective until the full performance of the contractual agreements, including the settlement of payment by Jiayin Finance and its
shareholders and indemnification of any losses caused by Jiayin Finance, if applicable, and termination of such contractual agreements. We have registered
pledges of equity interest in Jiayin Finance with the relevant office of the administration for industry and commerce in accordance with the PRC Property
Rights Law.
Agreement that allows us to receive economic benefits from Jiayin Finance
Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement. Pursuant to the Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement between Shanghai Kunjia and
Jiayin Finance, Shanghai Kunjia has the exclusive right to provide Jiayin Finance with consulting and other services. Without Shanghai Kunjia’s prior
written consent, Jiayin Finance may not accept any services subject to this agreement from any third party. In exchange, Shanghai Kunjia is entitled to
receive a service fee on a quarterly basis and at an amount equivalent to all of its net income. Shanghai Kunjia has the right to determine the service fee to
be charged to Jianyin Finance under this agreement by considering, among other things, the complexity of the services, the actual time that may be spent
and cost that may be incurred for providing such services, as well as the value and comparable price on the market of the service provided. Shanghai Kunjia
will exclusively enjoy all the rights, property rights and intellectual property rights created as a result of the performance of this agreement. Without prior
written consent of Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance shall not enter into any transactions which may materially affect Jiayin Finance’s assets, liabilities,
business operations, equity interests and other legal interests. Unless Shanghai Kunjia terminates this agreement in advance or otherwise required by law,
this agreement will remain effective for ten years and automatically extend for another ten years upon any expiration date. Jiayin Finance may not
terminate this agreement unilaterally.
Agreement that provides us with the option to purchase the equity interests in Jiayin Finance
Exclusive Call Option Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive call option agreements among Shanghai Kunjia, Jiayin Finance and shareholders of
Jiayin Finance, Jiayin Finance and each of their shareholders have irrevocably granted Shanghai Kunjia an exclusive option to purchase, or have its
designated person or persons to purchase, at its discretion at any time, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of such shareholder’s equity
interests in the applicable, or all or part of the assets, of Jiayin Finance for RMB1, or the minimum purchase price as permitted by PRC laws. Shareholders
of Jiayin Finance promise to make all efforts to enable Shanghai Kunjia to exercise its option, including but not limited to resignation and granting options
and right to earnings of Shanghai Kunjia. Without Shanghai Kunjia’s prior written consent, Jiayin Finance and its shareholders have agreed that they shall
not amend its articles of association, increase or decrease the registered capital, sell or otherwise dispose of its assets or beneficial interest, create or allow
any encumbrance on its assets or other beneficial interests, provide any loans or guarantees and etc. Jiayin Finance and its shareholders undertake to
appoint persons designated by Shanghai Kunjia as directors of Jiayin Finance. Unless Shanghai Kunjia terminates this agreement in advance or otherwise
required by law, this agreement will remain effective for ten years and automatically extend for another ten years upon any expiration date. Jiayin Finance
may not terminate this agreement unilaterally.
D.
Property, Plants and Equipment
Our and the VIE Group’s principal executive offices are located on leased premises comprising 11,177 square meters in Shanghai, China. We and
the VIE Group lease our premises mainly from unrelated third parties under operating lease agreements.
Our and the VIE Group’s servers are primarily hosted at third-party Internet data centers. We and the VIE Group believe that we will be able to
obtain adequate facilities, principally through leasing, to accommodate our future expansion plans.
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ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
The following discussion and analysis of our and the VIE Group’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with
our and the VIE Group’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F. This
discussion may contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our and the VIE Group’s 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 on Form 20-F. 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
Overview
We and the VIE Group are a leading fintech platform in China committed to facilitating effective, transparent, secure and fast connections between
underserved individual borrowers and financial institutions funding partners. We and the VIE Group operate a highly secure and open platform with a
comprehensive risk management system and a proprietary and effective risk assessment model which employs advanced big data analytics and
sophisticated algorithms to accurately assess the risk profiles of potential borrowers. Our and the VIE Group’s online platform embraces significant
opportunities presented by a financial system that leaves many creditworthy individuals underserved. We and the VIE Group provide borrowers with fast
and convenient access to credit at affordable and competitive rates. We and the VIE Group do not use our and the VIE Group’s own capital to invest in
loans facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform in Mainland China.
We and the VIE Group offer loan products with fixed terms and repayment schedules generally ranging from RMB500 to RMB60,000 via our and
the VIE Group’s apps and our and the VIE Group’s website. We and the VIE Group strategically focused on facilitating mid-to long-term consumer loans,
as we and the VIE Group believe such loan products facilitated by us and the VIE Group are best positioned to generate attractive returns, and at the same
time, capture the financing needs of quality borrowers. In 2022, approximately 5,651,853 borrowings were facilitated on our and the VIE Group’s platform,
with an aggregate loan origination volume of approximately RMB55.5 billion (US$8.0 billion).
Historically, we and the VIE Group helped investors on our and the VIE Group’s platform to allocate their assets into different consumer loan
products facilitated by us and the VIE Group through our and the VIE Group’s apps. Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group started to
expand our and the VIE Group’s investor base of individuals to institutional funding partners, including commercial banks, consumer finance companies,
trusts and microcredit companies. We and the VIE Group completed the transition of our and the VIE Group’s funding model in April 2020, with new loans
only funded by institutional funding partners. The outstanding loan balance of our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business has been reduced to
zero in November 2020. In 2022, we and the VIE Group had 44 institutional funding partners and they invested an aggregate investment volume of
RMB55.5 billion (US$8.0 billion).
Our and the VIE Group’s net revenue increased by 83.7% from RMB1,780.5 million in 2021 to RMB3,271.4 million (US$474.3 million) in 2022.
Our net income increased by 152.3% from RMB467.8 million in 2021 to RMB1,180.2 million (US$171.1 million) in 2022.
General Factors Affecting Our and the VIE Group’s Results of Operations
Economic Conditions
The demand for online consumer finance service is dependent upon overall economic conditions in China. General economic factors, including the
interest rate environment, regional salary and disposable income levels and unemployment rates, may affect borrowers’ willingness to seek loans and
funding partners’ ability and desire to invest in loans. For example, significant increases in interest rates could cause potential borrowers to defer obtaining
loans as they wait for interest rates to stabilize or decrease. Additionally, a slowdown in the economy, such as a rise in the unemployment rate and a
decrease in real income, may affect individuals’ level of disposable income. This may negatively affect borrowers’ repayment capability, which in turn may
decrease their willingness to seek
102
loans and potentially cause an increase in default rates. If actual or expected default rates increase generally in China or in the online consumer finance
market, investors may delay or reduce their investments in loan products in general.
Regulatory Environment in China
The regulatory environment for the online consumer finance industry in China is developing and evolving, creating both challenges and
opportunities that could affect our and the VIE Group’s financial performance. Due to the relatively short history of the online consumer finance industry in
China, the PRC regulatory environment for the industry has been constantly evolving, with new legislation and trial programs being instituted in the recent
years. PRC government officials from a number of agencies and departments have expressed support for the development of the online consumer finance
industry in China, and have also expressed the need for strengthening the regulation and supervision of the industry.
Unfavorable changes in any of these general industry conditions could negatively affect demand for our and the VIE Group’s services. As the
regulatory regime is relatively new and evolving, and the interpretation and enforcement of related laws and regulations are subject to significant
uncertainties, it results in difficulties in determining whether our and the VIE Group’s existing practices may be interpreted to violate any applicable laws
and regulations, and any such violation could materially and adversely affect our and the VIE Group’s business, financial condition and results of
operation.
Furthermore, in an effort to manage risks and maintain market integrity, PRC government has taken various initiatives, including the Dual Decrease
and other limitations on our and the VIE Group’s business scale, which could discourage the development of the online consumer finance industry, and
limit our and the VIE Group’s capability to grow our and the VIE Group’s business. Based on our and the VIE Group’s interpretation of these regulations,
in order to stay compliant with these circulars, we and the VIE Group closely monitor the outstanding principal and number of investors, and voluntarily
manage these operating metrics so that they do not experience any significant increase compared to our and the VIE Group’s outstanding principal as of
June 30, 2017. In the second half of 2019, the loan origination volume on our and the VIE Group’s platform decreased primarily due to the adverse effect
caused by regulatory requirements that online lending intermediaries to reduce the number of investors, business volume and number of borrowers. Since
the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group started to strengthen our and the VIE Group’s cooperation with institutional funding partners and in April
2020 shifted to a solely institutional funding partner model and stopped funding loans with individual investors in April 2020, which negatively affected
our and the VIE Group’s business and financial performance in 2020. Furthermore, due to the lack of clarity in certain key definitions under these
regulations, there remain uncertainties including the possibility that regulatory authorities may disagree with our and the VIE Group’s interpretation. For
example, it is still uncertain whether our and the VIE Group’s cooperation model with institutional funding partners will be influenced by the CBIRC
Circular 37. As our and the VIE Group’s future revenue, profit and working capital rely on the amount of loans originated on our and the VIE Group’s
platform and the corresponding service fees we and the VIE Group are entitled to collect from such loans, if we and the VIE Group were required by
regulatory action to cease or reduce offering loan facilitation services to individual borrowers or funding loans with institutional funding partners, we and
the VIE Group might need to take various measures in order to maintain the current scale or growth of our and the VIE Group’s business while adhering to
our and the VIE Group’s interpretations of these regulations. These measures might include providing technology services to third-party companies,
expanding our and the VIE Group’s overseas businesses, diversifying our and the VIE Group’s funding channels and strengthening our and the VIE
Group’s cooperation with financial institutions, which may not be available on reasonable terms in a timely manner, or at all, and all of these measures may
not be sufficient to maintain our and the VIE Group’s business growth, and may not generate sufficient revenue or cash inflows to offset decreases in the
outstanding principal of our and the VIE Group’s platform, or may not otherwise result in the intended benefits.
We and the VIE Group will continue to make efforts to ensure that we and the VIE Group are compliant with the existing laws, regulations and
governmental policies relating to our and the VIE Group’s industry and to comply with new laws and regulations or changes under existing laws and
regulations that may arise in the future. While new laws and regulations or changes to existing laws and regulations could make loans more difficult to be
accepted by investors or borrowers on terms favorable to us, or at all, these events could also provide new product and market opportunities.
Ability to Acquire Borrowers Cost Effectively
Our and the VIE Group’s ability to increase the loan volume facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform largely depends on our and the
VIE Group’s ability to attract borrowers through sales and marketing efforts. Our and the VIE Group’s sales and marketing efforts include those related to
borrower acquisition and retention, and general marketing. We and the VIE Group intend to continue to dedicate significant resources to our and the VIE
Group’s sales and marketing efforts and constantly seek to improve the effectiveness of these efforts.
103
Effectiveness of Risk Control Framework
Our and the VIE Group’s ability to effectively evaluate a borrower’s risk profile and likelihood of default affects our and the VIE Group’s
relationships with our and the VIE Group’s funding partners. If the effectiveness of our and the VIE Group’s risk control framework decreases and
borrower default rates increase, our and the VIE Group’s funding partners may reduce or stop their collaboration with us, which would adversely affect our
and the VIE Group’s funding source and in turn reduce the amount of loans of we and the VIE Group can facilitate, both of which could have significant
impact on our and the VIE Group’s results of operations.
Ability to Attract and Retain Institutional Funding Partners and to Compete Effectively
Our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations depend on our and the VIE Group’s ability to attract and retain institutional funding
partners and to compete effectively in the markets in which we and the VIE Group operate. Reinforcing long-standing relationships with our institutional
funding partners ensures that we have sufficient and sustainable funding to meet borrower demands and thus is key to our success. Furthermore, retaining
the existing and expanding the base of institutional funding partners is critical to secure a stable stream of funds and to increase the volume of loans
facilitated through our and the VIE Group’s platform, driving the growth of our and the VIE Group’s future operations.
The online consumer finance industry in China is intensely competitive, and we and the VIE Group expect that competition to persist and intensify
in the future. In addition to competing with other online consumer finance platforms, we and the VIE Group also compete with other types of financial
products and companies that attract borrowers and/or funding partners. With respect to borrowers, we and the VIE Group primarily compete with
traditional financial institutions, such as online consumer finance business units in commercial banks, credit card issuers and other online consumer finance
companies. If we and the VIE Group are unable to compete effectively, the demand for our and the VIE Group’s products and services could stagnate or
substantially decline, we and the VIE Group could experience reduced revenues or our and the VIE Group’s platform could fail to maintain or achieve
more widespread market acceptance, any of which could harm our and the VIE Group’s business and results of operations.
Credit Performance Data
Our and the VIE Group’s operating results and financial condition are directly affected by the performance of the loans we and the VIE Group
facilitate. We and the VIE Group closely monitor key loan performance data, including the data set out below, to track the lifetime performance of our and
the VIE Group’s loans and adjust our and the VIE Group’s risk management strategies accordingly.
M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage
We and the VIE Group refer to loans facilitated during a specified time period as a vintage. We and the VIE Group define “M3+ Delinquency Rate
By Vintage” as the total amount of principal for all loans in a vintage for which any repayment was more than 90 days past due as of a particular date, less
the total amount of past due principal recovered for such loans, and divided by the total amount of principal for all loans in such vintage. We and the VIE
Group calculate M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage for quarter vintage as the weighted average of the M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage for each month in
such quarter by loan origination volume.
104
The following chart and table display the historical cumulative M3+ Delinquency Rate by Vintage for loan products facilitated through our and the
VIE Group’s platform.
Vintage
2018Q1
2018Q2
2018Q3
2018Q4
2019Q1
2019Q2
2019Q3
2019Q4
2020Q1
2020Q2
2020Q3
2020Q4
2021Q1
2021Q2
2021Q3
2021Q4
2022Q1
2022Q2
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
2.41 %
2.43 %
2.23 %
2.26 %
2.17 %
1.83 %
1.64 %
1.31 %
1.67 %
1.46 %
0.96 %
0.85 %
0.96 %
1.00 %
0.95 %
0.84 %
0.74 %
0.59 %
4.38 %
4.43 %
3.89 %
4.53 %
3.86 %
3.40 %
3.41 %
3.08 %
3.43 %
2.37 %
1.70 %
1.74 %
1.83 %
1.90 %
1.86 %
1.78 %
1.54 %
1.30 %
6.21 %
6.15 %
5.66 %
6.38 %
5.32 %
4.59 %
4.26 %
4.52 %
4.46 %
3.11 %
2.24 %
2.37 %
2.45 %
2.65 %
2.65 %
2.43 %
2.21 %
1.94 %
8.05 %
7.87 %
7.30 %
8.25 %
6.84 %
5.85 %
5.42 %
6.27 %
5.36 %
3.68 %
2.77 %
3.00 %
3.04 %
3.30 %
3.31 %
2.97 %
2.77 %
—
9.80 %
9.47 %
8.89 %
9.99 %
8.13 %
6.98 %
7.03 %
7.69 %
6.11 %
4.14 %
3.27 %
3.49 %
3.51 %
3.90 %
3.94 %
3.40 %
3.26 %
—
Delinquency Rate by Balance
10th
Month on Book
9th
11.35 %
11.02 %
10.64 %
11.40 %
9.21 %
8.21 %
8.60 %
8.69 %
6.67 %
4.52 %
3.73 %
3.89 %
3.95 %
4.35 %
4.33 %
3.77 %
3.69 %
—
12.71 %
12.30 %
12.00 %
12.44 %
10.21 %
9.35 %
10.13 %
9.51 %
7.09 %
4.80 %
4.16 %
4.24 %
4.28 %
4.64 %
4.60 %
4.12 %
—
—
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
13.80 %
13.50 %
12.86 %
13.22 %
11.07 %
10.33 %
10.94 %
9.99 %
7.38 %
5.08 %
4.47 %
4.50 %
4.56 %
4.89 %
4.79 %
4.39 %
—
—
14.61 %
14.25 %
13.47 %
13.83 %
11.85 %
11.08 %
11.59 %
10.31 %
7.61 %
5.27 %
4.71 %
4.72 %
4.78 %
5.01 %
4.93 %
4.61 %
—
—
15.10 %
14.70 %
13.87 %
14.25 %
12.45 %
11.54 %
11.92 %
10.49 %
7.76 %
5.42 %
4.87 %
4.93 %
5.10 %
5.02 %
—
—
—
—
15.38 %
14.94 %
14.07 %
14.53 %
12.80 %
11.73 %
12.04 %
10.55 %
7.84 %
5.49 %
4.96 %
5.01 %
5.14 %
5.08 %
—
—
—
—
15.44 %
15.00 %
14.13 %
14.64 %
12.87 %
11.74 %
12.01 %
10.54 %
7.85 %
5.51 %
4.98 %
5.03 %
5.15 %
5.10 %
—
—
—
—
We and the VIE Group define the delinquency rates by balance as the total outstanding principal for loans where the longest past due period of a
repayment was 1 to 30, 31 to 60, 61 to 90, 91 to 180 and more than 180 calendar days as of a certain date as a percentage of the total outstanding principal
for the loans on our and the VIE Group’s platform net of the outstanding principal repaid by the investor assurance program as of such date. We and the
VIE Group consider our and the VIE Group’s delinquency rate by balance as an indicator of our and the VIE Group’s loan performance and quality of our
and the VIE Group’s assets in general. The following table provides the delinquency rate by balance for all outstanding loans on our and the VIE Group’s
platform as of the respective dates indicated.
As of
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2019
December 31, 2020
December 31, 2021
December 31, 2022
Delinquent for
61-90 days
(%)
2.53
2.20
0.88
0.90
0.67
2.37
1.68
0.70
0.72
0.51
91-180 days
More than
180 days
5.46
4.79
1.66
1.78
1.18
9.45
8.39
1.81
2.12
2.02
1-30 days
31-60 days
1.35
1.27
1.47
1.31
1.01
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Components of Results of Operations
Net Revenue
Our and the VIE Group’s net revenue is derived from fees charged for providing services, including loan facilitation services and post-origination
services, and other revenues. In accordance with the agreements with our and the VIE Group’s borrowers and institutional funding partners, we and the VIE
Group collect service fees from customers in facilitating loan transactions. Historically and up until November 2020, when the outstanding loan balance of
our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P business was decreased to zero, we and the VIE Group also received individual investors service fees for automated
investment programs and for loans transfers over our and the VIE Group’s secondary loan market. In addition, we and the VIE Group charge other fees
contingent on future events, such as penalty fees for late payments. Our and the VIE Group’s net revenue is presented net of VAT. Our and the VIE Group’s
net revenue is recognized as revenues from loan facilitation services, revenues from post-origination services and other revenues.
2020
RMB
%
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Net revenue
Loan facilitation services
Post-origination services
Other revenue
Total
943,084
112,731
244,345
1,300,160
72.5
8.7
18.8
100.0
1,470,170
—
310,320
1,780,490
82.6
—
17.4
100.0
2,881,725
—
389,689
3,271,414
417,810
—
56,500
474,310
88.1
—
11.9
100.0
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our and the VIE Group’s net revenue by service and products provided both in absolute amount and
as a percentage of our and the VIE Group’s total net revenue for the periods presented:
2020
RMB
%
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Net revenue
Current loan products
Other services
Total
1,055,815
244,345
1,300,160
81.2
18.8
100.0
1,470,170
310,320
1,780,490
82.6
17.4
100.0
2,881,725
389,689
3,271,414
417,810
56,500
474,310
88.1
11.9
100.0
Loan facilitation and post-origination service
Prior to November 2020, we and the VIE Group provide loan facilitation services and post-origination services on loans facilitated on our and the
VIE Group’s platform, which enable individual investors to directly invest in loans that can be selected, at the individual investors’ discretion, from
hundreds of new lending opportunities to pre-approved borrowers that are posted on our and the VIE Group’s platform every day. Individual investors also
have the option to use the automated investment programs whereby the funds are automatically allocated among pre-approved borrowers. The automated
investment programs automatically reinvest individual investors’ funds as soon as a loan is repaid, enabling the individual investors to accelerate the
reinvestment of cash flows without having to continually revisit the Company’s mobile application. Such business was officially ceased in November 2020.
We and the VIE Group charge a substantial amount of service fees on the same day when the first and second monthly repayments of principal and
interest are due.
We and the VIE Group determine that both the individual investors and the borrowers are our customers. We and the VIE Group assess ability and
intention to pay the service fees of both borrowers and individual investors when they become due and determines if the collection of the service fees is
probable, based on historical experiences as well as the credit due diligence performed on each borrower prior to loan origination. We and the VIE Group
consider the loan facilitation service and post origination service as two
106
separate performance obligations under ASC Topic 606, as these two deliverables are distinct in that customers can benefit from each service on its own
and we and the VIE Group’s promises to deliver the services are separately identifiable from each other in the contract.
We and the VIE Group determine the total transaction price to be the service fees chargeable according to the contracts, net of value-added tax.
We and the VIE Group recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the service/ performance obligation by transferring the promised service
(that is, an asset) to customers based on the underlying contract terms excluding consideration of impairment of contract assets or accounts receivable.
Revenues from loan facilitation services is recognized at the time a loan is originated between the individual investors and the borrower and the principal
loan balance is transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service is considered completed. Revenues from post-origination services is
recognized evenly over the term of the underlying loans as the post-origination services are a series of distinct services that are substantially the same and
that have the same pattern of transfer to the individual investors.
Loan facilitated to institutional funding partners
Since the third quarter of 2019, we and the VIE Group provide service through the facilitation of loan transactions between borrowers and
institutional funding partners. When the investors are institutional funding partners, we and the VIE Group’s service mainly consist of performing credit
assessment on the borrowers and matching the institutional funding partners with potential qualified borrowers and facilitating the execution of loan
agreements between the parties. We and the VIE Group assesses ability and intention to pay the service fees of the customers when they become due and
determines if the collection of the service fees is probable, based on historical experiences as well as the credit due diligence performed before cooperation.
We and the VIE Group determine the total transaction price to be the service fees chargeable according to the contracts, net of value-added tax.
Under certain agreements, the transaction price includes variable consideration due to borrowers’ actual repayment to institutional funding partners. We and
the VIE Group estimate variable consideration for these contracts using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information. We and the VIE
Group identify one performance obligation under ASC Topic 606, as we and the VIE Group do not retain any further obligations after the facilitation of a
loan.
We and the VIE Group recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the service/ performance obligation by transferring the promised service
(that is, an asset) to customers based on the underlying contract terms excluding consideration of impairment of contract assets or accounts receivable.
Revenues from loan facilitation services are recognized at the time a loan is originated between the institutional funding partners and the borrower and the
principal loan balance is transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service is considered completed.
Technical service
We and the VIE Group do not provide post-origination service in such arrangements. The institutional funding partners typically engage third-party
non-performing loan management entities to assist on the subsequent collection. We and the VIE Group are in turn engaged by such non-performing loan
management entities to provide information including risk profile and collection methods or plans for the borrowers on its platform to the non-performing
loan management entity basing on the historical records and experiences that we and the VIE Group have as of the date when each loan is successfully
extended to borrower.
We and the VIE Group determine the total transaction price to be the service fees chargeable according to the contracts, net of value-added tax.
Before May 2020, the service fee was calculated based on the facilitated loan amount and the agreed charge rate, i.e. the consideration promised in the
contract includes fixed amounts. However, starting from May 2020, we and the VIE Group reached a mutual agreement with the customers for a new
settlement method. The service fee is calculated based on the estimated overdue amount of underlying loans and the agreed charge rate. The transaction
price includes variable consideration due to overdue amount of the borrowers. We and the VIE Group reflect in the transaction price the borrower’s
estimated delinquent risk and estimated variable consideration for these contracts using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information
and current trends of the delinquency of the borrowers.
Revenue from technical services is recognized at the time a loan is successfully originated by the institutional funding partner as the technical
services are completed at that time.
107
Other Revenue
Investor referral
We and the VIE Group provide referral services in respect of investment products offered by the financial service providers on Youdao wealth
platform. After the online investors subscribe the products referred by us, we and the VIE Group do not retain any further obligations. The price for each
referral charged to the financial service providers is a fixed price as pre-agreed in the service contract. Revenue is recognized when the online investors
successfully subscribed to investment products from financial service providers.
Interest income
Interest income is recognized over the terms of loans receivable using the effective interest rate method under ASC Topic 310. Interest income is not
recorded when reasonable doubt exists as to the full, timely collection of interest income or principal. Interest collected upfront at the loan inception is
recorded as deferred revenue.
Business and Operational Support Services
We and the VIE Group provide a series of service to a related party, including software development, risk control, marketing support and IT
assistance. The revenue is recognized over time as services are continuously performed during the service periods.
Sales of hardware
We and the VIE Group also generate revenue from the sale of hardware directly to customers since the year 2021 but terminated such revenue
stream along with the disposal of Shanghai Bweenet on December 29, 2021. The revenue is recognized at a point in time following the transfer of control
of goods to the customer, which typically occurs upon the delivery to the customer.
Others
We and the VIE Group also charge service fees to individual investors for using the automated investment programs which equal to a certain
percentage of the actual return in excess of the expected rate of return from the investments, payable at the end of the investment period. Not application
fee is charged to borrowers or individual investors.
Under ASC Topic 606, service fees derived from individual investors using the automated investment programs are initially estimated based on
historical experience of returns on similar investment products and current trends. The service fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of
the investment period. The service fees related to the automated investment programs are due at the end of the investment period. The investment period
refers to the period of time when the investments are matched with loans and are generating returns for the individual investors. We and the VIE Group
record service fees only when it becomes probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not occur. The revenue of service fee
recognized under ASC Topic 606 was RMB23.8 million, nil and nil in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Other revenue also included revenue from penalty fees for loan prepayment and late payment, and service fees for transferring loans between
investors on our and the VIE Group’s platform, and guarantee income released from deferred guarantee income systematically over the term of the loans
subject to guarantee obligation under ASC Topic 460. Under ASC Topic 606, penalty fees were contingency-based variable considerations and constrained
by the occurrence of delinquency or prepayment. They were recognized when the uncertainty associated with the variability is resolved, that is, when the
underlying event occurs and the fees are collected. The service fees for transferring loans between individual investors were recognized when the transfer is
completed and service fees are collected from the individual investors.
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The following table sets forth the breakdown of our and the VIE Group’s other revenue, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our and the
VIE Group’s total net revenue for the periods presented:
2020
RMB
%
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Other revenue
Interest income
Investor referral
Others
Total other revenue
Operating Costs and Expenses
61,467
59,230
123,648
244,345
4.7
4.6
9.5
18.8
65,092
178,616
66,612
310,320
3.7
10.0
3.7
17.4
44,100
269,256
76,333
389,689
6,394
39,039
11,067
56,500
1.3
8.3
2.3
11.9
Our and the VIE Group’s operating costs and expenses primarily consist of origination and servicing expenses, other cost of sales, sales and
marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, research and development expenses, and allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract assets,
loans receivable and others. We and the VIE Group expect our and the VIE Group’s operating expenses to be in line with our and the VIE Group’s business
development. The following table sets forth our and the VIE Group’s operating costs and expenses both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our and
the VIE Group’s total net revenue for the period presented:
2020
RMB
%
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Operating cost and
expenses
Origination and servicing
Other cost of sales
Allowance for uncollectible
receivables,
contract assets, loans receivable
and others
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Research and development
Total operating cost and
expenses
239,199
—
18.4
—
320,466
15,467
18.0
0.9
565,227
—
81,950
—
17.3
—
77,278
375,063
154,963
151,550
5.9
28.9
11.9
11.7
44,427
659,291
165,150
143,733
2.5
37.0
9.3
8.1
32,053
1,081,382
194,039
216,694
4,647
156,786
28,133
31,418
998,053
76.8
1,348,534
75.7
2,089,395
302,934
1.0
33.1
5.9
6.6
63.9
The following table sets forth our and the VIE Group’s operating cost and expenses paid to related parties both in absolute amounts and as a
percentage of our and the VIE Group’s total net revenue for the periods presented:
2020
RMB
%
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Operating cost and expenses
incurred with related
parties:
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Sales and marketing
Research and development
Total
9,429
5,845
55,207
—
70,481
0.7
0.4
4.2
—
5.3
77,048
—
—
—
77,048
4.3
—
—
—
4.3
124,071
2,103
4,873
4,373
135,420
17,989
305
707
634
19,635
3.8
0.1
0.1
0.1
4.1
109
Origination and Servicing
Origination and servicing expenses consist primarily of variable expenses including costs related to credit assessment, user and system support,
payment processing services and collection, associated with facilitating and servicing loans, salaries and benefits and share-based compensation for the
personnel who work on credit assessment, data processing and analysis, loan origination, user and system support.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of variable marketing and promotional expenses, including those related to borrower acquisition and
retention, commission fees to those who introduce institutional funding partners, and general brand and awareness building. Sales and marketing expenses
also include salaries, benefits and share-based compensation related to our and the VIE Group’s sales and marketing staff.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits and share-based compensation related to accounting and finance,
business development, legal, human resources and other personnel, as well as professional service fees related to various corporate activities.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and share-based compensation related to technology and product
development personnel, as well as related expenses for IT professionals involved in developing technology platform and website, server and other
equipment.
Share-Based Compensation
The following table sets forth the effect of share-based compensation expenses on our and the VIE Group’s operating cost and expenses line items,
both in an absolute amount and as a percentage of total net revenue for the periods presented.
2020
RMB
%
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Share-based compensation
Origination and servicing
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Research and development
Total share-based compensation
Taxation
Cayman Islands
3,167
8,445
8,870
10,170
30,652
0.2
0.6
0.7
0.8
2.3
3,159
1,545
5,021
5,461
15,186
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.3
0.9
2,408
362
33,740
6,038
42,548
350
52
4,892
875
6,169
0.1
0.0
1.0
0.2
1.3
We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. 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 or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be
material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or after
execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. In addition, the Cayman Islands does not impose withholding tax on dividend payments.
Hong Kong
Our subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong profit tax at a rate of up to 16.5%. No Hong Kong profit tax has been levied as
we did not have assessable profit that was earned in or derived from the Hong Kong subsidiary during the periods presented. Hong Kong does not impose a
withholding tax on dividends.
110
PRC
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, the standard enterprise income tax rate for domestic enterprises and foreign invested
enterprises is 25%. A “high and new technology enterprise” (HNTE) is entitled to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15% and such qualification is reassessed
by relevant governmental authorities every three years. Geerong Yunke and Jiayin Shuke Information Technology Co., Ltd. was entitled for a preferential
income tax rate of 15% from 2022 to 2024 as they are qualified as HNTE. Shanghai Chuangzhen Software Co., Ltd. has been qualified as an eligible
software enterprise. As a result of this qualification, it is entitled to a tax holiday of a full exemption for year 2020 and 2021 which its taxable income is
greater than zero, followed by a three-year 50% exemption.
We and the VIE Group are subject to VAT at a rate of 6% on the services we provide to customers, less any deductible VAT we and the VIE Group
have already paid or borne. We and the VIE Group are also subject to surcharges on VAT payments in accordance with PRC law. VAT has been phased in
since May 2016 to replace the business tax that was previously applicable to the services we provide. During the periods presented, we were not subject to
business tax on the services we provide.
Dividends paid by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to our intermediary holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to a
withholding tax rate of 10%, unless the relevant Hong Kong entity satisfies all the requirements under the Arrangement between the PRC and the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital
and receives approval from the relevant tax authority. If our Hong Kong subsidiary satisfies all the requirements under the tax arrangement, then the
dividends paid to the Hong Kong subsidiary would be subject to withholding tax at the standard rate of 5%.
If our holding company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of China were deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the PRC
Enterprise Income Tax Law, it would be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of our and the VIE Group’s consolidated results of operations for the periods presented, both in absolute
amount and as a percentage of our and the VIE Group’s total operating revenues for the periods presented. This information should be read together with
our and the VIE Group’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. The results of operations in any
period are not necessarily indicative of our and the VIE Group’s future trends.
2020
RMB
%
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2022
US$
%
Net revenue
Operating cost and expenses:
Origination and servicing
Other cost of sales
Allowance for uncollectible
receivables,
contract assets, loans receivable
and others
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Research and development
Total operating cost and
expenses
Income from operations
Gain from de-recognition of
other payable associated
with disposal of Caiyin
Impairment of equity investment
Interest income (expense), net
Other income, net
Income before income tax expense
and
(loss) income from investment in
affiliates
Income tax expense
(Loss) income from
investment in affiliates
Net income
1,300,160
100.0
1,780,490
100.0
3,271,414
474,310
(239,199 )
—
(18.4 )
—
(320,466 )
(15,467 )
(18.0 )
(0.9 )
(565,227 )
—
(81,950 )
—
(77,278 )
(375,063 )
(154,963 )
(151,550 )
(5.9 )
(28.9 )
(11.9 )
(11.7 )
(44,427 )
(659,291 )
(165,150 )
(143,733 )
(2.5 )
(37.0 )
(9.3 )
(8.1 )
(32,053 )
(1,081,382 )
(194,039 )
(216,694 )
(4,647 )
(156,786 )
(28,133 )
(31,418 )
(998,053 )
302,107
(76.8 )
23.2
(1,348,534 )
431,956
(75.7 )
24.3
(2,089,395 )
1,182,019
(302,934 )
171,376
117,021
(67,169 )
7,716
6,711
9.0
(5.2 )
0.6
0.5
138,043
—
(1,117 )
16,952
7.8
—
(0.1 )
1.0
117,021
(15,078 )
281
43,447
16,966
(2,186 )
42
6,299
366,386
(108,811 )
28.2
(8.4 )
585,834
(125,724 )
32.9
(7.1 )
1,327,690
(155,398 )
192,497
(22,531 )
(7,509 )
250,066
(0.6 )
19.2
7,651
467,761
0.4
26.3
7,940
1,180,232
1,152
171,118
100.0
—
(17.3 )
—
(1.0 )
(33.1 )
(5.9 )
(6.6 )
(63.9 )
36.1
3.6
(0.5 )
0.0
1.3
40.6
(4.8 )
0.2
36.1
Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2021
Net revenue. Our and the VIE Group’s net revenue increased from RMB1,780.5 million in 2021 to RMB3,271.4 million (US$474.3 million) in
2022, primarily due to (i) the increase of revenue from loan facilitation services from RMB1,470.2 million to RMB2,881.7 million (US$417.8 million) as a
result of the increased loan origination volume from our and the VIE Group’s institutional funding partners, (ii) the increase of other revenue from
RMB310.3 million to RMB389.7 million (US56.5 million) as a result of the increased revenue generated from individual investor referral services.
Operating costs and expenses. Our and the VIE Group’s total operating costs and expenses increased from RMB1,348.5 million in 2021 to
RMB2,089.4 million (US$302.9 million) in 2022, primarily due to the increase in origination and servicing expenses, sales and marketing. Our and the VIE
Group’s total operating costs and expenses as a percentage of net revenue decreased from 75.7% in 2021 to 63.9% in 2022.
•
Origination and servicing expenses. Our and the VIE Group’s origination and servicing expenses increased from RMB320.5 million in 2021
to RMB565.2 million (US$81.9 million) in 2022, driven by the increase in the Company’s loan origination volume.
112
•
•
•
•
•
Other cost of sales. Our and the VIE Group’s other cost of sales decreased from RMB15.5 million to nil in 2022, primarily due to
deconsolidation of Shanghai Bweenet by Jiayin Finance in December, 2021.
Allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract assets, loans receivable and others. Our and the VIE Group’s allowance for uncollectible
receivables, contract assets, loans receivable and others decreased from RMB44.4 million in 2021 to RMB32.1 million (US$4.7 million) in
2022, primarily due to decreased loan volume of the Company’s overseas business.
Sales and marketing expenses. Our and the VIE Group’s sales and marketing expenses increased from RMB659.3 million in 2021 to
RMB1,081.4 million (US$156.8 million) in 2022, primarily due to an increase in commission fees to those who introduce institutional
funding partners and borrower acquisition expenses in 2022.
General and administrative expenses. Our and the VIE Group’s general and administrative expenses increased from RMB165.2 million in
2021 to RMB194.0 million (US$28.1 million) in 2022, primarily driven by increases in employee related benefit expenses.
Research and development expenses. Our and the VIE Group’s research and development expenses increased from RMB143.7 million in
2021 to RMB216.7 million (US$31.4 million) in 2022, primarily due to higher employee compensation and benefit expenses as well as
increased professional service fees.
Interest income (expense), net. We and the VIE Group recognized interest expenses of RMB1.1 million in 2021 and interest income of RMB281,364
(US$40,794) in 2022, respectively.
Other income, net. Our and the VIE Group’s other income increased from RMB17.0 million in 2021 to RMB43.4 million (US$6.3 million) in 2022
primarily as a result of the increase of government subsidies received.
Income before income tax expense and (loss) income from investment in affiliates. As a result of foregoing, we and the VIE Group recognized
income before income taxes and income from investment in affiliates of RMB585.8 million and RMB1,327.7 million (US$192.5 million) in 2021 and
2022, respectively.
Income tax expense. We and the VIE Group recognized tax expenses of RMB125.7 million and RMB155.4 million (US$22.5 million) in 2021 and
2022, respectively, as a result of operating gains in such periods.
Net income. As a result of foregoing, we and the VIE Group recorded net income of RMB467.8 million and RMB1,180.2 million (US$171.1
million) in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Critical Accounting Policies and Judgments
The selection of critical accounting policies, the judgments and other uncertainties affecting 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. Out of our
significant accounting policies, which are described in Note 2—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of our consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this Form 20-F, certain accounting policies are deemed “critical,” as they require management’s highest degree of judgment,
estimates and assumptions, including (i) Revenue Recognition, (ii) Income Taxes, (iii) Measurement of Share-based Compensation and (iv) Current
Expected Credit Losses and Guarantee obligation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See note 2 to the consolidated financial statements on page F-27 for details on recent accounting pronouncements and our adoption of certain
accounting rules.
Inflation
As of the date of this annual report, inflation in China has not materially impacted our and the VIE Group’s results of operations. According to the
National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for December 2020, 2021 and 2022 were increases
of 0.2%, 1.5% and 1.8%, respectively. Although we and the VIE Group have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we and the VIE Group
can provide no assurance that we and the VIE Group will not be affected by higher rates of inflation in China in the future.
113
B.
Liquidity and Capital Resource
Our and the VIE Group’s primary source of liquidity has been cash provided by operating activities, and funds provided by our and the VIE Group’s
shareholders, including through capital contributions and loans from related parties, which has historically been sufficient to meet our and the VIE Group’s
working capital and substantially all of our and the VIE Group’s capital expenditure requirements. As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we and the
VIE Group had RMB117.3 million, RMB182.6 million and RMB291.0 million (US$42.2 million), respectively, in cash and cash equivalents. In May 2019,
we completed our initial public offering in which we issued and sold an aggregate of 4,025,000 ADSs, representing 16,100,000 class A ordinary shares,
resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately US$35.0 million. Our and the VIE Group’s cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on hand and
demand deposits which are highly liquid and have original maturities of three months or less and are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use. We and the VIE
Group believe that our and the VIE Group’s current cash and cash equivalents and our and the VIE Group’s anticipated cash flows from operations will be
sufficient to meet our and the VIE Group’s anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures for the next 12 months. We and the VIE
Group may, however, need additional capital in the future to fund our and the VIE Group’s continued operations. If we and the VIE Group determine that
our and the VIE Group’s cash requirements exceed the amount of cash and cash equivalents we and the VIE Group have on hand at the time, we and the
VIE Group may seek to issue equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution
to our and the VIE Group’s shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating
covenants that might restrict our and the VIE Group’s operations. We and the VIE Group cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or
on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Although we consolidate the results of the VIE Group, we only have access to cash balances or future earnings of the VIE Group through our
contractual arrangements with them. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure” For restrictions and limitations on liquidity
and capital resources as a result of our corporate structure, see “—Holding Company Structure.”
As a Cayman Islands exempted company and offshore holding company, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding to our
wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China only through loans or capital contributions, subject to the approval of government authorities and limits on the
amount of capital contributions and loans. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China may provide Renminbi funding to their respective
subsidiaries through capital contributions and entrusted loans, and to the VIE Group only through entrusted loans. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and
governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and any further offerings to
make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to
fund and expand our business.” and “Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds.”
The following table sets forth a summary of our and the VIE Group’s cash flows for the period presented:
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data:
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted
cash at beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted
cash at end of year
Operating Activities
2020
RMB
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
US$
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands)
(35,505 )
184,540
133,592
19,367
33,226
(126,222 )
(22,949 )
(3,328 )
10,595
9,938
(12,566 )
(1,822 )
122,149
119,320
184,567
26,760
119,320
184,567
293,041
42,487
Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB133.6 million (US$19.4 million) in 2022, primarily due to net income of RMB1,180.2 million
(US$171.1 million), mainly adjusted for gain from de-recognition of other payable associated with disposal of Shanghai Caiyin of RMB117.0 million
(US$17.0 million), allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract assets, loans receivable and others of RMB32.1 million (US$4.7 million), share-based
compensation of RMB42.5 million (US$6.2 million), depreciation and
114
amortization of RMB10.0 million (US$1.4 million), and changes in working capital. Changes in working capital was primarily due to (i) an increase in
accounts receivable and contract assets of RMB1,232.3 million (US$178.7 million) in connection with uncollected service fees, (ii) an increase in prepaid
expenses and other current assets of RMB434.3 million (US$63.0 million) (iii) an increase in financial assets receivable of RMB292.3 million (US$42.4
million), partially offset by (i) an increase in accrued expenses and other current liabilities of RMB444.1 million (US$64.4 million), (ii) an increase in
deferred guarantee income of RMB276.5 million (US$40.1 million), and an increase in tax payable of RMB223.8 million (US$32.4 million).
Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB184.5 million in 2021, primarily due to net income of RMB467.8 million, mainly adjusted for
gain from de-recognition of other payable associated with disposal of Shanghai Caiyin of RMB138.0 million, allowance for uncollectible receivables,
contract assets, loans receivable and others of RMB44.4 million, share-based compensation of RMB15.2 million, depreciation and amortization of
RMB15.7 million, and changes in working capital. Changes in working capital was primarily due to (i) an increase in accounts receivable and contract
assets of RMB344.4 million in connection with uncollected service fees, (ii) an increase in amount due from/to related parties of RMB35.2 million partially
offset by (i) an increase in tax payables of RMB138.3 million, and (ii) an increase accrued expenses and other current liabilities of RMB54.9 million.
Net cash used in operating activities was RMB35.5 million in 2020, primarily due to net income of RMB250.1 million, mainly adjusted for gain
from de-recognition of other payable associated with disposal of Shanghai Caiyin of RMB117.0 million, allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract
assets, loans receivable and others of RMB77.3 million, share-based compensation of RMB30.7 million, depreciation and amortization of RMB23.2
million, and changes in working capital. Changes in working capital was primarily due to (i) an increase in accounts receivable and contract assets of
RMB224.4 million in connection with uncollected service fees, (ii) a decrease in refund liabilities of RMB180.1 million due to the outstanding loan balance
of our and the VIE Group’s legacy P2P lending business being reduced to zero in November 2020, partially offset by (i) an increase in tax payables of
RMB100.0 million, and (ii) a decrease in prepaid expense and other current assets of RMB26.5 million.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was RMB22.9 million (US$3.3 million) in 2022, primarily due to loans to related parties of RMB56.4 million
(US$8.2 million) and purchase of property, equipment and software of RMB17.5 million (US$2.5 million), partially offset by loan repayments from related
parties of RMB50.9 million (US$7.4 million).
Net cash used in investing activities was RMB126.2 million in 2021, primarily due to loan to related parties of RMB203.1 million and acquisition of
a subsidiary of RMB95 million, partially offset by loan repayments from related parties of RMB190.7 million.
Net cash provided by investing activities was RMB33.2 million in 2020, primarily due to loan repayments from related parties of RMB37.4 million,
partially offset by the purchase of property, equipment and software of RMB0.8 million and investments in equity investees of RMB3.4 million.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was RMB12.6 million (US$1.8 million) in 2022, primarily due to repurchase of ordinary shares of RMB14.8
million (US$ 2.1 million).
Net cash provided by financing activities was RMB9.9 million in 2021, primarily due to proceeds from exercise of options of 7.4 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was RMB10.6 million in 2020, primarily due to loans from our related parties of RMB3.1 million and
proceeds from exercise of options of 7.0 million.
Material cash requirements
Our and the VIE Group’s material cash requirements as of December 31, 2022 and any subsequent interim period primarily include our and the VIE
Group’s capital expenditures and operating lease obligations.
Our and the VIE Group’s operating lease obligations consist of the commitments under the lease agreements for our and the VIE Group’s office
premises. Our and the VIE Group’s leasing expense was RMB26.5 million, RMB17.9 million and RMB29.2 million (US$4.2 million) in 2020, 2021 and
2022, respectively. The majority of our and the VIE Group’s operating lease commitments are related to our and the VIE Group’s office lease agreements in
China.
115
Other than those discussed above, we and the VIE Group did not have any significant capital and other commitments, long-term obligations as of
December 31, 2022.
Capital Expenditures
We and the VIE Group made capital expenditures of RMB0.8 million, RMB2.8 million and RMB17.5 million (US$2.5 million) in 2020, 2021 and
2022, respectively. In these periods, our and the VIE Group’s capital expenditures were mainly used for purchase of equipment, including servers,
computers and other office equipment, and office renovation. We and the VIE Group will continue to make capital expenditures to meet the expected
growth of our and the VIE Group’s business.
Holding Company Structure
Jiayin Group Inc. is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our subsidiaries,
consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries in China. As a result, Jiayin Group Inc.’s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our PRC
subsidiaries. If our existing PRC subsidiaries or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt
may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the PRC companies, such as our PRC subsidiaries
and the consolidated VIE, to pay dividends only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and
regulations. Each of our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE that is in retained earnings position as of the end of each year is required to set aside at
least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital.
Furthermore, each of our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a
discretionary surplus fund at their discretion. The statutory reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. After our PRC
subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE have generated retained earnings and met the requirements for appropriation to the statutory reserves and until such
reserves reach 50% of its registered capital, respectively, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE can distribute dividends upon approval of the
shareholders. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of China is subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE.
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 have a material adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability,
liquidity or capital resources, or that would cause reported financial information not necessarily to be indicative of future operating results or financial
conditions.
E.
Critical Accounting Estimates
We and the VIE group prepare our and the VIE Group’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make
judgments, estimates and assumptions. We and the VIE group continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available
information, our and the VIE Group’s own historical experiences and various other assumptions that we and the VIE group believe to be reasonable under
the circumstances. Since the use of estimates is an integral component of the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from our and the VIE
Group’s expectations as a result of changes in our estimates. Some of our and the VIE Group’s accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than
others in their application and require us to make significant accounting estimates.
An accounting estimate is considered critical if it is made basing on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time such estimate is
made, and if different accounting estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur
periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the following critical accounting estimates involve the most
significant judgments used in the preparation of our financial statements.
Current Expected Credit Losses
We and the VIE Group adopted ASC Topic 326 using the modified retrospective approach for all in-scope assets. The adoption of ASC Topic 326
has no impact on the our and the VIE Group’s retained earnings as of January 1, 2020. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are
presented under ASC Topic 326 while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with
116
previously applicable U.S. GAAP. Our and the VIE Group’s in-scope assets are primarily loans receivable, accounts receivable, contract assets and
financial assets receivable. ASC Topic 326 requires the expected credit losses related to guarantee contracts be recorded separately from and in addition to
the stand ready deferred guarantee income accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 460. The guarantee obligation is separated into expected credit
losses for commitment, which represents the expected credit losses of the guarantee contracts accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 326, and
deferred guarantee income. For the year ended December 31, 2022, no credit loss was accrued for financial assets receivable after our assessment. For the
year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the expected lifetime credit losses of the underlying loans covered by the guarantee obligation after netting off
the expected recoveries from the third-party asset management company was inconsequential.
In establishing the allowance for loans receivable, we and the VIE Group consider historical losses, delinquency rate and other factors in pooling
basis upon the use of the Current Expected Credit Loss Model (“CECL Model”) in accordance with ASC topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses.
We and the VIE Group write off loans receivable as a reduction to the allowance for loans receivable when the loan principal and interest are deemed to be
uncollectible. In general, loans receivable is identified as uncollectible when it is determined to be not probable that the balance can be collected. We and
the VIE Group recorded RMB27.5 million, RMB27.7 million and RMB18.6 million (US$2.7 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and
2022, respectively, in allowance for loans receivable due from individual borrowers.
We estimated the allowance for accounts receivables due from individual borrowers based on expected net accumulated loss rates for terms during
which losses of such service fees are expected to occur, which are consistent with the terms during which we and the VIE Group expect to collect service
fees. The profile of the borrowers is homogeneous for each product type and as such, we and the VIE Group apply a portfolio approach in accounting for
credit risk. Accounts receivable for loan facilitation service and post-origination service between individual investors and borrowers are identified as
uncollectible if any repayment of the underlying loan is 90 days past due, and no other factor evidences the possibility of collecting the delinquent amounts.
We and the VIE Group wrote off aforementioned accounts receivable from borrowers and corresponding provisions if any repayment of the underlying
loan is 90 days past due. We and the VIE Group recorded 49.2 million, nil and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, in
allowance for accounts receivables due from individual borrowers.
We and the VIE Group established an allowance for accounts receivable and contract assets from institutional funding partners, amounts due from
related parties and other entities that are based on historical experience and other factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. Uncollectible
receivables from institutional funding partners, amounts due from related parties and other entities are written off when a settlement is reached for an
amount that is less than the outstanding historical balance or when we and the VIE Group have determined the balance will not be collected. We and the
VIE Group recorded nil, nil and RMB2.5 million (US$0.4 million) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, in allowance for
accounts receivables due from institutional funding partners. And we and the VIE Group recorded nil, 16.1 million and RMB6.1 million (US$0.9 million)
for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, in allowance for amounts due from related parties.
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
Deferred income taxes are provided using assets and liabilities method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
determined on the basis of the differences between financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in
which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In
making such a determination, management considers all positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of projected future taxable income and
results of recent operation. Deferred tax assets are then reduced by a valuation allowance through a charge to income tax expense when, in the opinion of
management, it is more like than not that a portion of or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
We and the VIE Group recorded gross deferred tax assets of RMB102.9 million, RMB117.4 million and RMB144.1 million (US$20.9 million), net
of valuation allowance of RMB4.1 million, RMB68.9 million and RMB73.2 million (US10.6 million), as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022,
respectively.
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Unrecognized tax benefits
In order to access uncertainty tax positions, we and the VIE Group apply a two-step process to determine the amount of the benefit to be recognized.
First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax
position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained (defined as a likelihood of more than fifty percent of being sustained upon an audit, based on the
technical merits of the tax position), the tax position is then assessed to determine the amount of benefits to recognize in the consolidated financial
statements. The amount of the benefits that may be recognized is the largest amount that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate
settlement. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes.
As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, there are nil, RMB211.1 million and RMB240.3 million (US$34.8 million) unrecognized tax benefits
related to treatment of a contingent liability that if recognized would affect the annual effective tax rate. We do not anticipate payments of cash within one
year. We and the VIE Group recognize interest and penalty charges related to uncertain tax positions as necessary in the provision for income taxes. No
interest expense or penalty was accrued in relation to the unrecognized tax benefit. We and the VIE Group had a liability for accrued interest of nil, nil and
nil as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Guarantee arrangement
Primary guarantee
For certain off-balance sheet loans funded by institutional funding partners starting from year 2022, we and the VIE Group provide commitment to
compensate them in the event of borrowers’ default in the form of guarantee provided by 1) third-party financial guarantee companies or 2) financial
guarantee company within the Group. Under 1), after the third-party guarantee companies repay the overdue amount, we and the VIE Group obligated to
compensate third-party guarantee companies at an amount equal to the repayment made to the institutional funding partners. In either case, a third-party
asset management company is obligated to compensate us and the VIE Group at an amount equal to overdue amount including principal, interest, and
guarantee fee. As of December 31, 2022, the maximum potential future payments, including all outstanding principal and interests for which we and our
VIE Group provide primary guarantee, that we and the VIE Group could be required to make under the guarantee, which was not reduced by the effect of
any amounts that may possibly be recovered, were RMB6,484.2 million (US$940.1 million). For the year ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the
expected lifetime credit losses of the underlying loans covered by the guarantee obligation after netting off the expected recoveries from the third-party
asset management company was inconsequential.
Secondary guarantee
For certain off-balance sheet loans facilitated between borrowers and institutional funding partners, guarantee services are provided by third party
guarantee companies who charge guarantee service fees directly from borrowers. Upon borrowers’ default, the third-party guarantee companies
compensate institutional funding partners for unpaid principal and interest. In certain contracts, we and the VIE Group provide commitment letter of
balance complements to the institutional funding partners in the event that the guarantee companies are unable to fully reimburse the institutional funding
partners. In some other contracts, the guarantee companies require a third party company to act as counter guarantor and require we and the VIE Group to
provide a commitment letter of balance complements to compensate third party guarantee companies in the event that the counter guarantor are unable to
fully reimburse the guarantee companies. To manage the risk exposure, we and the VIE Group in turn obtains a back-to-back guarantee from another third-
party company. The fair value of guarantee liabilities of us and the VIE Group as a secondary guarantor was inconsequential and no compensation was
made by us and the VIE Group during the years of 2020, 2021 and 2022. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the outstanding loan balance for which we
and the VIE Group provide secondary guarantee was RMB5,728.7 million and RMB14,425.9 million(US$2,091.6 million), respectively.
F.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
We and the VIE Group provide commitment to compensate the institutional funding partners or third party guarantee companies for certain off-
balance sheet loans funded by our and the VIE Group’ s institutional funding partners, see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 2. Summary
of significant accounting policies—Guarantee arrangement”.
Other than the above, we and the VIE Group have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our and the VIE Group’s shares and
classified as shareholder’s equity or that are not reflected in our and the VIE Group’s consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we and the VIE
Group do not have any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated
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entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides
financing, liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.
G.
Safe Harbor
See “Forward-Looking Statements” at the beginning of this annual report.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A.
Directors and Senior Management
The following table provides information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report.
Directors and Executive Officers
Dinggui Yan
Yi Feng
Chunlin Fan
Yifang Xu
Libin Wang
Yuhchang Hwang
Meng Rui
Age
54
46
46
45
36
68
55
Position/Title
Founder, director and chief executive officer
Chief technology officer
Chief financial officer (since May 2022)
Director and chief risk officer
Director and vice president of finance
Independent Director
Independent Director
Mr. Dinggui Yan is our founder, and has served as our director since 2015, and as our chief executive officer since 2016. He has also been the chief
executive officer of Shanghai Wuxingjia since 2014, and the chairman and general manager of Jiayin Finance since 2011. Prior to founding our company,
Mr. Yan served as the general manager of Beijing Tianrongxin Network Safety Technology Co., Ltd. in the region of Zhejiang from 2007 to 2010. From
2000 to 2006, Mr. Yan served as the general manager of Shanghai Tongtian Information Technology Co., Ltd. Mr. Yan received a master’s degree from
China Europe International Business School in 2016 and a bachelor’s degree from Xidian University in 1990.
Mr. Yi Feng has served as our chief technology officer since November 2021. Mr. Feng has over 17 years of technology leadership experience in
internet and financial services. He joined Jiayin in 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Feng had held senior technology roles at well-known firms such
as Fidelity, Lufax, Trip.com and Oracle since 2006. Mr. Feng received his master’s degree of computer science from University of Pennsylvania in 2006,
another master’s degree in computer science from University of Texas at Austin in 2002 and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Sun Yat-Sen
University in 2000.
Mr. Chunlin Fan previously served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from January 2016 to January 2021. Prior to rejoining the Company
in May 2022, Mr. Fan worked as the Chief Financial Officer of LinkDoc Technology Limited from January 2021 to March 2022. Mr. Fan worked as the
Chief Financial Officer and leader of the strategic development department at Shanghai Richtech Engineering Co., Ltd. from 2014 to 2016. Mr. Fan also
served a wide range of international corporations including Microsoft, Nomura, Macquarie, ICBCI, Deloitte and Shenyin & Wanguo Investment Co. Ltd.
Mr. Fan received his MBA from University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business in 2007, and a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong
University in 1998.
Ms. Yifang Xu has served as our director since May 2019. Ms. Xu has been our chief risk officer since July 2018. Prior to joining our company, Ms.
Xu worked as a director in risk management department at Ant Financial Services Group from 2016 to 2018, leading various lending business solution
consultancy and delivery in risk management to consumer banks and leading fin-tech lending companies. From 2015 to 2016, Ms. Xu served as a chief
operating officer at Shanghai Fujin Finance and Information Service Corporation, commonly known as Huasheng Finance. From 2004 to 2015, Ms. Xu
held various positions in Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) in risk management, product management and distribution channel management
with credit card business and direct banking, including senior analyst, manager, senior manager and department director. Ms. Xu received her MBA from
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University in 2004, a master’s degree in economics from University of International Business and
Economics in 2000, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1997.
Mr. Libin Wang has served as our director since May 2019. Mr. Wang has been our vice president of finance since 2018. He served as a financial
supervisor in our company from 2017 to 2018, and as our asset management supervisor from 2015 to 2017. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Wang
worked at China Sino-Trans Shipping Agency Shanghai Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries from 2008 to 2014, responsible for financial-related work. Mr. Wang
received his master’s degree in accounting from Fudan University in 2015 and his bachelor’s degree in financial management from Shanghai Second
Polytechnic University in 2008.
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Mr. Yuhchang Hwang has served as our director since May 2019. Since 2013, Mr. Hwang has been working at China Europe International Business
School as a professor in accounting, the department chair in finance and accounting, and a co-director of China Europe International Business School
center on China innovation. He has also served as an emeritus professor in Arizona State University since 2013, and served as its assistant professor and a
tenured associate professor from 1987 to 1995 and 1995 to 2001, respectively. Since 2015, Mr. Hwang has been an independent director, chair of the
compensation committee, and member of the audit committee and strategy committee of Shanghai Jahwa United Co., Ltd. (SSE: 600315), and the chair of
its nominating committee since 2018. Mr. Hwang has also worked as an independent director of Red Avenue New Materials Group Co., Ltd. (SSE:
603650) since 2016, and the chair of its audit committee, compensation committee and nominating committee since 2017. Mr. Hwang has also served as an
independent director, chair of the compensation committee and member of the audit committee and nominating committee of Opple Lighting Co., Ltd.
(SSE: 603515) since 2017. From January 2018 to May 2018, Mr. Hwang worked as an independent director, chair of the compensation committee and
member of the audit committee of Chongqing Iron & Steel Company Limited (SEHK: 1053). From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hwang was as an independent
director, chair of the audit committee, and member of the compensation committee and strategy committee of Shanghai Tianji Technology Co., Ltd. (SZSE:
300245). From 2012 to 2018, Mr. Hwang worked as an independent director, chair of the audit committee, and member of the compensation committee and
strategy committee of Baoshan Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. (SSE: 600019). Mr. Hwang received his Ph.D. in business administration from University of
California, Berkeley in 1987, and a master’s degree in science from National Chengchi University in 1979.
Mr. Meng Rui has served as our director since May 2019. Mr. Rui has been a professor of finance and accounting at China Europe International
Business School since 2012, and has held the title of Zhongkun Group chair in finance at China Europe International Business School since 2015. Mr. Rui
is also a tenured professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and held various positions in the Chinese University of Hong Kong from 2002 to 2012,
including a senior research associate of the Institute of Economics and Finance from 2005 to 2012, a deputy director of the Center for Institutions and
Governance from 2005 to 2012, and a program director of master of accountancy and executive master of professional accountancy from 2003 to 2012.
From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Rui served as a deputy director of the China accounting and finance center at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He also
serves as an independent director of COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation Co., Ltd. (SEHK: 1138, SSE:600026) since 2016, an independent director
and chairman of the audit committee of Shanghai Winner Information Technology Co., Inc. (SZSE: 300609) since 2017, an independent director of Shang
Gong Group Co., Ltd. (SSE: 600843) since 2017, an independent director of China Education Group (SEHK: 839) since 2017 and an independent director
of Country Garden Service Holding Company Limited (SEHK: 6098) since 2018. From 2015 to 2018, Mr. Rui worked as an independent director of Midea
Group Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000333). Mr. Rui is also a member of various professional committees, including but not limited to American Finance Association,
Financial Management Association, American Accounting Association and Hong Kong Securities Institute. He is also a vice president of Hong Kong
Financial Engineering Association. Mr. Rui received his Ph.D. in business administration and MBA in 1997 and 1996, respectively, both from University
of Houston, a master’s degree in economics from Oklahoma State University in 1993, and a bachelor’s degree in international economics from University
of International Relations in 1990.
B.
Compensation
In 2022, we paid an aggregate of RMB11.5 million (US$1.7 million) in cash and benefits to our executive officers and directors. We have not set
aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our directors and executive officers. Our PRC subsidiaries, the
consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries are required by law to make contributions equal to certain percentages of each employee’s salary for his or her
pension insurance, medical insurance, unemployment insurance and other statutory benefits and a housing provident fund. Our board of directors may
determine compensation to be paid to the directors and the executive officers. The compensation committee will assist the directors in reviewing and
approving the compensation structure for the directors and the executive officers.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We entered into employment agreements with our executive officers. Each of our executive officers is employed for a specified time period, which
will be automatically extended unless either we or the executive officer gives prior written notice to terminate such employment. We may terminate the
employment for cause, at any time, without notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, including but not limited to the commitments of
any serious or persistent breach or non-observance of the terms and conditions of the employment, conviction of a criminal offense other than one which in
the opinion of the board does not affect the executive’s position, willful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order, misconducts being inconsistent with
the due and faithful discharge of the executive officer’s material duties, guilty of fraud or dishonesty, or habitual neglect of his or her duties. An executive
officer may terminate his or her employment at any time with a three-month prior written notice.
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 or disclose to any person, corporation or other entity without written consent, any confidential information, except for the benefit of us. Each
executive officer has also agreed to assign to our company all his or her all inventions, improvements, designs, original works of authorship, formulas,
processes, compositions of matter, computer software programs,
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databases, mask works, concepts and trade secrets which the executive officer may solely or jointly conceive or develop or reduce to practice, or cause to
be conceived or developed or reduced to practice, during the period of the executive officer’s employment with us that are either related to the scope of the
employment or make use of the resources of the company. In addition, all executive officers have agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-
solicitation restrictions set forth in their agreements. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed to devote all his or her working time, attention and
skills to our business and use best efforts to perform his or her duties. Moreover, each executive officer has agreed not to, for a certain period following
termination of his or her employment or expiration of the employment agreement: (i) carry on or be engaged, concerned or interested directly or indirectly
whether as shareholder, director, employee, partner, agent or otherwise carry on any business in direct competition with us, (ii) solicit or entice away or
attempt to solicit or entice away any of our customer, client, representative or agent, or (iii) employ, solicit or entice away or attempt to employ, solicit or
entice away any of our officer, manager, consultant or employee.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers, pursuant to which we agree to indemnify our directors
and executive officers against certain liabilities and expenses incurred by such persons in connection with claims made by reason of their being such a
director or officer.
Share Incentive Plans
We maintain share incentive plans in order to attract, motivate, retain and reward talent, provide additional incentives to our officers, employees,
directors and other eligible persons, and promote the success of our business and the interests of our shareholders.
2016 Share Incentive Plan
In September 2016, Jiayin Finance adopted the 2016 Share Incentive Plan, which allowed Jiayin Finance to grant share-based awards of such
company to our founders, employees and officers. The total number of outstanding shares of Jiayin Finance is 50,000,000 and the maximum number of
shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under the 2016 plan is 13,500,000 shares of Jiayin Finance. In September 2016 and October 2018,
13,321,500 and 2,851,600 share options to purchase the respective number of shares of Jiayin Finance were granted to certain of our employees and
officers, among which 4,848,900 options were subsequently canceled, at exercise prices of RMB3.5 per share, which have vesting periods of 4.5 years. All
13,500,000 shares of Jiayin Finance underlying the 2016 Share Incentive Plan is held by Jinmushuihuotu Investment, and upon the exercise of the share
options, our employees and officers become a limited partner of Jinmushuihuotu Investment, which allows such grantees to enjoy beneficial ownership in
Jiayin Finance representing the respective awards granted. As of the date of this annual report, the sole general partner of Jinmushuihuotu Investment is
Jinmushuihuotu Marketing, which is controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan. All outstanding options granted under the 2016 Share Incentive Plan have been
canceled or replaced with options granted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan. The 2016 Share Incentive Plan has been terminated when all options
granted hereunder were canceled.
2019 Share Incentive Plan
In February 2019, we adopted our 2019 Share Incentive Plan, which permits the grant of options to purchase our ordinary shares. The 2019 Share
Incentive Plan was adopted to replace our 2016 Share Incentive Plan. All outstanding options granted under the 2016 Share Incentive Plan have been
canceled or replaced with options granted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan. The maximum number of ordinary shares may be subject to equity awards
pursuant to the 2019 Share Incentive Plan is 54,000,000 initially. In connection with the adoption of 2019 Plan, we cancelled 2,377,000 and 1,169,000
share options granted in September 2016 and October 2018, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, we had granted options to purchase an aggregate of
3,576,720 Class A ordinary shares (excluding options that were forfeited, cancelled, or exercised after the relevant grant date) and RSUs to receive an
aggregate of 7,600,000 Class A ordinary shares (excluding RSUs that were forfeited, cancelled, or vested after the relevant grant date), pursuant to the 2019
Share Incentive Plan.
We established Dream Glory L.P. to hold shares underlying potential awards granted pursuant to our 2019 Share Incentive Plan. In December 2017,
2,700 ordinary shares were issued to in view of the establishment of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan, which were transferred subsequently to Dream Glory
L.P. In February 2019, we entered into a shareholding entrustment agreement with Dream Glory L.P., pursuant to which Dream Glory L.P. is entrusted to
hold the shares in connection with the 2019 Share Incentive Plan as a nominal holder and Dream Glory L.P. accepts such shareholding entrustment
retrospectively. Dream Glory L.P. will use its reasonable best effort to facilitate the exercise of the awards granted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan and
transfer a certain number of ordinary shares held by Dream Glory L.P. to a grantee of the awards or to the depositary bank or its nominee for deposit as
evidence for ADSs in settlement of any award in lieu of ordinary shares upon our instruction for free. Dream Glory L.P. is entitled to rights as a member of
Jiayin Group Inc. except that Dream Glory L.P. irrevocably agrees that it will (i) abstain from voting on any general meetings of members, or acting as any
function at a general meeting, or (ii) not sale, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumbrance of the Ordinary
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Shares of the Company without our written consent, and sale, transfer, pledge or otherwise encumbrance of the ordinary shares as instructed by us in
writing.
Such 2,700 ordinary shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each were subsequently sub-divided into 54,000,000 ordinary shares with a par value of
US$0.000000005 each. Dream Glory L.P. is a limited partnership established in the British Virgin Islands. The general partner of Dream Glory L.P. is New
Dream, which is controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan.
The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan.
Plan Administration. Our board of directors or a committee appointed by our board of directors acts as the plan administrator. The board of directors
or the committee may also delegate one or more members of our board of directors to grant or amend awards or take other administrative actions.
Types of Awards. The 2019 Share Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of options to purchase ordinary shares, the award of restricted shares and the
award of RSUs.
Award Agreements. Each award under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan shall be evidenced by an award agreement between the award recipient and our
company, which may be any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing such award.
Eligibility. The plan administrator may select among the following eligible individuals to whom an award may be granted: (i) our employees and (ii)
directors who are not our employees; provided however that awards shall not be granted to non-employee directors who are resident of any country in the
European Union and any other country, which pursuant to the applicable laws, does not allow grants to non-employee.
Term of Awards. Each award under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan shall vest or be exercised not more than ten years after the date of grant unless
extended by the plan administrator. Each share award is subject to earlier termination as set forth in the 2019 Share Incentive Plan. The award is only
exercisable before the eligible individual’s termination of service with us, except as determined otherwise by the plan administrator or set forth in the award
agreement. Any awards that are outstanding on the tenth anniversary of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan shall be terminated automatically.
Vesting Schedule and Other Restrictions. The plan administrator has discretion in determining the individual vesting schedules and other restrictions
applicable to the awards granted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan, including vesting conditions related to our operation performance, the grantee’s
department performance and his individual performance. The vesting schedule is set forth in the award agreement.
Exercise Price and Purchase Price. The plan administrator has discretion in determining the price of the awards, which can be fixed or variable
related to the fair market value of the underlying ordinary shares and are subject to a number of limitations.
Termination. The 2019 Share Incentive Plan shall expire on the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan.
Amendment, Suspension or Termination. No amendment, modification or termination of the 2019 Share Incentive Plan shall, without the prior
written consent of the award recipients, adversely affect in any material way any award that has been granted or awarded prior to such amendment,
suspension or termination. Subject to the above, the plan administrator may at any time terminate, amend or modify the 2019 Share Incentive Plan, except
where shareholder approval is required to comply with applicable laws or where the amendment relates to (i) any increases in the number of shares
available under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan (other than any adjustment permitted under the 2019 Share Incentive Plan), or (ii) an extension of the term of
the 2019 Share Incentive Plan or the exercise period for an option beyond ten years from the date of grant. To the extent permissible under the applicable
laws, our board of directors may decide to follow home country practice not to seek shareholder approval for any amendment or modification of the 2019
Share Incentive Plan.
Transfer Restrictions. Subject also to all the transfer restrictions under the applicable laws and regulations and the restrictions set forth in the
applicable award agreement, all awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment,
pledge, encumbrance or charge except for certain exceptions set forth in the plan.
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Options. The following table summarizes the outstanding options we granted to our directors and executive officers under the 2019 Share Incentive
Plan.
Name
Chunlin Fan
Yi Feng
Yifang Xu
Libin Wang
Position
Chief financial officer
Chief technology officer
Director and chief risk officer
Director and vice president of finance
* Less than 1% of our outstanding shares.
Ordinary
Shares
Underlying
Options
Awarded
Option
Exercise
Price
* RMB3.5
* RMB3.5
* RMB3.5
* RMB3.5
Grant Date
November 25, 2019
November 25, 2019
November 25, 2019
November 25, 2019
Expiration
Date
November 24, 2029
November 24, 2029
November 24, 2029
November 24, 2029
RSUs. The following table summarizes the outstanding RSUs we granted to our directors and executive officers under the 2019 Share Incentive
Plan.
Name
Yifang Xu
Libin Wang
Yi Feng
C.
Board Practices
Position
Director and chief risk officer
Director and vice president of finance
Chief technology officer
Ordinary Shares
Underlying
RSUs Awarded
Grant Date
7,600,000
4,560,000
3,200,000
September 5, 2022
October 25, 2022
September 5, 2022
Our board of directors consists of five directors. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company to qualify to serve as a director. A
director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract, transaction or arrangement, or a proposed contract, transaction or
arrangement, with our company is required to declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of our directors. A general notice given to our directors by any
director to the effect that he is a member, shareholder, director, partner, officer or employee of any specified company or firm and is to be regarded as
interested in any contract, transaction or arrangement which may thereafter be made with that company or firm, shall be deemed to be a sufficient
declaration of interest with respect to any such contract, transaction or arrangement so made or entered into, and after such notice it shall not be necessary
for such director to give any further or special notice relating to any particular contract, transaction or arrangement. A director may vote in respect of any
contract, transaction or arrangement, or any proposed contract, transaction or arrangement, notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he does
so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at any meeting of the directors at which any such contract, transaction or arrangement is
considered and voted upon. Our board of directors may exercise all of the powers of our company to borrow money, to mortgage or charge its undertaking,
property and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and to issue debentures, debenture stock or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security
for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third-party. None of our directors has a service contract with us that provides for benefits upon
termination of service.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee under the board of
directors. We have adopted a charter for each of the three committees. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Mr. Yuhchang Hwang and Mr. Meng Rui, and is chaired by Mr. Yuhchang Hwang. Mr. Yuhchang
Hwang and Mr. Meng Rui satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and meets the independence
standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. Our board of directors has also determined that each of Mr. Yuhchang Hwang and Mr. Meng Rui
qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” within the meaning of the SEC rules and possesses financial sophistication within the meaning of the
Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market. 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 our independent registered public accounting firm and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be
performed by our independent registered public accounting firm;
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•
•
•
•
•
•
reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response and
approving all proposed related party transactions, as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K;
discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and our independent registered public accounting firm;
annually reviewing and reassessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter;
meeting separately and periodically with the management and our internal auditor and our independent registered public accounting firm;
reporting regularly to the full board of directors; and
such other matters that are specifically delegated to our audit committee by our board of directors from time to time.
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Mr. Yuhchang Hwang, Ms. Yifang Xu and Mr. Libin Wang, and is chaired by
Mr. Libin Wang. Mr. Yuhchang Hwang satisfies the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. Our compensation
committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and
executive officers. Our chief executive officer may not be present at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated upon. The
compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:
•
•
•
•
•
reviewing and approving to the board with respect to the compensation for our chief executive officer;
overseeing and making recommendations with respect to the compensation for our officers and employees other than the chief executive
officer;
reviewing and recommending to the board with respect to the compensation and benefits of our directors
selecting, or receiving advise from compensation and benefits consultants, legal counsel or other advisors after taking into consideration all
factors relevant to that person’s independence from management; and
reviewing and administrating all long-term incentive compensation, stock option, annual bonuses, employee pension and welfare benefit
plans.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Mr. Dinggui Yan, Mr. Yifang
Xu and Mr. Libin Wang, and is chaired by Mr. Dinggui Yan. The nominating and corporate governance committee assists the board in selecting individuals
qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board of directors and its committees. The nominating and corporate
governance committee is responsible for, among other things:
•
•
•
•
•
•
identifying and recommending nominees for election or re-election to our board of directors or for appointment to fill any vacancy;
reviewing the performance of each incumbent director and considering the results of such evaluation when determining whether or not to
recommend the retention of such director;
advising the board policies and procedures with respect to corporate governance matters
monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures
to ensure proper compliance;
evaluating its own performance on an annual basis; and
reporting to the board on its findings and actions periodically.
Duties of Directors
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
to our company a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable
circumstances. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably
be expected from a person of his 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 memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. Our company has the right to
124
seek damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached. In limited exceptional circumstances, a shareholder may have the right to seek damages in our
name if a duty owed by our directors is breached.
The functions and powers of our board of directors include, among others:
•
•
•
•
•
convening shareholders’ annual general meetings and reporting its work to shareholders at such meetings;
declaring dividends and distributions;
appointing officers and determining the term of office of officers;
exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and
approving the transfer of shares of our company, including the registering of such shares in our share register.
Terms of Directors and Executive Officers
Unless otherwise determined by our company in general meeting, our company shall have not less than three directors, and there shall be no
maximum number of directors. Our directors may be elected by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders, or by a resolution of our board of directors
(whether to fill a casual vacancy or as an addition to the existing board). Our directors are not subject to a term of office and hold office until the expiration
of his or her term or his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her office is otherwise vacated. A director may be removed
from office by special resolution, notwithstanding anything in our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association or in any agreement
between the Company and such director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement). In addition, a director will be removed
from office automatically if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or
is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns by notice in writing to our company; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board of
directors, is absent from three consecutive meetings of the board and the board resolves that his office be vacated; (v) is prohibited by any applicable law
from being a director; or (vi) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
The compensation of our directors may be determined by the board of directors or by an ordinary resolution. There is no mandatory retirement age for
directors.
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of our board of directors.
Board Diversity
Country of Principal Executive Offices:
Foreign Private Issuer
Disclosure Prohibited Under Home Country Law
Total Number of Directors
Board Diversity Matrix (As of March 31, 2023)
China
Yes
No
5
Part I: Gender Identity
Directors
Part II: Demographic Background
Underrepresented Individual in Home Country Jurisdiction
LGBTQ+
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background
D.
Employees
Female
Male
Non-Binary
Did Not Disclose
Gender
1
4
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
We and the VIE Group had 894, 706 and 796 employees as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, 776 of
our and the VIE Group’s employees were located in Shanghai, 8 in Beijing, 1 in certain other city in China, 9 in Nigeria,
125
and 2 in Singapore. The following table sets forth the breakdown of our and the VIE Group’s employees as of December 31, 2022 by function:
Functions
Origination and servicing department
General and administrative department
Sales and marketing department
Research and development department
Total
Number of
Employees
139
142
212
303
796
We and the VIE Group believe we and the VIE Group offer our and the VIE Group’s employees competitive compensation packages and dynamic
work environment that encourages initiatives. As a result, we and the VIE Group have generally been able to attract and retain qualified personnel and
maintain a stable core management team. We and the VIE Group plan to hire more experienced and talented employees in the areas such as big data
analytics, risk management and operation management as we and the VIE Group expand our and the VIE Group’s business.
As required by PRC regulations, we and the VIE Group participate in various statutory employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds,
namely a pension contribution plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan and a maternity
insurance plan, and a housing provident fund. We and the VIE Group are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at
specified percentages of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our and the VIE Group’s employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the
local government from time to time. In addition, we and the VIE Group purchased the liability insurance and additional commercial health insurance for
our and the VIE Group’s senior management.
We and the VIE Group believe that we and the VIE Group maintain a good working relationship with our and the VIE Group’s employees, and we
and the VIE Group have not experienced any major labor disputes.
E.
Share Ownership
The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of March 31, 2023 by:
•
•
each of our directors and executive officers;
each person known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our ordinary shares.
Our total number of ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2023 was 213,727,404, which includes 54,000,000 ordinary shares held by Dream
Glory. L.P. as an entrusted shareholder of shares issued in view of our 2019 Share Incentive Plan, of which 22,454,240 are shares underlying the options
and 15,680,000 are underlying the RSUs granted under our 2019 Share Incentive Plan and the remaining 15,865,760 are reserved for future issuance.
Dream Glory L.P. will not vote such ordinary shares it held at general meetings of our company.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned
by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through
the exercise of any option, warrant, or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the
percentage ownership of any other person.
We have adopted a dual class ordinary share structure. The calculations in the table below are based on 213,727,404 outstanding ordinary shares
(consisting of 105,727,404 Class A ordinary shares (excluding the 2,372,596 Class A ordinary shares in the form of
126
ADSs the issuer repurchased under its share repurchase program and held as treasury shares) and 108,000,000 Class B ordinary shares) as of March 31,
2023.
Directors and Executive Officers:
Dinggui Yan(1)
Yifang Xu(2)
Libin Wang(3)
Chunlin Fan
Yi Feng
Yuhchang Hwang
Meng Rui
Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
Principal Shareholders:
New Dream Capital Holdings Limited(1)
Sunshinewoods Holdings Limited(4)
Dream Glory L.P.(5)
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned as of March 31, 2023
Class A
ordinary
shares
Class B
ordinary
shares
1,360,000
3,235,416
2,437,860
*
*
—
—
7,549,940
108,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
108,000,000
1,360,000
23,446,492
30,664,256
108,000,000
—
—
Percentage
of total
ordinary
share on an
as-converted
basis
Percentage
of aggregate
voting
power**
51.2
1.5
1.1
*
*
—
—
54.1
51.2
11.0
14.3
91.2
0.0
0.0
*
*
—
—
91.3
91.2
2.0
—
* Beneficially owns less than 1% of our total outstanding shares.
** For each person and group included in this column, percentage of voting power is calculated by dividing the voting power beneficially owned by such
person or group by the voting power of all of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’
vote, each Class A ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B ordinary share is entitled to ten votes, voting together as one class. Each Class B
ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B
ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B ordinary shares by a holder to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such
holder, such Class B ordinary shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the equivalent number of Class A ordinary shares.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Represents 1,360,000 Class A ordinary shares and 108,000,000 Class B ordinary shares held by New Dream Capital Holdings Limited, or New
Dream, a limited liability company established in the British Virgin Islands. New Dream is wholly owned by Mr. Dinggui Yan and Mr. Dinggui Yan
is the sole director of New Dream. The registered address of New Dream is Sertus Incorporations (BVI) Limited, Sertus Chambers, P.O. Box 905,
Quastisky Building, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Represents the Class A ordinary shares held directly by Ms. Yifang Xu, including 2,934,776 Class A ordinary shares which were vested from RSUs.
With respect to such 2,934,776 Class A ordinary shares, Ms. Yifang Xu has given an irrevocable proxy to vote such ordinary shares to the plan
administrator of our 2019 Share Incentive Plan, and as a result, such ordinary shares are excluded from the voting power of Ms. Yifang Xu. The
business address of Ms. Yifang Xu is 18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza, 428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai
200122, People’s Republic of China.
Represents the Class A ordinary shares held directly by Mr. Libin Wang, including 2,159,264 Class A ordinary shares which were vested from
RSUs. With respect to such 2,159,264 Class A ordinary shares, Mr. Libin Wang has given an irrevocable proxy to vote such ordinary shares to the
plan administrator of our 2019 Share Incentive Plan, and as a result, such ordinary shares are excluded from the voting power of Mr. Libin Wang.
The business address of Mr. Libin Wang is 18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza, 428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong New Area,
Shanghai 200122, People’s Republic of China.
Represents 23,446,492 ordinary shares held by Sunshinewoods Holdings Limited, or Sunshinewoods, a limited liability company established in the
British Virgin Islands. Sunshinewoods is wholly owned by Mr. Guanglin Zhang, an employee of our company. Mr. Guanglin Zhang is the sole
director of Sunshinewoods. The registered address of Sunshinewoods is Sertus Incorporations (BVI) Limited, Sertus Chambers, P.O. Box 905,
Quastisky Building, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
Represents 30,664,256 ordinary shares held by Dream Glory L.P., a limited partnership established in the British Virgin Islands, which in
accordance with the shareholding entrustment agreement entered into between Dream Glory L.P. and us, does not have any voting or investment
power. Dream Glory L.P. is established to hold shares underlying potential awards granted pursuant to our share incentive plan. The general partner
of Dream Glory L.P. is New Dream, which is controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan. The
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registered address of Dream Glory L.P. is Sertus Chambers, P.O. Box 905, Quastisky Building, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
As of March 31, 2023, a total of 13,558,936 ADSs, representing 54,235,744 Class A ordinary shares, were held by holders of record in the United
States, representing approximately 25.4% of our total outstanding shares. None of our outstanding Class B ordinary shares were held by holders of record
in the United States.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.
F.
Disclosure of A Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
Not applicable.
128
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A.
Major Shareholders
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.”
B.
Related Party Transactions
Transactions with Jiayin Zhuoyue and Jiayin (Shanghai)
We and the VIE group engaged Jiayin Zhuoyue to refer investors to us and engaged Jiayin (Shanghai) to refer borrowers to us. We and the VIE
group paid Jiayin Zhuoyue and Jiayin (Shanghai) referral service fees. Jiayin Zhuoyue is controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief
executive officer. Jiayin (Shanghai) was controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer, and was no longer our related
party since August 2020 due to the change of shareholder.
We and the VIE group incurred RMB55.2 million, RMB77.0 million and RMB122.9 million (US$17.8 million) of referral service fees to Jiayin
Zhuoyue in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, and incurred RMB9.0 million of referral service fees to Jiayin (Shanghai) in 2020.
Amounts due to Jiayin Zhuoyue was RMB3.4 million, RMB4.5 million and RMB407,640 (US$59,102) as of December 31, 2020, 2021, and 2022,
respectively.
Transactions with Shanghai Jiayin
Shanghai Jiayin is controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer. In 2020, we and the VIE group rented certain
office space from Shanghai Jiayin and were charged of annual rental and other related fees of RMB5.8 million, which was fully paid in 2020. In 2022, we
and the VIE group continued to rent such space for annual rental and other related fees of RMB12.5 million (US$1.8 million). As of December 31, 2022,
the outstanding balance of the service fees payable was RMB158,059 (US$22,916).
Transactions with Kailiantong Payment Service Co., Ltd. (“Kailiantong”)
We and the VIE group engaged Kailiantong, a licensed third-party payment processing company, to process certain payments in the course of our
business and paid them transaction processing fees since 2017. Kailiantong is a consolidated subsidiary of China Smartpay, on which Mr. Dinggui Yan, our
founder, director and chief executive officer once was capable of exercising significant influence. In 2020, we and the VIE group charged RMB6.2 million
from Kailiantong for the services provided. Our Founder, Mr. Dinggui Yan, disposed certain percentage of China Smartpay’s equity in September 2020. As
such, Kailiantong was no longer our related party since September 2020.
Transactions with Limahui Technology Co., Ltd (“Limahui”)
The VIE group engaged Limahui, an internet catering service company, to provide internet catering service for employees of the Company.
Limahui was the entity influenced by Mr. Guanglin Zhang in the first three quarters of 2020. We incurred RMB0.4 million of fees to Limahui in
2020, all service fees payable to Limahui were fully paid in 2020.
Transactions with Aguila Information, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Aguila Information”)
We are engaged by Aguila Information to provide business and operational support services. On January 5, 2021, Aguila Information was
deconsolidated by us and deemed as our related party. (See note 10 to the consolidated financial statements on page F-31 for further details.)
We charged RMB34.6 million and RMB6.6 million (US$1.0 million) from Aguila Information for the service fees provided in 2021 and 2022,
respectively. As of December 31, 2021, the outstanding balance of the service fees receivable was RMB32.6 million, and the accrued credit losses were
RMB16.1 million based on subsequent collection analysis. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of the service fees receivable was RMB13.5
million (US$2.0 million), which was fully accrued of credit losses.
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Loans with related parties
In 2022, we provided interest free loans to Aguila Information with a total amount of RMB4.2 million (US$0.6 million). The loan has been collected
as of December 31, 2022.
In July and August 2021, we provided loans to GAYANG (HongKong) Co., Limited (hereinafter referred to as “GAYANG”) for its daily operation
free of interest with principal of RMB20.7 million, of which RMB11.5 million was collected in September 2021 and RMB9.2 million was collected in July
2022. In October and November 2021, we entered into a loan contract with GAYANG, pursuant to which we provided a total amount of RMB10.6 million
to GAYANG for an annual interest rate of 8%, with the term of 360 days. We accrued RMB171,111 and RMB637,976 (US$92,498) of interest in 2021 and
2022 respectively. In July 2022, we collected RMB1.4 million (US$0.2 million) of the loan. In November 2022, we provided an interest bearing loan to
GAYANG for its daily operation with principal of RMB17.2 million (US$2.5 million) and fixed interest rate of 8% after a three-months free of interest
duration. GAYANG is controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer. As of December 31, 2022, the loans has an
outstanding balance of RMB27.2 million (US$3.9 million), among which, RMB10.0 million (US$1.4 million) was accrued of credit losses. In February
2023, the outstanding balance of RMB17.2 million (US$2.5 million) has been collected.
In 2022, the VIE group provided interest free loans to Shanghai Jiayin with a total amount of RMB35.0 million (US$5.1 million). The company is
controlled by Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive officer. The loan has been collected as of December 31, 2022.
Transactions with Keen Best
On March 13, 2020, our wholly owned subsidiary Geerong (HK) and another independent purchaser entered into a share purchase agreement with
China Smartpay, pursuant to which, among others, Geerong (HK) agreed, subject to certain conditions, to acquire 35 ordinary shares of Keen Best,
representing 35% equity interest in Keen Best, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Smartpay. Mr. Dinggui Yan, our founder, director and chief executive
officer beneficially owns approximately 29.8% equity interest in China Smartpay. This acquisition was closed in September 2020. The purchase price for
the Shares is HK$105,000,000, which has been settled by offsetting against the receivables held by the Company from Smartpay.
Transactions with Shanghai Zhundian
Shanghai Zhundian Enterprise Service Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Zhundian”) (formerly known as “Shanghai Limahui E-Commerce Co., Ltd”) was a
related party controlled by Yan Dinggui, the Chairman of Jiayin Group during the period of January, 2020 to April, 2020. On April 22, 2020, Shanghai
Zhundian was acquired by Jiayin Finance, and becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jiayin Group Inc. The consideration is nil, and the Group recorded
RMB3,000 in APIC as it is a combination under common control and the net assets of Shanghai Zhundian on the acquisition date was RMB3,000.
Contractual Arrangements with Jiayin Finance and Its Shareholders
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”
Collaboration Agreement with Shanghai Caiyin
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”
Share Incentive Plan
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plans.”
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.”
C.
Interest of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
130
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
We have appended consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report.
Legal Proceedings
On September 11, 2020, a securities class action complaint was filed against us and our officers and directors in the Supreme Court of the State of
New York, County of New York. An amended complaint was filed on February 1, 2021, which added as defendants the underwriters for our initial public
offering. The plaintiff asserted claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 based on purported misstatements and omissions in Form F-1
registration statement for our initial public offering. The plaintiff brought his claims individually and on behalf of all other persons who acquired our
American Depositary Shares pursuant and/or traceable to our initial public offering, and seeks compensatory damages, rescission, injunctive relief, and
costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expert fees in unidentified amounts. On August 15, 2022, the Court entered an order of preliminary
approval of a settlement in the Action. The Court has approved the settlement and the case has been dismissed. Under the terms of the settlement, we paid
an aggregate of US$2.0 million in 2022 as a full and final settlement to resolve all claims that arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the class action
as to all parties involved in the action.
Other than the foregoing, we are currently not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings. We may from time to time be subject to
various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding,
regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in substantial cost and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.
Dividend Policy
In March 2018, Jiayin Finance paid a cash dividend of RMB400 million to its shareholders. Jiayin Group Inc. has not previously declared or paid
cash dividends on our Class A ordinary shares.
On March 28, 2023, our Board approved and adopted a dividend policy, under which the Company may choose to declare and distribute cash
dividend twice each fiscal year, starting from 2023, at an aggregate amount of no less than 15% of the net income after tax of the Company in the previous
fiscal year on a consolidated basis. The determination to make dividend distributions in any particular fiscal year will be made at the discretion of the Board
based upon factors such as our results of operations, cash flow, general financial condition, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors
as the Board may deem relevant.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. In order for us to distribute any dividends to our shareholders and ADS holders, we
may rely on dividends distributed by our PRC subsidiaries. Certain payments from our PRC subsidiaries to us may be subject to PRC withholding income
tax. In addition, relevant PRC laws and regulations permit the PRC companies, such as our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE, to pay dividends
only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Each of our PRC subsidiaries and
the consolidated VIE that is in retained earnings position as of the end of each year is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if
any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. Furthermore, each of our PRC subsidiaries and the
consolidated VIE may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at their discretion. The
statutory reserve funds and the discretionary surplus funds are not distributable as cash dividends. After our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE
have generated retained earnings and met the requirements for appropriation to the statutory reserves and until such reserves reach 50% of its registered
capital, respectively, our PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIE can distribute dividends upon approval of the shareholders See “Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC
subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us
could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
131
Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our
shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman Islands
law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be
paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if our board of directors
decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general
financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant. Any dividend declared on our ordinary shares
shall be payable equally to holders of Class A and Class B ordinary shares. If we pay any dividends on our ordinary shares, we will pay those dividends
which are payable in respect of the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by our ADSs to the depositary, as the registered holder of such Class A
ordinary shares, and the depositary then will pay such amounts to our ADS holders in proportion to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by
the ADSs held by such ADS holders, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Cash dividends on
our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
B. Significant Changes
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, 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
Our ADSs, each representing four of our Class A ordinary shares, have been listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market since May 10, 2019. Our ADSs
trade under the symbol “JFIN.”
B.
Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C.
Markets
Our ADSs have been listed on the NASDAQ Global Market since May 10, 2019 under the symbol “JFIN”.
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
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and our corporate affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of
association, as amended from time to time and the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, which we refer to as the Companies Act below, and
the common law of the Cayman Islands.
132
The following are summaries of material provisions of our currently effective memorandum and articles of association and of the Companies Act,
insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
General
All of our issued and outstanding Class A and Class B ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our shareholders who are non-residents of
the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares.
Dividends
The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to our memorandum
and articles of association and the Companies Act. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed
the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman Islands law, dividends may be paid only out of profits or share premium, provided that,
immediately after the payment, we will be able to pay our debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business.
Register of Members
Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there must be entered therein:
•
•
•
the names and addresses of the members, together with a statement of the shares held by each member, and such statement shall confirm (i)
the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid, on the shares of each member, (ii) the number and category of shares held by each
member, and (iii) whether each relevant category of shares held by a member carries voting rights under the articles of association of the
company, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional;
the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
the date on which any person ceased to be a member.
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e. the register of
members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members will be
deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members.
If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from the register of members, or if default is made or unnecessary delay takes place in
entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member, the person or member aggrieved or any member or the company itself may
apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or it may, if
satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
Voting Rights
In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each registered holder of Class A ordinary shares is, on a poll, entitled to one vote per share,
and each registered holder of Class B ordinary shares is, on a poll, entitled to ten votes per share. Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary
shares shall, at all times, vote together on all resolutions submitted to a shareholders’ vote. Holders of our ordinary shares have the right to receive notice
of, attend, speak and vote at general meetings of our company. At any general meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a
show of hands, unless a poll is (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) demanded by the chairman of the meeting or by one or more
shareholders present in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative or proxy) who together
hold shares which carry in aggregate not less than ten percent of the votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that carry the right
to vote at the general meeting. An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast in
a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast in a general meeting. Both ordinary
resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our company, as permitted by the
Companies Act and our memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution will be required for important matters such as a change of name or
making changes to our memorandum and articles of association.
133
General Meetings and Shareholder Proposals
As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our
memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in
which case we will specify the meeting as such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting will be held at such time and place as may be
determined by our directors.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any
right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our memorandum and
articles of association allow any two or more of our shareholders, who together hold shares which carry in aggregate not less than ten percent of all votes
attaching to all of the issued and outstanding shares of our company, to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case the
directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting.
A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholders, who together hold shares which carry in aggregate not less
than one-third (1/3rd) of all votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares of our company that carry the right to vote at such general meeting, present
in person or by proxy or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative. Advance notice of at least seven calendar days
is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and other shareholders meetings.
Conversion
Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time at the option of the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares
are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of Class B
ordinary shares by a holder to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder or the direct or indirect transfer or assignment of the voting
power attached to such number of Class B ordinary shares through voting proxy or otherwise to any person or entity which is not an affiliate of such holder,
such Class B ordinary shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the equivalent number of Class A ordinary shares.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the restrictions in our memorandum and articles of association as set out below, 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.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we
have a lien. Our directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
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the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence
as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and
the ordinary shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of us.
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they are obligated to, within two calendar months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was
lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal. The registration of transfers of shares or of any class of shares may, after
compliance with any notice requirement of the designated stock exchange, be suspended at such times and for such periods (not exceeding in the whole
thirty (30) days in any calendar year) as our board of directors may determine.
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Liquidation
On the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution among our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of
the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed among our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the
shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all
monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the
assets will be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them. We
are an exempted company with limited liability incorporated under the Companies Act, and under the Companies Act, the liability of our members is
limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. Our memorandum of association contains a declaration that the liability of our
members is so limited.
Calls on Ordinary Shares and Forfeiture of Ordinary Shares
Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their ordinary shares in a notice served to
such shareholders at least fourteen calendar days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and
remain unpaid on the specified time are subject to forfeiture, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares
We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders thereof, on such terms and in
such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by a special resolution of our shareholders. Our company
may also repurchase any of our shares provided that the manner and terms of such purchase have been approved by our board of directors or by ordinary
resolution of our shareholders, or are otherwise authorized by our memorandum and articles of association. Under the Companies Act, the redemption or
repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption
or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if the company can, immediately following such
payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies Act no such share may be redeemed or
repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding, or (c) if the company has
commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time the share capital is divided into different classes of shares, all or any of the rights attached to any class of shares may, subject to any
rights or restrictions for the time being attached to the shares of that class, be varied either with the unanimous written consent of the holders of the issued
shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class. The rights conferred
upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the
shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with or subsequent to the shares of that class or the
redemption or purchase of any shares of any class by the Company. The rights of the holders of shares shall not be deemed to be varied by the creation or
issue of shares with preferred or otherwise rights including, without limitation, the creation of shares with enhanced or weighted voting rights.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our
corporate records (other than a right to receive copies of our memorandum and articles of association, special resolutions of our shareholder and our
registered of mortgages and charges). However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements.
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Changes in Capital
Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolutions:
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increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution prescribes;
consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares
sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount than that fixed by our memorandum of association; provided
that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share will be the same as it
was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived; and
cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish
the amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so canceled.
However, no alteration contemplated above, or otherwise, may be made to the par value of the Class A ordinary shares or Class B ordinary shares
unless an identical alteration is made to the par value of the Class B ordinary shares and Class A ordinary shares, as the case may be.
Subject to the Companies Act, our shareholders may by special resolution reduce our share capital and any capital redemption reserve in any manner
authorized by law.
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 this annual report.
D.
Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange.”
E.
Taxation
The following summary of Cayman Islands, the PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the ADSs or Class A 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 change. This
summary does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences
under state, local and other tax laws, or tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, the PRC and the United States. To the extent that the
discussion relates to matters of Cayman Islands tax law, it represents the opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP, our Cayman Islands counsel. To
the extent that the discussion relates to matters of the PRC tax law, it represents the opinion of King & Wood Mallesons, our PRC legal counsel.
Cayman Islands Taxation
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 or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands
except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The
Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control
regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our Class A ordinary shares or ADSs will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no
withholding will be required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of our Class A ordinary shares or ADSs, nor will gains derived from the
disposal of our Class A ordinary shares or ADSs be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
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People’s Republic of China Tax Considerations
Under the EIT Law, an enterprise established outside the PRC with a “de facto management body” within the PRC is considered a PRC resident
enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes and is generally subject to a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate on its worldwide income as well as
tax reporting obligations. Under the Implementation Rules of the Enterprise Income Tax Law, a “de facto management body” is defined as a body that has
material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and business operations, personnel and human resources, finances and properties of
an enterprise. In addition, SAT Circular 82 issued in April 2009 specifies that certain offshore-incorporated enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or
PRC enterprise groups will be classified as PRC resident enterprises if all of the following conditions are met: (a) senior management personnel and core
management departments in charge of the daily operations of the enterprises have their presence mainly in the PRC; (b) their financial and human resources
decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies in the PRC; (c) major assets, accounting books and company seals of the
enterprises, and minutes and files of their board’s and shareholders’ meetings are located or kept in the PRC; and (d) half or more of the enterprises’
directors or senior management personnel with voting rights habitually reside in the PRC. If the PRC tax authorities deem our company or any of our
overseas subsidiaries as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences could follow.
We or the overseas subsidiaries, as the case may be, would be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on worldwide income. Also, a
10% withholding tax would be imposed on dividends we pay to our non-PRC enterprise shareholders and any gains realized by our non-PRC enterprise
shareholders on the transfer of ADS or Class A ordinary shares are also subject to a withholding tax rate of 10%. The withholding tax rate could potentially
increase to 20% on dividends we pay to our non-PRC individual shareholders and any gains realized by such non-PRC individual shareholders on the
transfer of ADS or Class A ordinary shares. These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty.
SAT issued the Bulletin on Issues of Enterprise Income Tax on Indirect Transfers of Assets by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or SAT Bulletin 7, on
February 3, 2015, which replaced or supplemented certain previous rules under the circular commonly known as “SAT Circular 698.” Under SAT Bulletin
7, an “indirect transfer” of assets, including equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by non-PRC resident enterprises may be re-characterized and
treated as a direct transfer of PRC taxable assets, if such arrangement does not have a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose
of avoiding payment of PRC enterprise income tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax.
According to SAT Bulletin 7, “PRC taxable assets” include assets attributed to an establishment in China, immoveable properties in China, and equity
investment in PRC resident enterprises. In respect of an indirect offshore transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the relevant gain is to be regarded as
effectively connected with the PRC establishment and therefore included in its enterprise income tax filing, and would consequently be subject to PRC
enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Where the underlying transfer relates to the immoveable properties in China or to equity investment in a PRC
resident enterprise, which is not effectively connected to a PRC establishment of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 10%
would apply, subject to available preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make the
transfer payments has the withholding obligation. There is uncertainty as to the implementation details of SAT Bulletin 7. If SAT Bulletin 7 were
determined by the tax authorities to be applicable to some of our transactions involving PRC taxable assets, our offshore subsidiaries conducting the
relevant transactions might be required to spend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 7 or to establish that the relevant transactions should not
be taxed under SAT Bulletin 7. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in China—We face uncertainty with
respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.”
Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation
and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Tax Arrangement, where a Hong Kong resident enterprise which is considered a non-PRC tax resident enterprise
directly holds at least 25% of a PRC enterprise, the withholding tax rate in respect of the payment of dividends by such PRC enterprise to such Hong Kong
resident enterprise is reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10%. Pursuant to SAT Circular 81, a resident enterprise of the counter-party to such Tax
Arrangement should meet the following conditions, among others, in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax under the Tax Arrangement: (i) it must
directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in such PRC resident enterprise; and (ii) it should directly own such percentage in
the PRC resident enterprise anytime in the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends.
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United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion summarizes the material United States federal income tax consequences to a United States Holder (as defined below),
under current law, of an investment in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. This discussion is based on the federal income tax laws of the United States as
of the date of this annual report, including the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, existing and proposed Treasury
regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority, published administrative positions of the United States Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, and
other applicable authorities, all as of the date of this annual report. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, which change could apply
retroactively and could significantly affect the tax consequences described below. We have not sought any ruling from the IRS with respect to the
statements made and the conclusions reached in the following discussion and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with our
statements and conclusions. This discussion, moreover, does not address the United States federal estate, gift, Medicare, or alternative minimum tax
considerations, or any state, local or non-United States tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.
Except as specifically described below, this discussion does not address any of the consequences of holding our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares through a
bank, financial institution or other entity, or a branch thereof, located, organized or resident outside the United States, including withholding taxes or
reporting obligations applicable to accounts maintained with non-United States financial institutions (through which a United States Holder may hold our
ADSs or Class A ordinary shares), and does not describe any tax consequences arising in respect of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA
regime.
This discussion applies only to a United States Holder (as defined below) that holds our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as capital assets for United
States federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). The discussion neither addresses the tax consequences to any particular
investor nor describes all of the tax consequences applicable to persons in special tax situations, such as:
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banks and certain other financial institutions;
insurance companies;
pension plans;
cooperatives;
regulated investment companies;
real estate investment trusts;
brokers or dealers in stocks and securities, or currencies;
persons that 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 or entities (including private foundations);
persons whose functional currency is other than the United States dollar;
persons holding ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, conversion or integrated transaction;
persons that actually or constructively own ADSs or Class A ordinary shares representing 10% or more of our total voting power or value;
persons who acquired ADSs or Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of an employee equity grant or otherwise as compensation;
partnerships or other pass-through entities, or persons holding ADSs or Class A ordinary shares through such entities;
persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as a result of
such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement; or
persons that held, directly, indirectly or by attribution, ADSs or Class A ordinary shares or other ownership interests in us prior to our initial
public offering.
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If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) holds our ADSs or Class
A 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 partner in a partnership holding our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares should consult its tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of
investing in and holding our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares.
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR CAREFUL TAX
PLANNING AND ADVICE. HOLDERS 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 UNITED STATES FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-
UNITED STATES TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
For purposes of the discussion below, a “United States Holder” is a beneficial owner of the ADSs or Class A ordinary shares that is, for United
States federal income tax purposes:
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•
•
•
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
a corporation 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 (as defined in the Code) 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.
The discussion below assumes that the representations contained in the deposit agreement and any related agreement are true and that the
obligations in such agreements will be complied with in accordance with their terms.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
Based on the market price of our ADSs, the value of our assets and the nature and composition of our income and assets, we do not 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,
although there can be no assurances in this regard. The determination of PFIC status is based on an annual determination that cannot be made until the
close of a taxable year and 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. Moreover, the application of the PFIC rules is subject to uncertainty in several respects, and we cannot
assure you that the United States Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will agree with any determination we make. Accordingly, there can be no assurance
that we will not be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year or that the IRS will not take a contrary position to any determination we make. We will be 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.
For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, and certain types of rents and royalties. In addition, cash, cash equivalents,
securities held for investment purposes, and certain other similar assets are generally categorized as passive assets. 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 consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries as being owned by us for United States federal income
tax purposes, because we exercise effective control over the operation of these 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 U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however,
that we are not the owner of the consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries for United States federal income tax purposes, the composition of our income and
assets would change and we may be more likely to be treated as a PFIC for one or more taxable years.
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Changes in the value of our assets and/or the nature and composition of our income or assets may cause us 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 Class A 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 generated from our operations and raised in
any offering. In estimating the value of our goodwill and other unbooked intangibles, we have taken into account our market capitalization. Among other
matters, if our market capitalization declines, we may be more likely 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 greater percentage of the value of our overall assets. Further, while we believe our classification
methodology and valuation approach are 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 PFIC for one or more taxable years.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during your holding period for our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC
with respect to you for all succeeding years during which you hold our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, unless we were to cease to be a PFIC and you
make a “deemed sale” election with respect to such ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. If such election is made, you will be deemed to have sold such ADSs
or Class A ordinary shares 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, such ADSs or Class A 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 a sale or other taxable disposition of our ADSs or Class A 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 during which your holding period for our ADSs or Class A 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 our ADSs or Class A 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 Class A ordinary shares will be treated as an excess distribution. Under these
rules:
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the excess distribution or recognized gain will be allocated ratably over your holding period for the ADSs or Class A 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 a PFIC, will be treated as ordinary income; and
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 during your holding period for our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares and any of our non-United States
subsidiaries that are corporations (or other corporations in which we directly or indirectly 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 corporation classified as a PFIC (each such corporation, 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 during your holding period for our ADSs or Class A 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 Class A ordinary shares as ordinary income under a
mark-to-market method, provided that such ADSs or Class A ordinary shares constitute “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, which is a qualified exchange or other market for these purposes. Consequently, as long as our ADSs remain listed on the Nasdaq and are regularly
traded, and you are a holder of such ADSs, we expect that the mark-to-market election would be available to you if we were a PFIC, but no assurances are
given in this regard.
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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
our ADSs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange or other market, or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. United States
Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable in
such United States Holder’s 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, a United
States Holder that makes a mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs 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 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, if we were a PFIC, you would be able to
make a qualified electing fund election with respect to our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares only if we agreed to furnish you annually with a PFIC annual
information statement as specified in the applicable Treasury regulations. We currently do not intend to prepare or provide the information that would
enable you to make a qualified electing fund election if we were a PFIC.
A United States Holder that holds our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares in any year in which we are a PFIC will be required to file an annual report
containing such information as the United States Treasury Department may require.
You are strongly encouraged to consult your tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to an investment in our ADSs or Class A
ordinary shares and the availability, application and consequences of the elections discussed above.
ADSs
If you own our ADSs, then you should be treated as the owner of the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by those ADSs for United
States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of Class A ordinary shares for ADSs should not be subject to United States
federal income tax.
Dividends and Other Distributions on our ADSs or Class A 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 Class A 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 our Class A ordinary shares,
or by the depositary, if you own our 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 generally will 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.
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Under a published IRS Notice, common or ordinary shares, or American depositary shares representing such shares (such as our ADSs), are
considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States if they are listed on the Nasdaq, as our ADSs are (but not our
ordinary shares). Based on existing guidance, it is unclear whether the Class A ordinary shares will be considered to be readily tradable on an established
securities market in the United States, because only our ADSs, and not the underlying Class A 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 Class A ordinary shares that are represented by our 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—People’s Republic of China Tax
Considerations”), 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 Class A 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 Class A ordinary shares for more than 60 days during the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the ex-
dividend date (disregarding certain periods of ownership while the United States Holder’s risk of loss is diminished) or if such 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 our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares, as well as the effect of any change in applicable law after the date of this annual report.
Any PRC withholding taxes imposed on dividends paid to you with respect to our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares (at a rate not exceeding the
applicable rate provided in the United States–PRC income tax treaty in the case of a United States Holder that is eligible for the benefits of such treaty)
generally will be treated as foreign taxes eligible for deduction or credit against your United States federal income tax liability, subject to the various
limitations and disallowance rules that apply to foreign tax credits generally (including that the election to deduct or credit foreign taxes applies to all of
your other applicable foreign taxes for a particular tax year). For purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit limitation, dividends paid to you with respect
to our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares will be treated as income from sources outside the United States and generally will constitute passive category
income, or in certain cases, general category income. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex, and you should consult
your tax advisors regarding the availability of a foreign tax credit in your particular circumstances.
Disposition of our ADSs or Class A Ordinary Shares
You will recognize gain or loss on a sale or exchange of our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the
amount realized on the sale or exchange and your tax basis in our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares. Subject to the discussion under “—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 our ADSs or Class A 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 our ADSs or Class A 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 our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares (see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—People’s Republic of
China Tax Considerations”), 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 Class A ordinary shares, and
the proceeds from the sale or exchange of our ADSs or Class A 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.
142
United States Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules.
Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets
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 our ADSs or Class A ordinary shares as is necessary to identify the class or issue of which our ADSs or Class
A ordinary shares are a part. These requirements are subject to exceptions, including an exception for ADSs or Class A 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 these information reporting rules.
F.
Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G.
Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H.
Documents on Display
We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers, and are
required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually an annual report on Form 20-F within four months
after the end of each fiscal year, which is December 31. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov or 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 documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the
Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are
exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
We will furnish Citibank, N.A., the depositary of our ADSs, with our annual reports, which will include a review of operations and annual audited
consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and 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 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.
I.
Subsidiary Information
For a listing of our subsidiaries, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”
143
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Foreign Currency Risk
Substantially all of our revenues and our expenses are denominated in Renminbi. The functional currency of our company, Jiayin Group Inc. is the
U.S. dollar. The functional currency of our subsidiaries in the PRC, the consolidated VIE and its subsidiaries is the Renminbi. We use Renminbi as our
reporting currency. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency
at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency during the year are converted into
functional currency at the applicable rates of exchange prevailing when the transactions occurred. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the
statements of comprehensive income.
We do not believe that we currently have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and have not used any derivative financial instruments to
hedge exposure to such risk. 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 exchange rate between U.S. dollar and RMB because the value of our business is effectively denominated in Renminbi, while our ADSs
will be traded in U.S. dollars.
The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the PBOC. Since June 2010, the PRC
government has allowed the RMB to appreciate slowly against the U.S. dollar, though there have been periods when the Renminbi has depreciated against
the U.S. dollar. In particular, on August 11, 2015, the PBOC allowed the Renminbi to depreciate by approximately 2% against the U.S. dollar. Since then,
the Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. From August 11, 2015 until the end of 2016, the Renminbi
depreciated against the U.S. dollar by approximately 10%. During 2020, the Renminbi appreciated approximately by 6% against the U.S. dollar. During
2021, the Renminbi appreciated approximately by 2% against the U.S. dollar. During 2022, the Renminbi depreciated approximately by 8% against the
U.S. dollar. It is difficult to predict how market forces or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between the Renminbi and the U.S.
dollar in the future. It is difficult to predict how long the current situation may last and when and how the relationship between the Renminbi and the U.S.
dollar may change again.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would
have an adverse effect on the Renminbi amount we receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert Renminbi into U.S. dollars 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 against the
Renminbi would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
Interest Rate Risk
We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rates, and we have not used any derivative financial instruments to
manage our interest risk exposure. However, we cannot provide assurance that we will not be exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest
rate in the future.
The fluctuation of interest rates may affect the demand for loan services on our platform. For example, a decrease in interest rates may cause
potential borrowers to seek lower-priced loans from other channels. A high interest rate environment may lead to an increase in competing investment
options and dampen investors’ desire to invest on our platform. We do not expect that the fluctuation of interest rates will have a material impact on our
financial condition. However, we cannot provide assurance that we will not be exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rate in the future.
We may invest our cash in interest-earning instruments. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of
interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may
produce less income than expected if interest rates fall.
144
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 and Charges Our ADS holders May Have to Pay
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the deposit agreement:
Service
•
Issuance of ADSs (e.g., an issuance of ADS upon a deposit of Class A
ordinary shares, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Class A Ordinary
Share(s) ratio, or for any other reason), excluding ADS issuances as a
result of distributions of Class A ordinary shares)
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS issued
Fees
• Cancellation of ADSs (e.g., a cancellation of ADSs for delivery of
deposited property, upon a change in the ADS(s)-to-Class A ordinary
share(s) ratio, or for any other reason)
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS canceled
• Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions (e.g., upon a
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held
sale of rights and other entitlements)
• Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held
distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs
• Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held
additional ADSs (e.g., upon a spin-off)
• ADS Services
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by
• Registration of ADS Transfers (e.g., upon a registration of the transfer
of registered ownership of ADSs, upon a transfer of ADSs into DTC
and vice versa, or for any other reason).
• Conversion of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series (e.g., upon
conversion of Partial Entitlement ADSs for Full Entitlement ADSs, or
upon conversion of Restricted ADSs into freely transferable ADSs, and
vice versa).
the depositary bank
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS (or fraction thereof) transferred.
Up to 5¢ per ADS (or fraction thereof) converted.
As an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain charges such as:
•
taxes (including applicable interest and penalties) and other governmental charges;
145
•
•
•
•
•
the registration fees as may from time to time be in effect for the registration of Class A ordinary shares on the share register and applicable to
transfers of Class A ordinary shares to or from the name of the custodian, the depositary bank or any nominees upon the making of deposits and
withdrawals, respectively;
certain cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery expenses;
the expenses and charges incurred by the depositary bank in the conversion of foreign currency
the fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank in connection with compliance with exchange control regulations and other regulatory
requirements applicable to Class A ordinary shares, ADSs and ADRs; and
the fees, charges, costs and expenses incurred by the depositary bank, the custodian, or any nominee in connection with the ADR program.
ADS fees and charges for (i) the issuance of ADSs, and (ii) the cancellation of ADSs are charged to the person for whom the ADSs are issued (in the
case of ADS issuances) and to the person for whom ADSs are canceled (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the depositary
bank into DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made through DTC, and may be charged to the
DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs being issued or the DTC participant(s) holding the ADSs being canceled, as the case may be, on behalf of the
beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures
and practices of the DTC participants as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions and the ADS service fee are charged to the
holders as of the applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the
funds being distributed. In the case of (i) distributions other than cash and (ii) the ADS service fee, holders as of the ADS record date will be invoiced for
the amount of the ADS fees and charges and such ADS fees and charges may be deducted from distributions made to holders of ADSs. For ADSs held
through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash and the ADS service fee may be deducted from distributions made through DTC,
and may be charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge
the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs. In the case of (i) registration of ADS transfers, the ADS
transfer fee will be payable by the ADS Holder whose ADSs are being transferred or by the person to whom the ADSs are transferred, and (ii) conversion
of ADSs of one series for ADSs of another series, the ADS conversion fee will be payable by the Holder whose ADSs are converted or by the person to
whom the converted ADSs are delivered.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary bank fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested
service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary bank fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder. Certain
depositary fees and charges (such as the ADS services fee) may become payable shortly after the closing of the ADS offering. Note that the fees and
charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary bank. You will receive prior notice of such
changes.
The depositary bank may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program, by making available a portion of the
ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary bank agree from time to time.
146
ITEM 13.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
PART II
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
See “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association” for a description of the rights of securities holders, which
remain unchanged.
E. Use of Proceeds
The following “Use of Proceeds” information relates to the registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-228896) in relation to our
initial public offering, which was declared effective by the SEC on May 10, 2019. In May 2019, we completed our initial public offering in which we
issued and sold an aggregate of 4,025,000 ADSs, representing 16,100,000 Class A ordinary shares, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately
US$35.0 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Roth Capital Partners and
Shenwan Hongyuan Securities were the representatives of the underwriters for our initial public offering.
For the period from May 9, 2019, the date that the registration statement on Form F-1 was declared effective by the SEC, to December 31, 2019, the
total expenses incurred for our company’s account in connection with our initial public offering was approximately US$7.4 million, which included US$3.2
million in underwriting discounts and commissions for the initial public offering and approximately US$4.2 million in other costs and expenses for our
initial public offering. None of the transaction expenses included payments to directors or officers of our company or their associates, persons owning more
than 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates. None of the net proceeds from the initial public offering were paid, directly or indirectly, to any
of our directors or officers or their associates, persons owning 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates.
For the period from May 9, 2019, the date that the registration statement on Form F-1 was declared effective by the SEC, to December 31, 2022, we
fully used our net proceeds from our initial public offering for strategic acquisitions and investment as well as the development of our overseas business.
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and co-chief financial officers, 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 that evaluation, our management has concluded that, due to the outstanding material weaknesses described below, as of December 31,
2022, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file
and furnish under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and
that the 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, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. However, in the
course of auditing our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2022, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified two
material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board of the United States. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there
is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
147
Two material weaknesses related to:
•
•
Our lack of sufficient accounting staff with U.S GAAP knowledge and SEC reporting experience related to the accounting and reporting of
complex transactions;
Our lack of formal risk assessment process and internal control framework over financial reporting. We lack a formal group-wide risk
assessment process to identify, assess, address or mitigate the risks identified and internal control over financial reporting framework to
maintain effective internal controls within the organization, which may increase risk of error, fraud, misstatement of financial reporting, or
even non-compliance with related regulations for a U.S. listed Group.
In response to the identified material weaknesses, we have implemented the following measures to address the material weaknesses previously
identified, including (i) participating in training and seminars provided by professional services firms, (ii) providing internal training to our accounting
team on U.S. GAAP knowledge and standard updates, (iii) setting up a systematic accounting manual for U.S. GAAP and the financial closing process and
(iv) implementing updated internal control framework. We are also in the process of implementing the following measures, including (i) monitoring
internal control effectiveness on a continuous basis, and (ii) engaging professional service companies to help implement SOX 404 compliance together
with the establishment of an internal audit function.
However, we cannot assure you that we will complete implementation of these measures in a timely manner. See “Item 3. Key Information—D.
Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial
reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations, meet our reporting obligations or prevent fraud.”
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our company’s independent registered public accounting firm due to the transition
periods established by rules of the SEC for an Emerging Growth Company.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than as described above, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this
annual report on Form 20-F that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our board of directors has determined that each of Mr. Yuhchang Hwang and Mr. Meng Rui qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert”
within the meaning of the SEC rules and possesses financial sophistication within the meaning of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Mr.Yuhchang Hwang and Mr. Meng Rui satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules and meets the
independence standards under Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The audit committee will oversee our accounting and financial reporting processes and
the audits of the financial statements of our company.
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 in December 2018. We
have posted a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics on our website at https://ir.jiayin-fintech.com/.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by Deloitte
Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP and Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, our principal external auditors, for the periods indicated.
Audit Fee
Predecessor auditor
Auditor
2022
150
890
—
830
2021
(US$’000)
148
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 June 13, 2022, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase plan under which we may repurchase our ordinary shares with an aggregate
value of US$10 million during the 12-month period beginning on June 13, 2022. The share repurchase plan was publicly announced on June 16, 2022. As
of March 31, 2023, we had repurchased approximately 1.5 million of our ADSs for approximately US$3.5 million under this share repurchase plan.
The following table summarizes the shares repurchase activity for the periods indicated.
Period
June 13, 2022 to June 30, 2022
September 2022
December 2022
Total
Total Number of
ADSs Purchased
Average Price Paid
Per ADS
225,301
683,738
589,553
1,498,592
US$2.1
US$2.4
US$2.3
US$2.3
Total Number of
ADSs Purchased
as Part of the
Publicly
Announced Plan
225,301
683,738
589,553
1,498,592
Approximate
Dollar Value of
ADSs that May
Yet Be Purchased
under the Plan
US$9.5million
US$7.9million
US$6.5million
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 March 8, 2021, we appointed Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (formerly known as "Marcum Bernstein & Pinchuk LLP"), or Marcum Asia, as our
independent registered public accounting firm with the approval of our audit committee and board of directors.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, or Deloitte, has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since
2018, and the reports of Deloitte our consolidated financial statements have contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified as
to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle. During the whole service period, there has been no disagreements between us and Deloitte on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Deloitte would have caused them to make reference to the disagreements in their audit reports.
During our fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and until the engagement of Marcum Asia, neither we nor anyone on our behalf has
consulted with Marcum Asia on either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of
audit opinion that might be rendered on our financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the us by Marcum Asia which
Marcum Asia concluded as an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial reporting
issue, or (ii) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F (and the related instructions
thereto) or a reportable event as set forth in Item 16F(a)(1)(v)(A) through (D) of Form 20-F.
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ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
As a Cayman Islands company listed on Nasdaq, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However, Nasdaq rules
permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance practices in the
Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. We currently follow and
intend to continue to follow Cayman Islands corporate governance practices in lieu of the corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq that listed
companies must have: (i) a majority of the board be independent; (ii) an audit committee of at least three independent directors; (iii) a nominating and
corporate governance committee composed entirely of independent directors; and (iv) hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after
the end of our fiscal year. Also, our home country practice does not require us to hold an annual meeting of shareholders no later than one year after the end
of its fiscal year and does not require us to seek shareholder approval for amending our share incentive plans. To the extent we choose to follow home
country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would enjoy under the Nasdaq corporate governance
listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our American Depositary Shares
—We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable to
U.S. domestic public companies.”
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Not applicable.
ITEM 16J. INSIDER TRADING POLICIES
Not applicable.
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ITEM 17 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
ITEM 18 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PART III
The consolidated financial statements of Jiayin Group Inc. are included at the end of this annual report.
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
Description of Document
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 19, 2018)
Form of Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of our registration statement
on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19,
2018)
Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registration statement
on Form F-1 (File No. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19,
2018)
Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, the depositary and holders of the American Depositary Shares (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit (a) to the registration statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-229579), as amended, initially filed with
the SEC on February 8, 2019)
Description of Securities (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 of our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38806), filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2022)
2016 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-
228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
2019 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our registration statement on Form S-8 (file no. 333-
233615), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 4, 2019)
Form of Indemnification Agreement with the Registrant’s directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.3 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 19, 2018)
Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and an executive officer of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
Power of Attorney Agreement concerning Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co.,
Ltd., Dinggui Yan, Guanglin Zhang, Yuanle Wu, Shanghai Jinmushuihuotu Investment Center (Limited Partnership) and Shanghai
Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., dated October 15, 2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of our
registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December 19, 2018)
Equity Pledge Agreement concerning Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd.,
Dinggui Yan and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., dated October 15, 2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.6 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
Equity Pledge Agreement concerning Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd.,
Guanglin Zhang and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., dated October 15, 2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.7 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
151
Exhibit
Number
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14
4.15
4.16
4.17
8.1*
11.1
Description of Document
Equity Pledge Agreement concerning Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd.,
Yuanle Wu and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., dated October 15, 2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.8 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
Equity Pledge Agreement concerning Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd.,
Jinmushuihuotu Investment Center (Limited Partnership) and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., dated October 15,
2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-
228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
Exclusive Call Option Agreement concerning Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Kunjia Technology
Co., Ltd., Dinggui Yan, Guanglin Zhang, Yuanle Wu, Shanghai Jinmushuihuotu Investment Center (Limited Partnership) and
Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., dated October 15, 2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.10 of our registration statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 19, 2018)
Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement between Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Kunjia
Technology Co., Ltd., dated June 29, 2018 (English Translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 of our registration
statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 19, 2018)
Collaboration Agreement between Shanghai Caiyin Asset Management Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Wuxingjia Finance Information
Services Co., Ltd., dated December 1, 2015 (English Translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 of our registration
statement on Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 19, 2018)
Equity Transfer Agreement concerning Shanghai Caiyin Asset Management Co., Ltd. among Shanghai Jiayin Finance Services Co.,
Ltd., Shenzhen Rongxinbao Non-financial Guarantee Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Wuxingjia Finance Information Services Co., Ltd.
dated September 16, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to our Form 6-K (file no. 001-38806), filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2019)
Supplementary Agreement to Collaboration Agreement dated December 1, 2015 between Shanghai Caiyin Asset Management Co.,
Ltd. and Shanghai Wuxingjia Finance Information Services Co., Ltd., dated September 16, 2019 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.3 to our Form 6-K (file no. 001-38806), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2019)
Agreement among Shenzhen Rongxinbao Non-financial Guarantee Co., Ltd., Shanghai Wuxingjia Finance Information Services
Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Services Co., Ltd. dated October 16, 2019 (English Translation) (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 99.2 to our Form 6-K (file no. 001-38806), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 2019)
Framework Acquisition Agreement among Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai Bweenet Network Technology
Co., Ltd., Tang Chuanfa, Liu Ning, Wang Peiqiong, Zhao Wu and Cui Junying dated April 1, 2021 (English Translation)
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to our Form 6-K (file no. 001-38806), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 5, 2021)
Share Acquisition Framework Agreement among Shenzhen Rongxinbao Non-Financial Guarantee Co., Ltd., Shanghai Jiayin
Finance Technology Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Bweenet Network Technology Co., Ltd. dated December 29, 2021 (English
Translation) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to our Form 6-K (file no. 001-38806), filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on January 3, 2022)
Principal subsidiaries, variable interest entities and principal affiliated entities held by the variable interest entities of the Registrant
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our registration statement on
Form F-1 (file no. 333-228896), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 2018)
12.1*
Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
152
Exhibit
Number
12.2*
13.1**
13.2**
15.1*
15.2*
15.3*
15.4
Description of Document
Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification by Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification by Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Consent of Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
Consent of King & Wood Mallesons
Letter from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 15.5 of our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-38806), filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 29, 2022)
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*
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.
153
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the
undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
SIGNATURES
Jiayin Group Inc.
By:
/s/ Dinggui Yan
Name:
Title:
Dinggui Yan
Director and Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 28, 2023
154
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms—Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (PCAOB ID: 5395)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
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 Parent Company
Page
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-8
F-48
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of
Jiayin Group Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Jiayin Group Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the
related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ (deficit) equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes and schedules (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 three years in the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America.
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 Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
("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 audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required
to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
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 provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ Marcum Asia CPAs LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021.
New York, New York
April 28, 2023
F-2
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2022
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Amounts due from related parties, net (net of allowance for credit
losses of RMB16,114 and RMB23,579 as of December 31, 2021
and 2022, respectively)
Accounts receivable and contract assets, net (net of allowance for credit
losses of nil and RMB2,539 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Financial assets receivable
Loans receivable, net (net of allowance for credit losses of RMB27,255
and RMB17,991 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Deferred tax assets, net
Property and equipment , net
Right-of-use assets
Long-term investment
Other long-term assets
TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Liabilities including amounts of the consolidated VIEs without
recourse to the Company (Note 2(b)):
Deferred guarantee income
Payroll and welfare payables
Amounts due to related parties
Tax payables
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Other payable related to the disposal of Shanghai Caiyin
Lease liabilities
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 18)
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Class A ordinary shares (US$0.000000005 par value; 108,100,000 shares
issued as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022;
108,100,000 and 105,727,404 shares outstanding as of
December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022, respectively)1
Class B ordinary shares (US$0.000000005 par value;
108,000,000 and 108,000,000 shares issued and outstanding as of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)1
Treasury stock (nil and 2,372,596 shares as of
December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022, respectively)
Additional paid-in capital
(Accumulated deficit) Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total Jiayin Group shareholder’s equity
Noncontrolling interests
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1.
The total shares authorized for both Class A and Class B are 10,000,000,000,000
F-3
2021
RMB
As of December 31,
2022
RMB
US$
(Note 2(h))
182,551
2,016
291,018
2,023
42,194
293
37,017
17,750
2,574
502,431
—
1,732,218
292,342
329
62,255
48,456
9,100
35,507
90,528
1,242
971,432
—
56,056
4,485
409,063
118,808
322,028
35,243
945,683
0
0
—
840,580
(794,762 )
(17,954 )
27,864
(2,115 )
25,749
971,432
3,151
472,830
70,778
18,900
27,604
90,497
1,759
3,020,870
276,518
81,558
566
632,825
572,135
188,300
27,465
1,779,367
0
0
(9,262 )
870,562
384,896
(3,112 )
1,243,084
(1,581 )
1,241,503
3,020,870
251,148
42,386
457
68,554
10,262
2,740
4,002
13,121
255
437,986
40,091
11,825
82
91,751
82,953
27,301
3,982
257,985
0
0
(1,343 )
126,220
55,805
(452 )
180,230
(229 )
180,001
437,986
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Net revenue (including revenue from related parties of
RMB6,209, RMB34,619 and RMB6,567 for 2020, 2021
and 2022, respectively)
Operating cost and expenses:
Origination and servicing
Other cost of sales
Sales and marketing
General and administrative
Research and development
Allowance for uncollectible receivables,
contract assets, loans receivable and others
Total operating cost and expenses
Income from operation
Gain from de-recognition of other payable associated with
disposal of Shanghai Caiyin
Impairment of equity investment
Interest income (expense), net
Other income, net
Income before income tax expense and (loss) income
from investment in affiliates
Income tax expense
(Loss) income from investment in affiliates
Net income
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest shareholders
Net income attributable to Jiayin Group Inc.
Net income per share:
- Basic
- Diluted
Net income per ADS:
- Basic
- Diluted
Weighted average shares used in calculating net income per
share:
- Basic
- Diluted
Net income
Other comprehensive income, net of tax of nil
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Total comprehensive income attributable to Jiayin Group
Inc.
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
RMB
2022
US$
(Note 2(h))
1,300,160
1,780,490
3,271,414
474,310
(239,199 )
—
(375,063 )
(154,963 )
(151,550 )
(320,466 )
(15,467 )
(659,291 )
(165,150 )
(143,733 )
(565,227 )
—
(1,081,382 )
(194,039 )
(216,694 )
(77,278 )
(998,053 )
302,107
(44,427 )
(1,348,534 )
431,956
(32,053 )
(2,089,395 )
1,182,019
117,021
(67,169 )
7,716
6,711
366,386
(108,811 )
(7,509 )
250,066
(2,817 )
252,883
1.17
1.17
4.68
4.68
138,043
—
(1,117 )
16,952
585,834
(125,724 )
7,651
467,761
(4,325 )
472,086
2.18
2.18
8.74
8.74
117,021
(15,078 )
281
43,447
1,327,690
(155,398 )
7,940
1,180,232
574
1,179,658
5.48
5.48
21.92
21.92
216,100,000 216,100,000 215,259,640
216,100,000 216,100,000 215,259,640
1,180,232
250,066
467,761
(81,950 )
—
(156,786 )
(28,133 )
(31,418 )
(4,647 )
(302,934 )
171,376
16,966
(2,186 )
42
6,299
192,497
(22,531 )
1,152
171,118
84
171,034
0.79
0.79
3.18
3.18
215,259,640
215,259,640
171,118
(13,366 )
236,700
(2,897 )
(5,229 )
462,532
(4,417 )
14,802
1,195,034
534
2,146
173,264
78
239,597
466,949
1,194,500
173,186
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Class A
Ordinary
shares
Class B
Ordinary
shares
Treasury
stock
Additional
paid-in
capital
Number
RMB
Number
RMB
Number
RMB
RMB
Accumulated
other
comprehensiv
e
income (loss)
RMB
Accumulated
deficit
RMB
Noncontrollin
g
interests
RMB
Total
shareholder‘s
(deficit) equity
RMB
777,408
(1,519,731 )
469
255
(741,599 )
Balance at
January 1, 2020
Capital contribution
from noncontrolling
interest shareholders
Net income
Share-based
compensation
Exercise of share
options
Business combination
under
common control
Conversion of Class B
Ordinary Share to
Class A Ordinary
Share
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments
Balance at
December 31, 2020
Net income
Share-based
compensation
Exercise of share
options
Acquisition of a
subsidiary
Deconsolidation of
subsidiaries
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments
Balance at
December 31, 2021
Net income
Share-based
compensation
Exercise of share
options
Vest of Restricted
Share Units
Repurchase of
ordinary shares
Foreign currency
translation
adjustments
Balance at
December 31, 2022
100,100,000
—
116,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
8,000,000
—
108,100,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
108,100,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
108,100,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(8,000,000 )
—
108,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
108,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
108,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
237,988
3,383,78
4
(5,994,3
68 )
—
(2,372,5
96 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,008
—
—
30,652
6,982
3,000
—
—
818,042
—
15,186
7,352
—
—
—
840,580
—
42,548
1,176
—
252,883
—
—
—
—
—
(1,266,848 )
472,086
—
—
—
—
—
(794,762 )
1,179,658
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(13,286 )
(12,817 )
—
—
—
—
—
(5,137 )
(17,954 )
—
—
—
—
—
500
(2,817 )
—
—
—
—
(80 )
(2,142 )
(4,325 )
—
—
5,000
(556 )
(92 )
(2,115 )
574
—
—
—
—
500
250,066
30,652
6,982
3,000
—
(13,366 )
(463,765 )
467,761
15,186
7,352
5,000
(556 )
(5,229 )
25,749
1,180,232
42,548
2,184
—
(24,012 )
14,842
(40 )
14,802
13,742
(13,742 )
(24,012 )
—
—
—
(9,262 )
870,562
384,896
(3,112 )
(1,581 )
1,241,503
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income for the years
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from
operating activities:
Allowance for uncollectible receivables,
contract assets, loans receivable and others
Share-based compensation
Depreciation and amortization
Loss from disposal of property, equipment and software
Loss (income) from investment in affiliates
Impairment of short-term investment
Impairment of long-term investment
Gain from de-recognition of other payable associated with
disposal of Shanghai Caiyin
Business combination under common control
Loss from disposal of subsidiaries
Net loss of a subsidiary which was both acquired and disposed
off during the year
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and contract assets
Financial assets receivable
Loans receivable
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Amount due from/to related parties
Deferred tax assets
Other non-current assets
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Deferred guarantee income
Payroll and welfare payables
Tax payables
Refund liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Operating lease liabilities
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, equipment and software
Investments in equity investees
Disposal of subsidiaries, net of cash disposed of
nil, RMB16,043 and nil
Acquisition of a subsidiary (including capital contribution
of RMB86,487 to the subsidiary which was acquired
and disposed off during the year)
Sale of property, equipment and software
Loans to related parties
Repayments from related parties
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Loans from related parties
Contribution from noncontrolling shareholders of subsidiaries
Repayment to related parties
Dividend distributed to shareholders
Repurchase of ordinary shares
Proceeds from exercise of options
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents
and restricted cash
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of the year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of the year
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
US$
(Note2(h))
250,066
467,761
1,180,232
171,118
77,278
30,652
23,158
—
7,509
67,169
—
(117,021 )
3,000
—
—
(224,408 )
—
(58,982 )
26,538
10,039
27,357
—
30,289
—
9,764
99,962
(180,104 )
(87,751 )
(30,020 )
(35,505 )
(848 )
(3,378 )
—
—
1
79
37,372
33,226
3,113
500
—
—
—
6,982
10,595
(11,145 )
(2,829 )
122,149
119,320
44,427
15,186
15,674
16
(7,651 )
—
—
(138,043 )
—
2,363
1,744
(344,388 )
—
(9,681 )
(5,822 )
(35,245 )
(12,943 )
(1,242 )
(30,871 )
—
(2,185 )
138,296
—
54,898
32,246
184,540
(2,768 )
—
(16,043 )
(95,000 )
11
(203,146 )
190,724
(126,222 )
15,000
—
(15,000 )
2,586
—
7,352
9,938
(3,009 )
65,247
119,320
184,567
32,053
42,548
9,961
—
(7,940 )
—
15,078
(117,021 )
—
—
—
(1,232,326 )
(292,342 )
(21,903 )
(434,318 )
12,437
(22,322 )
(516 )
7,903
276,518
25,502
223,762
—
444,064
(7,778 )
133,592
(17,468 )
—
—
—
—
(56,416 )
50,935
(22,949 )
—
—
—
—
(14,750 )
2,184
(12,566 )
10,397
108,474
184,567
293,041
4,647
6,169
1,444
—
(1,152 )
—
2,186
(16,966 )
—
—
—
(178,670 )
(42,386 )
(3,176 )
(62,970 )
1,803
(3,236 )
(75 )
1,146
40,091
3,697
32,442
—
64,383
(1,128 )
19,367
(2,533 )
—
—
—
—
(8,180 )
7,385
(3,328 )
—
—
—
—
(2,139 )
317
(1,822 )
1,510
15,727
26,760
42,487
F-6
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid, net
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Disposal consideration settled by service fee collected on
behalf of the Group (see Note 10)
Disposal consideration settled by other payable related
to the disposal of Shanghai Caiyin (see Note 10)
Non-cash right-of-use assets in exchange for new
lease liabilities (see Note 15)
Investment consideration settled by loan due from related
party
Reconciliation to amounts on consolidated balance sheets
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
RMB
2022
US$
(Note2(h))
162
6,614
1,900
275
156,276
—
—
94,380
—
—
—
—
4,734
47,101
12,655
1,835
(91,957 )
—
—
—
117,320
2,000
119,320
182,551
2,016
184,567
291,018
2,023
293,041
42,194
293
42,487
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
Jiayin Group Inc. (the “Company”) is an exempted company incorporated with limited liabilities in the Cayman Islands under the laws of the
Cayman Islands in December 2017.
The Company, its consolidated subsidiaries and the consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) (collectively referred to as the “Group”) provide
online consumer finance service in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) by connecting institutional funding partners with borrowers through a
proprietary internet platform. The Group operates in an evolving regulatory environment and has been adjusting its business model to stay in
compliance with regulatory requirements during the years presented. The Group historically has focused on connecting borrowers with individual
investors. Since the third quarter of 2019, the Group also began to cooperate with institutional funding partners. Starting from 2020, the Group was
actively expanding business in overseas markets. The Group operates lending business by using its own funds in Nigeria to extend small credit loans
to individual borrowers.
Starting from year 2022, for certain off-balance sheet loans funded by institutional funding partners, the Group provides commitment to compensate
the institutional funding partners or third party guarantee companies in the event of borrowers’ default in the form of guarantee provided by third-
party financial guarantee companies or financial guarantee company within the Group.
History of the Group
The Group began the operations mainly through its PRC entities in 2015. In September 2015, Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd (“Jiayin
Finance”) formed a wholly-owned subsidiary Shanghai Wuxingjia Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Wuxingjia”) (formerly known as
(“Shanghai Niwodai Internet Finance Information Services Co., Ltd. ”) to develop online consumer finance service.
In September 2015, Shanghai Caiyin Asset Management Co., Ltd (“Shanghai Caiyin”) was established by Mr. Yan (the “ Founder”) to provide the
guarantee services to the loans facilitated through Shanghai Wuxingjia. Shanghai Caiyin deemed as the variable interest entity (see Note 2(b)) of the
Group started from 2015 to 2019, provided the guarantee service to the loans funded by individual investors facilitated through Shanghai Wuxingjia.
Such guarantee service was ceased since April 28, 2018.
In December 2017, the Company was incorporated by the same shareholders of Jiayin Finance in Cayman Island in connection with a group
reorganization (“Reorganization”). As PRC laws and regulations prohibit and restrict foreign ownership of internet value-added businesses, the
Company established, through a BVI and a Hong Kong intermediary company, a wholly-owned foreign invested subsidiary in the PRC, Shanghai
Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Kunjia” or “WFOE”) in June 2018.
WFOE entered into a series of contractual arrangements (Note 2(b)) in June 2018 with Jiayin Finance (the “VIE”) and the shareholders of the VIE.
The series of contractual agreements include Power of Attorney Agreement, Exclusive Purchase Agreement, Exclusive Consultation and Service
Agreement, and Equity Pledge Agreement. The Group believes that these contractual agreements would enable WFOE to (1) have power to direct
the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE and its subsidiary and (2) receive the economic benefits of the VIE
and its subsidiary that could be significant to them. Accordingly, the Group believes that WFOE is the primary beneficiary of the VIE and its
subsidiary.
The Group considered the Reorganization as a reorganization of entities under common control.
IPO
On May 10, 2019, the Group completed its IPO on the NASDAQ Global Market. In this offering, 4,025,000 American depositary shares (“ADSs”),
representing 16,100,000 Class A ordinary shares, were issued at a price of US$10.50 per ADS. The aggregate proceeds received by the Group from
the IPO, net of issuance costs, were approximately RMB234,354. All classes of ordinary shares are entitled to the same dividend right. All of the
Class B ordinary shares were held by the Founder of the Group.
Business transformation
On July 3, 2019, the Group established a wholly owned subsidiary, Geerong Yunke Information Technology Co., Ltd. (“Geerong Yunke”). On
September 10, 2019, Geerong Yunke conducted a business combination under common control with Geerong Yun (Shanghai) Enterprise
Development Co., Ltd. (formerly known as “Jirongyun (Shanghai) Enterprise Development Co., Ltd”, “Geerong Yun”) as both the Geerong Yunke
and Geerong Yun were controlled by Mr. Yan.
F-8
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES - continued
In September 2019, as part of the business transformation of the Group, Shanghai Wuxingjia and Shanghai Caiyin entered into an amendment
agreement. Pursuant to this amendment agreement, Shanghai Wuxingjia no longer had the rights to adjust the charge rate of guarantee services for
Shanghai Caiyin, to collect the residual economic benefits from the guarantee services provided by Shanghai Caiyin, or to terminate the guarantee
service agreement at any time. As a result of such revision, Shanghai Wuxingjia lost power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the
economic performance of Shanghai Caiyin and no economic benefits of Shanghai Caiyin would be received by Shanghai Wuxingjia. Therefore,
starting from September 1, 2019, Shanghai Wuxingjia was no longer considered as the primary beneficiary of Shanghai Caiyin and Shanghai Caiyin
was deconsolidated by the Group.
As of December 31, 2022 the Company’s significant subsidiaries and its consolidated VIEs are as follows:
Name
Subsidiaries
Jiayin Holdings Limited
Geerong (HK) Limited (formerly known as “Jiayin
(HK) Limited”)
Jiayin Southeast Asia Holdings Limited
Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd.
Date of
incorporation/
establishment or
acquisition
Place of
incorporation/
establishment
Percentage
of direct or
indirect
ownership
January 2018
BVI
January 2018
Hong Kong
February 2018
June 2018
BVI
Shanghai
100%
100%
100%
100%
Geerong Yunke Information Technology Co., Ltd.
July 2019
Shanghai
100%
Geerong Yun (Shanghai) Enterprise Development
Co., Ltd.
September 2019
Shanghai
100%
Shanghai Chuangzhen Software Co., Ltd.
PT. Jayindo Fintek Pratama
Fujian Jiaxi Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd.
Hainan Yinke Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd.
April 2020
April 2020
July 2021
August 2021
Shanghai
Indonesia
Fujian
Hainan
100%
85%
100%
100%
VIEs
Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Wuxingjia Information Technology
Co., Ltd. ( formerly known as "Shanghai Niwodai
Internet Finance Information Services Co., Ltd.")
June 2015
Shanghai
100%
September 2015
Shanghai
100%
Shanghai Jiajie Internet Finance
Information Services Co., Ltd.
July 2019
Shanghai
100%
Jiayin Shuke Information Technology Co., Ltd.
January 2021
Shanghai
100%
F-9
Principal activities
Investment Holding
Investment Holding
Investment Holding
Investment Holding
Technology
development
and consumer finance
services
Technology
development
and consumer finance
services
Technology service
Lending business
Guarantee service
Guarantee service
Technology service
Technology
development
and consumer finance
services
Technology
development
and consumer finance
services
Technology service
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a)
Basis of presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).
(b)
Principles of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial information of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries and its consolidated VIEs.
All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
Variable interest entity
The VIE Arrangement with Shanghai Caiyin
In September 2015, Shanghai Caiyin Asset Management Co., Ltd (“Shanghai Caiyin”) was established by Mr. Yan (the “Founder”) to provide the
guarantee services to the loans facilitated through Shanghai Wuxingjia. Upon formation, Shanghai Caiyin entered into an agreement with Shanghai
Wuxingjia through which Shanghai Wuxingjia has the power to direct the activities that most significantly affects the economic performance of
Shanghai Caiyin and would be able to receive the economic benefits of Shanghai Caiyin that could be significant to Shanghai Caiyin. Therefore,
Shanghai Wuxingjia was considered the primary beneficiary of Shanghai Caiyin and consolidated Shanghai Caiyin.
Pursuant to this amendment agreement entered between Shanghai Wuxingjia and Shanghai Caiyin as part of the business transformation of the
Group, starting from September 1, 2019, Shanghai Wuxingjia was no longer considered as the primary beneficiary of Shanghai Caiyin and Shanghai
Caiyin was deconsolidated by the Group.
On September 16, 2019, Shanghai Caiyin was disposed to a third-party company, Shenzhen Rongxinbao Non-financial Guarantee Co., Ltd.
(“Shenzhen Rongxinbao”) (See Note 10).
F-10
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(b)
Principles of consolidation - continued
Variable interest entity - continued
The VIE Arrangement with Shanghai Kunjia, the WFOE
As PRC laws and regulations prohibit and restrict foreign ownership of internet value added businesses, the Company operates its business,
primarily through the VIEs. In June 2018, the Company, through its wholly owned foreign invested subsidiary, Shanghai Kunjia or WFOE, entered
into a series of contractual arrangements (“VIE agreements”) with Jiayin Finance and its respective shareholders that enable the Company to (1)
have power to direct the activities that most significantly affects the economic performance of the VIE and its subsidiary, and (2) receive the
economic benefits of the VIE and its subsidiary that could be significant to the VIE and its subsidiary.
Despite the lack of technical majority direct voting interest, there exists a parent subsidiary relationship between Shanghai Kunjia and the VIE and
its subsidiary through the aforementioned agreements. The following is a summary of the VIE agreements:
The agreements that provide the Company effective control over the VIE and its subsidiary include:
Powers of Attorney:
Pursuant to the Power of Attorney, each of the four shareholders have signed power of attorney with WFOE to irrevocably authorize the board of
directors / Executive Directors of WFOE and their successors to act as his or her attorney-in-fact to exercise all of his or her rights as a shareholder
of Jiayin Finance including, but not limited to, the right (1) to make and sign the relevant shareholders’ general meeting decision on behalf of the
shareholders of Jiayin Finance; (2) in accordance with the law and Jiayin Finance’s Charter of shareholders exercise the right to enjoy all the rights
of shareholders , including but not limited to the right of shareholders to vote, sell or transfer or pledge or dispose of all or any part of Jiayin
Finance’s shares; and (3) designate and appoint the legal representative, chairman, director, supervisor, general manager and other senior
management of Jiayin Finance as the authorized representative of the Group. This power of attorney is irrevocable and continues to be in force
during the period when the authorized person is a shareholder of WFOE, from the date of signature of this power of attorney.
Exclusive Purchase Agreement:
Pursuant to the Exclusive Purchase Agreement among WFOE, Jiayin Finance and the four shareholders of Jiayin Finance, the four shareholders and
Jiayin Finance shall irrevocably grant WFOE, to purchase or appoint one or more persons from WFOE at any time to purchase all or part of the
shares which is not subject to legal restriction or assets held by the four shareholders or Jiayin Finance. Except for WFOE and the designated person,
no third party shall have the right to purchase shares and assets or other shares and assets related to the four shareholders. The consideration of the
purchase should be RMB1 or the lowest price permitted by the PRC laws. The effective time period of this agreement is ten years, and will be
automatically extended to further years.
The agreements that transfer economic benefits to the Company include:
Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement:
Pursuant to the Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement between WFOE and Jiayin Finance, WFOE has the exclusive right to provide Jiayin
Finance with consulting and other services. Without WFOE’s prior written consent, Jiayin Finance may not accept any services subject to this
agreement from any third party. WFOE has the right to determine the service fee to be charged to Jiayin Finance under this agreement by
considering, among other things, the complexity of the services, the actual cost that may be incurred for providing such services, as well as the value
and comparable price on the market of the service provided. WFOE will have the exclusive ownership of all intellectual property rights created as a
result of the performance of this agreement. Unless WFOE terminates this agreement in advance or otherwise provided by law, this agreement will
remain effective for ten years and shall automatically extend the term of this agreement prior to its expiration. Jiayin Finance may not terminate this
agreement unilaterally.
F-11
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(b)
Principles of consolidation - continued
Variable interest entity - continued
The VIE Arrangement with Shanghai Kunjia, the WFOE - continued
Equity Pledge Agreement:
Pursuant to the Equity Pledge Agreement among WFOE, Jiayin Finance and the four shareholders, in order to ensure that Jiayin Finance and its
shareholders will fulfill the obligations under the power of attorney, the exclusive consultation and service agreement, and the exclusive purchase
agreement (collectively “the Main Agreement”), the four shareholders have pledged 100% equity interest in Jiayin Finance to WFOE. According to
the Main Agreement, the pledgee has the right to charge the service fee to Jiayin Finance. Those shareholders and WFOE also agree that without a
prior written consent of the pledgee, they shall not transfer the shares or set up any pledge or other form of guarantee which may affect the rights
and interests of the pledgee.
These contractual arrangements allow the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary WFOE, to effectively control the VIEs, and to derive
substantially all of the economic benefits from them. Accordingly, the Company has consolidated the financial results of the VIEs.
The Company believes that the contractual arrangements with the VIEs are in compliance with PRC law and are legally enforceable. However,
uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Company’s ability to enforce the contractual arrangements. If the legal structure and
contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations, the PRC government could:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
revoke the Group’s operating licenses;
levy fines on the Group;
confiscate any of the Group’s net income that they deem to be obtained through illegal operations;
shut down the Group’s services;
discontinue or restrict the Group’s operations in China;
impose conditions or requirements with which the Group may not be able to comply;
require the Group to change corporate structure and contractual arrangements;
restrict or prohibit the use of the proceeds from overseas offerings to finance the Company’s PRC consolidated VIEs’ business and
operations; and
take other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to the Group’s business.
F-12
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(b)
Principles of consolidation - continued
Variable interest entity - continued
The VIE Arrangement with Shanghai Kunjia, the WFOE - continued
The following condensed financial statement balances and amounts of the Company’s VIEs, were included in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements after the elimination of intercompany balances and transactions among the Company, its subsidiaries and its VIEs.
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Amounts due from related parties
Financial Assets receivable
Accounts receivable, net
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Deferred tax assets, net
Property and equipment, net
Right-of-use assets
Other long-term assets
TOTAL ASSETS
Deferred guarantee income
Payroll and welfare payables
Amounts due to related parties
Tax payables
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Other payable related to the disposal of Shanghai
Caiyin
Lease liabilities
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Net revenue
Operating income (expense)
Net income
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
14,759
2,016
504
—
30,846
39,109
24,615
2,372
24,430
1,103
139,754
—
28,057
4,485
272,964
46,675
322,028
24,752
698,961
16,294
2,023
507
53,373
71,184
125,647
26,914
8,123
14,297
242
318,604
51,079
35,900
566
286,705
183,442
188,300
14,598
760,590
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
624,868
230,415
254,283
(40,071 )
(62 )
—
680,790
(15,802 )
89,149
98,486
(96,180 )
—
972,029
52,204
164,741
8,807
(7,265 )
—
The VIEs contributed 48%, 38% and 30% of the Group’s consolidated revenue for years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022. As of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, the VIEs accounted for an aggregate of 14% and 11% of the consolidated total assets, and 74% and 43% of the
consolidated total liabilities, respectively.
There are no terms in any arrangements, considering both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests that require the Company or its
subsidiaries to provide financial support to the VIEs. However, if the VIEs were ever to need financial support, the Group may, at its option and
subject to statutory limits and restrictions, provide financial support to its VIEs through loans to the shareholders of the VIEs or entrustment loans to
the VIEs.
F-13
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(b)
Principles of consolidation - continued
Variable interest entity - continued
The VIE Arrangement with Shanghai Kunjia, the WFOE - continued
The Group believes that there are no assets held in the VIEs that can be used only to settle obligations of the VIEs, except for registered capital and
the PRC statutory reserves. As the VIEs are incorporated as limited liability companies under the PRC Company Law, creditors of the VIEs do not
have recourse to the general credit of the Company for any of the liabilities of the VIEs. Relevant PRC laws and regulations restrict the VIEs from
transferring a portion of their net assets, equivalent to the balance of its statutory reserve and its share capital, to the Company in the form of loans
and advances or cash dividends. See Note 19 for disclosure of restricted net assets.
(c)
Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period they are identified.
The Group bases its estimates on historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, 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 the Group’s financial statements include expected credit loss for financial guarantee in scope of ASC
326, allowance for financial assets receivable, loan receivables, accounts receivables and contract assets, amount due from related parties, and
others, valuation allowances for deferred tax assets, valuation of share-based awards, fair value measurement and impairment of investment,
discount rate used to measure lease liabilities, variable consideration for revenue recognition.
(d)
Fair value
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.
Authoritative literature provides a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three
broad levels. The level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based upon the lowest level of input that is
significant to the fair value measurement as follows:
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 financial instruments, which consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, amounts due from/to related parties,
accounts receivable and contract assets, financial assets receivable, loans receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, deferred guarantee income
and other liabilities are recorded at cost which approximate their fair value mainly due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
The Group does not have any assets or liabilities that are recorded at fair value subsequent to initial recognition on a recurring basis other than the
short-term investment in convertible debt accounted for as available-for-sale debt security, which is classified as a level 2 fair value measurement.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the carrying amount of the short-term investment is approximate to its fair value. The Group does not have any
assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis during the periods presented.
F-14
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(e)
Certain risks and concentrations
Financial instrument that potentially exposes the Group to significant concentration of credit risk primarily includes cash and cash equivalents,
restricted cash, accounts receivable and contract assets, financial assets receivable, loans receivable, and amounts due from related parties. As of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, there were 69% and 89% of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash held in major financial
institutions located in the PRC, respectively, and the rest were held in overseas major financial institutions which management considers to be of
high credit quality. Accounts receivable, contract assets and financial assets receivable are typically unsecured and are derived from revenue earned
from customers in the PRC. The risk with respect to accounts receivable and contract assets, and financial assets receivable is mitigated by credit
evaluations The Group performs on its customers and its ongoing monitoring process of outstanding balances. Credit risk of loans receivable is
controlled by the application of credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, Customer A contributed 11% of total net revenue of the Group. As of December 31, 2022, Customer A
accounted for 15% of accounts receivable and contract assets.
(f)
Foreign currency risk
The Renminbi (“RMB”) is not a freely convertible currency. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the Peoples
Bank of China, controls the conversion of RMB into other currencies. The value of the RMB is subject to changes in central government policies,
international economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System market. The
Group’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash denominated in RMB amounted to RMB127,902 and RMB257,041 as of December 31, 2021
and 2022, respectively.
(g)
Foreign currency translation
The functional currency of the Group dollars (“US$”). The functional currency of the Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC is Renminbi
(“RMB”). The functional currency of subsidiaries outside of PRC is typically their local currency. The determination of the respective functional
currency is based on the criteria stated in Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters. The Group also uses
RMB as its reporting currency. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the
functional currency at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are
measured and recorded in the functional currency at the exchange rate prevailing on the transaction date. Translation gains and losses are recognized
in the statements of comprehensive income.
Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rates in effect on the balance sheet date. Equity amounts are translated at historical exchange
rates. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the average rates for the year. Translation adjustments are reported as cumulative
translation adjustments and are shown as a separate component in the statements of comprehensive income.
(h)
Convenience translation
The Group’s financial statements are stated in RMB. Translations of balances in the consolidated balance sheets, and the related consolidated
statements of comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows from RMB into US dollars as of and for the year ended December 31,
2022 are included solely for the convenience of the readers and have been made at the rate of US$1.00=RMB6.8972, representing the noon buying
rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on December 30, 2022. No representation is made that the RMB
amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate or at any other rate.
(i)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and demand deposits which are highly liquid and have original maturities of three months or less
and are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents were RMB182,551 and RMB291,018 as of December 31, 2021
and 2022, respectively.
(j)
Restricted cash
Restricted cash represents restricted deposit requested by custodian bank for business purpose. The Group’s restricted cash were RMB2,016 and
RMB2,023 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
F-15
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(k)
Guarantee arrangement
Primary guarantee
For certain off-balance sheet loans funded by institutional funding partners starting from year 2022, the Group provides commitment to compensate
them in the event of borrowers’ default in the form of guarantee provided by 1) third-party financial guarantee companies or 2) financial guarantee
company within the Group. Under 1), after the third-party guarantee companies repay the overdue amount, the Group is obligated to compensate
third-party guarantee companies at an amount equal to the repayment made to the institutional funding partners. In either case, a third-party asset
management company is obligated to compensate the Group at an amount equal to overdue amount and guarantee fee due to the Group. As of
December 31, 2022, the maximum potential future payments, including all outstanding principal and interests for which the Group provides primary
guarantee, that the Group could be required to make under the guarantee , which was not reduced by the effect of any amounts that may possibly be
recovered, were RMB6,484,243.
Upon adoption of ASC Topic 326, deferred guarantee income represents the stand ready component of the guarantee contracts that are determined in
accordance with ASC Topic 460. Since the guarantee is issued in a standalone arm's length transaction with an unrelated party, the deferred
guarantee income recognized at the inception of the guarantee shall be the premium received or receivable by the guarantor as a practical expedient.
Subsequent to initial recognition, deferred guarantee income is released systematically as guarantee income in revenue in the consolidated statement
of comprehensive income as the Group is released from the underlying risk.
Expected credit losses for guarantee obligation represents the expected life time credit losses of the guarantee contract that are determined in
accordance with ASC Topic 326, which are initially recorded separate from and in addition to deferred guarantee income at the amount equal to the
expected lifetime credit losses of the underlying loans covered by the guarantee obligation, and net off the expected recoveries from the third-party
asset management company. The expected lifetime credit losses of the underlying loans are determined based on historical default experience,
known and inherent risks in the portfolio, current economic conditions and future macroeconomic forecasts as well as other factors surrounding the
credit risk of borrowers, and is collectively evaluated for impairment. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the expected lifetime credit
losses of the underlying loans covered by the guarantee obligation after netting off the expected recoveries from the third-party asset management
company was inconsequential.
Subsequent to initial recognition, the expected credit losses are adjusted for changes in expected lifetime credit losses net off expected recoveries
from the asset management company. The initial recognition and adjustments made to expected credit losses for guarantee obligation are recorded as
Credit loss expense in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
Deferred guarantee income and Expected credit loss under ASC 326
The following table sets forth the activities of the Group’s obligations associated with the deferred guarantee income for the years ended December
31, 2021 and 2022:
Opening balances
Fair value of guarantee income at inception of new loans
Release of guarantee income
Ending balances
F-16
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
—
—
—
—
2022
RMB
—
326,086
(49,568 )
276,518
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
Financial assets receivable
A financial assets receivable is recognized at loan inception at its fair value on a loan-by-loan basis. The Group establishes a credit loss allowance
primarily based on expectations of lifetime credit losses based on historical default experience, known or inherent risks in the portfolio, current
economic conditions and macroeconomics forecasts as well as other factors surrounding the credit risk of borrowers.
No allowance for credit losses for financial assets receivable was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022.
The following table presents the Group’s financial assets receivable as of December 31, 2021 and 2022:
Financial assets receivable
Allowance for credit losses for financial assets receivable
Financial assets receivable, net
Secondary guarantee
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
—
—
—
2022
RMB
292,342
—
292,342
For certain off-balance sheet loans facilitated between borrowers and institutional funding partners, guarantee services are provided by third party
guarantee companies who charge guarantee service fees directly from borrowers. Upon borrowers’ default, the third-party guarantee companies
compensate institutional funding partners for unpaid principal and interest. In certain contracts, the Group provides commitment letter of balance
complements to the institutional funding partners in the event that the guarantee companies are unable to fully reimburse the institutional funding
partners. In some other contracts, the guarantee companies require a third party company to act as counter guarantor and require the Group to
provide a commitment letter of balance complements to compensate third party guarantee companies in the event that the counter guarantor are
unable to fully reimburse the guarantee companies. To manage the risk exposure, the Group in turn obtains a back-to-back guarantee from another
third-party company. The fair value of guarantee liabilities of the Group as a secondary guarantor was inconsequential and no compensation was
made by the Group during the years of 2020, 2021 and 2022. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the outstanding loan balance for which the Group
provides secondary guarantee was RMB5,728,718 and RMB14,425,887, respectively.
(l)
Short term investment
The Group invested in convertible notes issued by a private company in 2019 and accounted for the investment as available-for-sale debt security at
fair value with changes in fair value deferred in other comprehensive income.
The Group reviews its investments for other-than-temporary impairment and considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating
potential impairment. If the cost of an investment exceeds the investment’s fair value, the Group considers, among other factors, general market
conditions, government economic plans, the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the investment is less than cost and the Group’s intent
and ability to hold the investment to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.
If the investment’s fair value is less than the cost of an investment and the Group determines the impairment to be other-than-temporary, the Group
recognizes an impairment loss based on the fair value in earnings. The net balance of short-term investment was nil as of both December 31, 2021
and 2022.
F-17
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(m)
Current Expected Credit Losses
On January 1, 2020, the Group adopted FASB ASC Topic 326 – “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses” (“ASC Topic 326”) which replaces the
incurred loss methodology with the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology. The new guidance applies to financial assets measured at
amortized cost, held-to-maturity debt securities and off-balance sheet credit exposures. For on-balance sheet assets, an allowance must be
recognized at the origination or purchase of in-scope assets and represents the expected credit losses over the contractual life of those assets.
The Group adopted ASC Topic 326 using the modified retrospective approach for all in-scope assets. The adoption of ASC Topic 326 has no impact
on the Group’s retained earnings as of January 1, 2020. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2020 are presented under ASC Topic
326 while prior periods continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable U.S. GAAP. The Group’s in-scope assets are primarily
loans receivable, accounts receivable and contract assets from customers and financial assets receivable from financial institutional partners. ASC
Topic 326 requires the expected credit losses related to guarantee contracts be recorded separately from and in addition to the stand ready guarantee
liability accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 460. The guarantee obligation is separated into the expected credit losses of the guarantee
contracts accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 326, and deferred guarantee income.
In establishing the allowance for loans receivable, the Group considers historical losses, delinquency rate and other factors in pooling basis upon the
use of the Current Expected Credit Loss Model (“CECL Model”) in accordance with ASC topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. The
Group writes off loans receivable as a reduction to the allowance for loans receivable when the loan principal and interest are deemed to be
uncollectible. In general, loans receivable is identified as uncollectible when it is determined to be not probable that the balance can be collected.
The Group estimated the allowance for accounts receivables due from borrowers based on expected net accumulated loss rates for terms during
which losses of such service fees are expected to occur, which are consistent with the terms during which the Group expects to collect service fees.
The profile of the borrowers is homogeneous for each product type and as such, the Group applies a portfolio approach in accounting for credit risk.
Accounts receivable for loan facilitation service and post-origination service to borrowers are identified as uncollectible if any repayment of the
underlying loan is 90 days past due, and no other factor evidences the possibility of collecting the delinquent amounts. The Group wrote off
aforementioned accounts receivable from borrowers and corresponding provisions if any repayment of the underlying loan is 90 days past due.
The Group establishes an allowance for accounts receivable and contract assets, and financial assets receivable, amounts due from related parties
and other entities that are based on historical experience and other factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers. Uncollectible
receivables from institutional funding partners, amounts due from related parties and other entities are written off when a settlement is reached for
an amount that is less than the outstanding historical balance or when the Group has determined the balance will not be collected.
(n)
Loans receivable
Loans receivable represents the loans extended directly to overseas individual borrowers with the Group’s own funds. The loans receivable is
measured at amortized cost and recorded on the Group’s consolidated balance sheets.
F-18
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(o)
Property and equipment
Property and equipment is generally stated at historical cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
Depreciation and amortization expense of long-lived assets are included in either origination and servicing expenses, selling and marketing
expenses, general and administrative expenses, or research and development expenses as appropriate. Property and equipment consist of the
following and depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives are:
Category
Electronic equipment
Office equipment & Furniture
Motor vehicles
Leasehold improvement
Software
(p)
Long term investment
Estimated useful life
3 years
5 years
4 years
Shorter of the lease term or expected useful life
10 years
The Group applies the equity method of accounting to equity investments, in common stock or in-substance common stock, over which it has
significant influence but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control. Significant influence is generally considered to exist when the
Group has an ownership interest in the voting stock of the investee between 20% and 50%. Other factors, such as representation on the investee’s
board of directors, voting rights, the impact of commercial arrangements, and the extent to which the Group guarantees the investee's obligations
and is committed to provide additional funding are also considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. An
investment in in-substance common stock is an investment in an entity that has risk and reward characteristics that are substantially similar to that
entity’s common stock. The Group considers subordination, risks and rewards of ownership, and the existence of obligations to transfer value when
determining whether an investment in an entity is substantially similar to an investment in that entity’s common stock. Under the equity method, the
Group initially records its investment at cost. The difference between the cost of the equity investment and the amount of the underlying equity in
the net assets of the equity investee is recognized as equity method goodwill or as an intangible asset as appropriate, which is included in the equity
method investment on the consolidated balance sheets. The Group subsequently adjusts the carrying amount of the investment to recognize the
Group’s proportionate share of each equity investee’s net income or loss into consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income after
the date of acquisition. Unrealized gains on transactions between the Group and its affiliated companies are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s
interest in the affiliated companies; unrealized losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset
transferred. When the Group’s share of losses in an affiliated company equals or exceeds its interest in the affiliated company, the Group does not
recognize further losses, unless the Group has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the affiliated company. The Group makes an
assessment of whether an investment is impaired based on performance and financial position of the investee as well as other evidence of market
value at each reporting date. Such assessment includes, but is not limited to, reviewing the investee’s cash position, recent financing, as well as the
financial and business performance. The Group recognizes an impairment loss equal to the difference between the carrying value and fair value in
the consolidated statements of comprehensive income if any when such impairment is considered other than temporary. And the amount of such
impairment loss was RMB49, nil, and RMB15,078 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
F-19
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(q)
Valued-added taxes (“VAT”)
The Group is subject to VAT at the rate of 6% given that they are classified as a general tax payer. Entities that are VAT general taxpayers are
allowed to offset qualified input VAT paid to suppliers against their output VAT liabilities.
(r)
Share-based compensation
Share-based payment transactions with employees are measured based on the grant date fair value of the equity instrument issued and recognized as
compensation expense on a graded vesting basis, over the requisite service period, with a corresponding impact reflected in additional paid-in
capital.
The expected term represents the period that share-based awards are expected to be outstanding, giving consideration to the contractual terms of the
share-based awards, vesting schedules and expectations of future employee exercise behavior. Volatility is estimated based on annualized standard
deviation of daily stock price return of comparable companies for the period before valuation date and with similar span as the expected expiration
term. The Group adopted ASU 2016-09 and accounts for forfeitures of the share-based awards when they occur. Previously recognized
compensation cost for the awards is reversed in the period that the award is forfeited. Amortization of share-based compensation is presented in the
same line item in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as the cash compensation of those employees receiving the award.
Modifications of the terms or conditions of the awards are treated as an exchange of the original awards for new awards. Incremental compensation
cost is measured and recognized as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately
before the terms are modified. When the Group cancels unvested options and restricted share units (“RSUs”), the remaining unrecognized expenses
are recognized immediately on the cancellation date.
F-20
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(s)
Revenue Recognition
The Group has adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC Topic 606
on January 1, 2018 using the full retrospective method which requires the Group to present its financial statements for all periods as if Topic 606 had
been applied to all prior periods.
The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an
amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core
principle, the Group applies the following steps:
•
•
•
•
•
Step 1: Identify the contract (s) with a customer
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
Step 3: Determine the transaction price
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation
Loan facilitation
Loan facilitated to individual investors
Prior to November 2020, the Group provided loan facilitation services and post-origination services on loans facilitated on its platform, which
enabled individual investors to directly invest in loans that can be selected, at the individual investors’ discretion, from hundreds of new lending
opportunities to pre-approved borrowers that were posted on the Group’s platform every day. Individual investors also had the option to use the
automated investment programs whereby the funds were automatically allocated among pre-approved borrowers. The automated investment
programs automatically reinvest individual investors’ funds as soon as a loan was repaid, enabling the individual investors to accelerate the
reinvestment of cash flows without having to continually revisit the Group’s mobile application. Such business was officially ceased in November
2020.
The Group charged a substantial amount of service fees on the same day when the first and second monthly repayments of principal and interest
were due.
The Group determined that both the individual investors and the borrowers were its customers. The Group assessed ability and intention to pay the
service fees when they became due and determined if the collection of the service fees was probable, based on historical experiences as well as the
credit due diligence performed on each borrower prior to loan origination. The Group considered the loan facilitation service and post origination
service as two separate services. While the post-origination service was within the scope of ASC Topic 860, the ASC Topic 606 revenue recognition
model was applied due to the lack of definitive guidance in ASC Topic 860. The loan facilitation service and post-origination service were two
separate performance obligations under ASC Topic 606, as these two deliverables were distinct in that customers can benefit from each service on
its own and the Group’s promises to deliver the services were separately identifiable from each other in the contract.
The Group determined the total transaction price to be the service fees chargeable according to the contracts, net of value-added tax.
The Group recognized revenue when (or as) the entity satisfied the service/ performance obligation by transferring the promised service (that is, an
asset) to customers based on the underlying contract terms excluding consideration of impairment of contract assets or accounts receivable.
Revenues from loan facilitation services were recognized at the time a loan was originated between the individual investors and the borrower and
the principal loan balance was transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service was considered completed. Revenues from post-
origination services were recognized evenly over the term of the underlying loans as the post-origination services were a series of distinct services
that were substantially the same and that had the same pattern of transfer to the individual investors.
F-21
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(s)
Revenue Recognition – continued
Loan facilitated to institutional funding partners
Since the third quarter of 2019, the Group provides service through its facilitation of loan transactions between borrowers and institutional funding
partners. When the investors are institutional funding partners, the Group’s service mainly consist of performing credit assessment on the borrowers
and matching the institutional funding partners with potential qualified borrowers and facilitating the execution of loan agreements between the
parties. The Group assesses ability and intention to pay the service fees of the customers when they become due and determines if the collection of
the service fees is probable, based on historical experiences as well as the credit due diligence performed before cooperation.
The Group determines the total transaction price to be the service fees chargeable according to the contracts, net of value-added tax. Under certain
agreements, the transaction price includes variable consideration due to borrowers’ actual repayment to institutional funding partners. The Group
estimates variable consideration for these contracts using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information. The Group identifies
one performance obligation under ASC Topic 606, as the Group does not retain any further obligations after the facilitation of a loan.
The Group recognizes revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the service/ performance obligation by transferring the promised service (that is, an
asset) to customers based on the underlying contract terms excluding consideration of impairment of contract assets or accounts receivable.
Revenues from loan facilitation services are recognized at the time a loan is originated between the institutional funding partners and the borrower
and the principal loan balance is transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service is considered completed.
Technical service
The Group does not provide post-origination service in such arrangements. The institutional funding partners typically engage third-party non-
performing loan management entities to assist on the subsequent collection. The Group is in turn engaged by such non-performing loan management
entities to provide information including risk profile and collection methods or plans for the borrowers on its platform to the non-performing loan
management entity basing on the historical records and experiences that the Group has as of the date when each loan is successfully extended to
borrower.
The Group determines the total transaction price to be the service fees chargeable according to the contracts, net of value-added tax. Before May
2020, the service fee is calculated based on the facilitated loan amount and the agreed charge rate, i.e. the consideration promised in the contract
includes fixed amounts. However, starting from May 2020, the Group reached a mutual agreement with the customers for a new settlement method.
The service fee is calculated based on the estimated overdue amount of underlying loans and the agreed charge rate. The transaction price included
variable consideration due to overdue amount of the borrowers. The Group reflected in the transaction price the borrower’s estimated delinquent risk
and estimated variable consideration for these contracts using the expected value approach on the basis of historical information and current trends
of the delinquency of the borrowers.
Revenue from technical services is recognized at the time a loan is successfully originated by the institutional funding partner as the technical
services are completed at that time.
F-22
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(s)
Revenue Recognition – continued
Other revenue
Investor referral
The Group provides referral services in respect of investment products offered by the financial service providers on Youdao wealth platform. The
Group considers the financial service providers to be its customers, and receives service fees from the customers primarily based on the transaction
price of the investment successfully subscribed by online investors. After the online investors subscribe the products referred by the Group, the
Group does not retain any further obligations. The price for each referral charged to the financial service providers is a fixed price as pre-agreed in
the service contract. Revenue is recognized when the online investors successfully subscribed to investment products from financial service
providers.
Interest income
Interest income is recognized over the terms of loans receivable using the effective interest rate method under ASC Topic 310. Interest income is not
recorded when reasonable doubt exists as to the full, timely collection of interest income or principal. Interest collected upfront at the loan inception
is recorded as deferred revenue.
Business and Operational Support Services
The Group provides a series of service to a related party, including software development, risk control, marketing support and IT assistance. The
revenue is recognized over time as services are continuously performed during the service periods.
Sales of hardware
The Group also generates revenue from the sale of hardware directly to customers since the year 2021 but terminated such revenue stream along
with the disposal of Shanghai Bweenet in December 2021. The revenue is recognized at a point in time following the transfer of control of goods to
the customer, which typically occurs upon the delivery to the customer.
Others
The Group charged service fees to individual investors for using the automated investment programs which equal to a certain percentage of the
actual return in excess of the expected rate of return from the investments, payable at the end of the investment period. No application fee was
charged to borrowers or individual investors.
Under ASC Topic 606, service fees derived from individual investors using the automated investment programs were initially estimated based on
historical experience of returns on similar investment products and current trends. The service fees were recognized on a straight-line basis over the
term of the investment period. The service fees related to the automated investment programs were due at the end of the investment period. The
investment period refers to the period of time when the investments are matched with loans and are generating returns for the individual investors.
The Group recorded service fees only when it becomes probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not occur. The
revenue of service fee recognized under ASC Topic 606 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 was RMB23,815, nil and nil,
respectively.
Other revenue also included revenue from penalty fees for loan prepayment and late payment, and service fees for transferring loans between
investors on the Group’s platform, and guarantee income released from deferred guarantee income systematically over the term of the loans subject
to guarantee obligation under ASC Topic 460. Under ASC Topic 606, penalty fees were contingency-based variable considerations and constrained
by the occurrence of delinquency or prepayment. They were recognized when the uncertainty associated with the variability is resolved, that is,
when the underlying event occurs and the fees are collected. The service fees for transferring loans between individual investors were recognized
when the transfer is completed and service fees are collected from the individual investors.
F-23
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(s)
Revenue Recognition - continued
The following table illustrates the disaggregation of revenue by product and services the Group offered in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively:
For the year ended December 31, 2020
Current loan products
Other services
Total
For the year ended December 31, 2021
Current loan products
Other services
Total
For the year ended December 31, 2022
Current loan products
Other services
Total
Incentives to individual investors
Loan
facilitation
services
RMB
Post-
origination
services
RMB
Other
revenues
RMB
943,084
—
943,084
112,731
—
112,731
—
244,345
244,345
Loan
facilitation
services
RMB
1,470,170
—
1,470,170
Loan
facilitation
services
RMB
2,881,725
—
2,881,725
Post-
origination
services
RMB
Other
revenues
RMB
—
—
—
—
310,320
310,320
Post-
origination
services
RMB
Other
revenues
RMB
—
—
—
—
389,689
389,689
Total
RMB
1,055,815
244,345
1,300,160
Total
RMB
1,470,170
310,320
1,780,490
Total
RMB
2,881,725
389,689
3,271,414
The Group provided incentives to individual investors using the automated investment program in a form that either reduces the amount of
investment required to purchase financial products or entitles them to receive higher interest rates in the products they purchase and pays the
incentive to the investors upon maturity of the investment program. If the investors early terminate the program and withdraw the investment, no
incentive will be paid. Such incentives are recorded as a reduction of revenue over the investment period and the incentive accrued not paid are
recorded as refund liabilities based on the management’s best estimate. The Group was released from the obligation under the refund liabilities and
recognized as other revenue of amounting to 77,045, nil and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Incentives paid to:
New investors
Returning investors
Total incentives paid to investors
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
—
202,463
202,463
—
—
—
—
—
—
F-24
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(s)
Revenue Recognition – continued
Accounts receivable and contract assets
Contract assets represent the Group’s right to consideration in exchange for services that the Group has transferred to the customer before payment
is due. The Group only recognizes accounts receivable and contract assets to the extent that the Group believes it is probable that it will collect
substantially all of the consideration to which it will be entitled to in exchange for the services transferred to the customer.
Accounts receivable and contract assets are stated at the historical carrying amount net of write-offs and allowance for collectability in accordance
with ASC Topic 326. The Group established an allowance for receivables and contract assets based on estimates, which incorporate historical
experience and other factors surrounding the credit risk of specific type of customers. The Group evaluates and adjusts its allowance for receivables
and contract assets on a quarterly basis or more often as necessary. Revenue recognized for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
from performance obligations satisfied (or partially satisfied) in prior periods pertaining to adjustments to variable consideration due to the change
of estimated return on investment periods, change of estimated prepayment rate and referral fees was immaterial.
The Group determines that the acquisition cost paid based on the amount of loan facilitated represents costs to obtain a contract qualifying for
capitalization since these payments are directly related to sales achieved during a period. Such cost was not material during the years presented.
(t)
Employee defined contribution plan
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government mandated multi-employer defined contribution plan pursuant to which
certain pension benefits, medical care, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees.
Chinese labor regulations require that the Group makes contributions to the government for these benefits based on a certain percentage of the
employee’s salaries. The Group has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions. The total amount that was expensed as incurred
was RMB37,665, RMB57,363 and RMB68,145 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
(u)
Origination and servicing expense
Origination and servicing expenses primarily consist of variable expenses including costs related to credit assessment, user and system support,
payment processing services and collection, associated with facilitating and servicing loans, salaries and benefits and share-based compensation for
the personnel who work on credit checking, data processing and analysis, loan origination, user and system support and loan collection.
(v)
Sales and marketing expenses
Sales and marketing expenses primarily consist of variable marketing and promotional expenses, including those related to borrower acquisition and
retention, commission fees to those who introduce institutional funding partners, and general brand and awareness building. Salaries and benefits
expenses as well as share-based compensation related to the Group’s sales and marketing personnel and other expenses related to the Group’s sales
and marketing team are also included in the sales and marketing expenses. The Group’s borrower acquisition expenses include charges by third-
party online channels for online marketing services such as search engine marketing, search engine optimization, information feeds, and referral fees
charged by other parties relating to borrower acquisition. The Group expenses all advertising costs as incurred and classifies these costs under sales
and marketing expenses. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the advertising expenses were RMB21,697, RMB6,695 and
RMB8,437, respectively.
(w)
Government grant
Government grants are primarily referred to the amounts received from various levels of local governments from time to time which are granted for
general corporate purposes and to support its ongoing operations in the region. The grants are determined at the discretion of the relevant
government authority and there are no restrictions on their use. The government subsidies are recorded as other income in the period the cash is
received and when all the conditions for their receipt have been satisfied. The government grants received by the Group amount to RMB6,773,
RMB19,762 and RMB22,306 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
F-25
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(x)
Income taxes
Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities.
Deferred income taxes are provided using assets and liabilities method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities
are determined on the basis of the differences between financial statements and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for
the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that these assets are more likely than not to
be realized. In making such a determination, the management consider all positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of projected
future taxable income and results of recent operation. Deferred tax assets are then reduced by a valuation allowance through a charge to income tax
expense when, in the opinion of management, it is more like than not that a portion of or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
The Group accounts for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the consolidated financial statements by applying a two-step process to determine
the amount of the benefit to be recognized. First, the tax position must be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be sustained upon
external examination by the taxing authorities. If the tax position is deemed more-likely-than-not to be sustained (defined as a likelihood of more
than fifty percent of being sustained upon an audit, based on the technical merits of the tax position), the tax position is then assessed to determine
the amount of benefits to recognize in the consolidated financial statements. The amount of the benefits that may be recognized is the largest amount
that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Interest and penalties on income taxes will be classified as a
component of the provisions for income taxes.
The Group is subject to tax in local and foreign jurisdictions. As a result of its business activities, the Group will file tax returns that are subject to
examination by the relevant tax authorities. Tax returns of the Group's major subsidiaries in PRC, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Nigeria
remain subject to examination by relevant tax authorities for five years, seven years, four years, five years and indefinite years, respectively, from
the date of filing.
(y)
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. For the years
presented, total comprehensive income included net income and foreign currency translation adjustments.
(z)
Income per share
Basic income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to holders of ordinary shares by the weighted average number of ordinary
shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted income per ordinary share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ordinary shares were
exercised or converted into ordinary shares. Ordinary share equivalents of stock options are calculated using the treasury stock method. Ordinary
share equivalents are excluded from the computation in income periods should their effects be anti-dilutive.
(aa)
Segment reporting
The Group uses the management approach to determine operating segment. The management approach considers the internal organization and
reporting used by the Group’s chief operating decision maker (‘‘CODM’’) for making decisions, allocation of resource and assessing performance.
The Group’s CODM has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer who reviews the consolidated results of operations when making decisions
about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. The Group operates and manages its business as a single reportable segment.
The Group’s long-lived assets are substantially all located in the PRC and substantially all of the Group’s revenues are derived from within the PRC.
Therefore, no geographical segments are presented.
F-26
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(ab) Operating leases
The Group leases administrative office spaces under operating leases and accounts for the leases under ASC 842. The Group determines whether an
arrangement constitutes a lease and records lease liabilities and right-of-use assets on its consolidated balance sheets at the lease commencement.
The Group measures its lease liabilities based on the present value of the total lease payments not yet paid discounted based on the more readily
determinable of the rate implicit in the lease or its incremental borrowing rate, which is the estimated rate the Group would be required to pay for a
collateralized borrowing equal to the total lease payments over the term of the lease. The Group estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on an
analysis of publicly traded debt securities of companies with credit and financial profiles similar to its own. As of December 31, 2022, the Group’s
operating leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 1.2 years and a weighted average discount rate of 4.75%. The Group measures
right-of-use assets based on the corresponding lease liability adjusted for payments made to the lessor at or before the commencement date, and
initial direct costs it incurs under the lease. The Group considers only payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of lease commencement.
The Group begins recognizing operating lease expense when the lessor makes the underlying asset available to the Group. After considering the
factors that create an economic incentive, the Group did not include renewal option periods in the lease term for which it is not reasonably certain to
exercise.
Additionally, the Group elects not to recognize lease with lease term of 12 months or less at the commencement date in the consolidated balance
sheets and records its operating lease expense in its consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
(ac) Treasury shares
The Group accounts for treasury shares using the cost method. Under this method, the cost incurred to purchase the shares is recorded in the treasury
shares account in the consolidated balance sheets. The treasury shares account includes nil and 2,372,596 ordinary shares mainly for the purpose of
exercise or vest of share-based compensation plans as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
(ad) Recent accounting pronouncements
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, a new accounting standard update to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The new
guidance removes certain exceptions for recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intra period allocation and calculating income taxes
in interim periods. It also adds guidance to reduce complexity in certain areas, including recognizing deferred taxes for tax goodwill and allocating
taxes to members of a consolidated group. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning
after December 15, 2021. The Group adopted the new standard beginning January 1, 2022 with no material impact on the consolidated financial
statements and related disclosures.
Recent Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, “ Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to
Contractual Sale Restrictions. “The ASU improves financial reporting for investors and other financial statement users by increasing comparability
of financial information across reporting entities that have investments in equity securities measured at fair value that are subject to contractual
restrictions preventing the sale of those securities. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements
that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. For all entities except investment companies as defined under Topic 946, Financial
Services—Investment Companies, the amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively with any adjustments from the adoption of the
amendments recognized in earnings and disclosed on the date of adoption. An entity that qualifies as an investment company under Topic 946
should apply the amendments to an investment in an equity security subject to a contractual sale restriction that is executed or modified on or after
the date of adoption. An investment company with an equity security subject to a contractual sale restriction that was executed before the date of
adoption should continue to account for the equity security until the contractual restrictions expire or are modified using the accounting policy
applied before the adoption of the amendments (that is, if an investment company was incorporating the effects of the restriction in the measurement
of fair value, it would continue to do so). The Group is currently assessing the impact that ASU 2022-03 will have on its future consolidated
financial statements.
F-27
2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(ae) Impact of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic spread in China, Europe and other parts of the world, and COVID-19 restrictions and controls in China were in effect
until the end of 2022. Although the Chinese government has now lifted the restrictions related to COVID-19, the COVID-19 pandemic still has
negatively impacted, and may continue to negatively impact, the global economy and disrupt normal business activity, which may have an adverse
effect on our results of operations.
As of December 31, 2022, the Group did not experience a significant negative impact of COVID-19 on its operations, capital, and financial position.
3.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS, NET
The Group entered into an investment agreement with Cornerstone Management, Inc. (“Cornerstone”), a third-party private company, on July 15,
2019 to purchase its convertible notes for a cash consideration of US$10,000 with annual interest rate of 8%. The term of the convertible note was
one year. Cornerstone was primarily engaged in private equity fund management. The Group had the right to convert the debt to Cornerstone’s
ordinary shares upon its successful initial public offering at the lower price of the listing price or closing price of the exercise date, wherein the
principle and the interest incurred shall be counted into total investment funds. No embedded derivative was bifurcated and the investment is
recorded as available-for-sale considering its in-substance debt nature. However, with the Cornerstone’s financial situation deterioration, the Group
determined that the short term investment was not recoverable and full impairment amounted to RMB67,169 was provided in the year ended
December 31, 2020. The net balance of short-term investment was nil as of both December 31, 2021 and 2022.
F-28
4.
LOANS RECEIVABLE, NET
The loans receivable, net consists of the following:
Loans receivable
Allowance for credit losses
Loans receivable, net
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
27,584
(27,255 )
329
2022
RMB
21,142
(17,991 )
3,151
The following table summarizes the balances of loans receivable by due date as of December 31, 2021 and 2022:
Undue
1-14 days past due
15 days or greater past due
Loans receivable, net
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
274
28
27
329
632
221
2,298
3,151
The movement of the allowance for credit losses for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are as follows:
Balance at beginning of the year
Current year credit losses
Current year write off
Disposal of a subsidiary
Foreign currency exchange
Balance at end of the year
2020
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
—
(27,498 )
—
—
(202 )
(27,700 )
(27,700 )
(27,735 )
9,087
18,236
857
(27,255 )
(27,255 )
(18,609 )
27,665
—
208
(17,991 )
F-29
5.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND CONTRACT ASSETS, NET
Accounts receivable consists of the following:
Accounts receivable:
Receivables for loan referral service from institutional funding partners
Less: allowance for credit losses
Total accounts receivable
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
315,895
—
315,895
1,313,288
(2,539 )
1,310,749
The movement of allowance for uncollectible receivables for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021and 2022 are as follows:
Balance at the beginning of the year
Current year credit losses
Current year write off
Balance at end of the year
Contract assets consists of the following:
Contract assets
Less: Allowance for credit losses
Contract assets, net
6.
PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the followings:
Security deposits*
Advances
Others
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
60,679
49,231
(109,910 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
2,539
—
2,539
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
186,536
—
186,536
2022
RMB
421,469
—
421,469
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
—
19,414
42,841
62,255
414,400
16,452
41,978
472,830
*The balances represent security deposits set aside as requested by certain institutional funding partners, held in deposit accounts with the
institutional funding partners for provision of the primary guarantee to these funding partners.
7.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net consisted of the followings:
Leasehold improvement
Motor vehicles
Electronic equipment
Office equipment & furniture
Software
Total costs
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
Property and equipment, net
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
8,093
1,993
58,561
7,226
1,407
77,280
(68,180 )
9,100
8,093
3,038
74,360
7,844
1,407
94,742
(75,842 )
18,900
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, depreciation expenses were RMB20,483, RMB13,077 and RMB7,668 respectively.
F-30
8.
LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS
On January 5, 2021, Noble Fintech disposed its 6% of the equity interests in Aguila Information, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Aguila Information”) to a certain
minority shareholder. Following the completion of the transaction, the equity interest of Aguila Information owned by the Group decreased from
51% to 45%. The Group thus deconsolidated Aguila Information and applied equity method to account for the investment in Aguila Information.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized the Group’s proportionate share of the equity investee’s net gain into
earnings in the amount of RMB8,457 and RMB9,151 in accordance with ASC Topic 323. The Group received dividend return of the long-term
equity investment of RMB2,586 in June 2021. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the balance of this investment was RMB5,819 and RMB15,078.
As a result of there was disagreement between the Group and Aguila Information on business strategy, the Group determined that the this
investment was not recoverable and full impairment amounted to RMB15,078 was provided in the year ended December 31, 2022.
On March 13, 2020, the Group, through its subsidiary, Geerong, and another independent purchaser entered into a share purchase agreement with
China Smartpay Group Holdings Limited (“China Smartpay”), pursuant to which, among others, Geerong agreed, subject to certain conditions, to
acquire 35 ordinary shares of Keen Best Investment Limited (“Keen Best”), representing 35% equity interest in Keen Best, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of China Smartpay for an amount of RMB91,957. Keen Best and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in internet microcredit business
in the PRC.
On September 29, 2020, the Group closed the acquisition of the shares by offsetting the consideration payable against the receivables held by the
Group due from China Smartpay. The difference between the cost of the investment and the underlying equity in net assets, referred as the basis
difference, was RMB1,508 related to equity method goodwill upon acquisition of Keen Best’s equity interest. For the years ended December 31,
2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized the Group’s proportionate share of the equity investee’s net loss into earnings in accordance with ASC
Topic 323 in the amount of RMB822, RMB806 and RMB1,211, respectively. There is no impairment on the investment as of December 31, 2022.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the balance of this investment was RMB84,709 and RMB90,497, respectively.
In May 2019, the Group acquired 24.9% ordinary shares of SG Fintech Holding Joint Stock Company (“SG Fintech”) for cash consideration of
RMB3,400. In January 2020, the Group acquired additional 24.1% ordinary shares of SG Fintech for cash consideration of RMB3,378. The equity
method accounting was applied. SG Fintech is a Vietnam enterprise targeting to explore micro-finance loan products and services to serve the
segments that are currently underserved in the market. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Group recognized the Group’s proportionate
share of the equity investee’s net loss into earnings in the amount of RMB6,687 and recorded an impairment of RMB49 to fully impair this
investment. As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the balances were nil.
F-31
9.
ACQUISITION
On April 30, 2021, the Group acquired 95% equity interests in Shanghai Bweenet for a total consideration of RMB95,000. Such consideration is
transferred through cash of RMB8,513 to certain original shareholders and a series of capital injection amounting to RMB86,487 into Shanghai
Bweenet during 2021. As a result of above acquisition, the Group was expected to diversify its business portfolio.
The acquisition of Shanghai Bweenet had been accounted for as a business combination and the results of operations of Shanghai Bweenet have
been included in the Group’s financial statements from the acquisition date. The Group made estimates and judgments in determining the fair value
of acquired assets and liabilities, based on an independent valuation report and management’s experiences with similar assets and liabilities.
The allocation of the purchase price is as follows:
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Short-term loan
Accounts payable
Payroll and welfare payables
Tax payables
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Noncontrolling interests
Total Consideration
Amount
RMB
1,145
39,952
38,590
37,474
(4,000 )
(12,994 )
(337 )
3,600
(3,430 )
(5,000 )
95,000
Shanghai Bweenet’s net revenue and net loss, included in the Group’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income, for the year ended
December 31, 2021 are RMB26,837 and RMB1,744 since the acquisition date.
Prior to the acquisition, Shanghai Bweenet did not prepare its financial statements in accordance with US GAAP. The Group determined that the
cost of reconstructing the financial statement of Shanghai Bweenet for the periods prior to the acquisition outweighed the benefits. Based on an
assessment of the financial performance and a comparison of Shanghai Bweenet’s and the Group’s financial performance for the fiscal year prior to
the acquisition, the Group did not consider Shanghai Bweenet on its own to be material to the Group. Thus, the Group’s management decided not to
present such pro forma financial information with respect to the results of operations of the Group for the business combination.
F-32
10.
DISPOSAL OF SUBSIDIARIES
On December 29, 2021, the Group entered into a sale agreement to transfer its 95% equity interest held in Shanghai Bweenet, for further focus on its
principal business. The 95% equity was transferred to Shenzhen Rongxinbao, an independent third-party guarantee company, and the consideration
was RMB93,343, which was net-settled with the payables the Group owed to Shenzhen Rongxinbao in connection with the disposal of Shanghai
Caiyin in year 2019. The Group derecognized all the assets, liabilities and equity components of Shanghai Bweenet and no gain or loss was
recognized for the transaction.
On December 29, 2021, the Group entered into a sale agreement to transfer its 70% equity interest held in Shanghai Zhundian Enterprise Service
Co., Ltd. (“Shanghai Zhundian”) (formerly known as “Shanghai Limahui E-Commerce Co., Ltd”) to Shenzhen Rongxinbao, an independent third-
party guarantee company for a consideration of RMB1,037, which was net-settled with the payables the Group owed to Shenzhen Rongxinbao in
connection with the disposal of Shanghai Caiyin in year 2019. The Group recognized disposal loss of RMB3,592 for the transaction.
On January 5, 2021, Noble Fintech transferred its 6% of the equity interests in Aguila Information to a certain minority shareholder who did not
own the majority interest after the transaction. The Group deconsolidated Aguila Information (see Note 8). As Aguila Information was in net deficit
position as of December 31, 2020, the consideration of the transfer was one Mexican Peso. The Group recognized disposal gain of RMB1,256 for
the transaction.
In September, 2019, Shanghai Wuxingjia entered into an agreement (the “Agreement”) with Shenzhen Rongxinbao, and Shanghai Jiayin, which
wholly owns the equity interest of Shanghai Caiyin. Pursuant to the Agreement, Shanghai Jiayin agreed to transfer all of its equity interest in
Shanghai Caiyin to Shenzhen Rongxinbao and the Group revises the terms of its collaboration with Shanghai Caiyin. As a result, the Group
deconsolidated Shanghai Caiyin (Note 2(b)). Major line items of Shanghai Caiyin as of August 31, 2019 included cash and cash equivalents,
restricted cash, contract assets, liabilities from the investor assurance program and tax payable. As Shanghai Caiyin was in net deficit position as of
August 31, 2019 due to its collaboration with the Group, the Group also agreed to waive Shanghai Caiyin’s payables to the Group of RMB1,973,613
and pay a total transaction price of RMB1,078,686, of which RMB372,085 is contingent upon Shanghai Caiyin’s liability status in the period
preceding December 30, 2022 subject to the cap amount of RMB372,085, RMB255,064 and RMB117,021 on December 30, in each of the three
years ending 2022, respectively. The remaining amount of the equity transfer consideration shall be settled through the service fee Shenzhen
Rongxinbao collected on behalf of the Group.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, “Gain from de-recognition of other payable associated with disposal of Shanghai Caiyin”
of RMB117,021, RMB138,043 and RMB117,021 were derived from the release of contingent consideration payable. As of December 31, 2021 and
2022, the payable related to the disposal of Shanghai Caiyin was RMB322,028 which consisted of fixed consideration payable of RMB205,007 and
contingent consideration payable of RMB117,021, and RMB188,300 which was fixed consideration payable, respectively.
F-33
11.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
The following table presents the classification of the Group’s share-based compensation expenses:
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Research and development
Sales and marketing
Total
Share Options
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
3,167
8,870
10,170
8,445
30,652
3,159
5,021
5,461
1,545
15,186
2,408
33,740
6,038
362
42,548
In September 2016, Jiayin Finance approved an employee incentive plan (the “2016 Plan”) and utilized a limited liability partnership (“LLP”) as a
vehicle to hold 13,500,000 shares that will be used under the 2016 Plan. The shares were contributed by the Founder, representing 27% of Jiayin
Finance’s total outstanding shares at the time. A company controlled by the Founder is the general partner (“GP”) of the LLP.
The purpose of the LLP is to allow employees of the Group to receive share-based incentives. The LLP has no activities other than administrating
the 2016 Plan and does not have any employees. On behalf of the Group and subject to approval of board of director of the Company, the Founder,
as the controller of LLP has the authority to select the eligible participants to whom awards will be granted; determine the number of shares granted;
and establish the terms, conditions and provision of such awards.
The 2016 Plan allows the grantees to hold options to purchase LLP shares from the GP or the designated persons to indirectly hold the equity shares
of Jiayin Finance.
In September 2016, Jiayin Finance granted options to acquire certain LLP shares, equivalent of 13,321,500 ordinary shares of Jiayin Finance with
the exercise price of RMB3.5 per share to employees of the Group pursuant to the 2016 Plan. Options have a 4.5-year life and vest at 15%, 25%,
30%, and 30% respectively at March 31, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 respectively.
In October 2018, Jiayin Finance granted options to acquire certain LLP shares, equivalent of 2,851,600 ordinary shares of Jiayin Finance with the
exercise price of RMB3.5 per share to employees of the Group pursuant to the 2016 Plan. Options have a 4.5-year life and vest at 15%, 25%, 30%,
and 30% respectively at March 31, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively.
F-34
11.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION – continued
For illustration purposes, all the share information disclosed in this section refers to the shares of Jiayin Finance the grantees are entitled through
LLP shares. The additional grants in October 2018 include the 2,851,600 shares from options forfeited in relation to the options granted in
September 2016, which were automatically released to the 2016 Plan.
The awards are in substance share-based expenses incurred by the controlling Founder on behalf of the Company. The related expenses are reflected
in the Group’s consolidated financial statements as share-based compensation expenses with an offsetting to additional paid-in capital. Given the
shares owned by the LLP for the purpose of the 2016 Plan are existing outstanding shares of Jiayin Finance, the option does not have dilution effect
on income per share (see Note 14).
In February 2019, the Group adopted the 2019 Share Incentive Plan (“2019 Plan”), effectively upon the completion of the Company’s initial public
offering (“IPO”) to replace the 2016 Plan on a 4:1 ratio. The 2019 Plan contains performance vesting condition related to the operation results of the
Group and the business department the grantee belongs to, as well as the grantee’s individual performance. The modification did not result in any
incremental value. In connection with the adoption of 2019 Plan, the Group cancelled 2,377,000 and 1,169,000 share options granted in September
2016 and October 2018, respectively. Total unrecognized share-based compensation expense of RMB39,390 associated with the cancelled options
was immediately recognized in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income upon cancellation for the year ended December 31, 2019.
In November, 2019, the Group granted four batches options equivalent of 288,000 share options of Jiayin Group with the exercise price of RMB3.5
per share to employees pursuant to the 2019 Plan.
In November, 2020, the Group granted four batches options equivalent of 1,583,000 share options of Jiayin Group with the exercise price of
RMB3.5 per share to employees pursuant to the 2019 Plan.
In August, 2021, the Group granted one batch options equivalent of 108,400 share options of Jiayin Group with the exercise price of RMB3.5 per
share to a then employee pursuant to the 2019 Plan. The options were fully exercised in year 2021.
The Group uses a binominal pricing model to estimate the fair value of the above options granted under the 2019 Plan. The model requires the input
of subjective assumptions including the estimated expected stock price volatility, dividend yield, time to maturity and the exercise multiple. For
expected volatilities, as the length of time has been short since Company went to public, the Group has made reference to the historical price
volatilities of several comparable companies in the same industry as the Group. For the exercise multiple, it is based on management’s estimation,
which the Group believes is representative of the future exercise pattern of the options. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of
the option is based on the China or US Government Bond with maturity similar to the maturity of the options as of valuation.
The following assumptions were applied to estimate the fair value of the options granted in 2020 at the date of grant:
Average risk-free rate of interest
Estimated volatility rate
Exercise multiples
Dividend yield
Time to maturity
Fair value per underlying ordinary share
November 2020
0.23%-0.60%
49.74%-53.91%
2.8
0.0%
0-3 years
RMB18.33
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 was RMB14.78 per share,
RMB18.60 per share and nil, respectively.
F-35
11.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION – continued
The summary of the aggregate option activities and information regarding options outstanding for the years ended as of December 31, 2021 and
2022 is as follows:
Options outstanding at December 31, 2021
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Options outstanding at December 31, 2022
Options exercisable at December 31, 2022
Options vested or expected to be vested at
December 31, 2022
Number of
Options
(in ‘000s)
1,751
—
(637 )
(220 )
894
488
894
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
RMB
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contract Life
Years
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
RMB
3.5
—
1.91
—
45,349
—
3.5
3.5
3.5
1.27
0.4
16,076
9,229
1.27
16,076
Total share-based compensation cost for the Share Options amounted to RMB6,855 for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31,
2022, there was RMB4,886 in total unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested stock options, which is
expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.27 years.
RSUs
In September, 2022, the Group granted shares ranging from six to seven batches equivalent of 2,880,000 RSUs of Jiayin Group to employees
pursuant to the 2019 Plan.
In December, 2022, the Group granted 3 batches shares equivalent of 1,200,000 RSUs of Jiayin Group to employees pursuant to the 2019 Plan.
The following table sets forth the Group’s RSUs activities under all incentive plans for the years ended December 31, 2022:
Unvested at December 31, 2021
Granted
Vested
Canceled/Forfeited
Unvested at December 31, 2022
Number of
RSUs
(in ‘000s)
—
4,080
(2,020 )
(160 )
1,900
Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
RMB
—
16.69
16.59
16.66
16.72
Total share-based compensation cost for the RSUs amounted to RMB35,693 for the year ended December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, there
was RMB29,720 unrecognized compensation cost, related to unvested restricted shares, which are to be recognized over a weighted average vesting
period of 1.21 years. Total unrecognized compensation cost may be adjusted for future changes in estimated forfeitures. the Group determined the
fair value of RSUs based on its stock price on the date of grant.
F-36
12.
INCOME TAXES
Income tax expense consists of the following:
Current income tax expense:
Deferred income tax expense (benefit):
Total income tax expense
Cayman Islands
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
83,216
25,595
108,811
141,578
(15,854 )
125,724
177,720
(22,322 )
155,398
Jiayin Group Inc. is incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, Jiayin Group Inc. is not subject to income or
capital gains taxes. In addition, dividend payments are not subject to withholdings tax in the Cayman Islands.
Hong Kong
The Company subsidiary, Geerong (HK) Limited, is located in Hong Kong. The first 2.0 million Hong Kong dollars of profits it earned are subject
to be taxed at an income tax rate at 8.25%, while the remaining profits will continue to be taxed at the existing tax rate, 16.5%. Additionally,
payments of dividends by the subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong to the Company are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax. No income
tax provision has been made in the consolidated financial statements as it has no assessable income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021
and 2022, respectively.
F-37
12.
INCOME TAXES – continued
PRC
Under the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT Law”), the Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs incorporated in the
PRC are subject to statutory rate of 25%. High-technology enterprises may obtain a preferential tax rate of 15% provided they meet the related
criteria. An enterprise’s qualification as a “high and new technology enterprise” (“HNTE”) is reassessed by the relevant PRC governmental
authorities every three years. Geerong Yunke Information Technology Co., Ltd. and Jiayin Shuke Information Technology Co., Ltd. was entitled for
a preferential income tax rate of 15% from 2022 to 2024 as they are qualified as HNTE. Shanghai Chuangzhen Software Co., Ltd. has been
qualified as an eligible software enterprise. As a result of this qualification, it is entitled to a tax holiday of a full exemption for year 2020 and 2021
in which its taxable income is greater than zero, followed by a three-year 50% exemption.
Mexico
Aguila Information incorporated in Mexico was subject to corporate income tax at 30%. On January 5, 2021, Aguila Information was
deconsolidated by the Group (see Note 8).
Indonesia
The Group’s subsidiary incorporated in Indonesia is subject to Indonesia Income (“CIT”) law. In accordance with the CIT law, an Indonesian
resident is subject to worldwide income tax. Corporate income tax is calculated based on corporate taxable income (income less deductible expenses
/ expenses after fiscal adjustment), and the applicable CIT rate is 25%. Based on Government Regulation No.1 Year 2020 Jo No.30 Year 2020,
Corporate Income Tax was adjusted from 25% to 22% for fiscal year 2020 and 2021, and next is adjusted to 20% for fiscal year 2022.
Nigeria
The Group’s subsidiary incorporated in Nigeria is subject to Nigerian Company Income Tax (“NCIT”) law. In accordance with the NCIT law, a
Nigerian Company is subject to worldwide income tax. Corporate income tax is calculated based on corporate taxable income (income less
deductible expenses / expenses after fiscal adjustment), and the applicable NCIT rate is 30%.
The following table sets forth the significant components of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred tax assets
Payroll and welfare payable
Accrued expenses
Property, plant and equipment
Unrealised Exchange Difference
Allowance for uncollectible receivables,
contract assets, loans receivable and others
Net loss carryforward
Liabilities related to customer incentive
Gross deferred tax assets
Valuation allowances
Net deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Property, plant and equipment
Total deferred tax liabilities
Deferred tax assets, net
F-38
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
10,740
19,920
11
—
53,343
21,939
11,435
117,388
(68,932 )
48,456
—
—
48,456
13,908
38,720
—
87
56,436
23,514
11,435
144,100
(73,189 )
70,911
(133 )
(133 )
70,778
12.
INCOME TAXES – continued
Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset where the Group has a legally enforceable right to do so, and intends to settle on a net basis.
Changes in valuation allowance are as follows:
Balance at beginning of the year
Additions
Reversals
Disposal of subsidiaries
Balance at end of the year
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
(4,102 )
(68,755 )
2,924
1,001
(68,932 )
(68,932 )
(4,880 )
623
—
(73,189 )
The Group assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to use the existing
deferred tax assets. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon its ability to generate sufficient future taxable income within the
carry-forward periods provided for in the tax law and during the periods in which the temporary differences become deductible. When assessing the
realization of deferred tax assets, the Group has considered possible sources of taxable income including (i) future reversals of existing taxable
temporary differences, (ii) future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carry-forwards, (iii) future taxable income arising
from implementing tax planning strategies, and (iv) specific known trend of profits expected to be reflected within the industry. On the basis of this
evaluation, valuation allowances of RMB68,932, and RMB73,189 have been established for deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022
respectively, based on a more likely than not threshold due to accumulated loss and uncertainty of sufficient profit generated in future years for
certain subsidiaries within the Group. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future
taxable income during the carry forwards period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no
longer present and additional weight may be given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.
At December 31, 2022, tax loss carry-forward amounted to RMB60,128, and would expire in calendar year 2023 to 2027 if not utilized, while tax
loss of RMB45,640 can be carried forward indefinitely. The Group operates its business through its subsidiaries and VIEs. The Group does not file
consolidated tax returns, therefore, losses from individual subsidiaries or the VIEs may not be used to offset other subsidiaries’ or VIEs’ earnings
within the Group.
In accordance with accounting guidance, all undistributed earnings are presumed to be transferred to the Company and are subject to the
withholding taxes. Under U.S. GAAP, undistributed earnings are presumed to be transferred to the Company and are subject to the withholding
taxes. Prior December 31, 2022, as the Group had the intent and ability to indefinitely reinvest the PRC subsidiaries’ accumulated profits for
expansion of its PRC business, no withholding tax was recorded for those accumulated profits. In March 2023, the Group decided to remit certain
percentage of the annual profits of its PRC subsidiaries to their overseas parent company for dividend distribution purposes. The Group will accrue
withholding tax liabilities in 2023 based on applicable withholding tax rate for certain percentage of the PRC subsidiaries’ profits to be distributed in
2023.
A deferred tax liability should be recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting amounts over tax basis
amounts, including those differences attributable to a more than 50% interest in a 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. the Group does not accrue deferred tax liabilities on the earnings of the VIEs given that the Group’s VIEs had
accumulated deficits as of December 31, 2021 and 2022.
F-39
12.
INCOME TAXES – continued
Reconciliations of the differences between PRC statutory income tax rate and the Group’s effective income tax rate for the years ended December
31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 are as follows:
Statutory income tax rate
Non-taxable income
Reversal of deferred tax liabilities*
Non-deductible expense
Disposal of subsidiaries
Research and Development expense super deduction
Effect of tax holiday
Different tax rate of entities operating in other
jurisdiction
Valuation allowance
True up
Effective tax rate
Year Ended December 31,
2020
RMB
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
25.00 %
—
—
2.54 %
—
(0.62 )%
(2.12 )%
4.86 %
0.61 %
0.05 %
30.32 %
25.00 %
(0.28 )%
(9.75 )%
0.81 %
(0.25 )%
(0.81 )%
(4.74 )%
0.28 %
11.09 %
(0.17 )%
21.18 %
25.00 %
(0.71 )%
—
1.23 %
—
(2.09 )%
(10.99 )%
0.55 %
0.32 %
(1.68 )%
11.63 %
* The collection of revenue related to the legacy P2P lending business was not expected, which led to an increase in the valuation allowance of
deferred tax assets related to allowance for accounts receivable and contract assets, along with a reversal of the related deferred tax liability for
uncollected revenue.
The effect of the tax holiday on the income per share is as follows:
Tax saving amount due to HNTE status
Tax saving amount due to Software enterprise
Tax expense amount due to other jurisdiction
Income per share effect-basic and diluted
2020
RMB
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
—
7,527
(17,405 )
(0.05 )
—
28,131
(1,690 )
0.12
145,694
1,152
(7,405 )
0.65
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of total unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 is as
follows:
Balance at beginning of the year
Increase related to current year tax positions
Settlement
Balance at end of the year
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
176,553
34,511
—
211,064
211,064
29,255
—
240,319
The amount of unrecognized tax benefit that if recognized would affect the effective tax rate as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 was RMB211,064
and RMB240,319 respectively, which were included in tax payables balance.
The Group recognizes interest expenses and penalty charges related to uncertain tax positions as necessary in the provision for income taxes. For the
years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, no interest expense or penalty was accrued in relation to the unrecognized tax benefit. The Group has a
liability for accrued interest of nil and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
ASC 740 states that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained
upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits. The Group record
unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities in accordance with ASC 740 and adjust these liabilities when the Group’s judgment changes as a result of the
evaluation of new information not previously available. However, due to the uncertain and complex application of tax regulations, it is possible that
the ultimate resolution of uncertain tax positions may result in liabilities which could be materially different from these estimates. In such an event,
the Group will record additional tax expense or tax benefit in the period in which such resolution occurs.
F-40
13.
ORDINARY SHARES AND TREASURY STOCK
On May 10, 2019, the Group completed its IPO on the NASDAQ Global Market. In this offering, 4,025,000 ADSs, representing 16,100,000
ordinary shares, were issued at a price of US$10.50 per ADS. The aggregate proceeds received by the Group from the IPO, net of issuance costs,
were approximately RMB234,354. Upon completion of IPO, the 216,100,000 outstanding ordinary shares with par value of US$0.000000005 per
share were split into 100,100,000 Class A ordinary shares and 116,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, with each Class A ordinary share being entitled
to one vote and each Class B ordinary share being entitled to ten votes on all matters that are subject to shareholder vote. All classes of ordinary
shares are entitled to the same dividend right. All of the Class B ordinary shares were held by the Founder of the Company.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Group repurchased 5,994,368 Class A ordinary shares on the open market for an aggregate cash
consideration of US$3,454 (RMB24,012). The weighted average price of these shares repurchased was US$2.31 per share. As of December 31,
2022, 2,372,596 ordinary shares are considered not outstanding and therefore were accounted for under the cost method and includes such treasury
stock as a component of the shareholder’s equity.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, 8,000,000 Class B ordinary shares were converted into Class A ordinary shares.
14.
INCOME PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted net income per share attribute to ordinary shareholders after the stock split:
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders –
basic and diluted
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding – basic and diluted
Basic and diluted net income per share
2020
RMB
Year Ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
252,883
472,086
1,179,658
216,100,000 216,100,000 215,259,640
5.48
1.17
2.18
As economic rights and obligations are applied equally to both Class A and Class B ordinary shares, earnings are allocated between the two classes
of ordinary shares evenly with the same allocation on a per share basis.
The Group does not have shares with a dilutive effect for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
15.
LEASES
Operating lease assets primarily represents various facilities under non-cancellable operating leases expiring within one to three years. Lease costs
are included in origination and servicing expenses, sales and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses, and research and
development expenses, depending on the use of the underlying asset. Operating lease expenses (including fixed lease cost and short-term lease cost)
were RMB26,466, RMB17,892 and RMB29,229 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Total lease expense related to
short-term leases was nil, 109 and 7,158 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Supplemental consolidated balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
Operating leases:
Operating leases right-of-use assets
Current portion of lease liabilities
Non-current portion of lease liabilities
Total operating lease liabilities
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)
Weighted average discount rate
F-41
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
35,507
16,908
18,335
35,243
2.1
4.75 %
27,604
24,986
2,479
27,465
1.2
4.75 %
15.
LEASES – continued
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022 is as follows:
Cash paid for amounts included in measurement of
liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases
Non-cash right-of-use assets in exchange for new
lease liabilities:
Operating leases
For the year
ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
16,490
21,977
47,101
12,655
Maturities of lease payments by year and in the aggregate, under non-cancellable operating leases with terms in excess of one year as of December
31, 2022 are as follows:
2023
2024
2025 and thereafter
Total lease payment
Less imputed interest
Total
16.
ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consisted of the followings:
Deposits*
Accrued expenses
Others
RMB
25,780
2,433
—
28,213
(748 )
27,465
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
—
89,329
29,479
118,808
287,001
254,943
30,191
572,135
The balances represent deposits held by the Group related to the back-to-back guarantee arrangement from an asset management company.
F-42
17.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The table below sets forth the major related parties and their relationships with the Group, with which the Group entered into transactions during the
years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and December 31, 2022:
Name of related parties
Microcredit Company (Chongqing) Ltd.
(“Massnet Microcredit”)
Shanghai Jiayin Finance Services Co., Ltd.
(“Shanghai Jiayin”)
Jiayin (Shanghai) Finance Information Service Co., Ltd.
(“Jiayin (Shanghai)”)
Shanghai Jiayin Zhuoyue Wealth Management Co., Ltd.
(“Jiayin Zhuoyue”)
Kailiantong Payment Service Co., Ltd.
(“Kailiantong”)
GAYANG (Hongkong) Co., Ltd.
(“GAYANG”)
Jiayin Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
(“Jiayin Financial Leasing”)
Aguila Information, S.A.P.I. de C.V.
(“Aguila Information”)
Limahui Technology Co. Ltd.
(“Limahui”)
Subsidiary shareholder
Subsidiary director
Relationship with The Group
Affiliate enterprise
Entity controlled by Mr. Yan,
the Founder and Chairman of the Group
Entity controlled by Mr. Yan,
the Founder and Chairman of the Group
Entity controlled by Mr. Yan,
the Founder and Chairman of the Group
Entity influenced by Mr. Yan
the Founder and Chairman of the Group
Entity controlled by Mr. Yan,
the Founder and Chairman of the Group
Entity controlled by Mr. Yan,
the Founder and Chairman of the Group
Subsidiary of Company’s equity investee
Entity influenced by Mr. Guanglin Zhang,
the director of the Group
The minority shareholders of the subsidiaries of the Group
The director of the subsidiary of the Group
F-43
17.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - continued
The Group entered into the following transactions with its related parties:
Services provided by related parties:
Jiayin Zhuoyue (1)
Jiayin (Shanghai) (1)
Shanghai Jiayin (2)
Limahui (3)
Total
Services provided to related parties
Aguila Information (4)
Kailiantong (5)
Total
Loans to related parties:
Jiayin Financial Leasing (6)
Massnet Microcredit (7)
Shanghai Jiayin (8)
GAYANG (9)
Aguila Information (10)
Subsidiary shareholder (8)
Subsidiary director (11)
Total
Loans from related parties
Shanghai Jiayin (8)
Subsidiary shareholder (12)
Total
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
55,207
9,004
5,845
425
70,481
—
6,209
6,209
77,048
—
—
—
77,048
34,619
—
34,619
122,946
—
12,474
—
135,420
6,567
—
6,567
2020
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
—
—
—
—
—
463
79
542
—
3,113
3,113
70,000
54,000
47,840
31,306
—
—
—
203,146
15,000
—
15,000
—
—
35,000
17,243
4,173
—
—
56,416
—
—
—
F-44
17.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - continued
Jiayin Zhuoyue refers investors to the Group and charged referral service fees. Jiayin (Shanghai) referred borrowers to the Group and charged
referral service fees, and was no longer our related party since August 2020 due to the change of shareholder.
Shanghai Jiayin rented office space to the Group and charged other related service fee, which is calculated dependent on its usage of the underlying
office space. In April 2022, the Group entered into a sublease agreement with Shanghai Jiayin for Shanghai Jiayin and its affiliated companies'
working areas located in the same building as the Group's principal executive offices. The lease period was 12 months and was extended to another
year automatically. The Group rented 2,916 square foot from Shanghai Jiayin for the period before August 2022, and 2,400 square foot for the
period starting from August 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Group recognized RMB5,679 right of use assets and RMB6,600 lease liabilities,
respectively.
Limahui primarily provided internet catering service for employees of the Group and charged corresponding service fees. Mr. Guanglin Zhang has
significant influence over Limahui in the first three quarters of 2020.
The Group provides business and operational support services to Aguila Information and charged corresponding service fees. On January 5, 2021,
Aguila Information was deconsolidated by the Group and deemed as our related party (see Note 8).
The Group provided referral service to Kailiantong and charged loan facilitation fees. Our Founder, Mr. Dinggui Yan, partially disposed of his
investment over China Smartpay in September 2020, and therefore Mr. Dinggui Yan lost the significant influence over China Smartpay thereafter.
As Kailiantong was wholly owned by China Smartpay, Kailiantong was no longer deemed as our related party as of October 2020.
The amounts represent non-interest bearing loans to related parties in 2021 for the daily operation, which were fully collected in 2021.
The Group provided non-interest bearing loan of RMB54 million to Massnet Microcredit, which was fully collected in May, 2021.
The amount represents loans which are non-interest bearing, unsecured, and due on demand, and were fully collected as of December 31, 2021 and
2022.
The amount represents loans to GAYANG in 2021 and 2022. In 2021, the loans comprise non-interest bearing loan of RMB20,664 and interest
bearing loan with principal of RMB10,642 and fixed annual interest rate of 8%. In 2021, RMB11,471 of non-interest bearing loan has been collected
and RMB171 interest has been accrued. In 2022, the amount represents interest bearing loan with principal of RMB17,243 and fixed interest rate of
8% after a three-months free of interest duration. In 2022, RMB9,193 of non-interest bearing loan and RMB1,408 of interest bearing loan has been
collected and RMB638 interest has been accrued.
(10) The amount represents non-interest bearing loans to Aguila Information in 2022, which were fully collected as of December 31, 2022.
(11) The amount represents loans to the minority director of the subsidiary PT. Jayindo Fintek Pratama since November 2020 with principal of RMB79
and annual interest rate of 6%.
(12) The amount represents loans from minority shareholders of Aguila Information in 2020. As the Aguila Information was deconsolidated by the
Group in 2021, its minority shareholders were no longer deemed as our related parties.
F-45
17.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS - continued
The following table present amounts due from and due to related parties as of December 31, 2020 and 2021:
Amounts due from related parties
Subsidiary shareholder
Aguila Information
GAYANG
Shanghai Jiayin
Total
Amounts due to related parties
Jiayin Zhuoyue
Shanghai Jiayin
Total
As of December 31,
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
4
16,507
20,006
500
37,017
4,485
—
4,485
7
—
17,243
500
17,750
408
158
566
Amounts due from related parties primarily consist of loans to related parties and service fees receivable from related parties. As of December 31,
2021, the Group accrued credit losses of RMB16,114 for outstanding receivables from Aguila Information based on subsequent collection analysis.
Such credit loss is included in allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract assets, loans receivable and others for the year ended December 31,
2021. As of December 31, 2022, the Group accrued credit losses of RMB10,043 for outstanding receivables from GAYANG based on subsequent
collection analysis and reversed credit losses of RMB3,905 for outstanding receivables from Aguila Information based on the collection in 2022.
Such credit loss is included in allowance for uncollectible receivables, contract assets, loans receivable and others for the year ended December 31,
2022.
Amounts due to related parties primarily consist of the amount of service fees payable to related parties from related parties.
F-46
18.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Capital and other commitments
The Group did not have significant capital, other commitments or long term obligations as of December 31, 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the fair
value of guarantees was not material. See Note 2(k).
Contingencies
On September 11, 2020, a securities class action complaint was filed against us and our officers and directors in the Supreme Court of the State of
New York, County of New York. An amended complaint was filed on February 1, 2021, which added as defendants the underwriters for our initial
public offering. The plaintiff asserted claims under Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 based on purported misstatements and
omissions in Form F-1 registration statement for our initial public offering. The plaintiff brought his claims individually and on behalf of all other
persons who acquired our American Depositary Shares pursuant and/or traceable to our initial public offering, and seeks compensatory damages,
rescission, injunctive relief, and costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees and expert fees in unidentified amounts. On August 15, 2022, the
Court entered an order of preliminary approval of a settlement in the Action. The Court has approved the settlement and the case has been
dismissed. Under the terms of the settlement, we paid an aggregate of US$2.0 million in 2022 as a full and final settlement to resolve all claims that
arise out of or relate to the subject matter of the class action as to all parties involved in the action, which were fully accrued as a deduction of other
income, net in the financial statements.
Other than the foregoing, the Group are currently not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings. The Group may from time to time
be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Litigation or any other legal or
administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in substantial cost and diversion of the Group’s resources, including the
Group’s management’s time and attention.
19.
RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
The Company’s ability to pay dividends is primarily dependent on the Company receiving distributions of funds from its subsidiaries. Relevant PRC
statutory laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by the VIEs and subsidiaries of the VIEs incorporated in PRC only out of their retained
earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. The consolidated results of operations reflected in the
consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP differ from those reflected in the statutory financial statements of the
Company’s subsidiaries.
Under PRC law, the Company’s subsidiaries, VIEs and the subsidiaries of the VIEs located in the PRC (collectively referred as the “PRC entities”)
are required to provide for certain statutory reserves, namely a general reserve, an enterprise expansion fund and a staff welfare and bonus fund. The
PRC entities are required to allocate at least 10% of their after tax profits on an individual company basis as determined under PRC accounting
standards to the statutory reserve and has the right to discontinue allocations to the statutory reserve if such reserve has reached 50% of registered
capital on an individual company basis. In addition, the registered capital of the PRC entities is also restricted.
Amounts restricted that include paid in capital and statutory reserve funds, as determined pursuant to PRC GAAP, is RMB238,201 as of December
31, 2022.
20.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On April 4, 2023, Jiayin Finance entered into a share acquisition framework agreement (the “Agreement”) with Shenzhen Rongxinbao. Pursuant to
the Agreement, Jiayin Finance agreed to transfer its 100% equity interest of Fujian Zhuoqun to Shenzhen Rongxinbao for an aggregate
consideration of RMB395.0 million, with February 28, 2023 as the base date of valuation (the “base transaction consideration”). The profit and loss
of Fujian Zhuoqun during the transitional period from the base date of valuation to the closing date of the proposed transaction belong to the Group
and will be settled in cash or any other form as determined by both parties. The base transaction consideration of RMB395.0 million will be satisfied
in the following manners: (i) approximately RMB316.2 million will be settled with the payables the Group owed to Fujian Zhuoqun as a result of
the intercompany balances occurred before the proposed transaction, (ii) approximately RMB78.7 million will be settled with the payables the
Group owed to Shenzhen Rongxinbao in connection with the disposal of Shanghai Caiyin in 2019, and (iii) the rest will be paid in cash or any other
form as determined by both parties. The closing of the proposed transaction is subject to certain customary conditions, including completion of
satisfactory due diligence. Following the completion of the proposed transaction, Jiayin Finance will not own any equity interest in Fujian Zhuoqun.
On April 19, 2023, the Group granted 3,160,000 RSUs to certain employees. The RSUs shall vest over a period of four years. The RSUs have no
expiration period.
F-47
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS
(AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND SHARE RELATED DATA)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Amounts due from subsidiaries and VIEs
Prepaid and other current assets
Total current assets
Investments in subsidiaries and VIEs
Total assets
Liabilities
Current Liabilities
Amounts due to subsidiaries and VIEs
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Total liabilities
Equity
Ordinary shares
Treasury stock
Additional paid-in capital
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
2021
RMB
As of December 31,
2022
RMB
US$
7,861
173,310
2,838
184,009
(155,566 )
28,443
—
579
579
—
—
840,580
(794,762 )
(17,954 )
27,864
28,443
8,567
167,571
3,248
179,386
1,087,634
1,267,020
13,458
10,478
23,936
—
(9,262 )
870,562
384,896
(3,112 )
1,243,084
1,267,020
1,242
24,296
471
26,009
157,692
183,701
1,951
1,520
3,471
—
(1,343 )
126,220
55,805
(452 )
180,230
183,701
F-48
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND SHARE RELATED DATA)
Operating cost and expenses:
General and administrative
Total operating cost and expenses
Loss from operations
Interest income (expense), net
Other expenses, net
Loss before income tax expense and equity in earnings subsidiaries and
VIEs
Income tax expense
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries and VIEs
Net income
Other comprehensive income, net of tax of nil
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Other comprehensive (loss) income
Comprehensive income
F-49
Year ended December 31,
2020
RMB
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
US$
(6,740 )
(6,740 )
(6,740 )
7,701
(67,169 )
(66,208 )
—
319,091
252,883
(13,286 )
(13,286 )
239,597
(6,979 )
(6,979 )
(6,979 )
(1 )
(154 )
(6,494 )
(6,494 )
(6,494 )
(76 )
(13,445 )
(7,134 )
—
479,220
472,086
(20,015 )
—
1,199,673
1,179,658
(5,137 )
(5,137 )
466,949
14,842
14,842
1,194,500
(942 )
(942 )
(942 )
(11 )
(1,949 )
(2,902 )
—
173,936
171,034
2,152
2,152
173,186
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF PARENT COMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENTS
(AMOUNT IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
used in operating activities:
Share of results of subsidiaries and VIEs
Depreciation and amortization
Impairment of short-term investment
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Amounts due from subsidiaries and VIEs
Prepaid and other current assets
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Net cash used in operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash collected from loan to related parties
Net cash provided by investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from exercise of options
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on
cash and cash equivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year
Year ended December 31,
2020
RMB
2021
RMB
2022
RMB
US$
252,883
472,086
1,179,658
171,034
(319,091 )
2,675
67,169
(479,220 )
2,597
—
(1,199,673 )
2,293
—
(173,936 )
332
—
(35,702 )
(2,413 )
(3,548 )
(38,027 )
37,372
37,372
(5,994 )
18
(1,804 )
(12,317 )
(2,151 )
(2,680 )
636
(21,917 )
—
—
—
—
6,982
6,982
3,296
3,296
(12,337 )
(6,010 )
27,223
21,213
(4,331 )
(13,352 )
21,213
7,861
8,783
8,783
13,840
706
7,861
8,567
(312 )
(388 )
92
(3,178 )
—
—
1,273
1,273
2,007
102
1,140
1,242
F-50
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION—FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I
NOTES TO SCHEDULE I
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Schedule I has been provided pursuant to the requirements of Rule 12-04(a) and 5-04(c) of Regulation S-X, which require condensed financial
information as to the financial position, changes in financial position 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 consolidated subsidiaries
exceed 25 percent of consolidated net assets as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year.
As disclosed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company was incorporated on December 21, 2017 in the Cayman Islands to be
the holding company of the Group. The Company undertook a series of transactions to redomicile its business from PRC to the Cayman Islands. The
Company has presented Schedule I as if Cayman Islands parent company has been incorporated on January 1, 2017.
The condensed financial information has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the consolidated financial statements except
that the equity method has been used to account for investments in its subsidiaries and VIEs. The Company records its investments in subsidiaries
and VIEs under the equity method of accounting as prescribed in ASC Topic 323, Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures. Such
investments are presented on the Condensed Balance Sheets as “Investment in subsidiaries and VIEs” and share of their earnings as “Equity in
earnings of subsidiaries and VIEs” on the Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been
condensed or omitted. The footnote disclosure certain supplemental information relating to the operations of the Company and, as such, these
statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, there were no material contingencies, significant provisions of long-term obligations, mandatory dividend or
redemption requirements of redeemable stocks or guarantees of the Company.
Translations of balances in the additional financial information of Parent Company- Financial Statements Schedule I from RMB into US$ as of and
for the year ended December 31, 2022 are solely for the convenience of the readers and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00= RMB6.8972,
representing the noon buying rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board on December 30, 2022. No
representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate or at any other rate.
F-51
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES AND CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES OF
JIAYIN GROUP INC.
Exhibit 8.1
Name
Subsidiaries
Jiayin Holdings Limited
Geerong (HK) Limited (formerly
known as “Jiayin (HK) Limited”)
Jiayin Southeast Asia Holdings Limited
Shanghai Kunjia Technology Co., Ltd.
Geerong Yunke Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Geerong Yun (Shanghai) Enterprise
Development Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Chuangzhen Software Co., Ltd.
PT. Jayindo Fintek Pratama
Fujian Jiaxi Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd.
Hainan Yinke Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd.
VIEs
Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Wuxingjia Information Technology Co., Ltd. (formerly known as"Shanghai
Niwodai Internet Finance Information Services Co., Ltd.")
Shanghai Jiajie Internet Finance Information Services Co., Ltd.
Jiayin Shuke Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Place of
incorporation/
establishment
BVI
Hong Kong
BVI
Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai
Indonesia
Fujian
Hainan
Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai
Exhibit 12.1
Certification by Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Dinggui Yan, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Jiayin Group 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)
(b)
(c)
(d)
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;
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;
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
Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by
the 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)
(b)
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
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 28, 2023
By:
Name:
/s/ Dinggui Yan
Dinggui Yan
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 12.2
Certification by Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Chunlin Fan, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Jiayin Group 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)
(b)
(c)
(d)
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;
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;
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
Disclosed in this report any change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by
the 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)
(b)
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
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 28, 2023
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Chunlin Fan
Chunlin Fan
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 Jiayin Group Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Dinggui Yan, 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.
2.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
Date:
April 28, 2023
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Dinggui Yan
Dinggui Yan
Chief Executive Officer
Certification by Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibits 13.2
In connection with the annual report of Jiayin Group Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Chunlin Fan, 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.
2.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
Date:
April 28, 2023
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Chunlin Fan
Chunlin Fan
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 15.1
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement of Jiayin Group Inc. on Form S-8 [FILE NO. 333-
233615] and Form F-3 [FILE NO. 333-255898] of our report dated April 28, 2023 with respect to our audits of the consolidated
financial statements and related consolidated financial statement schedule of Jiayin Group Inc. as of December 31, 2022 and
2021, and for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020, which report is included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F
of Jiayin Group Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2022.
/s/ Marcum Asia CPAs LLP
New York, New York
April 28, 2023
NEW YORK OFFICE • 7 Penn Plaza • Suite 830 • New York, New York • 10001
Phone 646.442.4845 • Fax 646.349.5200 • www.marcumasia.com
Exhibit 15.2
Our ref
DOCPROPERTY DocXDocID VSL/745172-000001/26027043v1
Jiayin Group Inc.
18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza
428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong New Area
Shanghai 200122
People’s Republic of China
28 April 2023
Dear Sirs
Jiayin Group Inc.
We have acted as legal advisers as to the laws of the Cayman Islands to Jiayin Group Inc., an exempted company incorporated in the
Cayman Islands with limited liability (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of an annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2022 (the “Annual
Report”).
We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—Cayman Islands
Taxation” in the Annual Report. 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” in the Annual Report, into (a) the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-233615) pertaining to the Company’s 2019 Share Incentive Plan, and (b) the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No.333-255898).
We consent to the filing with the SEC of this consent letter as an exhibit to the Annual Report. In giving such consent, we do not
thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
Exhibit 15.3
April 28, 2023
Jiayin Group Inc.
18th Floor, Building No. 1, Youyou Century Plaza
428 South Yanggao Road, Pudong, New Area, Shanghai 200122
People’s Republic of China
Attention: The Board of Directors
Dear Sirs or Madam,
Re: Jiayin Group Inc.
We, King & Wood Mallesons, consent to the reference to our firm under the captions of “Item 3. Key Information—Approvals
Required from the PRC Authorities for Offering Securities to Foreign Investors” “Item 3.D—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to
Our Corporate Structure” “Item 4.C—Organizational Structure” and “Item 10.E—Taxation—People’s Republic of China Tax
Considerations” in the annual report of Jiayin Group Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022
(the “Annual Report”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof. We further consent
to the incorporation by reference of the summary of our opinion under the captions of “Item 3. Key Information—Approvals
Required from the PRC Authorities for Offering Securities to Foreign Investors” “Item 3.D—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to
Our Corporate Structure” “Item 4.C—Organizational Structure” and “Item 10.E—Taxation—People’s Republic of China Tax
Considerations” in the Annual Report into (a) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-233615) pertaining
to the Company’s 2019 Share Incentive Plan, and (b) the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-3 (No.333-255898).
In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
Yours faithfully,
/s/ King & Wood Mallesons
King & Wood Mallesons