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(Mark One)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
☐ REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
OR
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal 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: 001-36396
For the transition period from to
Leju Holdings Limited
(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)
Level G, Building G, No.8 Dongfeng South Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016
The People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)
Li Yuan, Chief Financial Officer
Leju Holdings Limited
Level G, Building G, No.8 Dongfeng South Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016
People’s Republic of China
Telephone: +86 21 6133 0754
Email: michelleyuan@leju.com
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
(Name, Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Title of each class
American Depositary Shares, each representing ten ordinary
shares, par value $0.001 per share
Ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share*
Trading Symbol
LEJU
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
* Not for trading but only in connection with the listing on the New York Stock Exchange of American depositary shares. Effective on May 20, 2022, the ratio of ADSs to
our ordinary shares was changed from one ADS representing one ordinary share to one ADS representing ten ordinary shares.
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
None
(Title of Class)
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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.
137,172,601 ordinary shares (excluding the 3,580,150 ordinary shares issued to our depositary bank for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the
exercise or vesting of awards granted under our share incentive plan), par value $0.001 per share, as of December 31, 2022.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☐ No ☒
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90
days.
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 ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-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.
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Item 17 ☐ Item 18 ☐
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 ☒
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INTRODUCTION
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Part I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part II
Item 1.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 4B.
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
Item 15.
Item 16.
Item 16A.
Item 16B.
Item 16C.
Item 16D.
Item 16E.
Item 16F.
Item 16G.
Item 16H.
Item 16I.
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
KEY INFORMATION
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENT
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
THE OFFER AND LISTING
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
[RESERVED]
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
CODE OF ETHICS
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
Part III
Item 17.
Item 18.
Item 19.
SIGNATURES
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
EXHIBITS
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Unless otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F to:
INTRODUCTION
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“Leju” are to Leju Holdings Limited;
“variable interest entities” or “VIEs” are to Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu, and their respective subsidiaries. The variable
interest entities are PRC companies conducting operations in China, and their financial results have been consolidated into our consolidated
financial statements under U.S. GAAP for accounting purposes. Investors are purchasing an interest in Leju Holdings Limited, a Cayman
Islands holding company with no operations of its own. Leju Holdings Limited does not have any equity ownership in the variable interest
entities;
“we,” “us,” “our company,” or “our” are to Leju Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries. We conduct operations in China through (i) our PRC
subsidiaries, and (ii) the variable interest entities, with which we have maintained contractual arrangements, and their subsidiaries;
“ADSs” are to our American depositary shares, each of which represents one ordinary share; Prior to May 20, 2022, each of our ADSs
represented one ordinary share. On May 20, 2022, we effected a change in the ratio of our ADSs to ordinary shares from one ADS
representing one ordinary share to one ADS representing ten ordinary shares (the “ADS Ratio Change”). Except as otherwise noted, the ADS
Ratio Change has been retroactively reflected in this annual report on Form 20-F
“Alibaba” are to Alibaba Group Holding Limited;
“Beijing Leju” are to Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd.;
“Beijing Jiajujiu” are to Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd.;
“Beijing Maiteng” are to Beijing Maiteng Fengshun Science and Technology Co., Ltd.;
“China” or the “PRC” are to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purposes of this annual report only, Hong Kong, Macau and
Taiwan;
“Exchange Act” are to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;
“E-House” are to E-House (China) Holdings Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability, and its predecessor entities;
“E-House Enterprise” are to E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings Limited, an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with
limited liability and listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 2048);
“O2O services” are to online to offline services, including in connection with the marketing of new residential properties by developers;
“ordinary shares” to our ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share;
“RMB” and “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China;
“Shanghai SINA Leju” are to Shanghai SINA Leju Information Technology Co., Ltd.;
“Leju Hao Fang” are to Shanghai Leju Hao Fang Information Service Co., Ltd. (formerly known as Shanghai Yi Xin E-Commerce Co., Ltd.);
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“Shanghai Yi Yue” are to Shanghai Yi Yue Information Technology Co., Ltd.;
“SINA” are to SINA Corporation;
“Tencent” are to Tencent Holdings Limited or certain of its affiliates which have entered into agreements with us as described under “Item 7.
Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions—Transactions and Agreements with Tencent,” as
applicable;
“TM Home” are to TM Home Limited;
“U.S. dollars”, “$”, and “dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States;
“Weibo” are to SINA’s microblog; and
“Weixin” are to Tencent’s social communication platform “wechat.”
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other
than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by the forward-looking statements.
You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “aim”,
“estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “likely to” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely
on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition,
results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include:
● our anticipated growth strategies;
● our future business development, results of operations and financial condition;
● expected changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items;
● the impact of the COVID-19 on our business operations, the industries we are operating in and the economy of China and
elsewhere generally;
● our ability to attract clients and further enhance our brand recognition; and trends and competition in the real estate services
industry.
You should read thoroughly this annual report and the documents that we refer to in this annual report with the understanding
that our actual future results may be materially different from and worse than what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking
statements by these cautionary statements. Other sections of this annual report include additional factors which could adversely impact
our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties emerge
from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of
all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from
those contained in any forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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PART I
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
Our Holding Company Structure and Contractual Arrangements with the Variable Interest Entities
Leju Holdings Limited is not a Chinese operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company with no equity ownership in
the variable interest entities. We conduct our operations primarily through our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities
(including the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries) in China. PRC laws and regulations restrict and impose conditions on
foreign investment in the internet industry and there is uncertainty over administrative practice in advertising industries. Accordingly, we
operate part of our business through the variable interest entities, and rely on contractual arrangements among our PRC subsidiaries, the
variable interest entities and their shareholders to conduct the business operations of the variable interest entities. Revenues contributed
by the variable interest entities accounted for 99.9%, 99.9% and 100.0% of our total revenues for the years of 2020, 2021 and 2022,
respectively. As used in this annual report, “we,” “us,” “our company” and “our” refers to Leju Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries.
Holders of Leju’s ADSs hold equity interest in Leju Holdings Limited, our Cayman Islands holding company; by investing in Leju’s
ADSs, they do not, and may never, have direct or indirect interest in the variable interest entities in China. The variable interest entities
are PRC companies conducting operations in China, and their financial results have been consolidated into our consolidated financial
statements under U.S. GAAP for accounting purposes. Leju is a holding company with no operations of its own. We do not have any
equity ownership in the variable interest entities.
A series of contractual agreements, including exclusive call option agreements, loan agreements, equity pledge agreements,
powers of attorney, exclusive business cooperation agreements, have been entered into by and among our subsidiaries, the variable
interest entities and their respective shareholders. Terms contained in each set of contractual arrangements with the variable interest
entities and their respective shareholders are substantially similar. As a result of the contractual arrangements, we have effective control
over and are considered the primary beneficiary of these companies, and we have consolidated the financial results of these companies in
our consolidated financial statements under the U.S. GAAP for accounting purposes. Neither Leju nor its investors has an equity
ownership in, direct foreign investment in, or control through such ownership or investment of, the variable interest entities, and the
contractual arrangements are not equivalent to an equity ownership in the business of the variable interest entities. For more details of
these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”
However, the contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over the
variable interest entities, and we may incur substantial costs to enforce the terms of the arrangements. In addition, these agreements have
not been tested in PRC courts. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—We rely on
contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders for a portion of our
operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control” and —The shareholders of the variable
interest entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, and if any such conflicts of interest are not resolved in our favor, our
business may be materially and adversely affected.”
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There are also substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations
and rules regarding the status of the rights of Leju, a Cayman Islands holding company, with respect to its contractual arrangements with
the variable interest entities and their shareholders. It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws or regulations relating to variable interest
entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what they would provide. If we or any of the variable interest entities is found to be in
violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or fail to obtain or maintain any of the required permits or approvals, the
relevant PRC regulatory authorities would have broad discretion to take action in dealing with such violations or failures. See “Item 3.
Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government finds that the agreements that
establish the structure for operating our advertising services business and real estate online business in China do not comply with PRC
governmental restrictions on foreign investment in the advertising industry or the internet information service industry, we could be
subject to severe penalties” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Substantial
uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the
viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.”
Our corporate structure is subject to risks associated with our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities. If the
PRC government deems that our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities 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 or
are interpreted differently in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
Leju, its PRC subsidiaries and variable interest entities, and investors of Leju face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC
government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and, consequently,
significantly affect the financial performance of the variable interest entities and our company as a whole. The PRC regulatory authorities
could disallow the VIE structure, which would likely result in a material change in our operations and cause the value of our securities to
significantly decline or become worthless. For a detailed description of the risks associated with our corporate structure, please refer to
all the risks disclosed under “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure.”
We face various risks and uncertainties related to doing business in China. Our business operations are primarily conducted in
China, and we are subject to complex and evolving PRC laws and regulations. For example, we face risks associated with regulatory
approvals on offshore offerings, anti-monopoly regulatory actions, and oversight on cybersecurity and data privacy, and regulation and
statements made by PRC government related to the use of variable interest entities, which may impact our ability to conduct certain
businesses, accept foreign investments, or list on a United States or other foreign exchange. These risks could result in a material adverse
change in our operations and the value of our ADSs, significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer
securities to investors, or cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or become worthless. For a detailed description of
risks related to doing business in China, please refer to risks disclosed under “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors-Risks Related to
Doing Business in China.”
PRC government’s significant authority in regulating our operations and its oversight and control over offerings conducted
overseas by, and foreign investment in, China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue
to offer securities to investors. Implementation of industry-wide regulations, including data security or anti-monopoly related regulations,
in this nature may cause the value of such securities to significantly decline. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—The PRC government’s significant oversight over our business operation could
result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs.”
Risks and uncertainties arising from the legal system in China, including risks and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of
laws and quickly evolving rules and regulations in China, could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our
ADSs. For more details, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China —Uncertainties
with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.” and “—Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation
and implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate
governance and business operations.”
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Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for Our Operations
We conduct our business primarily through our subsidiaries and the variable interest entities in China. Our operations in China
are governed by PRC laws and regulations. As of the date of this annual report, Beijing Leju, Beijing Jiajujiu, Beijing Yisheng Leju
Finance Culture Media Co., Ltd. and Beijing Weike Union Information Technology Co., Ltd., both subsidiaries of Beijing Leju, Beijing
Yisheng Leju Internet Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Beijing Jiajujiu, and Leju Hao Fang, each holds a valid ICP license issued by
the local provincial branch of the MIIT for the operation of our value-added telecommunication business, Beijing Yisheng Leju Finance
Culture Media Co., Ltd. holds a Radio and television program production business license issued by the local branch of the National
Radio and Television Administration for the production and distribution of radio and television programs, and the business scope of the
business licenses of Beijing Leju and its subsidiaries which engage in the advertising business includes operating advertising business.
These licenses are essential to the operation of our online real estate business. In addition, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and/or Beijing
Jiajujiu and their respective subsidiaries do not have internet publication licenses and licenses for online transmission of audio-visual
programs, and are not applying for these licenses. For those video/audio programs and certain other forms of content that we believe are
subject to the requirements of these licenses, such programs and content are hosted by SINA through our contractual arrangement with
SINA. In the case that SINA does not possess the necessary licenses and permits, our video/audio programs and other content hosted by
SINA are subject to the risk of being suspended by government authorities. Moreover, we cannot assure you that government would not
require us to obtain these licenses separately for operation of our own websites and those websites licensed to us even if the underlying
hosting of the relevant content may be provided by a qualified third party. If we are required to apply for such licenses, we can provide
no assurance that we will procure and maintain such additional licenses. As advised by our PRC counsel, Fangda Partners, except for
internet publication licenses and licenses for online transmission of audio-visual programs, we believe our PRC subsidiaries and the
variable interest entities have obtained all of the requisite licenses and permits from the PRC government authorities that are necessary
for the business operations.
Furthermore, the PRC government has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are
conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers. In connection with our issuance of securities to foreign investors in
the past, under current PRC laws, regulations, and rules, as of the date of this annual report, we, our PRC subsidiaries, and the variable
interest entities (i) have not been required to obtain permissions from or complete filings with the China Securities Regulatory
Commission, or the CSRC, (ii) have not been required to go through cybersecurity review by the Cyberspace Administration of China, or
the CAC, and (iii) have not received or have not been denied such requisite permissions by the CSRC or the CAC. Our PRC counsel,
Fangda Partners, has consulted the relevant government authorities, which acknowledged that, under the currently effective PRC laws
and regulations, a company already listed in a foreign stock exchange before promulgation of the latest Cybersecurity Review Measures
is not required to go through a cybersecurity review by the CAC to conduct a securities offering or maintain its listing status on the
foreign stock exchange on which its securities have been listed. Therefore, we believe that under the currently effective PRC laws and
regulations, we are not required to go through a cybersecurity review by the CAC for conducting a securities offering or maintain our
listing status on the NYSE. On December 24, 2021, the CSRC issued a draft of the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration
of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and a draft of Administration Measures for the Filing of Overseas
Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, for public comments, according to which, the issuer or its affiliated major
domestic operating company, as the case may be, shall file with the CSRC and report the relevant information for its follow-on offshore
offering and other equivalent offshore offering activities. As of the date of this annual report, the draft of the Provisions of the State
Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, and the draft of Administration
Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies have not been adopted and there still exists
substantial uncertainties surrounding the CSRC requirements at this stage. As the CSRC may formulate and publish guidelines for filings
in the future, the Draft Administration Measures does not provide for detailed requirements of the substance and form of the filing
documents. According to a Q&A released on CSRC’s official website, the respondent CSRC official indicated that the CSRC will start
applying the filing requirements to new offerings and listings, including new initial public offerings and refinancing by existing overseas
listed Chinese companies. As for the filings for the existing companies, the regulator will grant adequate transition period to complete
their filing procedures. The Q&A also addressed the contractual arrangements and pointed out that if complying with domestic laws and
regulations, companies with VIE structure are eligible to list overseas after filing with the CSRC. Based on the Q&A, we were advised
by our PRC Counsel, Fangda Partners, that under the currently effective PRC laws and regulations, we are not required to obtain
permissions from or complete filings with the CSRC, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with them.
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If (i) we do not receive or maintain any permissions or approvals, (ii) we inadvertently concluded that certain permissions or
approvals have been acquired or are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations or interpretations thereof change and we become
subject to the requirement of additional permissions or approvals in the future, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain such
permissions or approvals in a timely manner, or at all, and such approvals may be rescinded even if obtained. Any such circumstance
could subject us to penalties, including fines, suspension of business and revocation of required licenses, which could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
For more detailed information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors— Risks Related to Our Business—If we fail to
obtain or keep licenses, permits or approvals applicable to the various online real estate services provided by us, we may incur significant
financial penalties and other government sanctions” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business
in China—The approval of and or report and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection
with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such
approval or complete such filing and reporting process.”
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit
reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years,
the SEC will prohibit our shares or the ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading
market in the United States. We have appointed Yu Certified Public Account, P.C., or Yu CPA, for the audit of the consolidated financial
statements since the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Yu CPA is a U.S.-based accounting firm that is registered with the PCAOB
and can be inspected by the PCAOB, and was not included in the determinations made by the PCAOB on December 16, 2021. Our
predecessor auditor’s work related to our operations in China for the fiscal years 2012 to 2018 was not inspected by the PCAOB. There is
no guarantee that our current auditor or any future auditor engaged by us would remain subject to full PCAOB inspection during the
entire term of our engagement, which may impact our ability to remain listed on a United States exchange. The related risks and
uncertainties could cause the value of the ADSs to significantly decline. Although we believe that the HFCAA and the related regulations
do not currently affect us, we cannot assure you that there will not be any further implementations and interpretations of the HFCAA or
the related regulations, which might pose regulatory risks to and impose restrictions on us in the future. For more details, see “Item 3.
Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Although our independent registered public accounting
firm is registered with the PCAOB and currently subject to periodic PCAOB inspection, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is
unable to inspect or investigate our auditor completely, investors would be deprived of the benefits of such inspection and our ADSs may
be delisted or prohibited from trading.”
Cash and Asset Flows through Our Organization
Leju Holdings Limited is a holding company with no operations of its own. We conduct our operations in China primarily
through our subsidiaries and the variable interest entities in China. As a result, although other means are available for us to obtain
financing at the holding company level, Leju Holdings Limited’s ability to pay dividends to the shareholders and to service any debt it
may incur may depend upon dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries and license and service fees paid by our PRC consolidated variable
interest entities. If any of our subsidiaries incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing such debt may restrict its
ability to pay dividends to Leju Holdings Limited. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are permitted to pay dividends to Leju Holdings
Limited only out of their retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Further,
our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities are required to make appropriations to certain statutory reserve funds or
may make appropriations to certain discretionary funds, which are not distributable as cash dividends except in the event of a solvent
liquidation of the companies. For more details, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital
Resources—Holding Company Structure.”
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Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities are subject to certain restrictions with
respect to paying dividends or otherwise transferring any of their net assets to us. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned
enterprise out of China is also subject to examination by the banks designated by SAFE. The amounts restricted include the paid-up
capital and the statutory reserve funds of our PRC subsidiaries and the net assets of the variable interest entities in which we have no
legal ownership, totaling $52.9 million, $42.1 million and $41.7 million as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Furthermore, cash transfers from our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities to entities outside of China are subject to PRC
governmental control on currency conversion. As a result, the funds in our PRC subsidiaries or the variable interest entities in China may
not be available to fund operations or for other use outside of China, such as the payments of dividends to U.S. investors, due to
interventions in, or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on, the ability of our holding company, our subsidiaries, or the variable
interest entities by the PRC government on such currency conversion. For risks relating to the fund flows of our operations in China, see
“Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable
interest entities are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other payments to us, which may restrict our ability to satisfy
our liquidity requirements” and “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Governmental
control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.”
Under PRC law, Leju Holdings Limited may provide funding to our PRC subsidiaries only through capital contributions or
loans, and to the variable interest entities only through loans, subject to satisfaction of applicable government registration and approval
requirements. In the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, Leju Holdings Limited extended loans with outstanding principal
amount of RMB40.0 million, RMB40.0 million and RMB40.0 million, respectively, to our intermediate holding companies and
subsidiaries, and the variable interest entities received RMB40.0 million, RMB40.0 million and RMB40.0 million as capital or
investment, respectively. Furthermore, cash transfers from Leju to our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities are subject to
PRC governmental control on currency conversion. As a result, the funds held by Leju may not be available to fund the operations of our
PRC subsidiaries or the variable interest entities in China. See “Item 3.D. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing
Business in China—Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.”
Leju Holdings Limited declared and paid cash dividends of USD26.9 million in 2015. It does not have any present plan to pay
any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds
and any future earnings to operate and expand our business. See “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other
Financial Information—Dividend Policy.” For PRC and United States federal income tax considerations of an investment in our ADSs,
see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation.”
Selected Consolidated Financial Data
The following selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and
selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this annual report. The selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with our
audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in this annual
report. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Our selected consolidated statement of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and our
consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements not included in this annual report.
Our selected consolidated financial data also includes certain non-GAAP measures, which are not required by, or presented in
accordance with U.S. GAAP, but are included because we believe they are indicative of our operating performance and are used by
investors and analysts to evaluate companies in our industry.
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Our historical results do not necessarily indicate results expected for any future periods.
Selected Consolidated Statement of Operations Data
2018
Year Ended December 31,
2020
(in thousands of $, except share and per share data)
2019
2021
Revenues
E-commerce
Online advertising
Listing
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income, net
Income (loss) from operations
Income (loss) before income taxes and income (loss) from
equity in affiliates
Net income (loss)
Net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited
shareholders(1)
Income (loss) per ADS(1):
Basic
Diluted
Weighted average numbers of ADS used in computation:
Basic
Diluted
Note:
320,271
138,372
3,388
462,031
(72,910)
(402,258)
2,163
(10,974)
547,184
143,779
1,642
692,605
(68,298)
(607,165)
598
17,740
547,895
170,783
848
719,526
(73,762)
(622,026)
381
24,119
411,097
122,522
498
534,117
(55,801)
(645,623)
560
(166,747)
2022
278,464
64,707
11
343,182
(30,604)
(418,501)
298
(105,625)
(14,107)
(12,852)
19,871
10,872
31,687
20,998
(163,408)
(149,924)
(101,794)
(89,691)
(13,481)
11,522
19,302
(150,934)
(89,668)
(0.99)
(0.99)
0.85
0.85
1.42
1.40
(11.05)
(11.05)
(6.54)
(6.54)
13,576,396
13,576,396
13,577,079
13,581,175
13,607,079
13,756,457
13,665,216
13,665,216
13,704,238
13,704,238
(1) On May 10, 2022, we announced that it would change its ADS to ordinary share ratio from one (1) ADS representing one (1)
ordinary share to one (1) ADS representing ten (10) ordinary shares. The change in the ADS ratio was effective on May 20, 2022. For
our ADS holders, the change in the ADS ratio had the same effect as a one-for-ten reverse ADS split. The ADS ratio change has no
impact on our underlying ordinary share. ADS and income (loss) per ADS for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 had been retrospectively
adjusted accordingly.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
2018
2019
2021
2022
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable and contract assets, net of allowance
Total current assets
Intangible assets, net
Total assets
Amounts due to related parties
Total current liabilities
Total liabilities
Total Leju Holdings Limited shareholders’ equity
147,263
104,834
280,552
57,401
416,727
3,477
160,381
175,161
244,089
9
As of December 31,
2020
(in thousands of $)
284,489
204,586
522,707
34,213
641,961
7,106
316,890
347,176
295,927
159,012
148,467
383,201
45,581
524,480
4,407
237,513
272,121
255,401
250,314
37,486
320,875
23,298
437,248
7,632
260,708
286,189
151,255
123,378
3,408
143,504
12,458
216,111
4,805
144,194
163,151
53,235
Table of Contents
Non-GAAP financial Measures
The following table sets forth, for the periods specified, our adjusted income (loss) from operations, our adjusted net income
(loss), and our adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders. We present these non-GAAP financial
measures because they are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance, formulate business plans, and make strategic
decisions on capital allocation. These non-GAAP financial measures enable our management to assess our operating results without
considering the impact of non-cash charges, including share-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets resulting
from business combinations and goodwill impairment. We also believe they are indicative of our operating performance and are used by
investors and analysts to evaluate companies in our industry. These non-GAAP measures of our performance are not required by, or
presented in accordance with, U.S. GAAP. Such measures are not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under U.S. GAAP
and should not be considered as an alternative to income from operations, net income or any other performance measures derived in
accordance with U.S. GAAP or an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Our presentation of such
measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. You should not compare such measures as
presented by us with the presentation of such measures by other companies because not all companies use the same definition.
We define adjusted income (loss) from operations as income (loss) from operations before share-based compensation expense,
amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations and goodwill impairment.
We define adjusted net income (loss) as net income (loss) before share-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible
assets resulting from business combinations, goodwill impairment, and income tax impact on the share-based compensation expense,
amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations, and goodwill impairment.
We define adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders as net income (loss) before share-based
compensation expense (net of non-controlling interests), amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations (net of
non-controlling interests), goodwill impairment (net of non-controlling interests) and income tax impact on the share-based
compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business combinations, and goodwill impairment.
We determine the tax effect of the items excluded from adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss) attributable to
Leju Holdings Limited shareholders based upon evaluation of the statutory tax treatment and the applicable tax rate of the jurisdiction in
which the pre-tax items were incurred, and for which realization of the resulting tax benefit, if any, is expected. In certain jurisdictions
where we do not expect to realize a tax benefit (due to a history of operating losses or other factors resulting in a valuation allowance
related to deferred tax assets), a 0% tax rate is applied. The tax rates reflected are appropriate based on the non-GAAP income reflected
in the reconciliation table.
The use of the above non-GAAP financial measures has material limitations as an analytical tool, as they do not include all
items that impact our income (loss) from operations, net income (loss), and net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited
shareholders for the period. We compensate for these limitations by providing the relevant disclosure of our share-based compensation
expense, amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions and goodwill impairment in our reconciliations to the
financial measures under U.S. GAAP, and in our consolidated financial statements, all of which should be considered when evaluating
our performance.
10
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The following table reconciles our adjusted income (loss) from operations, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted net income
(loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders in the periods presented to the most directly comparable financial measure
calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP:
Year Ended December 31,
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Income (loss) from operations
Share-based compensation expense(1)
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions
Adjusted income (loss) from operations
Net income (loss)
Share-based compensation expense(1)
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions
Income tax benefits:
Current
Deferred(2)
Adjusted net income (loss)
Net income (loss)
Share-based compensation expense(1)
Amortization of intangible assets resulting from business acquisitions
Income tax benefits:
Current
Deferred(2)
Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited
shareholders
Notes:
(10,974)
4,058
13,064
6,148
(12,852)
4,058
13,064
—
(3,266)
1,004
(13,481)
4,038
13,064
(in thousands of $)
24,119
2,978
11,180
38,277
20,998
2,978
11,180
(166,747)
1,657
10,558
(154,532)
(149,924)
1,657
10,558
17,740
3,597
12,611
33,948
10,872
3,597
12,611
(105,625)
1,824
10,558
(93,243)
(89,691)
1,824
10,558
—
(3,153)
23,927
11,522
3,597
12,611
—
(2,795)
32,361
19,302
2,978
11,180
—
(2,640)
(140,349)
(150,934)
1,657
10,558
—
(2,640)
(79,949)
(89,668)
1,824
10,558
—
(3,266)
—
(3,153)
—
(2,795)
—
(2,640)
—
(2,640)
355
24,577
30,665
(141,359)
(79,926)
(1) Share-based compensation expense includes share-based compensation expenses recorded by us for our own plans and options
granted to our employees under E-House’s share incentive plan.
(2) Represents the realization of deferred tax liabilities recognized for the temporary difference between the tax basis of intangible
assets recognized from acquisitions and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The income tax impact on the share-
based compensation expense and goodwill impairment are nil.
11
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Financial Information Related to the Variable Interest Entities
The following table presents the condensed consolidating schedule of financial position for the variable interest entities and
other entities as of the dates presented.
Selected Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Information
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income, net
Loss from operations
Loss before income taxes and income (loss) from equity in affiliates
Net loss
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income, net
Loss from operations
Loss before income taxes and income (loss) from equity in affiliates
Net loss
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
Company
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
Eliminations Consolidated Total
11
(6,210)
(85,979)
24
(92,154)
(90,633)
(78,809)
USD
(In thousand)
376,282
(24,394)
(365,633)
274
(13,471)
(11,161)
(10,882)
(33,111)
—
33,111
—
—
—
—
343,182
(30,604)
(418,501)
298
(105,625)
(101,794)
(89,691)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Company
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
Eliminations Consolidated Total
498
(8,071)
(79,342)
116
(86,799)
(86,435)
(68,394)
USD
(In thousand)
582,290
(47,730)
(614,952)
444
(79,948)
(76,973)
(81,530)
(48,671)
—
48,671
—
—
—
—
534,117
(55,801)
(645,623)
560
(166,747)
(163,408)
(149,924)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Company
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
Eliminations Consolidated Total
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income, net
Income from operations
Income before income taxes and income (loss) from equity in affiliates
Net income
50,636
(8,149)
(29,354)
191
13,324
13,804
6,720
USD
(In thousand)
718,861
(115,584)
(592,672)
190
10,795
17,883
14,278
(49,971)
49,971
—
—
—
—
—
719,526
(73,762)
(622,026)
381
24,119
31,687
20,998
12
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Selected Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets Information
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable and contract assets, net of allowance
Total current assets
Intangible assets, net
Total assets
Amounts due to related parties
Total current liabilities
Total liabilities
Total Leju Holdings Limited shareholders’ equity
Cash and cash equivalents
Accounts receivable and contract assets, net of allowance
Total current assets
Intangible assets, net
Total assets
Amounts due to related parties
Total current liabilities
Total liabilities
Total Leju Holdings Limited shareholders’ equity
Selected Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows Information
As of December 31, 2022
Company
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
Eliminations
Consolidated Total
32,582
780
139,755
12,353
164,672
4,137
35,508
38,629
126,047
USD
(In thousand)
90,796
2,628
107,852
105
155,542
99,028
207,046
222,882
(67,069)
—
—
(104,103)
—
(104,103)
(98,360)
(98,360)
(98,360)
(5,743)
As of December 31, 2021
123,378
3,408
143,504
12,458
216,111
4,805
144,194
163,151
53,235
Company
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
Eliminations
Consolidated Total
50,505
1,585
213,626
22,959
266,476
4,938
41,280
47,008
219,472
USD
(In thousand)
199,809
35,901
266,217
339
329,740
155,388
372,122
391,875
(61,943)
—
—
(158,968)
—
(158,968)
(152,694)
(152,694)
(152,694)
(6,274)
250,314
37,486
320,875
23,298
437,248
7,632
260,708
286,189
151,255
Net cash used in operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
(14,784)
80
(52)
(93,192)
(74)
—
(107,976)
6
(52)
Company
Subsidiaries
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
USD
(In thousand)
Consolidated Total
Company
Subsidiaries
For the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
USD
(In thousand)
Consolidated Total
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
1,539
(749)
1,033
(41,428)
431
—
(39,889)
(318)
1,033
13
Company
Subsidiaries
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Consolidated
Variable Interest
Entities
USD
(In thousand)
Consolidated Total
8,034
1,171
540
100,461
(1,069)
—
108,495
102
540
Table of Contents
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
A. [Reserved]
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D. Risk Factors
Summary of Risk Factors
An investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares involves significant risks. Below is a summary of material risks we face,
organized under relevant headings. These risks are discussed more fully in Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors.
Risks Related to Our Business
● Our business is susceptible to fluctuations in China’s real estate industry, which may materially and adversely affect our results
of operations.
● Our business may be materially and adversely affected by government measures aimed at China’s real estate industry.
● We may fail to compete effectively, which could significantly reduce our market share and materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
● Failure to continue to develop and expand our content, service offerings and features, and to develop or incorporate the
technologies that support them, could jeopardize our competitive position.
● Failure to attract and retain qualified personnel at a reasonable cost could jeopardize our competitive position.
● We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from several major urban centers in China, and we face market risk due to our
concentration in these major urban areas.
● We are required to comply with PRC and other applicable laws relating to privacy and cybersecurity. The improper use or
disclosure of data could have a material and adverse effect on our business and prospects.
14
Table of Contents
Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
● Leju is a Cayman Islands holding company with no equity ownership in the variable interest entities. We conduct our operations
primarily through our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities in China. Holders of Leju’s ADSs hold equity
interest in Leju Holdings Limited, our Cayman Islands holding company, and do not have direct or indirect interest in the
variable interest entities in China. If the PRC government deems that our contractual arrangements with the variable interest
entities 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 or are interpreted differently in the future, we could be subject to severe
penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations. Leju, its PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable
interest entities, and investors of Leju face uncertainty about potential future actions by the PRC government that could affect
the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and, consequently, significantly affect the
financial performance of the variable interest entities and our company as a group.
● We rely on contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders
for a portion of our operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.
● Our ability to enforce the equity pledge agreements between us and the shareholders of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing
Jiajujiu may be subject to limitations based on PRC laws and regulations.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
● Changes in PRC government policies could have a material and adverse effect on overall economic growth in China, which
could adversely affect our business.
● The approval of and or report and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection
with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to
obtain such approval or complete such filing and reporting process.
● The PRC government has significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of our business, and may intervene or influence
our operations, which could result in a material adverse change in our operations and the value of our ADSs. The PRC
government’s significant authority in its oversight and control over offerings conducted overseas by, and foreign investment in,
China-based issuers 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. See the risk factor on page 36 for details.
● Our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other
payments to us, which may restrict our ability to satisfy our liquidity requirements. See the risk factor on page 45 for details.
● Changes in international trade policies and rising political tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, may adversely
impact our business and operating results.
● Although our independent registered public accounting firm is registered with the PCAOB and currently subject to periodic
PCAOB inspection, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate our auditor completely, investors
would be deprived of the benefits of such inspection and our ADSs may be delisted or prohibited from trading.
Risks Related to Our ADSs
● The market price for our ADSs has been and may continue to be highly volatile.
● Our ADSs may be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange as a result of our failure of meeting the New York Stock
Exchange continued listing requirements.
15
Table of Contents
● We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and, as a result, has relied and may
continue to rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other
companies.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our business is susceptible to fluctuations in China’s real estate industry, which may materially and adversely affect our results
of operations.
We conduct our real estate services business primarily in China. Our business depends substantially on conditions in China’s
real estate industry and more particularly on the volume of new property transactions in China. Demand for private residential real estate
in China has grown rapidly in recent years but such growth is often coupled with volatility and fluctuations in real estate transaction
volume and prices. Fluctuations of supply and demand in China’s real estate industry are caused by economic, social, political and other
factors. Over the years, governments at both national and local levels have announced and implemented various policies and measures
aimed to regulate the real estate market, in some cases to stimulate further development and more purchase of residential real estate units
and in other cases to restrict these activities from growing too rapidly. These measures can affect real estate buyers’ eligibility to
purchase additional units, their down payment requirements and financing, as well as availability of land to developers and their ability
to obtain financing. These measures have affected and continue to affect the conditions of China’s real estate market and cause
fluctuations in real estate pricing and transaction volume. See “—Our business may be materially and adversely affected by government
measures aimed at China’s real estate industry”. Furthermore, there may be situations in which China’s real estate industry is so active
that real estate developers see a reduced need for marketing initiatives and reduce their spending on such initiatives, which could
potentially adversely affect our result of operations. To the extent fluctuations in China’s real estate industry adversely affect spending on
real estate marketing, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
16
Table of Contents
Our business may be materially and adversely affected by government measures aimed at China’s real estate industry.
The real estate industry in China is subject to government regulations, including measures that are intended to control real estate
prices. The regulations at both central government level and local government level change from time to time, to either stimulate or
depress the real estate market, and it is difficult to foresee the timing or direction of regulatory changes. In the fourth quarter of 2016,
local governments in more than 20 cities issued notices to restrict purchases of houses, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen,
Guangzhou and Tianjin. The restrictive measures include, but are not limited to, an adjustment to the percentage of required down
payment, more restrictive eligibility requirement imposed on purchasers and a limit on the maximum number of houses one may
purchase. During the first quarter of 2017, a new round of restrictive measures at national level has permeated into more than 30 cities,
including both first-tier and second-tier cities. For example, first-tier cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou further increased the
percentage of required down payment. Meanwhile, a number of second-tier cities such as Hangzhou, Fuzhou, Nanjing, Changsha and
Shijiazhuang have set a series of restrictions, including the maximum number of houses one may purchase, the maximum amount of
mortgage loan(s) one may borrow, and the percentage of required down payment. In 2017, local governments of both first-tier and
second-tier cities have also promulgated various policies to impose restrictions or eligibility requirements on buyers purchasing real
estate. In the first three quarters of 2018, central and local governments emphasized the general administrative policy that “housing is for
living, not for speculation”, and continuously implemented restrictive policies to curb significant increase of housing price. Furthermore,
as a practical method to curb the housing price in China, local governments in certain areas of China have been reviewing the upper price
limit of new residential properties for sale with increased scrutiny. If the local government determines, at its own discretion, that the
upper price limit of a new residential property in its real estate sale plan is too high, the local government may refuse to approve such
sale plan. In 2019, central government reiterated its insistence on the general administrative policy that “housing is for living, not for
speculation,” and clearly put forward that real estate should not be used as a short-term tool for stimulating economy. In April 2019,
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the People’s Republic of China gave warnings to four cities, Foshan, Suzhou,
Dalian and Nanning, where the price index of newly built commercial housing and second-hand housing increased significantly. In
December 2019, National Conference on Housing and Urban-rural Development emphasized that land prices and housing prices should
remain stable in 2020, and restrictive measures should be continuously adopted. Since 2020, local governments in several cities have
implemented control measures for housing price. For example, the Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban Rural Development of
Shenzhen promulgated regulations that families and adult singles (including divorced persons) who are willing to purchase commercial
houses must have settled in the Shenzhen for three years, and shall provide a continuous payment certificate of personal income tax or
social insurance for at least 36 months. Shanghai Housing and Urban Rural Construction Management Committee, together with other
seven municipal bureaus, promulgated regulations that prioritize the needs of families without houses and adopt a scoring system for the
purchase of first-hand houses. Under this scoring system, each purchaser will be scored based on the marital status, registered residence
location, number of houses owned by the purchaser and purchase records of commercial houses within five years. On July 13, 2021,
certain PRC authorities promulgated Notice on the Continuous Rectification and Regulation of the Real Estate Market Order, which
provides for intensified punishment by local authorities for real estate agencies violating laws and regulations, including warning and
interview, suspension of business for rectification, revocation of business license and qualification certificate, exposure to the public, and
reference to security and judicial authorities for investigation and punishment in the case of criminal offence. On December 15, 2022,
NDRC issued the “Implementation Plan for Expanding Domestic Demand Strategy under the 14th Five-Year Plan,” which once again
emphasized the principle of “house is for living in and not for speculation,” and called for strengthening the guidance in the expectations
of the real estate market development, exploring new development models, moving faster to build a housing system featuring multiple
suppliers and various support channels that encourages both rentals and purchases, and the steady implementation of long-term
mechanisms for the steady and healthy development of the real estate market, and supporting residents’ reasonable demand for their own
living purpose. On November 11, 2022, PBOC and China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission issued the Notice on the
current financial support for the stable and healthy development of the real estate market, which announced a series of measures to
support the stable and healthy development of the real estate market. However, it is uncertain for how long these measures will remain in
effect, and whether the central or local governments will further tighten their policies or adopt new measures that are less restrictive.
Frequent changes in government policies may also create uncertainty that could discourage investment in real estate. Our business may
be materially and adversely affected as a result of decreased transaction volumes or real estate prices that may result from government
policies.
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We may fail to compete effectively, which could significantly reduce our market share and materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
We face competition in each of our primary business activities. We face various competitors with whom we may compete on
one or more lines of business. For example, we compete with fang.com, formerly soufun.com, a leading real estate internet portal in
China and compete with anjuke.com, which is operated by 58.com, a major online real estate listing platform in China. In addition, we
also compete with mobile-based providers of news, such as toutiao.com, for our online advertising business. Our competitors may have
more established brand names, larger visitor numbers and more extensive distribution channels than we do, either overall, or in specific
regions in which we operate.
The business of providing online real estate services in China has become increasingly competitive. The barriers to entry for
establishing internet-based businesses are low, thereby allowing new entrants to emerge rapidly. The new competitive landscape has
placed additional demands on us to increase the amount of resources we provide to customers and increase the quality of our services in
order to retain customers. As the online real estate services industry in China is constantly evolving, our current or future competitors
may be able to better position themselves to attract funding and to compete as the industry matures.
We also face competition from companies in other media that offer e-commerce, advertising, listing and similar services. Any of
these competitors may offer products and services that provide significant advantages over those offered by us in terms of performance,
price, scope, creativity or other advantages. These products and services may achieve greater market acceptance than our service
offerings, and thus weaken our brand. Increased competition in the online real estate services industry in China could make it difficult for
us to retain existing customers and attract new customers, and could lead to a reduction in our revenues or an increase in our costs and
expenses to conduct business.
Any of our current or future competitors may also receive investments from or enter into other commercial or strategic
relationships with larger, well-established and well-financed companies and obtain significantly greater financial, marketing and content
licensing and development resources than us. Furthermore, some of our competitors receive support from local governments, which may
place us at a disadvantage when competing with them in their local markets. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete
successfully against our current or future competitors. Any failure to compete effectively in the real estate internet services market in
China would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to continue to develop and expand our content, service offerings and features, and to develop or incorporate the
technologies that support them, could jeopardize our competitive position.
As a company providing online services, we participate in an industry characterized by rapidly changing technology and new
products and services. We rely in part on attracting customers to our platform by providing attractive and helpful content and tools on our
websites and mobile devices to assist customers seeking to purchase residential properties and home furnishings. In addition, our ability
to continue to generate and maintain online advertising service revenues depends on our ability to innovate. To remain competitive, we
must continue to develop and expand our content and service offerings. We must also continue to enhance and improve the user interface,
functionality and features of our websites and our mobile applications. These efforts may require us to develop internally, or to license,
increasingly complex technologies. In addition, many of our competitors are continually introducing new internet-related products,
services and technologies, which will require us to update or modify our own technology to keep pace. New internet-related products,
services and technologies developed by competitors could render our products and services obsolete if we are unable to update or modify
our own technology. Developing and integrating new products, services and technologies into our existing businesses could be expensive
and time-consuming. Furthermore, such new features, functions and services may not achieve market acceptance or serve to enhance our
brand loyalty. We may not succeed in incorporating new internet technologies, or, in order to do so, we may incur substantial expenses. If
we fail to develop and introduce or acquire new features, functions, services or technologies effectively and on a timely basis, we may
not continue to attract new users and may be unable to retain our existing users. If we are not successful in incorporating new internet
technologies, our business, results of operations and growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
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Failure to attract and retain qualified personnel at a reasonable cost could jeopardize our competitive position.
As our industry is characterized by high demand and intense competition for talent, we may need to offer higher compensation
and other benefits in order to attract and retain quality sales, technical and other operational personnel in the future. We compete with
other companies engaged in online real estate services and internet-related businesses and with print media for qualified personnel. We
have, from time to time in the past, experienced, and we expect in the future to continue to experience, difficulty in hiring and retaining
highly skilled employees with appropriate qualifications. There may be a limited supply of qualified individuals in some of the cities in
China where we have operations and other cities into which we intend to expand. We must hire and train qualified managerial and other
employees on a timely basis to keep pace with our rapid growth while maintaining consistent quality of services across our operations in
various geographic locations. We must also provide continued training to our managerial and other employees so that they are equipped
with up-to-date knowledge of various aspects of our operations and can meet our demand for high-quality services. If we fail to do so,
the quality of our services may decline in one or more of the markets where we operate, which in turn, may cause a negative perception
of our brand and adversely affect our business. We cannot assure you we will be able to attract or retain the quality personnel that we
need to achieve our business objectives.
In addition, we place substantial reliance on the real estate industry experience and knowledge of our senior management team
as well as their relationships with other industry participants. For example, Mr. Xin Zhou, our chairman, and Mr. Yinyu He, our chief
executive officer, are both particularly important to our future success. We do not carry key person insurance on any member of our
senior management team. The loss of one or more members of our senior management team could hinder our ability to effectively
manage our business and implement our growth strategies. Finding suitable replacements for our current senior management could be
difficult as competition for such talent is intense.
If we fail to successfully attract new personnel, retain and motivate our current personnel, or retain our senior management, we
may lose competitiveness and our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Our business faces risks associated with the application of the e-commerce business model to the real estate industry and our
new products and services may not perform as expected.
Our e-commerce business was established in 2011 and experienced rapid growth to become an important part of our online real
estate service operations. Although we generally have been able to effectively manage the growth of this product and maintain
contractual arrangements with third-party property developers who allow us to sell discount coupons to prospective real estate purchasers
on acceptable terms, there can be no assurance that we will continue to be able to do so in the future. Customer complaints or negative
publicity about our services could diminish consumer confidence in and use of our services. We may also explore new real estate e-
commerce products or other product offerings. Development of new products or initiatives may involve various risks and there can be no
assurance that such products or initiatives may be successfully developed, will perform as expected, or be well-received by customers.
Failure to successfully develop or launch new products could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and
revenue growth prospects.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from several major urban centers in China, and we face market risk due to our
concentration in these major urban areas.
We derive a substantial portion of our revenues from major urban centers in China, including Guangzhou, Changchun, Hainan,
Shanghai, and Zhongshan. In the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 38% of our revenues was derived from Guangzhou,
Changchun, Hainan, Shanghai, and Zhongshan. We expect these five urban centers to continue to be important sources of revenues. If
any of these major urban centers experiences an event that negatively impacts the local real estate industry or online advertising, such as
a serious economic downturn or contraction, a natural disaster, or slower growth due to adverse governmental policies or otherwise,
demand for our services could decline significantly and our business and growth prospects could be materially and adversely impacted.
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A severe or prolonged downturn in the global or Chinese economy could materially and adversely affect our business and our
financial condition.
COVID-19 has had a severe and negative impact on the Chinese and the global economy. For more details on risks related to the
COVID-19 pandemic, see “—The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material adverse impact on our business,
operating results and financial condition.”
Even before the outbreak of COVID-19, the global macroeconomic environment was facing numerous challenges. The growth
rate of the Chinese economy had already been slowing since 2010. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the
expansionary monetary and fiscal policies which had been adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s
leading economies, including problems that may arise from the unwinding of those policies. The Federal Reserve has signaled its
intention to raise interest rates in the United States. Recently, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has caused, and continues to intensify,
significant geopolitical tensions in Europe and across the world. This conflict and the imposition of broad economic sanctions on Russia
could raise energy prices and disrupt global markets. Unrest, terrorist threats and the potential for war in the Middle East and elsewhere
may increase market volatility across the globe. There have also been concerns about the relationship between China and other countries,
including the surrounding Asian countries, which may potentially have economic effects. In particular, there is significant uncertainty
about the future relationship between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and
tariffs. 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 severe or prolonged slowdown in the global or
Chinese economy may materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Failure to maintain or enhance our brands could have a material and adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We believe the “Leju” brand is associated with a leading real estate online platform in China, and it is important for the
continued success of our business. The brand is integral to our sales and marketing efforts. Our continued success in maintaining and
enhancing our brands and image depends to a large extent on our ability to satisfy customer needs by further developing and maintaining
quality of services across our operations, as well as our ability to respond to competitive pressures.
If we cannot manage our growth effectively and efficiently, our results of operations or profitability could be adversely affected.
We intend to continue to grow our operations primarily in our current markets. This growth has placed, and will continue to
place, substantial demands on our managerial, operational, technological and other resources. Our planned growth will also place
significant demands on us to maintain the quality of our services. In order to manage and support our growth, we must continue to
improve our existing operational, administrative and technological systems and our financial and management controls, and recruit, train
and retain additional qualified real estate service professionals as well as other administrative and sales and marketing personnel,
particularly as we expand into new markets. We may not be able to effectively and efficiently manage the growth of our operations,
recruit and retain qualified personnel and integrate new expansion into our operations. As a result, our quality of service may deteriorate
and our results of operations or profitability could be adversely affected.
Our results of operations may fluctuate or otherwise be materially and adversely affected due to seasonal variations.
Our operating income and earnings have historically been substantially lower during the first quarter than other quarters. The
first quarter of each year generally contributes the smallest portion of our annual revenues due to reduced real estate transactions,
advertising and marketing activities of our customers in the PRC real estate industry during and around the Chinese New Year holiday,
which generally occurs in January or February of each year and due to the cold winter weather in northern China. In contrast, the third
and fourth quarters of each year generally contribute a larger portion of our annual revenues due to increased real estate transactions,
advertising and marketing activities during the months of September and October. For this reason, our results of operations may not be
comparable from quarter to quarter.
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Unexpected network interruptions or security breaches, including “hacking” or computer virus attacks, may cause delays or
interruptions of service, resulting in reduced use and performance of our websites and damage our reputation and brands.
Our business depends heavily on the performance and reliability of China’s internet infrastructure, the continued accessibility of
bandwidth and servers on our service providers’ networks and the continuing performance, reliability and availability of our technology
platform. Any failure to maintain the satisfactory performance, reliability, security and availability of our computer and hardware
systems may cause significant harm to our reputation and our ability to attract and maintain customers and visitor traffic. Major risks
related to our network infrastructure include:
● any breakdown or system failure resulting in a sustained shutdown of our servers, including failures which may be attributable
to sustained power shutdowns, or efforts to gain unauthorized access to our systems causing loss or corruption of data or
malfunctions of software or hardware;
● any disruption or failure in the national backbone network, which would prevent our customers and users from accessing our
websites;
● any damage from fire, flood, earthquake and other natural disasters; and
● computer viruses, hackings and similar events.
Computer viruses and hackings may cause delays or other service interruptions and could result in significant damage to our
hardware, software systems and databases, disruptions to our business activities, such as to our e-mail and other communication systems,
breaches of security and inadvertent disclosure of confidential or sensitive information, inadvertent transmissions of computer viruses
and interruptions of access to our websites through the use of denial-of-service or similar attacks. In addition, the inadvertent
transmission of computer viruses could expose us to a material risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. We maintain most of our
servers and backup servers in Beijing, and all information on our websites is backed up weekly. Any hacking, security breach or other
system disruption or failure that occurs in between our weekly backup procedures could disrupt our business or cause us to lose, and be
unable to recover, data such as real estate listings, contact information and other important customer information.
Ensuring secured transmission of confidential information through public networks is essential to maintaining the confidence of
our customers and users. Our existing security measures may not be adequate to protect such confidential information. In addition,
computer and network systems are susceptible to breaches by computer hackers. Security breaches could expose us to litigation and
potential liability for failing to secure confidential customer information, and could harm our reputation and reduce our ability to attract
customers and users. Future security breaches, if any, may result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
We also do not maintain insurance policies covering losses relating to our systems and do not have business interruption
insurance. Moreover, the low coverage limits of our property insurance policies may not be adequate to compensate us for all losses,
particularly with respect to any loss of business and reputation that may occur. To improve our performance and to prevent disruption of
our services, we may have to make substantial investments to deploy additional servers or create one or more copies of our websites to
mirror our online resources, either of which could increase our expenses and reduce our net income.
Any failure to protect our trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights could have a negative impact on our
business.
We believe our trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights are critical to our success. Any unauthorized use of
our trademarks and other intellectual property rights could harm our business. Historically, China’s track record for protection of
intellectual property rights has been poor, and infringement of intellectual property rights continues to pose a serious risk of doing
business in China. Monitoring and preventing unauthorized use is difficult and the measures we take to protect our intellectual property
rights may not be adequate. We have registered the software copyrights of substantially all of our mobile applications and software
copyrights are still enforceable absent registration in China, but registration by itself may not be adequate protection from potential
misuse, infringement or other challenges from third parties claiming rights on our intellectual property.
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Furthermore, the application of laws governing intellectual property rights in China and abroad is uncertain and evolving, and
could expose us to risks. If we are unable to adequately protect our brand, trademarks and other intellectual property rights, we may lose
these rights and our business may suffer materially. We typically impose contractual obligations on employees and consultants and have
taken other precautionary measures to maintain the confidentiality of our proprietary information and restricted the use of the proprietary
information other than for our company’s benefit. However, if our employees and consultants do not honor their contractual obligations
or misappropriate our database and other proprietary information, our business would suffer as a result.
As internet domain name rights are not rigorously regulated or enforced in China, other companies have incorporated in their
domain names elements similar in writing or pronunciation to the “Leju” trademark or its Chinese equivalent. This may result in
confusion between those companies and our company and may lead to the dilution of our brand value, which could adversely affect our
business.
We may be subject to intellectual property infringement or misappropriation claims by third parties, which may force us to incur
substantial legal expenses and, if determined adversely against us, could materially disrupt our business.
Some of our competitors may own copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and internet content, which they may use to assert
claims against us. We provide training to our staff with respect to procedures designed to reduce the likelihood that we may use, develop
or make available any content or applications without the proper licenses or necessary third party consents. However, these procedures
may not be effective in completely preventing the unauthorized posting or use of copyrighted material or the infringement of other rights
of third parties.
The validity, enforceability and scope of protection of intellectual property rights in internet-related industries, particularly in
China, is uncertain and still evolving. For example, as we face increasing competition and as litigation becomes a more common way to
resolve disputes in China, we face a higher risk of being the subject of intellectual property infringement claims. Pursuant to relevant
laws and regulations, internet service providers may be held liable for damages if such providers have reason to know that the works
uploaded or linked infringe the copyrights of others. In cases involving the unauthorized posting of copyrighted content by users on
websites in China, there have been court proceedings but no settled court practice as to when and how hosting providers and
administrators of a website can be held liable for the unauthorized posting by third parties of copyrighted material. Any such proceeding
could result in significant costs to us and divert our management’s time and attention from the operation of our business, as well as
potentially adversely impact our reputation, even if we are ultimately absolved of all liability.
In addition, we cannot assure you that we will not become subject to intellectual property laws in other jurisdictions, such as the
United States, by virtue of our ADSs being listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, the ability of users to access, download
and use our products and services in the United States and other jurisdictions, the ownership of our ADSs by investors in the United
States and other jurisdictions, or the extraterritorial application of foreign law by foreign courts or otherwise, among other reasons. If a
claim of infringement brought against us in the United States or other jurisdictions is successful, we may be required to pay substantial
penalties or other damages and fines, remove relevant content or enter into license agreements which may not be available on
commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even though the allegations or claims could be baseless, defense against any of these allegations
or claims would be both costly and time-consuming and could significantly divert the efforts and resources of our management and other
personnel.
We are required to comply with PRC and other applicable laws relating to privacy and cybersecurity. The improper use or
disclosure of data could have a material and adverse effect on our business and prospects.
Our business generates and processes a large quantity of data. We face risks inherent in handling and protecting large volume of
data. In particular, we face a number of challenges relating to data from transactions and other activities on our platforms, including:
● protecting the data in and hosted on our system, including against attacks on our system by outside parties or fraudulent
behavior or improper use by our employees;
● addressing concerns related to privacy and sharing, safety, security and other factors; and
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● complying with applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to the collection, use, storage, transfer, disclosure and security of
personal information, including any requests from regulatory and government authorities relating to these data.
In general, we expect that data security and data protection compliance will receive greater attention and focus from regulators,
both domestically and globally, as well as attract continued or greater public scrutiny and attention going forward, which could increase
our compliance costs and subject us to heightened risks and challenges associated with data security and protection. If we are unable to
manage these risks, we could become subject to penalties, including fines, suspension of business and revocation of required licenses,
and our reputation and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
The PRC regulatory and enforcement regime with regard to data security and data protection is evolving and may be subject to
different interpretations or significant changes. Moreover, different PRC regulatory bodies, including the Standing Committee of the
NPC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, the CAC, the MPS and the SAMR, have enforced data privacy
and protections laws and regulations with varying standards and applications. See “Item 4.B. Information on the Company—Business
Overview—Regulation.” The following are examples of certain recent PRC regulatory activities in this area:
Data Security
● In June 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC promulgated the Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021.
The Data Security Law, among other things, provides for security review procedure for data-related activities that may affect
national security. In July 2021, the state council promulgated the Regulations on Protection of Critical Information
Infrastructure, which became effective on September 1, 2021. Pursuant to this regulation, critical information infrastructure
means key network facilities or information systems of critical industries or sectors, such as public communication and
information service, energy, transportation, water conservation, finance, public services, e-government affairs and national
defense science, the damage, malfunction or data leakage of which may endanger national security, people’s livelihoods and the
public interest. In December 2021, the CAC, together with other authorities, jointly promulgated the Cybersecurity Review
Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022 and replaces its predecessor regulation. Pursuant to the Cybersecurity
Review Measures, critical information infrastructure operators that procure internet products and services must be subject to the
cybersecurity review if their activities affect or may affect national security. The Cybersecurity Review Measures further
stipulates that critical information infrastructure operators or network platform operators that hold personal information of over
one million users shall apply with the Cybersecurity Review Office for a cybersecurity review before any public offering at a
foreign stock exchange. As of the date of this annual report, no detailed rules or implementation rules have been issued by any
authority and we have not been informed that we are a critical information infrastructure operator by any government
authorities. Furthermore, the exact scope of “critical information infrastructure operators” under the current regulatory regime
remains unclear, and the PRC government authorities may have wide discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of the
applicable laws. Therefore, it is uncertain whether we would be deemed to be a critical information infrastructure operator
under PRC law. If we are deemed to be a critical information infrastructure operator under the PRC cybersecurity laws and
regulations, we may be subject to obligations in addition to what we have fulfilled under the PRC cybersecurity laws and
regulations.
● In November 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on the Network Data Security (Draft for Comments), or the Draft
Regulations. The Draft Regulations provide that data processors refer to individuals or organizations that, during their data
processing activities such as data collection, storage, utilization, transmission, publication and deletion, have autonomy over the
purpose and the manner of data processing. In accordance with the Draft Regulations, data processors shall apply for a
cybersecurity review for certain activities, including, among other things, (i) the listing abroad of data processors that process
the personal information of more than one million users and (ii) any data processing activity that affects or may affect national
security. However, there have been no clarifications from the relevant authorities as of the date of this annual report as to the
standards for determining whether an activity is one that “affects or may affect national security.” In addition, the Draft
Regulations requires that data processors that process “important data” or are listed overseas must conduct an annual data
security assessment by itself or commission a data security service provider to do so, and submit the assessment report of the
preceding year to the municipal cybersecurity department by the end of January each year. As of the date of this annual report,
the Draft Regulations was released for public comment only, and their respective provisions and anticipated adoption or
effective date may be subject to change with substantial uncertainty.
Personal Information and Privacy
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● The Anti-monopoly Guidelines for the Platform Economy Sector published by the Anti-monopoly Committee of the State
Council, effective on February 7, 2021, prohibits collection of user information through coercive means by online platforms
operators.
● In August 2021, the Standing Committee of the NPC promulgated the Personal Information Protection Law, which integrates
the scattered rules with respect to personal information rights and privacy protection and took effect on November 1, 2021. We
update our privacy policies from time to time to meet the latest regulatory requirements of PRC government authorities and
adopt technical measures to protect data and ensure cybersecurity in a systematic way. Nonetheless, the Personal Information
Protection Law elevates the protection requirements for personal information processing, and many specific requirements of
this law remain to be clarified by the CAC, other regulatory authorities, and courts in practice. We may be required to make
further adjustments to our business practices to comply with the personal information protection laws and regulations.
Many of the data-related legislations are relatively new and certain concepts thereunder remain subject to interpretation by the
regulators. If any data that we possess belongs to data categories that are subject to heightened scrutiny, we may be required to adopt
stricter measures for protection and management of such data. The Cybersecurity Review Measures and the Draft Regulations remain
unclear on whether the relevant requirements will be applicable to companies that are already listed in the United States, such as us. We
cannot predict the impact of the Cybersecurity Review Measures and the Draft Regulations, if any, at this stage, and we will closely
monitor and assess any development in the rule-making process. If the Cybersecurity Review Measures and the enacted version of the
Draft Regulations mandate clearance of cybersecurity review and other specific actions to be taken by issuers like us, we face
uncertainties as to whether these additional procedures can be completed by us timely, or at all, which may subject us to government
enforcement actions and investigations, fines, penalties, suspension of our non-compliant operations, or removal of our app from the
relevant application stores, and materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations. As of the date of this annual report,
we have not been involved in any formal investigations on cybersecurity review made by the CAC on such basis.
In general, compliance with the existing PRC laws and regulations, as well as additional laws and regulations that PRC
regulatory bodies may enact in the future, related to data security and personal information protection, may be costly and result in
additional expenses to us, and subject us to negative publicity, which could harm our reputation and business operations. There are also
uncertainties with respect to how such laws and regulations will be implemented and interpreted in practice.
In addition, regulatory authorities around the world have adopted or are considering a number of legislative and regulatory
proposals concerning data protection. These legislative and regulatory proposals, if adopted, and the uncertain interpretations and
application thereof could, in addition to the possibility of fines, result in an order requiring that we change our data practices and policies,
which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. The European Union General Data Protection Regulation
(“GDPR”), which came into effect on May 25, 2018, includes operational requirements for companies that receive or process personal
data of residents of the European Economic Area. The GDPR establishes new requirements applicable to the processing of personal data,
affords new data protection rights to individuals and imposes penalties for serious data breaches. Individuals also have a right to
compensation under the GDPR for financial or non-financial losses. Although we do not conduct any business in the European Economic
Area, in the event that residents of the European Economic Area access our website or our mobile platform and input protected
information, we may become subject to provisions of the GDPR.
If we fail to obtain or keep licenses, permits or approvals applicable to the various online real estate services provided by us, we
may incur significant financial penalties and other government sanctions.
The internet and online advertising industries in China are highly regulated by the PRC government. Various regulatory
authorities of the PRC government, such as the State Council, the MIIT, the State Administration for Market Regulation, or SAMR, the
GAPPRFT, and the Ministry of Public Security, are empowered to issue and implement regulations governing various aspects of the
internet and advertising industries. Moreover, new laws, rules and regulations may be adopted, or new interpretations of existing laws,
rules and regulations may be released, to address issues that arise from time to time. As a result, substantial uncertainties exist regarding
the interpretation and implementation of any current and future PRC laws, rules and regulations applicable to the internet and online
advertising industries.
Each of the variable interest entities, including Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu, as well as their respective
subsidiaries, is required to obtain and maintain a value-added telecommunications service operating license, or ICP license, from the
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MIIT or its local counterpart in order to provide internet information services and a business license from the SAMR or its local branches
which specifically includes operating advertising business in order to engage in advertising activities in China, to the extent applicable to
their respective business. Beijing Leju, Beijing Jiajujiu, Beijing Yisheng Leju Finance Culture Media Co., Ltd. and Beijing Weike Union
Information Technology Co., Ltd., both subsidiaries of Beijing Leju, Beijing Yisheng Leju Internet Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of
Beijing Jiajujiu, and Leju Hao Fang, each holds a valid ICP license issued by the local provincial branch of the MIIT for the operation of
our value-added telecommunication business. Beijing Yisheng Leju Finance Culture Media Co., Ltd. holds a Radio and television
program production business license issued by the local branch of the National Radio and Television Administration for the production
and distribution of radio and television programs. The business scope of the business licenses of Beijing Leju and its subsidiaries which
engage in the advertising business includes operating advertising business. These licenses are essential to the operation of our online real
estate business. The ICP licenses are subject to annual review by the relevant government authorities. The annual review of ICP licenses
and business licenses is for the government authorities to conduct an annual inspection of the status of compliance of the license-holding
entity. We have submitted the application documents for the annual review of the ICP licenses. At the time of and for the purpose of the
annual review of these licenses, the relevant government authorities did not ask for disclosure of our full corporate structure and thus we
did not provide such information. They have not so far expressed any opinion with respect to our corporate structure in connection with
these annual reviews. Moreover, the regulations relating to ICP licenses also provide that an ICP license holder must first obtain
approvals from, or make filings with, competent counterparts of the MIIT in connection with subsequent updates to its shareholding
structure or certain other matters relating to such ICP license holder. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully pass the
annual review of our ICP licenses, or complete the updating and renewal of the filing records of our ICP licenses with local MIIT
counterparts on a timely basis.
In addition, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and/or Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective subsidiaries may be required to obtain
additional licenses. For example, the release, broadcasting and transmission of graphics, video and audio programs or weblinks to such
programs, other websites or data on the websites may be deemed as providing internet publication services as well as transmission of
video and audio programs on the internet, which could require internet publication licenses and licenses for online transmission of audio-
visual programs. During operation of our e-commerce business, we post information, including graphics, weblinks to videos, live-
broadcasting, other websites or data on websites operated by us. The variable interest entities and their subsidiaries do not have internet
publication licenses and licenses for online transmission of audio-visual programs, and are not applying for these licenses. For those
video/audio programs and certain other forms of content that we believe are subject to the requirements of these licenses, such programs
and content are hosted by SINA through our contractual arrangement with SINA. In the case that SINA does not possess the necessary
licenses and permits, our video/audio programs and other content hosted by SINA are subject to the risk of being suspended by
government authorities. Moreover, we cannot assure you that government would not require us to obtain these licenses separately for
operation of our own websites and those websites licensed to us even if the underlying hosting of the relevant content may be provided
by a qualified third party. If we are required to apply for such licenses, we can provide no assurance that we will procure and maintain
such additional licenses.
Under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, the failure to obtain and/or maintain the licenses and permits required to
conduct our business may subject our affected consolidated variable interest entities to various penalties, including confiscation of
revenues, imposition of fines and/or restrictions on their business operations, or the discontinuation of their operations. Any such
disruption in the business operations of the variable interest entities could materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Moreover, under PRC advertising laws and regulations, we shall ensure that our advertising content is true and accurate and in
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—
Regulations relating to Advertising Services.” Violation of these laws and regulations may subject us to penalties, including imposition
of fines, orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an announcement correcting the misleading
information. While we have made significant efforts to ensure that our advertisements are in full compliance with applicable PRC laws
and regulations, we cannot assure you that all the content contained in such advertisements is true and accurate and in compliance with
laws and regulations, especially given the uncertainty in the interpretation of these PRC laws and regulations. If we are found to be in
violation of applicable PRC advertising laws and regulations, we may be subject to penalties and our reputation may be harmed, which
may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations
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The E-Commerce Law may have an adverse impact on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.
In August 2018, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the E-Commerce Law, which became
effective on January 1, 2019. The E-Commerce Law generally provides that e-commerce operators must obtain administrative licenses if
business activities conducted by the e-commerce operators are subject to administrative licensing requirements under applicable laws and
regulations. In addition, the E-Commerce Law imposes a number of new obligations on e-commerce platform operators, including the
obligations: (i) to verify and register platform merchants, (ii) to ensure platform cybersecurity, including, but not limited to, data privacy,
(iii) to ensure fair dealing and the legitimate rights and interests of consumers on the platform, (iv) to publicize transaction information
preservation and transaction rules, and (v) to protect intellectual properties. See “Regulation—Regulations Relating to E-Commerce” for
further details. These regulatory requirements may have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations. As no detailed
interpretation and implementation rules have been promulgated, it remains uncertain how the E-Commerce Law will be interpreted and
implemented. We cannot assure you that our current business operations satisfy the obligations provided under the E-Commerce Law in
all respects. If the PRC governmental authorities determine that we are not in compliance with all the requirements proposed under the
E-Commerce Law, we may be subject to fines and/or other sanctions.
We are exposed to potential liability for information on our websites and for products and services sold over the internet and we
may incur significant costs and damage to our reputation as a result of defending against such potential liability and could be
subject to penalties or other severe consequences from PRC regulatory authorities as a result of such information.
We provide third-party content on our websites such as real estate listings, contractor information listings, links to third-party
websites, advertisements and content provided by customers and users of our community-oriented services. In addition, our website,
jiaju.com, is a platform for third-party home furnishing distributors to offer their products and services to consumers. We could be
exposed to liability with respect to such third-party information or the goods and services sold through our website. Among other things,
we may face assertions that, by directly or indirectly providing such third-party content or links to other websites, we should be liable for
defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, or other actions by parties providing such content or operating those
websites. We may also face assertions that content on our websites, including statistics or other data we compile internally, or
information contained in websites linked to our websites contains false information, errors or omissions, and users and our customers
could seek damages for losses incurred as a result of their reliance upon or otherwise relating to incorrect information. We may also be
subject to fines and other sanctions by the government for such incorrect information. Moreover, our relevant consolidated variable
interest entities, as internet advertising service providers, are obligated under PRC laws and regulations to monitor the advertising
content shown on our websites for compliance with applicable law. Especially, on November 26, 2021, SAMR issued the Measures for
the Administration of Internet Advertising (Draft for comment) for public comment, which requires that advertisers shall be responsible
for the authenticity and legality of the content of Internet advertisements, including but not limited to check the relevant advertising
supporting documents and verify the advertising contents. Violation of applicable law may result in penalties, including fines,
confiscation of advertising fees, orders to cease dissemination of the offending advertisements and orders to publish advertisements
correcting the misleading information. In case of serious violations, the PRC authorities may revoke the offending entities’ advertising
licenses and/or business licenses. In addition, our websites could be used as a platform for fraudulent transactions. The measures we take
to guard against liability for third-party content or information may not be adequate to exonerate us from relevant civil and other
liabilities. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time-consuming to defend and result in litigation and significant diversion of
management’s attention and resources. Even if these claims do not result in liability to us, we could incur significant costs in
investigating and defending against these claims and suffer damage to our reputation. Our general liability insurance may not cover all
potential claims to which we are exposed to and may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed.
Failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could cause us to inaccurately report our financial result
or fail to prevent fraud and have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and the trading price of our
ADSs.
We are subject to the reporting obligations under U.S. securities laws. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and
related rules require public companies to include a report of management on their internal control over financial reporting in their annual
reports. This report must contain an assessment by management of the effectiveness of a public company’s internal control over financial
reporting. We sometimes hire a professional consultant to assist us in such efforts. Our efforts to implement standardized internal control
procedures and develop the internal tests necessary to verify the proper application of the internal control procedures and their
effectiveness are a key area of focus for our board of directors, our audit committee and senior management.
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We had been an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the JOBS Act, and ceased to be one as of the end of the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2019. We took advantage of certain exemptions from 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. Although we ceased to be an “emerging growth company”, as a “non-accelerated filer” as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act, we are still not required to have an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting from our external
auditors.
Our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2022. See
“Item 15. Controls and Procedures”. However, if we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting in the future, our
management may not be able to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting at a reasonable assurance level.
Furthermore, our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial
reporting. 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 material weaknesses and deficiencies or might issue a qualified report if it is
not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it
interprets the relevant requirements differently from us.
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 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. We may not be able to anticipate and
identify accounting issues, or other risks critical to financial reporting that could materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
Generally, 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 investors 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.
Increases in labor costs in China may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
China’s economy has experienced increases in labor costs in recent years. China’s overall economy and the average wage in
China are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also increased in recent years. We expect that our
labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to
our customers by increasing prices for our products or services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and
adversely affected.
In addition, we have been subject to regulatory requirements in terms of entering into labor contracts with our employees and
paying various statutory employee benefits, including pensions, housing fund, medical insurance, work-related injury insurance,
unemployment insurance and childbearing insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of our employees. Pursuant to the
PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules, employers are subject to requirements in terms of signing labor contracts,
minimum wages, paying remuneration, determining the term of employees’ probation and unilaterally terminating labor contracts. In the
event that we decide to terminate some of our employees or otherwise change our employment or labor practices, the PRC Labor
Contract Law and its implementation rules may limit our ability to effect those changes in a desirable or cost-effective manner, which
could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Besides, pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law, dispatched employees
are intended to be a supplementary form of employment and the fundamental form should be direct employment by enterprises and
organizations that require employees. Further, it is expressly stated in the Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatch that the number of
seconded employees an employer uses may not exceed 10% of its total labor force and the employer has a two-year transition period to
comply with such requirement. Some of our PRC subsidiaries, consolidated variable interest entities and their subsidiaries use seconded
employees for their principal business activities. The transition period ended on February 29, 2016, and those PRC subsidiaries,
consolidated variable interest entities and their subsidiaries have completed reducing the percentage of seconded employees to less than
10% as required. If the relevant PRC companies are deemed to have violated the limitation on the use of seconded employees under the
relevant labor laws and regulations, we may be subject to fines and incur other costs to make required changes to our current
employment practices.
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As the interpretation and implementation of labor-related laws and regulations are still evolving, we cannot assure you that our
employment practice does not and will not violate labor-related laws and regulations in China, which may subject us to labor disputes or
government investigations. If we are deemed to have violated relevant labor laws and regulations, we could be required to provide
additional compensation to our employees and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and
adversely affected.
The successful operation of our business depends upon the performance and reliability of the internet infrastructure and
telecommunications networks in China.
Our business depends on the performance and reliability of the internet infrastructure in China. Substantially all access to the
internet is maintained through state-controlled telecommunication operators under the administrative control and regulatory supervision
of the MIIT. In addition, the national networks in China are connected to the internet through international gateways controlled by the
PRC government. These international gateways are generally the only websites through which a domestic user can connect to the
internet. We cannot assure you that a more sophisticated internet infrastructure will be developed in China. We may not have access to
alternative networks in the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s internet infrastructure. In addition, the internet
infrastructure in China may not support the demands associated with continued growth in internet usage.
We also rely on China Unicom and China Telecom to provide us with data communications capacity primarily through local
telecommunications lines and internet data centers to host our servers. We do not have access to alternative services in the event of
disruptions, failures or other problems with the fixed telecommunications networks of China Unicom or China Telecom, or if China
Unicom or China Telecom otherwise fails to provide such services. Any unscheduled service interruption could disrupt our operations,
damage our reputation and result in a decrease in our revenues. Furthermore, we have no control over the costs of the services provided
by China Unicom and China Telecom. If the prices that we pay for telecommunications and internet services rise significantly, our gross
margins could be significantly reduced. In addition, if internet access fees or other charges to internet users increase, our user traffic may
decrease, which in turn may cause our revenues to decline.
We are subject to changing law and regulations regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that
have increased both our costs and the risk of non-compliance.
We are subject to rules and regulations by various governing bodies, including, for example, the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which is charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and
the various regulatory authorities in China and the Cayman Islands, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law.
Our efforts to comply with new and changing laws and regulations have resulted in and are likely to continue to result in, increased
general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance
activities.
Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may
evolve over time as new guidance becomes available. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters
and additional costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. If we fail to address and comply with
these regulations and any subsequent changes, we may be subject to penalty and our business may be harmed.
Any natural or other disasters, including outbreaks of health epidemics, and other extraordinary events could severely disrupt
our business operations.
Our operations are vulnerable to interruption and damage from natural and other types of disasters, including earthquakes, fire,
floods, environmental accidents, power loss, communication failures and similar events. If any natural disaster or other extraordinary
events were to occur in the area where we operate, our ability to operate our business could be seriously impaired. Our business could
also be materially and adversely affected by the outbreak of health epidemics, including H7N9 bird flu, H1N1 swine influenza, avian
influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, Ebola, COVID-19 or another epidemic. Any such occurrence in China could
severely disrupt our business operations and adversely affect our results of operations.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and
financial condition.
In recent years, there have been outbreaks of epidemics in China and globally. Starting from early 2020, in response to
intensifying efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government has taken a number of actions, which include
quarantining individuals infected with or suspected of having COVID-19, restricting residents from travel, encouraging employees of
enterprises to work remotely from home and cancelling public activities, among others. The pandemic resulted in a general slowdown in
China’s economy and a significant reduction in real estate transaction volumes as many of our developer clients had to close their project
sales centers and show rooms for an extended period, adversely affecting our e-commerce services. Many real estate developers also
scaled back online advertising expenditures.
The population in most of the major cities was locked down to a greater or lesser extent at various times and opportunities for
discretionary consumption were extremely limited. In particular, many corporate offices, physical stores and other offline services in the
affected regions have been temporarily closed again, which has adversely affected our operating efficiency and capacity. Because of the
city-wide lock-downs from time to time, there have been significant strains on offline operating activities and negative impacts on our e-
commerce and advertising services. We have reinstated temporary remote working arrangement for our employees in the affected regions
from March 2022. China began to modify its zero-COVID policy at the end of 2022, and most of the travel restrictions and quarantine
requirements were lifted in December. There were surges of cases in many cities during this time, which caused disruption to our
operations, and there remains uncertainty as to the future impact of the virus, especially in light of this change in policy. The extent to
which the pandemic impacts our results of operations going forward will depend on future developments which are highly uncertain and
unpredictable, including the frequency, duration and extent of outbreaks of COVID-19, the appearance of new variants with different
characteristics, the effectiveness of efforts to contain or treat cases, and future actions that may be taken in response to these
developments. In addition, our customers will also need time to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic even after business
conditions begin to return to normal. Consequently, the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations in the current and future years.
Potential strategic investments, acquisitions or new business initiatives may disrupt our ability to manage our business effectively.
Strategic investments, acquisitions or new business initiatives and any subsequent integration of new companies or businesses
will require significant attention from our management, in particular to ensure that such changes do not disrupt any existing
collaborations, or affect our users’ opinion and perception of our services and customer support. In addition, in the case of acquisitions or
new business initiatives our management will need to ensure that the acquired or new business is effectively integrated into our existing
operations. The diversion of our management’s attention and any difficulties encountered in integration could have a material adverse
effect on our ability to manage our business. In addition, strategic investments, acquisitions or new business initiatives could expose us to
potential risks, including:
● risks associated with the assimilation of new operations, services, technologies and personnel;
● unforeseen or hidden liabilities;
● the diversion of resources from our existing businesses and technologies;
● the inability to generate sufficient revenues to offset the costs and expenses of the transaction; and
● potential loss of, or harm to, relationships with employees, customers and users as a result of the integration of new businesses
or investment.
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Certain of our leased office premises contain defects in the leasehold interests and if we are forced to relocate operations affected
by such defects, our operations may be adversely affected.
As of March 31, 2023, we had leased 43 office premises in 39 cities in China, in addition to a branch office in Hong Kong and
our principal executive offices in Beijing, China. A number of these leased properties contain defects in the leasehold interests. Such
defects include the lack of proper title or right to lease with respect to 8 leased premises, the landlords’ failure to duly register the leases
with the relevant PRC government authority with respect to 38 leased premises and the failure to renew lease agreements before the
expiration date with respect to 1 leased premise.
Under PRC regulations, in situations where a tenant lacks evidence of the landlord’s title or right to lease, the relevant lease
agreement may not be valid or enforceable and may also be subject to challenge by third parties. In addition, under PRC laws and
regulations, while the failure to register the lease agreement does not affect its effectiveness between the tenant and the landlord, such
lease agreement may be subject to challenge by and unenforceable against a third party who leases the same property from the landlord
and the lease agreement entered into by such third party has been duly registered with the competent PRC government authority. This
risk may be mitigated if we continue to occupy the leased premises under our lease. Furthermore, the landlord and the tenant may be
subject to administrative fines for such failure to register the lease.
We have taken steps to cause our landlords to procure valid evidence as to the title or right to lease, to complete the lease
registration procedures, as well as to renew lease agreements. However, we cannot assure you that such defects will be cured in a timely
manner or at all. Our operations may be interrupted and additional relocation costs may be incurred if we are required to relocate
operations affected by such defects.
We have limited business insurance coverage.
The insurance industry in China is still at an early stage of development and PRC insurance companies offer only limited
business insurance products. As a result, we do not have any business disruption insurance or litigation insurance coverage for our
operations in China. Any business disruption, litigation or natural disaster may cause us to incur substantial costs and result in the
diversion of our resources, as well as significantly disrupt our operations, and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
position and results of operations.
We may have conflicts of interest with our controlling shareholder and its affiliates; because of its controlling ownership interest
in our company, we may not be able to resolve such conflicts on favorable terms for us.
E-House Enterprise became our controlling shareholder since November 2020. On November 24, 2021, TM Home Limited
(“TM Home”), a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and owned as to 70.23% and 29.77% by E-House
Enterprise and Alibaba Investment Limited, respectively, completed the acquisition of an aggregate of 55.8% interest in our issued share
capital previously held directly by E-House Enterprise by purchasing 76,401,247 of our ordinary shares from E-House Enterprise. E-
House Enterprise remains to be our ultimate controlling beneficial owner.
E-House Enterprise, through its holdings in TM Home, may from time to time make strategic decisions that it believes are in the
best interests of its business and its shareholders. These decisions may be different from the decisions that we would have made on our
own. E-House Enterprise’s decisions with respect to us or our business may be resolved in ways that favor E-House Enterprise and
therefore E-House Enterprise’s own shareholders, which may not coincide with the interests of our other shareholders. We may not be
able to resolve any potential conflicts, and even if we do so, the resolution may be less favorable to us than if we were dealing with an
unaffiliated shareholder. Even if both parties seek to transact business on terms intended to approximate those that could have been
achieved among unaffiliated parties, this may not succeed in practice.
Potential conflicts of interest between E-House Enterprise and us also include the following:
● Our board members or executive officers may have conflicts of interest. Mr. Xin Zhou, our chairman, is currently also serving
as E-House Enterprise’s chairman and executive director. Some of our board members and executive officers are also board
members and executive officers of E-House Enterprise, and/or also own shares or options in E-House Enterprise. These
relationships could create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest when these persons are faced with decisions with potentially
different implications for E-House Enterprise and us.
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● Sale of shares in our company. E-House Enterprise, through its holdings in TM Home, may decide to sell or otherwise dispose
of all or a portion of our shares that it holds to a third party, including to one of our competitors, thereby giving that third party
substantial influence over our business and our affairs. Such a sale could be contrary to the interests of certain of our
shareholders, including our employees or our public shareholders.
● Allocation of business opportunities. Business opportunities may arise that both we and E-House Enterprise find attractive, and
which would complement our respective businesses. E-House Enterprise may decide to take the opportunities itself, which
would prevent us from taking advantage of the opportunity.
Conflicts of interest may also arise between the affiliates of E-House Enterprise and us, such as E-House. We have entered into
agreements with E-House with respect to various ongoing relationships between us, which may give rise to conflicts of interests. See
“Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions— Transactions and Agreements with E-
House”.
We derive a significant amount of revenue from our operation of SINA websites and there can be no assurance that our
relationship with SINA will continue on satisfactory terms.
Through an agreement in 2009 entered into between SINA and E-House, we own SINA’s real estate operations. To a large
extent, the operations and revenues of our business rely on SINA’s cooperation with us. The domain names of some major websites of
our business are owned by SINA and licensed to us through agreements which we initially entered into with SINA in 2009 with terms
through 2019 and which we amended and restated in 2014 to extend through 2024. A significant number of users of these websites are
linked through other SINA websites. Pursuant to an advertising inventory agency agreement with SINA, we are the exclusive agent of
SINA for selling advertising to the real estate advertisers through 2024. To a certain extent, we rely on SINA’s continued cooperation on
an ongoing basis to enjoy our rights pursuant to our agreements with SINA. SINA could at any time reduce its support for our business.
In addition, SINA’s dual role as our principal shareholder and contractual counterparty could result in conflicts of interest. If for any
reason SINA does not fulfill its obligations in accordance with the advertising inventory agency agreement or any of the other
agreements or otherwise reduces its support for our online real estate operations, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
Any negative development with respect to E-House Enterprise or SINA may materially and adversely affect our business and
brand.
We benefit from our relationship with E-House Enterprise, our controlling shareholder, and its affiliates such as E-House in
marketing our services, including providing services to their clients. Our business and brand continue to be closely connected with those
of E-House Enterprise and its affiliates. We derive a significant amount of revenue from our operation of SINA websites, and SINA is a
principal shareholder of ours. The success of the websites we operate on the platform of SINA is also dependent on the brands and
images of SINA. If either E-House Enterprise or SINA loses its market position or suffers any negative publicity, it could have an
adverse impact on our business, our marketing efforts, our relationships with strategic partners and customers, our reputation and brand.
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Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our advertising services business and
real estate online business in China do not comply with PRC governmental restrictions on foreign investment in the advertising
industry or the internet information service industry, we could be subject to severe penalties.
Leju Holdings Limited is a Cayman Islands exempted company and a foreign person under PRC law. Due to PRC government
restrictions on foreign investment in the internet industry and the uncertainty over administrative practice in advertising industries, we
conduct part of our business through contractual arrangements with our affiliated PRC entities. Our e-commerce business with respect to
new residential properties is operated through our contractual arrangements with Leju Hao Fang and its shareholders. Our e-commerce
business with respect to home furnishing is operated through our contractual arrangements with Beijing Jiajujiu and its shareholders. Our
online advertising business for new residential properties websites and our secondary listings business are operated through our
contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju and its shareholders. Beijing Leju and its subsidiaries, Leju Hao Fang, and Beijing Jiajujiu
and its subsidiaries and branches hold the licenses and approvals that are essential for our business operations.
We have entered into, through our PRC subsidiaries, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng, a series of
contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders. These contractual
arrangements enable us to (i) direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao
Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their subsidiaries and branches; (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the three
consolidated variable interest entities and their subsidiaries in consideration for the services provided by our PRC subsidiaries; and (iii)
have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in the variable interest entities, when and to the extent permitted by
PRC law, or request any existing shareholder of the variable interest entities to transfer all or part of the equity interest in the variable
interest entities to another PRC person or entity designated by us at any time in our discretion. These agreements make us their “primary
beneficiary” for accounting purposes under U.S. GAAP. For descriptions of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on
the Company—C. Organizational Structure”.
However, Leju is a Cayman Islands holding company with no equity ownership in the variable interest entities, and we conduct
our operations in China primarily through the variable interest entities. Holders of Leju’s ADSs hold equity interest in Leju Holdings
Limited, our Cayman Islands holding company, and do not have direct or indirect interest in the variable interest entities in China. If the
PRC government deems that our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities 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 or
are interpreted differently in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
We may not be able to repay the notes and other indebtedness, and our shares may decline in value or become worthless, if we are unable
to assert our contractual control rights over the assets of our PRC subsidiaries, which contribute to 100.0% of our revenues in 2022. Leju,
its PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities, and investors of Leju face uncertainty about potential future actions by
the PRC government that could affect the enforceability of the contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities and,
consequently, significantly affect the financial performance of the variable interest entities and our company as a group.
If the PRC government finds that these contractual arrangements do not comply with its restrictions on foreign investment in the
internet business or advertising industry, or if the PRC government otherwise finds that we, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing
Jiajujiu, or any of their subsidiaries and branches is in violation of PRC laws or regulations or lack the necessary permits or licenses to
operate our business, the relevant PRC regulatory authorities, including the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, which
regulates advertising companies, and the MIIT, which regulates internet information service companies, would have broad discretion in
dealing with such violations, including:
● revoking our business and operating licenses;
● discontinuing or restricting our operations;
● imposing fines or confiscating any of our income that they deem to have been obtained through illegal operations;
● imposing conditions or requirements with which we or our PRC subsidiaries and affiliates may not be able to comply;
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● requiring us or our PRC subsidiaries and affiliates to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations; or
● taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business.
The imposition of any of these penalties could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations. If any of these penalties results in our inability to direct the activities of any of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing
Jiajujiu that most significantly impact its economic performance, and/or our failure to receive the economic benefits from any of Beijing
Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing Jiajujiu, we may not be able to consolidate the entity in our consolidated financial statements in
accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Although we believe we, our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities comply with current PRC laws and regulations,
we cannot assure you that the PRC government would agree that our contractual arrangements comply with PRC licensing, registration
or other regulatory requirements, with existing policies or with requirements or policies that may be adopted in the future. The PRC
government has broad discretion in determining rectifiable or punitive measures for non-compliance with or violations of PRC laws and
regulations. If the PRC government determines that we or the variable interest entities do not comply with applicable law, it could revoke
the variable interest entities’ business and operating licenses, require the variable interest entities to discontinue or restrict the variable
interest entities’ operations, restrict the variable interest entities’ right to collect revenues, block the variable interest entities’ websites,
require the variable interest entities to restructure our operations, impose additional conditions or requirements with which the variable
interest entities may not be able to comply, impose restrictions on the variable interest entities’ business operations or on their customers,
or take other regulatory or enforcement actions against the variable interest entities that could be harmful to their business. Any of these
or similar occurrences could significantly disrupt our or the variable interest entities’ business operations or restrict the variable interest
entities from conducting a substantial portion of their business operations, which could materially and adversely affect the variable
interest entities’ business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of these occurrences results in our inability to direct the
activities of any of the variable interest entities that most significantly impact its economic performance, and/or our failure to receive the
economic benefits from any of the variable interest entities, we may not be able to consolidate these entities in our consolidated financial
statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
We rely on contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders
for a portion of our operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.
We rely on contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders to
operate our online real estate business. For descriptions of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C.
Organizational Structure”. These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over
Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing Jiajujiu. These contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution
of disputes through arbitration in China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes
would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal procedures. If any of the other parties fails to perform their obligations under these
contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and resources to enforce such arrangements, and we would have to rely
on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief and claiming damages, which we cannot
assure you will be effective. Furthermore, the legal environment in China is not as developed as in 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, which may
make it difficult to exert effective control over Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu, and our ability to conduct our business
may be negatively affected.
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In 2020, 2021 and 2022, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective subsidiaries and branches
contributed in aggregate 99.9%, 99.9% and 100.0% of our total net revenues, respectively. In the event we are unable to enforce the
contractual arrangements, we may not be able to have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic
performance of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective subsidiaries and branches, and our ability to conduct
our business may be negatively affected, and we may not be able to consolidate the financial results of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang,
Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective subsidiaries and branches into our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The shareholders of the variable interest entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, and if any such conflicts of
interest are not resolved in our favor, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
We have designated individuals who are PRC nationals to be the shareholders of the variable interest entities in China. These
individuals may have conflicts of interest with us. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, they will act in the best
interests of our company or that conflicts of interests will be resolved in our favor. In addition, they may breach or cause the variable
interest entities and their subsidiaries to breach or refuse to renew the existing contractual arrangements that allow us to effectively
control the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries and receive economic benefits from them. Currently, we do not have
arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between the shareholders of the variable interest entities and our company. We rely
on them to abide by the laws of the Cayman Islands and China, which provide that directors and/or officers owe a fiduciary duty to our
company, which requires them to act in good faith and in the best interests of our company and not to use their positions for personal
gain. If we cannot resolve any potential conflicts of interest or disputes between us and the individual shareholders of the variable
interest entities which may arise, we would have to rely on legal proceedings to enforce our rights, which could be costly and
unsuccessful.
Our ability to enforce the equity pledge agreements between us and the shareholders of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing
Jiajujiu may be subject to limitations based on PRC laws and regulations.
Pursuant to the equity pledge agreements relating to the variable interest entities, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing
Jiajujiu, the shareholders of the variable interest entities pledge their equity interest in the variable interest entities to our subsidiaries to
secure their and the relevant consolidated variable interest entities’ performance of the obligations under the relevant contractual
arrangements. The equity pledges under these equity pledge agreements have been registered with the relevant local branch of the
SAMR. According to the Civil Code of the PRC, which was issued by the National People’s Congress on May 28, 2020 and became
effective on January 1, 2021, the pledgee and the pledgor are prohibited from making an agreement prior to the expiration of the debt
performance period to transfer the ownership of the pledged equity to the pledgee when the obligor fails to pay the debt due. However,
under the Civil Code of the PRC, when an obligor fails to pay its debt when due, the pledgee may choose to either conclude an
agreement with the pledgor to obtain the pledged equity or seek payments from the proceeds of the auction or sell-off of the pledged
equity. If any of the variable interest entities or its shareholders fails to perform its obligations secured by the pledges under the equity
pledge agreements, one remedy in the event of default under the agreements is to require the pledgor to sell the equity interests in the
relevant consolidated variable interest entity in an auction or private sale and remit the proceeds to our subsidiaries in China, net of
related taxes and expenses. Such an auction or private sale may not result in our receipt of the full value of the equity interests in the
relevant consolidated variable interest entity. We consider it very unlikely that the public auction process would be undertaken since, in
an event of default, our preferred approach would be to ask our PRC subsidiary that is a party to the exclusive call option agreement with
the variable interest entity’s shareholder, to designate another PRC person or entity to acquire the equity interest in the variable interest
entity and replace the existing shareholder pursuant to the exclusive call option agreement.
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In addition, in the registration forms of the local branch of SAMR for the pledges over the equity interests under the equity
pledge agreements, the amount of registered equity interests pledged to our PRC subsidiaries was stated as the pledgor’s portion of the
registered capital of the variable interest entity. The equity pledge agreements with the shareholders of the variable interest entities
provide that the pledged equity interest constitutes continuing security for any and all of the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities
under the relevant contractual arrangements, and therefore the scope of pledge should not be limited by the amount of the registered
capital of the variable interest entities. However, there is no guarantee that a PRC court will not take the position that the amount listed
on the equity pledge registration forms represents the full amount of the collateral that has been registered and perfected. If this is the
case, the obligations that are supposed to be secured in the equity pledge agreements in excess of the amount listed on the equity pledge
registration forms could be determined by the PRC court to be unsecured debt, which takes last priority among creditors and often does
not have to be paid back at all. We do not have agreements that pledge the assets of the variable interest entities and their subsidiaries for
the benefit of us or our PRC subsidiaries, although the variable interest entities grant our PRC subsidiaries options to purchase the assets
of the variable interest entities and their equity interests in their subsidiaries under the exclusive call option agreement.
Contractual arrangements we have entered into with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu may be subject to
scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and a finding that we, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing Jiajujiu owe additional taxes
could reduce our net income and the value of your investment
Under PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be audited or challenged by the PRC
tax authorities. We could face material and adverse consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the contractual arrangements
we have entered into with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing Jiajujiu do not represent an arm’s-length price and adjust the taxable
income of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu or their subsidiaries and branches 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 Beijing Leju, Leju Hao
Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu or their subsidiaries and branches, which could in turn increase their PRC tax liabilities. In addition, the PRC tax
authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on the variable interest entities for underpayment of taxes. Our consolidated
net income may be materially and adversely affected if the variable interest entities’ tax liabilities increase or if they are found to be
subject to late payment fees or other penalties.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
Changes in PRC government policies could have a material and adverse effect on overall economic growth in China, which
could adversely affect our business.
We conduct substantially all of our business in China. As the real estate industry is highly sensitive to business spending, credit
conditions and personal discretionary spending levels, it tends to decline during general economic downturns. Accordingly, our results of
operations, financial condition and prospects are subject, to a significant degree, to economic developments in China. While China’s
economy has experienced significant growth in the past three decades, growth has been uneven across different periods, regions and
among various economic sectors of China. The PRC government may implement measures that are intended to benefit the overall
economy even if they would be expected to have a negative effect on the real estate industry. The real estate industry is also sensitive to
credit policies. In recent years, the PRC government adjusted the People’s Bank of China’s statutory deposit reserve ratio and benchmark
interest rates several times in response to various economic situations. Any future monetary tightening may reduce the overall liquidity in
the economy and reduce the amount of credit available for real estate purchase. Higher interest rates may increase borrowing costs for
purchasers who rely on mortgage loans to finance their real estate purchase. These could negatively affect overall demand for real estate
and adversely affect our operating and financial results. We cannot assure you that China will continue to have rapid or stable economic
growth in the future or that changes in credit or other government policies that are intended to create stable economic growth will not
adversely impact the real estate industry.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
We conduct our business primarily through our subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities in China. Our operations
in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. Our subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign
investments in China and, in particular, laws applicable to foreign-invested enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on written
statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value. PRC legislation and regulations have
gradually enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has
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not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of
economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, the interpretation and enforcement of
these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and
diversion of resources and management attention.
The PRC government’s significant oversight over our business operation could result in a material adverse change in our
operations and the value of our ADSs.
We conduct our business primarily in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. The PRC
government has significant oversight over the conduct of our business, and may intervene or influence our operations, which could result
in a material adverse change in our operation and/or the value of our ADSs. The PRC government has recently published new policies
that significantly affected certain industries and we cannot rule out the possibility that it will in the future release regulations or policies
that directly or indirectly affect our industry or require us to seek additional permission to continue our operations, which could also
result in a material adverse change in our operation and/or the value of our ADSs. Therefore, investors of our company and our business
face potential uncertainty from actions taken by the PRC government affecting our business.
Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law and
how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
The “variable interest entity” structure has been adopted by many PRC-based companies, including us, to obtain necessary
licenses and permits in the industries that are currently subject to foreign investment restrictions in China. See “—Risks Related to Our
Corporate Structure” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” On March 15, 2019, the PRC National
People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced the trio of existing
laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative
Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary
regulations. 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 investments. However, since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation.
For instance, under the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to the investment activities directly or indirectly conducted
by foreign individuals, enterprises or other entities in China. Though it does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of
foreign investment, there is no assurance that foreign investment via contractual arrangement would not be interpreted as a type of
indirect foreign investment activities under the definition in the future. In addition, the definition contains a catch-all provision which
includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative regulations or other methods
prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions promulgated by
the Stale Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. In any of these cases, it will be uncertain
whether our contractual arrangements will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment under
the PRC laws and regulations. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council
mandate further actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, we may face substantial
uncertainties as to whether we can complete such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to
cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure,
corporate governance and business operations.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the
remittance of currency out of China. Restrictions on currency exchanges between the Renminbi and other currencies may limit our
ability to utilize our revenues and funds, in particular in relation to capital account transactions such as investments and loans. We
receive substantially all of our revenues in Renminbi. Under our current structure, our income will be primarily derived from dividend
payments from our PRC subsidiaries. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiaries
and the variable interest entities to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their
foreign currency denominated obligations.
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Under current PRC regulations, the Renminbi is convertible for “current account transactions”, which include among other
things dividend payments and payments for the import of goods and services, subject to compliance with certain procedural
requirements. Although the Renminbi has been fully convertible for current account transactions since 1996, we cannot assure you that
the relevant PRC government authorities will not limit or eliminate our ability to purchase and retain foreign currencies for current
account transactions in the future.
Conversion of the Renminbi into foreign currencies and of foreign currencies into the Renminbi, for payments relating to
“capital account transactions”, which principally include investments and loans, generally requires the approval of the State
Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, and other relevant PRC governmental authorities.
In response to the persistent capital outflow from China and the depreciation of Renminbi against U.S. dollar in the fourth
quarter of 2016, the People’s Bank of China and SAFE have implemented a series of capital control measures over recent months,
including stricter vetting procedures for PRC-based companies’ outbound remittance of foreign currency for overseas acquisitions,
dividend payments and shareholder loan repayments. For instance, on January 26, 2017, SAFE issued the a SAFE Circular 3, which
stipulates several capital control measures on the outbound remittance of profit from domestic entities to offshore entities, including: (i)
under the principle of genuine transaction, banks must check board resolutions regarding profit distribution, original version of tax filing
records and audited financial statements; and (ii) domestic entities must hold income to account for previous years’ losses before
remitting the profits. The PRC government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and SAFE may adopt more restrictions and
substantial vetting processes for both current account and capital account cross-border transactions. Restrictions on the convertibility of
the Renminbi for capital account transactions could affect the ability of our PRC subsidiaries and affiliated PRC operating companies to
make investments overseas or to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financing, including by means of loans or capital
contributions from us.
Fluctuation in the value of the Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment.
The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China.
The Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of Renminbi against the U.S.
dollar and other currencies is affected by changes in China’s political and economic conditions and by China’s foreign exchange policies,
among other things. We cannot assure you that 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
Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
As our costs and expenses are mostly denominated in Renminbi, the appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would
increase our costs in U.S. dollar terms. In addition, as our operating subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities in China
receive revenues in Renminbi, any significant depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may have a material and adverse
effect on our revenues in U.S. dollar terms and financial condition, and the value of, and any dividends payable on, our ordinary shares.
For example, 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 our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for dividends on our ordinary shares 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.
These and other effects on our financial data resulting from fluctuations in the value of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar could have a
material and adverse effect on the market price of our ADSs and your investment.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, 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. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates may have a
material adverse effect on your investment. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Foreign
Exchange Risk.”
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Changes in international trade policies and rising political tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, may adversely
impact our business and operating results.
There have been changes in international trade policies and rising political tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China,
but also as a result of the conflict in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. The U.S. government has made statements and taken certain
actions that may lead to potential changes to U.S. and international trade policies towards China. While the “Phase One” agreement was
signed between the United States and China on trade matters, it remains unclear what additional actions, if any, will be taken by the U.S.
or other governments with respect to international trade, tax policy related to international commerce, or other trade matters. The
situation is further complicated by the political tensions between the United States and China that escalated during the COVID-19
pandemic and in the wake of the PRC National People’s Congress’ decision on Hong Kong national security legislation and sanctions
and restrictions imposed by the U.S. government on Chinese companies and citizens. Against this backdrop, China has implemented, and
may further implement, measures in response to the changing trade policies, treaties, tariffs and sanctions and restrictions against
Chinese companies initiated by the U.S. government. For example, the Ministry of Commerce of China published the Measures for
Security Review of Foreign Investment in December 2020 to counter restrictions imposed by foreign countries on Chinese citizens and
companies, and foreign investment in certain key areas, including products and services of key information technology and internet, that
results in acquiring the actual control of the investee, is required to obtain approval from designated governmental authorities in advance.
In addition, we have been closely monitoring domestic policies in the United States designed to restrict certain Chinese
companies from supplying or operating in the U.S. market. These policies include the Clean Network project initiated by the U.S.
Department of State in August 2020 and new authorities granted to the Department of Commerce to prohibit or restrict the use of
information and communications technology and services, or ICTS. While a substantial majority of our business is conducted in China,
policies like these may deter U.S. users from accessing and/or using our apps, products and services, which could adversely impact our
user experience and reputation.
Likewise, we are monitoring policies in the United States that are aimed at restricting U.S. persons from investing in or
supplying certain Chinese companies. The United States and various foreign governments have imposed controls, license requirements
and restrictions on the import or export of technologies and products (or voiced the intention to do so). For instance, the United States is
in the process of developing new export controls with respect to "emerging and foundational" technologies, which may include certain
AI and semiconductor technologies. In addition, the U.S. government may potentially impose a ban prohibiting U.S. persons from
making investments in or engaging in transactions with certain Chinese companies. Measures such as these could deter suppliers in the
United States and/or other countries that impose export controls and other restrictions from providing technologies and products to,
making investments in, or otherwise engaging in transactions with Chinese companies. As a result, Chinese companies would have to
identify and secure alterative supplies or sources of financing, while they may not be able to do so in a timely manner and at
commercially acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, Chinese companies may have to limit and reduce their research and development
and other business activities, or cease conducting transactions with parties, in the United States and other countries that impose export
controls or other restrictions.
Rising trade and political tensions could reduce levels of trades, investments, technological exchanges and other economic
activities between China and other countries, which would have an adverse effect on global economic conditions, the stability of global
financial markets, and international trade policies. It could also adversely affect the financial and economic conditions in the jurisdictions
in which we operate, as well as our overseas expansion, our financial condition, and results of operations. While cross-border business
currently may not be an area of our focus, if we plan to expand our business internationally in the future, any unfavorable government
policies on international trade or any restriction on Chinese companies may affect the consumer demands for our products and service,
impact our competitive position, or prevent us from being able to conduct business in certain countries. In addition, our results of
operations could be adversely affected if any such tensions or unfavorable government trade policies harm the Chinese economy or the
global economy in general.
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PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC
resident beneficial owners or our PRC subsidiaries to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC
subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise
adversely affect us.
The Notice on Issues Relating to the Administration of Foreign Exchange in Fund-Raising and Round-Trip Investment
Activities of Domestic Residents Conducted via Offshore Special Purpose Companies, or SAFE Circular 75, requires PRC residents to
register with the relevant local branch of SAFE before establishing or controlling any company outside China, referred to as an offshore
special purpose company, for the purpose of raising funds from overseas to acquire or exchange the assets of, or acquiring equity
interests in, PRC entities held by such PRC residents and to update such registration in the event of any significant changes with respect
to that offshore company. SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic
Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, in July
2014, which replaced SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection
with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such
PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE
Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle”. The term “control” under SAFE Circular 37 is broadly defined as the operation rights,
beneficiary rights or decision-making rights acquired by the PRC residents in the offshore special purpose vehicles or PRC companies by
such means as acquisition, trust, proxy, voting rights, repurchase, convertible bonds or other arrangements. SAFE Circular 37 further
requires amendment to the registration in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the special purpose vehicle,
such as changes in a PRC resident individual shareholder, name or operation period; or any significant changes with respect to the special
purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or
other material event. If the shareholders of the offshore holding company who are PRC residents do not complete their registration with
the local SAFE branches, the PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in
capital, share transfer or liquidation to the offshore company, and the offshore company may be restricted in its ability to contribute
additional capital to its PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration and amendment requirements
described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
We have requested our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments
required by SAFE. However, we cannot provide any assurances that all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents will continue to
make, obtain or amend any applicable registrations or approvals required by these SAFE regulations. The failure or inability of our PRC
resident beneficial owners to comply with the registration procedures set forth therein may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict
our cross-border investment activities, or limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiaries, or limit our PRC
subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to our company or otherwise adversely affect our business. Moreover,
failure to comply with the SAFE registration requirements could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of foreign exchange
restrictions. Furthermore, pursuant to our agreements with Tencent, our PRC subsidiaries, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and
Beijing Maiteng are restricted from paying dividends to us until each of our individual beneficial shareholders who are PRC residents
and subject to SAFE registration as described above submits its application to SAFE and each of such PRC subsidiaries submits an
application with SAFE as required.
As it is uncertain how the SAFE regulations will be interpreted or implemented, we cannot predict how these regulations will
affect our business operations or future strategy. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with
respect to our foreign exchange activities, including the remittance of dividends and foreign currency-denominated borrowings, which
may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if we decide to acquire a PRC domestic company, we
cannot assure you that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals or complete
the necessary filings and registrations required by the SAFE regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition
strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
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Failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock ownership plans or share
option plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
Under the applicable regulations and SAFE rules, PRC citizens who participate in an employee stock ownership plan or a stock
option plan in an overseas publicly listed company are required to register with SAFE and complete certain other procedures. In February
2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas
Publicly-Listed Company, or the Stock Option Rules, which terminated the Application Procedures of Foreign Exchange Administration
for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plan or Stock Option Plan of Overseas Publicly-Listed Company
issued by SAFE in March 2007. Pursuant to the Stock Option Rules, if a PRC resident participates in any stock incentive plan of an
overseas publicly-listed company, a qualified PRC domestic agent must, among other things, file on behalf of such participant an
application with SAFE to conduct the SAFE registration with respect to such stock incentive plan and obtain approval for an annual
allowance with respect to the purchase of foreign exchange in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options or stock such
participant holds. Such participating PRC residents’ foreign exchange income received from the sale of stock and dividends distributed
by the overseas publicly-listed company must be fully remitted into a PRC collective foreign currency account opened and managed by
the PRC agent before distribution to such participants. We and our PRC employees who have been granted stock options are subject to
this rule, and we have registered our existing employee stock ownership plan and stock option plan with the local SAFE branch in
Shanghai. However, if there is any change to our existing employee stock ownership plan or stock option plan, we cannot assure you that
we and our PRC optionees will be able to amend such registration in a timely manner, or at all. If we or our PRC optionees fail to comply
with these regulations, we or our PRC optionees may be subject to fines and legal sanctions. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—
B. Business Overview—Regulation—Foreign Exchange Registration of Employee Stock Incentive Plans”.
The approval of and or report and filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection
with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain
such approval or complete such filing and reporting process.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six
PRC regulatory agencies in 2006 and amended in 2009, requires an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through
acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC persons or entities to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the
listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the
regulations remain unclear, and our historical and future offshore offerings may ultimately require approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC
approval is required, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we obtain such CSRC
approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore
offerings, or a rescission of such approval if obtained by us, would restrict our ability to raise funds, subject us to sanctions imposed by
the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities, which could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restrictions or
limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition, and results of operations.
On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities
Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities
activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting
the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies. As a
follow-up, on December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of
Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Provisions, and the CSRC issued a draft of
Administration Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Administration
Measures, for public comments.
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Pursuant to these drafts, an overseas offering and listing by a domestic company, whether directly or indirectly, shall be filed
with the CSRC. Specifically, the examination and determination of an indirect offering and listing will be conducted on a substance-over-
form basis, and an offering and listing shall be considered as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company if the issuer
meets the following conditions: (i) the operating income, gross profit, total assets, or net assets of the domestic enterprise in the most
recent fiscal year was more than 50% of the relevant line item in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statement for that year; and
(ii) senior management personnel responsible for business operations and management are mostly PRC citizens or are ordinarily resident
in the PRC, and the main place of business is in the PRC or carried out in the PRC. According to the Draft Administration Measures, the
issuer or its affiliated domestic company, as the case may be, shall file with the CSRC for its initial public offering, follow-on offering,
listing of securities in another overseas market, and other equivalent offing activities. Particularly, the issuer shall submit the filing with
respect to its initial public offering and listing or listing of securities in another overseas market within three business days after
submitting the application documents for the foregoing transactions, and the issuer shall submit the filing with respect to its follow-on
offering within three business days after completion of the follow-on offering. Besides, direct or indirect overseas listing of assets of
PRC domestic companies by merger and acquisition, share swap, allocation, or other arrangements through one of a series of transactions
are also subject to filing with CSRC. Failure to comply with the filing requirements may result in fines to the relevant domestic
companies, suspension of their businesses, revocation of their business licenses and operation permits and fines on the controlling
shareholder and other responsible persons. The Draft Administration Measures also sets forth certain regulatory red lines for overseas
offerings and listings by domestic enterprises. For more details of the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administration Measures, please
refer to “Regulation—Regulations on Overseas Offering and Listing.”
As of the date of this annual report, the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administration Measures were released for public
comment only. There are uncertainties as to whether the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administration Measures would be further
amended, revised or updated. Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable and final content of the Draft
Provisions and the Draft Administration Measures. As the CSRC may formulate and publish guidelines for filings in the future, the Draft
Administration Measures does not provide for detailed requirements of the substance and form of the filing documents. In a Q&A
released on its official website, the respondent CSRC official indicated that the proposed new filing requirement will start with new
companies and the existing companies seeking to carry out activities like follow-on financing or listing of securities in another overseas
market. As for the filings for the existing companies, the regulator will grant adequate transition period and apply separate arrangements.
The Q&A also addressed the contractual arrangements and pointed out that if relevant domestic laws and regulations have been
observed, companies with compliant VIE structure may seek overseas listing after completion of the CSRC filings. Nevertheless, it does
not specify what qualify as compliant VIE structures and what relevant domestic laws and regulations are required to be complied with.
Given the substantial uncertainties surrounding the latest CSRC filing requirements at this stage, we cannot assure you that we will be
able to complete the filings and fully comply with the relevant new rules on a timely basis, if at all.
Relatedly, on December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the Ministry of Finance, or the MOC, jointly issued the Special
Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, which became
effective on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to such Special Administrative Measures, if a domestic company engaging in the prohibited
business stipulated in the 2021 Negative List seeks an overseas offering and listing, it shall obtain the approval from the competent
governmental authorities. Besides, the foreign investors of the company shall not be involved in the company’s operation and
management, and their shareholding percentage shall be subject, mutatis mutandis, to the relevant regulations on the domestic securities
investments by foreign investors. As the 2021 Negative List is relatively new, there remain substantial uncertainties as to the
interpretation and implementation of these new requirements, and it is unclear as to whether and to what extent listed companies like us
will be subject to these new requirements. If we are required to comply with these requirements and fail to do so on a timely basis, if at
all, our business operation, financial conditions, business prospect and ability of financing, may be adversely and materially affected.
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On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by
Domestic Companies, or the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023.
According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and
indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; if a domestic company fails to complete the
filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be
subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person
directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines; (2) if the
issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and
listing by a domestic company: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in
the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial
statements for the same period; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in
China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in
China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a
major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for listing
in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted.
On the same day, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the
Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that the
domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e.
March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as existing issuers, or the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filling
procedures, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC when subsequent matters such as refinancing are involved.
According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, an overseas listed company shall file with the CSRC within three business
days after the completion of its subsequent securities offering on the same market, and an overseas listed company shall file with the
CSRC within three business days after its application of its offering and listing on a different market. If an overseas listed company
purchase PRC domestic assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, and such purchase
constitutes direct or indirect listing of PRC domestic assets, a filing with the CSRC is also required. In addition, an overseas listed
company is required to report to the CSRC the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the
occurrence and announcement thereof: (i) a change of control of the listed company; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures
undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the listed company; (iii) a change
of listing status or transfer of listing segment; and (iv) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the listed company. If there is any material
change of the principal business of the listed company after the overseas offering and listing so that the listed company is no longer
required to file with the CSRC, it shall file a specific report and a legal opinion issued by a domestic law firm to the CSRC within three
business days after the occurrence hereof.
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In addition, we cannot assure you that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional
requirements on us or otherwise tightening the regulations on companies with a variable interest entity structure. If it is determined in the
future that approval and filing from the CSRC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures, including the cybersecurity review
under the enacted version of the revised Measures for Cybersecurity Review and the draft of Regulations on the Network Data Security,
are required for our offshore offerings, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete
such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such
approval or completing such filing procedures for our offshore offerings, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us,
would subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities for failure to seek CSRC approval or filing or other
government authorization for our offshore offerings. These regulatory authorities 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 our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory
authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings before settlement and delivery
of the shares offered. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and
delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. If we do not receive prior approval or complete the filing, to
the extent it is required, for any of our future offerings of securities overseas or to maintain the trading status of our ADSs, or if we
inadvertently conclude that such prior approval or any filing is not required, the CSRC or other PRC regulatory agencies may take
actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, not to proceed with such offering or maintain the trading status of our ADSs. If we
proceed with any of such offering or maintain the trading status of our ADSs without obtaining these regulatory agencies’ approval or
completing the filing to the extent it is required, or if we are unable to comply with any new approval requirements or regulatory
requirements which might be adopted for offerings that we have completed prior to the publication of the above-referenced opinions, we
may face regulatory actions or other sanctions from these regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties
on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside 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. Additionally, if the
CSRC or other relevant PRC regulatory agencies subsequently determine that such approval is required, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to obtain such approval in a timely manner, or at all. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate
new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our
prior offshore offerings, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to
obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect
our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation, and the trading price of our listed securities.
PRC regulations relating to acquisitions in China require us to obtain certain approvals from the MOC and the failure to obtain
such approvals could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations, reputation and the trading price
of our ADSs.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, jointly issued
by six PRC regulatory agencies and amended by the MOC in 2009, include provisions that purport to require the MOC’s approval for
acquisitions by offshore entities established or controlled by domestic companies, enterprises or natural persons of onshore entities that
are related to such domestic companies, enterprises or natural persons. However, the interpretation and implementation of the M&A
Rules remain unclear with no consensus currently existing regarding the scope and applicability of the MOC approval requirement on
foreign acquisitions among related parties.
We have entered into contractual arrangements with each of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu and their
respective shareholders, which provide us with substantial ability to control each of these entities. See “Item 4. Information on the
Company—C. Organizational Structure”.
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If the MOC subsequently determines that their approval was required for such contractual arrangements, we may need to apply
for a remedial approval. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain such approval or waiver of such approval from the
MOC. Inability to obtain such approval or waiver from the MOC may have a material and adverse effect on our business. Further, we
may be subject to certain administrative punishments or other sanctions from the MOC. The MOC or other regulatory agencies may
impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of U.S.
dollars into China, or take other actions that could have further material and adverse effects on our business, financial condition, results
of operations, reputation and prospects, as well as the trading price of our ADSs.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of PRC companies by
foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The M&A Rules and recently adopted 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.
For example, the M&A Rules require 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, if (i) any important industry is concerned, (ii) such transaction involves factors that
have or may have impact on the national economic security; or (iii) such transaction will lead to a change in control of a domestic
enterprise which holds a famous trademark or PRC time-honored brand. Mergers, acquisitions or contractual arrangements that allow one
market player to take control of or to exert decisive impact on another market player must also be notified in advance to the MOC when
the threshold under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of Undertakings issued by the State Council in
August 2008 and amended in 2018 is triggered. In addition, the Implementing Rules Concerning Security Review on the Mergers and
Acquisitions by Foreign Investors of Domestic Enterprises, issued by the MOC in August 2011, specify that mergers and acquisitions by
foreign investors involved in “an industry related to national security” are subject to strict review by the MOC, and prohibit any activities
attempting to bypass such security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement.
These laws and regulations are continually evolving as newly enacted Foreign Investment Law took effect. On December 19, 2020, the
Measures for the Security Review for Foreign Investment was jointly issued by NDRC and MOFCOM and took effect from January 18,
2021. The Measures for the Security Review for Foreign Investment specified provisions concerning the security review mechanism on
foreign investment, including the types of investments subject to review, review scopes and procedures, among others. As these measures
are recently promulgated, official guidance has not been issued by the designated office in charge of such security review yet. At this
stage, the interpretation of those measures remains unclear in many aspects such as what would constitute "important information
technology and internet services and products" and whether these measures may apply to foreign investment that is implemented or
completed before the enactment of these new measures. In the future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary
businesses.
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. We believe that our business is not in an industry related to national security but we cannot preclude the possibility that the
MOC or other government agencies may publish explanations contrary to our understanding or broaden the scope of such security
reviews in the future, in which case our future acquisitions in China, including those by way of entering into contractual control
arrangements with target entities, may be closely scrutinized or prohibited. Our ability to expand our business or maintain or expand our
market share through future acquisitions would as such be materially and adversely affected.
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Our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities are subject to restrictions on paying dividends or making other
payments to us, which may restrict our ability to satisfy our liquidity requirements.
Leju is a holding company registered in the Cayman Islands. It relies on dividends from its PRC subsidiaries as well as service
and other fees paid to its PRC subsidiaries by the variable interest entities for our cash and financing requirements, such as the funds
necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to its shareholders, including holders of its ADSs, and service any debt it may
incur.
The variable interest entities are directly held by certain PRC individuals designated by us and thus are not able to make
dividend payments to our PRC subsidiaries and holding companies outside China. We have the right to charge the variable interest
entities service fees through our relevant PRC subsidiaries pursuant to the exclusive business cooperation agreements entered into with
the variable interest entities, which together with the other agreements with the variable interest entities and their respective shareholders,
enable us to enjoy substantially all of the economic benefits of the variable interest entities. These contractual arrangements we have
entered into with the variable interest entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities. See “Item 3. Key Information—D.
Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Contractual arrangements we have entered into with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao
Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and a finding that we, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or
Beijing Jiajujiu owe additional taxes could reduce our net income and the value of your investment”. The variable interest entities have
paid and will continue to pay the service fees to our relevant PRC subsidiaries pursuant to the exclusive technical support agreements
between them.
Current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any,
determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our PRC subsidiaries is required to set
aside a certain amount of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserves. These reserves are not distributable as
cash dividends. In addition, the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, and its implementation rules provide that withholding
tax rate of 10% will be applicable to dividends payable by PRC companies to non-PRC-resident enterprises unless otherwise exempted
or reduced according to treaties or arrangements between the PRC central government and governments of other countries or regions
where the non-PRC-resident enterprises are incorporated. We have not received any dividend payments or other distributions from our
PRC subsidiaries, and as we currently intend to retain all of the available funds and any future earnings of our PRC subsidiaries to fund
the development and growth of our business, we do not expect to receive any dividend payments or other distributions from our PRC
subsidiaries in the foreseeable future.
Furthermore, if our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the
instruments governing the debt may restrict the ability of the variable interest entities to pay service fees to our PRC subsidiaries or the
ability of our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us, which may restrict our ability to satisfy our liquidity requirements. Our contractual
arrangements with the variable interest entities enable us to prevent them from entering into debt arrangements that may be detrimental
to us because these contractual arrangements provide us with the ability to direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic
performance of the variable interest entities. In addition, the exclusive call option agreements among our PRC subsidiaries, consolidated
variable interest entities and their respective shareholders specifically provide that the applicable consolidated variable interest entity
shall not, and its shareholders shall ensure that the variable interest entity does not, incur any loan or offer any guarantee without the
prior written consent of our applicable PRC subsidiary. However, any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries or consolidated
variable interest entities to pay dividends or make other payments to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make
investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.
PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from
making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries.
As an offshore holding company of our PRC operating subsidiaries, Leju may make loans to its PRC subsidiaries and
consolidated variable interest entities, or may make additional capital contributions to its PRC subsidiaries, subject to satisfaction of
applicable governmental registration and approval requirements.
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Any loans we extend to our PRC subsidiaries, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law, cannot exceed
the statutory limit and must be registered with the local counterpart of SAFE. The statutory limit for the total amount of foreign debt of a
foreign-invested company was the difference between the amount of total investment and the amount of registered capital of such
foreign-invested company as approved by the MOC or its local counterpart. According to a notice issued by the People’s Bank of China
regarding foreign debt on January 11, 2017, the total amount of foreign debt of our PRC subsidiaries or consolidated variable interest
entities or other PRC domestic entities shall not exceed two times of their respective net assets. Pursuant to the above notice and other
PRC law regarding foreign debt, within a one-year grace period starting from January 11, 2017, the statutory limit for the total amount of
foreign debt of a foreign-invested company, which is subject to its own choice, is either the difference between the amount of total
investment and the amount of registered capital as approved by the MOC or its local counterpart, or two times of their respective net
assets. It is very likely that our PRC subsidiaries will elect to apply two times of their respective net assets as the limit for foreign debt if
any of them needs to borrow any foreign debt during the grace period. We may extend loans to the relevant PRC subsidiary in an amount
that does not exceed the difference between the amount of its total investment and the amount of its registered capital or two times of its
net assets referenced above. With respect to the variable interest entities or other domestic PRC entities, the limit for the total amount of
foreign amount is two times of their respective net assets pursuant to the above notice. According to Notice of the National Development
and Reform Commission on Promoting the Administrative Reform of the Recordation and Registration System for Enterprises’ Issuance
of Foreign Debts issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in September 2015, any loans we extend to the variable
interest entities or other PRC operating companies that are domestic PRC entities for more than one year must be filed with the National
Development and Reform Commission or its local counterpart and must also be registered with SAFE or its local branches.
We may also decide to finance our PRC subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. According to the Interim Measures for
the Recordation Administration of the Formation and Modification of Foreign-Funded Enterprises issued by the MOC on October 8,
2016, which was latest amended on June 29, 2018, these capital contributions shall be filed with the MOC or its local counterpart. On
December 30, 2019, MOC and SAMR jointly promulgated Measures for the Reporting of Foreign Investment Information, which came
into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced the Interim Measures for the Recordation Administration of the Formation and Modification
of Foreign-Funded Enterprises. According to the Measures for the Reporting of Foreign Investment Information, foreign investors or
foreign-invested enterprises shall report investment information to commerce departments through the enterprise registration system and
the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System, and market regulatory departments shall forward such investment
information reported by foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises to commerce departments in a timely manner. SAFE has also
issued a few circulars with respect to the conversion by a foreign-invested enterprise of foreign currency registered capital into Renminbi
and the flow and use of such Renminbi fund. Capital contributions are currently required to be filed in the Foreign Investment
Comprehensive Management Information System. In March 2015, SAFE issued the Circular on the Reforming of the Management
Method of the Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, effective June 2015, or SAFE Circular 19. Under
SAFE Circular 19, a foreign-invested enterprise may choose to convert its registered capital from foreign currency to Renminbi on a self-
discretionary basis, and the Renminbi capital converted can be used for equity investments within China, which will be regarded as the
reinvestment of foreign-invested enterprise.
SAFE also promulgated a circular in November 2011, which prohibits a foreign-invested enterprise from using Renminbi funds
converted from its foreign currency registered capital to provide entrustment loans or repay loans borrowed from non-financial
enterprises. Violation of these circulars could result in severe monetary or other penalties. These circulars may limit our ability to transfer
funds to the variable interest entities and the subsidiaries of our PRC subsidiaries, and we may not be able to convert funds into
Renminbi to invest in or acquire any other PRC companies, or establish other consolidated variable interest entities in China. Despite the
restrictions under these SAFE circulars, our PRC subsidiaries may use their income in Renminbi generated from their operations to
finance the relevant consolidated variable interest entities through entrustment loans to the variable interest entities or loans to such
variable interest entities’ shareholders for the purpose of making capital contributions to such variable interest entities. In addition, our
PRC subsidiaries can use Renminbi funds converted from foreign currency registered capital to carry out any activities within their
normal course of business and business scope, including to purchase or lease servers and other relevant equipment and fund other
operational needs in connection with their provision of services to the relevant consolidated variable interest entities under the applicable
exclusive technical support agreements.
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In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to, and direct investment in, PRC entities by offshore
holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary
government approvals on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiaries or any consolidated variable
interest entity or future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such
approvals, our ability to fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity
and our ability to fund and expand our business.
The discontinuation of any of the preferential tax treatments currently available to us in China or imposition of any additional
PRC taxes on us could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Pursuant to a Circular on Enterprise Income Tax Preferential Treatments issued by the State Administration of Taxation, or SAT,
and the Ministry of Finance effective February 2008, as partially amended by a Circular on Enterprise Income Tax Policies for Further
Encouraging the Development of the Software Industry and the Integrated Circuit Industry, a qualified software enterprise is eligible to
be exempted from income tax for its first two profitable years, followed by a 50% reduction in income tax, to a rate of 12.5%, for the
subsequent three years. Shanghai SINA Leju renewed its qualification of software enterprise in August 2022, and conducted inspection
on an annual basis. In 2021, Shanghai SINA Leju renewed its qualification of “high and new technology enterprise” to enjoy the
favorable statutory tax rate of 15% for the following three years. If Shanghai SINA Leju fails to maintain “high and new technology
enterprise” status, its applicable enterprise income tax rate may increase to up to 25%. The loss or potential loss of preferential tax
treatments enjoyed by Shanghai SINA Leju could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Various local governments in China have also provided discretionary preferential tax treatments to us. However, at any time,
these local governments may decide to reduce or eliminate these preferential tax treatments. Furthermore, these local implementations of
tax laws may be found in violation of national laws or regulations, and as a consequence, we may be subject to retroactive imposition of
higher taxes as a result. We are required under U.S. GAAP to accrue taxes for these contingencies. The change in accounting requirement
for reporting tax contingencies, any reduction or elimination of these preferential tax treatments and any retroactive imposition of higher
taxes could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfer of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises or other assets attributed to a
PRC establishment of a non-PRC company, or immovable properties located in China owned by their non-PRC holding
companies.
We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences on private equity financing transactions, share exchange or other
transactions involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises.
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In February 2015, the SAT issued the Notice on Several Issues Concerning Enterprise Income Tax for Indirect Share Transfer by
Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or the SAT Bulletin 7, which replaced previous rules under the Notice on Strengthening Administration
of Enterprise Income Tax for Share Transfers by Non-PRC Resident Enterprises, or the SAT Circular 698, issued by the SAT in 2009.
Pursuant to the SAT Bulletin 7, an “indirect transfer” of assets of a PRC resident enterprise, 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
transaction arrangement lacks 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
the SAT Bulletin 7, “PRC taxable assets” include assets attributed to an establishment in China, immovable properties located in China,
and equity interests in PRC resident enterprises, in respect of which gains from their transfer by a direct holder, being a non-PRC resident
enterprise, would be subject to PRC enterprise income taxes. In respect of an indirect transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the
resulting gain is to be included with the enterprise income tax filing of the PRC establishment or place of business being transferred, and
would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. If the underlying transfer relates to immovable properties
located in China or to equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not related to a PRC establishment or place of business of a
non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to preferential tax treatment under applicable tax
treaties or similar arrangements, if any, and the party who is obligated to make payments for the transfer has a withholding obligation.
Although the SAT Bulletin 7 does not apply to share transfers of publicly traded companies, there is uncertainty as to the application of
the SAT Bulletin 7 or previous rules under the SAT Circular 698. We and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of being subject
to tax filing or withholding obligations under the SAT Bulletin 7 and we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with
the SAT Bulletin 7 or to establish that we should not be taxed under the SAT Bulletin 7.
We cannot assure you that the PRC tax authorities will not, at their discretion, adjust any capital gains and impose tax return
filing and withholding or tax payment obligations on the transferors and transferees, while our PRC subsidiaries may be requested to
assist in the filing. Any PRC tax imposed on a transfer of our shares or any adjustment of such gains would cause us to incur additional
costs and may have a negative impact on the value of your investment in us.
Dividends payable to us by our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC withholding taxes or we may be subject to PRC taxation
on our worldwide income, and dividends distributed to our investors may be subject to PRC withholding taxes under the EIT Law
and our investors may be subject to PRC withholding tax on the transfer of our ordinary shares or ADSs.
Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, all domestic and foreign invested companies would be subject to a uniform
enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% and dividends from a PRC subsidiary to its foreign parent company will be subject to a
withholding tax at the rate of 10%, unless such foreign parent company’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that
provides for a reduced rate of withholding, or the tax is otherwise exempted or reduced pursuant to PRC tax laws.
Under the Measures for the Administration of Non-Resident Taxpayers’ Enjoyment of the Treatment under Tax Agreements,
effective November 2015, our Hong Kong subsidiaries need to obtain approval from the relevant local branch of the SAT in order to
enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% in accordance with the Arrangement between Mainland China and Hong Kong for the
Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income. The SAT further clarified in a circular
that tax treaty benefits will be denied to “conduit” or shell companies without business substance and that a beneficial ownership analysis
will be used based on a “substance-over-form” principle to determine whether or not to grant the tax treaty benefits. It is unclear at this
stage whether this circular applies to dividends from our PRC subsidiaries paid to us through our Hong Kong subsidiaries. However, it is
possible that our Hong Kong subsidiaries might not be considered as “beneficial owners” of any dividends from their PRC subsidiaries
and as a result would be subject to withholding tax at the rate of 10%. As a result, there is no assurance that our Hong Kong subsidiaries
will be able to enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate.
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In addition, under the EIT Law, enterprises organized under the laws of jurisdictions outside China with their “de facto
management bodies” located within China may be considered PRC resident enterprises and therefore be subject to PRC enterprise
income tax at the rate of 25% on their worldwide income. Under the implementation rules of the EIT Law, “de facto management
bodies” are defined as the bodies that have material and overall management and control over the business, personnel, accounts and
properties of the enterprise. A subsequent circular issued by the SAT provides that a foreign enterprise controlled by a PRC company or a
PRC company group will be classified as a “resident enterprise” with its “de facto management bodies” located within China if the
following requirements are satisfied: (i) the senior management and core management departments in charge of its daily operations
function mainly in China; (ii) its financial and human resources decisions are subject to determination or approval by persons or bodies
in China; (iii) its major assets, accounting books, company seals, and minutes and files of its board and shareholders’ meetings are
located or kept in China; and (iv) more than half of the enterprise’s directors or senior management with voting rights reside in China.
The EIT Law and its implementation rules are relatively new and ambiguities exist with respect to the interpretation of the
provisions relating to resident enterprise issues. Although our offshore holding companies are not controlled by any PRC company or
company group, we cannot assure you that we will not be deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the EIT Law and its
implementation rules. If we were considered a PRC resident enterprise, we would be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate
of 25% on our worldwide income; dividend income we receive from the PRC subsidiaries, however, may be exempt from PRC tax since
such income is exempted under the EIT Law to a PRC resident recipient. However, as there is still uncertainty as to how the EIT Law
and its implementation rules will be interpreted and implemented, and the PRC foreign exchange control authorities have not yet issued
guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as PRC resident enterprises, we cannot assure
you that we are eligible for such PRC enterprise income tax exemptions or reductions. In addition, ambiguities also exist with respect to
the interpretation of the provisions relating to identification of PRC-sourced income. If we were considered a PRC resident enterprise,
any dividends payable to non-resident holders of our ordinary shares or ADSs, and the gains such investors may realize from the transfer
of our ordinary shares or ADSs, may be treated as PRC-sourced income and therefore be subject to a 10% PRC withholding tax (or 20%
in the case of non-resident individual holders), unless otherwise exempted or reduced pursuant to treaties or applicable PRC law.
If we became a PRC resident enterprise under the new PRC tax system and received income other than dividends, our
profitability and cash flows would be adversely affected due to our worldwide income being taxed in China under the EIT Law.
Additionally, we would incur an incremental PRC dividend withholding tax cost if we distributed our profits to our ultimate
shareholders. There is, however, not necessarily an incremental PRC dividend withholding tax on the piece of the profits distributed from
our PRC subsidiaries, since they would have been subject to PRC dividend withholding tax even if we were not a PRC tax resident.
Failure to obtain the approvals or complete the filings required for our real estate agency and brokerage business in China may
limit our ability to provide real estate agency and brokerage services or establish new PRC operating entities.
Currently, we mainly use the VIEs, and their subsidiaries to provide support for our e-commerce business. Certain of the support
services provided by the VIEs and their subsidiaries may be regarded as real estate agency and brokerage services under PRC law.
Pursuant to the previous Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue issued in 2011, foreign ownership of the real estate agency
and brokerage business in China is subject to government approval. Accordingly, the establishment of, or investment in any company
with a registered business scope of, real estate agency and brokerage services in China by our PRC subsidiaries directly is, and by our
PRC subsidiaries indirectly through their subsidiaries may be, subject to approval of the MOC or its relevant local counterparts which
should be obtained before registering such company with the SAMR or its local counterparts. Although the VIEs have not obtained
approvals from the competent local branches of the MOC in connection with their establishment of, or investment in, their subsidiaries
with a registered business scope of real estate brokerage business, the subsidiaries of the VIEs which are engaged in real estate agency
and brokerage business have obtained and maintained a business license with such business scope, and none of such subsidiaries has
received any notice of warning or penalties from the competent authorities for lacking such approval.
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The Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue, effective April 2015, loosens the restrictions on foreign ownership of
the real estate agency and brokerage business in China by removing it from the restricted category for foreign investment. Under the new
catalogue, the VIEs no longer needs the approval of the MOC or its relevant local counterparts for the establishment of, or investment in
any new PRC subsidiary with a registered business scope of real estate agency and brokerage services. However, we cannot assure you
that the historical non-compliance of the VIEs’ not obtaining the requisite government approval would not be found as a violation by
relevant PRC government authorities. If the historical non-compliance were found and determined by the relevant PRC government
authorities as a violation, our relevant subsidiaries would be subject to warnings, fines or even revocation of its licenses.
In addition, pursuant to the relevant regulations regarding real estate agency and brokerage businesses, a real estate broker must
conduct a filing with the real estate administrative authority within 30 days after issuance of its business license. We have completed the
filing with the competent local real estate administrative authorities for our 32 PRC operating entities which currently provide support
services considered to be real estate agency and brokerage services under the PRC law. In addition, we are in the process of making such
filings with the relevant local real estate administrative authorities for 11 entities. For the remaining entities, 13 entities are in the process
of being liquidated, and none of the entities are not qualified to make such filings with the relevant local real estate administrative
authorities. The requirements of the local real estate administrative authority for such filing may vary in different cities and we cannot
assure you that we will be able to complete such filing in a timely manner or at all. If we fail to properly complete such filings, it may
limit the ability of the relevant PRC operating entities to provide similar support service to our e-commerce business.
Although our independent registered public accounting firm is registered with the PCAOB and currently subject to periodic
PCAOB inspection, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate our auditor completely, investors
would be deprived of the benefits of such inspection and our ADSs may be delisted or prohibited from trading.
We have appointed Yu Certified Public Account, P.C., or Yu CPA, for the audit of our consolidated financial statements since
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. Yu CPA is a U.S.-based accounting firm that is registered with the PCAOB and can be
inspected by the PCAOB. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accounts LLP, or DTT, was our predecessor auditor and audited
our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years 2018 to 2018. DTT's audit work related to our operations in China was not
inspected by the PCAOB.
As an auditor of companies that are registered with the SEC and publicly traded in the United States and a firm registered with
the PCAOB, our auditor is required under the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its
compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards. There is no guarantee, however, that our current auditors or
any future auditor engaged by us would remain subject to full PCAOB inspection during the entire term of our engagement.
The PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections in China without the approval of Chinese government authorities. Since
we have substantial operations in China, if it is later determined that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate our auditor
completely, investors may be deprived of the benefits of such inspection. Any audit reports not issued by auditors that are completely
inspected by the PCAOB, or a lack of PCAOB inspections of audit work undertaken in China that prevents the PCAOB from regularly
evaluating our auditors' audits and their quality control procedures, could result in a lack of assurance that our financial statements and
disclosures are adequate and accurate.
Pursuant to the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, or the HFCAA, if the SEC determines that we have filed audit
reports issued by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspections by the PCAOB for two consecutive years,
the SEC shall prohibit our shares or ADSs from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market
in the United States.
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On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB was unable to
inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. Yu CPA is not
headquartered in mainland China or Hong Kong and was not identified in this report as a firm subject to the PCAOB’s determination. On
December 15, 2022, the PCAOB issued a report that vacated its December 16, 2021 determination and removed mainland China and
Hong Kong from the list of jurisdictions where it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms.
However, if the PCAOB determines in the future that it no longer has full access to inspect and investigate completely accounting firms
in mainland China and Hong Kong, and we use an accounting firm headquartered in one of these jurisdictions to issue an audit report on
our financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we and investors in our ADSs would be deprived of the
benefits of such PCAOB inspections again, which could cause investors and potential investors in the ADSs to lose confidence in our
audit procedures and reported financial information and the quality of our financial statements. The prohibition of our ordinary shares
and ADSs from trading in the United States would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase the ADSs when you wish to do so,
and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of the ADSs. Also, such a prohibition
would significantly affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all, which would have a material adverse impact on
our business, financial condition, and prospects.
Risks Related to Our ADSs
The market price for our ADSs has been and may continue to be highly volatile.
In 2022, the closing price of our ADSs on the NYSE, varied from a high of $9.11 to a low of $1.32. The market price for our
ADSs has been and may continue to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations due to factors beyond our control, such as broad
market and industry factors. The securities markets in the United States, China and elsewhere have experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies, particularly in recent years. The securities
of some PRC-based companies that have listed their securities in the United States have experienced significant volatility since their
initial public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial price declines in the trading prices of their securities. The trading
performances of these PRC companies’ securities after their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward PRC companies listed
in the United States, which consequently may impact the trading performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating
performance. Since 2011, some PRC-based companies became targets of short sellers. Any negative news or perceptions about
inadequate corporate governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or other matters of other PRC companies may
also negatively affect the attitudes of investors towards PRC companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have
conducted any inappropriate activities. Although we have confidence in our corporate governance practice and internal control over
financial reporting, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to such attack. Any negative news or perceptions about our
corporate governance or accounting practice in the future, regardless of its merits, will negatively affect the trading performance of our
ADSs. In addition, the global financial crisis and the ensuing economic recessions in many countries have contributed and may continue
to contribute to extreme volatility in the global stock markets.
In addition to the broad market and industry fluctuations, factors specific to our own operations may adversely affect the market
price of our ADSs, including the following:
● variations in our net revenues, earnings and cash flow;
● announcements of new investments, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, or joint ventures by us or our competitors;
● announcements of new services and expansions by us or our competitors;
● changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
● fluctuations in our operating metrics;
● additions or departures of key personnel;
● release of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding equity securities or sales of additional equity securities;
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● detrimental negative publicity about us, our competitors or our industry;
● regulatory developments affecting us or our industry; and
● potential litigation or regulatory investigations.
Any of these factors may result in large and sudden changes in the volume and price at which our ADSs will trade.
Our ADSs may be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange as a result of our failure of meeting the New York Stock
Exchange continued listing requirements.
We are required to meet certain quantitative tests as well as corporate governance and other qualitative standards to maintain the
listing of our ADSs on the NYSE. It is possible that we could fail to satisfy one or more of these requirements.
Pursuant to NYSE rule 802.01C, a company is considered to be below compliance standards if the average closing price of a
security as reported on the consolidated tape is less than $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period. We received a letter from the
NYSE dated January 6, 2022, notifying us that we were below the foregoing compliance standard. Pursuant to NYSE rule 802.01C, once
notified, a company must bring its share price and average share price back above $1.00 within six months following receipt of the
notification. If on the last trading day of any calendar month during the cure period the company has a closing share price of at least
$1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of that month,
then the company can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period. In the event that at the expiration of the six-month
cure period, both a $1.00 closing share price on the last trading day of the cure period and a $1.00 average closing share price over the 30
trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the cure period are not attained, the NYSE will commence suspension and delisting
procedures. We have regained compliance by changing the ratio of our ADS to our ordinary shares from one ADS to one ordinary share
to one ADS to ten ordinary shares, effective on May 20, 2022 and prior to the expiration of the applicable cure period. We are in
compliance with the minimum bid requirement as of the date of this annual report. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we will
be able to maintain compliance with any other continued listing requirements of the NYSE. In the event of deficiency or non-
compliance, we could receive notices from the NYSE and suffer loss of investor confidence and trading price decline. If we fail to regain
compliance in time, we could face trading suspension or even delisting from the NYSE, which could make it more difficult to obtain
accurate quotations of and buy or sell our securities, and the price of our securities could suffer further significant decline. Delisting may
also impair our ability to raise capital and harm our reputation.
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 share 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.
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We are required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend
to publish our results on a quarterly basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the NYSE. 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 as compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S.
domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same protections or information, which would be made available to you, were
you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and, as a result, has relied and may
continue to rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other
companies.
Since November 2020, we have been a “controlled company” as defined under the NYSE Listed Company Manual because
more than 50% of the voting power of our company has been held by E-House Enterprise since November 2020. For so long as we
remain a “controlled company” under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance
rules, including an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors or that we have to
establish a nominating committee and a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors. If we elect to rely on one
or more of the exemptions, you will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these
corporate governance requirements. Currently, we do not have a majority of independent directors on our board.
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 covers us downgrades our ADSs or publishes 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.
The sale or availability for sale, or perceived sale or availability for sale, of substantial amounts of our ADSs could adversely
affect their market price.
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. As of March 31, 2023, we had 137,172,601 ordinary shares outstanding (excluding the 3,580,150 ordinary shares issued to
our depositary bank for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under our
share incentive plan). TM Home, SINA and Tencent held an aggregate of approximately 83.3% of our ordinary shares outstanding as of
March 31, 2023. The sale or perceived sale of a substantial amount of our ADSs by any of these principal shareholders could adversely
affect the prevailing market price for our ADSs. Such sales or perceived sales also might make it more difficult for us to sell equity or
equity-related securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate. In addition, if we pay for our future acquisitions in
whole or in part with additionally issued ordinary shares, your ownership interests in our company would be diluted and this, in turn,
could have an adverse effect on the price of our ADSs.
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Our articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could have a material adverse effect on the rights of holders of
our ordinary shares and ADSs.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company
or cause us to engage in change-of-control transactions. These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an
opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of
our company in a tender offer or similar transaction. For example, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our
shareholders, to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to fix their designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative
participating, optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend rights, conversion rights,
voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights associated with our
ordinary shares, in the form of ADS, or otherwise. Preferred shares could be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a
change in control of our company or make removal of management more difficult. If our board of directors decides to issue preferred
shares, the price of our ADSs may fall and the voting and other rights of the holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs may be materially
and adversely affected.
You may 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.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Our corporate affairs are
governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, the Companies Act (As Revised)
of the Cayman Islands and the common law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against the directors, actions
by minority shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors to us under Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the
common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial
precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the English common law, the decisions of whose courts are of persuasive authority, but
are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary 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, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as
Delaware, have more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition,
shareholders of Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the
United States.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect
corporate records (except for the memorandum and articles of association, our register of mortgages and charges and special resolutions
of our shareholders) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our existing
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 motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection
with a proxy contest.
Certain corporate governance practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, differ significantly from
requirements for companies incorporated in other jurisdictions such as the United States. Currently, we do not plan to rely on home
country practice with respect to any corporate governance matter. However, if we choose to follow home country practice in the future,
our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they otherwise would under rules and regulations applicable to U.S. domestic
issuers.
As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of
actions taken by management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a
company incorporated in the United States.
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Judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable in our home jurisdiction.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and a substantial majority of our assets are located outside the United States. A
significant percentage of our current operations are conducted in China. In addition, a significant majority of our current directors and
officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect
service of process within the United States upon us or these persons or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the
United States in the event that you believe that 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 the Cayman Islands and of China may render you unable to enforce a
judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
There is no statutory recognition 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. A foreign money
judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any
re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the
Cayman Islands 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 (i) was given by a foreign court of competent
jurisdiction, (ii) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (iii) is final
and conclusive, (iv) is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty, (v) is not inconsistent with a Cayman Islands judgment in respect of the
same matter, and (vi) 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. A Cayman Islands court may stay enforcement proceedings if
concurrent proceedings are being brought elsewhere.
It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigation or collect evidence within China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigation that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter
of law or practicality in China. For example, 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 Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of
mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law, or Article 177, 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. While detailed interpretation of or implementation rules under Article 177 have yet to be
promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within
China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests. See also “—Risks Related to Our ADSs—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” for risks associated with investing in us as a Cayman Islands company.
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You, as holders of ADSs, may have fewer rights than holders of our ordinary shares and must act through the depositary to
exercise those rights.
Holders of ADSs do not have the same rights of our shareholders and may only exercise the voting rights with respect to the
underlying ordinary shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under our memorandum and articles of
association, the minimum notice period required to convene a general meeting is seven calendar days. When a general meeting is
convened, you may not receive sufficient notice of a shareholders’ meeting to permit you to withdraw the underlying ordinary shares
represented by your ADSs to allow you to cast your vote with respect to any specific matter. In addition, the depositary and its agents
may not be able to send voting instructions to you or carry out your voting instructions in a timely manner. We will make all reasonable
efforts to cause the depositary to extend voting rights to you in a timely manner, but 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 ordinary shares represented by your ADSs.
Furthermore, the depositary and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote, for the manner in
which any vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may lack
recourse if the underlying ordinary shares represented by your ADSs are not voted as you requested. In addition, in your capacity as an
ADS holder, you will not be able to call a shareholders’ meeting.
The return of your investment our ADSs will primarily depend upon any future price appreciation of our ADS.
Subject to our memorandum and articles of association and the laws of the Cayman Islands, our board of directors has complete
discretion as to whether to distribute dividends. Our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but not exceeding the
amount recommended by our board of directors. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount
and form of dividends will depend on, among other things, our results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus,
the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors
deemed relevant by our board of directors. Accordingly, the return on your investment in our ADSs will likely depend primarily upon
any future price appreciation of our ADSs. There is no guarantee that our ADSs will appreciate in value or even maintain the price 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.
You may not receive dividends or other distributions on our 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
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 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 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 not be able to participate in rights offerings and may experience dilution of your holdings as a result.
We may, from time to time, distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire securities. Under the deposit
agreement, the depositary will not distribute rights to holders of ADSs unless the distribution and sale of rights and the securities to
which these rights relate are either exempt from registration under the Securities Act with respect to all holders of ADSs, or are
registered under the provisions of the Securities Act. The depositary may, but is not required to, attempt to sell these undistributed rights
to third parties, and may allow the rights to lapse. We may be unable to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act,
and we are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to these rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to have
a registration statement declared effective. Accordingly, holders of ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may
experience dilution of their holdings as a result.
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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 deem 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.
We believe that we were a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for the
taxable year ended December 31, 2022, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders.
We will be classified as a “passive foreign investment company”, or “PFIC” for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any
taxable year, if either (i) 75% or more of our gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (ii) 50% or more
of the value of our assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to assets that produce
or are held for the production of passive income (“the asset test”). Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat the variable interest
entities as being owned by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operation of
such entities but also because we are entitled to substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their
operating results in our consolidated financial statements.
Based upon the composition of our assets (in particular the retention of a substantial amount of cash), and the market price of
our ADSs, we believe that we were a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022,
and we will likely be a PFIC for our current taxable year unless the market price of our ADSs increases and/or we invest a substantial
amount of the cash and other passive assets we hold in assets that produce or are held for the production of active income.
If we are classified as a PFIC in any taxable year, a U.S. holder (as defined in “Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax
Considerations”) may incur significantly increased U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of the
ADSs or ordinary shares and on the receipt of distributions on the ADSs or ordinary shares to the extent such gain or distribution is
treated as an “excess distribution” under the U.S. federal income tax rules. Further, if we are classified as a PFIC for any year during
which a U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years
during which such U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares. Each U.S. holder is urged to consult its tax advisor concerning the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares if we are treated as a PFIC for any taxable year,
including the possibility of making a “mark-to-market” election.
See the discussion under “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive
Foreign Investment Company Rules” concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the ADSs or ordinary
shares if we are or become classified as a PFIC, including the possibility of making a “mark-to-market” election.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A. History and Development of the Company
Leju Holdings Limited was incorporated as our holding company in November 2013 by E-House, a leading real estate services
company in China listed on the NYSE at the time. E-House had remained our parent company and controlling shareholder after our
initial public offering in April 2014 until December 30, 2016. Substantially all of our operations are conducted through the PRC
subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities under China Online Housing Technology Corporation, or China Online Housing,
Omnigold Holdings Limited, or Omnigold, China E-Real Estate Holdings Limited, or E-Real, and E-House China (Tianjin) Holdings
Limited, or E-House Tianjin, each of which became our subsidiary in December 2013 as part of a restructuring by E-House. China
Online Housing was incorporated as a joint venture of SINA and E-House in 2008 to operate the SINA real estate and home furnishing
website and related business, including online advertising services. China Online Housing became a consolidated subsidiary of E-House
in 2009 and a wholly owned subsidiary of E-House in 2012. Omnigold was incorporated by E-House in October 2010 to operate the
home furnishing services business and is currently 84% owned by us. E-Real and E-House Tianjin were incorporated by E-House in June
2011 and March 2012, respectively, and are wholly owned by us. E-Real was incorporated to operate the real estate e-commerce
business. E-House Tianjin supports our real estate e-commerce business.
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Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in the internet information services and advertising
businesses, we conduct such activities through contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities in China. Our e-commerce
business with respect to new residential properties is operated through our contractual arrangements with Leju Hao Fang, formerly
known as Shanghai Yi Xin E-Commerce Co., Ltd., and its shareholders. Our e-commerce business with respect to home furnishing is
operated through our contractual arrangements with Beijing Jiajujiu and its shareholders. Our online advertising business for new
residential properties websites and our secondary listings business are operated through our contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju
and its shareholders. We have entered into, through our PRC subsidiaries, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng, a
series of contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders. As a result of
these contractual arrangements, Leju Holdings Limited, through PRC subsidiaries, is the primary beneficiary of these PRC entities and
accounts for them as variable interest entities, and consolidates the financial results of these entities into our financial statements in
accordance with U.S. GAAP. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C.
Organizational Structure”.
On April 17, 2014, our ADSs commenced trading on the NYSE under the symbol “LEJU”. We raised from our initial public
offering approximately $101.4 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and the offering expenses payable by
us. Concurrently with our initial public offering, we also raised from Tencent in a private placement $18.9 million in net proceeds after
deducting estimated fees and expenses payable by us.
On May 20, 2022, we effected a change in the ratio of our ADSs to ordinary shares from one ADS representing one ordinary
share to one ADS representing ten ordinary shares. Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this annual report concerning share
and per share data gives retroactive effect to the ADS Ratio Change.
Our Relationship with E-House Enterprise
On November 4, 2020, E-House Enterprise completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in our company. E-House Enterprise
purchased (i) 51,925,996 ordinary shares from Mr. Xin Zhou and certain of his affiliated entities (the “Zhou Parties”) by issuing to the
Zhou Parties 166,918,440 of its ordinary shares (“E-House Enterprise Shares”), and (ii) 24,475,251 ordinary shares of Leju from SINA
Corporation and an affiliated entity thereof (the “SINA Parties”) by issuing to the SINA Parties 78,676,790 E-House Enterprise Shares.
Upon completion of these transactions, E-House Enterprise acquired the beneficial ownership of 76,401,247 ordinary shares of us, and
we became a subsidiary of E-House Enterprise and our financial results have been consolidated into the accounts of E-House Enterprise
since then. On November 24, 2021, TM Home Limited (“TM Home”), a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited
liability and owned as to 70.23% and 29.77% by E-House Enterprise and Alibaba Investment Limited (“Alibaba Investment”),
respectively, completed the acquisition of an aggregate of 55.8% interest in our issued share capital. TM Home purchased 76,401,247 of
our ordinary shares from E-House Enterprise by issuing to the E-House Enterprise 6,854,839 of its ordinary shares. As of March 31,
2023, TM Home owned 76,401,247 ordinary shares of us, representing approximately 55.7% of our total outstanding ordinary shares.
In July 2020, E-House Enterprise entered into a business cooperation agreement with a subsidiary of Alibaba, and the two
parties have agreed to cooperate in areas including online-offline real estate transaction, digital marketing and after-sale services with the
goal of enhancing the digital and intellectual capabilities of the real estate service industry. Alibaba will closely collaborate with E-House
Enterprise and us to build an online real estate marketing platform and digital transaction network, with E-House Enterprise being the
operator of online transaction services on the platform and we being the operator of digital marketing services. To our knowledge,
Alibaba beneficially owned 8.32% of E-House Enterprise’s outstanding shares as of March 31, 2023.
Leju has become aware that E-House Enterprise announced proposed restructuring of certain notes previously issued by E-
House Enterprise (the “Restructuring”). As a result of a series of steps in connection with the proposed Restructuring, a special purpose
vehicle established for the holders of certain notes of E-House Enterprise (the “Creditor SPV”), and Alibaba Investment and its affiliate
will hold approximately 54.207% and 10.793% of the shares of TM Home, respectively, which will result in E-House Enterprise ceasing
to be a controlling beneficial owner of Leju. The remaining 35% of the shares of TM Home will be held by E-House Enterprise and its
affiliates, of which 15% will be transferred to a special purpose vehicle held by the members of senior management of TM Home
appointed by E-House Enterprise. E-House Enterprise will further use reasonable endeavors to sell or procure the sale of the shares of
TM Home held by the Creditor SPV and Alibaba Investment, which will cause further changes in the beneficial ownership of Leju. The
potential change in Leju’s controlling shareholders is subject to the effectiveness of the proposed Restructuring, including the approval of
the proposed Restructuring by E-House Enterprise’s noteholders.
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We also have ongoing relationship with E-House, an affiliate of E-House Enterprise. Our agreements with E-House include a
master transaction agreement, an offshore transitional services agreement (as amended), an onshore transitional services agreement (as
amended), a non-competition agreement and an onshore cooperation agreement. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions— Transactions and Agreements with E-House.”
Our Relationship with SINA
Through an agreement entered into between SINA and E-House in 2009, we own SINA’s real estate operations. To a large
extent, the operations and revenues of our business rely on SINA’s cooperation with us. The domain names of some major websites of
our business are owned by SINA and licensed to us through agreements which we initially entered into with SINA in 2009 with terms
through 2019 and which we amended and restated in 2014 to extend through 2024. A significant number of users of these websites are
linked through other SINA websites. Pursuant to an advertising inventory agency agreement with SINA, we are the exclusive agent of
SINA for selling advertising to the real estate advertisers through 2024.
On March 21, 2017, we entered into a registration rights agreement with SINA, which grants SINA the same registration rights
with respect to our ordinary shares as those granted to E-House and Tencent under an investor rights agreement dated March 31, 2014.
See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Transactions and
Agreements with SINA” for more information.
Our Relationship with Tencent
In March 2014, pursuant to a share purchase and subscription agreement we entered into with E-House and Tencent, Tencent
acquired from E-House 19,201,800 of our ordinary shares, or 15% of our total outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis, including all
options and restricted shares and any other rights to acquire our shares that were granted and outstanding, for $180 million in cash.
Concurrent with the consummation of our initial public offering, Tencent purchased 2,029,420 ordinary shares from us at a price per
ordinary share equal to the initial public offering price per ordinary shares to maintain a 15% equity interest in us on a fully diluted basis
as of the consummation of our initial public offering. In connection with the sale of shares to Tencent, we have entered into an investor
rights agreement on March 31, 2014 with E-House and Tencent, which grants E-House and Tencent certain registration rights with
respect to our ordinary shares owned by them, grants certain board representation rights to Tencent and places certain restrictions on the
transfer of our ordinary shares by E-House or Tencent.
In January 2019, we entered into a series of exclusive advertising agency agreements with Tencent. Pursuant to the exclusive
advertising agency agreements, we are the exclusive real property advertising agent of Tencent for selling advertising to real estate
advertisers in certain areas of China, including, Tianjin and Sichuan, Anhui, Shanxi, Guangxi and Fujian provinces. In March 2019, we
entered into an advertising agency agreement with Tencent, pursuant to which we are the real property advertising agent of Tencent in
certain other areas of China. In January 2020, we renewed and entered into advertising agency agreements with Tencent, pursuant to
which we are the real property advertising agent of Tencent in many areas of China. Pursuant to the exclusive advertising agency
agreements signed in April 2020, such areas of China were Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Tianjin, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Chongqing,
Sichuan and some cities in Jiangsu Province. In early 2021, we renewed our advertising agency agreements with Tencent, and the
cooperative areas remain the same as those in 2020. At the beginning of 2022, we renewed our advertising agency agreements with
Tencent, and the cooperative areas were Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Fujian, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and some
cities in Jiangsu Province.
See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Transactions and
Agreements with Tencent” for more information.
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Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at Level G, Building G, No.8 Dongfeng South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
100016, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 10 8474 1288. Our registered office in the Cayman
Islands is located at the offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman
Islands. In addition, we have 41 branch offices in mainland China and a branch office in Hong Kong. Our agent for service of process in
the United States is Law Debenture Corporate Services Inc., located at 400 Madison Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, New York 10017.
B. Business Overview
Overview
We are a leading O2O real estate services provider in China. We offer real estate e-commerce, online advertising and online
listing services through our online platform, which comprises local websites covering 400 cities, various mobile applications and Weixin
mini programs. We integrate our online platform with complementary offline services to facilitate residential property transactions. In
addition to our own websites, we also operate various real estate and home furnishing websites of SINA.
E-Commerce. We offer e-commerce services primarily in connection with new residential property sales. Our O2O services for
new residential properties include (i) selling discount coupons and facilitating online property viewing, physical property visits,
marketing events and pre-sale customer support, and (ii) issuing commission coupons and providing an information platform to
individual brokers on which they can refer potential individual property buyers to real estate developers with whom we work to earn
commission for the successful referrals.
Online Advertising. In respect of the online advertising services, we mainly provide comprehensive advertisement placement
services to advertisers, mainly property developers, through a packaged online cross-media and cross-platform product portfolio,
including those owned by us and other independent outlets. We currently sell advertising primarily on the SINA new residential
properties and home furnishing websites, which are operated by us. In addition, we are the exclusive advertising agent for the SINA
home page and non-real estate websites with respect to advertising sold to advertisers, including real estate developers and home
furnishing suppliers. We also purchased advertising resources from Tencent and other independent media outlets. In late 2017, we
launched Leju Finance, an online platform that provides information and news on the real estate industry, market, and developers
featuring their financial performances. We earn revenue primarily from advertising sales and brand promotion services provided to
advertisers, including real estate developers and home furnishing suppliers.
Listing. We offer fee-based online property listing services to real estate agents and free services to individual property sellers.
We currently operate the SINA real estate websites for listings of existing residential properties for sale or lease.
We generated total revenues of $719.5 million, $534.1 million and $343.2 million in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We had
net income of $21.0 million, net loss of $149.9 million, and net loss of $89.7 million in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Our O2O Platform
We offer multiple online and offline access points for consumers. We reach consumers through our own websites, various real
estate and home furnishing related websites on sina.com.cn that are operated by us, Weibo, Weixin, Tmall, various mobile applications,
and Weixin mini programs. These websites and mobile applications enable us to better reach potential purchasers for whom we are then
able to provide our offline services. We also provide complementary offline services to cultivate customer loyalty and ensure superior
customer experience.
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Websites
Our internet presence includes local real estate websites across China that we either operate directly or outsource to local
outsourcing partners. These local websites provide region-specific real estate news, information, property data and access to online
communities to real estate consumers and participants. We believe our local presence in each of these cities enables us to provide
services that are tailored to local conditions, enhancing the attractiveness of our websites to consumer and to advertisers who seek
targeted advertising opportunities.
Through our direct operations and outsourcing to local partners we operate websites in every province of China. We operate the
following websites:
● new residential property websites, including house.sina.com.cn and leju.com, where viewers are automatically directed to a
local website with localized information and services, covering 400 cities; on leju.com, we offer customers the ability to
purchase discount coupons for property purchases;
● existing residential property focused websites, including esf.sina.com.cn and esf.leju.com, where viewers are automatically
directed to a local website with localized information and services;
● home furnishings website, jiaju.sina.com.cn, which is a platform to offer information with respect to home furnishing and for
distributors to offer home furnishings to consumers; viewers have access to localized information on home furnishing; and
● real estate media website, including lejucaijing.com, a B2B platform, which provides information and news on the real estate
industry, market and developers featuring their financial performances.
We sell online advertising on each of our direct-operated local websites covering 74 cities. We also outsource 326 local websites
to third parties that pay us fixed fees for the right to operate the websites. The amount of user traffic on the websites that we own or
operate, our ability to achieve user demographic characteristics that are attractive to advertisers, and our ability to demonstrate such user
traffic and demographic characteristics through website traffic tracking tools and reporting systems are important factors in maintaining
our advertising revenue from websites that we operate directly and fixed fees from websites that we outsource to third parties. We track
such data internally and identify cities to convert to direct operations on an ongoing basis.
Mobile Applications
Our major mobile applications include “Leju Home Purchase” (an upgraded version of “Pocket Leju”), “Lai Ke” and “Leju
Finance”, each of which has version for the iOS and Android operating systems.
● Leju Home Purchase, an upgraded version of Pocket Leju, is a comprehensive and professional real estate e-commerce
platform. It provides personalized services to consumers and potential buyers of new and existing homes, and potential
residential renters. These services include local market news, scheduling home visits, selection, access to purchase discounts,
special offer recommendations, local housing price interpretations, purchase guides, property assessment, tax calculation,
housing loan calculation and others.
● Lai Ke is a communication tool between property consultants and potential home buyers. It pushes information to potential
home buyers through real-time big data analytics and helps property consultants reach out to targeted clients.
● Leju Finance is a mobile app, which provides information and news on the real estate industry, market and developers featuring
their financial performances.
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In March 2014, we launched our mobile e-commerce platform based on (i) existing mobile applications developed by our
company, including “Leju Home Purchase” (an upgraded version of “Pocket Leju”), and (ii) Weibo and Weixin, two of China’s leading
social media platforms. Our mobile platform aims to connect home buyers and developers and real estate agents through mobile devices
to allow potential buyers to view detailed information about real estate projects, conduct live chats with sales agents, make appointments
for property viewing, reserve individual units, and purchase discount coupons. Our mobile e-commerce platform will also connect real
estate sales personnel and agents with potential home buyers and sellers, including through live chat services, in addition to providing
updated customer data and analysis and a facility for making appointments for site visits.
In June 2014, we officially launched the first “Weixin Home Promotion”, using the Weixin platform as an integral part of our
mobile e-commerce platform. In July 2014, we upgraded our mobile e-commerce platform to consolidate all of our mobile resources to
provide developers with three unique groups of mobile promotional tools, including media channels, communication tools and e-
commerce tools, to further enhance mobile marketing for our clients. Since then we have continually added new product offerings on our
mobile platform, including various interactive marketing games.
In July 2015, we launched an innovative mobile product in cooperation with Didi Chuxing, a leading mobile transportation
platform in China, to arrange individual site visits for customers using private cars.
Complementary Offline Services
Our offline services include physical property visits and a call center, which enables our website viewers to contact us or
representatives of property developers for information on new residential properties and our services. Our services are also available at
developers’ show rooms and through real estate brokers. We also organize and conduct offline marketing events for property developers
to promote their new resident properties.
Our Services
We offer e-commerce services in connection with new residential property sales; online advertising services in connection with
new residential property sales and home furnishing; and online listing services for existing residential properties.
E-Commerce
Our e-commerce revenue is primarily derived from the sale of discount coupons for new residential properties that are promoted
by developers and the commission paid by the developers from the commission coupon business. We commenced the sale of discount
coupons from the first quarter of 2012 and the sale of commission coupons from the second half of 2022. Our revenues generated from
e-commerce services in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were $547.9 million, $411.1 million and $278.5 million, respectively, representing 76.2%,
77.0% and 81.1%, respectively, of our total revenues for those periods.
O2O Services for New Residential Properties
Our O2O offering includes selling discount coupons for new residential properties. Our O2O services can be accessed by
prospective purchasers through the real estate website of SINA which we operate and our website, leju.com, as well as through our
mobile applications. Prospective purchasers can also access our services at show houses for new residential properties and through real
estate developers.
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Discount Coupons. A discount coupon entitles a purchaser to purchase a property from the property developer at a particular
development at a discount from the advertised price. Discount coupons can be purchased by prospective property purchasers online at
leju.com and house.sina.com.cn, and their respective local websites as well as offline in showrooms for new property developments. We
enter into arrangements with developers whereby we offer O2O services, including the sale of discount coupons, to promote and
facilitate property sales. Each such arrangement is specific to a particular development. The arrangement may terminate at a pre-agreed
date or continue until all properties at the development have been sold, as agreed in advance by the developer and us. Coupons may
expire on a stated expiry date, typically at the end of a promotional period, or when all properties at the development to which the
coupon relates have been sold. When a prospective property purchaser purchases a discount coupon as part of our O2O services, the
purchaser remits the payment for the coupon to an account maintained by the purchaser with an independent payment platform provider
or to Leju’s Alipay or Weixin pay accounts directly. Upon confirmation from a purchaser that a discount coupon is redeemed to purchase
property, the payment for the discount coupon is transferred to us. However, if for any reason the coupon is not redeemed, the payment is
refunded to the purchaser and we do not earn revenue from the transaction.
Commission coupons. We issue commission coupons and provide an information platform to individual brokers on which they
can refer potential individual property buyers to real estate developers with whom we work to earn commission for the successful
referrals. As long as the potential buyer who is referred by the individual broker completes a specific sale transaction with the real estate
developer, the individual broker will redeem the commission coupon for the successful referral, and we can earn the commission from
the developer for the successful referral. We will recognize service revenue at a certain point in time when the obligations were fulfilled
which were confirmed by real estate developers. At the same time, the payment for the commission coupons by individual brokers is
transferred to us. However, if for any reason the coupon is not redeemed, the payment will be refunded to the individual broker. Any
commissions and other payments received in advance will be deferred until the obligations are fulfilled. We will pay commissions for the
individual brokers’ successful referrals only after the redemption of the commission coupons and the confirmation of the successful
referrals from real estate developers. In order to promote the commission coupon business, we issued a majority of the commission
coupons in 2022 for free or with small considerations.
The following table sets forth certain operating metrics with respect to our sales of coupons for the periods specified.
Number of coupons issued to prospective purchasers (number of transactions)
Number of coupons redeemed (number of transactions)(1)
Note:
Six months
ended
June 30, 2022
Six months
ended
December 31, 2022
35,794
35,214
31,456
35,262
(1) The number of coupons issued to prospective purchasers that were used by the purchaser to obtain a discount in connection with a
property purchase during the period or to obtain the commission from real estate developers for the successful referral. We recognize
revenue from the sale coupons that are redeemed. In terms of the commission coupon business, in addition to the redemption of
coupons, the confirmation from developers to certify the fulfillment of the obligation would be a pre-condition to recognize revenue.
See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies.”
We have entered into arrangements with China Unionpay to use its payment platform to collect payments for discount coupons.
The term of this agreement has been extended to 2025. Either party may terminate the agreement upon 30 days written notice to the other
party. Under the agreement, China Unionpay provides customers with the ability to make online or on-site payments.
Online Advertising
The majority of our online advertising revenues are generated from sale of advertising on real estate and home furnishing
websites to advertisers including real estate developers and home furnishing suppliers. Since the second quarter of 2016, we started to
generate advertising revenues from our contractor platform 7gz. com. Our revenues generated from advertising services in 2020, 2021
and 2022 were $170.8 million, $122.5 million and $64.7 million, respectively, representing 23.7%, 22.9% and 18.9%, respectively, of our
total revenues for those periods.
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We operate the SINA real estate website, house.sina.com.cn, and the SINA home furnishings website, jiaju.sina.com.cn, and we
are entitled to all advertising revenues from these websites. In addition, pursuant to an agency agreement with SINA, we are the
exclusive advertising agent of the SINA homepage and non-real estate websites, for advertising sold to advertisers, including real estate
developers and home furnishing suppliers. We are entitled to 85% of the revenue derived from advertising on these other websites.
Leveraging SINA’s strong brand recognition, market influence in China’s online space and its large user base, we help real estate
advertisers reach their target audiences in many of China’s major cities. Real estate advertisers primarily include real estate developers,
agents and brokers as well as suppliers and providers of home furnishing and improvement products and services.
Furthermore, as the exclusive real estate advertising agency for SINA non-real estate websites, we facilitate advertising by our
real estate advertising clients on the SINA real estate websites as well as non-real estate websites. Real estate advertising offerings on
SINA websites include online advertising and sponsorship arrangements. Online advertising arrangements allow advertisers to place
advertisements on particular areas of SINA websites, in particular formats, such as banners and text links, and over particular periods of
time. Sponsorship arrangements allow advertisers to sponsor a particular area on SINA websites in exchange for a fixed payment over
the contract period. Real estate advertising on SINA websites also includes revenue from outsourcing arrangements with local business
partners. Revenues from outsourcing arrangements are on a fixed fee and recognized ratably over the term of the contract.
We and SINA have entered into a number of agreements governing our relationship with SINA, including an advertising
inventory agency agreement, an amended and restated domain name and content license agreement, an amended and restated trademark
license agreement and an amended and restated software license and support services agreement. For descriptions of these agreements,
see “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Transactions and Agreements with
SINA”.
In 2019, we entered into a series of advertising agency agreements with Tencent, pursuant to which we are the real property
advertising agent of Tencent, including having exclusive advertising rights in certain areas of China. We also generated advertising
revenues from various other websites and mobile applications such as Weixin, Weibo, Toutiao and UC Web from 2019 to 2021. We earn
revenue from the sale of online advertising on each of these websites. Revenues for online advertising are typically based on a fixed fee
for the period of the advertising and are recognized ratably.
Listing
We offer online residential listing services for sales and leases of existing residential properties. Our revenues generated from
online listing services in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were $0.8 million, $0.5 million and $11,274, respectively. Real estate brokers use our
listing services. Payment of the listing fees entitles them to post multiple listings for properties over the subscription period. Our listing
subscription contracts are typically for a term of up to one year with fixed fees payable on a monthly basis. The subscription fees are
generally fixed and vary from city to city. Our listing customers submit property listings by logging on to our platform directly. Once a
listing has been uploaded to our website, it can be viewed for free by visitors to our website. All visitors to our website have access to
listing information free of charge, 24-hours a day. With respect to listings submitted by agents or brokers, the name of the agent or broker
appears as a link, offering viewers access to additional listings promoted by the same agent or broker.
Brand Promotion
We employ a variety of marketing and brand promotion methods to enhance our brand recognition and attract developer clients
and real estate purchasers, including advertising arrangements and the Leju Membership Club. Membership in the Leju Membership
Club is free. Users can sign up to join the Leju Membership Club online at our website, leju.com, and become members following email
or phone number confirmation through text message.
We conduct advertising activities in 74 cities where we directly operate local websites through promotional events for
developers and other industry participants, including industry award ceremonies, panel discussions and similar events.
Sales and Marketing
Most of our new home advertising revenue and home furnishing advertising revenue is derived from our direct sales force. We
also derive new home and home furnishing advertising revenue from sales through third party advertising agencies.
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We have built a sales and marketing team that is experienced in the online advertising, internet and real estate industries. Our
sales and marketing team comprised 336 personnel as of December 31, 2022. Our sales and marketing personnel work closely with our
customers in local markets and help us gain insight into developments in these local markets, the competitive landscape and new market
opportunities, which help us set our prices and strategies for each locality.
To motivate our sales and marketing personnel, a majority of their compensation consists of performance incentives such as
commissions and bonuses. Sales quotas are assigned to all sales personnel according to monthly, quarterly and annual sales plans. In
addition, we have adopted a merit-based promotion system to motivate our sales personnel.
Seasonality
The real estate sector in China is characterized by seasonal fluctuations, which may cause our revenues to fluctuate significantly
from quarter to quarter. The first quarter of each year generally contributes the smallest portion of our annual revenues due to reduced
real estate transactions, advertising and marketing activities of our customers in the PRC real estate industry during and around the
Chinese New Year holiday, which generally occurs in January or February of each year and due to the cold winter weather in northern
China. In contrast, the third and fourth quarters of each year generally contribute a larger portion of our annual revenues due to increased
real estate transaction, advertising and marketing activity during the months of September and October.
Competition
We face competition from other companies in each of our primary business activities. We compete with these companies
primarily on our ability to attract consumers to our websites. We compete for consumers principally on the basis of the quality and
quantity of real estate listings and other information content and services. We also compete for developers’ business on the basis on
website traffic volume, consumer loyalty, geographic coverage and service offerings. We also compete for qualified employees with
skills and experience related to sales, real estate services, advertising, technology and the internet industry. We face various competitors
with whom we may compete on one or more lines of business. For example, we compete with fang.com, formerly soufun.com, a leading
real estate internet portal in China and compete with anjuke.com, which is operated by 58.com, a major online real estate listing platform
in China. In addition, we also compete with mobile-based providers of news, such as toutiao.com, for our online advertising business.
Our competitors may have more established brand names, larger visitor numbers and more extensive distribution channels than we do,
either overall, or in specific regions in which we operate. We also compete with traditional advertising media such as general-purpose
and real estate-focused newspapers, magazines, television and outdoor advertising that compete for spending on real estate advertising
and listings.
Some of our competitors may have greater access to capital markets, more financial and other resources and a longer operating
history than us. For instance, major general-purpose websites, which provide real estate and real estate-related information services, may
have an advantage over us due to their more established brand name, larger user base and extensive internet distribution channels.
Technology
To better serve our customers, we have utilized our key proprietary technologies and developed a technology infrastructure that
is specifically used for our real estate and home related internet website services. The key components of our technology platform
include:
● Search platform. Our search platform is designed to support targeted searches of our listing databases. Besides the key word
search function, our search platform provides additional search functions that improve search accuracy with various search
criteria, including searches based on the location, price and type of the property. In addition, our search engine is able to refine
the search by conditional filtering and aggregation of the search results.
● Large-scale system infrastructure. With a combination of proprietary in-house and third-party solutions, we have designed our
system to handle large amounts of data flow with a high degree of scalability and reliability. We use parallel computing
technology and clusters of low-cost computers to handle high-volume visitor traffic and process large amounts of information.
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● Anti-fraud and anti-spam technology. We have anti-fraud technology incorporated in our IT systems with a view to addressing
the potential for non-compliant activities at our local branch offices. We maintain advertising price and discount data in our
customer relationship management master file. Our system automatically triggers a risk alert for any deviation from pre-set
discounts, in which case, a pre-approval email from our headquarters is required. Our system also generates a weekly report of
any such exceptions for review by our headquarters. We also have an anti-spam system through which we are able to detect
identify and filter spam messages with a view to protecting our staff. We attempt to continuously improve the accuracy and
effectiveness of our technology through machine-learning capability and customizable rules.
We maintain our servers and backup servers in Beijing. We believe our server hosting partners provide significant operating
advantages, including high-quality bandwidth, constant room temperature and an enhanced ability to protect our systems from power
loss, break-ins and other external causes of service interruption. We have not experienced any material system failures.
Insurance
We maintain property insurance to cover potential damages to a portion of our property. In addition, we provide medical,
unemployment and other insurance to our employees in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. We do not maintain
insurance policies covering losses relating to our systems and do not have business interruption insurance.
Regulation
We are subject to a number of laws and regulations in China relating to real estate service companies. This section summarizes
the principal PRC laws and regulations that are currently applicable to our business and operations.
General
The telecommunications industry, including internet information services, is highly regulated by the PRC government.
Regulations issued or implemented by the State Council, the MIIT and other relevant government authorities cover virtually every aspect
of telecommunications network operations, including entry into the telecommunications industry, the scope of permissible business
activities, tariff policy and foreign investment.
The MIIT, under the leadership of the State Council, is responsible for, among other things:
● formulating and enforcing telecommunications industry policy, standards and regulations;
● granting licenses to provide telecommunications and internet services;
● formulating tariff and service charge policies for telecommunications and internet services;
● supervising the operations of telecommunications and internet service providers; and
● maintaining fair and orderly market competition among operators.
In addition to the regulations promulgated by the central PRC government, some local governments have also promulgated local
rules applicable to internet companies operating within their respective jurisdictions.
In 1994, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Advertising Law, which was
amended in October 2018 and April 2021. In addition, the SAMR and other ministries and agencies have issued regulations that further
regulate our advertising business, as discussed below.
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Restrictions on Foreign Investment in the Value-Added Telecommunication Industry
In September 2000, the State Council promulgated the Telecommunications Regulations, as amended in July 2014 and February
2016, which categorize all telecommunications businesses in China as either basic telecommunications businesses or value-added
telecommunications businesses. According to the Classification of Telecommunications Business effective March 1, 2016 and amended
on June 6, 2019, internet information services are classified as value-added telecommunications businesses.
The State Council promulgated the Administrative Rules on Foreign-invested Telecommunications Enterprises in December
2001, as amended in September 2008, February 2016 and March 2022 and became effective in May 1, 2022, or the FITE Regulations.
The FITE Regulations set forth detailed requirements with respect to capitalization, investor qualifications and application procedures in
connection with the establishment of a foreign-invested telecommunications enterprise. Pursuant to these administrative rules, the
ultimate capital contribution ratio of the foreign investor or investors in a foreign-invested telecommunications enterprise that aims to
provide value-added telecommunications services may not exceed 50.0%. In addition, pursuant to the Special Administrative Measures
(Negative List) for the Access of Foreign Investment (Edition 2021) promulgated by the National Development and Reform Commission
(the “NDRC”) and the MOC on December 27, 2021 and the Catalog of Industries for Encouraging Foreign Investment (2022 Version)
which was promulgated on October 26, 2022 and became effective on January 1, 2023, other than E-commerce, domestic multiparty
communication, store and forward, and call center services, the permitted foreign investment in value-added telecommunications service
providers may not be more than 50%. However, for a foreign investor to acquire any equity interest in a value-added telecommunications
business in China, it must satisfy a number of stringent performance and operational experience requirements, including demonstrating a
track record and experience in operating a value-added telecommunications business overseas. Moreover, foreign investors that meet
these requirements must obtain approvals from the MIIT or its authorized local counterparts, which retain considerable discretion in
granting approvals.
In July 2006, the MIIT publicly released the Notice on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in Operating
Value-added Telecommunications Business, or the MIIT Notice, which reiterates certain provisions under the FITE Regulations.
According to the MIIT Notice, if any foreign investor intends to invest in a PRC telecommunications business, a foreign-invested
telecommunications enterprise must be established and such enterprise must apply for the relevant telecommunications business licenses.
Under the MIIT Notice, domestic telecommunications enterprises are prohibited from renting, transferring or selling a
telecommunications license to foreign investors in any form, and from providing any resources, premises, facilities and other assistance
in any form to foreign investors for their illegal operation of any telecommunications business in China.
Regulations relating to Internet Information Services
General
The provision of real estate and home-related and other content on internet websites is subject to applicable PRC laws, rules and
regulations relating to the telecommunications industry and the internet, and regulated by various government authorities, including the
MIIT and the SAMR. Under the applicable regulations, internet information services are classified as value-added telecommunications
businesses, and a commercial operator must obtain an ICP license from the MIIT or its relevant provincial counterparts in order to carry
out commercial internet information service operations in China. If an internet information service provider is not engaged in commercial
internet information service, it is only required to file a record with the MIIT or its relevant provincial counterparts. In addition, the
regulations also provide that operators involved in internet content provision in sensitive and strategic sectors, including news,
publishing, education, health care, medicine and medical devices, must obtain additional approvals from the relevant authorities in
relation to those sectors.
In compliance with these laws and regulations, Beijing Leju, the variable interest entity, Beijing Yisheng Leju Internet
Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the variable interest entity Beijing Jiajujiu, and Leju Hao Fang, the variable interest entity, each
hold a valid ICP license issued by the local provincial branch of the MIIT for the operation of our value-added telecommunication
business.
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The MIIT Notice requires that a value-added telecommunications business operator (or its shareholders) must own domain
names and trademarks used by it in the value-added telecommunications business, and have premises and facilities appropriate for such
business. To comply with the MIIT Notice, Beijing Leju, a consolidated variable interest entity, has been registered as the owner or is
applying to be the owner of the Chinese and English dual-language “Leju” trademark in several categories and has obtained the domain
names of leju.com and leju.cn. Beijing Yisheng Leju Online Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the variable interest entity Beijing
Jiajujiu, has registered the domain name of jiaju.com.
On December 31, 2022, CAC and three other authorities issued Administrative Provisions on Algorithm Recommendation for
Internet Information Services, which became effective on March 1, 2022, or the Algorithm Provisions. Pursuant to the Algorithm
Provisions, Algorithm recommendation service providers shall not take advantage of algorithm recommendation services to engage in
activities prohibited by laws and administrative regulations, such as endangering the national security and public interests, disturbing the
economic order and social order and infringing upon the legitimate rights and interests of others, and shall not take advantage of
algorithm recommendation services to disseminate information prohibited by laws and administrative regulations. Instead, algorithm
recommendation service providers shall take measures to prevent and reject the dissemination of adverse information. In Addition,
algorithm recommendation service providers shall fulfill their responsibilities as subjects for algorithm security, establish and improve
the management systems and technical measures for algorithm mechanism and principle review, scientific and technological ethics
review, user registration, information release review, data security and personal information protection, anti-telecommunications and
Internet fraud, security assessment and monitoring, and security incident emergency response, formulate and disclose the relevant rules
for algorithm recommendation services, and be equipped with professional staff and technical support appropriate to the scale of the
algorithm recommendation service.
Network Publication Service License
According to the Provisions on Network Publication Service Administration, jointly issued by the GAPPRFT and the MIIT in
February 2016, all entities that are engaged in network publication service in China must obtain the Network Publication Service License
from the GAPPRFT. Network publication service is broadly defined in the Provisions on Network Publication Service Administration
Regulation as the use of information networks to provide the public with digital works that have characteristics of publication such as
editing, creation or processing. The variable interest entities and their subsidiaries do not have network publication licenses. For content
which we believe are subject to the requirements of these licenses, such content is hosted by SINA through our contractual arrangement
with SINA. In the case that SINA does not possess the necessary licenses and permits, our content hosted by SINA is subject to the risk
of being suspended by government authorities. Moreover, we cannot assure you that government would not require us to obtain these
licenses separately for operation of our own websites and those websites licensed to us even if the underlying hosting of the relevant
content is provided by a qualified third party. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks related to Our Business—If we fail
to obtain or keep licenses, permits or approvals applicable to the various online real estate services provided by us, we may incur
significant financial penalties and other government sanctions”.
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Online Transmission of Audio-Visual Programs
The GAPPRFT and the MIIT jointly promulgated the Administrative Provisions on Internet Audio-visual Program Service, or
the Audiovisual Program Provisions, effective January 2008 and amended in August 2015. The Audio-visual Program Provisions apply
to the provision of audio-visual program services to the public via internet (including mobile network) within the territory of China.
Providers of internet audio-visual program services are required to obtain a License for Online Transmission of Audio-visual Programs
issued by the GAPPRFT or complete certain registration procedures with the GAPPRFT. Providers of internet audio-visual program
services are generally required to be either state-owned or state-controlled by the PRC government, and the business to be carried out by
such providers must satisfy the overall planning and guidance catalog for internet audio-visual program services determined by the
GAPPRFT. In May 2008, the GAPPRFT issued a Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Application and Approval of License for Online
Transmission of Audio-visual Programs, as amended in August 2015, which further sets forth detailed provisions concerning the
application and approval process regarding the License for Online Transmission of Audio-visual Programs. The notice also provides that
providers of internet audio-visual program services who engaged in such services prior to the promulgation of the Audio-visual Program
Provisions shall also be eligible to apply for the license so long as their violation of the laws and regulations (if any) is minor and can be
rectified timely and they have no record of violation during the latest three months prior to the promulgation of the Audio-visual Program
Provisions. In April 2010, the GAPPRFT issued the Internet Audio/Visual Program Services Categories (Provisional), as amended in
March 2017, which classified internet audio-visual programs into four categories. The variable interest entities and their subsidiaries do
not have Licenses for Online Transmission of Audio-visual Programs. For content which we believe is subject to the requirements of
these licenses, such content is hosted by SINA through our contractual arrangement with SINA. In the case that SINA does not possess
the necessary licenses and permits, our content hosted by SINA is subject to the risk of being suspended by government authorities.
Moreover, we cannot assure you that government would not require us to obtain these licenses separately for operation of our own
websites and those websites licensed to us even if the underlying hosting of the relevant content is provided by a qualified third party.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks related to Our Business—If we fail to obtain or keep licenses, permits or
approvals applicable to the various online real estate services provided by us, we may incur significant financial penalties and other
government sanctions”.
Regulations relating to Mobile Internet Application Information Services
According to the Provisions on Administration of Mobile Internet Application Information Services promulgated by the
Cyberspace Administration of China on June 29, 2016, which was amended and became effective on August 1, 2022, entities providing
information services through mobile internet application shall obtain relevant qualifications according to laws and regulations. Mobile
internet application provider shall not use mobile internet application program to carry out activities prohibited by laws and regulations,
such as endangering national security, disturbing public orders, and infringing other’s legal rights and interests, or use mobile internet
applications to produce, copy, publish and spread illegal information prohibited by laws and regulations. The Cyberspace Administration
of China shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of information on mobile internet applications. The local cyberspace
administrations shall be responsible for the supervision and administration of information on mobile internet application program within
the administrative regions.
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Regulations Relating to Internet Privacy
The PRC Constitution states that PRC law protects the freedom and privacy of communications of citizens and prohibits
infringement of these rights. In recent years, PRC government authorities have enacted legislation on internet use to protect personal
information from any unauthorized disclosure. The Network Information Protection Decision provides that electronic information that
identifies a citizen or involves privacy of any citizen is protected by law and must not be unlawfully collected or provided to others. ICP
operators collecting or using personal electronic information of citizens must specify the purposes, manners and scopes of information
collection and uses, obtain consent of the relevant citizens, and keep the collected personal information confidential. ICP operators are
prohibited from disclosing, tampering with, damaging, selling or illegally providing others with, collected personal information. ICP
operators are required to take technical and other measures to prevent the collected personal information from any unauthorized
disclosure, damage or loss. The Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services prohibit an ICP operator from insulting or
slandering a third party or infringing upon the lawful rights and interests of a third party. According to the Provisions on Protection of
Personal Information of Telecommunication and Internet Users, which was promulgated by MIIT and became effective in September
2013, telecommunication business operators and ICP operators are responsible for the security of the personal information of users they
collect or use in the course of their provision of services. Without obtaining the consent from the users, telecommunication business
operators and ICP operators may not collect or use the users’ personal information. The personal information collected or used in the
course of provision of services by the telecommunication business operators or ICP operators must be kept in strict confidence, and may
not be divulged, tampered with or damaged, and may not be sold or illegally provided to others. The ICP operators are required to take
certain measures to prevent any divulgence of, damage to, tampering with or loss of users’ personal information. In accordance with the
Cyber Security Law, network operators are required to collect and use personal information in compliance with the principles of
legitimacy, properness and necessity, and strictly within the scope of authorization by the subject of personal information unless
otherwise prescribed by laws or regulations. In the event of any unauthorized disclosure, damage or loss of collected personal
information, network operators must take immediate remedial measures, notify the affected users and report the incidents to the relevant
authorities in a timely manner. If any user knows that a network operator illegally collects and uses his or her personal information in
violation of laws, regulations or any agreement with the user, or the collected and stored personal information is inaccurate or wrong, the
user has the right to request the network operator to delete or correct the relevant collected personal information.
The relevant telecommunications authorities are further authorized to order ICP operators to rectify unauthorized disclosure.
ICP operators are subject to legal liability, including warnings, fines, confiscation of illegal gains, revocation of licenses or filings,
closing of the relevant websites, administrative punishment, criminal liabilities, or civil liabilities, if they violate relevant provisions on
internet privacy. Pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s
Congress in August 2015 and becoming effective in November 2015, the standards of crime of infringing citizens’ personal information
were amended accordingly and the criminal culpability of unlawful collection, transaction, and provision of personal information has
been reinforced. In addition, any ICP provider that fails to fulfill the obligations related to internet information security administration as
required by applicable laws and refuses to rectify upon orders, will be subject to criminal liability for (i) any dissemination of illegal
information in large scale; (ii) any severe effect due to the leakage of the client’s information; (iii) any serious loss of evidence of
criminal activities; or (iv) other severe situations, and any individual or entity that (x) sells or provides personal information to others
unlawfully, or (y) steals or illegally obtains any personal information, will be subject to criminal liability in severe situations. In addition,
the Interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the PRC on Several Issues Concerning the
Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Infringing Personal Information, effective in June 2017, have clarified certain
standards for the conviction and sentencing in relation to personal information infringement. The PRC government has the power and
authority to order ICP operators to turn over personal information if an internet user posts any prohibited content or engages in illegal
activities on the internet. The Civil Code further provides in a stand-alone chapter of right of personality and reiterate that the personal
information of a natural person shall be protected by the law. Any organization or individual shall legitimately obtain such personal
information of others in due course on a need-to-know basis and ensure the safety and privacy of such information, and refrain from
excessively handling or using such information.
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With respect to the security of information collected and used by mobile apps, pursuant to the Announcement of Conducting
Special Supervision against the Illegal Collection and Use of Personal Information by Apps, which was issued on January 23, 2019, app
operators should collect and use personal information in compliance with the Cyber Security Law and should be responsible for the
security of personal information obtained from users and take effective measures to strengthen the personal information protection.
Furthermore, app operators should not force their users to make authorization by means of bundling, suspending installation or in other
default forms and should not collect personal information in violation of laws, regulations or breach of user agreements. Such regulatory
requirements were emphasized by the Notice on the Special Rectification of Apps Infringing upon User’s Personal Rights and Interests,
which was issued by MIIT on October 31, 2019. On November 28, 2019, the CAC, the MIIT, the Ministry of Public Security and the
SAMR jointly issued the Methods of Identifying Illegal Acts of Apps to Collect and Use Personal Information. This regulation further
illustrates certain commonly-seen illegal practices of apps operators in terms of personal information protection, including “failure to
publicize rules for collecting and using personal information”, “failure to expressly state the purpose, manner and scope of collecting and
using personal information”, “collection and use of personal information without consent of users of such App”, “collecting personal
information irrelevant to the services provided by such app in violation of the principle of necessity”, “provision of personal information
to others without users’ consent”, “failure to provide the function of deleting or correcting personal information as required by laws” and
“failure to publish information such as methods for complaints and reporting”. Among others, any of the following acts of an app
operator will constitute “collection and use of personal information without consent of users”: (i) collecting an user’s personal
information or activating the permission for collecting any user’s personal information without obtaining such user’s consent; (ii)
collecting personal information or activating the permission for collecting the personal information of any user who explicitly refuses
such collection, or repeatedly seeking for user’s consent such that the user’s normal use of such app is disturbed; (iii) any user’s personal
information which has been actually collected by the app operator or the permission for collecting any user’s personal information
activated by the app operator is beyond the scope of personal information which such user authorizes such app operator to collect; (iv)
seeking for any user’s consent in a non-explicit manner; (v) modifying any user’s settings for activating the permission for collecting any
personal information without such user’s consent; (vi) using users’ personal information and any algorithms to directionally push any
information, without providing the option of non-directed pushing such information; (vii) misleading users to permit collecting their
personal information or activating the permission for collecting such users’ personal information by improper methods such as fraud and
deception; (viii) failing to provide users with the means and methods to withdraw their permission of collecting personal information;
and (ix) collecting and using personal information in violation of the rules for collecting and using personal information promulgated by
such app operator.
On August 22, 2019, the CAC promulgated the Children Information Protection Provisions, which took effect on October 1,
2019, requiring that before collecting, using, transferring or disclosing the personal information of a child, the Internet service operator
should inform the child’s guardians in a noticeable and clear manner and obtain their consents. Meanwhile, internet service operators
should take measures like encryption when storing children’s personal information. On March 12, 2021, the CAC and three other
authorities jointly issued the Rules on the Scope of Necessary Personal Information for Common Types of Mobile Internet Applications.
The Rules specifies the scope of necessary personal information to be collected each for a variety of common mobile internet
applications, such as maps and navigation apps, online ride-hailing apps, instant messaging apps, online community apps. Operators of
such apps shall not refuse to provide basic services to users on the ground of users’ refusal to provide their personal non-essential
information. On April 26, 2021, the MIIT issued the Interim Administrative Provisions on Personal Information Protection in Internet
Mobile Applications (Draft for Comment). The draft of the Interim Administrative Provisions on Personal Information Protection in
Internet Mobile Applications sets forth two principles of collection and utilization of personal information, namely “explicit consent” and
“minimum necessity.”
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On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress adopted the Personal Information Protection
Law which took effect on November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law requires, among others, that (i) the processing of
personal information should have a clear and reasonable purpose which should be directly related to the processing purpose, in a method
that has the least impact on personal rights and interests, and (ii) the collection of personal information should be limited to the minimum
scope necessary to achieve the processing purpose to avoid the excessive collection of personal information. Different types of personal
information and personal information processing will be subject to various rules on consent, transfer, and security. Entities handling
personal information shall bear responsibilities for their personal information handling activities, and adopt necessary measures to
safeguard the security of the personal information they handle. The entities failing to comply could be ordered to correct, suspend or
terminate the provision of services, and face confiscation of illegal income, fines or other penalties. On June 7, 2022, the Measures on
Security Assessment of Cross-Border Transfer of Data was released by the CAC, which became effective on September 1, 2022,
stipulating that before cross-border data transfer under certain circumstances, data processors shall make self-assessment of the risks, and
shall apply for security assessment. These laws and regulations require, among others, that the personal information and important data
generated and collected during the operations in the PRC should be stored within the PRC unless, prior to the intended data transfer,
certain specified criteria have been satisfied, such as a completed official security assessment carried out by the PRC government
authorities.
Regulations on Overseas Offering and Listing
On July 6, 2021, the relevant PRC government authorities issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down Illegal Securities
Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities
activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting
the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas-listed companies.
On December 27, 2021, the NDRC and the MOC jointly issued the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for
Foreign Investment Access (2021 Version), or the 2021 Negative List, which became effective on January 1, 2022. Pursuant to such
Special Administrative Measures, if a domestic company engaging in the prohibited business stipulated in the 2021 Negative List seeks
an overseas offering and listing, it shall obtain the approval from the competent governmental authorities. Besides, the foreign investors
of the company shall not be involved in the company’s operation and management, and their shareholding percentage shall be subject,
mutatis mutandis, to the relevant regulations on the domestic securities investments by foreign investors.
On December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of
Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Provisions, and the CSRC issued a draft of
Administration Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, or the Draft Administration
Measures, for public comments. According to the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administration Measures, the overseas offering and
listing by a domestic company, whether directly or indirectly, shall be filed with the CSRC. Specifically, the determination of an indirect
offering and listing will be conducted on a “substance over form” basis, and an offering and listing shall be considered as an indirect
overseas offering and listing by a domestic company if the issuer meets the following conditions: (i) the operating income, gross profit,
total assets, or net assets of the domestic enterprise in the most recent fiscal year was more than 50% of the relevant line item in the
issuer's audited consolidated financial statement for that year; and (ii) senior management personnel responsible for business operations
and management are mostly PRC citizens or are ordinarily resident in the PRC, and the main place of business is in the PRC or carried
out in the PRC. According to the Draft Administration 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 national laws and regulations and
relevant 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 there are material ownership disputes
over the equity, major assets, and core technology, etc. of the issuer; (iv) if, in the past three years, the 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, or are currently under judicial investigation for suspicion of
criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (v) if, in past three years, directors, supervisors, or senior
executives have been subject to administrative punishments for severe violations, or are currently under judicial investigation for
suspicion of criminal offenses, or are under investigation for suspicion of major violations; (vi) other circumstances as prescribed by the
State Council.
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According to the Draft Administration Measures, the issuer or its affiliated domestic company, as the case may be, shall file
with the CSRC (i) with respect to its initial public offering and listing within three business days, after its initial filing of the listing
application to the regulator in the place of the intended listing, (ii) with respect to its follow-on offering within three business days after
completion of the follow-on offering, (iii) with respect to its follow-on offering for purpose of acquiring specific assets, within three
business days after the first public announcement of the transaction, and (iv) with respect to listing by means of reverse takeover, share
swap, acquisition and similar transactions, within three business days after its initial filing of the listing application or the first public
announcement of the transaction, as the case may be. Non-compliance with the Draft Administration Measures or an overseas listing
completed in breach of Draft Administration Measures may result in a warning on the relevant domestic companies or a fine of 1-10
million RMB on them. If the circumstances are serious, they may be ordered to suspend their business or suspend their business pending
rectification, or their permits or businesses license may be revoked. Furthermore, the controlling shareholder, actual controllers,
directors, supervisors, and other legally appointed persons of the domestic enterprises may be warned, or fined between 500,000 - 5
million RMB either individually or collectively.
On February 17, 2023, the CSRC released the Trial Administrative Measures of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by
Domestic Companies, or the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and five supporting guidelines, which came into effect on March 31, 2023.
According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, (1) domestic companies that seek to offer or list securities overseas, both directly and
indirectly, should fulfill the filing procedure and report relevant information to the CSRC; if a domestic company fails to complete the
filing procedure or conceals any material fact or falsifies any major content in its filing documents, such domestic company may be
subject to administrative penalties, such as order to rectify, warnings, fines, and its controlling shareholders, actual controllers, the person
directly in charge and other directly liable persons may also be subject to administrative penalties, such as warnings and fines; (2) if the
issuer meets both of the following conditions, the overseas offering and listing shall be determined as an indirect overseas offering and
listing by a domestic company: (i) any of the total assets, net assets, revenues or profits of the domestic operating entities of the issuer in
the most recent accounting year accounts for more than 50% of the corresponding figure in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial
statements for the same period; (ii) its major operational activities are carried out in China or its main places of business are located in
China, or the senior managers in charge of operation and management of the issuer are mostly Chinese citizens or are domiciled in
China; and (3) where a domestic company seeks to indirectly offer and list securities in an overseas market, the issuer shall designate a
major domestic operating entity responsible for all filing procedures with the CSRC, and where an issuer makes an application for listing
in an overseas market, the issuer shall submit filings with the CSRC within three business days after such application is submitted.
On the same day, the CSRC also held a press conference for the release of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures and issued the
Notice on Administration for the Filing of Overseas Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies, which, among others, clarifies that the
domestic companies that have already been listed overseas on or before the effective date of the Overseas Listing Trial Measures (i.e.,
March 31, 2023) shall be deemed as existing issuers, or the Existing Issuers. Existing Issuers are not required to complete the filling
procedures, and they shall be required to file with the CSRC when subsequent matters such as refinancing are involved.
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According to the Overseas Listing Trial Measures, an overseas listed company shall file with the CSRC within three business
days after the completion of its subsequent securities offering on the same market, and an overseas listed company shall file with the
CSRC within three business days after its application of offering and listing on a different market. If an overseas listed company
purchases PRC domestic assets through a single or multiple acquisitions, share swaps, shares transfers or other means, and such purchase
constitutes direct or indirect listing of PRC domestic assets, a filing with the CSRC is also required. In addition, an overseas listed
company is required to report to the CSRC the occurrence of any of the following material events within three business days after the
occurrence and announcement thereof: (i) a change of control of the listed company; (ii) the investigation, sanction or other measures
undertaken by any foreign securities regulatory agencies or relevant competent authorities in respect of the listed company; (iii) a change
of listing status or transfer of listing segment; and (iv) the voluntary or mandatory delisting of the listed company. If there is any material
change of the principal business of the listed company after the overseas offering and listing so that the listed company is no longer
required to file with the CSRC, it shall file a specific report and a legal opinion issued by a domestic law firm to the CSRC within three
business days after the occurrence hereof.
Regulations relating to Information Content and Confidentiality of User Identity and Information
Internet content in China is also regulated and restricted from a state security standpoint. Pursuant to the Decision Regarding the
Protection of Internet Security enacted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, any effort to undertake the
following actions may be subject to criminal punishment in China:
● gain improper entry into a computer or system of national strategic importance;
● disseminate politically disruptive information;
● leak government secrets;
● spread false commercial information; or
● infringe intellectual property rights.
The Ministry of Public Security has also promulgated measures that prohibit the use of the internet in ways that, among other
things, result in the leakage of government secrets or the spread of socially destabilizing content. The Ministry of Public Security and its
local counterparts have supervision and inspection powers in this regard, and we may be subject to the jurisdiction of the local security
bureaus. If an internet information service provider violates these measures, the PRC government may revoke its license and shut down
its website.
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On December 15, 2019, the Cyberspace Administration of China promulgated the Provisions of Ecological Governance of
Network Information Content, which came into effect on 1 March 2020. According to the Provisions, a network information content
producer shall not make, copy or publish any illegal information containing: (i) violation the fundamental principles set forth in the
Constitution; (ii) jeopardizing national security, divulging state secrets, subverting the state power, or undermining the national unity;
(iii) damaging the reputation or interests of the state; (iv) infringing name, portrait, reputation or honor of a hero or a martyr; (v)
advocating terrorism or extremism; (vi) inciting ethnic hatred or discrimination to undermine ethnic solidarity; (vii) detrimental to state
religious policies, propagating heretical or superstitious ideas; (viii) spreading rumors to disturb economic and social order; (ix)
disseminating obscenity, pornography, force, brutality and terror or crime-abetting; (x) humiliating or defaming others or infringing upon
their reputation, privacy and other legitimate rights and interests. In addition, a network information content platform shall set up the
censorship and management mechanism of network information content, and develop relevant detailed rule. The platform shall set up the
person in charge, equip itself with the professional personnel commensurate with the business scope and service scale, strengthen
training and examination and improve the quality of practitioners, set up convenient channels for filing complaints and reports in
prominent places and publish the ways of filing complaints and reports, and compile an annual report. If a network information content
producer violates the provisions, the network information content platform shall take disposal measures including warning for
rectification, restricting functions, suspending updates and closing accounts, eliminate illegal information and contents in a timely
manner, keep relevant records and report to the relevant competent authorities. If a network information content platform violates the
provisions, the cyberspace authorities shall hold interviews, give warnings, order it to suspend information update, take measures
including restricting it from engaging in network information services, and impose online behavior restrictions and industry bans. The
Measures for Cyber Security Review was promulgated on April 13, 2020 and became effective on June 1, 2020, and was amended on
December 28, 2021 and became effective on February 15, 2022, which repealed the Measures for Security Reviews of Network Products
and Services. According to the Measures for Cyber Security Review, a critical information infrastructure operator, before purchasing
network products and services, shall prejudge the national security risks that may arise after the products and services are put into use. If
such products and services will or may affect national security, the operator shall apply to the cyber security review office for cyber
security review. In Addition, the Measures for Cyber Security Review as amended in 2021 has inserted the procedures for additional
oversight of "foreign" listings in relation to cyber security. Critical information infrastructure operators and data processors that possess
the personal data of at least one million users must apply for a cybersecurity review by the Cyber Security Review Office, if they plan
listing of companies in foreign countries. The Cybersecurity Review Office 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. Pursuant
to the Measures for Cyber Security Review, any violation shall be punished in accordance with the Cybersecurity Law and the Data
Security Law of the PRC, the sanctions under which include, among others, government enforcement actions and investigations, fines,
penalties, suspension of our non-compliant operations.
To comply with these laws and regulations, we require our users to accept the user terms or service agreement for registration
with, and use of, our websites, whereby they agree to comply with the applicable PRC laws and regulations in using our websites, and we
also maintain constant surveillance and monitoring on the information posted on our websites. However, the measures we take may not
be adequate to ensure that all the information posted on our websites are in compliance with these laws and regulations. See “Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks related to Our Business—We are required to comply with PRC and other applicable laws relating
to privacy and cybersecurity. The improper use or disclosure of data could have a material and adverse effect on our business and
prospects”.
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The security and confidentiality of information on the identity of internet users are also regulated in China. The Internet
Information Service Administrative Measures promulgated by the PRC State Council require internet information service providers to
maintain an adequate system that protects the security of user information. In December 2005, the Ministry of Public Security
promulgated the Regulations on Technical Measures of Internet Security Protection, requiring internet service providers to utilize
standard technical measures for internet security protection. Moreover, the Rules for Regulating the Market Order of Internet Content
Services enhance the protection of internet users’ personal information by prohibiting internet information service providers from
unauthorized collection, disclosure or use of personal information of their users. In December 2012, the Standing Committee of the
National People’s Congress passed the Decision on Strengthening Internet Information Protection, which provides that all internet
service providers in China, including internet information service providers, should require their users to provide real identity
information when entering into service agreements or providing services to the users. In July 2013, the MIIT issued Provisions on
Protecting Personal Information of Telecommunication and Internet Users, under which Internet information service providers are
subject to strict requirements to protect personal information of internet users. The internet information service providers are prohibited
from collecting personal information of internet users without obtaining consent from the users. Personal information collected shall be
used only in connection with the services to be provided by Internet information service providers to such users and shall be kept in strict
confidence. To comply with these laws and regulations, we require our users to accept the user terms or service agreement for
registration with and use of our websites whereby they agree to provide certain personal information to us and agree to our use of their
provided personal information under certain agreed circumstances, and we have established information security systems to protect
users’ privacy. In May 2017, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released the Interpretations of the
Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling
of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Citizens’ Personal Information, or the Interpretations, effective June 2017. The
Interpretations provide more practical conviction and sentencing criteria for the infringement to citizens’ personal information.
On December 8, 2022, the MIIT issued the Measures for Data Security Administration in the Industry and Information
Technology Field (Trial Implementation) which became effective on January 1, 2023, or the Data Security Measures. In accordance with
the Data Security Measures, the industrial and telecommunication data processors shall classify data firstly based on the data’s category
and then based on its security level on a regular basis, to classify and identify data based on the industry requirements, business needs,
data sources and purposes and other factors, and to make a data classification list. In addition, the industrial and telecommunication data
processors shall establish and improve a sound data classification management system, file the important data and core data catalog with
the local industry regulatory department, and implement the protection with the highest level of requirement if different levels of data are
processed at the same time and it is difficult to take separate protective measures. The Data Security Measures also impose certain
obligations on industrial and telecommunication data processors in relation to, among others, implementation of data security work
system, administration of key management, data collection, data storage, data usage, data transmission, provision of data, publicity of
data, data destruction, safety audit and emergency plans, etc.
On September 15, 2021, the CAC promulgated the Opinions on Further Enforcing Responsibilities on Website Platforms as the
Main Responsible Party for Information Content Management. In accordance with the Opinions, website platforms are required to
perform specific responsibilities as the main responsible party for information content management, including, among others, enhancing
the platform community rules, strengthening the regulation and management of accounts, improving the content vetting mechanism,
improving the quality of information content, managing the dissemination of information content, and strengthening the management of
key functions.
On October 26, 2021, CAC issued the Regulations on the Management of Internet User Account Name Information (Draft for
comments) for public comment, or the Account Name Regulations. The Account Name Regulations provide that the Internet user
account service platform shall, in accordance with the principle of "background real name and foreground voluntary", require internet
user account users to provide real identity information when registering an account. The Internet user account service platform shall take
necessary measures to ensure the security of the personal information and account name information it collects and stores, and prevent
unauthorized access and information disclosure, tampering and loss; Personal information and account name information shall not be
collected, stored, used, processed, transmitted, provided or disclosed without the authorization and consent of the user of the Internet user
account. No illegal trading of Internet user account name information is allowed. After the Internet user account user cancels his/her
account, the Internet user account service platform shall delete his personal information and account name information according to law.
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Regulations Relating to Information Security
The National People's Congress has enacted legislation that prohibits use of the internet that breaches the public security,
disseminates socially destabilizing content or leaks state secrets. Breach of public security includes breach of national security and
infringement on legal rights and interests of the state, society or citizens. Socially destabilizing content includes any content that incites
defiance or violations of PRC laws or regulations or subversion of the PRC government or its political system, spreads socially disruptive
rumors or involves cult activities, superstition, obscenities, pornography, gambling or violence. State secrets are defined broadly to
include information concerning PRC national defense, state affairs and other matters as determined by the PRC authorities.
Pursuant to applicable regulations, ICP operators must complete mandatory security filing procedures and regularly update
information security and monitoring systems for their websites with local public security authorities, and must also report any public
dissemination of prohibited content.
In December 2015, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress promulgated the Anti-Terrorism Law of the PRC,
or the Anti-Terrorism Law, which took effect on January 1, 2016 and was amended on April 27, 2018. According to the Anti-Terrorism
Law, telecommunication service operators or internet service providers shall (i) carry out pertinent anti-terrorism publicity and education
to society; (ii) provide technical interfaces, decryption and other technical support and assistance for the competent departments to
prevent and investigate terrorist activities; (iii) implement network security and information monitoring systems as well as safety and
technical prevention measures to avoid the dissemination of terrorism information, delete the terrorism information, immediately halt its
dissemination, keep relevant records and report to the competent departments once the terrorism information is discovered; and (iv)
examine customer identities before providing services. Any violation of the Anti-Terrorism Law may result in severe penalties, including
substantial fines.
In November 2016, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the Cyber Security Law of the
PRC, or the Cyber Security Law, which took effect on June 1, 2017. In accordance with the Cyber Security Law, network operators must
comply with applicable laws and regulations and fulfill their obligations to safeguard network security in conducting business and
providing services. Network service providers must take technical and other necessary measures as required by laws, regulations and
mandatory requirements to safeguard the operation of networks, respond to network security effectively, prevent illegal and criminal
activities, and maintain the integrity, confidentiality and usability of network data. On September 12, 2022, the CAC proposed a series of
draft amendments to the PRC Cybersecurity Law, which impose more stringent legal liabilities for certain violations. Such draft
amendments were released for soliciting public comments and its final form, interpretation and implementation remain substantially
uncertain. On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National Peoples’ Congress promulgated the Personal Information
Protection Law, which integrates the scattered rules with respect to personal information rights and privacy protection.
For the further purposes of regulating data processing activities, safeguarding data security, promoting data development and
utilization, protecting the lawful rights and interests of individuals and organizations, and maintaining national sovereignty, security, and
development interests, on June 10, 2021, Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress published the Data Security Law
of the People’s Republic of China, which took effect on September 1, 2021. The Data Security Law requires data processing, which
includes the collection, storage, use, processing, transmission, provision, publication of data, to be conducted in a legitimate and proper
manner. The Data Security Law provides for data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities.
The Data Security Law also introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in
economic and social development, and the degree of harm it may cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and
interests of individuals or organizations if such data are tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or illegally used. The
appropriate level of protection measures is required to be taken for each respective category of data. For example, a processor of
important data is required to designate the personnel and the management body responsible for data security, carry out risk assessments
of its data processing activities and file the risk assessment reports with the competent authorities. State core data, i.e. data having a
bearing on national security, the lifelines of national economy, people’s key livelihood and major public interests, shall be subject to
stricter management system. Moreover, the Data Security Law provides a national security review procedure for those data activities
which affect or may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. In addition, the Data
Security Law also provides that any organization or individual within the territory of the PRC shall not provide any foreign judicial body
and law enforcement body with any data without the approval of the competent PRC governmental authorities. As the Data Security Law
was recently promulgated, we may be required to make further adjustments to our business practices to comply with this law, as well as
any adjustments that may be required by the ultimate Personal Information Protection Law.
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On July 6, 2021, certain PRC regulatory authorities issued Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities,
which, among others, provides for improving relevant laws and regulations on data security, cross-border data transmission, and
confidential information management. It provided that efforts will be made to revise the regulations on strengthening the confidentiality
and file management relating to the offering and listing of securities overseas, to implement the responsibility on information security of
overseas listed companies, and to strengthen the standardized management of cross-border information provision mechanisms and
procedures.
On December 28, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China amended the Measures for Cybersecurity Review, or the
Amended Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022. The scope of review under the Amended Measures extends to critical
information infrastructure operators that intend to purchase internet products and services and data processing operators engaging in data
processing activities, which affect or may affect national security. According to Article 7 of the Amended Measures, operators who
possess personal information of over a million users shall apply to the Cybersecurity Review Office for cybersecurity reviews before
listing in a foreign country. Besides, the Amended Measures also provides that if the relevant authorities consider that certain network
products and services, data processing activities and listings in foreign countries affect or may affect national security, the authorities
may initiate a cybersecurity review even if the operators do not have an obligation to report for a cybersecurity review under such
circumstances. The Amended Measures also elaborated the factors to be considered when assessing the national security risks of the
relevant activities, including among others, risks of core data, important data or a large amount of personal information being stolen,
leaked, destroyed, and illegally used or exited the country and risks of critical information infrastructure, core data, important data or a
large amount of personal information data being affected, controlled and maliciously used by foreign governments in a foreign listing.
On November 14, 2021, the CAC released the Regulations on the Network Data Security (Draft for Comments), or the Draft
Regulations. The Draft Regulations provide that data processors refer to individuals or organizations that autonomously determine the
purpose and the manner of processing data. In accordance with the Draft Regulations, data processors shall apply for a cybersecurity
review for the following activities: (i) merger, reorganization or division of Internet platform operators that have acquired a large number
of data resources related to national security, economic development or public interests to the extent that affects or may affect national
security; (ii) listing abroad of data processors which process over one million users’ personal information; (iii) listing in Hong Kong
which affects or may affect national security; or (iv) other data processing activities that affect or may affect national security. Besides,
data processors that are listed overseas shall carry out an annual data security assessment. The Draft Regulations remain unclear on
whether the relevant requirements will be applicable to companies that have been listed in the United States and Hong Kong, such as us.
We cannot predict the impact of the Draft Regulations, if any, at this stage, and we will closely monitor and assess any development in
the rule-making process. If the enacted versions of the Draft Regulations mandate clearance of cybersecurity review and other specific
actions to be completed by China-based companies listed on a U.S. stock exchange and Hong Kong Exchanges, such as us, we face
uncertainties as to whether such clearance can be timely obtained, or at all. In addition, if a final version of the Draft Regulations is
adopted, we may be subject to review when conducting data processing activities and annual data security assessment and may face
challenges in addressing its requirements and make necessary changes to our internal policies and practices in data processing. Based on
the foregoing, our PRC legal counsel does not expect that, as of the date of this annual report, the current applicable PRC laws on
cybersecurity would have a material adverse impact on our business.
On July 30, 2021, the State Council issued the Regulations on Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, or the
Regulations. Pursuant to the Regulations, critical information infrastructure shall mean the important network facilities or information
systems of key industries or fields such as public communication and information service, energy, transportation, water conservation,
finance, public services, e-government affairs and national defense science, and important network facilities or information systems
which may endanger national security, people’s livelihood and public interest once there occur damage, malfunctioning or data leakage to
them. The Regulations provide that no individual or organization may carry out any illegal activity of intruding into, interfering with, or
sabotaging any critical information infrastructures, or endanger the security of any critical information infrastructures. The Regulations
also require that critical information infrastructure operators shall establish a cybersecurity protection system and accountability system,
and that the main responsible person of a critical information infrastructure operator shall take full responsibility for the security
protection of the critical information infrastructures operated by it. In addition, relevant administration departments of each important
industry and sector shall be responsible for formulating the rule of critical information infrastructure determination applicable to their
respective industry or sector, and determine the critical information infrastructure operators in their industry or sector.
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On July 12, 2021, the MIIT and two other authorities jointly issued the Provisions on the Administration of Security
Vulnerabilities of Network Products, or the Provisions. The Provisions state that, no organization or individual may abuse the security
vulnerabilities of network products to engage in activities that endanger network security, or to illegally collect, sell, or publish the
information on such security vulnerabilities. Anyone who is aware of the aforesaid offences shall not provide technical support,
advertising, payment settlement and other assistance to the relevant offenders. According to the Provisions, network product providers,
network operators, and platforms collecting network product security vulnerabilities shall establish and improve channels for receiving
network product security vulnerability information and keep such channels available, and retain network product security vulnerability
information reception logs for at least six months. The Provisions also ban provision of undisclosed vulnerabilities to overseas
organizations or individuals other than to the product providers.
On July 7, 2022, the CAC issued the Measures for Security Assessment of Cross-border Data Transfer, or the Security
Assessment Measures, which came into effect on September 1, 2022. Pursuant to the Security Assessment Measures, a data processor
shall apply to competent authorities for security assessment prior to transferring any data abroad if the transfer involves (i) important
data; (ii) personal information transferred overseas by a CIIO and a data processor that has processed personal information of more than
one million individuals; (iii) personal information transferred overseas by a data processor who has already provided personal
information of 100,000 persons or sensitive personal information of 100,000 persons overseas since January 1 of the previous year; or
(iv) other circumstances as requested by the CAC. Furthermore, on August 31, 2022, the CAC promulgated the Guidelines for filing the
Outbound Data Transfer Security Assessment (Version 1), which provides that acts of outbound data transfer include (i) overseas
transmission and storage by data processors of data generated during PRC domestic operations; (ii) the access to, use, download or
export of the data collected and generated by data processors and stored in the PRC by overseas institutions, organizations or individuals;
and (iii) other acts as specified by the CAC. As of the date of this annual report, we do not transfer any users’ personal information or
important data outside of China.
On August 20, 2021, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China promulgated the Personal Information
Protection Law, which integrates the scattered rules with respect to personal information rights and privacy protection and took effect on
November 1, 2021. The Personal Information Protection Law requires, among others, that (i) the processing of personal information
should have a clear and reasonable purpose which should be directly related to the processing purpose and should be conducted in a
method that has the minimum impact on personal rights and interests, and (ii) the collection of personal information should be limited to
the minimum scope as necessary to achieve the processing purpose and avoid the excessive collection of personal information. Personal
information processors shall adopt necessary measures to safeguard the security of the personal information they handle. The offending
entities could be ordered to correct, or to suspend or terminate the provision of services, and face confiscation of illegal income, fines or
other penalties.
In addition, the State Secrecy Bureau has issued provisions authorizing the blocking of access to any website it deems to be
leaking state secrets or failing to comply with the relevant legislation regarding the protection of state secrets during online information
distribution. Specifically, internet companies in the PRC with bulletin boards, chat rooms or similar services must apply for specific
approval prior to operating such services.
Furthermore, the Provisions on Technological Measures for Internet Security Protection, promulgated by the Ministry of Public
Security and became effective in March 2006, require all ICP operators to keep records of certain information about its users (including
user registration information, log-in and log-out time, IP address, content and time of posts by users) for at least 60 days and submit the
above information as required by laws and regulations. The Decision on Strengthening Network Information Protection, or the Network
Information Protection Decision, which was promulgated by the PRC National People’s Congress in December 2012, states that ICP
operators must request identity information from users when ICP operators provide information publication services to the users. If ICP
operators come across prohibited information, they must immediately cease the transmission of such information, delete the information,
keep relevant records, and report to relevant government authorities.
On October 21, 2019, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the PRC jointly issued the
Interpretations on Certain Issues Regarding the Applicable of Law in the Handling of Criminal Case Involving Illegal Use of Information
Networks and Assisting Committing Internet Crimes, which came into effect on November 1, 2019, and further clarifies the meaning of
Internet service provider and the severe situations of the relevant crimes.
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Regulations on Anti-Monopoly Matters related to Internet Platform Companies
The PRC Anti-monopoly Law, which took effect on August 1, 2008, prohibits monopolistic conduct such as entering into
monopoly agreements, abusing market dominance and concentration of undertakings that may have the effect of eliminating or
restricting competition. On June 24, 2022, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress amended the Anti-Monopoly Law,
which became effective on August 1, 2022, which stipulates that the fines for illegal concentration of business operators has been
increased to “no more than ten percent of its preceding year’s sales revenue if the concentration of business operator has or may have an
effect of excluding or limiting competition; or a fine of up to RMB5 million if the concentration of business operator does not have an
effect of excluding or limiting competition.” The amended Anti-monopoly Law also stipulates that the relevant authority has the right to
investigate transaction where there is evidence that the concentration has or may have the effect of eliminating or restricting competition,
even if such concentration does not reach the filing threshold.
On February 7, 2021, the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council officially promulgated the Guidelines to Anti-
Monopoly in the Field of Internet Platforms, or the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for Internet Platforms. Pursuant to an official
interpretation from the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council, the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for Internet Platforms mainly
covers five aspects, including general provisions, monopoly agreements, abusing market dominance, concentration of undertakings, and
abusing of administrative powers eliminating or restricting competition. The Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for Internet Platforms prohibits
certain monopolistic acts of internet platforms so as to protect market competition and safeguard interests of users and undertakings
participating in internet platform economy, including, without limitation, prohibiting platforms with dominant position from abusing
their market dominance (such as discriminating customers in terms of pricing and other transactional conditions using big data and
analytics, coercing counterparties into exclusivity arrangements, using technology means to block competitors’ interface, favorable
positioning in search results of goods displays, using bundle services to sell services or products, compulsory collection of unnecessary
user data). In addition, the Anti-Monopoly Guidelines for Internet Platforms also reinforces antitrust merger review for internet platform
related transactions to safeguard market competition. On August 17, 2021, the SMAR issued the Provisions on Prohibition of Unfair
Competition on the Internet (Draft for Comments), which prohibits business operators from using data, algorithms and other technical
means to commit traffic hijacking, interference, malicious incompatibility and other improprieties to influence user choices or hinder or
damage the normal operation of network products or services offered by other business operators.
Regulations relating to Advertising Services
The SAMR is responsible for regulating advertising activities in China. Pursuant to applicable regulations, companies that
engage in advertising activities in China must obtain from the SAMR or its local branches a business license which specifically includes
operating an advertising business within its business scope. Companies conducting advertising activities without such a license may be
subject to penalties, including fines, confiscation of illegal revenues and orders to cease advertising operations. The business license of
an advertising company is valid for the duration of its existence, unless the license is suspended or revoked due to a violation of any
relevant law or regulation.
The business scope of the business licenses of Beijing Leju and its subsidiaries includes operating an advertising business,
which allows them to engage in the advertising business.
PRC advertising laws and regulations also set forth certain content requirements for advertisements in China including, among
other things, prohibitions on false or misleading content, superlative wording, socially destabilizing content or content involving
obscenities, superstition, violence, discrimination or infringement of the public interest. Advertisers, advertising agencies, and
advertising distributors are required by PRC advertising laws and regulations to ensure that the content of the advertisements they
prepare or distribute is true and in full compliance with applicable law. In providing advertising services, advertising operators and
advertising distributors must review the supporting documents provided by advertisers for advertisements and verify that the content of
the advertisements complies with applicable PRC laws and regulations. Prior to distributing advertisements that are subject to
government censorship and approval, advertising distributors are obligated to verify that such censorship has been performed and
approval has been obtained. Violation of these regulations may result in penalties, including fines, confiscation of advertising income,
orders to cease dissemination of the advertisements and orders to publish an advertisement correcting the misleading information. In
circumstances involving serious violations, the SAMR or its local branches may revoke violators’ licenses. To comply with these laws
and regulations, we maintain a task force to review the advertising materials to ensure the content does not violate the relevant laws and
regulations before displaying such advertisements, and we also request relevant advertisers to provide proof of governmental approval if
an advertisement is subject to special government review.
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The Provisions on the Release of Real Estate Advertisements issued in December 2015 and amended in April 2021 require that
real estate advertisements must be truthful, legal, scientific and accurate, and must not deceive or mislead consumers, and make detailed
provisions for the specific requirements of real estate advertisements by real estate agencies and brokers.
On February 25, 2023, SAMR issued the Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising which will come into effect
on May 1, 2023. The Measures for the Administration of Internet Advertising requires that advertisers shall be responsible for the
authenticity and legality of the content of Internet advertisements. In addition, the Measures for the Administration of Internet
Advertising also requires that operators and publishers of Internet advertisements comply with the following provisions: (i) establish and
improve the Internet advertising business to undertake registration, audit, file management system in accordance with relevant state
regulations; (ii) review, check and register the advertiser's name, address, effective contact information and other information, record and
save the relevant electronic data of advertising activities, establish registration files and verify and update them regularly. The storage
time of relevant files shall not be less than three years from the date of termination of advertising release; (iii) check the relevant
advertising supporting documents and verify the advertising contents. For advertisements with inconsistent contents, no administrative
license where required, or lacking other supporting documents, Internet advertising operators shall not provide design, production and
agency services, and Internet advertising publishers shall not publish them; (iv) be equipped with advertising reviewers who are familiar
with advertising laws and regulations, and if conditions permit, to set up a special agency to be responsible for reviewing Internet
advertisements; (v) participate in statistical surveys of the advertising industry in accordance with the law, and provide statistical data in
a true, accurate, complete and timely manner.
Regulations relating to Real Estate Brokerage Business
The principal regulations governing the real estate brokerage business in China include the Law on Administration of the Urban
Real Estate issued by the Standing Committee of National People’s Congress in July 1994 and was latest revised in August 2019, and the
Administrative Measures for Real Estate Brokerage issued in January 2011 and amended in March 2016. Pursuant to these laws, a
company must register with local offices of the SAMR in each locality where it does business in order to operate real estate brokerage
business. In addition, a real estate brokerage company and its branches shall file with the local real estate administrative authority within
30 days after it obtains the business license.
The previous Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue issued in 2011 classified the real estate agency and brokerage
services within the restricted category for foreign investment. Accordingly, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China was required to
obtain approval from the MOC or its local counterpart in order to establish or invest in any subsidiary to engage real estate agency and
brokerage services. The NDRC and the MOC issued a new Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue, effective April 2015. The
new Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue removed the real estate agency and brokerage services from the restricted
category. The Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue as amended in June 2017 and the subsequent updates of Special
Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Foreign Investment Access did not cover real estate agency and brokerage services.
Accordingly, the establishment of or the investment in a subsidiary to engage in real estate agency and brokerage services is no longer
subject to the approval of the MOC or its local counterparts.
On July 13, 2021, certain PRC authorities promulgated Notice on the Continuous Rectification and Regulation of the Real
Estate Market Order, which provides for intensified punishment by local authorities for real estate agencies violating laws and
regulations, including warning and interview, suspension of business for rectification, revocation of business license and qualification
certificate, exposure to the public, and reference to security and judicial authorities for investigation and punishment in the case of
criminal offence.
We mainly use the VIEs and their subsidiaries to provide support for our e-commerce business. Each subsidiary of the VIEs
engaged in real estate agency and brokerage business has obtained and maintained a business license with such business scope, and 32 of
our PRC operating entities have completed the filing with the competent local real estate administrative authorities. See “Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Failure to obtain the approvals or complete the filings
required for our real estate agency and brokerage business in China may limit our ability to provide real estate agency and brokerage
services or establish new PRC operating entities”.
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Regulations relating to E-commerce
On August 31, 2018, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the E-Commerce Law, which
became effective on January 1, 2019. The E-Commerce Law sets forth a series of requirements on e-commerce platform operators.
According to the E-Commerce Law, e-commerce platform operators shall verify and register platform merchants, and cooperate with the
market regulatory administrative department and tax administrative department to conduct industry and commerce registrations and tax
registrations for merchants. The e-commerce platform operators shall also prepare a contingency plan for cybersecurity events and take
technological measures and other measures to prevent online illegal and criminal activities. The E-Commerce Law also expressly
requires platform operators to take necessary actions to ensure fair dealing on their platforms to safeguard the legitimate rights and
interests of consumers, including to prepare platform service agreements and transaction information record-keeping and transaction
rules, to prominently display such documents on the platform’s website, and to keep such information for no less than three years
following the completion of a transaction. To legally handle intellectual property infringement disputes, upon receipt of the notice
specifying preliminary evidence for alleged infringement, the platform operators are required to take necessary measures in a timely
manner, such as deleting, blocking and disconnecting the hyperlinks, terminating transactions and services, and to forward notices to
merchants on its platform. If an e-commerce platform operator fails to take necessary measures when it knows or should have known that
a merchant on the platform infringes any third-party intellectual property rights, products or services provided by a merchant on its
platform do not meet the requirements regarding personal or property safety, or any merchant otherwise impairs the lawful rights and
interests of consumers, the e-commerce platform operator will be held jointly liable with the merchants on its platform.
Moreover, the E-Commerce Law imposes a requirement on operators of e-commerce platforms to assist in tax collection with
respect to income generated by sellers from transactions conducted on e-commerce platforms, including among others, submitting to the
tax authority information on the identities of sellers on e-commerce platforms and other information relating to tax payment. Failure to
comply with the requirement may result in operators of e-commerce platform being subject to fines and, in severe circumstances,
suspension of business operations of e-commerce platforms.
Regulations relating to Trademarks
Both the PRC Trademark Law and the Implementation Regulation of the PRC Trademark Law, as currently in effect, provide
protection to the holders of registered trademarks and trade names. The PRC Trademark Office handles trademark registrations and
grants a renewable term of rights of ten years to registered trademarks. In addition, trademark license agreements must be filed with the
PRC Trademark Office.
After receiving a trademark registration application, the PRC Trademark Office will make a public announcement with respect
to the proposed trademark registration application if the relevant trademark passes the preliminary examination. Any person may, within
three months after such public announcement, object to such trademark application. The PRC Trademark Office will then decide who is
entitled to the trademark registration, and its decisions may be appealed to the PRC Trademark Review and Adjudication Board, whose
decision may be further appealed through judicial proceedings. If no objection is filed within three months after the public announcement
period or if the objection has been overruled, the PRC Trademark Office will approve the registration and issue a registration certificate,
upon which the trademark is registered and will be effective for a renewable ten-year period, unless otherwise revoked. As of March 31,
2023, we owned or licensed 333 registered trademarks in China, and had 29 trademark applications in various industry categories
pending with the China Trademark Office.
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Regulations relating to Employment
Under the PRC Labor Law, PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementing rules, employers must enter into written labor
contracts with full-time employees. All employers must compensate their employees with wages equal to at least the local minimum
wage standards. Employers in China are required to provide employees with welfare schemes covering pension insurance, medical
insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance, maternity insurance and housing funds. Pursuant to the Reform Plan
for Collection and Management System of National and Local Taxes released by General Office of the Communist Party of China and
the State Council on July 20, 2018, all social insurance premiums, such as basic pension insurance premium, basic medical insurance
premium, unemployment insurance premium, work-related injury insurance premium and maternity insurance premium, shall be
collected uniformly by the relevant tax authorities starting from January 1, 2019. Employers in most cases are also required to provide a
severance payment to their employees after their employment relationships are terminated. We have caused all of our full-time
employees to enter into written labor contracts with us and provide our employees with the proper welfare and employment benefits.
Pursuant to the PRC Labor Contract Law and its amendments, dispatched employees are intended to be a supplementary form
of employment and shall only apply to provisional, auxiliary or substitutive positions, and the fundamental form should be direct
employment by enterprises and organizations that require employees. It is expressly stated that the number of dispatched employees an
employer uses may not exceed a “certain percentage” of its total labor force. The Interim Provisions on Labor Dispatch effective March
2014, further set such percentage at 10% and provide a two-year transitional period for compliance with such requirement. Failure to
comply with these requirements may result in orders of rectification and imposition of fines. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Increases in labor costs in China may adversely affect our business and our profitability”.
Regulations relating to Foreign Investment
On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress adopted the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, which became
effective on January 1, 2020. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC, China grants national treatment to foreign invested
entities, except for those foreign-invested entities that operate in “restricted” or “prohibited” industries prescribed in the “negative list”,
which shall be released by or approved by the State Council.
On December 30, 2019, MOC and SAMR jointly promulgated the Measures for Reporting of Foreign Investment Information,
which became effective on January 1, 2020. According to the Measures for the Reporting of Foreign Investment Information, where
foreign investors carry out investment activities directly or indirectly within China, foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises shall
report investment information to commerce departments in accordance with these Measures. A foreign investor who establishes a
foreign-invested enterprise within China shall submit an initial report through the enterprise registration system when undergoing
formation registration of the foreign-invested enterprise. In the case of any modification of the information in the initial report, which
involves the enterprise’s modification registration (recordation), the foreign-invested enterprise shall submit the modification report
through the enterprise registration system when undergoing the enterprise’s modification registration (recordation).
On December 19, 2020, the NDRC and the MOC promulgated Measures for Security Review of Foreign Investment, which
became effective on January 18, 2021. The foreign investment security review mechanism, or the security review mechanism, in charge
of organization, coordination and guidance of foreign investment security review is thereunder established. A working mechanism office
shall be established under the NDRC and led by the NDRC and the MOC to undertake routine work on the security review of foreign
investment. According to the Measures for Security Review of Foreign Investment, before making investment in important cultural
products and services, important information technologies and Internet products and services, important financial services, key
technologies or any other important field related to national security, resulting in the foreign investor’s acquisition of actual control of the
enterprise invested in, the foreign investor or relevant parties shall proactively report to the working mechanism office.
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Regulations relating to Foreign Exchange Control and Administration
Foreign Exchange Administration
The principal regulation governing foreign currency exchange in China is the Regulations of the PRC on Foreign Exchange
Administration, as amended in August 2008. Under the Regulations of the PRC on Foreign Exchange Administration and other relevant
PRC regulations and rules, the Renminbi is convertible into other currencies for the purpose of current account transactions, including
the distribution of dividends, interest payments, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions. The conversion of the Renminbi
into other currencies and remittance of the converted foreign currency outside China for capital account transactions, such as capital
injections, loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside China, requires the prior approval from, or registration
with, SAFE or its local branches.
As an offshore holding company with PRC subsidiaries, Leju may (i) make additional capital contributions to its PRC
subsidiaries; (ii) establish new PRC subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries; (iii) make loans to its
PRC subsidiaries or consolidated variable interest entities; or (iv) acquire offshore entities with business operations in China in an
offshore transaction. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals, such as:
● capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries that operate in the industries that fall within the restricted category for foreign
investment must be approved by the MOC or its local counterparts;
● loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries cannot exceed the statutory limit which is the difference between the amount of total
investment and the amount of registered capital of such subsidiaries as approved by the MOC or its local counterpart or the
limit calculated by the approach set forth in the Notice of Matters Concerning the Macro-Prudential Management of Full-
Covered Cross-Border Financing issued by the People’s Bank of China in January 2017, and must be registered with SAFE or
its local branches; and
● loans by us to the variable interest entities must be filed with the National Development and Reform Commission and must also
be registered with SAFE or its local branches.
Under SAFE Circular 19, effective June 2015, a foreign-invested enterprise may choose to convert its registered capital from
foreign currency to Renminbi on a self-discretionary basis, and the Renminbi capital converted can be used for equity investments within
China, which will be regarded as the reinvestment of foreign-invested enterprise. In addition, SAFE Circular 19 prohibits a foreign-
invested enterprise from using Renminbi funds converted from its foreign currency registered capital to provide entrustment loans or
repay loans borrowed from nonfinancial enterprises. Violation of these circulars could result in severe penalties, including heavy fines.
These circulars may limit our ability to transfer funds to the variable interest entities and the subsidiaries of our wholly foreign-owned
subsidiaries in China, and we may not be able to convert foreign currency-denominated funds into Renminbi to invest in or acquire any
other PRC companies, or establish other consolidated variable interest entities in China. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors
—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans and direct investment by offshore holding companies to PRC
entities may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC operating subsidiaries”.
In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration
Policies on Foreign Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 59, as amended in October 2018 and December 2019, which substantially
amends and simplifies the then current foreign exchange procedures. Under SAFE Circular 59, the opening of various special purpose
foreign exchange accounts (e.g. pre-establishment expenses account, foreign exchange capital account, guarantee account) no longer
requires approval by SAFE. Reinvestment of Renminbi proceeds by foreign investors in China no longer requires SAFE approval or
verification.
In May 2013, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Printing and Distributing the Provisions on Foreign Exchange Administration
over Domestic Direct Investment by Foreign Investors and the Supporting Documents as amended in December 2019, which specifies
that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in China shall be conducted by way of
registration. Institutions and individuals shall register with SAFE and/or its local branches for their direct investment in China. Banks
shall process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in China based on the registration information provided by
SAFE and its branches.
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In February 2015, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Simplifying and Improving the Policies of Foreign Exchange
Administration Applicable to Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, effective June 2015 and amended in December 2019. Under
SAFE Circular 13, the current foreign exchange procedures will be further simplified, and foreign exchange registrations of direct
investment will be handled by banks instead of SAFE and its branches.
In January 2017, SAFE promulgated SAFE Circular 3, which stipulates several capital control measures on the outbound
remittance of profit from domestic entities to offshore entities, including: (i) under the principle of genuine transaction, banks must check
board resolutions regarding profit distribution, original version of tax filing records and audited financial statements; and (ii) domestic
entities must hold income to account for previous years’ losses before remitting the profits.
On April 10, 2020, SAFE promulgated the Notice of the SAFE on Optimizing Foreign Exchange Administration to Support the
Development of Foreign-related Business, or SAFE Circular 8, which provides that under the condition that the use of the funds is
genuine and compliant with current administrative provisions regarding the use of income relating to capital account, enterprises are
allowed to use income under capital account such as capital funds, foreign debts and overseas listings for domestic payment, without
submission of materials evidencing the veracity of such payment to the bank prior to each transaction.
Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore Investments by PRC Residents
SAFE Circular 75 requires PRC residents to register with the relevant local branch of SAFE before establishing or controlling
any company outside China, referred to as an offshore special purpose company, for the purpose of raising funds from overseas to
acquire or exchange the assets of, or acquiring equity interests in, PRC entities held by such PRC residents and to update such
registration in the event of any significant changes with respect to that offshore company. SAFE promulgated SAFE Circular 37 in July
2014, which replaced SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents to register with local branches of SAFE in connection
with their direct establishment or indirect control of an offshore entity, for the purpose of overseas investment and financing, with such
PRC residents’ legally owned assets or equity interests in domestic enterprises or offshore assets or interests, referred to in SAFE
Circular 37 as a “special purpose vehicle”. The term “control” under SAFE Circular 37 is broadly defined as the operation rights,
beneficiary rights or decision-making rights acquired by the PRC residents in the offshore special purpose vehicles by such means as
acquisition, trust, proxy, voting rights, repurchase, convertible bonds or other arrangements. SAFE Circular 37 further requires
amendment to the registration in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the special purpose vehicle, such as
changes in a PRC resident individual shareholder, name or operation period; or any significant changes with respect to the special
purpose vehicle, such as increase or decrease of capital contributed by PRC individuals, share transfer or exchange, merger, division or
other material event. If the shareholders of the offshore holding company who are PRC residents do not complete their registration with
the local SAFE branches, the PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in
capital, share transfer or liquidation to the offshore company, and the offshore company may be restricted in its ability to contribute
additional capital to its PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration and amendment requirements
described above could result in liability under PRC law for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
We have requested our beneficial owners who are PRC residents to make the necessary applications, filings and amendments
required by SAFE. However, we cannot provide any assurances that all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents will continue to
make, obtain or amend any applicable registrations or approvals required by these SAFE regulations. The failure or inability of our PRC
resident beneficial owners to comply with the registration procedures set forth therein may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict
our cross-border investment activities, or limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiaries, or limit our PRC
subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to our company or otherwise adversely affect our business. Moreover,
failure to comply with the SAFE registration requirements could result in liability under PRC laws for evasion of foreign exchange
restrictions.
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Foreign Exchange Registration of Employee Stock Incentive Plans
In February 2012, SAFE issued the Stock Option Rules, which replaced the Application Procedures of Foreign Exchange
Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Employee Stock Ownership Plans or Stock Option Plans of Overseas Publicly-
Listed Companies issued by SAFE in March 2007. Under the Stock Option Rules, a PRC entity’s directors, supervisors, senior
management officers, other staff or individuals who have an employment or labor relationship with a PRC entity and are granted stock
options by an overseas publicly listed company are required, through a qualified PRC domestic agent which could be a PRC subsidiary
of such overseas publicly listed company, to register with SAFE and complete certain other procedures. Such PRC resident participants
must also retain an overseas entrusted institution to handle matters in connection with their exercise of stock options, purchase and sale
of corresponding stocks or interests, and fund transfer. The PRC agent shall, among other things, file on behalf of such PRC resident
participants an application with SAFE to conduct the SAFE registration with respect to such stock incentive plan and obtain approval for
an annual allowance with respect to the purchase of foreign exchange in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options or stock
such participants hold. In addition, the PRC agent is required to amend the SAFE registration with respect to the stock incentive plan if
there is any material change to the stock incentive plan, the PRC agent or the overseas entrusted institution or other material aspects.
Such participating PRC residents’ foreign exchange income received from the sale of stock and dividends distributed by the overseas
publicly-listed company must be fully remitted into a PRC collective foreign currency account opened and managed by the PRC agent
before distribution to such participants. We and our PRC resident employees who have been granted stock options or other share-based
incentives of our company are subject to the Stock Option Rules as our company has become an overseas listed company upon the
completion of initial public offering. If we or our PRC resident participants fail to comply with these regulations in the future, we and/or
our PRC resident participants may be subject to fines and legal sanctions.
Regulations relating to Dividend Distributions
Under applicable regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated
profits, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned
enterprise in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its general
reserves until its cumulative total reserve funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. These reserve funds, however, may not be
distributed as cash dividends.
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C. Organizational Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our principal subsidiaries and variable interest entities as of
the date of this annual report:
Notes:
(1) Omnigold Holdings Ltd. is currently 84% owned by Branco Overseas Ltd., 10% owned by Lead Spriti Management Ltd and 6%
owned by Cando Management Limited. Lead Spriti Management Ltd is wholly owned by an independent third party. Cando
Management Limited is wholly owned by an employee of our company.
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(2) Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd., or Beijing Leju, is a variable interest entity established in China in 2008 and is
currently 80% owned by Mr. Xudong Zhu and 20% owned by Mr. Yinyu He, and each of Shanghai Leju Hao Fang Information
Service Co., Ltd., or Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd., or Beijing Jiajujiu is a variable interest entity
established in China in 2011 and is currently 70% owned by Mr. Yinyu He and 30% owned by Mr. Weijie Ma. Through a series of
contractual arrangements, Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu are considered the primary beneficiary of these
companies, and we have consolidated the financial results of these companies in our consolidated financial statements under the U.S.
GAAP for accounting purposes. Neither Leju nor its investors has an equity ownership in, direct foreign investment in, or control
through such ownership or investment of, the variable interest entities, and the contractual arrangements are not equivalent to an
equity ownership in the business of the variable interest entities. See more information below in this section. The registered business
scope of each of Shanghai Yi Yue, Leju IT, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Fangxin and Beijing Maiteng contains the business of
development of computer software, which falls in the encouraged category for foreign investment in the currently effective Foreign
Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue. The registered business scope of the VIEs and their subsidiaries which are engaged in
real estate agency and brokerage business contain the business of real estate brokerage service, which was removed from the
restricted category for foreign investment in the Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue. Therefore, the business of real
estate brokerage service now fall in the permitted category for foreign investment under PRC law, along with the other businesses
listed in the registered business scope of each of Shanghai Yi Yue, Leju IT, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Fangxin, Beijing
Maiteng, and all its subsidiaries, which are not listed in the new Foreign Investment Industrial Guidance Catalogue. City Rehouse,
Shanghai Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Leju and Beijing Jiajujiu, wholly owned 9, 3, 64 and 2 subsidiaries, respectively.
PRC laws and regulations currently prohibit foreign investors from holding more than 50% of a foreign-invested
telecommunications enterprise that provides commercial internet information services, which are one type of value-added
telecommunications services. Because of such restriction, our internet information services are conducted through consolidated variable
interest entities in China, namely Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu, or the variable interest entities.
We have entered into, through our PRC subsidiaries, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng, a series of
contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their respective shareholders. These contractual
arrangements enable us to (i) direct the activities that most significantly affect the economic performance of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao
Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their subsidiaries and branches; (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the three
consolidated variable interest entities and their subsidiaries in consideration for the services provided by our PRC subsidiaries; and (iii)
have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in the variable interest entities, when and to the extent permitted by
PRC law, or request any existing shareholder of the variable interest entities to transfer all or part of the equity interest in the variable
interest entities to another PRC person or entity designated by us at any time in our discretion.
As a result of these contractual arrangements, we, through our PRC subsidiaries, have become the primary beneficiary of these
PRC entities and account for them as variable interest entities, and consolidate the financial results of these entities into our financial
statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Substantially all of our revenues are derived from the variable interest entities and we rely on
dividends and service fees paid to us by our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities in China. Entities apart from the variable
interest entities contributed in aggregate 0.1%, 0.1% and 0.0% of our total net revenues in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Our
operations not conducted through contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities primarily consist of outsourcing
arrangements business, support services for online advertising business and agency services included with our e-commerce business. In
2020, 2021 and 2022, the total amount of service fees that our PRC subsidiaries received from the variable interest entities under all the
service agreements between our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities was $20.1 million, $17.5 million and $29.8
million, respectively. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of service fees payable to us by the variable interest entities was $20.2
million.
In November 2020, the contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu were amended and
restated by new sets of VIE contractual arrangements, more details of which are summarized below.
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements relating to the variable interest entities:
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Agreements that Provide Us with Effective Control over the variable interest entities
Exclusive Call Option Agreement. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai SINA Leju, has entered into an exclusive
option agreement with the variable interest entity, Beijing Leju, and its shareholders. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai Yi
Yue, has entered into an exclusive call option agreement with the variable interest entity, Leju Hao Fang, and its shareholders. Our PRC
subsidiary, Beijing Maiteng, has entered into an exclusive option agreement with the variable interest entity, Beijing Jiajujiu, and its
shareholders. In each case, under the exclusive call option agreement each PRC subsidiary of our Company has the rights to require
shareholders of the applicable variable interest entity to transfer any or all their equity interests in the applicable variable interest entity to
the respective PRC subsidiary of our Company and/or a third party designated by it, in whole or in part at any time and from time to
time, for considerations equivalent to the respectively outstanding loans owed to applicable shareholders of the variable interest entity (or
part of the loan amounts in proportion to the equity interests being transferred) or, if applicable, for a nominal price, unless the relevant
government authorities or the China laws request that another amount be used as the purchase price, in which case the purchase price
shall be the lowest amount under such request. Each exclusive call option agreement shall remain effective unless terminated in the event
that the entire equity interests held by shareholders in the applicable variable interest entity have been transferred to the applicable PRC
subsidiary of our Company or their appointee(s).
Loan Agreement. Pursuant to a loan agreement among Shanghai SINA Leju, Mr. Xudong Zhu and Mr. Yinyu He, Shanghai
SINA Leju granted an interest-free loan of RMB8.0 million to Mr. Xudong Zhu and RMB2.0 million to Mr. Yinyu He, respectively,
solely for their investment in Beijing Leju. Pursuant to a loan agreement among Shanghai Yi Yue, Mr. Yinyu He and Mr. Weijie Ma,
Shanghai Yi Yue granted an interest-free loan of RMB10.5 million to Yinyu He and RMB4.5 million to Weijie Ma, respectively, solely
for their investment in Leju Hao Fang. Pursuant to a loan agreement among Beijing Maiteng, Mr. Yinyu He and Mr. Weijie Ma, Beijing
Maiteng granted an interest-free loan of RMB10.5 million to Yinyu He and RMB4.5 million to Weijie Ma, respectively, solely for their
investment in Beijing Jiajujiu.
The term of each loan commences from the date of the agreement and ends on the date the lender exercises its exclusive call
option under the relevant exclusive call option agreement, or when certain defined termination events occur, such as if the lender sends a
written notice demanding repayment to the borrower, or upon the default of the borrower, whichever is earlier.
After the lender exercises his exclusive call option, the borrower may repay the loan by transferring all of its equity interest in
the relevant variable interest entity to the lender, or a person or entity nominated by the lender, and use the proceeds of such transfer as
repayment of the loan. If the proceeds of such transfer is equal to or less than the principal of the loan under the relevant loan agreement,
the loan is considered interest-free. If the proceeds of such transfer is higher than the principal of the loan under the relevant loan
agreement, any surplus is considered interest for the loan under the relevant loan agreement.
Powers of Attorney. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai SINA Leju, has entered into a powers of attorney with the
variable interest entity, Beijing Leju, and its shareholders. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai Yi Yue, has entered into a
powers of attorney with the variable interest entity, Leju Hao Fang, and its shareholders. Our PRC subsidiary, Beijing Maiteng, has
entered into a powers of attorney with the variable interest entity, Beijing Jiajujiu, and its shareholders.
Under each powers of attorney, the shareholders of each variable interest entity irrevocably appointed the applicable PRC
subsidiary of our Company and its designated persons (including but not limited to directors and their successors and liquidators
replacing the directors but excluding those non-independent or who may give rise to conflict of interest) as their attorneys-in-fact to
exercise on their behalf, and agreed and undertook not to exercise without such attorneys-in-fact’s prior written consent, any and all right
that they have in respect of their equity interests in the applicable variable interest entity.
Each powers of attorney shall remain effective for so long as each shareholder holds equity interest in the applicable variable
interest entity.
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Equity Pledge Agreement. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai SINA Leju, has entered into an equity pledge
agreement with the variable interest entity, Beijing Leju, and its shareholders. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai Yi Yue,
has entered into an equity pledge agreement with the variable interest entity, Leju Hao Fang, and its shareholders. Our PRC subsidiary,
Beijing Maiteng, has entered into an equity pledge agreement with the variable interest entity, Beijing Jiajujiu, and its shareholders.
Under each such equity pledge agreement, shareholders of each variable interest entity agreed to pledge all their respective equity
interests in the applicable variable interest entity that they own, including any interest or dividend paid for the shares, to the applicable
PRC subsidiary of our Company as a security interest to guarantee the performance of the contractual obligations and the payment of
outstanding debts. The pledge in respect of the applicable variable interest entity takes effect upon the completion of registration with the
relevant administration for industry and commerce and shall remain valid until after all the contractual obligations of the applicable
variable interest entity and its shareholders under the relevant contractual arrangements have been fully performed and all the
outstanding debts of the applicable variable interest entity and its shareholders under the relevant contractual arrangements have been
fully paid.
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an event of default (as defined in each equity pledge agreement), each PRC
subsidiary of our Company shall have the right to require the applicable variable interest entity’s shareholders to immediately pay any
amount payable by the applicable variable interest entity under the relevant exclusive business cooperation agreement, repay any loans
and pay any other due payments, and each PRC subsidiary of our Company shall have the right to exercise all such rights as a secured
party under any applicable China law and the applicable equity pledge agreement, including without limitations, being paid in priority
with the equity interests based on the monetary valuation that such equity interests are converted into or from the proceeds from auction
or sale of the equity interest upon written notice to the shareholders of the applicable variable interest entity.
The registration of each equity pledge agreement as required by the relevant laws and regulations will be completed in
accordance with the terms of the equity pledge agreement and China laws and regulations.
Others. Each of the shareholders of variable interest entities has confirmed to the effect that: (i) his spouse does not have the
right to claim any interests in the respective variable interest entity (together with any other interests therein) or exert influence on the
day-to-day management of the respective variable interest entity; and (ii) in the event of his death, incapacity, divorce or any other event
which causes his inability to exercise his rights as a shareholder of the respective variable interest entity, he will take necessary actions to
safeguard his interests in the respective variable interest entity (together with any other interests therein) and his successors (including his
spouse) will not claim any interests in the respective variable interest entity (together with any other interests therein) to the effect that
the shareholders’ interests in the respective variable interest entity shall not be affected.
The spouse of each of the shareholders of variable interest entities, where applicable, has signed an undertaking to the effect that
(i) the respective shareholder’s interests in the respective variable interest entity (together with any other interests therein) do not fall
within the scope of communal properties, and (ii) she has no right to or control over such interests of the respective shareholder and will
not have any claim on such interests.
Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits of the variable interest entities to Us
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai SINA Leju, has entered into an
exclusive business cooperation agreement with the variable interest entity, Beijing Leju. Our wholly owned indirect subsidiary, Shanghai
Yi Yue, has entered into an exclusive business cooperation agreement with the variable interest entity, Leju Hao Fang. Our PRC
subsidiary, Beijing Maiteng, has entered into an exclusive business cooperation agreement with the variable interest entity, Beijing
Jiajujiu.
Pursuant to each such exclusive business cooperation agreement the applicable PRC subsidiary of our Company provides the
applicable variable interest entity with a series of technical support, consultation and other services, the services fee shall consist of
100% of the total consolidated profit of the applicable variable interest entity after the deduction of any accumulated deficit of the
variable interest entities in respect of the preceding financial year(s), operating costs, expenses, taxes and other statutory contributions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each PRC subsidiary of our Company may adjust the scope and amount of services fees according to
China tax law and tax practices, and the applicable variable interest entity will accept such adjustments. The PRC subsidiary of our
Company shall calculate the service fee on a monthly basis and issue a corresponding invoice to the applicable variable interest entity.
Notwithstanding the payment arrangements in each exclusive business cooperation agreements, the PRC subsidiary of our Company may
adjust the payment time and payment method, and the applicable variable interest entity will accept any such adjustment.
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In addition, absent the prior written consent of each PRC subsidiary of our Company, during the term of the applicable exclusive
business cooperation agreement, with respect to the services subject to the exclusive business cooperation agreement and other matters,
the applicable variable interest entity shall not directly or indirectly accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party
and shall not establish cooperation relationships similar to that formed by the applicable exclusive business cooperation agreement with
any third party. Each PRC subsidiary of our Company may appoint other parties, who may enter into certain agreements with the
applicable variable interest entity, to provide the applicable variable interest entity with the services under the applicable exclusive
business cooperation agreement.
Each exclusive business cooperation agreement also provides that the applicable PRC subsidiary of our Company has the
exclusive proprietary rights and interests in any and all intellectual property rights developed or created by the applicable variable
interest entity during the performance of the applicable exclusive business cooperation agreement.
Each exclusive business cooperation agreement shall remain effective unless terminated (a) in accordance with the provisions of
the applicable exclusive business cooperation agreement; (b) in writing by the applicable PRC subsidiary of our Company; or (c) renewal
of the expired business period of either the applicable PRC subsidiary of our Company or the applicable variable interest entity is denied
by relevant government authorities, at which time the applicable exclusive business cooperation agreement will terminate upon
termination of that business period.
In the opinion of Fangda Partners, our PRC legal counsel:
● The ownership structures of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu described above are in compliance with existing
PRC laws and regulations; and
● Each of the contractual arrangements described above, in each case governed by PRC law, is valid and binding and enforceable
in accordance with their respective terms based on currently effective PRC laws and regulations, and do not violate PRC laws
or regulations currently in effect.
However, as advised by Fangda Partners, our PRC legal counsel, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation
and application of current or future PRC laws, rules and regulations, and accordingly, there can be no assurance that the PRC regulatory
authorities will not ultimately take a contrary view from that of our PRC legal counsel. We have been further advised by our PRC legal
counsel that if the PRC regulatory authorities determine that our contractual arrangements for operating our internet and advertising
business in China do not comply with PRC government restrictions on foreign investment in such industries, we could be subject to
severe penalties. See “Item 3. Key Information —D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—If the PRC government
finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating our advertising services business and real estate online business in
China do not comply with PRC governmental restrictions on foreign investment in the advertising industry or the internet information
service industry, we could be subject to severe penalties.” and “—Our ability to enforce the equity pledge agreements between us and the
shareholders of Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang or Beijing Jiajujiu may be subject to limitations based on PRC laws and regulations”. In
addition, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business In China—Substantial uncertainties exist
with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law and how it may impact the viability of our
current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations”.
D. Property, Plants and Equipment
Our principal executive offices are located at Level G of Building G, Building H and Building J, No.8 Dongfeng South Road,
with approximately 11,200 square meters of office space. As of March 31, 2023, we leased properties with an aggregate gross floor area
of approximately 24,000 square meters for our 41 local offices across China and at our Hong Kong office. Our leased properties mainly
consist of office premises, a portion of which are leased from related parties. We believe our existing leased premises are adequate for
our current business operations and that additional space can be obtained on commercially reasonable terms to meet our future
requirements.
ITEM 4B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENT
Not applicable.
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ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with
our consolidated financial statements and the related notes 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 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.
A. Operating Results
Overview
We are a leading O2O real estate services provider in China. We offer real estate e-commerce, online advertising and online
listing services through our online platform, which comprises local websites covering 400 cities, various mobile applications and Weixin
mini programs. We integrate our online platform with complementary offline services to facilitate residential property transactions. In
addition to our own websites, we also operate various real estate and home furnishing websites of SINA.
E-Commerce. We offer e-commerce services primarily in connection with new residential property sales. Our O2O services for
new residential properties include (i) selling discount coupons and facilitating online property viewing, physical property visits and pre-
sale customer support, and (ii) issuing commission coupons and providing an information platform to individual brokers on which they
can refer potential individual property buyers to real estate developers with whom we work to earn commission for the successful
referrals. For discount coupon business, we earn revenue from the sale of discount coupons used for property purchases. For commission
coupon business, we earn the commission from the developer for the successful referrals. Our revenues from e-commerce services in
2020, 2021 and 2022 were $547.9 million, $411.1 million and $278.5 million, respectively, representing 76.2%, 77.0% and 81.1%,
respectively, of our total revenues for those periods. The E-commerce revenue of discount coupons was $547.9 million, $411.1 million,
and $183.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The revenue from commission coupon business
was nil, nil, and $95.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Online Advertising. We currently sell advertising primarily on the SINA new residential properties and home furnishing
websites, which are operated by us. In addition, we are the exclusive advertising agent for the SINA home page and non-real estate
websites with respect to advertising sold to advertisers, including real estate developers and home furnishing suppliers. We also sell
advertising on our contractor platform website and on various mobile applications. Our revenues from online advertising services in
2020, 2021 and 2022 were $170.8 million, $122.5 million and $64.7 million, respectively, representing 23.7%, 22.9% and 18.9%,
respectively, of our total revenues for those periods.
Listing. We offer fee-based online property listing services to real estate agents and free services to individual property sellers.
We currently operate the SINA real estate websites for listings of existing residential properties for sale or lease. Our revenues from
listing services in 2020, 2021 and 2022 were $0.8 million, $0.5 million and $11,274, respectively.
We generated total revenues of $719.5 million, $534.1 million and $343.2 million in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We
incurred net income of $21.0 million and net loss of $149.9 million and $89.7 million in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Significant Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
The PRC real estate industry
Our results of operations have been, and are expected to continue to be, affected by the general performance of China’s real
estate industry. Conditions in China’s real estate industry have a significant impact on each of our business segments, and in particular on
our new home business, which relies significantly on the volume of new property launches by property developments and market
transaction volume.
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected our business operations and financial conditions. See “Item 3. Key Information
—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have a material adverse
impact on our business, operating results and financial condition.”
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● Economic growth, speed of urbanization and demand for residential and commercial properties in China. China’s economic
growth has been primarily concentrated in China’s urban areas, and economic growth, higher standards of living, population
growth and urbanization are primary drivers of demand for the purchase or rental of residential properties. Because we focus on
China’s urban areas, China’s economic growth and urbanization are important to our operations. The PRC property industry is
dependent on the overall economic growth in China and the associated demand for residential properties.
● Government policies. The PRC government exercises considerable direct and indirect influence over the real estate industry
through its policies and other economic measures. The PRC government regulates real estate purchases and taxation associated
with real estate transactions. For greater detail see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business
—Our business is susceptible to fluctuations in China’s real estate industry, which may materially and adversely affect our
results of operations” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our business may be
materially and adversely affected by government measures aimed at China’s real estate industry”. The imposition of new
policies, laws and regulations, or changes to current polices, laws and regulations, could have a material impact on the real
estate market in China, which would affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
● Availability and cost of credit. The availability and cost of credit have a substantial effect on customers’ ability to purchase
properties and the prices they can afford to pay. This impacts the number of properties that developers are able to market and
sell, which is a significant factor affecting our results of operations. The PRC government regulates the proportion of the
purchase price of a property that may be financed with credit and the price of credit is generally a function of benchmark
interest rates. To the extent that fluctuations in interest rates or regulatory changes impact the availability and cost of financing
for property purchases, conditions in the real estate industry, and our results of operations, would be affected.
● Supply of new residential real estate projects. The growth of the PRC real estate industry depends largely on the launch of new
residential real estate projects at affordable prices. Factors such as the overall economy, competition and government land
policies can affect the price and availability of new projects. The PRC government and relevant local authorities control various
aspects of new projects, including the amount and cost of land for development, each of which affects the supply of new
developments and our results of operations.
The PRC internet industry
We are an internet company and a majority of our revenue is generated from our e-commerce and online advertising services
provided on our websites. Therefore, our results of operations are heavily dependent on the continued development of China’s internet
industry. The internet has emerged as an increasingly attractive and cost-effective advertising channel in China. However, the internet
industry in China is heavily regulated. PRC laws, rules and regulations cover virtually every aspect of the internet industry, including
entry into the industry, the scope of permissible business activities and foreign investment. Furthermore, the PRC government levies
business taxes, value-added taxes, surcharges and cultural construction fees on advertising-related sales in China, such as sales of our e-
commerce, online advertising, listing and other value-added services. In addition, because one of our PRC subsidiaries currently qualifies
as “high and new technology enterprises,” it enjoys favorable statutory tax rate from the relevant PRC tax authorities or under local
governmental policies. The imposition of new laws and regulations, or changes to current laws and regulations, could have a material
impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Our ability to innovate and market acceptance of our services
We operate in a competitive industry and the extent to which we are able to provide innovative e-commerce and advertising
services that are attractive to developers and prospective property purchasers has a material effect on our results of operations. For
example, we pioneered e-commerce services in China’s real estate market in April 2011 by offering online auctions as a promotional tool
for our partner developers. In early 2012, we introduced property price discount coupons as a means of generating buyers for our partner
developers in conjunction with online advertising and offline customer origination. In 2015 and 2016, we continually upgraded the site
visit experience of prospective property purchasers by launching new services including site visits through private car or virtual reality
technology. In December 2016 we launched new advertising products based on cross-utilizing databases we and our strategic partners
have, allowing for more accurate targeting of potential buyers. In 2017, we introduced our new marketing product, Zai Xian Xuan Fang,
to simplify the transaction process. During this period, our new suite of big data-empowered advertising products became increasingly
popular among our developer clients, and our mobile marketing strategy has started to yield positive results. Our results of operations
will continue to be significantly affected by the extent to which our evolving e-commerce and advertising services, including any future
innovations that we may introduce, achieve success in the market.
Our ability to maintain and expand our online platform
Consumers are able to access our services through various websites and mobile applications, our telephone call center and at
property showrooms and other physical locations. Our internet presence includes local websites across China that we either operate
directly or outsource to local outsourcing partners. We operate a variety of websites pursuant to our arrangements with SINA. Since
many of our customers in our new home business are one-time property buyers, we depend on our online platform as a key driver for
bringing in new business. The costs of maintaining and expanding our online platform in order to continue to reach a broad base of
customers, and our ability to maintain our relationships with SINA, has a significant effect on our results of operations.
Our ability to compete effectively
We face competition in each of our main business activities. We compete with other e-commerce providers for market share in
key markets, relationships with developers and for the acquisition of web traffic. We compete for talent with other online businesses and
to a lesser extent with traditional businesses. Our industry has become increasingly competitive, and such competition may continue to
intensify in future periods. As the barriers to entry for establishing internet-based businesses are typically low, it is possible for new
entrants to emerge and rapidly scale up their operations. We expect additional companies to enter the online real estate and home-related
internet service industry in China and a wider range of online services in this area to be introduced.
Our ability to expand into new geographic areas in China
A significant portion of our revenues is concentrated in China’s major urban centers. We expect them to continue to represent a
significant portion of our revenues in the near term. We also may expand into new geographic areas and sectors and increase our market
share in areas and sectors where we currently operate. As of December 31, 2022, we had established real estate-related content, search
services, marketing and listing coverage of 400 cities across China. Our ability to succeed in newly penetrated cities and cities where we
intend to increase our presence will have a substantial impact on our results of operations, and we may incur significant additional
operating expenses, including hiring new sales and other personnel, in order to expand our operations.
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Selected Statement of Operations Items
Revenues
E-commerce of discount coupons. We offer individual property buyers discount coupons that enable them to purchase specified
properties from real estate developers at discounts greater than the face value of the fees charged by us. Discount coupons are collected
initially upfront from the property buyers and are refundable at any time before they are used to purchase the specified properties. As
such, these fees are recorded as advance from customers in our consolidated balance sheets. In this context, we determine our customers
to be individual property buyers and have identified one single performance obligation to be the sale of discount coupons. We determine
the sale of discount coupons to be satisfied at a point in time only when confirmation letters are obtained from our customers or
developers that prove the use of the coupons. The transaction price is the discount coupon fees charged by us which is fixed in the
contract with individual property buyers. The E-commerce revenue of discount coupons was $547.9 million, $411.1 million and $183.0
million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
E-commerce of commission coupons. We issue commission coupons and provide an information platform to individual brokers
on which they can refer potential individual property buyers to real estate developers with whom we work to earn commissions. As long
as the potential buyers who were referred by individual brokers completes a specific transaction with the real estate developer, the
individual brokers would redeem the commission coupons for the successful referrals, and we could earn the commission from the
developer for the successful referrals. In this case, we have identified our clients as real estate developers and have identified a single
performance obligation to provide the developer with successful referrals of the property purchases. We will recognize service revenue at
a certain point in time when the obligations were fulfilled which were confirmed by real estate developers. Any commissions and other
payments received in advance will be deferred until the obligations are fulfilled. The transaction price is the commission charged by us
and is fixed in the confirmation letter. We will pay commissions for the individual brokers’ successful referrals only after the redemption
of the commission coupons and the confirmation of the successful referrals of properties from real estate developers. We have the
discretion to determine the amount of commission paid for the individual brokers’ successful referrals. The revenue from commission
coupon business was nil, nil and $95.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Online advertising. In respect of the online advertising services, we mainly provide comprehensive advertisement placement
services to the advertisers (i.e., property developers) through a packaged online cross-media and cross-platform product portfolio,
including those owned by us and other independent outlets. We consider we act as principal in this arrangement when we are a
contracting party to our advertisers and are primarily responsible for delivering the specified service to the advertisers. We control the
specified service before that service is transferred to an advertiser, because (i) we have the discretion to decide which media outlets to use
and what type of the advertisements to be placed, (ii) we are subject to certain risk of loss to the extent that the cost paid to the media
outlets, which is charged to us based on a number of methodology, including viewership (CPM) or click (CPC) or others, cannot be
compensated by the total consideration obtained from the advertisers, and (iii) we have the discretion to determine the fee charged to the
advertisers, which affects our margin as the costs incurred might vary. Therefore we report revenue earned from the advertisers and costs
paid to media outlets related to these transactions on a gross basis.
In addition, we consider we act as an agent for those arrangements that we only earn agreed rebates from certain media outlets
and recognize such rebates as revenue on a net basis. Media outlets grant us rebates in the form of prepayments for the media outlets’
services or cash, mainly based on the gross spending of the advertisers. In some circumstances, we will share with our advertisers certain
amount of the rebates earned from the media outlets, which is accounted for as a reduction of the rebates, and we recognize such net
amount of rebates as revenue.
Listing. Listing services entitle real estate brokers to post and make changes to information for properties in a particular area on
the website for a specified period of time, in exchange for a fixed fee.
In this context, we determine our customers to be real estate brokers and have identified a single performance obligation that is
recognized over time on a straight-line basis over the contract period of display and when collection is probable. The transaction price is
the fixed fee outlined in the contract. No rebates or discounts are given to the real estate brokers.
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Cost of revenues
Cost of revenue consists of costs associated with the production of websites, which includes fees paid to third parties for internet
connection, content and services, editorial personnel related costs, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation associated with website
production equipment and fees paid to media outlets for advertising resources.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses comprise marketing expenses, compensation and benefits for personnel other than
editorial personnel, expenses of third-party professional services, rental payments relating to office and administrative functions and
depreciation of property and equipment used in our corporate offices and other administrative expenses. Our selling, general and
administrative expenses also include amortization of intangible assets that do not relate to internet content, including our license
agreement with SINA. Selling general and administrative expenses also include bad debt expenses. Bad debt can result from developer
customers not paying amounts owing to us for services rendered and in cases where third parties to whom we outsource certain websites
fail to pay fixed fees owed to us.
Marketing and advertising expenses consist primarily of targeted online and offline marketing costs for promoting our e-
commerce projects and our own brand building, such as Leju property visit, sponsored marketing campaigns, online or print advertising,
public relations and sponsored events. We expense all marketing advertising costs as incurred and record these costs under the item of
selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations when incurred. Our direct marketing activities
are intended to attract subscribers for online advertising and potential property buyers to purchase the discount coupon.
Commissions in relation to the commission coupon business are the fee paid for individual brokers’ successful referrals, upon
the redemption of the commission coupons and confirmation from the real estate developer. We expense all real estate agent
commissions as incurred and record these costs under the item of selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated
statements of operations when incurred. Any fee from the redemption of the commission coupons would be netted with the commissions
for individual brokers’ successful referrals on the consolidated statements of operations.
Share-based compensation expenses
In November 2013, we adopted a share incentive plan, or the Leju Plan, which allows us to offer a variety of share-based
incentive awards to employees, officers, directors and individual consultants who render services to us. The plan permits the grant of
three types of awards: options, restricted shares and restricted share units. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to
all awards under the Leju Plan, or the Leju Award Pool, is 10,434,783 ordinary shares initially, and shall be increased automatically by
5% of the then total outstanding shares on an as-converted fully diluted basis on each of the third, sixth and ninth anniversaries of the
effective date of the Leju Plan. On December 1, 2016 the Leju Award Pool was automatically increased by 7,553,422 ordinary shares. On
December 1, 2019, the Leju Award Pool was automatically increased by 7,833,224 ordinary shares. On December 1, 2022, the Leju
Award Pool was automatically increased by 8,020,119 ordinary shares. Accordingly, the size of the Leju Award Pool is currently
33,841,548 ordinary shares.
Pursuant to the Leju Plan, we granted (i) options to certain of our employees for the purchase of 501,000 ordinary shares at an
exercise price of $9.68 per share, on April 28, 2015, (ii) options to certain of our employees for the purchase of 30,000 ordinary shares at
an exercise price of $7.00 per share, on August 7, 2015, (iii) options to certain of our employees and certain of E-House’s employees for
the purchase of 1,986,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of $5.54 per share, on December 14, 2015. The options expire ten years
from the date of grant and vest ratably at each anniversary of the grant date over a period of three years.
On May 28, 2019, we granted 250,000 restricted shares to our employees. The restricted shares vest ratably at each grant date
anniversary over a period of three years.
On June 17, 2020, we granted 800,000 restricted shares to our senior management team. The restricted shares vest ratably at
each vesting commencement date anniversary over a period of three years.
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On April 23, 2021, we granted to certain of our employees and directors options to purchase an aggregate of 3,667,000 ordinary
shares at the exercise price of $1.00 per share and 600,000 ordinary shares at the exercise price of $0.10 per share, pursuant to the Leju
Plan. The options expire ten years from the date of grant and vest over a period of three years.
As of March 31, 2023, the aggregate number of our ordinary shares underlying outstanding options granted under the Leju Plan
is 14,510,147, and 266,668 restricted shares granted under the Leju Plan are outstanding.
In 2022, we recorded compensation expenses of $1.8 million for the options and restricted shares granted to our employees and
directors under the Leju Plan, and nil in dividends to E-House for the options and restricted shares granted to employees and directors of
E-House under the Leju Plan. As of December 31, 2022, we had $2.4 million of total unrecognized compensation expenses related to
unvested share options and restricted shares granted under the Leju Plan, which we expect to be recognize over a weighted-average
period of 1.31 years.
Other operating income
Our other operating income primarily relates to cash subsidies received by our subsidiaries in China from local governments to
encourage us to operate in certain local districts.
Interest income, net
We earn interest income primarily from bank deposits and interest income recognized relating to the financing component of the
transaction price of the services delivered, net of the interest expenses related to borrowings.
Other income, net
Other income, net relates to realized gain on marketable securities, unrealized gain on marketable securities, foreign exchange
loss/(gain), income from sales of properties held for sales and reimbursement from the depositary for our expenses incurred in
connection with the establishment and maintenance of the ADS program.
Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, while certain of our subsidiaries have functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar,
such as the Renminbi and the Hong Kong dollar. Transactions in other currencies are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing when
the transactions occur. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations.
Income taxes
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands as an exempted company. 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. Payments of dividends and capital in respect of the shares 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 the Shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal
of the shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
All dividends, interest, rents, royalties, compensation and other amounts paid by our subsidiaries incorporated in the British
Virgin Islands, or the BVI, to persons who are not resident in the BVI and any capital gains realized with respect to any shares, debt
obligations, or other securities of our company by persons who are not resident in the BVI are exempt from all provisions of the Income
Tax Ordinance in the BVI.
Our subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to a profit tax at the rate of 16.5% on assessable profit determined under relevant
Hong Kong tax regulations.
The EIT Law applies a uniform 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises,
except where a special preferential rate applies. In addition, the EIT Law also provides a five-year transitional period starting from its
effective date for those enterprises that were established before March 16, 2007, the date of promulgation of the EIT Law, and that were
entitled to preferential income tax rates under the then effective tax laws or regulations.
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Shanghai SINA Leju was granted the high and new technology enterprise (“HNTE”) status. Shanghai SINA Leju renewed its
qualification of “high and new technology enterprise” in 2018 and 2021, and is entitled to enjoy a favorable statutory tax rate of 15%
from 2018 through 2023.
We have a tax benefit due to losses incurred in past years. Under PRC tax law we are permitted to carry forward losses for up to
ten years for entities qualified as a “high and new technology enterprise” and up to five years for entities that do not qualify as a “high
and new technology enterprise”. We may have a tax benefit for periods for which we were profitable on a consolidated basis to the extent
our consolidated entities that incurred losses during the period were subject to income tax at a higher effective tax rate as compared with
consolidated entities that earned profits during the period.
Under the EIT Law, dividends payable to a non-PRC resident enterprise from our PRC subsidiaries are subject to a withholding
tax which may be as high as 20%, although under the detailed implementation rules of the EIT Law promulgated by the PRC authorities
the effective withholding tax is currently 10%. Dividends of PRC subsidiaries that are directly held by Hong Kong entities may benefit
from a reduced withholding tax rate of 5% pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China and Hong Kong for the Avoidance of
Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, subject to the approval from the relevant local
branch of the SAT in accordance with the Administrative Measures on Tax Treaty Treatment of Nonresidents (Trial) and other relevant
tax rules. Our Hong Kong subsidiaries have not sought approval for such preferential withholding tax rate, given that no dividends have
been paid by their respective PRC subsidiaries. Dividends from our Hong Kong subsidiaries are exempt from withholding tax. Dividend
payments are not subject to withholding tax in the British Virgin Islands or the Cayman Islands.
Under the EIT Law, enterprises that are established under the laws of foreign countries or regions and whose “de facto
management bodies” are located within the PRC territory are considered PRC resident enterprises, and will be subject to the PRC
enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on their worldwide income. Under the implementation rules of the EIT Law, “de facto
management bodies” are defined as the bodies that have material and overall management and control over the manufacturing and
business operations, personnel and human resources, finances and treasury, and acquisition and disposition of properties and other assets
of an enterprise. It remains unclear how the PRC tax authorities will interpret such a broad definition. We cannot assure you that we will
not be deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the EIT Law and be subject to the PRC enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on
our worldwide income. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factor—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Dividends payable
to us by our PRC subsidiaries may be subject to PRC withholding taxes or we may be subject to PRC taxation on our worldwide income,
and dividends distributed to our investors may be subject to PRC withholding taxes under the EIT Law and our investors may be subject
to PRC withholding tax on the transfer of our ordinary shares or ADSs.”
Income/(loss) from equity in affiliates
Affiliate companies are entities over which we have significant influence but do not control. Investment in affiliates is
accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, our share of the post-acquisition profits or loss of affiliated
companies is recognized as income/(loss) from equity in affiliates in the income statement.
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest relates to the minority interest in non-wholly-owned subsidiaries that we
consolidate.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated. This information
should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. The
operating results in any period are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period.
Year Ended December 31,
2021
(in thousands of $, except share and per share data)
2020
2022
Revenues:
E-commerce
Online advertising
Listing
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income
Income (loss) from operations
Interest income, net
Other income (loss), net
Income (loss) before income taxes and loss from equity in affiliates
Income tax (expenses) benefits
Income (loss) before loss from equity in affiliates
Loss from equity in affiliates
Net income (loss)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders
Income (loss) per ADS:
Basic
Diluted
Weighted average numbers of ADSs used in computation:
Basic
Diluted
547,895
170,783
848
719,526
(73,762)
(622,026)
381
24,119
7,268
300
31,687
(10,665)
21,022
(24)
20,998
1,696
19,302
411,097
122,522
498
534,117
(55,801)
(645,623)
560
(166,747)
3,130
209
(163,408)
13,498
(149,910)
(14)
(149,924)
1,010
(150,934)
278,464
64,707
11
343,182
(30,604)
(418,501)
298
(105,625)
2,335
1,496
(101,794)
12,120
(89,674)
(17)
(89,691)
(23)
(89,668)
1.42
1.40
(11.05)
(11.05)
(6.54)
(6.54)
13,607,079
13,756,457
13,665,216
13,665,216
13,704,238
13,704,238
Year Ended December 31, 2022 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2021
Total revenues. China’s real estate industry experienced a steep downturn since the second half of 2021 and many real estate
developers faced severe operational challenges. The downturn had a direct and negative impact on our online advertising and e-
commerce businesses. Due to the continuous decline of the real estate industry, the recoverable amount and time of some customers’
transaction consideration cannot be reasonably expected. Since January 1, 2022, Leju has not recognized the revenue from such
customers until the actual receipt of the transaction consideration. Total revenues decreased by 36% to $343.2 million in 2022 from
$534.1 million in 2021, primarily due to a decrease in revenues from e-commerce services and online advertising services. E-commerce
revenues decreased by 32% to $278.5 million in 2022 from $411.1 million in 2021, primarily due to a decrease in revenue from discount
coupons, partially offset by the revenue from commission coupon business commenced from the second half of 2022. The E-commerce
revenue of discount coupons decreased by 55% to $183.0 million in 2022 from $411.1 million in 2021. The E-commerce revenue from
the commission coupon business from the real estate developers was $95.5 million in 2022. Online advertising revenues decreased by
47% to $64.7 million in 2022 from $122.5 million in 2021, primarily due to a decrease in property developers’ demand for online
advertising
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues decreased by 45% to $30.6 million in 2022 from $55.8 million in 2021, primarily due to
decreased cost of advertising resources purchased from media platforms, and decreased editorial personnel related costs.
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Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 35% to $418.5 million
in 2022 from $645.6 million in 2021, primarily due to the $97.5 million decrease in the bad debt provision, and decreased marketing
expenses related to our e-commerce business, partially offset by increased commission paid for the individual brokers’ successful
referrals in connection with the commission coupon business. The bad debt provision recorded in 2021 was mainly attributable to the
recognition of additional loss allowance on expected credit loss of the Company’s outstanding online advertising related receivables from
certain customers, whose credit quality worsened.
Other operating income. Other operating income was $0.3 million in 2022, compared to $0.6 million in 2021, due to decreased
cash subsidies received from local governments.
Loss from operations. As a result of the foregoing, we generated $105.6 million of loss from operation in 2022, compared to
$166.7 million of loss in 2021.
Interest income, net. Interest income was $2.3 million in 2022 compared to $3.1 million in 2021, mainly due to the increased
interest expense recognized relating to the short-term borrowings which was netted with the interest income.
Other income, net. We had other net income of $1.5 million in 2022, compared to $0.2 million in 2021, mainly due to the
foreign exchange gain of $1.2 million in 2022.
Income tax benefits. Income tax benefits were $12.1 million and $13.5 million in 2022 and 2021, respectively, due to the loss
before taxes and equity in affiliates for the two years.
Net loss. We generated net loss of $89.7 in 2022 compared to $149.9 million in 2021.
Year Ended December 31, 2021 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2020
Total revenues. Total revenues decreased by 26% to $534.1 million in 2021 from $719.5 million in 2020, primarily due to a
decrease in revenues from e-commerce services and online advertising services. E-commerce revenues decreased by 25% to $411.1
million in 2021 from $547.9 million in 2020, primarily due to a decrease in the number of discount coupons redeemed. We sold a total of
162,196 discount coupons in 2021, 138,230 of which were redeemed. Online advertising revenues decreased by 28% to $122.5 million in
2021 from $170.8 million in 2020, primarily due to a decrease in property developers’ demand for online advertising. Listing revenues
decreased by 41% to $0.5 million in 2021 from $0.8 million in 2020, primarily due to a decrease in secondary real estate brokers’
demand as China’s real estate industry experienced a steep downturn since the second half of 2021 and many real estate developers faced
severe operational challenges.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues decreased by 24% to $55.8 million in 2021 from $73.8 million in 2020, primarily due to
decreased cost of advertising resources purchased from media platforms as China’s real estate industry experienced a steep downturn
since the second half of 2021 and many real estate developers faced severe operational challenges.
Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 4% to $645.6 million in
2021 from $622.0 million in 2020, primarily due to bad debt provision which increased by $106.4 million compared to 2020, partially
offset by the decreased marketing expenses related to the Company's e-commerce business. The bad debt provision recorded in 2021 was
mainly attributable to the recognition of additional loss allowance on expected credit loss of our outstanding online advertising related
receivables from some customers, whose credit quality has worsened.
Other operating income. Other operating income was $0.6 million in 2021, compared to $0.4 million in 2020, due to increased
cash subsidies received from local governments.
Income(loss) from operations. As a result of the foregoing, we generated $166.7 million of loss from operations in 2021,
compared to income from operations of $24.1 million in 2020.
Interest income, net. Interest income was $3.1 million in 2021, compared to $7.3 million in 2020, mainly due to the decreased
interest income recognized relating to the financing component of the transaction price of the services delivered.
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Other income, net. We had other net income of $0.2 million in 2021, compared to $0.3 million in 2020.
Income tax benefits (expenses). Income tax benefits were $13.5 million in 2021, compared to Income tax expense of $10.7
million in 2020, due to the loss before taxes and equity in affiliates of $163.4 million in 2021.
Net income (loss). We generated net loss of $149.9 million in 2021, compared to net income of $21.0 million in 2020.
Critical Accounting Policies
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make judgments, estimates and
assumptions. We continually evaluate these estimates and assumptions based on the most recently available information, our own
historical experience and various other assumptions that we 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 expectations as a result of changes in our
estimates.
An accounting policy is considered critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based 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, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. We
believe that the following accounting policies involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity in their application and require us to
make significant accounting estimates. The following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates should be read
in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and other disclosures included in this annual report.
Revenue Recognition
We generate real estate online revenues principally from e-commerce, online advertising, and listing services and enter into
separate contracts with its customers under each revenue stream. Revenues are recorded, after considering reductions by estimates for
refund allowances and sales related taxes.
We have adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all subsequent ASUs that modified
ASC 606 on January 1, 2018 and have elected to apply it retrospectively for the year ended December 31, 2018.
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, we apply 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
China’s real estate industry experienced a steep downturn since the second half of 2021 and many real estate developers faced
severe operational challenges. This had a direct and negative impact on our online advertising and e-commerce businesses. Due to the
continuous decline of the real estate industry, the recoverable amount and time of some customers’ transaction consideration cannot be
reasonably expected. Since January 1, 2022, we have not recognized the revenue from such customers until the actual receipt of the
transaction consideration.
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E-commerce of discount coupons
We offer individual property buyers discount coupons that enable them to purchase specified properties from real estate
developers at discounts greater than the face value of the fees charged by us. Discount coupons are collected initially upfront from the
property buyers and are refundable at any time before they are used to purchase the specified properties. As such, these fees are recorded
as advance from customers in our consolidated balance sheets. In this context, we determine our customers to be individual property
buyers and have identified one single performance obligation to be the sale of discount coupons. We determine the sale of discount
coupons to be satisfied at a point in time only when confirmation letters are obtained from our customers or developers that prove the use
of the coupons. The transaction price is the discount coupon fees charged by us which is fixed in the contract with individual property
buyers.
E-commerce of commission coupons
We issue commission coupons and provide an information platform to individual brokers on which they can refer potential
individual property buyers to real estate developers with whom we work to earn commission. As long as the potential buyer who is
referred by individual broker completes a specific transaction with the real estate developer, the individual broker would redeem the
commission coupon for the successful referral, we could earn the commission from the developer for the successful referral. In this case,
we have identified our clients as real estate developers and have identified a single performance obligation to provide the developer with
successful referrals of the property purchases. We will recognize service revenue at a certain point in time when the obligations were
fulfilled which were confirmed by real estate developers. Any commissions and other payments received in advance will be deferred
until the obligations are fulfilled. The transaction price is the commission charged by us and is fixed in the confirmation letter. We will
pay commissions for the individual brokers’ successful referrals only after the redemption of the commission coupons and the
confirmation of the successful referrals of properties from real estate developers. We have the discretion to determine the amount of
commission paid for the individual brokers’ successful referrals.
Online advertising
In respect of the online advertising services, we mainly provide comprehensive advertisement placement services to the
advertisers (i.e., property developers) through a packaged online cross-media and cross-platform product portfolio, including those
owned by us and other independent outlets.
Our management consider we act as principal in this arrangement when we are a contracting party to our advertisers and our
primarily responsible for delivering the specified service to the advertisers. We control the specified service before that service is
transferred to an advertiser, because (i) we have the discretion to decide which media outlets to use and what type of the advertisements
to be placed; (ii) we are subject to certain risk of loss to the extent that the cost paid to the media outlets, which is charged to us based on
a number of methodology, including viewership (CPM) or click (CPC) or others, cannot be compensated by the total consideration
obtained from the advertisers; and (iii)we have the discretion to determine the fee charged to the advertisers, which affects our margin as
the costs incurred might vary. Therefore, we report revenue earned from the advertisers and costs paid to media outlets related to these
transactions on a gross basis.
In addition, we consider we act as an agent for those arrangements that we only earn agreed rebates from certain media outlets
and recognize such rebates as revenue on a net basis. Media outlets grant us rebates in the form of prepayments for the media outlets’
services or cash, mainly based on the gross spending of the advertisers. In some circumstances, we will share with its advertisers certain
amount of the rebates earned from the media outlets which is accounted for as a reduction of the rebates, and we recognize such net
amount of rebates as revenue.
Listing
Listing services entitle real estate brokers to post and make changes to information for properties in a particular area on the
website for a specified period of time, in exchange for a fixed fee.
In this context, we determine our customers to be real estate brokers and have identified a single performance obligation that is
recognized over time on a straight-line basis over the contract period of display and when collection is probable. The transaction price is
the fixed fee outlined in the contract. No rebates are given to the real estate brokers.
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Contract balances
We do not have unconditional right to the consideration for advertising or listing services until all promises have been fulfilled
and therefore initially records a contract asset when recognizing revenue. Upon fulfillment of all advertising or listing services, contract
assets will be reclassified as a receivable. Contract assets recognized were $1.4 million and nil for the years ended December 31, 2021
and 2022, respectively.
Disaggregation of revenue
In accordance with ASC 606-10-50, we believe the disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers by e-commerce,
online advertising and listing to sufficiently achieve the disclosure objective of depicting how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty
of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
Practical Expedients and Exemptions
For our contracts that have an original duration of one year or less, we use the practical expedient applicable to such contracts
and have not disclosed the transaction prices for the remaining performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period or when we
expect to recognize this revenue.
Financing Component
In determining the transaction price, we adjust the promised amount of consideration to determine the cash selling price of the
service to be delivered and reflect the time value of money if the contract has a significant financing component. As a result of the
adjustment to the transaction price, we recognized interest income amounting to $4.5 million, nil and nil for the years ended December
31,2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Variable Interest Entities
PRC laws and regulations currently restrict foreign entities without the required operating track record from investing in
companies that provide internet content and advertising services in China. Since we have not been involved in internet information
services or advertising services outside China to satisfy the track record requirement, to comply with the PRC laws and regulations, we
conduct substantially all of our online advertising and e-commerce business through Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu,
the variable interest entities, and their subsidiaries and branches. We have, through three of our subsidiaries in China, entered into
contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang, Beijing Jiajujiu and their shareholders such that Beijing Leju, Leju Hao
Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu are considered variable interest entities for which we are considered their primary beneficiary. We believe we
have substantive kick-out rights pursuant to the terms of the exclusive call option agreements, which give us the power to control the
shareholders of these consolidated variable interest entities. More specifically, we believe that the terms of the exclusive call option
agreements are currently exercisable and legally enforceable under PRC laws and regulations. We also believe that the minimum amount
of consideration permitted by the applicable PRC law to exercise the option does not represent a financial barrier or disincentive for us to
exercise our rights under the exclusive call option agreements. Under our shareholder voting rights proxy agreements with the variable
interest entities and their shareholders, each of the shareholders of the variable interest entities irrevocably grants any person designated
by us the power to exercise all voting rights to which he is entitled to as shareholder of the variable interest entities at that time.
Therefore, we believe this gives us the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the variable interest entities’ economic
performance. We believe that our ability to exercise effective control, together with the exclusive technical support agreements and the
equity pledge agreements, give us the rights to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the variable interest entities in
consideration for the services provided by our subsidiaries in China. Accordingly, as the primary beneficiary of the variable interest
entities and in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we consolidate their financial results and assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial
statements.
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In 2020, 2021 and 2022, entities apart from the variable interest entities contributed in aggregate 0.1%, 0.1% and 0.0%,
respectively, of our total net revenues. Our operations not conducted through contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities
primarily consist of outsourcing arrangements business, support services for online advertising business and agency services included
with our e-commerce business. The following tables set forth our revenues, cost of revenues and net income for the variable interest
entities and other group entities which are not the variable interest entities for the years indicated, after elimination of inter-company
transactions:
Total revenues
Cost of revenues
Net loss
Total revenues
Cost of revenues
Net loss
Total revenues
Cost of revenues
Net income
Variable interest entities Other entities
(in thousands of $)
2022
343,171
(24,394)
(10,882)
11
(6,210)
(78,809)
Variable interest entities Other entities
(in thousands of $)
2021
533,619
(47,730)
(81,530)
498
(8,071)
(68,394)
Variable interest entities Other entities
(in thousands of $)
2020
718,861
(65,613)
14,278
665
(8,149)
6,720
Total
343,182
(30,604)
(89,691)
Total
534,117
(55,801)
(149,924)
Total
719,526
(73,762)
20,998
As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, entities apart from the variable interest entities accounted for an aggregate of 17.9%,
24.6% and 28.0%, respectively, of our total assets. The assets not associated with the variable interest entities primarily consist of cash,
deferred assets and intangible assets. The total assets held by the variable interest entities and other group entities which are not the
variable interest entities were $527.3 million and $114.7 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2020, $329.7 million and $107.5
million, respectively, as of December 31, 2021, and $155.5 million and $60.6 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2022. All above
figures were after elimination of inter-company.
Pursuant to contractual arrangements that Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng have with the variable
interest entities, the earnings and cash of the variable interest entities are used to pay service fees in Renminbi to three of our PRC
subsidiaries in the manner and amount set forth in these agreements. After paying the applicable withholding taxes and making
appropriations for its statutory reserve requirement, the remaining net profits of our PRC subsidiaries would be available for distribution
to our offshore companies. As of December 31, 2022, the net assets of our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest entities which were
restricted due to statutory reserve requirements and other applicable laws and regulations, and thus not available for distribution, was in
aggregate $35.9 million. As an offshore holding company of its PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities, Leju may
make loans to its PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. Any loans to its PRC subsidiaries are subject to
registrations with relevant governmental authorities in China. It may also finance its subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. See
“Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans and direct investment
by offshore holding companies to PRC entities may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC
operating subsidiaries”.
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Furthermore, cash transfers from our PRC subsidiaries to our offshore companies are subject to PRC government control of
currency conversion. Restrictions on the availability of foreign currency may affect the ability of our PRC subsidiaries and the variable
interest entities to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency
denominated obligations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Governmental
control of currency conversion may affect the value of your investment”. Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) held by
the variable interest entities was denominated in Renminbi and amounted to RMB1,553 million ($237.9 million, based on an exchange
rate of RMB6.5250 to $1.00 as of December 31, 2020), RMB1,286 million ($201.8 million, based on an exchange rate of RMB6.3757
to $1.00 as of December 31, 2021) and RMB662 million ($95.1 million, based on an exchange rate of RMB6.9646 to $1.00 as of
December 31, 2022) as of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
We believe that our contractual arrangements with the variable interest entities are in compliance with PRC law and are legally
enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements and the
interests of the shareholders of the variable interest entities may diverge from that of our company and that may potentially increase the
risk that they would seek to act contrary to the contractual terms, for example by influencing the variable interest entities not to pay the
service fees when required to do so.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose us to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents,
accounts receivable and customer deposits. We deposit our cash and cash equivalents in the reputable financial institutions.
Prior to January 1, 2020, we regularly review the creditworthiness of its customers, and requires collateral or other security from
its customers in certain circumstances when accounts receivables’ aging is over one year. We establish an allowance for credit losses
primarily based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, including creditworthiness of the clients, aging of the
receivables and other specific circumstances related to the accounts. Accounts receivable balances are written off after all collection
efforts have been exhausted.
We adopted Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (codified as Accounting
Standard Codification Topic 326), since January 1, 2020, which requires measurement and recognition of current expected credit losses
for financial instruments held at amortized cost.
Our accounts receivable and contract assets, customer deposits, other receivables recorded in prepayments and other current
assets and amount due from related parties are within the scope of ASC Topic 326.
To estimate expected credit losses, we have identified the relevant risk characteristics of its customers and these receivables are
assessed on an individual basis for customers with good credit rating (strategic type customers), with pledged credit risk (pledged type
customers), with high credit risk (high risk type customers) and the remaining (normal risk type customers). For each customer, we
consider historical settlement pattern, past default experience of the debtor, overall economic environment in which the debtors operate,
and also the assessment of both current and future development of environment as of the date when this report issued. This is assessed at
each quarter based on our specific facts and circumstances.
Balances of the allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable and contract assets by each risk category are as follows:
Balances of customers with good credit rating
Balances of customers with pledged credit risk
Balances of customers with high credit risk
Balances of customers with normal risk
Total
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As of December 31,
2021
(in thousands of $)
2022
—
1,126
112,183
2,066
115,375
—
2,354
105,189
4,306
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The carrying value of accounts receivable, contract assets, customer deposit, amount due from related parties and other
receivables recorded in the prepayments and other current assets is reduced by an allowance to reflect the expected credit losses.
Details of the accounts receivable and contract assets from customers accounting for 10% or more of total accounts receivable
and contract assets are as follows:
Customer A
Accounts receivable, gross
Allowance for credit losses
Accounts receivable, net
Evaluation of long-lived assets
As of December 31,
2021
2022
(in thousands of $)
96,510
(96,510)
—
88,286
(88,286)
—
We evaluate its long-lived assets, such as fixed assets and purchased or acquired intangible assets with finite lives, for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in
accordance with ASC subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment: Overall (“ASC 360-10”). When these events occur, we assess the
recoverability of the long-lived assets by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flow expected to
result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying
amount of the assets, we will recognize an impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets.
Impairment of long-lived assets were nil and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Income taxes
Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities, and their reported
amounts in the financial statements, net operating loss carry forwards and credits by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to
future years when the reported amounts of the asset or liability are expected to be recovered or settled, respectively.
Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not
that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws
of the relevant taxing authorities.
We only recognize tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions when such positions are more likely than not of being sustained
upon examination. For such positions, the amount of tax benefit that we recognize is the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than
fifty percent likely of being sustained upon the ultimate settlement of such uncertain position. We record interest and penalties as a
component of income tax expense.
We recognized a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets on tax loss carry-forwards of $20.9 million and $18.0 million
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. We reversed a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets on tax loss
carry forwards of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
We assess available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize the
existing deferred tax assets. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred over the three-
year period ended December 31, 2022. Such objective evidence limits our ability to consider other subjective evidence such as its
projections for future growth.
On the basis of this evaluation, as of December 31, 2022, a valuation allowance of $41.6 million of which $22.1 million was for
bad debt provision and $19.5 million was for net operating loss carry-forwards, was recorded to reflect only the portion of the deferred
tax assets that is not more likely than not to be realized. 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.
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022—2. Summary of
Principal Accounting Policies-(ac) Recently issued accounting pronouncements.”
Impact of Foreign Currency Fluctuation
See “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Related to Doing Business in China-Fluctuation in the value of the
Renminbi may have a material and adverse effect on your investment”. and “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
Market Risk-Foreign Exchange Risk”.
Impact of Governmental Policies
See “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Business-Our business may be materially and adversely
affected by government measures aimed at China’s real estate industry”, “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Related to
Doing Business in China” and “Item 4. Information on the Company-B. Business Overview-Regulation”.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity have been capital contributions from E-House, our initial public offering and concurrent
private placement to Tencent, and cash generated from operating activities. Our cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and
deposits placed with banks, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use and have original maturities of three months or less. We
currently anticipate that we will be able to meet our needs to fund operations for at least the next twelve months with operating cash flow
and existing cash balances. We believe that our working capital is sufficient for our present requirements, taking into consideration the
potential impact the COVID-19 pandemic may have on our business and operations.
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year
Operating Activities
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2021
(in thousands of $)
(39,889)
(318)
1,033
(33,311)
285,707
252,396
108,495
102
540
126,695
159,012
285,707
2022
(107,976)
6
(52)
(124,747)
252,396
127,649
Net cash used in operating activities in 2022 was $108.0 million, primarily comprising net loss of $89.7 million adjusted for
non-cash transactions including depreciation and amortization of $12.6 million, allowance for credit losses of $13.7 million and a $55.1
million decrease in other current liabilities and accrued expenses.
Net cash used in operating activities in 2021 was $39.9 million, primarily comprising net loss of $149.9 million adjusted for
non-cash transactions including allowance for credit losses of $111.3 million, a $44.3 million decrease in other current liabilities and
accrued expenses, and a $17.2 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets, partially offset by a $61.9 million decrease
in accounts receivable and contract assets.
Net cash provided by operating activities in 2020 was $108.5 million, primarily comprising net income of $21.0 million
adjusted for non-cash transactions including depreciation and amortization of $14.3 million, allowance for credit losses of $4.9 million,
noncash lease expense of $4.5 million, a $70.3 million increase in other current liabilities and accrued expenses, a $11.1 million decrease
in deferred tax assets, and a $44.8 million decrease in customer deposits, partially offset by a $66.2 million increase in accounts
receivable and contract assets.
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Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities in 2022 was $6,352.
Net cash used in investing activities in 2021 was $0.3 million, primarily comprised of $1.1 million for the purchase of property
and equipment as well as intangible assets, partially offset by $0.8 million for the proceeds from disposal of property and equipment.
Net cash provided by investing activities in 2020 was $0.1 million, primarily comprised of $1.7 million for the proceeds from
disposal of property and equipment, partially offset by $1.6 million for the purchase of property and equipment as well as intangible
assets.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities in 2022 was $0.05 million, primarily comprising of $0.05 million for the interest expense
related to short-term borrowings.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2021 was $1.0 million, mainly due to the proceeds from short-term borrowings of
$0.8 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities in 2020 was $0.5 million, mainly due to the proceeds from exercise of options.
Holding Company Structure
In the future, we may rely significantly on dividends and other distributions paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and
financing requirements. There may be potential restrictions on the dividends and other distributions by our PRC subsidiaries. The PRC
tax authorities may require us to adjust our taxable income under the contractual arrangements that each of Shanghai SINA Leju,
Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng currently has in place with the relevant consolidated variable interest entity in a way that could
materially and adversely affect the ability of Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng to pay dividends and make
other distributions to us. In addition, under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries including Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi
Yue and Beijing Maiteng, each as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise in China, may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits
as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, our PRC subsidiaries are required to set aside
at least 10% of their accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such
fund reaches 50% of their respective registered capital. At their discretion, our PRC subsidiaries may allocate a portion of their after-tax
profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are
not distributable as cash dividends. Furthermore, our investments made as registered capital and additional paid in capital of our PRC
subsidiaries, consolidated variable interest entities and consolidated variable interest entities’ subsidiaries are also subject to restrictions
on their distribution and transfer according to PRC laws and regulations.
As a result, our PRC subsidiaries, consolidated variable interest entities and consolidated variable interest entities’ subsidiaries
in China are restricted in their ability to transfer their net assets to us in the form of cash dividends, loans or advances. As of December
31, 2022, the amount of the restricted net assets, which represents registered capital and additional paid-in capital cumulative
appropriations made to statutory reserves, was $35.9 million.
As an offshore holding company, Leju is permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding from the proceeds of its
offshore fund raising activities to its PRC subsidiaries only through loans or capital contributions, and to the variable interest entities
only through loans, in each case subject to the satisfaction of the applicable government registration and approval requirements. As a
result, there is uncertainty with respect to Leju’s ability to provide prompt financial support to its PRC subsidiaries and consolidated
variable interest entities when needed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Leju’s PRC subsidiaries may use their own retained earnings
(rather than Renminbi converted from foreign currency denominated capital) to provide financial support to the variable interest entities
either through entrustment loans from the PRC subsidiaries to the variable interest entities, or direct loans to such variable interest
entities’ nominee shareholders, which would be contributed to the variable interest entities as capital injections. Such direct loans to the
nominee shareholders would be eliminated in our consolidated financial statements against the variable interest entities’ share capital.
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Material cash requirements
Our material cash requirements as of December 31, 2022 and any subsequent interim period primarily include our capital
expenditures and operating lease commitments.
We intend to fund our existing and future material cash requirements with our existing cash balance and other financing
alternatives. We will continue to make cash commitments, including capital expenditures, to support the growth of our business.
Capital expenditures. Our capital expenditures amounted to $1.6 million, $1.1 million and $0.1 million in 2020, 2021 and 2022,
respectively. In the past, our capital expenditures consisted principally of purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets used
in our operations. We funded our capital expenditures primarily with cash on hand and cash generated from operating activities.
Operating lease obligations. Our operating lease obligations relate to our obligations under lease agreements with lessors of our
corporate offices. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of total future lease payments under operating leases, whose weighted average
remaining lease term is 4.9 years, was $23.4 million, of which $5.2 million is short-term.
Long-term debt obligations. As of December 31, 2022, there were no long-term debt obligations consisting of the principal
amount and cash interests.
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third
parties. We have not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholder’s equity, or that are
not reflected in our consolidated financial statements. Furthermore, we do not have retained or contingent interests in assets transferred to
an unconsolidated entity that serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We have not entered into contractual
arrangements that support the credit, liquidity or market risk for transferred assets. We do not have obligations that arise or could arise
from variable interests held in an unconsolidated entity, or obligations related to derivative instruments that are both indexed to and
classified in our own equity, or not reflected in the statement of financial position.
Other than as discussed above, we did not have any significant capital and other commitments, long-term obligations or
guarantees as of December 31, 2022.
C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
Research and Development
We believe that the continual development of our technology will be vital to maintaining our long-term competitiveness. As of
December 31, 2022, we employed 241 software developers and other technology-related personnel. We have developed a technology
infrastructure that is specifically used for our real estate and home related internet website services. In addition, we have also developed
our proprietary mobile applications including “Leju Home Purchase” (an upgraded version of “Pocket Leju”), “Leju Er Shou Fang”, “Lai
Ke” and “Leju Finance”.
Intellectual Property
Our copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, domain names and other intellectual property are important to our business. We rely
on intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements with our key employees and certain of our customers, collaborators and others
to protect our intellectual property rights. Despite these measures, we cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent unauthorized use
of our intellectual property, which would adversely affect our business.
As of March 31, 2023, we owned 152 registered copyrights, owned or licensed 333 registered trademarks in China, had 29
trademark applications in various industry categories pending with the China Trademark Office, had one patent application in China and
owned or licensed 92 registered domain names.
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We own the software copyrights of our mobile applications “Leju Home Purchase” (an upgraded version of “Pocket Leju”),
“Leju Er Shou Fang”, “Lai Ke” and “Leju Finance”. We have registered our software copyrights of substantially all of our mobile
applications.
D. Trend Information
China’s real estate industry experienced a steep downturn since the second half of 2021 and many real estate developers faced
severe operational challenges. This had a direct and negative impact on our online advertising and e-commerce businesses. Other than as
disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the year
2022 that are reasonably likely to have a material and adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital
resources, or that caused the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future results of operations or financial
conditions.
E. Critical Accounting Estimates
We prepare our financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions that
affect our reporting of, among other things, assets and liabilities, contingent assets and liabilities and total revenues and expenses. On an
on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and
liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Since our financial reporting process inherently relies on the use of estimates
and assumptions, our actual results could differ from what we expect.
We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to make assumptions about matters
that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate that are reasonably likely to
occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current period, would have a material
impact on our financial condition or results of operations. Such critical estimates are discussed below. For further information on our
other significant accounting estimates, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Allowance for current expected credit losses on accounts receivables and contract assets, customer deposits, other receivables recorded
in prepayments and other current assets and amounts due from related parties.
We have estimated an allowance for current expected credit losses on accounts receivables, contract assets, customer deposits,
other receivables recorded in prepayments and other current asset, and amounts due from related parties based on the credit risk of the
respective receivables. Significant judgment is required in assessing the risk characteristics of our customers. The allowance amount has
been assessed on an individual basis for customers with good credit rating (strategic type customers), with pledged credit risk (pledged
type customers), with high credit risk (high risk type customers) and the remaining (normal risk type customers). For each customer, we
consider historical settlement pattern, past default experience of the debtor, overall economic environment in which the debtors operate,
and also the assessment of both current and future development of environment as of the date when this report issued. These procedures
also included the involvement of professionals with specialized skills engaged by the Group.
Provision of income tax and valuation allowance for deferred tax asset
Significant judgment is required in determining income tax expense based on tax laws in the various jurisdictions in which we
operate. In calculating our effective income tax rate, estimates are required regarding the timing and amount of taxable and deductible
items which will adjust the pre-tax income earned in various tax jurisdictions. Through our interpretation of local tax regulations,
adjustments to pretax income for income earned in various tax jurisdictions are reflected within various tax filings. Although we believe
that our estimates and judgments discussed herein are reasonable, actual results may be materially different than the estimated amounts.
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We record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
Significant judgment is required in determining the valuation allowance. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, we consider all
sources of taxable income, including projected future taxable income, reversing taxable temporary differences and ongoing tax planning
strategies. If it is determined that we are able to realize deferred tax assets in excess of the net carrying value or to the extent we are
unable to realize a deferred tax asset, we would adjust the valuation allowance in the period in which such a determination is made, with
a corresponding increase or decrease to earnings.
Safe Harbor
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor”
provisions of Section 21E of the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will”,
“expects”, “anticipates”, “future”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “estimates”, “may”, “intend”, “is currently reviewing”, “it is possible”,
“subject to” and similar statements. Among other things, the sections titled “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors”, “Item 4.
Information on the Company”, and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in this annual report on Form 20-F, as well
as our strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. We may also make written or oral forward-looking statements
in our filings with the SEC, in our annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made
by our officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements and are subject to change, and such change may be material and may have a material and
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations for one or more prior periods. Forward-looking statements involve
inherent risks and uncertainties A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained, either
expressly or impliedly, in any of the forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 20-F. Potential risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, continued low real estate transaction volume in China, government measures that may materially and
adversely affect our business, a further slowdown in the growth of China’s economy, failure of the real estate services industry in China
to develop or mature as quickly as expected, diminution of the value of our brand or image due to our failure to satisfy customer needs
and/or other reasons, our inability to successfully execute the strategy of expanding into new geographical markets in China or the
business plans for strategic alliances and other new business initiatives, our failure to manage growth, our loss of competitive advantage,
and other risks outlined in our filings with the SEC. All information provided in this annual report on Form 20-F and in the exhibits is as
of the date of this annual report on Form 20-F, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any such information, except as required
under applicable law.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
A. Directors and Senior Management
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers as of the date of this annual report.
Directors and Executive Officers
Xin Zhou
Yinyu He
Charles Chao
Canhao Huang
Minyi Zhang
David Jian Sun
Min Fan
Winston Jin Li
Hongchao Zhu
Qiong Zuo
Li Yuan
Age
55
48
57
65
45
58
57
56
63
43
42
Position/Title
Executive Chairman
Chief Executive Officer
Director
Director
Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Financial Officer
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Xin Zhou has served as our Executive Chairman since our inception. Mr. Zhou currently is an executive director and chairman
of E-House Enterprise. He is one of the co-founders of E-House, an affiliate of E-House Enterprise, and has served as E-House’s
chairman since its inception. Mr. Zhou served as E-House’s chief executive officer from 2003 to 2009, and has been serving as E-
House’s chief executive officer since April 2012. Mr. Zhou currently is also a director of Jupai Holdings Limited (NYSE: JP). He also
served as co-chairman and chief executive officer of E-House’s subsidiary, China Real Estate Information Corporation, from 2009 to
April 2012. Mr. Zhou has over 25 years of experience in China’s real estate industry. From 1997 to 2003, he served as director and
general manager of Shanghai Real Estate Exchange Co., Ltd., and as deputy general manager of Shanghai Jinfeng Investments Co., Ltd.,
a company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Mr. Zhou was named as the “Person of the Year of Chinese Economy” jointly by
SINA and People’s Daily in 2016, received the “China Business Leader Award” from the Eighth China Business Leader Forum in 2016,
received the “Outstanding Entrepreneur Award” from Enterprise Asia in 2010, awarded the “Special Contribution Award in China’s Real
Estate Services Industry” in 2005, and named one of the “ten most influential people in the real estate services industry in 2005” from
China City Property Exposition Commission. Mr. Zhou currently serves as vice chairman of China Real Estate Association, director of
The Nature Conservancy China, vice chairman of China Real Estate Developers and Investors Associations, and chairman of Real Estate
Service Committee of China Real Estate Association. He is also the rotating chairman of Shanghai Entrepreneur Association. Mr. Zhou
received his bachelor degree from Shanghai University in China.
Yinyu He has served as our chief executive officer since March 2014 and vice-president from January 2011 to August 2011. He
served as our director of strategic planning from August 2008 to December 2010. Prior to joining Leju, Mr. He was the publisher and
chief editor of UBM’s InformationWeek China from 2004 to 2008. From 2000 to 2004, he served as a senior reporter and researcher
covering China’s IT, telecom, financial, and media industries at Interfax (China) News Agency, where he was a founding member. He
also worked as a journalist, reporter, commentator, and anchor for a number of media outlets including the China Business Network
(CBN), Shanghai Television, Eastern Radio, Securities Herald, Eastday.com, and Finance Director magazine (part of The Economist
Group). He received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Shanghai University.
Charles Chao has served as our director since April 2014. Mr. Chao currently serves as the chairman and chief executive officer
of SINA and the chairman of Weibo Corporation, a leading social media platform in China and a majority owned subsidiary of SINA.
Since joining SINA in September 1999, Mr. Chao has served various managerial positions, including as vice president of finance, chief
financial officer, co-chief operating officer and president. Prior to that, Mr. Chao served as an audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers,
LLP in Silicon Valley, California. Mr. Chao received his master’s degree in professional accounting from University of Texas at Austin.
He also holds a master’s degree in journalism from University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Fudan University
in China.
Canhao Huang has served as our director since March 2014. Mr. Huang currently serves as executive director and vice
chairman of E-House Enterprise and a director of E-House, an affiliate of E-House Enterprise. He was E-House’s chief operating officer
from September 2007 to December 2009, and vice president from 2000 to 2007. Prior to joining E-House, Mr. Huang served as a
manager at Shanghai No. 1 Department Store Co., Ltd. from 1985 to 2000. Mr. Huang received a bachelor’s degree from Shanghai
University.
Minyi Zhang has served as our director since August 2021. Mr. Zhang currently serves as General Manager of Vertical Sales &
Operation Department of Tencent Marketing Solution and a director of Yiche Holding Limited. Mr. Zhang is in charge of the
department’s overall business strategy and development, and leads various teams including vertical sales, operations and marketing
insights service teams. He joined Tencent in 2009. Mr. Zhang received his bachelor’s degree in automation from Shanghai Jiao Tong
University and his MBA from China Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
David Jian Sun has served as our independent director since April 2014. Mr. Sun has been an executive director and the general
manager of BTG Hotels (Group) Co. Ltd. (Shanghai Stock Exchange Stock Code: 600258), a tourism service company in China, since
September 2016. Prior to joining BTG Hotels Group, Mr. Sun served as an executive director and the chief executive office of Home
Inns Group, a leading economy hotel chain in China. Mr. Sun has served as an independent director and a member of the compensation
committee of 111 Inc. (NASDAQ: YI), a leading integrated online and offline healthcare platform in China. Mr. Sun received a
bachelor’s degree in management from Shanghai Medical University.
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Min Fan has served as our independent director since April 2014. Mr. Fan is the co-founder of Trip.com Group Limited
(formerly known as Ctrip.com International, Ltd.), a leading one-stop travel platform globally (Nasdaq: TCOM), and has served as the
vice chairman of its board since March 2013 and its president since February 2009. He also served as the chief executive officer, from
January 2006 to March 2013, the chief operating officer, from November 2004 to January 2006, and the executive vice president, from
2000 to November 2004, of Trip.com Group Limited. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Fan served as the chief executive officer of Shanghai
Travel Service Company, a leading domestic travel agency in China. From 1990 to 1997, he served as the deputy general manager and in
a number of other senior positions at Shanghai New Asia Hotel Management Company, which was one of the leading hotel management
companies in China. Mr. Fan received his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in industrial engineering and management from Shanghai Jiao
Tong University.
Winston Jin Li has served as our independent director since April 2014. He currently serves as an independent director of E-
House Enterprise and an independent director of Kingbo Strike Limited. Mr. Li was the chief financial officer of Inke Limited, a leading
PRC-based mobile live streaming company from March 2018 to February 2019. Mr. Li served as chief financial officer of Sungy Mobile
Ltd., a provider of mobile internet products and services in China, from July 2013 to August 2014. Mr. Li served as a partner at the Hong
Kong office of Linklaters LLP from 2002 to 2004 and an attorney at the Hong Kong office of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP
from 1997 to 2002. Mr. Li received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Peking University and master of science degree from the
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He received his juris doctor degree from Columbia Law School.
Hongchao Zhu has served as our independent director since March 2017. Mr. Zhu is the managing partner of Shanghai United
Law Firm and has been practicing with Shanghai United Law Firm since 1986. Mr. Zhu is a guest professor of East China University of
Political Science and Law and Shanghai University, and is also an arbitrator of Shanghai Arbitration Association and China International
Economic Trade Arbitration Commission. Mr. Zhu currently serves as an independent director of E-House Enterprise, an independent
director of Sansheng Holdings (Group) Co. Ltd., an independent director of Shanghai Bailian Group Co., Ltd., an independent director of
Bright Real Estate Group Co., Limited, an independent director of Jupai Holdings Limited, a third-party wealth management service
provider in China, and an independent director of Haitong Securities Co., Ltd. (SEHK: 06837; SSE: 600837), a company listed on the
Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange. Mr. Zhu once served as vice chairman of the All China Bar Association and
chairman of the Shanghai Bar Association. Mr. Zhu received his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in law from Fudan University in China.
Qiong Zuo has served as our chief operating officer since March 2018. She previously was chief executive officer of the
Innovation and Research Center of E-House, an affiliate of our controlling shareholder E-House Enterprise, from January 2015. From
2012 to 2015, Ms. Zuo served as vice president of human resources at Rastar Group, a leading culture and entertainment company listed
on China’s A-share market. From 2007 to 2012, Ms. Zuo served as the deputy general manager of the southern China branch of
SINA.com, a leading Internet portal in China. Ms. Zuo received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hubei University of
Economics.
Li Yuan has served as our chief financial officer since February 2023. Ms. Yuan had served as our deputy chief financial officer
since June 2017. Prior to that, she had been the head of investor relations of E-House, an affiliate of our controlling shareholder E-House
Enterprise, since November 2008. Ms. Yuan received her master’s degree in business administration from Johnson & Wales University.
B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we paid an aggregate of approximately $0.6 million in cash to our executive officers.
We paid an aggregate of approximately $0.1 million in cash to our directors. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide
pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our executive officers and directors. Our PRC subsidiaries and the variable interest
entities 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.
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Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Under these agreements, each of our
executive officers is employed for a specified time period. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without advance notice
or remuneration, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral
turpitude, gross negligence or dishonest acts to our detriment, or misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. We may also terminate
an executive officer’s employment without cause upon sixty days advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will
provide severance payments to the executive officer as set forth in the employment agreement. The executive officer may resign at any
time with a one-month advance written notice.
Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement,
in strict confidence and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or
pursuant to applicable law, any of our confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secrets of our
clients or prospective clients, or the confidential or proprietary information of any third party received by us and for which we have
confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in confidence to us all inventions, designs and trade secrets
which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice during the executive officer’s employment with us and to assign all right, title and
interest in them to us, and assist us in obtaining and enforcing patents, copyrights and other legal rights for these inventions, designs and
trade secrets.
In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term
of his or her employment and typically for one year following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has
agreed not to (i) solicit from any of our customers, business of the same or similar nature to our business; (ii) solicit from any known
potential customer, business which of the same or similar nature to business which has been the subject or substantially prepared to be
subject of a written or oral bid, offer or proposal by us; (iii) solicit the employment or service of any person who is known to be
employed or engaged by us; or (iv) otherwise interfere with our business or accounts including, but not limited to, any relationship or
agreement between us and any vendor or supplier.
We have also entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. Under these
agreements, 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 a director or officer of our company.
Share Incentive Plan
In November 2013, we adopted the Leju Plan, which allows us to offer a variety of share-based incentive awards to employees,
officers, directors and individual consultants who render services to us. The plan permits the grant of three types of awards: options,
restricted shares and restricted share units. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under the Leju Plan
is 10,434,783 ordinary shares of Leju initially, and will be increased automatically by 5% of the then total outstanding shares on an as-
converted fully diluted basis on each of the third, sixth and ninth anniversaries of the effective date of the Leju Plan. The Leju Plan was
amended and replaced in July 2014 containing substantially the same terms as the original Leju Plan. On December 1, 2016, the award
pool under the Leju Plan was automatically increased by 7,553,422 ordinary shares. On December 1, 2019 the Leju Award Pool was
automatically increased by 7,833,224 ordinary shares. On December 1, 2022, the Leju Award Pool was automatically increased by
8,020,119 ordinary shares. Accordingly, the size of the Leju Award Pool is currently 33,841,548 ordinary shares.
The following paragraphs describe the principal terms of the Leju Plan.
Plan Administration. Our board of directors, or a committee designated by our board or directors, will administer the plan. The
committee or the full board of directors, as appropriate, will determine the provisions and terms and conditions of each option grant.
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Award Agreements. Options and other awards granted under the plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the
terms, conditions and limitations for each grant. In addition, the award agreement may also provide that securities granted are subject to a
180-day lockup period following the effective date of a registration statement filed by us under the Securities Act, if so requested by us
or any representative of the underwriters in connection with any registration of the offering of any of our securities. The exercise price of
granted options may be amended or adjusted in the absolute discretion of our board of directors, or a committee designated by our board
of directors, without the approval of our shareholders or the recipients of the options.
Eligibility. We may grant awards to employees, directors and consultants of our company or any of our related entities, which
include our subsidiaries or any entities in which we hold a substantial ownership interest.
Acceleration of Awards upon Corporate Transactions. The outstanding awards will terminate and accelerate upon occurrence of
a change-of-control corporate transaction where the successor entity does not assume our outstanding awards under the plan. In such
event, each outstanding award will become fully vested and immediately exercisable, and the transfer restrictions on the awards will be
released and the repurchase or forfeiture rights will terminate immediately before the date of the change-of-control transaction provided
that the grantee’s continuous service with us shall not be terminated before that date.
Term of the Options. The term of each option grant shall be stated in the award agreement, provided that the term shall not
exceed ten years from the date of the grant.
Vesting Schedule. In general, our board of directors, or a committee designated by our board of directors, determines, or the
award agreement specifies, the vesting schedule.
Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of succession
and incentive share options may be exercised during the lifetime of the optionee only by the optionee.
Termination of the Plan. Unless terminated earlier, the plan will terminate automatically in 2023. Our board of directors has the
authority to amend or terminate the plan subject to shareholder approval to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law. However,
no such action may impair the rights of any award recipient unless agreed by the recipient.
As of March 31, 2023, the aggregate number of our ordinary shares underlying outstanding options granted under the Leju Plan
is 14,510,147, and 266,668 restricted shares granted under the Leju Plan are outstanding.
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The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2023 the options and restricted shares granted under the plan to our executive
officers and directors and to other individuals as a group (including certain of our employees and E-House’s employees), without giving
effect to the options that were exercised or restricted shares that had vested, if any.
Name
Xin Zhou
Yinyu He
Charles Chao
Canhao Huang
David Jian Sun
Min Fan
Winston Jin Li
Hongchao Zhu
Qiong Zuo
Li Yuan
Ordinary
Underlying
Options/Restricted
Shares
360,000 *(1)
100,000
60,000
60,000
30,000
120,000
720,000
100,000 *
120,000
250,000
150,000
150,000
150,000 *
500,000 *
400,000
360,000
50,000
60,000
60,000
30,000
60,000
30,000
15,000
30,000
30,000
60,000
40,000 *
15,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
60,000
40,000 *
15,000
20,000
20,000
60,000
20,000
40,000 *
15,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
90,000
20,000
10,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
60,000
150,000
120,000
100,000 *
300,000 *
200,000
30,000
15,000
60,000
60,000
60,000
Exercise
Price (2)
($/Share)
4.60
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.41
1.00
4.60
N/A
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.41
N/A
N/A
0.10
4.60
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.41
1.00
4.60
5.54
1.55
1.41
1.00
N/A
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.41
1.00
N/A
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.00
1.41
N/A
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.41
1.00
4.60
5.54
3.24
1.55
1.41
1.00
1.55
1.41
N/A
N/A
0.10
4.60
5.54
1.55
1.41
1.00
Date of Grant
Date of Expiration (2)
December 1, 2013
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
December 1, 2013
March 18, 2014
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
May 28, 2019
June 17, 2020
April 23, 2021
December 1, 2013
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
December 1, 2013
December 14, 2015
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
March 18, 2014
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
March 18, 2014
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
April 23, 2021
June 27, 2018
March 18, 2014
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
December 1, 2013
December 14, 2015
March 30, 2017
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
May 28, 2019
June 17, 2020
April 23, 2021
December 1, 2013
December 14, 2015
March 21, 2018
June 27, 2018
April 23, 2021
N/A
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
November 30, 2023
N/A
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
N/A
N/A
April 22, 2031
November 30, 2023
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
November 30, 2023
December 13, 2025
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
N/A
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
N/A
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
April 22, 2031
June 26, 2028
N/A
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
November 30, 2023
December 13, 2025
March 29, 2027
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
N/A
N/A
April 22, 2031
November 30, 2023
December 13, 2025
March 20, 2028
June 26, 2028
April 22, 2031
Other individuals as a group
12,564,996 ** 0.10 to 9.68 December 1, 2013 to April 23, 2021 November 30, 2023 to April 22, 2031 or N/A
Notes:
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(1) These options were subsequently surrendered for cancellation in exchange for the same number of restricted shares having the same
vesting schedule and a purchase price equal to the original option exercise price.
(2) The options and most of our restricted shares are subject to a three-year vesting schedule, with one-third of the underlying ordinary
shares vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the grant date.
* Represents restricted shares.
** Includes options and restricted shares.
C. Board Practices
Our board of directors consists of eight directors. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of
qualification. A director who to his knowledge is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or arrangement or
proposed contract or arrangement with our company must declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the directors at which the
question of entering into the contract or arrangement is first considered, if he knows his interest then exists, or in any other case at the
first meeting of the directors after he knows that he is or has become so interested. Subject to the NYSE rules and disqualification by the
chairman of the relevant board meeting, a director may vote in respect of any contract or arrangement or proposed contract 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 the relevant board meeting at which such contract or arrangement or proposed contract or arrangement is considered. The
directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, to mortgage or charge all or any part of its undertaking, property
and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital, and subject to the Companies Act of the Cayman Islands, to issue debentures, bonds
or other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party.
None of our non-executive directors has a service contract with us that provides for benefits upon termination of service.
In 2022, our board of directors held meetings or passed unanimous written resolution in lieu of meeting four times.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have three committees under the board of directors: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and
corporate governance committee. We have adopted a charter for each of the three committees.
A company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by a single entity is considered a “controlled company” under
Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE. A controlled company need not comply with the applicable NYSE
corporate governance rules requiring its board of directors to have a majority of independent directors. Because more than 50% of the
voting power of our company has been held by E-House Enterprise since November 2020, we qualify as a “controlled company” under
the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE, and can rely on the controlled company exception provided under those rules. Currently,
we do not have a majority of independent directors on our board.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Mr. Winston Li, Mr. Min Fan and Mr. Jian Sun, and is chaired by Mr.
Winston Li. We have determined that Messrs. Li, Fan and Sun each satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the
Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE and 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. The audit committee will be responsible for,
among other things:
● appointing the independent auditors and pre-approving all auditing and non-auditing services permitted to be performed by the
independent auditors;
● reviewing with the independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response;
● discussing the annual audited financial statements with management and the independent auditors;
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● reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our accounting and internal control policies and procedures and any steps taken to
monitor and control major financial risk exposures;
● reviewing and approving all proposed related party transactions;
● meeting separately and periodically with management and the independent auditors; and
● monitoring compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our
procedures to ensure proper compliance.
In 2022, our audit committee held meetings or passed unanimous written resolutions in lieu of meeting three times.
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Mr. Jian Sun and Mr. Hongchao Zhu, and is chaired by Mr.
Jian Sun. We have determined that Messrs. Sun and Zhu each satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate
Governance Rules of the NYSE. The compensation committee will assist 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 will be responsible
for, among other things:
● reviewing the total compensation package for our executive officers and making recommendations to the board with respect to
it;
● approving and overseeing the total compensation package for our executives other than the three most senior executives;
● reviewing the compensation of our directors and making recommendations to the board with respect to it; and
● periodically reviewing and approving any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements,
annual bonuses, and employee pension and welfare benefit plans.
In 2022, our compensation committee passed unanimous written resolutions in lieu of meeting once.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Mr. Min
Fan and Mr. Hongchao Zhu, and is chaired by Mr. Min Fan. We have determined that Messrs. Fan and Zhu each satisfy the
“independence” requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE. The nominating and corporate
governance committee assists the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the
composition of the board and its committees. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other
things:
● selecting and recommending to the board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board;
● reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence,
knowledge, skills, experience and diversity;
● making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees
of the board;
● advising the board periodically with regards to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate; and
● governance as well as our compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all
matters of corporate governance and on any remedial action to be taken.
In 2022, our nominating and corporate governance committee passed unanimous written resolutions in lieu of meeting once.
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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 good faith and with a view to 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 act with such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would
exercise in comparable circumstances and a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess. 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, and the
class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. Our company has the right to seek damages if a duty owed by the directors is
breached. A shareholder may in certain circumstances have rights to damages if a duty owed by the directors is breached.
Our board of directors has all the powers necessary for managing, and for directing and supervising, our business affairs. 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 the officers;
● exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and
● approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registration of such shares in our share register.
Terms of Directors and Officers
Our officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors. Our directors are not subject to a term of
office and hold office until such time as they are removed from office by ordinary resolution of the shareholders or by the board or their
office is otherwise vacated. A director will cease to be a director if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or has a
receiving order made against him or suspends any payment or compounds with his creditors; (ii) dies or becomes of unsound mind; (iii)
resigns his office by notice in writing to the company; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board of directors, is absent from
meetings of our board of directors for six consecutive meetings and the board resolves that his office be vacated; (v) is prohibited by law
from being a director; or (vi) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our memorandum and articles of association.
D. Employees
As of December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we had 2,251, 2,434 and 1,326 employees, respectively. The decline in 2022 was
primarily due to the operational challenges from the real estate developers and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resurgence, which
caused a decline in both real estate development and sales, largely impacting our online advertising and e-commerce businesses. The
table sets forth the number of employees by area of business as of December 31, 2022:
Sales
Software Developers and Other Technology-related
Editorial
Customer Support
Corporate Offices
Total
119
Number of
Employees
Percentage of
Employees
336
241
244
122
383
1,326
25.3 %
18.2 %
18.4 %
9.2 %
28.9 %
100.0 %
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We pay our sales staff a combination of salaries and sales commissions and pay salaries to all other employees. We believe that
we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any major labor disputes.
We place special emphasis on the training of our employees, whom we consider to be our most valuable asset. All newly hired
employees must undergo intensive training during their three-month probation period. We also invite outside experts, including experts
from the E-House Research and Training Institute, to provide ongoing classroom training to our employees. The human resources
department is responsible for implementing the training plans, including engaging trainers, preparing training materials, selecting
training venues and collecting feedback.
Because sales of online marketing services are highly competitive, we strongly emphasize training programs designed to
improve the sales and marketing skills of our sales staff. In addition to training for new hires, our sales staff participate in weekly
operating meetings that include additional training opportunities.
We conduct quarterly performance evaluations for all employees and use both performance-based bonuses and job promotions
as incentives to encourage strong performance. We strive to maintain a collaborative corporate culture and our mid-level and senior
employees are generally eligible to participate in our share incentive plan.
E. Share Ownership
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of March 31, 2023
by:
● each of our directors and executive officers; and
● each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5.0% of our ordinary shares.
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As of March 31, 2023, we had 137,172,601 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, excluding the 3,580,150 ordinary shares
issued to our depositary bank for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted
under our share incentive plan. 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 from March 31, 2023, 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.
Directors and Executive Officers:
Xin Zhou
Yinyu He(1)
Charles Chao(2)
Canhao Huang
Minyi Zhang(3)
Jian Sun(4)
Min Fan(5)
Winston Jin Li(6)
Hongchao Zhu(7)
Qiong Zuo
Li Yuan
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group(†)
Principal Shareholders:
TM Home Limited(8)
SINA Corporation(9)
Tencent Holdings Limited(10)
Notes:
* Less than 1% of our total outstanding shares.
Shares Beneficially Owned
Number
%
*
2,267,529
*
*
—
*
*
*
*
*
*
4,962,611
76,401,247
16,642,623
21,231,220
*
1.7
*
*
—
*
*
*
*
*
*
3.6
55.7
12.1
15.5
(†) Except where otherwise disclosed in the footnotes below, the business address of each of our directors and executive officers is Level
G, Building G, No.8 Dongfeng South Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016, People’s Republic of China.
(1) Include (i) 484,165 ordinary shares and 30 ordinary shares represented by 3 ADSs held by Mr. Yinyu He, (ii) 1,783,334 ordinary
shares issuable to Mr. He upon exercise of options or vesting of restricted shares within 60 days after March 31, 2023.
(2) The business address of Mr. Charles Chao is SINA Plaza, No. 8 Courtyard 10, the West Xibeiwang E. Road, Haidian District,
Beijing 100193, People’s Republic of China.
(3) The business address of Mr. Minyi Zhang is Tengyun Building, No. 397 Tianlin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200233, People’s
Republic of China.
(4) The business address of Mr. Jian Sun is No. 124 Caobao Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200235, People’s Re-public of China.
(5) The business address of Mr. Min Fan is Building 18, No. 968 Jin Zhong Road, Changning District, Shanghai 200335, People’s
Republic of China.
(6) The business address of Mr. Winston Jin Li is Unit 4, Tower C, Yingdu Building, Zhichun Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100086,
People’s Republic of China.
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(7) The business address of Mr. Hongchao Zhu is 48F, Bund Center, 222 Yan An Road (East), Huangpu Dis-trict, Shanghai 200002,
People’s Republic of China.
(8) Based on Schedule 13D/A filed with SEC on November 24, 2021 by the reporting persons, represents 76,401,247 ordinary shares
held by TM Home Limited (“TM Home”). TM Home is a company incorporated in the Cayman Is-lands with limited liability and
owned as to 70.23% and 29.77% by E-House Enterprise and Alibaba Investment Limited (“Alibaba Investment”), respectively. TM
Home purchased 76,401,247 of ordinary shares from E-House Enterprise by issuing to the E-House Enterprise 6,854,839 of its
ordinary shares. E-House Enterprise is a company registered in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and listed on the main
board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 2048), whose registered office is at the offices of Maples Corporate Services
Limited, PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman KY1-1104, Cayman Islands and principal office in Hong Kong is at 40th
Floor, Dah Sing Financial Centre, 248 Queen’s Roard East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.
Leju has become aware that E-House Enterprise announced proposed restructuring of certain notes previously issued by E-House
Enterprise (the “Restructuring”). As a result of a series of steps in connection with the proposed Restructuring, a special purpose
vehicle established for the holders of certain notes of E-House Enterprise (the “Creditor SPV”), and Alibaba Investment and its
affiliate will hold approximately 54.2% and 10.8% of the shares of TM Home, respectively, which will result in E-House Enterprise
ceasing to be a controlling beneficial owner of Leju. The remaining 35% of the shares of TM Home will be held by E-House
Enterprise and its affiliates, of which 15% will be transferred to a special purpose vehicle held by the members of senior
management of TM Home appointed by E-House Enterprise. E-House Enterprise will further use reasonable endeavors to sell or
procure the sale of the shares of TM Home held by the Creditor SPV and Alibaba Investment, which will cause further changes in
the beneficial ownership of Leju. The potential change in Leju’s controlling shareholders is subject to the effectiveness of the
proposed Restructuring, including the approval of the proposed Restructuring by E-House Enterprise’s noteholders.
(9) Represents 16,642,623 ordinary shares held by SINA. SINA is an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman
Islands. SINA is a leading online media company serving China and the global Chinese communities. The principal executive
offices of SINA are No. 8 SINA Plaza, Courtyard 10, West Xibeiwang East Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100193.
(10) Represents 21,231,220 held by THL O Limited, a British Virgin Islands company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Tencent Holdings Limited. or Tencent. See “Item 7. Related Party Transactions—Transactions and Agreements with Tencent” for
more information. Tencent Holding Limited is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and its business address is 29/F., Three Pacific
Place, No.1 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Tencent is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
To our knowledge, as of March 31, 2023, 25,502,413 of our ordinary shares were held by four record holders in the United
States, representing approximately 18.1% of our total outstanding shares (including the 3,580,150 ordinary shares issued to our
depositary bank for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards granted under our share
incentive plan). One of these holders is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., the depositary of our ADS program, which held 24,875,078
ordinary shares on record, representing approximately 17.7% of our total outstanding shares on record as of March 31, 2023 (including
the 3,580,150 ordinary shares issued to it for bulk issuance of ADSs reserved for future issuances upon the exercise or vesting of awards
granted under our share incentive plan). The number of beneficial owners of our ADSs in the United States is likely to be much larger
than the number of record holders of our ordinary shares in the United States.
For the options granted to our directors, executive officers and employees, please refer to “—B. Compensation of Directors and
Executive Officers”.
F.
Disclosure of Registrant’s Action to Recover Erroneously Awarded Compensation
Not applicable.
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
Please refer to “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership”.
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B. Related Party Transactions
Transactions with E-House Enterprise
Transactions with E-House Enterprise. We have become a subsidiary of E-House Enterprise and our financial results have been
consolidated into the accounts of E-House Enterprise since November 4, 2020. Mr. Xin Zhou, our executive chairman, is a director of E-
House Enterprise. E-House Enterprise was controlled by E-House prior to 2018. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and
2022, we derived revenues in the amount of $1.4 million, $36,334 and nil from providing online advertising services to E-House
Enterprise, respectively, and we recognized expenses for marketing channel services provided by E-House Enterprise of $21.4 million,
$20.6 million and $7.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had a payable balance of $4.0 million and $3.3
million, respectively. E-House Enterprise charged us a fee based on an estimate of the actual costs incurred to provide various corporate
support services, which amounted to $1.3 million for 2022.
Transactions and Agreements with E-House
Agreements Related to Our Carve-out from E-House
We have entered into agreements with E-House with respect to various ongoing relationships between us. These include a
master transaction agreement, an offshore transitional services agreement, an onshore transitional services agreement, a non-competition
agreement and an onshore cooperation agreement. The following are summaries of these agreements.
Master Transaction Agreement
The master transaction agreement contains provisions relating to our carve-out from E-House. The master transaction agreement
provides for cross-indemnities that generally will place the financial responsibility on us for all liabilities associated with the current and
historical real estate online services business and operations that have been conducted by or transferred to us, and generally will place on
E-House the financial responsibility for liabilities associated with all of E-House’s other current and historical businesses and operations,
in each case regardless of the time those liabilities arise. The master transaction agreement also contains indemnification provisions
under which we and E-House will indemnify each other with respect to breaches of the master transaction agreement or any related
agreement.
In addition, we have agreed to indemnify E-House against liabilities arising from misstatements or omissions in our SEC filings
and from information we provide to E-House specifically for inclusion in E-House’s annual or quarterly reports following the completion
of our initial public offering, but only to the extent that the information pertains to us or our business or to the extent E-House provides
us prior written notice that the information will be included in its annual or quarterly reports and the liability does not result from the
action or inaction of E-House. Similarly, E-House will indemnify us against liabilities with respect to information that E-House provided
to us specifically for inclusion in our SEC filings.
The master transaction agreement contains a general release, under which the parties will release each other from any liabilities
arising from events occurring on or before the initial filing date of the registration statement for our initial public offering, including in
connection with the activities to implement our initial public offering. The general release does not apply to liabilities allocated between
the parties under the master transaction agreement or the other related agreements.
Furthermore, under the master transaction agreement, we have agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to use the same
independent certified public accounting firm selected by E-House and to maintain the same fiscal year as E-House until the first E-House
fiscal year-end occurring after the earlier of (i) the first date when E-House no longer owns at least 20% of the voting power of our then
outstanding securities and (ii) the first date when E-House ceases to be the largest beneficial owner of our then outstanding voting
securities (without considering holdings by certain institutional investors). We also have agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to
complete our audit and provide E-House with all financial and other information on a timely basis.
The master transaction agreement will automatically terminate five years after the first date upon which E-House ceases to own
in aggregate at least 20% of the voting power of our then outstanding securities. This agreement can be terminated early by mutual
written consent of the parties.
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Offshore Transitional Services Agreement (As Amended)
Under the offshore transitional services agreement, E-House agrees that, during the service period, E-House will provide us with
various corporate support services, including:
● accounting support;
● administrative support;
● marketing support;
● internal control support;
● customer service support; and
● legal support.
E-House also may provide us with additional services that we and E-House may identify from time to time in the future. It may
engage third parties to provide services covered by the offshore transitional service agreement.
The offshore transitional service agreement provides that the performance of a service according to the agreement will not
subject the provider of such service to any liability whatsoever except as directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of
the service provider. Liability for gross negligence or willful misconduct is limited to the lower of the price paid for the particular service
or the cost of the service’s recipient performing the service itself or hiring a third party to perform the service. Under the offshore
transitional services agreement, the service provider of each service is indemnified by the recipient against all third-party claims relating
to provision of services or the recipient’s material breach of a third-party agreement, except where the claim is directly caused by the
service provider’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The price to be paid for the services provided under the offshore transitional service agreement shall be the actual direct costs
and indirect costs of providing such services. Direct costs include compensation and travel expenses attributable to employees, temporary
workers, and contractors directly engaged in performing the services as well as materials and supplies consumed in performing the
services. Indirect costs include occupancy, information technology supervision and other overhead costs of the department incurring the
direct costs of providing the service.
The offshore transitional services agreement provides for a service period commencing on the date when the registration
statement on Form F-1 for our initial public offering is first publicly filed with the SEC, and ending on the date when E-House ceases to
own in aggregate at least 20% of the voting power of our then outstanding securities or ceases to be the largest beneficial owner of our
then outstanding voting securities, without considering holdings of institutional investors that have acquired our securities in the ordinary
course of their business and not with a purpose nor with the effect of changing or influencing our control.
Either party may terminate the offshore transitional services agreement with respect to either all or part of the services by giving
a 90-day prior written notice to the other party. The agreement provides for an early termination fee in the case of early termination by E-
House, but does not quantify the amount of or specify the calculation method, for such fee.
The agreement will be for a term until December 31, 2025, and will terminate with respect to any services at the close of
business on the last day of the service period for such service, unless the parties have agreed in writing to an extension of the service
period.
Onshore Transitional Services Agreement (As Amended)
The onshore transitional services agreement adopts terms and conditions similar to those of the offshore transitional services
agreement. Under the onshore transitional services agreement, E-House (China) Enterprise Management Group Ltd. (formerly, Shanghai
Real Estate Sales (Group) Co., Limited), an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of E-House, or E-House Shanghai, agrees,
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during the applicable service period, to provide Beijing Leju, Beijing Jiajujiu, Leju Hao Fang, Shanghai SINA Leju, Beijing Maiteng,
Shanghai Yi Yue and City Rehouse, or the Leju PRC Entities, and/or their designated PRC affiliates, with various corporate support
services, including accounting support, administrative support, internal control and internal audit support, marketing support, customer
service support and legal support. E-House Shanghai also may provide the Leju PRC Entities with additional services that the Leju PRC
Entities and E-House Shanghai may identify from time to time in the future. E-House Shanghai may engage its PRC affiliates or other
third parties to provide services covered by the onshore transitional services agreement.
The price to be paid for the services provided under the onshore transitional services agreement shall be the actual direct costs
and indirect costs of providing such services. Direct costs include compensation and travel expenses attributable to employees, temporary
workers, and contractors directly engaged in performing the services as well as materials and supplies consumed in performing the
services. Indirect costs include occupancy, information technology supervision and other overhead costs of the department incurring the
direct costs of providing the service.
The onshore transitional services agreement provides for a service period commencing on the date when the registration
statement on Form F-1 for our initial public offering is first publicly filed with the SEC, and ending on the earliest date of the following
dates: (i) the date when Leju PRC Entities terminate the services, (ii) the date when E-House Shanghai terminates the services, and (iii)
December 31, 2025.
Either E-House Shanghai or the Leju PRC Entities may terminate either all or part of the services by giving a 90-day prior
written notice to the other party. The agreement provides for an early termination fee in the case of early termination by the Leju PRC
Entities, but does not quantify the amount of or specify the calculation method, for such fee.
E-House charged us a fee based on an estimate of the actual costs incurred to provide services under the offshore and onshore
transitional services agreements, which amounted to $1.9 million, $1.4 million and nil for 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Non-competition Agreement
The non-competition agreement provides for a non-competition period beginning on the date of the agreement and ending on
the later of (i) three years after the first date when E-House ceases to own in aggregate at least 20% of the voting power of our then
outstanding securities and (ii) five years after the date that the registration statement on Form F-1 for our initial public offering is first
publicly filed with the SEC. This agreement can be terminated early by mutual written consent of the parties.
E-House has agreed not to compete with us during the non-competition period in the business of providing real estate e-
commerce, online advertising and listing services, anywhere in the world. We have agreed not to compete with E-House during the non-
competition period in any business conducted by E-House as described in its periodic filings with the SEC, other than the businesses we
are engaged in as described in the prospectus for our initial public offering.
The non-competition agreement also provides for a mutual non-solicitation obligation that neither E-House nor we may, during
the non-competition period, hire, or solicit for hire, any active employees of or individuals providing consulting services to the other
party, or any former employees of or individuals providing consulting services to the other party within six months of the termination of
their employment or consulting services, without the other party’s consent, except for solicitation activities through generalized non-
targeted advertisement not directed to such employees or individuals that do not result in a hiring within the non-competition period.
Onshore Cooperation Agreement
Under this onshore cooperation agreement, E-House Shanghai, Beijing Leju, Beijing Jiajujiu and Leju Hao Fang agree that they
will cooperate with each other in sharing information about potential demands for products and/or services and developing clients. If any
party is aware that its customers, suppliers or other business partners may have demands for the products and/or services of the primary
business of any other party, it will share such information with such other party, to the extent not in violation of any applicable law and
its confidentiality obligations or other terms under any contract binding on such party. Furthermore, the parties agree to cooperate with
each other, to the extent commercially reasonable and in the manner deemed to be appropriate, in referring the principal products and/or
services of any other party, joint pitching for and negotiating with clients, and entering into agreements with clients. In the event that the
parties jointly enter into an agreement with a client, they shall determine their respective rights and
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obligations in writing through amicable negotiations, and based on the principle of fairness and the fair market values of the products
and/or services offered by the parties. The parties agree not to charge any fees for their cooperation and assistance provided under the
agreement unless they separately and explicitly agree otherwise.
The onshore cooperation agreement provides for a term commencing on its date of execution and ending on the date when E-
House ceases to own in aggregate at least 20% of the voting power of our then outstanding securities or ceases to be the largest beneficial
owner of our then outstanding voting securities, without considering holdings of institutional investors that have acquired our securities
in the ordinary course of their business and not with a purpose nor with the effect of changing or influencing our control. The onshore
cooperation agreement does not provide any early termination right.
Other Transactions and Agreements with E-House
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, we derived revenues in the amount of nil, $0.5 million and nil from
providing online advertising services to E-House. For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021, and 2022, we recognized expenses for
services provided by E-House of $0.8 million, $0.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021, we had a payable balance to E-house of $2.2 million. As of December 31, 2022, we had a receivable
balance from E-house of $0.1 million.
Transactions and Agreements with SINA
In 2008, SINA reorganized its real estate and home furnishing websites and online real estate advertising business into a
separate unit with its own legal entities, management team, advertising operations, systems and physical facilities. Pursuant to the
reorganization, SINA and E-House formed a joint venture, China Online Housing, which subsequently became our wholly owned
subsidiary in December 2013 as part of a corporate reorganization by E-House. The terms of the joint venture provided China Online
Housing with the rights, for an initial term of ten years, to use the E-House real estate information database and operate the SINA real
estate and home furnishing websites, including licenses to use SINA’s trademark, domain names, website technologies and certain
software.
In 2009, SINA and China Online Housing entered into an amended and restated advertising inventory agency agreement, a
domain name and content license agreement, a restated trademark license agreement and a software license and support services
agreement. In March 2014, we and SINA entered into an advertising inventory agency agreement, an amended and restated domain name
and content license agreement, an amended and restated trademark license agreement and an amended and restated software license and
support services agreement. The principal effect of the agreements entered into in March 2014 is to extend the term of our agreements
with SINA through 2024.
Advertising Inventory Agency Agreement
Under the advertising inventory agency agreement, we have the exclusive right to sell advertising to real estate, home furnishing
and construction materials advertisers on all SINA non-real estate websites. We are required to pay SINA fees of approximately 15% of
the revenues generated from sales of advertising on SINA non-real estate websites, subject to certain limitations on the amount of
advertising that we may sell and fees payable by us to SINA based on the amount of advertising sold. In addition, we authorize SINA as
our exclusive agent to sell non-real estate-related advertising on our directly operated websites. We are entitled to receive approximately
85% of the revenues generated from these sales. The initial term of the amended and restated advertising inventory agency agreement is
ten years, expiring in 2024.
Domain Name and Content License Agreement
Under the amended and restated domain name and content license agreement, an affiliate of SINA, or licensor, granted to us an
exclusive license to use its five domain names, namely, house.sina.com.cn, jiaju.sina.com.cn, construction.sina.com.cn,
dichan.sina.com.cn, and esf.sina.com.cn in connection with our real estate internet operations in China. In addition, the licensor also
granted to us an exclusive license to use all contents, whose copyrights are owned by the licensor or owned by a third-party provider but
is sub-licensable by the licensor without requiring payment of any additional fees and without violating the terms of any agreement with
such third party provider, in connection with websites associated with the domain names licensed to us. For other
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operating contents, we may enter into an agreement with the owner independently and will be responsible for the costs associated with
procuring the contents. The licenses are for an initial term of ten years expiring in 2024.
Amended and Restated Trademark License Agreement
Under the amended and restated trademark license agreement, an affiliate of SINA granted to us a non-exclusive license to use
three SINA trademarks and an exclusive license to use four SINA related trademarks in connection with our real estate online operations
in China through websites located at leju.com and the websites located at house.sina.com.cn, jiaju.sina.com.cn, construction.sina.com.cn,
dichan.sina.com.cn and esf.sina.com.cn. The licenses are for an initial term of ten years expiring in 2024.
Amended and Restated Software License and Support Services Agreement
Under the amended and restated software license and support services agreement, a subsidiary of SINA, or licensor, granted to
us a non-exclusive license to use (i) the proprietary software used for, among other things, internet content publishing, advertising
publishing, sales management, procurement reimbursement, financial management flow, statistics, monitoring and censoring; (ii) certain
current software products and interfaces necessary to facilitate our use of such current software products; (iii) the databases; (iv) certain
improvements to the licensed software; and (v) related documentation and hardware, in each case to the extent such items (other than
licensor improvements) exist and have been delivered to us under the software license and support service agreement executed in 2009.
The licensor also provided to us infrastructure necessary to operate our websites and facilitate our use of the licensed software. In
addition, the licensor also provided support services, including routine maintenance, technical support and hardware support. The
licenses are for an initial term of ten years expiring in 2024 and free of any fees (subject to certain exceptions). However, to the extent
that there are any reasonable, incremental costs for use of the licensed software or the infrastructure, or provision of the support services,
due to a change in the business needs, we are required to reimburse the licensor for all such costs.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with SINA becoming a principal shareholder of ours, on March 21, 2017, we entered into a registration rights
agreement with SINA, which grants SINA the same registration rights with respect to our ordinary shares as those granted to E-House
and Tencent under the investor rights agreement dated March 31, 2014. For a detailed description of the registration rights, see “—
Registration Rights Granted to E-House, Tencent and SINA”.
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Other Transactions with SINA
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had a payable balance of $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, to SINA,
representing online advertising resources fee payable to SINA. The total cost recognized for the advertising resources purchased from
SINA was $29.3 million, $10.1 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Transactions and Agreements with Tencent
Strategic Cooperation
In January 2019, we entered into a series of exclusive advertising agency agreements with Tencent. Pursuant to the exclusive
advertising agency agreements, we are the exclusive real property advertising agent of Tencent for selling advertising to real estate
advertisers in certain areas of China, including, Tianjin and Sichuan, Anhui, Shanxi, Guangxi and Fujian provinces. In March 2019, we
entered into an advertising agency agreement with Tencent, pursuant to which we are the real property advertising agent of Tencent in
certain other areas of China. In January 2020, we renewed and entered into advertising agency agreements with Tencent, pursuant to
which we are the real property advertising agent of Tencent in many areas of China. Pursuant to the exclusive advertising agency
agreements signed in April 2020, such areas of China were Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Tianjin, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, Chongqing,
Sichuan and some cities in Jiangsu Province. In early 2021, we renewed our advertising agency agreements with Tencent, and the
cooperative areas remain the same as those in 2020.
Investor Rights Agreement
On March 31, 2014, being the closing date of the sale of shares to Tencent by E-House under the share purchase and
subscription agreement, we entered into an investor rights agreement with E-House and Tencent, which granted E-House and Tencent,
among other things, certain registration rights with respect to our ordinary shares owned by them. For a detailed description of the
registration rights, see “—Registration Rights Granted to E-House, Tencent and SINA”.
The investor rights agreement with E-House and Tencent also granted certain board representation rights to Tencent and placed
certain restrictions on the transfer of our ordinary shares by E-House or Tencent.
Board representation. For so long as Tencent is the beneficial owner of at least 10% of our issued and outstanding ordinary
shares, Tencent will have the right to designate one director to our board of directors.
Other Transactions with Tencent
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had a receivable balance of $3.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, from Tencent,
representing online advertising resources fee prepaid to Tencent. The total cost recognized for the advertising resources purchased from
Tencent was $17.8 million, $18.7 million and $14.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. In
addition, fee paid to Tencent for advertising resources on behalf of customers as we acted as agent were $43.1 million, $2.5 million and
$1.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Restrictions on transfer. For so long as Tencent is the beneficial owner of at least 10% of our issued and outstanding ordinary
shares, Tencent’s prior written consent will be required for (i) a change of control of our company that results in certain specified entities,
as agreed by us and Tencent, controlling us, (ii) the issuance, by way of a privately negotiated transaction, of equity securities
representing more than 10% of our issued and outstanding share capital to certain specified entities, or (iii) the transfer or other
disposition, by way of a privately negotiated transaction, of equity securities representing more than 10% of our issued and outstanding
share capital by E-House to certain specified entities, in each case, subject to certain exceptions. Tencent will not, without our prior
written consent, transfer or otherwise dispose, by way of a privately negotiated transaction, of our equity securities held by Tencent to
certain specified entities, subject to certain exceptions.
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Registration Rights Granted to E-House, Tencent and SINA
On March 31, 2014, we entered into an investor rights agreement with E-House and Tencent, which granted E-House and
Tencent, among other things, certain registration rights with respect to our ordinary shares owned by them. On March 21, 2017, we
entered into a registration rights agreement with SINA, which grants SINA the same registration rights with respect to our ordinary
shares as those granted to E-House and Tencent under the investor rights agreement dated March 31, 2014.
Demand registration rights. E-House, Tencent and SINA have the right to demand that we effect a registration covering the
offer and sale of their ordinary shares. E-House, Tencent and SINA are each entitled to an aggregate of three such registrations. We,
however, are not required to prepare and file (i) more than two demand registration statements in any 12-month period, or (ii) any
demand registration statement within 120 days following the date of effectiveness of any other registration statement. If the demand
registration relates to an underwritten public offering and the managing underwriter advises in its reasonable opinion that the number of
securities requested to be included in the demand registration exceeds the largest number which reasonably can be sold in such offering
without having a material adverse effect on such offering, we will include in such demand registration, up to the maximum offering size,
following the order of priority: (i) the registrable securities that the requesting parties propose to register; and (ii) any securities we
propose to register and any securities with respect to which any other security holder has requested registration. If the managing
underwriter determines that less than all of the registrable securities proposed to be sold can be included in such offering, then the
registrable securities that are included in such offering shall be allocated pro rata among the respective requesting parties on the basis of
registrable securities sought to be registered by each requesting party.
Shelf registration rights. Once we are eligible to file a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 promulgated under the
Securities Act, E-House, Tencent and SINA will have the right to demand that we file a shelf registration statement covering their
ordinary shares. We, however, will not be required to prepare and file more than two shelf registration statements in any 12-month
period.
Piggyback registration rights. If we propose to file a registration statement for an offering of our ordinary shares, other than in a
transaction of the type referred to in Rule 145 under the Securities Act or to our employees pursuant to any employee benefit plan, then
we must offer E-House, Tencent and SINA an opportunity to include in the registration all or any part of their registrable securities. If the
piggyback registration relates to an underwritten public offering and the managing underwriter advises in its reasonable opinion that the
number of securities requested to be included in the piggyback registration together with the securities being registered by us or any other
security holder exceeds the largest number which reasonably can be sold in such offering without having a material adverse effect on
such offering, then (i) if we initiate the piggyback registration, we will include in such registration the securities we propose to register
first, and allocate the remaining part of the maximum offering size to all other selling security holders on a pro rata basis; (ii) if any
holder of our securities initiated the piggyback registration, we will include, up to the maximum offering size, first the securities such
initiating security holder proposes to register, then the securities of any other selling security holders on a pro rata basis, and lastly the
securities we propose to register.
Blackout periods. We are entitled to two blackout periods, aggregating to no more than 90 days in any consecutive 12-month
period, during which we can delay the filing or effectiveness of a registration statement, if we would, in the good faith judgment of our
board of directors, be required to disclose in the prospectus information not otherwise then required by law to be publicly disclosed, and
there is a reasonable likelihood that such disclosure, or any other action to be taken in connection with the prospectus, would materially
and adversely affect or interfere with any significant financing, acquisition, merger, disposition of assets, corporate reorganization or
other material transaction of negotiations involving us.
Expenses of registration. We will pay all expenses relating to any demand or piggyback registration, except that E-House,
Tencent and SINA shall bear and pay all (i) brokerage commissions, (ii) ADS issuance fees payable to any depositary institution, (iii)
commissions, fees, spreads, discounts, transfer taxes, stamp duties, (iv) fees and expenses of its counsel or other advisers, subject to
certain amounts that we will pay, and (v) their own out-of-pocket expenses, in each case, with respect to only such holder’s registrable
securities.
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Transactions with Certain Related Customers and Suppliers
Transactions with Yunnan Huixiangju Information & Consultant Ltd., or Huixiangju. Huixiangju is one of our investment
affiliates. We own 51% equity interest in it and has significant influence. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had a payable balance
of nil and $0.1 million, respectively, which represents the platform service fee advance from Huixiangju. The total revenue generated for
the platform services to Huixiangju was $2.4 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and
2022, respectively.
Transactions with Suzhou Qianyisheng Information & Consultant Ltd., or Qianyisheng. Qianyisheng is one of our investment
affiliates. We own 19% equity interest and has significant influence. Qianyisheng was dissolved in July 2022. As of December 31, 2021
and 2022, we had a receivable balance of $708 and nil, respectively, which represents the expense paid on behalf of Qianyisheng.
Transactions with Shanghai Tianji Network Services Ltd. (formerly known as Shanghai Yunchuang Information & Technology
Ltd.), or Tianji Network. Tianji Network was under control of Mr. Xin Zhou, our executive chairman, by May 2021 and became a
subsidiary of E-house Enterprise since then. We purchased technical services of $0.5 million and $$69,762 million in 2020 and for the
first five months of 2021, respectively. The transaction and balance with Tianji Network from June 2021 was included in the transactions
with E-house Enterprise.
Transactions with Jupai Holdings Ltd., or Jupai. Mr. Xin Zhou, our executive chairman, is a director of Jupai. We purchased
services of $34,160, nil and $24,372 from Jupai in 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had no
receivable balance from or payable balance to Jupai.
Transactions with Alibaba Investment Ltd., or Alibaba. Alibaba is a shareholder with significant influence on TM Home, our
controlling shareholder, since November 4, 2021. We purchased services of $0.9 million and $0.9 million in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, we had a receivable balance of $0.3 million and $0.5 million, which represents prepaid fees for
online advertising resources and technical service.
Transactions with Management
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Management—B. Compensation of Directors and Executive
Officers”.
Contractual Arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu (the variable interest entities)
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure”.
Share Options and Restricted Shares
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers—Share
Incentive Plan”.
C. Interests of Experts and Counsel
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
We have appended consolidated financial statements filed as part of this annual report.
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Legal Proceedings
We are currently not involved in any material legal or arbitration proceedings. From time to time, we may be subject to claims
and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, such as intellectual property infringement claims against us for use of others’
articles or photographs and employment disputes and claims against us for use of our discount coupons. Such claims or legal actions,
even if without merit, could result in the expenditure of significant financial and management resources and potentially result in civil
liability for damages.
Dividend Policy
Subject to our memorandum and articles of association and the laws of the Cayman Islands, 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 business, our board of directors has complete
discretion on whether to distribute dividends. Our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but not exceeding the
amount recommended by our board of directors. Our board of directors intends on paying dividends only to the extent cash is available in
the offshore entities. 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. If we pay any dividends, we will pay our ADS holders to the same extent as holders of our
ordinary shares, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Cash dividends on our
ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
We rely principally on dividends from our PRC subsidiaries for our cash requirements, to the extent existing cash in our
offshore entities is fully utilized, including any debt we may incur.
As authorized by our board of directors, we paid a cash dividend of $0.20 on or about May 15, 2015, for each of our ordinary
shares issued and outstanding as of April 10, 2015, or each of our ADSs outstanding as of April 10, 2015. Our board of directors decides
the timing, amount and form of any future dividends, if any, based on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow,
our capital requirements and surplus, the amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial condition,
contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.
Leju is a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. It relies principally on dividends from its subsidiaries in China
for its cash requirements, including any payment of dividends to its shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of Leju’s PRC
subsidiaries to pay dividends to Leju. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations
relating to Dividend Distributions”.
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. Offering and Listing Details
Our ADSs have been listed on the NYSE since April 17, 2014 under the symbol “LEJU”. Prior to May 20, 2022, each of our
ADSs represented one ordinary share. On May 20, 2022, we effected a change in the ratio of our ADSs to ordinary shares from one ADS
representing one ordinary share to one ADS representing ten ordinary shares.
In 2022, the closing price of our ADSs on the NYSE ranged from $9.11 to $1.32 per ADS.
B. Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
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C. Markets
Our ADSs, each representing one of our ordinary shares, have been traded on the NYSE since April 17, 2014 under the symbol
“LEJU”. Prior to May 20, 2022, each of our ADSs represented one ordinary share. On May 20, 2022, we effected a change in the ratio of
our ADSs to ordinary shares from one ADS representing one ordinary share to one ADS representing ten ordinary shares.
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 affairs are governed by our memorandum and
articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, which is
referred to as the Companies Act below, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
The following are summaries of material provisions of our current amended and restated memorandum and articles of
association that was adopted by a special resolution passed on March 10, 2014 and became effective immediately upon the completion of
our initial public offering of ordinary shares represented by ADSs in April 2014, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our
ordinary shares.
Registered Office and Objects
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, or at such other place as our board of directors may from time to time
decide. The objects for which our company is established are unrestricted and we have full power and authority to carry out any object
not prohibited by the Companies Act, as amended from time to time, or any other law of the Cayman Islands.
Board of Directors
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—C. Board Practices”.
Ordinary Shares
General. All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Our ordinary shares are issued in
registered form, and are issued when registered in our register of members. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman
Islands may freely hold and vote their ordinary shares. Our company will not issue bearer or negotiable shares.
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Register of Members. Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there should 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 is 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 our register of members, or if there is any default or
unnecessary delay in entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of our company, the person or member
aggrieved (or any member of our company or our 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.
Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. 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 declared and paid only out of funds legally available therefor, namely out of
either profit or our share premium account, provided that a dividend may not be paid if this would result in our company being unable to
pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote on a show of hands or, on a poll, to one vote for each share registered in
his name on the register of members, on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any meeting of
shareholders is by show of hands unless a poll (before or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands) is demanded. A poll may
be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any one or more shareholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote and who
together hold not less than ten percent of the paid up voting share capital of our Company.
An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by
those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the
affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy
at 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.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares. Any of our shareholders may transfer, subject to the approval of our board of directors or the
written consent of a director authorized by our board of directors in writing to approve share transfers, 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 of directors.
However, 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 our company has a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary
share unless:
● 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;
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● the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
● the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
● the ordinary shares transferred are free of any lien in favor of us;
● any fee related to the transfer has been paid to us; or
● in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the transfer is not to more than four joint holders.
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they are required, within two months after the date on which the instrument of
transfer was lodged, to send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
Liquidation. On a winding up of our company, the liquidator may, with the sanction of a special resolution, divide amongst the
shareholders in specie or kind the whole or any part of the assets of our company (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind
or not) and may for such purpose set such value as he deems fair upon any property to be divided as aforesaid and may determine how
such division shall be carried out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders. The liquidator may, with the like
sanction, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as the liquidator, with
the like sanction shall think fit, but so that no shareholder shall be compelled to accept any shares or other securities whereon there is any
liability. 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. The ordinary shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are
subject to forfeiture.
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. Our company may also repurchase any of our shares (including any redeemable shares)
provided that the manner and terms of such purchase have been approved 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 our 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 (i) unless it is fully paid up; (ii) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares issued
and outstanding; or (iii) if the company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid
share for no consideration.
Variation of Rights of Shares. If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes or series of shares, all or any of the
special rights attached to any class or series of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class or series)
may be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of a
special resolution passed at a general meeting of the holders of the shares of that class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of
the shares of any class or series issued with preferred or other rights will not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of
the shares of that class or series, be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing
class of shares.
General Meetings of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals. As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obligated
by the Companies Act to call shareholders’ annual general meetings. Our memorandum and articles of association provide that we may
(but are not obligated to) in each year hold a general meeting as our annual general meeting in which case we shall specify the meeting as
such in the notices calling it, and the annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place as may be determined by our directors.
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Shareholders’ annual general meetings and any other general meetings of our shareholders may be convened by a majority of
our board of directors. Advance notice of at least seven calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general meeting and
any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders consists of shareholders present
in person or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of the votes attaching to the issued and outstanding shares in our company
entitled to vote at general meetings.
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 our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than
one-third of the share capital of our company in issue entitled to vote at general meetings, to requisition an extraordinary general meeting
of the shareholders, in which case our directors are obligated to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at
such meeting; however, our memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any proposals
before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
Election and Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise determined by our company in general meeting, our articles of association
provide that our board will consist of not less than three directors. There are no provisions relating to retirement of directors upon
reaching any age limit.
The directors have the power to appoint any person as a director either to fill a casual vacancy on the board or as an addition to
the existing board. Our shareholders may also appoint any person to be a director by way of ordinary resolution.
A director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution.
In addition, the office of any director shall be vacated if the director (i) becomes bankrupt or has a receiving order made against
him or suspends payment or compounds with his creditors, (ii) dies or becomes of unsound mind, (iii) resigns his office by notice in
writing to the Company; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board of directors, is absent from meetings of our board of
directors for six consecutive meetings and the board resolves that his office be vacated; (v) is prohibited by law from being a director or
(vi) is removed from office pursuant to any other provision of our memorandum and articles of association.
Proceedings of Board of Directors. Our memorandum and articles of association provide that our business is to be managed and
conducted by our board of directors. The quorum necessary for board meetings may be fixed by the board and, unless so fixed at another
number, will be a majority of the directors, including the chairman.
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that the board may from time to time at its discretion exercise all powers
of our company to raise or borrow money, to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets (present and
future) and uncalled capital of our company and to issue debentures, bonds and other securities of our company, whether outright or as
collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third party.
Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our ordinary shares have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or
obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records (other than our memorandum and articles of association, our register of
mortgages and charges and special resolutions of our shareholders). However, we intend to provide our shareholders with annual audited
financial statements. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information”.
Changes in Capital. Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
● increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
● 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, provided that in the subdivision the proportion
between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share
from which the reduced share is derived; or
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● 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 cancelled.
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an
application by our company for an order confirming such reduction, reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any
manner permitted by law.
Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of our current memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or
prevent a change in control of our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that authorize
our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders.
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our
memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, for a proper purpose and for what they believe in
good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Exempted Company. We are an exempted company with limited liability under the Companies Act. The Companies Act in the
Cayman Islands distinguishes between ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the
Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside the Cayman Islands may apply to be registered as an exempted company. The
requirements for an exempted company are essentially the same as for an ordinary company except for the exemptions and privileges
listed below:
● an exempted company does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
● an exempted company’s register of members is not required to be open to inspection;
● an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
● an exempted company may issue no par valueshares;
● an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertak-ings are usually
given for 20 years in the first instance);
● an exempted company may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
● an exempted company may register as a limited duration company; and
● an exempted company may register as a segregated portfolio company.
“Limited liability” means that the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount unpaid by the shareholder on that
shareholder’s shares of the company (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency
relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate
veil).
We are subject to reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act, as applicable to foreign private issuers.
Except as otherwise disclosed in this annual report, we currently intend to comply with the NYSE rules in lieu of home country practice.
C. Material Contracts
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in
“Item 4. Information on the Company”, “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions”, or
elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
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D. Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Foreign Exchange Registration of Offshore
Investments by PRC Residents”.
E. Taxation
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 brought within the
jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands, or produced before a court 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 the shares 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 the Shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal
of the shares be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
People’s Republic of China Taxation
Under the EIT Law, and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside China with “de facto management body”
within China is considered a resident enterprise. The implementation rules of the EIT Law define the term “de facto management body”
as the body that exercises full and substantial control and overall management over the business, productions, personnel, accounts and
properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the SAT issued the SAT Circular 82, which was most recently amended on December 29, 2017
and 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, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s
general position on how the “de facto management body” text should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore
enterprises including Leju Holdings Limited. According to the 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
only if all of the following conditions are met: (i) the primary location of the day-to-day operational management is 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, board and shareholder resolutions
are located or maintained in China; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in China.
Although Leju Holdings Limited does not meet condition (iii) above as its primary assets in the form of shareholding in offshore
entities, and its accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder resolutions are located and maintained outside
China, there are uncertainties as to the interpretation of relevant PRC regulations including the SAT Circular 82 and condition (iii) above
as well as the applicability of the SAT Circular 82 to Leju Holdings Limited, and 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”.
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If the PRC tax authorities determine that Leju Holdings Limited is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes,
we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises,
including the holders of our ADSs. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders (including our ADS holders) may be subject to a
10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares, if such income is treated as sourced from
within China. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) would be subject to any PRC tax
on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise.
If any PRC tax were to apply to such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available
under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of Leju Holdings Limited would be able to
claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and China in the event that Leju Holdings Limited is treated
as a PRC resident enterprise.
The SAT issued the SAT Circular 59 together with the Ministry of Finance in April 2009 and the SAT Circular 698 in December
2009. By promulgating and implementing these two circulars, the PRC tax authorities have enhanced their scrutiny over the direct or
indirect transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise by a non-PRC resident enterprise. The SAT Bulletin 7 was promulgated
in February 2015 and replaced previous rules under the SAT Circular 698. Under the SAT Bulletin 7, an “indirect transfer” of assets of a
PRC resident enterprise, 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 properties, if such transaction arrangement lacks 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 the SAT Bulletin 7, “PRC taxable assets” include assets attributed to an
establishment in China, immovable properties located in China, and equity interests in PRC resident enterprises. In respect of an indirect
transfer of assets of a PRC establishment, the resulting gain is to be included with the enterprise income tax filing of the PRC
establishment being transferred, and would consequently be subject to PRC enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. If the underlying
transfer relates to the immovable properties located in China or to equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, which is not related to a
PRC establishment or place of business of a non-resident enterprise, a PRC enterprise income tax at 10% would apply, subject to
preferential tax treatment under applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements, and the party who is obligated to make payments for the
transfer has a withholding obligation. Although it appears that the SAT Bulletin 7 does not apply to share transfers of publicly traded
companies, there is uncertainty as to the application of the SAT Bulletin 7 and we and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of
being subject to tax filing or withholding obligations under the SAT Bulletin 7 and we may be required to expend valuable resources to
comply with the SAT Bulletin 7 or to establish that we should not be taxed under the SAT Bulletin 7.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of
our ADSs or ordinary shares by a U.S. holder (as defined below) that holds our ADSs or ordinary shares as “capital assets” (generally,
property held for investment) under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. This discussion is based upon existing U.S.
federal income tax law, which is subject to differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurance
that the Internal Revenue Service the (“IRS”) or a court will not take a contrary position. This discussion does not discuss all aspects of
U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, including investors
subject to special tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below (for example, certain financial institutions, insurance
companies, broker-dealers, traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities,
partnerships and their partners, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, and tax-exempt organizations (including
private foundations), holders who are not U.S. holders, holders who own (directly, indirectly, or constructively) 10% or more of our stock
(by vote or value), holders who acquire their ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to any employee share option or otherwise as
compensation, investors that will hold their ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other
integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar). In
addition, this discussion does not address U.S. federal estate, gift, Medicare, and alternative minimum tax considerations, or any non-
U.S., state, and local tax considerations. Each U.S. holder is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and
non-U.S. tax considerations of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
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General
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or ordinary shares that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a
corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the laws of, the United States or any state thereof or the
District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of
its source; or (iv) a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more
U.S. persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or (B) that has otherwise validly elected to be treated
as a U.S. person.
If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ADSs
or ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities
of the partnership. Partnerships holding our ADSs or ordinary shares and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their tax
advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, it is generally expected that a U.S. holder of ADSs will generally be treated as the
beneficial owner of the underlying shares represented by the ADSs. The remainder of this discussion assumes that a U.S. holder of our
ADSs will be treated in this manner. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs will generally not be subject to
U.S. federal income tax.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-U.S. corporation, such as our company, will be classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, if, in the case
of any particular taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or
(ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of a quarterly average) during such year is attributable to
assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). For this purpose, cash and assets readily
convertible into cash are categorized as a passive asset and the company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles associated with
active business activities may generally be classified as active assets. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends,
interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning our proportionate share of the
assets and earning our proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which we own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more
(by value) of the stock.
Although the law in this regard is unclear, we treat the variable interest entities as being owned by us for U.S. federal income
tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operation of such entities but also because we are entitled to
substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their operating results in our consolidated financial
statements. Based upon the composition of our assets (in particular the retention of a substantial amount of cash), and the market price of
our ADSs, we believe that we were a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022,
and we will likely be a PFIC for our current taxable year unless the market price of our ADSs increases and/or we invest a substantial
amount of the cash and other passive assets we hold in assets that produce or are held for the production of active income. If we are
classified as a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, the PFIC rules discussed below under
“Passive Foreign Company Investment Company Rules” generally will apply to such U.S. holder for such taxable year, and unless the
U.S. holder makes certain elections, will apply in future years even if we cease to be a PFIC. However, if we cease to be a PFIC,
provided that you have not made a mark-to-market election, as described below, you may avoid some of the adverse effects of the PFIC
regime by making a “deemed sale” election with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares, as applicale. If such election is made, you will
be deemed to have sold our ADSs or ordinary shares you hold at their fair market value and any gain from such deemed sale would be
subject to the rules described below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.” After the deemed sale election, so long as we
do not become a PFIC in a subsequent taxable year, your ADSs or ordinary shares with respect to which such election was made will not
be treated as shares in a PFIC and you will generally not be subject to the rules described below with respect to any “excess distribution”
you receive from us or any gain from an actual sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. The rules dealing with deemed
sale elections are very complex. Each U.S. holder should consult its tax advisors regarding the possibility and considerations of making a
deemed sale election.
The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply if we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year are generally discussed below
under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules”.
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Dividends
Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules,” any cash distributions (including the
amount of any tax withheld) paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined
under U.S. federal income tax principles, will generally be includible in the gross income of a U.S. holder as dividend income on the day
actually or constructively received by the U.S. holder, in the case of ordinary shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADSs. Because
we do not intend to determine our earnings and profits on the basis of U.S. federal income tax principles, any distribution paid will
generally be reported as a “dividend” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Dividends received on our ADSs or ordinary shares will not
be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations in respect of dividends received from U.S. corporations.
A non-U.S. corporation (other than a corporation that is classified as a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or
the preceding taxable year) will generally be considered to be a qualified foreign corporation (i) if it is eligible for the benefits of a
comprehensive tax treaty with the United States which the Secretary of Treasury of the United States determines is satisfactory for
purposes of this provision and which includes an exchange of information program; or (ii) with respect to any dividend it pays on stock
(or ADSs in respect of such stock) which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. Our ADSs are listed
on the NYSE, which is an established securities market in the United States, and will be considered readily tradable on the NYSE for as
long as the ADSs continue to be listed on such exchange. Thus, we believe that dividends we pay on our ADSs will meet the conditions
required for the reduced tax rate, but there can be no assurance that our ADSs will continue to be considered readily tradable on an
established securities market in later years. However, as described above, in January 2022 we received communications from the New
York Stock Exchange notifying us that if we fail to satisfy such requirements and fail to regain compliance on a timely basis, our ADSs
could be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to our ADSs.” If
our ADSs are delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and are not otherwise readily tradable on an established securities market in
the United States, dividends received on our ADSs would generally not be eligible to be taxed as dividend income from a qualified
foreign corporation. Moreover, as discussed above, we believe we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022. You
should consult your tax advisor regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to our ADSs or ordinary
shares.
In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC “resident enterprise” under the EIT Law (see “-People’s Republic of China
Taxation”), we may be eligible for the benefits of the U.S.-PRC income tax treaty (which the Secretary of Treasury of the United States
has determined is satisfactory for this purpose) and be treated as a qualified foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid to our
ADSs or ordinary shares. Dividends received on the ADSs or ordinary shares will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction
allowed to corporations. Each U.S. holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate
applicable to qualified dividend income for any dividends we pay with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares.
Dividends will generally be treated as income from foreign sources for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes and will generally
constitute passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the EIT Law, a U.S. holder
may be subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares. A U.S. holder may be eligible, subject to a
number of complex limitations, to claim a foreign tax credit in respect of any foreign withholding taxes imposed on dividends received
on ADSs or ordinary shares. A U.S. holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld may instead claim a
deduction, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholdings, but only for a year in which such U.S. holder elects to
do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. Each U.S. holder is advised to
consult its tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
As mentioned above, we believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022, and we will likely be
classified as a PFIC for our current taxable year. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the
reduced tax rate on dividends with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares in their particular circumstances.
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Sale or Other Disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.” a U.S. holder will generally recognize
capital gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of ADSs or ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the
amount realized upon the disposition and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. Any capital gain or loss
will be long-term gain or loss if the ADSs or ordinary shares have been held for more than one year and will generally be U.S.-source
gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. In the event that we are
treated as a PRC resident enterprise under the EIT Law and gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares is subject to tax in
China, such gain may be treated as PRC-source gain for foreign tax credit purposes under the U.S.-PRC income tax treaty (the “Treaty”).
Pursuant to recently issued Treasury Regulations, however, if a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or does not elect
to apply the Treaty, then such holder may not be able to claim a foreign tax credit arising from any PRC tax imposed on the disposition of
the ADSs or ordinary shares. U.S. holders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is
imposed on a disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares, including the availability of the foreign tax credit or deduction under their
particular circumstances, their eligibility for benefits under the Treaty and the potential impact of the recently issued Treasury
Regulations.
As mentioned above, we believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022, and we will likely be
classified as a PFIC for our current taxable year. U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax considerations of
the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares in their particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
As mentioned above, we believe that we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2022, and we will likely be
classified as a PFIC for our current taxable year. If we are classified as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder holds our
ADSs or ordinary shares, and unless the U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election (as described below) with respect to the ADSs, the
U.S. holder will generally be subject to special tax rules that have a penalizing effect, regardless of whether we remain a PFIC, on (i) any
excess distribution that we make to the U.S. holder (which generally means any distribution paid during a taxable year to a U.S. holder
that is greater than 125% of the average annual distributions paid in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. holder’s
holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares); and (ii) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition, including, under certain
circumstances, a pledge, of ADSs or ordinary shares. Under the PFIC rules:
● the excess distribution and/or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary
shares;
● the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years in the U.S. holder’s holding period prior to the first
taxable year in which we are classified as a PFIC (each, a pre-PFIC year) will be taxable as ordinary income;
● the amount allocated to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year, will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect
applicable to the U.S. holder for that year; and
● an additional tax equal to the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the tax
attributable to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-PFIC year.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our non-U.S.
subsidiaries is also a PFIC, such U.S. holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier
PFIC for purposes of the application of these rules. Each U.S. holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the application of the
PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
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As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. holder of “marketable stock” in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election
with respect to our ADSs. The mark-to-market election is available only for stock that is regularly traded on a national securities
exchange that is registered with the SEC, or on a foreign exchange or represents a legitimate and sound fair market value. Our ADSs are
traded on the NYSE, which is an established securities market in the U.S. Consequently, if our ADSs continue to be listed and are
regularly traded on the NYSE, we expect that the mark-to-market election would be available to a U.S. holder that holds our ADSs were
we to become a PFIC. We anticipate that our ADSs should qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this
regard. However, as described above, In January 2022, we received communications from the New York Stock Exchange notifying us
that we were not in compliance with certain New York Stock Exchange continued listing standards, and if we fail to satisfy such
requirements and fail to regain compliance on a timely basis, our ADSs could be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange. See “Item
3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to our ADSs.” If our ADSs are delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and
are not otherwise listed on a qualified exchange or other market, as described above, our ADSs would not be treated as “marketable
stock” for these purposes and a U.S. Holder would not be eligible to make a mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs. If a
mark-to-market election is made, the U.S. holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC
the excess, if any, of the fair market value of ADSs held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ADSs; and (ii)
deduct as an ordinary loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over the fair market value of such ADSs held at the
end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
The U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs would be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market
election. If a U.S. holder makes an effective mark-to-market election, in each year that we are a PFIC, any gain recognized upon the sale
or other disposition of the ADSs will be treated as ordinary income and loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the
net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.
If a U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of a corporation classified as a PFIC and such corporation ceases to
be classified as a PFIC, the U.S. holder will not be required to take into account the mark-to-market gain or loss described above during
any period that such corporation is not classified as a PFIC.
Because a mark-to-market election cannot technically be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. holder who
makes a mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs may continue to be subject to the general PFIC rules with respect to such U.S.
holder’s indirect interest in any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries that is classified as a PFIC.
We do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. holders to make qualified electing fund elections, which, if
available, would result in tax treatment different from the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
In addition, if a U.S. holder owns our ADSs or ordinary shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, such holder is
generally required to file U.S. IRS Form 8621 and other information as the U.S. Treasury Department may require. Each U.S. holder is
advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the potential tax consequences to such holder if we are or become classified as a PFIC,
including the possibility of making a mark-to-market election.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H. Documents on Display
We previously filed with the SEC our registration statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-194505), as amended, including
the prospectus contained therein, to register the issuance and sale of our ordinary shares represented by ADSs in relation to our initial
public offering. We have also filed with the SEC our registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-195067) to register our
ADSs.
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We are subject to the periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the Exchange Act, we
are required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually a Form 20-F no later than
four months after the close 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.
We will furnish JPMorgan Chase Bank, 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.
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.
Our website is www.leju.com. We make our annual reports on Form 20-F and any amendments to such reports available free of
charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable following the electronic filing of each report with the SEC. In addition, we
provide electronic or paper copies of our annual reports free of charge to our shareholders and ADS holders upon request. The
information contained on our website is not part of this or any other report filed with or furnished to the SEC.
I. Subsidiary Information
For a listing of our subsidiaries, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure”.
J. Annual Report to Security Holders
Not applicable.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk
Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated by bank deposits with original maturities of
three months or less and interest expenses incurred for our one year borrowing from bank. In September 2021, we entered into a one-year
RMB5.0 million facility agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The interest rate was priced at 65 basis points over Loan
Prime Rate. The bank borrowing was unguaranteed and unsecured. We have repaid the RMB5.0 million borrowing in September 2022.
In March 2022, we entered into a one-year RMB5.0 million facility agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The interest
rate was priced at 80 basis points over Loan Prime Rate. The bank borrowing was unguaranteed and unsecured. We have not used any
derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. We
have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. However, our future interest income may be lower than expected
due to changes in market interest rates.
Foreign Exchange Risk
Substantially all of our revenues and most of our expenses are denominated in Renminbi. We do not believe that we currently
have any significant direct foreign exchange risk and we have not used any forward contracts, currency borrowings or derivative
instruments to hedge exposure to such risk. Although our exposure to foreign exchange risks should be limited in general, the value of
your investment in our ADSs will be affected by the exchange rate between U.S. dollar and Renminbi because the value of our business
is effectively denominated in RMB, while our ADSs will be traded in U.S. dollars.
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The conversion of Renminbi into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China.
The Renminbi has fluctuated against the U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. It is difficult to predict how market forces
or PRC or U.S. government policy may impact the exchange rate between Renminbi and the U.S. dollar in the future.
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 RMB 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.
As of December 31, 2022, we had Renminbi- or Hong Kong dollar- denominated cash balances of $127.3 million and U.S. dollar-
denominated cash balances of $0.3 million. Assuming we had converted the U.S. dollar-denominated cash balance of $0.3 million as of
December 31, 2022 into Renminbi at the exchange rate of $1.00 for RMB 6.9646 as of December 31, 2022, this cash balance would have
been RMB2.24 million. Assuming a further 1% appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar, this cash balance would have
decreased to RMB2.21 million as of December 31, 2022. Assuming a 1% depreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar, this cash
balance would have increased to RMB2.26 million as of December 31, 2022.
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
The depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of
shares, issuances in respect of share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split
declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited
securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities or whose ADRs are cancelled or reduced for any
other reason, $5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered, as the case may be.
The depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of a share distribution, rights
and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.
The following additional charges shall be incurred by the ADR holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing shares or by
any party surrendering ADSs or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock
split declared by us or an exchange of stock regarding the ADSs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is
applicable:
● a fee of $1.50 per ADR or ADRs for transfers of certificated or direct registration ADRs;
● a fee of up to $0.05 per ADS for any cash distribution made pursuant to the deposit agreement;
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● a fee of up to $0.05 per ADS per calendar year (or portion thereof) for services performed by the depositary in administering
the ADRs (which fee may be charged on a periodic basis during each calendar year and shall be assessed against holders of
ADRs as of the record date or record dates set by the depositary during each calendar year and shall be payable in the manner
described in the next succeeding provision);
● a fee for the reimbursement of such fees, charges and expenses as are incurred by the depositary and/or any of its agents
(including, without limitation, the custodian and expenses incurred on behalf of holders in connection with compliance with
foreign exchange control regulations or any law or regulation relating to foreign investment) in connection with the servicing of
the shares or other deposited securities, the sale of securities (including, without limitation, deposited securities), the delivery of
deposited securities or otherwise in connection with the deposi-tary’s or its custodian’s compliance with applicable law, rule or
regulation (which fees and charges shall be as-sessed on a proportionate basis against holders as of the record date or dates set
by the depositary and shall be payable at the sole discretion of the depositary by billing such holders or by deducting such
charge from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions);a fee for the distribution of securities (or the sale of
securities in connection with a distribution), such fee being in an amount equal to the $0.05 per ADS issuance fee for the
execution and delivery of ADSs which would have been charged as a result of the deposit of such securities (treating all such
securities as if they were shares) but which securities or the net cash proceeds from the sale thereof are instead distributed by
the depositary to those holders entitled thereto;
● stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges;
● cable, telex and facsimile transmission and delivery charges incurred at your request in connection with the deposit or delivery
of shares;
● transfer or registration fees for the registration of transfer of deposited securities on any applicable register in connection with
the deposit or withdrawal of deposited securities;
● in connection with the conversion of foreign currency into U.S. dollars, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. shall deduct out of such
foreign currency the fees, expenses and other charges charged by it and/or its agent (which may be a division, branch or
affiliate) so appointed in connection with such conversion; and
● fees of any division, branch or affiliate of the depositary utilized by the depositary to direct, manage and/or execute any public
and/or private sale of securities under the deposit agreement.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and/or its agent may act as principal for such conversion of foreign currency.
We will pay all other charges and expenses of the depositary and any agent of the depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to
agreements from time to time between us and the depositary. The charges described above may be amended from time to time by
agreement between us and the depositary.
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Fees and Other Payments Made by the Depositary to Us
Our depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the
ADR program upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. The depositary may make
available to us a set amount or a portion of the depositary fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise upon such terms and
conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time. The depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs
directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them.
The depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a
portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The depositary may collect its annual fee for depositary services by deduction from cash
distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The
depositary will generally set off the amounts owing from distributions made to holders of ADSs. If, however, no distribution exists and
payment owing is not timely received by the depositary, the depositary may refuse to provide any further services to holders that have not
paid those fees and expenses owing until such fees and expenses have been paid. At the discretion of the depositary, all fees and charges
owing under the deposit agreement are due in advance and/or when declared owing by the depositary.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, we received $0.2 million of reimbursement from the depositary for our expenses
incurred in connection with the establishment and maintenance of the ADS program.
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ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
None.
PART II
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer
and chief financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures within the meaning
of Rules 13a-15 (e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based upon this evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of the end of
the period covered by this annual report, our existing disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance
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 Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of its published consolidated financial statements. All internal
control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective may
not prevent or detect misstatements and can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and
presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, our management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2022. In making this assessment, it used the criteria established within the Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013)
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
Based on this assessment, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2022, our internal control over financial
reporting was effective. This annual report does not include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting from our
company’s registered public accounting firm, because we, as a “non-accelerated filer” as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act,
are not required to have an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting from our external auditors.
We had been an “emerging growth company”, as defined in the JOBS Act, and ceased to be one as of the end of the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2019. We took advantage of certain exemptions from 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. Although we ceased to be an “emerging growth company”, as a “non-accelerated filer” as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act, we are still not required to have an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting from our external
auditors.
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Our independent registered public accounting firm has not conducted an audit of our internal control over financial reporting. 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 material weaknesses and deficiencies or might issue a qualified report if it is not satisfied with our
internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant
requirements differently from us.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than described above, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during 2022 that have
materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 16. [RESERVED]
ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our board of directors has determined that Winston Li and Min Fan, members of our audit committee, are audit committee
financial experts. Each of Winston Li and Min Fan is an independent director (under the standards set forth in Section 303A of the
Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE and Section 10A-3 of the Exchange Act).
ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS
Our board of directors has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees.
We have filed our code of business conduct and ethics as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form F-1 (No. 333-194505) and the
code is also available on our official website under the investor relations section at ir.leju.com.
ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
In May 2020, we appointed Yu Certified Public Accountant, P.C., or Yu CPA, as our independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. At the same time, we and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants
LLP (“Deloitte”) mutually agreed to terminate Deloitte’s appointment as our independent registered public accounting firm. Since then
Yu CPA has been our principal external auditors.
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services
rendered by Deloitte and Yu CPA, as applicable, our principal external auditors, for the periods indicated. We did not pay any other fees
to our auditors during the periods indicated below.
Audit fees(1)- Deloitte
Audit fees(1)-Yu CPA
For the Years Ended December 31,
2021
85,692
620,000
2022
—
560,000
Notes:
(1) “Audit fees” means the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our principal auditors for the audit of our annual
financial statements and the review of our comparative interim financial statements.
The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by external auditor, including
audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services as described above, other than those for de minimis services which
are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit.
ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
None.
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ITEM 16E. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
None.
ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
In May 2020, we dismissed Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP as our independent auditor, the details
of which were previously reported in the annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396), initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 15, 2020.
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Because more than 50% of the voting power of our company has been held by E-House Enterprise or TM Home since
November 2020, we are a “controlled company” under Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE. A controlled
company need not comply with the applicable NYSE corporate governance rules requiring its board of directors to have a majority of
independent directors. We availed ourselves of the controlled company exemption. As a result, we do not have a majority of independent
directors on our board.
The Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE 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 NYSE corporate governance listing standards. Currently, we do not rely on home country exemption for corporate
governance matters. However, if we choose to follow home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less
protection than they otherwise would under the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 16I. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.
Not applicable.
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PART III
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements of Leju Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries are included at the end of this annual report.
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number
1.1
Description of Document
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 2.3)
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. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, the depositary and holder of the American Depositary Receipts
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-197609),
as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2014)
Form of Amendment No. 1 to Deposit Agreement between the Registrant, the depositary and holders and
beneficial owners of the American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)
(2) of post-effective amendment No. 1 to the registration statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-253812), filed with
the Commission on May 10, 2022)
Description of Securities (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File
No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15, 2020)
2013 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registration statement on
Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 12, 2014)
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333194505), as amended,
initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai SINA Leju
Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai SINA Leju
Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd. and Xudong Zhu
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
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Exhibit Number
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.10
4.11
4.12
4.13
4.14
4.15
4.16
4.17
4.18
Description of Document
English translation of Loan Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai SINA Leju Information
Technology Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Loan Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai SINA Leju Information
Technology Co., Ltd. and Xudong Zhu (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to our annual report on
Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Powers of Attorney, dated November 4, 2020, issued by Yinyu He to Shanghai SINA Leju
Information Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Powers of Attorney, dated November 4, 2020, issued by Xudong Zhu to Shanghai SINA
Leju Information Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to our annual report on
Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Equity Pledge Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai SINA Leju
Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Equity Pledge Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai SINA Leju
Information Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd. and Xudong Zhu
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement dated November 4, 2020 between Shanghai
SINA Leju Information Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi Yue
Information Technology Co. Ltd., Leju Hao Fang E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.13 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi Yue
Information Technology Co. Ltd., Leju Hao Fang E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Weijie Ma (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.14 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Loan Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi Yue Information
Technology Co. Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Loan Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi Yue Information
Technology Co. Ltd. and Weijie Ma (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Powers of Attorney, dated November 4, 2020, issued by Yinyu He to Shanghai Yi Yue
Information Technology Co. Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.17 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Powers of Attorney, dated November 4, 2020, issued by Weijie Ma to Shanghai Yi Yue
Information Technology Co. Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
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Exhibit Number
4.19
4.20
4.21
4.22
4.23
4.24
4.25
4.26
4.27
4.28
4.29
4.30
Description of Document
English translation of Equity Pledge Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi Yue Information
Technology Co. Ltd., Leju Hao Fang E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.19 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Equity Pledge Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi Yue Information
Technology Co. Ltd., Leju Hao Fang E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Weijie Ma (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 4.20 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Shanghai Yi
Yue Information Technology Co. Ltd. and Leju Hao Fang E-Commerce Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 4.21 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing Maiteng
Fengshun Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co. Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.22 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Call Option Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing Maiteng
Fengshun Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co. Ltd. and Weijie Ma (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.23 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Loan Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing Maiteng Fengshun Science and
Technology Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.24 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Loan Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing Maiteng Fengshun Science and
Technology Co., Ltd. and Weijie Ma (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.25 to our annual report on
Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Powers of Attorney, dated November 4, 2020, issued by Yinyu He to Beijing Maiteng
Fengshun Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to our annual report
on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Powers of Attorney, dated November 4, 2020, issued by Weijie Ma to Beijing Maiteng
Fengshun Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.27 to our annual report
on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Equity Pledge Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing Maiteng Fengshun
Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Yinyu He (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.28 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Equity Pledge Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing Maiteng Fengshun
Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd. and Weijie Ma (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.29 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, dated November 4, 2020, between Beijing
Maiteng Fengshun Science and Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd. (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.30 to our annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
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Exhibit Number
4.31
4.32
4.33
4.34
4.35
4.36
4.37
4.38
4.39
4.40
4.41
4.42
English translation of Advertising Inventory Sale Agency Agreement, dated March 7, 2014, between SINA
Corporation and Leju Holdings Limited. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the registration
statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on March 12, 2014)
Description of Document
Amended and Restated Domain Name and Content License Agreement, dated March 7, 2014, between Beijing
SINA Internet Information Service Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333194505).
as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Amended and Restated Trademark License Agreement, dated March 7, 2014, between Beijing SINA Internet
Information Service Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Amended and Restated Software License and Support Services Agreement, dated March 7, 2014, between
SINA.com Technology (China) Co. Ltd. and Shanghai SINA Leju Information Technology Co., Ltd. (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333194505), as amended,
initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Master Transaction Agreement, dated March 2014, between the Registrant and E-House (China) Holdings Limited.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-
194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Offshore Transitional Services Agreement, dated March 2014, between the Registrant and E-House (China)
Holdings Limited. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the registration statement on Form F-1
(File No. 333-194505). as amended initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12,
2014)
Amendment to Offshore Transitional Services Agreement, dated November 4, 2020 between the Registrant and E-
House (China) Holdings Limited. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.37 to our annual report on Form
20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
Non-Competition Agreement, dated March 2014, between the Registrant and E-House (China) Holdings Limited.
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-
194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
English translation of Onshore Transitional Services Agreement, dated March 2014, between Shanghai Real Estate
Sales (Group) Co., Ltd. and certain subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.32 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
English translation of Supplement to Transitional Services Agreement, dated November 4 2020, between E-House
(China) Enterprise Management Group Ltd. (formerly, Shanghai Real Estate Sales (Group) Co., Limited) and
certain subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.40 to our annual report on
Form 20-F (File No. 001-36396) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2021)
English translation of Onshore Cooperation Agreement, dated March 2014, by and among Shanghai Real Estate
Sales (Group) Co., Ltd., Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd., Leju Hao Fang E-Commerce
Co., Ltd. and Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the
registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333194505). as amended, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
Strategic Cooperation Agreement. dated March 10, 2014. between Shanghai Yi Yue Information Technology
Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems Company Limited (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.37 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2014)
153
Table of Contents
Exhibit Number
4.43
4.44
8.1*
11.1
12.1*
12.2*
13.1**
13.2**
15.1*
15.2*
16.1
Description of Document
Investor Rights Agreement dated March 31, 2014 between E-House (China) Holdings Limited, THL O Limited
and the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File
No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2014)
Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 21, 2017, between the Registrant and SINA Corporation
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.42 to our annual report on Form 20-F(File No.001-36396), filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2017)
Principal Subsidiaries and Consolidated Variable Interest Entities of the Registrant
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the
registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-194505), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 12, 2014)
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Consent of Yu Certified Public Accountant, P.C.
Consent of Fangda Partners
Letter from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP to the Securities and Exchange
Commission (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 16.1 to our annual report on Form 20-F, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 15, 2020)
101.INS*
101.SCH*
101.CAL*
101.DEF*
101.LAB*
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Instance Document
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Scheme Document
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
*
Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith
154
Table of Contents
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
Date: April 18, 2023
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
By:
/s/ Yinyu He
Name: Yinyu He
Title: Chief Executive Officer
155
Table of Contents
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 5910)
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Consolidated Statements of Changes in 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 Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
Page
F-2
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
F-9
F-10
F-1
Table of Contents
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Leju Holdings Limited
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Leju Holdings Limited (the “Company”), its subsidiaries and its
variable interest entities (collectively the “Group”) as of December 31, 2022, and 2021, the related consolidated statements of operations,
comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years ended December 31, 2022, and the related
notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial positions of the Group as of December 31, 2022, and 2021, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for each of the three years ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Group's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
the Group’s consolidated 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 Group 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 consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error
or fraud. The Group 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 Group'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 consolidated 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 consolidated 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
consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is the matter, arising from the current audit of the consolidated financial statements, which
was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee, and that (i) related to accounts or disclosures which are
material to the consolidated financial statements, and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The
communication of critical audit matters does not alter, in any way, our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole,
and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinion on the critical audit matters or on the
accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
F-2
Table of Contents
Allowance for current expected credit losses (“CECL”) on accounts receivables and contract assets, deposits, other receivables and
amounts due from related parties.
As described in Notes 2 (x) in the consolidated financial statements, the Group adopted Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13,
Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (codified as Accounting Standard Codification Topic 326), since January 1st, 2020, which requires
measurement and recognition of current expected credit losses for financial instruments held at amortized cost. The management of the
Group have estimated an allowance for CECL of $116.28 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 on accounts receivables,
contract assets, deposits, other receivables, and amounts due from related parties based on the credit risk of the respective receivables.
These receivables are assessed on an individual basis for customers with pledged credit risk (pledged type customers), with high credit
risk (high risk type customers) and the remaining (normal risk type customers) is collectively assessed by using provision matrix. The
allowance amount has been measured as the difference of the asset’s carrying amount and the estimates of present value of future cash
flows based on historical settlement pattern, past default experience of the debtor, overall economic environment in which the debtors
operate, and also the assessment of both current and future development of environment as of the date when this report issued. These
procedures also included the involvement of professionals with specialized skills engaged by the Group.
We have identified allowance for CECL on accounts receivables, contract assets, deposits, other receivables, and amounts due from
related parties, as a critical audit matter due to the significance to the Group’s consolidated financial position and the involvement of
subjective judgment and management estimates in evaluating the CECL of these receivables.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on
the consolidated financial statements. Our audit procedures to respond the risk of error in the allowance for CECL included (i) obtaining
an understanding and assessing management’s method for developing the allowance for doubtful accounts (credit losses); (ii) evaluating
the appropriateness of the model; (iii) testing the accuracy of management’s basic input in calculating CECL including aging report,
historical write-offs and recoveries, on a sample basis.; (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions and judgments
made by management to estimate the allowance for credit loss, including the Group’s provision matrix by grouping individually assessed
customers (pledged type customers, high risk type customers) and the normal risk type customers into different categories, and the basis
of estimated loss rates applied in each category in the provision matrix (with reference to historical default rates) and forward-looking
information; (v) evaluating the competence, capabilities and objectivity of the professionals engaged by the Group.
Evaluation of the valuation allowance and the realizability of deferred tax assets
As described in Notes 2 and 8 in the consolidated financial statements, as of December 31, 2022, the Group had gross deferred tax assets
of $67.08 million, $53.90 million of which related to net operating losses carry forwards and impairment of credit loss, reduced by a
$41.62 million valuation allowance. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based upon the consideration of all
positive and negative evidence, the Group determines that it is more-likely-than-not that a portion or all of the deferred tax assets will
ultimately not be realized in future tax periods.
Management’s analysis of the realizability of deferred tax assets of its net operating loss carry forwards and impairment of credit loss,
and of the extent to which its tax positions in certain jurisdiction are more-likely-than-not to be sustained was significant to our audits,
because the amounts are material to the financial statements and the related assessment process is complex and involves significant
judgments. Such judgments included anticipated future earnings, the time period over which the temporary differences and carryforwards
are anticipated to reverse and evaluation of feasible, prudent tax planning strategies and interpretation of laws, regulations, and tax
ruling.
F-3
Table of Contents
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on
the consolidated financial statements. Our audit procedures to respond the risk of error in the valuation allowance and the realizability of
deferred tax assets, included (i) obtaining an understanding and assessing management’s method to develop tax planning strategies and
projection of anticipated future earnings by major jurisdiction; (ii) testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used in
major financial projection, and reviewing the Group's financial projections and assess the reasonableness of the assumptions made in
calculating the projections; (iii) evaluating the historical accuracy of management’s major projection, and comparing the projection of
future earnings with forecasted financial information prepared by the Group; (iv) reviewing the Group's historical profitability and assess
the likelihood of future profitability, and evaluating the potential impact of any changes in the Group's business or external factors on the
Group's ability to realize its deferred tax assets; (v) evaluating the adequacy of the Group's disclosure related to deferred tax assets and
the valuation allowance; (vi) engaging tax professionals to assist in the evaluation of tax laws relative to the Group’s available tax
planning strategies, and projections of future taxable income.
/s/ Yu Certified Public Accountant, P.C. (PCAOB ID Number: 5910)
We have served as the Group’s auditor since 2020.
New York, New York
April 18, 2023
F-4
Table of Contents
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In U.S. dollar except for share data)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $115,290,953 and $111,848,582 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively
Contract assets, net of allowance of $83,678 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively
Marketable securities
Customer deposits, net of allowance of $10,259,195 and $3,878,996 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Amounts due from related parties
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Right-of-use assets
Investment in affiliates
Deferred tax assets, net
Other non-current assets
TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Short‑term borrowings (including short-term borrowings of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of nil and nil as of December 31,
2021 and 2022, respectively)
Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $1,631,401 and $653,700 as of December
31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Accrued payroll and welfare expenses (including accrued payroll and welfare expenses of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of
$19,962,938 and $10,717,186 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Income tax payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $31,400,562 and nil as of December
31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Other tax payable (including other tax payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $16,992,077 and $8,684,712 as of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $2,693,624 and
$668,153 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Advances from customers (including advance from customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $82,626,840 and
$43,096,996 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Lease liabilities, current (including lease liabilities, current of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $5,556,351 and $5,013,721 as
of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Accrued marketing and advertising expenses (including accrued marketing and advertising expenses of the consolidated VIEs without
recourse to Leju of $42,180,152 and $29,533,704 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Other current liabilities (including other current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $16,383,879 and $10,317,192
as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Total current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities (including deferred tax liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $314,763 and $435,848 as of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Lease liabilities, non-current (including lease liabilities, non-current of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to Leju of $19,437,887 and
$15,400,328 as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively)
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)
Shareholders’ Equity:
Ordinary shares ($0.001 par value): 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 136,822,601 and 137,172,601 shares issued and outstanding, as of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total Leju Holdings Limited Shareholders’ Equity
Non-controlling interests
Total equity
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
December 31,
2021
2022
250,313,799
2,082,103
36,071,056
1,415,241
1,185,513
783,995
25,110,040
3,913,385
320,875,132
16,667,281
23,297,758
23,409,149
17,942
51,605,404
1,375,104
437,247,770
123,378,034
4,270,695
3,407,877
—
—
3,860,127
6,110,770
2,475,800
143,503,303
14,204,363
12,458,175
18,943,473
—
25,457,487
1,544,658
216,111,459
784,230
1,631,401
717,915
653,700
21,516,888
12,728,091
60,951,790
25,202,771
18,046,289
7,631,923
9,695,893
4,804,591
82,787,409
43,100,136
5,581,648
5,037,796
43,272,270
29,988,108
18,504,471
260,708,319
12,264,895
144,193,896
6,042,540
3,517,837
19,437,887
286,188,746
15,439,595
163,151,328
136,823
801,476,746
(648,934,102)
(1,424,302)
151,255,165
(196,141)
151,059,024
437,247,770
137,173
803,300,763
(738,602,296)
(11,601,054)
53,234,586
(274,455)
52,960,131
216,111,459
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In U.S. dollar except for share data)
Table of Contents
Revenues
E-commerce
Online advertising
Listing
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Other operating income, net
Income (loss) from operations
Interest income,net
Other income, net
Income (loss) before taxes and loss from equity in affiliates
Income tax benefits (expenses)
Income (loss) before loss from equity in affiliates
Loss from equity in affiliates, net of tax of nil
Net income (loss)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited shareholders
Income (loss) per ADS1:
Basic
Diluted
Shares used in computation of income (loss) per ADS
Basic
Diluted
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2021
2022
547,895,262
170,782,688
848,033
719,525,983
(73,762,283)
(622,026,035)
380,849
24,118,514
7,268,530
300,056
31,687,100
(10,665,022)
21,022,078
(23,859)
20,998,219
1,695,981
19,302,238
411,097,123
122,522,232
497,615
534,116,970
(55,800,726)
(645,623,660)
560,394
(166,747,022)
3,130,211
208,875
(163,407,936)
13,497,784
(149,910,152)
(13,871)
(149,924,023)
1,009,512
(150,933,535)
278,463,695
64,707,215
11,274
343,182,184
(30,603,426)
(418,501,176)
297,663
(105,624,755)
2,334,540
1,496,392
(101,793,823)
12,120,235
(89,673,588)
(17,089)
(89,690,677)
(22,483)
(89,668,194)
1.42
1.40
(11.05)
(11.05)
(6.54)
(6.54)
13,607,079
13,756,457
13,665,216
13,665,216
13,704,238
13,704,238
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1 On May 10, 2022, Leju announced that it would change its American depositary share (“ADS”) to ordinary share (“Share”) ratio from
one (1) ADS representing one (1) Share to one (1) ADS representing ten (10) Shares. The change in the ADS ratio was effective on May
20, 2022. For Leju’s ADS holders, the change in the ADS ratio had the same effect as a one-for-ten reverse ADS split. The ADS ratio
change has no impact on Leju’s underlying Shares. Loss per ADS for 2020 and 2021 had been retrospectively adjusted accordingly.
F-6
Table of Contents
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In U.S. dollar)
Net income (loss)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax of nil:
Foreign currency translation adjustments
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2021
2022
20,998,219
(149,924,023)
(89,690,677)
17,938,007
4,282,498
(10,232,583)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests
38,936,226
1,703,442
(145,641,525)
1,021,108
(99,923,260)
(78,314)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Leju Holdings Limited
shareholders
37,232,784
(146,662,633)
(99,844,946)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
Table of Contents
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(In U.S. dollar)
Balance at January 1, 2020
Net income (loss)
Share-based compensation
Vesting of restricted shares
Exercise of share options
Acquisition of non-controlling interest
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Balance at December 31, 2020
Net income
Share-based compensation
Vesting of restricted shares
Exercise of share options
Disposal of non-controlling interest
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Balance at December 31, 2021
Net income (loss)
Share-based compensation
Vesting of restricted shares
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Balance at December 31, 2022
Ordinary Shares
Number
135,812,719
—
—
83,333
429,968
—
—
136,326,020
—
—
349,999
146,582
—
—
136,822,601
—
—
350,000
—
137,172,601
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
$
796,191,796
—
2,978,026
(83)
611,304
(244,436)
—
799,536,607
—
1,657,278
(350)
207,878
75,333
—
801,476,746
—
1,824,367
(350)
—
803,300,763
$
135,813
—
—
83
430
—
—
136,326
—
—
350
147
—
—
136,823
—
—
350
—
137,173
Accumulated
Deficit
$
(517,302,805)
19,302,238
—
—
—
—
—
(498,000,567)
(150,933,535)
—
—
—
—
—
(648,934,102)
(89,668,194)
—
—
—
(738,602,296)
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Subscription
Income (loss) Receivable
$
(23,624,206)
—
—
—
—
(1,544)
17,930,546
(5,695,204)
—
—
—
—
—
4,270,902
(1,424,302)
—
—
—
(10,176,752)
(11,601,054)
$
—
—
—
—
(50,286)
—
—
(50,286)
—
—
—
50,286
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Total Leju
Holdings
Limited
Shareholders’
Equity
$
255,400,598
19,302,238
2,978,026
—
561,448
(245,980)
17,930,546
295,926,876
(150,933,535)
1,657,278
—
258,311
75,333
4,270,902
151,255,165
(89,668,194)
1,824,367
—
(10,176,752)
53,234,586
Non-controlling
Interests
$
Total Equity
(3,041,481)
1,695,981
—
—
—
196,123
7,461
(1,141,916)
1,009,512
—
—
—
(75,333)
11,596
(196,141)
(22,483)
—
—
(55,831)
(274,455)
$
252,359,117
20,998,219
2,978,026
—
561,448
(49,857)
17,938,007
294,784,960
(149,924,023)
1,657,278
—
258,311
—
4,282,498
151,059,024
(89,690,677)
1,824,367
—
(10,232,583)
52,960,131
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
Table of Contents
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In U.S. dollar)
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2021
2022
20,998,219
(149,924,023)
(89,690,677)
Depreciation and amortization
Loss from equity in affiliates
Allowance for credit losses
Share-based compensation
Unrealized loss (gain) on marketable securities
Non-cash lease expenses
Interest expenses
Others
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
Contract assets
Customer deposits
Amounts due from related parties
Marketable securities
Right-of-use assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other non-current assets
Accounts payable
Accrued payroll and welfare expenses
Income tax payable
Other tax payable
Amounts due to related parties
Lease liabilities, current
Other current liabilities and accrued expenses
Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Lease liabilities, non-current
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Investing activities:
Deposits for and purchases of property and equipment and intangible assets
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
Financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of options
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
Repayment for short-term borrowings
Payment for interests of short-term borrowings
Prepayment and payment for acquisition of non-controlling interest of subsidiary
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Income taxes paid/(refund)
Interest expenses paid
Non-cash information on lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Additional paid in capital increased/(decreased) in connection with business disposal
Non-controlling interest recognized in connection with business disposal
Reconciliation to amounts on consolidated balance sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows
14,338,529
23,859
4,877,117
2,978,026
(850,402)
4,471,324
—
688,707
(65,126,276)
(1,074,573)
44,750,151
593,523
—
(3,360,748)
211,913
30,398
1,285,916
(3,632,710)
6,228,894
1,035,107
2,699,108
271,983
70,262,381
11,132,101
(3,198,793)
(1,139,046)
108,494,708
(1,553,067)
1,654,838
101,771
561,448
—
—
—
(21,188)
540,260
17,557,865
126,694,604
159,012,092
285,706,696
(52,961)
—
1,967,269
—
—
284,489,282
1,217,414
285,706,696
13,369,416
13,871
111,267,396
1,657,278
1,722,700
4,860,980
9,147
68,880
61,918,496
458,775
469,505
5,165,007
1,369,581
(2,604,610)
(17,241,261)
64,497
(1,228,688)
(7,872,273)
(2,134,475)
(3,271,899)
526,038
120,414
(44,291,642)
(9,569,781)
(2,522,902)
(2,289,230)
(39,888,803)
(1,115,482)
797,174
(318,308)
258,311
784,230
—
(9,147)
—
1,033,394
5,862,923
(33,310,794)
285,706,696
252,395,902
1,358,100
9,147
2,064,279
75,333
(75,333)
250,313,799
2,082,103
252,395,902
12,582,314
17,089
13,743,558
1,824,367
—
4,519,231
51,972
29,844
24,213,386
1,603,704
(6,614,821)
1,437,931
1,185,893
(53,555)
19,816,231
(258,462)
(909,353)
(8,174,397)
(33,249,906)
(7,783,636)
(2,827,332)
(543,852)
(55,071,737)
22,666,371
(2,491,596)
(3,998,292)
(107,975,725)
(139,795)
146,147
6,352
—
746,990
(746,990)
(51,972)
—
(51,972)
(16,725,828)
(124,747,173)
252,395,902
127,648,729
141,144
51,972
2,783,430
—
—
123,378,034
4,270,695
127,648,729
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-9
Table of Contents
LEJU HOLDINGS LIMITED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020, 2021 AND 2022
(In U.S. dollar)
1. Organization and Principal Activities
Leju Holdings Limited (the “Company” or “Leju”) was incorporated on November 20, 2013 in the Cayman Islands as an exempted
company with limited liability under the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands. The Company, through its subsidiaries and consolidated
variable interest entities (“VIEs”), is principally engaged in providing online advertising, e-commerce services and listing services for the
real estate and home furnishing industries in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”). The Company, its subsidiaries and consolidated
VIEs are collectively referred to as the “Group”.
E-House (China) Holdings Limited (“E-House Holdings”) was the Company’s parent company from its incorporation to December 30,
2016. E-House Holdings, its subsidiaries and VIEs, excluding the Group, are collectively referred to as “E-House”. On December 30,
2016, E-House Holdings repurchased all its ordinary shares held by SINA Corporation (“SINA”) for a total consideration consisting of
40,651,187 ordinary shares of Leju and of $129,038,150 in cash. As a result of this transaction, E-House Holdings ceased to be Leju’s
controlling shareholder but remains as the largest shareholder and SINA became a principal shareholder of Leju from December 30,
2016. E-House Holdings was ultimately controlled by Mr. Xin Zhou.
On November 4, 2020, E-House (China) Enterprise Holdings Limited (“E-House Enterprise”) purchased (i) 51,925,996 ordinary shares
of Leju from Mr. Xin Zhou and certain of his affiliated entities (the “Zhou Parties”) and (ii) 24,475,251 ordinary shares of Leju from the
SINA. Upon completion of these transactions, E-House Enterprise acquired the beneficial ownership of 76,401,247 ordinary shares of
Leju, and Leju became a subsidiary of E-House Enterprise. SINA remains to be a principal shareholder of Leju.
On November 24, 2021, TM Home Limited (“TM Home”), a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability and
owned as to 70.23% and 29.77% by E-House Enterprise and Alibaba Investment Limited, respectively, completed the acquisition of the
76,401,247 ordinary shares of Leju from E-House Enterprise. Upon completion of these transactions, Leju has become a subsidiary of
TM Home, which was also controlled by E-house Enterprise since then. SINA remained to be a principal shareholder of Leju.
The following table lists major subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs of the Company as of December 31, 2022:
Shanghai SINA Leju Information Technology Co., Ltd (“Shanghai SINA Leju”)
E-House City Re-House Real Estate Agency (Shanghai) Co., Ltd (“City Re-House”)
Shanghai Yi Yue Information Technology Co., Ltd (“Shanghai Yi Yue”)
Beijing Maiteng Fengshun Science and Technology Co., Ltd (“Beijing Maiteng”)
Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Leju”)
Shanghai Leju Hao Fang Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Leju Hao Fang”) (formerly
known as Shanghai Yi Xin E-Commerce Co., Ltd.)
Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Jiajujiu”)
2. Summary of Principal Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of presentation
Date of
Place of
Percentage of
Incorporation Incorporation Ownership
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
08-May-08
04-Mar-10
16-Sep-11
04-Jan-12
13-Feb-08
100 %
100 %
100 %
84 %
VIE
05-Dec-11
22-Mar-12
PRC
PRC
VIE
VIE
The consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America (“US GAAP”).
F-10
Table of Contents
(b) Impact of COVID-19
Starting from early 2020, in response to intensifying efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government took a number
of actions, which included extending the Chinese New Year holiday, quarantining individuals infected with or suspected of having
COVID-19, restricting residents from travel, encouraging employees of enterprises to work remotely from home and cancelling public
activities, among others. The pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in real estate transaction volumes as many of the Group’s
developer clients had to close their project sales centers and show rooms for an extended period, adversely affecting the Group’s e-
commerce services. In 2022, there have been outbreaks of COVID-19 cases from time to time, including the COVID-19 Delta and
Omicron variant cases, in multiple cities in China. The Group’s revenues declined compared to the prior period mainly due to weakness
in demand as the customers in real estate industries are negatively impacted by COVID-19. The Group’s revenues declined compared to
the prior period mainly due to weakness in demand as the customers in real estate industries are negatively impacted by COVID-19 for
the year of 2022.
(c) Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Leju, its majority owned subsidiaries and its VIEs, Beijing Leju,
Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Group evaluates each of its interests in private companies to determine whether or not the investee is a VIE and, if so, whether the
Group is the primary beneficiary of such VIE. In determining whether the Group is the primary beneficiary, the Group considers if the
Group (1) has power to direct the activities that most significantly affects the economic performance of the VIE, and (2) receives the
economic benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the VIE. If deemed the primary beneficiary, the Group consolidates the VIE.
VIE arrangements
PRC regulations currently prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of companies that provide internet content and advertising services. To
comply with these regulations, the Group provides such activities through its VIEs and their subsidiaries. To provide the Group effective
control over and the ability to receive substantially all of the economic benefits of its VIEs and their subsidiaries, certain of the
Company’s subsidiaries, Shanghai SINA Leju, Shanghai Yi Yue and Beijing Maiteng (collectively, the “Foreign Owned Subsidiaries”)
entered into a series of contractual arrangements with Beijing Leju, Leju Hao Fang and Beijing Jiajujiu (collectively the “VIEs”) and
their respective shareholders, respectively, as summarized below:
Name of Foreign
Owned
Subsidiaries
Shanghai SINA Leju
Shanghai Yi Yue
Beijing Maiteng
Foreign Owned
Subsidiaries’
Economic Ownership
of VIES
Name of VIEs
100 % Beijing Leju
100 % Leju Hao Fang Operate the e-commerce business
100 % Beijing Jiajujiu Operate the online home furnishing business
Operate the online advertising and listing business
Activities of VIEs
The VIEs hold the requisite licenses and permits necessary to conduct internet content and advertising services activities from which
foreign ownership of companies are prohibited or restricted. In addition, the VIEs hold leases and other assets necessary to operate such
business and generate a majority of the Group’s revenues.
F-11
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Agreements that Transfer Economic Benefits of the VIEs to the Group
Exclusive Consulting and Technical Support Agreement. Pursuant to an exclusive consulting and technical support agreement between
the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries and the respective VIEs, the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries provide the respective VIEs with a series of
consulting and technical support services and are entitled to receive related fees. The term of this exclusive technical support agreement
will expire upon dissolution of the VIEs. Unless expressly provided by this agreement, without prior written consent of the Foreign
Owned Subsidiaries, the VIEs may not engage any third party to provide the services offered by the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries under
this agreement.
Agreements that Provide Effective Control over VIEs
Exclusive Call Option Agreement. Each of the shareholders of the VIEs has entered into an exclusive call option agreement with the
respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries. Pursuant to these agreements, each of the shareholders of the VIEs has granted an irrevocable
and unconditional option to the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries or their designees to acquire all or part of such shareholder’s
equity interests in VIEs at its sole discretion, to the extent as permitted by PRC laws and regulations then in effect. The consideration for
such acquisition of all equity interests in the VIEs will be equal to the registered capital of the VIEs, and if PRC law requires the
consideration to be greater than the registered capital, the consideration will be the minimum amount as permitted by PRC law. In
addition, the VIEs irrevocably and unconditionally granted the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries an exclusive option to purchase,
to the extent permitted under the PRC law, all or part of the assets of the VIEs. The exercise price for purchasing the assets of the VIEs
will be equal to their respective book values, and if PRC law requires the price to be greater than the book value, the price will be the
minimum amount as permitted by PRC law. The call option may be exercised by the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries or their
designees.
Loan Agreement. Under the loan agreement among shareholders of the VIEs and the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries, each of
the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries has granted an interest-free loan to the shareholders of the VIEs, solely for their purchase of
the equity interest of the VIEs, investing or operating activities conducted in the VIEs. Each loan agreement will be due upon the earlier
of twenty years from the date of execution or the expiration of the term of business of VIEs.
Shareholder Voting Right Proxy Agreement. Each of the shareholders of the VIEs has irrevocably granted any person designated by
the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries the power to exercise all voting rights to which he will be entitled to as shareholder of the
VIEs at that time, including the right to declare dividends, appoint and elect board members and senior management members and other
voting rights.
Each shareholder voting right proxy agreement has a term of twenty years, unless it is early terminated by all parties in writing or
pursuant to provision of this agreement. The term of the agreement will be automatically extended for one year upon the expiration, if the
Foreign Owned Subsidiary gives the other parties written notice requiring the extension at least 30 days prior to expiration and the same
mechanism will apply subsequently upon the expiration of each extended term.
Equity Pledge Agreement. Each of the shareholders of the VIEs has also entered into an equity pledge agreement with the respective
Foreign Owned Subsidiaries. Pursuant to which these shareholders pledged their respective equity interest in the VIEs to guarantee the
performance of the obligations of the VIEs. The Foreign Owned Subsidiaries, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights, including the
right to sell the pledged equity interests. Pursuant to the equity pledge agreement, each shareholder of the VIEs cannot transfer, sell,
pledge, dispose of or otherwise create any new encumbrance on their respective equity interest in the VIEs without the prior written
consent of the respective Foreign Owned Subsidiaries. The equity pledge right enjoyed by the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries will expire
when shareholders of the VIEs have fully performed their respective obligations under the above agreements. The equity pledges of the
VIEs have been registered with the relevant local branch of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, or SAIC.
F-12
Table of Contents
Risks in relation to the VIE structure
The Company believes that the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries’ 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 these
contractual arrangements and the interests of the shareholders of the VIEs may diverge from that of the Company and that may
potentially increase the risk that they would seek to act contrary to the contractual terms, for example by influencing the VIEs not to pay
the service fees when required to do so.
The Company’s ability to control the VIEs also depends on the power of attorney, the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries have to vote on all
matters requiring shareholder approval in the VIEs. As noted above, the Company believes this power of attorney is legally enforceable
but may not be as effective as direct equity ownership.
In addition, if the legal structure and contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of any existing PRC laws and regulations,
the Company may be subject to fines or other actions. The Company does not believe such actions would result in the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, the Foreign Owned Subsidiaries or the VIEs.
The Company, through its subsidiaries and through the contractual arrangements, has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIEs
that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance and (2) the right to receive benefits from the VIEs. Accordingly, the
Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and has consolidated the financial results of the VIEs.
The following financial statement amounts and balances of the Group’s VIEs were included in the accompanying consolidated financial
statements, after elimination of inter-company balances and transactions:
As of December 31,
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable, net
Contract assets, net
Customer deposits, net
Amounts due from related parties, net
Other current assets, net
Total current assets
Total non-current assets
Total assets
Accounts payable
Accrued payroll and welfare expenses
Income tax payable
Other tax payable
Amounts due to related parties
Advances from customers
Lease liabilities, current
Accrued marketing and advertising expenses
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Lease liabilities, non-current
Total liabilities
F-13
2021
$
199,808,985
1,953,803
34,485,667
1,415,241
783,995
3,834,986
23,934,283
266,216,960
63,522,807
329,739,767
1,631,401
19,962,938
31,400,562
16,992,077
2,693,624
82,626,840
5,556,351
42,180,152
16,383,879
219,427,824
314,763
19,437,887
239,180,474
2022
$
90,795,643
4,270,695
2,627,814
—
3,860,127
2,289,594
4,007,633
107,851,506
47,690,614
155,542,120
653,700
10,717,186
—
8,684,712
668,153
43,096,996
5,013,721
29,533,704
10,317,192
108,685,364
435,848
15,400,328
124,521,540
Table of Contents
Total revenues
Cost of revenues
Net income (loss)
Net cash provided by/ (used in) operating activities
Net cash provided by/ (used in) investing activities
Net cash provided by/ (used in) financing activities
2020
$
718,861,490
(65,612,576)
14,278,316
100,460,964
(1,068,664)
—
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
533,619,355
(47,730,331)
(81,530,172)
(41,427,975)
431,057
—
2022
$
343,170,910
(24,394,266)
(10,882,414)
(93,191,543)
(73,872)
—
There are no consolidated VIEs’ assets that are collateral for the VIEs’ obligations or are restricted solely to settle the VIEs’ obligations.
The Company has not provided any financial support that it was not previously contractually required to provide to the VIEs.
(d) Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Significant accounting estimates reflected in the Group’s financial statements include (i) revenue recognition, (ii) provision for credit
losses of accounts receivable and contract assets, customer deposits, other receivables recorded in prepayments and other current assets
and amounts due from related parties, (iii) assessment for impairment of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill, (iv) fair value
of financial instruments, (v) valuation and recognition of share-based compensation expenses, (vi) useful lives of property and equipment
and intangible assets, (vii) and provision for income tax and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.
(e) Fair value of financial instruments
The Group records its financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value reflects the price that would be received
from selling an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When
determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, the Group considers
the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when
pricing the asset or liability.
The Group applies a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of
unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the
lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair
value:
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.
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are comprised of marketable securities. The Group uses quoted price in active markets
(Level 1) to determine the fair value of marketable securities.
There are no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
F-14
Table of Contents
For cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, contract assets, customer deposits, other receivables, accounts
payable, other payables, and amounts due from/to related parties, the carrying value approximates its fair value due to its short-term
nature.
(f) Business combinations
Business combinations are recorded using the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the acquired assets and liabilities are
recorded at their fair market value at the date of acquisition. Any excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the acquired assets and
liabilities, including identifiable intangible assets, is recorded as goodwill.
(g) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and demand deposits, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use, and which have
original maturities of three months or less.
(h) Restricted cash
Any cash that is legally restricted from use is classified as restricted cash. As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the restricted cash
balances represent (i) $1,708,478 and $130,745, which related to collection and payment as a service for real estate developers. The
withdrawal of the cash in bank is required to be pre-approved by real estate developers. (ii) $373,625 and $4,139,950, which was the full
dispute amount and maximum damages of certain law suits, was frozen by the courts for law suits related and accounted for as restricted
bank balances
(i) Marketable securities
Marketable securities include securities that are classified as trading securities. Trading securities represent equity securities that are
bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term, and they are reported at fair value, with both unrealized and
realized gains and losses reported as other income (loss). The fair value of marketable securities is based upon the quoted price in an
active market for identical instruments (Level 1).
(j) Customer deposits
The Group provides online real estate e-commerce services for its developer customers. Some real estate developers require the Group to
pay an upfront and refundable deposit to obtain the exclusive right to provide e-commerce services for a real estate development project.
These deposits are refunded to the Group subject to certain pre-determined criteria specified in the deposit agreement. Customer deposits
are recorded as either current or non-current assets based on the Group’s estimate of the date of refund. As of December 31, 2021 and
2022, the Group recognized $10,259,195 and $3,878,996 for expected credit loss against customer deposits which is mainly attributable
to overdue customer deposits of $10,258,960 and $3,158,826.
(k) Investment in affiliates
Affiliated companies are entities over which the Group has significant influence, but which it does not control. The Group generally
considers an ownership interest of 20% in common stock or higher to represent a presumption that they are able to exert significant
influence.
Investments in affiliates are accounted for by the equity method of accounting. Under this method, the Group’s share of the post-
acquisition profits or losses of affiliated companies is recognized in the income statement and its share of post-acquisition movements in
other comprehensive income is recognized in other comprehensive income. 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.
F-15
Table of Contents
The Group is required to perform an impairment assessment of its investments whenever events or changes in business circumstances
indicate that the carrying value of the investment may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded when there has been a
loss in value of the investment that is other than temporary. As of December 31, 2020 and 2021, the Group determined that no such
events were presented. The Group did not record any impairment losses in any of the periods reported.
(l) Leases
On January 1, 2019, the Group adopted ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), as amended, which supersedes the lease accounting
guidance under Topic 840, and generally requires lessees to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-
of-use assets on the balance sheet and to provide enhanced disclosures surrounding the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows
arising from leasing arrangements.
The Group elected to apply practical expedients permitted under the transition method that allow the Group to use the beginning of the
period of adoption as the date of initial application, to not recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term of twelve
months or less, to not separate non-lease components from lease components, and to not reassess lease classification, treatment of initial
direct costs, or whether an existing or expired contract contains a lease. The Group used modified retrospective method and did not
adjust the prior comparative periods. Under the new lease standard, the Group determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at
inception. Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at lease commencement date based on the present value of remaining lease
payments over the lease terms. The Group considers only payments that are fixed and determinable at the time of lease commencement.
ASC 842 requires a lessee to discount its unpaid lease payments using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be
readily determined, its incremental borrowing rate. As most of the Group’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Group uses its
incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate for the lease. The Group’s incremental borrowing rate is estimated to approximate the
interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments. The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which
comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any
initial direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received. The Group’s lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the
lease. Renewal options are considered within the right-of-use assets and lease liability when it is reasonably certain that the Group will
exercise that option.
Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
(m) Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over the
following estimated useful lives:
Leasehold improvements
Buildings
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Motor vehicles
Over the shorter of the lease term or their estimated useful lives
30 years
3-5 years
5 years
Gains and losses from the disposal of property and equipment are included in income (loss) from operations.
(n) Intangible assets, net
Acquired intangible assets mainly consist of the advertising agency agreement and license agreements with SINA, customer
relationships, and database license are recorded at fair value on the acquisition date. All intangible assets, with the exception of customer
relationships, are amortized ratably over the contract period. Intangible assets resulting out of acquired customer relationships are
amortized based on the timing of the revenue expected to be derived from the respective customer.
F-16
Table of Contents
(o) Impairment of long-lived assets
The Group evaluates its long-lived assets, such as fixed assets and purchased or acquired intangible assets with finite lives, for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in
accordance with ASC subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment: Overall (“ASC 360-10”). When these events occur, the Group
assesses the recoverability of the long-lived assets by comparing the carrying amount of the assets to future undiscounted net cash flow
expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected undiscounted cash flow is less than
the carrying amount of the assets, the Group will recognize an impairment loss equal to the excess of the carrying amount over the fair
value of the assets. Impairment of long-lived assets were nil and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
(p) Income taxes
Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities, and their reported amounts
in the financial statements, net operating loss carry-forwards and credits by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years
when the reported amounts of the asset or liability are expected to be recovered or settled, respectively. Deferred tax assets are reduced
by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred
tax assets will not be realized. Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities.
The Group only recognizes tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions when such positions are more likely than not of being sustained
upon examination. For such positions, the amount of tax benefit that the Group recognizes is the largest amount of tax benefit that is
more than fifty percent likely of being sustained upon the ultimate settlement of such uncertain position. The Group records interest and
penalties as a component of income tax expense.
(q) Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense is measured on the grant date of the share award, based on the fair value of the award, and
recognized as an expense over the requisite service period. Management has made an estimate of expected forfeitures and recognizes
compensation cost only for those equity awards expected to vest.
(r) Revenue recognition
The Group generates real estate online revenues principally from e-commerce, online advertising, and listing services and enters into
separate contracts with its customers under each revenue stream. Revenues are recorded, after considering reductions by estimates for
refund allowances and sales related taxes.
The Group has adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all subsequent ASUs that modified ASC
606 on January 1, 2018 and has elected to apply it retrospectively for the year ended December 31, 2018.
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
F-17
Table of Contents
China’s real estate industry experienced a steep downturn since the second half of 2021 and many real estate developers faced severe
operational challenges. This had a direct and negative impact on the Group’s online advertising and e-commerce businesses. Due to the
continuous decline of the real estate industry, the recoverable amount and time of some customers’ transaction consideration cannot be
reasonably expected. Since January 1, 2022, the Group has not recognized the revenue from such customers until the actual receipt of the
transaction consideration.
E-commerce of discount coupons
The Group offers individual property buyers discount coupons that enable them to purchase specified properties from real estate
developers at discounts greater than the face value of the fees charged by the Group. Discount coupons are collected initially upfront
from the property buyers and are refundable at any time before they are used to purchase the specified properties. As such, these fees are
recorded as advance from customers in the Group’s consolidated balance sheets. In this context, the Group determines its customers to be
individual property buyers and has identified one single performance obligation to be the sale of discount coupons. The Group
determines the sale of discount coupons to be satisfied at a point in time only when confirmation letters are obtained from its customers
or developers that prove the use of the coupons. The transaction price is the discount coupon fees charged by the Group which is fixed in
the contract with individual property buyers.
E-commerce of commission coupons
The Group issues commission coupons and provides an information platform to individual brokers on which they can refer potential
individual property buyers to real estate developers with whom the Group works. As long as the potential buyers who were referred by
individual brokers reach a specific sale with the real estate developer, the individual brokers would redeem the commission coupons for
the successful referrals, the group could earn the commission from the developer for the successful referrals. In this case, the Group has
identified its clients as real estate developers and has identified a single performance obligation to provide the developer with successful
referrals of the property purchases. The Group will recognize service revenue at a certain point in time when the obligations were
fulfilled which were confirmed by real estate developers. Any commissions and other payments received in advance will be deferred
until the obligations are fulfilled. The transaction price is the commission charged by the Group and is fixed in the confirmation letter.
The Group will pay commissions for the individual brokers’ successful referrals only after the redemption of the commission coupons
and the confirmation of the successful referrals of properties from real estate developers. The Group has the discretion to determine the
amount of commission paid for the individual brokers’ successful referrals.
Set out below is the disaggregation of the Group’s revenue from E-commerce:
E-commerce of discount coupons
E-commerce of commission coupons
Total revenue from E-commerce
Online advertising
2020
$
547,895,262
—
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
411,097,123
2022
$
182,940,792
— 95,522,903
547,895,262
411,097,123
278,463,695
In respect of the online advertising services, the Group mainly provides comprehensive advertisement placement services to the
advertisers (i.e., property developers) through a packaged online cross-media and cross-platform product portfolio, including those
owned by the Group and other independent outlets.
F-18
Table of Contents
Management considers the Group acts as principal in this arrangement when the Group is a contracting party to its advertisers and is
primarily responsible for delivering the specified service to the advertisers. The Group controls the specified service before that service is
transferred to an advertiser, because (i) the Group has the discretion to decide which media outlets to use and what type of the
advertisements to be placed; (ii) the Group is subject to certain risk of loss to the extent that the cost paid to the media outlets, which is
charged to the Group based on a number of methodology, including viewership (CPM) or click (CPC) or others, cannot be compensated
by the total consideration obtained from the advertisers; and (iii) the Group has the discretion to determine the fee charged to the
advertisers, which affects the Group’s margin as the costs incurred might vary. Therefore the Group reports revenue earned from the
advertisers and costs paid to media outlets related to these transactions on a gross basis.
In addition, management considers the Group acts as an agent for those arrangements that the Group only earns agreed rebates from
certain media outlets and recognizes such rebates as revenue on a net basis. Media outlets grant the Group rebates in the form of
prepayments for the media outlets’ services or cash, mainly based on the gross spending of the advertisers. In some circumstances, the
Group will share with its advertisers certain amount of the rebates earned from the media outlets, which is accounted for as a reduction of
the rebates, and the Group recognizes such net amount of rebates as revenue.
Listing
Listing services entitle real estate brokers to post and make changes to information for properties in a particular area on the website for a
specified period of time, in exchange for a fixed fee.
In this context, the Group determines its customers to be real estate brokers and has identified a single performance obligation that is
recognized over time on a straight-line basis over the contract period of display and when collection is probable. The transaction price is
the fixed fee outlined in the contract. No rebates are given to the real estate brokers.
Contract balances
The Group does not have unconditional right to the consideration for advertising or listing services until all promises have been fulfilled
and therefore initially records a contract asset when recognizing revenue. Upon fulfillment of all advertising or listing services, contract
assets will be reclassified as a receivable. Contract assets, net, recognized were $1,415,241 and nil as of December 31, 2021 and 2022
respectively.
Disaggregation of revenue
In accordance with ASC 606-10-50, the Group believes the disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers by e-commerce,
online advertising and listing to sufficiently achieve the disclosure objective of depicting how the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty
of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
Practical Expedients and Exemptions
For the Group’s contracts that have an original duration of one year or less, the Group uses the practical expedient applicable to such
contracts and has not disclosed the transaction prices for the remaining performance obligations as of the end of the reporting period or
when the Group expects to recognize this revenue.
Financing Component
In determining the transaction price, the Group adjusts the promised amount of consideration to determine the cash selling price of the
service to be delivered and reflect the time value of money if the contract has a significant financing component. As a result of the
adjustment to the transaction price, the Group recognized interest income amounting to $4,454,077, nil and nil for the years ended
December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
F-19
Table of Contents
(s) Cost of revenue
Cost of revenue consists of costs associated with the production of websites, which includes fees paid to third parties for internet
connection, content and services, editorial personnel related costs, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation associated with website
production equipment and fees paid to media outlets for advertising resources.
(t) Marketing and advertising expenses
Marketing and advertising expenses consist primarily of targeted online and offline marketing costs for promoting the Group’s e-
commerce projects and the Group’s own brand building, such as Leju property visit, sponsored marketing campaigns, online or print
advertising, public relations and sponsored events. The Group expenses all marketing advertising costs as incurred and record these costs
within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the consolidated statements of operations when incurred. The nature of the
Group’s direct marketing activities is such that they are intended to attract subscribers for the online advertising and potential property
buyers to purchase the discount coupons. The Group incurred marketing and advertising expenses amounting to $523,315,406,
$442,975,679 and $237,268,507 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
(u) Commissions under commission coupons business
Commissions under commission coupons business are the fee paid for individual brokers’ successful referrals, upon the redemption of
the commission coupons and confirmation from the real estate developer. The Group expenses all real estate agent commissions as
incurred and records these costs within “Selling, general and administrative expenses” on the consolidated statements of operations when
incurred. The Group incurred commissions amounting to nil, nil and $91,338,490 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and
2022, respectively. Any fee from the redemption of the commission coupons would be netted the commissions for individual brokers’
successful referrals on the consolidated statements of operations.
(v) Foreign currency translation and transaction
The functional currency of the Company is the United States dollar (“U.S. dollar”) and is used as the reporting currency of the Group.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollar at the rates of exchange
ruling at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are
translated using the average rate for the year. Translation adjustments are reported as foreign currency translation adjustment and are
shown as a separate component of other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of changes in equity and
comprehensive income (loss).
The financial records of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are maintained in local currencies other than the U.S. dollar, such as
Renminbi (“RMB”) and Hong Kong dollar (“HKD”), which are their functional currencies. Transactions in other currencies are recorded
at the rates of exchange prevailing when the transactions occur. Transaction gains and losses are recognized in the consolidated
statements of operations.
The Group recorded exchange losses $815,656 and $431,686, exchange gain $1,217,262 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021
and 2022, respectively, as a component of other income (loss), net, in the consolidated statements of operations.
(w) Government subsidies
Government subsidies include cash subsidies received by the Company’s subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC from local governments.
These subsidies are generally provided as incentives for conducting business in certain local districts and are typically granted based on
the amount of value-added tax, and income tax generated by the Group in certain local districts. Such subsidies allow the Group full
discretion in utilizing the funds and are used by the Group for general corporate purposes. The local governments have final discretion as
to the amount of cash subsidies. Cash subsidies of $380,849, $560,394 and $297,663 were included in other operating income for the
years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Subsidies are recognized when cash is received and when all the
conditions for their receipt have been satisfied.
F-20
Table of Contents
(x) Concentration of credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents,
accounts receivable and customer deposits. The Group deposits its cash and cash equivalents in the reputable financial institutions.
Prior to January 1, 2020, the Group regularly reviews the creditworthiness of its customers, and requires collateral or other security from
its customers in certain circumstances when accounts receivables’ aging is over one year. The Group establishes an allowance for credit
losses primarily based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, including creditworthiness of the clients, aging of
the receivables and other specific circumstances related to the accounts. Accounts receivable balances are written off after all collection
efforts have been exhausted.
The Group adopted Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (codified as Accounting Standard
Codification Topic 326), since January 1, 2020, which requires measurement and recognition of current expected credit losses for
financial instruments held at amortized cost.
The Group’s accounts receivable and contract assets, customer deposits, other receivables recorded in prepayments and other current
assets and amounts due from related parties are within the scope of ASC Topic 326.
To estimate expected credit losses, the Group has identified the relevant risk characteristics of its customers and these receivables are
assessed on an individual basis for customers with good credit rating (strategic type customers), with pledged credit risk (pledged type
customers), with high credit risk (high risk type customers) and the remaining (normal risk type customers). For each customer, the
Group considers historical settlement pattern, past default experience of the debtor, overall economic environment in which the debtors
operate, and also the assessment of both current and future development of environment as of the date when this report issued. This is
assessed at each quarter based on the Group’s specific facts and circumstances.
Balances of the allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable and contract assets by each risk category are as follows:
Balances of customers with good credit rating
Balances of customers with pledged credit risk
Balances of customers with high credit risk
Balances of customers with normal risk
Movement of the allowance for credit losses for accounts receivable and contract assets is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2022
2021
$
$
—
1,126,119
112,183,037
2,065,475
115,374,631
—
2,354,182
105,189,074
4,305,326
111,848,582
Balance as of January 1
Provisions
Write-offs
Changes due to foreign exchange
Balance as of December 31
F-21
2020
$
16,108,520
4,535,063
(8,809,126)
849,322
12,683,779
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
12,683,779
101,172,959
(600,847)
2,118,740
115,374,631
2022
$
115,374,631
9,148,173
(2,665,754)
(10,008,468)
111,848,582
Table of Contents
Movement of the allowance for other receivables in prepaid expenses and other current assets, is as follows:
Balance as of January 1
Provisions/(reversal)
Write-offs
Changes due to foreign exchange
Balance as of December 31
Movement of the allowance for customer deposits, is as follows:
Balance as of January 1
Provisions
Write-offs
Changes due to foreign exchange
Balance as of December 31
Movement of the allowance for amount due from related parties, is as follows:
Balance as of January 1
Provisions/(reversal)
Write-offs
Changes due to foreign exchange
Balance as of December 31
Movement of the allowance for other non-current assets, is as follows:
Balance as of January 1
Provisions
Write-offs
Changes due to foreign exchange
Balance as of December 31
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
2020
$
—
335,386
—
—
335,386
335,386
(190,200)
—
5,584
150,770
2022
$
150,770
434,867
—
(29,674)
555,963
2020
$
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
3,480
10,286,671
—
(30,956)
10,259,195
2022
$
10,259,195
4,035,869
(10,216,240)
(199,828)
3,878,996
—
3,480
—
—
3,480
2020
$
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
3,188
(2,034)
—
21
1,175
—
3,188
—
—
3,188
2022
$
1,175
(346)
—
(86)
743
As of December 31,
2022
$
—
124,995
—
(4,865)
120,130
Details of the accounts receivable and contract assets from customers accounting for 10% or more of total accounts receivable and
contract assets are as follows:
Customer A
Accounts receivable, gross
Allowance for credit losses
Accounts receivable, net
F-22
As of December 31,
2021
$
96,510,078
(96,510,078)
—
2022
$
88,285,716
(88,285,716)
—
Table of Contents
(y) Income (Loss) per ADS
Basic income (loss) per ADS is computed by dividing income (loss) attributable to holders of ADS by the weighted average number of
ADS outstanding during the period.
Diluted income (loss) per ADS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ADS were exercised
or converted into ADS.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per ADS for the periods indicated:
Net income (loss) attributable to Leju ordinary shareholders—
basic and diluted
$
19,302,238
$
(150,933,535)
$
(89,668,194)
2020
Year Ended December 31,
2021
2022
Weighted average number of ADS outstanding—basic
13,607,079
13,665,216
13,704,238
Stock options and restricted shares
Weighted average number of ADS outstanding-diluted
149,378
13,756,457
—
13,665,216
—
13,704,238
Basic income (loss) per ADS
Diluted income (loss) per ADS
$
$
1.42
1.40
$
$
(11.05)
(11.05)
$
$
(6.54)
(6.54)
Diluted income (loss) per ADS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue ADS were exercised
or converted into ADS. Diluted income (loss) per ADS does not include the following instruments as their inclusion would have been
anti-dilutive:
Share options and restricted shares
(z) Non-controlling interest
2020
7,207,045
Year Ended December 31,
2021
15,617,986
2022
15,156,318
Non-controlling interest classified as a separate line item in the equity section and disclosures in the Company’s consolidated financial
statements have distinguished the interest of Leju from the interest of non-controlling interest holders.
(aa) Comprehensive income (loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to
owners. For the years presented, total comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and foreign currency translation
adjustments.
(ab) Impact of newly adopted accounting pronouncement
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, “Business Combinations (Topic 805) – Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract
Liabilities from Contracts with Customers”, which requires that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities
acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, as if it had originated the contracts. Prior to this ASU, an acquirer
generally recognizes contract assets acquired and contract liabilities assumed that arose from contracts with customers at fair value on the
acquisition date. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. The ASU is to
be applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date of the amendment (or if adopted early as of an
interim period, as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes the interim period of early application). The Company adopted this
guidance on January 1, 2022 with no material impact on its audited consolidated financial statements.
F-23
Table of Contents
(ac) Recent issued accounting pronouncements 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”, which clarifies that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered
part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The amendments also clarify
that an entity cannot, as a separate unit of account, recognize and measure a contractual sale restriction. This guidance also requires
certain disclosures for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions. The new guidance is required to be applied prospectively
with any adjustments from the adoption of the amendments recognized in earnings and disclosed on the date of adoption. This guidance
is effective for the Group for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early
adoption is permitted. The ASU is currently not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements
3. Leases
The Group leases office under non-cancelable operating lease agreements, which expire at various dates from 2022 to 2028. As of
December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group’s operating leases had a weighted average remaining lease term of 5.8 and 4.9 years and a
weighted average discount rate of 5.61% and 5.61%, respectively. Future lease payments under operating leases as of December 31, 2022
were as follows:
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Then thereafter
Total future lease payments
Impact of discounting remaining lease payments
Total lease liabilities
Lease liabilities, current
Lease liabilities, non-current
As of December 31,
2022
$
5,194,655
4,572,378
4,344,044
4,064,720
4,205,218
1,027,182
23,408,197
(2,930,806)
20,477,391
5,037,796
15,439,595
Operating lease expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 were $6,016,402, $6,331,194 and $5,746,967,
respectively, which did not include short-term lease cost. Short-term lease costs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
were $2,306,983, $2,302,019 and $1,233,347, respectively.
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $5,794,716, $6,287,094 and $5,698,668 for the
years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. Non-cash transaction amounts of lease liabilities arising from obtaining
right-of-use assets were $1,967,269, $2,064,279 and $2,783,430 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
F-24
Table of Contents
4. Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following:
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
Leasehold improvements
Buildings
Motor vehicles
Total
Accumulated depreciation
Property and equipment, net
As of December 31,
2021
$
11,119,445
5,269,934
12,085,843
1,120,551
2022
$
9,160,115
4,238,863
11,742,004
806,712
29,595,773
(12,928,492)
25,947,694
(11,743,331)
16,667,281
14,204,363
Depreciation expenses were $2,701,577, $2,374,493 and $1,743,030 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022,
respectively.
5. Intangible Assets, Net
Intangible assets subject to amortization are comprised of the following:
Advertising agency agreement with SINA
License agreements with SINA
Computer software licenses
Total intangible assets, gross
Less: Accumulated amortization
Advertising agency agreement with SINA
License agreements with SINA
Computer software licenses
Total accumulated amortization
Total intangible assets, net
Weighted Average
Remaining
Amortization
Period in Years
1.25
1.25
1.96
1.26
As of December 31,
2021
$
2022
$
106,790,000
80,660,000
2,432,242
106,790,000
80,660,000
1,841,885
189,882,242
189,291,885
93,670,998
70,902,383
2,011,103
99,725,921
75,405,899
1,701,890
166,584,484
176,833,710
23,297,758
12,458,175
The advertising agency agreement and license agreements with SINA (the “SINA Agreements”) were recognized in connection with the
Group’s acquisition of China Online Housing Technology Corporation (“COHT”) in 2009, and provide the Group with exclusive rights
to operate SINA’s real estate and home furnishing related channels and the exclusive right to sell advertising relating to real estate, home
furnishing and construction materials on these channels as well as SINA’s other websites. If the Group sells advertising on SINA’s
websites other than the above channels, it will pay SINA fees of approximately 15% of the revenues generated from these sales. The
SINA Agreements had an original expiration date in 2019. In March 2014, the SINA Agreements were extended by five years to 2024
for no additional consideration. All other terms of the SINA Agreements remained the same. The acquisition cost was recognized as an
intangible asset and amortized over the term of the agreement.
F-25
Table of Contents
Amortization expenses were $11,636,952, $10,994,923 and $10,839,284 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022
respectively. The Group expects to record amortization expenses of $10,633,512, $1,813,828, $10,836 and nil for the years ending
December 31, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively.
6. Borrowings
Short‑term borrowings
As of December 31,
2021
$
2022
$
784,230
717,915
In September 2021, the Group entered into a one-year RMB 5.0 million facility agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank.
The interest rate was set at 65 basis points over Loan Prime Rate (“LPR”). The bank borrowing was unguaranteed and unsecured. The
loan was refunded in September 2022.
In March 2022, the Group entered into a one-year RMB 5.0 million facility agreement with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The
interest rate was priced at 80 basis points over LPR. The bank borrowing was unguaranteed and unsecured.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Group recognized interest expenses of nil, $9,147 and $51,972 which was
recorded in interest income, net.
7. Other Income (Loss), Net
Realized gain on marketable securities
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities
Income (loss) from sales of properties held for sales
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
Others
Total
8. Income Tax
2020
$
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
—
850,402
14,141
(815,656)
251,169
2,127,985
(1,722,700)
(17,430)
(431,686)
252,706
2022
$
31,891
—
742
1,217,262
246,497
300,056
208,875
1,496,392
The following table summarizes income (loss) before income taxes incurred in the PRC and outside of the PRC:
Income (loss) before income taxes:
PRC
Outside of PRC
Total
2020
$
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
2022
$
40,605,716
(8,918,616)
(148,696,060)
(14,711,876)
(99,596,774)
(2,197,049)
31,687,100
(163,407,936)
(101,793,823)
F-26
Table of Contents
Expenses (benefits) for income taxes are comprised of:
Current Tax
PRC
Outside of PRC
Deferred Tax
PRC
Outside of PRC
2020
$
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
2022
$
2,725,114
6,600
(1,409,996)
4,895
(32,295,286)
276
2,731,714
(1,405,101)
(32,295,010)
7,933,308
—
(12,092,683)
—
20,174,775
—
7,933,308
(12,092,683)
20,174,775
Income tax expense (benefits)
10,665,022
(13,497,784)
(12,120,235)
The Company is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, which is exempted from tax.
Enterprise Income Tax Law in China applies a statutory 25% enterprise income tax rate to both foreign invested enterprises and domestic
enterprises.
Shanghai SINA Leju was granted a high and new technology enterprise (“HNTE”) status. Shanghai SINA Leju renewed its qualification
of “high and new technology enterprise” in 2018 and 2021, and was entitled to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15% from 2018 through
2023.
The Group’s subsidiaries in Hong Kong are subject to a profit tax at the rate of 16.5% on assessable profit determined under relevant
Hong Kong tax regulations. The Company’s subsidiaries incorporated in the BVI are not subject to taxation.
The Group does not have uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC740-10, nor does it anticipate any significant increase to its
liability for unrecognized tax benefit within next 12 months. The Group will classify interest and penalties related to income tax matters,
if any, as income tax expense.
According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is three years if the underpayment of taxes is due
to tax authority’s mistake or due to computational errors made by the taxpayer. The statute of limitations will be extended to five years
under special circumstances, which are not clearly defined, but an underpayment of tax liability exceeding RMB100,000 ($14,358) is
specifically listed as a special circumstance. In the case of a transfer pricing related adjustment, the statute of limitations is 10 years.
There is no statute of limitations in the case of tax evasion.
F-27
Table of Contents
The principal components of the deferred income tax assets/liabilities are as follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Accrued salary expenses
Bad debt provision
Net operating loss carry-forwards
Advertising expenses
Accrued expense
Others
Gross deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance
Total deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets from acquisition and other assets
Total deferred tax liabilities
As of December 31,
2021
$
2022
$
4,987,961
28,843,655
40,000,359
1,441,682
2,434,194
629,598
78,337,449
(26,732,045)
51,605,404
2,792,431
29,096,796
24,801,075
1,013,274
8,862,609
508,950
67,075,135
(41,617,648)
25,457,487
6,042,540
6,042,540
3,517,837
3,517,837
The majority of deferred tax liabilities were recognized for temporary differences between the tax basis of intangible assets recognized
from acquisitions and their reported amounts in the financial statements.
Movement of the valuation allowance is as follows:
Balance as of January 1
Reversal/(Additions)
Write-offs
Changes due to exchange rate translation
Balance as of December 31
2020
$
(5,634,684)
291,962
—
(371,758)
(5,714,480)
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
(5,714,480)
(20,905,451)
393,251
(505,365)
(26,732,045)
2022
$
(26,732,045)
(17,978,965)
138,479
2,954,883
(41,617,648)
The Group recognized a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets on tax loss carry-forwards of $20,905,451 and $17,978,965 for
the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Group reversed a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets on tax
loss carry forwards of $291,962 for the year ended December 31, 2020.
The Group assesses available positive and negative evidence to estimate if sufficient future taxable income will be generated to utilize
the existing deferred tax assets. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred over the
three-year period ended December 31, 2022. Such objective evidence limits the Group’s ability to consider other subjective evidence
such as its projections for future growth.
On the basis of this evaluation, as of December 31, 2022, a valuation allowance of $41,617,648, of which $22,071,429 was for bad debt
provision and $19,546,219 was for net operating loss carry-forwards, was recorded to reflect only the portion of the deferred tax assets
that is not more likely than not to be realized. 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 the Group’s projections for
growth.
F-28
Table of Contents
Reconciliation between the provision for income tax computed by applying the statutory tax rate to income before income taxes and the
actual provision for income taxes is as follows:
PRC income tax rate
Share based compensation expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Other expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Effect of tax holiday
Effect of different tax rate of subsidiary operation in other jurisdiction
Valuation allowance movement
Withholding tax
The aggregate amount and per share effect of the tax holiday are as follows:
The aggregate dollar effect
Per ADS effect—basic
Per ADS effect—diluted
Year Ended December 31,
2021
2022
2020
25.00 %
2.35 %
(0.12)%
(0.27)%
3.20 %
(0.82)%
4.32 %
33.66 %
25.00 %
(0.25)%
0.17 %
(5.29)%
(2.00)%
(12.37)%
3.01 %
8.27 %
25.00 %
(0.45)%
0.30 %
(5.15)%
(0.09)%
(8.17)%
0.48 %
11.92 %
2020
$
85,461
0.01
0.01
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
(8,646,324)
(0.63)
(0.63)
2022
$
(5,247,214)
(0.38)
(0.38)
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, the Group had tax operating loss carry-forwards of $205,754,412, and $35,032,374, respectively.
The tax operating losses of entities not qualified as HNTE are available for offset against future profits that may be carried forward until
calendar years 2026 and 2027, respectively and further to 2031 and 2032, respectively for qualified HNTE according to the public
announcement made by the State Administration of Taxation in China in 2022.
Undistributed losses of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries of approximately $98,486,420 at December 31, 2022, no provision for PRC
dividend withholding tax has been provided thereon.
9. Share-Based Compensation
Leju Plan
In November 2013, the Company adopted a share incentive plan (“Leju Plan”), which allows the Company to offer a variety of share-
based incentive awards to employees, officers, directors and individual consultants who render services to the Group. Under the Leju
Plan, the maximum number of shares that may be issued would be 8% of the total outstanding shares on an as-converted and fully diluted
basis as of the effective date of the plan, and would be increased automatically by 5% of the then total outstanding shares on an as-
converted fully diluted basis on each of the third, sixth and ninth anniversaries of the effective date of the Leju Plan. On December 1,
2016, the award pool under Leju plan was automatically increased by 7,553,422 ordinary shares. On December 1, 2019, the award pool
under Leju plan was automatically increased by 7,833,224 ordinary shares. On December 1, 2022, the award pool under Leju plan was
automatically increased by 8,020,119 ordinary shares. Options have a ten-year life.
Share Options:
During 2020 and 2022, there were no options granted under Leju Plan.
During 2021, the Company granted 4,267,000 options to purchase its ordinary shares to certain of the Group’s employees at an exercise
price from $0.10 to $1.00 per share, including 600,000 options granted to senior management team as part of 2020 bonus as described
below. The options expire ten years from the date of grant and vest ratably at each grant date anniversary over a period of three years.
F-29
Table of Contents
The Company has used the binomial model to estimate the fair value of the options granted under the Leju Plan. The fair value per option
was estimated at the date of grant using the following assumptions:
Risk-free rate of return
Contractual life of option
Estimated volatility
Dividend yield
A summary of option activities under the Leju Plan during the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented below:
Outstanding, as of January 1, 2022
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Outstanding, as of December 31, 2022
Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2022
Exercisable as of December 31, 2022
Number of
Options
Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
$
15,617,986
—
—
(728,336)
14,889,650
14,555,100
12,146,984
2.72
—
—
3.19
2.70
2.74
3.11
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
(in years)
5.71
4.74
4.66
3.94
2021
1.56 %
10 years
72.06 %
0.00 %
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value of
Options
$
—
The weighted average grant-date fair value of the options granted in 2021 was $1.74 per share. For the years ended December 31, 2020,
2021 and 2022, the Company recorded compensation expenses of $1,415,526, $1,519,778 and $1,789,992 for the share options granted
to the Group’s employees, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, 429,968, 146,582 and nil options
were exercised having a total intrinsic value of $471,610, $193,492 and nil, respectively. The proceeds from exercise of options were
$611,734, $208,025 and nil for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022, there was $2,350,594 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share options granted
under the Leju Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.31 years.
Restricted Shares:
Restricted shares are restricted from voting or receiving dividends until the shares are vested based on the stipulated service periods as
set out in the award agreements.
On March 15, 2019, the board of directors approved that portion of bonus for the senior management team would be paid in the form of
restricted shares. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recorded compensation expenses of $1,225,000 for 800,000
restricted shares that were granted to the senior management team in June, 2020.
On May 28, 2020, the board of directors also approved that portion of bonus for the senior management team would be paid in the form
of restricted shares. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded compensation expenses of $1,425,000,and 600,000
options were granted to the senior management team at an exercise price of $0.10 per share on April 23, 2021.
There were no restricted shares granted under Leju Plan in 2021 and 2022.
F-30
Table of Contents
A summary of restricted share activity under the Leju Plan during the year ended December 31, 2022 is presented below:
Outstanding, as of January 1, 2022
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Outstanding, as of December 31, 2022
Number of
Restricted
Shares
616,668
—
350,000
—
266,668
Weighted
Average
Grant-date
Fair Value
$
1.52
—
1.54
—
1.50
The total grant-date fair value of restricted shares vested in 2020, 2021 and 2022 was 137,500, $537,498 and nil, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Company recorded compensation expenses of $137,500, $137,500 and
$34,375 for the restricted shares granted to the Group’s employees which did not include the restricted shares granted as the bonus for the
senior management team, respectively.
As of December 31, 2022, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted shares granted under the Leju
Plan.
10. Employee Benefit Plans
The Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are required by law to contribute a certain percentage of applicable salaries for retirement
benefits, medical insurance benefits, housing funds, unemployment and other statutory benefits. The PRC government is directly
responsible for the payments of such benefits. The Group contributed $8,027,949, $14,677,938, and $12,357,772 for the years ended
December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, for such benefits.
11. Distribution of Profits
Relevant PRC statutory laws and regulations permit payment of dividends by the Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs only out of their
retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Under PRC law, each of the
Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund a statutory
reserve until such reserve reaches 50% of its registered capital. Each of the Group’s subsidiaries with foreign investment is also required
to further set aside a portion of its after-tax profits to fund the employee welfare fund at the discretion of the board. Although the
statutory reserves can be used, among other ways, to increase the registered capital and eliminate future losses in excess of retained
earnings of the respective companies, the reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends, loans or advances except in the event of
liquidation of these subsidiaries.
The amounts of the reserve fund for the Group as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 were $10,059,628 and $10,125,676, respectively.
As a result of these PRC laws and regulations, the Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion
of their net assets, including general reserve and registered capital, either in the form of dividends, loans or advances. Such restricted
portion amounted to $35,848,168 and $35,914,216, as of December 31, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The amount of $9,448,820 and
$8,982,249 was attributed to general reserve and registered capital of the VIEs.
12. Segment Information
The Group operates and manages its business as a single segment. The Group uses the management approach to determine operating
segments. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting used by the Group’s chief operating decision
maker (“CODM”) for making decisions, allocating resources and assessing performance. The Group’s CODM has been identified as the
chief executive officer, who reviews the consolidated results of the Group as a whole when making decisions about allocating resources
and assessing performance.
F-31
Table of Contents
The following table summarizes the revenue information of the Group:
E-commerce of disount coupons
E-commerce of commission coupons
Online advertising
Listing
Geographic
2020
$
547,895,262
—
170,782,688
848,033
719,525,983
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
411,097,123
—
122,522,232
497,615
534,116,970
2022
$
182,940,792
95,522,903
64,707,215
11,274
343,182,184
Substantially all of the Group’s revenues from external customers are located in the PRC.
Major customers
There were no customers from whom revenue accounted for 10% or more of total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021
and 2022, respectively.
13. Related Party Balances and Transactions
The table below sets forth major related parties and their relationships with the Group:
Company Name
E-House Enterprise
E-House
SINA
Tencent Holdings Ltd. or certain of its affiliates (“Tencent”)
Alibaba Investment Ltd. or certain of its affiliates (“Alibaba”)
Shanghai Tianji Network Services Ltd. (“Tianji Network”) (formerly known as
Shanghai Yunchuang Information & Technology Ltd.)
Yunnan Huixiangju Information & Consultant Ltd. (“Huixiangju”)
Suzhou Qianyisheng Information & Consultant Ltd. (“Qianyisheng”)
Shanghai Quanzhuyi Home Furnishing Accessories Ltd. (“QuanZhuYi”)
Jupai Holdings Ltd. (“Jupai”)
Relationship with the Group
Mr. Xin Zhou, executive chairman of Leju, is E-House Enterprise’s chairman. E-
House Enterprise was a subsidiary of E-House before it became a listed company in
Hong Kong in July, 2018.Leju became a subsidiary of E-House Enterprise as of
November 4, 2020.
Under the common control of E-House Holdings until December 30, 2016, and E-
House Holdings was the largest shareholder from December 31, 2016 to November
4, 2020. Mr. Xin Zhou, executive chairman of Leju, is E-House’s ultimate
controller. (Note 1).
A shareholder with significant influence
A shareholder with significant influence
A shareholder with significant influence on TM Home, the Company’s controlling
shareholder, since November 4, 2021. (Note 1)
Mr. Xin Zhou, executive chairman of Leju, is Tianji Network’s ultimate controller
by May 2021. Tianji Network became a subsidiary of E-House Enterprise since May
2021.
One of the Group’s investment affiliates and the Group owns 51% equity interest
and has significant influence
One of the Group’s investment affiliates and the Group owns 19% equity interest
and has significant influence Qianyisheng dissolved in July, 2022.
One of the Group’s investment affiliates and the Group owns 13.5% equity interest
and has significant influence
Mr. Xin Zhou, executive chairman of Leju, is Jupai’s director. E-House Holdings
has significant influence on Jupai and Leju
Subsequent to Leju’s IPO, E-House began charging the Group corporate service fees pursuant to agreements entered into in March 2014
in connection with Leju’s IPO. Under these service arrangements, E-House provides various corporate support services to the Group,
including general finance and accounting, human resource management, administrative, internal control and internal audit, operational
management, legal and information technology. The termination provisions in the arrangements were amended on November 4, 2020 and
E-House continues to provide such services under the amended services arrangements. E-House charges the Group a fee based on an
estimate of the actual cost incurred to provide such services, which amounted to $1,910,204 and $1,352,382 for the years ended
December 31, 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Since 2022, E-House Enterprise provides such services to the Group. E-House Enterprise charges the Group a fee based on an estimate
of the actual cost incurred to provide such services, which amounted to $1,335,164 for the years ended December 31, 2022.
F-32
Table of Contents
During the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, significant related party transactions were as follows:
Corporate service provided by E-House under service agreements
Corporate service provided by E-House Enterprise
Online advertising resources fee recognized as cost of revenues purchased from SINA
Online advertising resources fee recognized as cost of revenues purchased from Tencent
Services purchased from/rental cost paid to E-House
Services purchased from E-House Enterprise
Services purchased from Alibaba (Note A)
Services purchased from Jupai
Services purchased from Tianji Network (Note B)
Total services purchased from related parties
Online advertising services provided to E-House
Services provided to E-House Enterprise
Services provided to Investing affiliates
Total online advertising services provided to related parties
Fee paid to Tencent for advertising resources on behalf of customers (Note C)
Note A: Alibaba became the Company’s related party since 2021.
2022
$
2020
$
1,910,204
—
29,322,241
17,790,501
764,952
21,429,920
*
34,160
493,176
71,745,154
—
1,392,190
2,393,204
3,785,394
43,083,548
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
1,352,382
—
10,078,875
18,671,019
886,866
20,557,777
875,072
—
69,762
52,491,753
484,185
36,334
548,075
1,068,594
2,502,309
—
1,335,164
110,464
14,787,449
700,726
7,694,981
855,183
24,372
—
25,508,339
—
—
109,934
109,934
1,798,079
Note B: The amount represents services purchased from Tianji Network from January to May, 2021 while the amount for the services
purchased for the remaining period was included in the amount of E-House Enterprise.
Note C: The Group has determined that it acts as an agent for those arrangements as the Group only earns agreed rebates from certain
media outlets and recognizes such rebates as revenue on a net basis. Media outlets grant the Group rebates in the form of prepayments
for the media outlets’ services or cash, mainly based on the gross spending of the advertisers. For performance obligations for which it
acts as the agent, revenue is recorded net of the costs for advertising placements from suppliers, equal to the amount retained for its fee
or commission. Fees paid to Tencent for advertising resources on behalf of customers represent costs paid to Tencent for such
arrangements.
The transactions are measured at the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022 amounts due from related parties were comprised of the following:
Investing affiliates (1)
Tencent (2)
Alibaba(3)
E-House (4)
Allowance for current expected credit losses
Total
F-33
As of December 31,
2021
$
708
3,581,609
332,243
—
(1,175)
3,913,385
2022
$
—
1,855,275
498,258
123,010
(743)
2,475,800
Table of Contents
As of December 31, 2021 and 2022, amounts due to related parties were comprised of the following:
E-House (4)
SINA (5)
Investing affiliates (1)
E-House Enterprise (6)
Total
As of December 31,
2021
$
2,201,127
1,479,957
—
3,950,839
7,631,923
2022
$
—
1,382,173
124,208
3,298,210
4,804,591
(1) The amounts due from affiliates as of December 31, 2021 represent the expense paid on behalf of Qianyisheng.
The amounts due to affiliates as of December 31, 2022 represent the advance from Huixiangju.
(2) The amounts due from Tencent as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 represent prepaid fees for online advertising resources.
(3) The amounts due from Alibaba as of December 31 2022 and 2022 represent prepaid fees for online advertising resources and
technical service.
(4) The amount due to E-House as of December 31, 2021 was primarily for the payable for corporate service fees charged by E-House.
The amount due from E-House as of December 31, 2022 was primarily for the prepayment for the service purchased from E-House.
(5) The amounts due to SINA as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 represents payable for online advertising resources fee.
(6) The amounts due to E-House Enterprise as of December 31, 2021 and 2022 represent net results for receivable for online advertising
revenue from E-House Enterprise and payable for marketing service fees charged by E-House Enterprise.
The roll forward of the payable to / (receivable from) E-House for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 is as follows:
2020
$
(555,652)
1,910,204
—
764,952
(1,989,938)
129,566
Year Ended December 31,
2021
$
129,566
1,352,382
(484,185)
886,866
316,498
2,201,127
2022
$
2,201,127
—
—
700,726
(3,024,863)
(123,010)
As of December 31,
2021
$
2,201,127
2,201,127
2022
$
(123,010)
(123,010)
Balance at January 1
Corporate service provided by E-House under services agreements
Service provided to E-House
Service purchased from/rental cost paid to E-House
Net received/(payment)
Balance at December 31
(A)
(A)
(A)
(B)
Net results for service fee (A and B)
Amounts due/(from) to E-House
(A) Represents the services provided by or to E-House.
(B) Represents net cash flow for activities between the Company and E-House.
F-34
Table of Contents
The roll forward of the payable to E-House Enterprise for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022 is as follows:
Balance at January 1
Corporate service provided by E-House Enterprise
Service provided to E-House Enterprise
Service purchased from E-House Enterprise
Net payment
Balance at December 31
Year Ended December 31,
2020
$
(906,009)
—
(1,392,190)
21,429,920
(16,893,178)
2,238,543
(C)
(C)
(C)
(D)
2021
$
2,238,543
—
(36,334)
20,557,777
(18,809,147)
3,950,839
2022
$
3,950,839
1,335,164
—
7,694,981
(9,682,774)
3,298,210
(C) Represents services provided by or to E-House Enterprise.
(D) Represents net cash flow for the activities between the Company and E-House Enterprise.
14. Commitments and Contingencies
The Group is subject to claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Each of these matters is subject to
various uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to the Group. The Group does not believe
that any of these matters will have a material effect on its business, assets or operations.
15. Subsequent Events
E-House Enterprise announced its proposed restructuring of certain notes previously issued by E-House Enterprise (the “Restructuring”)
on April 3, 2023. As a result of a series of steps in connection with the proposed Restructuring, a special purpose vehicle established for
the holders of certain notes of E-House Enterprise (the “Creditor SPV”), and Alibaba Investment limited and its affiliate will hold
approximately 54.2% and 10.8% of the shares of TM Home, respectively, which will result in E-House Enterprise ceasing to be a
controlling beneficial owner of Leju. The remaining 35% of the shares of TM Home will be held by E-House Enterprise and its affiliates,
of which 15% will be transferred to a special purpose vehicle held by the members of senior management of TM Home appointed by E-
House Enterprise. E-House Enterprise will further use reasonable endeavors to sell or procure the sale of the shares of TM Home held by
the Creditor SPV and Alibaba Investment, which will cause further changes in the beneficial ownership of the Group. The potential
change in the Group’s controlling shareholders is subject to the effectiveness of the proposed Restructuring, including the approval of the
proposed Restructuring by E-House Enterprise’s noteholders.
F-35
PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES AND CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Exhibit 8.1
Name of Entity
Subsidiary
Branco Overseas Ltd
E-House China (Tianjin) Holdings Ltd.
E-House Property Consultancy Ltd.
E-House International Property Consultancy Ltd.
E-House City Rehouse Real Estate Broker (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
China E-Real Estate Holdings Ltd.
China E-Real Estate Group Ltd.
Shanghai Yi Yue Information Technology Co., Ltd.
China Online Housing Technology Corporation
China Online Housing (Hong Kong) Co., Limited
Shanghai SINA Leju Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Fangxin Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Leju (China) Internet Technology Co., Ltd.
Omnigold Holdings Ltd.
China Commercial Real Estate Group Ltd.
China Real Estate Business Group Ltd.
Beijing Maiteng Fengshun Science and Technology Co., Ltd.
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Shanghai Leju Hao Fang Information Service Co., Ltd
Beijing Yisheng Leju Information Services Co., Ltd.
Beijing Jiajujiu E-Commerce Co., Ltd.
Place of Incorporation
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Hong Kong
PRC
British Virgin Islands
Hong Kong
PRC
Cayman Islands
Hong Kong
PRC
PRC
PRC
British Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands
Hong Kong
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
Exhibit 12.1
Certification by the Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Yinyu He, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Leju Holdings Limited;
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 officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us
by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions
about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
covered by 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 officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date:April 18, 2023
By:
/s/ Yinyu He
Name: Yinyu He
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 12.2
Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Li Yuan, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Leju Holdings Limited;
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 officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under
our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us
by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions
about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
covered by 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 officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the
equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting
which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: April 18, 2023
By:
/s/ Li Yuan
Name: Li Yuan
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Certification by the Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit 13.1
In connection with the Annual Report of Leju Holdings Limited (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, Yinyu He, Chief Executive Officer of
the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to
my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
of the Company.
Date: April 18, 2023
By:
/s/ Yinyu He
Name: Yinyu He
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Exhibit 13.2
In connection with the Annual Report of Leju Holdings Limited (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, Li Yuan, Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my
knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
of the Company.
Date: April 18, 2023
By:
/s/ Li Yuan
Name: Li Yuan
Title:
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 15.1
Yu Certified Public Accountant PC
Professionalism, Expertise, Integrity
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-197069, 333-217644 and 333-
239943) of our report dated April 18, 2023, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Leju Holdings Limited, its subsidiaries
and its consolidated variable interest entities (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2022, and 2021 and for each of the three years ended
December 31, 2022, in which our report expresses an unqualified opinion, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F of the Group
for the year ended December 31, 2022.
/s/ Yu Certified Public Accountant, P.C.
Yu Certified Public Accountant, P.C.
New York, New York
April 18, 2023
Exhibit 15.2
电 话 Tel.: 86-21-2208-1166
传 真 Fax: 86-21-5298-5599
文 号 Ref.: 22GC0025
FANGDA PARTNERS
北京 Beijing·广州 Guangzhou·香港 Hong Kong·上海 Shanghai·深圳 Shenzhen
http://www.fangdalaw.com
中国上海市石门一路288号
兴业太古汇香港兴业中心二座24楼
邮政编码：200041
24/F, HKRI Centre Two, HKRI Taikoo Hui,
288 Shi Men Yi Road,
Shanghai 200041, PRC
April 18, 2023
Leju Holdings Limited
Level G, Building G, No.8 Dongfeng South Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016
People’s Republic of China
Dear Sirs,
We consent to the reference to our firm under “Item 3. Key Information—Permissions Required from the PRC Authorities for
Our Operations” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure” in Leju Holdings Limited’s Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in
April 2023, and further consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (File Nos. 333-197069,
333-217644 and 333-239943). We also consent to the filing with the SEC of this consent letter as an exhibit to the Annual Report on
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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/ Fangda Partners
Fangda Partners