UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
☐
☒
☐
☐
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report_________________
For the transition period from__________to____________
Commission file number: 001-38649
Viomi Technology Co., Ltd
(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)
Wansheng Square, Rm 1302 Tower C, Xingang East Road, Haizhu District
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510220
People’s Republic of China
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Shun Jiang, Chief Financial Officer
Wansheng Square, Rm 1302 Tower C, Xingang East Road, Haizhu District
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510220
People’s Republic of China
Phone: +86 20 8930 9496
Email: jiangshun@viomi.com.cn
(Name, Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
American depositary shares, each representing three Class A ordinary shares
Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.00001 per share*
Trading
Symbol
VIOT
Name of Each Exchange On Which Registered
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(The Nasdaq Global Select Market)
The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
(The Nasdaq Global Select Market)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
*Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market of American depositary shares.
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual
report:
i
As of December 31, 2019, there were 209,294,732 ordinary shares issued and outstanding, being the sum of (i) 98,444,732 Class A ordinary shares, par
value US$0.00001 per share (excluding 4,645,224 Class A ordinary shares that were issued to our depositary bank and are reserved for future grants under
our share incentive plans), and (ii) 110,850,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.00001 per share.
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
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☒
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected
not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the
Exchange Act. ☒
† The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting
Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP☒
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued
by the International Accounting Standards Board ☐
Other ☐
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to
follow. ☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes
☒ No
(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court. ☐ Yes ☐ No
ii
INTRODUCTION
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PART I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ITEM 1.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4A.
ITEM 5.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 10.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 15.
ITEM 16A.
ITEM 16B.
ITEM 16C.
ITEM 16D.
ITEM 16E.
ITEM 16F.
ITEM 16G.
ITEM 16H.
PART II.
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
KEY INFORMATION
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
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
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
PART III.
ITEM 17.
ITEM 18.
ITEM 19.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
EXHIBITS
1
2
3
3
3
3
34
54
54
72
79
81
82
82
91
91
94
94
94
94
95
95
95
96
96
96
96
96
97
97
97
97
iii
Unless otherwise indicated and except where the context otherwise requires, references in this annual report on Form 20-F to:
INTRODUCTION
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
“ADRs” are to the American depositary receipts that evidence our ADSs;
“ADSs” are to our American depositary shares, each of which represents three Class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.00001 each;
“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;
“Class A ordinary shares” refers to our Class A ordinary shares of par value US$0.00001 per share;
“Class B ordinary shares” refers to our Class B ordinary shares of par value US$0.00001 per share;
“household users” as of a specified date are to households where at least one of our IoT products was connected to the internet;
“IoT” are to the Internet of Things, an interconnected network of devices, or “things,” that can communicate with one another through the
internet;
our “IoT @ Home platform” are to our ecosystem of innovative IoT-enabled smart home products, together with a suite of complementary
consumable products and value-added businesses, powered by advanced AI, proprietary software and data analytics systems;
our “IoT-enabled smart home products” and our “IoT products” are to our portfolio of smart home products with internet or Bluetooth
interconnectivity and communication capabilities, including our smart water purification systems, smart kitchen products and other smart
products (such as smart water kettles);
“ordinary shares” are to our Class A and Class B ordinary shares, par value US$0.00001 per share;
“our VIEs” are to Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd, or Foshan Viomi, and Beijing Yunmi Technology Co., Ltd, or
Beijing Viomi;
“Viomi,” “we,” “us,” “our Company” and “our” are to Viomi Technology Co., Ltd, our Cayman Islands holding company and its
subsidiaries, its consolidated variable interest entities and the subsidiaries of the consolidated variable interest entities;
“our WFOE” are to Lequan Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or Lequan Technology;
“RMB” and “Renminbi” are to the legal currency of China;
“US$,” “U.S. dollars,” “$,” and “dollars” are to the legal currency of the United States; and
“Xiaomi” are to Xiaomi Corporation, an internet company and a principal shareholder of our Company as of the date of this annual report,
and/or any of its affiliates.
1
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. 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. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of
the U.S. Private Securities Litigations Reform Act of 1995.
You can identify some of these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,”
“intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely
on our current expectations and projections about future events that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy
and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
our mission and strategies;
our future business development, financial conditions and results of operations;
the expected growth of the IoT-enabled smart home products market and the home appliances market in China;
the expected growing application of AI technology in smart home devices;
our expectations regarding our relationships with our ecosystem partners;
our expectations regarding demand for success of our sales channels;
competition in our industry; and
relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry.
You should read this annual report and the documents that we refer to in this annual report and have filed as exhibits to this annual report completely
and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Other sections of this annual report discuss
factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors emerge
from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, 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.
We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The forward-looking statements made in this annual report
relate only to events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this annual report. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on
which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
2
ITEM 1.
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
PART I
Not applicable.
ITEM 3.
KEY INFORMATION
A.
Selected Financial Data
Our Selected Consolidated Financial Data
The following selected consolidated statements of operations and selected consolidated statements of cash flows data for the years ended December
31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 have been derived from our audited consolidated
financial statements, which are included in this annual report beginning on page F-1. Our selected consolidated balance sheets data as of December 31,
2016 and 2017 and the selected consolidated statements of operations and selected consolidated statements of cash flows data for 2016 have been derived
from our audited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in
accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our historical results do not necessarily indicate results expected for any future periods. You should read this Selected
Consolidated Financial Data and Selected Operating Data section together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes in conjunction
with “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below.
The following table presents our selected consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss) income data for the years ended December 31, 2016,
2017, 2018 and 2019.
2016
RMB
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
(in thousands, except for share and per share data)
2017
RMB
RMB
2019
US$
Selected Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive (Loss) Income Data:
Net revenues(1)
Cost of revenues
Gross profit
Operating expenses(2):
Research and development expenses(2)
Selling and marketing expenses(2)
General and administrative expenses(2)
Total operating expenses
Other (expenses) income
Income from operations
Interest (expenses) income and short-term
investment income
Income before income tax expenses
Income tax benefits (expenses)
Net income
Net income attributable to the Company
Net (loss) income attributable to ordinary
shareholders of the Company
Net (loss) income per share attributable
to ordinary shareholders of the Company:
Net (loss) income per ordinary share—basic
Net (loss) income per ordinary share—diluted
Weighted average number of ordinary
shares used in computing net (loss)
income per share:
Ordinary shares—basic
Ordinary shares—diluted
312,574
(232,544)
80,030
873,219
(598,036)
275,183
2,561,229
(1,843,432)
717,797
4,647,513
(3,565,109)
1,082,404
(29,926)
(20,929)
(14,386)
(65,241)
(481)
14,308
(296)
14,012
2,247
16,259
16,259
(60,749)
(95,296)
(15,818)
(171,863)
2,236
105,556
2,402
107,958
(14,718)
93,240
(124,230)
(379,554)
(135,532)
(639,316)
1,829
80,310
8,846
89,411
(24,061)
65,350
(204,942)
(529,212)
(73,061)
(807,215)
35,880
311,069
26,109
339,020
(45,190)
293,830
93,240
65,358
292,170
667,573
(512,095)
155,478
(29,438)
(76,017)
(10,495)
(115,950)
5,154
44,682
3,750
48,697
(6,491)
42,206
41,968
(3,453)
8,033
50,544
292,170
41,968
(0.28)
(0.28)
0.39
0.31
0.70
0.64
1.40
1.35
0.20
0.19
12,230,136 20,684,681 71,771,033 208,156,507 208,156,507
12,230,136 25,579,806 79,590,780 215,855,577 215,855,577
Notes:
(1)
Includes RMB299.8 million, RMB739.5 million, RMB1,311.9 million and RMB2,112.2 million (US$303.4 million) from sales to Xiaomi for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2017,
2018 and 2019, respectively.
3
(2)
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows:
General and administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Selling and marketing expenses
Total
2016
RMB
2017
RMB
For the Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
(in thousands)
2019
RMB
US$
6,863
3,464
251
10,578
3,303
1,903
615
5,821
93,718
14,476
8,417
116,611
7,282
23,564
12,322
43,168
1,046
3,385
1,770
6,201
The following table presents our selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Amounts receivable from a related party, net
Short-term investments
Total current assets
Total assets
Total current liabilities
Total liabilities
Total mezzanine equity
Pre-IPO Class A ordinary shares
Class A ordinary shares
Class B ordinary shares
Total shareholders’ (deficit) equity
2016
RMB
2017
RMB
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
(in thousands)
2019
RMB
US$
156,930
45,021
—
276,166
281,945
136,886
136,886
423,999
1
—
—
(278,940)
279,952
249,548
—
665,431
671,565
432,385
432,845
407,928
2
—
—
(169,208)
940,298
260,984
168,993
1,902,728
1,923,068
851,685
852,203
—
—
5
7
1,070,865
972,438
707,947
316,201
2,907,615
3,022,473
1,632,840
1,648,026
—
—
6
6
1,374,447
139,682
101,691
45,419
417,653
434,151
234,542
236,723
—
—
1
1
197,428
The following table presents our selected consolidated cash flow data for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Selected Consolidated Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
and cash equivalents
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at
the end of the year
2016
RMB
2017
RMB
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
(in thousands)
2019
RMB
US$
15,499
(1,609)
12,999
123,906
(1,234)
2,671
222,269
(151,821)
604,975
245,484
(268,956)
48,542
35,260
(38,634)
6,973
2,913
(2,321)
14,473
8,087
1,162
29,802
123,022
689,896
33,157
4,761
127,128
156,930
279,952
969,848
139,312
156,930
279,952
969,848
1,003,005
144,073
We present our financial results in RMB. We make no representation that any RMB or U.S. dollar amounts could have been, or could be, converted
into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate, or at all. The PRC government imposes control over its foreign currency reserves in
part through direct regulation of the conversion of RMB into foreign exchange and through restrictions on foreign trade. Unless otherwise noted, all
translations from Renminbi to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to Renminbi in this annual report were made at a rate of RMB6.9618 to US$1.00, the
exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of December 31, 2019.
B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
4
C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D.
Risk Factors
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We operate in highly competitive markets, and the scale and resources of some of our competitors may allow them to compete more effectively than we
can, which could result in a loss of our market share and a decrease in our net revenues and profitability.
We have developed an IoT @ Home platform consisting of an ecosystem of IoT-enabled smart home products, complementary consumable products
and value-added businesses. We face intense competition from other smart home solution providers, internet companies, and traditional home appliances
companies. We also face regional competition from local brands in the various geographies where our products are sold. We compete in various aspects,
including brand recognition, value for money, user experience, breadth of product and service offerings, product functionality and quality, sales and
distribution, supply chain management, customer loyalty, and talents, among others. Intensified competition may result in pricing pressures and reduced
profitability and may impede our ability to achieve sustainable growth in our revenues or cause us to lose market share. Our competitors may also engage
in aggressive and negative marketing or public relations strategies which may harm our reputation and increase our marketing expenses. Any of these
results could substantially harm our results of operations.
Some of our existing and potential competitors enjoy substantial competitive advantages, including: longer operating history, the capability to
leverage their sales efforts and marketing expenditures across a broader portfolio of products, more established relationships with a larger number of
suppliers, contract manufacturers and channel partners, access to larger and broader user bases, greater brand recognition, greater financial, research and
development, marketing, distribution and other resources, more resources to make investments and acquisitions, larger intellectual property portfolios, and
the ability to bundle competitive offerings with other products and services. We cannot assure you that we will compete with them successfully.
As we continue to grow, we may not be able to effectively manage our growth and the increased complexity of our business, which could negatively
impact our brand and financial performance.
Since our founding in May 2014, we have experienced rapid growth. Continued growth of our business and household user base requires us to
expand our product portfolio, strengthen our brand recognition, expand our sales channels, enhance our aftersales services capabilities, better manage our
supply chain, upgrade our information systems and technologies, secure more space for our expanding workforce, and devote other resources to our
business expansions, among others. As we continue to grow, managing our business will become more complicated as we develop a wider product, and
service, sales channel and customer mix, among others, some of which we may have less experience in. In addition, as we increase our product and service
offerings and further diversify our sales channels, we will need to work with a larger number of partners and maintain and expand mutually beneficial
relationships with our existing and new partners.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to effectively manage our growth, that our current personnel, infrastructure, systems, procedures and
controls or any measures to enhance them will be adequate and successful to support our expanding operations or that our strategies and new business
initiatives will be executed successfully. If we are not able to manage our growth or execute our strategies effectively, our expansion may not be successful
and our business and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.
We have experienced certain operating difficulties in the past in ramping up certain of our contract manufacturers’ production in a timely manner to
meet the increasing demand and purchase orders from our customers. As we continue to expand, we may experience similar difficulties if we are unable to
manage our growth, which may adversely affect our reputation and results of operations.
We have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects.
We were established in May 2014 and launched our first product in 2015. As we only have a limited history of operating our business at its current
scale, it is difficult to evaluate our future prospects, including our ability to plan for our future growth. Our limited operating experience, substantial
uncertainty concerning how the IoT industry as well as the broader consumer products and home appliances market in China may develop, and other
economic factors beyond our control, may reduce our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products and accordingly, our quarterly or annual
revenues. As such, any predictions about our future revenues and expenses may not be as accurate as they would be if we had a longer operating history or
operated in a more developed and predictable market.
5
Xiaomi is our strategic partner and our most important customer. Changes in our relationship with Xiaomi could have a material adverse effect on our
operating results.
Xiaomi is our strategic partner and our most important customer. Historically, we recorded RMB739.5 million, RMB1,311.9 million and
RMB2,112.2 million (US$303.4 million) in net revenues from sales to Xiaomi in the year ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, which
represented 84.7%, 51.2% and 45.4% of our total net revenues during such periods, respectively. In addition, many of our products are also sold through
Xiaomi’s e-commerce platform, www.xiaomiyoupin.com, or Youpin, one of our most important online sales channels.
We sell a wide range of products to Xiaomi, including Xiaomi-branded water purification systems, water purifier filters, range hoods and gas stoves,
dishwashers, as well as other complementary products such as sweeper robots, kettles and blenders, among others. We may discuss with Xiaomi to expand
the product categories that we collaborate with Xiaomi on, which may lead to increase of revenues from Xiaomi, but there is no assurance that such
discussion and expansion of cooperation will materialize.
Our cooperation with Xiaomi is provided in a series of contracts. All these agreements are subject to early termination by Xiaomi under certain
circumstances. We cannot assure you that no such circumstance will surface leading to Xiaomi’s early termination of any of our cooperation. We will
initiate good faith negotiations with Xiaomi to renew the agreements whenever they are near the end of the term. However, we cannot assure you that we
will be able to renew all such agreements, or on the same or more favorable terms.
In addition, we can recover our production costs when we deliver to Xiaomi for certain categories of products, and are entitled to share in the gross
profit when Xiaomi sells them to end-customers. However, various reasons may lead to Xiaomi’s failure to sell these products, many of which are not
within our control, including those related to Xiaomi but unrelated to the products we produced and risks that we could not preempt or prevent with
commercially reasonable efforts.
Furthermore, Xiaomi sells a broad spectrum of products, including our Xiaomi-branded and our self-branded products, as well as products unrelated
to us through its various sales channels. We cannot assure you that our products can always receive the same level of attention and promotion efforts from
Xiaomi thus far. If Xiaomi dedicates less resources to promoting and selling our products or introduces products that compete with ours, our net revenues
may decrease as well. Negative publicity related to Xiaomi, including products offered by Xiaomi unrelated to us, the celebrities Xiaomi are associated
with, or even the labor policies or environmental issues of any of Xiaomi’s suppliers or manufacturers, may also have a material adverse effect on the sales
of our products and public recognition of our brand.
Xiaomi is also a shareholder of our Company. Xiaomi is a public company listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. When exercising its rights
as our shareholder, Xiaomi may take into account not only the interests of our Company and our other shareholders but also its own interests, the interests
of its public shareholders and the interests of its other affiliates. Our interests and those of our other shareholders may at times conflict with the interests of
Xiaomi and its public shareholders and other affiliates. Such conflicts may result in losing business opportunities for us, including opportunities to enter
into lines of business that may overlap with those pursued by Xiaomi or companies within its ecosystem. Currently, we do not have any formal processes to
address such conflicts.
Our future success depends on our ability to promote our brand and protect our reputation. Our failure to establish and promote our brand and any
damage to our reputation will hinder our growth.
We utilize a number of marketing initiatives to promote our brand. We also actively participate in a variety of online and offline marketing events,
such as the "618", “Singles’ Day” and “Double Twelve” shopping festivals. We believe our strategy to enhance our brand recognition is crucial to our
future success. We have invested, and will need to continue to dedicate, significant time, efforts and resources to advertising and market promotion
initiatives. Our selling and marketing expenses were RMB529.2 million (US76.0 million) for the year ended December 31, 2019, representing 11.4% of our
net revenues. We may need to devote an even greater portion of our resources to continue to strengthen our brand recognition and build our user base,
which may impact our profitability. We cannot guarantee that our marketing efforts will ultimately be successful, as it is affected by numerous factors,
including the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns, our ability to provide consistent, high quality products and services, consumers’ satisfaction with
our products, as well as supports and services we provide, among others.
In addition, any negative publicity related to our brand, products, contract manufacturers, suppliers, distribution partners, strategic partners, such as
Xiaomi, third-party ecosystem partners, or celebrities we are associated with could have an adverse impact on our brand, which may negatively affect our
business and results of operations.
If we fail to successfully develop and commercialize new products, services and technologies that are well received by consumers in a timely manner,
our operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
Our ability to compete successfully and grow our business depends in large part on our ability to continue to introduce new and innovative products,
services and technologies that are well received by consumers and in a timely manner, and in turn, grow our household user base.
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Our ability to roll out new and innovative products and services depends on a number of factors, including significant investments in research and
development, quality control of our products and services and effective management of our supply chain. The execution of such initiatives can be complex
and costly. As such, we could experience delays in completing the development and introduction of new products, services and technologies in the future.
We may need to devote an even greater portion of our resources to the research and development of new or enhanced products, services and technologies,
which may adversely affect our profitability. In addition, our research and development efforts may not yield the benefits we expect to achieve in a timely
manner, or at all. To the extent we are unable to execute our strategy of continuously introducing new and innovative products, diversifying our product
portfolio and satisfying consumers’ changing preferences, we may not be able to grow our household user base and our competitive position and results of
operations may be adversely affected.
Our expansion into new product categories and scenarios, and substantial increases in product lines may expose us to new challenges and more risks.
We strive to continue to expand and diversify our product offerings to cover additional scenarios in the home environment. Expanding into new
product categories and scenarios and substantially increasing our product lines involve new risks and challenges. Our potential lack of familiarity with new
products and scenarios and the lack of relevant customer data relating to these products may make it more difficult for us to anticipate user demand and
preferences. We may misjudge market demand, resulting in inventory buildup and possible inventory write-downs. We may not be able to effectively
control our costs and expenses in rolling out these new product categories and scenarios. We may have certain quality issues and experience higher return
rates on new products, receive more customer complaints and face costly product liability claims, such as injury allegedly or actually caused by our
products, which would harm our brand and reputation as well as our financial performance.
Furthermore, we may need to price our new products more aggressively to penetrate new markets, and gain market share or remain competitive. It
may be difficult for us to achieve profitability in the new product categories and our profit margin, if any, may be lower than we anticipate, which would
adversely affect our overall profitability and results of operations.
We operate in the emerging and evolving IoT-enabled smart home products market in China, which may develop more slowly or differently than we
expect. If the IoT-enabled smart home products market does not grow as we expect, or if we cannot expand our products and services to meet consumer
demands, our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
The IoT-enabled smart home products market in China has experienced rapid growth in recent years. However, the growth rate may decrease due to
uncertainties with respect to China’s macro-economy, disposable income growth, the acceptance of IoT technology and products, and pace of development
of technologies and other factors, including the growth of the broader home appliances market. Furthermore, the IoT-enabled smart home products market
is constantly evolving, and it is uncertain whether our products and services will achieve and sustain high levels of demand and market acceptance. Our
ability to expand the sales of our IoT products to a broader consumer base depends on several factors, including Chinese consumers’ receptiveness towards
and adoption of smart home AI and IoT technology, the market awareness of our brand, the timely introduction and market acceptance of our products and
services, the network effects of our products and services, our ability to attract, retain and effectively train sales and marketing personnel, the effectiveness
of our marketing programs, our ability to develop effective relationships with distribution partners and expand our network of offline experience stores, the
cost and functionality of our products and services and the success of our competitors. If we are unsuccessful in developing and marketing our IoT products
to consumers, or if these consumers do not perceive or value the benefits of our holistic IoT @ Home approach, the market for our products and services
may not continue to develop or may develop more slowly than we expect, either of which would adversely affect our profitability and growth prospects.
If our user engagement ceases to grow or declines, our business and operating results may be materially and adversely affected.
User engagement is important to our business model. Our value-added businesses ecosystem and the virtuous cycle that we anticipate it to create
depend heavily on the level of user engagement with the products and services provided by us.
Many factors may prevent users from continually engaging and habitually using our products, including:
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technical glitches may occur, which may prevent our products and services from operating in a smooth and reliable manner, and hence
adversely affect user experience;
we may be unable to identify and meet evolving user demands and preferences;
we may not successfully develop functionalities that could further enhance user engagement and generate recurring revenues, or the new or
updated products and services we introduce may not be favorably received by users;
we may not be able to continue to successfully drive organic growth of users through word-of-mouth referrals, which may cause the growth
of our user base to slow down or stall or require us to increase our promotion and advertising spending or devote additional resources to
acquire users;
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we may be unable to prevent or combat inappropriate use of our products and services, which may lead to negative public perception of us
and damage our brand or reputation;
our competitors may launch or develop similar or disruptive products and services with better user experience, which may result in a loss of
existing users or declines in new user growth;
we may fail to address user concerns related to privacy and communication, data safety or security, and as a result, users may be deferred
from using our products and services in scenarios that we hope to capture; and
we may be compelled to modify our products and services to address requirements imposed by legislation, regulations, government policies
or requests from government authorities in manners that may compromise user experience or make our products less affordable.
If we are unable to adapt to technological changes and implement technological enhancements to our products and services, our ability to remain
competitive could be adversely affected.
The IoT-enabled smart home products market, together with the broader consumer products and home appliances market, is characterized by rapid
technological changes, frequent introductions of new products and evolving industry standards, such as the rollout of 5G technology and related
ecosystems. We have implemented our AI + IoT + 5G strategy to continue preparing for the upcoming 5G era and to establish a leading position in this
area. Particularly, we introduced our 5G customer premise equipment products with industry leading specifications in 2019. Though we are acting
proactively to keep pace with the AI and 5G trend as well as other technological developments in the industry, product development often requires
significant lead-time and upfront investment. Our ability to attract new consumers and increase revenues from existing consumers will depend significantly
on our ability to accurately anticipate changes in industry standards and to continue to appropriately fund development efforts to enhance our existing
products and services or introduce new products and services in a timely manner to keep pace with technological developments. For example, voice- and
gesture-control and facial- and image-recognition are important features of our IoT @ Home platform, and the technologies supporting them have been
rapidly developing. If any of our competitors implement new technologies before us, those competitors may be able to provide products that are more
effective or with more user-friendly features than ours, possibly at lower prices, which could adversely impact our sales and impact our market share. In
addition, any delay or failure in our introduction of new or enhanced products and services could harm our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
We are susceptible to supply shortages and interruptions, long lead times, and price fluctuations for raw materials and components, any of which could
disrupt our supply chain and have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.
Our product portfolio includes various product categories and product lines. Mass production of our products requires timely and adequate supply of
various types of raw materials and components. A substantial majority of the components and raw materials used to produce our products are sourced from
third-party suppliers, and some of these components and raw materials are sourced from a limited number of suppliers or a single supplier. Therefore, we
are subject to risks of shortages or discontinuation in supply, long lead times, cost increases and quality control issues with our suppliers. In addition, some
of our suppliers may have more established relationships with our competitors, and as a result of these relationships, such suppliers may choose to limit or
terminate their relationships with us or prioritize our competitors’ orders in the case of supply shortages.
In the event of a component or raw material shortage or supply interruption from suppliers, we will need to identify alternative sources of supply,
which can be time-consuming, difficult to locate, and costly. We may not be able to source these components or raw materials on terms that are acceptable
to us, or at all, which may undermine our ability to meet our production requirements or to fill customer orders in a timely manner. This could cause delays
in shipment of our products, harm our relationships with our customers, network partners and other business partners, and adversely affect our results of
operations.
Moreover, the market prices for certain raw materials have been volatile. For example, we have experienced significant increases in the market
prices for certain important raw materials used in manufacturing refrigerators recently, and we may not be able to recover these costs through selling price
increases to our customers, which would have a negative effect on our financial results.
We rely on certain contract manufacturers to produce a majority of our products. If we encounter issues with them, our business and results of
operations could be materially and adversely affected.
We rely on certain contract manufacturers to produce a majority of our products. We may experience operational difficulties with our contract
manufacturers, including reductions in the availability of production capacity, failure to comply with product specifications, insufficient quality control,
failure to meet production deadlines, increases in manufacturing costs and longer lead time. Our contract manufacturers may experience disruptions in their
manufacturing operations due to equipment breakdowns, labor strikes or shortages, natural disasters, component or material shortages, cost increases,
violation of environmental, health or safety laws and regulations, health epidemics, or other problems. For example, the outbreak of coronavirus disease
(COVID-19), or the COVID-19 outbreak, widely and negatively impacted supply chains in China in early 2020. Our contract manufacturers’
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operations were disrupted during this period, which may in turn adversely affect our business and results of operations. We may be unable to pass potential
cost increases to our customers. We may have disputes with our contract manufacturers, which may result in litigation expenses, divert our management’s
attention and cause supply shortages to us. In addition, we may not be able to renew contracts with our contract manufacturers for our existing products or
identify contract manufacturers who are capable of producing new products we target to launch in the future.
Any failure of such partners to perform with regards to quantity, quality or timely supply of products may have a material negative impact on our
business and results of operations. In addition, if such failure affects our supplies to Xiaomi or other major customers, our relationship with Xiaomi or other
such customers may be adversely affected.
Furthermore, although our agreements with our contract manufacturers contain provisions imposing confidentiality obligations on them, and we
have adopted security protocols to ensure knowhow and technologies for manufacturing our products could not be easily leaked or plagiarized, we cannot
guarantee the effectiveness of these efforts and, any leakage or plagiary of our knowhow and technologies could be detrimental to our business prospects
and results of operations.
We cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully manage product manufacturing in-house or implement our strategic value chain investments
effectively.
We have established Guangdong Lizi Technology Co., Ltd., or Guangdong Lizi, as a smart water purification system facility focusing on the
research, design, production and supply of smart water purifiers and water purifier filters, and Guangdong AI Touch Technology Co., Ltd., or Guangdong
AI Touch, for the development, production and supply of touch screen components for our smart products. The two facilities have integrated into the Viomi
platform and begun commercial manufacturing since the first half of 2019, which has provided us greater control over our supply chain and has already
started to generate incremental cost savings. In addition, in February 2020, we entered into a memorandum of understanding with the local government in
Shunde, Guangdong Province, for the development of Viomi IoT Technology Park, a comprehensive high-tech industrial campus, expected to be completed
in two phases over an up to ten-year period. The first phase is expected to include the Company’s multi-functional headquarters, including a product
experience center, research and development center, smart manufacturing center, and centralized hub for sales and customer service functions. The second
is expected to focus on and accommodate additional facilities for the Company’s IoT products, serving as a focal point of Viomi’s expanded supply chain
capabilities. Accordingly, we face risks inherent to maintaining product development and manufacturing facilities or associated with expansion of
production capacity and such other risks common in the product development and manufacturing industry.
Our personnel expenses and other costs may increase as a result of the additional manpower retained for our manufacturing lines and the additional
cost in terms of quality control. In addition, we may fail to attract and retain sufficient skilled manufacturing and mechanic workers. Furthermore, our
facilities may experience disruptions due to equipment breakdowns, labor strikes or shortages, natural disasters, health epidemics, component or material
shortages, cost increases or other similar issues. Meanwhile, manufacturing in-house subjects us to various PRC environmental laws and regulations that
are evolving and not as clear as those of the developed economies such as the United States, which may result in higher compliance costs incurred by us.
We are also required to maintain all environmental permits, filings and registrations related to our business, including pollution discharge certificate, fire
protection certificate, and the environmental protection examination and approval, which are subject to periodic renewal. Although we have obtained and
completed for our two facilities all such permits, approval and registrations as of the date of this annual report, we cannot assure you that we will be able to
obtain their respective renewal in a timely manner, or at all. If we fail to comply in full respect with environmental laws and regulations, we may face fines,
orders to suspend our manufacturing and civil or criminal litigations
We have limited experience in in-house product manufacturing. If we are unable to effectively manage the risks we face and produce high-quality
products cost-efficiently to meet the market demand and implement effective cost and expense control, our business, financial condition and results of
operations may be materially and negatively affected and we may not be able to recoup the investments we have made.
We may from time to time enter into contracts with some customers that provide certain favorable terms to such customers, which may, in certain
situations, adversely affect our results of operations or profitability.
We may from time to time enter into contracts with some customers that provide certain favorable terms to such customers to expand our sales
channels and increase our market penetration, which may, in certain situations, adversely affect our results of operations or profitability. For example, our
contract with a leading e-commerce platform provides, among others, return or discount clearance of certain slow-moving products and potential payment
of various consideration to the platform including payment for gross margin guarantee on certain products, monthly compensation for promotion and
marketing activities, and fees for advertising through such platform. For more details on the contract, please see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review
and Prospects—A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates.”
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Our business may be adversely impacted by product defects or other quality issues.
Product defects or other quality issues can occur throughout the product development, design and manufacturing processes or as a result of our
reliance on third parties for components, raw materials, and manufacturing. Any product defects or any other failure of our products or substandard product
quality could harm our reputation and result in adverse publicity, lost revenues, delivery delays, product recalls, relationships with our network partners and
other business partners, product liability claims, administrative penalties, harm to our brand and reputation, and significant warranty and other expenses,
and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, operating results and prospects. While we maintain a reserve for product
warranty costs based on certain estimates and our knowledge of current events and actions, our actual warranty costs may exceed our reserve, resulting in
current period expenses and a need to increase our reserve for warranty costs.
Moreover, since our products combine hardware and software, any glitches in the software may intervene and disrupt our efforts to integrate our
products in consumers’ lifestyles. We rely on the connectivity and network effects of our products and services to attract consumers to expand their
collection of our products, which we believe will reinforce a positive smart home experience. Any failure or defects that a consumer experiences in one
product, however, may prevent this connectivity or network effect from being realized. As a result, we may be prevented from providing solutions to our
customers and our business prospectus, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
We are exposed to potential liabilities arising from the products we sell, and costs related to defective products could have a material adverse impact on
us.
Disputes over warranties of our products can arise in the ordinary course of our business. In extreme situations, we may be exposed to various
liabilities relating to potential personal injuries as a result of misuse or quality defects of the products we sell. We may experience material product liability
losses, and we may be unable to defend these claims at a contained level of cost or at all. Although we have product liability insurance, we cannot assure
you that our insurance coverage will be sufficient or that we will be able to obtain sufficient coverage at an acceptable cost in the future. A successful claim
brought against us in excess of our available insurance coverage may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition. Although we historically had insignificant volumes of product replacements or product returns, the cost of product replacements or product
returns in the future may be substantial, particularly given our increasing product categories and models, and we could incur substantial costs to implement
modifications to fix defects in our products.
Our consumers may experience service failures or interruptions due to defects in the software, infrastructure, components or processes that
compromise our products and services, or due to errors in product installation, any of which could harm our business.
Our products and services may contain undetected defects in the software, infrastructure, components or processes. Sophisticated software and
applications, such as those offered by us, often contain “bugs” that can unexpectedly interfere with the software and applications’ intended operations. Our
internet services may from time to time experience outages, service slowdowns or errors. Defects may also occur in components or processes used in our
products or for our services. There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix all defects in the hardware, software and services we offer.
Failure to do so could result in decreases in sales of our products and services, lost revenues, significant warranty and other expenses, decreases in
customer confidence and loyalty, lost market share to our competitors, and harm to our reputation.
Our delivery, return and exchange policies may adversely affect our results of operations.
We have adopted shipping policies that do not necessarily pass the full cost of shipping onto our customers. We also have adopted customer-friendly
return and exchange policies that make it convenient and easy for customers to change their minds within seven days after completing direct online
purchases from us. We may also be required by law to adopt new or amend existing return and exchange policies from time to time. These policies improve
users’ shopping experience and promote customer loyalty, which in turn help us acquire and retain users. However, these policies also subject us to
additional costs and expenses which we may not recoup through increased revenues. If our delivery, return and exchange policies are misused by a
significant number of customers, our costs may increase significantly and our results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. If we revise
these policies to reduce our costs and expenses, our users may be dissatisfied, which may result in loss of existing users or failure to acquire new users at a
desirable pace, which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations.
Our operating results could be materially harmed if we are unable to accurately forecast consumer demand for our products or manage our inventory.
To ensure adequate supply for our products, we must forecast consumer demand for our products, including Xiaomi’s demand. Our ability to
accurately forecast demand for our products could be affected by many factors, including changes in consumer perception of our products or our
competitors’, sales promotions by us or our competitors, our sales channel inventory levels, and unanticipated changes in general market and economic
conditions, among others.
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We manage our inventory by constantly monitoring and tracking our current inventory levels, while keeping a portion of reserve stock, based on our
forecast customer demand. If we fail to accurately forecast customer demand, we may experience excess inventory levels or a shortage of products
available for sale. For example, our inventory level could increase on a seasonal basis as we prepare for large online sales promotion events, and it would
be difficult for us to forecast the sales that we may achieve in those events. Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may result in inventory write-
downs or write-offs and the sale of excess inventory at discounted prices, which may cause our gross margin to suffer and could impair the strength of our
brand. On the other hand, in the case we experience shortage of products, we may be unable to meet the demand for our products, and our business and
operating results could be adversely affected. We have experienced inventory shortage of popular products in the past. Such arrangement may lead to loss
of consumer confidence and further uncertainty with respect to our inventory level.
As market competition for products similar to ours intensifies, we expect that it will become more difficult to forecast demand. In addition, as we
continue to introduce new product and services and expand our products portfolio, we may face increasing challenges managing the production plan and
appropriate inventory levels for our product portfolio.
Our efforts to manage, expand and diversify our customer base and sales channels may not be successful.
Our key sales channels consist of a network of online e-commerce platforms, Viomi offline experience stores, third-party offline channels, through
which we predominantly sell Viomi-branded products, as well as Xiaomi, to which we predominantly sell Xiaomi-branded products. Historically, Xiaomi
has been our largest and most important customer. Sales to Xiaomi accounted for 84.7%, 51.2% and 45.4% of our net revenues in 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively.
Although we have devoted significant resources to maintaining, expanding and diversifying our customer base and sales channels, we cannot assure
you that such efforts would succeed. Our current agreements with Xiaomi and third-party sales channels generally do not prohibit them from working with
our competitors or from selling competing products. Our competitors may be more effective in providing incentives to our third-party online sales to favor
our competitors’ products and promote their sales. Pursuing, establishing and maintaining relationships with our online sales partners requires significant
time and resources. We cannot assure you that we will be able to renew those agreements upon their expiry on commercially acceptable terms, or at all.
Any such occurrences may negatively impact our business, results of operations and growth prospect.
In addition, we have been adding offline experience stores and cooperating with more network partners. With the increased scale of operations, we
will be required to invest additional resources in managing our network partners, and hence we may not be able to expand as fast or as successfully as we
expect. In addition, our sales network management systems may not be effective.
We rely on a limited number of third-party e-commerce platforms to sell our products online. If our cooperation with such platforms terminates,
deteriorates or becomes more costly, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Currently, we rely on third-party e-commerce platforms such as Youpin, JD.com, Tmall and Suning, among others, for online sales and order
fulfillment of our products and derive a material portion of our online sales revenue therefrom. If our cooperation with such third-party e-commerce
platforms terminates, deteriorates or becomes more costly, or we fail to incentivize such platforms to drive traffic to our online stores or promote the sale of
our products, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to find alternative
channels on terms and conditions commercially acceptable to us in a timely manner, or at all, especially given their leading position and significant
influence in China’s e-commerce industry. In addition, any negative publicities about such third-party e-commerce platforms, any public perception or
claims that non-authentic, counterfeit or defective goods are sold on such platforms, be it with merit or proven or not, most of which are beyond our
control, may deter visits to the platforms and result in less user traffics to our flagship stores, which may negatively impact our business and results of
operations.
We rely on third-party service providers for logistics and aftersales services. If these service providers fail to provide reliable services, our business and
reputation may be adversely affected.
We rely on third-party couriers and logistics providers for order fulfillment and delivery services, including shipping products to Xiaomi, our other
customers as well as end-consumers. We also outsource a majority of our installation and after-sale services for our products to third-party service
providers.
While these arrangements allow us to focus on our main business, they reduce our direct control over the logistics and aftersales services provided
to our customers. Logistics in our primary locations or transit to final destinations may be disrupted for a variety of reasons, including events that are
beyond our control or the control of these service providers, such as inclement weather, natural and man-made disasters, health epidemics, information
technology system failures, transportation disruptions, labor unrest, commercial disputes, military actions or economic, business, labor, environmental,
public health, or political issues. If any of our service providers’ operations or services are disrupted or terminated, we may not be able to find alternative
service providers with quality and on commercial terms to our satisfaction in a timely and reliable manner, or at all. Additionally, if our products are not
delivered in proper condition or in a timely manner or if errors occur in product installation or product maintenance processes, our products and services
may be compromised, customer experience may be impacted adversely and, as a result, our business and reputation could suffer. Further, if our logistics
and after-sale service providers raise their fee rate, we may incur additional costs and may not be able to pass such costs to our customers.
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We face risks associated with our network partners and their personnel for our network of Viomi offline experience stores.
We rely on third-party network partners to operate our network of Viomi offline experience stores. We rely on these network partners to directly
interact with and serve end customers, but the interest of a network partner may not be entirely aligned with ours. We set standards of practice of our
network partners and provide incentives and periodic evaluation. However, our control over the network partners may not be as effective as if we directly
owned and operated these offline experience stores.
Our network partners carry out a significant amount of direct interactions with end users of our products, and their performance directly affects our
brand image. However, we do not directly supervise their interactions or services provided. Although we have established and distributed service standards
across our network and provide extensive ongoing training to our third-party network partners, we may not be able to successfully monitor, maintain and
improve the services they provide. We may experience service disruptions, customer complaints and reduced sales, and our reputation may be materially
and adversely affected if end users of our products are unsatisfied with our network partners’ performance.
Our offline experience stores may not be successful due to factors beyond our control, such as underperformance of the stores or adverse market
conditions. Our network partners may also not have the necessary experience or resources to successfully operate the stores over time. We may also have
disputes with our network partners. Suspension or termination of a network partner’s services in a particular area may cause interruption to or failure in our
services in the corresponding area. We may not be able to promptly replace our network partners or find alternative ways to provide services in a timely,
reliable and cost-effective manner, or at all. Any service disruptions associated with our network partners could result in our customer satisfaction,
reputation, operations and financial performance being materially and adversely affected.
We may not be successful in monetizing our household user base.
It is an important growth strategy for us to continue to grow our user base and enrich our value-added businesses ecosystem, key components of our
IoT @ Home platform, which enable us to differentiate our offerings and create additional monetization opportunities for us, including the sale of
complementary products and provision of value-added services. While we have successfully grown our household user base from approximately 113
thousand as of December 31, 2016 to approximately 3.2 million as of December 31, 2019, there is no assurance that we will be successful in monetizing
this user base through such offerings, for example, if:
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we are not able to increase or maintain the amount of time our household users spend interacting with our IoT products;
we are not able to incentivize our household users to engage in relevant consumption activities related to our IoT @ Home platform; or
we are not able to maintain or attract ecosystem partners to supply products or services on our IoT @ Home platform that are attractive to our
household users.
If we fail to expand or maintain the pool of our ecosystem partners, our net revenues growth may be adversely affected and the number of application
scenarios of our products may not grow as quickly as we expect, or at all, which may reduce the attractiveness of our products. Any underperformance
of or negative publicity about our ecosystem partners may also adversely affect our operating results.
Various of our IoT products allow users to directly access various media and entertainment content, as well as purchase and order products from us
and our ecosystem partners. We have been actively seeking ecosystem partners on this front to expand our offerings and potentially create additional
revenues streams for us. If we fail to expand and maintain the pool of our ecosystem partners, the ecosystem that we strive to establish may not succeed,
which in turn may affect the willingness of consumers to purchase our products, and in turn increase the difficulty for us to attract suitable ecosystem
partners.
In addition, as we associate ourselves with these ecosystem partners in providing services, any negative publicity on them may also have adverse
impact on our own reputation and results of operations. Furthermore, although products that these ecosystem partners offer are not our products, customers
may still associate us with any dissatisfaction with the products and services offered by our ecosystem partners. Moreover, we may be subject to litigation
or potential sanctions under PRC law if we were to negligently participate or assist in infringement activities associated with counterfeit or defective goods.
An economic downturn may adversely affect consumer discretionary spending and demand for our products and services.
Our products and services may be considered discretionary items for consumers. Factors affecting the level of consumer spending for such
discretionary items include general economic conditions and other factors, such as consumer confidence in future economic conditions, consumer
sentiment, the availability and cost of consumer credit, levels of unemployment, and tax rates. Unfavorable economic conditions may lead consumers to
delay or reduce purchases of our products and services and consumer demand for our products and services may not grow as we expect. Our sensitivity to
economic cycles and any related fluctuation in consumer demand for our products and services may have an adverse effect on our operating results and
financial condition.
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Any significant cybersecurity incident or disruption of our information technology systems or those of third-party partners could materially damage our
user relationships and subject us to significant reputational, financial, legal and operational consequences.
We depend on our information technology systems, as well as those of third parties, to develop new products and services, operate our platform,
host and manage our services, store data, process transactions, respond to user inquiries, and manage inventory and our supply chain. Any material
disruption or slowdown of our systems or those of third parties whom we depend upon, including a disruption or slowdown caused by our failure to
successfully manage significant increases in user volume, could cause outages or delays in our services, which could harm our brand and adversely affect
our operating results.
We rely on cloud servers maintained by KSYUN, Xiaomi and Alibaba Cloud Services to store our data. Problems with our cloud service providers
or the telecommunications network providers with whom they contract could adversely affect the experience of our users. Our cloud service providers
could decide to cease providing us with services without adequate prior notice. Any change in service levels at our cloud servers or any errors, defects,
disruptions, or other performance problems with our platform could harm our brand and may damage the data of our users. If changes in technology cause
our information systems, or those of third parties whom we depend upon, to become obsolete, or if our or their information systems are inadequate to
handle our growth, we could lose users and our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Due to the ever-changing cyber threat landscape, our products may be subject to potential vulnerabilities, and our services may be subject to certain
risks, including hacking or other unauthorized access to control or view systems and obtain private information.
Companies that collect and retain sensitive and confidential information are under increasing attack by cyber-criminals around the world. IoT
products, being connected to the internet, are particularly vulnerable to cyberattack. While we implement security measures within our products, services,
operations and systems, those measures may not prevent cybersecurity breaches, the access, capture or alteration of information by criminals, the exposure
or exploitation of potential security vulnerabilities, distributed denial of service attacks, the installation of malware or ransomware, acts of vandalism,
computer viruses, misplaced data or data loss that could disrupt the function of our products or services, and be detrimental to our reputation, business,
financial condition, and results of operations.
Third parties, including distribution network partners, ecosystem partners and our other business partners, could also be a source of security risk to
us in the event of a failure of their own products, components, networks, security systems, and infrastructure. In addition, we cannot be certain that
advances in criminal capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography, or other developments will not compromise or breach the technology
protecting the networks that access our products and services. A significant actual or perceived (whether or not valid) theft, loss, fraudulent use or misuse
of customer, employee, or other data, whether by us, our business partners, or other third parties, or as a result of employee error or negligence or
otherwise, non-compliance with applicable industry standards or our contractual or other legal obligations regarding such data, or a violation of our privacy
and information security policies with respect to such data, could result in costs, fines, litigation, or regulatory actions against us. Such an event could
additionally result in unfavorable publicity and therefore materially and adversely affect the market’s perception of the security and reliability of our
services and our credibility and reputation with our customers, which may lead to customer dissatisfaction and could result in lost sales and increased
customer revenues attrition.
We collect, store, process and use a variety of user data and information, which subjects us to governmental regulations and other legal obligations
related to privacy, information security, and data protection, and any security breaches, and our actual or perceived failure to comply with our legal
obligations could harm our brand and business.
Exploring growth opportunities by expanding our user base is one of our key strategies. Due to the volume and sensitivity of the information and
data of our users we collect and manage and the nature of our products, the security features of our website, Viomi Store mobile app, e-commerce platform,
IoT @ Home platform, and information systems are critical to our success. We have adopted security policies and measures, including encryption
technology, to protect our proprietary data and user information. However, our website, Viomi Store mobile app, e-commerce platform, IoT @ Home
platform and information systems may be targets of attacks, such as viruses, malware or phishing attempts by cyber criminals or other wrongdoers seeking
to steal our user data for financial gain or to harm our business operations or reputation. The loss, misuse or compromise of such information may result in
costly investigations, remediation efforts and notification to affected users. If such content is accessed by unauthorized third parties or deleted inadvertently
by us or third parties, our brand and reputation and our sales could be adversely affected. Cyber-attacks could also adversely affect our operating results,
consume internal resources, and result in litigation or potential liability for us and otherwise harm our business.
In addition, according to our business cooperation agreement with Xiaomi, we shall share with Xiaomi all the user data collected in relation to the
respective Xiaomi-branded products. Consequently, any leak or abuse of user data by Xiaomi may be perceived by consumers as a result of the
compromise of our information security system. Any failure or perceived failure by us to prevent information security breaches or to comply with privacy
policies or privacy-related legal obligations, or any compromise of security that results in the unauthorized release or transfer of sensitive information or
other customer data, could cause our users to lose trust in us and could expose us to legal claims.
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A growing number of legislative and regulatory bodies have adopted consumer notification requirements in the event of unauthorized access to or
acquisition of certain types of data. Those breach notification laws continue to evolve and may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another, which
might become a particular concern as we accelerate our international expansion. Complying with these obligations could cause us to incur substantial costs
and could increase negative publicity surrounding any incident that compromises user data. Any failure to comply with applicable regulations, whether by
us, our business partners, or other third parties, or as a result of employee error or negligence or otherwise, could result in regulatory enforcement actions
against us, harm to our reputation and even our business partners to cease cooperation with us.
Our intellectual property and proprietary rights may not adequately protect our products, and our business may suffer if third parties infringe our
intellectual property and proprietary rights.
We may not have sufficient intellectual property rights in all countries and regions where unauthorized third-party copying or use of our proprietary
technology may occur and the scope of our intellectual property might be more limited in certain countries and regions. Our existing and future patents may
not be sufficient to protect our products, services, technologies or designs and/or may not prevent others from developing competing products, services,
technologies or designs. We cannot predict the validity and enforceability of our patents and other intellectual property with certainty. Litigation may be
necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights. Initiating infringement proceedings against third parties can be expensive and time-consuming, and
divert management’s attention from other business concerns. We may not prevail in litigation to enforce our intellectual property against unauthorized use.
According to our business cooperation agreement with Xiaomi, Xiaomi and we have joint ownership over all technology properties (other than
industrial designs) and related intellectual properties generated from the process of design, development, manufacturing and sales of Xiaomi customized
products and certain of our self-branded products we supply to Xiaomi. Xiaomi may use these intellectual properties and user data to develop and
manufacture competing products on its own and although the business cooperation agreement forbids the parties to license any third party to use the jointly
owned intellectual properties without prior consent of the other party, we cannot ensure the compliance of Xiaomi with such agreement.
Under a license agreement effective from June 24, 2018, we have obtained an exclusive and royalty-free right to use 11 patents owned by our
founder and CEO Mr. Xiaoping Chen. If, for any reason, we are no longer able to use such patents or are charged significant fees for the use, our business
and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We may encounter claims alleging our infringement of third-party intellectual properties from time to time.
We may encounter claims from time to time relating to our use of intellectual properties of third parties, and we may not prevail in those disputes.
We have adopted policies and procedures to prohibit our contract manufacturers from infringing third-party copyright or other intellectual property rights.
However, we cannot ensure that they will strictly comply with our policy. In addition, any misconduct of our employees could also result in us infringing
third-party intellectual property rights. Therefore, liabilities and expenses may be incurred in respect of the unauthorized use of third parties’ intellectual
properties or defending against relevant claims. We have been involved in claims against us alleging our infringement of third-party intellectual property
rights and we may be subject to further claims in the future. Any such intellectual property infringement claim could result in costly litigation and divert
our management attention and resources. If we are found to have infringed intellectual property rights of third parties, we may be subject to monetary
damages and may be required to cease production and sales of the relevant products.
We rely on technology that we license from third parties, including artificial intelligence, that is integrated with our internally developed algorithms,
software, or products.
We rely on technology that we license from third parties. For example, for our voice recognition technologies, we have incorporated speech
synthesis engine and Q&A components provided by AISpeech and iFLYTEK. We cannot be certain that our licensors are not infringing the intellectual
property rights of third parties or that our licensors have sufficient rights to the licensed intellectual property in all jurisdictions in which we may sell our
products. If we are unable to continue to license those technologies on commercially reasonable terms, we will face delays in releases of new products or
functions or we will be required to delete this functionality from our products until equivalent, non-infringing technology can be licensed or developed and
integrated into our current products. This effort could take significant time (during which we would be unable to continue to offer our affected products or
services) and expenses and may ultimately not be successful.
Our use of open source software could negatively affect our ability to sell our products and subject us to possible litigation.
A portion of the technologies we use incorporates open source software, and we may incorporate open source software in the future. Such open
source software is generally licensed by its authors or other third parties under open source licenses. These licenses may subject us to certain unfavorable
conditions, including requirements that we offer our products and services that incorporate the open source software for no cost, that we make publicly
available source code for modifications or derivative works we create based upon, incorporating, or using the open source software, or that we license such
modifications or derivative works under the terms of the particular open source license.
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Additionally, if a third-party software provider has incorporated open source software into software that we license from such provider, we could be
required to disclose or provide at no cost any of our source code that incorporates or is a modification of such licensed software. If an author or any third
party that distributes open source software that we use or license were to allege that we had not complied with the conditions of the applicable license, we
may need to incur significant legal expenses defending against such allegations and could be subject to significant damages and enjoined from the sale of
our products and services that contained the open source software. Any of the foregoing could disrupt the distribution and sale of our products and services
and harm our business.
We may need additional capital, and financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents and anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs
for the next 12 months. We may, however, require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions or other future developments, including
any changes in our pricing policy, marketing initiatives or investments we may decide to pursue. If these resources are insufficient to satisfy our cash
requirements, we may seek to obtain a credit facility or sell additional equity or debt securities. The sale of additional equity securities could result in
dilution of our existing shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in operating and
financing covenants that would restrict our operations. It is uncertain whether financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
We may engage in acquisition and investment activities, which could require significant management attention, disrupt our business, dilute
shareholder value, and adversely affect our operating results.
As part of our business strategy, we may acquire or make investments in other companies, products, or technologies along our product value chain
to complement our business, enhance the features and functionality of our products, and accelerate the expansion of our platform and network of strategic
partners. We may not be able to find suitable acquisition or investment candidates and we may not be able to complete acquisition and investment on
favorable terms, if at all. If we do complete acquisition and investment as we expect, we may not ultimately strengthen our competitive position or achieve
our goals; and any acquisition and investment we complete could be viewed negatively by users or investors. In addition, if we fail to successfully integrate
such acquisitions, or the technologies associated with such acquisitions, into our company, the revenues and operating results of the combined company
could be adversely affected. Acquisitions and investments are inherently risky and may not be successful, and they may disrupt our ongoing operations,
divert management from their primary responsibilities, subject us to greater-than-expected liabilities and our expenses, and adversely impact our business,
financial condition, operating results, and cash flows.
Our results of operations may be subject to seasonality.
Our operating results may vary significantly from period to period due to many factors, including seasonal factors that may have an effect on the
demand for our products. While seasonality has not been particularly prevalent in our historical results of operations due to the rapid growth of our
business, we generally expect to experience higher sales in the second and fourth quarters, primarily attributable to the major shopping festivals across
online e-commerce platforms such as “618,” “Singles’ Day” and “Double Twelve,” which are highly popular among Chinese consumers. Given the impact
of this seasonality, our quarterly results of operation and financial position at the end of a particular quarter may not necessarily be representative of the
results we expect at year end or in other quarters of a year. Our operating results could also suffer if we do not achieve revenues consistent with our
expectations for this seasonal demand because many of our expenses are based on anticipated levels of annual revenues.
Higher labor costs and increasing raw material prices may adversely affect our business and our profitability.
Labor costs in China have risen in recent years as a result of the enactment of new labor laws and social development. Given that substantially all of
our contract manufacturers are currently located in China, rising labor costs in China will increase our personnel expenses. In addition, we have witnessed
growing inflation rates in many areas of the world, and particularly in China, where we procure most of our raw materials, which adversely affects our
costs of raw materials. We may not be able to pass on rising costs as a result of higher labor costs and increasing raw material prices to end consumers in
the form of higher retail sale prices. Accordingly, our profitability may be adversely affected if labor costs and raw material prices continue to rise in the
future.
Certain of our directors may have conflicts of interest.
One of our directors, Mr. De Liu, is also a director of Xiaomi. This association may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, especially with regard
to our business cooperation with Xiaomi. Directors of our Company are required by law to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best of our
interests and to disclose any interest that they may have in any of our projects or opportunities. In addition, we have adopted a code of ethics and an audit
committee charter. Our code of ethics provides that an interested director needs to refrain from participating in any discussion among senior officers of our
company relating to an interested business and may not be involved in any proposed transaction with such interested business. Furthermore,
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our audit committee charter provides that most related party transactions must be pre-approved by the audit committee, a majority of which consist of
independent directors. Our audit committee charter, however, exempts the pre-approval requirement for related party transactions that are immaterial to us
or not unusual by nature. In the event of such transactions with Xiaomi, Mr. Liu will still be entitled to vote in our board meeting, and we cannot assure you
that Mr. Liu’s decision will not be impacted by any potential conflict of interest arising from his relationship with Xiaomi.
In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, we and our independent registered public
accounting firm identified three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to develop and maintain an effective
system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.
In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, we and our independent registered public
accounting firm identified three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as well as other control deficiencies. As defined in the
standards established by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, a “material weakness” is a deficiency, or combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim
financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
The material weaknesses identified related to (i) our lack of sufficient resources regarding financial reporting and accounting personnel with
understanding of U.S. GAAP, in particular, to address complex U.S. GAAP technical accounting issues, related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP
and financial reporting requirements set forth by the SEC, (ii) lack of comprehensive U.S. GAAP accounting policies and financial reporting procedures
and (iii) lack of an effective control procedure to track and estimate warranty provision relating to our products sold to ensure accuracy.
Following the identification of the material weaknesses, we have taken measures and plan to continue to take measures to remedy the material
weaknesses. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures— Changes in Internal Control.” However, the implementation of these measures may not fully address
the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, and we cannot conclude that they have been fully remedied. Our failure to correct
the material weaknesses or our failure to discover and address any other control deficiencies could result in inaccuracies in our financial statements and
impair our ability to comply with applicable financial reporting requirements and related regulatory filings on a timely basis. Moreover, ineffective internal
control over financial reporting could significantly hinder our ability to prevent fraud.
We are now subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, requires that we include a report
from management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting in our annual report on Form 20-F beginning with our annual report
for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019. In addition, once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined in the JOBS Act,
our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Based on its
evaluation, our management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 was not effective. For future fiscal years,
our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective either. Moreover, even if our management concludes that
our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its own independent testing,
may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or
reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, after we become a public company, our reporting obligations may
place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future. We may be unable to timely
complete our evaluation testing and any required remediation.
During the course of documenting and testing our internal control procedures, in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, we may identify
other weaknesses and deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal control
over financial reporting, as these standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis
that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404. If we fail to achieve and maintain an effective internal
control environment, we could suffer material misstatements in our financial statements and fail to meet our reporting obligations, which would likely
cause 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. We may also be required to restate our financial statements for prior periods.
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We have granted, and may continue to grant, options and other types of awards under our share incentive plan, which may result in increased share-
based compensation expense and have dilutive impact to you.
Our shareholders and board of directors have adopted two share incentive plans. Pursuant to these two plans, a total of 34,570,947 ordinary shares
underlying all awards may be issued. As of December 31, 2019, there are 11,365,268 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding share options
under these two plans at a weighted average price of $0.44 per share. Competition for highly skilled personnel is often intense, and we may incur
significant costs or be not successful in attracting, integrating, or retaining qualified personnel to fulfil our current or future needs. We believe the granting
of share-based awards is of significant importance to our ability to attract and retain key personnel and employees, and we will continue to grant share-
based compensation to employees in the future. As a result, our expenses associated with share-based compensation may increase, which may have an
adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, the granting, vesting and exercise of the awards under these share incentive plans will have dilutive
effect on your shareholding in our Company.
Our future success depends, in part, on our ability to continue to attract, motivate and retain highly skilled personnel. In particular, the growth of our
ecosystem may require us to hire experienced personnel with a wide range of skills.
We have, from time to time, experienced, and we expect to continue to experience, difficulty in hiring and retaining highly skilled employees with
appropriate qualifications. The loss of any key personnel, especially our founder, chairman, and chief executive officer Mr. Xiaoping Chen, could be
disruptive to our operations and research and development activities, reduce our employee retention and revenues, and impair our ability to compete. In
addition, if any of our senior management or key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose know-how, trade secrets,
business partners and key personnel. Furthermore, perspective candidates and existing employees often consider the value of the equity awards they receive
in connection with their employment. Thus, our ability to attract or retain highly skilled employees may be adversely affected by declines in the perceived
value of our equity or equity awards. Furthermore, there is no assurance that the number of shares reserved for issuance under our share incentive plans will
be sufficient to grant equity awards adequate to recruit new employees and to compensate existing employees.
We have limited insurance coverage, which could expose us to significant costs and business disruption.
Although we maintain property insurance, product liability insurance and public liability insurance, we cannot assure you that our insurance
coverage is sufficient. In addition, we do not have business disruption insurance or insurance policies covering damages to our IT infrastructure or
information technology systems. Any disruptions to our IT infrastructures or systems or other business disruption event could result in substantial cost to
us and diversion of our resources.
We face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks or conflicts, which could materially and adversely affect our business
and results of operations.
Our business could be adversely affected by natural disasters or other acts of god. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss,
telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, military conflicts, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events that negatively impact the Chinese economy could
also severely and adversely affect our business and operating performance.
Our business could also be adversely affected by health epidemics. In recent years, there have been outbreaks of epidemics in China and globally,
such as Ebola virus disease, H1N1 flu, H7N9 flu, avian flu, coronavirus diseases such as COVID-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, or
other epidemics. Any such occurrences could cause severe disruption to the daily operations and manufacturing of us and our contract manufacture and
other partners, subject employees of ours, our contract manufactures or our partners to quarantine and may even require a temporary closure and
disinfection of our office and facilities. In addition, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected to the extent that
any of these epidemics negatively impacts the Chinese economy in general.
The recent COVID-19 outbreak has created unique global and industry-wide challenges, including challenges to our business, impacting supply
chains, logistics, sales channels, as well as overall consumer sentiment and purchasing behavior. In early-2020, the COVID-19 outbreak resulted in the
temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities across China. Given the strict quarantine measures put in place
during this period, normal economic activity throughout China was sharply curtailed and opportunities for discretionary consumption, especially in offline
sales channels, were extremely limited during the period. Many of the quarantine measures within China have since been relaxed as of the date of the
issuance of this annual report, and we, together with our suppliers and customers, have gradually resumed normal operations since mid-February 2020.
Although we have seen noticeable improvements in late-March and early-April, both from a supply and demand perspective, the impact of COVID-19 is
expected to have a negative impact on the Company’s near-term financial results, including on revenue growth and profit margins, as a result of the
ongoing challenging industry conditions, supply chain bottlenecks and operational disruptions. In addition, the longer-term trajectory of COVID-19, both in
terms of scope and intensity of the outbreak, in China as well as globally, together with its impact on the industry and the broader economy are still difficult
to assess or predict at this time and face significant uncertainties that will be difficult to quantify. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific anti-viral
treatment for COVID-19. Relaxation of restrictions on economic and social activities may also lead to new cases which may lead to reimposed restrictions.
If there is not a material recovery in the COVID-19 situation, or it further deteriorates in China or globally, our business, results of operations and financial
condition could be materially and adversely affected.
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Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
If the PRC government finds that the agreements that establish the structure for operating some of our business operations ins China do not comply
with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we
could be subject to severe penalties, or be forced to relinquish our interest in those operations.
Due to PRC restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of internet and other related business in China, we operate our business in China
through our consolidated affiliated entities, in which we have no ownership interest. Although our provision of e-commerce services falls within the
permitted category according to the Negative List, as defined in "Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulation
on catalogue relating to foreign investment" that took effect on July 28, 2018, foreign investments in this business are still restricted by other qualifications
and requirements under related regulations in China. Our WFOE has entered into a series of contractual arrangements with our VIEs, and their respective
shareholders, which enable us to (i) exercise effective control over our VIEs, (ii) receive substantially all of the economic benefits of our VIEs, and (iii)
have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests and assets in our VIEs when and to the extent permitted by PRC law. As a result of
these contractual arrangements, we have control over and are the primary beneficiary of our VIEs and hence consolidate their financial results into our
consolidated financial statements under U.S. GAAP. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure” for further details.
In the opinion of our PRC legal counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, (i) the ownership structure of our VIEs in China and our WFOE, are not in violation
of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect; and (ii) the contractual arrangements between our WFOE, our VIEs and their shareholders
governed by PRC law are valid, binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of applicable PRC laws. However, our PRC legal counsel has
also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules.
Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal counsel. 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 our VIEs are 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, including:
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levying fines or confiscating our income or the income of our PRC subsidiary or our VIEs, or imposing other requirements with which we or
our VIEs may not be able to comply;
revoking or suspending the business licenses or operating licenses of our PRC subsidiary or our VIEs;
discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations through any transactions between our WFOE and our VIEs;
requiring us to restructure our ownership structure or operations, including terminating the contractual arrangements with our VIEs and
deregistering the equity pledges of our VIEs, which in turn would affect our ability to consolidate, derive economic interests from, or exert
effective control over our VIEs;
restricting or prohibiting our use of the proceeds of our initial public offering to finance our business and operations in China; and
taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business.
The imposition of any of these penalties would result in a material and adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business. In addition, it is unclear
what impact the PRC government actions would have on us and on our ability to consolidate the financial results of our VIEs in our consolidated financial
statements, if the PRC government authorities were to find our legal structure and contractual arrangements to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations.
If the imposition of any of these government actions causes us to lose our right to direct the activities of our VIEs or our right to receive substantially all the
economic benefits and residual returns from our VIEs and we are not able to restructure our ownership structure and operations in a satisfactory manner, we
would no longer be able to consolidate the financial results of our VIEs in our consolidated financial statements. Either of these results, or any other
significant penalties that might be imposed on us in this event, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their respective shareholders for substantially all of our business operation, which may not be
as effective as direct ownership in providing operation control.
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their shareholders to conduct our business. These
contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our VIEs. For example, our VIEs and their
shareholders could breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations in an acceptable manner or
taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests.
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If we had direct ownership of our VIEs, we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of our
VIEs, which in turn could implement changes, subject to any applicable fiduciary obligations, at the management and operational level. However, under the
current contractual arrangements, we rely on the performance by our VIEs and their shareholders of their obligations under the contracts to exercise control
over our VIEs. However, the shareholders of our consolidated VIEs may not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations
under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we intend to operate certain portions of our business through the contractual
arrangements with our VIEs. If any disputes relating to these contracts remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these contracts through
the operations of PRC law and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC legal system. See
“—Any failure by our VIEs or their shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and
adverse effect on our business.” Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their shareholders may not be as effective in ensuring our
control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct ownership would be.
Any failure by our VIEs or their shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual arrangements with them would have a material and
adverse effect on our business.
We refer to the shareholders of our VIEs as their nominee shareholders because although they remain the holders of equity interests on record in our
VIEs, pursuant to the terms of the relevant shareholder voting proxy agreements, each such shareholder has irrevocably authorized any person designated
by our WFOE to exercise the rights as a shareholder of the VIEs. However, if our VIEs or their shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations
under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also
have to rely on legal remedies under PRC law, including seeking specific performance or injunctive relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure
will be effective under PRC law. For example, if the shareholders of our VIEs refuse to transfer their equity interest in our VIEs to us or our designee if we
exercise the purchase option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they otherwise act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take legal
actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations.
All of the agreements under our contractual arrangements are governed by PRC law and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in
China (the arbitration provisions relate to the claims arising out of the contractual relationship created by the VIE agreements, rather than claims under the
United States federal securities laws and do not prevent shareholders of our Company from pursuing claims under the United States federal securities
laws). Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC law and any disputes arising from these contracts would be resolved in
accordance with PRC legal procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a
result, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in
China—Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system and changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us.” Meanwhile, there are
very few precedents and little formal guidance as to how contractual arrangements in the context of a VIE should be interpreted or enforced under PRC
law. There remain significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under
PRC law, rulings by arbitrators are final, which means parties cannot appeal the arbitration results in courts, and if the losing parties fail to carry out the
arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in PRC courts through arbitration award
recognition proceedings, which would require additional expenses and delay. In the event we are unable to enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we
suffer significant delays or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we may not be able to exert effective control over our
VIEs, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively affected.
Contractual arrangements in relation to our VIEs may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we or our VIEs
owe additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment.
Under applicable PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the PRC
tax authorities. We could face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that the VIE contractual arrangements were not
entered into on an arm’s length basis in such a way as to result in an impermissible reduction in taxes under applicable PRC laws, rules and regulations, and
adjust the income of our VIEs 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 our VIEs for PRC tax purposes, which could in turn increase its tax liabilities without reducing our WFOE’s tax expenses.
In addition, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on our VIEs for the adjusted but unpaid taxes according to the
applicable regulations. Our financial position could be materially and adversely affected if our VIEs’ tax liabilities increase or if it is required to pay late
payment fees and other penalties.
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The shareholders of our VIEs may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely affect our business and financial
condition.
Shareholders of our VIEs may have potential conflicts of interest with us. For instance, Mr. Xiaoping Chen, our founder, chairman of our board of
directors, and chief executive officer, holds 100% of equity interests in one of our VIE and 60% in another. The remaining 40% in the latter is held by
affiliates or employees of certain of our principal shareholders, Red Better Limited and Shunwei Talent Limited. Conflicts of interests may arise between
their roles in our Company or in our principal shareholders and their positions as nominal shareholders of our VIEs. These shareholders of our VIEs may
breach, or cause our VIEs to breach, or refuse to renew, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and our VIEs, which would have a
material and adverse effect on our ability to effectively control our VIEs and receive economic benefits from them. For example, the shareholders may be
able to cause our agreements with our VIEs to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the
contractual arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise the shareholder will act in the best interests of
our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company, except that we
could exercise our purchase option under the exclusive option agreements with these shareholders to request them to transfer all of their equity interests in
the VIE to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, to the extent permitted by PRC law. Two nominee shareholders of our VIEs, namely Mr. Xiaoping
Chen and Mr. De Liu, are also our directors. We rely on them to abide by the laws of the Cayman Islands, which provide that directors owe a fiduciary duty
to the company that requires them to act in good faith and in what they believe to be the best interests of the company and not to use their position for
personal gains. If we cannot resolve any conflict of interest or dispute between us and the shareholders of our VIEs, we would have to rely on legal
proceedings, which could result in disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
The shareholders of our VIEs may be involved in personal disputes with third parties or other incidents that may have an adverse effect on their
respective equity interests in our VIEs and the validity or enforceability of our contractual arrangements with our VIEs and their shareholders. For example,
in the event that any of the shareholders of our VIEs divorces his or her spouse, the spouse may claim that the equity interest of our VIEs held by such
shareholder is part of their community property and should be divided between such shareholder and his or her spouse. If such claim is supported by the
court, the relevant equity interest may be obtained by the shareholder’s spouse or any third party who is not subject to obligations under our contractual
arrangements, which could result in a loss of our effective control over the VIEs. Similarly, if any of the equity interests of our VIEs is inherited by a third
party on whom the current contractual arrangements are not binding, we could lose our control over the VIEs or have to maintain such control by incurring
unpredictable costs, which could cause significant disruption to our business and operations and harm our financial condition and results of operations.
Although under our current contractual arrangements, the spouse of Mr. Chen has executed spousal consent letters, under which she agrees that she
will not take any actions or raise any claims to interfere with the performance by her spouse of the obligations under these contractual arrangements,
including claiming community property ownership on the equity interest, and renounce any and all right and interest related to the equity interest that she
may be entitled to under applicable laws. We cannot assure you that these undertakings and arrangements will be complied with or effectively enforced. In
the event that any of them is breached or becomes unenforceable and leads to legal proceedings, it could disrupt our business, distract our management’s
attention and subject us to substantial uncertainties as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
We may rely on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Any limitation on the ability of our
PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business and to pay dividends to holders of the
ADSs and our ordinary shares.
We are a holding company, and we may rely on dividends to be paid by our wholly-owned PRC subsidiary for our cash and financing requirements,
including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to the holders of the ADSs and our ordinary shares and service any debt we may
incur. If our wholly owned PRC subsidiary incurs debt on its own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay
dividends or make other distributions to us.
Under PRC laws and regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in the PRC, such as our WFOE, may pay dividends only out of its accumulated
profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise is required to set aside
at least 10% of its after-tax profits each year, after making up previous years’ accumulated losses, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the
aggregate amount of such a fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. In addition, it may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting
standards to discretionary reserve funds at its discretion. These reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Any limitation on the ability of our
wholly-owned PRC subsidiary to pay dividends or make other distributions 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.
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We may lose the ability to use and enjoy assets held by our VIEs that are material to the operation of certain portion of our business if the VIEs go
bankrupt or becomes subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.
Our VIEs and their subsidiaries hold substantially all of our assets, some of which are material to the operation of our business. If our VIEs go
bankrupt and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, we may be unable to continue some or all of our business
activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Under the contractual arrangements, our
VIEs may not, in any manner, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of any of their material assets outside the ordinary course of operation or equity interests
in the business operation without our prior consent. If our VIEs undergo voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceedings, independent third-party creditors
may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the chops of our PRC subsidiary and our VIEs are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the
corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised.
In China, a company chop or seal serves as the legal representation of the company towards third parties even when unaccompanied by a signature.
Each legally registered company in China is required to maintain a company chop, which must be registered with the local Public Security Bureau. In
addition to this mandatory company chop, companies may have several other chops which can be used for specific purposes. The chops of our PRC
subsidiary and VIEs are generally held securely by personnel designated or approved by us in accordance with our internal control procedures. To the
extent those chops are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these
entities could be severely and adversely compromised and those corporate entities may be bound to abide by the terms of any documents so chopped, even
if they were chopped by an individual who lacked the requisite power and authority to do so. In addition, if the chops are misused by unauthorized persons,
we could experience disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and
resources to resolve while distracting management from our operations.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system and changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us.
We conduct our business primarily through our PRC subsidiary and consolidated VIEs in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws
and regulations. Our PRC subsidiary is subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investment in China. The PRC legal system is a civil law
system based on written statutes. Unlike the common law system, prior court decisions under the civil law system may be cited for reference but have
limited precedential value. In addition, any new or changes in PRC laws and regulations related to foreign investment in China could affect the business
environment and our ability to operate our business in China. For example, the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which took effect on January 1, 2020,
replaces the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. This PRC
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, substantial
uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the PRC Foreign Investment Law, its implementation rules and ancillary
regulations, which may materially impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. Any administrative and court
proceedings in China may be protracted, resulting in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention. Since PRC administrative and
court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory provisions and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate
the outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. These uncertainties
may impede our ability to enforce the contracts we have entered into and could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or
at all and may have retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of any of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation.
Such unpredictability towards our contractual, property and procedural rights could adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our
operations.
Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and
operations.
Substantially all our operations are located in China. Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be
influenced to a significant degree by political, economic and social conditions in China generally. The Chinese economy differs from the economies of
most developed countries in many respects, including the level of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange
and allocation of resources. Although the PRC government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform,
the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial
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portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the PRC government continues to play a significant role in regulating
industry development by imposing industrial policies. The PRC government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through
allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to
particular industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among
various sectors of the economy. In addition, the rate of growth has been slowing since 2012, and the impact of COVID-19 on the Chinese and global
economies in 2020 is likely to be severe. In particular, National Bureau of Statistics of China reported a 6.8% drop in gross domestic product (GDP) for the
first quarter of 2020 compared with the same period of 2019. If economic conditions, particularly in China, as well as globally do not improve, our business
and operating results may be adversely affected. Separately, any other or further adverse changes in economic conditions in China, in government policies
or in the laws and regulations in China could have a material adverse effect on the overall economic growth. Such developments could adversely affect our
business and operating results, lead to reduction in demand for our products and services and adversely affect our competitive position. The PRC
government has implemented various measures to encourage economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit
the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely
affected by government policies that encourage increased competition in our industry, or additional control over capital investments or changes in tax
regulations. In addition, in the past the PRC government has implemented certain measures, including interest rate adjustment, to control the pace of
economic growth. These measures may cause decreased economic activity in China, which may adversely affect our business and operating results.
We may be adversely affected by the complexity, uncertainties and changes in PRC regulation of internet-related businesses and companies, and any
lack of requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
The PRC government extensively regulates the internet industry, including foreign ownership of, and the licensing and permit requirements
pertaining to, companies in the internet industry. These internet-related laws and regulations are relatively new and evolving, and their interpretation and
enforcement involve significant uncertainties. As a result, in certain circumstances it may be difficult to determine what actions or omissions may be
deemed to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations.
The evolving PRC regulatory system for the internet industry may lead to the establishment of new regulatory agencies. For example, in May 2011,
the State Council announced the establishment of a new department, Cyberspace Administration of China (with the involvement of the State Council
Information Office, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security). The primary role of this
agency is to facilitate the policy-making and legislative development in this field, to direct and coordinate with the relevant departments in connection with
online content administration and to deal with cross-ministry regulatory matters in relation to the internet industry.
The interpretation and application of existing PRC laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies relating to the
internet industry have created substantial uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and the businesses and activities
of, internet businesses in China, including our business. We cannot assure you that we have obtained all the permits or licenses required for conducting our
business in China or will be able to maintain our existing licenses or obtain new ones. If the PRC government considers that we were operating without the
proper approvals, licenses or permits or promulgates new laws and regulations that require additional approvals or licenses or imposes additional
restrictions on the operation of any part of our business, it has the power, among other things, to levy fines, confiscate our income, revoke our business
licenses, and require us to discontinue our relevant business or impose restrictions on the affected portion of our business. Any of these actions by the PRC
government may have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
You may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing actions in China against us or our
management based on foreign laws.
We are an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands, we conduct substantially all of our operations in China and
substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, most of our senior executive officers reside within China for a significant portion of the time
and are PRC nationals. As a result, it may be difficult for you to effect service of process upon us or those persons inside mainland China. It may also be
difficult for you to enforce in U.S. courts judgments obtained in U.S. courts based on the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws against
us and our officers and directors, none of whom currently reside in the United States and whose assets are located outside the United States. In addition,
there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Cayman Islands or the PRC would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts against us or such
persons predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state.
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The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedure Law. PRC courts may recognize and enforce
foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedure Law based either on treaties between China and the country where the
judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the United States
that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedure Law, the PRC courts
will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our directors and officers if they decide that the judgment violates the basic principles of PRC laws or
national sovereignty, security or public interest. As a result, it is uncertain whether and on what basis a PRC court would enforce a judgment rendered by a
court in the United States.
If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us
and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management
body” within the PRC is considered a “resident enterprise” and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The
implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall and substantial
management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In 2009, the State Administration of Taxation, or the SAT,
issued a circular, known as SAT Circular 82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-
controlled enterprise that is incorporated offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC
enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s
general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According
to SAT Circular 82, an offshore incorporated enterprise controlled by a PRC enterprise or a PRC enterprise group will be regarded as a PRC tax resident by
virtue of having its “de facto management body” in China and will be subject to PRC enterprise income tax on its global income only if all of the following
conditions are met: (i) the primary location where senior management personnel and departments that are responsible for the day-to-day operational
management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are subject to approval by
organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board and shareholder
resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in the PRC.
We believe that we are not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—
Regulation—Regulation on Tax—PRC Enterprise Income Tax.” However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax
authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” If the PRC tax authorities determine that we
are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax, unless a reduced rate is available
under an applicable tax treaty, 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 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 the PRC. Furthermore, if we are deemed a PRC resident enterprise, dividends payable to
our non-PRC individual shareholders (including our ADS holders) and any gain realized on the transfer of ADSs or ordinary shares by such shareholders
may be subject to PRC tax at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of
our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a
PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares.
We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.
On February 3, 2015, the SAT issued a Public Notice Regarding Certain Corporate Income Tax Matters on Indirect Transfer of Properties by Non-
Tax Resident Enterprises, or SAT Public Notice 7. SAT Public Notice 7 has introduced a new tax regime that is significantly different from the previous one
under former SAT Circular 698 (which was repealed by the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Matters Concerning Withholding of
Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises at Source by the SAT). SAT Public Notice 7 extends its tax jurisdiction to not only Indirect Transfers set forth
under former SAT Circular 698 but also transactions involving transfer of other taxable assets through offshore transfer of a foreign intermediate holding
company. In addition, SAT Public Notice 7 provides clearer criteria than former SAT Circular 698 for assessment of reasonable commercial purposes and
has introduced safe harbors for internal group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity of a same listed foreign enterprise by a non-resident
enterprise through a public securities market. SAT Public Notice 7 also brings challenges to both foreign transferor and transferee (or other person who is
obligated to pay for the transfer) of taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise transfers taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of
an overseas holding company, which is an Indirect Transfer, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee, or the PRC entity that
directly owns the taxable assets, may report such Indirect Transfer to the relevant tax authority. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax
authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of
reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such Indirect Transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the
transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to
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withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. Both the transferor and the
transferee may be subject to penalties under PRC tax laws if the transferee fails to withhold the taxes and the transferor fails to pay the taxes. However,
according to the aforesaid safe harbor rule, the PRC tax would not be applicable to the transfer by any non-resident enterprise of ADSs of the Company
acquired and sold on public securities markets.
On October 17, 2017, the SAT issued a Public Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Withholding of Non-resident
Enterprise Income Tax at Source, or SAT Public Notice 37, which, among others, repealed the Circular 698 on December 1, 2017. SAT Public Notice 37
further details and clarifies the tax withholding methods in respect of income of non-resident enterprises under Circular 698. And certain rules stipulated in
SAT Public Notice 7 are replaced by SAT Public Notice 37. Where the non-resident enterprise fails to declare the tax payable pursuant to Article 39 of the
PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, the tax authority may order it to pay the tax due within required time limits, and the non-resident enterprise shall declare
and pay the tax payable within such time limits specified by the tax authority; however, if the non-resident enterprise voluntarily declares and pays the tax
payable before the tax authority orders it to do so within required time limits, it shall be deemed that such enterprise has paid the tax in time.
We face uncertainties as to the reporting and other implications of certain past and future transactions where PRC taxable assets are involved, such
as offshore restructuring, sale of the shares in our offshore subsidiaries and investments. Our company may be subject to filing obligations or taxed if our
company is transferor in such transactions, and may be subject to withholding obligations if our company is transferee in such transactions, under SAT
Public Notice 7 and SAT Public Notice 37. For transfer of shares in our company by investors who are non-PRC resident enterprises, our PRC subsidiary
may be requested to assist in the filing under SAT Public Notice 7 and SAT Public Notice 37. As a result, we may be required to expend valuable resources
to comply with SAT Public Notice 7 and SAT Public Notice 37 or to request the relevant transferors from whom we purchase taxable assets to comply with
these circulars, or to establish that our company should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations.
If our preferential tax treatments are revoked, become unavailable or if the calculation of our tax liability is successfully challenged by the PRC tax
authorities, we may be required to pay tax, interest and penalties in excess of our tax provisions, and our results of operations could be materially and
adversely affected.
The PRC government has provided various tax incentives to our VIE entity—Foshan Viomi in China. These incentives include reduced enterprise
income tax rates. For example, under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, the statutory enterprise income tax rate is 25%.
However, enterprises which obtained a new software enterprise certification were entitled to an exemption of enterprise income tax for the first two years
and a 50% reduction of enterprise income tax for the subsequent three years, commencing from the first profit-making year. In addition, the income tax of
an enterprise that has been determined to be a high and new technology enterprise can be reduced to a preferential rate of 15%. Foshan Viomi has obtained
High and New Technology Enterprise status since November 31, 2016 and is thus eligible to enjoy a preferential tax rate of 15% for the periods presented
and the following three years, to the extent it has taxable income under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law. Any increase in the enterprise income tax rate
applicable to our PRC subsidiary or VIE in China, or any discontinuation or retroactive or future reduction of any of the preferential tax treatments
currently enjoyed by our PRC subsidiary or VIE in China, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, in
the ordinary course of our business, we are subject to complex income tax and other tax regulations and significant judgment is required in the
determination of a provision for income taxes. Although we believe our tax provisions are reasonable, if the PRC tax authorities successfully challenge our
position and we are required to pay tax, interest and penalties in excess of our tax provisions, our financial condition and results of operations would be
materially and adversely affected.
Certain PRC regulations may make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions.
Among other things, 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 by Ministry of Commerce in 2009, established additional procedures and requirements that could make
merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. Such regulation requires, among other things, that the Ministry
of Commerce be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor acquires control of a PRC domestic enterprise or a
foreign company with substantial PRC operations, if certain thresholds under the Provisions on Thresholds for Prior Notification of Concentrations of
Undertakings, issued by the State Council in 2008, were triggered. Moreover, the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law promulgated by the Standing Committee of the
NPC which became effective in 2008 requires that transactions which are deemed concentrations and involve parties with specified turnover thresholds
must be cleared by the Ministry of Commerce before they can be completed. In addition, PRC national security review rules which became effective in
September 2011 require acquisitions by foreign investors of PRC companies engaged in military related or certain other industries that are crucial to
national security be subject to security review before consummation of any such acquisition. We may pursue potential strategic acquisitions that are
complementary to our business and operations. Complying with the requirements of these regulations to complete such transactions could be time-
consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval or clearance from the Ministry of Commerce, may delay or inhibit our
ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
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PRC regulations relating to the establishment of offshore special purpose companies by PRC residents may subject our PRC resident beneficial owners
or our PRC subsidiary to liability or penalties, limit our ability to inject capital into our PRC subsidiary, limit our PRC subsidiary’ ability to increase
their registered capital or distribute profits to us, or may otherwise adversely affect us.
In July 2014, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or the SAFE, promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign
Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE
Circular 37, to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents’ Financing and Roundtrip
Investment Through Offshore Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75, which ceased to be effective upon the promulgation of SAFE Circular 37.
SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed as PRC
residents for foreign exchange administration purposes) to register with the SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore
investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we
make in the future.
Under SAFE Circular 37, PRC residents who make, or have prior to the implementation of SAFE Circular 37 made, direct or indirect investments in
offshore special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, are required to register such investments with the SAFE or its local branches. In addition, any PRC resident
who is a direct or indirect shareholder of an SPV, is required to update its filed registration with the local branch of the SAFE with respect to that SPV, to
reflect any material change. Moreover, any subsidiary of such SPV in China is required to urge the PRC resident shareholders to update their registration
with the local branch of the SAFE. If any PRC shareholder of such SPV fails to make the required registration or to update the previously filed registration,
the subsidiary of such SPV in China may be prohibited from distributing its profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation
to the SPV, and the SPV may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions into its subsidiary in China. On February 13, 2015, the SAFE
promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13, which
became effective on June 1, 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and
outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, are required to be filed with qualified banks instead of the SAFE.
The qualified banks will directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of the SAFE.
We have requested PRC residents who we know hold direct or indirect interest in our company to make the necessary applications, filings and
registrations as required under SAFE Circular 37. However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents holding direct or indirect
interest in our company, and we cannot provide any assurance that all these PRC residents have complied or will comply with SAFE Circular No. 37 or the
subsequent implementation rules to complete the applicable registrations. The failure or inability of our PRC resident shareholders to comply with the
registration procedures set forth in these regulations may subject us to fines and legal sanctions, restrict our cross-border investment activities, limit the
ability of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to distribute to us dividends and the proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or
liquidation, and we may also be prohibited from injecting additional capital into the subsidiary. Moreover, failure to comply with the various foreign
exchange registration requirements described above could result in liability under PRC law for circumventing applicable foreign exchange restrictions. As a
result, our business operations and our ability to distribute profits to you could be materially and adversely affected.
Furthermore, as these foreign exchange regulations are still relatively new and their interpretation and implementation has been constantly evolving,
it is unclear how these regulations, and any future regulation concerning offshore or cross-border transactions, will be interpreted, amended and
implemented by the relevant government authorities. For example, we may be subject to a more stringent review and approval process with respect to our
foreign exchange activities, such as remittance of dividends and foreign-currency-denominated borrowings, which may adversely affect our financial
condition and results of operations. 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 foreign
exchange regulations. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and could adversely affect our business and prospects.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject the PRC plan
participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
In February 2012, the SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals
Participating in Stock Incentive Plan of Overseas Publicly Listed Company, replacing earlier rules promulgated in 2007. Pursuant to these rules, PRC
citizens and non-PRC citizens who have resided in China for a continuous period of not less than one year are required to register with the SAFE through a
domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiary of such overseas-listed company, and complete certain other procedures if they participate in
any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, unless certain exceptions are available. In addition, an overseas-entrusted institution must
be retained to handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We and our executive
officers and other employees who are PRC citizens or non-PRC citizens living in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and have been
granted options are subject to these regulations. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may result in fines of up to RMB300,000 for entities, or up to
RMB50,000 for individuals, and legal sanctions,
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and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary and limit our PRC subsidiary’ ability to distribute dividends to us. We
also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under
PRC law. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulation on Employee Share Incentive Plan of Overseas
Publicly Listed Company.”
Failure to make adequate contributions to various government-sponsored employee benefits plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to
penalties.
Companies operating in China are required to participate in various government-sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social
insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries,
including bonuses and allowances, of employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where our
employees are based. The requirements of employee benefit plans have not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the
different levels of economic development in different locations. We did not pay, or were not able to pay, certain social insurance or housing fund
contributions for all of our employees and the amount we paid was lower than the requirements of relevant PRC regulations. If local authorities determine
that we failed to make adequate contributions to any employee benefits as required by relevant PRC regulations, we may face late fees or fines in relation
to the underpaid employee benefits. In addition, our provision for these liabilities may not be adequate, particularly in light of the recent tightening
regulations. As a result, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We face certain risks relating to the real properties that we lease.
We lease real properties from third parties primarily for our office use in China, and none of our eight lease agreements for these properties has been
registered with the PRC governmental authorities as required by PRC law. Although the failure to do so does not in itself invalidate the leases, we may be
ordered by the PRC government authorities to rectify such noncompliance and, if such noncompliance were not rectified within a given period of time, we
may be subject to fines imposed by PRC government authorities ranging from RMB1,000 and RMB10,000 for each lease agreement that has not been
registered with the relevant PRC governmental authorities.
The ownership certificates or other similar proof of three of our leased properties have not been provided to us by the relevant lessors. Therefore, we
cannot assure you that such lessors are entitled to lease the relevant real properties to us. If the lessors are not entitled to lease the real properties to us and
the owners of such real properties decline to ratify the lease agreements between us and the respective lessors, we may not be able to enforce our rights to
lease such properties under the respective lease agreements against the owners. As of December 31, 2019, we are not aware of any claim or challenge
brought by any third parties concerning our use of leased properties. If our lease agreements are claimed as null and void by third parties who are the real
owners of such leased real properties, we could be required to vacate the properties, in which event we could only initiate claims against the lessors under
relevant lease agreements for losses resulting from indemnities for their breach of the relevant leasing agreements. We cannot assure you that suitable
alternative locations are readily available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, and if we are unable to relocate our officers in a timely manner, our
operations may be interrupted.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may
delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary,
which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China through our PRC subsidiary and VIEs. We may make loans to our PRC
subsidiary and VIEs subject to the approval from or registration with governmental authorities and limitation on amount, or we may make additional capital
contributions to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China. Any loans to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China, which are treated as foreign-
invested enterprises, or FIEs, under PRC law, are subject to foreign exchange loan registrations. In addition, an FIE shall use its capital pursuant to the
principle of authenticity and self-use within its business scope. The capital of an FIE shall not be used for the following purposes: (i) directly or indirectly
used for payment beyond the business scope of the enterprises or the payment prohibited by relevant laws and regulations; (ii) directly or indirectly used
for investment in securities or investments other than banks’ principal-secured products unless otherwise provided by relevant laws and regulations; (iii)
the granting of loans to non-affiliated enterprises, except where it is expressly permitted in the business license; and (iv) paying the expenses related to the
purchase of real estate that is not for self-use (except for the foreign-invested real estate enterprises).
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 by us to our PRC subsidiary or VIEs or with respect to future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiary.
If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds from our initial public offering and to capitalize or
otherwise fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand
our business.
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Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of 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.
Any significant appreciation or depreciation of Renminbi may materially and adversely affect our revenues, earnings and financial position, and the
value of, and any dividends payable on, our ADSs in U.S. dollars. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from our
initial public offering into Renminbi for our operations, appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the Renminbi
amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our Renminbi into U.S. dollars for the purpose of making payments for
dividends on our ordinary shares or ADSs or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the Renminbi would have a negative effect
on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.
Very limited hedging options are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. 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.
Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our cash balance effectively and 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. We receive substantially all of our net revenues in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company
primarily relies on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign
exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange
transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval of the SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Specifically, under
the existing exchange restrictions, without prior approval of the SAFE, cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiary in China may be used to
pay dividends to our company. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where Renminbi is to be
converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. As a
result, we need to obtain the SAFE approval to use cash generated from the operations of our PRC subsidiary and VIE to pay off their respective debt in a
currency other than Renminbi owed to entities outside China, or to make other capital expenditure payments outside China in a currency other than
Renminbi. The PRC government may at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. If the foreign
exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay
dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including holders of our ADSs.
Proceedings instituted by the SEC against PRC-based “big four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could
result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
Starting in 2011 the PRC-based “big four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, were affected by a
conflict between U.S. and Chinese law. Specifically, for certain U.S.-listed companies operating and audited in mainland China, the SEC and the PCAOB,
sought to obtain from the Chinese firms access to their audit work papers and related documents. The firms were, however, advised and directed that under
Chinese law, they could not respond directly to the U.S. regulators on those requests, and that requests by foreign regulators for access to such papers in
China had to be channeled through the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC.
In late 2012, this impasse led the SEC to commence administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 against the Chinese accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm. A first instance trial of the
proceedings in July 2013 in the SEC’s internal administrative court resulted in an adverse judgment against the firms. The administrative law judge
proposed penalties on the firms including a temporary suspension of their right to practice before the SEC, although that proposed penalty did not take
effect pending review by the Commissioners of the SEC. On February 6, 2015, before a review by the Commissioner had taken place, the firms reached a
settlement with the SEC. Under the settlement, the SEC accepts that future requests by the SEC for the production of documents will normally be made to
the CSRC. The firms will receive matching Section 106 requests, and are required to abide by a detailed set of procedures with respect to such requests,
which in substance require them to facilitate production via the CSRC. If they fail
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to meet specified criteria, the SEC retains authority to impose a variety of additional remedial measures on the firms depending on the nature of the failure.
Remedies for any future noncompliance could include, as appropriate, an automatic six-month bar on a single firm’s performance of certain audit work,
commencement of a new proceeding against a firm, or in extreme cases the resumption of the current proceeding against all four firms. If additional
remedial measures are imposed on the PRC-based “big four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, in
administrative proceedings brought by the SEC alleging the firms’ failure to meet specific criteria set by the SEC with respect to requests for the
production of documents, we could be unable to timely file future financial statements in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Under the
terms of the settlement, the underlying proceeding against the four PRC-based accounting firms was deemed dismissed with prejudice four years after entry
of the settlement. The four-year mark occurred on February 6, 2019. However, we cannot predict if the SEC will further challenge the four PRC-based
accounting firms’ compliance with U.S. law in connection with U.S. regulatory requests for audit work papers or if the results of such challenge would
result in the SEC imposing penalties such as suspensions.
In the event that the PRC-based Big Four accounting firms become subject to additional legal challenges by the SEC or the PCAOB, depending
upon the final outcome, listed companies in the United States with major PRC operations may find it difficult or impossible to retain auditors in respect of
their operations in the PRC, which could result in financial statements being determined to not be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange
Act, including possible delisting. Moreover, any negative news about any such future proceedings against these audit firms may cause investor uncertainty
regarding China-based, U.S.-listed companies and the market price of our common stock may be adversely affected.
If our independent registered public accounting firm was denied, even temporarily, the ability to practice before the SEC and we were unable to
timely find another registered public accounting firm to audit and issue an opinion on our financial statements, our financial statements could be
determined not to be in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. Such a determination could ultimately lead to the delisting of our ADSs
from Nasdaq or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the trading of our ADSs in the United
States.
The audit report included in this annual report is prepared by an auditor who is not inspected by the PCAOB and, as such, you are deprived of the
benefits of such inspection.
Our independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit reports included in our annual report filed with the SEC, as auditors of
companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the
PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with the applicable professional standards. Because our auditors are located in the Peoples’
Republic of China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditors
are not currently inspected by the PCAOB. On May 24, 2013, the PCAOB announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on
Enforcement Cooperation with the CSRC, and the Ministry of Finance which establishes a cooperative framework between the parties for the production
and exchange of audit documents relevant to investigations in the United States and China. The PCAOB continues to be in discussions with the CSRC and
the Ministry of Finance to permit joint inspections in the PRC of audit firms that are registered with the PCAOB and audit Chinese companies that trade on
U.S. exchanges.
On December 7, 2018, the SEC and the PCAOB issued a joint statement highlighting continued challenges faced by the U.S. regulators in their
oversight of financial statement audits of U.S.-listed companies with significant operations in China. However, it remains unclear what further actions, if
any, the SEC and PCAOB will take to address the problem.
As part of a continued regulatory focus in the United States on access to audit and other information currently protected by national law, in
particular China’s, in June 2019, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced bills in both houses of the U.S. Congress that would require the SEC to
maintain a list of issuers for which PCAOB is not able to inspect or investigate an auditor report issued by a foreign public accounting firm. The Ensuring
Quality Information and Transparency for Abroad-Based Listings on our Exchanges (EQUITABLE) Act prescribes increased disclosure requirements for
these issuers and, beginning in 2025, the delisting from U.S. national securities exchanges such as the New York Stock Exchange of issuers included on the
SEC’s list for three consecutive years. Enactment of this legislation or other efforts to increase U.S. regulatory access to audit information could cause
investor uncertainty for affected issuers, including us, and the market price of our ADSs could be adversely affected. It is unclear if this proposed
legislation would be enacted.
On February 19, 2020, the SEC and the PCAOB issued another joint statement on their ongoing discussion with leading accounting firms about the
issues highlighted in their previous joint statement.
On April 21, 2020, the SEC and the PCAOB issued another joint statement reiterating the greater risk that disclosures will be insufficient in many
emerging markets, including China, compared to those made by U.S. domestic companies. In discussing the specific issues related to the greater risk, the
statement again highlights the PCAOB's inability to inspect audit work paper and practices of accounting firms in China, with respect to their audit work of
U.S. reporting companies.
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Risks Related to the ADSs
The trading price of the ADSs is likely to be volatile, which could result in substantial losses to investors.
The trading price of our ADSs is likely to be volatile and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of
broad market and industry factors, including overall market volatility and the performance and fluctuation of the market prices of other companies with
business operations located mainly in China that have listed their securities in the United States. In addition to market and industry factors, the price and
trading volume for our ADSs may be highly volatile for factors specific to our own operations, including the following:
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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 products and services and expansions by us or our competitors;
changes in financial estimates by securities analysts;
failure on our part to realize monetization opportunities as expected;
changes in revenues generated from our significant business partners;
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;
detrimental negative publicity about us, our management, 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 trading volume and price of the ADSs.
In the past, shareholders of public companies have often brought securities class action suits against those companies following periods of
instability in the market price of their securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s
attention and other resources from our business and operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit, which could harm our results
of operations. Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In
addition, if a claim is successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our
financial condition and results of operations.
Our dual-class share structure with different voting rights will limit your ability to influence corporate matters (and in certain situations, give certain
holders of Class B ordinary shares control over the outcome of matters put to a vote of shareholders) and could discourage others from pursuing any
change of control transactions that holders of our Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as beneficial.
We have a dual-class share structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. One of our key
strengths is our visionary and professional management team led by the founder and CEO Mr. Xiaoping Chen and supported by our strategic partner
Xiaomi. The dual-class share structure ensures that the vision of the management team and the proven strategies can be consistently implemented,
especially during the phase of our rapid growth. Furthermore, the dual-class structure enables us to better focus on long-term strategies by serving as
effective defense against corporate actions which might not be in our long-term interest. Each Class A ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to one
vote on all matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company, and each Class B ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to ten votes on all
matters subject to vote at general meetings of the Company based on our dual-class share structure. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one
Class A ordinary share at any time at the option of the holder thereof, while Class A ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under
any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share by Mr. Xiaoping Chen or Viomi Limited to any person
who is not Mr. Chen Xiaoping or his affiliate(s), or upon a change of ultimate beneficial ownership of any Class B ordinary share to any person who is not
Mr. Xiaoping Chen or his affiliate(s), such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A ordinary share. Upon
any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share by a shareholder other than Mr. Xiaoping Chen or his affiliate(s) to any person,
such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A ordinary share. Conversion of Class B ordinary shares to
Class A ordinary shares will increase the voting power of holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs, while at the same time increasing the relative
voting power of individual Class B ordinary shareholders who retain their shares.
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As a result of the dual-class share structure and the concentration of ownership, Mr. Xiaoping Chen, certain of our employees and Xiaomi
beneficially own all of our issued Class B ordinary shares, and they have considerable influence (and in certain situations, complete control) over matters
such as decisions regarding mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, election of directors and other significant corporate
actions. Such holders may take actions that are not in the best interest of us or our other shareholders. Due to the disproportionate voting powers associated
with our two classes of ordinary shares, the holders of our Class B ordinary shares and our founder, Mr. Xiaoping Chen, beneficially own 91.8% and
59.8%, respectively, of the aggregate voting power of our Company as of March 31, 2020. Assuming that the Class B shareholders hold Class B ordinary
shares only, the Class B shareholders only need to keep 9.1% of the outstanding shares to continue to control the outcome of matters submitted to
shareholders for approval through ordinary resolutions. The concentration of ownership may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our
Company, which could have the effect of depriving our other shareholders of the opportunity to receive a premium for their shares as part of a sale of our
company and may reduce the price of our ADSs. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters and could discourage
others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other change of control transactions that holders of Class A ordinary shares and ADSs may view as
beneficial.
The dual-class structure of our ordinary shares may adversely affect the trading market for our ADSs.
S&P Dow Jones and FTSE Russell have announced changes to their eligibility criteria for inclusion of shares of public companies on certain
indices, including the S&P 500, to exclude companies with multiple classes of shares and companies whose public shareholders hold no more than 5% of
total voting power from being added to such indices. In addition, several shareholder advisory firms have announced their opposition to the use of multiple
class structures. As a result, the dual class structure of our ordinary shares may prevent the inclusion of our ADSs representing Class A ordinary shares in
such indices and may cause shareholder advisory firms to publish negative commentary about our corporate governance practices or otherwise seek to
cause us to change our capital structure. Any such exclusion from indices could result in a less active trading market for our ADSs. Any actions or
publications by shareholder advisory firms critical of our corporate governance practices or capital structure could also adversely affect the value of our
ADSs.
We are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act and may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements.
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from requirements
applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, most significantly, not being required to comply with the auditor
attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for so long as we remain an emerging growth company. As a result, if we elect
not to comply with such auditor attestation requirements, our investors may not have access to certain information they may deem important.
The JOBS Act also provides that an emerging growth company does not need to comply with any new or revised financial accounting standards
until such date that a private company is otherwise required to comply with such new or revised accounting standards. However, we have elected to “opt
out” of this provision and, as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards as required when they are adopted for public companies.
This decision to opt out of the extended transition period under the JOBS Act is irrevocable.
If securities or industry analysts cease to publish research or reports about our business, or if they adversely change their recommendations regarding
the ADSs, the market price for the ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for the ADSs will be influenced by research or reports that industry or securities analysts publish about our business. If one or
more analysts who cover us downgrade the ADSs, the market price for the ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease to cover us or
fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market price or trading volume for
the 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 substantial amounts of our ADSs in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price
of our ADSs and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through equity offerings in the future. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market
sales of securities held by our significant shareholders or any other shareholder or the availability of these securities for future sale will have on the market
price of our ADSs.
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Our memorandum and 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.
Our proposed dual-class voting structure gives disproportionate voting power to the holders of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares. 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.
The voting rights of holders of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to vote the
underlying your Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs.
Holders of ADSs do not have the same rights as our registered shareholders. As a holder of our ADSs, you will not have any direct right to attend
general meetings of our shareholders or to cast any votes at such meetings. You will only be able to exercise the voting rights which are carried by the
underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs indirectly by giving voting instructions to the depositary in accordance with the provisions
of the deposit agreement. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will try, as far as is practicable, to vote the underlying Class A ordinary
shares represented by your ADSs in accordance with your instructions. If we ask for your instructions, then upon receipt of your voting instructions, the
depositary will try to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares in accordance with these instructions. If we do not instruct the depositary to ask for your
instructions, the depositary may still vote in accordance with instructions you give, but it is not required to do so. You will not be able to directly exercise
your right to vote with respect to the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs unless you withdraw such shares, and become the
registered holder of such shares prior to the record date for the general meeting. When a general meeting is convened, you may not receive sufficient
advance notice of the meeting to withdraw the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your ADSs and become the registered holder of such
shares to allow you to attend the general meeting and to vote directly with respect to any specific matter or resolution to be considered and voted upon at
the general meeting. In addition, under our memorandum and articles of association, for the purposes of determining those shareholders who are entitled to
attend and vote at any general meeting, our directors may close our register of members and/or fix in advance a record date for such meeting, and such
closure of our register of members or the setting of such a record date may prevent you from withdrawing the underlying Class A ordinary shares
represented by your ADSs and becoming the registered holder of such shares prior to the record date, so that you would not be able to attend the general
meeting or to vote directly. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and will arrange to deliver our voting
materials to you. We have agreed to give the depositary at least 30 days’ prior notice of shareholder meetings. Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that you
will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your
ADSs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for their manner of carrying out your
voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to direct how the underlying Class A ordinary shares represented by your
ADSs are voted and you may have no legal remedy if the underlying Class A 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.
Because we do not expect to pay regular dividends in the foreseeable future, you must rely on price appreciation of the ADSs for return on your
investment.
On March 18, 2019, our board of directors declared a special cash dividend of US$0.0333 per ordinary share (or US$0.1 per ADS) on our issued
and outstanding ordinary shares. Going forward, we intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to fund the development
and growth of our business. We do not have any present plan to pay regular cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you
should not rely on an investment in our ADSs as a source for any future dividend income.
Pursuant to our memorandum and articles of association, our board of directors has complete discretion as to whether to distribute dividends,
subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may
exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, a Cayman Islands company may pay a dividend either out of
profits or share premium account, provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in the company being unable to pay its
debts as it falls due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, our shareholders may declare dividends by ordinary resolution, but no dividend declared
shall exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Even if our board of directors decides to declare and pay dividends, the timing, amount and form
of future dividends, if any, will depend on, among other things, our future results of operations and cash flow, our capital requirements and surplus, the
amount of distributions, if any, received by us from our subsidiaries, our financial
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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 entirely 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 the 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 the 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 of 1933 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 the ADSs.
You may experience dilution of your holdings due to the inability to participate in rights offerings.
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.
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 books at any time or from time to time when it
deems it expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. The depositary may close its books from time to time for a number of reasons,
including in connection with corporate events such as a rights offering, during which time the depositary needs to maintain an exact number of ADS
holders on its books for a specified period. The depositary may also close its books in emergencies, and on weekends and public holidays. The depositary
may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of our ADSs generally when our share register or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if
we or the depositary thinks it is 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 incur increased costs as a result of being a public company.
As a public company, we incur significant accounting, legal and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, including Section 404 therein relating to internal control over financial reporting, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and Nasdaq,
have detailed requirements concerning corporate governance practices of public companies. We expect these rules and regulations applicable to public
companies to increase our accounting, legal and financial compliance costs and to make certain corporate activities more time-consuming and costly. Our
management is required to devote substantial time and attention to our public company reporting obligations and other compliance matters. We evaluate
and monitor developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the
timing of such costs. Our reporting and other compliance obligations as a public company may place a significant strain on our management, operational
and financial resources and systems for the foreseeable future.
In the past, shareholders of a public company often brought securities class action suits against the company following periods of instability in the
market price of that company’s securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and
other resources from our business and operations, which could harm our results of operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit.
Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is
successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations.
32
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, the Companies Law (2020 Revision) 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 owed to us by our directors under
Cayman Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part
from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of
persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties owed to us by our
directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United
States. In particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have
more fully developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have
standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records (other
than the memorandum and articles of association) or to obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our
memorandum and articles of association to determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our
shareholders, but are not obliged to make them available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for our shareholders to obtain the information
needed to establish any facts necessary for them to motion or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
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 our board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the
United States.
Your rights to pursue claims against the depositary as a holder of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement.
The deposit agreement governing the ADSs representing our ordinary shares provides that, subject to the depositary’s right to require a claim to be
submitted to arbitration, the federal or state courts in the City of New York have exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine claims arising under the
deposit agreement and in that regard, to the fullest extent permitted by law, ADS holders waive the right to a jury trial of any claim they may have against
us or the depositary arising out of or relating to our shares, the ADSs or the deposit agreement, including any claim under the U.S. federal securities laws.
If we or the depositary opposed a jury trial demand based on the waiver, the court would determine whether the waiver was enforceable based on
the facts and circumstances of that case in accordance with the applicable U.S. state and federal law. To our knowledge, the enforceability of a contractual
pre-dispute jury trial waiver in connection with claims arising under the U.S. federal securities laws has not been finally adjudicated by the United States
Supreme Court. However, we believe that a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision is generally enforceable, including under the laws of the
State of New York, which govern the deposit agreement. In determining whether to enforce a contractual pre-dispute jury trial waiver provision, courts will
generally consider whether a party knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily waived the right to a jury trial. We believe that this is the case with respect to
the deposit agreement and the ADSs. It is advisable that you consult legal counsel regarding the jury waiver provision before investing in the ADSs.
If you or any other holders or beneficial owners of ADSs bring a claim against us or the depositary in connection with matters arising under the
deposit agreement or the ADSs, including claims under U.S. federal securities laws, you or such other holder or beneficial owner may not be entitled to a
jury trial with respect to such claims, which may have the effect of limiting and discouraging lawsuits against us and/or the depositary. If a lawsuit is
brought against us and/or the depositary under the deposit agreement, it may be heard only by a judge or justice of the applicable trial court, which would
be conducted according to different civil procedures and may result in different outcomes than a trial by jury would have had, including results that could
be less favorable to the plaintiff(s) in any such action.
Nevertheless, if this jury trial waiver provision is not enforced, to the extent a court action proceeds, it would proceed under the terms of the deposit
agreement with a jury trial. No condition, stipulation or provision of the deposit agreement or ADSs serves as a waiver by any holder or beneficial owner of
ADSs or by us or the depositary of compliance with any substantive provision of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
In addition, the depositary may, in its sole discretion, require that any dispute or difference arising from the relationship created by the deposit
agreement be referred to and finally settled by an arbitration conducted under the terms described in the deposit agreement, although the arbitration
provisions do not preclude you from pursuing claims under U.S. federal securities laws in federal courts.
33
Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company and substantially all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Substantially all of our
current operations are conducted in China. In addition, all of our current directors and officers are nationals and residents of countries other than the United
States. Substantially all of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you 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.
As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate
governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to
shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards.
As a Cayman Islands company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However,
Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance
practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Currently, we
rely on home country practice with respect to certain aspects of our corporate governance. See “Item 16G. Corporate Governance.” However, if we choose
to follow home country practice in the future, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy under the Nasdaq
governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
There can be no assurance that we will not be a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable
year, which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares.
A non-U.S. corporation will be treated as a PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for any taxable year if either (i) at least 75% of its gross
income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income; or (ii) at least 50% of the value of its assets (based on an average of the quarterly values
of the assets) during such year is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Based on our current
and expected income and assets, and the market value of our ADSs, we do not believe we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019, nor
do we presently expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this regard because the
determination of whether we are or will become a PFIC is a fact-intensive inquiry made on an annual basis that depends, in part, upon the composition of
our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to become a PFIC for the current or subsequent taxable years because
the value of our assets for the purpose of the asset test may be determined by reference to the market price of our ADSs. The composition of our income
and assets may also be affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in our initial public offering.
If we were to be or become a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder (as defined in “Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations”) holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences could apply to such U.S. Holder. See “Item 10.
Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive foreign investment company considerations.”
ITEM 4.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
A.
History and Development of the Company
We commenced our operation in May 2014 through Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd, or Foshan Viomi, a PRC domestic
company, to develop, manufacture and sell IoT products, including smart water purification systems. Foshan Viomi was established by Mr. Xiaoping Chen
and Tianjin Jinxing Investment Co., Ltd., or Tianjin Jinxing, a subsidiary of Xiaomi. Certain equity interests in Foshan Viomi under Mr. Chen’s name were
held by Mr. Chen on behalf of our management.
In January 2015, we incorporated Viomi Technology Co., Ltd as our offshore holding company in order to facilitate foreign investment in our
company. Subsequently, we established Viomi HK Technology Co., Limited, or Viomi HK, as our intermediate holding company, which in turn established
a wholly-owned PRC subsidiary, Lequan Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Lequan Technology or our WFOE, in April 2015.
In January 2015, we formed a PRC domestic company, Beijing Yunmi Technology Co., Ltd, or Beijing Viomi, to develop and manage our big data,
software and product design. In July 2015, we issued class A ordinary shares of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd. in exchange for the equity interests in Foshan
Viomi held by Mr. Chen on behalf of the management, class B ordinary shares in exchange for the equity interests in Foshan Viomi owned by Mr. Chen,
and class B ordinary shares to Red Better Limited and Shunwei Talent Limited in exchange for the equity interests in Foshan Viomi held by Tianjin
Jinxing. Concurrently, we obtained control over Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi by entering into a series of contractual arrangements with them and their
respective
34
shareholders. In September 2018, Foshan Viomi reduced its registered capital and changed its shareholders from Mr. Xiaoping Chen and Tianjin Jinxing, an
affiliate of our principal shareholder, Red Better Limited, to Mr. Xiaoping Chen alone. Concurrently, we entered into a series of contractual arrangements in
substantially the same forms with Foshan Viomi and Mr. Xiaoping Chen. We collectively refer to Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi as our VIEs in this
annual report. We use contractual arrangements with VIEs due to PRC restrictions or prohibitions on foreign ownership of internet and other related
businesses in China.
As a result of our direct ownership in our WFOE and the contractual arrangements with the VIEs, we are regarded as the primary beneficiary of our
VIEs, and we treat them as our consolidated affiliated entities under U.S. GAAP. We have consolidated the financial results of our VIEs in our consolidated
financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
In July 2018, we established Guangdong Lizi, a subsidiary of Foshan Viomi, as a smart water purification system facility focusing on the research,
design, production and supply of smart water purifiers and water purifier filters. Guangdong Lizi began commercial manufacturing operations in January
2019.
On September 25, 2018, our ADSs commenced trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “VIOT.” We raised from our initial public
offering approximately US$91.4 million in net proceeds, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
In January 2019, we established Guangdong AI Touch, a subsidiary of Foshan Viomi, for the development, production and supply of touch screen
components for our smart products. Guangdong AI Touch has begun commercial manufacturing operations in the first half of 2019.
In December 2019, we established Yunmi Hulian Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Viomi HK to act as a holding
company for potential future business and investment opportunities.
Our principal executive offices are located at Wansheng Square, Rm 1302 Tower C, Xingang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong,
510220, People’s Republic of China. Our telephone number at this address is +86 20 8930 9496. Our registered office in the Cayman Islands is located at
offices of Maples Corporate Services Limited at PO Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands.
The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC on www.sec.gov. You can also find information on our website http://ir.viomi.com/
B.
Business Overview
We have developed a unique IoT @ Home platform, consisting of an ecosystem of innovative IoT-enabled smart home products, together with a
suite of complementary consumable products and value-added businesses. This platform provides an attractive entry point into the consumer home,
enabling consumers to intelligently interact with a broad portfolio of IoT products in an intuitive and human-like manner to make daily life more
convenient, efficient and enjoyable, while allowing us to grow our household user base and capture various additional scenario-driven consumption events
in the home environment. As of December 31, 2019, our IoT @ Home platform had approximately 3.2 million household users.
Our IoT @ Home platform comprises of two key pillars, our Viomi business, predominantly comprising our Viomi-branded products, and our
Xiaomi business, comprising our strategic partnership with Xiaomi. Sales through our own and third-party channels, which constitute the vast majority of
our Viomi-branded products business, accounted for 15.3%, 48.8% and 54.6% of our net revenues in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Xiaomi is our
strategic partner, shareholder and customer. Our strategic partnership with Xiaomi provides us access to Xiaomi’s ecosystem users, sales platforms and data
resources and related support. Sales to Xiaomi, predominantly comprising Xiaomi-branded products, accounted for 84.7%, 51.2% and 45.4% of our net
revenues in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Our strong research and development capabilities, supply chain resources and innovative products and
services are able to enrich Xiaomi’s suite of offerings, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship between Xiaomi and us.
In accordance with our “AI+IoT+5G” strategy to prepare for the upcoming 5G era, we rolled out our state-of-the-art hybrid networking 5G
Customer Premise Equipment, or CPE products in late-2019. Equipped with advanced 5G microchips, the product enables one-touch connectivity and the
ability to connect over 256 IoT products. These products will be able to provide groundbreaking and seamless full-home wireless coverage technology to
consumers. We have also been dedicated to developing next-generation WiFi 6-enabled products and technologies, integrating WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and
other protocols to deliver truly holistic connectivity and user experiences across IoT products in the home environment.
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Our IoT @ Home platform
Our unique IoT @ Home platform consists of an ecosystem of innovative IoT products together with a suite of complementary consumable products
and value-added businesses.
IoT-enabled smart home products
We generate a significant portion of our revenues through sales of our IoT products. Aimed at China’s young, modern, “new middle-class”
consumers, our portfolio of innovative IoT products form the core of our IoT @ Home platform. We have successfully brought to market an extensive
range of IoT products, including our water purification systems, smart kitchen products, including refrigerators and range hoods, and other smart products
such as air conditioning systems, washing machines, water heaters and other smart devices. These products engage users across a wide spectrum of
essential daily activities and create new consumption scenarios for the home environment. We think of customers’ initial purchases of our products as the
start of our relationship with them rather than the end, as that first purchase drives broad home-wide adoption of our products and long-term customer
loyalty. The inherent connected nature, synergies, and network effects within our IoT @ Home platform are demonstrated by the fact that the percentage of
our household users possessing at least two of our IoT products increased from 3.5% as of March 31, 2016 to 17.9% as of December 31, 2019.
Consumable products and value-added businesses
In addition to our IoT products, we offer a suite of complementary consumable products and value-added businesses. Consumable products, such as
water purifier filters, are complementary, and often essential, to our IoT products, allowing us to generate additional, recurring and ongoing revenue
streams for us beyond the initial sales of the IoT products with minimal customer acquisition costs. Our value-added businesses consist of sales of other
products such as water quality meters and water filter pitchers, provision of installation services, and services related to our e-commerce platform
embedded within various of our IoT products.
We believe home is the most important and natural consumption environment. Hence, in addition to facilitating sales of our IoT products, our IoT @
Home platform, together with our vibrant partner ecosystem, is also set up to capture scenario-driven consumption events in the home environment. For
example, users can easily and directly access various media and entertainment content, as well as purchase products, including our consumable products
together with other fast-moving consumer goods, supplied by us or our ecosystem partners, through platforms and interfaces integrated and embedded
within various of our IoT products. This unique aspect of our business model allows us to capture users’ consumption events and purchasing behavior
across the entire life cycle of our core products and differentiates us from hardware-focused peers.
The table below sets forth the revenue contribution of our key business lines:
Net revenues:
IoT-enabled smart home products
Smart water purification systems
Smart kitchen products
Other smart products
Consumable products
Value-added businesses(1)
Total
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
2019
US$
%
712,317
570,784
50,656
90,877
87,500
73,402
873,219
81.6 2,081,273
930,178
65.4
744,990
5.8
406,105
10.4
141,940
10.0
338,016
8.4
100.0 2,561,229
81.3 3,587,355 515,291
36.3 1,065,166 153,002
29.1 1,322,801 190,008
15.9 1,199,388 172,281
38,186
5.5
265,844
794,314 114,096
13.2
100.0 4,647,513 667,573
77.2
22.9
28.5
25.8
5.7
17.1
100.0
Note:
(1)
Including sales of other products and rendering of services. See footnote 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
Our IoT products
The IoT products we offer can be divided into smart water purification systems, smart kitchen products and other smart products.
Smart water purification systems
The core of our water purification solutions is our self-branded and Xiaomi-branded smart water purifiers, which are complemented by our easy-to-
install replaceable water filter consumable products. Our smart water purifiers generally features precision sensors that enable them to monitor in real time
the water purification process and analyze the data collected using AI technology and automatically adjusts various aspects of its operation, innovation
water purification technologies such as high-flow reverse osmosis membrane, and mobile application connectivity that enables users to monitor the status
of the water purifier and reminds the users to replace the filters.
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Smart kitchen products
Our smart kitchen products include refrigerators, oven steamers, dishwashers, range hoods and gas stoves. In particular, our flagship 21Face large-
screen smart refrigerator helps users manage their home and life with food management, connected living, and information and entertainment capabilities
—all controlled through voice recognition, hands-free AI technology from anywhere in the kitchen. 21Face is seamlessly embedded with an interface
through which users can access our value-added businesses, such as various media and entertainment content, as well as the ability to purchase various
household fast-moving consumer goods, including fresh produce, as well as ordering food delivery.
Other smart products
In addition to our smart water purification system and our smart kitchen products lineup, we also offer a diverse array of IoT products that
complements our IoT @ Home platform and addresses users’ needs across different home scenarios, such as air conditioning systems, washing machines,
water heaters, smart water kettles, sweeper robots, smart locks and other smart devices, among others. We also launched our new premium AI-focused
“coKiing” brand in November 2019, starting first with a series of air conditioning products, to further penetrate the mid-to-high-end market through
introducing a more diversified and premium suite of product offerings. We intend to further enrich and expand the product categories offered under the
coKiing brand going forward to further diversify and complement our entire product portfolio to cater to the broader market.
Consumable products
We offer a range of consumable products complementary, and often essential, to our IoT products, which provide us with additional, recurring and
ongoing revenue streams across the life cycle of our IoT products. Consumers can purchase such products either through our sales channels or through the
e-commerce platforms embedded within various of our IoT products. Consumable products predominantly include water filters and water pitcher filters for
our smart water purifiers, water pitcher filters, and air filters for our refrigerators. They feature easy installation mechanisms so that consumers can
effortlessly install the products themselves.
Value-added businesses
Another key component of our IoT @ Home platform is our suite of value-added businesses.
Other products
We offer a variety of other household products to supplement our IoT products and promote regular impulse purchases by consumers. These
products include blenders, portable fans, rice cookers, water quality meters, aromatherapy humidifiers, water filter pitchers and stainless-steel insulated
water bottles, among others.
Services
Together with our vibrant partner ecosystem, we offer value-added services that can capture various scenario-driven consumption events in the
home environment, such as enabling users to easily and directly access media and entertainment content, as well as purchase various household fast-
moving consumer goods as and when the need arises within the comfort of their home. We achieve this through e-commerce platforms and interfaces
embedded within and integrated with various of our IoT products. We work closely with our ecosystem partners to deliver these services to our users.
A consumption scenario is a combination of specific location, timing and user that leads to a user’s ultimate decision to make a purchase. A user’s
willingness to purchase and the considerations related to the purchase vary depending on the scenario. When there is a household need in a specific
scenario, our products can address that need the moment it arises. Moreover, because our products can collect a vast amount of household behavior data,
analyze that data utilizing AI technology and deep learning, and create accurate household profiles, the consumption need can be addressed before the user
realizes that it exists. After the need is identified, the user can interact with our IoT products operating in that exact scenario and place the order for the
product or service.
For example, when the laundry detergent is running low, our washing machine can remind the user or automatically place the order for refill.
Similarly, our water purifier can detect when the water filter needs to be replaced and alert the user or automatically order replacements.
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We also offer certain installation services for our products.
Sales Channels
Our key sales channels consist of a network of online e-commerce platforms, Viomi offline experience stores, third-party offline channels, through
which we predominantly sell Viomi-branded products, as well as Xiaomi, to which we predominantly sell Xiaomi-branded products.
Online
Our products are sold across a number of leading e-commerce channels in China, including Youpin, JD.com, Tmall and Suning, among others. We
believe that cooperation with these leading e-commerce platforms enables us to leverage their established customer base and brand recognition, and helps
us reach a wide group of customers across a variety of markets. We also sell products via our proprietary and rapidly growing Yunmi Shangcheng, or Viomi
Store, mobile app and online platform.
Offline
Our offline sales channels comprise of our Viomi offline experience stores and we been expanding our relationship with leading third-party offline
sales channels such as Gome and Suning, which supplement our online channels and further broaden our market access and increase brand awareness.
Viomi offline experience stores
As an integral part of our sales channel and go-to-market strategy, we have established a large network of Viomi offline experience stores operated
by our third-party network partners. We conduct our offline sales mostly through the network of Viomi offline experience stores, giving us control of the
presentation of our brand. This strategy allows us to present our brand in a consistent manner, including marketing, pricing and product presentation. It also
enables us to reduce logistical complexities and costs as we are not subject to timing, delivery and quantity requirements set by third-party retailers,
allowing our employees to instead concentrate on product development and customer service.
We provide consistent training to educate the salespersons of our network of offline experience stores as we believe that the sales of our products
can be enhanced by knowledgeable salespersons who can convey the value of hardware and software integration and demonstrate the benefits of our IoT @
Home platform. Also, we believe that having direct interaction with our targeted customers is an effective way to demonstrate the advantages of our
products over those of our competitors, and that providing a high-quality sales and after-sales customer support is critical to attracting new users and
retaining existing ones.
Together with our network partners, we had established a network of approximately 1,700 Viomi offline experience stores, the majority of which
were stand-alone stores, as of December 31, 2019.
Third-party offline channels
To further diversify and strengthen our overall channel penetration and presence, we have been expanding our relationship with and sales to well-
established specialty offline home appliance malls such as Gome and Suning, which is expected to increase our end-points of sale and overall consumer
awareness of our brand, products and concept.
Xiaomi
Under our cooperation agreement with Xiaomi, we are responsible for the design, research, development, production and delivery of various
Xiaomi-branded products to Xiaomi. Xiaomi is then responsible for commercial distribution and sales of these respective products. We also sell some
Viomi-branded products to Xiaomi.
Research and Development
We are committed to developing new and innovative products and services through research and development. As of December 31, 2019, our total
research and development staff consisted of approximately 334 employees across multiple R&D centers and product groups teams, representing 46% of our
total number of employees. Many of our team members are global and cross-industry experts in technical product hardware development, software and AI,
including experts with previous experience working at Dyson, Siemens, and Bosch. We incurred RMB60.7 million, RMB124.2 million and RMB204.9
million (US$29.4 million) in research and development expenses in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
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Software, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Systems
We rely on our advanced software, innovative AI technology and powerful data analytics capability to develop, operate, and continuously enhance
our IoT @ Home platform.
Advanced software
We have developed advanced software to enable interconnectivity among our IoT products and to support and expand their functionalities. Our
software is equipped with public API (application programming interface) through which other parties’ software and products can be connected to and
integrated with ours.
Some of our IoT products that are equipped with interactive screens that run the Android operating system, which can operate software applications
with advanced and diverse functions and serve as the platform on which our IoT products connect. The rest of our products have embedded systems that
operate both locally and on the cloud. Our Viomi Store mobile app allows customers to quickly and efficiently discover, review, select and purchase our
products. In addition, the Viomi Store serves as the control app for our IoT products, and enables our users to manage, monitor and interact with our IoT
products. Using our cloud-based software system, our products receive automatic updates, often on an overnight basis, to incorporate new functionalities
and grow smarter over time based on our data analysis.
Artificial Intelligence
We intend to leverage ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence by incorporating them into our products and services. Our AI technology team
develops and refines our proprietary, artificial intelligence-based algorithms, and leverages third-party AI components to build a more effective system.
Artificial intelligence technology is widely implemented through our services, for example in voice and gesture control, as well as in water quality analysis.
Data analytics
Through users’ interaction with many of our products, advanced sensors embedded in our products can capture, accumulate and upload large
quantities of user and household usage data. Our users’ behavior and sequential data is stored strictly in compliance with stringent data privacy standards
and data security requirements.
Our big data analysis team has developed our own data analytics platform. We use this platform to extract intelligence from large amounts of data.
Analyzing this data enhances our understanding of user behavior, and we are thus able to further develop our IoT @ Home platform to better serve our
customers. By providing better solutions, we believe we will attract more household users over time. More household users on our platform can then
generate more data for our software analytics, enhance our software and algorithms, and lead to a better user experience, which in turn can attract more
household users to our platform, a powerful virtuous cycle.
We consider the protection of the personal privacy of each of our users to be of paramount importance. We collect only anonymous data and only
with users’ consent, and all sensitive data is encrypted. We use such data only for the improvement of our products and services. Furthermore, our
employees’ access to our internal information management system is limited to verified IP address and we restrict the scope of such access based on the
duty of the employee. Our data is stored securely in KSYUN, Xiaomi and Alibaba Cloud.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property rights are fundamental to our business, and we devote significant time and resources to their development and protection. We
rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as confidentiality agreements, to establish and protect our proprietary
rights. We generally do not rely on third-party licenses of intellectual property for use in our business.
As of December 31, 2019, we had 1,366 patents registered with the State Intellectual Property Office of China, or the SIPO.
Globally, as of December 31, 2019, we had 40 patents registered and 91 pending patent applications in various overseas countries and jurisdictions,
including the United States, Europe, India, Korea and certain Southeast Asia countries.
As of December 31, 2019, we had registered 316 trademarks in China.
Relationship with Xiaomi
Xiaomi is our strategic partner, shareholder and customer. Our strategic partnership with Xiaomi provides us access to Xiaomi’s ecosystem users,
sales platforms and data resources and related support. Meanwhile, our strong research and development capabilities, supply chain resources and innovative
products and services are able to enrich Xiaomi’s suite of offerings, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship between Xiaomi and us.
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Our cooperation with and sales to Xiaomi extends to a diversified range of products, which currently include Xiaomi-branded water purification
systems, water purifier filters, range-hoods and gas stoves, dishwashers, sweeper robots, blenders as well as other complimentary products such as kettles
and water quality meters.
Under our cooperation agreement with Xiaomi, we are responsible for the design, research, development, production and delivery of various
Xiaomi-branded products to Xiaomi. Xiaomi is then responsible for commercial distributions and sales. For certain products under our cooperation with
Xiaomi, the selling price is a fixed amount as agreed by both parties. For other products, we first recover our manufacturers and logistics cost when we
deliver to Xiaomi, and are additionally entitled to share a portion of the gross profit when Xiaomi is successful in selling such products to end consumers.
We also sell Viomi-branded products through Xiaomi’s e-commerce platform, Youpin, directly to consumers. We are charged with service fees
proportionate to the sales amount of our products excluding refunds, or as otherwise agreed for certain products.
Please see the description under “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transaction—Our Relationship
with Xiaomi—Business Cooperation Agreement.” for a summary of the material terms of major agreements with Xiaomi. Please also see “Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors——Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—Xiaomi is our strategic partner and our most important customer. Changes
in our relationship with Xiaomi could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.” for discussion of our risks associated with the cooperation
with Xiaomi.
Sales and Marketing
Marketing
Our marketing is focused on building our brand recognition, increasing market awareness of our IoT @ Home platform and driving customer
demand, as well as collaborating with our third-party partners across our sales channels. Examples of our marketing initiatives include:
Branding and advertisements
We conduct online marketing events on third-party e-commerce platforms as well as other traditional and social media channels together with
various offline promotion campaigns. We have been improving user-experience of our products and shopping experience in our experience stores to
develop a mouth-of-word effect on our sales and business. In addition, we have been placing ads on e-commerce and social media platforms as well as
paying for advertisements on traditional media such as television shows, magazines and billboards to reach more users and promote the awareness of our
brands, products and IoT @ Home platform.
Further, we leverage social-media, including live-streaming platforms to engage with users of our products, whereby we enhance user-experience
while promoting our brand. For example, we have invited internet key opinion leaders, or KOLs, industry KOLs, celebrities, and even our management and
employees to be live-streaming hosts. Considering the target market of our brand and products, support from KOLs through social-media and live-
streaming has been quite an effective marketing initiative, not only as a promotional tool, but also to increase customer and user stickiness and engagement.
Our Viomi fans also form WeChat groups where they can learn about our upcoming products, share thoughts and experiences, discover new
functionalities, and make recommendations for improvements for our products and service. Our representatives regularly participate in the group
discussions to respond to users’ queries and to better understand users’ fast-changing needs. We also maintain various official social media accounts to
actively engage with users by answering their questions and concerns.
Events marketing
We organize and participate in various official offline events to promote our brand and the idea of a connected smart home. Our “Viomi 11-18 Brand
Day” campaign includes online promotions, as well as offline marketing efforts such as product launch events. We participated in exhibitions and forums
such as the Appliance & Electronics World Expo in 2018 and 2019 and the 2018 “Belt and Road” Finance and Investment Forum. We also actively
participate in shopping festivals across e-commerce platforms such as “618,” “Singles’ Day” and “Double Twelve,” which are highly popular among
Chinese consumers.
Customer service
User experience is a key focus for our business. We strive to provide personalized support for our users, including support from live customer
service representatives. If customers who shop through our online channels have any inquiries or complaints about our products or the ordering process,
they can contact customer service representatives through real-time online chat or through our toll-free customer service phone number or visit our Viomi
offline experience stores.
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After-sales service
The goal of our after-sale service is to create the best user experience for our customers. Our customers may return all products purchased from our
official Viomi online store and other online platforms within seven days from receipt. Our customers may also have their products replaced for specific
types of defects or quality issues as required under the relevant laws and regulations. In addition, we partner with local aftersales service providers to
provide on-site services such as product installation and repairs to our customers.
Manufacturing and Fulfillment
Procurement and manufacturing
We produce our products both through outsourcing manufacturing and through in-house manufacturing. Currently, a majority of our product
manufacturing is outsourced to a number of contract manufacturers, who produce our products using design specifications and standards that we have
established. We also help our contract manufacturers to design the equipment and tooling used in the production and help train their workers. We evaluate
on an ongoing basis our current contract manufacturers and component suppliers, including whether or not to utilize new or alternative contract
manufacturers or component suppliers.
Our two in-house facilities, Guangdong Lizi and Guangdong AI Touch have commenced commercial operations in the first half of 2019 and were
integrated into our Viomi platform. Guangdong Lizi was established as a smart water purification system facility focusing on the research, design,
production and supply of smart water purifiers and water purifier filters. Going forward, we expect a material proportion of our smart water purifier and
water purifier filter demands can be supplied directly through this facility. Guangdong AI Touch was built for the development, production and supply of
touch screen components for our smart products, and we expect a material proportion of the touch screens required for our smart products can be supplied
directly through this facility.
In February 2020, we entered into a memorandum of understanding with the local government in Shunde, Guangdong Province, for the
development of Viomi IoT Technology Park, a comprehensive high-tech industrial campus, expected to be completed in two phases over an up to ten-year
period. The first phase is expected to include the Company’s multi-functional headquarters, including a product experience center, research and
development center, smart manufacturing center, and centralized hub for sales and customer service functions. The second is expected to focus on and
accommodate additional facilities for the Company’s IoT products, serving as a focal point of Viomi’s expanded supply chain capabilities, while attracting
more upstream and downstream corporate and business opportunities. This initiative demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our IoT supply chain
resources and provides the necessary foundation to support both the manufacturing and research & development capabilities we will need, in order to thrive
in the upcoming 5G and IoT era.
We believe that outsourcing certain manufacturing of our products while retaining others at our own facilities allows us to scale up more rapidly
while also providing additional operational flexibility and at the same time ensures our control over our supply chain and technological expansion.
We procure certain key raw materials and components from domestic and some overseas suppliers, and then consign them to our contract
manufacturers. Our suppliers generally also provide direct order fulfillment services with logistics that include delivery of parts and assembly to either our
own facility for inspection or our contract manufacturers directly.
Inventory management
Our inventory primarily consists of finished products and raw materials. We manage our inventory with measures appropriate to the use and nature
of the inventory. Our manufacturing plans are designed and implemented to accommodate our sales and maintain reasonable inventory levels. We receive
aggregated and geographically-enabled inventory data feeds from our centralized distribution network, which facilitates product shipment from warehouses
that are closer to the delivery destination. Through close coordination with our customers and contract manufacturers and frequent purchases of
components from suppliers, we are able to carry relatively efficient levels of raw materials and in-process inventories, minimizing inventory risk.
Product quality assurance
We are committed to maintaining the highest level of quality in our products. We developed the quality assurance management software that
monitors the manufacturing and quality assurance process used across our own manufacturing facility as well as our contract manufacturers. We have
designed and implemented a quality management system that provides the framework for continuing improvement of our products and processes. For our
new product lines, we conduct thorough examinations of product samples and each of their components at the product verification testing stage to make
sure they satisfy our technical requirements. For our existing product lines, we also have a quality assurance team that establishes, communicates and
monitors quality standards by product category. In addition, we have quality assurance personnel seconded to the facilities of our contract manufacturers to
ensure that they fully adhere to our quality standards in the production process.
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We have constant access to each manufacturing facility of our contract manufacturers, and our quality control team continuously monitors the
quality of incoming components, materials and finished products, as well as the manufacturing processes at our contract manufacturers’ facilities. We also
require our partners to maintain quality control over their logistics, production and quality inspection procedures based on ISO9001 quality standards.
IT Infrastructure
Our network infrastructure is designed to satisfy the requirements of our operations, to support the growth of our business and to ensure the
reliability of our operations as well as the security of information on our platform. We continuously develop our platform to offer users an effortless and
seamless experience across our products and services, while at the same time enhancing the reliability and scalability of our platform.
We cooperate with KSYUN, Xiaomi and Alibaba Cloud Services for services such as computing services, storage, server and bandwidth. We have a
working data redundancy model with comprehensive backups of both cloud services. This redundancy supports the reliability of our network and the stable
operation of our business.
Competition
We compete with other companies in all aspects of our business, particularly companies that are in the home appliances and smart home markets.
The home appliances and smart home markets have a large number of participants, including traditional appliances and consumer electronics companies as
well as AI and consumer internet companies that are moving into the hardware space.
We believe the principal competitive factors impacting the market for our products include: brand recognition, value, user experience, breadth of
product and service offerings, product functionality and quality, sales and distribution as well as supply chain management. We believe we can compete
favorably on the basis of these factors. Viomi has been developed as an aspirational, “next generation” brand with attractive value propositions that aims to
bring the full suite of AI capabilities and IoT experience to the home environment. Our Xiaomi business continues to leverage Xiaomi’s brand recognition
for Xiaomi-branded products. We plan to continue to utilize our strong research and development capabilities and introduce new and innovative products
with advanced functionalities to market. In addition, we have developed strong and diversified sales channels and are making investments to strengthen our
supply chain management resources. However, the industry in which we compete is evolving rapidly and is becoming increasingly competitive. For
additional information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Business and Industry—We operate in highly competitive
markets, and the scale and resources of some of our competitors may allow them to compete more effectively than we can, which could result in a loss of
our market share and a decrease in our net revenues and profitability.”
Insurance
We maintain various insurance policies to safeguard against risks and unexpected events. We have purchased product liability insurance for our
products, including water purifiers, gas stoves, range hoods and refrigerators, sold in the domestic market as well as those exported to the overseas market.
We maintain public liability insurance for any personal injury or property loss of any third party occurred in the operating facilities of the Company in
China, including those of Foshan Viomi and its subsidiaries in China.
In line with general market practice, we do not maintain any business interruption insurance, which is not typical in our industry or mandatory under
Chinese laws. We do not maintain key-man life insurance or insurance policies covering damages to our IT infrastructure or information technology
systems. We also do not maintain insurance policies against risks relating to the Contractual Arrangements.
Regulation
Substantially all of our business is located in PRC, and laws and regulations in PRC are most relevant to our business. This section sets forth a
summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China.
Regulation on value-added telecommunication services
The Telecommunications Regulations of the PRC, promulgated by the State Council in 2000 and last amended in February 2016, provide a
regulatory framework for telecommunications services providers in PRC. These regulations require telecommunications services providers to obtain
operating licenses prior to the commencement of their operations. The telecommunications services are categorized into basic telecommunications services
and value-added telecommunications services. According to the Catalog of Telecommunications Business, attached to the Telecommunications Regulations
and last amended by the MIIT, in June, 2019, transaction processing services provided via fixed network, mobile network and Internet fall within value-
added telecommunications services.
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The Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, promulgated by the State Council in 2000 and amended in January 2011, set out
guidelines on the provision of internet information services. This rule classified internet information services into commercial internet information services
and non-commercial internet information services, and a commercial operator of transaction processing services must obtain an operating permit for value-
added telecommunications services of internet information for the provision of online data processing and transaction processing services (the EDI
License) from the appropriate telecommunications administration authorities. The Administrative Measures for Telecommunications Businesses Operating
Licensing, promulgated by the MIIT in July 2017 and effective on September 1, 2017, provides that a commercial operator of value-added
telecommunications services must first obtain a telecommunication operating license, from the MIIT or its provincial level counterparts. The Value-added
Telecommunications Operating License is classified as the Cross-regional Value-added Telecommunications Operating License and the Value-added
Telecommunications Operating License within a province, autonomous region and municipality directly under the central government. In addition, in the
first quarter of every year while the operator is holding the license, it must report information such as business performance of the telecommunications
business in the previous year, the actual progress in network buildup, business development, turnover of staff, institutional restructuring and service quality
to the issuing authorities.
Pursuant to the Provisions on the Administration of Foreign-Invested Telecom Enterprises, promulgated by the State Council in 2001 and amended
in 2016, the primary foreign investor of a foreign-invested telecom enterprise operating value-added telecom services shall have a good track record of, and
operation experience in, operating value-added telecom services. In addition, the establishment of a foreign-invested telecom enterprise operating value-
added telecom services requires approval from the MIIT.
To comply with these regulations, we have adopted the VIE structure and obtained an EDI license through Foshan Viomi, one of our VIEs, which
allows us to provide value-added telecommunications services through our value-added e-commerce platform.
Regulation on catalogue relating to foreign investment
Investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors are subject to the Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industry, or the
Catalogue, which was promulgated and is amended from time to time by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform
Commission, or the NDRC. Pursuant to the latest Catalogue, amended and issued on June 30, 2019, and effective on July 30, 2019, or the 2019 Catalogue,
industries listed therein are divided into two categories: encouraged industries and the industries within the Catalogue of special management measures, or
the Negative List. The Negative List is further divided into two sub-categories: restricted industries and prohibited industries. Any industry not falling into
any of the encouraged, restricted or prohibited categories is classified as a permitted industry for foreign investment. Establishment of wholly foreign-
owned enterprises is generally allowed in industries outside of the Negative List. For the restricted industries within the Negative List, some are limited to
equity or contractual joint ventures, while in some cases Chinese partners are required to hold the majority interests in such joint ventures. In addition,
restricted category projects are subject to government approvals and certain special requirements. Foreign investors are not allowed to invest in industries
in the prohibited category. Industries not listed in the Negative List are generally open to foreign investment unless specifically restricted by other PRC
regulations.
The PRC Foreign Investment Law was promulgated on March 15, 2019 by the State Council and has come into force since January 1, 2020, which
stipulates that the state implements a management system of pre-entry national treatment plus Negative List for the administration of foreign investment.
According to the PRC Foreign Investment Law, foreign investors and their investments are entitled to pre-entry national treatment and are subject to the
negative list management system. The pre-entry national treatment refers to the treatment given to foreign investors and their investments at the market
access stage that is no less favorable than that given to domestic investors and their investments. The PRC Foreign Investment Law also provides that the
industries not included in the Negative List shall be managed under the principle that domestic investment and foreign investment shall be treated equally.
On December 26, 2019, the State Council promulgated the Implementation Regulations on the PRC Foreign Investment Law, which came into effect on
January 1, 2020, and it further requires that foreign-invested enterprises and domestic enterprises shall be treated equally with respect to policy making and
implementation.
On December 30, 2019, the MOFCOM and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued the Measures for Foreign Investment
Information Reporting which came into effect on January 1, 2020 and replaced the Interim Administrative Measures for the Record-filing of the
Establishment and Modification of Foreign-invested Enterprises. Since January 1, 2020, for foreign investors carrying out investment activities directly or
indirectly in the PRC, such foreign investors or foreign-invested enterprises shall submit investment information through the Enterprise Registration
System and the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System operated by the State Administration for Market Regulation. Foreign investors or
foreign-invested enterprises shall disclose their investment information by submitting reports for their establishments, modifications and cancellations and
their annual reports in accordance with the Measures for Foreign Investment Information Reporting. If a foreign-invested enterprise investing in the PRC
has finished submitting its reports for its establishment, modifications and cancellation and its annual reports, the relevant information will be shared by the
competent market regulation department to the competent commercial department, and does not require such foreign-invested enterprise to submit the
reports separately.
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Currently, our business related to the development and application of IoT technology falls within the encouraged category while our provision of e-
commerce services falls within the permitted category.
Regulation on product quality and consumer protection
The PRC Product Quality Law applies to all production and sale activities in China. Pursuant to this law, products offered for sale must satisfy the
relevant quality and safety standards. Enterprises may not produce or sell counterfeit products in any fashion. Any producer or seller producing or selling
products that do not conform to the national standards or trade standards for ensuring human health and the personal or property safety shall be ordered to
stop production or sale of the products; the products illegally produced or sold shall be confiscated; a fine no less than the equivalent of, but not more than
three times, the value of the products illegally produced or sold (including those already sold and those not yet sold, hereinafter the same) shall be imposed
concurrently; if there are illegal proceeds, such proceeds shall be confiscated concurrently; if the circumstances are serious, the business license shall be
revoked. If the case constitutes a crime, criminal liability shall be investigated. Where a defective product causes physical injury to a person or damage to
another person’s property, the victim may claim compensation from the manufacturer or from the seller of the product. If the seller pays compensation and
it is the manufacturer that should bear the liability, the seller has a right of recourse against the manufacturer. Similarly, if the manufacturer pays
compensation and it is the seller that should bear the liability, the manufacturer has a right of recourse against the seller.
The PRC Consumer Protection Law, as amended in October 2013 and effective in March 2014, sets out the obligations of business operators and the
rights and interests of the consumers. Pursuant to this law, business operators must guarantee that the commodities they sell satisfy the requirements for
personal or property safety, provide consumers with authentic information about the commodities and guarantee the quality, function, usage and term of
validity of the commodities. Where business operators use internet, television, telephone, mail or other means to sell their commodities, consumers have
the right to return such commodities, except the following commodities within seven days from the date when the consumers receive the commodities
without giving any reason:
•
•
•
•
commodities customized by the consumers;
fresh perishable commodities;
digitized commodities such as audio-video products and computer software downloaded online or opened by the consumers; and
delivered newspapers and periodicals.
Where business operators use internet, television, telephone, mail or other means to provide goods or services, or provide securities, insurance,
banking or other financial services, they shall provide consumers with information in regard to themselves and the goods or services provided such as
business address, contact information, quantity and quality, price or fees, term and method of performance, safety precautions, risk warnings, after-sale
services, and civil liabilities. Consumers whose legitimate rights and interests are infringed while purchasing goods or receiving services via an online
trading platform shall have the right to claim compensation from the vendor of the goods or the provider of the services. Failure to comply with the PRC
Consumer Protection Law may subject business operators to civil liabilities such as refunding purchase prices, exchanging commodities, repairing,
remanufacturing, ceasing damages, compensation, and restoring reputation, and even subject the business operators or the responsible individuals to
criminal penalties if business operators commit crimes by infringing the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. If the goods or services a business
operator provides have caused personal injuries to consumers or other victims, the business operator shall compensate for the medical expenses, nursing
expenses, transportation expenses and other reasonable fees for treatment and rehabilitation as well as the reduced income for loss of working time.
Under the PRC Tort Law, which became effective on July 1, 2010, producers shall bear tortious liability for damage caused to others by their
defective products. If damages to other persons are caused by defective products due to the fault of a third party, such as the parties providing transportation
or warehousing, the producers and the sellers of the products have the right to recover their respective losses from such third parties. If defective products
are identified after they have been put into circulation, the producers or the sellers shall take remedial measures such as issuance of a warning, recall of
products, etc. in a timely manner. The producers or the sellers shall be liable under tort if they fail to take remedial measures in a timely manner or have not
made efforts to take remedial measures, thus causing damages. If the products are produced or sold with known defects, causing deaths or severe adverse
health issues, the infringed party has the right to claim punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages.
We are subject to the above laws and regulations as an online retailer of IoT products and believe that we are currently in compliance with these
regulations in all material aspects.
Regulation on intellectual property rights
The PRC has adopted comprehensive legislation governing intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and domain
names.
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Patents
Pursuant to the PRC Patent Law, most recently amended on December 27, 2008, and its implementation rules, most recently amended on January 9,
2010, patents in China fall into three categories: invention, utility model and design. An invention patent is granted to a new technical solution proposed in
respect of a product or method or an improvement of a product or method. A utility model is granted to a new technical solution that is practicable for
application and proposed in respect of the shape, structure or a combination of both of a product. A design patent is granted to the new design of a certain
product in shape, pattern or a combination of both, and in color, shape and pattern combinations aesthetically suitable for industrial application. Under the
PRC Patent Law, the term of patent protection starts from the date of application. Patents relating to invention are effective for twenty years, and utility
models and designs are effective for ten years from the date of application. The PRC Patent Law adopts the principle of “first-to-file” system, which
provides that where more than one person files a patent application for the same invention, a patent will be granted to the person who files the application
first.
Existing patents can become narrowed, invalid or unenforceable due to a variety of grounds, including lack of novelty, creativity, and deficiencies in
patent application. In China, a patent must have novelty, creativity and practical applicability. Under the PRC Patent Law, novelty means that before a
patent application is filed, no identical invention or utility model has been publicly disclosed in any publication in China or overseas or has been publicly
used or made known to the public by any other means, whether in or outside of China, nor has any other person filed with the patent authority an
application that describes an identical invention or utility model and is recorded in patent application documents or patent documents published after the
filing date. Creativity means that, compared with existing technology, an invention has prominent substantial features and represents notable progress, and
a utility model has substantial features and represents any progress. Practical applicability means an invention or utility model can be manufactured or used
and may produce positive results. Patents in China are filed with the SIPO. Where, pursuant to the receipt of an application for a patent of an invention, the
patent administrative department under the State Council, upon preliminary examination, finds the application conforms to the requirements of the PRC
Patent Law, it shall publish the application promptly within 18 full months from the filing date. Upon the request of the applicant, the patent administrative
department under the State Council may publish the application earlier.
Article 20 of the PRC Patent Law provides that, for an invention or utility model completed in China, any applicant (not just Chinese companies and
individuals), before filing a patent application outside of China, must first submit it to the SIPO for a confidential examination. Failure to comply with this
requirement will result in the denial of any Chinese patent for the relevant invention. This added requirement of confidential examination by the SIPO has
raised concerns by foreign companies who conduct research and development activities in China or outsource research and development activities to
service providers in China.
Patent enforcement
Unauthorized use of patents without consent from owners of patents, forgery of the patents belonging to other persons or engagement in other patent
infringement acts will subject the infringers to infringement liability. Serious offences such as forgery of patents may be subject to criminal penalties.
When a dispute arises out of infringement of the patent owner’s patent right, Chinese law requires that the parties first attempt to settle the dispute
through mutual consultation. However, if the dispute cannot be settled through mutual consultation, the patent owner, or an interested party who believes
the patent is being infringed, may either file a civil legal suit or file an administrative complaint with the relevant patent administration authority. In the
event the patent administrative department, when handling the matter, believes there is an infringement, it may order the infringing party to cease the
infringement with immediate effect. If the infringing party is not satisfied with the ruling, it may, within 15 days from the date of receiving the notification
of the order, initiate legal proceedings in the people’s court in accordance with the PRC Administrative Procedure Law. If the infringing party neither takes
legal action at the expiration of the time limit nor ceases the infringement, the patent administrative department may request the people’s court for a
compulsory execution of the aforementioned order. A Chinese court may issue a preliminary injunction upon the patent owner’s or an interested party’s
request before instituting any legal proceedings or during the proceedings. Damages for infringement are calculated as the loss suffered by the patent holder
arising from the infringement, and if the loss suffered by the patent holder arising from the infringement cannot be determined, the damages for
infringement shall be calculated as the benefit gained by the infringer from the infringement. If it is difficult to ascertain damages in this manner, damages
may be determined by using a reasonable multiple of the license fee under a contractual license. Statutory damages may be awarded in the circumstances
where the damages cannot be determined by the above-mentioned calculation standards. The damage calculation methods shall be applied in the
aforementioned order. Generally, the patent owner has the burden of proving that the patent is being infringed. However, if the owner of an invention patent
for manufacturing process of a new product alleges infringement of its patent, the alleged infringer has the burden of proof.
As of December 31, 2019, we had over 1300 patents granted and 790 patents applications pending in China, 40 patents granted and over 90 patents
pending outside China.
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Trademark law
The PRC Trademark Law and its implementation rules protect registered trademarks. The PRC Trademark Office of State Administration for
Market Regulation is responsible for the registration and administration of trademarks throughout the PRC. The PRC Trademark Law has adopted a “first-
to-file” principle with respect to trademark registration.
In addition, pursuant to the PRC Trademark Law, counterfeit or unauthorized production of the label of another person’s registered trademark, or
sale of any label that is counterfeited or produced without authorization will be deemed as an infringement to the exclusive right to use a registered
trademark. The infringing party will be ordered to stop the infringement immediately, a fine may be imposed and the counterfeit goods will be confiscated.
The infringing party may also be held liable for the right holder’s damages, which will be equal to the gains obtained by the infringing party or the losses
suffered by the right holder as a result of the infringement, including reasonable expenses incurred by the right holder for stopping the infringement. If the
gains or losses are difficult to determine, the court may render a judgment awarding damages of no more than RMB3 million.
As of December 31, 2019, we had registered over 300 trademarks in China.
Software copyright law
The PRC Copyright Law (Revised in 2010) provides that Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations shall, whether published or not,
enjoy copyright in their works, which include, among others, works of literature, art, natural science, social science, engineering technology and computer
software. The purpose of the PRC Copyright Law aims to encourage the creation and dissemination of works that are beneficial for the construction of
socialist spiritual civilization and material civilization and promote the development and prosperity of Chinese culture.
In order to further implement the Computer Software Protection Regulations promulgated by the State Council in 2001, and amended subsequently,
the State Copyright Bureau issued the Computer Software Copyright Registration Procedures in 2002, which apply to software copyright registration,
license contract registration and transfer contract registration.
As of December 31, 2019, we had registered over 30 pieces of software copyright in China.
Regulation on domain name
Internet domain name registration and related matters are primarily regulated by CNNIC Implementing Rules of Domain Name issued by China
Internet Network Information Center (“CNNIC”), the domain name registrar of mainland China, which became effective on May 29, 2012, the
Administrative Measures for Internet Domain Names, issued by the MIIT in August 2017 and effective as of November 1, 2017, and the Measures on
Domain Name Disputes Resolution issued by CNNIC, which became effective on September 1, 2014. Domain name registrations are handled through
domain name service agencies established under the relevant regulations, and the applicants become domain name holders upon successful registration.
As of December 31, 2019, we had registered over 10 domain names.
Regulation on manufacture and sale of home appliances
Pursuant to the Regulations of the PRC Concerning Accreditation and Recognition, promulgated by the State Council, in 2003 and most recently
amended in 2016, products specified by the applicable government authorities shall not be delivered, sold, imported or used in other business activities
until they are certified (or referred to as the Compulsory Product Certification) and labeled with China Compulsory Certification mark. For products that
are subject to Compulsory Product Certification, the state implements unified product catalogue, or the 3C Catalogue, unified compulsory requirements,
standards and compliance assessment procedures in technical specification, unified certification marks and unified charging standards. Pursuant to the latest
Compulsory Product Certification Product Catalogue or the 3C Product Catalogue (2019), by the General Administration of Qualification Supervision,
Inspection and Quarantine, or the AQSIQ, and the Certification and Accreditation Administration, or the CNCA in August, 2019, household and similar
electrical appliances, including the refrigerator, water heater, range hood, washing machine and water purifier, are required to obtain the Compulsory
Product Certification in order to be delivered, sold, imported or used.
In addition, according to the Surveillance and Administrative Measures of Drinking Water Hygiene jointly promulgated by the Ministry of Health
(currently, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, or the NHFPC) of the PRC, and the Ministry of Construction of the PRC in 1997, and
most recently amended by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the NHFPC in April 2016, any entities or individuals engaging in
the production of the products relating to hygiene and safety of drinking water shall apply to health administration authorities for hygiene licenses.
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According to the Classification Catalogue for Products Related to Drinking Water, promulgated by the Ministry of Health (currently, the NHFPC)
and effective on September 20, 2007, and most recently amended on September 22, 2011, entities or individuals are required to obtain hygiene license from
NHFPC before producing or importing any products relating to drinking water.
In July 2011, the Ministry of Health (currently, the NHFPC) promulgated the Notice on Adjustment of Hygiene Administrative License for
Domestic Reverse Osmosis Water Purifier and Domestic Nano Filter Water Purifier, which delegates health administrative departments at the provincial
level the authority to regulate domestic reverse osmosis water purifiers and domestic nano filter water purifiers. Hereafter, the Ministry of Health and the
NHFPC promulgated Regulations on Administrative License for Hygienic Safety Products involving Drinking Water at the Provincial Level, delegating the
authority of examination and approval of products related to hygiene and safety of drinking water, except for those made of new materials, technology and
chemicals, to the health and family planning department at the provincial level.
Energy Label Management Rules, jointly promulgated by the NDRC, and the AQSIQ in 2004 and most recently amended in February 2016, provide
that the products listed in the Catalogue of the People’s Republic of China on the Products Affixed with Energy Efficiency Labels shall be marked with the
energy-efficient labels. Manufacturers and importers of energy-using products included in such catalogue shall file a record of energy efficient labels and
the relevant information with the AQSIQ and the China National Institute of Standardization authorized by the NDRC.
According to the PRC Administration Rules of Industrial Product Production Licenses Regulations, promulgated in 2005 by the State Council and
effective on September 1, 2005, no entity may produce any products in the Catalogue for Industrial Products Implementing Products Licensing System
without obtaining an industrial product production license, and no entity or individual may produce, sell or use products in the such catalogue for which the
relevant industrial product production license has not been obtained.
To comply with these laws and regulations, we have obtained the certificates, licenses and labels necessary for our current products. Further, we
have verified the qualifications of our manufacturing contractors for the production of the relevant products before their engagement by requiring them to
provide effective licenses, such as the industrial product production license.
Regulation on mobile internet
Pursuant to the Provisions on the Administration of Mobile Internet Applications Information Services, or the Provisions on Administration of
Application, promulgated by the Cyberspace Administration of China in June 2016 and effective on August 1, 2016, application information service
providers shall obtain the relevant qualifications prescribed by laws and regulations, strictly implement their information security management
responsibilities and carry out the duties including to establish and complete user information security protection mechanism, to establish and complete
information content inspection and management mechanisms, to protect users’ right to know and right to choose in the process of usage, and to record
users’ daily information and preserve it for 60 days. Application store services providers shall, within 30 days of the business going online and starting
operations, conduct filing procedures with the local cybersecurity and information department. Furthermore, internet application store service providers and
internet application information service providers shall sign service agreements to determinate both sides’ rights and obligations.
As the operator of Viomi Store mobile app, we are subject to the above laws and regulations as an application information services provider and
believe that we are currently in compliance with these regulations in all material aspects.
Regulation on information security
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Cyber Security Law, which became effective on June 1, 2017, to
protect cyberspace security and order. Pursuant to the PRC Cyber Security Law, any individual or organization using the network must comply with the
constitution and the applicable laws, follow the public order and respect social moralities, and must not endanger cyber security, or engage in activities by
making use of the network that endanger the national security, honor and interests; incite subversion of state power; overthrow the socialist system; incite
secession, undermining national unity, terrorism and extremism promotion, ethnic hatred and discrimination; spread violence and disseminate pornographic
information, fabricating and spreading false information that disturbs economic and social order; or infringe on the fame, privacy, intellectual property and
other legitimate rights and interests of others. The PRC Cyber Security Law sets forth various security protection obligations for network operators, which
are defined as “owners and administrators of networks and network service providers,” including, among others, complying with a series of requirements of
tiered cyber protection systems; verifying users’ real identity; localizing the personal information and important data gathered and produced by key
information infrastructure operators during operations within the PRC; and providing assistance and support to government authorities where necessary for
protecting national security and investigating crimes.
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To comply with these laws and regulations, we have adopted security policies and measures to protect our cyber system and user information.
Regulation on internet privacy
Pursuant to the Provisions on Administration of Application, owners or operators of mobile applications that provide information services are
required to be responsible for information security management; establish and improve the protective mechanism for user information; observe the
principles of legality, rightfulness and necessity; and expressly state the purpose, method and scope of, and obtain user consent to, the collection and use of
users’ personal information. In addition, the PRC Cyber Security Law also requires network operators to strictly keep confidential users’ personal
information that they have collected and to establish and improve user information protective mechanism. On May 8, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court
and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate released the Interpretations of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate on Several
Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Handling of Criminal Cases Involving Infringement of Citizens’ Personal Information, which clarifies
several concepts regarding the crime of “infringement of citizens’ personal information” stipulated by Article 253A of the PRC Criminal Law, including
“citizen’s personal information,” “provision” and “unlawful acquisition.” Also, it specifies the standards for determining “serious circumstances” and
“particularly serious circumstances” of this crime.
To comply with these laws and regulations, we have required our users to consent to our collecting and using their personal information, and
established information security systems to protect users’ privacy.
Regulation on employment
The PRC Labor Law, effective in 1995 and most recently amended on December 29, 2018, the PRC Employment Contract Law, effective on
January 1, 2008, and most recently amended on December 28, 2012, and the Implementing Regulations of the PRC Employment Contract Law, effective
on September 18, 2008, provide requirements concerning employment contracts between an employer and its employees, namely, employers must execute
written labor contracts with full-time employees and regulate employee/employer rights and obligations. If an employer fails to enter into a written
employment contract with an employee within one year from the date on which the employment relationship is established, the employer must rectify the
situation by entering into a written employment contract with the employee and pay the employee twice the employee’s salary for the period from the day
following the lapse of one month from the date of establishment of the employment relationship to the day prior to the execution of the written employment
contract. The PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules also require compensation to be paid upon certain terminations, which significantly
affects the cost of reducing workforce for employers. In addition, if an employer intends to enforce a non-compete provision in an employment contract or
non-competition agreement with an employee, it has to compensate the employee on a monthly basis during the term of the restriction period after the
termination or expiry of the labor contract. Employers in most cases are also required to provide severance payment to their employees after their
employment relationships are terminated.
Enterprises in China are required by PRC laws and regulations to participate in certain employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds,
namely, a pension plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan and a maternity insurance plan,
and a housing provident fund, and contribute to the plans or funds in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of
the employees as specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate their businesses or where they are located. According
to the PRC Social Insurance Law, effective on July 1, 2011 and most recently amended on December 29, 2018, an employer that fails to make social
insurance contributions may be ordered to pay the required contributions within a stipulated deadline and be subject to a late fee. If the employer still fails
to rectify the failure to make social insurance contributions within the stipulated deadline, it may be subject to a fine ranging from one to three times the
amount overdue. In addition, social insurance contributions payable by an employee shall be paid on his or her behalf by the employer through transfer
from wage deduction, and the employer shall notify each employee of details of social insurance contributions to his or her account on a monthly basis.
According to the Regulations on Management of Housing Fund, effective on April 3, 1999, and most recently amended on March 24, 2002, when
employing new staff or workers, the units shall undertake housing fund payment and deposit registration at the housing fund management center within 30
days from the date of the employment, and the housing fund to be paid and deposited by an individual staff member or worker shall be withheld from his
salary by the unit for which he serves. An enterprise that fails to make housing fund contributions may be ordered to rectify the noncompliance and pay the
required contributions within a stipulated deadline; otherwise, an application may be made to a local court for compulsory enforcement.
Regulation on tax
PRC enterprise income tax
Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, which was promulgated in 2007 and took effect on January 1, 2008, and most recently amended
on December 29, 2018, and the Implementing Regulations of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Enterprise income Tax, effective on January 1,
2008, and partly amended on April 23, 2019, enterprises and other organizations receiving income are the taxpayers of enterprise income tax and shall pay
enterprise income tax in accordance with
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the provisions of such laws and regulations. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law imposes a uniform enterprise income tax rate of 25% on all PRC resident
enterprises, including FIEs, unless they qualify for certain exceptions. The enterprise income tax is calculated based on the PRC resident enterprise’s global
income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards. If a non-resident enterprise sets up an organization or establishment in the PRC, it will
be subject to enterprise income tax for the income derived from such organization or establishment in the PRC and for the income derived from outside the
PRC but with an actual connection with such organization or establishment in the PRC.
According to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, the enterprise income tax rate of a high and new technology enterprise is 15%. Pursuant to the
Administrative Rules for the Certification of High and New Technology Enterprises, effected on January 1, 2008, and amended on January 29, 2016,
specifying the criteria and procedures for the certification of High and New Technology Enterprises, and the certificate of a high and new technology
enterprise, is valid for three years.
Pursuant to Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Printing and Distributing the Implementing Measures for Special Tax Adjustments
(for Trial Implementation), effective on January 1, 2008, enterprises shall adopt a reasonable transfer pricing method when conducting transactions with
their affiliates. Tax authorities have the power to assess whether related transactions conform to the principle of equity and make adjustments accordingly.
Therefore, the invested enterprise should faithfully report relevant information of its related transactions. Pursuant to the Announcement of the State
Administration of Taxation on Issuing the Administrative Measures for Special Tax Adjustment and Investigation and Mutual Consultation Procedures,
effective on May 1, 2017, an enterprise may adjust and pay taxes at its own discretion when it receives a special tax adjustment risk warning or identifies
its own special tax adjustment risks, and the tax authorities may also carry out special tax investigation and adjustment in accordance with the relevant
provisions in regard to enterprises that adjust and pay taxes at their own discretion.
PRC value added tax
In January 2012, the State Council officially launched a pilot value-added tax reform program, or the Pilot Program, applicable to businesses in
selected industries. Businesses in the Pilot Program would pay value added tax, or VAT, instead of business tax. The Pilot Program initially applied only to
transportation industries and “modern service industries” in Shanghai and would be expanded to eight trial regions (including Beijing and Guangdong
province) and nationwide if conditions permit. According to official announcements made by competent authorities in Beijing and Guangdong province,
Beijing launched the same Pilot Program on September 1, 2012, and Guangdong province launched it on November 1, 2012.
In March 2016, the Ministry of Finance and the SAT, jointly issued the Circular on the Pilot Program for Overall Implementation of the Collection
of Value Added Tax Instead of Business Tax, or Circular 36, which took effect on May 1, 2016. Pursuant to the Circular 36, all of the companies operating
in construction, real estate, finance, life service or other sectors which were required to pay business tax are required to pay VAT, in lieu of business tax.
The VAT rate is 6%, except for rate of 11% for real estate sale, land use right transferring and providing service of transportation, postal sector, basic
telecommunications, construction and real estate lease; rate of 17% for providing lease service of tangible property; and rate of zero for specific cross-bond
activities. At the State Council executive meeting on March 28, 2018, China’s State Council has announced the VAT rate on manufacturing is to be cut by
one percent to 16% which took effect on May 1, 2018. On April 4, 2018, the Ministry of Finance and the SAT promulgated the Notice on Adjusting Value-
added Tax Rates, which reduced the tax rates for sale, import and export of goods, as well as the deduction rate for taxpayer’s purchaser of agricultural
products.
On March 20, 2019, the PRC Ministry of Finance, the SAT and the General Administration of Customs promulgated the Announcement on Policies
to Deepen Value-Added Tax Reform, which provides that the applicable tax rate for VAT taxable sales or imports by a general taxpayer of VAT shall be
adjusted to 13% from the original 16% and to 9% from the original 10%, commencing on April 1, 2019.
According to the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Printing and Distributing the Administrative Measures for Tax Refund
(Exemption) for Exported Goods (for Trial Implementation), effective on May 1, 2005, unless otherwise provided by law, for the goods as exported via an
export agency, the exporter may, after the export declaration and the conclusion of financial settlement for sales, file a report to competent State Taxation
Bureau for the approval of refund or exemption of VAT or consumption tax on the strength or the relevant certificates.
PRC dividend withholding tax
Pursuant to an Arrangement Between the Mainland of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double
Taxation on Income, and other applicable PRC laws, if a Hong Kong resident enterprise is determined by the competent PRC tax authority to have satisfied
the relevant conditions and requirements under such Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement and other applicable laws, the 10% withholding tax on the
dividends the Hong Kong resident enterprise receives from a PRC resident enterprise may be reduced to 5%. However, based on the Circular on Certain
Issues with Respect to the Enforcement of Dividend Provisions in Tax Treaties issued in 2009 by the SAT, if the relevant PRC tax authorities determine, in
their discretion, that a company benefits from such reduced income tax rate due to a structure or arrangement that is primarily tax-
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driven, such PRC tax authorities may adjust the preferential tax treatment; and based on the Announcement on Certain Issues with Respect to the
“Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, issued on February 3, 2018, and effective on April 1, 2018, the business activities conducted by the applicant do not
constitute substantive business activities is one of the factors which are not conductive to the determination of an applicant’s status as a “beneficial owner”,
and thus are not entitled to the above-mentioned reduced income tax rate of 5% under the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement.
Regulation on foreign exchange
The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, most recently
amended on August 5, 2008. Under the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions and
trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the SAFE, by complying with
certain procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted
into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of foreign currency-denominated loans.
On August 29, 2008, the SAFE issued the Circular on the Relevant Operating Issues Concerning the Improvement of the Administration of the
Payment and Settlement of Foreign Currency Capital of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, or SAFE Circular 142, regulating the conversion by an FIE of
foreign currency-registered capital into RMB by restricting how the converted RMB may be used. SAFE Circular 142 provides that the RMB capital
converted from foreign currency registered capital of an FIE may only be used for purposes within the business scope approved by the applicable
government authority and may not be used for equity investments within China. The SAFE also strengthened its oversight of the flow and use of the RMB
capital converted from foreign currency registered capital of FIEs. The use of such RMB capital may not be changed without the SAFE’s approval, and
such RMB capital may not in any case be used to repay RMB loans if the proceeds of such loans have not been used. On March 30, 2015, the SAFE issued
SAFE Circular 19, which took effective and replaced SAFE Circular 142 on June 1, 2015. Although SAFE Circular 19 allows for the use of RMB
converted from the foreign currency-denominated capital for equity investments in China, the restrictions continue to apply as to FIEs’ use of the converted
RMB for purposes beyond the business scope, for entrusted loans (unless permitted by the business scope) or for inter-company RMB loans. The SAFE
promulgated the Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Standardizing the Foreign Exchange Settlement Management
Policy of Capital Account, or Circular 16, effective on June 9, 2016, which reiterates some of the rules set forth in Circular 19, but changes the prohibition
against using RMB capital converted from foreign currency-denominated registered capital of a foreign-invested company to issue RMB entrusted loans to
a prohibition against using such capital to issue loans to non-affiliated enterprises. Violations of SAFE Circular 19 or Circular 16 could result in
administrative penalties.
On November 19, 2012, the SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on
Foreign Direct Investment, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant to this circular, the opening of
various special purpose foreign exchange accounts (e.g., pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital accounts and guarantee accounts),
the reinvestment of lawful incomes derived by foreign investors in China (e.g. profit, proceeds of equity transfer, capital reduction, liquidation and early
repatriation of investment) and purchase and remittance of foreign exchange as a result of capital reduction, liquidation, early repatriation or share transfer
in an FIE no longer require the SAFE approval, and multiple capital accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not
possible before. In addition, the 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 in May 2013, which specifies that the administration by the SAFE or its
local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC shall be conducted by way of registration, and banks shall process foreign exchange
business relating to the direct investment in China based on the registration information provided by the SAFE and its branches.
On February 13, 2015, the SAFE promulgated the Circular on Further Simplifying and Improving the Policies Concerning Foreign Exchange
Control on Direct Investment, or SAFE Circular 13, which took effect on June 1, 2015. SAFE Circular 13 delegates the authority to enforce the foreign
exchange registration in connection with the inbound and outbound direct investment under relevant SAFE rules to certain banks and therefore further
simplifies the foreign exchange registration procedures for inbound and outbound direct investment.
Regulation on foreign exchange registration of offshore investment by PRC residents
On July 4, 2014, the SAFE issued 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, and its implementation guidelines, which
abolished and superseded the Circular on Several Issues concerning Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Residents to Engage in Financing and
in Return Investments via Overseas Special Purpose Companies, SAFE Circular 75. Pursuant to SAFE Circular 37 and its implementation guidelines, PRC
residents (including PRC institutions and individuals) must register with local branches of the SAFE in connection with their direct or indirect offshore
investment in an overseas special purpose vehicle, or SPV, directly established or indirectly controlled by PRC residents for the purposes of offshore
investment and financing with their legally owned assets or interests in domestic enterprises, or their legally owned offshore assets or interests. Such PRC
residents are also required to amend their registrations with the SAFE when there is a change to the basic information of the SPV, such as changes of a PRC
resident individual shareholder, the name or operating
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period of the SPV, or when there is a significant change to the SPV, such as changes of the PRC individual resident’s increase or decrease of its capital
contribution in the SPV, or any share transfer or exchange, merger or division of the SPV. Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in the
Circular 37 may result in restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant onshore company, including the payment of
dividends and other distributions to its offshore parent or affiliate, the capital inflow from the offshore entities and settlement of foreign exchange capital,
and may also subject relevant onshore company or PRC residents to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
Mr. Xiaoping Chen has completed his initial registrations with the local branch of the SAFE and all the PRC resident shareholders shall register or
amend their existing registrations with the local branch of the SAFE in connection with the equity interest of our company held by them directly or
indirectly through the recently adopted trust arrangements, please see the description under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E.
Share Ownership.” for a summary of the trust arrangements.
Regulation on employee share incentive plan of overseas publicly listed company
On December 25, 2006, the People’s Bank of China promulgated the Administrative Measures for Individual Foreign Exchange. On February 15,
2012, the SAFE issued the Notices on Issues concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive
Plans of Overseas Publicly Listed Companies, or 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 the
SAFE on March 28, 2007. Pursuant to the Stock Option Rules, PRC residents who are granted shares or stock options by companies listed on overseas
stock exchanges according to the stock incentive plans are required to register with the SAFE or its local branches, and PRC residents participating in the
stock incentive plans of overseas listed companies shall retain a qualified PRC agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of such overseas publicly listed
company or another qualified institution selected by such PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the stock
incentive plans on behalf of these participants. Such 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. In addition, the PRC agents are 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 agents or the overseas
entrusted institution, or other material changes. The PRC agents shall, on behalf of the PRC residents who have the right to exercise the employee share
options, apply to the SAFE or its local branches for an annual quota for the payment of foreign currencies in connection with the PRC residents’ exercise of
the employee share options. The foreign exchange proceeds received by the PRC residents from the sale of shares under the stock incentive plans granted
and dividends distributed by the overseas listed companies must be remitted into the bank accounts in the PRC opened by the PRC agents before
distribution to such PRC residents. In addition, the PRC agents shall file each quarter the form for record-filing of information of the Domestic Individuals
Participating in the Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Listed Companies with the SAFE or its local branches.
Our PRC citizen employees who have been granted share options or restricted shares, or PRC grantees, are subject to the Stock Option Rules. If we
or our PRC grantees fail to comply with the Individual Foreign Exchange Rule and the Stock Option Rules, we and/or our PRC grantees may be subject to
fines and other legal sanctions. We may also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional share incentive plans for our
directors and employees under PRC law. In addition, the State Administration for Taxation has issued certain circulars concerning employee share awards.
Under these circulars, our employees working in the PRC who exercise share options or hold the vested restricted shares will be subject to PRC individual
income tax. Our PRC subsidiary and VIEs have obligations to file documents related to employee share options or restricted shares with relevant tax
authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees who exercise their share options or hold the vested restricted shares. If our
employees fail to pay or we fail to withhold their income taxes according to relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the tax
authorities or other PRC government authorities.
Regulation on dividend distributions
The principal regulations governing distribution of dividends paid by wholly foreign-owned enterprises include:
•
•
•
The PRC Company Law (1993), as amended in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2013;
The PRC Foreign Investment Law (2020); and
The Implementation Regulations on the PRC Foreign Investment Law (2020).
Under these laws and regulations, FIEs in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, 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 10.0% of its after-tax
profit based on PRC accounting standards each year to its general reserves until the accumulative amount of such reserves reach 50.0% of its registered
capital. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. A PRC company is not permitted to distribute any profits until any losses from prior fiscal
years have been offset. Profits retained from prior fiscal years may be distributed together with distributable profits from the current fiscal year.
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C.
Organizational Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our significant subsidiaries and VIEs as of the date of this annual report:
Viomi Technology Co., Ltd. (Cayman Islands) Viomi HK Technology Co., Limited (Hong Kong) Outside PRC Inside PRC Lequan Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd. (“Foshan Viomi)(1) Beijing Yunmi Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Viomi)(2) 80% 60% Guangdong Lizi Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guangdong Lizi”) Guangdong AI Touch Technology Co., Ltd. (“Guangdong AI Touch”) Equity Interest (100% unless otherwise specified) Contractual arrangements, including the exclusive option agreements, the equity pledge agreements, the shareholder voting proxy agreements, the exclusive consultation and services agreements and the spousal consent letters.
Notes:
(1)
(2)
Mr. Xiaoping Chen, our founder, chairman of our board of directors, chief executive officer and a beneficial owner of the shares of our company, holds 100% equity interests in Foshan
Viomi.
Mr. Chen holds 60% equity interests in Beijing Viomi. Two employees of our shareholders, Red Better Limited and Shunwei Talent Limited, each hold 20% equity interests in Beijing
Viomi.
Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Their Shareholders
Agreements that provide us with effective control over our VIEs
Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement. Pursuant to the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, by and among our
company, our WFOE and the shareholder of Foshan Viomi. The shareholder of Foshan Viomi has irrevocably authorized any person designated by our
WFOE to act as his attorney-in-fact to exercise all of his rights as a shareholder of Foshan Viomi, including, but not limited to, the right to convene and
attend shareholders’ meetings, vote on any resolution that requires a shareholder vote, such as the appointment and election of directors, and other senior
management personnel who shall be appointed or removed by the shareholders as well as the sale or transfer of all or part of the equity interests owned by
such shareholder. Such shareholder voting proxy agreements will remain effective, unless otherwise terminated in advance pursuant to agreement in writing
from all parties.
On July 21, 2015, our WFOE, Beijing Viomi and each of the shareholders of Beijing Viomi entered into a Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement,
which contain terms substantially similar to the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement executed by the shareholders of Foshan Viomi described above.
Equity Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to the Equity Pledge Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, among our WFOE, Foshan Viomi and the
shareholder of Foshan Viomi, the shareholder of Foshan Viomi has pledged 100% equity interests in Foshan Viomi to our WFOE to guarantee the
performance by the shareholder of his obligations under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Shareholder Voting Proxy Agreement and the Equity Pledge
Agreement, as well as the performance by Foshan Viomi of its obligations under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Shareholder Voting Proxy
Agreement, the Exclusive
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Consultation and Service Agreement and the Equity Pledge Agreement. In the event of a breach by Foshan Viomi or any shareholder of contractual
obligations under the Equity Pledge Agreement, our WFOE, as pledgee, will have the right to dispose of the pledged equity interests in Foshan Viomi and
will have priority in receiving the proceeds from such disposal. The shareholder of Foshan Viomi also undertakes that, without the prior written consent of
our WFOE, the shareholder will not dispose of, create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests. Foshan Viomi undertakes that, without the
prior written consent of our WFOE, they will not assist or allow any encumbrance to be created on the pledged equity interests.
On July 21, 2015, our WFOE, Beijing Viomi and each of the shareholders of Beijing Viomi entered into an Equity Pledge Agreement, which
contains terms substantially similar to the Equity Pledge Agreement described above.
We have completed the registration of the equity pledge with the competent office of the State Administration for Market Regulation in accordance
with the PRC Property Law.
Agreements that allow us to receive economic benefits from our VIEs
Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreements. Pursuant to the Exclusive Consultation Service Agreement, dated July 21, 2015, between our
WFOE and Foshan Viomi, our WFOE has the exclusive right to provide Foshan Viomi with the software technology development, technology consulting
and technical services required by Foshan Viomi’ business. Without our WFOE’s prior written consent, Foshan Viomi may not accept any same or similar
services subject to this agreement from any third party. Foshan Viomi agrees to pay our WFOE an annual service fee at an amount that is equal to 100% of
its annual net income or the amount which is adjusted in accordance with our WFOE’s sole discretion for the relevant year as well as the mutually agreed
amount for certain other technical services, both of which should be paid within three months after the end of the relevant calendar year. Our WFOE has the
exclusive ownership of all the intellectual property rights created as a result of the performance of the Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement, to
the extent permitted by applicable PRC laws. To guarantee Foshan Viomi’s performance of its obligations thereunder, the shareholder has pledged his
equity interests in Foshan Viomi to our WFOE pursuant to the Equity Pledge Agreement. The Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement will remain
effective for an indefinite term, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to mutual agreement in writing or applicable PRC laws.
On July 21, 2015, our WFOE, Beijing Viomi and each of the shareholders of Beijing Viomi entered into an Exclusive Consultation and Service
Agreement, which contains terms substantially similar to the Exclusive Consultation and Service Agreement described above.
Agreements that provide us with the option to purchase the equity interests in and assets of our VIEs
Exclusive Option Agreements. Pursuant to the Exclusive Option Agreement, dated September 5, 2018, among our WFOE, Foshan Viomi and the
shareholder of Foshan Viomi, the shareholder of Foshan Viomi has irrevocably granted our WFOE an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the
shareholder’s equity interests in Foshan Viomi, and Foshan Viomi has irrevocably granted our WFOE an exclusive option to purchase all or part of its
assets. Our WFOE or its designated person may exercise such options to purchase equity at their respective paid-in registered capital in Foshan Viomi, or
the lowest price permitted under applicable PRC laws, whichever lower. Our WFOE or its designated person may exercise such options to purchase assets
at the lowest price permitted under applicable PRC laws. The shareholder of Foshan Viomi undertakes that, without our WFOE’s prior written consent, the
shareholder will not, among other things, (i) transfer or otherwise dispose of the shareholder’s equity interests in Foshan Viomi, (ii) create any pledge or
encumbrance on the shareholder’s equity interests in Foshan Viomi, (iii) change Foshan Viomi’s registered capital, (iv) merge Foshan Viomi with any other
entity, (v) dispose of Foshan Viomi’s material assets (except in the ordinary course of business), or (vi) amend Foshan Viomi’s articles of association. In
addition, Foshan Viomi undertakes that, without our WFOE’s prior written consent, it will not, among other things, create any pledge or encumbrance on
any of its assets, or transfer or otherwise dispose of its material assets (except in the ordinary course of business). The Exclusive Option Agreement will
remain effective until the entire equity interests in and all the assets of Foshan Viomi have been transferred to our WFOE or its designated person.
On July 21, 2015, our WFOE, Beijing Viomi and each of the shareholders of Beijing Viomi entered into an Exclusive Option Agreement, which
contains terms substantially similar to the Exclusive Option Agreement described above.
In the opinion of Han Kun Law Offices, our PRC legal counsel:
•
•
the ownership structures of our VIEs in China and our WFOE, are not in violation of applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect;
and
the contractual arrangements between our company, our WFOE, our VIEs and their respective shareholders governed by PRC law are valid,
binding and enforceable, and will not result in any violation of applicable PRC laws.
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However, our PRC legal counsel has also advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current
and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. Accordingly, the PRC regulatory authorities may take a view that is contrary to the opinion of our PRC legal
counsel. 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 our VIE are 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 some of our business operations in China do not comply with PRC regulations relating to the relevant industries, or if
these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the future, we could be subject to severe penalties, or be forced to relinquish our
interest in those operations” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties with respect to the
PRC legal system and changes in laws and regulations in China could adversely affect us.”
D.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Our headquarters are located in Guangzhou, China, where we rent the office building with an aggregate floor area of approximately 1,840 square
meters. Our research and development facilities and our management and operations facilities are located at our headquarters. Our R&D and office space
located in Shengda Industry Park in Foshan, Guangdong Province, has an aggregate floor area of approximately 8,020 square meters. Our manufacturing
facility located in Fulv Park, Foshan, has an aggregate floor area of approximately 18,000 square meters.
In February, 2020, we entered into a memorandum of understanding with the government of Shunde, Guangdong Province, for the development of
the IoT Park. The IoT Park will cover an approximately 169,333 square meters parcel of land and is expected to be completed in two phases over an up to
ten-year period, which is planned to host our host our future headquarters and IoT development and manufacturing sites.
As of December 31, 2019, we lease and occupy approximately 1,840 square meters of office space in Guangzhou, approximately 178 square meters
of office space in Beijing and approximately 163 square meters of office space in Shanghai. These leases vary in duration from one to six years.
ITEM 4A.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
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
Key Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Key factors affecting our results of operations include the following:
Consumption upgrade and greater adoption of IoT-enabled smart home technology in China
Our business and operating results are affected by general factors influencing China’s broader consumer products and home appliances industries,
including overall macroeconomic growth and increase in disposable income, overall consumption upgrade trends as well as public knowledge, acceptance
and adoption of new and innovative technology such as IoT technology.
In line with sustained economic growth and increases in disposable income in recent years, China has seen a clear consumption upgrade trend and
expectations for higher living standards. Chinese consumers now have greater purchasing power and an increasing preference for high quality and
aspirational products with innovative features and functionalities. In addition, Chinese consumers, particularly the young, modern, “new middle class”
population, who are our key target demographic, are becoming increasingly receptive to next-generation products that incorporate AI and IoT technologies
to create a modern living experience. New technologies such as voice- and motion-activated controls have also gained increasing prominence as these
technologies become more mainstream and consumers become more educated about their applications. These macroeconomic and industry trends have
played and will continue to play a significant role in driving demand for our products and our results of operations. Unfavorable changes in any of these
general industry conditions could negatively affect demand for our products and materially adversely affect our results of operations.
54
Increasing brand recognition and expanding user base
The uniqueness and effectiveness of our products and related benefits, our targeted marketing and promotional campaigns, together with our
strategic partnership with Xiaomi, have enabled us to enjoy strong word-of-mouth and extensive media coverage, which have provided us with strong
momentum in increasing our brand recognition and the expansion of our user base, which have been key contributors to the growth of our business. Our
number of household users increased significantly from approximately 113 thousand as of March 31, 2016 to approximately 3.2 million as of December 31,
2019. As we continue to gain scale and invest in our brand, we expect our brand to gain even greater recognition among consumers, which will facilitate
increasing demand for our products as well as further growth in our user base, creating additional monetization opportunities and in turn, driving further
growth in our results of operations.
New product launches
Our introduction and sales of new products that are well received by consumers, both Viomi-branded and Xiaomi-branded, is an important
contributor to our sustainable growth. We have introduced numerous new products over the past several years and will continue to launch additional new
products on a regular basis, including those with next-generation capabilities and functionalities, such as 5G, which we expect to drive continued strong
growth in our results of operations. We also launched our new premium AI-focused “coKiing” brand in November 2019, starting first with a series of air
conditioning products, to further penetrate the mid-to-high-end market through introducing a more diversified and premium suite of product offerings. We
intend to further enrich and expand the product categories offered under the coKiing brand going forward to further diversify and complement our entire
product portfolio to cater to the broader market.
As we continue to grow our business and introduce additional new products, both self-branded and Xiaomi-branded, to improve connectivity and
synergies across our IoT @ Home platform and further promote the IoT @ Home lifestyle experience, we expect to deliver additional growth through
repeat customer purchases, bundled sales, as well as additional monetization of our consumable products and value-added businesses.
Performance of our offline sales network
An important part of our sales channel strategy is a network of approximately 1,700 Viomi offline experience stores across China, the majority of
which were stand-alone stores, as of December 31, 2019. Please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Sales Channels—
Offline” for more details. The rollout of these stores over the past several years has been an important positive driver on our results of operations by
strengthening our brand awareness, increasing our overall market presence and supporting the attractive pricing of our products as part of our sales channel
and go-to-market strategy.
Depending on market conditions, we may continue to roll out additional experience stores across the country and continue to invest in in-store
training and enhance our in-store experience, in conjunction with our network partners, to drive the continued growth in our revenues and results of
operations. We are also undertaking initiatives to increase overall store operating efficiency and productivity, such as attracting more experienced and better
resourced network partners. In addition, to further diversify and strengthen our overall channel penetration and presence, we have been expanding our
relationship with and sales to well-established specialty offline home appliance malls such as Gome and Suning, which is expected to increase our end-
points of sale and overall consumer awareness of our brand, products and concept. We do not expect our strategy in relation to our Viomi offline experience
store network or other channel diversification strategies to have a material impact on our overall margins.
Product and business mix
We generate a significant portion of our revenues through the sales of our IoT products and we are continuing to introduce new products to the
market. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, sales of our IoT products accounted for 81.6%, 81.3% and 77.2% of our net revenues,
respectively. Different product categories may have different attributable gross margins due to various factors, including industry and competitive
dynamics, our pricing strategy, target customer demographics as well as raw material and production costs, among others. We may price certain flagship
products, such as our smart refrigerators, at competitive prices to facilitate initial household user acquisition and entry in the family home, which may
negatively affect our gross margins in the near term.
In addition, the proportionate contributions of our various business lines to our net revenues may change over time as we continue to grow our
business and increase the number of our household users. As such, our combined gross margin may be affected both by any change in revenues attributable
to, and any change in the gross margin of, each business line.
55
Investment in R&D, marketing and brand promotion
Our success is significantly dependent on our ability to continually bring to market products and services that are popular among consumers,
particularly relative to those offered by our competitors. Accordingly, we dedicate significant resources towards research and development. For the year
ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, research and development expenses were RMB60.7 million, RMB124.2 million and RMB204.9 million
(US$29.4 million), accounting for 7.0%, 4.9% and 4.4% of our net revenues, respectively. Going forward, we will further invest in our research and
development efforts as we continue to introduce new and innovative products to create a unique and holistic IoT @ Home lifestyle experience for the
benefit of consumers. In addition, in accordance with our “AI + IoT + 5G” strategy to prepare for the upcoming 5G era, and have been devoting R&D
resources in this regard.
Similarly, attracting new users and growing the number of our household users by continuing to strengthen our brand awareness as well as educating
consumers about the benefits of our IoT @ Home platform and the IoT @ Home lifestyle experience are our key growth strategies. For the year ended
December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, our selling and marketing expenses were RMB95.3 million, RMB379.6 million and RMB529.2 million (US$76.0
million), accounting for 10.9%, 14.8% and 11.4% of our revenues, respectively. Going forward, we intend to continue investing significant resources in our
marketing, advertising and brand promotion efforts.
Relationship with Xiaomi
Xiaomi is our strategic partner, shareholder, customer and related party. Our strategic partnership with Xiaomi provides us access to Xiaomi’s
ecosystem users, sales platforms and data resources and related support. Sales to Xiaomi, predominantly comprising Xiaomi-branded products, accounted
for 84.7%, 51.2% and 45.4% of our net revenues in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Our strong research and development capabilities, supply chain
resources and innovative products and services are able to enrich Xiaomi’s suite of offerings, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship between
Xiaomi and us.
While we expect the proportion of our revenues generated from our sales to Xiaomi to gradually decrease going forward, maintaining a mutually
beneficial relationship with Xiaomi, including potential additional product collaborations, will continue to be important to our operations and future
growth.
Seasonality
We generally expect to experience seasonally higher sales in the second and fourth quarters, primarily attributable to the major shopping festivals
and promotional activities across major e-commerce platforms in China, such as “618,” “Singles’ Day” and “Double Twelve.” Given the impact of this
seasonality, timely and effective forecasting and product supply and introductions for the peak seasons are critical to our operations.
Key Components of Our Results of Operations
Net revenues
We derive our revenues from three key business lines, (i) IoT-enabled smart home products, (ii) consumable products, and (iii) value-added
businesses. Our IoT-enabled smart home products include our smart water purification systems, smart kitchen products and other smart products.
Consumable products include products complementary to our IoT products, such as water filters. Our value-added businesses include the sales of
complimentary household products, such as small appliances and homeware, as well as provision of various services, such as access to media and
entertainment content, e-commerce platforms and interfaces embedded within and integrated with our products, and installation services.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of our net revenues by business lines both as an absolute amount and as a proportion of net revenues
for the periods indicated.
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2019
US$
%
Net revenues:
IoT-enabled smart home products
Smart water purification systems
Smart kitchen products
Other smart products
Consumable products
Value-added businesses(1)
Total
712,317
570,784
50,656
90,877
87,500
73,402
873,219
81.6 2,081,273
930,178
65.4
744,990
5.8
406,105
10.4
141,940
10.0
338,016
8.4
100.0 2,561,229
81.3 3,587,355 515,291
36.3 1,065,166 153,002
29.1 1,322,801 190,008
15.9 1,199,388 172,281
38,186
265,844
5.5
794,314 114,096
13.2
100.0 4,647,513 667,573
77.2
22.9
28.5
25.8
5.7
17.1
100.0
Note:
(1)
Including sales of other products and rendering of services. See footnote 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more details.
56
Smart water purification systems
Our smart water purification systems were the first product category we launched and sales of these products have contributed a material portion of
our historical revenues. As we continue to roll out new IoT products in other categories over time and generate additional revenues from our consumable
products and value-added businesses, we expect our sources of revenues to continue to diversify both in terms of product as well as business mix. As a
result, we expect the proportion of revenues attributable to the sales of smart water purification systems to decrease over time.
As a result of more aggressive promotional campaigns to mitigate the impacts of the adverse industry conditions, together with channel destocking
initiatives during the period given the lower than expected consumer demand, both at least in large part due to the COVID-19 situation, we expect to
experience a decline in average selling price, gross profit margins and revenues from smart water purification systems in the first quarter of 2020 as
compared to 2019. We do have a number of initiatives underway with regards to our smart water purification business, including various cost control
measures together with the launch of new, larger capacity products as well as next generation products with higher average selling prices and margins
products to mitigate such impacts.
Smart kitchen products
We have continued to diversify and expand our product offerings over recent years, including various new product introductions in our range of
smart kitchen products. Our smart kitchen products include refrigerators, oven steamers, dishwashers, range hoods and gas stoves. As we continue to
introduce additional new products as well as optimize and expand our SKUs within various product categories, we expect the proportion of revenues
attributable to the sales of smart kitchen products to increase over time.
Other smart products
In addition to our smart water purification system and our smart kitchen products lineup, we also offer a diverse array of other smart products such
as air conditioning systems, washing machines, water heaters, smart water kettles, sweeper robots, smart locks and other smart devices, among others. In
2018, we began to introduce a portfolio of other smart appliances, including washing machines, water heaters, among others. As the sales of these
categories continue to ramp up and introduce additional new products as well as optimize and expand our SKUs within various product categories, we
expect the percentage of net revenues attributable to the sales of other smart products to increase.
Consumable products
We offer a range of consumable products complementary, and often essential, to our IoT products, which provide us with additional, recurring and
ongoing revenue streams across the life cycle of our IoT products. Consumers can purchase such products either through our sales channels or through the
e-commerce platform embedded within various of our IoT products. Consumable products predominantly include water filters and water pitcher filters for
our smart water purifiers, water pitcher filters, and air filters for our refrigerators. The growth of our consumable products business will depend on the size
of our IoT products’ household user base.
Value-added businesses
Revenues from the value-added businesses include revenues from the sales of other related household products such as blenders, rice cookers,
portable fans, water quality meters, aromatherapy humidifiers, water filter pitchers, and stainless steel insulated water bottles, as well as the provision of
various services, such as access to media and entertainment content, e-commerce platforms and interfaces embedded within and integrated with our
products, and installation services. Historically, revenues from the value-added businesses have predominantly comprised of related household product
sales.
Brands
Our IoT @ Home platform comprises of two key pillars, our Viomi business, predominantly comprising our Viomi-branded products, and our
Xiaomi business, comprising our strategic partnership with Xiaomi. Sales to Viomi and other third-party channels, which constitute the vast majority of our
Viomi-branded products business, accounted for 15.3%, 48.8% and 54.6% of our net revenues in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. We also launched our
new premium AI-focused “coKiing” brand in November 2019, starting first with a series of air conditioning products, to further penetrate the mid-to-high-
end market through introducing a more diversified and premium suite of product offerings. We intend to further enrich and expand the product categories
offered under the coKiing brand going forward to further diversify and complement our entire product portfolio to cater to the broader market.
57
Xiaomi is our strategic partner, shareholder and customer. Our strategic partnership with Xiaomi provides us access to Xiaomi’s ecosystem users,
sales platforms and data resources and related support. Sales to Xiaomi, predominantly comprising Xiaomi-branded products, historically accounted for
84.7%, 51.2% and 45.4%% of our net revenues in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. We sell Xiaomi-branded products directly to Xiaomi, who then on-
sells these products to its customers and end-consumers.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues primarily consists of material costs, estimated warranty costs, manufacturing and fulfillment costs, salaries and benefits for
staff engaged in production activities and related expenses that are directly attributable to the production of products. We procure a variety of raw materials
and components from third-party suppliers, and outsource a majority of our manufacturing and order fulfillment activities to third parties. Our product costs
fluctuate with the costs of raw materials and underlying product components as well as the prices we are able to negotiate with our contract manufacturers
and raw material and component suppliers. Our cost of revenues was RMB598.0 million, RMB1,843.4 million and RMB3,565.1 million (US$512.1
million) for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Gross profit and gross profit margin
Our gross profit margin is affected by changes in our product and business mix as well as our cost of revenues. Please see “—Key Factors Affecting
our Results of Operations—Product and business mix” for more details. The table below sets forth our gross profit in absolute amount and gross profit
margins of products and services for the periods indicated.
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2019
US$
%
Gross profit and gross profit margin
275,183
31.5 717,797
28.0 1,082,404 155,478
23.3
Operating expenses
Our operating expenses can be classified into three categories: general and administrative, research and development, and selling and marketing.
The following table sets forth the components of our operating expenses, both in absolute amount and as a proportion of our net revenues, for the periods
presented.
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2019
US$
%
Operating expenses:
General and administrative
Research and development
Selling and marketing
Total
15,818
60,749
95,296
171,863
1.8 135,532
7.0 124,230
10.9 379,554
19.7 639,316
10,495
73,061
5.3
29,438
4.9 204,942
14.8 529,212
76,017
25.0 807,215 115,950
1.6
4.4
11.4
17.4
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and welfare for general and administrative personnel
and share-based compensation for management and administrative personnel. Within the total general and administrative expenses incurred in the year
ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, RMB3.3 million, RMB93.7 million and RMB7.3 million (US$1.0 million) were share-based compensation
expenses, respectively.
Research and development. Our research and development expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits as well as share-based compensation
for research and development personnel, materials, general expenses and depreciation expenses associated with research and development activities. We
expect our research and development expenses to increase in absolute amount as we expand our team of technology and product development professionals
and continue to invest in our technology infrastructure to enhance our big data analytics and smart home solutions.
Selling and marketing. Our selling and marketing expenses primarily consist of advertising and market promotion expenses, shipping expenses and
salaries and welfare for sales and marketing personnel. We bear the advertising and marketing expenses for our Viomi-branded products. We do not bear
such expenses for Xiaomi-branded products. We have invested heavily in selling and marketing initiatives in recent periods to promote the Viomi brand and
new product launches, and to attract more household users to our IoT @ Home platform, as reflected in the increase in our selling and marketing expenses
in absolute amount and as a percentage of our net revenues. While we expect our selling and marketing expenses will continue to increase in absolute
amount going forward as we continue to strengthen our brand recognition and expand our user base, we expect selling and marketing expenses as a
percentage of our net revenues to gradually moderate and stabilize as the Viomi brand, our respective products and the benefits of our IoT @ Home
platform become more widely known and adopted by consumers.
58
Other income
Other income primarily consists of government grants received from local government authorities to encourage our technology development and
innovation. These amounts are paid in the discretion of the relevant governmental authorities, and there is no assurance that we will receive such grants in
future periods.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated income for the periods presented, both in absolute amount and as a proportion of
our net revenues for the periods presented. This information should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included
elsewhere in this annual report.
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2019
US$
%
Net revenues(1)
Cost of revenues
Gross profit
Operating expenses(2):
Research and development expenses(2)
Selling and marketing expenses(2)
General and administrative expenses(2)
Total operating expenses
Other income, net
Income from operations
Interest income and short-term
investment income, net
Income before income tax expenses
Income tax expenses
Net Income
873,219
(598,036)
275,183
100.0 2,561,229
(68.5) (1,843,432)
717,797
31.5
100.0 4,647,513 667,573
(72.0) (3,565,109) (512,095)
28.0 1,082,404 155,478
(60,749)
(95,296)
(15,818)
(171,863)
2,236
105,556
2,402
107,958
(14,718)
93,240
(7.0)
(10.9)
(1.8)
(19.7)
0.3
12.1
0.3
12.4
(1.7)
10.7
(124,230)
(379,554)
(135,532)
(639,316)
1,829
80,310
8,846
89,411
(24,061)
65,350
(4.9)
(14.8)
(5.3)
(25.0)
0.1
3.1
(204,942)
(529,212)
(73,061)
(29,438)
(76,017)
(10,495)
(807,215) (115,950)
5,154
44,682
35,880
311,069
0.3
3.5
(0.9)
2.6
26,109
339,020
(45,190)
293,830
3,750
48,697
(6,491)
42,206
100.0
(76.7)
23.3
(4.4)
(11.4)
(1.6)
(17.4)
0.8
6.7
0.6
7.3
(1.0)
6.3
Note:
(1)
(2)
Includes RMB739.5 million, RMB1,311.9 million and RMB2,112.2 million (US$303.4 million) from sales to Xiaomi for the year ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively.
Share-based compensation expenses were allocated as follows:
General and administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Selling and marketing expenses
Total
For the Year Ended December 31,
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
3,303
1,903
615
5,821
(in thousands)
93,718
14,476
8,417
116,611
7,282
23,564
12,322
43,168
1,046
3,385
1,770
6,201
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018
Net revenues
Our net revenues increased by 81.5% from RMB2,561.2 million in 2018 to RMB4,647.5 million (US$667.6 million) in 2019, primarily due to the
continued successful rollout and significant increase in sales of Viomi-branded and Xiaomi-branded products.
•
•
Sales to Xiaomi. Revenues from sales to Xiaomi increased by 61.0% to RMB2,112.2 million (US$303.4 million) from RMB1,311.9 million
for 2018, primarily due to additional volume sales of Xiaomi-branded water purifiers and related products and additional categories of
products sold to Xiaomi.
Sales through our own and third-party channels. Revenues from sales through our own and third-party channels increased by 102.9% to
RMB2,535.3 million (US$364.2 million) from RMB1,249.4 million for 2018, primarily due to the successful rollout and significant increase
in sales volume of Viomi-branded products.
59
IoT-enabled smart home products. Revenues from IoT-enabled smart home products increased by 72.4% to RMB3,587.4 million (US$515.3
million) from RMB2,081.3 million for 2018, primarily due to the continued strong demand for our smart water purification systems, increase in sales
volumes of Viomi-branded smart kitchen products and other smart products together with the successful introduction of our smart kitchen products and
other smart products.
•
•
•
Smart water purification systems. Revenues from smart water purification systems increased by 14.5% to RMB1,065.2 million (US$153.0
million) from RMB930.2 million for 2018, primarily due to the introduction of new series of smart water purifier products, together with an
overall increase in sales volumes of our smart water purification systems products.
Smart kitchen products. Revenues from smart kitchen products increased by 77.6% to RMB1,322.8million (US$190.0 million) from
RMB745.0 million for 2018, primarily due to the increase in sales volumes across many of our smart kitchen product categories, particularly
our Viomi-branded refrigerator products, together with the rollout of new Xiaomi-branded products such as range hoods and gas stoves.
Other smart products. Revenues from other smart products increased by 195.3% to RMB1,199.4 million (US$172.3 million) from
RMB406.1 million for 2018, primarily due to the increase in sales volumes of our Viomi-branded washing machine, water heater and
sweeper robot products, together with the rollout of new Xiaomi-branded sweeper robot products.
Consumable products. Revenues from consumable products increased by 87.3% to RMB265.8 million (US$38.2 million) from RMB141.9 million
for 2018, primarily due to the increased demand for our water purifier filter products.
Value-added businesses. Revenues from value-added businesses increased by 135.0%% to RMB794.3 million (US$114.1 million) from RMB338.0
million for 2018, primarily due to new product introductions, together with increased demand for our value-added products.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues increased by 93.4% from RMB1,843.4 million in 2018 to RMB3,565.1 million (US$512.1 million) in 2019, as a result of the
overall growth of our business and relatively in line with the rapid growth of net revenues.
Gross profit
Our gross profit increased by 50.8% from RMB717.8 million in 2018 to RMB1,082.4 million (US$155.5 million) in 2019, largely as a result of our
sales growth.
Our gross margin decreased from 28.0% to 23.3% for the same periods. The decline in gross margin was primarily due to the shifts in our business
and product mix. Smart kitchen products and other smart products categories historically have had lower gross margins as compared to smart water
purification systems, and there was a significant increase in net revenues contribution from smart kitchen products and other smart products, and a resultant
lower net revenues contribution from smart water purification systems.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses increased by 26.3% from RMB639.3 million in 2018 to RMB807.2 million (US$116.0 million) in 2019, primarily due to
the rapid growth of our business.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses decreased by 46.1% from RMB135.5 million in 2018 to RMB73.1 million
(US$10.5 million) in 2019, primarily due to a significant decrease in share-based compensation expenses. A one-off share-based compensation expense of
RMB90.2 million incurred in the third quarter of 2018 was no longer incurred in 2019.
Research and development. Research and development expenses increased by 65.0% from RMB124.2 million in 2018 to RMB204.9 million
(US$29.4 million) in 2019, primarily due to an increase in employee-related expenses amounting to RMB51.6 million (US$7.4 million), including an
increase in share-based compensation expenses amounting to RMB9.1 million (US$1.3 million) to attract and retain research and development personnel,
as well as patent-related expenses amounting to RMB4.5 million (US$0.6 million).
Selling and marketing. Selling and marketing expenses increased by 39.4% from RMB379.6 million in 2018 to RMB529.2 million (US$76.0
million) in 2019. This increase was primarily due to an increase in employee-related expenses amounting to RMB13.6 million (US$2.0 million), as well as
increases in logistics expenses amounting to RMB104.9 million (US$15.1 million).
60
Income tax expenses
We had an income tax expenses of RMB24.1 million in 2018, and RMB45.2 million (US$6.5 million) in 2019. The effective tax rate in 2018 was
significantly impacted by the one-off share-based compensation expense of RMB90.2 million, which was non-deductible for income tax purpose.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, we recorded a net income of RMB293.8 million (US$42.2 million), in 2019, compared to RMB65.4 million for 2018.
Excluding the impact of share-based compensation expenses, our net income was RMB337.0 million (US$48.4 million), in 2019, compared to RMB182.0
million for 2018.
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Net revenues
Our net revenues increased by 193.3% from RMB873.2 million in 2017 to RMB2,561.2 million in 2018, primarily due to the continued successful
rollout and significant increase in sales across our product categories, in particular Viomi-branded products.
•
•
Sales to Xiaomi. Revenues from sales to Xiaomi increased by 77.4% to RMB1,311.9 million from RMB739.5 million for 2017, primarily
due to additional volume sales of Xiaomi-branded water purifiers and related products.
Sales through our own and third-party channels. Revenues from sales through our own and third-party channels increased by 834.1% to
RMB1,249.4 million from RMB133.8 million for 2017, primarily due to the successful rollout and significant increase in sales volume of
Viomi-branded products.
IoT-enabled smart home products. Revenues from IoT-enabled smart home products increased by 192.2% to RMB2,081.3 million from RMB712.3
million for 2017, primarily due to the continued strong demand for our smart water purification systems together with the successful introduction of our
smart kitchen products and other smart products.
•
•
•
Smart water purification systems. Revenues from smart water purification systems increased by 63.0% to RMB930.2 million from
RMB570.8 million for 2017, primarily due to additional volume sales of our smart water purification systems products.
Smart kitchen products. Revenues from smart kitchen products increased by 1,370.7% to RMB745.0 million from RMB50.7 million for
2017, primarily due to the successful introduction of new product lines within and additional volume sales of our smart kitchen products.
Other smart products. Revenues from other smart products increased by 346.9% to RMB406.1 million from RMB90.9 million for 2017,
primarily due to the successful introduction of new product lines within and additional volume sales of our other smart products.
Consumable products. Revenues from consumable products increased by 62.2% to RMB141.9 million from RMB87.5 million for 2017, primarily
due to the increased installed base of our smart water purification systems and resultant demand for our water purifier filter products.
Value-added businesses. Revenues from value-added businesses increased by 360.5% to RMB338.0 million from RMB73.4 million for 2017,
primarily due to increased demand for our value-added products.
Cost of revenues
Our cost of revenues increased by 208.2% from RMB598.0 million in 2017 to RMB1,843.4 million in 2018, relatively in line with the rapid growth
of net revenues.
Gross profit
Our gross profit increased by 160.8% from RMB275.2 million in 2017 to RMB717.8 million in 2018, largely as a result of our sales growth.
Our gross margin decreased from 31.5% to 28.0% for the same periods. The decline in gross margin was primarily due to the shifts in our business
and product mix. Smart kitchen products and other smart products categories have lower gross margins as compared to smart water purification systems,
and there was a significant increase in net revenues contribution from smart kitchen products and other smart products, and a resultant lower net revenues
contribution from smart water purification systems.
61
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses increased by 272.0% from RMB171.9 million in 2017 to RMB639.3 million in 2018, primarily due to our rapid business
growth as well as an increase in share-based compensation expenses, which totaled RMB116.6 million, including a one-off share-based compensation
expenses of RMB90.2 million, compared to RMB5.8 million for 2017.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased by 756.8% from RMB15.8 million in 2017 to RMB135.5 million in
2018. This increase was primarily due to a one-off share-based compensation expense of RMB90.2 million professional service fees and other expenses
related to our initial public offering of RMB7.5 million, as well as increased expenses associated with the expansion of administration departments. The
one-off share-based compensation expense was the result of certain share awards granted in August 2018 to Mr. Chen for his contribution to the Company’s
development. The expansion of administration departments was due to our growth and our public company status.
Research and development. Research and development expenses increased by 104.5% from RMB60.7 million in 2017 to RMB124.2 million in
2018, primarily due to an increase in employee-related expenses amounting to RMB46.6 million, including an increase in share-based compensation
expenses amounting to RMB12.6 million to attract and retain research and development personnel, as well as increases in expenses associated with new
product development amounting to RMB10.1 million.
Selling and marketing. Selling and marketing expenses increased by 298.3% from RMB95.3 million in 2017 to RMB379.6 million in 2018. This
increase was primarily due to an increase in employee-related expenses amounting to RMB37.7 million, as well as increases in logistics, advertising,
marketing and brand promotion expenses amounting to RMB211.6 million.
Income tax expenses
We had an income tax expenses of RMB14.7 million in 2017, and RMB24.1 million in 2018. The effective tax rate in 2018 was significantly
impacted by the one-off share-based compensation expense of RMB90.2 million, which was non-deductible for income tax purpose.
Net income
As a result of the foregoing, we recorded a net income of RMB65.4 million, in 2018, compared to RMB93.2 million for 2017. Excluding the impact
of share-based compensation expenses, our net income was RMB182.0 million, in 2018, compared to RMB99.1 million for 2017.
Taxation
Cayman Islands
We are an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations
based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no taxation in the nature of estate duty or inheritance tax. The Cayman Islands does not
impose a withholding tax on dividend payments.
Hong Kong
Our subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong is subject to Hong Kong profit tax. From the year of assessment 2018/2019 onwards, profits tax is
imposed on corporations at the rate of 8.25% on assessable profits up to HK$2,000,000; 16.5% on any part of assessable profits over HK$2,000,000 and on
unincorporated businesses at 7.5% on assessable profits up to HK$2,000,000; and 15% on any part of assessable profits over HK$2,000,000. No Hong
Kong profit tax has been levied as we did not have an assessable profit that was earned in or derived from the Hong Kong subsidiary during the periods
presented. Hong Kong does not impose a withholding tax on dividends.
China
Generally, our PRC subsidiary, variable interest entities and their subsidiaries, which are considered PRC resident enterprises under PRC tax law,
are subject to enterprise income tax on their worldwide taxable income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting standards at a rate of 25%.
However, according to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, the income tax of an enterprise that has been determined to be a high and new technology
enterprise can be reduced to a preferential rate of 15%. One of our VIEs, Foshan Viomi, has obtained High and New Technology Enterprise Certificate and
is thus eligible to enjoy a preferential tax rate of 15%, to the extent it has taxable income under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law.
Dividends paid by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary in China to our intermediary holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to a
withholding tax rate of 10%, unless the relevant Hong Kong entity satisfies all the requirements under the Arrangement between Mainland China and the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation
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and Tax Evasion on Income with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and receives approval from the relevant tax authority. If our Hong Kong
subsidiary satisfies all the requirements under the tax arrangement and receives approval from the relevant tax authority, then the dividends paid to the
Hong Kong subsidiary would be subject to withholding tax at the standard rate of 5%. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to
Doing Business in China—We may rely on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Any
limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business and to pay
dividends to holders of the ADSs and our ordinary shares.”
If our holding company in the Cayman Islands or any of our subsidiaries outside of China were deemed to be a “resident enterprise” under the PRC
Enterprise Income Tax Law, it would be subject to enterprise income tax on its worldwide income at a rate of 25%. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—If we are classified as a PRC resident enterprise for PRC income tax purposes, such classification
could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders or ADS holders.”
For the foreseeable future, we intend to use all the undistributed earnings of our variable interest entities and their subsidiaries incorporated in the
PRC for our business operations and do not plan to have our PRC subsidiary distribute any dividend. Therefore, no withholding tax is expected to be
incurred in the foreseeable future.
B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash flows and working capital
To date, we have financed our operations primarily through cash generated by operating activities and historical equity financing activities. As of
December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash of RMB280.0 million, RMB969.8 million and RMB1,003.0
million (US$144.1 million), respectively. Our cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash on hand, demand deposits and highly liquid investments
placed with banks. We believe that our cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to
meet our current and anticipated needs for general corporate purposes for at least the next 12 months.
Although we consolidate the results of our VIEs, we only have access to cash balances or future earnings of our VIEs through our contractual
arrangements with them. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.” For restrictions and limitations on liquidity and capital
resources as a result of our corporate structure, see “—Holding Company Structure.”
Substantially all of our net revenues have been, and we expect they are likely to continue to be, in the form of Renminbi. Under existing PRC
foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments, and trade- and service-related foreign
exchange transactions can be made in foreign currencies without prior the SAFE approval as long as certain routine procedural requirements are fulfilled.
Therefore, our PRC subsidiary is allowed to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior the SAFE approval by following certain routine
procedural requirements. However, current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us only out of its accumulated profits, if any,
determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Our PRC subsidiary is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax
profits after making up previous years’ accumulated losses each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches
50% of its registered capital. In addition, it may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to discretionary reserve funds
at its discretion. These reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Historically, our PRC subsidiary has not paid dividends to us, and it will not be able
to pay dividends until it generates accumulated profits. Furthermore, capital account transactions, which include foreign direct investment and loans, must
be approved by and/or registered with the SAFE, its local branches and certain local banks.
The restricted net assets of our PRC subsidiary and VIEs amounted to RMB18.8 million, RMB13.8 million and RMB31.4 million (US$4.5 million)
as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The unrestricted portion, or amounts otherwise available for transfer in the form of dividends, loans
or advances amounted to RMB121.3 million, RMB538.2 million and RMB1,012.3 million (US$145.4 million) as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively.
As a Cayman Islands exempted company and offshore holding company, we are permitted under PRC laws and regulations to provide funding to
our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China only through loans or capital contributions, subject to the approval of government authorities and limits on
the amount of capital contributions and loans. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China may provide Renminbi funding to their
respective subsidiaries through capital contributions and entrusted loans, and to our consolidated variable interest entities only through entrusted loans. See
“Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities
by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public
offering to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiary, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to
fund and expand our business”.
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The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods presented:
Selected Consolidated Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted
cash
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the
beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end
of the year
Operating activities
For the Year Ended December 31,
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
(in thousands)
123,906
(1,234)
2,671
222,269
(151,821)
604,975
245,484
(268,956)
48,542
35,260
(38,634)
6,973
(2,321)
14,473
8,087
1,162
123,022
689,896
33,157
4,761
156,930
279,952
969,848
139,312
279,952
969,848
1,003,005
144,073
Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB245.5 million (US$35.3 million) in 2019. The difference between net cash provided by operating
activities and our net income of RMB293.8 million (US$42.2 million) was primarily due to RMB121.1 million (US$17.4 million) used for working capital,
partially offset by the adjustment of RMB43.2 million (US$6.2 million) in share-based compensation, RMB23.6 million (US$3.4 million) in depreciation
and amortization and RMB15.7 million (US$2.3 million) in inventory write-down. The additional cash used for working capital were mainly due to a
RMB206.5 million (US$29.7 million) increase in accounts and notes receivable from third parties, a RMB447.0 million (US$64.2 million) increase in
accounts receivable from a related party, a RMB201.7 million (US$29.0 million) increase in inventory, partially offset by a RMB88.4 million (US$12.7
million) decrease in other receivables from related parties, a RMB494.7 million (US$71.1 million) increase in accounts and notes payable, and a
RMB122.6 million (US$17.6 million) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities. The increases in accounts and notes payable and inventories were
due to the rapid growth of our business. The accounts receivable from a related party represent sales receivable of products to Xiaomi, the increase of
which reflected the growth of our Xiaomi business and sales to Xiaomi. The accounts and notes receivable from third parties represent sales receivable of
products to certain leading e-commerce platforms, the increase of which reflected the growth of our sales to these e-commerce platforms as a result of the
growth of our overall business.
Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB222.3 million in 2018. The difference between net cash provided by operating activities and our
net income of RMB65.4 million was primarily due to RMB116.6 million in share-based compensation expenses, including a one-off share-based
compensation expenses of RMB90.2 million. The one-off share-based compensation expense was the result of certain share awards granted in August 2018
to Mr. Chen for his contribution to the Company’s development.
Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB123.9 million in 2017. The difference between net cash provided by operating activities and our
net income of RMB93.2 million was mainly due to RMB5.8 million in share-based compensation, as well as the effect of changes in working capital of
RMB23.9 million. The changes in working capital were mainly due to a RMB218.6 million increase in accounts payable, a RMB43.1 million increase in
accrued expenses and other liabilities, and a RMB19.3 million increase in advances from customers, partially offset by a RMB204.5 million increase in
accounts receivable from a related party, a RMB26.6 million increase in inventories and a RMB25.8 million increase in other receivables from related
parties. The increases in accounts payable, advances from customers, and inventories were due to the rapid growth of our business. The accounts receivable
from a related party represent sales receivable of smart water purifiers and accessories to Xiaomi, the increase of which reflected the growth of our sales to
Xiaomi.
Investing activities
We used RMB269.0 million (US$38.6 million) in investing activities in 2019, mainly as a result of RMB812.1 million (US$116.6 million) used for
the purchase of short-term investments and RMB270.5 million (US$38.8 million) used for placement of short-term deposit, partially offset by RMB670.2
million (US$96.3 million) from the maturity of short-term investments and RMB212.0 million (US$30.4 million) from maturities of short-term deposits.
We used RMB151.8 million in investing activities in 2018, as a result of RMB238.7 million used for the purchase of short-term investments and
RMB13.5 million used for the purchase of equipment, partially offset by RMB69.4 million from the maturity of a short-term investment.
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Net cash used in investing activities was RMB1.2 million in 2017, all for the purchase of equipment.
Financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was RMB48.5 million (US$7.0 million) in 2019, mainly as a result of RMB95.9 million net proceeds from
short-term borrowing, partially offset by cash paid for dividends of RMB46.6 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities was RMB605.0 million in 2018, mainly as a result of RMB636.2 million net proceeds received from
issuance of ordinary shares upon IPO.
Net cash provided by financing activities was RMB2.7 million in 2017 that the Company received from Red Better with the understanding that
RMB2.5 million will be repaid to Tianjin Jinxing in the PRC.
Working capital turnover
Inventory
Our inventory consists of finished products and raw materials. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, our inventory was RMB50.7 million,
RMB232.0 million and RMB418.0 million (US$60.0 million), respectively. The increase reflected the growth in our sales. Our inventory turnover days was
23 days, 28 days and 34 days for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and, 2019, respectively. Inventory turnover days for a given period are equal to
average of the balances of inventories, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, at the beginning and the end of the period divided by cost of revenues during
the period and multiplied by the number of days during the period.
Accounts and notes receivable
Our accounts and notes receivable represent primarily accounts receivable from Xiaomi as well as accounts and notes receivable from third parties.
As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, our accounts and notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, were RMB253.9 million, RMB372.7
million and RMB1,024.1 million (US$147.1 million), respectively. Our total accounts and notes receivable as of December 31, 2019 included RMB707.9
million (US$101.7 million) from Xiaomi and RMB284.2 million (US$40.8 million) from e-commerce platforms. The increase reflected a significant
growth in our business and revenues. Our accounts and notes receivable turnover days were 68 days, 45 days and 55 days for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Accounts and notes receivable turnover days for a given period are equal to average of the balances of accounts and
notes receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts, at the beginning and the end of the period divided by net revenues during the period and
multiplied by the number of days during the period.
Accounts and notes payable
Our accounts and notes payable represent primarily accounts and notes payable to contract manufacturers. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and
2019, our accounts and notes payable were RMB291.6 million, RMB548.5 million and RMB1,043.2 million (US$149.8 million), respectively. The increase
reflected the growth of our sales. Our accounts and notes payable turnover days were 112 days, 83 days and 83 days for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Accounts and notes payable turnover days for a given period are equal to average of the balances of accounts and notes
payable, at the beginning and the end of the period divided by cost of revenues during the period and multiplied by the number of days during the period.
Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Arrangements
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. In addition, 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 any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that
serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing,
liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.
Holding Company Structure
Viomi Technology Co., Ltd is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our VIEs and
their subsidiaries in China. As a result, Viomi Technology Co., Ltd’s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by our PRC and Hong Kong
subsidiaries, our VIEs and their subsidiaries in China. If our existing subsidiaries or controlled entities or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own
behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, our wholly foreign-owned subsidiary
in China is permitted to pay dividends to us only out of its retained earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and
regulations. Under PRC law, each of our subsidiary, our VIEs and their subsidiaries in China is required to set aside at least 10% of its after-tax profits each
year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds until such reserve funds reach 50% of its registered capital. In addition, each of our wholly foreign-
owned subsidiary in China, our variable interest entities and their
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subsidiaries may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to a discretionary surplus fund at its discretion. The statutory
reserve funds and the discretionary funds are not distributable as cash dividends. Remittance of dividends by a wholly foreign-owned company out of
China is subject to examination by the banks designated by the SAFE. Our PRC subsidiary has not paid dividends and will not be able to pay dividends
until it generates accumulated profits and sets aside statutory reserve funds as required by PRC law.
Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and 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 periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements.
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 experiences 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. Some of our accounting policies require a higher degree of
judgment than others 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 accompanying notes and other disclosures included in this annual report. When reviewing our financial statements, you should consider (i)
our selection of critical accounting policies, (ii) the judgments and other uncertainties affecting the application of such policies and (iii) the sensitivity of
reported results to changes in conditions and assumptions.
Revenue recognition
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”) and subsequently, the
FASB issued several amendments which amend certain aspects of the guidance in ASC 2014-09 (ASU No. 2014-09 and the related amendments are
collectively referred to as “ASC 606”). According to ASC 606, revenue is recognized when control of the promised good or service is transferred to the
customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. We will enter into contracts that
can include various combinations of products and services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance
obligations. Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns, and any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental
authorities. We adopted ASC 606 for all periods presented.
Our revenue is primary derived from (i) sales of IoT-enabled smart home products including smart water purification systems, smart kitchen
products, and other smart products, (ii) sales of consumable products complementary to our IoT-enabled smart home products, such as water purifier filters,
(iii) sales of other related household products as well as rendering of various services.
Sales to Xiaomi
During 2017 to 2019, we generated a substantial portion of our revenues from sales of certain types of Xiaomi-branded water purifiers and related
products.
Under the business cooperation agreement entered between Xiaomi and us, we are responsible for design, research, development, production and
delivery of designated products using the brand name of “Xiaomi,” or Xiaomi-branded products, and Xiaomi is responsible for commercial distributions
and terminal sales of the products supplied by us. We also sell some Viomi-branded products to Xiaomi.
Revenue from Xiaomi is recognized upon acceptance by this customer after delivery, which is considered at the time the control of the products is
transferred to Xiaomi. Revenue from Xiaomi does not meet the criteria to be recognized over time since (i) even if the products use “Xiaomi” brand, it does
not require significant rework to make them suitable to be sold to other customers, (ii) under the cooperation agreement, we do not have the right of
payment for the work performed to date.
For a few types of products sold to this customer, the selling price is a fixed amount as agreed by both parties. For other types of products sold to
this customer, the sales arrangement includes two installment payments. The first installment is priced to recover the costs incurred by us in developing,
producing and shipping the products to this customer and is due from the customer to us upon acceptance by the customer after delivery. We are also
entitled to receive a potential second installment payment calculated as certain portion of the future gross profits from sales made by this customer.
Accordingly, we determine the sales price as the fixed first installment payment plus the variable second installment payment to the extent that it is
probable that revenue reversal will not occur when settling with the customer subsequently. We estimate the variable consideration using the expected value
method. In assessing the variable second installment payment, we take into consideration the historical experience with the customer, selling price of the
same or similar products as at the report date as well as the recent market trend.
66
In 2019, we entered into a cooperation arrangement with Xiaomi related to a certain type of products. Under the arrangement, we act as an agent of
Xiaomi to procure suppliers without obtaining the control, risks and rewards of the products during the whole process. We recognize revenue of sales on a
net basis for these products.
Sales to third-party customers, including: sales to leading e-commerce platforms and offline experience stores; and sales to customers directly through the
online platforms operated by Xiaomi, third parties and us
- Sales to leading e-commerce platforms and offline experience stores
Pursuant to the contracts between leading e-commerce platforms/offline experience stores (the “e-commerce platforms and stores”) and us, the e-
commerce platforms and stores have legal title and physical possession of the products upon acceptance and they would bear the inventory risk of loss due
to physical damage before the products are transferred and accepted by end customers. The e-commerce platforms and stores are responsible for delivering
the products to end customers and can direct the use of the products and obtain the remaining benefits from the products by reselling the products. The e-
commerce platforms and stores have flexibility in determining the retail sales price within relatively broad price range set by us. Based on these indicators,
we determined the e-commerce platforms and stores (as opposed to the end customers) as its customers according to ASC 606-10-55-39. We recognize
revenue equal to the sales price to the e-commerce platforms and stores when control of the inventory is transferred.
- Sales to customers directly through the online platforms operated by Xiaomi, third parties and us
Under the cooperation agreements entered between online platforms and us, the platforms’ responsibilities are limited to offering an online
marketplace, while we are primarily obligated in a sales transaction and takes inventory risk and has latitude in determining prices. The platforms charged
us commission fees at pre-determined amounts or a fixed rate based on the sales amounts. Commission fees are recognized as selling expenses. We
determine the end customers (as opposed to the platforms) as its customers and recognize revenue equal to the sales price to the end customers when
control of the inventory is transferred.
We provide installation service to end customers for a few Viomi-branded products without separate charge. The end customers have the right, not
the obligation, to ask us to provide installation service. The installation service is considered being distinct and accounted for as a separate performance
obligation as the products and installation services are not inputs into a combined item the end customer has contracted to receive. In addition, we do not
provide any significant integration, modification, or customization services. It can fulfill its obligation to transfer each of the products or services
separately. End customers do not always exercise their rights to ask for installation services as the installation may not be complicated and could be done by
end customers themselves. Therefore, we expect to be entitled to a breakage amount in the contract liabilities related to installation services. We estimate
the breakage portion based on historical customers’ requests and recognize estimated breakage as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by
end customers. The assessment of estimated breakage would be updated on a quarterly basis. Changes in estimated breakage should be accounted for by
adjusting contract liabilities to reflect the remaining rights expected to be exercised.
Judgment is required to determine standalone selling price for each distinct performance obligation and we then allocate the arrangement
consideration to the separate accounting of each distinct performance obligation based on its relevant standalone selling price. The standalone selling price
of the products is determined based on adjusted market assessment approach by estimating the price the customer is willing to pay for the product without
installation service. For the standalone selling price of the installation services, we determine it by referring to actual costs charged by the third-party
vendors, plus an estimated profit margin of 5% based on consideration of both company specific and relevant market factors.
We recognize revenue for the sales to third-party customers in accordance with the applicable revenue recognition method for each of the distinct
performance obligation identified. Revenue relating to the sales of products is recognized upon acceptance by customers after delivery, and revenue relating
to the installation service is recognized when the service is rendered.
Sales returns and sales incentives
- Sales to leading e-commerce platforms
Our sales to leading e-commerce platforms started in 2018. As stipulated in the contracts, slow-moving goods are those unsold products after they
are controlled by the e-commerce platforms for more than 30 days or 60 days or 90 days, depending on the different categories of products. We shall
coordinate with the e-commerce platforms to sell the slowing-moving products to end customers through promotions within 30 days, otherwise, the e-
commerce platforms can (i) return such slow-moving products, or (ii) sell on discount as determined by the e-commerce platforms. We shall bear all losses
caused by such discounted sales. Based on our history of cooperation with the e-commerce platforms and the pattern that the e-commerce platforms dealt
with slow-moving goods, we estimate that slow-moving goods will be returned to us instead of being sold through discounted sales by the e-commerce
platforms. Under ASC 606, a right of return is not a separate performance obligation, but it affects the estimated transaction price for transferred goods.
Revenue is only recognized for those products that are not expected to be returned. The
67
estimate of expected returns should be determined in the same way as other variable consideration. Based on historical information and other relevant
evidence, including the inventory turnover and aging in the e-commerce platforms, we assess if it is probable there will be no significant reversal of
cumulative revenue, and recognize those sales as revenue. We would update our estimate at each period end. The expected return asset is presented and
assessed for impairment separately from the refund liability. We will assess the expected return asset for impairment, and adjust the value of the asset if it
becomes impaired.
Further, we might provide various consideration to the e-commerce platforms, such as gross margin guarantee, advertising and promotion fees, in
the form of cash, or directly reducing amounts owed to the Group by the e-commerce platforms. We evaluate each type of incentives or fees to be paid in
accordance with ASC 606. Considering that we either do not receive any service from the e-commerce platforms or cannot elect to engage another vendor
to provide similar advertising services on a standalone basis, we reduce the transaction price for the sale of products by the amount of various consideration
payable to the e-commerce platforms.
- 7 days unconditional sales return
Under the PRC Consumer Protection Law, end customers have an unconditional right to return the products purchased through online platforms
within 7 days. We base our estimates of sales return on historical results. We may provide sales incentives in the forms of discounts to end customers
through online platforms in a bundle transaction. Revenue, recognized on a net basis after such sales incentives, are allocated based on the relative
standalone selling prices for respective products.
Warranty
We offer product warranty pursuant to standard product quality required by the PRC Consumer Protection Law. The warranty period is calculated
starting from the date when products are sold to the end customers. We have the obligation, at the customer’s sole discretion, to either repair or replace the
defective product. The customers cannot separately purchase the warranty and the warranty doesn’t provide the customer with additional service other than
assurance that the product will function as expected. Therefore, these warranties are accounted for in accordance with ASC 460 Guarantees. At the time
revenue is recognized, an estimate of warranty expenses is recorded. The reserves established are regularly monitored based upon historical experience and
any actual claims charged against the reserve. Warranty reserves are recorded as cost of revenues.
Fair value of ordinary shares
In determining the grant date fair value of our ordinary shares for purposes of recording share-based compensation expenses in connection with
restricted shares owned by our founder, restricted shares owned by our founder on behalf of certain management and share options, as well as the re-
measurement date fair value for restricted shares owned by the founder which have been classified as liability awards, we evaluated the use of three
generally accepted valuation approaches: market, cost and income approaches to estimate the enterprise value of our company and income approach
(discounted cash flow, or DCF method) was relied on for value determination with market approach (guideline companies method, or GCM) taken as
reference.
DCF method of the income approach involves applying appropriate weighted average cost of capital, or WACC, to discount the future cash flows
forecast, based on our best estimates as of the valuation date, to present value. The WACC was determined based on a consideration of the factors including
risk-free rate, comparative industry risk, equity risk premium, company size and non-systematic risk factors.
GCM under the market approach was adopted as reference of the equity valuation for our company. GCM employs trading multiples method of
selected public comparable companies including trailing and leading enterprise value/revenues multiples.
In deriving the equity value of each class of shares, we applied the Option Pricing Method. The Option Pricing Method treats different classes of
shares as call options on the total equity value, with exercise prices based on the liquidation preference or redemption amount of the relevant classes of
shares. Under this method, the ordinary share has value only if the fund available for distribution to shareholders exceeds the value of liquidation
preference or redemption amounts at the time of a liquidity event, assuming the enterprise has funds available to pay for liquidation preference or
redemption. Given the nature of the different classes of shares, the modeling of different classes of capital as call options on company’s enterprise value is
analyzed and the values of different classes of shares were derived accordingly.
We also applied a discount for lack of marketability, or DLOM, which was quantified by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Under this option-
pricing method, which assumed that the put option is struck at the average price of the stock before the privately held shares can be sold, the cost of the put
option was considered as a basis to determine the DLOM.
The determination of the equity value requires complex and subjective judgments to be made regarding prospects of the industry and the products at
the valuation date, our projected financial and operating results, our unique business risks and the liquidity of our shares.
68
The following table sets forth the fair values of our ordinary shares estimated from July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019:
Date of Valuation
July 1 and 2, 2016
January 1, 2017
April 1, 2017
July 1, 2017
December 24, 2017
December 31, 2017
January 2, 2018
March 21, 2018
March 31, 2018
April 1, 2018
August 23, 2018
Fair Value
Per Share
(US$)
Discount of
Lack of
Marketability
(DLOM)
Discount
Rate
0.51
0.76
0.81
1.21
1.59
1.60
1.61
3.17
3.19
3.15
3.30
30%
30%
30%
20%
20%
20%
20%
10%
10%
10%
10%
18.3%
17.2%
17.0%
15.6%
15.5%
15.5%
15.5%
14.8%
14.8%
14.8%
14.3%
The increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares from US$0.51 per share as of July 1, 2016 to US$1.60 per share as of December 31, 2017 was
primarily attributable to continuous organic growth of our business and more certainty over the timing of our initial public offering.
The determined fair value of our ordinary shares increased from US$1.60 per share as of December 31, 2017 to US$3.30 per share as of August 23,
2018. We believe the increase in the fair value of our ordinary shares was primarily attributable to the following factors:
•
•
•
•
Two types of our products won the 2018 iF Product Design Award which contributed to a further increase of our products’ market
recognition and thus increase in sales;
As we progressed towards an initial public offering, the lead time to an expected liquidity event decreased, resulting in a decrease of DLOM
from 20% as of December 31, 2017 to 10% as of August 23, 2018;
We adjusted our financial forecast to reflect the anticipated higher revenue growth rate, in particular the impact for the several series of new
products launched in March 2018, and better financial performance in the future due to the abovementioned developments; and
As a result of milestone events described above and the continuous growth of our business, the discount rate decreased from 15.5% as of
December 31, 2017 to 14.3% as of August 23, 2018.
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expenses arise from share-based awards, mainly including restricted shares held by our management and share options
for the purchase of ordinary shares. We account for share-based awards granted to our management in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation.
Before the reorganization, pursuant to certain equity interest investment entered into by and between the founder and Xiaomi dated as of June 6,
2014, the restricted shares held by our management were subject to a repurchase feature under which Xiaomi shall purchase the interest held by our
management at the original investment amount if our management voluntarily terminate their employment with Foshan Viomi. The restricted shares should
be classified as equity classified awards as the underlying shares of the awards are ordinary shares of Foshan Viomi and the awards do not contain any of
the characteristics of liability awards described in ASC718. The restricted shares are accounted for as share-based compensation based on the grant date
fair value over the vesting period.
After the reorganization completed in July 2015, the repurchase feature remains, however, it became our Company’s right, and not the obligation, to
repurchase. With respect to the remaining unvested interest granted to the founder on behalf of certain key management founders, the underlying shares
changed from ordinary shares of Foshan Viomi to Class A Ordinary Shares of the Company. These shares remain to be equity classified awards as they do
not contain any characteristics of a liability award and were continually accounted for as share-based compensation based on the grant date fair value over
the remaining vesting period. With respect to the remaining unvested interest granted to the Founder, the underlying shares changed from ordinary shares of
Foshan Viomi to redeemable class B ordinary shares of the Company, which are redeemable convertible shares. These awards have been reclassified as
liability classified awards as the underlying class B ordinary shares are redeemable at a fixed price plus 6% interest per year at the option of the holder if
there is no qualified IPO after a certain period of time. According to ASC718, such awards effectively consist of: (1) a liability component representing the
company’s obligation to pay the redemption price if the holder chooses to redeem, and (2) an equity component representing the upside potential of the
class B ordinary shares, measured using an option pricing model. At the time of the modification, the Company compared the fair value of the original
award
69
immediately before the modification, and the total fair value of the liability component and the equity component immediately after the modification. The
incremental compensation amount is recognized over the remaining vesting period. The amount related to the liability component is recorded as a liability
measured at the redemption price, subsequently accreted at 6% per year to reflect the increase in redemption price over time according to the terms of the
class B ordinary shares, until the award is settled. The liability award is considered settled only upon redemption or IPO, when the class B ordinary shares
are converted to class A ordinary shares at which time, the redemption feature would expire.
Upon the completion of the IPO on September 25, 2018, all pre-IPO redeemable class B ordinary shares were converted into Class B ordinary
shares, the liability award had been settled.
For share options for the purchase of ordinary shares granted to our employees determined to be equity classified awards, the related share-based
compensation expenses are recognized in our consolidated financial statements based on the grant date fair values which are calculated using the binomial
option pricing model. The determination of the fair value is affected by the share price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and
subjective variables, including the expected share price volatility, actual and projected employee share option exercise behavior, risk-free interest rates and
expected dividends. The fair value of our ordinary shares is assessed using the income approach/DCF method, with a DLOM, given that the shares
underlying the awards were not publicly traded at the time of grant. Share-based compensation expenses are recorded net of estimated forfeitures using
graded-vesting method during the service period requirement, such that expenses are recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to
ultimately vest.
Share options
On September 17, 2015, our board of directors approved the establishment of 2015 Share Incentive Plan, the purpose of which is to provide an
incentive for employees contributing to us. The 2015 Share Incentive Plan is valid and effective for 10 years from the grant date. The maximum number of
shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards (including incentive share options) under 2015 Share Incentive Plan is 12,727,272 shares.
In June 2018, our board of directors and shareholders approved the 2018 Share Incentive Plan, pursuant to which the maximum aggregate number
of shares issuable was initially 17,672,728, and increases an amount equal to 1% of the then total outstanding shares at the beginning of each fiscal year.
We calculated the estimated fair value of the options on the respective grant dates using the binomial option pricing model. Assumptions used to
determine the fair value of share options granted during 2017 and 2018 are summarized in the following table:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected volatility
Expected life of option (years)
Expected dividend yield
Fair value per ordinary share
2017
3.06% - 3.89%
47.02% - 49.44%
10
—
US$0.76-US$1.59
2018
3.62% ~ 3.92%
45.51% - 46.99%
10
—
US$1.61-US$3.30
Risk-free interest rate. Risk-free interest rate was estimated based on the yield to maturity of China Government Bond with a maturity period close
to the contractual term of the options.
Expected life of option (years). Expected life of option (years) represents the expected years to vest the options.
Volatility. The volatility of the underlying ordinary shares during the life of the options was estimated based on the historical stock price volatility
of comparable listed companies over a period comparable to the contractual term of the options.
Dividend yield. The dividend yield was estimated by us based on its expected dividend policy over the contractual term of the options.
Redeemable convertible preferred shares
Pursuant to a shares purchase agreement, we issued certain class B ordinary shares to Mr. Chen and Xiaomi during the reorganization, and we also
issued a total of 18,181,818 shares of series A preferred shares.
We classified the series A preferred shares and class B ordinary shares as mezzanine equity in the consolidated balance sheets because they were
redeemable at the holders’ option any time after a certain date and were contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of certain liquidation events outside
of our control. The series A preferred shares and class B ordinary shares are recorded initially at fair value, net of issuance costs.
70
Prior to the reorganization, the 40% initial equity interests of Foshan Viomi held by the founder for himself has liquidation preference, and the 40%
initial equity interests of Foshan Viomi held by Tianjin Jinxing has liquidation preference and also becomes redeemable in the event of a breach of contract
by Foshan Viomi.
Upon completion of the reorganization, both Mr. Chen and Tianjin Jinxing’s equity interests in Foshan Viomi were exchanged into 67,636,364 class
B ordinary shares of us, respectively. After the reorganization, the most significant change in the provision is the addition of redemption clause which
allows the holders of the class B ordinary shares to redeem the class B ordinary shares if there is no IPO after the fifth anniversary of the completion of the
series A preferred share financing. This transaction was considered as an extinguishment of the previous equity interests and therefore, the class B ordinary
shares are measured at their fair value on the extinguishment date.
We recognize changes in the redemption value ratable over the redemption period. Increases in the carrying amount of the redeemable preferred
shares are recorded by charges against retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, by charges as reduction of additional paid-in capital until
additional paid-in capital is reduced to zero. Once additional paid-in capital is reduced to zero, the redemption value measurement adjustment is recognized
as an increase in accumulated deficit.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Item 17 of Part III, “Financial Statements—Note 2—Significant accounting policies—Recently issued accounting pronouncements.”
C.
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, Etc.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Research and Development” and “—Intellectual Property.”
D.
Trend Information
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events since the
beginning of our fiscal year 2019 that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our net revenues, income, profitability, liquidity or capital
resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future operating results or financial conditions.
E.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. In addition, 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 any retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity that
serves as credit, liquidity or market risk support to such entity. We do not have any variable interest in any unconsolidated entity that provides financing,
liquidity, market risk or credit support to us or engages in leasing, hedging or product development services with us.
F.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019.
Payment Due by Period
Operating lease obligation(1)
27,939
8,540
Total
Less than
1 Year
1 – 3 Years
(RMB in thousands)
15,207
3 – 5 Years
More than
5 Years
4,192
—
Note:
(1)
Operating lease obligation consist of the commitments under the lease agreements for our office premises, an offline store and several factories.
As of December 31, 2019, we had no outstanding capital commitments.
G.
Safe Harbor
See “Forward-Looking Statements” on page 1 of this annual report.
71
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
Xiaoping Chen
De Liu
Jinling Zhang
Weijiang Wu
Jun Li
Shun Jiang
Age
45
46
48
43
41
35
Position/Title
Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors
and Chief Executive Officer
Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Xiaoping Chen is our founder, and has served as the chairman of our board of directors and chief executive officer since our inception. Mr. Chen
founded our company in May 2014. Prior to that, he served multiple positions in Midea Group Co., Ltd from 1999 to 2014, including vice president of
development department and he was in charge of the research & development center from 2013 to 2014. Mr. Chen received his MBA degree from Sun Yat-
sen University, and his dual bachelor’s degrees in engineering and finance from Huazhong University of Science & Technology in 1998.
Mr. De Liu has served as our director since June 2018. Mr. Liu is one of the co-founders and a senior vice president of Xiaomi, where he is
responsible for the organization department and serves as the secretary of the party committee. He currently also serves as a director of Huami Corporation,
a NYSE-listed company (NYSE: HMI). Mr. Liu is a leading figure in industrial design in China and has received numerous industrial design awards
together with his team, including 5 Red Dot Design Awards (Germany), 18 iF Design Awards (Germany) and 10 Red Star Design Awards (Mainland,
China). Mr. Liu also holds various positions, including the vice-chairman of China Industrial Design Association and a member of National Manufacturing
Strategy Advisory Committee. Mr. Liu has received many honors in the business world as well. To name a few, he was awarded “Zhongguancun Top
Talent” in 2015 and “Beijing Top Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leading Talent” in 2016. Mr. Liu received his bachelor’s degree in industrial design and
master’s degree in mechanical design and theory from Beijing Institute of Technology in 1996 and 2001, respectively, and his master’s degree in industrial
design from the Art Center College of Design in 2010.
Ms. Jinling Zhang has served as our independent director since September 2018. Ms. Zhang has served as the chief financial officer of Baidu
Capital since 2018. Prior to her current role at Baidu Capital, Ms. Zhang served as the chief financial officer of Baidu Group in 2017, the vice president of
finance and investment of Xiaomi from 2013 to 2016, as the financial controller of Cisco Networks Asia Pacific in Japan and Greater China from 2010 to
2013, and as the financial and operational controller of global operations in Seagate Technology from 2006 to 2010. Ms. Zhang received her bachelor’s
degree in accounting from Capital University of Economics and Business in 1994, and her MBA from William E. Simon Business School of the University
of Rochester in 2001. Ms. Zhang is a Chinese Certified Public Accountant, a Chinese Certified Tax Adviser and an American Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Weijiang Wu has served as our independent director since September 2018. Mr. Wu has been the vice president of Zhejiang Youpon Integrated
Ceiling Co., Ltd., a Shenzhen Stock Exchange listed company, since March 2010, and served several senior roles in charge of marketing and strategies
from 2005 to 2009. Prior to his roles in Zhejiang Youpon Tegrated Ceiling Co., Ltd., Mr. Wu served as assistant to marketing manager in Guangdong Opple
Lighting Co., Ltd. From 2003 to 2004, and the chief of the franchising department in Guangdong Vatti Group from 2001 to 2002. Mr. Wu received his
bachelor’s degree in engineering from Huazhong University of Science & Technology in 1998.
Mr. Jun Li has served as our independent director since September 2019. Mr. Li is a professor, Ph. D. supervisor, and the Deputy Dean of College of
Engineering in South China Agricultural University. Prior to joining South China Agricultural University in July 2007, Mr. Jun Li served as the sales and
services manager in Wuyang-Honda Motors (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd from July 1998 to August 2002. Mr. Jun Li received his master’s degree in mechatronic
engineering in 2004 and his doctor’s degree in vehicle engineering in 2007, both from South China University of Technology.
Mr. Shun Jiang has served as our chief financial officer since August 2018 and is responsible for our finance, strategy and investments functions.
Prior to joining us in August 2018, Mr. Jiang served as an executive director in Morgan Stanley’s investment banking division and worked there from July
2015 to August 2018. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Mr. Jiang served as a vice president at Deutsche Bank’s corporate finance division and worked there from
April 2010 to June 2015. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr. Jiang served as an associate at HSBC Group and worked there from October 2007 to April 2010. Mr.
Jiang received his dual bachelor of commerce and bachelor of laws degrees from The University of Melbourne in 2007.
72
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, for certain acts of the executive officer, such as conviction or
plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, dishonest acts to our detriment, misconduct or continued failure to perform agreed duties,
or willful misconduct or gross negligence in performing the duties. We may also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon 60-day
advance written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will provide severance payments to the executive officer as may be agreed between us and the
executive officer. The executive officer may resign at any time with a 60-day 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 years following the termination of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) approach our
suppliers, clients, customers or contacts or other persons or entities introduced to the executive officer in his or her capacity as a representative of us for the
purpose of doing similar business with such persons or entities that will harm our business relationships with these persons or entities; (ii) assume
employment with or provide services to any of our competitors, or engage, whether as principal, partner, licensor or otherwise, any of our competitors,
without our express consent; (iii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any of our employees who is known to be employed or engaged by us;
or (iv) otherwise interfere with our business or accounts.
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.
B.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
In 2019, we paid an aggregate of approximately RMB4.1 million in cash to our executive officers, and RMB810,000 to our independent directors.
We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our directors and executive officers. Our PRC
subsidiary and VIEs 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.
2015 Share Incentive Plan
In September 2015, our shareholders and board of directors adopted the 2015 Share Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the 2015 Plan in this annual
report, to attract and retain the best available personnel, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of
our business. The maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under the 2015 Plan is 12,727,272 shares. As of
December 31, 2019, awards to purchase 10,895,268 ordinary shares have been granted and are outstanding under the 2015 Plan, excluding awards that
were exercised, forfeited or cancelled after the relevant grant dates.
The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2015 Plan.
Types of Awards. The 2015 Plan permits the awards of options and restricted shares.
Plan Administration. The board of directors or one or more committees designated by the board of directors or another committee, within its
delegated authority, acts as the plan administrator. The plan administrator will determine the participants who are to receive awards, the type or types of
awards to be granted, the number of awards to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each award grant. The plan administrator can amend outstanding
awards and interpret the terms of the 2015 Plan and any award agreement.
Award Agreement. Awards granted under the 2015 Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions for each
grant. The award agreements evidencing options shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Award, as well as any other terms,
provisions, or restrictions that the administrator may impose on the option or any ordinary shares subject to the option.
73
Exercise of Awards. The exercise price of an award will be determined by the plan administrator, which will be specified in applicable award
agreement. Each option shall expire not more than 10 years after its date of grant.
Eligibility. We may grant awards to our officers, employees, consultants, and all members of the board of directors.
Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is set forth in the relevant award agreement.
Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
except as otherwise provided by the plan administrator.
Termination. The plan shall terminate in September 2025, provided that our board of directors may terminate the plan at any time and for any
reason.
2018 Share Incentive Plan
In June 2018, our shareholders and board of directors adopted the 2018 Share Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the 2018 Plan in this annual
report, to attract and retain the best available personnel, provide additional incentives to employees, directors and consultants and promote the success of
our business. The maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant to all awards is 17,672,728, plus an annual increase on the first day
of each of the fiscal years of the Company after the completion of our initial public offering during the term of this Plan commencing, by (i) an amount
equal to 1% of the total number of the then outstanding shares or (ii) such fewer number of Shares as may be determined by the Board. As of December 31,
2019, the maximum of shares that may be issued under the 2018 Share Incentive Plan was 19,750,728, awards to purchase 470,000 ordinary shares have
been granted and are outstanding under the 2018 Plan, excluding awards that were forfeited or cancelled after the relevant grant dates.
The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2018 Plan.
Types of Awards. The Plan permits the awards of options, restricted shares and restricted share units.
Plan Administration. The board of directors or a committee designated by the board of directors or another committee, within its delegated
authority, acts as the plan administrator. The plan administrator will determine the participants who are to receive awards, the type or types of awards to be
granted, the number of awards to be granted, and the terms and conditions of each award grant. The plan administrator can amend outstanding awards and
interpret the terms of the 2018 Plan and any award agreement.
Award Agreement. Awards granted under the 2018 Plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions for each
grant. The award agreements evidencing awards shall contain the terms established by the Administrator for that Award, as well as any other terms,
provisions, or restrictions that the administrator may impose on the option or any ordinary shares subject to the option.
Exercise of Options. The exercise price per share subject to an option will be determined by the committee, which will be specified in applicable
award agreement.
Eligibility. We may grant awards to our employees, consultants, and directors, as determined by the committee.
Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is set forth in the relevant award agreement.
Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
except as otherwise provided by the plan administrator.
Termination and Amendment of the 2018 Plan. The 2018 Plan has a term of ten years, provided that our board of directors may terminate or
amend the plan at any time and for any reason. However, no such action may adversely affect in any material way any awards previously granted unless
agreed by the recipient.
The following table summarizes, as of December 31, 2019, the awards granted under the 2015 Plan and 2018 Plan to our directors and executive
officers, excluding awards that were forfeited or cancelled after the relevant grant dates.
Name
Shun Jiang
Note:
*Less than 1% of our total outstanding shares.
Ordinary
Share
Underlying
Options
Exercise
Price
(US$/Share)
Date of
Grant
*
0.55
August 23, 2018
Date of
Expiration
August 22, 2028
74
As of December 31, 2019, other employees as a group held outstanding options to purchase 10,365,267 ordinary shares of our company, at a
weighted average exercise price of US$0.43 per share.
Shares awarded to Mr. Xiaoping Chen
In August 2018, we issued 4,000,000 class A ordinary shares at par value to Mr. Xiaoping Chen’s wholly-owned entity Viomi Limited to award his
contribution to our company’s rapid development. Such shares were immediately vested. The issuance of such shares is accounted for as a share-based
compensation to Mr. Xiaoping Chen. The share-based compensation expenses related to this one-off share award was RMB90.2 million (US$13.1 million).
C.
Board Practices
Our board of directors consists of five directors. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company by way of qualification. A director
may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract, transaction or proposed transaction in which he is interested provided (a) such director has
declared the nature of his interest at the earliest meeting of the board at which it is practicable for him to do so, either specifically or by way of a general
notice, (b) such director has not been disqualified by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, and (c) if such contract or arrangement is a transaction
with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit committee in accordance with the Nasdaq rules. The directors may from time to time
at their discretion exercise all the powers of the company to raise or borrow money, mortgage or charge its undertaking, property and assets (present and
future) and uncalled capital or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock, bonds or other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for
any debt, liability or obligation of the 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.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We have established 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. Each committee’s members and functions are described below.
Audit Committee. Our audit committee consists of Ms. Jinling Zhang and Mr. Jun Li. Ms. Jinling Zhang is the chairman of our audit committee. We
have determined that Ms. Jinling Zhang and Mr. Jun Li satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule5605(c)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq and
Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We have determined that Ms. Jinling Zhang qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” The audit committee
oversees our accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee is responsible for,
among other things:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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;
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.
Compensation Committee. Our compensation committee consists of Mr. Xiaoping Chen, Ms. Jinling Zhang and Mr. Weijiang Wu. Ms. Jinling
Zhang is the chairman of our compensation committee. We have determined that Ms. Jinling Zhang and Mr. Weijiang Wu satisfy the “independence”
requirements of Rule5605(c)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq. The compensation committee assists the board in reviewing and approving the
compensation structure, including all forms of compensation, relating to our directors and executive officers. Our chief executive officer may not be present
at any committee meeting during which his compensation is deliberated. The compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:
•
•
•
reviewing and approving, or recommending to the board for its approval, the compensation for our chief executive officer and other
executive officers;
reviewing and recommending to the board for determination with respect to the compensation of our non-employee directors;
reviewing periodically and approving any incentive compensation or equity plans, programs or similar arrangements; and
75
•
selecting compensation consultant, legal counsel or other adviser only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to that person’s
independence from management.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Mr. Xiaoping Chen, Ms.
Jinling Zhang and Mr. Weijiang Wu. Mr. Xiaoping Chen is the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee. Ms. Jinling Zhang and
Mr. Weijiang Wu satisfy the “independence” requirements of Rule5605(c)(2) of the Listing Rules of the Nasdaq. 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;
and
advising the board periodically with regards to significant developments in the law and practice of corporate governance as well as our
compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and making recommendations to the board on all matters of corporate governance and on
any remedial action to be taken.
Duties of Directors
Under Cayman Islands law, our directors owe fiduciary duties to our company, including a duty of loyalty, a duty to act honestly, and a duty to act in
what they consider in good faith to be in our best interests. Our directors must also exercise their powers only for a proper purpose. Our directors also owe
to our company a duty to exercise skills they actually possess and such care and diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable
circumstances. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the performance of his duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably
be expected from a person of his knowledge and experience. However, English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with
regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors
must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time. Our company has the right to seek
damages if a duty owed by our directors is breached. In certain limited exceptional circumstances, a shareholder may have the right to seek damages in our
name if a duty owed by our 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 and extraordinary 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.
76
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. A director will be removed from office
automatically if, among other things, the director (i) becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies, or is found by
our company to be 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, is absent from three consecutive board meetings and our board of directors resolve that his office be vacated; or (v) is removed from office pursuant
to any other provision of our memorandum and articles of association.
D.
Employees
We had 733 employees as of December 31, 2019. The following table sets forth the numbers of our employees categorized by function as of
December 31, 2019:
Function:
Research and development
Manufacturing
Sales and marketing
General administration
Total
As of
December 31,
2019
334
24
330
45
733
We invest significant resources in the recruitment and training of our employees in support of our fast-growing business operations. We have a
variety of training programs.
As required by laws and regulations in China, we participate in various employee social security plans that are organized by municipal and
provincial governments, including housing, pension, medical insurance, childbirth insurance, work-related injury insurance, employment injury insurance,
maternity insurance and unemployment insurance. We are required under PRC law to make contributions to employee benefit plans at specified
percentages of the salaries, bonuses and certain allowances of our employees, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to
time.
We enter into standard confidentiality and employment agreements with our key employees. The agreements with our key personnel typically
include standard non-compete covenants that prohibit the employee from competing with us, directly or indirectly, during his or her employment and for
two years after the termination of his or her employment, provided that we pay compensation equal to a certain proportion of his or her pre-departure salary
on a monthly basis during the restriction period.
We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any material labor disputes.
E.
Share Ownership
Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our shares as of March 31, 2020
by:
•
•
each of our directors and executive officers; and
each of our principal shareholders who beneficially own 5% or more of our total outstanding shares on an as-converted basis.
The calculations in the table below are based on 209,574,008 ordinary shares outstanding, consisting of 98,724,008 Class A ordinary shares
(excluding 6,540,438 Class A ordinary shares that were issued to our depositary bank and are reserved for future grants under our share incentive plans)
and 110,850,000 Class B ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2020.
77
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned
by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, we have included shares that the person has the right to acquire within 60 days, including through
the exercise of any option, warrant or other right or the conversion of any other security. These shares, however, are not included in the computation of the
percentage ownership of any other person.
Directors and Executive Officers*:
Xiaoping Chen(1)
De Liu
Jinling Zhang
Weijiang Wu
Jun Li
Shun Jiang
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
Principal Shareholders:
Viomi Limited(2)
Shunwei Talent Limited(3)
Red Better Limited(4)
Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned
Class A
Ordinary
Shares
Class B
Ordinary
Shares
% of total
ordinary
shares
% of
aggregate
voting
power**
4,701,904
—
—
—
—
—
4,701,904
71,686,364
—
—
—
—
—
71,686,364
3,348,187
33,716,364
330,000
67,636,364
—
33,818,182
36.4%
—
—
—
—
—
36.4%
33.9%
16.1%
16.3%
59.8%
—
—
—
—
—
59.8%
56.3%
2.8%
28.0%
Notes:
*
Each of Mr. Xiaoping Chen and Mr. Shun Jiang’s business address is Wansheng Square, Rm 1302 Tower C, Xingang East Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Guangdong,
510220, People’s Republic of China. Mr. De Liu’s business address is Xiaomi Mobile Internet Industrial Park, No. 114, Anningzhuang North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100085,
People’s Republic of China. **For each person or group included in this column, percentage of total voting power represents voting power based on both Class A and Class B ordinary
shares held by such person or group with respect to all outstanding shares of our Class A and Class B ordinary shares as a single class. Each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to
one vote per share. Each holder of our Class B ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per share. Our Class B ordinary shares are convertible at any time by the holder into Class A ordinary
shares on a one-for-one basis.
(1)
Represents (i) 67,636,364 Class B ordinary shares, 3,100,000 Class A ordinary shares and 248,187 Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADS beneficially owned by Viomi Limited, a
British Virgin Islands company, (ii) 2,650,000 Class B ordinary shares and 1,195,851 Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADS beneficially owned by TMF Trust (HK) Limited, a Hong
Kong company, and (iii) 1,400,000 Class B ordinary shares and 479,859 Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADS beneficially owned by certain employees.
(2)
(3)
(4)
Viomi Limited is wholly owned by a trust established for the benefit of Mr. Xiaoping Chen and his family. TMF Trust (HK) Limited is wholly owned by a trust established for the benefit
of certain employees and their families. Mr. Xiaoping Chen is the sole member of the advisory committee, and has the sole power to direct the disposition and voting of the shares held by
the trust. The abovementioned certain employees granted an irrevocable voting proxy for all their ordinary shares to Mr. Xiaoping Chen.
Represents 67,636,364 Class B ordinary shares, 3,100,000 Class A ordinary shares and 248,187 Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADS held by Viomi Limited, a British Virgin Islands
company. Viomi Limited is wholly owned by Mr. Xiaoping Chen. The registered address of Viomi Limited is 30 de Castro Street, Wickhams Cay 1, P.O. Box 4519, Road Town, Tortola,
British Virgin Islands.
Represents 33,716,364 Class A ordinary shares held by Shunwei Talent Limited. Information regarding beneficial ownership is reported as of December 31, 2019, based on the information
contained in the Schedule 13G/A filed by Shunwei Talent Limited with SEC on February 12, 2020. The registered address of Shunwei Talent Limited is Vistra Corporate Services Center,
Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, VG 1110, British Virgin Islands. Shunwei Talent Limited is wholly owned by Shunwei China Internet Fund II, L.P. The general partner of Shunwei
China Internet Fund II, L.P. is Shunwei Capital Partners II GP, L.P. The general partner of Shunwei Capital Partners II GP, L.P. is Shunwei Capital Partners II GP Limited. The shareholders
of Shunwei Capital Partners II GP Limited are Team Guide Limited, a British Virgin Islands company which is wholly-owned by Mr. Jun Lei, and Gifted Ventures Limited, another British
Virgin Islands company, which is wholly owned by Mr. Koh Tuck Lye.
Represents 33,818,182 Class B ordinary shares and 333,000 Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADSs held by Red Better Limited, a British Virgin Islands liability limited company.
Information regarding beneficial ownership is reported as of December 31, 2018, based on the information contained in the Schedule 13G filed by Red Better Limited with SEC on
February 1, 2019. The address of Red Better Limited is Jayla Place, Wickhams Cay 1, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Red Better Limited is wholly owned by Fast Pace
Limited, a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Xiaomi Corporation.
To our knowledge, as of March 31, 2020, 99,891,717 of our Class A ordinary shares were held by one record holder in the United States, which is
the depositary of our ADS program. As of March 31, 2020, none of our Class B ordinary shares are held by U.S. record holders. 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.
We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our company.
78
ITEM 7.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
A. Major Shareholders
Please refer to “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership.”
B.
Related Party Transactions
Contractual Arrangements with Our VIEs and Their Respective Shareholders
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”
Shareholders Agreement and Investor Rights Agreement
Shareholders agreement and registration rights
We entered into a shareholders agreement on July 21, 2015 with our shareholders, which consist of holders of ordinary shares and preferred shares.
The shareholders agreement provides for certain special rights, including right of first refusal, co-sale rights, preemptive rights and contains provisions
governing the board of directors and other corporate governance matters. Those corporate governance provisions, as well as special rights, except the
registration rights, have automatically terminate upon the completion of our initial public offering.
Registration rights granted to shareholders
We have granted certain registration rights to our shareholders under the shareholders agreement. Set forth below is a description of the registration
rights.
Demand Registration Rights. At any time after the earlier of (i) July 21, 2021 or (ii) one year following the closing of an initial public offering,
holders of at least 25% of the redeemable convertible class B ordinary shares and preferred shares (or ordinary shares issued on the conversion of
redeemable convertible class B ordinary shares and preferred shares) then outstanding has the right to demand that we file a registration statement covering
at least 20% (or any lesser percentage if the anticipated gross proceeds to us from such proposed offering would exceed US$5.0 million) of the registrable
securities. We have the right to defer filing of a registration statement for a period of not more than 90 days (except for a registration statement on Form F-
3, which shall be 60 days) after the receipt of the request of the initiating holders if we furnish to the holders requesting registration a certificate signed by
our president or chief executive officer stating that in the good faith judgment of our board of directors, it would be materially detrimental to us and our
shareholders for such registration statement to be filed at such time. However, we cannot exercise the deferral right more than once in any 12-month period.
We are obligated to effect no more than two demand registrations, other than demand registration to be effected pursuant to registration statement on Form
F-3, for which an unlimited number of demand registrations shall be permitted.
Piggyback Registration Rights. If we propose to file a registration statement for a public offering of our securities, we must offer our shareholders
an opportunity to include in the registration all or any part of the registrable securities held by such holders. If the managing underwriters of any
underwritten offering determine in good faith that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, the managing
underwriters may exclude shares from the registration and the underwriting, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and
underwriting shall be allocated first, to us, second to each of the holders requesting inclusion of their registrable securities on a pro rata basis, and third to
holders of other securities of us.
Form F-3 Registration Rights. Our shareholders may request us in writing to file an unlimited number of registration statements on Form F-3 so
long as such registration offerings are in excess of US$500,000. We shall effect the registration of the securities on Form F-3 as soon as practicable, except
in certain circumstances.
Expenses of Registration. We will bear all registration expenses, other than selling expenses, underwriting discounts and commissions, and fees for
special counsel of the holders participating in such registration, incurred in connection with any demand, piggyback or Form F-3 registration.
Termination of Registration Rights. Our shareholders’ registration rights will terminate on the earlier of (i) the date that is the fifth anniversary of
the closing of our initial public offering, (ii) upon our termination, liquidation, dissolution, and liquidation event and (iii) with respect to any shareholder,
when the registrable securities proposed to be sold by such shareholder may then be sold without registration in any 90-day period pursuant to Rule 144
under the Securities Act.
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees — A. Directors and Senior Management — Employment Agreements and
Indemnification Agreements.”
79
Share Incentive Plans
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers—2015 Share Incentive Plan”
and “2018 Share Incentive Plan.”
Private Placements
In August 2018, we issued 4,000,000 class A ordinary shares to Mr. Xiaoping Chen’s wholly-owned entity Viomi Limited to award his contribution
to our company’s rapid development.
Our Relationship with Xiaomi
Xiaomi is our strategic partner, shareholder and customer. Our strategic partnership with Xiaomi provides us access to Xiaomi’s ecosystem users,
sales platforms and data resources and related support. Meanwhile, our strong research and development capabilities, supply chain resources and innovative
products and services are able to enrich Xiaomi’s suite of offerings, resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship between Xiaomi and us. Our cooperation
with and sales to Xiaomi extends to a diversified range of products, which currently include Xiaomi-branded water purification systems, water purifier
filters, range-hoods and gas stoves, dishwashers, sweeper robots, blenders as well as other complimentary products such as kettles and water quality
meters.
Under our cooperation agreement with Xiaomi, we are responsible for the design, research, development, production and delivery of various
Xiaomi-branded products to Xiaomi. Xiaomi is then responsible for commercial distributions and sales. For certain products under our cooperation with
Xiaomi, the selling price is a fixed amount as agreed by both parties. For other products, we first recover our manufacturers and logistics cost when we
deliver to Xiaomi, and are additionally entitled to share a portion of the gross profit when Xiaomi is successful in selling such products to end consumers.
A business cooperation agreement provides the terms and conditions of the latter pattern.
We also sell products through Xiaomi’s online e-commerce channel, Youpin, and are charged of commissions pursuant to a commission sales
agreement.
In 2019, revenues generated from sales to Xiaomi, predominantly comprising Xiaomi-branded products, was RMB2,112.2 million (US$303.4
million), accounting for 45.4% of our net revenues.
Business cooperation agreement
The current business cooperation agreement entered into in 2017 with Xiaomi governs the design, production and sales to Xiaomi in relation to
certain specified product categories, including some SKUs of Xiaomi-branded water purification systems, water purifier filters, as well as other
complementary products such as kettles and water quality meters. This contract contains an auto-renewal provision, and was most recently renewed in
November 2019 for another year. This agreement can be terminated earlier by Xiaomi, among other reasons, if (i) we breach the material obligation
underlying this agreement and purchase order, (ii) except as prohibited by applicable bankruptcy laws, we declare bankruptcy, or if we are unable to repay
due loans, or perform contracts, or if our assets are transferred to or taken by other creditors, (iii) the products fail to meet Xiaomi’s requirements, and
Xiaomi determines that there is no value to remedy or the products still fail the requirement after three times’ remedies, (iv) we fail to deliver the products
on time without reasonable cause and Xiaomi’s prior written consent, and (v) we fail to store the data to clouds designated by Xiaomi, cause disputes of
violating users’ personal information, or disclose user data to any third party without Xiaomi’s consent.
Under the business cooperation agreement, (i) these products are exclusively designed for and can only be sold to Xiaomi, (ii) Xiaomi shall
purchase these products at a price that covers all of our costs of raw materials, outsourcing manufacture, models and logistics, in connection with the
manufacture and delivery of these products, and (iii) Xiaomi and we shall share gross profits, derived from sales of these products, the retail prices of
which were set by Xiaomi and us together.
Regarding the intellectual property, Xiaomi by itself owns all industrial designs generated from the process of design, development, manufacturing
and sales of the products we sell to Xiaomi. Xiaomi and we have joint ownership over all other technology properties and related intellectual properties
generated from the process of design, development, manufacturing and sales of these products.
Regarding user data, we shall share with Xiaomi user data collected in relation to the respective Xiaomi-branded products. We can share or license
user data to third parties only after we obtain Xiaomi’s prior written consent. After the user data of Xiaomi-branded products reaches certain threshold,
Xiaomi will also need to obtain our consent before making it available for use by any third party.
80
In addition to the business cooperation agreement, we have entered into a cooperation arrangement with Xiaomi related to a certain type of
products. Under the arrangement, we act as an agent of Xiaomi to procure suppliers without obtaining the control, risks and rewards of the products during
the whole process. We recognize revenue of sales on a net basis for these products.
Youpin commission sales agreement
We have entered into a commission sales agreement with Xiaomi for the sale of our own branded products on Youpin. The commission sales
agreement expired on December 31, 2019 and has been renewed up to December 31, 2020. Furthermore, this agreement may be terminated by Xiaomi with
30 days’ written notice.
Under the commission sales agreement, we shall pay a service fee, calculated as approximately 11% of the sales price excluding customers’ refunds
or as otherwise agreed by the parties with respect to specific product lines, as well as a deposit to Xiaomi. The retail prices of our products on Youpin’s
platform shall be no higher than the sales price from any other e-commerce merchants or our official offline sales channel, including in the event of sales or
promotion.
Transaction with Xiaomi
In 2019, we recorded RMB2,112.2 million (US$303.4 million) in revenues from Xiaomi primarily for the sales of Xiaomi branded products. As of
December 31, 2019, the amount due from Xiaomi was RMB731.9 million (US$105.1 million).
In 2018, we recorded RMB1,311.9 million in revenues from Xiaomi primarily for the sales of Xiaomi branded products. As of December 31, 2018,
the amount due from Xiaomi was RMB373.3 million (US$54.3 million).
In 2017, we recorded RMB739.5 million in revenues from Xiaomi primarily for the sales of Xiaomi-branded products. As of December 31, 2017,
the amount due from Xiaomi was RMB273.7 million, which was all collected in the first quarter of 2018.
We provided an interest-bearing loan of US$5.0 million to Xiaomi in 2016, which was repaid in March 2018. We also recorded RMB0.3 million,
RMB0.5 million and RMB0.1 million in interest income from this loan in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. We borrowed an interest-bearing loan of
RMB31.9 million from Xiaomi, which was also repaid in March 2018. We also incurred RMB1.8 million, RMB1.8 million and RMB0.4 million of interest
expense for this loan in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
We purchased RMB1.7 million, RMB18.2 million and RMB43.0 million (US$6.2 million) of products from Xiaomi in 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively. We recognized RMB3.3 million, RMB24.6 million and RMB81.9 million (US$11.8 million) in commission fees and advertising fees to
Xiaomi in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, which was incurred by selling our own self-branded products on Youpin.
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.
Legal Proceedings
We are currently not a party to any material legal or administrative proceedings. We may from time to time be subject to various legal or
administrative claims and proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. For instance, please refer to “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—
Risk Related to Our Business and Industry—We may encounter claims alleging our infringement of third-party intellectual properties from time to time”
for information of certain such litigation. Litigation or any other legal or administrative proceeding, regardless of the outcome, is likely to result in
substantial cost and diversion of our resources, including our management’s time and attention.
Dividend Policy
Our board of directors has discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to certain requirements of Cayman Islands law. In addition, our
shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of directors. In either case,
all dividends are subject to certain restrictions under Cayman Islands law, namely that our company may only pay dividends out of profits or share
premium, and provided always that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they
fall due in the ordinary course of business. Even if we decide 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.
81
On March 18, 2019, our board of directors declared a special cash dividend of US$0.0333 per ordinary share (or US$0.1 per ADS) on our
outstanding ordinary shares. Going forward, we intend to retain most, if not all, of our available funds and any future earnings to operate and expand our
business. We do not have any present plan to pay regular cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future.
We are a holding company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. We may rely on dividends from our subsidiaries in China for our cash requirements,
including any payment of dividends to our shareholders. PRC regulations may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends to us. See “Item 4.
Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulation on Dividend Distributions.”
If we pay any dividends on our Class A ordinary shares, we will pay those dividends which are payable in respect of the Class A ordinary shares
underlying our ADSs to the depositary, as the registered holder of such Class A ordinary shares, and the depositary then will pay such amounts to our ADS
holders in proportion to Class A ordinary shares underlying the ADSs held by such ADS holders, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, including
the fees and expenses payable thereunder. Cash dividends on our Class A ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
B.
Significant Changes
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated
financial statements included in this annual report.
ITEM 9.
THE OFFER AND LISTING
A.
Offering and Listing Details
Our ADSs, each representing three Class A ordinary shares of ours, have been listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market since September 25, 2018 under
the symbol “VIOT.”
B.
Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C. Markets
Our ADSs, each representing three Class A ordinary shares of ours, have been listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market since September 25, 2018 under
the symbol “VIOT.”
D.
Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
E.
Dilution
Not applicable.
F.
Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
ITEM 10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A.
Share Capital
Not applicable.
B.
Memorandum and Articles of Association
The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association and of the Companies Law of the Cayman
Islands, or the Companies Law, insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
Objects of Our Company. Under our memorandum and articles of association, the objects of our company are unrestricted and we have the full
power and authority to carry out any object not prohibited by the Cayman Islands law.
82
Ordinary Shares. Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of our Class A ordinary shares
and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are
issued when registered in our register of shareholders. We may not issue shares to bearer. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands
may freely hold and vote their shares.
Conversion. Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A ordinary shares
are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share
by Mr. Xiaoping Chen or Viomi Limited to any person who is not Mr. Chen Xiaoping or his affiliate(s), or upon a change of ultimate beneficial ownership
of any Class B ordinary share to any person who is not Mr. Xiaoping Chen or his affiliate(s), such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and
immediately converted into one Class A ordinary share. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share by a shareholder
other than Mr. Xiaoping Chen or his affiliate(s) to any person, such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class
A ordinary share.
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 declare dividends by ordinary resolution, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Our memorandum and
articles of association provide that dividends may be declared and paid out of our profits, realized or unrealized, or from any reserve set aside from funds
legally available for distribution. Under the laws of the Cayman Islands, our company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account,
provided that in no circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary
course of business.
Voting Rights In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote per share and
each holder of Class B ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per share on all matters subject to vote at our general meetings. Our Class A ordinary shares
and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by
law. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by show of hands unless a poll is demanded (before or on the declaration of the result on a show of hands). A
poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any shareholder present in person or by proxy.
General Meetings of Shareholders As a Cayman Islands exempted company, we are not obliged by the Companies Law to call shareholders’ annual
general meetings. Our memorandum and articles of association provide that we may (but are not obliged to) in each year hold a general meeting as our
annual general meeting in which case we 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.
Shareholders’ general meetings may be convened by the chairman of our board of directors or a majority of our board of directors (acting by a
resolution of the board of directors). Advance notice of at least seven calendar days is required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’
meeting (if any) and any other general meeting of our shareholders. A quorum required for any general meeting of shareholders consists of one or more
shareholders present in person or by proxy, representing not less than one-third of all votes attaching to all of our shares in issue and entitled to vote.
The Companies 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 provide that upon the requisition of shareholders representing in aggregate not less than one-third of the votes attaching to the
outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general meetings, our board will convene an extraordinary general meeting and 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.
Transfer of Ordinary shares. Subject to the restrictions set out in our memorandum and articles of association as set out below, any of our
shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form approved by
our board of directors.
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not fully paid up or on which we
have a lien. Our board of directors may also decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless:
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the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence
as our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares;
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and
a fee of such maximum sum as Nasdaq may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors may from time to time require is paid
to us in respect thereof.
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If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of transfer was lodged, send to
each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice required of Nasdaq, be suspended and the register closed at such times and for
such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided, however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the
register closed for more than 30 days in any year as our board may determine.
Liquidation. On the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution amongst our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to
repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst our shareholders in proportion to the
par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies
due, of all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up
capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on
their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 calendar days prior to the specified time of payment. The shares that have been called upon
and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Shares. We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the
option of the holders of these shares, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or
by shareholders by special resolutions. Our Company may also repurchase any of our shares on such terms and in such manner as have been approved by
our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Under the Companies Law, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid
out of our Company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a new 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 Law, no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully paid up, (b) if
such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding or (c) if the company has commenced liquidation. In addition, our
company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Variation of Rights of Shares. If at any time our share capital is divided into different classes or series of shares, the 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), whether or not our company is being wound-up, may
be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of a special resolution
passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued with
preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be deemed to be varied by the
creation or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with such existing class of shares.
Issuance of Additional Shares. Our memorandum and articles of association authorizes our board of directors to issue additional ordinary shares
from time to time as our board of directors shall determine, to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.
Our memorandum and articles of association also authorizes our board of directors to establish from time to time one or more series of preference
shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preference shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
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the designation of the series;
the number of shares of the series;
the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights; and
the rights and terms of redemption and liquidation preferences.
Our board of directors may issue preference shares without action by our shareholders to the extent authorized but unissued. Issuance of these
shares may dilute the voting power of holders of ordinary shares.
Inspection of Books and Records. Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of
our list of shareholders or our corporate records (save for the memorandum and articles of association). However, we will provide our shareholders with
annual audited financial statements.
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Anti-Takeover Provisions. Some provisions of our memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of
our company or management that shareholders may consider favorable, including provisions that:
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authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; and
limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of 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 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 Law. The Companies Law distinguishes between
ordinary resident companies and exempted companies. Any company that is registered in the Cayman Islands but conducts business mainly outside of 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 that an exempted company:
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does not have to file an annual return of its shareholders with the Registrar of Companies;
is not required to open its register of members for inspection;
does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
may issue negotiable or bearer shares or shares with no par value;
may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings are usually given for 20 years in the first
instance);
may register by way of continuation in another jurisdiction and be deregistered in the Cayman Islands;
may register as a limited duration company; and
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 the 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).
Board Practices. A director may vote with respect to any contract, proposed contract or arrangement in which he is materially interested provided
(a) such director, if his interest in such contract or arrangement is material, has declared the nature of his interest at the earliest meeting of the board at
which it is practicable for him to do so, either specifically or by way of a general notice, (b) such director has not been disqualified by the chairman of the
relevant board meeting, and (c) if such contract or arrangement is a transaction with a related party, such transaction has been approved by the audit
committee in accordance with the Nasdaq rules. The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, mortgage its undertaking,
property and uncalled capital, and issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any obligation of the 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.
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,” in this “Item 10. Additional Information
—C. Material Contracts” or elsewhere in this annual report on Form 20-F.
D.
Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations on Foreign Exchange.”
E.
Taxation
The following summary of the material Cayman Islands, PRC and U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary
shares is based upon laws and relevant interpretations thereof in effect as of the date of this annual report, all of which are subject to change. This summary
does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares, such as the tax consequences under U.S. state
and local tax laws or under the tax laws of jurisdictions other than the Cayman Islands, the People’s Republic of China and the United States.
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Cayman Islands Taxation
The Cayman Islands currently levies no taxes on individuals or corporations based upon profits, income, gains or appreciation and there is no
taxation in the nature of inheritance tax or estate duty. There are no other taxes likely to be material to us levied by the government of the Cayman Islands
except for stamp duties which may be applicable on instruments executed in, or, after execution, brought within the jurisdiction of the Cayman Islands. The
Cayman Islands is not party to any double tax treaties that are applicable to any payments made to or by our company. There are no exchange control
regulations or currency restrictions in the Cayman Islands.
Payments of dividends and capital in respect of our ordinary 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 our ordinary shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of our ordinary shares or
ADSs be subject to Cayman Islands income or corporation tax.
No stamp duty is payable in respect of the issue of our ordinary shares or on an instrument of transfer in respect of our ordinary shares.
People’s Republic of China Taxation
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management
body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax at the rate of 25% on its global income. The
implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall and substantial
management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the SAT issued a circular, known as Circular
82, which provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a PRC-controlled enterprise that is incorporated
offshore is located in China. Although this circular only applies to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those
controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management
body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises. According to 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 where senior management personnel and departments that are responsible for
the day-to-day operational management is in the PRC; (ii) decisions relating to the enterprise’s financial and human resource matters are made or are
subject to approval by organizations or personnel in the PRC; (iii) the enterprise’s primary assets, accounting books and records, company seals, and board
and shareholder resolutions, are located or maintained in the PRC; and (iv) at least 50% of voting board members or senior executives habitually reside in
the PRC.
We believe that Viomi Technology Co., Ltd is not a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. Viomi Technology Co., Ltd is not controlled by a
PRC enterprise or PRC enterprise group and we do not believe that Viomi Technology Co., Ltd meets all of the conditions above. Viomi Technology Co.,
Ltd is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, its key assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries, and its key assets are
located, and its records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside the PRC. For the
same reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is
subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.”
There can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with us.
If the PRC tax authorities determine that Viomi Technology Co., Ltd 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 the PRC. 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. It is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd would be
able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that Viomi Technology Co., Ltd is treated as a
PRC resident enterprise.
Provided that our Cayman Islands holding company, Viomi Technology Co., Ltd, is not deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our
ADSs and ordinary shares who are not PRC residents will not be subject to PRC income tax on dividends distributed by us or gains realized from the sale
or other disposition of our shares or ADSs. However, under SAT Public Notice 7 and SAT Public Notice 37, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an
“indirect transfer” by transferring taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, indirectly by disposing of the equity
interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee or the PRC entity which directly owned such
taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard
the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or
deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may
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be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer is obligated to withhold the applicable
taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. We and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of
being required to file a return and being taxed under SAT Public Notice 7 and SAT Public Notice 37, and we may be required to expend valuable resources
to comply with SAT Public Notice 7 and SAT Public Notice 37, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these circulars. See “Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—We face uncertainty with respect to indirect transfers of equity interests in
PRC resident enterprises by their non-PRC holding companies.”
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable 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, or the Code. This discussion is based upon existing U.S. federal tax law, which is subject to
differing interpretations or change, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been sought from the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, with respect
to any U.S. federal income tax consequences described below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position. This
discussion, moreover, does not address the U.S. federal estate, gift, and alternative minimum tax considerations, the 3.8% Medicare tax on certain net
investment income, or any state, local and non-U.S. tax considerations, relating to the ownership or disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares (other than
the discussion below relating to certain withholding rules and the U.S.-PRC income tax treaty (the “Treaty”). The following summary does not address all
aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to particular investors in light of their individual circumstances or to persons in special tax
situations such as:
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banks and other financial institutions;
insurance companies;
pension plans;
cooperatives;
regulated investment companies;
real estate investment trusts;
broker-dealers;
traders that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting;
certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents;
tax-exempt entities (including private foundations);
persons liable for alternative minimum tax;
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;
investors that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar;
persons that actually or constructively own 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value); or
partnerships or other entities taxable as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding ADSs or ordinary shares
through such entities.
all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those discussed below.
Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal taxation to its particular circumstances, and the state,
local, non-U.S. and other tax considerations of the ownership and disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares.
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:
•
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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•
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a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the law of the
United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
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 under
the Code.
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 their partners are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, 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 for any taxable year, if 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 (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 passive assets, and the company’s goodwill and other unbooked intangibles are
taken into account. 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 a proportionate share of the assets and earning a proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which
we own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% (by value) of the stock.
Although the law in this regard is not entirely clear, we treat each of our consolidated VIEs as being owned by us for U.S. federal income tax
purposes because we control its management decisions and are entitled to substantially all of the economic benefits associated with it. As a result, we
consolidate its results of operations in our consolidated U.S. GAAP financial statements. If it were determined, however, that we are not the owner of the
consolidated VIEs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may be treated as a PFIC for the current taxable year and any subsequent taxable year.
Assuming that we are the owner of the VIEs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and based upon our current and projected income and assets, and
the market value of our ADSs, we do not believe we were a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019. Moreover, based upon projections as to
the value of our assets, we do not expect to be a PFIC for the current taxable year or the foreseeable future. However, no assurance can be given in this
regard because the determination of whether we will be or become a PFIC is a factual determination made annually that will depend, in part, upon the
composition of our income and assets. Fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs may cause us to be classified as a PFIC for the current or future taxable
years because the value of our assets for purposes of the asset test, including the value of our goodwill and unbooked intangibles, may be determined by
reference to the market price of our ADSs from time to time (which may be volatile). If our market capitalization subsequently declines, we may be or
become classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or future taxable years. Furthermore, the composition of our income and assets may also be
affected by how, and how quickly, we use our liquid assets and the cash raised in our initial public offering. Under circumstances in which our net revenues
from activities that produce passive income significantly increases relative to our net revenues from activities that produce non-passive income, or in which
we determine not to deploy significant amounts of cash for active purposes, our risk of becoming classified as a PFIC may substantially increase.
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 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.
The discussion below under “—Dividends” and “—Sale or Other Disposition” is written on the basis that we will not be or become classified as a
PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal income tax rules that apply generally if we are treated as a PFIC are discussed below under
“—Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
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Dividends
Any cash distributions paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares (including the amount of any PRC tax withheld) 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 we pay will generally be treated
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.
Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders will be subject to tax on any such dividends at the lower capital gain tax rate applicable to
“qualified dividend income,” provided that certain conditions are satisfied, including that (1) our ADSs or ordinary shares on which the dividends are paid
are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, or, in the event that we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the
PRC tax law, we are eligible for the benefit of the Treaty, (2) we are neither a PFIC nor treated as such with respect to a U.S. Holder (as discussed below)
for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid and the preceding taxable year, and (3) certain holding period requirements are met. For this purpose,
ADSs listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market will generally be considered to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. There
can be no assurance that our ADSs will continue to be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in later years. Since we do not expect
that our ordinary shares will be listed on established securities markets, we do not believe that dividends that we pay on our ordinary shares that are not
backed by ADSs currently meet the conditions required for the reduced tax rate. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors 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 PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (see “Taxation—People’s Republic of
China Taxation”), we may be eligible for the benefits of the Treaty. If we are eligible for such benefits, dividends we pay on our ordinary shares, regardless
of whether such shares are represented by the ADSs, and regardless of whether our ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the
United States, would be eligible for the reduced rates of taxation described in the preceding paragraph.
For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be treated as income from foreign sources and
generally will constitute passive category income. If PRC withholding taxes apply to dividends paid to a U.S. Holder with respect to our ADSs or ordinary
shares, such U.S. Holder may be able to obtain a reduced rate of PRC withholding taxes under the Treaty if certain requirements are met. In addition,
subject to certain conditions and limitations, PRC withholding taxes on dividends that are non-refundable under the Treaty may be treated as foreign taxes
eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. 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 withholding, but only for a year in which such holder
elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex, and U.S. Holders are urged to consult their
tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale or other disposition
A U.S. Holder will generally recognize 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 holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ADSs or ordinary shares. The gain or loss will
generally be capital gain or loss. Individuals and other non-corporate U.S. Holders who have held the ADSs or ordinary shares for more than one year will
generally be eligible for reduced tax rates. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. Any such gain or loss that the U.S. Holder
recognizes will generally be treated as U.S. source income or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes, which will generally limit the availability of
foreign tax credits. However, in the event we are deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be eligible for
the benefits of the Treaty. In such event, if PRC tax were to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder that
is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty may elect to treat such gain as PRC source income. If a U.S. Holder is not eligible for the benefits of the Treaty or
fails to make the election to treat any gain as foreign source, then such U.S. Holder may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any PRC tax
imposed on the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against U.S. federal income
tax due on other income derived from foreign sources in the same income category (generally, the passive category). U.S. Holders are urged to consult their
tax advisors regarding the creditability of any PRC tax.
Passive foreign investment company rules
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), the U.S. Holder will generally be subject to special tax rules 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:
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the excess distribution or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares;
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•
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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; and
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 for
individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that year, increased by an additional tax equal to the interest charge on the resulting tax
deemed deferred with respect to each such taxable 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 subsidiaries, our VIEs or any of
the subsidiaries of our VIEs 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. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of
our subsidiaries, our VIEs or any of the subsidiaries of our VIEs.
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. Holder of “marketable stock” (as defined below) in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with
respect to such stock. If a U.S. Holder makes this election with respect to our ADSs, the 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 the 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 such deduction will only be allowed to the extent of the 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 a mark-to-market election in respect of our ADSs and we cease to be classified as a PFIC, such U.S. Holder will not be required to take
into account the gain or loss described above during any period that we are not classified as a PFIC. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election, any
gain such U.S. Holder recognizes upon the sale or other disposition of our ADSs in a year when we are a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income and any
loss will be treated as ordinary loss, but such loss will only be treated as ordinary loss to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a
result of the mark-to-market election.
The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15
days during each calendar quarter (“regularly traded”) on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in applicable United States Treasury regulations.
We believe that our ADSs qualify as being regularly traded, but no assurances may be given in this regard. Accordingly, our ADSs, but not our ordinary
shares, are treated as marketable stock.
Because, as a technical matter, a mark-to-market election cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that we may own, a U.S. Holder may continue to
be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any investments held by us that are treated as an equity interest in a PFIC
for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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 (and generally less adverse than) the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
If a U.S. Holder owns our ADSs or ordinary shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, the holder must generally file an annual IRS Form
8621. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of our ADSs or ordinary shares if
we are or become a PFIC.
F.
Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G.
Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
H.
Documents on Display
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. Copies of reports and other information, when so filed, may be inspected without charge and may be obtained at prescribed rates at the public
reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information regarding the
Washington, D.C. Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at www.sec.gov that contains reports,
proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC using its EDGAR system. As a
foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules 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.
90
We will furnish Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the depositary of our ADSs, with our annual reports, which will include a review of
operations and annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP, and all notices of shareholders’ meetings and
other reports and communications that are made generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make such notices, reports and
communications available to holders of ADSs and, upon our request, will mail to all record holders of ADSs the information contained in any notice of a
shareholders’ meeting received by the depositary from us.
I.
Subsidiary Information
Not applicable.
ITEM 11.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Inflation
To date, inflation in China has not materially impacted our results of operations. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, the year-
over-year percent changes in the consumer price index for December 2017, 2018 and 2019 were increases of 1.8%, 1.9% and 4.5%, respectively. Although
we have not been materially affected by inflation in the past, we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected by higher rates of inflation in China
in the future.
Market Risks
Foreign exchange risk
Substantially all of our revenues and expenses are denominated in RMB. We do not believe that we currently have any significant direct foreign
exchange risk and have not used any derivative financial instruments to hedge exposure to such risk. Although 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.
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.
Interest rate risk
Our exposure to interest rate risk primarily relates to the interest income generated by excess cash, which is mostly held in interest-bearing bank
deposits. Interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk. We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates, and
we have not used any derivative financial instruments to manage our interest risk exposure. However, our future interest income may fall short of
expectations due to changes in market interest rates.
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.
91
D.
American Depositary Shares
Charges Our ADS Holders May Have to Pay
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, will register and deliver the ADSs. Each ADS will represent ownership of three Class A
ordinary shares, deposited with Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, as custodian for the depositary. Each ADS will also represent ownership of any
other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs will be administered
is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, USA. The principal executive office of the depositary is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY
10005, USA.
Our ADS holders will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental charges (in addition
to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of the ADSs held):
Service
• To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to
which a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions
pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock,
bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except
where converted to cash)
• Cancellation of ADSs, including the case of termination of the
deposit agreement
• Distribution of cash dividends
• Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends)
and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other
entitlements
• Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights.
• Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase
additional ADSs
• Depositary services
Fees
Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued
Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by
the depositary bank
Our ADS holders will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary bank and certain taxes and governmental
charges (in addition to any applicable fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges payable on the deposited securities represented by any of the
ADSs held) such as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Fees for the transfer and registration of Class A ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the Class A ordinary shares in
the Cayman Islands (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of Class A ordinary shares).
Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars.
Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities.
Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities, including any applicable stamp duties, any stock transfer charges or withholding taxes (i.e.,
when Class A ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit).
Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of Class A ordinary shares on deposit.
Fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to
Class A ordinary shares, deposited securities, ADSs and ADRs.
Any applicable fees and penalties thereon.
The depositary fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary bank by the brokers (on behalf of their
clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary bank and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary
bank for cancellation. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to
ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary bank to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.
The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed or by selling a portion of distributable
property to pay the fees. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., share dividends, rights), the depositary bank charges the applicable fee to the ADS
record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in
direct registration), the depositary bank sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian
accounts (via DTC), the depositary bank generally collects its fees through the systems provided by DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the
92
ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ ADSs in
DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary banks.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service
until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder.
Fees and Other Payments Made by the Depositary to Us
The depositary may make payments to us or reimburse us for certain costs and expenses, by making available a portion of the ADS fees collected in
respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary bank agree from time to time. For the year ended
December 31, 2019, we received US$0.3 million as reimbursement from the depositary.
93
ITEM 13.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
None.
PART II.
ITEM 14.
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders
See “Item 10. Additional Information—B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Ordinary Shares” for a description of the rights of securities
holders, which remain unchanged.
Use of Proceeds
The following “Use of Proceeds” information relates to the registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File Number 333-227063 ) (the “F-1
Registration Statement”) in relation to our initial public offering of 11,400,000 ADSs representing 34,200,000 Class A ordinary shares, at an initial offering
price of US$9.00 per ADS. Our initial public offering closed in September 2018. Morgan Stanley and CICC were the representatives of the underwriters
for our initial public offering.
The F-1 Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on September 24, 2018. The total expenses incurred for our company’s account
in connection with our initial public offering was approximately US$11.1 million, which included US$7.6 million in underwriting discounts and
commissions for the initial public offering and approximately US$3.5 million in other costs and expenses for our initial public offering. We received net
proceeds of approximately US$91.4 million from our initial public offering. None of the transaction expenses included payments to directors or officers of
our company or their associates, persons owning more than 10% or more of our equity securities or our affiliates. None of the net proceeds from the initial
public offering were paid, directly or indirectly, to any of our directors or officers or their associates, persons owning 10% or more of our equity securities
or our affiliates. We have used all of the net proceeds from our initial public offering.
ITEM 15.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and our chief financial officer, we carried
out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, which is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, as of December
31, 2019. Based upon that evaluation, our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has concluded that,
as of the end of the period covered by this annual report, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective in ensuring that the information required
to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is 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, as appropriate, 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 Rule 13a-15(f)
under the Exchange Act.
Our management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 based on the framework in
Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this
evaluation, our management has, together with our independent registered accounting firm, identified three material weaknesses. Our management thus
concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2019.
The material weaknesses identified related to (i) our lack of sufficient resources regarding financial reporting and accounting personnel with
understanding of U.S. GAAP, in particular, to address complex U.S. GAAP technical accounting issues, related disclosures in accordance with U.S. GAAP
and financial reporting requirements set forth by the SEC, (ii) lack of comprehensive U.S. GAAP accounting policies and financial reporting procedures
and (iii) lack of an effective control procedure to track and estimate warranty provision relating to our products sold to ensure accuracy. These material
weaknesses were identified during the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
94
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
As a company with less than US$1.07 billion in revenues for fiscal year of 2019 we qualify as an “emerging growth company” pursuant to the
JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally
to public companies. These provisions include exemption from the auditor attestation requirement under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in
the assessment of the emerging growth company’s internal control over financial reporting. Therefore, no attestation report by our registered public
accounting firm regarding our internal control is included in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control
To remedy identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, we are in the process of implementing several measures,
including:
•
•
•
•
•
hiring additional competent and qualified accounting and reporting personnel with appropriate knowledge and experience of U.S. GAAP and
SEC financial reporting requirements;
establishing an ongoing program to provide sufficient and additional appropriate training to our accounting staff, especially trainings related to
U.S. GAAP and SEC financial reporting requirements;
establishing an internal control and compliance department and hiring additional compliance staff and perform internal audit and evaluation of
internal controls from time to time;
formulating internal accounting and internal control guidance on U.S. GAAP and SEC financial reporting requirements; and
allocating additional resources including specific staff to the manual tracking process of warranty services and establishing review procedures
over estimation of warranty provision;
Other than as described above, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by
this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We are fully committed to continue to implement measures to remediate our material weaknesses and other control deficiencies in our internal
control over financial reporting. However, the implementation of these measures may not fully address the deficiencies in our internal control over financial
reporting. We are not able to estimate with reasonable certainty the costs that we will need to incur in implementing these and other measures designed to
improve our internal control over financial reporting. See “Item 3. Key Information-D. Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Business- Risks Related to Our
Business and Industry—In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, we and our independent
registered public accounting firm identified three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to develop and maintain an
effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud.”
ITEM 16A.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Our board of directors have determined that Ms. Jinling Zhang qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” Our board of directors has
determined that Ms. Jinling Zhang, a member of our audit committee and independent director (under the standards set forth in Rule5605(c)(2) of the
Listing Rules of the Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934), is an audit committee financial expert.
ITEM 16B.
CODE OF ETHICS
Our board of directors adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees in August, 2018. We have
posted a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics on our website at http://ir.viomi.com/.
ITEM 16C.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by
PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, 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)
Tax fees(2)
Notes:
95
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
2019
(in thousands of RMB)
7,546
1,226
8,714
—
(1)
(2)
“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, including audit fees relating to our initial public offering in 2018.
“Tax fees” means aggregate fees billed in each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our principle auditors for tax services.
The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and other service provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP 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
Not applicable.
ITEM 16E.
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
On March 26, 2020, our board of directors approved a share repurchase plan whereby we are authorized to repurchase up to US$10 million worth of
our company’s Class A ordinary shares in the form of ADS over the next twelve-month period.
ITEM 16F.
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Not applicable.
ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
As a Cayman Islands company listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market, we are subject to the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. However,
Nasdaq rules permit a foreign private issuer like us to follow the corporate governance practices of its home country. Certain corporate governance
practices in the Cayman Islands, which is our home country, may differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate governance listing standards. Currently, we
have elected to rely on home country practice exemption from the “independence” requirements of Rules 5605, which provide that audit committees must
be comprised only of three or more independent directors, compensation committees must be comprised only of two or more independent directors,
nominations committee must be comprised solely of independent directors. In addition, we opt to follow home country practice with respect to the
frequency of holding annual general meeting of shareholders. As a result, our shareholders may be afforded less protection than they would otherwise enjoy
under the Nasdaq governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our ADSs— As an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we
are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the Nasdaq corporate
governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the Nasdaq
corporate governance listing standards.”
ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
96
ITEM 17.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
ITEM 18.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PART III.
The consolidated financial statements of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd and its subsidiaries and VIEs are included at the end of this annual report.
ITEM 19.
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5*
4.1
4.2*
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
4.9
Description of Document
Second Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant, effective September 24, 2018 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.3) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Form
F-1/A filed on September 11, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Form F-1/A filed on
September 11, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, the depositary and holder of the American Depositary Receipts dated September 24, 2018
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Form S-8 filed on March 22, 2019 (File No. 333-230431))
Shareholders Agreement between the Registrant and other parties thereto dated April 29, 2015 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
4.4 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
Description of Securities
2015 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-
227063))
2018 Share Incentive Plan
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.3 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the
Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
English translation of executed form of shareholder voting proxy agreement among a VIE of the Registrant, its shareholders and the WFOE
of the Registrant as currently in effect, and a schedule of all executed shareholder voting proxy agreements adopting the same form in
respect of each of the VIEs of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018
(File No. 333-227063))
English translation of executed form of equity pledge agreement among a VIE of the Registrant, its shareholders, and the WFOE of the
Registrant, as currently in effect, and a schedule of all executed equity pledge agreements adopting the same form in respect of each of the
VIEs of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
English translation of executed form of exclusive consultation and service agreement between a VIE and the WFOE of the Registrant, as
currently in effect, and a schedule of all executed exclusive consultation and service agreements adopting the same form in respect of each
of the VIEs of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-
227063))
English translation of executed form of exclusive option agreement among a VIE of the Registrant, its shareholders, and the WFOE of the
Registrant, as currently in effect, and a schedule of all executed exclusive option agreements adopting the same form in respect of each of
the VIEs of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-
227063))
English translation of executed form of spousal consent letter of the spouse of Mr. Xiaoping Chen as an individual shareholder of a VIE of
the Registrant, as currently in effect, and a schedule of all executed spousal consent letters adopting the same form in respect of each of the
VIEs of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Form F-1 filed on August 28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
97
4.10*
8.1*
11.1
12.1*
12.2*
13.1**
13.2**
15.1*
15.2*
English Translation of Business Cooperation Agreement between Foshan Viomi and Xiaomi dated November 1, 2019
List of 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 Form F-1 filed on August
28, 2018 (File No. 333-227063))
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 Han Kun Law Offices
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Scheme Document
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
**
Filed with this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
Furnished with this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
98
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
Viomi Technology Co., Ltd
/s/ Xiaoping Chen
By:
Name: Xiaoping Chen
Title:
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Date:
April 23, 2020
99
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
INDEX TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
F-1
Page
F-2
F-3
F-4
F-6
F-7
F-8
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31,
2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of changes in shareholders’ (deficit) equity and of cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, including 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 position of the Company as of December 31, 2019
and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019 in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’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 Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to
error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our
audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Guangzhou, the People’s Republic of China
April 23, 2020
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2018.
F-2
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2018
RMB
As of December 31,
2019
RMB
2019
US$
(Note2(e))
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Short-term deposits
Short-term investments
Accounts and notes receivable from third parties (net of allowance of nil and RMB2,006 as of December 31, 2018
and 2019, respectively)
Accounts receivable from a related party (net of allowance of nil and nil as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Other receivables from related parties (net of allowance of nil and nil as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Deferred tax assets
Prepaid expenses and other non-current assets
Intangible assets, net
Right-of-use assets, net
Total non-current assets
Total assets
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Current liabilities
Accounts and notes payable (including accounts and notes payable of the consolidated variable interest entities and
their subsidiaries (“VIEs”) without recourse to the Company of RMB548,481 and RMB1,043,159 as of December
31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Advances from customers (including advances from customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the
Company of RMB86,312 and RMB103,150 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated VIEs without
recourse to the Company of RMB5,763 and RMB25,106 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (including accrued expenses and other liabilities of the consolidated VIEs
without recourse to the Company of RMB179,712 and RMB308,228 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Short-term borrowing (including short-term borrowing of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company
of nil and RMB95,868 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Income tax payables (including income tax payables of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of
RMB10,199 and RMB33,522 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Lease liabilities due within one year (including lease liabilities due within one year of the consolidated VIEs
without recourse to the Company of nil and RMB6,802 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Total current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (including accrued expenses and other liabilities of the consolidated VIEs
without recourse to the Company of RMB518 and RMB1,795 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Lease liabilities (including lease liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Company of nil and
RMB13,391 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Commitments and contingencies (Note 21)
Shareholders’ equity
Class A ordinary shares (US$0.00001 par value; 4,800,000,000 shares authorized; 90,200,000 and 98,444,732
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Class B ordinary shares (US$0.00001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 117,600,000 and 110,850,000
shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Additional paid-in capital
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Total equity attributable to shareholders of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd (the "Company")
Non-controlling interests
Total shareholders’ equity
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-3
940,298
29,550
—
168,993
111,718
260,984
112,320
231,975
46,890
1,902,728
11,301
5,234
3,636
169
—
20,340
1,923,068
548,481
86,312
5,763
200,930
—
10,199
—
851,685
518
—
518
852,203
972,438
30,567
60,000
316,201
316,189
707,947
23,944
418,015
62,314
2,907,615
67,293
12,276
11,170
4,357
19,762
114,858
3,022,473
1,043,159
103,150
25,106
325,042
95,868
33,522
6,993
1,632,840
1,795
13,391
15,186
1,648,026
5
6
7
1,193,174
(95,527 )
(29,786 )
1,067,873
2,992
1,070,865
1,923,068
6
1,192,332
195,596
(19,145 )
1,368,795
5,652
1,374,447
3,022,473
139,682
4,391
8,618
45,419
45,418
101,691
3,439
60,044
8,951
417,653
9,666
1,763
1,604
626
2,839
16,498
434,151
149,840
14,817
3,606
46,689
13,771
4,815
1,004
234,542
258
1,923
2,181
236,723
1
1
171,268
28,096
(2,750 )
196,616
812
197,428
434,151
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
Net revenues:
A related party
Third parties
Total net revenues
Cost of revenues (including RMB1,296, RMB14,733 and
RMB48,424 with related parties for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Gross profit
Operating expenses (1):
Research and development expenses(including nil, nil and RMB657 with
a related party for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Selling and marketing expenses (including RMB3,327, RMB24,598 and
RMB81,851 with related parties for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
General and administrative expenses
Total operating expenses
Other income, net
Income from operations
Interest income and short-term investment income, net (including net
interest expense of RMB1,271, RMB333 and nil with related parties for
the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Other non-operating income
Income before income tax expenses
Income tax expenses
Net income
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to the non-controlling interest
shareholders
Net income attributable to the Company
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares
("Series A Preferred Shares")
Cumulative dividend on Series A Preferred Shares
Cumulative dividend on Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares
Undistributed earnings allocated to Series A Preferred Shares
Undistributed earnings allocated to Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares
Undistributed earnings allocated to unvested Class A ordinary shares
Net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the
Company
Net income attributable to the Company
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Total comprehensive income attributable to the Company
Net income per ADS*
-Basic
-Diluted
Weighted average number of ADS used in calculating net income per
ADS
-Basic
-Diluted
Net income per share attributable to ordinary shareholders of
the Company:
-Basic
-Diluted
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in calculating net
income per share
-Basic
-Diluted
*Each ADS represents 3 ordinary shares.
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2019
2018
RMB
RMB
739,464
133,755
873,219
1,311,852
1,249,377
2,561,229
2,112,170
2,535,343
4,647,513
(598,036)
275,183
(1,843,432)
717,797
(3,565,109)
1,082,404
2019
US$
(Note2(e))
303,394
364,179
667,573
(512,095)
155,478
(60,749)
(124,230)
(204,942)
(29,438)
(95,296)
(15,818)
(171,863)
2,236
105,556
2,402
—
107,958
(14,718)
93,240
-
93,240
(8,834)
(10,803)
(877)
(7,061)
(52,533)
(5,099)
8,033
93,240
19,102
112,342
1.17
0.93
(379,554)
(135,532)
(639,316)
1,829
80,310
8,846
255
89,411
(24,061)
65,350
(8)
65,358
(6,563)
(7,631)
(620)
—
—
—
50,544
65,358
(11,782)
53,576
2.10
1.92
(529,212)
(73,061)
(807,215)
35,880
311,069
26,109
1,842
339,020
(45,190)
293,830
1,660
292,170
—
—
—
—
—
—
292,170
292,170
10,641
302,811
4.21
4.06
(76,017)
(10,495)
(115,950)
5,154
44,682
3,750
265
48,697
(6,491)
42,206
238
41,968
—
—
—
—
—
—
41,968
41,968
1,528
43,496
0.60
0.58
6,894,894
8,526,602
23,923,678
26,530,260
69,385,502
71,951,859
69,385,502
71,951,859
0.39
0.31
0.70
0.64
1.40
1.35
0.20
0.19
20,684,681
25,579,806
71,771,033
79,590,780
208,156,507
215,855,577
208,156,507
215,855,577
F-4
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME – CONTINUED
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
(1)
Share-based compensation was allocated in operating expenses as follows:
General and administrative expenses
Research and development expenses
Selling and marketing expenses
Year ended December 31,
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
3,303
1,903
615
93,718
14,476
8,417
7,282
23,564
12,322
2019
US$
(Note2(e))
1,046
3,385
1,770
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
Additional
Paid-in
(Accumulated
Deficit)
Retained
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Capital
RMB
Earnings
RMB
Loss
RMB
6,040
688
—
2,718
2,817
6,250
(8,834 )
—
9,679
(247,875 )
—
93,240
—
—
(6,250 )
—
—
(160,885 )
(37,106 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
19,102
(18,004 )
Total
(Deficit)
Equity
Attributable
to
Shareholders
of the
Company
RMB
(278,940 )
689
93,240
2,718
2,817
—
(8,834 )
19,102
(169,208 )
9,679
(160,885 )
(18,004 )
(169,208 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
65,358
457
188
840
25,391
90,168
(6,563 )
633,508
—
165,095
65,358
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Class A ordinary shares
Class B ordinary shares
Shares
Amount
Shares
16,909,090
8,454,546
—
—
—
—
—
—
25,363,636
25,363,636
—
(11,754,546 )
2,536,364
—
—
4,000,000
—
34,200,000
RMB
1
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
2
2
—
(1 )
—
—
—
—
—
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Amount
RMB
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
458
188
840
25,391
90,168
(6,563 )
—
633,506
(16,145,454 )
(1 )
16,145,454
1
—
18,181,818
1
—
—
165,094
33,818,182
2
101,454,546
—
—
90,200,000
—
—
5
—
—
117,600,000
6
—
—
7
274,413
—
—
1,193,174
Non-
Controlling
Total
Shareholders’
(Deficit)
Interest
RMB
Equity
RMB
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(8 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(278,940 )
689
93,240
2,718
2,817
—
(8,834 )
19,102
(169,208 )
(169,208 )
65,350
457
188
840
25,391
90,168
(6,563 )
633,508
—
165,095
—
274,421
—
274,421
—
—
(95,527 )
—
(11,782 )
(29,786 )
—
(11,782 )
1,067,873
3,000
—
2,992
3,000
(11,782 )
1,070,865
90,200,000
5
117,600,000
7
1,193,174
(95,527 )
(29,786 )
1,067,873
2,992
1,070,865
—
—
6,750,000
1,494,732
—
—
—
—
—
98,444,732
—
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
6
—
—
(6,750,000 )
—
—
—
—
—
—
110,850,000
—
—
(1 )
—
—
—
—
—
6
—
292,170
43,168
—
1,741
—
(196 )
(46,602 )
1,047
—
1,192,332
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,047 )
—
195,596
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
10,641
(19,145 )
292,170
1,660
293,830
43,168
—
1,741
—
(196 )
(46,602 )
—
10,641
1,368,795
—
—
—
3,000
(2,000 )
—
—
—
5,652
43,168
—
1,741
3,000
(2,196 )
(46,602 )
—
10,641
1,374,447
Balance as of January 1, 2017
Vesting of restricted Class A ordinary shares
Net income
Share-based compensation related to restricted shares
Share-based compensation related
Incentive Plan
Appropriation to statutory reserves
Accretion of Series A Preferred Shares
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2017
to 2015 Share
Balance as of January 1, 2018
Net income (loss) attributable to the Company and a
non-controlling interest
shareholder
Surrender and cancellation of Class A ordinary shares
Vesting of restricted Class A ordinary shares
Share-based compensation related to Restricted Shares
Share-based compensation related to 2015 and 2018
Share Incentive Plan
Share-based compensation related to the share awards to
the founder
Accretion of Series A Preferred Shares
Issuance of ordinary shares upon the completion of the
Initial Public Offering
(the "IPO")
Class A ordinary shares converted into Class B ordinary
share upon the
completion of the IPO
Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares
converted into Class A ordinary
shares upon the completion of the IPO
Pre-IPO Class B redeemable convertible ordinary shares
converted into Class A
ordinary shares and Class B ordinary share upon the
completion of the IPO
Capital injection in a subsidiary from non-controlling
interest shareholder
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Balance as of January 1, 2019
Net income attributable to the Company and non-
controlling interest shareholders
Share-based compensation related to 2015 and 2018
Share Incentive Plan
Class B ordinary shares converted to Class A ordinary
shares
Issuance of ordinary shares for exercised share options
Capital injection in a subsidiary from a non-controlling
interest shareholder
Purchase of non-controlling interests
Special dividends declared to ordinary shareholders
Appropriation to statutory reserves
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Balance as of December 31, 2019
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2019
US$
(Note2(e))
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income
Adjustment to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Inventory write-down
Share-based compensation
Allowance for doubtful accounts
Loss from disposal of property and equipment
Deferred income tax benefits
Investment loss (income)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts and notes receivable from third parties
Accounts receivable from a related party
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other receivables from related parties
Amounts due to related parties
Interest received relating to the investment income recognized in previous year
Accounts and notes payable
Advances from customers
Income tax payables
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Lease liabilities
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash received from loan repayment from a related party
Purchase of equipment
Purchase of lease hold improvement
Purchase of intangible assets
Purchase of short-term investments
Maturity of short-term investments
Placement of short-term deposits
Maturities of short-term deposits
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividend Paid
Proceeds from exercise of vested share options
Receipt of borrowing
Repayment of debt to a related party
Cash received from shareholders
Net proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares upon IPO
Cash paid in relation to issuance of ordinary shares upon IPO
Capital injection in subsidiaries from non-controlling shareholders
Purchase of non-controlling interests
Cash paid to a related party
Net cash provided by financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year
Including:
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Restricted cash at the end of the year
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income tax
Cash paid for interest expense
Acquisition of equipment in form of other payable
93,240
1,680
81
5,821
—
—
(801)
—
(4,348)
(204,527)
(26,577)
(8,745)
(25,771)
1,179
—
218,614
19,312
11,612
43,136
—
123,906
—
(1,234)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,234)
—
—
—
—
2,671
—
—
—
—
—
2,671
(2,321)
123,022
156,930
279,952
279,952
—
(3,907)
(1,785)
54
65,350
2,270
1,059
116,611
—
—
(2,186)
364
(107,370)
(11,436)
(182,342)
(23,607)
(87,384)
4,005
—
256,838
59,297
(1,413)
132,213
—
222,269
31,441
(13,505)
(216)
(184)
(238,714)
69,357
—
—
—
(151,821)
—
—
—
(31,900)
2,705
636,170
—
3,000
—
(5,000)
604,975
14,473
689,896
279,952
969,848
940,298
29,550
(27,660)
(768)
430
293,830
23,577
15,661
43,168
2,006
29
(7,042)
(4,654)
(206,477)
(446,963)
(201,701)
(25,659)
88,376
19,343
361
494,678
16,838
23,323
122,550
(5,760)
245,484
—
(56,131)
(7,874)
(4,595)
(812,086)
670,190
(270,457)
211,967
30
(268,956)
(46,602)
1,109
95,868
—
—
—
(2,637)
3,000
(2,196)
—
48,542
8,087
33,157
969,848
1,003,005
972,438
30,567
(28,909)
(995)
5,997
42,206
3,387
2,250
6,201
288
4
(1,012)
(669)
(29,659)
(64,202)
(28,973)
(3,686)
12,694
2,778
52
71,056
2,419
3,350
17,603
(827)
35,260
—
(8,063)
(1,131)
(660)
(116,649)
96,267
(38,849)
30,447
4
(38,634)
(6,694)
159
13,771
—
—
—
(379)
431
(315)
—
6,973
1,162
4,761
139,312
144,073
139,682
4,391
(4,012)
(143)
862
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
Viomi Technology Co., Ltd (the “Company”) is a holding company incorporated under the Laws of the Cayman Islands in January 2015. The
Company, through its consolidated subsidiaries and “VIEs” (collectively referred to as the “Group”) is primarily engaged in the operation of
developing and selling Internet-of-things-enabled (“IoT-enabled”) smart home products in the People’s Republic of China (“the PRC”).
(a)
History and Reorganization
The Group commenced its operations in May 2014 through Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd. (“Foshan Viomi”), a PRC
company established by Mr. Chen Xiaoping (“Mr. Chen” or the “Founder”), and Tianjin Jinxing Investment Co., Ltd. (“Tianjin Jinxing”), a
subsidiary of Xiaomi Corporation (“Xiaomi”, also referring to entities controlled by Xiaomi Corporation where appropriate), who is an investor of
the Company. Mr. Chen and Tianjin Jinxing invested RMB7,500 and RMB5,000 to establish Foshan Viomi and held 60% and 40% initial equity
interests, respectively. Included in the RMB7,500 invested by Mr. Chen, RMB2,500 was invested by certain key management founders and held by
Mr. Chen on their behalf (The key management founders, together with Mr. Chen are referred to “the Founders”). The Group has undertaken its
reorganization (“Reorganization”) as detailed below.
In January 2015, the Company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands, Viomi HK Technology Co., Limited (“Viomi HK”) was incorporated in
Hong Kong as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Beijing Yunmi Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Viomi”) was set up as a domestic
company. In May 2015, Lequan Technology Beijing Co., Ltd (“Lequan”) was incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Viomi HK in the PRC.
In July 2015, the Company issued 33,818,182 class A ordinary shares to exchange the interest of RMB2,500 in Foshan Viomi held by Mr. Chen on
behalf of key management founders, 67,636,364 Class B redeemable convertible ordinary shares (Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares) to exchange
the interest of RMB5,000 in Foshan Viomi owned by Mr. Chen, and 67,636,364 Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares to Red Better Limited (“Red
Better”), a subsidiary of Xiaomi, and Shunwei Talent Limited (“Shunwei”), to exchange the interest of RMB5,000 held by Tianjin Jinxing.
Concurrently, the Company obtained control over Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi through Lequan by entering into a series of contractual
arrangements with Foshan Viomi, Beijing Viomi and their shareholders as detailed in note 1(c). As a result, Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi
became the consolidated VIEs of the Group. The Reorganization lacks substance and should be treated as a non-substantive merger with no change
in the basis of assets and liabilities of Foshan Viomi.
In addition, the Company issued 18,181,818 Series A Preferred Shares at the issue price of US$1.1 per share to a group of investors for
considerations of US$20,000, including conversion of the outstanding bridge loans of US$5,250, which was provided by the same investors during
January 2015 to July 2015. The remaining consideration was fully received in cash.
In June 2018, the Board of Directors and the shareholders approved a transfer and surrender of shares plan, pursuant to which, Mr. Chen, who
holds 33,818,182 class A ordinary shares on behalf of certain key management founders through Viomi Limited, transferred 16,145,454 class A
ordinary shares to key management founders and surrendered the remaining 17,672,728 class A ordinary shares to the Company.
Prior to the completion of the IPO, in accordance with written resolutions of all the shareholders of the Company on August 23, 2018, the
Company effected a share split whereby each of the Company’s authorized and outstanding ordinary shares and preferred shares, par value of
$0.0001 each, was divided into ten ordinary shares and preferred shares of the same series, par value US$0.00001 each, respectively. All
shareholders surrendered 90% of their after-share-split outstanding shares back to the Company for cancellation. After the share split and the
surrender of shares for cancellation, the number of the Company’s outstanding ordinary and preferred shares remained unchanged. As the number
of outstanding shares remained unchanged, the share split does not have an impact to the basic and diluted net income per share for the years ended
December 31, 2017. The par value per ordinary share has been retroactively revised as if it had been adjusted in proportion to the share split.
F-8
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (Continued)
As of December 31, 2019, details of the Company’s principal subsidiaries and VIEs were as follows:
Subsidiaries:
Viomi HK
Lequan
Yunmi Hulian Technology
(Guangdong) Co., Ltd.
VIEs:
Foshan Viomi
Beijing Viomi
Subsidiaries of Foshan Viomi:
Guangdong Lizi Technology Co.,
Ltd. (“Guangdong Lizi”)
Guangdong AI Touch Technology
Co., Ltd. (“AI Touch”)
Place of
incorporation
Date of
incorporation
Percentage
of beneficial
ownership
Hong Kong
PRC
PRC
January 30, 2015
May 15, 2015
December 9, 2019
100%
100%
100%
Principal activities
Investment holding
Investment holding
Investment holding
PRC
May 6, 2014
PRC
January 12, 2015
100% Home appliance development
and sales
100%
No substantial business
PRC
July 26, 2018
PRC
January 30, 2019
VIE’s
subsidiary
VIE’s
subsidiary
Home appliance development
and sales
Home appliance development
and sales
(b)
Dual Classes Ordinary Shares and Initial Public Offering
On September 25, 2018, the Company completed its IPO on the NASDAQ Global Market in the United States of America. In this offering,
11,400,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), representing 34,200,000 Class A ordinary shares, were issued and sold to the public at a price
of US$9.00 per ADS.
Pursuant to the resolution of the shareholders of the Company on August 23, 2018, the Company’s authorized share capital became US$50,000
divided into 5,000,000,000 shares comprising of the (i) 4,800,000,000 class A ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each (‘‘Class A
Ordinary Shares’’), (ii) 150,000,000 class B ordinary shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each (‘‘Class B Ordinary Shares’’) and (iii) 50,000,000
shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each of such class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with
post-offering amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. In respect of all matters subject to a shareholder vote, each Class A
ordinary share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to ten (10) votes, voting together as one class. Each Class B
Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are not convertible into
Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B Ordinary Shares by a holder to any person or entity other than
holders of Class B Ordinary Shares or their affiliates, such Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically and immediately converted into the
equivalent number of Class A Ordinary Shares.
Immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, 16,145,454 issued Class A Ordinary Shares held by certain key management founders, 33,818,182
issued Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares held by Red Better, and 67,636,364 issued Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares held by Mr. Chen’s wholly-
owned entity Viomi Limited was automatically converted by way of re-designation and re-classification into Class B Ordinary Shares on a one-for-
one basis, and the rest of the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares, the rest of the outstanding Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, and all outstanding
Series A Preferred Shares was automatically converted by way of re-designation and re-classification into Class A Ordinary Shares on a one-for-
one basis.
F-9
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
1.
(c)
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (Continued)
VIE Arrangements between the VIEs and the Company’s PRC subsidiary
The Company, through Lequan, entered into the following contractual arrangements with Foshan Viomi, Beijing Viomi and their shareholders that
enable the Company through its PRC subsidiary to (1) have power to direct the activities that most significantly affects the economic performance
of the VIEs, through the exercise of the shareholders’ rights under the shareholder voting proxy agreement as the shareholders’ meetings of the
VIEs appoint the board of directors of the VIEs, and (2) receive the economic benefits of the VIEs that could be significant to the VIEs through the
exclusive consultation and service agreement. Accordingly, Lequan is considered the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and has consolidated the
VIEs’ financial results of operations, assets and liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In making the conclusion that Lequan is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs, the Company believes Lequan’s rights under the terms of the option
agreement provide it with a substantive kick-out right. As advised by the Company’s PRC legal counsel, the Company believes the terms of the
option agreement are valid, binding and enforceable under PRC laws and regulations currently in effect. The Company also believes that the
consideration which is the minimum amount permitted by the applicable PRC law to exercise the option does not represent a financial barrier or
disincentive for Lequan to currently exercise its rights under the exclusive option agreement.
A simple majority vote of Lequan’s board of directors is required to pass a resolution to exercise Lequan’s rights under the option agreement.
Lequan’s rights under the option agreement give Lequan the power to control the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi. In addition,
Lequan’s rights under the shareholder voting proxy agreement also reinforce Lequan’s abilities to direct the activities that most significantly impact
the VIEs’ economic performance. The Company also believes that this ability to exercise control ensures that the VIEs will continue to execute
consultation and service agreements and also ensures that consultation and service agreements will be executed and renewed indefinitely unless a
written agreement is signed by all parties to terminate it or a mandatory termination is requested by PRC laws or regulations. Lequan has the rights
to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the VIEs.
Exclusive consulting and service agreement. In July 2015, Lequan entered into exclusive consultation and service agreements with Foshan Viomi
and Beijing Viomi respectively to enable Lequan to receive substantially all of the economic benefits of the VIEs. Under the exclusive consultation
and service agreements, Lequan has the exclusive right to provide or designate any entity affiliated with it to provide VIEs the technical and
business support services, including information technology support, hardware management and updates, software development, maintenance and
updates and other operating services. The exclusive consultation and service agreement could be indefinitely effective unless a written agreement is
signed by all parties to terminate it or a mandatory termination is requested by PRC laws or regulations. The exclusive consultation and service
agreement was effective in July 2015 and will remain effective until all equity interests and assets in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi are sold to
Lequan or the party designated by Lequan. Under this arrangement, Lequan has the sole discretion to receive an annual service fee at an amount up
to 100% of the annual net income of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi. In addition, Lequan is entitled to receive other technical service fees at the
amount mutually agreed upon by Lequan and the respective VIE.
Equity pledge agreement. Pursuant to the equity pledge agreements in July 2015 among Foshan Viomi, Beijing Viomi, all of their shareholders
and Lequan, all shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi agreed to pledge their equity interests in Foshan Viomi or Beijing Viomi to
Lequan to secure the performance of the VIEs’ obligations under the existing exclusive purchase option agreement, shareholder voting proxy
agreement, exclusive consulting and service agreement and also the equity pledge agreement. The Pledge will remain binding until Foshan Viomi,
Beijing Viomi and their shareholders discharge all their obligations under the contractual agreements.
Exclusive purchase option agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive option agreements entered into in July 2015 among Lequan, Foshan Viomi,
Beijing Viomi and their shareholders, the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi are obligated to sell their equity interest to Lequan.
Lequan has the exclusive and irrevocable right to purchase, or cause the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi to sell to the party
designated by Lequan, in Lequan’s sole discretion, all of the shareholders’ equity interests or any assets in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi when
and to the extent that applicable PRC law permits Lequan to own such equity interests and assets in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi. The price to
be paid by Lequan or any party designated by Lequan will be the minimum amount of consideration permitted by applicable PRC law at the time
when such transaction occurs. All of the shareholders promised and agreed that they will refund the consideration once received to Lequan or any
party designated by Lequan within 10 working days. Also, the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi should try their best to help
Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi develop well and are prohibited from transferring, pledging, intentionally terminating significant contracts or
otherwise disposing of any significant assets in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi without Lequan’s prior written consent. The exclusive option
agreement will remain effective until all equity interests and assets in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi are sold to Lequan or the party designated
by Lequan.
F-10
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (Continued)
Shareholder voting proxy agreement. On July 21, 2015, all of the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi have executed a shareholder
voting proxy agreement with Lequan, Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi, whereby all of the shareholders irrevocably appoint and constitute the
person designated by Lequan as their attorney-in-fact to exercise on their behalf any and all rights that the shareholders have in respect of their
equity interests in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi. The shareholder voting proxy agreement will be indefinitely effective unless all parties decide
to terminate it by written agreement.
In September 2018, Foshan Viomi reduced its registered capital and changed its shareholders from Mr. Chen and Tianjin Jinxing to Mr. Chen
alone. Concurrently, the Group entered into a series of contractual arrangements in substantially the same forms with Foshan Viomi and Mr. Chen.
Management therefore concluded that the Company, through its PRC subsidiary and the above contractual arrangements, has the power to direct
the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs' economic performance, bears the risks of and enjoys the rewards normally associated with
ownership of the VIEs, and therefore the Company is the ultimate primary beneficiary of these VIEs. Consequently, the financial results of the
VIEs were included in the Group's consolidated financial statements.
Risks in relation to VIE structure
The Company believes that the contractual arrangements between Lequan and its VIEs and their respective shareholders are in compliance with PRC
laws and regulations and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit Lequan’s ability to enforce the
contractual arrangements. If the legal structure and contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of PRC laws and regulations, the PRC
government could:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
revoke the business and operating licenses of the Company’s PRC subsidiary and VIEs;
discontinue or restrict the operations of any related-party transactions between the Company’s PRC subsidiary and VIEs;
limit the Group’s business expansion in China by way of entering into contractual arrangements;
impose fines or other requirements with which the Company’s PRC subsidiary and VIEs may not be able to comply;
impose additional conditions or requirements with which the Group may not be able to comply;
take other regulatory or enforcement actions against the Group that could be harmful to the Group’s business or
require the Company or the Company’s PRC subsidiary or VIEs to restructure the relevant ownership structure or operations.
The Company’s ability to conduct its business may be negatively affected if the PRC government were to carry out any of the aforementioned
actions. As a result, the Company may not be able to consolidate its VIEs in its consolidated financial statements as it may lose the ability to exert
effective control over the VIEs and their respective shareholders and it may lose the ability to receive economic benefits from the VIEs. The
Company, however, does not believe such actions would result in the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, its PRC subsidiary or VIEs.
Mr. Chen is the only shareholder of Foshan Viomi and the largest shareholder of Beijing Viomi, and Mr. Chen is also the largest beneficiary owner
of the Company. The interests of Mr. Chen as the largest beneficiary owner of the VIEs may differ from the interests of the Company as a whole,
since Mr. Chen is only one of the beneficiary shareholders of the Company. The Company cannot assert that when conflicts of interest arise, Mr.
Chen will act in the best interests of the Company or that conflicts of interests will be resolved in the Company’s favor. Currently, the Company
does not have existing arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest Mr. Chen may encounter in his capacity as a beneficial owner and
director of the VIEs, on the one hand, and as a beneficial owner and director of the Company, on the other hand. The Company relies on Mr. Chen,
as a director and executive officer of the Company, to fulfill his fiduciary duties and abide by laws of the PRC and Cayman Islands and act in the
best interest of the Company. If the Company cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between the Company and Mr. Chen, the
Company would have to rely on legal proceedings, which could result in disruption of its business, and there is substantial uncertainty as to the
outcome of any such legal proceedings.
F-11
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (Continued)
In addition, the other shareholder of Beijing Viomi is also a beneficial owner of the Company and therefore have no current interest in seeking to
act contrary to the contractual arrangements. However, to further protect the investors’ interest from any risk that the shareholders of the Foshan
Viomi and Beijing Viomi may act contrary to the contractual arrangements, the Company, through Lequan, entered into a shareholder voting proxy
agreement with all of the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi in July 2015. The shareholder voting proxy agreement with the
shareholder of Foshan Viomi has been updated in September 2018 as Foshan Viomi reduced its registered capital and changed its shareholders
from Mr. Chen and Tianjin Jinxing to Mr. Chen alone. Through the shareholder voting proxy agreement, all shareholders of Foshan Viomi and
Beijing Viomi have entrusted the person designated by Lequan as its proxy to exercise their rights as the shareholders of Foshan Viomi and Beijing
Viomi with respect to an aggregate of 100% of the equity interests in Foshan Viomi and Beijing Viomi.
In March 2019, the National People’s Congress enacted PRC Foreign Investment Law which would be effective starting from January 1, 2020. The
Foreign Investment Law does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, but it contains a catch-all provision
under the definition of “foreign investment”, which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or
administrative regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Existing laws or administrative regulations remain unclear whether the
contractual arrangements with variable interest entities will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment
under the PRC laws and regulations. However, the possibility that such entities will be deemed as foreign invested enterprise and subject to
relevant restrictions in the future shall not be excluded. If variable interest entities fall within the definition of foreign investment entities, the
Group's ability to use the contractual arrangements with its VIE and the Group's ability to conduct business through the VIE could be severely
limited.
F-12
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
1.
ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES (Continued)
The following table sets forth the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the VIEs and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, which
were included in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. All transactions and balances between the VIEs and the Group’s subsidiaries are
eliminated in the financial information presented below:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Short-term deposits
Short-term investments
Accounts receivable from third parties (net of allowance of nil and RMB2,006 as
of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Accounts receivable from a related party (net of allowance of nil and nil as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Other receivable from related parties (net of allowance of nil and nil as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Deferred tax assets
Intangible assets, net
Prepaid expenses and other non-current assets
Right-of-use assets, net
Total non-current assets
Total assets
Accounts and notes payable
Advances from customers
Amounts due to related parties
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Short-term borrowing
Income tax payables
Lease liabilities due within one year
Total current liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Lease liabilities
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities
Revenue
Net income
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
F-13
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
401,424
29,550
—
168,993
111,718
260,984
112,320
231,975
46,499
1,363,463
11,301
5,234
169
3,636
—
20,340
1,383,803
548,481
86,312
5,763
179,712
—
10,199
—
830,467
518
—
518
830,985
802,580
30,567
60,000
141,189
316,189
707,947
23,944
418,015
61,031
2,561,462
67,293
12,276
4,357
11,170
19,593
114,689
2,676,151
1,043,159
103,150
25,106
308,228
95,868
33,522
6,802
1,615,835
1,795
13,391
15,186
1,631,021
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2017
RMB
873,083
92,159
2,561,229
70,232
2019
RMB
4,647,513
285,221
123,182
(1,234)
—
209,690
(183,262)
(37,731)
240,823
(97,702)
95,933
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(a)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of presentation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) to reflect the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Group. Significant accounting
policies followed by the Group in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are summarized below.
(b)
Consolidation
The Group’s consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries and VIEs for which the Company
or its subsidiary is the primary beneficiary. All transactions and balances among the Company, its subsidiaries and VIEs have been eliminated upon
consolidation.
A subsidiary is an entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, controls more than one half of the voting powers; or has the power to appoint
or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors; or to cast a majority of votes at the meeting of directors; or has the power to
govern the financial and operating policies of the investee under a statute or agreement among the shareholders or equity holders.
A VIE is an entity in which the Company, or its subsidiary, through contractual agreements, bears the risks of, and enjoys the rewards normally
associated with ownership of the entity, and therefore the Company or its subsidiary is the primary beneficiary of the entity. In determining whether
the Company or its subsidiaries are the primary beneficiary, the Company considered whether it has the power to direct activities that are
significant to the VIE’s economic performance, and also the Company’s obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant
to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Lequan and ultimately the Company hold
all the variable interests of the VIE and has been determined to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE.
(c)
Use of estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant accounting estimates
reflected in the Group’s consolidated financial statements include sales returns, inventory valuation, product warranties, share-based compensation
and the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and income tax. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be
material to the consolidated financial statements.
(d)
Foreign currency translation
The Group uses Renminbi (“RMB”) as its reporting currency. The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated in Hong
Kong and British Virgin Islands are United States dollar (“US$”), while the functional currency of the Group’s entities in the PRC is RMB, which
is their respective local currency. In the consolidated financial statements, the financial information of the Company and its subsidiary in Hong
Kong and British Virgin Islands, which use US$ as their functional currency, have been translated into RMB. Assets and liabilities are translated at
the exchange rates on the balance sheet date, equity amounts are translated at historical exchange rates, and revenues, expenses, and incomes are
translated using the average exchange rate for the period. Translation adjustments arising from these are reported as foreign currency translation
adjustments and are shown as a component of other comprehensive income in the statement of comprehensive income.
Foreign currency transactions denominated in currencies other than functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the
exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet
date are remeasured at the applicable rates of exchange in effect at that date. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of
such transactions and from remeasurement at year-end are recognized in foreign currency exchange (losses) gains, net in the consolidated
statement of comprehensive income.
F-14
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(e)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Convenience Translation
Translations of balances in the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash
flows from RMB into US$ as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the
noon buying rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.9618 on December 31, 2019 as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board.
No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at that rate on December 31,
2019, or at any other rate.
(f)
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash includes currency on hand and deposits held by financial institutions that can be added to or withdrawn without limitation. Cash equivalents
represent short-term and highly liquid investments placed with banks, and all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or
less, which have both of the following characteristics:
i)
ii)
Readily convertible to known amounts of cash throughout the maturity period;
So near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.
(g)
Restricted cash
Cash that is restricted as to withdrawal or for use or pledged as security is reported separately on the face of the consolidated balance sheets. As the
Company adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-18 on January 1, 2018, restricted cash is included in the total cash and cash equivalents
and restricted cash in the consolidated statements of cash flows when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown
on the statement of cash flows. The Group’s restricted cash mainly represents security deposits held in designated bank accounts for issuance of
bank acceptance notes.
(h)
Short-term deposits
Short-term deposits represent time deposits placed with banks with original maturities of more than three months but less than one year. Interest
earned is recorded as interest income in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income during the years presented.
(i)
Short-term investments
In accordance with ASC 825, for investments in financial instruments with a variable interest rate indexed to the performance of underlying assets,
the Company elected the fair value method at the date of initial recognition and carried these investments subsequently at fair value. Changes in
fair values are reflected in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
(j)
Accounts receivable
Accounts receivable are stated at the historical carrying amount net of allowance for doubtful accounts. The Group uses specific identification in
providing for bad debts when facts and circumstances indicate that collection is doubtful and a loss is probable and estimable. If the financial
conditions of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowance may be required.
The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts which reflects its best estimate of amounts that potentially will not be collected. The
Company determines the allowance for doubtful accounts on an individual basis taking into consideration various factors including but not limited
to historical collection experience and credit-worthiness of the debtors as well as the age of the individual receivables balance. Additionally, the
Company makes specific bad debt provisions based on any specific knowledge the Company has acquired that might indicate that an account is
uncollectible. The facts and circumstances of each account may require the Company to use substantial judgment in assessing its collectability.
F-15
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(k)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Inventories
The Group procures certain key raw materials and components from suppliers and send the materials to contract manufacturers for manufacture.
The Group receives the finished goods from the contract manufacturers. Therefore, inventories of the Group consist of raw materials and finished
goods. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory costs include expenses that are directly or indirectly incurred in
the purchase, and production of manufactured product for sale. Expenses include the cost of materials, consignment manufacturing cost and other
direct costs. Cost is determined using the weighted average method. The Group assesses the valuation of inventory and periodically writes down
the value for estimated excess and obsolete inventory based upon the turnover and age of the products. Write downs are recorded in cost of
revenues in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
(l)
Property, plant and equipment, net
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment, if any. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line
basis over the following estimated useful lives and residual value. Residual rate is determined based on the economic value of the property and
equipment at the end of the estimated useful lives as a percentage of the original cost.
Computers and equipment
Vehicle
Estimated useful lives
2-10 years
4 years
Residual rate
0%-5%
5%
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The gain or loss on the disposal of property and equipment is the difference
between the net sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the relevant assets and is recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive
income.
(m)
Intangible assets
Intangible assets mainly consist of software. Identifiable intangible assets are carried at acquisition cost less accumulated amortization and
impairment loss, if any. Finite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment if impairment indicators arise. Amortization of finite-lived
intangible assets is computed using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which are as follows:
Software
(n)
Leases
Estimated useful lives
5 years
In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02 (Topic 842) “Leases”.
Topic 842 supersedes the lease requirements in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 840, “Leases”. Under Topic 842, lessees are
required to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for most leases and provide enhanced disclosures. Leases will continue to be
classified as either finance or operating. The Company adopted the new standard using the optional transition method beginning January 1, 2019.
As permitted under the transition guidance, the Company carried forward the assessment of whether the existing contracts contain or are leases,
classification of the leases and remaining lease terms. RMB9,274 of lease assets and RMB9,168 of liabilities were recognized on the balance sheet
upon adoption as of January 1, 2019.
The Company categorize leases with contractual terms longer than twelve months as either operating or finance. Finance leases are generally those
leases that allow lessees to substantially utilize or pay for the entire asset over its estimated life. Assets acquired under finance leases are recorded
in property and equipment, net. All other leases are categorized as operating leases. All the leases recognized by the Company were classified as
operating leases for the years presented.
Lease liabilities are recognized at the present value of the fixed lease payments using a discount rate based on similarly secured borrowings
available to us. Lease assets are recognized based on the initial present value of the fixed lease payments plus any direct costs from executing the
leases or lease prepayments reclassified from “Prepayments and other current assets” upon lease commencement. Costs associated with operating
lease assets are recognized on a straight-line basis within operating expenses over the term of the lease.
F-16
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(o)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Revenue recognition
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” (“ASU 2014-09”) and subsequently, the
FASB issued several amendments which amend certain aspects of the guidance in ASC 2014-09 (ASU No. 2014-09 and the related amendments
are collectively referred to as “ASC 606”). According to ASC 606, revenue is recognized when control of the promised good or service is
transferred to the customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Group expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or
services. The Group will enter into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, which are generally capable of being
distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from
customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The Group adopted ASC 606 for all periods presented.
The Group’s revenue is primary derived from (i) IoT-enabled smart home products including smart water purification systems, smart kitchen
products, and other smart products, (ii) consumable products complementary to the Group’s IoT smart home products, such as water purifier filters,
(iii) other household products as well as service fees from rendering of services. Refer to Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for
disaggregation of the Group’s revenue by type of product and service for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
1)
The Group conducts its business through various contractual arrangements, the following table disaggregates the Group’s revenue by type of contract
for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:
Sales to Xiaomi
—Xiaomi-branded products
—Viomi-branded products
—Rendering services
Sales to third-party customers
a)
Sales to Xiaomi
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
739,464
654,950
84,514
—
133,755
873,219
1,311,852
1,175,332
136,520
—
1,249,377
2,561,229
2,112,170
1,859,499
250,593
2,078
2,535,343
4,647,513
The Group generated a substantial portion of its revenues from sales of products to Xiaomi.
Under the cooperation agreement entered between the Group and Xiaomi, the Group is responsible for design, research, development, production
and delivery of designated products using the brand name of “Xiaomi” (“Xiaomi-branded products”). Xiaomi is responsible for commercial
distributions and sales. The Group also sells some Viomi-branded products to Xiaomi.
Revenue is recognized upon acceptance by this customer, which is considered at the time the control of the products is transferred to Xiaomi.
Revenue does not meet the criteria to be recognized over time since 1) even if the products use “Xiaomi” brand, it does not require significant
rework to make them suitable to be sold to other customers, 2) under the cooperation agreement, the Group does not have the right of payment for
the work performed to date.
F-17
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
For a few types of products sold to this customer, the selling price is a fixed amount as agreed by both parties. For other types of products sold to this
customer, the sales arrangement includes two installment payments. The first installment is priced to recover the costs incurred by the Group in
developing, producing and shipping the products to this customer and is payable to the Group upon acceptance by the customer after delivery. The
Group is also entitled to receive a potential second installment payment calculated as certain portion of the future gross profits from commercial
sales made by this customer. Accordingly, the Group determines the sales price as the fixed first installment payment plus the variable second
installment payment to the extent that it is probable that revenue reversal will not occur when settling with the customer subsequently. The Group
estimates the variable consideration using the expected value method. In assessing the variable second installment payment, the Group takes into
consideration of the historical experience with the customer, selling price of the same or similar products as at the report date as well as the recent
market trend. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, net revenues earned from second installment payment arrangement
represented 15.0%, 9.0% and 5.9% of total revenue from Xiaomi, respectively.
In 2019, the Group entered into a cooperation arrangement with Xiaomi related to a certain type of products. Under the arrangement, the Group acts
as an agent of Xiaomi to procure suppliers without obtaining the control, risks and rewards of the products during the whole process. The Group
recognizes revenue of sales on a net basis for these products.
b)
Sales to third-party customers, including: sales to leading e-commerce platforms and offline experience stores; and sales to customers
directly through the online platforms operated by Xiaomi, third parties and the Group.
- Sales to leading e-commerce platforms and offline experience stores
Pursuant to the contracts between the Group and the leading e-commerce platforms/offline experience stores (“e-commerce platforms and stores”),
the e-commerce platforms and stores have legal title and physical possession of the products upon acceptance and they would bear the inventory
risk of loss due to physical damage before the products are transferred and accepted by end customers. The e-commerce platforms and stores are
responsible for delivering the products to end customers and can direct the use of the products and obtain the remaining benefits from the products
by reselling the products. The e-commerce platforms and stores have flexibility in determining the retail sales price within relatively broad price
range set by the Group. Based on these indicators, the Group determined the e-commerce platforms and stores (as opposed to the end customers) as
its customers according to ASC 606-10-55-39. The Group recognizes revenue equal to the sales price to the e-commerce platforms and stores when
control of the inventory is transferred.
- Sales to customers directly through the online platforms operated by Xiaomi, third parties and the Group
Under the cooperation agreements entered between the Group and online platforms, the platforms’ responsibilities are limited to offering an online
marketplace, while the Group is primarily obligated in a sales transaction and takes inventory risk and has latitude in determining prices. The
platforms charged the Group commission fees at pre-determined amounts or a fixed rate based on the sales amounts. Commission fees are
recognized as selling expenses. The Group determined the end customers (as opposed to the platforms) as its customers and recognizes revenue
equal to the sales price to the end customers when control of the inventory is transferred.
The Group provides installation service to end customers for designated Viomi-branded products without separate charge. The end customers have
the right, not the obligation, to ask the Group to provide installation service. The installation service is considered being distinct and accounted for as
a separate performance obligation as the products and installation services are not inputs into a combined item the end customer has contracted to
receive. In addition, the Group does not provide any significant integration, modification, or customization services. It can fulfill its obligation to
transfer each of the products or services separately. End customers do not always exercise their rights to ask for installation services as the
installation may not be complicated and could be done by end customers themselves. Therefore, the Group expects to be entitled to a breakage
amount in the contract liabilities related to installation services. The Group estimates the breakage portion based on historical customers’ requests
and recognizes estimated breakage as revenue in proportion to the pattern of rights exercised by end customers. The assessment of estimated
breakage would be updated on a quarterly basis. Changes in estimated breakage should be accounted for by adjusting contract liabilities to reflect the
remaining rights expected to be exercised.
Judgment is required to determine standalone selling price for each distinct performance obligation. The Group allocates the arrangement
consideration to the separate accounting of each distinct performance obligation based on their relative standalone selling price. The standalone
selling price of the products is determined based on adjusted market assessment approach by estimating the price the customer is willing to pay for
the product without installation service. For the standalone selling price of the installation services, the Group determines it by referring to actual
costs charged by the third-party vendors, plus an estimated profit margin of 5% based on consideration of both company specific and relevant market
factors.
F-18
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
The Group recognizes revenue for the sales to third-party customers in accordance with the applicable revenue recognition method for each of the
distinct performance obligation identified. Sales of products is recognized upon acceptance by customers after delivery. Installation service is
recognized when the service is rendered.
2)
Sales returns and sales incentives
- Sales to leading e-commerce platforms
The Group’s sales to leading e-commerce platforms started in 2018. As stipulated in the contracts, slow-moving goods are those unsold products
after they are controlled by the e-commerce platforms for more than 30 days or 60 days or 90 days, depending on the different categories of products.
The Group shall coordinate with the e-commerce platforms to sell the slowing-moving products to end customers through promotions within 30
days, otherwise, the e-commerce platforms can (i) return such slow-moving products, or (ii) sell on discount as determined by the e-commerce
platforms. The Group shall bear all losses caused by such discounted sales. Based on the Group’s history of cooperation with the e-commerce
platforms and the pattern that the e-commerce platforms dealt with slow-moving goods, the Group estimates that slow-moving goods will be
returned to the Group instead of being sold through discounted sales by the e-commerce platforms. Under ASC 606, a right of return is not a separate
performance obligation, but it affects the estimated transaction price for transferred goods. Revenue is only recognized for those products that are not
expected to be returned. The estimate of expected returns should be determined in the same way as other variable consideration. Based on historical
information and other relevant evidence, including the expected sales and inventory level of the e-commerce platforms, the Group assesses if it is
probable there will be no significant reversal of cumulative revenue, and recognizes those sales as revenue. For the years ended December 31, 2018
and 2019, the expected sales return was RMB846 and RMB12,037. Accordingly the Group recognizes an expected return asset of RMB687 and
RMB8,572, and a refund liability of RMB981 and RMB13,602 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The Group would update its
estimate of expected returns at each period end. The expected return asset is presented and assessed for impairment separately from the refund
liability. The Group would assess the expected return asset for impairment, and adjust the value of the asset if it becomes impaired.
Further, the Group might provide various consideration to the e-commerce platforms, such as gross margin guarantee, advertising and promotion
fees, in the form of cash, or directly reducing amounts owed to the Group by the e-commerce platforms. The Group evaluates each type of
incentives or fees to be paid in accordance with ASC 606. Considering that the Group either does not receive any service from the e-commerce
platforms or cannot elect to engage another vendor to provide similar advertising services on a standalone basis, the Group reduces the transaction
price for the sale of products by the amount of various consideration payable to the e-commerce platforms.
- 7 days unconditional sales return
Under the consumer protection law, end customers have an unconditional right to return the products purchased through online platforms within 7
days. The Group bases its estimates of sales return on historical results. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the amount of sales
return was insignificant. The Group may provide sales incentives in the forms of discounts to end customers through online platforms in a bundle
transaction. Revenue, recognized on a net basis after such sales incentives, are allocated based on the relative standalone selling prices for respective
products.
3)
Warranty
The Group offers product warranty pursuant to standard product quality required by consumer protection law. The warranty period is calculated
starting from the date when products are sold to the end customers. The Group has the obligation, at the customer’s sole discretion, to either repair or
replace the defective product. The customers cannot separately purchase the warranty and the warranty doesn’t provide the customer with additional
service other than assurance that the product will function as expected. Therefore, these warranties are accounted for in accordance with ASC 460
Guarantees. At the time revenue is recognized, an estimate of warranty expenses is recorded. The reserves established are regularly monitored based
upon historical experience and any actual claims charged against the reserve. Warranty reserves are recorded as cost of revenues.
F-19
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
4)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Value added taxes
Value added taxes (“VAT”) on sales is calculated at 17% on revenue from products before April 30, 2018, 16% between May 1, 2018 and March 31,
2019, and 13% after April 1, 2019. The Group reports revenue net of VAT. Subsidiaries and VIEs that are VAT general tax payers are allowed to
offset qualified VAT paid against their output VAT liabilities.
5)
Contract balances
Key customers, including Xiaomi and third-party customers, are entitled to a credit term. The expected length of time between the products being
transferred to customers and when they pay for those products is short. There is no difference between the amount of promised consideration and the
cash selling price of the promised products. Therefore, the Group concludes that the contracts with these key customers generally do not include a
significant financing component. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects the Group’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts
receivable balance. The Group determines the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience, and other currently available
evidence. The amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts is recognized as expenses.
The opening balance of accounts receivable from these key customers as of January 1, 2018 was RMB253,896. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
accounts and notes receivable were RMB372,702 and RMB1,026,142, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the
Group recognized impairments, net of recoveries, for accounts receivable from customers amounted to nil, nil and RMB2,006, respectively.
Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue related to the Group’s provision of installation services, where there is still an obligation to be fulfilled
by the Group. The contract liabilities will be recognized as revenue when all of the revenue recognition criteria are met.
The opening balance of deferred revenue as of January 1, 2018 was RMB146. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, deferred revenue were
RMB1,276 and RMB7,790 , respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Group recognized revenue of installation
services amounted to RMB29, RMB146 and RMB1,276, respectively, that was included in the corresponding contract liability balance at the
beginning of the years. The Group expects to recognize approximately RMB7,790 of the unearned amount for the Group’s remaining performance
obligations related to installation services in 2020.
During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Group does not have any arrangement where the performance obligations have
already been satisfied in the past period, but the corresponding revenue is only recognized in a later period.
(p)
Cost of revenues
Cost of revenues consists primarily of material costs, warranty, consignment manufacturing cost, salaries and benefits for staff engaged in production
activities and related expenses that are directly attributable to the production of products.
(q)
Research and development expenses
Research and development expenses primarily consist of salaries and benefits as well as share-based compensation for research and development
personnel, materials, general expenses and depreciation expenses associated with research and development activities.
(r)
Selling and marketing expenses
Selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of (i) advertising and market promotion expenses, (ii) shipping expenses and (iii) salaries and
welfare for sales and marketing personnel. The advertising and market promotion expenses amounted to RMB39,638, RMB130,796 and
RMB106,540 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The shipping expenses amounted to RMB20,044, RMB140,456 and
RMB245,329 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
(s)
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of (i) share-based compensation for management and administrative personnel, and (ii)
salaries and welfare for general and administrative personnel.
F-20
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(t)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Government subsidies
Government subsidies represent tax refund and government grants received from local government authorities to encourage the Group’s
technology and innovation. The Group records such government subsidies as other income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive
income when it has fulfilled all of its obligation related to the subsidy. The Group recorded RMB1,278, RMB1,440 and RMB35,988 of subsidy
income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
(u)
Employee benefits
PRC Contribution Plan
Full time employees of the Group in the PRC participate in a government mandated defined contribution plan, pursuant to which certain pension
benefits, medical care, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to the employees. Chinese labor regulations require that the
PRC subsidiary and VIEs of the Group make contributions to the government for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees'
salaries, up to a maximum amount specified by the local government. The Group has no legal obligation for the benefits beyond the contributions
made. The total amounts of such employee benefit expenses, which were expensed as incurred, were approximately RMB8,016, RMB18,889 and
RMB23,465 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
(v)
Share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expenses arise from share based awards, mainly including restricted shares held by the Founder or held by the Founder
on behalf of certain key management founders and share options for the purchase of ordinary shares (“Restricted Shares”). The Company accounts
for share-based awards granted to the Founder and employees in accordance with ASC 718 Stock Compensation.
Before the Reorganization, the Restricted Shares held by the Founders were subject to a repurchase feature under which Xiaomi shall purchase the
interest held by Founders at the original investment amount if the Founders voluntarily terminate their employment with Foshan Viomi. The
Restricted Shares were classified as equity classified awards as the underlying shares of the awards are ordinary shares of Foshan Viomi and the
awards do not contain any of the characteristics of liability awards described in ASC718. The Restricted Shares are accounted for as share-based
compensation based on the grant date fair value over the vesting period.
After the Reorganization completed in July 2015, the repurchase feature remains, however, it became the Company’s right, and not the obligation
to repurchase. With respect to the remaining unvested interest granted to the Founder on behalf of certain key management founders, the
underlying shares changed from ordinary shares of Foshan Viomi to Class A ordinary shares of the Company. These shares remain to be equity
classified awards as they do not contain any characteristics of a liability award and were continually accounted for as share-based compensation
based on the grant date fair value over the remaining vesting period. With respect to the remaining unvested interest granted to the Founder, the
underlying shares changed from ordinary shares of Foshan Viomi to redeemable Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares of the Company, which are
redeemable convertible shares. These awards have been reclassified as liability classified awards as the underlying Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary
Shares are redeemable at a fixed price plus 6% interest per year at the option of the holder if there is no qualified IPO after a certain period of time.
According to ASC718, such awards effectively consist of: (1) a liability component representing the Company’s obligation to pay the redemption
price if the holder chooses to redeem, and (2) an equity component representing the fair value of the upside potential of the Pre-IPO Class B
Ordinary Shares, measured using an option pricing model. At the time of the modification, the Company compared the fair value of the original
award immediately before the modification, and the total fair value of the liability component and the equity component immediately after the
modification. The incremental compensation amount is recognized over the remaining vesting period. The amount related to the liability
component is recorded as a liability measured at the redemption price, subsequently accreted at 6% per year to reflect the increase in redemption
price over time according to the terms of the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, until the award is settled. The liability award is considered settled
only upon redemption or IPO, when the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares are converted to Class A ordinary shares at which time, the redemption
feature would expire.
Upon the completion of the IPO on September 25, 2018, all the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares were converted into Class B Ordinary Shares, the
liability award had been settled.
F-21
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(v)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Share-based compensation (Continued)
For share options for the purchase of ordinary shares granted to employees determined to be equity classified awards, the related share-based
compensation expenses are recognized in the consolidated financial statements based on their grant date fair values which are calculated using the
binomial option pricing model. The determination of the fair value is affected by the share price as well as assumptions regarding a number of
complex and subjective variables, including the expected share price volatility, actual and projected employee share option exercise behavior, risk-
free interest rates and expected dividends. The fair value of the ordinary shares is assessed using the income approach/discounted cash flow
method, with a discount for lack of marketability, given that the shares underlying the awards were not publicly traded at the time of grant. Share-
based compensation expenses are recorded net of estimated forfeitures using graded-vesting method during the service period requirement, such
that expenses are recorded only for those share-based awards that are expected to ultimately vest.
(w)
Income taxes
Current income taxes are provided on the basis of net income for financial reporting purposes, adjusted for income and expense items which are
not assessable or deductible for income tax purposes, in accordance with the regulations of the relevant tax jurisdictions. Deferred income taxes are
accounted for using an asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary
differences by applying enacted statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the
tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The tax base of an asset or liability is the amount attributed to that asset or liability for tax purpose. The
effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in statement of comprehensive income in the period of change. A valuation
allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion of, or all of the deferred
tax assets will not be realized.
Uncertain tax positions
The guidance on accounting for uncertainties in income taxes prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Guidance was also provided on the recognition of income tax assets
and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax
positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures. Significant judgment is required in evaluating the Group’s
uncertain tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. The Group recognizes interests and penalties, if any, under accrued
expenses and other current liabilities on its balance sheet and under other expenses in its statement of comprehensive income. The Group did not
recognize any interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. As of
December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Group did not have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.
(x)
Comprehensive income
Comprehensive income consists of two components, net income and other comprehensive income, net of tax. Other comprehensive income refers
to revenue, expenses, and gains and losses that are recorded as an element of shareholders’ equity but are excluded from net income. The Group’s
other comprehensive income consists of foreign currency translation adjustments from its entities not using the RMB as their functional currency.
Comprehensive income is reported in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
(y)
Statutory reserves
The Company's subsidiaries and VIEs established in the PRC are required to make appropriations to certain non-distributable reserve funds.
In accordance with the laws applicable to the Foreign Investment Enterprises established in the PRC, the Company's subsidiaries registered as
wholly-owned foreign enterprise have to make appropriations from their annual after-tax profits (as determined under generally accepted
accounting principles in the PRC(“PRC GAAP”)) to reserve funds including general reserve fund, enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and
welfare fund. The appropriation to the general reserve fund must be at least 10% of the annual after-tax profits calculated in accordance with PRC
GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the general reserve fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the company. Appropriations to the
enterprise expansion fund and staff bonus and welfare fund are made at the respective company's discretion.
F-22
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
(y)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
Statutory reserves (Continued)
In addition, in accordance with the PRC Company Laws, the Group's VIEs registered as Chinese domestic company must make appropriations
from its annual after-tax profits as determined under the PRC GAAP to non-distributable reserve funds including statutory surplus fund and
discretionary surplus fund. The appropriation to the statutory surplus fund must be 10% of the annual after-tax profits as determined under PRC
GAAP. Appropriation is not required if the statutory surplus fund has reached 50% of the registered capital of the company. Appropriation to the
discretionary surplus fund is made at the discretion of the company.
The use of the general reserve fund, enterprise expansion fund, statutory surplus fund and discretionary surplus fund are restricted to offsetting of
losses or increasing of the registered capital of the respective company. The staff bonus and welfare fund is a liability in nature and is restricted to
fund payments of special bonus to employees and for the collective welfare of all employees. None of these reserves are allowed to be transferred
to the Company in terms of cash dividends, loans or advances, nor can they be distributed except under liquidation.
During the year ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, appropriations to statutory reserve funds amounted to RMB6,250, nil and RMB1,047,
respectively. Statutory reserve funds amounting to RMB6,250 and RMB7,297 were recognized in additional paid-in capital as of December 31,
2018 and 2019, respectively.
(z)
Income per share
Basic income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, considering the accretion of redemption feature
and cumulative dividend related to the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, and
undistributed earnings allocated to redeemable convertible preferred shares, Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares and unvested Class A ordinary
shares as unvested Class A ordinary shares are also entitled to participating dividends, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares
outstanding during the period using the two-class method. Under the two-class method, net income is allocated between ordinary shares and other
participating securities based on their participating rights. Net losses are not allocated to other participating securities if based on their contractual
terms they are not obligated to share the losses. After the IPO, net income per ordinary share are computed on Class A ordinary shares and Class B
Ordinary Shares together, because both classes have the same dividend rights in the Company’s undistributed net income.
Diluted income per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to ordinary shareholders, as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary
equivalent shares, if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period.
Ordinary equivalent shares consist of ordinary shares issuable upon the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred and Pre-IPO Class B
Ordinary Shares, using the if-converted method, and shares issuable upon the exercise of share options using the treasury stock method. Ordinary
equivalent shares are not included in the denominator of the diluted income per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be anti-
dilutive.
(aa)
Related parties
Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability, directly or indirectly, to control the other party or exercise significant influence over
the other party in making financial and operating decisions. Parties are also considered to be related if they are subject to common control or
significant influence, such as a family member or relative, shareholder, or a related corporation.
(bb)
Segment reporting
Based on the criteria established by ASC 280 “Segment Reporting”, the Group's chief operating decision maker has been identified as the
Chairman of the Board of Directors/CEO, who reviews consolidated results of the Group when making decisions about allocating resources and
assessing performance. The Group has internal reporting of revenue, cost and expenses by nature as a whole. Hence, the Group has only one
operating segment. The Company is domiciled in the Cayman Islands while the Group mainly operates its businesses in the PRC and earns
substantially all of the revenues from external customers attributed to the PRC.
F-23
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2.
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)
(cc)
Recently issued accounting pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13: Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), which requires entities to measure all expected
credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable
forecasts. This replaces the existing incurred loss model and is applicable to the measurement of credit losses on financial assets measured at
amortized cost. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. The
Company will adopt the new standard in the first fiscal quarter of 2020. Based on management’s assessment, the adoption of ASU 2016-13 does
not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework—Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.
The amendments in this standard will remove, modify and add certain disclosures under ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, with the
objective of improving disclosure effectiveness. ASU 2018-13 will be effective for the Group’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2020, with early
adoption permitted. The transition requirements are dependent upon each amendment within this update and will be applied either prospectively or
retrospectively. The Company does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2018-13 will have a material impact to the Company’s consolidated
financial statements.
3.
(a)
CONCENTRATION AND RISKS
Foreign exchange risk
The revenues and expenses of the Group’s entities in the PRC are generally denominated in RMB and their assets and liabilities are denominated in
RMB. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies. Remittances of foreign currencies into the PRC or remittances of RMB out of the
PRC as well as exchange between RMB and foreign currencies require approval by foreign exchange administrative authorities and certain
supporting documentation. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People’s Bank of China, controls the
conversion of RMB into other currencies.
(b)
Credit risk
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Group to credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term
investments, short-term deposits, accounts and notes receivable and amounts due from related parties. The Group places its cash and cash
equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and short-term deposits with financial institutions with high credit ratings and quality. There
has been no recent history of default in relation to these financial institutions and credit risk is immaterial.
The Group conducts credit evaluations of third-party customers and related parties, and generally does not require collateral or other security from
its third-party customers and related parties. The Group establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts primarily based upon the age of the
receivables and factors surrounding the credit risk of specific third-party customers and related parties.
Accounts and notes receivable from third parties concentration of credit risk as below:
Company A
Company B
2018
RMB
58,766
36,734
As of December 31,
2019
RMB
53%
33%
174,620
109,585
55%
35%
F-24
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
3.
(b)
CONCENTRATION AND RISKS (Continued)
Credit risk (Continued)
Accounts receivable from a related party concentration of credit risk as below:
Xiaomi
Other receivables from related parties concentration of credit risk as below:
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
260,984
100%
707,947
100%
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
Xiaomi
112,320
100%
23,944
100%
(c)
Revenue concentration risk
Xiaomi
2017
RMB
739,464
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
85% 1,311,852
2019
RMB
51% 2,112,170
45%
The revenue generated from Xiaomi included sale of both Xiaomi-branded and Viomi-branded products. Revenue from sale of Viomi-branded
products amounted to RMB84,514, RMB136,520 and RMB250,593 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
4.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents represent cash on hand and demand deposits placed with banks or other financial institution. Cash and cash equivalents
balance as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 primarily consist of the following currencies:
RMB
US$
Total
5.
RESTRICTED CASH
As of December 31, 2018
Amount
332,702
88,529
RMB
equivalent
332,702
607,596
940,298
As of December 31, 2019
RMB
equivalent
Amount
569,772
57,720
569,772
402,666
972,438
As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Group held restricted cash of RMB29,550 and RMB30,567 respectively in designated bank accounts for
issuance of bank acceptance notes.
F-25
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
6.
7.
SHORT-TERM DEPOSITS
Short-term deposits balance as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 is primarily denominated in RMB.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Short-term investments represent structured deposits with maturities of less than one year. Short-term investments balance as of December 31,
2018 and 2019 is primarily denominated in the following currencies:
As of December 31, 2018
RMB
equivalent
As of December 31, 2019
RMB
equivalent
Amount
Amount
10,049
100,022
US$
RMB
Total
8.
INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the followings:
Finished goods
Raw materials
Inventories
68,971
100,022
168,993
25,087
141,189
175,012
141,189
316,201
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
136,494
95,481
231,975
2019
RMB
232,671
185,344
418,015
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Group recorded write-down of RMB81, RMB1,059 and RMB15,661 for obsolete
inventories.
9.
PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSETS
Advances to suppliers
Expected return assets
Other receivables
Lease hold improvement
Prepayment for equipment
Other current assets
Total
Less: non-current portion
Prepaid expenses and other assets-current portion
F-26
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
23,549
687
15,361
206
3,430
7,293
50,526
(3,636)
46,890
43,175
11,212
7,725
6,825
4,345
202
73,484
(11,170)
62,314
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
10.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
Computers and equipment
Vehicle
Total
Less: accumulated depreciation
Property, plant and equipment, net
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
16,270
508
16,778
(5,477)
11,301
87,374
508
87,882
(20,589)
67,293
The Group had recorded depreciation expense of RMB1,680, RMB2,244 and RMB15,427 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively. No impairment was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
11.
ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued payroll and welfare
Freight payable
Other tax payable
Product warranty
Installation fee payables
Marketing and promotion expenses
Refund liabilities
Professional fee payables
Deferred revenue
Other current liabilities
Total
Less: non-current portion
Accrued expenses and other liabilities-current portion
Product warranty activities were as follows:
Balance at December 31, 2017
Provided during the year
Utilized during the year
Balance at December 31, 2018
Provided during the year
Utilized during the year
Balance at December 31, 2019
F-27
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
39,700
50,680
42,076
12,744
8,133
10,710
981
10,340
1,276
24,808
201,448
(518)
200,930
69,269
63,084
45,217
22,463
21,850
19,223
18,088
10,699
7,790
49,154
326,837
(1,795)
325,042
Product Warranty
RMB
13,909
19,775
(20,940)
12,744
52,275
(42,556)
22,463
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
712,317
87,500
72,686
872,503
716
873,219
2,081,273
141,940
323,381
2,546,594
14,635
2,561,229
3,587,355
265,844
741,290
4,594,489
53,024
4,647,513
12.
REVENUE
Sales of product
- IoT-enabled smart home products
- Consumable products
- Other products
Total of sales of product
Rendering of services
Total
13.
INCOME TAX EXPENSES
Cayman Islands
Under the current tax laws of Cayman Islands, the Company and its subsidiaries are not subject to tax on income or capital gains. Besides, upon
payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed.
Hong Kong
Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, the subsidiary of the Group in Hong Kong are subject to 8.25% and 16.5% Hong Kong
profit tax on its taxable income within HKD$2 million and beyond HKD$2 million respectively, generated from operations in Hong Kong.
Additionally, payments of dividends by the subsidiary incorporated in Hong Kong to the Company are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding
tax.
PRC
In accordance with the Enterprise Income Tax Law (“EIT Law”), Foreign Investment Enterprises (“FIEs”) and domestic companies are subject to
Enterprise Income Tax (“EIT”) at a uniform rate of 25%. The subsidiaries and VIEs of the Group in the PRC are subject to a uniform income tax
rate of 25% for years presented except for the entity which was qualified to certified High and New Technology Enterprises (“HNTE”) that are
entitled to a favorable statutory tax rate of 15%. According to a policy promulgated by the State Tax Bureau of the PRC and effective from 2008
onwards, enterprises engaged in research and development activities are entitled to claim an additional tax deduction amounting to 50% of the
qualified research and development expenses incurred in determining its tax assessable profits for that year. The additional tax deduction has been
increased from 50% of the qualified research and development expenses to 75%, effective from 2018 to 2020, according to a new tax incentives
policy promulgated by the State Tax Bureau of the PRC in September 2018 (“Super Deduction”).
Withholding tax on undistributed dividends
Under the CIT Law and its implementation rules, the profits of a foreign-invested enterprise arising in 2008 and thereafter that are distributed to its
immediate holding company outside the PRC are subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%. A lower withholding tax rate will be applied if there
is a beneficial tax treaty between the PRC and the jurisdiction of the foreign holding company. A holding company in Hong Kong, for example,
will be eligible, with approval of the PRC local tax authority, to be subject to a 5% withholding tax rate under the Arrangement Between the PRC
and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes
on Income and Capital if such holding company is considered to be a non-PRC resident enterprise and holds at least 25% of the equity interests in
the PRC foreign-invested enterprise distributing the dividends. However, if the Hong Kong holding company is not considered to be the beneficial
owner of such dividends under applicable PRC tax regulations, such dividend will remain subject to withholding tax at a rate of 10%. Aggregate
undistributed earnings of the Group entities located in the PRC that are available for distribution to the Company as of December 31, 2018 and
2019 are approximately RMB282,130 and RMB598,503, respectively. The Company does not intend to have any of its subsidiaries located in PRC
distribute any undistributed earnings of such subsidiaries in the foreseeable future, but rather expects that such earnings will be reinvested by such
subsidiaries for their PRC daily operations. Accordingly, no withholding tax was recorded as of December 31, 2018 and 2019.
F-28
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
13.
INCOME TAX EXPENSES (Continued)
Composition of income tax expense
The current and deferred components of income taxes appearing in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income are as follows:
Current tax expenses
Deferred tax benefit
Income tax expenses
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
15,519
(801)
14,718
26,247
(2,186)
24,061
52,232
(7,042)
45,190
Reconciliation between the income tax expenses computed by applying the PRC enterprise tax rate to income before income taxes and actual
provision were as follows:
Income from operations in the PRC
Income (loss) from overseas entities
Income before income tax
Tax expense at PRC enterprise income tax rate of 25%
Income tax on tax holiday(1)
Tax effect of permanence differences(2)
Change in valuation allowance(3)
Effect of share-based compensation
Effect of income tax in jurisdictions other than the PRC
Income tax expenses
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
106,868
1,090
107,958
26,990
(10,989)
(2,640)
760
873
(276)
14,718
93,910
(4,499)
89,411
22,353
(9,632)
(7,871)
602
17,492
1,117
24,061
321,090
17,930
339,020
84,755
(31,493)
(12,147)
1,592
6,475
(3,992)
45,190
(1)
(2)
(3)
The income tax on tax holidays represents the effect of preferential income tax rate that Foshan Viomi qualified as an HNTE is entitled to enjoy the beneficial tax rate of 15%
for the three years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Foshan Viomi will need to re-apply for HNTE qualification renewal in 2022.
The permanent book-tax differences mainly consisted of R&D super deductions.
Valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 are related to the deferred tax assets of certain group entities which reported loss. The Group
believed that it is more likely than not that these the deferred tax assets of these entities will not be utilized. Therefore, valuation allowance has been provided.
The per share effect of the tax holidays are as follows:
Net income per share effect – basic
Net income per share effect – diluted
F-29
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
0.53
0.41
0.22
0.20
0.13
0.13
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
13.
INCOME TAX EXPENSES (Continued)
Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities
The significant components of the Group’s deferred tax assets were as follows:
Accrued expenses and others
Net operating loss carry forwards
Inventory write downs
Deferred income
Total deferred tax assets
Less: valuation allowance
Deferred tax assets, net
Movement of valuation allowance
Balance at beginning of the year
Provided
Balance at end of the year
Uncertain tax positions
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
4,616
1,560
421
191
6,788
(1,554)
5,234
9,245
3,511
1,497
1,169
15,422
(3,146)
12,276
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
192
760
952
952
602
1,554
1,554
1,592
3,146
The Group evaluates the level of authority for each uncertain tax position (including the potential application of interest and penalties) based on the
technical merits, and measures the unrecognized benefits associated with the tax positions. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Group did not
have any significant unrecognized uncertain tax positions.
According to the PRC Tax Administration and Collection Law, the statute of limitations is generally three years and can be extended to five years
under special circumstances.
14.
ORDINARY SHARES
The Company’s original Memorandum and Articles of Association authorizes the Company to issue 346,545,454 class A ordinary shares with a
par value of US$0.0001 per share. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had 25,363,636 class A ordinary shares outstanding. Each ordinary
share is entitled to one vote. The holders of ordinary shares are also entitled to receive dividends whenever funds are legally available and when
declared by the Board of Directors, subject to prior rights of holders of all other classes of shares outstanding.
In June 2018, the Board of Directors and the shareholders approved a transfer and surrender of shares plan, pursuant to which, Mr. Chen, who
holds 33,818,182 class A ordinary shares on behalf of certain key management founders through Viomi Limited, transferred 16,145,454 class A
ordinary shares to key management founders and surrendered the remaining 17,672,728 class A ordinary shares to the Company.
On August 23, 2018, the Company issued 4,000,000 class A ordinary shares at par value to Mr. Chen’s wholly-owned entity Viomi Limited to
award his contribution to the Company’s development. Such shares were immediately vested. The issuance of such shares is accounted for as a
share-based compensation to Mr. Chen. The issuance date fair value was estimated to be approximately US$3.30 per share.
On the same day, the Company effected a share split whereby each of the Company’s then authorised and outstanding ordinary shares and
preferred shares, par value of $0.0001 each, was divided into ten ordinary shares and preferred shares of the same series, par value US$0.00001
each, respectively. All shareholders then surrendered 90% of their after-share-split outstanding shares back to the Company for cancellation. After
the share split and the surrender of shares for cancellation, the number of the Company’s outstanding ordinary and preferred shares remained
unchanged. The par value per ordinary share has been retroactively revised as if it had been adjusted in proportion to the share split.
F-30
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
14.
ORDINARY SHARES (Continued)
Pursuant to the resolution of the shareholders of the Company on August 23, 2018, the Company’s authorized share capital became US$50,000
divided into 5,000,000,000 shares comprising of the (i) 4,800,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each, (ii)
150,000,000 Class B Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each and (iii) 50,000,000 shares of a par value of US$0.00001 each of such
class or classes (however designated) as the board of directors may determine in accordance with post-offering amended and restated memorandum
and articles of association. Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares and Class B Ordinary Shares have the same rights, except for voting rights and
conversion rights. Each Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote, and each Class B Ordinary Share is entitled to ten (10) votes, voting
together as one class. Each Class B Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A
Ordinary Shares are not convertible into Class B Ordinary Shares under any circumstances. Upon any transfer of Class B Ordinary Shares by a
holder to any person or entity other than holders of Class B Ordinary Shares or their affiliates, such Class B Ordinary Shares shall be automatically
and immediately converted into the equivalent number of Class A Ordinary Shares.
Immediately prior to the completion of the IPO, 16,145,454 issued Class A Ordinary Shares held by certain key management founders, 33,818,182
issued Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares held by Red Better, and 67,636,364 issued Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares held by Mr. Chen’s wholly-
owned entity Viomi Limited was automatically converted by way of re-designation and re-classification into Class B Ordinary Shares on a one-for-
one basis, and the rest of the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares, the rest of the outstanding Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, and all outstanding
Series A Preferred Shares was automatically converted by way of re-designation and re-classification into Class A Ordinary Shares on a one-for-
one basis.
Upon the completion of the Company's IPO in 2018, 34,200,000 Class A Ordinary Shares were issued and 18,181,818 Series A Preferred Shares
have been converted into Class A Ordinary Shares.
As of December 31, 2018, the Company had 90,200,000 Class A Ordinary Shares and 117,600,000 Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding,
respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, 1,494,732 Class A Ordinary Shares were issued for the exercised share options. In addition, 6,750,000
Class B Ordinary Shares were converted into Class A Ordinary Shares.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company had 98,444,732 Class A Ordinary Shares and 110,850,000 Class B Ordinary Shares outstanding,
respectively.
15.
REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED AND PRE-IPO CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES
As described in note1 (a), pursuant to a shares purchase agreement, the Company issued Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares to Mr. Chen, Red Better
and Shunwei during the Reorganization, and the Company also issued totaling 18,181,818 shares (with par value of US$0.0001) of Series A
Preferred Shares for US$1.1000 per share with total consideration of US$20,000, including conversion of the outstanding bridge loans of
US$5,250.
The significant terms of the Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares issued by the Company are as follows:
Conversion rights
Optional Conversion
Each holder of Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares shall have the right, at such holder’s sole discretion, to convert all
or any portion of the Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares into Class A Ordinary Shares at any time. The conversion
rate for Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares shall be determined by dividing applicable Share Issue Price by the
conversion price then in effect at the date of the conversion. The initial conversion price will be the applicable Share Issue Price (i.e., a 1-to-1
initial conversion ratio), and thereafter shall be subject to adjustment and readjustment from time to time as hereinafter provided, being no less than
par value. Adjustments of conversion ratios include the following:
(1)
(2)
Adjustment of applicable conversion price upon issuance of additional ordinary shares below the applicable conversion price.
Adjustments for share dividends, subdivisions, combinations or consolidations of class A ordinary shares.
F-31
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
15.
REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED AND PRE-IPO CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES (Continued)
(3)
(4)
Adjustments for other distributions.
Adjustments for reclassification, exchange and substitution.
Automatic Conversion
Each Series A Preferred Share and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Share shall automatically be converted into class A ordinary shares, at the then
applicable preferred share conversion price upon the closing of a Qualified IPO;
Voting rights
Each Series A Preferred Share and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Share shall carry a number of votes equal to the number of class A ordinary shares
then issuable upon its conversion into class A ordinary shares at the record date for determination of the shareholders entitled to vote on such
matters, or, if no such record date is established, at the date such vote is taken or any written consent of shareholders is solicited. To the extent that
applicable law, Memorandum and Articles of the Company require the Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares to vote
separately as a class with respect to any matters, the Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares shall vote separately as a class
with respect to such matters. Otherwise, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares and class A ordinary shares
shall vote together as a single class.
Redemption rights
Redemption Condition for Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares:
The Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares are redeemable at any time after the earlier of:
i)
ii)
the fifth anniversary of the date on which the closing of the shares issuance pursuant to the share purchase agreement (the “Closing Date”),
if the Company has not consummated a Qualified IPO;
any material breach by the Founder or the Group, of any representatives, warranties or covenants of the transaction documents and not
cured within six (6) months (the “Redemption Start Date”), then subject to the applicable laws of the Cayman Islands and, if so requested
by any investor, the Company and the Founder shall redeem all or part of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and/or Pre-IPO Class
B Ordinary Shares held by such Investor (collectively, the “Redeemable Shares”) in cash out of funds legally available therefor.
The redemption price of each Series A Preferred Share and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Share shall be the sum of the Series A Preferred Shares and
Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares issuance price, respectively: Plus 6% compound interest return per annum on the issuance price; plus all declared
but unpaid dividends per Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares.
If the Company does not have sufficient cash or funds legally available to redeem any of the redeemable shares required to be redeemed, the
Company and the Founder shall use their best effort to cause the remaining redeemable shares to be purchased, including without limitation, to
seek, facilitate and procure third parties to acquire the remaining redeemable shares on terms and conditions acceptable to the relevant redemption
holders.
Dividends rights
Holders of outstanding Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive dividends, out of any assets legally available therefor, prior and in
preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend (whether in cash, in property or in shares of the capital of the Company) on the ordinary
shares or any other class or series of shares of the Company, at the rate of eight percent (8%) of the preferred share issue price per share (as
adjusted for any subdivisions, consolidations, bonus issues, reclassifications and the like) per annum on each Series A Preferred Shares, payable in
U.S. dollars and annually when, as and if declared by the Board. Such distributions shall be cumulative. Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares
shall also be entitled to receive any non-cash dividends declared by the Board on an as-converted basis.
After payment of the dividends distributed to the holders of Series A Preferred Shares, any additional dividends or distributions shall be distributed
to the holders of Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, prior and in preference to any declaration or payment of any dividend (whether in cash, in
property or in shares of the capital of the Company) on the class A ordinary shares or any other class or series of shares of the Company, at the rate
of eight percent (8%) of the deemed Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Share issue price per share (as adjusted for any subdivisions, consolidations, bonus
issues, reclassifications and the like) per annum on each Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Share, payable in U.S. dollars and annually when, as and if
declared by the Board. Such distributions shall be cumulative. Holders of the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares shall also be entitled to receive any
non-cash dividends declared by the Board on an as-converted basis.
F-32
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
15.
REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED AND PRE-IPO CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES (Continued)
Liquidation rights
Liquidation Preferences
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, either voluntary or involuntary, all assets and funds of the Company
legally available for distribution among holders of the outstanding Shares (on an as-converted to basis) in the following order and manner:
i)
ii)
the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive, prior to any distribution to the holders of the ordinary shares or any
other class or series of shares then outstanding, an amount per Series A Preferred Share equal to (a) one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of
the preferred share issue price, plus (b) all declared but unpaid dividends thereon (collectively, the “Preferred Share Preference Amount”). If
the Company has insufficient assets to permit payment of the Preferred Share Preference Amount in full to all holders of Series A Preferred
Shares, then the assets of the Company shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares in proportion to the full
Preferred Share Preference Amount.
after the full Preferred Share Preference Amount on all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares has been paid, any remaining funds or assets
of the Company legally available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed to the holders of Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares,
prior to the holders of the class A ordinary shares or any other class or series of shares then outstanding, an amount per Pre-IPO Class B
Ordinary Share equal to (a) one hundred and fifty percent (150%) of the deemed Pre-IPO Class B Share issue price, plus (b) all declared but
unpaid dividends thereon (collectively, the “Class B Share Preference Amount”, collectively with the Preferred Share Preference Amount,
the “Preference Amount”). After the full Preferred Share Preference Amount has been paid, if the remaining assets are insufficient to permit
payment of the Class B Share Preference Amount in full to all holders of Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, then the remaining assets of the
Company shall be distributed ratably to the holders of the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares in proportion to the full Class B Share
Preference Amount.
iii)
after the full Preference Amount on all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares has been paid, any
remaining funds or assets of the Company legally available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed on a pro rata, pari passu basis
among the holders of the Preferred Shares (on an as-converted basis), together with the holders of the Ordinary Shares.
Liquidation Event
The following events shall be deemed as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (each, a “Liquidation Event”):
(i)
any acquisition of the Company (whether by a sale of equity, merger or consolidation) in which in excess of 50% of the Company’s voting
power outstanding before such transaction is transferred;
(ii)
a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and no substantial business operations will be continued by the Company.
Accounting of Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares
The Company classified the Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares as mezzanine equity in the consolidated balance
sheets because they were redeemable at the holders’ option any time after a certain date and were contingently redeemable upon the occurrence of
certain liquidation events outside of the Company’s control. The Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares are recorded
initially at fair value, net of issuance costs.
Prior to the Reorganization, the 40% initial equity interests of Foshan Viomi held by the Founder for himself has liquidation preference, and the
40% initial equity interests of Foshan Viomi held by Tianjin Jinxing has liquidation preference and also becomes redeemable in the event of a
breach of contract by Foshan Viomi.
Upon completion of the Reorganization, both the Founder and Tianjin Jinxing’s equity interests in Foshan Viomi are exchanged into 67,636,364
Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares of the Company, respectively. After the Reorganization, the most significant change in the provision is the
addition of redemption clause which allows the holders of the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares to redeem the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares if
there are no Qualified IPO after the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date.
F-33
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
15.
REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED AND PRE-IPO CLASS B ORDINARY SHARES (Continued)
This transaction was considered as an extinguishment of the previous equity interests and therefore, the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares are
measured at its fair value on the extinguishment date.
The Group recognizes changes in the redemption value ratable over the redemption period. Increases in the carrying amount of the redeemable
preferred shares are recorded by charges against retained earnings, or in the absence of retained earnings, by charges as reduction of additional
paid-in capital until additional paid-in capital is reduced to zero. Once additional paid-in capital is reduced to zero, the redemption value
measurement adjustment is recognized as an increase in accumulated deficit.
The change in the balance of Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares included in mezzanine equity for the years ended
December 31, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
Balance as of January 1, 2017
Accretion of preferred shares
Foreign exchange
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Accretion of preferred shares
Foreign exchange
Conversion of Series A Preferred Shares and Pre-
IPO Class B Ordinary Shares to ordinary shares
upon the completion of the IPO on September 25,
2018
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Pre-IPO
Class B
Ordinary
Shares held
by the
Founder(1)(2)
RMB
Pre-IPO
Class B
Ordinary
Shares-
owned by
Xiaomi(1)
RMB
54,545
—
(3,169)
51,376
—
2,437
218,175
—
(12,668)
205,507
—
9,743
Series A
Preferred
Shares
RMB
151,279
8,834
(9,068)
151,045
6,563
7,487
Total
RMB
423,999
8,834
(24,905)
407,928
6,563
19,667
(165,095)
—
(53,813)
—
(215,250)
—
(434,158)
—
(1)
(2)
The carrying amount of Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares is higher than the redemption value, which is based on the original investment amount in 2014. Therefore no accretion was
recorded for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
Out of the 67,636,364 Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares held by the Founder, 50,727,273 Pre-IPO Class B ordinary shares held by the Founder pursuant to the restricted share
arrangement is included in liability award.
16.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Compensation expense recognized for share-based awards was as follows:
Share-based compensation expenses
—Restricted shares owned by the Founder – equity
component(a)
—Restricted shares owned by the Founder –
liability component(a)
—Restricted shares owned by the Founder on behalf of
certain key management founders(a)
—Share options(b)
—Shares awarded to Mr. Chen(c)
Total share-based compensation expenses
F-34
Year ended December 31,
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2,670
286
48
2,817
—
5,821
826
212
14
25,391
90,168
116,611
—
—
—
43,168
—
43,168
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
16.
(a)
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued)
Restricted Shares
As described in note 1 (a), the Founder and Xiaomi, made a capital contribution of RMB7,500 and RMB5,000, respectively, in exchange for 60%
and 40% equity interests in Foshan Viomi, respectively. Out of the RMB7,500 invested by the Founder, RMB2,500 was invested by certain key
management founders and held by the Founder on their behalf. For the equity interests held by the Founder for himself, these were ordinary shares in
nature but with substantive liquidation preference, while for the equity interests held by the Founder on behalf of certain key management founders,
these were the most subordinated class of equity of Foshan Viomi and did not carry any preference rights.
According to the agreement among the shareholders entered into in June 2014, the interest held by the Founders shall be subject to a repurchase
feature under which Xiaomi shall purchase the interest held by the Founders at the original investment amount if the Founders voluntarily terminates
their employment with Foshan Viomi. The repurchase feature shall lapse at a rate of 25% each year, consequently, the interests held by the Founders
are accounted for as equity-classified share-based compensation with a vesting period of 4 years.
As discussed in note 2(v), after the Reorganization, the unvested awards held by the Founder on his own behalf consisted of a share-based
compensation liability measured based on the redemption value and a share option component representing the value of upside potential of the Pre-
IPO Class B Ordinary Shares which is accounted for as an equity grant, while the unvested awards held by the Founder on behalf of certain key
management founders continue to be equity-classified. As the share-based compensation expenses related to the equity component of the restricted
shares owned by the Founder and the restricted shares held by the Founder on behalf of certain key management founders are recognized using
graded vesting method, the expenses recognized in 2017 is higher than that of 2018.
A summary of the Restricted Shares activity for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 is presented below:
Outstanding at January 1, 2017
Vested
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Surrender and cancellation(1)
Vested
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
Number of shares
Restricted Shares
held by the
Founder on behalf
of certain key
management founders
16,909,092
(8,454,546)
8,454,546
(5,918,182)
(2,536,364)
—
Restricted Shares
held by the
Founder on his
own behalf
33,818,182
(16,909,091)
16,909,091
—
(16,909,091)
—
Total
50,727,274
(25,363,637)
25,363,637
(5,918,182)
(19,445,455)
—
(1)
In June 2018, the Board of Directors and the shareholders approved a transfer and surrender of shares plan, pursuant to which, Mr. Chen, who holds 33,818,182 Class A
ordinary shares on behalf of certain key management founders through Viomi Limited, transferred 16,145,454 Class A ordinary shares to key management founders and
surrendered the remaining 17,672,728 Class A ordinary shares to the Company. Out of the 17,672,728 Class A ordinary shares surrendered, 5,918,182 shares were unvested
restricted shares. The cancellation of these 5,918,182 shares is accounted for as an acceleration of vesting of such shares and the unrecognized share-based compensation
expenses related to these 5,918,182 shares have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. The share-based
compensation expenses recognized due to the acceleration of vesting is not material.
F-35
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
16.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued)
The table below shows the details of the movement of liability-classified awards with respect to unsettled 33,818,182 restricted shares granted to
the Founder for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018:
Balance as at January 1, 2017
Share-based compensation expenses
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Share-based compensation expenses
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Conversion of Restricted Shares to ordinary shares upon the completion of the IPO on September 25, 2018
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
(b)
Share options
Liability-classified
Awards (RMB)
Restricted Shares
held by the Founder
on his own behalf
4,550
286
(98)
4,738
212
408
(5,358)
—
On September 17, 2015, the Board of Directors of the Company approved the establishment of 2015 Share Incentive Plan, the purpose of which is
to provide an incentive for employees contributing to the Group. The 2015 Share Incentive Plan shall be valid and effective for 10 years from the
grant date. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards (including incentive share options) under 2015 Share
Incentive Plan shall be 12,727,272 shares.
In June 2018, the Board of Directors and shareholders of the Company approved the 2018 Share Incentive Plan. As of December 31, 2019, the
maximum of shares that may be issued under the 2018 Share Incentive Plan was 19,750,728.
For the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company granted 2,700,000 share options to employees pursuant to the 2015 Share Incentive Plan.
With respect to the share options granted, 50% of the options will be vested after 24 months of the grant date and the remaining 50% will be vested
in two equal installments over the following 24 months.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company granted 5,460,000 and 670,000 share options to employees pursuant to the 2015 Share
Incentive Plan and 2018 Share Incentive Plan, respectively. Among which, with respect to the 5,500,000 share options granted, 40% of the options
will be vested after 24 months of the grant date and the remaining 60% will be vested in three equal installments over the following 36 months.
With respect to 630,000 share options granted, 50% of the options will be vested after 24 months of the grant date and the remaining 50% will be
vested in two equal installments over the following 24 months. For the year ended December 31, 2019, no share options were granted to
employees.
The Group calculated the estimated fair value of the options on the respective grant dates using the binomial option pricing model. Assumptions
used to determine the fair value of share options granted during 2017 and 2018 are summarized in the following table:
Risk-free interest rate
Expected volatility
Expected life of option (years)
Expected dividend yield
Fair value per ordinary share
F-36
Year ended December 31,
2017
3.06%-3.89%
47.02%-49.44%
10
—
US$0.76-US$ 1.59
2018
3.62%~3.92%
45.51%~46.99%
10
—
US$1.61-US$3.30
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
16.
(1)
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued)
Risk-free interest rate
Risk-free interest rate was estimated based on the yield to maturity of China Government Bond with a maturity period close to the contractual term
of the options.
(2)
Expected life of option (years)
Expected life of option (years) represents the expected years to vest the options.
(3)
Volatility
The volatility of the underlying ordinary shares during the life of the options was estimated based on the historical stock price volatility of
comparable listed companies over a period comparable to the contractual term of the options.
(4)
Dividend yield
The dividend yield was estimated by the Group based on its expected dividend policy over the contractual term of the options.
(5)
Fair value per ordinary share
In determining the grant date fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares for purposes of recording share-based compensation expenses in
connection with Restricted Shares owned by the Founder, Restricted Shares owned by the Founder on behalf of certain key management founders,
and share options under the 2015 Share Incentive Plan and 2018 Share Incentive Plan, the Company evaluated the use of three generally accepted
valuation approaches: market, cost and income approaches to estimate the enterprise value of the Company and income approach (discounted cash
flow, or DCF method) was relied on for value determination with market approach (guideline companies method, or GCM) taken as reference.
DCF method of the income approach involves applying appropriate weighted average cost of capital (“WACC”), to discount the future cash flows
forecast, based on the Company’s best estimates as of the valuation date, to present value. The WACC was determined based on a consideration of
the factors including risk-free rate, comparative industry risk, equity risk premium, company size and non-systematic risk factors.
GCM under the market approach was adopted as reference of the equity valuation for the company. GCM employs trading multiples method of
selected public comparable companies including trailing and leading enterprise value/revenue multiples.
In deriving the equity value of each class of shares, the Company applied the option pricing method. The option pricing method treats different
classes of shares as call options on the total equity value, with exercise prices based on the liquidation preference or redemption amount of the
certain classes of shares. Under this method, the ordinary share has value only if the fund available for distribution to shareholders exceeds the
value of liquidation preference or redemption amounts at the time of a liquidity event, assuming the enterprise has funds available to make
liquidation preference or redemption. Given the nature of the different classes of shares, the modeling of different classes of capital as call options
on company’s enterprise value was analyzed and the values of different classes of shares were derived accordingly.
The Company also applied a discount for lack of marketability (“DLOM”), which was quantified by the black-Scholes option pricing model.
Under this option-pricing method, which assumed that the put option is struck at the average price of the stock before the privately held shares can
be sold, the cost of the put option was considered as a basis to determine the DLOM.
F-37
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
16.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION (Continued)
A summary of the stock option activity under the 2015 and 2018 Share Incentive Plan for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is
included in the table below.
Outstanding at January 1, 2017
Granted
Forfeited
Outstanding at December 31, 2017
Granted
Forfeited
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
Forfeited
Exercised
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
Exercisable as of December 31, 2019
Expected to vest as of December 31, 2019
Number of
options
5,620,000
2,700,000
(780,000)
7,540,000
6,130,000
(410,000)
13,260,000
(400,000)
(1,494,732)
11,365,268
4,342,768
6,674,875
Weighted average
exercise price (US$)
0.12
0.52
0.27
0.25
0.64
0.43
0.43
0.96
0.17
0.44
0.18
0.60
Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life (years)
Aggregate
intrinsic
value (US$)
9.22
1,854
8.65
3,697
8.40
18,705
7.59
6.46
8.28
17,737
1,991
14,960
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 was RMB6.01 (US$0.90) and
RMB18.23 (US$2.66) per option, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, there was RMB47,024 of unrecognized compensation expenses related to the options.
(c)
Shares awarded to Mr. Chen
On August 23, 2018, the Company issued 4,000,000 Class A ordinary shares at par value to Mr. Chen’s wholly-owned entity Viomi Limited to
award his contribution to the Company’s development. Such shares were immediately vested. The issuance of such shares is accounted for as a
share-based compensation to Mr. Chen. The issuance date fair value was approximately US$3.30 per share.
F-38
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
17.
NET INCOME PER SHARE
Basic net income per share is the amount of net income available to each share of ordinary shares outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted
net income per share is the amount of net income available to each share of ordinary shares outstanding during the reporting period adjusted to
include the effect of potentially dilutive ordinary shares.
For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Group has determined that its convertible redeemable Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares,
convertible redeemable Series A Preferred Shares and unvested Class A ordinary shares are participating securities as they participate in
undistributed earnings on an as-if-converted basis. The holders of the Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares, Series A Preferred Shares and unvested
Class A ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends on a pro rata basis, as if their shares had been converted into ordinary shares. Accordingly,
the Group uses the two-class method of computing net income per share, for ordinary shares and preferred shares according to the participation
rights in undistributed earnings.
Numerator:
Numerator for basic calculation - Net income attributable to
ordinary shareholders of the Company
Denominator:
Denominator for basic calculation - weighted average
ordinary shares outstanding
Dilutive effect of share options
Denominator for diluted calculation
Basic net income per ordinary share
Diluted net income per ordinary share
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
8,033
50,544
292,170
20,684,681
4,895,125
25,579,806
71,771,033
7,819,747
79,590,780
208,156,507
7,699,070
215,855,577
0.39
0.31
0.70
0.64
1.40
1.35
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the following shares outstanding were excluded from the calculation of diluted net income
per ordinary share, as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive for the periods prescribed.
Shares issuable upon conversion of Restricted Shared owned the
Founder
Shares issuable upon conversion of Pre-IPO Class B Ordinary Shares
owned by Red Better and Shunwei
Shares issuable upon conversion of Series A Preferred shares
Shares issuable upon exercise of unvested Restricted Shares owned by
the Founder on behalf of certain key management founders
F-39
Year ended December 31,
2018
2017
2019
67,636,364
67,636,364
18,181,818
13,079,391
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
18.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Name
Mr. Chen
Xiaomi
Foshan Wanwuhulian Trade Co., Ltd. (“Foshan Wanwuhulian”)
The Group’s relationship with Xiaomi
Xiaomi is The Group’s strategic partner and shareholder.
Relationship with the Group
Founder
Shareholder of the Group
Controlled by the Founder
The Group’s sales to Xiaomi is governed by a business cooperation agreement, pursuant to which Xiaomi is responsible for the distribution and
sales of such products through their network and sales channels.
The Group also sells products through Xiaomi’s online e-commerce channel Youpin.mi.com, and is charged of commissions pursuant to a
commission sales agreement.
Transaction with Xiaomi
Business cooperation agreement
The current business corporation agreement entered into in 2019 with Xiaomi governs all the Group’s sales to Xiaomi. It will expire in November
2020, and will automatically extend for successive one-year period unless objected by a party at least 30 days prior to the expiration of the then
current term.
Under the business cooperation agreement, (i) certain products sold to Xiaomi are exclusively designed for and can only be sold to Xiaomi, (ii)
Xiaomi shall purchase these products at a price that covers all of the Group’s costs of raw materials, outsourcing manufacture, models, logistics
and paid intellectual property licensing fees, in connection with the manufacture and delivery of these products, and (iii) Xiaomi and the Group
shall share gross profits, derived from sales of these products, the retail prices of which were set by Xiaomi and the Group together.
In 2019, the Group has entered into cooperation arrangement with Xiaomi for a certain type of products under which the Group acts as the agent of
Xiaomi. The Group charges Xiaomi with reference to market price.
Youpin commission sales agreement
The Group has entered into a commission sales agreement with Xiaomi for the sale of the Group’s own branded products on a E-platform operated
by Xiaomi, namely Youpin. The commission sales agreement will expire on December 31, 2019 and has been renewed up to December 31, 2020.
Furthermore, this agreement may be terminated by Xiaomi with 30 days’ written notice.
Under the commission sales agreement, the Group shall pay a service fee, calculated as approximately 11% of the sales price excluding customers’
refunds or as otherwise agreed by the parties with respect to specific product lines, as well as a deposit to Xiaomi. The retail prices of the Group’s
products on Youpin’s platform shall be no higher than the sales price from any other e-commerce merchants or the Group’s official offline sales
channel, including in the event of sales or promotion.
F-40
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
18.
(1)
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)
Amount due from/to related parties
Accounts receivable from a related party:
Xiaomi(a)
Other receivables from related parties:
Sales receivable from Xiaomi(b)
Other receivables from Xiaomi
Total
Amounts due to related parties:
Advertising and promotion expenses payable to Xiaomi(c)
Purchase payable to Xiaomi(a)
Total
(2)
Purchase from related parties
Xiaomi(a)
Foshan Wanwuhulian(d)
Total
(3)
Revenue from a related party
Xiaomi(a)
(4)
Selling and marketing expenses
Commission expenses charged by Xiaomi(b)
Advertising and promotion expenses charged by Xiaomi(c)
Total
(5)
Interest expenses
Xiaomi(e)
F-41
As of December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
260,984
707,947
112,320
—
112,320
1,887
3,876
5,763
23,908
36
23,944
12,919
12,187
25,106
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
1,685
—
1,685
18,235
—
18,235
43,037
15,422
58,459
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
739,464
1,311,852
2,112,170
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2017
RMB
3,327
—
3,327
20,824
3,774
24,598
58,874
22,977
81,851
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2017
RMB
2019
RMB
1,761
440
—
18.
(6)
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Continued)
Interest income
Xiaomi(f)
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2017
RMB
2019
RMB
490
107
—
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
Foshan Viomi both sells water purifier and other products to and purchase Xiaomi branded products and certain raw materials from Xiaomi.
The amount due from Xiaomi represents receivable arising from sales of water purifier and other products. The balance due to Xiaomi
represents payable arising from purchase of Xiaomi branded products and certain raw materials.
Foshan Viomi sells its own brand products on the E-platform of Xiaomi, which charges Foshan Viomi commission and technical service
fees. The amount due from Xiaomi represents sales receivable net of commission.
Foshan Viomi sells its own brand products on the E-platform of Xiaomi, which provides advertising and promotion service. The amount due
to Xiaomi represents payable arising from advertising and promotion service.
Foshan Viomi purchases products from Foshan Wanwuhulian for trading during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Interest expense represents the expense of a loan provided by Xiaomi. The loan is RMB31,900 with an interest rate of 5.52% per annum.
The loan term is 3 months and will be automatically extended by another 3 months if the two parties do not raise any objections on the
maturity date. The loan has been settled in 2018.
Interest income represents interest from a loan provided to Xiaomi. The loan is US$5,000 with an interest rate of 3 month Libor add 10bps.
The loan term is 3 months and will be automatically extended by another 3 months if the two parties do not raise any objections on the
maturity date. The loan has been settled in 2018.
19.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
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 assets or liabilities.
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. This guidance specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques, which is based on whether the inputs
into the valuation technique are observable or unobservable. The hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1—Valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are unadjusted quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are
identical to the assets or liabilities being measured.
Level 2—Valuation techniques in which significant inputs include quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are similar to the
assets or liabilities being measured and/or quoted prices for assets or liabilities that are identical or similar to the assets or liabilities being
measured from markets that are not active. Also, model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are
observable in active markets are Level 2 valuation techniques.
Level 3—Valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are
valuation technique inputs that reflect the Group’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or
liability.
F-42
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
19.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)
The fair value guidance describes three main approaches to measure the fair value of assets and liabilities: (1) market approach; (2) income
approach and (3) cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated from market transactions involving
identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present value
amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based
on the amount that would currently be required to replace an asset.
When available, the Group uses quoted market prices to determine the fair value of an asset or liability. If quoted market prices are not available,
the Group will measure fair value using valuation techniques that use, when possible, current market-based or independently sourced market
parameters, such as interest rates and currency rates.
The Group did not have any other financial instruments that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31,
2018 and 2019 except for short-term investments (Note 7).
The following table summarizes the Group’s assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are categorized using the fair value
hierarchy as of December 31, 2018 and 2019:
As of December 31, 2019
Short-term investments (i)
As of December 31, 2018
Short-term investments (i)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
—
316,201
—
316,201
—
168,993
—
168,993
(i) Short-term investments represent structured deposits and the Company values these short-term investments based on quoted prices of similar
products provided by banks at the end of each period, and accordingly, the Company classifies the valuation techniques that use these inputs as
Level 2.
Apart from the short-term investments, the Company’s other financial instruments consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash,
short-term deposits, accounts and notes receivable, other receivables, amounts due to/from related parties, accounts and notes payable and certain
accrued expenses. They are recorded at cost which approximates fair value.
20.
LEASES
Our operating leases are principally for office space, facilities and self-run offline stores. At December 31, 2019, our operating leases had a
weighted average discount rate of 4.75% and a weighted-average remaining lease term of 2.4 years.
The components of our lease expense were as follows:
Lease cost
Operating lease expense
Short-term lease expense (i)
Total lease cost
(i) Includes leases with a term of one year or less.
Supplemental cash flow information for our leases was as follows:
Operating cash flows relating to operating leases
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
F-43
Year ended
December 31,
2019
7,434
798
8,232
Year ended
December 31,
2019
7,553
17,427
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
20.
LEASES (Continued)
At December 31, 2019, the aggregate future minimum rental payments under non-cancelable agreement were as follows:
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total future minimum rental payment
Less amount representing imputed interest
Present value of future minimum rental payments
Less current portion, recorded in other current liabilities
Long-term lease liabilities, recorded in other long-term liabilities
21.
(a)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Operating commitments
As of December 31, 2018, future minimum commitments under non-cancelable agreements were as follows:
Rental
RMB
Rental
RMB
2019
2020
2021
2022 and after
The operating commitments as of December 31, 2018 presented above mainly consist of non-cancelable operating lease commitments.
As of December 31, 2019, future minimum commitments under non-cancelable agreements were as follows:
Rental
RMB
2020
2021
2022
2023 and after
7,189
5,985
5,519
3,511
22,204
(1,820)
20,384
(6,993)
13,391
4,284
2,947
1,600
978
9,809
1,351
1,827
1,876
681
5,735
The operating commitments as of December 31, 2019 presented above mainly consist of the short-term lease commitments and leases that have not
yet commenced but that create significant rights and obligations for the Company, which are not included in operating lease right-of–use assets and
lease liabilities.
F-44
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except shares, ADS, per share and per ADS data)
21.
(b)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)
Capital and other commitment
As of December 31, 2019, the Group had no outstanding capital commitments.
(c)
Legal proceedings
From time to time, the Group is involved in claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. Based on currently available
information, management does not believe that the ultimate outcome of these unresolved matters, individually and in the aggregate, is likely to
have a material adverse effect on the Group’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties and the Group’s view of these matters may change in the future. If an unfavorable outcome
were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the Group’s financial position and results of operations for the periods in
which the unfavorable outcome occurs.
22.
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The recent COVID-19 outbreak has created unique global and industry-wide challenges, including challenges to the Company’s business,
impacting supply chains, logistics, sales channels, as well as overall consumer sentiment and purchasing behavior. In early-2020, the COVID-19
outbreak resulted in the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities across China. Given the strict
quarantine measures put in place during this period, normal economic activity throughout China was sharply curtailed and opportunities for
discretionary consumption, especially in offline sales channels, were extremely limited during the period. Our contract manufacturers’ operations
were disrupted during this period, which in turn adversely affected our business and results of operations. Many of the quarantine measures within
China have since been relaxed as of the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements, and the Company, together with its suppliers
and customers, have gradually resumed normal operations in mid-February 2020. Although the Company has seen noticeable improvements in
late-March and early-April, both from a supply and demand perspective, the impact of COVID-19 is expected to have a negative impact on the
Company’s near-term financial results for the first quarter of 2020, including but not limited to revenue growth and reduced profit margins, as a
result of the ongoing challenging industry conditions, supply chain bottlenecks and operational disruptions. In addition, the longer-term trajectory
of COVID-19, both in terms scope and intensity of the outbreak, in China as well as globally, together with its impact on the industry and the
broader economy and the Company's future results of operations, cash flows or financial conditions for the remainder of fiscal year 2020 are still
difficult to assess or predict at this time and face significant uncertainties that will be difficult to quantify.
23.
RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
Relevant PRC laws and regulations permit payments of dividends by the Group’s entities incorporated in the PRC only out of their retained
earnings, if any, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, the Company’s entities in the PRC are
required to annually appropriate 10% of their net after-tax income to the statutory general reserve fund prior to payment of any dividends, unless
such reserve funds have reached 50% of their respective registered capital. As a result of these and other restrictions under PRC laws and
regulations, the Company’s entities incorporated in the PRC are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to the Company
either in the form of dividends, loans or advances, which restricted portion as calculated under U.S. GAAP amounted to RMB13,750 and
RMB31,395 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019. Even though the Company currently does not require any such dividends, loans or advances from
the PRC entities for working capital and other funding purposes, the Company may in the future require additional cash resources from them due
to changes in business conditions, to fund future acquisitions and development, or merely to declare and pay dividends or distributions to its
shareholders. Except for the above, there is no other restriction on use of proceeds generated by the Group’s subsidiaries and VIE to satisfy any
obligations of the Company.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company performed a test on the restricted net assets of subsidiaries and VIE in accordance with
Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X Rule 4-08 (e) (3), “General Notes to Financial Statements” and concluded that the restricted
net assets do not exceed 25% of the consolidated net assets of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and the condensed financial information of
the Company are not required to be presented.
F-45
Exhibit 2.5
Description of rights of each class of securities
registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)
American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) each representing three Class A ordinary shares of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd.,
(“we,” “us,” “our company” or “our”) are listed and traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market and, in connection with this listing (but
not for trading), the Class A ordinary shares are registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. This exhibit contains a
description of the rights of (i) the holders of Class A ordinary shares and (ii) the holders of ADSs. Underlying Class A ordinary
shares represented by the ADSs are held by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, and holders of ADSs will
not be treated as holders of the Class A ordinary shares.
Description of Class A Ordinary Shares
The following is a summary of material provisions of our currently effective second amended and restated
memorandum and articles of association (the “Memorandum and Articles of Association”), as well as the Companies Law (as
amended) of the Cayman Islands (the "Companies Law") insofar as they relate to the material terms of our ordinary shares.
Notwithstanding this, because it is a summary, it may not contain all the information that you may otherwise deem important. For
more complete information, you should read the entire Memorandum and Articles of Association, which has been filed with the
SEC as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-227063).
Type and Class of Securities (Item 9.A.5 of Form 20-F)
Each Class A ordinary share has US$ 0.00001 par value. The number of Class A ordinary shares that have been issued
as of the last day of the financial year ended December 31, 2019 is provided on the cover of the annual report for fiscal year 2019
on Form 20-F filed in April 2020 (the “2019 Form 20-F”). Our Class A ordinary shares may be held in either certificated or
uncertificated form.
Preemptive Rights (Item 9.A.3 of Form 20-F)
Our shareholders do not have preemptive rights.
Limitations or Qualifications (Item 9.A.6 of Form 20-F)
We have a dual-class voting structure such that our ordinary shares consist of Class A ordinary shares and Class B
ordinary shares. Each Class A ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters subject to the vote at
general meetings of our company, and each Class B ordinary share shall entitle the holder thereof to ten votes on all matters
subject to vote at general meetings of our company. Due to the super voting powers granted to holders of Class B ordinary shares,
the voting power of holders of Class A ordinary shares may be materially limited.
Rights of Other Types of Securities (Item 9.A.7 of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
1
Rights of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.3 of Form 20-F)
Classes of Ordinary Shares
Our ordinary shares are divided into Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Holders of our Class A
ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will have the same rights except for voting and conversion rights. Our ordinary
shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of shareholders. We may not issue shares to
bearer. Our shareholders who are non-residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Conversion
Each Class B ordinary share is convertible into one Class A ordinary share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A
ordinary shares are not convertible into Class B ordinary shares under any circumstances. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or
disposition of any Class B ordinary share by Mr. Xiaoping Chen or Viomi Limited to any person who is not Mr. Chen Xiaoping
or his affiliate(s), or upon a change of ultimate beneficial ownership of any Class B ordinary share to any person who is not Mr.
Xiaoping Chen or his affiliate(s), such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one Class A
ordinary share. Upon any sale, transfer, assignment or disposition of any Class B ordinary share by a shareholder other than Mr.
Xiaoping Chen or his affiliate(s) to any person, such Class B ordinary share shall be automatically and immediately converted
into one Class A ordinary share.
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 declare dividends by ordinary resolution, but no dividend shall exceed the amount recommended
by our directors. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that dividends may be declared and paid out of our
profits, realized or unrealized, or from any reserve set aside from funds legally available for distribution. Under the laws of the
Cayman Islands, our company may pay a dividend out of either profit or share premium account, provided that in no
circumstances may a dividend be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the
ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights
In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each holder of Class A ordinary shares is entitled to one vote
per share and each holder of Class B ordinary shares is entitled to ten votes per share on all matters subject to vote at our general
meetings. Our Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a
vote of our shareholders, except as may otherwise be required by law. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by show of hands
unless a poll is demanded. A poll may be demanded by the chairman of such meeting or any shareholder present in person or by
proxy.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the restrictions set out in our Memorandum and Articles of Association as set out below, any of our
shareholders may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any
other form approved by our board of directors
2
Our board of directors may, in its absolute discretion, decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share which is not
fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our 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;
the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares;
the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred
does not exceed four; and
a fee of such maximum sum as Nasdaq Stock Market may determine to be payable or such lesser sum as our directors
may from time to time require is paid to us in respect thereof.
If our directors refuse to register a transfer they shall, within three months after the date on which the instrument of
transfer was lodged, send to each of the transferor and the transferee notice of such refusal.
The registration of transfers may, after compliance with any notice required of Nasdaq Stock Market, be suspended and
the register closed at such times and for such periods as our board of directors may from time to time determine, provided,
however, that the registration of transfers shall not be suspended nor the register closed for more than 30 days in any year as our
board may determine.
Liquidation Rights
On the winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution amongst our shareholders shall be more than
sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus shall be distributed amongst
our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a
deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or
otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed
so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares
Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a
notice served to such shareholders at least 14 calendar days prior to the specified time of payment. The shares that have been
called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
3
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 of
these shares, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors
or by shareholders by special resolutions. Our Company may also repurchase any of our shares on such terms and in such manner
as have been approved by our board of directors or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Under the Companies Law, the
redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our Company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a new 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 Law, no such share may be redeemed or repurchased (a) unless it is fully
paid up, (b) if such redemption or repurchase would result in there being no shares outstanding or (c) if the company has
commenced liquidation. In addition, our company may accept the surrender of any fully paid share for no consideration.
Requirements to Change the Rights of Holders of Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F)
Variations of Rights of Shares
If at any time, our share capital is divided into different classes of shares, the rights attached to any such class of shares
(unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class), may be materially adversely varied with the consent
in writing of the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a
separate meeting of the holders of the shares of the class. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued
with preferred or other rights shall not, unless otherwise expressly provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, be
deemed to be materially adversely varied by, inter alia, the creation, allotment or issue of further shares ranking pari passu with
or subsequent to or the redemption or purchase of any shares of such existing class of shares.
Limitations on the Rights to Own Class A Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.6 of Form 20-F)
There are no limitations under the laws of the Cayman Islands or under the Memorandum and Articles of Association
that limit the right of non-resident or foreign owners to hold or vote Class A ordinary shares.
Provisions Affecting Any Change of Control (Item 10.B.7 of Form 20-F)
Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Some provisions of our Memorandum and
Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders
may consider favorable, including provisions that:
•
•
authorize our board of directors to issue preference shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preference shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders;
and
limit the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders.
4
However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our
Memorandum and Articles of Association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests
of our company.
Ownership Threshold (Item 10.B.8 of Form 20-F)
There are no provisions under the laws of the Cayman Islands applicable to our company or under the Memorandum
and Articles of Association that that require the Company to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular ownership
threshold.
Differences Between the Law of Different Jurisdictions (Item 10.B.9 of Form 20-F)
The Companies Law is derived, to a large extent, from the older Companies Acts of England but does not follow recent
English statutory enactments and accordingly there are significant differences between the Companies Law and the current
Companies Act of England. In addition, the Companies Law differs from laws applicable to U.S. corporations and their
shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of certain significant differences between the provisions of the Companies Law
applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements. The Companies Law permits mergers and consolidations between Cayman Islands
companies and between Cayman Islands companies and non-Cayman Islands companies. For these purposes, (i) “merger” means
the merging of two or more constituent companies and the vesting of their undertaking, property and liabilities in one of such
companies as the surviving company, and (ii) a “consolidation” means the combination of two or more constituent companies
into a consolidated company and the vesting of the undertaking, property and liabilities of such companies to the consolidated
company. In order to effect such a merger or consolidation, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan
of merger or consolidation, which must then be authorized by (a) a special resolution of the shareholders of each constituent
company, and (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of association. The
written plan of merger or consolidation must be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands together with a
declaration as to the solvency of the consolidated or surviving company, a list of the assets and liabilities of each constituent
company and an undertaking that a copy of the certificate of merger or consolidation will be given to the members and creditors
of each constituent company and that notification of the merger or consolidation will be published in the Cayman Islands Gazette.
Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these statutory procedures.
A merger between a Cayman parent company and its Cayman subsidiary or subsidiaries does not require authorization
by a resolution of shareholders of that Cayman subsidiary if a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of that
Cayman subsidiary to be merged unless that member agrees otherwise. For this purpose a company is a “parent” of a subsidiary if
it holds issued shares that together represent at least ninety percent (90%) of the votes at a general meeting of the subsidiary.
The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest over a constituent company is required unless this
requirement is waived by a court in the Cayman Islands.
5
Save in certain limited circumstances, a shareholder of a Cayman constituent company who dissents from the merger or
consolidation is entitled to payment of the fair value of his shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by
the Cayman Islands court) upon dissenting to the merger or consolidation, provided the dissenting shareholder complies strictly
with the procedures set out in the Companies Law. The exercise of dissenter rights will preclude the exercise by the dissenting
shareholder of any other rights to which he or she might otherwise be entitled by virtue of holding shares, save for the right to
seek relief on the grounds that the merger or consolidation is void or unlawful.
Separate from the statutory provisions relating to mergers and consolidations, the Companies Law also contains
statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies by way of schemes of arrangement,
provided that the arrangement is approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the
arrangement is to be made, and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or
creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meetings, convened for that
purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman
Islands. While a dissenting shareholder has the right to express to the court the view that the transaction ought not to be approved,
the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it determines that:
•
•
•
•
the statutory provisions as to the required majority vote have been met;
the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question and the statutory majority are acting bona
fide without coercion of the minority to promote interests adverse to those of the class;
the arrangement is such that may be reasonably approved by an intelligent and honest man of that class acting in
respect of his interest; and
the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies
Law.
The Companies Law also contains a statutory power of compulsory acquisition which may facilitate the “squeeze out”
of dissentient minority shareholder upon a tender offer. When a tender offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares
affected within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period commencing on the expiration of such four month
period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares to the offeror on the terms of the offer. An objection
can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed in the case of an offer which has been so
approved unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith or collusion.
If an arrangement and reconstruction by way of scheme of arrangement is thus approved and sanctioned, or if a tender
offer is made and accepted, in accordance with the foregoing statutory procedures, a dissenting shareholder would have no rights
comparable to appraisal rights, save that objectors to a takeover offer may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for
various orders that the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands has a broad discretion to make, which would otherwise ordinarily be
available to dissenting shareholders of Delaware corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially
determined value of the shares.
6
Shareholders’ Suits. In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company,
and as a general rule a derivative action may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities,
which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands court can be expected to
follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v. Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a non-
controlling shareholder may be permitted to commence a class action against or derivative actions in the name of the company to
challenge actions where:
•
•
•
an act which is ultra vires or illegal and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders;
an act which requires a resolution with a qualified (or special) majority (i.e., more than a simple majority) that has
not been obtained; and
an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority share the wrongdoer are themselves in control of our
company.
Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation of Liability. Cayman Islands law does not limit the
extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors,
except to the extent any such provision may be held by the Cayman Islands courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to
provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Memorandum and Articles of
Association provide that that we shall indemnify our officers and directors against all actions, proceedings, costs, charges,
expenses, losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such directors or officer, other than by reason of such person’s
own dishonesty, willful default or fraud, in or about the conduct of our company’s business or affairs (including as a result of any
mistake of judgment) or in the execution or discharge of his duties, powers, authorities or discretions, including without prejudice
to the generality of the foregoing, any costs, expenses, losses or liabilities incurred by such director or officer in defending
(whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning our company or its affairs in any court whether in the
Cayman Islands or elsewhere. This standard of conduct is generally the same as permitted under the Delaware General
Corporation Law for a Delaware corporation.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers that provide
such persons with additional indemnification beyond that provided in our Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or
persons controlling us under the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
Directors’ Fiduciary Duties. Under Delaware corporate law, a director of a Delaware corporation has a fiduciary duty
to the corporation and its shareholders. This duty has two components: the duty of care and the duty of loyalty. The duty of care
requires that a director act in good faith, with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar
circumstances. Under this duty, a director must inform himself of, and disclose to shareholders, all material information
reasonably available regarding a significant transaction. The duty of loyalty
7
requires that a director acts in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. He must not use his
corporate position for personal gain or advantage. This duty prohibits self-dealing by a director and mandates that the best
interest of the corporation and its shareholders take precedence over any interest possessed by a director, officer or controlling
shareholder and not shared by the shareholders generally. In general, actions of a director are presumed to have been made on an
informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interests of the corporation. However,
this presumption may be rebutted by evidence of a breach of one of the fiduciary duties. Should such evidence be presented
concerning a transaction by a director, the director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction
was of fair value to the corporation.
As a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands company is in the position of a fiduciary with
respect to the company and therefore it is considered that he owes the following duties to the company—a duty to act bona fide in
the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his position as director (unless the company permits him to
do so), a duty not to put himself in a position where the interests of the company conflict with his personal interest or his duty to
a third party, and a duty to exercise powers for the purpose for which such powers were intended. A director of a Cayman Islands
company owes to the company a duty to act with skill and care. 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.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may eliminate the
right of shareholders to act by written consent by amendment to its certificate of incorporation. Cayman Islands law and our
Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that our shareholders may approve corporate matters by way of a unanimous
written resolution signed by or on behalf of each shareholder who would have been entitled to vote on such matter at a general
meeting without a meeting being held.
Shareholder Proposals. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put any proposal
before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided it complies with the notice provisions in the governing documents. A special
meeting may be called by the board of directors or any other person authorized to do so in the governing documents, but
shareholders may be precluded from calling special meetings.
The Companies 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 in aggregate not
less than one-third of all votes attaching to all the issued and outstanding shares of our company entitled to vote at general
meetings to requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our board is obliged to convene an
extraordinary general meeting and to put the resolutions so requisitioned to a vote at such meeting. Other than this right to
requisition a shareholders’ meeting, our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide our shareholders with any other
right to put proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings. As an exempted Cayman Islands
company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
8
Cumulative Voting. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not
permitted unless the corporation’s certificate of incorporation specifically provides for it. Cumulative voting potentially facilitates
the representation of minority shareholders on a board of directors since it permits the minority shareholder to cast all the votes to
which the shareholder is entitled on a single director, which increases the shareholder’s voting power with respect to electing
such director. There are no prohibitions in relation to cumulative voting under the laws of the Cayman Islands but our
Memorandum and Articles of Association do not provide for cumulative voting. As a result, our shareholders are not afforded
any less protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
Removal of Directors. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a director of a corporation with a classified board
may be removed only for cause with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of
incorporation provides otherwise. Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, directors may be removed with or
without cause, by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders, or be appointed on terms that the director shall automatically retire
from office (unless he has sooner vacated office) at the next or a subsequent annual general meeting or upon any specified event
or after any specified period in a written agreement between our company and the director, if any; but no such term shall be
implied in the absence of express provision. In addition, a director’s office shall be vacated if the director (i) becomes bankrupt or
makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors; (ii) dies or is found to be or becomes of unsound mind; (iii) resigns his
office by notice in writing to the company; (iv) without special leave of absence from our board of directors, is absent from three
consecutive meetings of the board and the board resolves that his office be vacated or; (v) is removed from office pursuant to any
other provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Transactions with Interested Shareholders. The Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination
statute applicable to Delaware corporations whereby, unless the corporation has specifically elected not to be governed by such
statute by amendment to its certificate of incorporation, it is prohibited from engaging in certain business combinations with an
“interested shareholder” for three years following the date that such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested
shareholder generally is a person or a group who or which owns or owned 15% or more of the target’s outstanding voting share
within the past three years. This has the effect of limiting the ability of a potential acquirer to make a two-tiered bid for the target
in which all shareholders would not be treated equally. The statute does not apply if, among other things, prior to the date on
which such shareholder becomes an interested shareholder, the board of directors approves either the business combination or the
transaction which resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a
Delaware corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the target’s board of directors.
Cayman Islands law has no comparable statute. As a result, we cannot avail ourselves of the types of protections
afforded by the Delaware business combination statute. However, although Cayman Islands law does not regulate transactions
between a company and its significant shareholders, it does provide that such transactions must be entered into bona fide in the
best interests of the company and for a proper corporate purpose and not with the effect of constituting a fraud on the minority
shareholders.
9
Dissolution; Winding Up. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, unless the board of directors approves the
proposal to dissolve, dissolution must be approved by shareholders holding 100% of the total voting power of the corporation.
Only if the dissolution is initiated by the board of directors may it be approved by a simple majority of the corporation’s
outstanding shares. Delaware law allows a Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority
voting requirement in connection with dissolutions initiated by the board.
Under Cayman Islands law, a company may be wound up by either an order of the courts of the Cayman Islands or by a
special resolution of its members or, if the company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due, by an ordinary resolution of its
members. The court has authority to order winding up in a number of specified circumstances including where it is, in the
opinion of the court, just and equitable to do so.
Variation of Rights of Shares. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may vary the rights of a
class of shares with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class, unless the certificate of incorporation
provides otherwise. Under Cayman Islands law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, if our share capital is divided
into more than one class of shares, we may materially adversely vary the rights attached to any class with the written consent of
the holders of two-thirds of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate meeting
of the holders of the shares of that class.
Amendment of Governing Documents. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation’s governing
documents may be amended with the approval of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, unless the certificate of
incorporation provides otherwise. Under the Companies Law and our Memorandum and Articles of Association, our
Memorandum and Articles of Association may only be amended by a special resolution of our shareholders.
Rights of Non-Resident or Foreign Shareholders. There are no limitations imposed by our Memorandum and Articles
of Association on the rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on our shares. In addition,
there are no provisions in our Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which
shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Exempted Company. The Companies Law 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 of 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:
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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 for inspection;
an exempted company does not have to hold an annual general meeting;
an exempted company may issue no par value shares;
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an exempted company may obtain an undertaking against the imposition of any future taxation (such undertakings
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).
Changes in Capital (Item 10.B.10 of Form 20-F)
Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
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increase the share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall
prescribe;
increase its share capital by new shares of such amount as it thinks expedient;
consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than its existing shares;
subdivide its shares, or any of them, into shares of an amount smaller than that fixed by our Memorandum and Articles
of Association, 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; and
cancel any shares that, 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.
Debt Securities (Item 12.A of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Warrants and Rights (Item 12.B of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
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Other Securities (Item 12.C of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Description of American Depositary Shares (Items 12.D.1 and 12.D.2 of Form 20-F)
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, registers and delivers the ADSs. Each ADS represents
ownership of three Class A ordinary shares, deposited with Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, as custodian for the
depositary. Each ADS also represents ownership of any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the
depositary. The depositary’s corporate trust office at which the ADSs are administered is located at 60 Wall Street, New York,
NY 10005, USA. The principal executive office of the depositary is located at 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, USA.
The Direct Registration System, or DRS, is a system administered by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC,
pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be evidenced by
periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto.
We will not treat ADS holders as our shareholders and accordingly, you, as an ADS holder, will not have shareholder
rights. Cayman Islands law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the class A ordinary shares
underlying your ADSs. Holder of our ADSs have ADS holder rights. A deposit agreement among our company, the depositary
and the holders of our ADSs sets out ADS holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. The laws of the
State of New York govern the deposit agreement and the ADSs.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you
should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of American Depositary Receipt.
Holding the ADSs
How will you hold your ADSs?
You may hold ADSs either (1) directly (a) by having an American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, which is a certificate
evidencing a specific number of ADSs, registered in your name, or (b) by holding ADSs in DRS, or (2) indirectly through your
broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADS holder. This description assumes you hold your
ADSs directly. ADSs will be issued through DRS, unless you specifically request certificated ADRs. If you hold the ADSs
indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADS holders
described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on class A ordinary
shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and
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expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of class A ordinary shares your ADSs represent as of
the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for our class A ordinary shares) set by the depositary with
respect to the ADSs.
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Cash. The depositary will convert or cause to be converted any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the
class A ordinary shares or any net proceeds from the sale of any class A ordinary shares, rights, securities or other
entitlements under the terms of the deposit agreement into U.S. dollars if it can do so on a practicable basis, and can
transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States and will distribute promptly the amount thus received. If the depositary
shall determine in its judgment that such conversions or transfers are not practical or lawful or if any government
approval or license is needed and cannot be obtained at a reasonable cost within a reasonable period or otherwise
sought, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADS holders to
whom it is possible to do so. It will hold or cause the custodian to hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the
account of the ADS holders who have not been paid and such funds will be held for the respective accounts of the ADS
holders. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest for the respective accounts of the
ADS holders.
Before making a distribution, any taxes or other governmental charges, together with fees and expenses of the
depositary, that must be paid, will be deducted. It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round down
fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot
convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.
Shares. For any class A ordinary shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution, either (1) the depositary will
distribute additional ADSs representing such class A ordinary shares or (2) existing ADSs as of the applicable record
date will represent rights and interests in the additional class A ordinary shares distributed, to the extent reasonably
practicable and permissible under law, in either case, net of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the
depositary and taxes and/or other governmental charges. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will try to
sell class A ordinary shares which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the
same way as it does with cash. The depositary may sell a portion of the distributed class A ordinary shares sufficient to
pay its fees and expenses, and any taxes and governmental charges, in connection with that distribution.
Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our class A ordinary shares the option to receive
dividends in either cash or shares, the depositary, after consultation with us and having received timely notice as
described in the deposit agreement of such elective distribution by us, has discretion to determine to what extent such
elective distribution will be made available to you as a holder of the ADSs. We must timely first instruct the depositary
to make such elective distribution available to you and furnish it with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. The
depositary could decide it is not legal or reasonably practicable to make such elective distribution available to you. In
such case, the depositary shall, on the basis of the same determination as is made in respect of the class A ordinary
shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the same
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way as it does in a cash distribution, or additional ADSs representing class A ordinary shares in the same way as it does
in a share distribution. The depositary is not obligated to make available to you a method to receive the elective
dividend in shares rather than in ADSs. There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to receive
elective distributions on the same terms and conditions as the holders of class A ordinary shares.
Rights to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of our class A ordinary shares any rights to subscribe for
additional shares, the depositary shall having received timely notice as described in the deposit agreement of such
distribution by us, consult with us, and we must determine whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make
these rights available to you. We must first instruct the depositary to make such rights available to you and furnish the
depositary with satisfactory evidence that it is legal to do so. If the depositary decides it is not legal or reasonably
practicable to make the rights available but that it is lawful and reasonably practicable to sell the rights, the depositary
will endeavor to sell the rights and in a riskless principal capacity or otherwise, at such place and upon such terms
(including public or private sale) as it may deem proper distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with
cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for
them.
If the depositary makes rights available to you, it will establish procedures to distribute such rights and enable you to
exercise the rights upon your payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes
and/or other governmental charges. The depositary shall not be obliged to make available to you a method to exercise
such rights to subscribe for class A ordinary shares (rather than ADSs).
U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs represented by shares purchased upon exercise
of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary
may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADSs described in this section except for
changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.
There can be no assurance that you will be given the opportunity to exercise rights on the same terms and conditions as
the holders of class A ordinary shares or be able to exercise such rights.
Other Distributions. Subject to receipt of timely notice, as described in the deposit agreement, from us with the request
to make any such distribution available to you, and provided the depositary has determined such distribution is lawful
and reasonably practicable and feasible and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement, the depositary will
distribute to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it may deem practicable, upon your
payment of applicable fees, charges and expenses incurred by the depositary and taxes and/or other governmental
charges. If any of the conditions above are not met, the depositary will endeavor to sell, or cause to be sold, what we
distributed and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash; or, if it is unable to sell such property,
the depositary may dispose of such property in any way it deems reasonably practicable under the circumstances for
nominal or no consideration, such that you may have no rights to or arising from such property.
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The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any
ADS holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no
obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, shares, rights or anything else to ADS holders. This means
that you may not receive the distributions we make on our shares or any value for them if we and/or the depositary determines
that it is illegal or not practicable for us or the depositary to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How are ADS issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit class A ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive
class A ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp
taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and
will deliver the ADSs to or upon the order of the person or persons entitled thereto.
How do ADR holders cancel an American Depositary Share?
You may turn in your ADSs at the depositary’s corporate trust office or by providing appropriate instructions to your
broker. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the
depositary will deliver the class A ordinary shares and any other deposited securities underlying the ADSs to you or a person you
designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities
at its corporate trust office, to the extent permitted by law.
How do ADS holders interchange between Certificated ADSs and Uncertificated ADSs?
You may surrender your ADR to the depositary for the purpose of exchanging your ADR for uncertificated ADSs. The
depositary will cancel that ADR and will send you a statement confirming that you are the owner of uncertificated ADSs.
Alternatively, upon receipt by the depositary of a proper instruction from a holder of uncertificated ADSs requesting the
exchange of uncertificated ADSs for certificated ADSs, the depositary will execute and deliver to you an ADR evidencing those
ADSs.
Voting Rights
How do you vote?
You may instruct the depositary to vote the class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities underlying your ADSs
at any meeting at which you are entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our Memorandum and Articles
of Association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities. Otherwise, you could exercise your right to vote
directly if you withdraw the class A ordinary shares. However, you may not know about the meeting sufficiently enough in
advance to withdraw the class A ordinary shares.
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If we ask for your instructions and upon timely notice from us by regular, ordinary mail delivery, or by electronic
transmission, as described in the deposit agreement, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming meeting at which you are
entitled to vote pursuant to any applicable law, the provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the
provisions of or governing the deposited securities, and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. The materials will include
or reproduce (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies; (b) a statement that the ADS holders at the close of
business on the ADS record date will be entitled, subject to any applicable law, the provisions of our Memorandum and Articles
of Association, and the provisions of or governing the deposited securities, to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the
voting rights, if any, pertaining to the class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities represented by such holder’s ADSs;
and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given or deemed given in accordance with the
second to last sentence of this paragraph if no instruction is received, to the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person
designated by us. Voting instructions may be given only in respect of a number of ADSs representing an integral number of class
A ordinary shares or other deposited securities. For instructions to be valid, the depositary must receive them in writing on or
before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to applicable law and the provisions of our
Memorandum and Articles of Association, to vote or to have its agents vote the Class A ordinary shares or other deposited
securities (in person or by proxy) as you instruct. The depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. If we timely
requested the depositary to solicit your instructions but no instructions are received by the depositary from an owner with respect
to any of the deposited securities represented by the ADSs of that owner on or before the date established by the depositary for
such purpose, the depositary shall deem that owner to have instructed the depositary to give a discretionary proxy to a person
designated by us with respect to such deposited securities, and the depositary shall give a discretionary proxy to a person
designated by us to vote such deposited securities. However, no such instruction shall be deemed given and no such discretionary
proxy shall be given with respect to any matter if we inform the depositary we do not wish such proxy given, substantial
opposition exists or the matter materially and adversely affects the rights of holders of the ordinary shares.
We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to
vote the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. In addition, there can be no assurance that ADS holders and beneficial
owners generally, or any holder or beneficial owner in particular, will be given the opportunity to vote or cause the custodian to
vote on the same terms and conditions as the holders of our class A ordinary shares.
The depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions or for the manner of
carrying out voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right to vote and you may have no recourse
if the Class A ordinary shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.
In order to give you a reasonable opportunity to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of voting rights relating to
deposited securities, if we request the depositary to act, we will give the depositary notice of any such meeting and details
concerning the matters to be voted at least 30 business days in advance of the meeting date.
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Compliance with Regulations
Information Requests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall (a) provide such information as we or the depositary may request pursuant
to law, including, without limitation, relevant Cayman Islands law, any applicable law of the United States of America, our
Memorandum and Articles of Association, any resolutions of our board of directors adopted pursuant to our Memorandum and
Articles of Association, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the Class A ordinary shares, ADSs or ADRs
are listed or traded, or to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs or ADRs may be transferred,
regarding the capacity in which they own or owned ADRs, the identity of any other persons then or previously interested in such
ADRs and the nature of such interest, and any other applicable matters, and (b) be bound by and subject to applicable provisions
of the laws of the Cayman Islands, our Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the requirements of any markets or
exchanges upon which the ADSs, ADRs or Class A ordinary shares are listed or traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any
electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs, ADRs or class A ordinary shares may be transferred, to the same extent as if
such ADS holder or beneficial owner held Class A ordinary shares directly, in each case irrespective of whether or not they are
ADS holders or beneficial owners at the time such request is made.
Disclosure of Interests
Each ADS holder and beneficial owner shall comply with our requests pursuant to Cayman Islands law, the rules and
requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market and any other stock exchange on which the class A ordinary shares are, or will be,
registered, traded or listed or our Memorandum and Articles of Association, which requests are made to provide information,
inter alia, as to the capacity in which such ADS holder or beneficial owner owns ADS and regarding the identity of any other
person interested in such ADS and the nature of such interest and various other matters, whether or not they are ADS holders or
beneficial owners at the time of such requests.
Payment of Taxes
You will be responsible for any taxes or other governmental charges payable, or which become payable, on your ADSs
or on the deposited securities represented by any of your ADSs. The depositary may refuse to register or transfer your ADSs or
allow you to withdraw the deposited securities represented by your ADSs until such taxes or other charges are paid. It may apply
payments owed to you or sell deposited securities represented by your ADSs to pay any taxes owed and you will remain liable for
any deficiency. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale
and pay to you any net proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes. You agree to indemnify us, the
depositary, the custodian and each of our and their respective agents, directors, employees and affiliates for, and hold each of
them harmless from, any claims with respect to taxes (including applicable interest and penalties thereon) arising from any refund
of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained for you. Your obligations under this paragraph shall
survive any transfer of ADRs, any surrender of ADRs and withdrawal of deposited securities or the termination of the deposit
agreement.
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Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
Change the nominal or par value of our Class A ordinary shares The cash, shares or other securities received by the
If we:
Then:
depositary will become deposited securities.
Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the
new deposited securities.
Distribute securities on the Class A ordinary shares that are not
distributed to you, or Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate,
sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar
action
The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares
or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs
or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange
for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the form of ADR without your consent for any
reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the
depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, including expenses incurred in connection with
foreign exchange control regulations and other charges specifically payable by ADS holders under the deposit agreement, or
materially prejudices a substantial existing right of ADS holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADSs until 30 days
after the depositary notifies ADS holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered,
by continuing to hold your ADSs, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as
amended. If any new laws are adopted which would require the deposit agreement to be amended in order to comply therewith,
we and the depositary may amend the deposit agreement in accordance with such laws and such amendment may become
effective before notice thereof is given to ADS holders.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so, in which case the depositary will give notice
to you at least 90 days prior to termination. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us
that it would like to resign, or if we have removed the depositary, and in either case we have not appointed a new depositary
within 90 days. In either such case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.
After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else:
collect distributions on the deposited securities, sell rights and other property and deliver Class A ordinary shares and other
deposited securities upon cancellation of ADSs after payment of any fees, charges, taxes or other governmental charges. Six
months or more
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after the date of termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the
depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement, for the
pro rata benefit of the ADS holders that have not surrendered their ADSs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for
interest. After such sale, the depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination, we
shall be discharged from all obligations under the deposit agreement except for our obligations to the depositary thereunder.
Books of Depositary
The depositary will maintain ADS holder records at its depositary office. You may inspect such records at such office
during regular business hours but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters
relating to the Company, the ADRs and the deposit agreement.
The depositary will maintain facilities in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York to record and process the
issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADRs.
These facilities may be closed at any time or from time to time when such action is deemed necessary or advisable by
the depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement or at our reasonable written request.
Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADR Holders
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary and the Custodian; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADSs
The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary and the custodian. It also
limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. The depositary and the custodian:
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are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without gross negligence or willful
misconduct;
are not liable if any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents are prevented or forbidden from, or subjected
to any civil or criminal penalty or restraint on account of, or delayed in, doing or performing any act or thing required
by the terms of the deposit agreement and any ADR, by reason of any provision of any present or future law or
regulation of the United States or any state thereof, the Cayman Islands or any other country, or of any other
governmental authority or regulatory authority or stock exchange, or on account of the possible criminal or civil
penalties or restraint, or by reason of any provision, present or future, of our Memorandum and Articles of Association
or any provision of or governing any deposited securities, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances
beyond its control (including, without limitation, nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, work stoppage,
strikes, civil unrest, revolutions, rebellions, explosions and computer failure);
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are not liable by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the deposit agreement or
in our Memorandum and Articles of Association or provisions of or governing deposited securities;
are not liable for any action or inaction of the depositary, the custodian or us or their or our respective controlling
persons or agents in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, any person presenting Class A
ordinary shares for deposit or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or
information;
are not liable for the inability of any holder of ADSs to benefit from any distribution on deposited securities that is not
made available to holders of ADSs under the terms of the deposit agreement;
are not liable for any special, consequential, indirect or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit
agreement, or otherwise;
may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the
proper party;
disclaim any liability for any action or inaction or inaction of any of us or our respective controlling persons or agents
in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Class A ordinary
shares for deposit, holders and beneficial owners (or authorized representatives) of ADSs, or any person believed in
good faith to be competent to give such advice or information; and
disclaim any liability for inability of any holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit made
available to holders of deposited securities but not made available to holders of ADS.
The depositary and any of its agents also disclaim any liability (i) for any failure to carry out any instructions to vote,
the manner in which any vote is cast or the effect of any vote or failure to determine that any distribution or action may be lawful
or reasonably practicable or for allowing any rights to lapse in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement, (ii) the
failure or timeliness of any notice from us, the content of any information submitted to it by us for distribution to you or for any
inaccuracy of any translation thereof, (iii) any investment risk associated with the acquisition of an interest in the deposited
securities, the validity or worth of the deposited securities, the credit-worthiness of any third party, (iv) for any tax consequences
that may result from ownership of ADSs, Class A ordinary shares or deposited securities, or (v) for any acts or omissions made
by a successor depositary whether in connection with a previous act or omission of the depositary or in connection with any
matter arising wholly after the removal or resignation of the depositary, provided that in connection with the issue out of which
such potential liability arises the depositary performed its obligations without gross negligence or willful misconduct while it
acted as depositary.
In addition, the deposit agreement provides that each party to the deposit agreement (including each holder, beneficial
owner and holder of interests in the ADRs) irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may
have to a trial by jury in any lawsuit or proceeding against the depositary or our company related to our shares, the ADSs or the
deposit agreement.
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Requirements for Depositary Actions
Before the depositary will issue, deliver or register a transfer of an ADS, split-up, subdivide or combine ADSs, make a
distribution on an ADS, or permit withdrawal of Class A ordinary shares, the depositary may require:
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payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third
parties for the transfer of any Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities and payment of the applicable fees,
expenses and charges of the depositary;
satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or any other matters contemplated in the deposit
agreement; and
compliance with (A) any laws or governmental regulations relating to the execution and delivery of ADRs or ADSs or
to the withdrawal or delivery of deposited securities and (B) such reasonable regulations and procedures as the
depositary may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement and applicable laws, including
presentation of transfer documents.
The depositary may refuse to issue and deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the register of the
depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we determine that it is necessary or advisable to do
so.
Your Rights to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs
You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying Class A ordinary shares at any time except:
when temporary delays arise because: (1) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer
books; (2) the transfer of class A ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (3) we are
paying a dividend on our Class A ordinary shares;
when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges;
when it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to
ADSs or to the withdrawal of Class A ordinary shares or other deposited securities, or
other circumstances specifically contemplated by Section I.A.(l) of the General Instructions to Form F-6 (as such
General Instructions may be amended from time to time); or
for any other reason if the depositary or we determine, in good faith, that it is necessary or advisable to prohibit
withdrawals.
•
•
•
•
•
21
The depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the deposit agreement any Class A ordinary shares or other
deposited securities required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act, unless a registration statement is in effect
as to such Class A ordinary shares.
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Direct Registration System
In the deposit agreement, all parties to the deposit agreement acknowledge that the DRS and Profile Modification
System, or Profile, will apply to uncertificated ADSs upon acceptance thereof to DRS by DTC. DRS is the system administered
by DTC pursuant to which the depositary may register the ownership of uncertificated ADSs, which ownership shall be
evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the ADS holders entitled thereto. Profile is a required feature of
DRS which allows a DTC participant, claiming to act on behalf of an ADS holder, to direct the depositary to register a transfer of
those ADSs to DTC or its nominee and to deliver those ADSs to the DTC account of that DTC participant without receipt by the
depositary of prior authorization from the ADS holder to register such transfer.
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Exhibit 4.2
VIOMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
2018 SHARE INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
The purpose of this 2018 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd, an
exempted company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “ Company ”), by linking the personal interests of the Directors, Employees, and
Consultants to those of the Company’s shareholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior
returns to the Company’s shareholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the
services of the Directors, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation
is largely dependent.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
2.1 “American Depository Share” means American depository shares, evidenced by American depository receipts issuable upon
deposit of the Shares, each representing certain number of Shares.
2.2 “ Applicable Laws ” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of the
corporate, securities, tax and other laws, rules, regulations and government orders, and the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market
system, of any jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.
2.3 “ Award ” means an Option, Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
2.4 “ Award Agreement ” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including
through electronic medium.
2.5 “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.6 “ Cause ” with respect to a Participant means (unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or another
applicable contract with the Participant that defines such term for purposes of determining the effect that a “for cause” termination has on the Participant’s
Awards) a termination of employment or service based upon a finding by the Service Recipient, acting in good faith and based on its reasonable belief at
the time, that the Participant:
assigned duties or is incompetent in or (other than by reason of a Disability or analogous condition) incapable of performing those duties;
(a) has been negligent in the discharge of his or her duties to the Service Recipient, has refused to perform stated or
unauthorized disclosure or use of inside information, customer lists, trade secrets or other confidential information;
(b) has been dishonest or committed or engaged in an act of theft, embezzlement or fraud, a breach of confidentiality, an
1
(c) has breached a fiduciary duty, or willfully and materially violated any other duty, law, rule, regulation or policy of the
Service Recipient; or has been convicted of, or plead guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor (other than minor traffic violations or similar
offenses);
(d) has materially breached any of the provisions of any agreement with the Service Recipient;
business or assets of, the Service Recipient; or
(e) has engaged in unfair competition with, or otherwise acted intentionally in a manner injurious to the reputation,
induced a principal for whom the Service Recipient acts as agent to terminate such agency relationship.
(f) has improperly induced a vendor or customer to break or terminate any contract with the Service Recipient or
A termination for Cause shall be deemed to occur (subject to reinstatement upon a contrary final determination by the Committee) on the date
on which the Service Recipient first delivers written notice to the Participant of a finding of termination for Cause.
2.7 “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of the United States, as amended.
2.8 “ Committee ” means a committee of the Board described in Article 10.
2.9 “ Consultant ” means any consultant or adviser if: (a) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to a Service Recipient;
(b) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not
directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (c) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted
directly with the Service Recipient to render such services.
2.10 “ Corporate Transaction ”, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, means any of the following transactions, provided ,
however , that the Committee shall determine under (d) and (e) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive:
(a) an amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation or scheme of arrangement (i) in which the Company is not the
surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the jurisdiction in which the Company is incorporated or (ii) following
which the holders of the voting securities of the Company do not continue to hold more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
the surviving entity;
(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;
(c) the complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(d) any reverse takeover or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse takeover (including, but not limited to,
a tender offer followed by a reverse takeover) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the Company’s equity securities outstanding
immediately prior to such takeover are converted or exchanged by virtue of the takeover into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or
otherwise, or (B) in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities
are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such takeover or the initial transaction culminating
in such takeover, but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction; or
(e) acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the
Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of
securities possessing more than fifty percent
2
(50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities but excluding any such transaction or series of related transactions that
the Committee determines shall not be a Corporate Transaction.
2.11 “ Director ”, means a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of any Subsidiary of the Company.
2.12 “ Disability ”, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, means that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability
payments under the Service Recipient’s long-term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time to time, to which the Participant provides
services regardless of whether the Participant is covered by such policy. If the Service Recipient to which the Participant provides service does not have a
long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Participant is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the
Participant by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. A Participant
will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Committee in its discretion.
2.13 “ Effective Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.
2.14 “ Employee ” means any person, including an officer or a Director, who is in the employment of a Service Recipient, subject to the
control and direction of the Service Recipient as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance. The payment of a director’s
fee by a Service Recipient shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Service Recipient.
2.15 “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the United States, as amended.
2.16 “ Fair Market Value ” means, as of any date, the value of Shares determined as follows:
(a) If the Shares are listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without
limitation, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such shares (or the closing
bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Shares are listed (as determined by the Committee) on the date
of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or
closing bid was reported), as reported on the website maintained by such exchange or market system or such other source as the Committee deems reliable;
(b) If the Shares are regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a
recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such Shares as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on
the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices for the Shares on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported in
The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
(c) In the absence of an established market for the Shares of the type described in (a) and (b) above, the Fair Market
Value thereof shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and in its discretion by reference to (i) the placing price of the latest private placement of
the Shares and the development of the Company’s business operations and the general economic and market conditions since such latest private placement,
(ii) other third party transactions involving the Shares and the development of the Company’s business operation and the general economic and market
conditions since such transaction, (iii) an independent valuation of the Shares, or (iv) such other methodologies or information as the Committee
determines to be indicative of Fair Market Value.
2.17 “ Group Entity ” means any of the Company and Subsidiaries of the Company.
2.18 “ Incentive Share Option ” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor
provision thereto.
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2.19 “ Independent Director ” means (i) if the Shares or other securities representing the Shares are not listed on a stock exchange, a
Director of the Company who is a Non-Employee Director; and (ii) if the Shares or other securities representing the Shares are listed on one or more stock
exchange, a Director of the Company who meets the independence standards under the applicable corporate governance rules of the stock exchange(s).
2.20 “ IPO ” means the initial public offering of the Shares of the Company.
2.21 “ Non-Employee Director ” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a “Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-
3(b)(3) of the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.
2.22 “ Non-Qualified Share Option ” means an Option that is not intended to be an Incentive Share Option.
2.23 “ Option ” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of Shares at a
specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Share Option or a Non-Qualified Share Option.
2.24 “ Participant ” means a person who, as a Director, Consultant or Employee, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
2.25 “ Parent ” means a parent corporation under Section 424(e) of the Code.
2.26 “ Plan ” means this 2018 Share Incentive Plan of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd, as amended and/or restated from time to time.
2.27 “ Related Entity ” means any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company, a
Parent or Subsidiary of the Company holds a substantial ownership interest, directly or indirectly, or controls through contractual arrangements and
consolidates the financial results according to applicable accounting standards, but which is not a Subsidiary and which the Board designates as a Related
Entity for purposes of the Plan.
2.28 “ Restricted Share ” means a Share awarded to a Participant pursuant to Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be
subject to risk of forfeiture.
2.29 “ Restricted Share Unit ” means the right granted pursuant to Article 7.
2.30 “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933 of the United States, as amended.
2.31 “ Service Recipient ” means the Company or Subsidiary of the Company to which a Participant provides services as an Employee,
a Consultant or a Director.
2.32 “ Share ” means the ordinary shares of the Company, including both Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares, par
value US$0.001 per share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for Shares pursuant to Article 9.
2.33 “ Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the outstanding voting shares or voting power is
beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
2.34 “ Trading Date ” means the closing of the first sale to the general public of the Shares pursuant to a registration statement filed
with and declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.
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ARTICLE 3
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares .
(a) Subject to the provisions of Article 9 and Section 3.1(b), the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be
issued pursuant to all Awards is 17,672,728, plus an annual increase on the first day of each of the fiscal years of the Company during the term of this Plan
commencing with the first fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019, by (i) an amount equal to 1% of the total number of the then outstanding Shares or
(ii) such fewer number of Shares as may be determined by the Board.
(b) To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason, any Shares subject to the Award shall again
be available for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, Shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution
for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form or combination by a Group Entity shall not be counted against Shares available for grant
pursuant to the Plan. Shares delivered by the Participant or withheld by the Company upon the exercise of any Award under the Plan, in payment of the
exercise price thereof or tax withholding thereon, may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(a). If any
Restricted Shares are forfeited by the Participant or repurchased by the Company, such Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder,
subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(a). Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if
such action would cause an Incentive Share Option to fail to qualify as an incentive share option under Section 422 of the Code.
3.2 Shares Distributed . Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued
Shares, treasury Shares (subject to Applicable Laws) or Shares purchased on the open market. Additionally, at the discretion of the Committee, any Shares
distributed pursuant to an Award may be represented by American Depository Shares. If the number of Shares represented by an American Depository
Share is other than on a one-to-one basis, the limitations of Section 3.1 shall be adjusted to reflect the distribution of American Depository Shares in lieu of
Shares.
ARTICLE 4
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
4.1 Eligibility . Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include Employees, Consultants, and Directors, as determined by the
Committee.
4.2 Participation . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible
individuals, those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be
granted an Award pursuant to this Plan.
4.3 Jurisdictions . In order to assure the viability of Awards granted to Participants employed in various jurisdictions, the Committee
may provide for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, or custom applicable in
the jurisdiction in which the Participant resides, is employed, operates or is incorporated. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to, or
amendments, restatements, or alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes without thereby affecting the
terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose; provided, however , that no such supplements, amendments, restatements, or alternative versions shall
increase the share limitations contained in Section 3.1 of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and
no Awards shall be granted, that would violate any Applicable Laws.
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ARTICLE 5
OPTIONS
5.1 General . The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price per Share subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth
in the Award Agreement which may be a fixed price or a variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares. The exercise price per Share subject
to an Option may be amended or adjusted in the absolute discretion of the Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive.
For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Laws or any exchange rule, a downward adjustment of the exercise prices of Options
mentioned in the preceding sentence shall be effective without the approval of the Company’s shareholders or the approval of the affected Participants.
(b) Time and Conditions of Exercise . The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be
exercised in whole or in part, including exercise prior to vesting; provided that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten years,
except as provided in Section 12.1. The Committee shall also determine any conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be
exercised.
(c) Payment . The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the
form of payment, including, without limitation (i) cash or check denominated in U.S. Dollars, (ii) to the extent permissible under the Applicable Laws, cash
or check in Chinese Renminbi, (iii) cash or check denominated in any other local currency as approved by the Committee, (iv) Shares held for such period
of time as may be required by the Committee in order to avoid adverse financial accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of
delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, (v) after the Trading Date the delivery of a notice that the
Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been
directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of
such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, (vi) other property acceptable to the Committee with a Fair Market Value equal to
the exercise price, or (vii) any combination of the foregoing. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a
member of the Board or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the
exercise price of an Option in any method which would violate Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
Participant. The Award Agreement shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
(d) Evidence of Grant . All Options shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Company and the
following effects on Options granted to the Participants:
(e) Effects of Termination of Employment or Service on Options . Termination of employment or service shall have the
by or service to the Service Recipient is terminated by the Service Recipient for Cause, the Participant’s Options will terminate upon such termination,
whether or not the Option is then vested and/or exercisable;
(i) Dismissal for Cause . Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment
by or service to the Service Recipient terminates as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability:
(ii) Death or Disability . Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s employment
(a) the Participant (or his or her legal representative or beneficiary, in the case of the Participant’s
Disability or death, respectively), will have until the date that is 12 months after the Participant’s
termination of employment to exercise the Participant’s Options (or portion thereof) to the extent that such
Options were
6
vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of employment on account of death or
Disability;
(b) the Options, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of
employment or service, shall terminate upon the Participant’s termination of employment or service on
account of death or Disability; and
(c) the Options, to the extent exercisable for the 12-month period following the Participant’s termination
of employment or service and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on
the last day of the 12-month period.
Participant’s employment by or service to the Service Recipient terminates for any reason other than a termination by the Service Recipient for Cause or
because of the Participant’s death or Disability:
(iii) Other Terminations of Employment or Service . Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, if a
(a) the Participant will have until the date that is 90 days after the Participant’s termination of
employment or service to exercise his or her Options (or portion thereof) to the extent that such Options
were vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of employment or service;
(b) the Options, to the extent not vested and exercisable on the date of the Participant’s termination of
employment or service, shall terminate upon the Participant’s termination of employment or service; and
(c) the Options, to the extent exercisable for the 90-day period following the Participant’s termination of
employment or service and not exercised during such period, shall terminate at the close of business on the
last day of the 90-day period.
5.2 Incentive Share Options . Incentive Share Options may be granted to Employees of the Company or a Subsidiary of the
Company. Incentive Share Options may not be granted to employees of a Related Entity or to Independent Directors or Consultants. The terms of any
Incentive Share Options granted pursuant to the Plan, in addition to the requirements of Section 5.1, must comply with the following additional provisions
of this Section 5.2:
(a) Individual Dollar Limitation . The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of
all Shares with respect to which Incentive Share Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such other
limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Share Options are first exercisable by a
Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Share Options.
(b) Exercise Price . The exercise price of an Incentive Share Option shall be equal to the Fair Market Value on the date
of grant. However, the exercise price of any Incentive Share Option granted to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns Shares possessing more than
ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company may not be less than
110% of Fair Market Value on the date of grant and such Option may not be exercisable for more than five years from the date of grant.
(c) Transfer Restriction . The Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by
exercise of an Incentive Share Option within (i) two years from the date of grant of such Incentive Share Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such
Shares to the Participant.
7
after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
(d) Expiration of Incentive Share Options . No Award of an Incentive Share Option may be made pursuant to this Plan
Participant.
(e) Right to Exercise . During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive Share Option may be exercised only by the
ARTICLE 6
RESTRICTED SHARES
6.1 Grant of Restricted Shares . The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Shares to Participants as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Restricted Shares to be granted to
each Participant.
6.2 Restricted Shares Award Agreement . Each Award of Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall
specify the period of restriction, the number of Restricted Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall
determine. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Restricted Shares shall be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such
Restricted Shares have lapsed.
6.3 Issuance and Restrictions . Restricted Shares shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the
Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Shares or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted
Shares). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the
Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
6.4 Forfeiture/Repurchase . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter,
upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Shares that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be
forfeited or repurchased in accordance with the Award Agreement; provided, however , the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Share Award
Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Shares will be waived in whole or in part in the event of
terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to
Restricted Shares.
6.5 Certificates for Restricted Shares . Restricted Shares granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the
Committee shall determine. If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical
possession of the certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
6.6 Removal of Restrictions . Except as otherwise provided in this Article 6, Restricted Shares granted under the Plan shall be
released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the period of restriction. The Committee, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which
any restrictions shall lapse or be removed. After the restrictions have lapsed, the Participant shall be entitled to have any legend or legends under
Section 6.5 removed from his or her Share certificate, and the Shares shall be freely transferable by the Participant, subject to applicable legal restrictions.
The Committee (in its discretion) may establish procedures regarding the release of Shares from escrow and the removal of legends, as necessary or
appropriate to minimize administrative burdens on the Company.
ARTICLE 7
RESTRICTED SHARE UNITS
7.1 Grant of Restricted Share Units . The Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Restricted Share Units to
Participants as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The
8
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the number of Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant.
7.2 Restricted Share Units Award Agreement . Each Award of Restricted Share Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement
that shall specify any vesting conditions, the number of Restricted Share Units granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine.
7.3 Form and Timing of Payment of Restricted Share Units . At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on
which the Restricted Share Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable. Upon vesting, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay Restricted
Share Units in the form of cash, Shares or a combination thereof.
7.4 Forfeiture/Repurchase . Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter,
upon termination of employment or service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Share Units that are at that time unvested shall be forfeited
or repurchased in accordance with the Award Agreement; provided, however , the Committee may (a) provide in any Restricted Share Unit Award
Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to Restricted Share Units will be waived in whole or in part in the event of
terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture and repurchase conditions relating to
Restricted Share Units.
ARTICLE 8
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
8.1 Award Agreement . Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and
limitations for each Award which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event the Participant’s employment or service
terminates, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award.
8.2 No Transferability; Limited Exception to Transfer Restrictions.
the Award Agreement, as the same may be amended:
8.2.1 Limits on Transfer. Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 8.2, by applicable law and by
(a) all Awards are non-transferable and will not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation,
alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge;
(b) Awards will be exercised only by the Participant; and
(c) amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to an Award will be delivered only to (or for the account
of), and, in the case of Shares, registered in the name of, the Participant.
In addition, the shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
8.2.2 Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer . The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 8.2.1 will not apply to:
(a) transfers to the Company or a Subsidiary;
(b) transfers by gift to “immediate family” as that term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) of the Exchange Act;
9
(c) the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits if the Participant dies or, if the Participant has
died, transfers to or exercises by the Participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated
beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or
(d) if the Participant has suffered a Disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the Participant
by the Participant’s duly authorized legal representative; or
(e) subject to the prior approval of the Committee or an executive officer or director of the Company
authorized by the Committee, transfer to one or more natural persons who are the Participant’s family
members or entities owned and controlled by the Participant and/or the Participant’s family members,
including but not limited to trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are the
Participant and/or the Participant’s family members, or to such other persons or entities as may be expressly
approved by the Committee, pursuant to such conditions and procedures as the Committee or may
establish. Any permitted transfer shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receives evidence
satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax planning purposes and on a basis
consistent with the Company’s lawful issue of securities.
Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 8.2.2 to the contrary, but subject to compliance with all Applicable
Laws, Incentive Share Options, Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units will be subject to any and all transfer
restrictions under the Code applicable to such Awards or necessary to maintain the intended tax consequences of such
Awards. Notwithstanding clause (b) above but subject to compliance with all Applicable Laws, any contemplated
transfer by gift to “immediate family” as referenced in clause (b) above is subject to the condition precedent that the
transfer be approved by the share plan administrator in order for it to be effective.
8.3 Beneficiaries . Notwithstanding Section 8.2, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a
beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary,
legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any
Award Agreement applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions
deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other
than the Participant’s spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without
the prior written consent of the Participant’s spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Participant, payment shall be made to the person
entitled thereto pursuant to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be
changed or revoked by a Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.
8.4 Performance Objectives and Other Terms . The Committee, in its discretion, shall set performance objectives or other vesting
criteria which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number or value of the Awards that will be granted or paid out to the
Participants.
8.5 Share Certificates .
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates
evidencing the Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and
delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any
exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded. All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply
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with all Applicable Laws, and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or
traded. The Committee may place legends on any Share certificate to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares. In addition to the terms and
conditions provided herein, the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the
Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The Committee shall have the right to
require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any Award, including a window-period
limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee.
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by
Applicable Laws, the Company shall not deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such
Shares shall be recorded on the books of the Company or, as applicable, its transfer agent or share plan administrator.
8.6 Paperless Administration . Subject to Applicable Laws, the Committee may make Awards and provide applicable disclosure and
procedures for exercise of Awards by an internet website or interactive voice response system for the paperless administration of Awards.
8.7 Foreign Currency . A Participant may be required to provide evidence that any currency used to pay the exercise price of any
Award was acquired and taken out of the jurisdiction in which the Participant resides in accordance with Applicable Laws, including foreign exchange
control laws and regulations. In the event the exercise price for an Award is paid in Chinese Renminbi or other foreign currency, as permitted by the
Committee, the amount payable will be determined by conversion from U.S. dollars at the official rate promulgated by the People’s Bank of China for
Chinese Renminbi, or for jurisdictions other than the People’s Republic of China, the exchange rate as selected by the Committee on the date of exercise.
ARTICLE 9
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
9.1 Adjustments . In the event of any dividend, share split, combination or exchange of Shares, amalgamation, arrangement or
consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to its shareholders, or any other change
affecting the Shares or the price of a Share, the Committee shall make such proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem
appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited
to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3.1); (b) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable
performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (c) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
9.2 Corporate Transactions . Except as may otherwise be provided in any Award Agreement or any other written agreement entered
into by and between the Company and a Participant, if the Committee anticipates the occurrence, or upon the occurrence, of a Corporate Transaction, the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for (i) any and all Awards outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give
each Participant the right to exercise the vested portion of such Awards during a period of time as the Committee shall determine, or (ii) the purchase of any
Award for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of
such date the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award, then such Award may be
terminated by the Company without payment), or (iii) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Committee in its sole
discretion or the assumption of or substitution of such Award by the successor or surviving corporation, or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, with appropriate
adjustments as to the number and kind of Shares and prices, or (iv) payment of such Award in cash based on the value of Shares on the date of the
Corporate Transaction plus reasonable interest on the Award through the date as determined by the Committee when such Award would otherwise be
vested or have been paid in accordance with its original terms, if necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
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9.3 Outstanding Awards — Other Changes . In the event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company or corporate
change other than those specifically referred to in this Article 9, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make such adjustments in the number and
class of shares subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the
Committee may consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
9.4 No Other Rights . Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or
consolidation of Shares of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or decrease in the number of shares of any class or any dissolution,
liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the
Committee under the Plan, and no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
ARTICLE 10
ADMINISTRATION
10.1 Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee of one or more members of the Board (the “ Committee
”) to whom the Board shall delegate the authority to grant or amend Awards to Participants other than any of the Committee members, Independent
Directors and executive officers of the Company. Reference to the Committee shall refer to the Board in absence of the Committee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the full Board, acting by majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan if required by Applicable Laws,
and with respect to Awards granted to the Committee members, Independent Directors and executive officers of the Company and for purposes of such
Awards the term “Committee” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board.
10.2 Action by the Committee . A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present
at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved unanimously in writing all members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed
the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that
member by any officer or other employee of a Group Entity, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation
consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
10.3 Authority of the Committee . Subject to any specific designation in the Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority
and discretion to:
(a) designate Participants to receive Awards;
(b) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(c) determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;
(d) determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the
exercise price, grant price, or purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on
the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award,
based in each case on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(e) determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise
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(f) prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Participant;
(g) decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;
(h) establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i) interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan or any Award Agreement;
(j) amend terms and conditions of Award Agreements; and
(k) make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems
necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, including design and adopt from time to time new types of Awards that are in compliance with Applicable
Laws.
10.4 Decisions Binding . The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement
and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.
ARTICLE 11
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
11.1 Effective Date . The Plan shall become effective as of the date on which the Board adopts the Plan (the “ Effective Date ”). The
Plan shall be ratified by the shareholders of the Company by written resolutions or at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable provisions of
the Company’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association within 12 months of the Effective Date.
11.2 Expiration Date . The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted pursuant to the Plan after, the tenth anniversary of the
Effective Date. Any Awards that are outstanding on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and
the applicable Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
12.1 Amendment, Modification, a nd Termination . At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend or modify the
Plan; provided, however , that (a) to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws or stock exchange rules, the Company shall obtain
shareholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, unless the Company decides to follow home country
practice, and (b) unless the Company decides to follow home country practice, shareholder approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that
(i) increases the number of Shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by Article 9), or (ii) permits the Committee to extend the
term of the Plan or the exercise period for an Option beyond ten years from the date of grant.
12.2 Awards Previously Granted . Except with respect to amendments made pursuant to Section 12.1, no termination, amendment, or
modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of
the Participant.
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ARTICLE 13
GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 No Rights to Awards . No Participant, employee, or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the
Plan, and neither the Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and other persons uniformly.
13.2 No Shareholders Rights . No Award gives the Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until
Shares are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
13.3 Taxes . No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Participant until such Participant has made arrangements acceptable to
the Committee for the satisfaction of any income and employment tax withholding obligations under Applicable Laws. The Company or any Subsidiary
shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable
taxes (including the Participant’s payroll tax obligations) required or permitted by Applicable Laws to be withheld with respect to any taxable event
concerning a Participant arising as a result of this Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow a
Participant to elect to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of Shares) having a Fair Market Value
equal to the sums required to be withheld. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of Shares which may be withheld with respect to
the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of such Award after such Shares were acquired
by the Participant from the Company) in order to satisfy any income and payroll tax liabilities applicable to the Participant with respect to the issuance,
vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall, unless specifically approved by the Committee, be limited to the number of Shares which have a Fair
Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates
for the applicable income and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.
13.4 No Right to Employment or Services . Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the
right of the Service Recipient to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in
the employment or services of any Service Recipient.
13.5 Unfunded Status of Awards . The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any
payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights
that are greater than those of a general creditor of the relevant Group Entity.
13.6 Indemnification . To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Laws, each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member
in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by
reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such
action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same
before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other
rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, as a
matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
13.7 Relationship to Other Benefits . No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant
to any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the any Group Entity except to the extent otherwise
expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
13.8 Expenses . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Group Entities.
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13.9 Titles and Headings . The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of
any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
13.10 Fractional Shares . No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be
given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down as appropriate.
13.11 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan, and any Award granted
or awarded to any Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any
applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for
the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be
deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
13.12 Government and Other Regulations . The obligation of the Company to make payment of awards in Shares or otherwise shall be
subject to all Applicable Laws, and to such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register
any of the Shares paid pursuant to the Plan under the Securities Act or any other similar law in any applicable jurisdiction. If the Shares paid pursuant to
the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act or other Applicable Laws, the Company may restrict the
transfer of such Shares in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
13.13 Governing Law . The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the
Cayman Islands.
13.14 Section 409A . To the extent that the Committee determines that any Award granted under the Plan is or may become subject to
Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the
Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and the Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the U.S.
Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulation or other
guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the
Effective Date the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and other interpretative guidance issued
thereunder, including without limitation any such regulation or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, the Committee may adopt
such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and
procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from
Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulation or
other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date.
13.15 Appendices . Subject to Section 12.1, the Committee may approve such supplements, amendments or appendices to the Plan as it
may consider necessary or appropriate for purposes of compliance with Applicable Laws or otherwise and such supplements, amendments or appendices
shall be considered a part of the Plan; provided, however, that no such supplements shall increase the share limitation contained in Section 3.1 of the Plan
without the approval of the Board.
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Exhibit 4.10
Business Cooperation Agreement
Party A: Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd.
Address: Level 9, Phase II, the Rainbow City of China Resources, No. 68 Qinghe Middle Road, Haidian, Beijing
Tel: 010-56343888
Fax: 010-56343666
Party B: Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd.
Legal Representative: Chen Xiaoping
Address: (2F of No.1 Building and 4F of No.7 Building) No. 2, Xinxisi North Road, Xiashi Village Committee, Lunjiao Subdistrict Office, Shunde District,
Foshan City
Tel: 0757-66833887
Fax: 0757-6833886
WHEREAS, in consideration of both Parties’ willingness to cooperate with each other, this Agreement defines the following provisions in connection with
the cooperation mode of Xiaomi Customized Products with respect to the cooperation of both Parties, and both Parties hereby jointly comply with such
provisions through friendly consultation:
1. Scope of this Agreement
This Agreement applies to all customized products with which Party B provides or has provided to Party A (hereinafter referred to as “Xiaomi Customized
Product”, or “XCP”), and the specific products involved herein shall be subject to Appendix IV “Xiaomi Customized Product Project Agreement” attached
to this Agreement executed by both Parties before the products come into the market.
2. Mode of Cooperation
2.1 Party A shall specify the trademark, ID (industrial design), packaging design plan, etc. to be used by Xiaomi Customized Products (as defined in clause
3.1). Party B shall be responsible for the overall development, production and supply of Xiaomi Customized Products, and for manufacturing and
delivering Xiaomi Customized Products according to Party A’s orders.
2.2 Party A shall provide Party B with the purchase order forecast based on its market projection and be responsible for the promotion and sales of Xiaomi
Customized Products. Party B shall be responsible for the production of XCP based on Party A’s purchase order forecast and the delivery thereof to the
warehouse designated by Party A.
2.3 Party A shall have the right to sell and dispose of Xiaomi Customized Products in all channels, including but not limited to the domestic, international,
online and offline channels; The Xiaomi Customized Products manufactured by Party B under this Agreement shall only be supplied to Party A. Party B
may not sell or re-sell Xiaomi Customized Products in any way without Party A’s written consent, including but not limited to the domestic, international,
online and offline channels. In the event of Party B’s breach of this clause, Party A shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement and claim against Party B
for all the losses suffered by Party A, and to take any possible measures to prevent further losses.
2.4 Party B shall promise will not cooperate with consumer electronics manufacturers that have a competitive relationship with Xiaomi to develop, produce
or outsource products that are the same as or similar to Xiaomi Customized Products. In the event of Party B’s breach of this clause, Party A is entitled to
terminate this Agreement and claim against Party B for US$1 million (1,000,000) as liquidated damages.
2.5 Party B shall sell Xiaomi Customized Products to Party A on cost basis, and both Parties shall share the net profits from Party A’s sale of Xiaomi
Customized Products provided by Party B according to the agreed proportion.
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2.6 It is agreed that both Parties perform the collection, storage, transmission, use and disclosure of user data incurred during the period of the provision of
Xiaomi Customized Products pursuant to Appendix III “Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause” attached to this Agreement.
3. Definitions
3.1 Xiaomi’s Customized Product or XCP: means a product manufactured or sold under a brand belonging to Party A, and/or a product under Party B’s
own brand but determined by mutual written consent between the Parties as a XCP.
3.2 Cost and Pricing
3.2.1 Party A’s Costs means any shipping cost and any other costs and expenses (if any) under this Agreement.
Calculation of shipping cost: the shipping cost shall be calculated based on the actual cost of shipping.
Other cost: costs incurred for selling products.
3.2.2 Party B’s Costs shall include the followings:
3.2.2.1 Costs of raw materials: for any cost of raw material, the serial number, model and specifications, unit, quantity, and unit price of the purchased
materials, and the full name and contact information of the supplier/agent shall be specified.
3.2.2.2 OEM costs: details of the costs and expenses in connection with OEM shall be specified in the OEM costs.
3.2.2.3 Amortization of mold and tooling: the amortization of mold and tooling shall be limited to the first set of molds for each Xiaomi Customized
Product by mutual confirmation between both Parties (in accordance with the template provided by Party A)
Formula for Calculation of amortization of mold and tooling: Amortization of mold and tooling for each product = total costs of mold and tooling
/ (times of design for mold and tooling* number of mold cavity)
3.2.2.4 Logistic costs: means the converted or estimated logistic costs for the delivery of products from Party B’s manufacturer to warehouse designated by
Party A (in accordance with the template provided by Party A).
3.2.3 Quotations shall not include the following costs and expenses: Party B’s profit and indirect costs (including without limitation, the management fee,
water and electricity costs, depreciation, after-sale service fees and other indirect costs).
3.2.4 All quotations under this Agreement shall be inclusive of tax.
3.2.5 In the event that Party A is not agreeable to Party B’s Costs, Party A shall be entitled to procure, under the same terms and conditions, in such other
manners including but not limited to the followings:
3.2.5.1 Party A may procure directly from a supplier, and Party B shall be responsible for the inspection and acceptance, inventory taking, management and
use of (the materials); or
3.2.5.2 Party A may make available relevant procurement channel to Party B, and Party B shall enter into a procurement agreement with the supplier
suggested by Party A upon the terms and conditions designated by Party A.
In whichever way mentioned above, Party B undertakes to use the materials and ancillary materials which are confirmed by Party A or procured in
accordance with Clause 3.2.5.1 or 3.2.5.2 in the products to be provided to Party A.
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3.2.6 Remark: Only direct costs shall be calculated by the Parties in the cooperation mode and profit share between the Parties.
The one-time cost (such as R&D, trial production, certification*, sales or marketing) shall not be included in costs.
*note: it refers to costs for certification targeted at domestic market only. The certification costs incurred in overseas market shall be discussed separately
by the Parties on case by case basis as to whether to include in costs or how to allocate between the Parties.
3.2.7 Each Party shall bear its own costs in relation to management, depreciation of water and electricity (facilities), business operation and others.
3.2.8 With respect to the after-sale maintenance/after-sale service fees/online and offline customer services, subject to Appendix V “Framework Agreement
on Quality of Xiaomi Customized Product”, each Party shall bear its own after-sale service fees for defects occurred within the agreed defect ratio. (For
details of provisions in relation to after-sale services, please refer to Appendix VI “Framework Agreement on After-sale Service of Xiaomi Customized
Product” to be entered into upon the launch of products.)
3.3 Procurement, Inspection and Acceptance
3.3.1 BOM record: Party B shall provide the Bill of Materials (“BOM”) in a form designated by Party A, and provide a valid quotation in accordance with
the template provided by Party A after the entry of BOM is successfully recorded in Party A’s system.
3.3.2 Procurement Price: procurement price shall not be higher than Party B’s costs (as defined in Clause 3.2.2).
3.3.3 PO: means the “Purchase Order” confirmed by the Parties with signature of the respective authorized representative and stamp of each Party affixed
during the effective term of this Agreement.
3.3.4 Turnaround Period: means the period commencing from the date of Party B’s valid acceptance in a confirmative manner of the PO issued by Party A
until the date of signing of the acknowledged receipt of goods by the recipient designated by Party A.
3.3.5 Initial Inspection: means the inspection of the quantity, packaging, packing and other conditions of the products conducted by the designated recipient
without unpacking the products or the use of any inspection device, upon delivery of products under a PO by Party B to the designated location.
4. Performance of PO
4.1 A PO shall become valid upon Party B’s confirmation by signing on and affixing stamp to the PO issued by Party A which shall be returned to Party A
within three days upon receipt. Should Party B fail to confirm or return the PO within the above-mentioned period, it shall be deemed that Party B has no
objection to the information specified in the PO, and the PO shall constitute a valid PO. Party B shall fully comply with all the terms and conditions under
the valid PO and inform Party A in writing on a regular basis of the delivery plan of the outstanding valid PO.
4.2 Party B shall pack the products to be shipped in an appropriate manner suitable for the nature and delivery time of the products. The shipping costs and
liabilities shall be allocated as follows: the shipping costs shall be included in Party B’s Costs, and the logistic risks and relevant liabilities shall be borne by
Party B.
4.3 Party B shall deliver products to the location specified in the valid PO. The recipient designated by Party A shall conduct Initial Inspection and sign the
acknowledged receipt of goods for the acceptance of the products that pass the Initial Inspection. After the Initial Inspection, Party A shall have the right to
conduct further inspection. Any product that fails to pass the further inspection shall be returned to or exchanged by Party B at the request of Party A.
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4.4 If Party B is unable to deliver products on time, Party B shall inform Party A in writing at least 15 working days prior to the agreed date of delivery
under the relevant PO the revised date and quantity of delivery, and Party A shall confirm the revised date and quantity of delivery or otherwise agree with
Party B separately on matters in relation to the delivery. Party B shall remain liable for any loss of Party A caused by the failure of Party B to deliver on the
originally agreed delivery date. If Party B fails to deliver in accordance with the revised date and quantity of delivery, Party B shall pay the liquidated
damages to Party A at an amount equivalent to 0.3% of the total value of the PO for each day of delay in delivery. If the delivery is delayed for more than
ten days, Party A shall be entitled to cancel the PO, and Party B shall compensate Party A any actual loss suffered by it therefrom except for those as a
result of force majeure.
5. Settlement and Payment
5.1 The profit from the XCP sold by the sales channel of Party A is the selling price less the cost and expenses. The XCP product shall be confirmed by
both Parties before the XCP launch pursuant to the Appendix IV “Xiaomi Customized Product Project Agreement” or quotation.
Unit XCP profit = Selling price – Cost of Party A – Cost of Party B
* Refer to Clause 3.2 for Cost of Party A and Party B.
* Selling Price is the average XCP selling price of Party A.
The Parties agree to adopt Article 5.2 or Article 5.3 to settle the payment.
5.2 Profit share model
Party B’s share of profit = Number of XCP sold by Party A * Gross profit per XCP * Profit sharing ratio of Party B
5.2.1 The purchase price: shall be settled in accordance with PO.
5.2.2 Party B’s share of profit: Party A shall prepare a statement of profit share on the 5th working day of each month for the total number of XCP sold in
the preceding month which shall be sent to Party B for confirmation. Party B shall, upon confirmation, issue to Party A the VAT invoices of equivalent
amount for each of the corresponding products specified in such statement. Party A shall pay to Party B to the account designated by Party B within 10
working days upon receipt of the accurate invoice issued by Party B.
5.2.3 The calculation of profit share shall be based on actual sales volume of XCP for the period of settlement.
5.3 Procurement and sales model
5.3.1 Payments: Party A shall prepare a statement of inventory on the 5th working day of each month for the total number of stock-in XCP in the preceding
month which shall be sent to Party B for confirmation. Party B shall, upon confirmation, issue to Party A the VAT invoices of equivalent amount for each
of the corresponding products specified in such statement. Party A shall pay to Party B to the account designated by Party B within 30 working days upon
receipt of the accurate invoice issued by Party B.
5.3.2 The settlement of payment shall be based on the number of stock-in XCP and the statement of inventory.
5.4 The account designated by Party B:
Account Name:
Bank Name:
Account Number:
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6. Rights and Obligations of the Parties
6.1 Party B shall ensure that XCP shall not be treated with less favorable conditions and benefits than the other products under Party B’s own brands in the
process of manufacture, processing or procurement.
6.2 In the event of any change to Party B’s BOM costs in relation to XCP, Party B shall, within 3 working days from the date of such change, provide an
updated list of costs to Party A in accordance with the composition of costs as defined in Clause 3.2. Party A shall be entitled to request Party B to provide
the cooperation agreement between Party B and its OEM manufacturer/supplier, invoices, receipts and other supporting documents. If there is any
adjustment in the price of raw materials, OEM costs, shipping or other costs and expenses, Party B shall specify in BOM the prices before and after the
change and the implementation date of such change, and make price adjustment accordingly in the latest PO after approved by Party A. In the meantime,
Party B is obliged to ensure that Party A is empowered to contact suppliers directly for verification. The letter of authorization granted by Party B in favor
of Party A “Letter of Authorization on Equal Rights to Information and Rights of Verification” shall be executed as Appendix II to this Agreement together
with the execution of this Agreement.
6.3 In the event of any change in price of raw materials, OEM costs, shipping or other costs and expenses and Party B fails to inform Party A or make
remarks or adjustments accordingly in BOM provided by it, Party A, upon discovery of such fact, shall be entitled to immediately terminate any PO which
have been issued (for the avoidance of doubt, Party A shall be entitled to cancel the PO unilaterally regardless of whether Party B has confirmed such PO)
and to impose a penalty on Party B for its negligence. The calculation of such penalty shall be as follows:
Amount of penalty = procurement price per XCP before price reduction * maximum price reduction ratio * the accumulated volume of sales * 10
Remark: Maximum price reduction ratio means the ratio of the single raw material with the highest price reduction in the BOM record.
6.4 Party A shall procure products from Party B in accordance with the agreed PO, which is binding on both Parties. A Party (“Defaulting Party”) shall
compensate the other Party for any losses arising from the non-compliance of such Defaulting Party with the order plan, and the amount of compensation
shall not be more than the actual loss of the other Party (“Non-defaulting Party”) which exclude any indirect or expected loss or any loss which is
unpredictable in advance by the Defaulting Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing clause, Party A is entitled to choose to cancel the PO or change the PO if
Party A notices a change of cost after the PO becomes valid.
6.5 Party B shall inform Party A in advance before it changes any product’s key-part or assembly supplier. The management of such change shall comply
with provisions in Appendix V “Framework Agreement on Quality of Xiaomi Customized Product”.
6.6 Party B shall commit that it has the qualifications to provide goods and perform services with all the permits, approvals and certifications required by
the PRC laws and regulations and the laws and regulations of the target country that Party A sells products (under the circumstance where Party B is
responsible for the certification of Xiaomi Customized Products). Such permits, approvals and certifications shall remain fully effective during this
Agreement.
6.7 Party B undertakes that the products’ performance and quality shall meet the requirements of Party A, and acknowledges and agrees to unconditionally
accept and comply with the after-sale services, return and exchange and other relevant policies of Party A.
6.8 Party A shall inform and confirm with Party B before Party A is selling the XCP at zero profit or negative profit, the loss of the XCP will be taken by
both parties by proportion or new method which is confirmed by another mutual written agreement.
6.9 Party B shall be liable for any and all costs and expenses as well as the legal responsibilities arising from any potential safety issue or any other issue in
XCP due to Party B’s reason that would cause personal injury or damages to the property of end-users. For details please refer to Appendix V “Framework
Agreement on Quality of Xiaomi
5
Customized Product”, and Appendix VI “Framework Agreement on After-sale Service of Xiaomi Customized Product” to be executed by the Parties.
6.10 Party B shall collect, use and transmit users’ data in accordance with Appendix III “Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause”.
6.11 If the Parties decide to cooperate in the direct delivery model, Party B or its designated third-party logistics carrier shall directly ship to Party A
designated delivery address or recipient. The Parties shall separately sign the Appendix "Special Agreement on Direct Delivery Products" and related data
protection attachment "Data Protection Appendix" (the name of such attachments may be adjusted).
7. Intellectual Property
7.1 Authorization of trademark and copyrights of Party B
7.1.1 Party B hereby authorizes Party A and its affiliates to globally use Party B’s trademark, logo and company name on Xiaomi Customized Product for
the purpose including but not limited to manufacture, utilization, sale, offering for sale and import in an irrevocable, royalty-free, sub-licensable manner.
7.1.2 In the event that Party B’s copyright is involved in the external promotion of Xiaomi Customized products (including but not limited to using product
marketing picture of Party B’s copyright on the promotion materials), Party B shall grant Party A and its affiliates the right to use such copyright globally.
7.2 Without Party A’s prior written consent, Party B and its affiliates and agents shall not in any jurisdiction and in any way, apply and/or register a
commercial logo containing Xiaomi Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Xiaomi Logo”, including any logo that can be associated, identified or associated
with Xiaomi Group), or any domain name, wireless website, Internet search term or any trade name, service mark or other intellectual property rights that is
similar to Xiaomi Logo, neither under their own name or consenting, prompting, or letting go of any third party. Party B and its affiliates and agents shall
not use, imitate, print or copy any Xiaomi Logo or similar logo in any of their manufacture, sales, marketing, promotion materials or for other commercial
purposes in any other way. Xiaomi Logo includes but are not limited to: “(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)”, “Xiaomi”, “MIUI”, “(cid:0)(cid:0)”,
“Mijia” and affiliate logos and graphics of the aforementioned brands (including but not limited to
).
8. Confidentiality Clause
The Parties agree that the trade secret in relation to the cooperation between the Parties shall include, without limitation, all material, correspondence in the
course of collaboration and any other non-public commercial or technical material or information provided by a Party to the other party. The receiving
party shall keep the trade secret of the disclosing party confidential, and shall not disclose the same to any third party or use for any purposes other than for
the cooperation between the Parties under this Agreement, regardless of whether such trade secret is obtained in oral, written, visual or other forms, unless
a prior written authorization from the disclosing party is obtained by such third party for the disclosure of such trade secret. For details of confidentiality
clause please refer to Appendix VII “Confidentiality Agreement”.
9. Liability for Breach and Termination of this Agreement
9.1 Any breach of this Agreement, Appendixes hereto and PO shall constitute the breach of this Agreement. If either Party breaches this Agreement, such
Party (the “Breaching Party”) shall bear losses caused thereby to the other Party (the “Non-breaching Party”), including fees and expenses incurred due to
the Non-breaching Party’s treatment of breach events, including legal costs for investigation, arbitration, action and attorney. In addition to compensating
the Non-breaching Party for the above losses, the Breaching Party shall also pay the Non-breaching Party RMB 0.5 million (500,000) as the liquidated
damages.
6
9.2 If Party B breaches this Agreement and cause the following situation(s), Party A shall be entitled to by itself or demand Party B to take all measures to
settle such problem for the purpose of maintaining Party A’s brand reputation, including but not limited to taking such measures as public relations,
response to complaints, reconciliation with the third party and/or compensation in advance to the third party, and Party B shall bear all expenses arising
from resolving such dispute or problem (including but not limited to the costs for Party A’s engagement of attorney and other third party, response to
complaints and compensation to the third party). Party A is entitled to claim compensation from Party B in the case of advance compensation.
i. Incidents or disputes on consumers' personal and property losses caused by product quality;
ii. Intellectual property disputes on Xiaomi Customized Products caused by Party B (including, without limitation to dispute on intellectual property
infringement);
iii. Any, but not limited to failure of normal sales, customer complaints, consumer disputes, administrative penalties, seizures or penalties by customs or
market regulators or court injunctions caused by Party B’s failure to obtain the relevant certifications, permits, and qualifications required by the PRC laws
and the target sales country as agreed, or the failure of Party B’s products to meet any product compliance requirements of China and the target sales
country;
iv. Disputes, complaints and other issues arising from the illegal or faulty after-sales service provided by Party B or Party B and its authorized channel
partners;
v. Collection, processing, disclosure, storage, use, transmission of user data in the case that Party B violates the data privacy protection laws and regulations
in product sales region or all other applicable regions;
If a third party claims or files a lawsuit against Party A and its affiliates, distributors, agents ("the Damaged Party") due to the aforementioned reasons,
Party B shall cooperate with Party A to defend and warrant the interest of Damaged Party shall not be damaged at the request of Party A, otherwise Party B
shall make compensation to the Damaged Party (including but not limited to the costs for Party A’s engagement of attorney and other third party, response
to complaints and compensation to the third party)
9.3 Party A shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement and the specific orders in advance by giving the written notice if:
9.3.1 Party B materially breaches the material obligation underlying this agreement and purchase order;
9.3.2 Except as prohibited by applicable bankruptcy laws, Party B declares bankruptcy, or if Party B is unable to repay due loans, or perform contracts, or if
Party B’s assets are transferred to or taken by other creditors;
9.3.3 The products fail to meet Party A’s requirements, and Party A determines that there is no value to remedy or the products still fail the requirement
after three times’ remedies;
9.3.4 Party B fails to deliver the products on time without reasonable cause and Party A’s prior written consent;
9.3.5 Party B fails to comply with Appendix III Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause attached to this Agreement, or to store the data in the
cloud server designated by Xiaomi, involves in the disputes infringing the protection of user personal information, or discloses user data to the third party
without Party A’s permission.
10. Export Control
Party B undertakes and commits that any technology, technical data, software code or other information, hardware, equipment or its components
(hereinafter referred to as "Delivered Items") provided to Party A are not weapons or protective products as defined in the 22 Code of Federal Regulations
§ 120.6 “Defense Articles”, and Party B’s disclosure and export to Party A shall not violate any applicable export control laws and regulations (including
but not limited to the United States, the European Union and Hong Kong). In addition, if any applicable law imposes any restrictions on the export and re-
export of the aforementioned Delivered Items, Party B commits to notify Party
7
A of such restrictions in advance. Party B shall undertake and commit that it will provide accurate, up-to-date and complete export classification
information and relevant documents (including but not limited to relevant export licensing, classification or commodity jurisdiction decisions) applicable to
Delivered Items according to the request of Party A. If Party B violates the provisions of this clause, including not providing the requested information or
documents within a reasonable period requested by Party A, Party A is entitled to stop performing this Agreement and any related contracts, and Party B
shall bear all the losses and liabilities arising therefrom.
11. User Data
Party B shall ensure that its collection, processing, disclosure, storage, use, transmission of user data comply with any applicable data protection laws and
regulations. If Party B violates any applicable data protection laws and regulations, it shall independently bear all legal responsibilities. Party B shall
compensate any losses caused to Party A. If Party A suffers any adverse effects, Party B shall publicly clarify the relevant situation by itself or through
cooperation with Party A. For details of relevant clause please refer to Appendix III “Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause”
12. Integrity Clause
12.1 Party B or the staff of Party B shall not directly or indirectly bribe or pay any other improper tangible or intangible benefits to Party A’s personnel and
their relatives, or exert improper influence in any other way, including but not limited to:
i. Bribe or gift to Party A's personnel and their relatives (including but not limited to cash, gifts, securities, valuables and other properties, providing loans,
dividends);
ii. Provide Party A’s personnel and their relatives banquets, vacations, traveling abroad, and activities to entertainment venues;
iii. Use agents or any third party to bribe Party A’s personnel and their relatives;
iv. Propose improper requests irrelevant to work to Party A’s personnel in any other ways;
vi. Implement other acts of bribery prohibited by law.
12.2 If Party B violates any one or more of these terms, Party A is entitled to choose one or more of the following measures:
i. Cancel Party B's qualification as supplier, and unilaterally terminate the contracts related to Party B without taking responsibility for breach of contract;
ii. Deduct all the deposit paid by Party B (if any);
iii. Party B shall pay Party A a one-time payment of ten percent (10%) of the amount of the relevant business contract or PO (the contract amount includes
the actual payment + the amount that has not yet been paid) or RMB0.5 million (500,000), whichever is higher.
If the aforementioned remedies fails to compensate Party A’s losses, Party B shall recover Party A’s actual losses. In terms of the aforementioned liquidated
damages or compensation, Party A is entitled to deduct directly from Party B's accounts receivable and Party A reserves the right to pursue legal liabilities
in accordance with national laws and regulations.
12.3 If the relevant personnel of Party A violates any one or more of the provisions of this clause, Party B shall immediately report to the leader or
supervision department of Party A. In addition, Party B should actively cooperate with Party A's investigation and actively provide relevant information
that may affect Party A's interests or Party A needs. If Party B finds that other suppliers cooperating with Party A violate this clause, Party B undertakes to
report to Party A and provide evidence.
8
Complaint method:
Email: tousu@xiaomi.com
13. Force Majeure
13.1 If either Party encounters an event of force majeure, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, typhoon, natural disasters and other
unforeseen or unavoidable or uncontrolled circumstances, as a result of which such Party is unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, then
such Party shall not be liable therefor. The time for said performance by such Party specified in this Agreement shall be automatically extended by a period
equal to the period of such Party’s inability to perform this Agreement directly or indirectly caused by such event of force majeure. The affected Party shall
inform the other Party of such event of force majeure by telegraph or telex within the reasonable time, and submit the supporting documentation on the
event of force majeure issued by the competent authority within 15 days subsequent to such event.
15.2 If performance of this Agreement cannot continue, Party A shall be entitled to unilaterally terminate this Agreement and the specific orders.
14. Scope of Validity
14.1 This Agreement is executed by and between Party A and Party B in Haidian District, Beijing with a valid term of one year, i.e. from November 1,
2019 to October 31, 2020. If no Party puts forward the written objections upon expiration of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be automatically
renewed for one-year term thereafter on the same conditions. If one Party is unwilling to renew its term, such Party shall put forward the objections before
30 days prior to expiration hereof.
14.2 Except for the circumstances as agreed in Clause 9.3 of this Agreement, if Party B fails to comply with any clause of this Agreement, Party A shall be
entitled to require Party B to immediately stop such breach once found; if Party A finds thereafter that Party B still does not stop such breach, Party A shall
be entitled to immediately terminate this Agreement.
14.3 Within the valid term of this Agreement, no Party shall change or terminate this Agreement at its will without the written consent of the other Party,
unless one Party exercises its rights to unilaterally rescind or terminate this Agreement as agreed herein.
14.4 It is confirmed that Party A and Party B may terminate this Agreement through consultation if the occurrence of the force majeure and other
circumstances renders the performance of this Agreement unnecessary or impossible.
14.5 Upon the expiration of this Agreement, the outstanding claims and debts between both Parties shall not be affected by this Agreement, and both
Parties shall continue to complete the fulfillment of their own obligations.
14.6 If this Agreement and the specific orders are early rescinded or terminated for whatever reasons, the clauses of warranty, intellectual property,
confidentiality, liability for breach and other clauses which shall survive in terms of their features shall remain in full force and effect.
15. Dispute Resolution
Both Parties shall settle all disputes arising from performance of this Agreement and in connection with the conduct of cooperation according to this
Agreement through friendly consultation. If both Parties fail to reach an agreement through consultation, they shall file a lawsuit in respect of such disputes
with the people’s court in the place where Party A is domiciled. In the process of handling such disputes, the rest of this Agreement shall continue to be
performed, except for the provisions under the litigation.
16. Supplementary Provisions of this Agreement
16.1 Modifications to this Agreement: No modifications to this Agreement (including supplements and revisions hereof) shall be effective unless duly
signed by both Parties.
9
16.2 Appendixes attached to this Agreement, including “Xiaomi Customized Product Project Agreement”, “Letter of Authorization on Equal Rights to
Information and Rights of Verification”, “Intellectual Property Terms”, “Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause”, “Framework Agreement on
Quality of Xiaomi Customized Product”, “Framework Agreement on After-sale Service of Xiaomi Customized Product”, “Confidentiality Agreement” and
PO executed by both Parties, shall form an integral part of this Agreement and have the equal legal force and effect with this Agreement.
16.3 If the matters are not covered in this Agreement, both Parties shall jointly negotiate and execute the written supplementary agreement which shall have
the equal legal force and effect with this Agreement.
16.4 No express waiver of this Agreement or failure to timely exercise any of rights granted by this Agreement shall constitute a continuous waiver hereof
or waiver of any rights under this Agreement.
16.5 If any provision or part of this Agreement is ruled illegal or unenforceable, such provision or part shall be separated from this Agreement, and shall
not affect, damage or derogate from the validity of any other provisions or parts of this Agreement. The illegal or unenforceable provision above shall be
replaced by a valid or legal provision that comes closest to expressing the meaning and contents of such illegal or unenforceable provision.
16.6 Notifications: All notifications should be in written form. The written notice sent by Party A to Party B by fax or similar means shall be deemed
served on the day of sending; the letter shall be deemed served when it reaches the recipient of Party B; the air mail shall be deemed served on the fifth (5)
day of delivery, and express delivery shall be deemed served when the recipient confirms and signs. E-mail or electronic data is deemed served on the day
that the email or electronic data is delivered to Party B's electronic system. If the contact of Party B is changed, Party B shall notify Party A three (3) days
in advance.
The contact of Party B:
16.7 The headings and descriptions of the clauses included in this Agreement are for reference only, and in no event shall the headings above limit, restrict,
extend or describe the scope or the contents of any clause of this Agreement in any manner.
16.8 This Agreement is made in three (3) copies. It is effective from signature. Party A holds two (2) copies and Party B holds one (1) copy.
(The remainder of this page is signature page)
Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Xiaomi
Communications Co., Ltd.)
Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances
Technology Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Foshan Yunmi Electric
Appliances Technology Co., Ltd.)
Appendix I: Intellectual Property Terms
Appendix II: Letter of Authorization on Equal Rights to Information and Rights of Verification
Appendix III: Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause
Appendix IV: Xiaomi Customized Product Project Agreement
Appendix V: Framework Agreement on Quality of Xiaomi Customized Product
Appendix VI: Framework Agreement on After-sale Service of Xiaomi Customized Product
Appendix VII: Confidentiality Agreement
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Appendix I:
1. Intellectual Property Ownership
Intellectual Property Terms
1.1 The rights, interests and intellectual property rights contained in or related to the ID (industrial design) generated by the design, development,
production and sales of Xiaomi’s customized products executed in accordance with this Agreement are owned by Party A (hereinafter referred to as “Party
A’s Intellectual Property Rights”).
1.2 Other technical achievements and related intellectual property rights (excluding Party A’s Intellectual Property Rights) arising from the design,
development, production and sales of Xiaomi’s customized products executed in accordance with this Agreement shall be jointly owned by Party A and
Party B (hereinafter referred to as “Shared Intellectual Property Rights”).
1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not use the same or similar design on the non-Xiaomi customized products as the Xiaomi
customized products or Xiaomi brand products. Party B is also prohibited to disclose the products, designs or other relevant information discussed in the
process of determining Xiaomi customized products to third parties, especially other consumer electronics manufacturers that have a competitive
relationship with Party A. Party B's violation of the above clause shall be deemed as a major breach of contract, and Party A is entitled to claim all losses
arising therefrom and terminate the cooperation.
1.4 Without Party A’s prior written consent, Party B shall not use any product that is denied in the process of determining Xiaomi's customized products as
Party B’s own brand product for manufacture, use or sale, nor may Party B instruct or assist a third party to manufacture, use or sell such products.
1.5 Without Party A’s prior written consent, Party B shall not apply, register or permit a third party to have the same or similar design as Xiaomi’s
customized products or Xiaomi brand products.
2. Implementation and Management of Shared Intellectual Property Rights
2.1 Party A and Party B have the discretion to implement the use of the Shared Intellectual Property Rights without having to notify and share the proceeds
with the other party.
2.2 Both parties agree that Party A shall be responsible for the application, registration, management and maintenance of the Shared Intellectual Property
Rights. Party B shall promptly assist and cooperate with Party A to complete the above matters. Unless otherwise agreed, the cost of applying for,
registering, managing and maintaining the Shared Intellectual Property Rights is shared equally between the parties. If one party waives the Shared
Intellectual Property Rights, such Shared Intellectual Property Rights shall be transferred to the other party and owned by the transferee all by itself, and the
party that waives the Shared Intellectual Property Rights shall assist in the completion of the ownership change procedure.
2.3 Both parties shall sign an effective job-related technological achievement agreement with the personnel involved in the design, development,
production and sales of Xiaomi’s customized products to ensure that all parties can fully fulfill the agreement on the Party A’s Intellectual Property Rights
and the Shared Intellectual Property Rights in this Agreement. At the same time, all parties should also ensure that any person who makes the job-related
technological achievement can enjoy his/her legal rights in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.
2.4 No party may assign or license the Shared Intellectual Property Rights to a third party without the prior consent of the other party. Each party has the
right to initiate litigation, arbitration or other legal action against any third party that infringes the Shared Intellectual Property Rights, and such party
should consult with the other party before initiating such legal action.
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3. Third-party Intellectual Property Rights
In accordance with the legal provisions of the cooperation territory between Party A and Party B and the third-party intellectual property rights of the
products and services provided by Party B at the time of signing this Agreement, the parties have agreed as follows:
3.1 Party B shall ensure that all intellectual property licenses necessary for the production of the product have been obtained. If any third party asserts that
Xiaomi’s customized products produced by Party B are infringing the intellectual property rights of third parties, Party B shall be responsible for resolve
the dispute on its own. If Party A incurs costs (including but not limited to litigation fees, arbitration fees and reasonable attorneys’ fees) or suffers adverse
effects or losses (if any) due to claims from third parties, Party B shall make compensation therefor.
3.2 When both parties sign the Purchase Order, Party B shall inform Party A of the third-party intellectual property licenses of the products provided by it.
If Party B fails to disclose the intellectual property licenses to Party A, which causes the disputes mentioned above in Article 3.1, Party A has, in addition
to the right to deal with the said disputes in accordance with Article 3.1, it also has the right to request the immediate termination of the Agreement. The
unfulfilled part hereof is no longer to be fulfilled, and Party A has the right to request Party B to bear the liability for breach of contract in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Obligation to Inform Open Source Software
4.1 Party B shall not include or embed any open source software, libre software, free software, and third-party materials subject to the license terms of any
open source software, libre software and free software ("Open Source Software") in the customized products delivered to Party A, unless 1) Party B
provides a written list and clearly identifies the specific elements of the customized product containing Open Source Software, 2) Party B identifies the
corresponding third-party license and any restrictions of use in the above list, and 3) under Party A’s written consent to allow use of such Open Source
Software. If Party A agrees to adopt the Open Source Software, Party B promises and commits to have complied with and will continue to abide by the
aforementioned license terms and conditions of Open Source Software included or embedded in the customized product. If Party A does not agree to use
the Open Source Software, Party B should replace the Open Source Software and ensure that the quality and performance of the customized products are
not affected. If Party B violates the above notification obligation or fails to meet any requirements of the Open Source Software license, Party B shall
compensate Party A or its affiliates for all losses suffered arising therefrom.
5. Commitment and Licenses
5.1 Party B undertakes not to initiate any legal actions or to file any infringement claims against the directors, employees and suppliers, customers,
distributors or partners of Party A and Party A’s affiliates based on the intellectual property rights owned or controlled by Party B, provided, however, that
the scope of the above commitments is only limited to products or services related to Party A and Party A’s affiliates. Party B shall ensure that its affiliates,
successors or assignees of intellectual property rights comply with or fulfil the same commitments.
5.2 Party B hereby grants Party A a non-exclusive, irrevocable, free and sublicensable license, allowing Party A or a licensee authorized by Party A to
implement the intellectual property rights owned by Party B in connection with Xiaomi’s customized products. The above licenses shall only take effect
when one of the following circumstances occurs: 1) Both parties agree that Party B cannot complete the agreed development, mass production or delivery
target of Xiaomi’s customized products; or 2) Party B becomes bankrupt, liquidated or otherwise unable to continue to perform this Agreement.
Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Xiaomi
Communications Co., Ltd.)
Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances
Technology Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Foshan Yunmi Electric
Appliances Technology Co., Ltd.)
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Appendix II:
Letter of Authorization on Equal Rights to Information and Rights of Verification
Xiaomi Customized Product’s authorizing party, Foshan Yunmi Electric Technology Co., Ltd. is located at (2F of No.1 Building and 4F of No.7 Building)
No. 2, Xinxisi North Road, Xiashi Village Committee, Lunjiao Subdistrict Office, Shunde District, Foshan City
Xiaomi Customized Product’s authorized party, Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd. is located at Level 9, Phase II, the Rainbow City of China Resources,
No. 68 Qinghe Middle Road, Haidian, Beijing
Whereas:
The cooperation between the authorizing party and its suppliers, processing factories, logistics service providers, etc. with which it cooperates are
bound by the confidentiality agreement, and the authorized party needs to have the same right to know the supply information because it has cooperation
with the authorizing party regarding the customized product business. The following agreement is hereby reached:
1. The authorized party has the same right to know and review as the authorizing party, including but not limited to quality management information,
logistics information and cost information.
2. The authorized party may, with this Power of Attorney, request the cooperation unit of Xiaomi’s customized products of the licensor to provide
corresponding information.
3. Xiaomi’s customized products: subject to the “Agreement on Xiaomi Customized Product Project Agreement”.
4. The authorizing party shall notify the suppliers, the processing factories, the logistics service providers with which it cooperates of the licenses herein
within 5 working days upon signing this Agreement. The written consent of the supplier, the processing factory and the logistics service provider with
which it cooperates shall be obtained. If the licensor fails to obtain the above written consent, the licensee has the right to suspend the cooperation of
Xiaomi’s customized products.
5. This Authorization Letter is an important part of the business cooperation agreement and has the same legal effect as the business cooperation
agreement.
It is hereby certified that the authorizing party signed this letter of authorization on November 1, 2019.
Authorizing Party:
Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd.)
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Appendix III:
1. Definition of User Data
Xiaomi’s Customized Product User Data Clause
User data refers to data generated by Xiaomi’s Customized Products in the process of providing services to users or data collected from users, including
user personal information as well as non-personal information. User personal information refers to personal identification data such as the user’s personal
name, date of birth, ID number, personal biometric information, address, telephone number, etc., recorded electronically or otherwise, and other personal
data refers to various data that can be used individually or in combination with other data to identify the user. User non-personal information refers to
information other than the user’s personal information recorded electronically or otherwise. The definition of user data is applicable to its according
definitions of user personal information and non-personal information under applicable privacy laws of various countries and regions other than PRC.
2. Application Scope of User Data Clause
The collection, storage, transmission, use and disclosure of user data generated during the service provision of Xiaomi’s customized product shall be
carried out in accordance with the terms of the User Data Clause. The Xiaomi’s customized product referred to herein contain customized product that have
been co-operated or marketed, as well as those to be co-operated in the future.
3. Ownership of and Right to Use User Data
3.1 Party B agrees to use the Xiaomi account system separately on Xiaomi’s customized product, that is, users can register and log in to the Xiaomi
account, and further use Xiaomi’s customized product and supporting applications.
3.2 In order to enhance the value of the data and enable users to successfully use customized services, Party B shall access and cooperate with Party A’s
data platform in accordance with Party A’s requirements. Party A shall exercise the discretion on the basis of mutual benefit to provide Party B with data
capabilities.
3.3 According to the requirements of Party A, user data shall be stored in Xiaomi Ecological Cloud or other cloud servers designated by Party A. Party B
shall provide the secret key and other data formats to Party A on a regular basis. If Party B requires user data to be synchronized or transmitted from the
server designated by Party A to other servers, Party B shall ensure the security of the transmission mechanism and bear its own responsibility for the legal
storage, use and transmission of such user data.
3.4 Party B agrees to share all user data collected during the service of Xiaomi's customized products to Party A, and Party A is entitled to independently
store, use and share the user data in accordance with the requirements of applicable laws.
3.5 Party B has the right to use the user data described herein within the scope of Party B’s business objectives, subject to compliance with applicable
privacy laws of various countries and regions as well as the privacy policy of the respective Xiaomi customized products.
4. Principles of User Data Usage
4.1 Principle of informed and consent. Party B shall follow the principle of informed and consent for collecting, using and disclosing user data, and clearly
inform the user of the purpose, application, scope, and withdrawal mechanism of the data collected, and be subject to the consent of the user.
4.2 Principle of necessity. Party B can only collect the personal data of the users necessary for the provision of Xiaomi’s customized product. If Party B
needs to collect user data other than providing services for the purpose of enhancing the user experience, Party B shall develop a user experience
improvement plan, clearly prompting the user and obtaining the user’s consent.
14
4.3 The principle of legitimacy. Party B agrees and undertakes the collection, processing, storage, use, transmission and sharing of user data subject to
compliance with applicable privacy laws of various countries/regions. In terms of the user data shared by Party B with Party A, Party B shall ensure fully
authorized by users so that in accordance with this article Party A is entitled to independently process, store, use, transmit and transfer the user data shared
by Party B subject to compliance with applicable privacy laws.
5. Rules for the Collection, Processing, Storage, Use, Transmission and Sharing of User Data
5.1 In terms of the user data collected, processed, stored, used, transmitted and shared by Party B during the service of Xiaomi’s customized product:
5.1.1 Party B shall formulate a complete user agreement, privacy policy and user experience improvement plan (if applicable), clearly inform the user of
the purpose, application, scope, and withdrawal mechanism of the data collected, and obtain the consent of the user.
5.1.2 Party B shall use a robust and safe system and formulate strict technical and management measures to protect user data, and ensure that the level of
protection meets the requirements of applicable laws and in any case is not lower than the level required by Party A.
5.1.3 Party B shall formulate an emergency response plan for data security incidents. If any data security incident occurs, Party B should immediately
notify Party A and work with Party A to determine the respond to the data security incident.
5.1.4 Party B shall adopt a sufficient and reasonable security mechanism to ensure the security of user data. Party B shall store data in accordance with
applicable privacy laws for legal cross-border transmission.
5.1.5 Party B shall be subject to applicable privacy laws, respond to data subject related rights requests and complaints in a timely manner, and immediately
notify Party A when receiving such claims. If Party A believes that such request or complaint may have an impact on Party A’s reputation, Party B is
obliged to respond and cooperate in accordance with Party A’s request.
5.1.6 Notwithstanding the aforementioned clauses, Party B shall comply with the obligations of the data controller subject to applicable privacy laws. If
Party A provides data storage and other processing activities for Xiaomi's customized products, and is identified as a data processor subject to applicable
laws, Party A shall abide by the requirements of such laws for data processors and carry out such processing activities in accordance with Party B's
instructions. If Party A fails to comply with the legal requirements due to Party B's fault (such as delaying notification to Party A resulting in Party A’s
failure to fulfill the data subject's relevant claims), Party B shall compensate Party A for the losses caused thereby.
5.1.7 If the user data referred to herein is used in conjunction with the user data of Party B’s own product, Party B shall separately store the two types of
data and shall still abide by the requirements of this clause.
5.1.8 After Party A’s prior written consent, Party B may disclose the user data applicable herein to third parties or authorize third parties to use the same. If
the data storage capacity (or the number of structured data) of Party B reaches 25% or more of the data volume (or the number of structured data) of Party
A and its affiliates, Party A shall, with the written consent of Party B, disclose the user data applicable herein to third parties or authorize third parties to
use the same. The data storage capacity of Party B shall be calculated according to the storage capacity on the Xiaomi Ecological Cloud. The number of
structured data of Party B shall be calculated according to the number of structured data accessed by Party A. Before Party B meets the above conditions,
Party A has the right to disclose the user data applicable herein to third parties or authorize third parties to use the same. After the above conditions are met,
the sharing of data by any party to third parties shall be in accordance with the law and Xiaomi’s Privacy Policy.
5.1.9 If Xiaomi's customized products can be used through Party B's own application or platform, Party B shall ensure that the collection and processing of
user data by Party B's own application or platform comply with the
15
applicable privacy laws and regulations, and shall bear the responsibility for all liabilities arising from compliance failure. Party B shall compensate for any
losses to Party A.
5.1.10 Party A reserves the right to review Party B’s obligations under Article 5.1, and is entitled to request Party B to cooperate in rectification when
Xiaomi’s customized products fails to pass Party A’s examination until it meets Party A’s requirements. For the avoidance of doubt, Party A’s examination
does not mean that Party A endorses or guarantees that the above agreements and policies comply with the applicable privacy laws of each country/region,
and Party A does not assume any responsibility for its examination.
5.2 If Party B provides services of Xiaomi’s customized product outside the mainland of China, it shall notify Party A three months in advance, so that
Party A may assess the privacy data compliance of Xiaomi’s customized product in the country where the products are sold, as well as store, transmit and
process the user data in accordance with Party A’s requirements.
5.2.1 Party B shall submit the review materials truthfully, completely and accurately in accordance with the requirements of Party A, including but not
limited to questionnaires, test packages, privacy policies, user agreements and user experience improvement plans and other applicable documents. If Party
B fails to submit such materials in accordance with the requirements of this clause, or after Party A’s verification Party B modifies Xiaomi’s customized
products without authorization (such as the type or use purpose of user data collection in the customized products), Party B shall bear all the responsibilities
arising therefrom.
5.2.2 Party B is obliged to cooperate with the rectification suggestions on the review materials from Party A. Party B shall not sell or provide services
without Party A’s review and approval, otherwise Party A is entitled to claim Party B’s liability for breach of contract and compensation for all the losses.
For the avoidance of doubt, the approval of Party A does not mean that Party A recognizes that the relevant Xiaomi’s customized products meet the
requirements of the applicable laws and regulations of the target sales country. Party B shall bear all responsibilities arising from the failure of the relevant
Xiaomi’s customized products to comply with such regulations caused by Party B.
5.3 Without prejudice to other terms and conditions, if Xiaomi's customized products fail to meet the requirements of the applicable country/region privacy
laws, Party B shall compensate Party A, Party A's executives and employees in full and prevent them from any responsibility, liabilities and losses arising
therefrom including, but not limited to any claims, damages, fines, penalties, reputation losses and relevant attorney fees.
6. Validity
6.1 The validity period of this Appendix is consistent with the Business Cooperation Agreement.
6.2 The expiry of validity period or the early termination of the Business Cooperation Agreement will not affect Party A’s independent use of the user data
of Xiaomi’s customized products that Party B has already shared with Party A.
Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Xiaomi
Communications Co., Ltd.)
Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances
Technology Co., Ltd.
(Contract seal: /s/ Foshan Yunmi Electric
Appliances Technology Co., Ltd.)
16
Exhibit 8.1
List of Significant Subsidiaries and Consolidated Variable Interest Entities of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd
Subsidiaries
Place of Incorporation
Viomi HK Technology Co., Limited
Hong Kong
Yunmi Hulian Technology (Guangdong) Co., Ltd.
People’s Republic of China
Lequan Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
People’s Republic of China
Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Place of Incorporation
Foshan Yunmi Electric Appliances Technology Co., Ltd
People’s Republic of China
Beijing Yunmi Technology Co., Ltd
People’s Republic of China
Subsidiaries of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Place of Incorporation
Foshan Xiaoxian Electrical Technology Co., Ltd.
People’s Republic of China
Foshan Discovery Electrical Technology Co., Ltd.
People’s Republic of China
Guangdong Lizi Technology Co., Ltd.
Guangdong AI Touch Technology Co., Ltd.
People’s Republic of China
People’s Republic of China
Exhibit 12.1
I, Xiaoping Chen, certify that:
Certification by the Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd;
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;
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;
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)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control
over financial reporting; and
5.
The company’s other certifying 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)
(b)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
Date:
April 23, 2020
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Xiaoping Chen
Xiaoping Chen
Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit 12.2
I, Shun Jiang, certify that:
Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
1.
2.
3.
4.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd;
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;
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;
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)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to
us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under
our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial
statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and
Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period
covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control
over financial reporting; and
5.
The company’s other certifying 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)
(b)
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s
internal control over financial reporting.
Date:
April 23, 2020
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Shun Jiang
Shun Jiang
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 Viomi Technology Co., Ltd (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Xiaoping Chen, Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1)
(2)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
the Company.
Date:
April 23, 2020
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Xiaoping Chen
Xiaoping Chen
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 Viomi Technology Co., Ltd (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2019 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Shun Jiang, Chief Financial Officer of the Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1)
(2)
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
the Company.
Date:
April 23, 2020
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Shun Jiang
Shun Jiang
Chief Financial Officer
Exhibit 15.1
April 23, 2020
To: Viomi Technology Co., Ltd (the “Company”)
Wansheng Square, Rm 1302 Tower C, Xingang East Road, Haizhu District
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510220
People’s Republic of China
Dear Sir/Madam:
We hereby consent to the reference of our name under the headings “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related
to Our Corporate Structure” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements
with Our VIEs and Their Shareholders” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019
(the “Annual Report”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in the month of April
2020. We also consent to the filing of this consent letter with the SEC as an exhibit to the Annual Report, and further consent to
the incorporation by reference of the summaries of our opinions under these captions into the Company’s registration statements
on Form S-8 (File No.333-230431) that was filed on March 22, 2019.
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.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Han Kun Law Offices
Han Kun Law Offices
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Exhibit 15.2
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-230431) of Viomi Technology Co., Ltd. of our
report dated April 23, 2020 relating to the financial statements, which appears in this Form 20-F.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP
Guangzhou, the People’s Republic of China
April 23, 2020