Table of Contents
(Mark One)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
o REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
OR
x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
OR
1934
For the transition period from to
OR
o
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Commission file number: 001-37657
Yiren Digital 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)
10/F, Building 9, 91 Jianguo Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022
The People’s Republic of China
(Address of principal executive offices)
Zhong Bi, Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: +86 10 5395-3680
Email: ir@yirendai.com
10/F, Building 9, 91 Jianguo Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022
The People’s Republic of China
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
American depositary shares (one American depositary
share representing two ordinary shares, par value
US$0.0001 per share)
Ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share*
Trading Symbol
YRD
Name of each exchange on which registered
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
* Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing on the New York Stock Exchange of American depositary shares.
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual
report.
185,599,072 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share, as of December 31, 2019.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o Yes x 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.
o Yes x No
Note — Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 from their obligations under those Sections.
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.
x Yes o 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).
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or an emerging growth company. See
definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o
Emerging growth company o
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. o
†The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting
Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control
over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or
issued its audit report.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
U.S. GAAP x
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued
by the International Accounting Standards Board o
Other o
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.
o Item 17 o 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).
o Yes x 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.
o Yes o No
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PART I
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.
PART II
Item 13.
Item 14.
Item 15.
Item 16A.
Item 16B.
Item 16C.
Item 16D.
Item 16E.
Item 16F.
Item 16G.
Item 16H.
PART III
Item 17.
Item 18.
Item 19.
SIGNATURES
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
Financial Statements
Financial Statements
Exhibits
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Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires in this annual report:
· “ADSs” refer to our American depositary shares, each of which represents two ordinary shares;
INTRODUCTION
· “China” or the “PRC” refers to the People’s Republic of China, excluding, for the purposes of this annual report only, Hong Kong, Macau and
Taiwan;
· “CreditEase” refers to CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited, our parent company and controlling shareholder;
· “M3+ Net Charge-off Rate,” with respect to loans facilitated during a specified time period, which we refer to as a vintage, is defined as the
difference between (i) the total balance of outstanding principal of loans that become over three months delinquent during a specified period, and
(ii) the total amount of recovered past due payments of principal and accrued interest in the same period with respect to all loans in the same
vintage that have ever become over three months delinquent, divided by (iii) the total initial principal of the loans facilitated in such vintage;
· “net payout” refers to the portion of an investor’s outstanding principal and accrued interest paid out to the investor from our quality assurance
program in the event of a loan default. Prior to the discontinuation of our quality assurance program in May 2018, we implemented a 100% payout
ratio policy allowing investors to fully recover their outstanding principal and accrued interest in the event of loan default;
· “ordinary shares” refer to our ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share;
· “Online lending information intermediaries” refer to marketplaces connecting borrowers and investors;
· “prime borrower” refers to credit card holders with stable credit performance and salary income. In determining whether a prospective borrower
has stable credit performance and salary income, we review such borrower’s credit card statement for the last six months and/or credit report from
the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, for the last five years, as well as the borrower’s salary for the last six months;
· “AUA” refers to the total market value of the assets for which we provide administrative services.
· “RMB” and “Renminbi” refer to the legal currency of China;
· “US$,” “U.S. dollars,” “$,” and “dollars” refer to the legal currency of the United States; and
· “Yiren Digital,” “we,” “us,” “our company” and “our” refer to Yiren Digital Ltd., its subsidiaries and its consolidated variable interest entities.
In March and July 2019, we entered into definitive agreements and certain amendment, respectively, with CreditEase, the controlling shareholder
of our company, pursuant to which we assumed from CreditEase and its affiliates certain business operations, mainly including online wealth management
targeting the mass affluent, unsecured and secured consumer lending, small-and-medium-enterprise (SME) lending and other related services or businesses
(the “Acquired Businesses”). This transaction was consummated in July 2019. Unless otherwise indicated, the financial data and operating data of our
company set forth in this annual report reflect the inclusion of the Acquired Businesses.
Our reporting currency is Renminbi, or RMB. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB in
this annual report are made at a rate of RMB6.9618 to US$1.00, the exchange rate in effect as of December 31, 2019 as set forth in the H.10 statistical
release of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 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.
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FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This annual report on Form 20-F contains forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. These
statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-
looking statements by terminology 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 and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
· our goals and strategies;
· our future business development, financial condition and results of operations;
· the expected growth of the online consumer finance marketplace market in China;
· our expectations as to the charge-off rates of loans facilitated through our platform;
· our expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of our products and services;
· our expectations regarding our relationships with investors and borrowers;
· our plans to invest in our proprietary technologies in the areas of data collection and processing algorithms as well as new business initiatives;
· competition in our industry;
· potential impact of COVID-19 outbreak on our current and future business development, financial condition and results of operations; and
· relevant government policies and regulations relating to our industry.
We would like to caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and you should read these statements in conjunction
with the risk factors disclosed in “Item 3D. Key Information—Risk Factors.” Those risks are not exhaustive. We operate in an evolving environment. New
risks emerge from time to time and it is impossible 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 from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. You should read
this annual report and the documents that we reference in this annual report completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be
materially different from what we expect.
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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
In July 2019, we consummated a business realignment transaction with CreditEase, the controlling shareholder of our company, pursuant to which
we have assumed from CreditEase and its affiliates the Acquired Business. As our company and the Acquired Businesses have been under the common
control of CreditEase since the establishment of our company, ASC 805-50 requires that our financial statements be recast to retroactively reflect the
acquisition of the Acquired Businesses for all the applicable prior periods presented. Item 3.A of Form 20-F requires that selected financial information be
presented for the registrant’s most recent five fiscal years. However, registrants are permitted to omit up to two of the earliest years in such five-year period
in certain circumstances. Recast financial statements of our company reflecting the inclusion of the Acquired Businesses for years 2015 and 2016 have
never been previously prepared and significant time and expense would be required to prepare the selected financial information for our company that gives
retrospective effect to the acquisition of businesses under common control for the earliest two years of the five-year period. Therefore, we represent that it
would require unreasonable effort and expense and involve undue hardship to comply with Item 3.A of Form 20-F with respect to the presentation of recast
selected financial information as of and for fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016.
Our historical results do not necessarily indicate results expected for any future periods. The selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Item 5.
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” below. Our audited consolidated financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S.
GAAP.
The following selected consolidated statements of operations data for the year ended December 31, 2019 and selected consolidated balance sheet
data as of December 31, 2019 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report beginning on page F-1.
The following selected recast consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 and selected recast consolidated
balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 have been derived from our audited recast consolidated financial statements included in this annual report
beginning on page F-1 which reflect the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses under common control. The following selected recast consolidated balance
sheet data as of December 31, 2017 are derived from our unaudited recast consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 not included in this annual
report.
Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Net revenue
Operating costs and expenses:
Sales and marketing
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Provision for contingent liability
Allowance for contract assets and receivables
Total operating costs and expenses
Interest income, net
Fair value adjustments related to the consolidated asset
backed financing entities
Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial
rights
Other (expenses) / income, net
Total other income, net
Income before provision for income taxes
Income tax expenses
Share of results of equity investees
2017
RMB
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
(in thousands, except for share, per share and per ADS data, and percentages)
11,534,808
11,244,114
8,616,784
1,237,724
(9,004,959)
(1,242,928)
(1,323,608)
(43,049)
—
(11,614,544)
115,060
(86,372)
271,125
(32,001)
267,812
188,076
(381,210)
5,060
(6,658,270)
(1,061,289)
(1,336,247)
(419,581)
(992,581)
(10,467,968)
73,917
243,122
663,884
26,323
1,007,246
1,783,392
(194,287)
(9,295)
(4,457,353)
(665,083)
(731,806)
(9,462)
(1,625,051)
(7,488,755)
73,367
3,866
159,392
32,365
268,990
1,397,019
(239,228)
(2,180)
Net (loss)/income
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic
Basic net (loss)/income per share
Basic net (loss)/income per ADS
(1) (2)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding,
diluted
Diluted net (loss)/income per share
Diluted net (loss)/income per ADS
(1) (2)
182,438,985
(1.0309)
(2.0618)
182,438,985
(1.0309)
(2.0618)
184,225,643
8.5754
17.1508
186,270,515
8.4813
16.9626
185,219,586
6.2391
12.4782
186,535,464
6.1951
12.3902
(640,259)
(95,533)
(105,117)
(1,359)
(233,424)
(1,075,692)
10,538
555
22,895
4,649
38,637
200,669
(34,363)
(313)
165,993
185,219,586
0.8962
1.7924
186,535,464
0.8899
1.7798
(1) Each ADS represents two ordinary shares.
(2) For purposes of calculating net loss/income per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares for all the prior periods presented in the
consolidated financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the issuance of our ordinary shares to CreditEase in consideration of our
assumption of the Acquired Businesses.
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Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Contract assets, net (net of allowance of RMB992,049 and
RMB1,515,627 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Loans at fair value
Held-to-maturity investments
Available-for-sale investments
Total assets*
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee
Refund liabilities
Total liabilities*
Total (deficit)/equity
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
2,222,785
2,257,537
2,606,939
427,546
—
1,450,707
24,094
966,353
16,124,352
2,793,948
—
24,014,085
(7,889,733)
3,909,263
1,375,221
329,597
835,565
14,251,815
9,950
2,145,748
14,615,228
(363,413)
3,198,086
71,056
2,398,685
418,492
6,627
460,991
9,644,420
4,397
1,801,535
5,154,330
4,490,090
459,376
10,207
344,550
60,113
952
66,217
1,385,334
632
258,774
740,374
644,960
* The amounts of total assets and total liabilities as of December 31, 2019, as derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in
this annual report, reflect an adjustment to deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities recorded when preparing our audited consolidated balance sheet as
of December 31, 2019, as compared with the amounts of total assets and total liabilities as of December 31, 2019 in our unaudited condensed balance sheet
as of December 31, 2019 contained in our earnings release as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020. These
adjustments do not affect the total deficit or equity of our company.
The following selected consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, and selected consolidated balance
sheet data as of December 31, 2015 and 2016, which did not reflect the Acquired Businesses, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial
statements not included in this annual report.
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Selected Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Net revenue
Operating costs and expenses:
Sales and marketing
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Provision for contingent liability
Total operating costs and expenses
Interest income, net
Fair value adjustments related to consolidated asset backed financing entities
Other income, net
Income before provision for income taxes
Income tax (expenses)/benefits
Net income
(2)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding :
Basic
Net income per ordinary share
Basic
Net income per ADS
Basic
(2)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding :
Diluted
Net income per ordinary share
Diluted
Net income per ADS
Diluted
(3)
(3)
For the Year Ended December 31,
2015
RMB
(1)
2016
RMB
(1)
(in thousands, except for share, per share and per ADS data, and
percentages)
1,313,639
(679,771)
(86,360)
(137,114)
—
(903,245)
4,799
(11,333)
—
403,860
(128,521)
275,339
3,237,991
(1,571,038)
(180,076)
(320,848)
(81,263)
(2,153,225)
36,843
(19,735)
575
1,102,449
13,949
1,116,398
100,652,055
118,240,414
2.7356
5.4712
9.4418
18.8836
100,652,055
118,937,082
2.7356
5.4712
9.3865
18.7730
(1) Starting from the second quarter of 2016, we changed our reporting currency from the U.S. dollar to the Renminbi, to reduce the impact of increased
volatility of the RMB to US$ exchange rate on our reported operating results. The change in our reporting currency has been retroactively reflected for
all periods presented herein.
(2) On January 5, 2015, we effected a 10,000-for-1 share split, such that our authorized share capital of US$50,000 was divided into 500,000,000 ordinary
shares with a par value of US$0.0001 each, of which 10,000 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding and were owned by CreditEase. On June 25,
2015, we issued 99,990,000 ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 each to CreditEase for an aggregate purchase price of US$9,999. The share split and
the share issuance have been retroactively reflected for all periods presented herein.
(3) Each ADS represents two ordinary shares.
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Loans at fair value
Held-to-maturity investments
Available-for-sale investments
Total assets
Liabilities from quality assurance program
Total liabilities
Total equity
3
As of December 31,
2015
RMB
2016
RMB
(in thousands)
846,120
483,965
221,268
30,000
—
2,190,003
546,332
1,213,061
976,942
968,225
1,218,286
371,033
98,917
1,158,000
4,783,388
1,471,000
2,643,469
2,139,919
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B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
Not applicable.
C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable.
D. Risk Factors
Risks Related to Our Business
We operate in emerging and evolving industries, and our operations, services and products have been and may need to be modified in answering to the
latest market trends, which makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects.
The market for China’s consumer credit and wealth management solutions are emerging and in general remain at relatively preliminary stages of
development and may not continue to develop as rapidly as expected. The regulatory framework for the industries we operate in is also evolving and may
remain uncertain for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, there are few established players with business models similar to ours in these industries.
Potential borrowers and investors may not be familiar with the industries we are operating in, and may not fully appreciate the value we add and may have
difficulty distinguishing our products and services from those of our competitors.
We launched our online marketplace in March 2012 and have a limited operating history. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2014, we began offering
loan products with different pricing grades. In the second quarter of 2017, we further launched a new credit scoring system, the Yiren score, which can be
used to more accurately characterize a borrower’s credit profile. We have also established an open fintech sharing platform “Yirendai Enabling Platform,”
or YEP, to provide big data-backed anti-fraud, risk management and precise customer acquisition solutions to financial institutions and industry partners.
As a result of our strategic business realignment with CreditEase in 2019, we have begun operating our business on a more diverse and scalable mix of
service platforms——Yiren Credit and Yiren Wealth. Yiren Credit is our credit-tech platform that has the capability to provide individual borrowers and
small business owners with a full spectrum of online and offline, multi-channel loan products funded by retail and institutional investors. Yiren Wealth is
our wealth management platform that specifically targets the mass affluent investors and provides them with one-stop asset allocation-based wealth
management solutions. As our business develops or in response to competition, we may continue to introduce new products or make adjustments to our
existing products, or make adjustments to our business model. In connection with the introduction of new products or in response to general economic
conditions, we may impose more stringent borrower qualifications to ensure the quality of loans on our platform, which may negatively affect the growth
of our business. Any significant change to our business model may not achieve expected results and may have a material and adverse impact on our
financial condition and results of operations. For example, we cannot assure you that our wealth management services or products can be widely accepted
in light of our limited experience and operating history in the wealth management sector. It is possible that we may not be able to offer attractive wealth
management products to achieve our clients’ expectation of the investment returns. Any failure on our part to keep up with the development of the wealth
management services or any failure to respond quickly to the market trend may materially and adversely affect the growth of our wealth management
business. It is therefore difficult to effectively assess our future prospects. The risks and challenges we encounter or may encounter in this developing and
rapidly evolving market may adversely impact our business and prospects. These risks and challenges include our ability to, among other things:
· navigate an evolving regulatory environment;
· expand the base of borrowers and investors served on our platforms;
· acquire borrowers and investors in a cost-effective manner;
· enhance our risk management capabilities and maintain low delinquency rates of transactions facilitate by us;
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· continue to scale our technology infrastructure to support the growth of our platform and higher transaction volume;
· broaden our product offerings;
· source qualified third-party wealth management products;
· enhance our risk management capabilities;
· attract sufficient funding from individual investors or institutions;
· improve our operational efficiency;
· cultivate a vibrant consumer finance ecosystem;
· maintain the security of our platform and the confidentiality of the information provided and utilized across our platform;
· attract, retain and motivate talented employees; and
· defend ourselves against litigation, regulatory, intellectual property, privacy or other claims.
If we fail to educate potential borrowers and investors about the value of our platform and services, if the market for our marketplace does not
develop as we expect, or if we fail to address the needs of our target market, or other risks and challenges, our business and results of operations will be
harmed.
If we are unable to obtain adequate funding from institutional funding partners to meet user demand for loans on our platform, our business and
results of operations will be adversely affected.
The growth and success of our operations depend on the availability of adequate funding to meet users’ demand for loans on our platform. Our
funding sources include investment from both individual investors and institutional funding partners. Our institutional funding partners primarily include
commercial banks and insurance companies. In 2019, 8.8% of loans facilitated on our platform were funded by our institutional funding partners. To
maintain a high growth momentum of our marketplace, we must continuously attract more institutional funding partners to our marketplace and satisfy
their investment needs. If there are insufficient investor commitments, borrowers may not be able to obtain capital through our marketplace and may turn to
other sources for their borrowing needs. If we are unable to retain our existing institutional funding partners or attract new institutional funding partners, or
if regulatory authorities promulgated new laws and regulations to regulate, limit, or even prohibit our collaboration with the institutional funding partners,
our business, results of operations and financial condition will be adversely affected. Our cooperation with institutional funding partners is not on an
exclusive basis. If the governmental authorities further tighten the regulations on the online consumer finance industry, our institutional funding partners
would become more selective in choosing partners for referring borrowers and facilitating loans for them. The competition we face would become even
more intensely. If we fail to continuously meet their requirements or needs, our financial institution partners may stop cooperating with us and turn to our
competitors, which may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we are unable to maintain or increase the volume of loan transactions facilitated through our marketplace or if we are unable to retain existing
borrowers or investors or attract new borrowers or investors, our business and results of operations will be adversely affected.
Prior to 2018, we had experienced a rapid growth of our marketplace. The growth of our marketplace is dependent on the increase in the volume
of loan transactions facilitated through our marketplace. The overall transaction volume may be affected by several factors, including the regulatory
environment, our brand recognition and reputation, the interest rates offered to borrowers and investors relative to market rates, the effectiveness of our risk
control, the repayment rate of borrowers on our marketplace, the efficiency of our platform, the macroeconomic environment and other factors.
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PRC governmental authorities have recently tightened and limited the growth of online lending platforms, which has negatively affected and may
continue to negatively affect our business growth in terms of, among other things, our business scale, number of users, loan facilitation amount and
outstanding loan balance. For example, the Office of Beijing Municipal Leading Group on Special Rectification of Risks in the Internet Finance, or Beijing
Rectification Office, issued a notice on January 24, 2019 requiring online lending information intermediaries to continue to reduce their business scale and
number of borrowers and lenders during the administrative verification period. In addition, we may also impose more stringent borrower qualifications in
response to general economic conditions to ensure the quality of loans on our platform, which may negatively affect the growth of loan volume.
To the extent permitted by laws and regulations, we intend to continue to dedicate significant resources to our user acquisition efforts, including
establishing new acquisition channels. We utilize online channels, such as search engine marketing, search engine optimization, partnerships with internet
companies and internet traffic acquisition from third-party online loan products marketplaces, as well as offline channels for user acquisition. We used to
rely on CreditEase’s nationwide service network for offline borrower acquisition. In 2017 and 2018, 41.2% and 38.4% of our borrowers were acquired
through referrals from CreditEase, respectively, contributing 48.5% and 43.1% of the total amount of loans facilitated through our marketplace,
respectively. As part of a business realignment with CreditEase in 2019, we acquired CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or Puhui,
an entity managing CreditEase’s national service network for offline borrower acquisition. In 2019, 53.0% of our borrowers were acquired through Puhui,
contributing 52.4% of the total amount of loans facilitated through our marketplace. There is no assurance that we will be successful with our user
acquisition efforts. If any of our current user acquisition channels become less effective, if we are unable to continue to use any of these channels or if we
are not successful in using new channels, we may not be able to acquire new borrowers and investors in a cost-effective manner or convert potential
borrowers and investors into active borrowers and investors, and may even lose our existing borrowers and investors to our competitors. If we are unable to
attract qualified borrowers and sufficient investor commitments or if borrowers and investors do not continue to participate in our marketplace at the
current rates, we might be unable to increase our loan transaction volume and revenues as we expect, and our business and results of operations may be
adversely affected.
The laws and regulations governing the online lending information intermediary service industry in China are developing and evolving and subject to
changes. If we fail to obtain and maintain requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business, our business, financial condition and
results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
Due to the relatively short history of the online lending information intermediary service industry in China, the laws and regulations governing our
industry have undergone significant changes in recent years and may continue to evolve. In July 2015, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, or the
CBRC, the predecessor of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission newly established in April 2018, together with nine other PRC
regulatory agencies jointly issued a series of policy measures applicable to the online lending information intermediary service industry titled the
Guidelines on Promoting the Healthy Development of Online Finance Industry, or the Guidelines. The Guidelines formally introduced for the first time the
regulatory framework and basic principles for administering the online lending information intermediary service industry in China. Based on the core
principles of the Guidelines, in August 2016, the CBRC together with three other PRC regulatory agencies jointly issued the Interim Measures on
Administration of Business Activities of Online Lending Information Intermediaries, or the Interim Measures. The Interim Measures requires each online
lending information intermediary and its branches that propose to carry out the online lending information intermediary services to file a record with the
local financial regulatory department at the place where it is registered within ten business days after obtaining the business license. Local financial
regulatory departments have the power to assess and classify the online lending information intermediaries which have submitted filings, and to publicize
the filed information and the classification results on their official websites. An online lending information intermediary must apply for appropriate
telecommunication license in accordance with the relevant requirements of the telecommunication authorities subsequent to completion of the filing, and is
required to explicitly identify itself as an online lending information intermediary in the business scope set forth in its business license.
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In accordance with the Guidelines and the Interim Measures, the CBRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, and
the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the predecessor of the State Administration for Market Regulation newly established in April 2018,
or the SAIC, jointly issued the Guide to the Record-filing of Online Lending Information Intermediaries in November 2016, or the Record-filing
Guidelines, which outlines the rules, procedures and required documents for the record-filing of online lending information intermediaries, and directs local
financial regulatory departments to adopt detailed implementation rules for the record-filing by online lending information intermediaries within their
jurisdictions. In December 2017, the Office of Leading Group on Special Rectification of Risks in the Online Lending, the regulator for administration and
supervision on nationwide internet finance and online lending, or the National Rectification Office, issued the Notice on Rectification and Inspection
Acceptance of Risk of Online Lending, or Circular 57, which provides further clarification on several matters in connection with the rectification and
record-filing of online lending information intermediaries. Circular 57, among other things, requires certain local governmental authorities to establish an
inspection team to conduct risk rectification inspections on online lending information intermediaries within their jurisdictions. If an online lending
information intermediary passes the inspection, the local governmental authorities shall complete its record-filing. Circular 57 also requires local
governmental authorities to complete record-filings of online lending information intermediaries within their respective jurisdiction by the end of
April 2018, except that the deadline for certain complicated cases may be postponed to May 2018 or June 2018. On August 13, 2018, the National
Rectification Office issued the Notice on Compliance Inspection on Online Lending Intermediaries, or the Compliance Inspection Notice, which requires
each online lending information intermediary to be further inspected at three levels, including self-inspection carried out by the online lending information
intermediary itself, internet finance association inspection led by a local internet finance association and/or the National Internet Finance Association of
China, and the administrative verification carried out by the provincial online lending rectification office. Pursuant to the Compliance Inspection Notice,
the compliance inspection shall be completed by the end of December 2018. The online lending intermediaries that generally meet the requirement of being
an intermediary and various standards will be allowed to link to the information disclosure and products registration system. After a period of operation and
inspection, the online lending information intermediaries that meet relevant requirements can apply for record-filing. The standards and procedures for
linking to the system and record-filing will be promulgated by the regulators separately. On August 24, 2018, Beijing Rectification Office, issued a Notice
on Launch of Self-Inspection of P2P Online Lending Intermediaries Registered in Beijing, which requires the peer-to-peer, or P2P, online intermediaries
registered in Beijing to commence self-inspection and to submit self-examination reports by September 30, 2018 and in any event no later than October 15,
2018. However, the record-filings of online lending information intermediaries have not yet been officially launched nationwide. As of the date of this
annual report, there has been no announcement as to when the filings will be completed. We have completed self-inspection and the internet finance
association inspection. In May 2019, we were inspected by the Office of Finance of Chaoyang District of Beijing, a competent authority under the Beijing
Rectification Office. As of the date of this annual report, we have not received any official documents from the Office of Finance of Chaoyang District of
Beijing. There can be no assurance that we will be able to pass the inspections and verifications conducted or to be conducted by the Beijing Rectification
Office and its competent authorities, and submit the application for record-filing. Substantial uncertainties still exist as to whether we are able to meet the
requirements of the Interim Measures, the Record-filing Guidelines and Circular 57 regarding record-filing with the local financial regulatory department,
application for the appropriate telecommunication license and revision to our business scope. If we fail to complete the record-filing, we might be required
to adjust our business model and operations, or even will be forced to terminate our online lending information intermediary business.
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On December 19, 2018, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office
jointly promulgated the Notice on the Classification and Disposal of Risks of Online Lending Institutions and Risk Prevention, or Circular 175, which
provides that online lending intermediaries shall be classified into the following two categories according to their risk profiles: (i) institutions with exposed
risks, and (ii) institutions without exposed risks, which are further classified as non-operating institutions, small-scale institutions, high-risk institutions and
normal operating institutions. We classify our consolidated variable interest entity that operate our online consumer lending platform, Hengcheng
Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Hengcheng, into normal operating institution, but we cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities
would take the same view as ours. If we are classified into other types of institutions, we might be forced to terminate our online lending information
intermediary business. Furthermore, with respect to the normal operating institutions, Circular 175 also provides that the relevant governmental authorities
shall, among other things, require such institutions to strictly limit balance of loans and number of lenders, guide such institutions to refer clients to the
licensed asset management institutions, assess the risk profiles of such institutions regularly and adjust their classifications in a timely manner if necessary.
In addition, in November 2019, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office
jointly promulgated the Guiding Opinions on the Pilot Transformation Program of Online Lending Information Intermediary into Micro-lending
Companies, or Circular 83, which provides that the local government may, in combination with the compliance inspection, guide certain qualified online
lending information intermediary to resolve the outstanding business risk through transformation to micro-lending companies on a voluntary basis. Circular
83 provides a means for online lending information intermediary to proactively handle and resolve the risks related to its existing business in addition to the
record-filing of online lending information intermediaries. Though we have tried to reduce our business scale and number of borrowers and investors since
July 2018 and keep frequent communications with governmental authorities to ensure the compliance of our business, we cannot assure you that our
measures will be satisfactory to the relevant authorities and we may be required to adjust our business model and operations, or even will be forced to
terminate our online lending information intermediary business. If any of those situations occur, our business, financial condition and prospects would be
materially and adversely affected.
In addition, Yiren Financial Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or our consolidated variable interest entity that operates an online wealth
management platform, has not obtained a telecommunication business operating license, and is currently in the process of applying for the internet content
provider license, or the ICP License. We cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities will not view us as failing to complete the necessary filing
or obtain the necessary license applicable to our business. Furthermore, Hengcheng, our variable interest entity, is currently in the process of renewing its
ICP License for operating our online consumer lending platform. We cannot assure you that Hengcheng is able to successfully renew its ICP License in a
timely manner, or at all.
Furthermore, we are unable to predict with certainty the impact, if any, that future legislation, judicial precedents, rules or regulations relating to
the online lending information intermediary service industry will have on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Due to the uncertainty
of the relevant laws, regulations and requirements, we may face remarkable increased risk of default or delinquency of borrowers, and our third-party
service providers may implement new internal control and compliance procedures which prohibit them from working with us, which could lead to
significantly higher default rates and adverse impacts on our reputation, business, results of operations and financial position. In addition, if our practice is
deemed to violate any laws, rules or regulations, or if we are unable to obtain and maintain any requisite approvals, licenses or permits required for our
business, we may face a regulatory warning, fines, an injunction or other punitive measures, and our business, financial condition and prospects may be
materially and adversely affected.
If our practice is deemed to violate any PRC laws, rules or regulations, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially
and adversely affected.
According to the Guidelines and the Interim Measures, an online lending information intermediary must not engage in certain activities, including,
among other things, (i) fund raising for the intermediary itself, (ii) holding investors’ funds or setting up capital pool with investors’ funds, (iii) providing
security or guarantee to investors as to the principal and interest of the investments, (iv) promoting its financing products on physical premises other than
through the permitted electronic channels, such as telephones, mobile phones and internet, (v) making loans, (vi) splitting the terms of projects seeking
financing, (vii) issuing or selling wealth management or other financial products, or selling wealth management products, funds, insurance, trust or other
financial products as an agent, (viii) conducting securitization or similar business, or conducting loan transfers through packaging, securitization, trust or
fund units, (ix) engaging in any form of mixture, bundling or agency activities with other businesses such as institutional investment, commission sale or
brokerage, (x) making false or misleading statements regarding projects seeking financing, (xi) providing information intermediary services for loans to be
used in high-risk financing transactions such as investment in stocks, over-the-counter financing, futures contracts, structured products and other
derivatives, and (xii) equity crowd-funding. The Interim Measures prohibits online lending information intermediaries from making any decision on behalf
of investors without authorization. In addition, under the Interim Measures, online lending information intermediaries must adequately disclose on their
websites to investors information such as basic information of borrowers and projects seeking financing, risk assessment and possible risk outcome, and
use of proceeds of loans facilitated and not yet due; each online lending information intermediary must also disclose prominently on its website information
concerning its business operation such as financing transactions facilitated, setting up a dedicated portion on its website for information disclosure, and
regularly announcing to the public its annual report as well as laws, regulations and rules applicable to online lending. The Interim Measures requires
online lending information intermediaries to engage accounting firms to conduct periodic audits of the status of fund custody, information disclosure,
security of information technology system and operation compliance, to engage qualified institutions to perform regular evaluation concerning information
security, and to disclose to investors and borrowers the results of such audit and evaluation. Under the Interim Measures, online lending information
intermediaries must also strengthen their risk management, enhance screening and verification of borrowers and investors’ information, and set up custody
accounts with qualified banks to hold customer funds, among other things.
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In accordance with the Guidelines and the Interim Measures, the CBRC also issued two other implementation rules and regulations in addition to
the Record-Filing Guidelines, namely, (i) the Guidelines for the Depository Business of Online Lending Funds in February 2017, or the Custodian
Guidelines; and (ii) the Guidelines for the Disclosure of Information on Business Activities of Online Lending Information Intermediaries in August 2017,
or the Disclosure Guidelines. The Custodian Guidelines require each online lending information intermediary to set up a custody account with a single
commercial bank for the funds of investors on its platform, take responsibility for the continued development and secure operation of its technical system,
make appropriate information disclosure to the custody bank, perform daily account reconciliation with the custody bank, safely maintain its accounts and
records, arrange for the independent audits of the custody account and publicly disclose the audit results, and cooperate with the custody bank in meeting
anti-money laundering obligations. The Disclosure Guidelines set forth the information disclosure requirements for online lending information
intermediaries, including with respect to their filings and licenses, fund custody, organization, operation, risk management, data regarding loans facilitated,
financial audit and compliance review, and channels for customer complaints. In addition, the Disclosure Guidelines require online lending information
intermediaries to disclose to investors information concerning borrowers, projects, project risk assessment and possible risk outcome. Under the Disclosure
Guidelines, an online lending information intermediary must provide consistent information disclosure across all online channels such as its website,
mobile phone application, WeChat public accounts and Weibo accounts, and set up on its website and other online channels a conspicuous section for
information disclosure. Furthermore, in May 2017, the CBRC, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly
released the Notice to Further Enhance the Management of Campus Loans, which prohibits online lending information intermediaries from facilitating
loans to college students.
In December 2017, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office jointly
issued the Notice on Rectification of Cash Loan Businesses, or Circular 141, which sets out certain principles in connection with cash loan businesses and
online lending information intermediaries. According to Circular 141, online lending information intermediaries are prohibited from: (i) deducting
interests, commissions, management fees and deposits from the loans before they are released to the borrowers; (ii) outsourcing core functions such as data
collection, customer identification, credit assessment or account openings; (iii) enabling banking financial institutions to engage in P2P online lending;
(iv) providing loan facilitation services to individuals who do not possess sufficient debt repayment capabilities or to students; and (v) conducting real-
estate financing such as down payment loans for real estate purchasing. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—
Regulations Relating to Online Lending Information Intermediary.”
To comply with the laws, rules and regulations relating to the online lending information intermediary service industry, we have implemented
various policies and procedures, which we believe set the best practice standard in the industry, including, without limitation, the following: (i) we do not
use our own capital to invest in loans facilitated through our online marketplace; (ii) we do not commit to provide guarantees to investors under any
agreement for the full return of loan principal and interest; (iii) we do not hold investors’ funds and funds loaned through our platform are deposited into
and settled by a third-party custody account managed by a qualified bank, China Guangfa Bank; (iv) Hengcheng, our variable interest entity operating our
online consumer lending platform, obtained ICP License as an internet information provider, from the relevant local counterpart of the MIIT in accordance
with applicable laws. As of the date of this annual report, Hengcheng is in the process of renewing its ICP License; (v) we disclose on our website relevant
information to investors and borrowers, such as disclosure to borrowers regarding interest rates, payment schedule, transaction fees, and other charges and
penalties; (vi) we have been making a strong effort to maintain the security of our platform and the confidentiality of the information provided and utilized
across our platform; (vii) we do not facilitate any loans to college students; and (viii) we do not have any loans on our platform that have an outstanding
balance over a RMB200,000 limit as of the date of this annual report.
However, the laws, rules and regulations continue to evolve in this emerging industry, and the interpretation of these laws, rules and regulations by
the local authorities may be different from our understanding. We cannot be certain that our practices would not be deemed to violate any existing or future
laws, rules and regulations. For instance,
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· our automated investing tool automatically allocates committed funds from multiple investors among multiple approved borrowers, which goes
beyond the simple one-to-one matching between investors and borrowers and could be viewed as making decisions on behalf of investors without
authorization. While investors using our automated investing tools give us prior authorization to allocate their funds among borrowers on their
behalf, and we believe such prior authorization is sufficient to meet the requirement of the Interim Measures, we cannot assure you that the PRC
regulatory authorities would take the same view as ours;
· our automated investing tool may also be viewed as splitting the terms of projects seeking financing and /or offering wealth management products;
· if our automated investing tool fails to match committed investors with approved borrowers in a timely manner, we might be deemed to hold
investors’ funds and form a capital pool incidentally;
· for investor protection purposes, we set up a quality assurance program with the purposes of limiting investors’ potential losses due to borrower
defaults historically. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Risk Management—Investor Protection.” The Interim
Measures prohibits online lending information intermediaries from providing security or guarantee to investors as to the principal and interest of
the investments. Circular 57 further prohibits online lending information intermediaries from setting up new risk reserve funds or increasing
existing risk reserve funds, and requires them to gradually reduce the existing risk reserve funds. To comply with regulatory requirements, we
discontinued the operation of the quality assurance program by transferring all liabilities associated with the quality assurance program to a third-
party guarantee company at fair value in May 2018 and switched to cooperation with insurance and guarantee companies, under which model
insurance premium and guarantee fees are paid by borrowers to the insurance and guarantee companies, respectively. However, it is uncertain how
the Interim Measures or Circular 57 will be interpreted due to the lack of detailed implementation rules. As a result, we cannot assure you that our
existing practice might not be viewed by the PRC regulatory authorities as that we are providing security or a risk reserve fund to the investors or
otherwise violating the Interim Measures or Circular 57. In addition, under our cooperation with guarantee companies, the guarantee companies
can either provide guarantee for loans facilitated through our online marketplace for the assurance that investors’ principal and interest would be
repaid in the event that their loans default, or set up and manage a reserve fund, using payments collected from borrowers, to compensate investors
for their potential loss due to loan defaults up to the cash available in the fund. We cooperated with a non-financing guarantee company to provide
guarantee for loans facilitated through our online marketplaces from March 2018 to May 2019, which may be deemed to provide guarantee
services without proper qualification in accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Financing Guarantee Companies, or the
Financing Guarantee Rules, which was promulgated by State Council on August 2, 2017 and became effective on October 1, 2017. The Financing
Guarantee Rules requires that without the approval by the competent government department, no entity may operate a financing guarantee
business in which such entity acts as a guarantor providing guarantee to the guaranteed parties as to their loans, bonds or other types of debt
financing. If we cannot provide effective means to protect investors from potential default risks, our reputation and business would be materially
and adversely affected;
· the Interim Measures requires that the balance of money borrowed by any individual must not exceed RMB200,000 on an online lending
information intermediary platform and not exceed RMB1 million on all online lending information intermediary platforms in the PRC. We already
adjusted our relevant policy and completely terminated facilitating loans with a principal over RMB200,000 starting from May 1, 2017 and we
began to spin off the loans we facilitated in the past having an outstanding balance over such limit since the beginning of 2018. By now, we do not
have loans on our platform that have an outstanding balance over RMB200,000 limit, but we cannot assure you that the foregoing loan spin-off
program would be recognized by the PRC regulatory authorities. In addition, due to the lack of an industry-wide information sharing arrangement,
we cannot assure you that the aggregate amount of loans taken out by a borrower on our platform and other online lending information
intermediary platforms at any point in time does not exceed the limit set in the Interim Measures;
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· as we are transitioning into a comprehensive online financial services platform, certain independent third parties start to promote and sell wealth
management products on our wealth management platform operated by Yiren Wealth Management. Selling wealth management products online
may be subject to a variety of PRC laws and regulations governing financial services, such as the Interim Measures, as well as the relevant
requirements of telecommunication authorities, pursuant to which Yiren Wealth Management may need to obtain an ICP License. On March 28,
2018, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign issued the Notice on Expanding the Vigour of the
Rectification of Asset Management Operations Conducted via the Internet and Inspection and Acceptance Work, or Circular 29, which provided
that without the approval of the PRC financial regulatory authorities, no entity may issue or sell asset management products through the internet.
The application and interpretation of these laws and regulations are ambiguous and may be interpreted and applied inconsistently between
different government authorities. Although we believe our role is only that of an intermediary between the sellers and the purchasers of the wealth
management products, which is not forbidden by Circular 29, the PRC regulatory authorities may nevertheless view our activities as the sale by us
or on an agency basis of wealth management products without complying with the Interim Measures, Circular 29 and relevant PRC laws and
regulations regarding online sale of funds and insurance products;
· Circular 141 prohibits online lending information intermediaries from facilitating loans without specified purposes. Although we require borrowers
to specify and undertake the usage of the loans when they apply for the loans, we cannot ensure that all those borrowers will comply with their
undertaking, nor can we ensure that such requirement is sufficient for those loans to be deemed by the governmental authorities as not falling
within the aforementioned prohibited business;
· total fees paid by borrowers consist of fixed interest paid to investors, transaction fees we charge borrowers for our services, and insurance
premium and guarantee fees paid by borrowers to insurance and guarantee companies. The transaction fees, insurance premium and guarantee fees
are paid by the borrowers from the loans after the loans are released to the borrowers’ sub-account under the master custody accounts. Although
our transaction fees are different from interests, commissions, management fees or deposits, our current fee collection methods might be deemed
by the PRC regulatory authorities as up-front deductions from the principal of loans released to the borrowers prohibited by Circular 141 and other
regulatory documents promulgated by the National Internet Finance Association of China, and we may be required to modify our current fee
collection methods or may be subject to other penalties;
· Circular 57 permits low frequencies transfers of lenders’ rights to loans between lenders for liquidity purposes, but expressly prohibits certain
transfers, including transfers of lenders’ rights in form of asset-backed securities, trust assets, fund properties and certain other forms of securities,
and transfers as a result of online lending information intermediaries providing current or fixed-term financial products to lenders, the terms of
which are not consistent with the terms that the corresponding borrowers intend to borrow the loans for. We allow lenders to transfer and facilitate
the transfer of their rights to loans on our platform. Our automated investing tool also allows an investor to invest a specified amount of money to
borrowers through our marketplace for a specified period of time, which might be viewed by the PRC regulatory authorities as fixed-term
financial products. Due to lack of detailed implementation rules to Circular 57, we cannot assure you that all our practices would be deemed to
comply with Circular 57;
· we have a nationwide service network across China which may be subject to inspections by relevant local governmental authorities from time to
time. The periodical inspections by local governmental authorities may distract our officers’ attention from our business operations, and as a
result, our business and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, laws, rules or regulations may be different or
interpreted differently from one place to another. We cannot assure you that our practices would be deemed to comply with all the laws, rules or
regulations at all the places where we have an operation; and
· the Interim Measures and Circular 57 prohibit online lending information intermediaries from promoting their financial products on physical
premises other than through the permitted channels, such as telephones, mobile phones and internet. We provide services to our borrowers through
offline channels. We used to rely on CreditEase’s nationwide service network to provide such services. As part of our business realignment with
CreditEase, we have obtained control over Puhui, an entity managing CreditEase’s national service network. Although we believe that the services
we provide to our borrowers through Puhui do not constitute promoting financial products on physical premises as prohibited by the Interim
Measures and Circular 57, we cannot assure you that the PRC regulatory authorities would take the same view as ours.
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We have been in frequent communications with governmental authorities to clarify these and other regulatory requirements and ensure the
compliance of our business. As of the date of this annual report, we have not been subject to any material fines or other penalties under any PRC laws,
rules or regulations including those governing the online lending information intermediary service industry in China.
Due to the continuing development and evolution of the online lending information intermediary service industry as well as the broader internet
finance industry, the PRC regulatory authorities are constantly of evaluating the practices of market participants and requesting rectification of those that
have been identified as not in compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations. We cannot assure you that our practices will not be required to be
rectified or our rectification measures and results will be satisfactory to the relevant authorities. If our practice is deemed to violate any laws, rules or
regulations, we may face, among others, a regulatory warning, a correction order, condemnation, fines and criminal liability. If any of those situations
occurs, our business, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
The PRC government has adopted several regulations governing the personal credit reporting business. According to these regulations and
measures, no entity may engage in the personal credit reporting business without approval by the credit reporting industry regulatory department under the
State Council. If any entity directly engages in the personal credit reporting business without such approval, the entity is subject to penalties including
suspension of business, confiscation of revenues related to the personal credit reporting business, fines and criminal liabilities. We organize, store and
analyze information provided by users and third parties. This information and data contains certain personal information of users, a portion of which, upon
their consent, we may provide to our marketplace investors and/or make available on YEP as part of the big data backed anti-fraud, risk management, and
precise customer acquisition solutions provided to financial institutions and industry partners. Due to the lack of further interpretations of the current
regulations governing the personal credit reporting business, it is uncertain whether we would be deemed to engage in the personal credit reporting
business. We cannot assure you that we will not be required in the future to obtain approval or license for the personal credit reporting business and comply
with the relevant regulations, which may be costly, or become subject to penalties associated with regulations governing the personal credit reporting
business.
According to the Financing Guarantee Rules, without the approval by the competent government department, no entity may operate the financing
guarantee business in which such entity acts as a guarantor providing guarantee to the guaranteed parties as to their loans, bonds or other types of debt
financing. If any entity engages in the financing guarantee business without such approval, the entity may be subject to penalties, including ban or
suspension of business, confiscation of revenues related to financing guarantee business, fines and criminal liabilities. Circular 141 further sets out that a
banking financial institution shall not accept any credit enhancement service, ultimate commitment or any other disguised credit enhancement service
provided by any third-party institution without guarantee qualifications. We cooperated with a bank to furnish borrower referral and facilitation services to
the bank from August 2017 to December 2017. We provided guarantee deposits to the bank to protect it from potential losses due to loan delinquency and
undertook to timely replenish such deposit from time to time. We also undertake to repay the bank on behalf of defaulting borrowers if any repayment is 80
days overdue and upon such full repayment to the bank, we will obtain the creditor’s rights in respect of the relevant default amount. Since the
promulgation of Circular 141, we have suspended the cooperation with the bank. Due to the lack of further interpretations and the evolving regulatory
environments, it is uncertain whether we would be deemed by the PRC regulatory authorities as operating financing guarantee business, which is prohibited
by the Interim Measures. We cannot assure you that we will not be subject to sanctions imposed by relative PRC regulatory agencies, or be required in the
future to obtain approval or license for financing guarantee business to continue our cooperation with banks. In May 2020, the China Banking and
Insurance Regulatory Commission, or CBIRC, released a draft of Administrative Measures on Online Loans by Commercial Banks (Draft for Comments),
or the Draft Measures, for public comment. The Draft Measures intends to reform the regulatory pathway for the online loan businesses by commercial
banks. We cannot assure you that our cooperation with commercial banks will remain in compliance with the Draft Measures (if enacted).
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Pursuant to the Interim Measures for the Regulation of Internet Insurance Business, which was promulgated by the China Insurance Regulatory
Commission, or CIRC (the predecessor of the CBIRC) on July 22, 2015 and effective from October 1, 2015, third-party online platforms cooperating with
insurance institutions are required to register with regulatory authorities as qualified third-party platforms that cooperate with insurance institutions. Beijing
Yi Ding Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of our variable interest entities conducting our insurance referral business, is currently in the process of
registering as a qualified third-party platform with relevant regulatory authorities. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully register as a
qualified third-party platform. If we fail to register as a qualified third-party platform, we might be subject to fines, administrative sanctions or required to
terminate our insurance referral cooperation with the relevant insurance institutions.
If our business arrangements with certain institutional investors were deemed to violate PRC laws and regulations, our business and results of
operations could be materially and adversely affected.
As part of our strategy to expand our investor base from individual investors to institutional investors, we may from time to time explore
alternative funding initiatives, including through standardized capital instruments, such as the issuance of asset-backed securities.
We have established business relationships with trusts, asset backed special plans and funds (collectively referred to as the “assets backed
financing entities”, or “ABFEs”) which were administered by trust companies and asset management companies. The ABFEs were set up to invest solely in
the loans facilitated on our platform and provide returns to the beneficiaries of the ABFEs through interest payments made by the borrowers. Under the
arrangements, we normally invest in all of subordinate tranches and portion of senior tranches. We were designated as the service provider for the ABFEs.
Through the transaction fees charged, security funds deposited, and direct investment, we have the right to receive benefits or bear losses from the ABFEs.
We are considered as the primary beneficiary of the ABFEs and thus consolidated such ABFEs’ assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows.
Although the operating our online marketplace, is not part of the fund-raising process by the ABFEs, we cannot assure you that our provision of
services to the ABFEs and investments through the ABFEs will not be viewed by PRC regulators as violating any laws or regulations regarding capital
pools. Also, we transferred cash to certain trusts in amounts equal to certain percentages of the entire assets put into the trusts, as security funds to protect
the ABFEs from potential losses from defaults of loans in which the ABFEs have invested. Under limited circumstances, the remainder of such funds may
be returned to us, and we cannot assure you that we will not be viewed by PRC regulators as bearing some credit risk or providing credit enhancement
services under such arrangement. In addition, we cannot assure you that the purchase of beneficial rights of the ABFEs through the Shenzhen Stock
Exchange, or purchase of beneficial rights of ABFEs in private placement would not be deemed as investments in loans facilitated through the online
marketplace we operate by using our own capital. Furthermore, the PRC regulatory authorities may regard these arrangements relating to the trusts
mentioned above as constituting selling trust products or conducting loan transfers through packaging, securitization, trust or fund units prohibited by the
Interim Measures. If any of such business arrangements were deemed to violate PRC laws and regulations, our business and results of operations could be
materially and adversely affected. In addition, as the laws, rules and regulations applicable to asset-backed securities are still developing, it remains
uncertain as to the application and interpretation of such laws, rules and regulations, particularly as they relate to the online lending information
intermediary service industry.
In 2019, we did not establish any new trusts. We disposed of our beneficial rights of several trusts to Shenzhen Tengda Yingyi Asset Management
Co., Ltd., or Shenzhen Tengda, and CreditEase Qixiang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or CreditEase Qixiang, for a total consideration of RMB144.4
million (US$20.7 million) in the year ended December 31, 2019. Since July 2019, Shenzhen Tengda has no longer been a related party of us.
If the combination of the interest and transaction fees charged to the borrower on a loan is deemed to exceed the cap on judicially-protected interest
rate, such excess interest or transaction fee may be ruled as unenforceable or even invalidated by the courts.
Pursuant to the Provisions on Several Issues Concerning Laws Applicable to Trials of Private Lending Cases issued by the Supreme People’s
Court on September 1, 2015, or the Private Lending Judicial Interpretation, in relation to lending activities between individuals, entities or other
organizations that are not licensed financial institutions, if the interest rate of a loan exceeds 36% per annum, the portion in excess of 36% is invalid and
void. If the interest rate of a loan exceeds 24% per annum, the portion between 24% and 36% per annum is valid but not enforceable under the PRC judicial
system. In addition, on August 4, 2017, the Supreme People’s Court promulgated Certain Opinions Concerning Further Strengthening Finance Judgment
Work, or the Opinions on Finance Judgment, which provide, among other things, that (i) the claim of a borrower under a financial loan agreement to adjust
or cut down the portion of interest in excess of 24% per annum on the basis that the aggregate amount of interest, compound interest, default interest,
liquidated damages and other fees collectively charged to the borrower is overly high shall be upheld by PRC courts; and (ii) in case of disputes regarding
online finance transactions, if peer-to-peer lending platforms circumvent the upper limit of the judicially-protected interest rate by charging service fees,
such fees will be held invalid. Furthermore, Circular 141, which took effect on December 1, 2017, requires that the interest and all the comprehensive
capital costs charged and collected from a borrower should be uniformly converted into an annualized capital cost which shall not exceed the ceiling
amount provided by the Private Lending Judicial Interpretations. To date, it is still unclear as to how the relevant local financial regulatory authorities will
interpret Circular 141, and what the calculation mechanism of a borrower’s annualized capital cost will be.
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Total fees paid by borrowers on our platform consist of fixed interest paid to investors, transaction fees we charge borrowers for our services and
insurance premium and guarantee fees paid by borrowers to insurance and guarantee companies. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business
Overview—Our Products and Services—Loan Pricing Mechanism.” In determining the transaction fee rate we charge, we take into account, among other
items, the creditworthiness of borrowers, costs incurred by us in providing loan origination services and our reasonably estimated profits. The transaction
fees we charge are recognized as our revenue and investors will not receive any part of the transaction fees we charge borrowers. In an effort to comply
with Circular 141 and applicable regulations, we have adjusted the pricing of all our products with the aim to ensure that the annualized capital cost rates
charged on all our loan products do not exceed the cap on judicially-protected interest rate. However, if the method of calculating the annualized borrowing
costs used by the PRC governmental authorities or the PRC courts is different from ours, we cannot assure you that the annualized capital costs charged to
borrowers on our platform are always within the cap on the judicially-protected interest rate. If the aggregated borrowing costs of some of the loan products
we facilitate are deemed to exceed the judicially-protected interest rate, parts or all of the transaction fees we collected may be ruled as unenforceable or
even invalid by the PRC courts, which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we may face,
among other penalties, a regulatory warning, a correction order, condemnation, and fines, and we may be required to reduce transaction fees and lower the
annual interest rate charged to borrowers. If any of those situations were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects
would be materially and adversely affected.
If we are unable to maintain low default rates for loans facilitated by our platform, our business and results of operations may be materially and
adversely affected.
Investments in loans on our marketplace involve inherent risks as the return of the principal on a loan investment made through our platform is not
guaranteed by us, although we aim to limit investor losses due to borrower defaults to within an industry acceptable range through various preventive
measures we have taken or will take. Our ability to attract borrowers and investors to, and build trust in, our marketplace is significantly dependent on our
ability to effectively evaluate a borrower’s credit profile and maintain low default rates. To conduct this evaluation, we have employed a series of
procedures and developed a proprietary credit assessment and decisioning model. Our credit scoring model aggregates and analyzes the data submitted by a
borrower, as well as the data we collect from a number of internal and external sources, and then generates a Yiren score for the prospective borrower. The
score will be further used to approve and classify the borrower into one of the five segments in our current risk grid. If our credit scoring model contains
programming or other errors, is ineffective or the data provided by borrowers or third parties are incorrect or stale, our loan pricing and approval process
could be negatively affected, resulting in misclassified or mispriced loans or incorrect approvals or denials of loans. If we are unable to effectively and
accurately assess the credit profiles of borrowers, segment borrowers into the appropriate grade in the risk grid, or price loans on our platform
appropriately, we may either be unable to offer attractive fee rates to borrowers and returns to investors, or unable to maintain low default rates of loans
facilitated by our platform. In addition, the foregoing will also have an impact on collectability of service fees, resulting in higher allowances for contract
assets.
Historically, loans generated from our online channels generally have experienced higher delinquency rates and higher charge-off rates as
compared with loans referred from offline channels. If the proportion of loans generated from our online channels increases as opposed to loans generated
from our offline channels, the overall delinquency rates and charge-off rates of loans facilitated by our platform may increase. In addition, once a loan
application is approved, we do not further monitor certain aspects of the borrower’s credit profile, such as changes in the borrower’s credit report and the
borrower’s purchasing pattern with online merchants. If the borrower’s financial condition deteriorates, we may not be able to take measures to prevent
default on the part of the borrower and thereby maintain low default rates for loans facilitated by our platform. Prior to the completion of our business
realignment with CreditEase, the borrowers that we served, including those falling under Grades I, II, III, IV and V of our current risk grid, were primarily
prime borrowers. After the completion of the business realignment with CreditEase, we expand to serve new borrower groups beyond prime borrowers, and
we may find it difficult or unable to maintain low default rates of loans facilitated through our marketplace. Although we offer investor protection services
in collaboration with insurance and guarantee companies, if widespread defaults were to occur, investors may still incur losses and lose confidence in our
marketplace, the insurance and guarantee companies that cooperate with us may raise their insurance premium and guarantee service fees, which may cause
us to lower fee rates to stay competitive in acquiring borrowers, and our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
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If our loan products do not achieve sufficient market acceptance, our financial results and competitive position could be harmed.
We incur expenses and consume resources upfront to develop, acquire and market new loan products. For example, in the second quarter of 2017,
we launched our new credit scoring system, the Yiren score, which can be used to more accurately characterize a borrower’s credit profile. Under this new
credit scoring system, we have an upgraded risk grid with five segments, which we refer to as Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade IV and Grade V. The
expected M3+ Net Charge-off Rate and actual observed results for each of these customer groups divide potential borrowers into distinctively different
credit segments. For a more detailed description of the risk grades we currently offer, please see “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business
Overview—Risk Management—Proprietary Credit Scoring Model and Loan Qualification System.” New loan products must achieve high levels of market
acceptance in order for us to recoup our investment in developing, acquiring and bringing them to market.
Our existing or new loan products and changes to our platform could fail to attain sufficient market acceptance for many reasons, including, but
not limited to:
· our failure to predict market demand accurately and supply loan products that meet this demand in a timely fashion;
· borrowers and investors using our platform may not like, find useful or agree with any changes;
· our failure to properly price new loan products;
· defects, errors or failures on our platform;
· negative publicity about our loan products or our platform’s performance or effectiveness;
· views taken by regulatory authorities that the new products or platform changes do not comply with PRC laws, rules or regulations applicable to
us; and
· the introduction or anticipated introduction of competing products by our competitors.
Another example is the automated investing tool that we offer to investors. With our automated investing tool, an investor may lend to borrowers
on our marketplace for a specified period of time, and the investor’s funds are automatically allocated among approved borrowers. However, we cannot
rule out the possibility that there may be a mismatch between the investor’s expected timing of exit and the maturity date of the loans to which the
automated investing tool allocates the investor’s funds. Investors using our automated investing tool typically invest for a shorter period than the terms of
the underlying loans. If we are unable to find another investor to take over the remainder of the loans from the original investor that uses our automated
investing tool at the time of the original investor’s expected exit, then the original investor will have to remain invested in the loans and the original
investor’s expectation of liquidity would not be satisfied. If such mismatches occur in a widespread manner, investor acceptance of or satisfaction with our
automatic investing tool would be adversely impacted.
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If our new loan products do not achieve adequate acceptance in the market, our competitive position, results of operations and financial condition
could be harmed.
Our business depends on our ability to collect payment on and service the transactions we facilitate.
We utilize an automated process for collecting scheduled loan payments from our borrowers. Upon loan origination, we establish a payment
schedule with payment occurring on a set business day each month. Borrowers then make scheduled loan repayments via a third-party payment platform to
a custody account, and authorize us to debit the custody account for the transfer of scheduled loan repayments to the lending investors. As a day-to-day
service to borrowers, we provide payment reminder services, such as sending reminder text messages on the day a repayment is due. Once a repayment is
past due, we also send additional reminder text messages. We outsource certain stages of the collections process to CreditEase. To facilitate repayment and
as a service to investors, the collections process is divided into distinct stages based on the severity of delinquency, which dictates the level of collection
steps taken. However, despite such collection efforts, we cannot assure you that we will be able to collect the relevant payments as expected. Failure to
collect payments and maintain low default rates for loans facilitated by our platform will have a material adverse effect on our business operations,
financial position and results of operations. As the amount of loans facilitated on our platform continues to increase, additional resources as to collection
may be required, including additional resources from CreditEase or other third-party service providers. Costs associated with these additional efforts may
similarly increase which may also have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Furthermore, any misconduct in our collection practice
(including that of CreditEase carried out on our behalf) that is considered not to be in compliance with the relevant laws, rules and regulations may harm
our reputation and business, which could further reduce our ability to collect payments from borrowers, lead to a decrease in the willingness of prospective
borrowers to apply for loans on our platform, or fines and penalties imposed by the relevant regulatory authorities, any of which may have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations. In addition, if any laws, rules or regulations are adopted by the regulatory authorities in the future imposing
additional restrictions on debt collection practice, we may need to modify our collection efforts accordingly.
If we are not able to respond to changes in customer preferences for our products and services and provide a satisfactory customer experience on our
platforms, or our existing and new products and services do not maintain or achieve sufficient market acceptance, we will not be able to maintain and
expand our customer base and increase customer activities, and our financial results and competitive position will be harmed.
We believe that our customer base is the cornerstone of our business. Our ability to maintain and expand our customer base depends on a number
of factors, including our ability to offer suitable loan products or wealth management products for our customers, and our ability to provide relevant and
timely products and services to meet changing customer needs. If we are unable to respond to changes in user preference and deliver satisfactory and
distinguishable user experience, our users may switch to competing platforms or obtain the relevant products and services directly from their providers. As
a result, customer access to and customer activity on our platform will decline, our products and services will be less attractive to our customers, and our
business, financial performance and prospects will be materially and adversely affected.
Fixed income products currently constitute a significant portion of the online wealth management products we offer, which we cannot guarantee
will continuously attract investors. If the market acceptance of the fixed income products offered by us, or the fixed income products in general, declines,
and we fail to retain our investors by developing and promoting our other wealth management products as alternative investment portfolio options for
investors, we may suffer a loss of our investor base, and our business, operation results and financial status will be adversely impacted.
We have devoted significant resources to, and will continue to emphasize on, upgrading and marketing our existing loan products and wealth
management products and enhancing their market awareness. We also incur expenses and expend resources upfront to develop, acquire and market new
loan products and wealth management products that incorporate additional features, improve functionality or otherwise make our products more desirable
to borrowers and investors. New loan products and wealth management products must achieve high levels of market acceptance in order for us to recoup
our investment in developing, acquiring and bringing them to market.
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Our existing and new loan products and wealth management products could fail to attain sufficient market acceptance for many reasons, including:
· borrowers may not find terms of our loan products, such as borrowing costs and credit limit, competitive or appealing;
· investors or institutional funding partners are not willing to deploy their funds in a timely or efficient manner;
· we may fail to predict market demand accurately and provide loan products or wealth management product that meet this demand in a timely
fashion;
· users may not like, find useful or agree with, any changes;
· there may be defects, errors or failures on our platform;
· there may be negative publicity about our loan products and wealth management products or our platform’s performance or effectiveness;
· regulatory authorities may take the view that the existing and new loan products and online wealth management products or changes to our
platform do not comply with PRC laws, regulations or rules applicable to us; and
· there may be competing products and services introduced or anticipated to be introduced by our competitors.
If our existing and new loan products and wealth management products do not achieve adequate acceptance in the market, our competitive
position, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.
We cooperate with business partners to provide services to investors and borrowers on our platform. If we are unable to maintain relationships with
existing business partners and develop new relationships with potential business partners on terms acceptable to us, our reputation, business and
results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
We have established strategic partnerships with multiple financial institutions in the ordinary course of our business, including joint-stock banks,
city banks, internet banks, insurance companies and trust companies. For example, we cooperate with insurance and guarantee companies to provide
investor protection services. All outstanding loans facilitated through our marketplace are currently covered either by a credit assurance program operated
by third-party guarantee companies or PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited’s, or PICC’s, surety insurance program. See “Item 4. Information on
the Company—B. Business Overview—Risk Management—Investor Protection.” If these insurance and guarantee companies fail to perform any of their
contractual obligations, investors on our platform may lose confidence in our marketplace, which could materially harm our reputation. If any of these
insurance and guarantee companies is unable or unwilling to continue operating in the line of business that is the subject of their cooperation with us for
regulatory, business or other reasons, we may not be able to obtain similar relationships on terms acceptable to us in a timely manner, or at all. If any of the
foregoing were to occur, our reputation, business and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
Our wealth management business involves relatively new business models and we may not be successful in operating our wealth management business.
Many elements of our wealth management business are relatively unproven, and the markets for these services in China are relatively new, rapidly
developing and subject to significant challenges. Although we intend to devote additional resources to expanding our wealth management business and
develop and offer more innovative products and services to our clients, we have limited experience with these businesses and cannot assure you of their
future success. If we fail to address the needs of our clients, adapt to rapidly evolving market trends or continue to offer innovative products and services,
there may not be significant market demand for them. In addition, our wealth management business will continue to encounter risks and difficulties that
early stage businesses frequently experience, including the potential failure to cost-effectively expand the size of our customer base, maintain adequate
management of risks and expenses, implement our customer development strategies and adapt and modify them as needed, develop and maintain our
competitive advantages and anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in China’s financing industry resulting from mergers and acquisitions involving our
competitors or other significant changes in economic conditions, competitive landscape and market dynamics. If we are unable to successfully develop our
wealth management business into profitable business, our business and revenues would be materially and adversely affected.
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We may not be able to ensure the accuracy of the third-party product information and the authenticity of third-party wealth management products on
our platform, and we have limited control over performance of investment products we distribute.
We offer investment products such as fixed income products, mutual fund investment products and insurance products to our users on Yiren
Wealth. Some underlying wealth management products are offered by third-parties. The acceptance and popularity of our platform is partially premised on
the reliability of the relevant underlying wealth management products and information on our platform. We rely on the relevant third-party providers of the
relevant wealth management products for the authenticity of their underlying products and the comprehensiveness, accuracy and timeliness of the related
financial information. While the products and information from these third-party providers have been generally reliable, there can be no assurance that the
reliability can be maintained in the future. If these third-party providers or their agents provide inauthentic financial products or incomplete, misleading,
inaccurate or fraudulent information, we may lose the trust of existing and prospective investors. In addition, if our investors purchase the underlying
wealth management products that they discover on our platform and they suffer losses, they may blame us and attempt to hold us responsible for their
losses, even though we have made risk disclosures before they invest. Our reputation could be harmed and we could experience reduced user traffic to our
platform, which would adversely affect our business and financial performance.
Furthermore, as investors access the underlying wealth management products through our platform, they may have the impression that we are at
least partially responsible for the quality of these products. Although we have established standards to screen products providers before selling their
products on our platform, we have limited control over performance of the investment products we distribute. In the event that an investor is dissatisfied
with underlying products or the services of a products provider, we do not have any means to directly make improvements in response to user complaints.
If investors become dissatisfied with the underlying wealth management products available on our platform, our business, reputation, financial performance
and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
Our wealth management products are subject to risks related to lawsuits and other claims brought by our investors.
We may be subject to lawsuits and other claims in the ordinary course of providing wealth management products to our investors. Investors
generally authorize us to choose borrowers on their behalf. We may face arbitration claims and lawsuits brought by investors based on our loan matching
which turned out to be unsuitable. We may also be subject to claims for failing to provide sufficient information on investment risks or for failing to
provide access to such relevant information in a manner that is clear and readily accessible to investors. We may also be subject to claims against us in
connection with investment products for delays in identifying suitable corresponding loans, which risk may be heightened during periods when credit,
equity or other financial markets are deteriorating in value or are volatile, or when investors experience losses. Actions brought against us may result in
settlements, awards, injunctions, fines, penalties or other results adverse to us including harm to our reputation and our results of operations. Even if we are
successful in defending against these actions, the defense of such matters may result in our incurring significant expenses, divert management attention and
damage our reputation.
If we are unable to compete effectively, our business and results of operations could be harmed.
The industries we are operating in are competitive and evolving. We compete with financial products and companies that attract borrowers and
investors, partners or all of these. With respect to loan products, we compete with market players such as traditional financial institutions, small loan
companies, e-commerce driven installment platforms and other independent consumer finance platforms; with respect to wealth management products, we
complete with market players such as internet ecosystem owners providing cash management and quasi fixed income products, online third-party financial
brokers and information providers, and marketplace lending platforms.
Our competitors operate with different business models, have different cost structures or participate selectively in different market segments. They
may ultimately prove more successful or more adaptable to new regulatory, technological and other developments. Some of our current and potential
competitors have significantly more financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do and may be able to devote greater resources to the
development, promotion, sale and support of their platforms. Our competitors may also have longer operating histories, more extensive borrower or
investor bases, greater brand recognition and brand loyalty and broader partner relationships than us. Additionally, a current or potential competitor may
acquire one or more of our existing competitors or form a strategic alliance with one or more of our competitors. Our competitors may be better at
developing new products, offering more attractive investment returns or lower fees, responding faster to new technologies and undertaking more extensive
and effective marketing campaigns. In response to competition and in order to grow or maintain the volume of loan transactions facilitated through our
marketplace, we may have to offer higher investment returns to investors or charge lower transaction fees, which could materially and adversely affect our
business and results of operations. If we are unable to compete with such companies and meet the need for innovation in our industry, the demand for our
marketplace could stagnate or substantially decline, we could experience reduced revenues or our marketplace could fail to achieve or maintain more
widespread market acceptance, any of which could harm our business and results of operations.
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If we fail to promote and maintain our brand in an effective and cost-efficient way, our business and results of operations may be harmed.
We believe that developing and maintaining awareness of our brand effectively is critical to attracting new borrowers and investors to, and
retaining existing borrowers and investors on our marketplace. Successful promotion of our brand and our ability to attract qualified borrowers and
sufficient investors depend largely on the effectiveness of our marketing efforts and the success of the channels we use to promote our marketplace. Our
efforts to build our brand have caused us to incur significant expenses, and it is likely that our future marketing efforts will require us to incur significant
additional expenses. These efforts may not result in increased revenues in the immediate future, or at all and, even if they do, any increases in revenues may
not offset the expenses incurred. If we fail to successfully promote and maintain our brand while incurring substantial expenses, our results of operations
and financial condition would be adversely affected, which may impair our ability to grow our business.
Credit and other information that we receive from third parties about a borrower may be inaccurate, discontinued, or may not accurately reflect the
borrower’s creditworthiness, which may compromise the accuracy of our credit assessment.
For the purpose of credit assessment, we obtain borrower credit information from third parties, such as financial institutions and e-commerce
providers, and assess applicants’ credit and assign credit scores to borrowers based on such credit information. A credit score assigned to a borrower may
not reflect that particular borrower’s actual creditworthiness because the credit score may be based on outdated, incomplete or inaccurate consumer
reporting data. Although we do not permit borrowers to hold more than one loan that has been facilitated through our platform at a time, we currently do
not have a comprehensive way to determine whether borrowers have obtained loans through other consumer finance marketplaces, creating the risk
whereby a borrower may borrow money through our platform in order to pay off loans to investors on other platforms. Additionally, there is a risk that,
following our obtaining a borrower’s credit information, the borrower may have:
· become delinquent in the payment of an outstanding obligation;
· defaulted on a pre-existing debt obligation;
· taken on additional debt; or
· sustained other adverse financial events.
Such inaccurate or incomplete borrower credit information, and the potential discontinuation of borrower credit information from third parties
could compromise the accuracy of our credit assessment, require adjustments to our credit assessment model and adversely affect the effectiveness of our
control over our default rates, which could in turn harm our reputation and materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of
operations.
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In addition, our business of connecting investors and individual borrowers may constitute an intermediary service, and our contracts with these
investors and borrowers may be deemed as intermediation contracts, under the PRC Contract Law. Under the PRC Contract Law, an intermediary may not
make a claim for a service fee and is liable for damages if it conceals any material fact intentionally or provides false information in connection with the
conclusion of an intermediation contract, which results in harm to the client’s interests. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview
—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Online Lending Information Intermediary—Regulations on Loans between Individuals.” Therefore, if we fail to
provide material information to investors, or if we fail to identify false information received from borrowers or others and in turn provide such information
to investors, and in either case if we are also found to be at fault, due to failure or deemed failure to exercise proper care, such as to conduct adequate
information verification or employee supervision, we could be held liable for damages caused to investors as an intermediary pursuant to the PRC Contract
Law. In addition, if we fail to complete our obligations under the agreements entered into with investors and borrowers, we could also be held liable for
damages caused to borrowers or investors pursuant to the PRC Contract Law. On the other hand, we do not assume any liability solely on the basis of
failure to correctly assign a loan grade to a particular borrower in the process of facilitating a loan transaction, as long as we do not conceal any material
fact intentionally or provide false information, and are not found to be at fault otherwise. However, due to the lack of detailed regulations and guidance in
the area of online lending information intermediary services and the possibility that the relevant PRC governmental authority may promulgate new laws
and regulations regulating online lending information intermediary services in the future, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and
application of current or future PRC laws and regulations for the online lending information intermediary service industry, and there can be no assurance
that the relevant PRC governmental authority will ultimately take a view that is consistent with ours.
Any harm to our brand or reputation or any damage to the reputation of the online consumer finance marketplace industry may materially and
adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Enhancing the recognition and reputation of our brand is critical to our business and competitiveness. Factors that are vital to this objective
include, but are not limited to, our ability to:
· maintain the quality and reliability of our platform;
· provide borrowers and investors with a superior experience in our marketplace;
· enhance and improve our credit assessment and decisioning model;
· effectively manage and resolve borrower and investor complaints; and
· effectively protect personal information and privacy of borrowers and investors.
Our brand and reputation may also be negatively affected if the guarantee company providing guarantees, or the insurance company providing
surety insurance, to the loans we facilitated fails to repay, or reimburse the investors, the principal and accrued interest on defaulted loans pursuant to the
terms of the guarantee arrangement and business agreement. Any malicious or innocent negative allegation made by the media or other parties about the
foregoing or other aspects of our company, including, but not limited to, our management, business, compliance with law, financial condition or prospects,
whether having merit or not, could severely hurt our reputation and harm our business and operating results. As the market for China’s online consumer
finance marketplaces is new and the regulatory framework for this market is also evolving, negative publicity about this industry may arise from time to
time. Negative publicity about China’s online consumer finance marketplace industry in general may also have a negative impact on our reputation,
regardless of whether we have engaged in any inappropriate activities.
In addition, certain factors that may adversely affect our reputation are beyond our control. Negative publicity about our partners, outsourced
service providers or other counterparties, such as negative publicity about their debt collection practices and any failure by them to adequately protect the
information of borrowers and investors, to comply with applicable laws and regulations or to otherwise meet required quality and service standards could
harm our reputation. Furthermore, any negative development in the online consumer finance marketplace industry, such as bankruptcies or failures of
consumer finance marketplaces as part of the industry, and especially a large number of such bankruptcies or failures, or negative perception of the industry
as a whole, such as that arises from any failure of other consumer finance marketplaces to detect or prevent money laundering or other illegal activities,
even if factually incorrect or based on isolated incidents, could compromise our image, undermine the trust and credibility we have established and impose
a negative impact on our ability to attract new borrowers and investors. Negative developments in the online consumer finance marketplace industry, such
as widespread borrower defaults, fraudulent behavior and/or the closure of other online consumer finance marketplaces, may also lead to tightened
regulatory scrutiny of the sector and limit the scope of permissible business activities that may be conducted by online consumer finance marketplaces like
us. For example, incidents of inappropriate conduct by a number of online lending information intermediaries in connection with loans made to college
students led to the outright regulatory prohibition in May 2017 of all new loans to college students made through platforms operated by online lending
information intermediaries. If any of the foregoing takes place, our business and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
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We may not be able to maintain profitability in the future.
We had a net loss of RMB188.1 million in 2017 and net income of RMB1,579.8 million and RMB1,155.6 million (US$166.0 million) in 2018 and
2019, respectively. We also had accumulated deficit of RMB9,024.7 million, RMB1,673.6 million and RMB533.5 million (US$76.6 million) as of
December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to generate net income or will have positive
retained earnings in the future. Our operating expenses may increase in the foreseeable future as we seek to continue to grow our business, attract
borrowers, investors and partners and further enhance and develop our loan products and platform. These efforts may prove more expensive than we
currently anticipate, and we may not succeed in increasing our revenue sufficiently to offset these higher expenses. There are other factors that could
negatively affect our financial condition. For example, the default rates of the loans facilitated through our platform may be higher than expected, which
may lead to lower than expected net revenue. Furthermore, we have adopted share incentive plans in September 2015 and July 2017, and we may grant
equity-based awards to eligible participants from time to time under the plan, which will result in share-based compensation expenses to us. As a result of
the foregoing and other factors, our net revenue growth may slow, our net income margins may decline or we may incur additional net losses in the future
and may not be able to maintain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Our quarterly results may fluctuate significantly and may not fully reflect the underlying performance of our business.
Our quarterly results of operations, including the levels of our net revenue, expenses, net (loss)/income and other key metrics, may vary
significantly in the future due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside of our control, and period-to-period comparisons of our operating results
may not be meaningful, especially given our limited operating history. Accordingly, the results for any one quarter are not necessarily an indication of
future performance. Fluctuations in quarterly results may adversely affect the price of our ADSs. Factors that may cause fluctuations in our quarterly
financial results include:
· our ability to attract new borrowers and investors and maintain relationships with existing borrowers and investors;
· loan volumes and the channels through which borrowers and investors are sourced, including the relative mix of online and offline channels;
· changes in our product mix and introduction of new loan products;
· the amount and timing of operating expenses related to acquiring borrowers and investors, and the maintenance and expansion of our business,
operations and infrastructure;
· promulgation of new rules and regulations applicable to, or heightened regulatory scrutiny of, the online lending information intermediary service
industry;
· our decision to manage loan volume growth during the period;
· network outages or security breaches;
· general economic, industry and market conditions;
· our emphasis on borrower and investor experience instead of near-term growth; and
· the timing of expenses related to the development or acquisition of technologies or businesses.
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In addition, we experience seasonality in our business, reflecting seasonal fluctuations in internet usage and traditional personal consumption
patterns, as our individual borrowers typically use their borrowing proceeds to finance their personal consumption needs. For example, we generally
experience a lower transaction volume on our online consumer finance marketplace during national holidays in China, particularly during the Chinese New
Year holiday season in the first quarter of each year. Our results of operations could be affected by such seasonality in the future.
Failure to manage our liquidity and cash flows may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In 2018, we had a negative cash flow of RMB2,271.4 million from operating activities. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Operating Activities.” Although we had a positive cash flow of RMB274.2 million (US$39.4 million) in
2019, we cannot assure you that we will be able to have a positive cash flow in the future. Going forward, our ability to collect fees from customers, in
particular transaction fees from borrowers, will continue to affect our liquidity and cash flow condition. Inability to collect payments from customers in a
timely and sufficient manner may adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, given the evolving regulatory
environment, PRC regulatory authorities may in the future require us to make a risk reserve deposit in a restricted bank account, similar to the requirement
currently applicable to traditional financial institutions. If such requirement were to be imposed on us, our liquidity, financial condition and results of
operations may be materially and adversely affected.
Our reputation may be harmed if information supplied by borrowers is inaccurate, misleading or incomplete, including if the borrowers use the loan
proceeds for purposes other than as originally provided.
Borrowers supply a variety of information that is included in the loan listings on our marketplace. We do not verify all the information we receive
from borrowers, and such information may be inaccurate or incomplete. For example, we often do not verify a borrower’s home ownership status or
intended use of loan proceeds, and the borrower may use loan proceeds for other purposes with increased risk than as originally provided. In addition, as
online lending information intermediaries are prohibited from facilitating loans to be used for high-risk activities, such as investment in stocks, over-the-
counter financing, futures contracts, structured products and other derivative products or as the down payment for the purchase of residential real estate, we
could be found to have violated applicable laws, rules or regulations if any of the borrowers use the loan proceeds for any such prohibited purpose, albeit
inconsistent to what such borrower has previously disclosed to us. Moreover, investors do not, and will not, have access to detailed financial information
about borrowers. If investors invest in loans through our platform based on information supplied by borrowers that is inaccurate, misleading or incomplete,
those investors may not receive their expected returns and our reputation may be harmed. Moreover, inaccurate, misleading or incomplete borrower
information could also potentially subject us to liability as an intermediary under the PRC Contract Law. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B.
Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Online Lending Information Intermediary—Regulations on Loans between Individuals” below.
Fraudulent activity on our marketplace could negatively impact our operating results, brand and reputation and cause the use of our loan products and
services to decrease.
We are subject to the risk of fraudulent activity both on our marketplace and associated with borrowers, investors and third parties handling
borrower and investor information. For example, we detected an organized fraud incident concerning our FastTrack loan products in July 2016. After
uncovering the fraud incident, we had suspended the offering of the FastTrack loan products until late July 2016 when we implemented more stringent
requirements aiming to prevent similar types of fraud incidents. Our resources, technologies and fraud detection tools may be insufficient to accurately
detect and prevent fraud. In addition, our anti-fraud and verification processes for borrowers from offline channels and online channels may differ, and such
processes with respect to borrowers from online channels may not be as extensive as those from offline channels. If we increase the proportion of loans
generated from our online channels as opposed to our offline channels, we may experience an increase in fraudulent activity on our platform. Significant
increases in fraudulent activity could negatively impact our brand and reputation, reduce the volume of loan transactions facilitated through our platform
and lead us to take additional steps to reduce fraud risk, which would increase our costs. High profile fraudulent activity could even lead to regulatory
intervention, and may divert our management’s attention and cause us to incur additional expenses and costs. If any of the foregoing were to occur, our
results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
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The wealth management products that we distribute involve various risks and any failure to identify or fully appreciate such risks may negatively affect
our reputation, client relationships, operations and prospects.
We distribute a variety of wealth management products through our wealth management business, including fixed income products, mutual fund
investment products and insurance products. These products often have complex structures and involve various risks, including default risks, interest risks,
liquidity risks, market risks, counterparty risks, fraud risks and other risks.
Our success in distributing and providing our products and services depends, in part, on our ability to successfully identify the risks associated
with such products and services, and failure to identify or fully appreciate such risks may negatively affect our reputation, client relationships, operations
and prospects. Not only must we be involved in the design and development of products and services, we must also accurately describe the products and
services to, and evaluate them for, our clients. Although we enforce and implement strict risk management policies and procedures, such risk management
policies and procedures may not be fully effective in mitigating the risk exposure of all of our clients in all market environments or against all types of
risks.
If we fail to identify and fully appreciate the risks associated with the products and services we distribute and provide, or fail to disclose such risks
to our clients, and our clients suffer financial loss or other damages resulting from their purchase of the financial products we distribute, our reputation,
client relationships, business and prospects may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to continue to retain or expand our mass affluent investor base or maintain or increase the amount of investment made by our
clients in the products we distribute under our wealth management business.
Our wealth management services primarily target China’s mass affluent population. In light of China’s competitive ever-evolving wealth
management industry for mass affluent population we cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain and increase the number of our clients or that our
existing clients will maintain the same level of investment in the wealth management products that we distribute. As this industry in China is at an early
stage of development and highly fragmented and has low barriers to entry, our existing and future competitors may have more resources and better
capabilities to capture market opportunities and grow their client bases faster than us. A decrease in the number of our clients or a decrease in their
spending on the products that we distribute may reduce revenues derived from commissions and recurring service fees and monetization opportunities for
our wealth management services. If we fail to continue to meet our clients’ expectations on the returns from the products we distribute or manage or if they
are no longer satisfied with our services, they may leave us for our competitors and our reputation may be damaged by these clients, affecting our ability to
attract new clients, which will in turn affect our financial condition and operational results.
Because a portion of the one-time commissions and recurring service fees we earn on the distribution of wealth management products are based on
commission and fee rates negotiated with financial product providers, any decrease in these commission and fee rates may have an adverse effect on
our revenues, cash flow and results of operations.
We derive a portion of our revenues from recurring fees and commissions paid by financial product providers, which are negotiated and vary from
product to product. Recurring fees and commission rates can fluctuate based on the prevailing political, economic, regulatory, taxation and competitive
factors that affect the product providers. These factors, which are not within our control, include the capacity of product providers to place new business,
profits of product providers, client demand and preference for financial products, the availability of comparable products from other product providers at a
lower cost, the availability of alternative financial products to clients and the tax deductibility of commissions and fees. In addition, the historical volume
of financial products that we distributed may have a significant impact on our bargaining power with product providers in relation to the commission and
fee rates for future products. Because we can neither determine, nor predict, the timing or extent of commission and fee rate changes with respect to the
financial products, it is difficult for us to assess the effect of any of these changes on our operations. Therefore, any decrease in commission and fee rates
would adversely affect our revenues, cash flow and results of operations.
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The wealth management products we distribute are supplied by a limited number of financial product providers; and the renegotiation or termination
of our relationships with such financial product providers could significantly impact our business.
The wealth management products we distribute are supplied by a selected number of financial product providers, including commercial banks,
mutual fund management companies, and insurance companies. Although our wealth management business has a broad coverage of most major product
providers in the market, due to our stringent screening process and rigorous risk management standards, a significant portion of the products distributed by
us are sourced from a limited number of product providers, and thus we rely on our relationships with those important product providers. In 2019, our top
three independent financial product providers accounted for approximately 88.4% of the aggregate value of all the products we distributed through our
wealth management business. Our relationships with financial product providers are governed by distribution agreements. These agreements establish,
among other things, the scope of our responsibility and our commission rates with respect to the distribution of particular products. These agreements
typically are entered into on a product by product basis and expire at the expiration date of the relevant financial product. For any new financial products,
new agreements need to be negotiated and entered into. If financial product providers that in the aggregate account for a significant portion of our business
decide not to enter into contracts with us for their financial products, or the terms of our contracts with them become less beneficial to us, our business and
operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
A drop in the investment performance for products distributed by us could negatively impact our revenues and profitability.
Investment performance is a key competitive factor for products distributed by us. Strong investment performance helps us to retain and expand
our client base and helps generate new sales of products and services. Strong investment performance is therefore an important element to our goals of
maximizing the value of products and services provided to our clients. There can be no assurance as to how future investment performance will compare to
our competitors or that historical performance will be indicative of future returns. Any drop or perceived drop in investment performance as compared to
our competitors could cause a decline in sales of our investment products and services. Poor investment performance could also adversely affect our ability
to expand the distribution of third-party wealth management products.
Our wealth management clients may redeem their investments from time to time, which could reduce our fee revenues.
Some of our wealth management products permit investors to redeem their investments with us. If the return of our wealth management products
does not meet investors’ expectations, investors may elect to redeem their investments and invest their assets elsewhere, including with our competitors.
Our recurring service fee revenues correlate directly to the amount of our AUA; therefore, redemptions may cause our expected recurring service fee
revenues to decrease. Investors may decide to reallocate their capital away from us and to other asset managers for a number of reasons, including poor
relative investment performance, changes in prevailing interest rates which make other investment options more attractive, changes in investor perception
regarding our focus or alignment of interest, dissatisfaction with, changes in or a broadening of a fund’s investment strategy, changes in our reputation, and
departures of, or changes in responsibilities of, key investment professionals. For these and other reasons, the pace of investor redemptions and the
corresponding reduction in our AUA could accelerate.
Failure to maintain successful strategic relationships with partners may have an adverse impact on our future success.
We anticipate that we will continue to leverage our strategic relationships with existing partners in China’s online consumer finance marketplace
industry to grow our business while we will also pursue new relationships with additional partners, such as traditional financial institutions and merchants
in more sectors. For example, in the future, we may partner with traditional financial institutions to combine the efficiency advantages of online consumer
finance marketplaces with the low funding costs of traditional financial institutions. Identifying, negotiating and documenting relationships with partners
require significant time and resources as do integrating third-party data and services into our system. Our current agreements with partners often do not
prohibit them from working with our competitors or from offering competing services. Our competitors may be effective in providing incentives to our
partners to favor their products or services, which may in turn reduce the volume of loans facilitated through our marketplace. Certain types of partners
may devote more resources to support their own competing businesses. In addition, these partners may not perform as expected under our agreements with
them, and we may have disagreements or disputes with such partners, which could adversely affect our brand and reputation. If we cannot successfully
enter into and maintain effective strategic relationships with business partners, our business will be harmed.
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Misconduct, errors and failure to function by our employees and third-party service providers could harm our business and reputation.
We are exposed to many types of operational risks, including the risk of misconduct and errors by our employees and third-party service providers.
Our business depends on our employees and third-party service providers to interact with potential borrowers and investors, process large numbers of
transactions and support the loan collection process, all of which involve the use and disclosure of personal information. We could be materially and
adversely affected if transactions were redirected, misappropriated or otherwise improperly executed, if personal information was disclosed to unintended
recipients or if an operational breakdown or failure in the processing of transactions occurred, whether as a result of human error, purposeful sabotage or
fraudulent manipulation of our operations or systems. In addition, the manner in which we store and use certain personal information and interact with
borrowers and investors through our marketplace is governed by various PRC laws. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct or errors by
employees or third-party service providers, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or
unmanaged risks or losses. If any of our employees or third-party service providers take, convert or misuse funds, documents or data or fail to follow
protocol when interacting with borrowers and investors, we could be liable for damages and subject to regulatory actions and penalties. We could also be
perceived to have facilitated or participated in the illegal misappropriation of funds, documents or data, or the failure to follow protocol, and therefore be
subject to civil or criminal liability. In addition, we currently rely on CreditEase and in the future may continue to rely on CreditEase or other third-party
service providers for loan collection services. Aggressive practices or misconduct by any of our third-party service providers, including CreditEase, in the
course of collecting loans could damage our reputation.
Furthermore, as we rely on certain third-party service providers, such as third-party payment platforms and custody and settlement service
providers, to conduct our business, if these third-party service providers failed to function properly, we cannot assure you that we would be able to find an
alternative in a timely and cost-efficient manner, or at all. Any of these occurrences could result in our diminished ability to operate our business, potential
liability to borrowers and investors, inability to attract borrowers and investors, reputational damage, regulatory intervention and financial harm, which
could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Fluctuations in interest rates could negatively affect transaction volume and business.
All loans facilitated through our marketplace are issued with fixed interest rates. If interest rates rise, investors who have already committed
capital may lose the opportunity to take advantage of the higher rates. If interest rates decrease after a loan is made, borrowers through our platform may
prepay their loans to take advantage of the lower rates. Investors through our platform would lose the opportunity to collect the above-market interest rates
payable on the prepaid loans and might delay or reduce future loan investments. As a result, fluctuations in the interest rate environment may discourage
investors and borrowers from participating in our marketplace, which may adversely affect our business.
In addition, the profitability of our business depends on the interest and fee rates at which our borrowers are willing to borrow, and the interest and
fee rates at which our investors are willing to lend, subject to limitations of PRC laws and regulations. We have taken measures to aim to react to the
fluctuations in the interest rate environments. However, if we fail to respond to the fluctuations in interest rates in a timely manner and reprice our loan
products, our loan products may become less attractive to our investors and institutional funding partners. For example, in a falling interest rate
environment, potential borrowers may seek lower priced loans from other channels if we do not lower the interest and fee rates on our loan products.
Similarly, if we fail to respond to fluctuations in interest rates in a timely manner and reprice our wealth management products, our wealth management
products may lose competitiveness. For example, in a rising interest rate environment, potential investors may seek higher return investments from other
channels if we do not increase the return on our wealth management programs. Moreover, if we are unable to reprice our loan products and wealth
management products correspondingly, the spreads between the interest and fee rates on our loan products and the interest and fee rates on our investment
services may be reduced, and our profitability may be adversely affected.
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A severe or prolonged downturn in the Chinese or global economy could materially and adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Our revenues and financial results may be adversely affected by any economic slowdown in China as well as globally. In particular, general
economic factors and conditions in China or worldwide, including the general interest rate environment and unemployment rates, may affect borrower
willingness to seek loans and investor ability and desire to invest in loans. As a result, our revenues and financial results are impacted to a significant extent
by economic conditions in China and globally, as well as economic conditions specific to consumer credit and wealth management businesses. The global
macroeconomic environment is facing numerous challenges. The growth rate of the Chinese economy has gradually slowed since 2010 and the trend may
continue. Any slowdown could significantly reduce domestic commerce in China, including through the internet generally and through us. In addition,
there is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial
authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the United States and China. Unrest, terrorist threats and the potential for war in the Middle
East and elsewhere may increase market volatility across the globe. There have also been concerns about the relationship between China and other
countries, including the surrounding Asian countries, which may potentially have economic effects. In particular, there is significant uncertainty about the
future relationship between the United States and China with respect to trade policies, treaties, government regulations and tariffs. Economic conditions in
China are sensitive to global economic conditions, as well as changes in domestic economic and political policies and the expected or perceived overall
economic growth rate in China. Any severe or prolonged slowdown in the global or Chinese economy may materially and adversely affect our business,
results of operations and financial condition. For example, many of our investors may delay or reduce their investment in the loans facilitated through our
platform. Adverse economic conditions could also reduce the number of qualified borrowers seeking loans on our platform, as well as their ability to make
payments. Should any of these situations occur, the amount of loans facilitated through our platform and our net revenue will decline, and our business and
financial condition will be negatively impacted. Additionally, continued turbulence in the international markets may adversely affect our ability to access
the capital markets to meet liquidity needs.
We may need additional capital, and financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB2,222.8 million, RMB2,606.9 million and RMB3,198.1
million (US$459.4 million), respectively. Although we believe that our cash on hand and anticipated cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient
to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business for the next 12 months, we cannot assure
you this will be the case. We may need additional cash resources in the future if we experience changes in business conditions or other developments. We
may also need additional cash resources in the future if we find and wish to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, capital expenditure or similar
actions. If we determine that our cash requirements exceed the amount of cash and cash equivalents we have on hand at the time, we may seek to issue
equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution to our shareholders. The
incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants that would restrict our operations. We cannot
assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all.
Our ability to protect the confidential information of our borrowers and investors may be adversely affected by cyber-attacks, computer viruses,
physical or electronic break-ins or similar disruptions.
Our platform collects, stores and processes certain personal and other sensitive data from our borrowers and investors, which makes it an attractive
target and potentially vulnerable to cyber-attacks, computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins or similar disruptions. Under the PRC Cyber Security
Law, which took effect on June 1, 2017, we are required to formulate security management system and operational procedures, take measures to prevent
acts that jeopardize cyber security such as computer virus, network attacks and network intrusion, and safeguard personal information, user information and
business secrets. If we are deemed a critical information infrastructure under the Cyber Security Law, we will be subject to additional requirement
regarding the construction, security protection, purchase of products and services, secrecy, localization of data, and annual evaluation of the infrastructure.
While we have taken steps to protect the confidential information that we have access to, our security measures could be breached. Because techniques
used to sabotage or obtain unauthorized access to systems change frequently and generally are not recognized until they are launched against a target, we
may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. Any accidental or willful security breaches or other
unauthorized access to our platform could cause confidential borrower and investor information to be stolen and used for criminal purposes. Security
breaches or unauthorized access to confidential information could also expose us to liability related to the loss of the information, adverse regulatory
consequences, time-consuming and expensive litigation and negative publicity. If security measures are breached because of third-party action, employee
error, malfeasance or otherwise, or if design flaws in our technology infrastructure are exposed and exploited, our relationships with borrowers and
investors could be severely damaged, we could incur significant liability and our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
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If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results or
prevent fraud.
We are subject to reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. Section 404 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act, and related rules require 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 ended December 31, 2019. Our management has concluded that our internal
control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019. See “Item 15. Controls and Procedures.”
In addition, as we have ceased to be an “emerging growth company” as such term is defined in the U.S. Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of
2012, or the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm must attest to and report on the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting. In the future, our management may conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective. Moreover, even if our
management concludes that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, our independent registered public accounting firm, after conducting its
own independent testing, may issue an adverse opinion audit report if it is not satisfied with our internal controls or the level at which our controls are
documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In addition, 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 of the Sarbanes-
Oxley Act, or Section 404, we may identify 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 from prior periods.
Our operations depend on the performance of the internet infrastructure and fixed telecommunications networks in China.
Almost all access to the internet in China is maintained through state-owned telecommunication operators under the administrative control and
regulatory supervision of the MIIT. We primarily rely on a limited number of telecommunication service providers to provide us with data communications
capacity through local telecommunications lines and internet data centers to host our servers. We have limited access to alternative networks or services in
the event of disruptions, failures or other problems with China’s internet infrastructure or the fixed telecommunications networks provided by
telecommunication service providers. With the expansion of our business, we may be required to upgrade our technology and infrastructure to keep up with
the increasing traffic on our platform. We cannot assure you that the internet infrastructure and the fixed telecommunications networks in China will be
able to support the demands associated with the continued growth in internet usage.
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In addition, we have no control over the costs of the services provided by telecommunication service providers. If the prices we pay for
telecommunications and internet services rise significantly, our results of operations may be adversely affected. Furthermore, if internet access fees or other
charges to internet users increase, our user traffic may decline and our business may be harmed.
Any significant disruption in service on our platform or in our computer systems, including events beyond our control, could prevent us from
processing or posting loans on our marketplace, reduce the attractiveness of our marketplace and result in a loss of borrowers or investors.
In the event of a platform outage and physical data loss, our ability to perform our servicing obligations, process applications or make loans
available on our marketplace would be materially and adversely affected. The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our platform and our
underlying network infrastructure are critical to our operations, customer service, reputation and our ability to retain existing and attract new borrowers and
investors. Much of our system hardware is hosted in a leased facility located in Beijing that is operated by our IT staff. We also maintain a real-time backup
system at a separate facility also located in Beijing. Our operations depend on our ability to protect our systems against damage or interruption from natural
disasters, power or telecommunications failures, air quality issues, environmental conditions, computer viruses or attempts to harm our systems, criminal
acts and similar events. If there is a lapse in service or damage to our leased Beijing facilities, we could experience interruptions in our service as well as
delays and additional expense in arranging new facilities.
Any interruptions or delays in our service, whether as a result of third-party error, our error, natural disasters or security breaches, whether
accidental or willful, could harm our relationships with our borrowers and investors and our reputation. Additionally, in the event of damage or
interruption, our insurance policies may not adequately compensate us for any losses that we may incur. Our disaster recovery plan has not been tested
under actual disaster conditions, and we may not have sufficient capacity to recover all data and services in the event of an outage. These factors could
prevent us from processing or posting payments on loans, damage our brand and reputation, divert our employees’ attention, subject us to liability and
cause borrowers and investors to abandon our marketplace, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our platform and internal systems rely on software that is highly technical, and if it contains undetected errors, our business could be adversely
affected.
Our platform and internal systems rely on software that is highly technical and complex. In addition, our platform and internal systems depend on
the ability of such software to store, retrieve, process and manage immense amounts of data. The software on which we rely has contained, and may now or
in the future contain, undetected errors or bugs. Some errors may only be discovered after the code has been released for external or internal use. Errors or
other design defects within the software on which we rely may result in a negative experience for borrowers and investors using our platform, delay
introductions of new features or enhancements, result in errors or compromise our ability to protect borrower or investor data or our intellectual property.
Any errors, bugs or defects discovered in the software on which we rely could result in harm to our reputation, loss of borrowers or investors or liability for
damages, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.
We regard our trademarks, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we
rely on a combination of intellectual property laws and contractual arrangements, including confidentiality, invention assignment and non-competition
agreements with our employees to protect our proprietary rights. As of the date of this annual report, we had 392 registered trademarks and had applied to
register 512 trademarks with the Trademark Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration. In addition, we have also obtained a worldwide
and royalty-free license from CreditEase to use certain of its trademarks. However, the trademark licenses granted by CreditEase to us have not been filed
with the Trademark Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—
Intellectual Property” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulation on Intellectual Property Rights.” We
cannot assure you that any of our intellectual property rights would not be challenged, invalidated, circumvented or misappropriated, or such intellectual
property will be sufficient to provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, because of the rapid pace of technological change in our industry, parts of
our business rely on technologies developed or licensed by third parties, and we may not be able to obtain or continue to obtain licenses and technologies
from these third parties on reasonable terms, or at all.
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It is often difficult to register, maintain and enforce intellectual property rights in China. Statutory laws and regulations are subject to judicial
interpretation and enforcement and may not be applied consistently due to the lack of clear guidance on statutory interpretation. Confidentiality, invention
assignment and non-competition agreements may be breached by counterparties, and there may not be adequate remedies available to us for any such
breach. Accordingly, we may not be able to effectively protect our intellectual property rights or to enforce our contractual rights in China. Preventing any
unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly and the steps we take may be inadequate to prevent the misappropriation of our
intellectual property. In the event that we resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, such litigation could result in substantial costs and a
diversion of our managerial and financial resources. We can provide no assurance that we will prevail in such litigation. In addition, our trade secrets may
be leaked or otherwise become available to, or be independently discovered by, our competitors. To the extent that our employees or consultants use
intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related know-how and inventions. Any failure in protecting
or enforcing our intellectual property rights could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt our business operations.
We cannot be certain that our operations or any aspects of our business do not or will not infringe upon or otherwise violate trademarks, patents,
copyrights, know-how or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. We may be from time to time in the future subject to legal proceedings and
claims relating to the intellectual property rights of others. In addition, there may be third-party trademarks, patents, copyrights, know-how or other
intellectual property rights that are infringed by our products, services or other aspects of our business without our awareness. Holders of such intellectual
property rights may seek to enforce such intellectual property rights against us in China, the United States or other jurisdictions. If any third-party
infringement claims are brought against us, we may be forced to divert our management’s time and other resources from our business and operations to
defend against these claims, regardless of their merits.
Additionally, the application and interpretation of China’s intellectual property right laws and the procedures and standards for granting
trademarks, patents, copyrights, know-how or other intellectual property rights in China are still evolving and are uncertain, and we cannot assure you that
PRC courts or regulatory authorities would agree with our analysis. If we were found to have violated the intellectual property rights of others, we may be
subject to liability for our infringement activities or may be prohibited from using such intellectual property, and we may incur licensing fees or be forced
to develop alternatives of our own. As a result, our business and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.
From time to time we may evaluate and potentially consummate strategic investments or acquisitions, which could require significant management
attention, disrupt our business and adversely affect our financial results.
We may evaluate and consider strategic investments, combinations, acquisitions or alliances to further increase the value of our marketplace and
better serve borrowers and investors. These transactions could be material to our financial condition and results of operations if consummated. If we are
unable to identify an appropriate business opportunity, we may not be able to successfully consummate the transaction and, even if we do consummate such
a transaction, we may be unable to obtain the benefits or avoid the difficulties and risks of such transaction.
Strategic investments or acquisitions will involve risks commonly encountered in business relationships, including:
· difficulties in assimilating and integrating the operations, personnel, systems, data, technologies, products and services of the acquired business;
· inability of the acquired technologies, products or businesses to achieve expected levels of revenue, profitability, productivity or other benefits;
· difficulties in retaining, training, motivating and integrating key personnel;
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· diversion of management’s time and resources from our normal daily operations;
· difficulties in successfully incorporating licensed or acquired technology and rights into our platform and loan products;
· difficulties in maintaining uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies within the combined organizations;
· difficulties in retaining relationships with customers, employees and suppliers of the acquired business;
· risks of entering markets in which we have limited or no prior experience;
· regulatory risks, including remaining in good standing with existing regulatory bodies or receiving any necessary pre-closing or post-closing
approvals, as well as being subject to new regulators with oversight over an acquired business;
· assumption of contractual obligations that contain terms that are not beneficial to us, require us to license or waive intellectual property rights or
increase our risk for liability;
· failure to successfully further develop the acquired technology;
· liability for activities of the acquired business before the acquisition, including intellectual property infringement claims, violations of laws,
commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other known and unknown liabilities;
· potential disruptions to our ongoing businesses; and
· unexpected costs and unknown risks and liabilities associated with strategic investments or acquisitions.
We may not make any investments or acquisitions, or any future investments or acquisitions may not be successful, may not benefit our business
strategy, may not generate sufficient revenues to offset the associated acquisition costs or may not otherwise result in the intended benefits. In addition, we
cannot assure you that any future investment in or acquisition of new businesses or technology will lead to the successful development of new or enhanced
products and services or that any new or enhanced products and services, if developed, will achieve market acceptance or prove to be profitable.
Acquisitions could expose us to significant business risks.
We have made and may continue to make strategic acquisitions that could, among other goals, complement our existing services, expand our
customer base, improve user acquisition efficiency, lower operating costs and/or enhance technological capabilities. For example, in July 2019, we
consummated a business realignment transaction with CreditEase, the controlling shareholder of our company, pursuant to which we have assumed from
CreditEase and its affiliates the Acquired Business. After the business realignment, we will continue to receive certain business consulting and other
support services from CreditEase. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and Development of the Company.”
While we believe the business realignment would enhance our market position as a leading comprehensive fintech platform, enable us to better
leverage synergies between our existing businesses and the businesses we assumed from CreditEase and improve our overall operating efficiency, this
transaction, as well as other acquisitions, could expose us to business risks, including but not limited to financial and operational risks. For example, as part
of a business realignment with CreditEase in 2019, we acquired CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or Puhui, an entity managing
CreditEase’s national service network for offline borrower acquisition. If borrower acquisition through Puhui decreases or becomes less effective or the
quality of the borrowers acquired through Puhui does not meet our borrower qualification standards, our business and results of operations may be
adversely and materially affected. There also can be no assurance that we would be able to find other acquisition channels on commercially reasonable
terms, or at all.
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Financial risks from the business realignment and other acquisitions include, among other things, (i) the use of our cash resources; (ii) paying a
price that exceeds the future value realized from the acquisition; (iii) potential known and unknown liabilities of the acquired businesses; (iv) the incurrence
of additional debt; (v) the dilutive effect of the issuance of any additional equity securities by our company as consideration for, or to finance, the
acquisition; (vi) the financial impact of incorrectly valuing goodwill and other intangible assets involved in any acquisitions; (vii) potential future
impairment write-downs of goodwill and indefinite-life intangibles and the amortization of other intangible assets; and (viii) possible adverse tax and
accounting effects.
In addition, there are possible operational risks, including, among other things, difficulty in assimilating and integrating the operations, services,
products, technology, information systems and personnel of acquired companies; losing key personnel of acquired entities; and compliance with additional
laws relating to the acquired business and regulatory risks associated with the past violation of law by the acquired businesses. We may incur significant
acquisition, administrative and other costs in connection with these transactions, including costs related to the integration of acquired businesses.
Acquisitions could expose us to significant integration risks and increased organizational complexity, including more complex and costly accounting
processes and internal controls, which may challenge management and may adversely impact the realization of an increased contribution from such
acquisitions. In addition, while we execute acquisitions and related integration activities, our attention may possibly be diverted from our ongoing
operations, which may have a negative impact on our business. Failure to adequately anticipate and address these risks could adversely affect our business
and financial performance.
Although we performed due diligence investigations of the businesses and assets that we will assume, and will also do so for future acquisitions,
there may be liabilities related to the acquired business or assets that we fail to, or are unable to, uncover during the due diligence investigation and for
which we, as a successor owner, may be responsible. When feasible, we seek to minimize the impact of these types of potential liabilities by obtaining
indemnities and warranties from the seller, which may in some instances be supported by a price adjustment mechanism and/or deferring payment of a
portion of the purchase price. However, these indemnities and warranties, if obtained, may not fully cover the liabilities because of their limited scope,
amount or duration, the financial resources of the indemnitor or warrantor, or for other reasons. For example, to further diversify our business operation and
revenue sources, we acquired Varengold Capital Securities Limited, a securities dealer registered with Hong Kong Securities and Future Commission
possessing Type 1 and Type 2 License, in January 2020. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and Development of the Company.” These
strategic acquisitions involve risks commonly encountered in business relationships, such as potential unknown liabilities for activities of the acquired
business before the acquisition, including intellectual property infringement claims, violations of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other
unknown liabilities, which may adversely affect our reputation, business and results of operations. Furthermore, due to our lack of sufficient prior
experience and unfamiliarity with potential market segments, we may not be able to operate the businesses under Type 1 and Type 2 License and the PRC
insurance brokerage license successfully, achieve expected results or generate sufficient revenues to offset the associated acquisition costs, which may have
an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the brokerage industry in Hong Kong is highly regulated. Our business
operations under Varengold Capital Securities Limited are subject to applicable Hong Kong laws, regulations, guidelines, circulars, and other regulatory
guidance, or collectively the “HK Brokerage Service Rules”. These HK Brokerage Service Rules set out the licensing requirements, regulate our
operational activities and standards, and impose requirements such as maintaining minimum liquidity or capital along with other filing, record keeping and
reporting obligations relevant to our business operations. Failure to comply with applicable HK Brokerage Service Rules can result in investigations and
regulatory actions, which may lead to penalties, including reprimands, fines, limitations or prohibitions on our future business activities or suspension or
revocation of our licenses or trading rights. Any outcome may affect our ability to conduct business in Hong Kong, harm our reputation and, consequently,
adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our business depends on the continued efforts of our senior management. If one or more of our key executives were unable or unwilling to continue in
their present positions, our business may be severely disrupted.
Our business operations depend on the continued services of our senior management, particularly the executive officers named in this annual
report. While we have provided different incentives to our management, we cannot assure you that we can continue to retain their services. If one or more
of our key executives were unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily, or at all, our future growth
may be constrained, our business may be severely disrupted and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected,
and we may incur additional expenses to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel. In addition, although we have entered into confidentiality and non-
competition agreements with our management, there is no assurance that any member of our management team will not join our competitors or form a
competing business. If any dispute arises between our current or former officers and us, we may have to incur substantial costs and expenses in order to
enforce such agreements in China or we may be unable to enforce them at all.
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Competition for employees is intense, and we may not be able to attract and retain the qualified and skilled employees needed to support our business.
We believe our success depends on the efforts and talent of our employees, including risk management, software engineering, financial and
marketing personnel. Our future success depends on our continued ability to attract, develop, motivate and retain qualified and skilled employees.
Competition for highly skilled technical, risk management and financial personnel is extremely intense. We may not be able to hire and retain these
personnel at compensation levels consistent with our existing compensation and salary structure. Some of the companies with which we compete for
experienced employees have greater resources than we have and may be able to offer more attractive terms of employment.
In addition, we invest significant time and expenses in training our employees, which increases their value to competitors who may seek to recruit
them. If we fail to retain our employees, we could incur significant expenses in hiring and training their replacements, and the quality of our services and
our ability to serve borrowers and investors could diminish, resulting in a material adverse effect on our business.
Increases in labor costs in the PRC may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
The economy in China has experienced increases in inflation and labor costs in recent years. As a result, average wages in the PRC are expected to
continue to increase. In addition, we are required by PRC laws and regulations to pay various statutory employee benefits, including pension, housing fund,
medical insurance, work-related injury insurance, unemployment insurance and maternity insurance to designated government agencies for the benefit of
our employees. The relevant government agencies may examine whether an employer has made adequate payments to the statutory employee benefits, and
those employers who fail to make adequate payments may be subject to late payment fees, fines and/or other penalties. We expect that our labor costs,
including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to control our labor costs or pass on these increased labor costs to our
users by increasing the fees of our services, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
If we cannot maintain our corporate culture as we grow, we could lose the innovation, collaboration and focus that contribute to our business.
We believe that a critical component of our success is our corporate culture, which we believe fosters innovation, encourages teamwork and
cultivates creativity. As we develop the infrastructure of a public company and continue to grow, we may find it difficult to maintain these valuable aspects
of our corporate culture. Any failure to preserve our culture could negatively impact our future success, including our ability to attract and retain
employees, encourage innovation and teamwork and effectively focus on and pursue our corporate objectives.
We are subject to changing laws and regulations regarding regulatory matters, corporate governance and public disclosure that have increased both
our costs and the risk of non-compliance.
We are subject to rules and regulations by various governing bodies, including, for example, the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission, which is charged with the protection of investors and the oversight of companies whose securities are publicly traded, and the various
regulatory authorities in China and the Cayman Islands, and to new and evolving regulatory measures under applicable law. Our efforts to comply with new
and changing laws and regulations have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of
management’s time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.
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Moreover, because these laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, their application in practice may evolve over time
as new guidance becomes available. This evolution may result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and additional costs necessitated by
ongoing revisions to our disclosure and governance practices. If we fail to address and comply with these regulations and any subsequent changes, we may
be subject to penalty and our business may be harmed.
We do not have any business insurance coverage.
Insurance companies in China currently do not offer as extensive an array of insurance products as insurance companies in more developed
economies. Currently, we do not have any business liability or disruption insurance to cover our operations. We have determined that the costs of insuring
for these risks and the difficulties associated with acquiring such insurance on commercially reasonable terms make it impractical for us to have such
insurance. Any uninsured business disruptions may result in our incurring substantial costs and the diversion of resources, which could have an adverse
effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
We face risks related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.
We are vulnerable to natural disasters and other calamities. Fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications failures, break-
ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events may give rise to server interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or internet
failures, which could cause the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware, as well as adversely affect our ability to provide
products and services on our platform.
Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of epidemics, including COVID-19, avian influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS), influenza A (H1N1), Ebola or another epidemic. Any such occurrences could cause severe disruption to our daily operations, including our
fulfillment infrastructure and our customer service centers, and may even require a temporary closure of our facilities. In recent years, there have been
outbreaks of epidemics in China and globally. For example, in early 2020, in response to intensifying efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the
Chinese government took a number of actions, which included extending the Chinese New Year holiday, quarantining individuals infected with or
suspected of having COVID-19, prohibiting residents from free travel, encouraging employees of enterprises to work remotely from home and cancelling
public activities, among others. The COVID-19 has also resulted in temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and
factories across China. We have seen delinquency volatilities and a significant decrease in loan volumes and revenues in the first quarter of 2020. We have
taken a series of measures in response to the outbreak, including, among others, remote working arrangement for some of our employees, suspension of our
offline customer acquisition activities and cancellation of non-essential business travels to ensure the safety and health of our employees. These measures
could reduce the capacity and efficiency of our operations. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our results of operations will depend on the future
developments of the outbreak, including new information concerning the global severity of and actions taken to contain the outbreak, which are highly
uncertain and unpredictable. In addition, our results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that the outbreak harms the Chinese economy in
general. To the extent the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affects our business and financial results, it may also have the effect of heightening many of the
other risks described in this annual report.
Risks Related to Our Carve-out from CreditEase and Our Relationship with CreditEase
We rely on our parent company, CreditEase, for the successful operation of our business.
We have limited experience operating as a stand-alone company. We commenced our online consumer finance marketplace business in
March 2012, and Yirendai Ltd. was incorporated in 2014 in the Cayman Islands (and was renamed as Yiren Digital Ltd. in 2019) as a wholly owned
subsidiary of CreditEase. Founded in 2006 by our executive chairman, Mr. Ning Tang, CreditEase is a large financial services company focusing on
providing inclusive finance and wealth management products and services in China. Inclusive finance focuses on providing access to affordable and
responsible financing solutions to those in China who are often unable to gain such access. We completed our carve-out from CreditEase in the first quarter
of 2015. Historically, CreditEase has provided us with origination and servicing, financial, administrative, sales and marketing, risk management, human
resources and legal services, and also with the services of a number of its executives and employees. In July 2019, we consummated a business realignment
transaction with CreditEase, the controlling shareholder of our company, pursuant to which we have assumed from CreditEase and its affiliates the
Acquired Business. Although we have become a stand-alone company, we expect CreditEase to continue to provide us with certain support services during
a transitional period. We have also relied on CreditEase for the successful operation of our online consumer finance marketplace. After the business
realignment with CreditEase closed in July 2019, we will continue to receive certain business consulting and other support services from CreditEase.
Although we have entered into a series of agreements with CreditEase relating to our ongoing business cooperation and service arrangements with
CreditEase, we cannot assure you that we will continue to receive the same level of support from CreditEase after we become a stand-alone company. The
cost of services which CreditEase provides to us may from time to time increase based on commercial negotiations between CreditEase and us.
Furthermore, borrowers, investors and business partners may react negatively to our carve-out from CreditEase. As such, our carve-out from CreditEase
may materially and adversely affect our business. In addition, as a result of our carve-out from CreditEase, our historical financial performance may not be
indicative of our future performances as a stand-alone public company.
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Our financial information included in this annual report may not be representative of our financial condition and results of operations if we had been
operating as a stand-alone company.
Prior to our establishment, our online consumer finance marketplace business was carried out by various subsidiaries and variable interest entities
of CreditEase. We completed our carve-out from CreditEase in the first quarter of 2015, and all of our online consumer finance marketplace business is
now carried out by our own subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities. Since we and the subsidiaries and variable interest entities of CreditEase
that operated our online marketplace business are under common control of CreditEase, our consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities,
revenues, expenses and cash flows that were directly attributable to our business for all periods presented. In particular, our consolidated balance sheets
include those assets and liabilities that are specifically identifiable to our business; and our consolidated statements of operations include all costs and
expenses related to us, including costs and expenses allocated from CreditEase to us. Allocations from CreditEase, including amounts allocated to
origination and servicing expenses, sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses, were made using a proportional cost allocation
method and based on headcount or transaction volume for the provision of services attributable to us. We made numerous estimates, assumptions and
allocations in our historical financial statements because we did not operate as a stand-alone company prior to our carve-out from CreditEase in the first
quarter of 2015. Although our management believes that the assumptions underlying our historical financial statements and the above allocations are
reasonable, our historical financial statements may not necessarily reflect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows as if we had operated
as a stand-alone company during those periods. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions” for our
arrangements with CreditEase and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and the notes to our consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this annual report for our historical cost allocation. In addition, upon becoming a stand-alone company, we have established our own financial,
administrative and other support systems to replace CreditEase’s systems, the cost of which may have been significantly different from the cost allocation
with CreditEase for the same services. Therefore, you should not view our historical results as indicators of our future performance.
Any negative development in CreditEase’s market position, brand recognition or financial condition may materially and adversely affect our marketing
efforts and the strength of our brand.
Prior to our initial public offering, we were a wholly-owned subsidiary of CreditEase, and after our initial public offering, CreditEase remains our
controlling shareholder. We have benefited significantly and expect to continue to benefit significantly from our association with CreditEase in marketing
our brand and our marketplace. We used to rely on CreditEase’s nationwide service network for offline borrower acquisition. In 2017 and 2018, 41.2% and
38.4% of our borrowers were acquired through referrals from CreditEase, respectively, contributing 48.5% and 43.1% of the total amount of loans
facilitated through our marketplace, respectively. As part of a business realignment with CreditEase in 2019, we acquired Puhui, an entity managing
CreditEase’s national service network for offline borrower acquisition. We also benefit from CreditEase’s strong brand recognition in China, which
provides us with credibility and a broad marketing reach. If CreditEase loses its market position, the effectiveness of our marketing efforts through our
association with CreditEase may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, any negative publicity associated with CreditEase or any negative
development in respect of CreditEase’s market position, financial condition, or in terms of its compliance with legal or regulatory requirements in China,
will likely have an adverse impact on the effectiveness of our marketing, as well as our reputation and brand.
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Our agreements with CreditEase may be less favorable to us than similar agreements negotiated between unaffiliated third parties. In particular, our
amended and restated non-competition agreement with CreditEase limits the scope of business that we are allowed to conduct.
We have entered into a series of agreements with CreditEase and the terms of such agreements may be less favorable to us than would be the case
if they were negotiated with unaffiliated third parties. In particular, under our amended and restated non-competition agreement with CreditEase, we agree
during the non-competition period, which will end on the earliest of (i) the first anniversary of the control ending date, (ii) the date on which the ADSs
representing ordinary shares of Yiren Digital cease to be listed on Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange (except for temporary suspension of trading of
the ADSs), and (iii) March 25, 2034, the fifteenth anniversary of March 25, 2019, the date of the amended and restated non-competition agreement, not to,
subject to certain exceptions, compete with CreditEase in the business or any business that is of the same nature as the business currently conducted by
CreditEase, in each case unless as may otherwise be approved in writing by CreditEase. The control ending date refers to the earlier of (i) the first date
when CreditEase no longer owns at least 20% of the voting power of our then outstanding securities or (ii) the first date when CreditEase ceases to be the
largest beneficial owner of our then outstanding voting securities. Such contractual limitations may significantly affect our ability to diversify our revenue
sources and may materially and adversely impact our business and prospects should the growth of the online consumer finance marketplace industry in
China slow down. In addition, pursuant to our master transaction agreement with CreditEase, we agree to indemnify CreditEase for liabilities arising from
litigation and other contingencies related to our business and assumed these liabilities as part of our carve-out from CreditEase. The allocation of assets and
liabilities between CreditEase and our company may not reflect the allocation that would have been reached by two unaffiliated parties. Moreover, so long
as CreditEase continues to control us, we may not be able to bring a legal claim against CreditEase in the event of contractual breach, notwithstanding our
contractual rights under the agreements described above and other inter-company agreements entered into from time to time.
CreditEase will control the outcome of shareholder actions in our company.
As of March 31, 2020, CreditEase held 87.3% of our outstanding ordinary shares and total voting power. CreditEase’s voting power gives it the
power to control certain actions that require shareholder approval under Cayman Islands law, our current memorandum and articles of association and
NYSE requirements, including approval of mergers and other business combinations, changes to our memorandum and articles of association, the number
of shares available for issuance under any share incentive plans, and the issuance of significant amounts of our ordinary shares in private placements.
CreditEase’s voting control may cause transactions that might not be beneficial to the holders of our ADSs to occur and may prevent transactions
that would be beneficial to the holders of our ADSs. For example, CreditEase’s voting control may prevent a transaction involving a change of control of
us, including transactions in which a holder of our ADSs might otherwise receive a premium for the securities held by such holder over the then-current
market price. In addition, CreditEase is not prohibited from selling a controlling interest in us to a third party and may do so without the approval of the
holders of our ADSs and without providing for a purchase of the ADSs. If CreditEase is acquired or otherwise undergoes a change of control, any acquirer
or successor will be entitled to exercise the voting control and contractual rights of CreditEase, and may do so in a manner that could vary significantly
from that of CreditEase. In addition, the significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs due to investors’
perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise. See “—We may have conflicts of interest with CreditEase and, because of CreditEase’s controlling
ownership interest in our company, we may not be able to resolve such conflicts on favorable terms for us” below.
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We may have conflicts of interest with CreditEase and, because of CreditEase’s controlling ownership interest in our company, we may not be able to
resolve such conflicts on favorable terms for us.
Conflicts of interest may arise between CreditEase and us in a number of areas relating to our ongoing relationships. Potential conflicts of interest
that we have identified include the following:
· Non-competition arrangements with CreditEase. We and CreditEase entered into an amended and restated non-competition agreement in
March 2019, under which we agree not to compete with each other’s core business. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party
Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Carve-out Agreements with CreditEase—Amended and Restated Non-Competition Agreement.”
· Employee recruiting and retention. Because both CreditEase and we are engaged in consumer finance related businesses in China, we may
compete with CreditEase in the hiring of new employees, in particular with respect to risk management related matters. We have a non-solicitation
arrangement with CreditEase that restricts us and CreditEase from hiring any of each other’s employees.
· Our board members or executive officers may have conflicts of interest. Our executive chairman, Mr. Ning Tang, and two directors, Quan Zhou
and Tina Ju, are members of the board of directors of CreditEase, and Mr. Ning Tang is the chief executive officer of CreditEase. Ning Tang has
also become our chief executive officer upon the closing of the business realignment with CreditEase in July 2019. See “Item 4. Information on
the Company—A. History and Development of the Company.” In addition, we have granted and may in the future continue to grant incentive
share compensation to CreditEase’s employees and consultants. These relationships could create, or appear to create, conflicts of interest when
these persons are faced with decisions with potentially different implications for CreditEase and us.
· Sale of shares in our company. CreditEase may decide to sell all or a portion of our shares that it holds to a third party, including to one of our
competitors, thereby giving that third party substantial influence over our business and our affairs. Such a sale could be contrary to the interests of
our employees or our other shareholders.
· Allocation of business opportunities. Under our amended and restated non-competition agreement with CreditEase, we agree not to compete with
CreditEase in the businesses conducted by CreditEase. There may arise other business opportunities that both we and CreditEase find attractive
and which would complement our respective businesses. CreditEase may decide to take such opportunities itself, which would prevent us from
taking advantage of those opportunities.
· Developing business relationships with CreditEase’s competitors. So long as CreditEase remains our controlling shareholder, we may be limited in
our ability to do business with its competitors. This may limit our ability to market our services for the best interests of our company and our other
shareholders.
Although our company has become a stand-alone public company, we expect to operate, for as long as CreditEase is our controlling shareholder,
as an affiliate of CreditEase. CreditEase may from time to time make strategic decisions that it believes are in the best interests of its business as a whole,
including our company. These decisions may be different from the decisions that we would have made on our own. For example, we may be required to
pay CreditEase for services that we currently enjoy free of charge from CreditEase, such as the information and data sharing. See “Item 7. Major
Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions—Carve-out Agreements with CreditEase—Amended and Restated
Intellectual Property License Agreement.” CreditEase’s decisions with respect to us or our business may be resolved in ways that favor CreditEase and
therefore CreditEase’s own shareholders, which may not coincide with the interests of our other shareholders. We have an audit committee, consisting of
three independent directors, to review and approve all proposed related party transactions, including any transactions between us and CreditEase. However,
we may not be able to resolve any potential conflicts, and even if we do so, the resolution may be less favorable to us than if we were dealing with a non-
controlling shareholder. Even if both parties seek to transact business on terms intended to approximate those that could have been achieved between
unaffiliated parties, this may not succeed in practice. Furthermore, if CreditEase sought to alter or violate the terms of the amended and restated non-
competition agreement with us in order to compete with us in the online consumer finance marketplace or otherwise, such conflicts may not be resolved in
our favor in light of CreditEase’s controlling interest in us. If CreditEase were to compete with us, our business, financial condition, results of operations
and prospects could be materially and adversely affected.
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Our executive chairman and chief executive officer, Mr. Ning Tang, has considerable influence over us and our corporate matters.
Our executive chairman and chief executive officer , Mr. Ning Tang, has considerable influence over us and our corporate matters. Mr. Tang
beneficially owns 43.4% of the total outstanding shares of CreditEase, which is our controlling shareholder, as of March 31, 2020. Moreover, as Mr. Tang,
as a director of CreditEase, currently holds three out of the five votes of CreditEase’s board of directors, he therefore controls the decision-making of
CreditEase and indirectly has considerable influence over us, our corporate matters and matters requiring shareholder approval, such as electing directors
and approving material mergers, acquisitions or other business combination transactions. This concentrated control will limit the ability of the holders of
our ordinary shares and our ADSs to influence corporate matters and could also discourage others from pursuing any potential merger, takeover or other
change of control transactions, which could have the effect of depriving the holders of our ordinary shares and our ADSs of the opportunity to sell their
shares at a premium over the prevailing market price.
We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and, as a result, will rely on exemptions from certain
corporate governance requirements that provide protection to shareholders of other companies.
We are a “controlled company” as defined under the NYSE Listed Company Manual because CreditEase beneficially owns more than 50% of our
outstanding ordinary shares. For so long as we remain a controlled company under that definition, we are permitted to elect to rely, and will rely, on certain
exemptions from corporate governance rules, including an exemption from the rule that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors.
As a result, you will not have the same protection afforded to shareholders of companies that are subject to these corporate governance requirements.
Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure
If the PRC government deems that the contractual arrangements in relation to our consolidated variable interest entities do not comply with PRC
regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the
future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations.
Foreign ownership of internet-based businesses, such as distribution of online information, is subject to restrictions under current PRC laws and
regulations. For example, foreign investors are not allowed to own more than 50% of the equity interests in a value-added telecommunication service
provider (except for e-commerce, domestic multi-party communication, storage and forwarding classes and call centers) and any such foreign investor must
have experience in providing value-added telecommunications services overseas and maintain a good track record in accordance with the Special
Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2019 Edition) effective from July 30, 2019, as amended, and other applicable
laws and regulations.
We are a Cayman Islands company and our PRC subsidiaries are considered foreign-invested enterprises. To comply with PRC laws and
regulations, we conduct our operations in China through a series of contractual arrangements entered into among Yiren Hengye Technology Development
(Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Hengye, Hengcheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Hengcheng, and the shareholders of Hengcheng, a series of
contractual arrangements entered into among Chongqing Hengyuda Technology Co., Ltd., or Hengyuda, Yiren Financial Information Service (Beijing)
Co., Ltd., or Yiren Wealth Management, and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management, a series of contractual arrangements entered into among
Hengye, Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd., or Linyang, and the shareholders of Linyang, and a series of contractual arrangements
entered into among Hengyuda, Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd., or Beijing Kechuang, and the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang. As a
result of these contractual arrangements, we exert control over Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang and consolidate
their operating results in our financial statements under U.S. GAAP. For a detailed description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information
on the Company—C. Corporate History and Structure.”
In the opinion of our PRC counsel, Han Kun Law Offices, (i) our current ownership structure, the ownership structure of Hengye and Hengyuda,
our PRC subsidiaries, and Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our consolidated variable interest entities, (ii) the
contractual agreements among Hengye, Hengcheng and the shareholders of Hengcheng, (iii) the contractual agreements among Hengyuda, Yiren Wealth
Management and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management, (iv) the contractual agreements among Hengye, Linyang and the shareholders of Linyang,
and (v) the contractual agreements among Hengyuda, Beijing Kechuang and the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang, as described in “Item 4. Information on
the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Variable Interest Entities”, are, in each case, not in
violation of existing PRC laws, rules and regulations; and these contractual agreements are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms
and applicable PRC laws and regulations currently in effect. The equity pledge under that certain equity pledge agreements are in the process of registering
with the competent office of the State Administration for Market Regulation in accordance with the PRC laws. However, Han Kun Law Offices has also
advised us that there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current or future PRC laws and regulations and there can be
no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with the opinion of our PRC counsel.
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It is uncertain whether any new PRC laws, rules or regulations relating to variable interest entity structures will be adopted or if adopted, what
they would provide. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the
newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business
operations” below. If the ownership structure, contractual arrangements and business of our company, Hengye, Hengyuda, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth
Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang are found to be in violation of any existing or future PRC laws or regulations, or we fail to obtain or maintain
any of the required permits or approvals, the relevant governmental authorities would have broad discretion in dealing with such violation, including
levying fines, confiscating our income or the income of Hengye, Hengyuda, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang,
revoking the business licenses or operating licenses of Hengye, Hengyuda, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang,
shutting down our servers or blocking our online platform, discontinuing or placing restrictions or onerous conditions on our operations, requiring us to
undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring, restricting or prohibiting our use of proceeds from our initial public offering to finance our business and
operations in China, and taking other regulatory or enforcement actions that could be harmful to our business. Any of these actions could cause significant
disruption to our business operations and severely damage our reputation, which would in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations. If any of these occurrences results in our inability to direct the activities of our consolidated variable interest entities,
and/or our failure to receive economic benefits from our consolidated variable interest entities, we may not be able to consolidate their results into our
consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
We rely on contractual arrangements with our consolidated variable interest entities, and their respective shareholders for a portion of our business
operations, which may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing operational control.
We have relied and expect to continue to rely on contractual arrangements with our consolidated variable interest entities and their respective
shareholders to operate our www.yirendai.com website, our wealth management website and mobile application, our credit card management mobile
application Waka, and our insurance referral business. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C.
Organization Structure.” These contractual arrangements may not be as effective as direct ownership in providing us with control over our consolidated
variable interest entities. For example, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang and their respective shareholders could
breach their contractual arrangements with us by, among other things, failing to conduct their operations, including maintaining our website and using the
domain names and trademarks, in an acceptable manner or taking other actions that are detrimental to our interests.
If we had direct ownership of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our consolidated variable interest entities,
we would be able to exercise our rights as a shareholder to effect changes in the board of directors of such consolidated variable interest entities, 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 such consolidated variable interest entities and their respective shareholders of their obligations
under the contracts to exercise control over such consolidated variable interest entities. The shareholders of such consolidated variable interest entities may
not act in the best interests of our company or may not perform their obligations under these contracts. Such risks exist throughout the period in which we
intend to operate our business through the contractual arrangements with such consolidated variable interest entities. Although we have the right to replace
any shareholder of such consolidated variable interest entities under their respective contractual arrangements, if any shareholder of such consolidated
variable interest entities is uncooperative or any dispute relating to these contracts remains unresolved, we will have to enforce our rights under these
contracts through the operations of PRC laws and arbitration, litigation and other legal proceedings and therefore will be subject to uncertainties in the PRC
legal system. See “—Any failure by our consolidated variable interest entities, or their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under our
contractual arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business” below. Therefore, our contractual arrangements with our
consolidated variable interest entities may not be as effective in ensuring our control over the relevant portion of our business operations as direct
ownership would be.
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Any failure by our consolidated variable interest entities or their respective shareholders to perform their obligations under our contractual
arrangements with them would have a material adverse effect on our business.
If Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our consolidated variable interest entities, or their respective
shareholders fail to perform their respective obligations under the contractual arrangements, we may have to incur substantial costs and expend additional
resources to enforce such arrangements. We may also have to rely on legal remedies under PRC laws, including seeking specific performance or injunctive
relief, and claiming damages, which we cannot assure you will be effective under PRC laws. For example, if the shareholders of such consolidated variable
interest entities were to refuse to transfer their equity interest in such consolidated variable interest entities, as the case may be, to us or our designee if we
exercise the purchase option pursuant to these contractual arrangements, or if they were otherwise to act in bad faith toward us, then we may have to take
legal actions to compel them to perform their contractual obligations.
All the agreements under our contractual arrangements are governed by PRC laws and provide for the resolution of disputes through arbitration in
China. Accordingly, these contracts would be interpreted in accordance with PRC laws and any disputes would be resolved in accordance with PRC legal
procedures. The legal system in the PRC is not as developed as in some other jurisdictions, such as the United States. As a result, uncertainties in the PRC
legal system could limit our ability to enforce these contractual arrangements. Meanwhile, there are very few precedents and little formal guidance as to
how contractual arrangements in the context of a consolidated variable interest entity should be interpreted or enforced under PRC laws. There remain
significant uncertainties regarding the ultimate outcome of such arbitration should legal action become necessary. In addition, under PRC laws, rulings by
arbitrators are final and parties cannot appeal arbitration results in court unless such rulings are revoked or determined unenforceable by a competent court.
If the losing parties fail to carry out the arbitration awards within a prescribed time limit, the prevailing parties may only enforce the arbitration awards in
PRC courts through arbitration award recognition proceedings, which would require additional expenses and delay. In the event that we are unable to
enforce these contractual arrangements, or if we suffer significant delay or other obstacles in the process of enforcing these contractual arrangements, we
may not be able to exert effective control over our consolidated variable interest entities, and our ability to conduct our business may be negatively
affected. See “—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could
limit the legal protections available to you and us.”
The shareholders of our consolidated variable interest entities may have potential conflicts of interest with us, which may materially and adversely
affect our business and financial condition.
We have four consolidated variable interest entities, namely Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang, and Beijing Kechuang. The equity
interests of Hengcheng are held by Mr. Ning Tang, our founder and executive chairman, and two other individuals, Mr. Fanshun Kong and Ms. Yan Tian.
The equity interests of Yiren Wealth Management are held by Mr. Ning Tang, our founder and executive chairman, Pucheng Credit Assessment and
Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and two other individuals, Mr. Fanshun Kong and Ms. Yan Tian. The equity interests of Linyang are held by Ms. Lingjing
Li and Mr. Yang Wang, both of whom are our employees. The equity interests of Beijing Kechuang are held by Mr. Ning Tang and Ms. Yan Tian. Their
interests in such consolidated variable interest entities may differ from the interests of our company as a whole. These shareholders may breach, or cause
such consolidated variable interest entities to breach, the existing contractual arrangements we have with them and such consolidated variable interest
entities, as the case may be, which would have a material adverse effect on our ability to effectively control such consolidated variable interest entities and
receive economic benefits from such consolidated variable interest entities. For example, the shareholders may be able to cause our agreements with such
consolidated variable interest entities to be performed in a manner adverse to us by, among other things, failing to remit payments due under the contractual
arrangements to us on a timely basis. We cannot assure you that when conflicts of interest arise, any or all of these shareholders will act in the best interests
of our company or such conflicts will be resolved in our favor.
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Currently, we do not have any arrangements to address potential conflicts of interest between these shareholders and our company, except that we
could exercise our purchase option under the exclusive option agreement with these shareholders to request them to transfer all of their equity interests in
such consolidated variable interest entities to a PRC entity or individual designated by us, to the extent permitted by PRC laws. If we cannot resolve any
conflict of interest or dispute between us and the shareholders of such consolidated variable interest entities, we would have to rely on legal proceedings,
which could result in the disruption of our business and subject us to substantial uncertainty as to the outcome of any such legal proceedings.
Contractual arrangements in relation to our consolidated variable interest entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may
determine that we owe additional taxes, which could negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment.
Under applicable PRC laws and regulations, arrangements and other transactions among related parties may be subject to audit or challenge by the
PRC tax authorities within ten years after the taxable year when the transactions are conducted. The PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law requires every
enterprise in China to submit its annual enterprise income tax return together with a report on transactions with its related parties to the relevant tax
authorities. The tax authorities may impose reasonable adjustments on taxation if they have identified any related party transactions that are inconsistent
with arm’s length principles. We may face material and adverse tax consequences if the PRC tax authorities determine that (i) the contractual arrangements
between Hengye, our wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Hengcheng, our consolidated variable interest entity in China, and the shareholders of
Hengcheng, (ii) the contractual arrangements between Hengyuda, our wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Yiren Wealth Management, our consolidated
variable interest entity in China, and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management, (iii) the contractual arrangements between Hengye, our wholly-owned
subsidiary in China, Linyang, our consolidated variable interest entity in China, and the shareholders of Linyang, and (iv) the contractual arrangements
between Hengyuda, our wholly-owned subsidiary in China, Beijing Kechuang , our consolidated variable interest entity in China, and the shareholders of
Beijing Kechuang 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 Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our consolidated variable
interest entities, 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 such consolidated variable interest entities for PRC tax purposes, which could in turn increase their tax liabilities without reducing
the tax expenses of such consolidated variable interest entities. In addition, if Hengye or Hengyuda requests the shareholders of such consolidated variable
interest entities, as the case may be, to transfer their equity interests in such consolidated variable interest entities, as the case may be, at nominal or no
value pursuant to these contractual arrangements, such transfer could be viewed as a gift and subject Hengye or Hengyuda to PRC income tax.
Furthermore, the PRC tax authorities may impose late payment fees and other penalties on such consolidated variable interest entities for the adjusted but
unpaid taxes according to the applicable regulations. Our financial position could be materially and adversely affected if our consolidated variable interest
entities’ tax liabilities increase or if they are required to pay late payment fees and other penalties.
We may lose the ability to use and benefit from assets held by our consolidated variable interest entities that are material to the operation of our
business if any of these entities goes bankrupt or becomes subject to a dissolution or liquidation proceeding.
Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our consolidated variable interest entities, hold certain assets that are
material to the operation of our business. Under the contractual arrangements, our consolidated variable interest entities may not, and their respective
shareholders may not cause them to, in any manner, sell, transfer, mortgage or otherwise dispose of their assets or their legal or beneficial interests in the
business without our prior consent. However, in the event the shareholders of such consolidated variable interest entities breach these contractual
arrangements and voluntarily liquidate such consolidated variable interest entities, or any of such consolidated variable interest entities declares bankruptcy
and all or part of their assets become subject to liens or rights of third-party creditors, or are otherwise disposed of without our consent, we may be unable
to continue some or all of our business activities, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If
our consolidated variable interest entities undergo a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, independent third-party creditors may claim rights to
some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
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If the chops of Hengye and Hengyuda, our PRC subsidiaries, and our consolidated variable interest entities 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 in dealing with 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 that can be used for specific purposes. The chops of our
principal PRC subsidiaries and our consolidated variable interest entities 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 a disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take
corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources while distracting management from our operations to resolve these issues.
Risks Related to Doing Business in China
Changes in China’s or global economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material adverse effect on our business and
results of operations.
Substantially all of 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 and by continued economic growth in China as a whole.
The Chinese economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the amount of government
involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. Although the Chinese government has
implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets, and the
establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the
government. In addition, the Chinese government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry development by imposing industrial policies.
The Chinese government also exercises significant control over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, controlling payment of foreign
currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy, and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies.
While the Chinese economy has experienced significant growth over the past decades, growth has been uneven, both geographically and among
various sectors of the economy, and the rate of growth has been slowing. The Chinese government has implemented various measures to encourage
economic growth and guide the allocation of resources. Some of these measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy, but may have a negative effect
on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes
in tax regulations.
In addition, the global macroeconomic environment is facing challenges. There is considerable uncertainty over the long-term effects of the
expansionary monetary and fiscal policies adopted by the central banks and financial authorities of some of the world’s leading economies, including the
United States and China. There have been concerns over unrest and terrorist threats in the Middle East, Europe and Africa and over the conflicts involving
Iran, Ukraine, Syria and North Korea. There have also been concerns on the relationship among China and other Asian countries, which may result in or
intensify potential conflicts in relation to territorial disputes, and the current trade tension between the United States and China. In addition, the impact of
the decision by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union, commonly referred to as “Brexit”, and the resulting effect on the political and
economic future of the U.K. and the European Union is uncertain. Brexit could adversely affect European and worldwide economic and market conditions
and could contribute to instability in global financial and foreign exchange markets. It is unclear whether these challenges and uncertainties will be
contained or resolved, and what effects they may have on the global political and economic conditions in the long term.
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Uncertainties in the interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us.
The PRC legal system is based on written statutes and prior court decisions have limited value as precedents. Since these laws and regulations are
relatively new and the PRC legal system continues to rapidly evolve, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform and
enforcement of these laws, regulations and rules involves uncertainties.
In particular, PRC laws and regulations concerning the online lending information intermediary service industry are developing and evolving.
Although we have taken measures to comply with the laws and regulations that are applicable to our business operations, including the Guidelines, the
Interim Measures, the Custodian Guidelines, Circular 141 and Circular 57, and avoid conducting any activities that may be deemed illegal under the current
applicable laws and regulations, the relevant PRC government authority may promulgate new laws and regulations regulating the online lending
information intermediary service industry and amend the existing laws and regulations in the future. See “—Risks Related to Our Business—The laws and
regulations governing the online lending information intermediary service industry in China are developing and evolving and subject to changes. If we fail
to obtain and maintain requisite approvals, licenses or permits applicable to our business, our business, financial condition and results of operations would
be materially and adversely affected” and “—Risks Related to Our Business—If our practice is deemed to violate any PRC laws, rules or regulations, our
business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.” We cannot assure you that our practices would not be
deemed to violate any PRC laws or regulations. Moreover, developments in the online lending information intermediary service industry may lead to
changes in PRC laws, regulations and policies or in the interpretation and application of existing laws, regulations and policies that may limit or restrict
online consumer finance marketplaces like us, which could materially and adversely affect our business and operations.
From time to time, we may have to resort to administrative and court proceedings to enforce our legal rights. However, since PRC administrative
and court authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and implementing statutory and contractual terms, it may be more difficult to evaluate the
outcome of administrative and court proceedings and the level of legal protection we enjoy than in more developed legal systems. Furthermore, the PRC
legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published in a timely manner, or at all) that may have
retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. Such uncertainties,
including uncertainty over the scope and effect of our contractual, property (including intellectual property) and procedural rights, could materially and
adversely affect our business and impede our ability to continue our operations.
Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment law and how it may impact the
viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.
On March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which has become effective on January 1, 2020 and
replaced the trio of existing laws regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign
Cooperative Joint Venture Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary
regulations. The Foreign Investment Law embodies an expected PRC regulatory trend to rationalize its foreign investment regulatory regime in line with
prevailing international practice and the legislative efforts to unify the corporate legal requirements for both foreign and domestic investments. However,
since it is relatively new, uncertainties still exist in relation to its interpretation and implementation. For instance, under the Foreign Investment Law,
“foreign investment” refers to the investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by foreign individuals, enterprises or other entities in China.
Though it does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, there is no assurance that foreign investment via
contractual arrangement would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activity under the definition in the future. In addition, the
definition contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative
regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions
promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. In any of these cases, it will be uncertain
whether our contractual arrangements will be deemed to be in violation of the market access requirements for foreign investment under the PRC laws and
regulations. In addition, the Supreme People’s Court issued Certain Opinions Concerning the Application of the Foreign Investment Law on December 16,
2019, or the Foreign Investment Law Judicial Interpretations, which provides that investment contract in relation to the investment by foreign investor in a
field which is prohibited from foreign investment under the Negative List may be invalidated by the courts. Although we believe contractual arrangements
would not be deemed as “investment contract” under the Foreign Investment Law Judicial Interpretations, we cannot assure you that the that PRC courts
would take the same view as us. Furthermore, if future laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council mandate further
actions to be taken by companies with respect to existing contractual arrangements, we may face substantial uncertainties as to whether we can complete
such actions in a timely manner, or at all. Failure to take timely and appropriate measures to cope with any of these or similar regulatory compliance
challenges could materially and adversely affect our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations. See “—Risks Related to
Our Corporate Structure” and “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure.”
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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 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.
We only have contractual control over our websites. We do not directly own the websites due to the restriction of foreign investment in businesses
providing value-added telecommunication services in China, including internet information provision services. This may significantly disrupt our business,
subject us to sanctions, compromise enforceability of related contractual arrangements, or have other harmful effects on us.
The evolving PRC regulatory system for the internet industry may lead to the establishment of new regulatory agencies. For example, in
May 2011, the State Council announced the establishment of a new department, the State Internet Information Office (with the involvement of the State
Council Information Office, the MIIT, and the Ministry of Public Security). The primary role of this new agency is to facilitate the policy-making and
legislative development in this field, to direct and coordinate with the relevant departments in connection with online content administration and to deal
with cross-ministry regulatory matters in relation to the internet industry.
Hengcheng, our consolidated variable interest entity operating our online marketplace, and Yiren Wealth Management, our consolidated variable
interest entity operating our wealth management website and mobile application, may be deemed to be providing commercial internet information services
and data processing and transaction processing services, which would require Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management to obtain an ICP License and an
EDI license.
An ICP License is a value-added telecommunications business operating license required for provision of commercial internet information
services. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations on Value-Added Telecommunication Services.” As
of the date of this annual report, Hengcheng is in the process of renewing its ICP License, and Yiren Wealth Management is in the process of applying for
an ICP License. Furthermore, as we are providing mobile applications to mobile device users, it is uncertain if Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management
will be required to obtain a separate value-added telecommunications business operating license with respect to the services provided through mobile
devices in addition to the ICP License. Although we believe that not obtaining such separate license is in line with the current market practice, there can be
no assurance that we will not be required to apply for an operating license for our mobile applications in the future.
An EDI License is a value-added telecommunications business operating license required for provision of data processing and transaction
processing services. The Interim Measures jointly issued by four PRC regulatory agencies in August 2016 requires online lending information
intermediaries, among other things, to apply for the appropriate telecommunication business license in accordance with the relevant requirements of the
telecommunication authorities subsequent to completion of the record-filing with the local financial regulatory department. In accordance with the
Guidelines and the Interim Measures, the relevant authorities are in the process of making detailed implementation rules regarding the application
procedures for appropriate telecommunication business license by online lending information intermediaries. We plan to apply for any requisite
telecommunication services license once the detailed implementation rules become available.
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The Circular on Strengthening the Administration of Foreign Investment in and Operation of Value-added Telecommunications Business, issued
by the MIIT in July 2006, prohibits domestic telecommunication service providers from leasing, transferring or selling telecommunications business
operating licenses to any foreign investor in any form, or providing any resources, sites or facilities to any foreign investor for its illegal operation of a
telecommunications business in China. According to this circular, either the holder of a value-added telecommunication services operation permit or its
shareholders must directly own the domain names and trademarks used by such license holders in their provision of value-added telecommunication
services. The circular also requires each license holder to have the necessary facilities, including servers, for its approved business operations and to
maintain such facilities in the regions covered by its license. Hengcheng currently owns the relevant domain names and trademarks in connection with our
value-added telecommunications business and has the necessary personnel to operate our websites. If an ICP License holder fails to comply with the
requirements and also fails to remedy such non-compliance within a specified period of time, the MIIT or its local counterparts have the discretion to take
administrative measures against such license holder, including revoking its ICP License.
The interpretation and application of existing PRC laws, regulations and policies and possible new laws, regulations or policies relating to the
internet industry have created substantial uncertainties regarding the legality of existing and future foreign investments in, and the businesses and activities
of, internet businesses in China, including our 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.
Any failure by us or our third-party service providers to comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations could damage our
reputation.
In cooperation with our partnering custody banks and payment companies, we have adopted various policies and procedures, such as internal
controls and “know-your-customer” procedures, for anti-money laundering purposes. In addition, we rely on our third-party service providers, in particular
the custody banks and payment companies that handle the transfer of funds between borrowers and investors, to have their own appropriate anti-money
laundering policies and procedures. The custody banks and payment companies are subject to anti-money laundering obligations under applicable anti-
money laundering laws and regulations and are regulated in that respect by the PBOC. If any of our third-party service providers fails to comply with
applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations, our reputation could suffer and we could become subject to regulatory intervention, which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any negative perception of the industry, such as that arises
from any failure of other consumer finance marketplaces to detect or prevent money laundering activities, even if factually incorrect or based on isolated
incidents, could compromise our image or undermine the trust and credibility we have established.
The Guidelines jointly released by ten PRC regulatory agencies in July 2015 purport, among other things, to require internet finance service
providers, including online lending information intermediaries, to comply with certain anti-money laundering requirements, including the establishment of
a customer identification program, the monitoring and reporting of suspicious transactions, the preservation of customer information and transaction
records, and the provision of assistance to the public security department and judicial authority in investigations and proceedings in relation to anti-money
laundering matters. The Interim Measures jointly issued by four PRC regulatory agencies in August 2016 require the online lending information
intermediaries, among other things, to comply with certain anti-money laundering obligations, including verifying customer identification, reporting
suspicious transactions and preserving customer information and transaction records. The Custodian Guidelines issued by People’s Bank of China, or the
PBOC, in February 2017 require the online lending platforms to set up custody accounts with commercial banks and comply with the anti-money
laundering requirements of the relevant commercial banks. On October 11, 2018, the PBOC, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, or
the CBIRC, and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, or the CSRC, jointly promulgated the Administrative Measures for Anti-money Laundering
and Counter-terrorism Financing by Internet Finance Service Agencies (for Trial Implementation), effective as of January 1, 2019, which specify the anti-
money laundering obligations of internet finance service agencies and regulate that the internet finance service agencies shall (i) adopt continuous customer
identification measures; (ii) implement the system for reporting large-value or suspicious transactions; (iii) conduct real-time monitoring of the lists of
terrorist organizations and terrorists; and (iv) properly keep the information, data and materials such as customer identification and transaction reports etc.
We cannot assure you that the anti-money laundering policies and procedures we have adopted will be effective in protecting our marketplace from being
exploited for money laundering purposes or will be deemed to be in compliance with applicable anti-money laundering implementing rules if and when
adopted.
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We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and
any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our
business.
We are a holding company, and we rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries for our cash and financing
requirements, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders and service any debt we may incur. If our
PRC subsidiaries incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing the debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other
distributions to us. In addition, the PRC tax authorities may require Hengye and Hengyuda to adjust their taxable income under the contractual
arrangements they currently have in place with our consolidated variable interest entities in a manner that would materially and adversely affect their ability
to pay dividends and other distributions to us. See “—Risks Related to Our Corporate Structure—Contractual arrangements in relation to our consolidated
variable interest entities may be subject to scrutiny by the PRC tax authorities and they may determine that we owe additional taxes, which could
negatively affect our financial condition and the value of your investment” above.
Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiaries, as wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China, may pay dividends only out of their
respective accumulated after-tax 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 accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the
aggregate amount of such funds reaches 50% of its registered capital. At its discretion, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise may allocate a portion of its
after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not
distributable as cash dividends.
Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries 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. See
also “—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” below.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may
delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of our initial public offering and the concurrent private placement to make loans to or make additional
capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our
business.
Under PRC laws and regulations, we are permitted to utilize the proceeds from our initial public offering and the concurrent private placement to
fund our PRC subsidiaries by making loans to or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, subject to applicable government registration and
approval requirements.
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Any loans to our PRC subsidiaries, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC laws, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign
exchange loan registrations. For example, loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be
registered with the local counterpart of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE. According to the Interim Measures on the Management of
Foreign Debts promulgated by SAFE, the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission on January 8, 2003, the statutory
limit for the total amount of foreign debts of a foreign-invested company is the difference between the amount of total investment as approved by PRC
Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM, or its local counterpart and the amount of registered capital of such foreign-invested company or two times the net
assets provided in the latest audited financial report of such PRC subsidiary, as applicable. According to the Circular of the People’s Bank of China on
Matters relating to the Comprehensive Macro-prudential Management of Cross-border Financing issued by the People’s Bank of China in January 2017, or
Circular 9, and Circular of the People’s Bank of China and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Adjusting the Macro-prudential Regulation
Parameter for Full-covered Cross-border Financing in March 2020, or Circular 64, the maximum amount of foreign debt that each company may borrow is
determined by reference to its so-called risk-weighted balance of cross-border financing, which may not exceed two and a half times its net assets as
indicated in its latest audited financial report. The risk-weighted balance of cross-border financing of a company is calculated based on its outstanding
amounts of Renminbi and foreign currency cross-border debt, multiplied by risk conversion factors corresponding to their respective remaining terms, loan
categories and currency. However, for a one-year grace period starting from January 11, 2017, a foreign-invested company such as our PRC subsidiaries
may elect to determine the maximum amount of its foreign debt in according with the rules in effect prior to Circular 9, or to comply with Circular 9. On
the other hand, PRC domestic companies such as our consolidated variable interest entities must comply with Circular 9. Moreover, according to the Notice
of the National Development and Reform Commission on Promoting the Administrative Reform of the Recordation and Registration System for
Enterprises’ Issuance of Foreign Debts issued by the National Development and Reform Commission in September 2015, any loans we extend to our
consolidated variable interest entities or other PRC operating companies that are domestic PRC entities for more than one year must be filed with the
National Development and Reform Commission or its local counterpart and must also be registered with SAFE or its local branches.
We may also decide to finance our PRC subsidiaries by means of capital contributions. These capital contributions must be filed for record with
MOFCOM or its local counterpart. On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming the
Management Approach regarding the Settlement of Foreign Exchange Capital of Foreign-invested Enterprises, or Circular 19, which expands a pilot
reform of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange capitals of foreign-invested enterprises nationwide. On June 9, 2016, SAFE
promulgated Circular of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Reforming and Regulating Policies on the Control over Foreign Exchange
Settlement of Capital Accounts, or Circular 16, to further expand and strengthen such reform. Under Circular 19 and Circular 16, foreign-invested
enterprises in the PRC are allowed to use their foreign exchange funds under capital accounts and RMB funds from exchange settlement for expenditure
under current accounts within their business scope or expenditure under capital accounts permitted by laws and regulations, except that such funds shall not
be used for (i) expenditure beyond the enterprise’s business scope or expenditure prohibited by laws and regulations; (ii) investments in securities or other
investments except principal-secured products issued by banks; (iii) granting loans to non-affiliated enterprises, except where it is expressly permitted in
the business license; and (iv) construction or purchase of real estate for purposes other than self-use (except for real estate enterprises). On October 23,
2019, the SAFE issued the Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Facilitating Cross-border Trade and Investment, which,
among other things, expanded the use of foreign exchange capital to domestic equity investments. Non-investment foreign-funded enterprises are allowed
to lawfully make domestic equity investments on the premise by using capital funds without violation to prevailing special administrative measures for
access of foreign investments (negative list) and the authenticity and compliance with the regulations of domestic investment projects. If our consolidated
variable interest entities need financial support from us or our wholly owned subsidiaries in the future and we find it necessary to use foreign currency-
denominated capital to provide such financial support, our ability to fund our consolidated variable interest entities’ operations will be subject to statutory
limits and restrictions, including those described above.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies,
we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals on a timely
basis, if at all, with respect to future loans to our PRC subsidiaries or future capital contributions by us to our PRC subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such
registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to use the proceeds we received from our initial public offering and our private placement 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 result in foreign currency exchange losses and have a material adverse effect on the price of our ADSs.
Fluctuations in exchange rates could have a material and adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment. The
conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. The RMB has fluctuated against the
U.S. dollar, at times significantly and unpredictably. The value of RMB 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 RMB 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 RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future.
Any significant appreciation or depreciation of RMB 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 into RMB to
pay our operating expenses, appreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive from the
conversion. Conversely, a significant depreciation of RMB against the U.S. dollar may significantly reduce the U.S. dollar equivalent of our earnings,
which in turn could adversely affect the price of our ADSs.
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 RMB 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 net revenue 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 revenue in Renminbi. Under our current corporate structure, our company in the Cayman
Islands relies on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiaries to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign
exchange 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 SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries are able
to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE, subject to the condition that the remittance of such dividends outside of the
PRC complies with certain procedures under PRC foreign exchange regulation, such as the overseas investment registrations by the beneficial owners of
our company who are PRC residents. But 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.
In light of the flood of capital outflows of China in 2016 due to the weakening Renminbi, the PRC government has imposed more restrictive
foreign exchange policies and stepped up scrutiny of major outbound capital movement. More restrictions and a substantial vetting process are put in place
by SAFE to regulate cross-border transactions falling under the capital account. For example, on January 26, 2017, SAFE promulgated the Circular on
Further Improving Reform of Foreign Exchange Administration and Optimizing Genuineness and Compliance Verification, or Circular 3, which sets out
certain measures tightening genuineness and compliance verification of cross-border transactions and cross-border capital flow, including (i) improving the
statistics of current account foreign currency earnings deposited offshore; (ii) requiring banks to verify board resolutions, tax filing forms, and audited
financial statements before wiring foreign-invested enterprises’ foreign exchange distributions above US$50,000; and (iii) strengthening genuineness and
compliance verification of foreign direct investments. The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for
current account transactions. 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.
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Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
We are required under PRC laws and regulations 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 our employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where we
operate our businesses. The requirement of employee benefit plans has not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the
different levels of economic development in different locations. We have accrued the employee benefit according to the local governments’ regulations in
financial statements, but we have not made adequate employee benefits payments as of the date of this annual report. In addition, certain entities we
acquired in March 2019 as part of our business realignment with CreditEase did not make adequate employee benefits payment in the past. Although we
have obtained indemnities and warranties from CreditEase to protect us for any potential liability associated with unpaid employee benefits, we may be
required to make up the contributions for these plans and pay late penalties and fines in the first place before we could claim compensation from
CreditEase. If we are subject to late penalties or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits, our financial condition and results of operations may
be materially and adversely affected.
The M&A Rules and certain other PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions of Chinese companies by foreign investors,
which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Companies by Foreign Investors, or the M&A Rules, adopted by six PRC regulatory
agencies in August 2006 and amended in 2009, and some other regulations and rules concerning mergers and acquisitions established additional procedures
and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex, including requirements in
some instances that MOFCOM be notified in advance of any change-of-control transaction in which a foreign investor takes control of a PRC domestic
enterprise. Moreover, the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law requires that MOFCOM shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain
thresholds are triggered. In addition, the security review rules issued by MOFCOM that became effective in September 2011 specify that mergers and
acquisitions by foreign investors that raise “national defense and security” concerns and mergers and acquisitions through which foreign investors may
acquire de facto control over domestic enterprises that raise “national security” concerns are subject to strict review by MOFCOM, and the rules prohibit
any activities attempting to bypass a security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement. In the
future, we may grow our business by acquiring complementary businesses. Complying with the requirements of the above-mentioned regulations and other
relevant rules to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from MOFCOM
or its local counterparts, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could affect our ability to expand our business or maintain
our market share. On March 25, 2019, we entered into a set of definitive agreements with CreditEase regarding a business realignment between CreditEase
and us. In December 2019, Puhui became our wholly owned subsidiary through a series of internal re-organization transactions. If MOFCOM or any of its
local counterparts challenges aforementioned the transaction structure or requires us to complete relevant approval process, we may have to adjust the
transaction structure, amend or terminate the definitive agreements or be subject to fines and other administrative sanctions. If such situations occur, our
business, financial condition and prospects would be materially and adversely affected.
PRC regulations relating to offshore investment activities by PRC residents may limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to increase their registered capital
or distribute profits to us or otherwise expose us or our PRC resident beneficial owners to liability and penalties under PRC law.
SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through
Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection
with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. In addition, such PRC residents or
entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to any change of basic
information (including change of such PRC citizens or residents, name and operation term), increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or
exchanges of shares, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is issued to replace the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange
Administration for PRC Residents Engaging in Financing and Roundtrip Investments via Overseas Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 75. SAFE
promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment in
February 2015, which took effect on June 1, 2015. This notice has amended SAFE Circular 37 requiring PRC residents or entities to register with qualified
banks rather than SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas
investment or financing.
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If our shareholders who are PRC residents or entities do not complete their registration as required, our PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from
distributing their profits and proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we may be restricted in our ability to contribute
additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries. Moreover, failure to comply with the SAFE registration described above could result in liability under PRC laws
for evasion of applicable foreign exchange restrictions.
All of our shareholders who directly or indirectly hold shares in our Cayman Islands holding company and who are known to us as being PRC
residents have completed the foreign exchange registrations.
However, we may not be informed of the identities of all the PRC residents or entities holding direct or indirect interest in our company, nor can
we compel our beneficial owners to comply with SAFE registration requirements. As a result, we cannot assure you that all of our shareholders or
beneficial owners who are PRC residents or entities have complied with, and will in the future make or obtain any applicable registrations or approvals
required by, SAFE regulations. Failure by such shareholders or beneficial owners to comply with SAFE regulations, or failure by us to amend the foreign
exchange registrations of our PRC subsidiaries, could subject us to fines or legal sanctions, restrict our overseas or cross-border investment activities, limit
our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to make distributions or pay dividends to us or affect our ownership structure, which could adversely affect our business and
prospects.
Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject the PRC plan
participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
In February 2012, 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 March 2007. Pursuant to these rules,
PRC citizens and non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year who participate in any stock incentive plan of an
overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the
PRC subsidiary of such overseas listed company, and complete certain other procedures. In addition, an overseas entrusted institution must be retained to
handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of shares and interests. We and our executive officers and
other employees who are PRC citizens or who have resided in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who have been granted options
or other awards are subject to these regulations. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also
limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiaries and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us. We also face
regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law.
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Related to Foreign Exchange—Regulations on Stock
Incentive Plans.”
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 Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, an enterprise established outside of the PRC with a “de facto management
body” within the PRC is considered a resident enterprise and will be subject to the enterprise income tax on its global income at the rate of 25%. The
implementation rules define the term “de facto management body” as the body that exercises full and substantial control over and overall management of
the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation 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 like us, the criteria set forth in the circular may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’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 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 of 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.
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We believe none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. See “Item 10. Additional Information—E.
Taxation—People’s Republic of China Taxation.” However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities
and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” As substantially all of our management members are
based in China, it remains unclear how the tax residency rule will apply to our case. If the PRC tax authorities determine that Yiren Digital Ltd. or any of
our subsidiaries outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC enterprise income tax purposes, then Yiren Digital Ltd. or such subsidiary could be
subject to PRC tax at a rate of 25% on its worldwide income, which could materially reduce our net income. In addition, we will also be subject to PRC
enterprise income tax reporting obligations. Furthermore, if the PRC tax authorities determine that we are a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income
tax purposes, gains realized on the sale or other disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares may be subject to PRC tax, at a rate of 10% in the case of non-
PRC enterprises or 20% in the case of non-PRC individuals (in each case, subject to the provisions of any applicable tax treaty), if such gains are deemed to
be from PRC sources. It is unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of our company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their
country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that we are treated as a PRC resident enterprise. Any such tax may reduce the returns on the investment
in our ADSs.
Discontinuation of preferential tax treatment or imposition of any additional taxes could adversely affect our financial condition and results of
operations.
The Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules have adopted a uniform statutory enterprise income tax rate of 25% to all enterprises
in China. The Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementing rules also permit companies qualified as “software enterprises” to enjoy a two-year income
tax exemption starting from the first profit making year, followed by a reduced tax rate of 12.5% for the subsequent three years. Hengye, one of our PRC
subsidiaries, was qualified as a “software enterprise” in July 2016, and accordingly has been eligible for an exemption of enterprise income tax for 2015
and 2016 and a reduced enterprise income tax at the rate of 12.5% from 2017 through 2019. However, Hengye’s qualification as a “software enterprise” is
subject to annual evaluation by the relevant authorities in China. If Hengye fails to maintain its “software enterprise” qualification, its applicable corporate
income tax rate would increase to 25%, which could have adverse effects on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, Hengyuda, one
of our PRC subsidiaries, was eligible for a reduced enterprise income tax rate of 15% since the year 2017 pursuant to the Catalogue of Encouraged
Industries in Western Regions, the Catalogue of Industries for Guiding Foreign Investment, Circular on Issues Concerning Tax Policies for In-depth
Implementation of Western Development Strategies, and the related rules granting favorable tax treatment to companies in specified industries in western
China under the PRC government’s policy initiative to promote the development of the western region of China. However, Hengyuda’s favorable tax
treatment is subject to an annual filing requirement. Moreover, the relevant rules and policy initiative may change, and favorable tax treatment under these
rules is available only to companies meeting certain qualifications. Therefore there is uncertainty as to whether and for how long Hengyuda can continue to
enjoy such favorable tax treatment after 2019. If such favorable tax treatment becomes unavailable to Hengyuda in the future, its applicable corporate
income tax rate would increase to 25%, which may affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be able to obtain certain benefits under relevant tax treaty on dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to us through our Hong Kong
subsidiary.
We are a holding company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands and as such rely on dividends and other distributions on equity from
our PRC subsidiaries to satisfy part of our liquidity requirements. Pursuant to the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, a withholding tax rate of 10% currently
applies to dividends paid by a PRC “resident enterprise” to a foreign enterprise investor, unless any such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has
a tax treaty with China that provides for preferential tax treatment. Pursuant to the Arrangement between the Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, or the Double Tax Avoidance Arrangement, such withholding
tax rate may be lowered to 5% if a Hong Kong resident enterprise owns no less than 25% of a PRC enterprise. Furthermore, the Administrative Measures
for Non-Resident Taxpayers to Enjoy Treaty Benefits, or Circular 35, which became effective on January 1, 2020, require non-resident enterprises to
determine whether they are qualified to enjoy the preferential tax treatment under the tax treaties and file relevant report with the tax authorities. There are
also other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. See “Item 10. Additional
Information—E. Taxation—People’s Republic of China Taxation.” Our board of directors decided in August 2018 to suspend the previously adopted semi-
annual dividend policy. In the event that we make offshore distributions of our earnings, we would be subject to a significant withholding tax. We cannot
assure you that our determination regarding our qualification to enjoy the preferential tax treatment will not be challenged by the relevant tax authority or
we will be able to complete the necessary filings with the relevant tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double
Taxation Arrangement with respect to dividends to be paid by our PRC subsidiaries to Yiren Digital Hong Kong Limited, our Hong Kong subsidiary.
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Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential acquisitions we may pursue in the
future.
The PRC tax authorities have enhanced their scrutiny over the direct or indirect transfer of certain taxable assets, including, in particular, equity
interests in a PRC resident enterprise, by a non-resident enterprise by promulgating and implementing Circular on Issues Concerning Treatment of
Enterprise Income Tax in Enterprise Restructuring Business promulgated by the State Administration of Taxation, which became effective in January 2008,
or Circular 59, the Announcement of the State Administration of Taxation on Several Issues concerning the Enterprise Income Tax on the Indirect Transfers
of Properties by Non-Resident Enterprises promulgated by the State Administration of Taxation in February 2015, or Circular 7, and the Announcement of
the State Administration of Taxation on Matters Concerning Withholding of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprises at Source promulgated by the State
Administration of Taxation in October 2017 and taken into effect in December 2017 and amended in June 2018, or SAT Circular 37.
Under Circular 7, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring the equity interests of a PRC “resident enterprise”
or other taxable assets indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, may
be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, if the indirect transfer is considered to be an abusive use of company structure without reasonable commercial
purposes.
In addition, Circular 7 provides clearer criteria on how to assess reasonable commercial purposes and has introduced safe harbors for internal
group restructurings and the purchase and sale of equity through a public securities market. Circular 7 also brings challenges to both the foreign transferor
and transferee (or other person who is obligated to pay for the transfer) of the taxable assets. Where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect
transfer” by transferring the taxable assets 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 the 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 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.
SAT Circular 37 provides certain changes to the current withholding regime. For example, SAT Circular 37 requires that the transferor shall
declare to the competent tax authority for payment of tax within seven (7) days after the tax payment obligation comes into being if the withholding agent
fails to withhold the tax due or withhold the tax due in full. However, according to SAT Circular 37, if the withholding agent fails to withhold and remit the
income tax payable, or is unable to perform its obligation in this regard, as long as the non-resident enterprise that earns the income 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.
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We face uncertainties on the reporting and consequences on future private equity financing transactions, share exchange or other transactions
involving the transfer of shares in our company by investors that are non-PRC resident enterprises. The PRC tax authorities may pursue such non-resident
enterprises with respect to a filing or the transferees with respect to withholding obligation, and request our PRC subsidiaries to assist in the filing. As a
result, we and non-resident enterprises in such transactions may become at risk of being subject to filing obligations or being taxed, under Circular 59,
Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37, and may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with Circular 59, Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37 or to
establish that we and our non-resident enterprises should not be taxed under these circulars, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and results of operations.
The PRC tax authorities have the discretion under Circular 59, Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37 to make adjustments to the taxable capital gains
based on the difference between the fair value of the taxable assets transferred and the cost of investment. We may pursue acquisitions from time to time
that may involve complex corporate structures. If we are considered a non-resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law and if the PRC
tax authorities make adjustments to the taxable income of the transactions under Circular 59, Circular 7 and SAT Circular 37, our income tax costs
associated with such potential acquisitions will be increased, which may have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The audit report included in this annual report is prepared by auditor who is not inspected by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, 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 reports filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, as auditors of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the U.S. Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board, or the PCAOB, is required by the laws of the United States to undergo regular inspections by the PCAOB to assess its
compliance with the laws of the United States and professional standards.
Because we have substantial operations within the PRC and the PCAOB is currently unable to conduct inspections of the work of our independent
registered public accounting firm as it relates to those operations without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our independent registered public
accounting firm is not currently inspected fully by the PCAOB. This lack of PCAOB inspections in the PRC prevents the PCAOB from regularly
evaluating our independent registered public accounting firm’s audits and its quality control procedures. As a result, investors may be deprived of the
benefits of PCAOB inspections.
On May 24, 2013, the PCAOB announced that it had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on Enforcement Cooperation with the China
Securities Regulatory Commission, or 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. On inspection, it appears that the PCAOB continues
to be in discussions with the Mainland China regulators to permit inspections of audit firms that are registered with the PCAOB in relation to the audit of
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. The
joint statement reflects a heightened interest in this issue. 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. However, it remains unclear what further actions the SEC and PCAOB will
take and its impact on Chinese companies listed in the U.S.
Inspections of other firms that the PCAOB has conducted outside the PRC have identified deficiencies in those firms’ audit procedures and quality
control procedures, which may be addressed as part of the inspection process to improve future audit quality. The inability of the PCAOB to conduct full
inspections of auditors in the PRC makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit
procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside the PRC that are subject to PCAOB inspections. Investors may lose confidence in
our reported financial information and procedures and the quality of our financial statements.
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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. Furthermore, there have been recent media reports on deliberations within the U.S. government regarding potentially limiting
or restricting China-based companies from accessing U.S. capital markets. If any such deliberations were to materialize, the resulting legislation may have
material and adverse impact on the stock performance of China-based issuers listed in the United States.
Proceedings instituted by the SEC against Chinese affiliates of the “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.
In late 2012, the SEC commenced administrative proceedings under Rule 102(e) of its Rules of Practice and also under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
against the mainland Chinese affiliates of the “Big Four” accounting firms (including the mainland Chinese affiliate of 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 Chinese accounting 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 Chinese accounting firms reached a settlement with the SEC whereby the proceedings were stayed. Under the
settlement, the SEC accepted that future requests by the SEC for the production of documents would normally be made to the CSRC. The Chinese
accounting firms would receive requests matching those under Section 106 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and would be required to abide by a detailed set of
procedures with respect to such requests, which in substance would require them to facilitate production via the CSRC. The CSRC for its part initiated a
procedure whereby, under its supervision and subject to its approval, requested classes of documents held by the accounting firms could be sanitized of
problematic and sensitive content so as to render them capable of being made available by the CSRC to U.S. regulators.
Under the terms of the settlement, the underlying proceeding against the four PRC-based accounting firms was deemed dismissed with prejudice
at the end of four years starting from the settlement date, which was on February 6, 2019. Despite the final ending of the proceedings, the presumption is
that all parties will continue to apply the same procedures: i.e. the SEC will continue to make its requests for the production of documents to the CSRC,
and the CSRC will normally process those requests applying the sanitization procedure. We cannot predict whether, in cases where the CSRC does not
authorize production of requested documents to the SEC, the SEC will further challenge the four PRC-based accounting firms’ compliance with U.S. law.
If additional challenges are imposed on the Chinese affiliates of the “big four” accounting firms, we could be unable to timely file future financial
statements in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
In the event that the SEC restarts the administrative proceedings, 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 accounting firms may cause investor uncertainty regarding China-based, United States-listed companies
and the market price of our ADSs may be adversely affected.
If the Chinese affiliate of our independent registered public accounting firm were 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 ordinary shares from the NYSE or deregistration from the SEC, or both, which would substantially reduce or effectively terminate the
trading of our ADSs in the United States.
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Risks Related to our American Depositary Shares
The market price for our ADSs may be volatile.
The trading price of our ADSs has ranged from US$4.48 to US$17.02 per ADS in 2019. The trading prices of our ADSs are likely to be volatile
and could fluctuate widely due to factors beyond our control. This may happen because of broad market and industry factors, like the performance and
fluctuation in the market prices or the underperformance or deteriorating financial results of internet or other companies based in China that have listed
their securities in the United States in recent years. The securities of some of these companies have experienced significant volatility since their initial
public offerings, including, in some cases, substantial decline in their trading prices. The trading performances of other Chinese companies’ securities after
their offerings may affect the attitudes of investors toward Chinese companies listed in the United States, which consequently may impact the trading
performance of our ADSs, regardless of our actual operating performance. In addition, any negative news or perceptions about inadequate corporate
governance practices or fraudulent accounting, corporate structure or other matters of us or other Chinese companies may also negatively affect the
attitudes of investors towards Chinese companies in general, including us, regardless of whether we have conducted any inappropriate activities. In
addition, securities markets may from time to time experience significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to our operating performance,
which may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our ADSs.
In addition to the above factors, the price and trading volume of our ADSs may be highly volatile due to multiple factors, including the following:
· regulatory developments affecting us, our users or our industry;
· announcements of studies and reports relating to our loan products and service offerings or those of our competitors;
· changes in the economic performance or market valuations of other online consumer finance marketplaces;
· actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and changes or revisions of our expected results;
· changes in financial estimates by securities research analysts;
· conditions in the internet and consumer finance industries;
· announcements by us or our competitors of new product and service offerings, acquisitions, strategic relationships, joint ventures or capital
commitments;
· additions to or departures of our senior management;
· detrimental negative publicity about us, our management or our industry;
· fluctuations of exchange rates between the RMB and the U.S. dollar;
· release or expiry of lock-up or other transfer restrictions on our outstanding ordinary shares or ADSs;
· sales or perceived potential sales of additional ordinary shares or ADSs; and
· any share repurchase program.
We cannot guarantee that any share repurchase program will be fully consummated or that any share repurchase program will enhance long-term
shareholder value, and share repurchases could increase the volatility of the price of our ADSs and could diminish our cash reserves.
In June 2018, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program, under which we may repurchase up to US$20 million of our ADSs or
ordinary shares. As of December 31, 2019, we had repurchased a total of 368,686 ADSs at an average price of US$14.9 per ADS under this program. Our
share repurchase program could affect the price of our stock and increase volatility and may be suspended or terminated at any time.
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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our
ADSs and trading volume could decline.
The trading market for our ADSs will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our
business. If research analysts do not establish and maintain adequate research coverage or if one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our ADSs
or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, the market price for our ADSs would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease
coverage of our company or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which, in turn, could cause the market
price or trading volume of our ADSs to decline.
We cannot assure you that our existing dividend policy will not change in the future or the amount the dividends that you may receive, and as such, you
must rely on price appreciation of our ADSs for return on your investment.
Our board of directors has discretion as to whether to distribute dividends, subject to our memorandum and articles of association and 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.
In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of
directors. On July 29, 2017, our board of directors approved a semi-annual dividend policy. Under this policy, semi-annual dividends were set at an amount
equivalent to approximately 15% of our anticipated net income after tax in each half year commencing from the second half of 2017. The determination to
declare and pay such semi-annual dividend and the amount of dividend in any particular half year will be made at the discretion of our board of directors
and will be based upon our operations and earnings, cash flow, financial condition and other relevant factors that the board may deem appropriate. As such,
the amount of dividends that you will receive is subject to change. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will not adjust our dividend policy in the
future. 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.
Substantial future sales or perceived potential sales of our ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
Sales of our ADSs in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our ADSs to decline. As of
March 31, 2020, we had 185,613,004 ordinary shares outstanding. Among these shares, 23,113,058 ordinary shares are in the form of ADSs. All our ADSs
are freely transferable without restriction or additional registration under the Securities Act. The remaining ordinary shares outstanding are available for
sale, subject to volume and other restrictions as applicable under Rules 144 and 701 under the Securities Act. To the extent shares are sold into the market,
the market price of our ADSs could decline.
Certain holders of our ordinary shares may cause us to register under the Securities Act the sale of their shares. Registration of these shares under
the Securities Act would result in ADSs representing these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon
the effectiveness of the registration. Sales of these registered shares in the form of ADSs in the public market could cause the price of our ADSs to decline.
We have adopted share incentive plans in September 2015 and July 2017, under which we have the discretion to grant a broad range of equity-
based awards to eligible participants. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plan.” We have
registered certain ordinary shares that we may issue under our share incentive plans and intend to register all ordinary shares that we may issue under our
share incentive plans. Once we register these ordinary shares, they can be freely sold in the public market in the form of ADSs upon issuance, subject to
volume limitations applicable to affiliates and relevant lock-up agreements. If a large number of our ordinary shares or securities convertible into our
ordinary shares are sold in the public market in the form of ADSs after they become eligible for sale, the sales could reduce the trading price of our ADSs
and impede our ability to raise future capital. In addition, any ordinary shares that we issue under our share incentive plans would dilute the percentage
ownership held by the investors who purchased ADSs.
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You, as holders of ADSs, may have fewer rights than holders of our ordinary shares and must act through the depositary to exercise those rights.
Holders of ADSs do not have the same rights as our shareholders and may only exercise the voting rights with respect to the underlying ordinary
shares in accordance with the provisions of the deposit agreement. Under the deposit agreement, you must vote by giving voting instructions to the
depositary. Upon receipt of your voting instructions, the depositary will vote the underlying ordinary shares representing your ADSs in accordance with
these instructions. You will not be able to directly exercise your right to vote with respect to the underlying ordinary shares representing your ADSs unless
you withdraw the shares and become the registered holder of such shares prior the record date of the general meeting. Under our current memorandum and
articles of association, the minimum notice period required to convene a general meeting is seven days. When a general meeting is convened, you may not
receive sufficient notice of a shareholders’ meeting to permit you to withdraw the shares underlying your ADSs and become the registered holder of such
shares prior to the record date of the general meeting to allow you to cast your vote with respect to any specific matter. In addition, the depositary and its
agents may not be able to send voting instructions to you or carry out your voting instructions in a timely manner. Under our current 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 ordinary shares underlying 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. We will make all reasonable efforts to cause the depositary to
extend voting rights to you in a timely manner, but we cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct
the depositary to vote the shares underlying your ADSs. Furthermore, the depositary and its agents will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any
instructions to vote, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any such vote. As a result, you may not be able to exercise your right to
vote and you may lack recourse if the shares underlying 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.
Except in limited circumstances, the depositary for our ADSs will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our ordinary shares underlying your ADSs if you
do not vote at shareholders’ meetings, which could adversely affect your interests.
Under the deposit agreement for our ADSs, the depositary will give us a discretionary proxy to vote our ordinary shares underlying your ADSs at
shareholders’ meetings if you do not give voting instructions to the depositary, unless:
· we have failed to timely provide the depositary with our notice of meeting and related voting materials;
· we have instructed the depositary that we do not wish a discretionary proxy to be given;
· we have informed the depositary that there is substantial opposition as to a matter to be voted on at the meeting;
· a matter to be voted on at the meeting would materially and adversely affect the rights of shareholders; or
· voting at the meeting is made on a show of hands.
The effect of this discretionary proxy is that, if you fail to give voting instructions to the depositary, you cannot prevent our ordinary shares
underlying your ADSs from being voted, absent the situations described above. This may make it more difficult for shareholders to influence our
management. Holders of our ordinary shares are not subject to this discretionary proxy.
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Your rights to pursue claims against the depositary as a holder of ADSs are limited by the terms of the deposit agreement.
Under the deposit agreement, any action or proceeding against or involving the depositary, arising out of or based upon the deposit agreement or
the transactions contemplated thereby or by virtue of owning the ADSs may only be instituted in a state or federal court in New York, New York, and you,
as a holder of our ADSs, will have irrevocably waived any objection which you may have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably
submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such action or proceeding. However, 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. Also, we may amend or terminate the deposit agreement without your consent. If you continue to hold your
ADSs after an amendment to the deposit agreement, you agree to be bound by the deposit agreement as amended. See “Item 12. Description of Securities
Other Than Equity Securities—D. American Depositary Shares” for more information.
Your right to participate in any future rights offerings may be limited, which may cause dilution to your holdings.
We may from time to time distribute rights to our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. However, we cannot make such rights
available to you in the United States unless we register both the rights and the securities to which the rights relate under the Securities Act or an exemption
from the registration requirements is available. Under the deposit agreement, the depositary will not make rights available to you unless both the rights and
the underlying securities to be distributed to ADS holders are either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities
Act. We are under no obligation to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration
statement to be declared effective and we may not be able to establish a necessary exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, you
may be unable to participate in our rights offerings in the future and may experience dilution in your holdings.
You may not receive cash dividends if the depositary decides it is impractical to make them available to you.
The depositary will pay cash dividends on the ADSs only to the extent that we decide to distribute dividends on our ordinary shares or other
deposited securities, and we do not have any present plan to pay any cash dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. To the extent that there
is a distribution, the depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on our ordinary
shares or other deposited securities 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 may, at its discretion, decide that it is inequitable or impractical to make a distribution available to any
holders of ADSs. For example, the depositary may determine that it is not practicable to distribute certain property through the mail, or that the value of
certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may decide not to distribute such property to you.
You may be subject to limitations on transfer of your ADSs.
Your ADSs are transferable on the books of the depositary. However, the depositary may close its transfer books at any time or from time to time
when it deems expedient in connection with the performance of its duties. In addition, the depositary may refuse to deliver, transfer or register transfers of
ADSs generally when our books or the books of the depositary are closed, or at any time if we deem or the depositary deems it advisable to do so because
of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body, or under any provision of the deposit agreement, or for any other reason.
We were previously subject to two shareholder class action lawsuits that were subsequently dismissed. However, we cannot assure you that we will not
be subject to other shareholder class action lawsuits in the future.
We were previously subject to two shareholder class action lawsuits that were subsequently dismissed. See details on the putative shareholder
class action lawsuits in “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.” On July 12,
2017, the United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the class action lawsuits and concluded that the plaintiff’s action,
which was not certified as a class action, shall be dismissed with prejudice. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to other shareholder
class action lawsuits in the future. If we are subject to other shareholder class action lawsuits, we will be unable to estimate the possible loss or possible
range of loss, if any, associated with the resolution of these lawsuits. In the event that our initial defense of these lawsuits is unsuccessful, there can be no
assurance that we will prevail in any appeal. Any adverse outcome of these cases, including any plaintiff’s appeal of a judgment in these lawsuits, could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation, cash flows and reputation. In addition, there can be no assurance
that our insurance carriers will cover all or part of the defense costs, or any liabilities that may arise from these matters. The litigation process may utilize a
significant portion of our resources and divert our management’s attention from the day-to-day operations of our company, all of which could harm our
business. We also may be subject to claims for indemnification related to these matters, and we cannot predict the impact that indemnification claims may
have on our business or financial results.
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Certain judgments obtained against us by our shareholders may not be enforceable.
We are an exempted company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. We conduct substantially all of our operations
in China and substantially all of our assets are located in China. In addition, a majority of our directors and executive officers reside within China, and most
of the assets of these persons are located within China. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to effect service of process within the United
States upon us or these individuals, or to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States in the event that you believe your rights
have been infringed under the U.S. federal securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the
Cayman Islands and of the PRC may render you unable to enforce a judgment against our assets or the assets of our directors and officers.
There is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the federal or state courts of the United States (and the Cayman
Islands are not a party to any treaties for the reciprocal enforcement or recognition of such judgments), a judgment obtained in such jurisdiction will be
recognized and enforced in the courts of the Cayman Islands at common law, without any re-examination of the merits of the underlying dispute, by an
action commenced on the foreign judgment debt in the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment (a) is given by a foreign court of
competent jurisdiction, (b) imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given, (c) is final, (d) is not
in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty, and (e) was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or
the public policy of the Cayman Islands. However, the Cayman Islands courts are unlikely to enforce a judgment obtained from the U.S. courts under civil
liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities law if such judgment is determined by the courts of the Cayman Islands to give rise to obligations to make
payments that are penal or punitive in nature. Because such a determination has not yet been made by a court of the Cayman Islands, it is uncertain whether
such civil liability judgments from U.S. courts would be enforceable in the Cayman Islands.
The recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments are provided for under the PRC Civil Procedures Law. PRC courts may recognize and
enforce foreign judgments in accordance with the requirements of the PRC Civil Procedures Law based either on treaties between China and the country
where the judgment is made or on principles of reciprocity between jurisdictions. China does not have any treaties or other forms of reciprocity with the
United States that provide for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. In addition, according to the PRC Civil Procedures Law,
the PRC courts will not enforce a foreign judgment against us or our 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.
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 of our directors to us under Cayman
Islands law are to a large extent governed by the common law of the Cayman Islands. The common law of the Cayman Islands is derived in part from
comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands as well as from the common law of England, the decisions of whose courts are of
persuasive authority, but are not binding, on a court in the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the fiduciary duties of our directors under
Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or judicial precedent in some jurisdictions in the United States. In
particular, the Cayman Islands has a less developed body of securities laws than the United States. Some U.S. states, such as Delaware, have more fully
developed and judicially interpreted bodies of corporate law than the Cayman Islands. In addition, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to
initiate a shareholder derivative action in a federal court of the United States.
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Shareholders of Cayman Islands exempted companies like us have no general rights under Cayman Islands law to inspect corporate records or to
obtain copies of lists of shareholders of these companies. Our directors have discretion under our current memorandum and articles of association to
determine whether or not, and under what conditions, our corporate records may be inspected by our shareholders, but are not obliged to make them
available to our shareholders. This may make it more difficult for you to obtain the information needed to establish any facts necessary for a shareholder
resolution or to solicit proxies from other shareholders in connection with a proxy contest.
As a result of all of the above, our public shareholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions taken by
management, members of the board of directors or controlling shareholders than they would as public shareholders of a company incorporated in the
United States.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could discourage a third party from acquiring us and adversely
affect the rights of holders of our ordinary shares and ADSs.
Our memorandum and articles of association contain certain provisions that could limit the ability of others to acquire control of our company,
including a provision that grants authority to our board of directors to establish and issue from time to time one or more series of preferred shares without
action by our shareholders and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series. These provisions could have
the effect of depriving our shareholders and ADSs holders of the opportunity to sell their shares or ADSs at a premium over the prevailing market price by
discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our company in a tender offer or similar transactions.
We are a foreign private issuer within the meaning of the rules under the Exchange Act, and as such we are exempt from certain provisions applicable
to U.S. domestic public companies.
Because we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we are exempt from certain provisions of the securities rules and
regulations in the United States that are applicable to U.S. domestic issuers, including:
· the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K;
· the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents, or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the
Exchange Act;
· the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders
who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and
· the selective disclosure rules by issuers of material nonpublic information under Regulation FD.
We are required to file an annual report on Form 20-F within four months of the end of each fiscal year. In addition, we intend to publish our
results on a quarterly basis as press releases, distributed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the NYSE. Press releases relating to financial results and
material events will also be furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K. However, the information we are required to file with or furnish to the SEC will be less
extensive and less timely compared to that required to be filed with the SEC by U.S. domestic issuers. As a result, you may not be afforded the same
protections or information that would be made available to you were you investing in a U.S. domestic issuer.
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As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices in relation to corporate governance
matters that differ significantly from the NYSE corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less protection to shareholders than
they would enjoy if we complied fully with the NYSE corporate governance listing standards.
As a Cayman Islands company listed on the NYSE, we are subject to the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. However, NYSE
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 NYSE corporate governance listing standards. We rely on the exemption
available to foreign private issuers for the requirements in terms of (i) shareholder approval of equity compensation plans and any material revisions to the
terms of such plans under Section 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and (ii) shareholder approval of issuance of common stock in any
transaction or series of related transactions under Section 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. As a result of our election to follow home country
practice with respect to the foregoing matters, our shareholders will not have the same protection that they otherwise would enjoy under the NYSE
corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. Other than the home country practice disclosed above, we have followed and
intend to continue to follow the applicable corporate governance standards under NYSE rules.
There can be no assurance that we will not be passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes for any
taxable year, which could subject United States investors in our ADSs or ordinary shares to significant adverse United States income tax consequences.
We will be a “passive foreign investment company,” or “PFIC,” if, in any particular taxable year, either (a) 75% or more of our gross income for
such year consists of certain types of “passive” income or (b) 50% or more of the value of our assets (generally determined on the basis of the average
quarterly fair market value) during such year produce or are held for the production of passive income (the “asset test”). Although the law in this regard is
unclear, we intend to treat Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang as being owned by us for United States federal income
tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operation of these entities but also because we are entitled to substantially all of their
economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their results of operations in our consolidated financial statements. Assuming that we are the owner of
Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang for United States federal income tax purposes, and based upon our income and
assets, including goodwill, and the value of our ADSs and ordinary shares, we do not believe that we were be a PFIC for the taxable year ended
December 31, 2019 and do not anticipate becoming a PFIC for the current taxable year or in the foreseeable future.
Although we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC, changes in the nature of our income or assets or the value of our ADSs may cause us to become a
PFIC for the current or any subsequent taxable year. Recent fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares increased our risk of becoming
a PFIC. The market price of the ADSs and ordinary shares may continue to fluctuate considerably; consequently, we cannot assure you of our PFIC status
for any taxable year. Under circumstances where revenues from activities that produce passive income significantly increase relative to our revenues from
activities that produce non-passive income, or where we determine not to expend significant amounts of cash for working capital or other purposes, our risk
of becoming classified as a PFIC may substantially increase. If it were determined that we do not own the stock of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management,
Linyang and Beijing Kechuang for United States federal income tax purposes, our risk of being a PFIC may substantially increase. Because there are
uncertainties in the application of the relevant rules and PFIC status is a factual determination made annually after the close of each taxable year, there can
be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year. In addition, it is possible that the IRS may challenge our
classification of certain income and assets as non-passive, which may result in our company being a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019 or
becoming a PFIC in one or more future taxable years.
If we are a PFIC in any taxable year, a U.S. holder (as defined in “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United States Federal Income
Tax Considerations”) may incur significantly increased United States income tax on gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of the ADSs or
ordinary shares and on the receipt of distributions on the ADSs or ordinary shares to the extent such gain or distribution is treated as an “excess
distribution” under the United States federal income tax rules and such holder may be subject to burdensome reporting requirements. Further, if we are a
PFIC for any year during which a U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding
years during which such U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares. For more information see “Item 10. Additional Information—E. Taxation—United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations.”
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We may incur increased costs as a result of being a public company, particularly after we have ceased to qualify as an “emerging growth company.”
As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, as well as rules subsequently implemented by the SEC and the NYSE, impose various requirements on the corporate governance practices of
public companies. We expect these rules and regulations to increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some corporate activities more
time-consuming and costly. As we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial
management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 and the other rules and regulations of the SEC. We also expect that
operating as a public company will make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be
required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. In addition, we will incur
additional costs associated with our public company reporting requirements. It may also be more difficult for us to find qualified persons to serve on our
board of directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules and regulations, and we
cannot predict or estimate with any degree of certainty the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.
In the past, shareholders of a public company often brought securities class action suits against the company following periods of instability in the
market price of that company’s securities. If we were involved in a class action suit, it could divert a significant amount of our management’s attention and
other resources from our business and operations, which could harm our results of operations and require us to incur significant expenses to defend the suit.
Any such class action suit, whether or not successful, could harm our reputation and restrict our ability to raise capital in the future. In addition, if a claim is
successfully made against us, we may be required to pay significant damages, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and
results of operations.
Item 4. Information on the Company
A. History and Development of the Company
We commenced our online consumer finance marketplace business in March 2012 as a business unit under our parent company, CreditEase, which
remains our parent company and controlling shareholder. CreditEase incorporated Yirendai Ltd. in the Cayman Islands to be our holding company in
September 2014. We then established a wholly owned subsidiary in Hong Kong, Yirendai Hong Kong Limited, or Yirendai HK, in October 2014, and
Yirendai HK further established Yiren Hengye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Hengye, our wholly owned subsidiary in China, in
January 2015. Yirendai HK further established Chongqing Hengyuda Technology Co., Ltd., or Hengyuda, our wholly owned subsidiary in China, in
March 2016. Hengye further established Yiren Information Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd. or Yiren Information, our wholly owned subsidiary in China, in
August 2017. We established a wholly owned subsidiary, Yiren Blue Boyage Limited, or Yiren Blue, in Cayman Islands in May 2019. We acquired,
through Yiren Blue, all outstanding shares of Varengold Capital Securities Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong, in
January 2020. Varengold Capital Securities Limited is a securities dealer registered with Hong Kong Securities and Future Commission possessing Type 1
and Type 2 License. We established Yiren Green Management Limited, a limited liability company incorporated in Hong Kong, in December 2019, to
support the business operation of Varengold Capital Securities Limited. In September 2019, we renamed our company as Yiren Digital Ltd. In
August 2019, we renamed Yirendai HK as Yiren Digital Hong Kong Limited, or Yiren Digital HK. We have obtained 100% control over Shenzhen
Zhongbang Information Consulting Service Co., Ltd. as a result of business realignment with CreditEase. Shenzhen Zhongbang Information Consulting
Service Co., Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hengye in December 2019. Yiren Heng Sheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. is
currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hengye, and has not engaged in any business operation since its incorporation in October 2017.
Hengcheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Hengcheng, was established in China in September 2014. Mr. Ning Tang,
Mr. Fanshun Kong and Ms. Yan Tian are the shareholders of Hengcheng, owning 93.0 %, 0.9% and 6.1% of the equity interest in Hengcheng, respectively,
as of the date of this annual report. We obtained control and became the primary beneficiary of Hengcheng in February 2015 by entering into a series of
contractual arrangements with Hengcheng and its shareholders. Hengcheng acquired Dekai Yichuang Asset Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., or Dekai
Yichuang, in May 2019 from CreditEase as a part of our business realignment with CreditEase. Dekai Yichuang acquired the majority of the equity interest
of Hainan Haijin Yichuang Data Information Service Co., Ltd., or Yi Chuang Data, in May 2019 and Yi Chuang Data became our wholly owned subsidiary
in October 2019. Yi Chuang Data established two wholly owned subsidiaries, Haijin Yichuang Commercial Factoring (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., to conduct
factoring business, in April 2017, and Haijin Yichuang Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., to conduct financial leasing business, in March 2017, respectively. Yi
Chuang Data and Haijin Yichuang Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. collectively established Hainan Haijin Yichuang Micro-lending Co., Ltd., holding 50% and
50% equity interests in Hainan Haijin Yichuang Micro-lending Co., Ltd., respectively, to conduct micro-lending business, in May 2017.
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To execute our strategy of offering more value-added services to investors, we established Yiren Financial Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd.,
or Yiren Wealth Management, in China in October 2016 to mainly conduct our wealth management business, aiming to provide investors with an expanded
array of investment options, including fund and insurance products offered by third parties. Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing)
Co., Ltd., Mr. Ning Tang, Mr. Fanshun Kong and Ms. Yan Tian are the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management, owning 73.47%, 10.61%, 7.96% and
7.96% of the equity interest in Yiren Wealth Management, respectively, as of the date of this annual report. We obtained control and became the primary
beneficiary of Yiren Wealth Management by entering into a series of contractual arrangements with Yiren Wealth Management and its shareholders in
October 2016. In December 2019, we acquired 100% shareholding ownership of Harbin Wanbang Funong Agricultural Machinery Service Co., Ltd., or
Wanbang Funong, a PRC limited liability company, and expect to use Wanbang Funong to conduct finance related business operation. As of the date of this
prospectus, Wanbang Funong has not engaged in any business operation.
On December 18, 2015, our ADSs commenced trading on the NYSE under the symbol “YRD.” We raised from our initial public offering
approximately US$64.9 million in net proceeds after deducting underwriting commissions and the offering expenses payable by us. Concurrently with our
initial public offering, we sold 2,000,000 ordinary shares to Baidu (Hong Kong) Limited, or Baidu Hong Kong, in a private placement, resulting in net
proceeds to us of approximately US$9.0 million.
In March 2019, we entered into a series of definitive agreements with CreditEase regarding a business realignment between CreditEase and us. In
July 2019, we and CreditEase amended the original definitive agreements and closed the business realignment. Pursuant to the business realignment, we
assumed from CreditEase and its affiliates certain target businesses, including online wealth management targeting the mass affluent, unsecured and
secured consumer lending, financial leasing, SME lending and other related services and businesses. After the business realignment, we continue to receive
certain business consulting and other support services from CreditEase. The target businesses have been consolidated into our consolidated financial
statements. Concurrently with the execution of foregoing definitive agreements and as a part of the transactions, we obtained control over CreditEase Puhui
Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or Puhui, and CreditEase Huimin Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or Huimin, through a series of
contractual arrangements and started to consolidate their financial results since March 2019. In December 2019, after a series of internal re-organization,
Puhui became our wholly owned subsidiary and Huimin was divested from us after transferring its online consumer lending business to Hengcheng.
Subsequently, we sold Huimin to a subsidiary of CreditEase.
We established Linyang in China in June 2019. Ms. Lingjing Li and Mr. Yang Wang, our employees, are the shareholders of Linyang, owning 90%
and 10% of the equity interest in Linyang, respectively, as of the date of this annual report. We obtained control and became the primary beneficiary of
Linyang by entering into a series of contractual arrangements with Linyang and its shareholders in December 2019. In August 2019, Linyang established
Beijing Yi Ding Technology Co., Ltd., to conduct our insurance referral business.
On September 30, 2019, with the approval of our shareholders, we changed our name from “Yirendai Ltd.” to “Yiren Digital Ltd.”.
We established Beijing Kechuang in China in November 2019, to operate our business related to Waka, a credit card management app. Mr. Ning
Tang and Ms. Yan Tian are the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang, owning 90% and 10% of the equity interest in Beijing Kechuang, respectively, as of the
date of this annual report. We obtained control and became the primary beneficiary of Beijing Kechuang by entering into a series of contractual
arrangements with Beijing Kechuang and its shareholders in January 2020.
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We currently conduct our online consumer finance marketplace business in China through three wholly owned subsidiaries, Hengye, Hengyuda
and Puhui, and two of our consolidated variable interest entities, Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management. Hengcheng operates our website
www.yirendai.com, an online consumer finance platform that facilitates unsecured consumer loans. Hengcheng is in the process of renewing its ICP
License. Puhui operates www.yxpuhui.com and provides referral and other services through its nationwide service network. Yiren Wealth Management
operates our wealth management website and mobile application, which serves as an online portal for investment products, including the loan products
offered by us as well as other investment products offered by third parties. Yiren Wealth Management is in the process of applying for an ICP License.
Our principal executive offices are located at 10/F, Building 9, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. Our
telephone number at this address is +86 10 5395-3680.
B. Business Overview
We are a leading fintech company in China providing consumers with both credit and wealth management solutions. Since our inception, we have
been operating one of China’s largest lending platforms by leveraging technology to seamlessly deliver individual borrowers an easy access to credit and
investors attractive investment opportunities. Our recent strategic business realignment with CreditEase enables us to operate our business on a more
diverse and scalable mix of service platforms——Yiren Credit and Yiren Wealth. Yiren Credit is our credit-tech platform that has the capability to provide
individual borrowers and small business owners with a full spectrum of online and offline, multi-channel loan products funded by both retail and
institutional investors. Yiren Wealth is our wealth management platform that specifically targets mass affluent investors and provides them with one-stop
asset allocation-based wealth management solutions. We believe we are well positioned to capture the significant synergy opportunities presented by this
business realignment and deliver long-term operating performance and improvements through our increased scale.
Our Yiren Credit platform automates key aspects of our consumer credit business and enables us to provide an effective solution to address largely
underserved borrower demand in China. Borrowers can access loans products through a fast and easy-to-use online interface or through our nationwide
service network. Our Yiren Credit platform enables more efficient credit decisioning, pricing, servicing and support operations. As of December 31, 2019,
we had served approximately 4.7 million borrowers and approximately 2.6 million individual investors. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, we facilitated
RMB70,676.0 million, RMB63,329.1 million and RMB39,103.0 million (US$5,616.8 million) in loans. In 2019, 8.8% of loans facilitated were funded by
our institutional funding partners. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, we facilitated RMB34,613.9 million, RMB34,673.9 million and RMB17,583.9 million
(US$2,525.8 million) in loans through our mobile applications, respectively, representing 49.0%, 54.8% and 45.0% of the total amount of loans facilitated
through our marketplace in the respective periods. Fund provided to our borrowers are primarily sourced from retail investors and as part of our strategy of
diversifying funding sources, we have also partnered with institutional funding partners, including banks, to provide capital to our individual borrowers.
Our Yiren Wealth platform specifically targets the mass affluent population in China, who are looking for tailored investment solutions with low
entry barriers. We address this significant unmet need of mass affluent investors by using proprietary robo-advisors and remote financial advisors to
provide an automated portfolio allocation platform that matches customer risk appetite, risk preference and financial objectives with a portfolio of
investment options. Our one-stop Yiren Wealth platform automates and integrates key aspects of our wealth management business, including KYC,
investor education, asset allocation planning, portfolio review and rebalancing and cross-sale and up-sale, and offers analytic tools and data to facilitate
investor decision making. Through our rigorous product selection and risk management processes, we have established long-term relationships with top tier
fund managers, insurance brokers and asset managers of licensed financial institutions. Our wealth management business primarily distributes fixed
income products, mutual fund investment products, insurance products and other wealth management products offered by banks. For fixed income P2P
products, individual investors have the option to select specific loans to invest in or use our automated investing tool that identifies and selects loans on the
basis of a targeted return. On our platform, our individual investors have access to a liquid secondary market, providing them an opportunity to exit their
investments before the underlying loans mature. We currently conduct our business operations only in China, and our Yiren Wealth platform does not
facilitate investments by investors located in the United States. As of December 31, 2019, the total AUA and the average AUA per investor on our Yiren
Wealth platform were RMB35,291.7 million (US$5,069.3 million) and RMB143,136 (US$20,560), respectively.
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We maintain robust risk management for our Yiren Credit and Yiren Wealth businesses. We believe we have developed an industry leading risk
management system using our proprietary credit decisioning and fraud detection modules. We accumulate data from our expanding borrower base to
continually enhance the sophistication and reliability of our risk management system. Our proprietary risk management system enables us to assess the
creditworthiness of borrowers more effectively in a market where reliable credit scores and borrower databases are still at an early stage of development.
This system also enables us to appropriately price the risks associated with borrowers and offer quality loan investment opportunities to investors. In
addition, we have put in place a comprehensive product selection and risk management system in connection with our wealth management business. Our
wealth management product development team focuses on meeting the evolving demands of clients by balancing the investment return, investment risk,
and liquidity of the products we offer. Each product offered to our wealth management clients has gone through a strictly implemented product screening
procedure, including product screening, product evaluation and risk control.
Our Yiren Credit and Yiren Wealth platforms generate revenues primarily from fees charged for our services in matching investors with individual
borrowers and for other services we provide over the life of a loan. We charge borrowers transaction fees for services provided through our platform in
facilitating loan transactions, and charge individual investors service fees for using our automated investing tool or self-directed investing tool. As an
information intermediary, we do not use our own capital to invest in loans facilitated through our marketplace. Our Yiren Wealth platform generates
revenues primarily from financial products and services we offer to our clients in three ways: (i) one-time commissions paid by clients or product providers
when clients purchase financial products offered by us, (ii) recurring service fees paid by our product providers and clients, and (iii) one-time service fee
paid by investors for each loan transferred over our secondary loan market. We do not bear any loss from our clients’ investments nor do we provide
guarantees of return with respect to the products we distribute.
Our total net revenue (reflecting the businesses we acquired from CreditEase) decreased from RMB11,244.1 million in 2018 to RMB8,616.8
million (US$1,237.7 million) in 2019. Our net income (reflecting the businesses we acquired from CreditEase) decreased from RMB1,579.8 million in
2018 to RMB1,155.6 million (US$166.0 million) in 2019.
Our Solutions
Credit Solution
Our credit solution embraces the significant opportunities presented by a financial system that leaves many creditworthy individuals and small
business owners underserved or even unserved. Our business model is empowered by our technology-driven, user-centric systems and our nationwide
service networks. We provide borrowers with fast and convenient access to credit products at competitive rates.
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Wealth Management Solution
Leveraging the large number of mass affluent investors we have attracted to our Yiren Credit platform, our Yiren Wealth platform is able to
provide wealth management services and solutions specifically targeting the mass affluent population in China. We address this significant unmet need of
mass affluent investors by using our proprietary robo-advisors and remote financial advisors to provide an automated portfolio allocation platform that
matches customer risk appetite, risk preference and financial objectives with a portfolio of investment options.
Our Customers
Borrowers
We target prime individual borrowers, including credit card holders with stable credit performance and salary income and small business owners
with business operations for more than six months and the ability to generate recurring revenues.
Borrower Profile and Base. Based on the information disclosed to us, as of December 31, 2019, our historical borrower profile was 70.0% male
and 30.0% female, while 44.1% were 35 years of age or less. In 2019 , we facilitated loans to 541,955 borrowers through our platform. The total loan
originations in 2019 were RMB39,103.0 million (US$5,616.8 million).
Borrower Acquisition. We attract borrowers through both online and offline channels. Our online borrower acquisition efforts are supported by our
big data capabilities and are primarily directed toward search engine marketing, search engine optimization, mobile application downloads through major
application stores, partnering with online channels through application programming interfaces, as well as various marketing campaigns. For borrower
acquisition through offline channels, we rely on our nationwide service network across over 267 locations in China. Prospective borrowers of our online
credit products can also consult with our offline service teams while the customer acquisition process remains online.
The following table provides a breakdown of the number of borrowers on our platform by channel:
(1)
Number of borrowers :
Borrowers from online channels
Borrowers from offline channels
Total number of borrowers
2017
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
2019
637,885
447,421
1,085,306
568,698
353,935
922,633
254,830
287,125
541,955
(1) The number of borrowers for a specified period represents the number of borrowers whose loans were funded during such period. We do not permit
borrowers to hold more than one loan that has been facilitated through our platform at a time. A borrower who obtains loans through our platform from
both online and offline channels during a period is counted as a borrower acquired from online channels for the purpose of the table above.
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The following table provides a breakdown of our loan volume on our platform by channel:
Amount of loans facilitated
Loans generated from online
channels
Loans generated from offline
channels
2017
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
RMB
%
RMB
2019
US$
%
(in thousands)
70,675,962
100.0
63,329,066
100.0
39,103,048
5,616,802
100.0
36,415,291
34,260,671
51.5
48.5
36,033,996
27,295,070
56.9
43.1
18,601,761
2,671,976
20,501,287
2,944,826
47.6
52.4
The following table provides the number of borrowers and new borrowers who took out a loan during each quarter presented:
Number of new borrowers
Total number of borrowers
March 31,
2017
182,029
215,768
June 30,
2017
207,774
242,798
September
30, 2017
272,674
317,298
December
31, 2017
283,720
327,934
March 31,
2018
222,280
287,166
For the Three Months Ended
September
June 30,
30, 2018
2018
202,901
267,628
134,061
174,647
December
31, 2018
148,740
203,451
March 31,
2019
94,765
149,715
June 30,
2019
86,219
135,246
September
30, 2019
101,284
150,280
December
31, 2019
102,869
125,622
As of December 31, 2019, 18.6% of our cumulative borrowers have borrowed more than one loan on our platform.
Investors
Individual Investors
We accept investments from investors of all income levels. However, we focus our efforts on attracting mass affluent investors. This large and
rapidly growing sector of the Chinese population is currently underserved by traditional investment products in China. We seek to attract mass affluent
investors because members of this demographic group are a significant untapped source of capital.
Investor Profile and Base. Based on the information disclosed to us, as of December 31, 2019, our historical investor profile was 50.1% male and
49.9% female, while 64.0% were 40 years of age or less.
In 2019, 305,050 individual investors invested a total of RMB34.2 billion (US$4.9 billion) on our Yiren Wealth platform.
Investor Acquisition. We acquire investors through online channels. Our investor acquisition efforts are primarily directed towards enhancing our
brand name, building investor trust, and word-of-mouth marketing.
The following table provides the number of investors and new investors who made at least one investment during each quarter presented:
Number of new investors
Total number of investors
March 31,
2017
144,520
317,597
June 30,
2017
130,371
300,280
September
30, 2017
137,585
323,336
December
31, 2017
151,615
357,894
March 31,
2018
136,591
331,237
For the Three Months Ended
September
June 30,
2018
30, 2018
112,544
328,797
69,565
258,306
December
31, 2018
64,710
245,302
March 31,
2019
56,625
197,884
June 30,
2019
27,868
156,143
September
30, 2019
16,293
117,410
December
31, 2019
11,489
110,332
While we observed fluctuation in the number of new investors in historical periods, the average investment amount of new investors increased
continuously. This mainly resulted from our strategy to focus more on acquiring quality investors who are more willing to increase their investment
amounts or reinvest on our platform. In 2019, 52.9% of our cumulative investors have made more than one investment on our platform.
Institutional Funding Partners
Beginning in 2018, we started to expand our funding sources to cover institutional funding partners, including commercial banks and city banks.
We refer qualified borrowers to our institutional funding partners, which provide, based on their risk-and-return requirements, fund to finance those
borrowers’ loan requests.
According to our agreement with our institutional funding partners, we typically agree on an aggregated amount of funds to be provided by each
institutional funding partner, maximum credit limit given to each borrower, maximum maturity period, annualized interest rate and investor protection
scheme. Depending on the terms of each agreement, we may also be responsible for loan disbursements, collecting monthly repayments from borrowers or
engaging in loan servicing and collections. In 2019, 8.8% of loans facilitated on our platform were funded by our institutional funding partners.
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Our Products and Services
Yiren Credit Platform
Products Offered to Borrowers
Our Yiren Credit platform primarily facilitates loan products to borrowers. We believe that these loans are simple and quality credit products that
make it easy for borrowers to budget their repayment obligations and meet their financial needs. All of our loan products feature fixed monthly payments.
We have a “Top-up Program” whereby we facilitate a new loan for a qualified borrower to payback his or her existing loan on our platform. The Top-up
Program is a service provided to qualified borrowers to enhance customer experience and serve their lifetime credit needs. The fee structure of loans
facilitated under the Top-up Program is the same as other loan products except that we offer a credit of upfront fee of the existing loan to encourage the
acceptance of the new loan, which is considered as a cash incentive provided to the borrower and recorded as a reduction to revenue.
A. Unsecured Consumer Loan Products
Standard Loan Products. Standard loan products offer terms of 12, 24 or 36 months. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, the total loan amounts for our
standard loan products were approximately RMB20,373.1 million, RMB18,440.8 million and RMB11,431.3 million (US$1,642.0 million), respectively. To
apply for a standard loan, a borrower needs to complete a loan application providing information such as their PRC identity card information, a bank
statement with proof of monthly income and credit report from the PBOC, or housing fund information and the desired loan amount and term. Our standard
loan products represent the majority of the loans we facilitated through Yiren Credit.
For borrowers looking for near instantaneous credit approval, we used to offer them a FastTrack loan product through our mobile applications.
FastTrack loan allows qualified borrowers to receive an initial decision on credit approval in as fast as ten minutes. In November 2019, we discontinued our
FastTrack loan product.
Micro-loan Products. We launched our micro-loan products in December 2019. Our micro-loan products offer loan terms ranging from 3 to 12
months with loan amounts ranging from RMB2,000 to RMB5,000.
B. Secured Consumer Loan Products
We facilitate secured financial leasing loans, auto-secured loans and property-secured loans. Our financial leasing loan products offer loan terms
of 12, 24 and 36 months with loan amounts ranging from RMB30,000 to RMB300,000.
C. Small Business Loans
Our small business loans are unsecured and enable business owners to meet their financing needs. Our small business loan products offer loan
terms of 4, 6, 12 and 24 months with loan amounts ranging from RMB30,000 to RMB2,000,000.
Loan Pricing Mechanism
We use a proprietary credit scoring model to assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. Our credit scoring model aggregates and analyzes
the data submitted by the borrower as well as the data we collect from a number of internal and external sources, and then generates a score for the
prospective borrower. In addition, we use our credit scoring systems to more accurately characterize a borrower’s credit profile. Under our credit scoring
systems, we have an upgraded risk grid with various segments. The expected M3+ Net Charge-off Rate and actual observed results for each of these
customer groups divide potential borrowers into distinctively different credit segments.
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All of the loans offered through our marketplace feature fixed interest rates, which are paid to investors less any defaults over the term of the
applicable loan and fees charged to investors. In addition, we charge borrowers transaction fees for matching them with investors. Starting January 2018,
insurance and guarantee companies charge borrowers insurance premium and guarantee fees for the insurance and/or guarantee services they provide. Each
of these fees is charged as a percentage of the loan contract. A penalty fee for late payment is imposed as a percentage of the amount past due. All fees are
clearly disclosed to the borrower upfront.
Yiren Wealth Platform
Products Offered to Investors
Our wealth management business primarily distributes fixed income products, mutual fund investment products, insurance products and other
wealth management products offered by banks. Using our proprietary robo-advisors and remote financial advisors, we provide our mass affluent investors
with an automated portfolio allocation solution that matches customer risk appetite, risk preference and financial objectives with a portfolio of investment
options. Through our rigorous product selection and risk management processes, we have established long-term relationships with top tier fund managers,
insurance brokers and asset managers of licensed financial institutions. In 2019, we had 37 fixed income products, 302 mutual fund products and 132
insurance products sourced from eight product providers.
Services Offered to Investors
In addition to the financial products we provide to our customers, we develop and provide tailored value-added financial and related services to
better serve their needs.
Automated investing tool
Our automated investing tool represents the most popular way for investors to invest in loans through our marketplace. With our automated
investing tool, an investor agrees to invest a specified amount of money to borrowers through our marketplace for a specified period of time. Once an
investor commits funds using the tool, his funds are automatically allocated among approved borrowers. Our automated investing tool automatically
reinvests investors’ funds as soon as a loan is repaid, enabling investors to speed the reinvestment of cash flows without having to continually revisit our
website or mobile application. Unless an emergency withdrawal fee is paid, investors using our automated investing tool are not allowed to withdraw their
funds prior to the expiration of the specified investment period, which does not necessarily match the term of the loans to which the automated investing
tool allocates the investor’s funds. The majority of capital funded by our investors utilized this automated investing tool.
The minimum threshold for a lending commitment made through our automated investing tool is RMB100. The specific rate of return offered to
an investor using our automated investing tool varies with the duration of the committed investment term, which can be as short as three months, and the
average interest returns of the loans to which the automated investing tool allocates the investor’s funds, which are also dependent on loan term.
Self-directed investing tool
Our self-directed investing tool enables investors to personally select among the hundreds of new lending opportunities to approved borrowers that
are posted on our marketplace every day. After selecting a desired loan, the investor then agrees to lend a specified amount of money to a specific borrower
through our marketplace for a specified duration which must match the tenure of the borrower’s loan. In order to encourage investors to diversify their
risks, we have a policy capping each investor’s investment in a given loan at 20% of the loan amount. Our platform provides investors using our self-
directed investing tool with the ability to use filters based on credit and application data, such as term, amount and interest rate, to screen loans on our
platform for review.
The minimum threshold for a lending commitment made through our self-directed investing tool is RMB100. The rate of return offered to an
investor after deducting the management fee varies with the duration of the investment term, with 9.0% corresponding to a 12-month loan and 10.8%
corresponding to a 36-month loan.
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Secondary loan market
We maintain a secondary loan market on our marketplace where investors can transfer the loans they hold prior to maturity at the fair value of the
remaining loans. This secondary loan market is liquid, with loans typically exchanging hands within the same day it is posted. This liquidity offers
investors the opportunity to enter and exit their investments without waiting until maturity, increasing their frequency and willingness to lend and, as a
result, the amount of funds ultimately available to borrowers.
Investor Education
We offer investor education services online. Our investor education services cover a wide range of investment and trading topics and offer various
types of training programs for the mass affluent investors and their families, including wealth planning, market insights and investment strategies. These
programs are offered to investors for free and aim at enhancing investor engagement on our platform. We believe investor education is an important tool for
building our business as it increases the financial sophistication of our customers and enables us to broaden our relationships with them, all of which
enhance their loyalty and willingness to invest with us.
Asset Allocation Calculator
Our asset allocation calculator recommends our investors asset allocation plans across different asset classes based on each investor’s investment
objectives, investment time horizon, risk capacity and risk tolerance.
Fund Picks by Yiren Wealth
All mutual fund products offered on our platform are screened through a strict selection and evaluation process. Investors can choose to invest
through a fixed monthly investment plan or through setting an investment return target. The minimum threshold for investing through our mutual funds
investing tool is RMB1.
Bank Wealth Management Product Picks by Yiren Wealth
All bank wealth management products offered on our platform are screened through a strict selection and evaluation process. Investment tenures
range from 7 to 360 days. The minimum threshold for investing in a bank wealth management product is RMB100.
Insurance Planner
Our insurance planning tool provides one-on-one customized insurance planning services to investors, including risk management consulting and
product selection. Our insurance plan services include providing general consultation and tailored insurance plans, product recommendations and claims
assistance.
Commission and Service Fees
Our Yiren Wealth platform generates revenues primarily from financial products and services we offer to our clients in three ways: (i) one-time
commissions paid by clients or product providers when clients purchase financial products offered by us, (ii) recurring service fees paid by our product
providers and clients, and (iii) one-time service fee paid by investors for each loan transferred over our secondary loan market.
Recurring services fees include monthly management fee charged for using our automated investing tool and self-directed investing tool. The
monthly management fee for using the automated investing tool is the price difference between the interest rates of the underlying loans which range from
10.0% and 12.0%, and the targeted return offered to investors which is up to 12.5%. The monthly management fee for using the self-directed investing tool
is equal to 10% of the interest that investors receive, which ranges from 10.0% to 12.0%.
We do not bear any loss from our clients’ investments nor do we provide guarantees of return with respect to the products we distribute.
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Transaction Process
Transaction Process on Yiren Credit Platform
We believe that our business model enables a fast loan application process, a credit assessment that more accurately determines an applicant’s
creditworthiness and a superior overall user experience. Our platform and nationwide service network touch each point of our relationship with our
borrowers, from the application process through the funding and servicing of loans.
We provide an automated, streamlined application process. The process is designed to appear simple, seamless and efficient but our platform and
nationwide service network leverage sophisticated, proprietary technology to make it possible. The entire process from initial application to disbursement
of funds typically takes 30 minutes to 24 hours.
Stage 1: Application
Our borrower application process begins with the submission of a loan application by a prospective borrower. Borrowers can apply through our
website, mobile applications or via our nationwide service network. As part of the application process, the prospective borrower is asked to provide various
personal details. The specific personal details required will depend upon the borrower’s desired loan product, but typically include PRC identity card
information, employer information, bank account information, credit card information and a credit report from the PBOC.
Stage 2: Verification
Upon submission of a completed application by borrowers, our credit models are populated with all information contained in the submitted loan
application. Additional data from a number of internal and external sources is then matched with the application, including the following:
Internal
· historical credit data accumulated; and
· behavioral data that we glean from an applicant’s behavior as they apply to us for loans, such as the self-reported use of
proceeds or use of multiple devices to access our platform;
External
· personal identity information maintained by an organization operated under the Ministry of Public Security;
· personal credit information maintained by an organization operated under the PBOC;
· online shopping and payment information for their accounts with certain popular Chinese e-commerce websites;
· basic business information authorized by applicants;
· credit card statement data authorized by applicants; and
· fraud list and database.
This data is then aggregated and used to verify an applicant’s identity, for possible fraud detection and for assessment and determination of
creditworthiness.
For applications submitted through our offline channels, our offline service teams will first manually pre-screen borrowers before performing
credit assessment. One of the pre-screening criteria is that the applicant has to be a PRC resident and between the ages of 22-60.
Stage 3: Anti-Fraud, Credit Assessment and Decisioning
In order to efficiently screen applicants, we have designed an initial qualification phase to review the basic information regarding a prospective
borrower that has been submitted with the application and gathered by us from available sources. As a matter of policy, we do not permit borrowers to hold
more than one loan that has been facilitated through our platform at a time, although we currently do not have a comprehensive way to determine whether
borrowers have obtained loans through other consumer finance marketplaces. Once complete, an initial check is performed using our anti-fraud system, and
the prospective borrower’s loan application either proceeds to the next phase of the application process or the prospective borrower is notified of the
decision to decline the application.
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Following initial qualification, we commence a credit review utilizing our proprietary credit scoring model to generate a Yiren score for the
prospective borrower that drives the decision whether to extend credit. Our current proprietary credit-scoring model originates from a credit scoring system
developed by CreditEase. We have further modified our credit scoring system to adapt it to the realities of the Chinese market, which has historically had
no source of widely available consumer credit information. In addition, we use our credit scoring system, the Yiren score, to more accurately characterize
borrower’s credit profile. Today, our credit scoring system uses our own scoring criteria, and is routinely monitored, tested, updated and validated by our
risk management team. Following the generation of the Yiren score, our credit decisioning system makes a determination as to whether the prospective
borrower is qualified. Unqualified borrowers are notified of the decision to decline their applications for failing to meet minimum requirements.
For a potential borrower who passes our initial qualification phase and is applying for our loan products, the application proceeds to our credit
assessment team for review. Depending on the borrower’s risk profile, a member of our credit assessment team may conduct telephone verification
interviews with the applicant, a related family member and/or the applicant’s employer that is identified in the application. After the initial telephone
verification interviews, at least one member of credit assessment team will analyze the application and Yiren score. If a member of the credit assessment
team suspects there may be fraud involved with a particular loan application or determines that additional verification is needed to complete the credit
decisioning process, that team member will conduct further due diligence and verification. While these additional steps have led us to discover instances of
invalid information provided by prospective borrowers in the past, the number of such instances has not been significant. Following this review, the credit
assessment team will either approve the loan as is, approve the loan with one or more modified sets of loan characteristics, or decline the loan application.
Stage 4: Approval, Listing and Funding
Once the loan application is approved, we make a loan agreement available for the prospective borrower’s review and approval. This loan
agreement is between the borrower, the investors who fund the borrower’s loan and our platform. Upon acceptance of the loan agreement, if the loan has
not been matched automatically through automated investing tool, the loan is then listed on our marketplace for investors to view. Once a loan is listed on
our marketplace, investors may then subscribe to the loan using either our automated or self-directed investing tools. Before a loan is disbursed to the
borrower, it must be fully subscribed to by investors. Our liquidity management system is designed to ensure the fast and effective matching of borrowers’
loan applications and investors’ investment demand through the use of a detailed demand forecasting model and real time monitoring. Once a loan is fully
subscribed, funds are then drawn from a custody account and disbursed to the borrower.
Stage 5: Servicing and Collections
We utilize an automated process for collecting scheduled loan payments from our borrowers. Upon loan origination, we establish a payment
schedule with payment occurring on a set business day each month. Borrowers then make scheduled loan repayments via a third-party payment platform to
a custody account. The third party custody bank will then make the transfer of scheduled loan payments to the lending investors. We check the balances in
the custody account and reconcile the transactions against our records on a daily basis.
As a day-to-day service to borrowers, we provide payment reminder services such as sending reminder text messages and phone calls on the day a
repayment is due. Once a repayment is past due, we also send additional reminder text messages during the first fourteen days of delinquency.
The collections process commences once a loan is fifteen days delinquent. To facilitate repayment and as a service to investors, the collections
process is divided into distinct stages based on the severity of delinquency, which dictates the level of collection steps taken. For example, reminder text
messages and emails are sent to a delinquent borrower as soon as the collections process commences, and if the payment is still outstanding, the collection
team will make phone calls. Although all stages of the collections process are outsourced to CreditEase, we handle all decisions to restructure or defer
delinquent loans that are above a certain threshold, while CreditEase collection teams have the discretion to make decisions for the loans that are below
such threshold.
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Transaction Process on Yiren Wealth Platform
Our wealth management product development team focuses on meeting the evolving demands of customers by balancing the investment return,
investment risk, and liquidity of the products we offer. Each product offered to our wealth management customers has gone through a strictly implemented
product screening procedure.
Our product selection process involves three key stages: product screening, product evaluation and risk control. In-house experts and
professionals, including high-level management team members from our legal department, risk control department, compliance department and product
department will gather periodically to carefully screen and evaluate each product we distribute.
In the product screening stage, our professionals will review our internal due diligence findings to determine whether the product may be suitable
for distribution to our clients. A prospective product needs to be approved by at least a majority of the members before passed to the next stage for
screening. In the product evaluation stage, our professionals will analyze in more depth the legal structure, financial statistics and other aspects of the
product and evaluate the potential returns to our clients and the risks of the investment. In the risk control stage, our core management team participates in
the meetings to fully evaluate the risk of the product and determine whether appropriate risk management is in place for the distribution of the product.
After approved by the risk control meeting, the product will be reviewed by our in-house risk analysts before officially launched.
We have also established a complete risk management system for our daily operations. On the product supplier side, we have policies and
procedures regarding, among other things, periodically-reviewed product ratings, anti-bribery control, as well as post investment monitor and alert system.
On the customer side, we have strict Know-Your-Client (“KYC”) process and internal procedures for client risk evaluation, investor education policies to
raise investors’ risk awareness and give them risk warnings for every product purchased by clients, and regular information disclosure to clients throughout
the life cycle of products.
Risk Management
Traditional risk management tools and the types of consumer finance data available in developed economies, such as widely available consumer
credit reporting services, are currently at an early stage of development in China. We believe our industry leading risk management capabilities provide us
with a competitive advantage in attracting capital to our marketplace by providing investors with comfort that they are investing in high quality loans
through a sustainable marketplace.
Proprietary Fraud Detection System
We use a proprietary fraud detection system, which is part of our larger risk management system, to identify and reject potential borrower
applications. Our system combines quantitative modeling, internet technology, offline verification and the use of third-party services. The quantitative
modeling aspect of our fraud detection system involves the use of a big data platform to locate potential inconsistencies in a particular borrower
application. The internet technology aspect includes IP verification and monitoring. Our offline verification activities involve members of our credit
assessment team speaking with potential borrowers to inquire after any inconsistencies in a loan application. Our big data platform is also used to enhance
our offline verification processes. Lastly, we employ third-party services to check the online behavior of potential borrowers, and utilize government
agency’s open database to check their identity card numbers against known criminals. We also maintain a blacklist after detecting any fraudulent borrowers.
Currently, our risk management system utilizes over 250 decisioning rules and contains a blacklist with over 1,000,000 fraud detection data points.
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Proprietary Credit Scoring Model and Loan Qualification System
We use a proprietary credit scoring model to assess the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. This credit scoring model originates from a credit
scoring system developed by CreditEase. We have further modified our credit scoring model to adapt it to the realities of the Chinese market, which has
historically had no source of widely available consumer credit information. Our credit scoring model aggregates and analyzes the data submitted by the
borrower as well as the data we collect from a number of internal and external sources, and then generates a score for the prospective borrower. In addition,
we use our credit scoring system, the Yiren score, to more accurately characterize borrower’s credit profile. Our relationship with CreditEase allows us to
further enhance the depth of our credit scoring model through our ability to rely on its over ten years of loan data. In addition to its strong analytical
foundation, our credit scoring model is routinely monitored, tested, updated and validated by our risk management team.
The following table presents the key criteria that materially impact a borrower’s credit score:
Criteria
Purpose of the loan
Examples
Personal consumption
· No monotonic correlation
Effect on Credit Score
Customer attributes
Education background
· Positive correlation
· Higher education leads to higher score
Usage and performance of the loans
from other financial institutions
Maximum amount of loans that the
borrower has borrowed from
commercial banks
· Positive correlation
· The larger the amount of bank loans, the higher the score
Credit card usage and payment pattern
Frequency of credit card usage
Public record
Court enforcement record
Income and debt condition
Salaries
· Negative correlation
· Above a certain threshold, the higher the frequency of credit card
usage, the lower the score
· No monotonic correlation
· A borrower’s score is lower if he/she has been subject to court
enforcement
· A borrower’s score is lower if he/she has been subject to court
enforcement
· Positive correlation
· Below a certain threshold, the higher the salary, the higher the
score
Geographic location
Province or city where the borrower is
located
· No monotonic correlation
· A borrower’s score is lower if he/she is located in a province or
Job stability
Length of employment
Online merchant purchasing pattern
Recent average consumption level
city where we face intense market competition
· Positive correlation
· The longer the employment, the higher the score
· Positive correlation
· The higher the recent average consumption level, the higher the
score
The credit scores derived from our proprietary credit scoring model containing the criteria mentioned above are used to determine which of the
segments in our risk grid a particular borrower falls into.
Under our new credit scoring system, we have an upgraded risk grid with five segments, which we refer to as Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade
IV and Grade V. The expected M3+ Net Charge-off Rate and actual observed results for each of these customer groups divide potential borrowers into
distinctively different credit segments.
We allow prospective borrowers who initially fail to meet our borrower criteria to reapply for a loan after a certain period of time, typically six
months, if they are able to demonstrate a verifiable improvement in the criteria that impact their Yiren score. For prospective borrowers that we determine
present a fraud risk, reapplications are never permitted.
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Our Risk Management Committee, Risk Management Division and Credit Assessment Team
Organizationally, we have a risk management committee, comprised of our executive chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer and
chief risk officer, that meets monthly to examine the credit, liquidity and operational risks on our platform.
We have an independent risk management division, responsible for loan performance analysis, credit model validation and credit decisioning
performance. This division engages in various risk management activities, including reporting on performance trends, monitoring of loan concentrations
and stability, performing economic stress tests on loans, randomly auditing loan decisions by our credit assessment team members and conducting peer
benchmarking and external risk assessments.
In 2019, our credit assessment team consisted of 285 members. Each application for loan products received through our platform is reviewed by at
least one member of our credit assessment team. Members of our credit assessment team analyze loan applications and also assist with fraud detection and
borrower verification, leveraging skills learned through training and on-the-job experience to evaluate loans on the basis of direct communications with
potential borrowers. For each loan application, at least one member of credit assessment team will analyze the applicant’s Yiren score.
Loan Servicing and Collections
Our technology platform is capable of monitoring and tracking payment activity. With built-in payment tracking functionality and automated
missed payment notifications, the platform allows us to monitor the performance of outstanding loans on a real-time basis.
CreditEase has developed a strategy to optimize the collections process for our delinquent loans. Our collections process is divided into distinct
stages based on the severity of delinquency, which dictates the level of collection steps taken. Loans progress through the collection cycle based upon the
number of days past due but can be accelerated based on specific circumstances.
Investor Protection
Our investor protection mechanisms have evolved over the years, in response to the changing regulatory requirements. Starting on January 1,
2015, for the loans facilitated on Hengcheng platform, we launched a quality assurance program. The quality assurance program covered loans originated
on or after January 1, 2015 until May 2018 when we discontinued the operation of the quality assurance program. Under this arrangement, at the inception
of each loan we set aside cash in an amount equal to a certain percentage of the loan amount facilitated on our platform in an interest-bearing custody
account managed by China Guangfa Bank. We reserve the right to revise this percentage upwards or downwards from time to time. The factors that we
consider in determining such percentage include market dynamics, our product lines, profitability, cash position and our actual and expected quality
assurance net payouts.
Under the quality assurance arrangement, if a borrower is 15 days delinquent in repaying an installment of principal and interest of a loan, we will
withdraw an amount from the custody account to repay the delinquent installment of principal and interest to the corresponding investor. If a borrower is 90
days delinquent in repaying an installment of principal and interest on a loan, we will withdraw an amount from the custody account to repay the
delinquent installment principal and interest, plus the entire outstanding balance of the loan principal, to the corresponding investor. If the quality assurance
program becomes insufficient to pay back all the investors with delinquent loans, these investors will be repaid on a pro rata basis. Prior to July 2017, their
outstanding unpaid balances would be deferred to the next time the quality assurance program was replenished, at which time a distribution would again be
made to all investors with delinquent loans. Following replenishment of the quality assurance program, in the event that the amount of funds was again
insufficient to pay back all investors with delinquent loans, the investors would again be repaid on a pro rata basis, although in this case the number of
investors sharing pro rata in the quality assurance program would increase to include the unpaid investors from prior periods as well as the unpaid investors
from the current period. If the quality assurance program was continually underfunded, investors may need to wait for extended periods to receive a full
distribution from the quality assurance program, or incur a loss on their investment if the quality assurance program was not sufficient. In addition, from
November 2015 to July 2017, we placed a two-year limit on the period during which an investor had the right to receive distribution from the quality
assurance program, which meant if an investor had not recovered the full default amount by the time that was two years and 90 days from the original due
date, then the investor would no longer have the right to receive pro rata repayment from our quality assurance program. After July 2017, after being repaid
on a pro rata basis in the event the quality assurance program becomes insufficient to pay back all the investors with delinquent loans, the investors’
outstanding unpaid balances would not be deferred to the next time the quality assurance program was replenished. As a result, investors will bear the risk
that they will not be able to fully recover their investment principal and unpaid interest.
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Once we make a payment to an investor, we seek to collect the amounts from the borrower through the collection process. The amount collected
from the borrower, if any, is remitted to first replenish the portion of the quality assurance program used to repay the investor, and if there is any additional
amount remaining, then to reimburse our collection expenses. If we are not successful in collecting a sufficient amount from the default borrower to cover
our collection expenses, our quality assurance service agreement with investors calls for investors to reimburse us for any litigation or arbitration expenses
we may have advanced on their behalf during the collection process, although in practice we will bear the unrecovered portion of these and all other
collection expenses.
In the first three quarters of 2015, the amount of cash we set aside for the quality assurance program is equivalent to 6% of the loans facilitated
through our marketplace during the period. This amount was not sufficient to cover all expected net payouts for loans facilitated during this period.
In the fourth quarter of 2015, in order to continue to attract new and retain existing investors and to remain consistent with the current industry
practice in China, we revised our quality assurance program funding policy to ensure that we set aside sufficient cash in the quality assurance program to
cover the expected net payouts, based on our business intention but not legal obligation. In addition to setting aside a certain percentage of the loan amount
at the inception of each loan, we monitor the balance of the quality assurance program on a monthly basis, and adjust on a quarterly basis by putting an
appropriate additional amount of cash from other sources into the quality assurance program as needed to ensure we can sufficiently cover the expected net
payouts. Moreover, in July 2017, we changed our funding policy for our quality assurance program. Instead of setting aside the full amount to be
contributed to the program in a lump sum, we contribute to the program in installments with each instalment equal to 30% of transaction fee we receive
from the borrower each time until the full amount is contributed.
For the loans facilitated on Huimin’s platform, CreditEase Zhuoyue Wealth Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd., or Zhuoyue, a
consolidated variable interest entity of CreditEase, provided the guarantee related services. We did not recognize revenue or guarantee liability for loans
facilitated on Huimin’s platform, as the guarantee services are provided by Zhuoyue.
To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, starting from January 2018, we entered into a three-year business agreement with PICC
Property and Casualty Company Limited. Pursuant to the business agreement, PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited provides surety insurance for
majority of loans facilitated through our Hengcheng and Huimin platforms with 12-month term and with an amount not exceeding RMB200,000, and will
reimburse investors their principal and expected interest in the event of loan defaults within the agreed scope of the agreement. In the first quarter of 2020,
we no longer have the surety insurance program provided by PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited for our individual investors. Starting from
April 1, 2020, PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited has been providing surety insurance only for loans facilitated through our Yiren Credit
platform that are funded by institutional funding partners with terms of 12, 24 or 36 months and with an amount not exceeding RMB200,000. In
March 2018, we began to cooperate with guarantee companies to establish a credit assurance program. Under the credit assurance program, the guarantee
companies either provide guarantee for loans facilitated through our Yiren Credit platform for the assurance that investors’ principal and interest would be
repaid in case of loan default, or set up and managed a reserve fund, using payments collected from borrowers, to compensate investors for their potential
loss due to loan default up to the cash available in the fund. Subsequently in May 2018, we discontinued the operation of our quality assurance program by
transferring our liabilities associated with the quality assurance program to a third-party guarantee company at an estimated fair value. Since then, majority
of loans facilitated on our platform are either covered by the credit assurance program operated by the guarantee companies or a third-party insurance
company.
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Our Technology
We believe our technology platform is a competitive advantage and an important reason that borrowers and investors utilize our marketplace. Key
features of our technology platform include:
· Highly automated process. Our platform covers all five stages of the customer life cycle: application; verification; credit assessment and
decisioning; listing and funding; and servicing and collections. Our web and mobile based platform also provides a superior customer experience.
We offer a fast and easy-to-use online application process and provide both borrowers and investors with access to live support and online tools
throughout the process and for the lifetime of the loan or investment. Our liquidity management system is designed to ensure the fast and effective
matching of borrowers’ loan applications and investors’ investment demand by forecasting the borrowing demand on a weekly and monthly basis
and monitoring the fund flow on a real time basis.
· Mobile applications. We have developed different user-friendly mobile applications for borrowers and investors on our Yiren Credit and Yiren
Wealth platforms, which enable borrowers and investors alike to access our platform at any time or location that is convenient.
· Robo advisors. We have developed proprietary robo-advisors to provide the mass affluent investors on our Yiren Wealth platform with an
automated portfolio allocation platform that matches customer risk appetite, risk preference and financial objectives with a portfolio of investment
options.
· Proprietary fraud detection. We use a combination of current and historical data obtained during the application process, third-party data and
sophisticated analytical tools to help determine an application’s fraud risk. High risk applications are subject to further investigation. In case where
fraud is confirmed, the application is cancelled, and we identify and flag characteristics of the loan to help refine our fraud detection efforts.
· Scalable platform. Our platform is built on a distributed, load-balanced computing infrastructure, which is both highly scalable and reliable. The
infrastructure can be expanded easily as data storage requirements and user visits increase. We have designed a unified platform, which
administrates all systems and servers and can reconfigure or redeploy systems or servers automatically whenever needed.
· Data security. Our network is configured with multiple layers of security to isolate our databases from unauthorized access and we use
sophisticated security protocols for communication among applications. To prevent unauthorized access to our system we utilize a system of
firewalls and also maintain a perimeter network, or DMZ, to separate our external-facing services from our internal systems. Our entire website
and public and private APIs use the Secure Sockets Layer networking protocol.
· Stability. Our systems infrastructure is hosted in co-located redundant data centers in two separate districts in Beijing. We have multiple layers of
redundancy to ensure the reliability of our network. We also have a working data redundancy model with comprehensive backups of our databases
and our development environment conducted every day.
Product Development
We had a dedicated product development team. This team is responsible for developing and implementing new consumer finance products to
introduce on to our marketplace.
We constantly evaluate the popularity of our existing product offerings and develop new products and services that can cater to the ever-evolving
needs of our borrowers and investors. From the borrower perspective, we will continue to develop tailored credit products to meet the specific needs of our
target prime borrowers. As our marketplace continues to grow, we plan to expand our ability to offer risk-based loan pricing. For example, we plan to
enhance our risk-based pricing capability that optimizes loans based on individual credit criteria so that borrowers will be able to receive personalized loans
tailored to their credit profile. In addition, we intend to introduce market-based pricing of loans based on macroeconomic factors and we believe such
ability to continually adjust the pricing of the loans on our marketplace will allow us to better meet the needs of our borrowers.
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From the investor perspective, we continue to develop new investment products, such as diversified term investment products and products with
lower investment thresholds, that appeal to different investor appetites and demands. In the future, we plan to segment our loan products into more precise
and specific return categories, and seek to offer investors a more diverse array of investment products that better meet their risk-adjusted return targets. We
also intend to provide investors with enhanced tools and offer more valued-added services, such as investment portfolio services, enabling them to better
monitor and manage their investments on our Yiren Credit platform.
Brand Promotion
Our general marketing efforts are designed to build brand awareness and reputation and to attract and retain borrowers and investors. We believe
reputation and word-of-mouth drive continued organic growth in our credit business and wealth management business. In this respect, our association with
CreditEase is a valuable marketing and promotion asset.
Competition
For our Yiren Credit platform, the online consumer finance marketplace industry in China is intensely competitive and we compete with other
consumer finance marketplaces. In light of the low barriers to entry in the online consumer finance industry, more players may enter this market and
increase the level of competition. We anticipate that more established internet, technology and financial services companies that possess large, existing user
bases, substantial financial resources and established distribution channels may enter the market in the future. We also compete with other financial
products and companies that attract borrowers, including other consumer finance marketplaces and traditional financial institutions, such as consumer
finance business units in commercial banks, credit card issuers and other consumer finance companies.
For our Yiren Wealth platform, major financial institutions in China are developing their own wealth management businesses, and international
financial institutions have also been expanding to the Chinese market in recent years. We compete with the private banking departments of domestic and
global banks, insurance companies and securities firms that provide wealth management services.
Intellectual Property
We regard our trademarks, domain names, know-how, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we
rely on trademark and trade secret law and confidentiality, invention assignment and non-competition agreements with our employees and others to protect
our proprietary rights. As of the date of this annual report, we had 392 registered trademarks and had applied to register 512 trademarks with the Trademark
Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration and got. We have also obtained a worldwide and royalty-free license from CreditEase to use
certain of its trademarks, including “宜信” (Chinese equivalent for CreditEase).
Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our technology.
Monitoring unauthorized use of our technology is difficult and costly, and we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent misappropriation
of our technology. From time to time, we may have to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, which could result in substantial costs
and diversion of our resources.
In addition, third parties may initiate litigation against us alleging infringement of their proprietary rights or declaring their non-infringement of
our intellectual property rights. In the event of a successful claim of infringement and our failure or inability to develop non-infringing technology or
license the infringed or similar technology on a timely basis, our business could be harmed. Moreover, even if we are able to license the infringed or similar
technology, license fees could be substantial and may adversely affect our results of operations.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We may not be able to prevent others from unauthorized use of
our intellectual property, which could harm our business and competitive position.” and “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our
Business—We may be subject to intellectual property infringement claims, which may be expensive to defend and may disrupt our business and
operations.”
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Insurance
We maintain property insurance policies covering certain equipment and other property that are essential to our business operation to safeguard
against risks and unexpected events. We also provide social security insurance including pension insurance, unemployment insurance, work-related injury
insurance and medical insurance for our employees. We do not maintain business interruption insurance or general third-party liability insurance, nor do we
maintain product liability insurance or key-man insurance. We consider our insurance coverage to be sufficient for our business operations in China.
Seasonality
We experience seasonality in our business, reflecting seasonal fluctuations in internet usage and traditional personal consumption patterns, as our
individual borrowers typically use their borrowing proceeds to finance their personal consumption needs. For example, we generally experience lower
transaction value on our Yiren Credit platform during national holidays in China, particularly during the Chinese New Year holiday season in the first
quarter of each year. Overall, the historical seasonality of our business has been mild due to our rapid growth prior to 2018 but may increase further in the
future. Due to our limited operating history, the seasonal trends that we have experienced in the past may not apply to, or be indicative of, our future
operating results.
Regulation
This section sets forth a summary of the most significant rules and regulations that affect our business activities in China.
As an online consumer finance marketplace connecting investors with individual borrowers, we are regulated by various government authorities,
including, among others:
· the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, regulating the telecommunications and telecommunications-related activities,
including, but not limited to, the internet information services and other value-added telecommunication services;
· the People’s Bank of China, or the PBOC, as the central bank of China, regulating the formation and implementation of monetary policy, issuing
the currency, supervising the commercial banks and assisting the administration of the financing;
· China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, or the CBIRC, a newly established public institution in April 2018 which has consolidated
the duties of the former China Banking Regulatory Commission and the duties of the former China Insurance Regulatory Commission, regulating
financial institutions and promulgating the regulations related to the administration of financial institutions.
Regulations Relating to Foreign Investment
PRC Foreign Investment Law
The Foreign Investment Law was formally adopted by the Second session of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 15, 2019, which has
become effective on January 1, 2020 and, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations, has replaced the trio of existing laws
regulating foreign investment in China, namely, the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Venture Enterprise Law, the Sino-foreign Cooperative Joint Venture
Enterprise Law and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law, together with their implementation rules and ancillary regulations. Meanwhile, the
Regulations for the Implementation of the Foreign Investment Law came into effect as of January 1, 2020, which clarified and elaborated the relevant
provisions of the Foreign Investment Law. The organization form, organization and activities of foreign-invested enterprises shall be governed, among
others, by the laws of the Company Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Partnership Enterprise Law of the People’s Republic of China. Foreign-
invested enterprises established before the implementation of this Law may retain the original business organization and so on within five years after the
implementation of this Law.
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The Foreign Investment Law is formulated to further expand opening-up, vigorously promote foreign investment and protect the legitimate rights
and interests of foreign investors. According to the Foreign Investment Law, foreign investments are entitled to pre-entry national treatment and are subject
to negative list management system. The pre-entry national treatment means that the treatment given to foreign investors and their investments at the stage
of investment access shall not be less favorable than that of domestic investors and their investments. The negative list management system means that the
state implements special administrative measures for access of foreign investment in specific fields. The Foreign Investment Law does not mention the
relevant concept and regulatory regime of VIE structures, please refer to “Risk Factors — Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and
implementation of the newly enacted PRC Foreign Investment law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate
governance and business operations”
Foreign investors’ investment, earnings and other legitimate rights and interests within the territory of China shall be protected in accordance with
the law, and all national policies on supporting the development of enterprises shall equally apply to foreign-invested enterprises. Among others, the state
guarantees that foreign-invested enterprises participate in the formulation of standards in an equal manner and that foreign-invested enterprises participate
in government procurement activities through fair competition in accordance with the law. Further, the state shall not expropriate any foreign investment
except under special circumstances. In special circumstances, the state may levy or expropriate the investment of foreign investors in accordance with the
law for the needs of the public interest. The expropriation and requisition shall be conducted in accordance with legal procedures and timely and reasonable
compensation shall be given. In carrying out business activities, foreign-invested enterprises shall comply with relevant provisions on labor protection,
social insurance, tax, accounting, foreign exchange and other matters stipulated in laws and regulations.
Industry Catalog and Negative List Relating to Foreign Investment
Investment activities in the PRC by foreign investors are principally governed by three principal legal documents: (i) the Provisions for Guiding
the Foreign Investments Direction promulgated by the State Council on February 11, 2002, pursuant to which foreign investment projects are categorized
as encouraged, permitted, restricted and prohibited; (ii) the Special Administrative Measures for Access of Foreign Investment (Negative List) (2019
Edition), or the Negative List, jointly issued by the NDRC and MOFCOM on June 30, 2019 and effective from July 30, 2019, which sets forth management
measures for the market entry of foreign investors, such as equity requirements and senior manager requirements and provides that foreign investors shall
comply with such restrictive requirements when engaging in the restricted activities listed in the Negative List and shall not engage in the prohibited
activities listed in the Negative List; and (iii) the Catalog of Industries for Encouraged Foreign Investment (2019 Edition), or the Encouraged Catalog, also
jointly issued by the NDRC and MOFCOM on July 30, 2019 and also effective from July 30, 2019, which sets forth the encouraged foreign investment
industries. Industries not listed in the Encouraged Catalog or the Negative List are generally deemed as constituting a fourth “permitted” category.
Establishment of wholly foreign-owned enterprises is generally allowed in encouraged and permitted industries.
Our PRC subsidiaries are mainly engaged in providing investment and financing consultations and technical services, which fall into the
“encouraged” or “permitted” category. Our PRC subsidiaries have obtained all material approvals required for its business operations. However, industries
such as value-added telecommunication services (except for e-commerce, domestic multi-party communication, storage and forwarding classes and call
centers), including internet information services, are restricted from foreign investment. We provide the value-added telecommunication services that are in
the “restricted” category through our consolidated variable interest entities, Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management.
Foreign Investment in Value-Added Telecommunication Services
The Provisions on Administration of Foreign Invested Telecommunications Enterprises promulgated by the State Council in December 2001 and
subsequently amended respectively in September 2008 and February 2016 prohibit a foreign investor from owning more than 50% of the total equity
interest in any value-added telecommunications service business in China and require the major foreign investor in any value-added telecommunications
service business in China have a good and profitable record and operating experience in this industry. The Negative List and Circular 196 promulgated by
MIIT in June 2015 allow a foreign investor to own more than 50% of the total equity interest in an online data processing and transaction business (e-
commerce business).
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In July 2006, the Ministry of Information Industry, the predecessor of the MIIT, issued the Circular on Strengthening the Administration of
Foreign Investment in the Operation of Value-added Telecommunications Business, pursuant to which a domestic PRC company that holds an operating
license for value-added telecommunications business, which we refer to as the VATS License, is prohibited from leasing, transferring or selling the VATS
License to foreign investors in any form and from providing any assistance, including resources, sites or facilities, to foreign investors that conduct a value-
added telecommunications business illegally in China. Further, the domain names and registered trademarks used by an operating company providing
value-added telecommunications services must be legally owned by that company or its shareholders. In addition, the VATS License holder must have the
necessary facilities for its approved business operations and to maintain the facilities in the regions covered by its VATS License.
In light of the above restrictions and requirements, we operate our online marketplaces through Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management, our
consolidated variable interest entities. Hengcheng is in the process of renewing its ICP License, the VATS license for internet information services, and
Yiren Wealth Management is in the process of applying for an ICP License. Certain trademarks relating to our value-added telecommunications business
have been transferred to us by CreditEase, in order to comply with the requirement that registered trademarks used by an operating company providing
value-added telecommunications services must be legally owned by that company or its shareholders.
Regulations Relating to Online Lending Information Intermediary
Due to the relatively brief history of the online lending information intermediary service industry in China, the regulatory framework governing
our industry have undergone significant changes in recent years and may continue to evolve. In addition, there are certain other general rules, laws and
regulations that may be relevant or applicable to the online lending information intermediary service industry, including the PRC Contract Law, the General
Principles of the Civil Law of the PRC, and related judicial interpretations promulgated by the Supreme People’s Court.
Regulations on Loans between Individuals
The PRC Contract Law governs the formation, validity, performance, enforcement and assignment of contracts. The PRC Contract Law confirms
the validity of loan agreement between individuals and provides that the loan agreement becomes effective when the individual lender provides the loan to
the individual borrower. The PRC Contract Law requires that the interest rates charged under the loan agreement must not violate the applicable provisions
of the PRC laws and regulations. In accordance with the Provisions on Several Issues Concerning Laws Applicable to Trials of Private Lending Cases
issued by the Supreme People’s Court on August 6, 2015, or the Private Lending Judicial Interpretations, which came into effect on September 1, 2015,
private lending is defined as financing between individuals, legal entities and other organizations. When private loans between individuals are paid by wire
transfer, through online lending information intermediaries or by other similar means, the loan contracts between individuals are deemed to be validated
upon the deposit of funds to the borrower’s account. In the event that the loans are made through an online lending information intermediary, which only
provides intermediary services, the courts will dismiss the claims of the parties concerned against the platform demanding the repayment of loans by the
platform as guarantors. However, if the online lending information intermediary guarantees repayment of the loans as evidenced by its web page,
advertisements or other media, or the court is provided with other proof, the lender’s claim alleging that the online lending information intermediary
assumes the obligations of a guarantor will be upheld by the courts. The Private Lending Judicial Interpretations also provide that agreements between the
lender and borrower on loans with interest rates below 24% per annum are valid and enforceable. As to loans with interest rates per annum between 24%
and 36%, if the interest on the loans has already been paid to the lender, and so long as such payment has not damaged the interest of the state, the
community and any third parties, the courts will turn down the borrower’s request to demand the return of the interest payment. If the annual interest rate of
a private loan is higher than 36%, the excess will not be enforced by the courts. The Supreme People’s Court issued Certain Opinions Concerning Further
Strengthening Finance Judgment Work on August 4, 2017, or the Opinions on Finance Judgment, which provides that the courts in adjudication of private
loan disputes should invalidate contractual provisions attempting to circumvent the cap on judicially-protected interest rate, such as pre-deduction of
principal or interest, or disguised high interest rate, and if online lending information intermediaries and lenders seek to use the form of intermediary
charges to circumvent the cap on judicially-protected interest rate, it should be invalidated.
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In December 2017, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office jointly
issued the Notice on Rectification of Cash Loan Businesses, or Circular 141, which requires that the interests and all the comprehensive capital costs
charged and collected from a borrower should be uniformly converted into an annualized capital cost which shall not exceed the ceiling amount provided
by the Private Lending Judicial Interpretations. See “—Our Products and Services—Loan Pricing Mechanism.”
Pursuant to the PRC Contract Law, a creditor may assign its rights under an agreement to a third party, provided that the debtor is notified. Upon
due assignment of the creditor’s rights, the assignee is entitled to the creditor’s rights and the debtor must perform the relevant obligations under the
agreement for the benefit of the assignee. We operate a secondary loan market on our platform where investors can transfer the loans they hold to other
investors before the loan reaches maturity. To facilitate the assignment of the loans, the template loan agreement applicable to the lenders and borrowers on
our platform specifically provides that a lender has the right to assign his/her rights under the loan agreement to any third parties and the borrower agrees to
such assignment.
In addition, according to the PRC Contract Law, an intermediation contract is a contract whereby an intermediary presents to its client an
opportunity for entering into a contract or provides the client with other intermediary services in connection with the conclusion of a contract, and the client
pays the intermediary service fees. Our business of connecting investors with individual borrowers may constitute intermediary service, and our service
agreements with borrowers and investors may be deemed as intermediation contracts under the PRC Contract Law. Pursuant to the PRC Contract Law, an
intermediary must provide true information relating to the proposed contract. If an intermediary conceals any material fact intentionally or provides false
information in connection with the conclusion of the proposed contract, which results in harm to the client’s interests, the intermediary may not claim for
service fees and is liable for the damages caused.
Regulations on Illegal Fund-Raising
Raising funds by entities or individuals from the general public must be conducted in strict compliance with applicable PRC laws and regulations
to avoid administrative and criminal liabilities. The Measures for the Banning of Illegal Financial Institutions and Illegal Financial Business Operations
promulgated by the State Council in July 1998 and amended in January 2011, and the Notice on Relevant Issues Concerning the Penalty on Illegal Fund-
Raising issued by the General Office of the State Council in July 2007, explicitly prohibit illegal public fund-raising. The main features of illegal public
fund-raising include: (i) illegally soliciting and raising funds from the general public by means of issuing stocks, bonds, lotteries or other securities without
obtaining the approval of relevant authorities, (ii) promising a return of interest or profits or investment returns in cash, properties or other forms within a
specified period of time, and (iii) using a legitimate form to disguise the unlawful purpose.
To further clarify the criminal charges and punishments relating to illegal public fund-raising, the Supreme People’s Court promulgated the
Judicial Interpretations to Issues Concerning Applications of Laws for Trial of Criminal Cases on Illegal Fund-Raising, or the Illegal Fund-Raising Judicial
Interpretations, which came into force in January 2011. The Illegal Fund-Raising Judicial Interpretations provide that a public fund-raising will constitute a
criminal offense related to “illegally soliciting deposits from the public” under the PRC Criminal Law, if it meets all the following four criteria: (i) the
fund-raising has not been approved by the relevant authorities or is concealed under the guise of legitimate acts; (ii) the fund-raising employs general
solicitation or advertising such as social media, promotion meetings, leafleting and SMS advertising; (iii) the fundraiser promises to repay, after a specified
period of time, the capital and interests, or investment returns in cash, properties in kind and other forms; and (iv) the fund-raising targets at the general
public as opposed to specific individuals. An illegal fund-raising activity will be fined or prosecuted in the event that it constitutes a criminal offense.
Pursuant to the Illegal Fund-Raising Judicial Interpretations, an offender that is an entity will be subject to criminal liabilities, if it illegally solicits deposits
from the general public or illegally solicits deposits in disguised form (i) with the amount of deposits involved exceeding RMB1,000,000, (ii) with over
150 fund-raising targets involved, or (iii) with the direct economic loss caused to fund-raising targets exceeding RMB500,000 or (iv) the illegal fund-
raising activities have caused baneful influences to the public or have led to other severe consequences. An individual offender is also subject to criminal
liabilities but with lower thresholds. In addition, an individual or an entity who has aided in illegal fund-raising from the general public and charges fees
including but not limited to agent fees, rewards, rebates and commission, constitute an accomplice of the crime of illegal fund-raising. In accordance with
the Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procurator and the Ministry of Public Security on Several Issues concerning the
Application of Law in the Illegal Fund-Raising Criminal Cases, the administrative proceeding for determining the nature of illegal fund-raising activities is
not a prerequisite procedure for the initiation of criminal proceeding concerning the crime of illegal fund-raising, and the administrative departments’
failure in determining the nature of illegal fund-raising activities does not affect the investigation, prosecution and trial of cases concerning the crime of
illegal fund-raising.
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We have taken measures to avoid conducting any activities that are prohibited under the illegal-funding related laws and regulations. We act as a
platform for borrowers and investors and are not a party to the loans facilitated through our platform. In addition, we do not directly receive any funds from
investors in our own accounts as funds loaned through our platform are deposited into and settled by a third-party custody account managed by China
Guangfa Bank.
Regulations on Online Lending Information Intermediary Service Provider
In July 2015, ten PRC regulatory agencies, including the PBOC, the MIIT and the CBRC, jointly issued the Guidelines on Promoting the Healthy
Development of Online Finance Industry, or the Guidelines. The Guidelines sets forth certain core principles for the online lending information
intermediary service industry. Based on the core principles under the Guidelines, in August 2016, the CBRC, the MIIT, the PRC Ministry of Public
Security and the PRC State Internet Information Office issued the Interim Measures on Administration of Business Activities of Online Lending
Information Intermediaries, or the Interim Measures. The Interim Measures defines online lending as the direct lending among individuals (including
natural persons, legal persons and other organizations) through Internet platforms, and the online lending information intermediaries as the legally
established financial information intermediaries specialized in the online lending information intermediary business, which provide, mainly through
Internet, such services as information collection, information release, credit assessment, information exchange, and lending matchmaking to facilitate the
direct lending between borrowers and lenders.
The Interim Measures require the online lending information intermediaries and their branches that propose to carry out the online lending
information intermediary services to file a record with the local financial regulatory department at the place where it is registered with the local
administration for industry and commerce within 10 business days upon obtaining the business license. Local financial regulatory departments have the
power to assess and classify the online lending information intermediaries which have filed a record, and to publicize the record-filing information and the
classification results on their respective official websites in a timely manner. Institutions engaged in the online lending information intermediary business
must explicitly identify the online lending information intermediaries in their business scope.
The online lending information intermediaries are prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities, among other things: (i) financing
for themselves directly or in a disguised form; (ii) accepting, collecting or gathering funds of lenders directly or indirectly; (iii) providing security to
lenders or promising break-even principals and interests directly or in a disguised form; (iv) advertising or promoting financing projects on other physical
premises other than such digital channels as the Internet, fixed-line telephone or mobile phone by themselves or upon entrustment or authorization of any
third party; (v) providing loans, unless otherwise stipulated by laws and regulations; (vi) splitting the term of any financing project; (vii) raising funds by
issuing such financial products as wealth management products by themselves, or selling wealth management products of banks, assets management
products of securities traders, funds, insurance, trust products or other financial products on a commission basis; (viii) carrying out any business analogous
to asset securitization or conducting transfer of creditor’s rights in the form of packaged assets, asset-backed securities, trust assets or fund units, among
others; (ix) engaging in any form of mixture, bundling or agency with other businesses such as institutional investment, sale on a commission basis and
brokerage, unless otherwise permitted by laws, regulations and relevant regulatory provisions on online lending information intermediaries; (x) false
statement, misrepresenting or failure to disclose important information regarding the financial projects; (xi) providing information intermediary services for
those highly risky financing projects whose purpose is investing in stock market, over-the-counter financing, futures contracts, structured products and
other derivatives; and (xii) engaging in equity-based crowd funding.
The Interim Measures do not allow (i) the balance of money borrowed by the same natural person and the same legal person or other organization
on the same online lending information intermediary platform to exceed RMB200,000 and RMB1,000,000, respectively; or (ii) the total balance of money
borrowed by the same natural person and the same legal person or other organization on different online lending information intermediary platforms to
exceed RMB1,000,000 and RMB5,000,000, respectively. The fund raising period set by an online lending information intermediary for each single
financing project must not exceed 20 business days.
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Further, the Interim Measures set forth certain information disclosure requirements for the online lending information intermediaries, including
(i) fully disclosure on their respective official websites of the basic information of borrowers, basic information of financing projects, risk assessment,
possible risk results, use of funds by the matched lending projects and other related information; (ii) publishing on their respective official websites
matched lending projects and other information on their operation and management; (iii) maintaining certain column on their official websites for
information on their business operation and management and regularly disclosing their annual reports, laws and regulations, and relevant regulatory
provisions on the online lending information intermediary service industry to the public; (iv) retaining accounting firms to regularly audit the deposit and
management of the lenders’ and borrowers’ funds, information disclosure, security of information technology infrastructure, compliance of operation and
other key processes, and also retaining qualified information security assessment and certification institutions to regularly assess and certify their
information security, and disclose to lenders, borrowers and others such auditing, assessment and certification results.
In November 2016, the CBRC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or the MIIT, and the SAIC jointly issued the Guide to the
Record-filing of Online Lending Information Intermediaries, or the Record-filing Guidelines, which outlines the rules, procedures and required documents
for the record-filing of online lending information intermediaries, and directs local financial regulatory departments to adopt detailed implementation
rules for the record-filing by online lending information intermediaries within their jurisdictions. In December 2017, the National Rectification Office,
issued the Notice on Rectification and Inspection Acceptance of Risk of Online Lending, or Circular 57, which provides further clarification on several
matters in connection with the rectification and record-filing of online lending information intermediaries. Circular 57, among other things, requires certain
local governmental authorities to establish an inspection team to conduct risk rectification inspections on online lending information intermediaries within
their jurisdictions. If an online lending information intermediary institution passes the inspection, the local governmental authorities shall complete its
record-filing. Circular 57 also requires local authorities to complete record-filings of online lending information intermediaries within its jurisdiction by the
end of April 2018, except that the deadline for certain complicated cases may be postponed to May 2018 or June 2018.
On August 13, 2018, the National Rectification Office issued the Compliance Inspection Notice, which requires the online lending intermediaries
to be inspected in accordance with the requirements provided in the Interim Measures, the Custodian Guidelines and the Disclosure Guidelines, and in
combination the Compliance Inspection Checklist. The Compliance Inspection Notice emphasizes that the compliance inspection will focus on the
following issues: (i) whether the intermediary conducts business only as an information intermediary and whether it is engaged in any credit intermediary
business; (ii) whether the intermediary maintains any capital pool and has advanced funds for the clients; (iii) whether the intermediary finances itself
directly or in a disguised form; (iv) whether the intermediary provides the lenders with guarantees or promises to repay principals and interests thereon
directly or in a disguised form; (v) whether the intermediary provides rigid payment for the lenders; (vi) whether the intermediary conducts risk
assessments for the lenders and provide hierarchical management of lenders; (vii) whether the intermediary fully discloses risk related information of the
borrowers to the lenders; (viii) whether the intermediary adheres to the online lending principle of small amount and dispersion; (ix) whether the
intermediary raises funds by sale of wealth management products through itself or its affiliates; (x) whether the intermediary solicits lenders by high
interests and other manners. According to the Compliance Inspection Notice, the compliance inspection shall be carried at three levels as follows: (i) the
self-inspection carried out by the online lending intermediary itself, which is required to submit to the provincial online lending rectification office a self-
examination report and an authenticity commitment letter signed by its senior management and major shareholders; (ii) internet finance association
inspection led by local internet finance association and/or the National Internet Finance Association of China, which are required to submit to the
provincial online lending rectification office a self-discipline inspection report and an authenticity commitment letter signed by the inspectors and the
principal of such association; and (iii) the administrative verification carried out by the provincial online lending rectification office on the basis of the self-
inspection and self-discipline inspection abovementioned. The provincial online lending rectification offices are required to verify the authenticity of the
content and data of the self-examination reports and the self-discipline inspection reports and submit a conclusion report to the National Rectification
Office. If a self-examination report or self-discipline inspection report is found to contain false information, the online lending intermediary involved will
be vetoed. The compliance inspection shall be completed by the end of December 2018. The online lending intermediaries that generally meet the
requirement of being an intermediary and various standard will be allowed to link to the information disclosure and products registration system. After a
period of operation and inspection, the online lending information intermediaries that meet relevant requirements can apply for record-filing.
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In addition, on August 24, 2018, the Beijing Rectification Office, issued a Notice on Launch of Self-Inspection of P2P Online Lending
Intermediaries Registered in Beijing, which requires that an online lending intermediary registered in Beijing shall submit a self-inspection report by
September 30, 2018 and in any event no later than October 15, 2018.
In accordance with the Guidelines and the Interim Measures, the CBRC also issued two other implementation rules and regulations in addition to
the Record-Filing Guidelines, namely, (i) the Guidelines for the Depository Business of Online Lending Funds in February 2017, or the Custodian
Guidelines; and (ii) the Guidelines for the Disclosure of Information on Business Activities of Online Lending Information Intermediaries in August 2017,
or the Disclosure Guidelines. The Custodian Guidelines require each online lending information intermediary to set up a custody account with a single
commercial bank for the funds of investors on its platform, take responsibility for the continued development and secure operation of its technical system,
make appropriate information disclosure to the custody bank, perform daily account reconciliation with the custody bank, safely maintain its accounts and
records, arrange for the independent audits of the custody account and publicly disclose the audit results, and cooperate with the custody bank in meeting
anti-money laundering obligations. The Disclosure Guidelines sets forth the information disclosure requirement for online lending information
intermediaries, including with respect to their filings and licenses, fund custody, organization, operation, risk management, data regarding loans facilitated,
financial audit and compliance review, and channels for customer complaints. In addition, the Disclosure Guidelines require online lending information
intermediaries to disclose to investors information concerning borrowers, projects, project risk assessment and possible risk outcome. Under the Disclosure
Guidelines, an online lending information intermediary must provide consistent information disclosure across all online channels such as its website,
mobile phone application, WeChat public accounts and Weibo accounts, and set up on its website and other online channels a conspicuous section for
information disclosure. Furthermore, in May 2017, the CBRC, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security jointly
released the Notice to Further Enhance the Management of Campus Loans, which prohibits online lending information intermediaries from facilitating
loans to college students.
In December 2017, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office jointly
issued the Notice on Rectification of Cash Loan Businesses, or Circular 141, which sets out certain principles in connection with cash loan businesses and
online lending information intermediaries. According to Circular 141, online lending information intermediaries are prohibited from: (i) deducting
interests, commissions, management fees and deposits from the loans before they are released to the borrowers; (ii) outsourcing core functions such as data
collection, customer identification, credit assessment or account openings; (iii) enabling banking financial institutions to engage in P2P online lending;
(iv) providing loan facilitation services to individuals who do not possess sufficient debt repayment capabilities or to students; (vi) conducting real-estate
financing such as down payment loans for real estate purchasing.
On December 19, 2018, the Leading Group Office of the Internet Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office
jointly promulgated the Notice on the Classification and Disposal of Online Lending Institutions and Risk Prevention, which provides that online lending
intermediaries shall be classified into the following two categories according to their risk profiles: (i) institutions with exposed risks, and (ii) institutions
without exposed risks, which are further classified as non-operating institutions, small-scale institutions, high-risk institutions and normal operating
institutions. With respect to the normal operating institutions, the relevant governmental authorities shall require the institutions to strictly limit balance of
loans and number of lenders and shall assess the risk profiles of such institutions regularly and adjust their classifications in a timely manner if necessary.
Furthermore, Beijing Rectification Office issued a Notice on January 24, 2019 requiring online lending intermediaries to continue to reduce its business
scale and number of borrowers and lenders during the administrative verification period. In September 2019, the Leading Group Office of the Internet
Financial Risk Rectification Campaign and the National Rectification Office jointly promulgated the Notice on Strengthening the Construction of Credit
System in the Field of P2P Online Lending, which provides that online lending intermediaries shall be incorporated into and connected to the credit system.
To comply with the laws, rules and regulations relating to the online lending information intermediary service industry, we have implemented
various policies and procedures, which we believe set the best practice in the industry.
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Anti-money Laundering Regulations
The PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, which became effective in January 2007, sets forth the principal anti-money laundering requirements
applicable to financial institutions as well as non-financial institutions with anti-money laundering obligations, including the adoption of precautionary and
supervisory measures, establishment of various systems for client identification, retention of clients’ identification information and transactions records,
and reports on large transactions and suspicious transactions. According to the PRC Anti-money Laundering Law, financial institutions subject to the PRC
Anti-money Laundering Law include banks, credit unions, trust investment companies, stock brokerage companies, futures brokerage companies, insurance
companies and other financial institutions as listed and published by the State Council, while the list of the non-financial institutions with anti-money
laundering obligations will be published by the State Council. The PBOC and other governmental authorities issued a series of administrative rules and
regulations to specify the anti-money laundering obligations of financial institutions and certain non-financial institutions, such as payment institutions. In
July 2018, the PBOC issued the Notice on Strengthening Supervision on Anti-money Laundering by Certain Non-financial Institutions, stipulating that the
following non-financial institutions shall undertake the responsibilities of anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing during their respective certain
business operations: (i) real estate development enterprises and real estate agencies while selling real estates and providing service for real estate
transactions; (ii) precious metal traders and precious metals trading platforms while conducting or providing service for precious metal spot trading;
(iii) accounting firms, law firms and notary offices while conducting real estate transactions, asset management, bank account and securities account
management, fund-raising for establishment or operation of enterprises and business entities transactions on behalf of their clients;( iv) company service
providers providing service for establishment, operation and management of companies.
The Guidelines jointly released by ten PRC regulatory agencies in July 2015, purport, among other things, to require internet finance service
providers, including online lending information intermediaries, to comply with certain anti-money laundering requirements, including the establishment of
a customer identification program, the monitoring and reporting of suspicious transactions, the preservation of customer information and transaction
records, and the provision of assistance to the public security department and judicial authority in investigations and proceedings in relation to anti-money
laundering matters. The Interim Measures jointly issued by four PRC regulatory agencies in August 2016 require the online lending information
intermediaries, among other things, to comply with certain anti-money laundering obligations, including verifying customer identification, reporting
suspicious transactions and preserving customer information and transaction records. The Custodian Guidelines issued by PBOC in February 2017 require
the online lending platforms to set up custody accounts with commercial banks and comply with the anti-money laundry requirements of the relevant
commercial banks.
On October 11, 2018, the PBOC, the CBIRC, and the CSRC, jointly promulgated the Administrative Measures for Anti-money Laundering and
Counter-terrorism Financing by Internet Finance Service Agencies (for Trial Implementation), effective as of January 1, 2019, which specify the anti-
money laundering obligations of internet finance service agencies and regulate that the internet finance service agencies shall (i) adopt continuous customer
identification measures; (ii) implement the system for reporting large-value or suspicious transactions; (iii) conduct real-time monitoring of the lists of
terrorist organizations and terrorists; and (iv) properly keep the information, data and materials such as customer identification and transaction reports.
In cooperation with our partnering custody banks and payment companies, we have adopted various policies and procedures, such as internal
controls and “know-your-customer” procedures, for anti-money laundering purposes.
Regulations on Micro-lending
In May 2008, Guidance on the Pilot Establishment of Micro-lending Companies, or the Micro-lending Guidance, was jointly promulgated by the
CBRC and the PBOC, authorizing provincial governments to approve the establishment of micro-lending companies on a test basis. The establishment of a
micro-lending company is subject to the approval of the competent government authority at the provincial level. The major sources of funds for a micro-
lending company are limited to capital paid by shareholders, donated capital and capital borrowed from up to two financial institutions. Furthermore, the
balance of the capital is required to be determined by the company with the banking financial institutions upon consultation, and the interest rate must be
determined by using the Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate as the base rate. With respect to the grant of credit, micro-lending companies are required to
adhere to the principle of “small sum and decentralization.” The outstanding balance of the loans granted by a micro-lending company to one borrower
cannot exceed 5% of the net capital of such company. The interest ceiling used by a micro-lending company may be determined by such companies but in
no circumstance shall they exceed the restrictions prescribed by the judicatory authority. The interest floor is 0.9 times the base interest rate published by
the PBOC. Micro-lending companies have the flexibility to determine the specific interest rate within the range depending on certain market conditions. In
addition, according to the Micro-lending Guidance, micro-lending companies are required to establish and improve their corporate governance structures,
the loan management systems, the financial accounting systems, the asset classification systems, the provision systems for accurate asset classification and
their information disclosure systems, and such companies are required to make adequate provisions for impairment losses. Micro-lending companies are
also required to accept public scrutiny supervision and are prohibited from carrying out illegal fund-raising in any form.
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Based on the Micro-lending Guidance, many provincial governments, including that of Hainan Province, promulgated local implementing rules on
the administration of micro-lending companies. Hainan Provincial People’s Government issued the Interim Measures for Pilot Management of Micro-
lending Companies in November 2009, the Notice of Expanding the Pilot Scope of Micro-lending Companies in March 2011 and the Opinions on Further
Promoting the Reform and Development of Micro-lending Companies in June 2012, imposing the management duties upon the relevant regulatory
authorities and specifies more detailed requirements on the micro-lending companies. Hainan Haijin Yichuang Micro-lending Co., Ltd., which is a
subsidiary of our variable interest entities, is approved by the local governmental authority to conduct micro-lending business.
Regulations on Commercial Factoring
The commercial factoring is a relatively new business model in mainland China, the Ministry of Commerce, or MOFCOM had issued circulars to
promote commercial factoring in the specific regions. Pursuant to the Circular on the Pilot Work of Commercial Factoring, which was promulgated by the
MOFCOM on June 27, 2012, a trial implementation of commercial factoring pilot work was permitted in Tianjin Binhai New Area and Shanghai Pudong
New Area to explore the approaches to develop the commercial factoring and to better utilize its role in expanding the export and promoting the
development of small and medium enterprises. On December 7, 2012, MOFCOM issued the Notice on the Pilot Program of Establishing Commercial
Factoring Enterprises in Shenzhen and Guangzhou by Hong Kong and Macao Service Suppliers, under which the said trial implementation of commercial
factoring pilot work was extended to Guangzhou and Shenzhen and qualified investors from Hong Kong and Macau are allowed to establish commercial
factoring company in the said cities. On October 8, 2019, the CBIRC issued the Circular on Strengthening the Supervision and Administration of
Commercial Factoring Enterprises to regulate the operating activities of commercial factoring enterprises, clarify regulatory responsibilities and promote
the healthy development of the commercial factoring industry.
Haijin Yichuang Commercial Factoring (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of our variable interest entities, is approved to conduct
factoring business.
Regulations on Financial Leasing
In September 2013, MOFCOM issued the Administration Measures of Supervision on Financing Lease Enterprises, or the Leasing Measures,
which became effective on October 1, 2013, to regulate and administer the business operations of financing lease enterprises. According to the Leasing
Measures, financing lease enterprises are allowed to carry out financing lease business in such forms as direct lease, sublease, sale-and-lease-back,
leveraged lease, entrusted lease and joint lease in accordance with the provisions of relevant laws, regulations and rules. However, the Leasing Measures
prohibit financing lease enterprises from engaging in financial business such as accepting deposits, and providing loans or entrusted loans. Without the
approval from relevant authorities, financing lease enterprises shall not engage in inter-bank borrowing and other businesses. In addition, financing lease
enterprises are prohibited from carrying out illegal fund-raising activities in the name of financing lease. The Leasing Measures require financing lease
enterprises to establish and improve their financial and internal risk control systems, and a financing lease enterprise’s risk assets shall not exceed ten times
of its total net assets. Risk assets generally refer to the adjusted total assets of a financing lease enterprise excluding cash, bank deposits, sovereign bonds
and entrusted leasing assets.
Haijin Yichuang Financial Leasing Co., Ltd., which is a subsidiary of our variable interest entities, is approved to conduct financial leasing
business.
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Regulations on Value-Added Telecommunication Services
The Telecommunications Regulations promulgated by the State Council and its related implementation rules, including the Catalog of
Classification of Telecommunications Business issued by the MIIT, categorize various types of telecommunications and telecommunications-related
activities into basic or value-added telecommunications services, while internet information services, or ICP services, and data processing and transaction
processing services, or EDI services, are classified as value-added telecommunications businesses. In 2009, the MIIT promulgated the Administrative
Measures on Telecommunications Business Operating Licenses, amended in July 2017, which set forth more specific provisions regarding the types of
licenses required to operate value-added telecommunications services, the qualifications and procedures for obtaining such licenses and the administration
and supervision of such licenses. Under these regulations, a commercial operator of value-added telecommunications services must first obtain a license for
value-added telecommunications business, or VATS License, from the MIIT or its provincial level counterparts, which must identify the specific type of
value-added telecommunications services it provides. An internet information service provider must obtain a VATS License for internet information
services, and a data processing and transaction processing service provider must obtain a VATS License for data processing and transaction processing
services, or EDI License.
In September 2000, the State Council also issued the Administrative Measures on Internet Information Services, which was amended in
January 2011. Pursuant to these measures, “internet information services” refer to provision of internet information to online users, and are divided into
“commercial internet information services” and “non-commercial internet information services.” A commercial internet information services operator must
obtain an ICP License, from the relevant government authorities before engaging in any commercial internet information services operations in China. The
ICP License has a term of five years and can be renewed within 90 days before expiration.
Hengcheng, our consolidated variable interest entity operating our online marketplace and Yiren Wealth Management, our consolidated variable
interest entity operating our wealth management website and mobile application, may be deemed to be providing commercial internet information services
and data processing and transaction processing services, which would require Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management to obtain an ICP License and an
EDI License. Hengcheng is in the process of renewing its ICP License for provision of commercial internet information services, and Yiren Wealth
Management is in the process of applying for an ICP License. The Guidelines jointly released by ten PRC regulatory agencies in July 2015, purport, among
other things, to require internet finance service providers, including online lending information intermediaries, to complete registration with the relevant
local counterpart of the MIIT in accordance with implementation regulations that may be promulgated by the MIIT and/or the Office for Cyberspace
Affairs pursuant to the Guidelines. The Interim Measures jointly issued by four PRC regulatory agencies in August 2016 require the online lending
information intermediaries, among other things, to apply for appropriate telecommunication business license in accordance with the relevant requirements
of telecommunication authorities subsequent to completion of the record-filing with the local financial regulatory department. In accordance with the
Guidelines and the Interim Measures, the relevant authorities are in the process of making detailed implementation rules in relation to the record-filing
procedures, as well as the application procedures for appropriate telecommunication business license by online lending information intermediaries. We plan
to apply for any requisite telecommunication services license once the detailed implementation rules become available.
Regulations on Internet Information Security
Internet information in China is also regulated and restricted from a national security standpoint. The National People’s Congress, China’s national
legislative body, has enacted the Decisions on Maintaining Internet Security, which may subject violators to criminal punishment in China for any effort to:
(i) gain improper entry into a computer or system of strategic importance; (ii) disseminate politically disruptive information; (iii) leak state secrets;
(iv) spread false commercial information; or (v) infringe intellectual property rights. In November 2016, the Standing Committee of National People’s
Congress promulgated the PRC Cyber Security Law taken into effect in June 2017, or the PRC Cyber Security Law, which established a regulatory system
with respect to the construction, operation, maintenance and use of internet and set forth provisions on the supervision and administration of cyber security
within the territory of the PRC. Pursuant to the PRC Cyber Security Law, the national internet information department shall take charge of the arrangement,
coordination, supervision and administration in connection with cyber-security issues, and the telecommunications administrative departments, public
security departments as well as other relevant departments shall be responsible for the security protection, supervision and administration within the scope
of their respective duties. The Ministry of Public Security has promulgated measures that prohibit use of the internet in ways which, among other things,
result in a leakage of state secrets or a spread of socially destabilizing content. If an internet information service provider violates these measures, the
Ministry of Public Security and the local security bureaus may revoke its operating license and shut down its websites.
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In addition, the Guidelines jointly released by ten PRC regulatory agencies in July 2015 purport, among other things, to require internet finance
service providers, including online lending information intermediaries, to improve technology security standards, and safeguard customer and transaction
information. The Interim Measures jointly issued by four PRC regulatory agencies in August 2016 requires the online lending information intermediaries,
among other things, to (i) carry out grading filing and testing for their information systems, (ii) implement thorough cyberspace security facilities and
management measures, including firewall, intrusion detect, data encryption, and disaster recovery, etc., (iii) establish information technology management,
technology risk management, technology auditing and related systems, (iv) allocate sufficient resources and implement thorough management and control
measures and technological means to ensure safe and steady operation of their information systems, (v) protect the security of the information of lenders
and borrowers, (vi) carry out a comprehensive security evaluation at least once every two years, (vii) accept the information security inspection and
auditing by competent authorities, and (viii) establish or adopt application-level disaster recovery systems and facilities compatible with their business
scales within two years after their establishment.
Regulations on Privacy Protection
In recent years, PRC government authorities have enacted laws and regulations on internet use to protect personal information from any
unauthorized disclosure. Under the Several Provisions on Regulating the Market Order of Internet Information Services, issued by the MIIT in
December 2011, an ICP service operator may not collect any user personal information or provide any such information to third parties without the consent
of a user. An ICP service operator must expressly inform the users of the method, content and purpose of the collection and processing of such user
personal information and may only collect such information necessary for the provision of its services. An ICP service operator is also required to properly
maintain the user personal information, and in case of any leak or likely leak of the user personal information, the ICP service operator must take
immediate remedial measures and, in severe circumstances, make an immediate report to the telecommunications regulatory authority. In addition, pursuant
to the Decision on Strengthening the Protection of Online Information issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in
December 2012 and the Order for the Protection of Telecommunication and Internet User Personal Information issued by the MIIT in July 2013, any
collection and use of user personal information must be subject to the consent of the user, abide by the principles of legality, rationality and necessity and
be within the specified purposes, methods and scopes. An ICP service operator must also keep such information strictly confidential, and is further
prohibited from divulging, tampering or destroying of any such information, or selling or providing such information to other parties. An ICP service
operator is required to take technical and other measures to prevent the collected personal information from any unauthorized disclosure, damage or loss.
According to the PRC Cyber Security Law, an ICP service operator is required to formulate security management system and operational procedures, take
measures to prevent acts that jeopardize cyber security such as computer virus, network attacks and network intrusion, and safeguard personal information,
user information and business secrets. Any violation of these laws and regulations may subject the ICP service operator to warnings, fines, confiscation of
illegal gains, revocation of licenses, cancellation of filings, closedown of websites or even criminal liabilities. The Guidelines jointly released by ten PRC
regulatory agencies in July 2015 also prohibit internet finance service providers, including online lending information intermediaries, from illegally selling
or disclosing customers’ personal information. The PBOC and other relevant regulatory authorities will jointly adopt the implementing rules. The Interim
Measures jointly issued by four PRC regulatory agencies in August 2016 requires the online lending information intermediaries, among other things, to
strengthen the management of lenders’ and borrowers’ information to ensure the legitimacy and security regarding the collection, processing and use of
lenders’ and borrowers’ information, to keep confidential the lenders’ and borrowers’ information collected in the course of their business, and not to use
such information for any other purpose except for services they provide without approval of lenders or borrowers. The lenders’ and borrowers’ information
collected within the territory of China shall be stored, processed and analyzed within the territory of China. The online lending information intermediaries
shall not provide the lenders’ and borrowers’ information to any party located outside the territory of China, unless otherwise required by laws and
regulations. Pursuant to the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law issued by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in August 2015
and becoming effective in November, 2015, any internet service provider that fails to fulfill the obligations related to internet information security
administration as required by applicable laws and refuses to rectify upon orders, shall be subject to criminal penalty for the result of (i) any dissemination
of illegal information in large scale; (ii) any severe effect due to the leakage of the client’s information; (iii) any serious loss of criminal evidence; or
(iv) other severe situation, and any individual or entity that (i) sells or provides personal information to others in a way violating the applicable law, or
(ii) steals or illegally obtain any personal information, shall be subject to criminal penalty in severe situation. On November 28, 2019, the Secretary Bureau
of the Cyberspace Administration of China, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the General Office of the Ministry
of Public Security and the General Office of the State Administration for Market Regulation promulgated the Identification Method of Illegal Collection
and Use of Personal Information Through App, which provides guidance for the regulatory authorities to identify the illegal collection and use of personal
information through mobile apps, and for the app operators to conduct self-examination and self-correction and for other participants to voluntarily monitor
compliance.
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Regulations on Intellectual Property Rights
The PRC has adopted comprehensive legislation governing intellectual property rights, including trademarks. The PRC Trademark Law and its
implementation rules protect registered trademarks. The PRC Trademark Law has adopted a “first-to-file” principle with respect to trademark registration.
The Trademark Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration is responsible for the registration and administration of trademarks throughout
the PRC, and grants a term of ten years to registered trademarks and another ten years if requested upon expiry of the initial or extended term. Trademark
license agreements must be filed with the Trademark Office for record. As of the date of this annual report, we had 120 trademark applications, all of which
are pending with the Trademark Office of the National Intellectual Property Administration. We also have obtained a worldwide and royalty-free license
from CreditEase to use certain of its trademarks, including “宜信” (Chinese equivalent for CreditEase).
Regulations Relating to Dividend Withholding Tax
Pursuant to the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation rules, if a non-resident enterprise has not set up an organization or
establishment in the PRC, or has set up an organization or establishment but the income derived has no actual connection with such organization or
establishment, it will be subject to a withholding tax on its PRC-sourced income at a rate of 10%. Pursuant to the Arrangement between Mainland China
and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion on Income, the withholding tax rate in respect to
the payment of dividends by a PRC enterprise to a Hong Kong enterprise is reduced to 5% from a standard rate of 10% if the Hong Kong enterprise
directly holds at least 25% of the PRC enterprise. Pursuant to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on the Issues concerning the Application
of the Dividend Clauses of Tax Agreements, or Circular 81, a Hong Kong resident enterprise must meet the following conditions, among others, in order to
enjoy the reduced withholding tax: (i) it must directly own the required percentage of equity interests and voting rights in the PRC resident enterprise; and
(ii) it must have directly owned such percentage in the PRC resident enterprise throughout the 12 months prior to receiving the dividends. There are also
other conditions for enjoying the reduced withholding tax rate according to other relevant tax rules and regulations. In August 2015, the State
Administration of Taxation promulgated the Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Taxpayers to Enjoy Treatments under Tax Treaties, or Circular 60,
which became effective on November 1, 2015. Circular 60 provides that non-resident enterprises are not required to obtain pre-approval from the relevant
tax authority in order to enjoy the reduced withholding tax rate. Instead, non-resident enterprises and their withholding agents may, by self-assessment and
on confirmation that the prescribed criteria to enjoy the tax treaty benefits are met, directly apply the reduced withholding tax rate, and file necessary forms
and supporting documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities. On October 14,
2019, the State Administration of Taxation promulgated a new Administrative Measures for Non-Resident Taxpayers to Enjoy Treaty Benefits, or Circular
35, which became effective on January 1, 2020 and replaced and repealed Circular 60. However, Circular 35 sets forth similar rules that non-resident
enterprises and their withholding agents shall enjoy treaty benefit by means of “self-judgment of eligibility, declaration of entitlement, and retention of
relevant materials for future reference”. Accordingly, Yiren Digital HK, our Hong Kong subsidiary, may be able to enjoy the 5% withholding tax rate for
the dividends they receive from Hengye and Hengyuda, our PRC subsidiaries, if they satisfy the conditions prescribed under Circular 81 and other relevant
tax rules and regulations. However, according to Circular 81 and Circular 35, if the relevant tax authorities consider the transactions or arrangements we
have are for the primary purpose of enjoying a favorable tax treatment, the relevant tax authorities may adjust the favorable withholding tax in the future.
According to the Circular on Several Issues regarding the “Beneficial Owner” in Tax Treaties, which was issued on February 3, 2018 by the SAT and has
taken effect from April 1, 2018, or Circular 9, when determining the applicant’s status of the “beneficial owner” regarding tax treatments in connection
with dividends, interests or royalties in the tax treaties, several factors, including without limitation whether the applicant is obligated to pay more than
50% of his or her income in twelve months to residents in a third country or region, whether the business operated by the applicant constitutes the actual
business activities, and whether the counterparty country or region to the tax treaties levies any tax or grants tax exemption on relevant incomes or levies
tax at an extremely low rate, will be taken into account, and such determination will be analyzed according to the actual circumstances of the specific cases.
Circular 9 further provides that applicants who intend to prove his or her status of the “beneficial owner” shall submit the relevant documents to the
relevant tax authority according to Circular 35. However, if a competent tax authority finds out that it is necessary to apply the general anti-tax avoidance
rules, it may start general investigation procedures for anti-tax avoidance and adopt corresponding measures for subsequent administration.
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Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange
Regulations on Foreign Currency Exchange
The principal regulations governing foreign currency exchange in China are the Foreign Exchange Administration Regulations, most recently
amended in August 2008. Under the PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, such as profit distributions, interest payments
and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with
certain procedural requirements. By contrast, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be
converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital account items, such as direct investments, repayment of foreign currency-
denominated loans, repatriation of investments and investments in securities outside of China.
In November 2012, SAFE promulgated the Circular of Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies on Foreign
Direct Investment, most recently amended in December 2019, which substantially amends and simplifies the current foreign exchange procedure. Pursuant
to this circular, the opening of various special purpose foreign exchange accounts, such as pre-establishment expenses accounts, foreign exchange capital
accounts and guarantee accounts, the reinvestment of RMB proceeds derived by foreign investors in the PRC, and remittance of foreign exchange profits
and dividends by a foreign-invested enterprise to its foreign shareholders no longer require the approval or verification of SAFE, and multiple capital
accounts for the same entity may be opened in different provinces, which was not possible previously. In addition, SAFE promulgated another circular in
May 2013, which specifies that the administration by SAFE or its local branches over direct investment by foreign investors in the PRC must be conducted
by way of registration and banks must process foreign exchange business relating to the direct investment in the PRC based on the registration information
provided by SAFE and its branches. On February 13, 2015, SAFE promulgated the Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the
Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment, or SAFE Notice 13. After SAFE Notice 13 became effective on June 1, 2015, instead of applying for
approvals regarding foreign exchange registrations of foreign direct investment and overseas direct investment from SAFE, entities and individuals may
apply for such foreign exchange registrations from qualified banks. The qualified banks, under the supervision of SAFE, may directly review the
applications and conduct the registration.
On March 30, 2015, SAFE promulgated Circular 19, which expands a pilot reform of the administration of the settlement of the foreign exchange
capitals of foreign-invested enterprises nationwide. On June 9, 2016, SAFE promulgated Circular 16 to further expand and strengthen such reform. Under
Circular 19 and Circular 16, foreign-invested enterprises in the PRC are allowed to use their foreign exchange funds under capital accounts and RMB funds
from exchange settlement for expenditure under current accounts within its business scope or expenditure under capital accounts permitted by laws and
regulations, except that such funds shall not be used for (i) expenditure beyond the enterprise’s business scope or expenditure prohibited by laws and
regulations; (ii) investments in securities or other investments than banks’ principal-secured products; (iii) granting of loans to non-affiliated enterprises,
except where it is expressly permitted in the business license; and (iv) construction or purchase of real estate for purposes other than self-use (except for
real estate enterprises).
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Regulations on Foreign Exchange Registration of Overseas Investment by PRC Residents
SAFE issued SAFE Circular on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through
Special Purpose Vehicles, or SAFE Circular 37, that became effective in July 2014, replacing the previous SAFE Circular 75. SAFE Circular 37 regulates
foreign exchange matters in relation to the use of special purpose vehicles, or SPVs, by PRC residents or entities to seek offshore investment and financing
or conduct round trip investment in China. Under SAFE Circular 37, a SPV refers to an offshore entity established or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
PRC residents or entities for the purpose of seeking offshore financing or making offshore investment, using legitimate onshore or offshore assets or
interests, while “round trip investment” refers to direct investment in China by PRC residents or entities through SPVs, namely, establishing foreign-
invested enterprises to obtain the ownership, control rights and management rights. SAFE Circular 37 provides that, before making contribution into an
SPV, PRC residents or entities are required to complete foreign exchange registration with SAFE or its local branch. SAFE promulgated the Notice on
Further Simplifying and Improving the Administration of the Foreign Exchange Concerning Direct Investment in February 2015, which took effect on
June 1, 2015. This notice has amended SAFE Circular 37 requiring PRC residents or entities to register with qualified banks rather than SAFE or its local
branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing.
PRC residents or entities who had contributed legitimate onshore or offshore interests or assets to SPVs but had not obtained registration as
required before the implementation of the SAFE Circular 37 must register their ownership interests or control in the SPVs with qualified banks. An
amendment to the registration is required if there is a material change with respect to the SPV registered, such as any change of basic information
(including change of the PRC residents, name and operation term), increases or decreases in investment amount, transfers or exchanges of shares, and
mergers or divisions. Failure to comply with the registration procedures set forth in SAFE Circular 37 and the subsequent notice, or making
misrepresentation on or failure to disclose controllers of the foreign-invested enterprise that is established through round-trip investment, may result in
restrictions being imposed on the foreign exchange activities of the relevant foreign-invested enterprise, including payment of dividends and other
distributions, such as proceeds from any reduction in capital, share transfer or liquidation, to its offshore parent or affiliate, and the capital inflow from the
offshore parent, and may also subject relevant PRC residents or entities to penalties under PRC foreign exchange administration regulations.
We are aware that our PRC resident beneficial owners subject to these registration requirements have registered with the Beijing SAFE branch
and/or qualified banks to reflect the recent changes to our corporate structure.
Regulations on Stock Incentive Plans
SAFE promulgated the Stock Option Rules in February 2012, replacing the previous rules issued by SAFE in March 2007. Under the Stock
Option Rules and other relevant rules and regulations, PRC residents who participate in stock incentive plan in an overseas publicly-listed company are
required to register with SAFE or its local branches and complete certain other procedures. Participants of a stock incentive plan who are PRC residents
must retain a qualified PRC agent, which could be a PRC subsidiary of the overseas publicly listed company or another qualified institution selected by the
PRC subsidiary, to conduct the SAFE registration and other procedures with respect to the stock incentive plan on behalf of the participants. In addition, the
PRC agent is required to amend the SAFE registration with respect to the stock incentive plan if there is any material change to the stock incentive plan, the
PRC agent or other material changes. The PRC agent must, on behalf of the PRC residents who have the right to exercise the employee share options, apply
to 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.
We have adopted two share incentive plans, under which we have the discretion to grant a broad range of equity-based awards to eligible
participants. See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Share Incentive Plan.” We plan to advise the recipients of
awards under our share incentive plans to handle foreign exchange matters in accordance with the Stock Option Rules. However, we cannot assure you that
they can successfully register with SAFE in full compliance with the Stock Option Rules. Any failure to complete their registration pursuant to the Stock
Option Rules and other foreign exchange requirements may subject these PRC individuals to fines and legal sanctions, and may also limit our ability to
contribute additional capital to our PRC subsidiaries, limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us or otherwise materially adversely
affect our business.
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Regulations on Dividend Distribution
Under our current corporate structure, our Cayman Islands holding company may rely on dividend payments from Hengye, which is a wholly
foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in China, to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. The principal regulations governing
distribution of dividends of foreign-invested enterprises include the Company Law and the Foreign Investment Law. Under the current laws and
regulations, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China may pay dividends only out of their accumulated after-tax profits, if any, determined in accordance
with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, wholly foreign-owned enterprises in China are required to allocate at least 10% of their
respective accumulated profits each year, if any, to fund certain reserve funds until these reserves have reached 50% of the registered capital of the
enterprises. Wholly foreign-owned companies may, at their discretion, allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to
staff welfare and bonus funds.
Regulations Relating to Employment
The PRC Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law require that employers must execute written employment contracts with full-time employees. 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. All employers must compensate their employees with wages equal to at least the local minimum
wage standards. Violations of the PRC Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law may result in the imposition of fines and other administrative sanctions, and
serious violations may result in criminal liabilities.
Enterprises in China are required by PRC laws and regulations to participate in certain employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds,
namely a pension 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. Failure to
make adequate contributions to various employee benefit plans may be subject to fines and other administrative sanctions.
We have not made adequate contributions to our employee benefits plans as required by the applicable PRC laws and regulations, including
potential late fees or fines. The probability that we may be subject to late penalties or fines in relation to the underpaid employee benefits is remote. See
“Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee
benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.”
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C. Organizational Structure
The following diagram illustrates our corporate structure, including our subsidiaries, our consolidated variable interest entities, and our
consolidated assets backed financing entities, as of the date of this annual report:
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(1) The shareholders of Hengcheng are Mr. Ning Tang, Mr. Fanshun Kong and Ms. Yan Tian, owning 93.0%, 0.9% and 6.1% of Hengcheng’s equity
interest, respectively. Mr. Ning Tang is our executive chairman. Mr. Fanshun Kong is a non-executive PRC employee of CreditEase, and Ms. Yan Tian
is a third-party individual designated by CreditEase.
(2) The shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management are Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Mr. Ning Tang, Mr. Fanshun
Kong and Ms. Yan Tian, owning 73.47%, 10.61%, 7.96% and 7.96% of Yiren Wealth Management’s equity interest, respectively. The shareholders of
Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. are Mr. Ning Tang and Ms. Yan Tian, ultimately owning 95% and 5% of its equity
interest, respectively.
(3) The shareholders of Linyang are Ms. Lingjing Li and Mr. Yang Wang, owning 90% and 10% of Linyang’s equity interest, respectively. Ms. Lingjing Li
and Mr. Yang Wang are our employees.
(4) The shareholders of Beijing Kechuang are Mr. Ning Tang and Ms. Yan Tian, owning 90% and 10% of Beijing Kechuang’s equity interest, respectively.
Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership and investment in value-added telecommunications services, and internet content provision
services in particular, we currently conduct these activities through Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, which we
effectively control through a series of contractual arrangements. These contractual arrangements allow us to:
· exercise effective control over Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang;
· receive substantially all of the economic benefits of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang; and
· have an exclusive option to purchase all or part of the equity interests in Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang
when and to the extent permitted by PRC law.
As a result of these contractual arrangements, we have become the primary beneficiary of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and
Beijing Kechuang, and we treat Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang as our variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP.
We have consolidated the financial results of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang in our consolidated financial
statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Contractual Arrangements with Hengcheng
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our wholly-owned subsidiary, Hengye, our
consolidated variable interest entity, Hengcheng, and the shareholders of Hengcheng.
Agreements that Provide Us with Effective Control over Hengcheng
Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to the amended and restated equity interest pledge agreements, each
shareholder of Hengcheng has pledged all of his or her equity interest in Hengcheng to guarantee the shareholder’s and Hengcheng’s performance of their
obligations under the exclusive business cooperation agreement, loan agreement, exclusive option agreement and power of attorney. If Hengcheng or any
of its shareholders breaches their contractual obligations under these agreements, Hengye, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights regarding the
pledged equity interests, including receiving proceeds from the auction or sale of all or part of the pledged equity interests of Hengcheng in accordance
with the law. Each of the shareholders of Hengcheng agrees that, during the term of the equity interest pledge agreements, he or she will not dispose of the
pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests without the prior written consent of Hengye. The equity interest
pledge agreements remain effective until Hengcheng and its shareholders discharge all their obligations under the contractual arrangements. As of the date
of this annual report, the equity pledge has not been registered with local PRC authorities.
Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the powers of attorney, each shareholder of Hengcheng has irrevocably appointed Hengye to act as such
shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights, including, but not limited to, voting on all matters of Hengcheng requiring
shareholder approval, disposing of all or part of the shareholder’s equity interest in Hengcheng, and appointing directors and executive officers. Hengye is
entitled to designate any person to act as such shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact without notifying or the approval of such shareholder, and if required
by PRC law, Hengye shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise such right. Each power of attorney will remain in force for so long as the shareholder
remains a shareholder of Hengcheng. Each shareholder has waived all the rights which have been authorized to Hengye and will not exercise such rights.
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Agreement that Allows us to Receive Economic Benefits from Hengcheng
Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Under the amended and restated exclusive business cooperation agreement
between Hengye and Hengcheng, Hengye has the exclusive right to provide Hengcheng with technical support, consulting services and other services.
Without Hengye’s prior written consent, Hengcheng agrees not to accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party. Hengye may
designate other parties to provide services to Hengcheng. Hengcheng agrees to pay service fees on a monthly basis and at an amount determined by Hengye
after taking into account multiple factors, such as the complexity and difficulty of the services provided, the time consumed, the content and commercial
value of services provided and the market price of comparable services. Hengye owns the intellectual property rights arising out of the performance of this
agreement. In addition, Hengcheng has granted Hengye an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase any or all of the assets and businesses of
Hengcheng at the lowest price permitted under PRC law. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties or terminated by Hengye unilaterally, this agreement will
remain effective permanently.
Agreements that Provide Us with the Option to Purchase the Equity Interest in Hengcheng
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement. Pursuant to the amended and restated exclusive option agreements, each shareholder of
Hengcheng has irrevocably granted Hengye an exclusive option to purchase, or have its designated person or persons to purchase, at its discretion, to the
extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of the shareholder’s equity interests in Hengcheng. The purchase price is equal to the higher of the amount of
loan extended by Hengye to each shareholder of Hengcheng under the respective loan agreement or the minimum price required by PRC law. If Hengye
exercises the option to purchase part of the equity interest held by a shareholder, the purchase price shall be calculated proportionally. Hengcheng and each
of its shareholders have agreed to appoint any persons designated by Hengye to act as Hengcheng’s directors. Without Hengye’s prior written consent,
Hengcheng shall not amend its articles of association, increase or decrease the registered capital, sell or otherwise dispose of its assets or beneficial interest,
create or allow any encumbrance on its assets or other beneficial interests, provide any loans to any third parties, enter into any material contract with a
value of more than RMB100,000 (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business), merge with or acquire any other persons or make
any investments, or distribute dividends to the shareholders. The shareholders of Hengcheng have agreed that, without Hengye’s prior written consent, they
will not dispose of their equity interests in Hengcheng or create or allow any encumbrance on their equity interests. Moreover, without Hengye’s prior
written consent, no dividend will be distributed to Hengcheng’s shareholders, and if any of the shareholders receives any profit, interest, dividend or
proceeds of share transfer or liquidation, the shareholder must give such profit, interest, dividend and proceeds to Hengye. These agreements will remain
effective until all equity interests of Hengcheng held by its shareholders have been transferred or assigned to Hengye or its designated person(s).
Amended and Restated Loan Agreements. Pursuant to the amended and restated loan agreements between Hengye and the shareholders of
Hengcheng, Hengye agreed to provide loans in an aggregate amount of RMB1,000.0 million to the shareholders of Hengcheng solely for the capitalization
of Hengcheng. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the shareholders can only repay the loans by the sale of all their equity interest in Hengcheng to Hengye or
its designated person(s) pursuant to their respective exclusive option agreements. The shareholders must pay all of the proceeds from sale of such equity
interests to Hengye. In the event that shareholders sell their equity interests to Hengye or its designated person(s) with a price equivalent to or less than the
amount of the principal, the loans will be interest free. If the price is higher than the amount of the principal, the excess amount will be paid to Hengye as
the loan interest. The loan must be repaid immediately under certain circumstances, including, among others, if a foreign investor is permitted to hold
majority or 100% equity interest in Hengcheng and Hengye elects to exercise its exclusive equity purchase option. The term of the loans is ten years and
can be extended upon mutual written consent of the parties.
Contractual Arrangements with Yiren Wealth Management
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our wholly-owned subsidiary, Hengyuda, our
consolidated variable interest entity, Yiren Wealth Management, and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management.
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Agreements that Provide Us with Effective Control over Yiren Wealth Management
Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to amended and restated the equity interest pledge agreements, each
shareholder of Yiren Wealth Management has pledged all of his or her equity interest in Yiren Wealth Management to guarantee the shareholder’s and
Yiren Wealth Management’s performance of their obligations under the exclusive business cooperation agreement, exclusive option agreement, loan
agreement and power of attorney. If Yiren Wealth Management or any of its shareholders breaches their contractual obligations under these agreements,
Hengyuda, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights regarding the pledged equity interests, including receiving proceeds from the auction or sale of all or
part of the pledged equity interests of Yiren Wealth Management in accordance with the law. Each of the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management agrees
that, during the term of the equity interest pledge agreements, he or she will not dispose of the pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance
on the pledged equity interests without the prior written consent of Hengyuda. The equity interest pledge agreements remain effective until Yiren Wealth
Management and its shareholders discharge all their obligations under the contractual arrangements. We have registered the equity pledge with the relevant
office of the Administration for Industry and Commerce in accordance with the PRC Property Rights Law.
Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the powers of attorney, each shareholder of Yiren Wealth Management has irrevocably appointed Hengyuda to act
as such shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights, including, but not limited to, voting on all matters of Yiren Wealth
Management requiring shareholder approval, disposing of all or part of the shareholder’s equity interest in Yiren Wealth Management, and appointing
directors and executive officers. Hengyuda is entitled to designate any person to act as such shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact without notifying or
the approval of such shareholder, and if required by PRC law, Hengyuda shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise such right. Each power of attorney will
remain in force for so long as the shareholder remains a shareholder of Yiren Wealth Management. Each shareholder has waived all the rights which have
been authorized to Hengyuda and will not exercise such rights.
Agreement that Allows us to Receive Economic Benefits from Yiren Wealth Management
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Under the exclusive business cooperation agreement between Hengyuda and Yiren Wealth
Management, Hengyuda has the exclusive right to provide Yiren Wealth Management with technical support, consulting services and other services.
Without Hengyuda’s prior written consent, Yiren Wealth Management agrees not to accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party.
Hengyuda may designate other parties to provide services to Yiren Wealth Management. Yiren Wealth Management agrees to pay service fees on a monthly
basis and at an amount determined by Hengyuda after taking into account multiple factors, such as the complexity and difficulty of the services provided,
the time consumed, the content and commercial value of services provided and the market price of comparable services. Hengyuda owns the intellectual
property rights arising out of the performance of this agreement. In addition, Yiren Wealth Management has granted Hengyuda an irrevocable and exclusive
option to purchase any or all of the assets and businesses of Yiren Wealth Management at the lowest price permitted under PRC law. Unless otherwise
agreed by the parties or terminated by Hengyuda unilaterally, this agreement will remain effective permanently.
Agreements that Provide Us with the Option to Purchase the Equity Interest in Yiren Wealth Management
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement. Pursuant to the amended and restated exclusive option agreements, each shareholder of
Yiren Wealth Management has irrevocably granted Hengyuda an exclusive option to purchase, or have its designated person or persons to purchase, at its
discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of the shareholder’s equity interests in Yiren Wealth Management. The purchase price shall be
the higher of the amount equal to the registered capital contributed by the respective shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management (or such other price then
accepted by Hengyuda) or the minimum price required by PRC law, which purchase price could be paid by way of offset of the outstanding debts owed by
the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management to Hengyuda (including without limitation the outstanding amount of the loan owed by the shareholders of
Yiren Wealth Management to Hengyuda and any interest thereon under the respective loan agreement). If Hengyuda exercises the option to purchase part of
the equity interest held by a shareholder of Yiren Wealth Management, the purchase price shall be calculated proportionally. Yiren Wealth Management and
each of its shareholders have agreed to appoint any persons designated by Hengyuda to act as Yiren Wealth Management’s directors. Without Hengyuda’s
prior written consent, Yiren Wealth Management shall not amend its articles of association, increase or decrease the registered capital, sell or otherwise
dispose of, or create or allow any encumbrance on its assets or beneficial interest with a value of more than RMB500,000, provide any loans to any third
parties, enter into any material contract with a value of more than RMB500,000 (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business),
merge with or acquire any other persons or make any investments, or distribute dividends to the shareholders. The shareholders of Yiren Wealth
Management have agreed that, without Hengyuda’s prior written consent, they will not dispose of their equity interests in Yiren Wealth Management or
create or allow any encumbrance on their equity interests. Moreover, without Hengyuda’s prior written consent, no dividend will be distributed to Yiren
Wealth Management’s shareholders, and if any of the shareholders receives any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of share transfer or liquidation, the
shareholder must give such profit, interest, dividend and proceeds to Hengyuda. These agreements will remain effective until all equity interests of Yiren
Wealth Management held by its shareholders have been transferred or assigned to Hengyuda or its designated person(s).
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Amended and Restated Loan Agreements. Pursuant to the loan agreements between Hengyuda and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth
Management, Hengyuda agreed to provide loans of RMB104.0 million, RMB78.0 million, RMB78.0 million and RMB720.0 million to Mr. Ning Tang,
Mr. Fanshun Kong, Ms. Yan Tian and Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd., respectively, who are the shareholders of Yiren
Wealth Management, solely for the capitalization of Yiren Wealth Management. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the shareholders can only repay the loans
by the sale of all their equity interest in Yiren Wealth Management to Hengyuda or its designated person(s) pursuant to their respective exclusive option
agreements. The shareholders must pay all of the proceeds from sale of such equity interests to Hengyuda. In the event that shareholders sell their equity
interests to Hengyuda or its designated person(s) with a price equivalent to or less than the amount of the principal, the loans will be interest free. If the
price is higher than the amount of the principal, the excess amount will be paid to Hengyuda as the loan interest. The loan must be repaid immediately
under certain circumstances, including, among others, if a foreign investor is permitted to hold majority or 100% equity interest in Yiren Wealth
Management and Hengyuda elects to exercise its exclusive equity purchase option. The term of the loans is ten years and can be extended upon mutual
written consent of the parties.
Contractual Arrangements with Linyang
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our wholly-owned subsidiary, Hengye, our
consolidated variable interest entity, Linyang, and the shareholders of Linyang.
Agreements that Provide Us with Effective Control over Linyang
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreements, each shareholder of Linyang has pledged all of his or her
equity interest in Linyang to guarantee the shareholder’s and Linyang’s performance of their obligations under the exclusive business cooperation
agreement, loan agreement, exclusive option agreement and power of attorney. If Linyang or any of its shareholders breaches their contractual obligations
under these agreements, Hengye, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights regarding the pledged equity interests, including receiving proceeds from the
auction or sale of all or part of the pledged equity interests of Linyang in accordance with the law. Each of the shareholders of Linyang agrees that, during
the term of the equity interest pledge agreements, he or she will not dispose of the pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the
pledged equity interests without the prior written consent of Hengye. The equity interest pledge agreements remain effective until Linyang and its
shareholders discharge all their obligations under the contractual arrangements. As of the date of this annual report, the equity pledge has not been
registered with local PRC authorities.
Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the powers of attorney, each shareholder of Linyang has irrevocably appointed Hengye to act as such
shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights, including, but not limited to, voting on all matters of Linyang requiring
shareholder approval, disposing of all or part of the shareholder’s equity interest in Linyang, and appointing directors and executive officers. Hengye is
entitled to designate any person to act as such shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact without notifying or the approval of such shareholder, and if required
by PRC law, Hengye shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise such right. Each power of attorney will remain in force for so long as the shareholder
remains a shareholder of Linyang. Each shareholder has waived all the rights which have been authorized to Hengye and will not exercise such rights.
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Agreement that Allows us to Receive Economic Benefits from Linyang
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Under the exclusive business cooperation agreement between Hengye and Linyang, Hengye has the
exclusive right to provide Linyang with technical support, consulting services and other services. Without Hengye’s prior written consent, Linyang agrees
not to accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party. Hengye may designate other parties to provide services to Linyang. Linyang
agrees to pay service fees on a monthly basis and at an amount determined by Hengye after taking into account multiple factors, such as the complexity and
difficulty of the services provided, the time consumed, the content and commercial value of services provided and the market price of comparable services.
Hengye owns the intellectual property rights arising out of the performance of this agreement. In addition, Linyang has granted Hengye an irrevocable and
exclusive option to purchase any or all of the assets and businesses of Linyang at the lowest price permitted under PRC law. Unless otherwise agreed by the
parties or terminated by Hengye unilaterally, this agreement will remain effective permanently.
Agreements that Provide Us with the Option to Purchase the Equity Interest in Linyang
Exclusive Option Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive option agreements, each shareholder of Linyang has irrevocably granted Hengye an
exclusive option to purchase, or have its designated person or persons to purchase, at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all or part of the
shareholder’s equity interests in Linyang. The purchase price is equal to the higher of the amount of registered capital contributed by each shareholder of
Linyang or the minimum price required by PRC law. If Hengye exercises the option to purchase part of the equity interest held by a shareholder, the
purchase price shall be calculated proportionally. Linyang and each of its shareholders have agreed to appoint any persons designated by Hengye to act as
Linyang’s directors. Without Hengye’s prior written consent, Linyang shall not amend its articles of association, increase or decrease the registered capital,
sell or otherwise dispose of its assets or beneficial interest, create or allow any encumbrance on its assets or other beneficial interests, provide any loans to
any third parties, enter into any material contract with a value of more than RMB100,000 (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of
business), merge with or acquire any other persons or make any investments, or distribute dividends to the shareholders. The shareholders of Linyang have
agreed that, without Hengye’s prior written consent, they will not dispose of their equity interests in Linyang or create or allow any encumbrance on their
equity interests. Moreover, without Hengye’s prior written consent, no dividend will be distributed to Linyang’s shareholders, and if any of the shareholders
receives any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of share transfer or liquidation, the shareholder must give such profit, interest, dividend and proceeds to
Hengye. These agreements will remain effective until all equity interests of Linyang held by its shareholders have been transferred or assigned to Hengye
or its designated person(s).
Loan Agreements. Pursuant to the loan agreements between Hengye and the shareholders of Linyang, Hengye agreed to provide loans in an
aggregate amount of RMB1.0 million to the shareholders of Linyang solely for the capitalization of Linyang. Pursuant to the loan agreement, the
shareholders can only repay the loans by the sale of all their equity interest in Hengcheng to Hengye or its designated person(s) pursuant to their respective
exclusive option agreements. The shareholders must pay all of the proceeds from sale of such equity interests to Hengye. In the event that shareholders sell
their equity interests to Hengye or its designated person(s) with a price equivalent to or less than the amount of the principal, the loans will be interest free.
If the price is higher than the amount of the principal, the excess amount will be paid to Hengye as the loan interest. The loan must be repaid immediately
under certain circumstances, including, among others, if a foreign investor is permitted to hold majority or 100% equity interest in Linyang and Hengye
elects to exercise its exclusive equity purchase option. The term of the loans is ten years and can be extended upon mutual written consent of the parties.
Contractual Arrangements with Beijing Kechuang
The following is a summary of the currently effective contractual arrangements by and among our wholly-owned subsidiary, Hengyuda, our
consolidated variable interest entity, Beijing Kechuang, and the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang.
Agreements that Provide Us with Effective Control over Beijing Kechuang
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements. Pursuant to the equity interest pledge agreements, each shareholder of Beijing Kechuang has pledged all of
his or her equity interest in Beijing Kechuang to guarantee the shareholder’s and Beijing Kechuang’s performance of their obligations under the exclusive
business cooperation agreement, exclusive option agreement, loan agreement and power of attorney. If Beijing Kechuang or any of its shareholders
breaches their contractual obligations under these agreements, Hengyuda, as pledgee, will be entitled to certain rights regarding the pledged equity
interests, including receiving proceeds from the auction or sale of all or part of the pledged equity interests of Beijing Kechuang in accordance with the law.
Each of the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang agrees that, during the term of the equity interest pledge agreements, he or she will not dispose of the
pledged equity interests or create or allow any encumbrance on the pledged equity interests without the prior written consent of Hengyuda. The equity
interest pledge agreements remain effective until Beijing Kechuang and its shareholders discharge all their obligations under the contractual arrangements.
As of the date of this annual report, the equity pledge has not been registered with local PRC authorities.
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Powers of Attorney. Pursuant to the powers of attorney, each shareholder of Beijing Kechuang has irrevocably appointed Hengyuda to act as such
shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact to exercise all shareholder rights, including, but not limited to, voting on all matters of Beijing Kechuang requiring
shareholder approval, disposing of all or part of the shareholder’s equity interest in Beijing Kechuang, and appointing directors and executive officers.
Hengyuda is entitled to designate any person to act as such shareholder’s exclusive attorney-in-fact without notifying or the approval of such shareholder,
and if required by PRC law, Hengyuda shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise such right. Each power of attorney will remain in force for so long as the
shareholder remains a shareholder of Beijing Kechuang. Each shareholder has waived all the rights which have been authorized to Hengyuda and will not
exercise such rights.
Agreement that Allows us to Receive Economic Benefits from Beijing Kechuang
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement. Under the exclusive business cooperation agreement between Hengyuda and Beijing Kechuang,
Hengyuda has the exclusive right to provide Beijing Kechuang with technical support, consulting services and other services. Without Hengyuda’s prior
written consent, Beijing Kechuang agrees not to accept the same or any similar services provided by any third party. Hengyuda may designate other parties
to provide services to Beijing Kechuang. Beijing Kechuang agrees to pay service fees on a monthly basis and at an amount determined by Hengyuda after
taking into account multiple factors, such as the complexity and difficulty of the services provided, the time consumed, the content and commercial value
of services provided and the market price of comparable services. Hengyuda owns the intellectual property rights arising out of the performance of this
agreement. In addition, Beijing Kechuang has granted Hengyuda an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase any or all of the assets and businesses of
Beijing Kechuang at the lowest price permitted under PRC law. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties or terminated by Hengyuda unilaterally, this
agreement will remain effective permanently.
Agreements that Provide Us with the Option to Purchase the Equity Interest in Beijing Kechuang
Exclusive Option Agreement. Pursuant to the exclusive option agreements, each shareholder of Beijing Kechuang has irrevocably granted
Hengyuda an exclusive option to purchase, or have its designated person or persons to purchase, at its discretion, to the extent permitted under PRC law, all
or part of the shareholder’s equity interests in Beijing Kechuang. The purchase price is equal to the higher of the amount of registered capital contributed
by each shareholder of Beijing Kechuang or the minimum price required by PRC law. If Hengyuda exercises the option to purchase part of the equity
interest held by a shareholder of Beijing Kechuang, the purchase price shall be calculated proportionally. Beijing Kechuang and each of its shareholders
have agreed to appoint any persons designated by Hengyuda to act as Beijing Kechuang’s directors. Without Hengyuda’s prior written consent, Beijing
Kechuang shall not amend its articles of association, increase or decrease the registered capital, sell or otherwise dispose of, or create or allow any
encumbrance on its assets or beneficial interest with a value of more than RMB100,000, provide any loans to any third parties, enter into any material
contract with a value of more than RMB100,000 (except those contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business), merge with or acquire any other
persons or make any investments, or distribute dividends to the shareholders. The shareholders of Beijing Kechuang have agreed that, without Hengyuda’s
prior written consent, they will not dispose of their equity interests in Beijing Kechuang or create or allow any encumbrance on their equity interests.
Moreover, without Hengyuda’s prior written consent, no dividend will be distributed to Beijing Kechuang’s shareholders, and if any of the shareholders
receives any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of share transfer or liquidation, the shareholder must give such profit, interest, dividend and proceeds to
Hengyuda. These agreements will remain effective until all equity interests of Beijing Kechuang held by its shareholders have been transferred or assigned
to Hengyuda or its designated person(s).
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Loan Agreements. Pursuant to the loan agreements between Hengyuda and the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang, Hengyuda agreed to provide
loans in an aggregate amount of RMB10.0 million to the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang solely for the capitalization of Beijing Kechuang. Pursuant to
the loan agreement, the shareholders can only repay the loans by the sale of all their equity interest in Beijing Kechuang to Hengyuda or its designated
person(s) pursuant to their respective exclusive option agreements. The shareholders must pay all of the proceeds from sale of such equity interests to
Hengyuda. In the event that shareholders sell their equity interests to Hengyuda or its designated person(s) with a price equivalent to or less than the
amount of the principal, the loans will be interest free. If the price is higher than the amount of the principal, the excess amount will be paid to Hengyuda as
the loan interest. The loan must be repaid immediately under certain circumstances, including, among others, if a foreign investor is permitted to hold
majority or 100% equity interest in Beijing Kechuang and Hengyuda elects to exercise its exclusive equity purchase option. The term of the loans is ten
years and can be extended upon mutual written consent of the parties.
In the opinion of Han Kun Law Offices, our PRC counsel:
· the ownership structures of our subsidiaries, Hengye and Hengyuda, and our variable interest entities, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management,
Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, will not result in any violation of PRC laws or regulations currently in effect; and
· the contractual agreements relating to Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our variable interest entities, as
described in “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Variable
Interest Entities,” governed by PRC law are valid, binding and enforceable, and do not and will not result in any violation of PRC laws or
regulations currently in effect. The equity pledge under certain equity pledge agreements are in the process of registering with the competent
office of the State Administration for Market Regulation in accordance with the PRC laws.
However, there are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of current and future PRC laws, regulations and rules. On
March 15, 2019, the National People’s Congress approved the Foreign Investment Law, which has become effective on January 1, 2020. Under the Foreign
Investment Law, “foreign investment” refers to the investment activities directly or indirectly conducted by foreign individuals, enterprises or other entities
in China. Although it does not explicitly classify contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment, there is no assurance that foreign investment via
contractual arrangement would not be interpreted as a type of indirect foreign investment activity under the definition in the future. In addition, the
definition contains a catch-all provision which includes investments made by foreign investors through means stipulated in laws or administrative
regulations or other methods prescribed by the State Council. Therefore, it still leaves leeway for future laws, administrative regulations or provisions
promulgated by the State Council to provide for contractual arrangements as a form of foreign investment. If the PRC government finds that the
agreements that establish the structure for operating our online consumer finance marketplace business do not comply with PRC government restrictions on
foreign investment in value-added telecommunications services businesses, such as internet content provision services, we could be subject to severe
penalties, including being prohibited from continuing operations. See “Item. 3 Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Corporate
Structure—If the PRC government deems that the contractual arrangements in relation to our consolidated variable interest entities, do not comply with
PRC regulatory restrictions on foreign investment in the relevant industries, or if these regulations or the interpretation of existing regulations change in the
future, we could be subject to severe penalties or be forced to relinquish our interests in those operations,” “Item. 3 Key Information—D. Risk Factors—
Risks Related to Doing Business in China—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,” “Item. 3 Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties in the
interpretation and enforcement of Chinese laws and regulations could limit the legal protections available to us,” and “Item. 3 Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Uncertainties exist with respect to the interpretation and implementation of the newly enacted PRC
Foreign Investment law and how it may impact the viability of our current corporate structure, corporate governance and business operations.”
D. Property, Plant and Equipment
Our principal executive offices are located on leased premises comprising 4,192.4 square meters in Beijing, China. We have leased additional
office spaces of 4,361.9 and 1,908.5 square meters in Beijing, China and Chongqing, China, respectively. We lease our premises from unrelated third
parties under operating lease agreements. The lease for our principal executive offices will expire in January 2022. Our servers are primarily hosted at
internet data centers owned by major domestic internet data center providers. The hosting services agreements typically have three year terms. We believe
that we will be able to obtain adequate facilities, principally through leasing, to accommodate our future expansion plans.
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Item 4A. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon, and should be read in conjunction with, our audited
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this annual report on Form 20-F. This report contains forward-looking statements. See
“Forward-Looking Information.” In evaluating our business, you should carefully consider the information provided under the caption “Item 3. Key
Information—D. Risk Factors” in this annual report on Form 20-F. We caution you that our businesses and financial performance are subject to substantial
risks and uncertainties.
A. Operating Results
Overview
We are a leading fintech company in China providing consumers with both credit and wealth management solutions. Since our inception, we have
been operating one of China’s largest online lending platforms by leveraging technology to seamlessly deliver individual borrowers an easy access to
unsecured credit and investors attractive investment opportunities. Our strategic business realignment with CreditEase in 2019 has enabled us to operate
our business on a more diverse and scalable mix of service platforms—Yiren Credit and Yiren Wealth. Yiren Credit is our credit-tech platform that has the
capability to provide individual borrowers and small business owners with a full spectrum of online and offline, multi-channel loan products funded by
retail and institutional investors. Yiren Wealth is our wealth management platform that specifically targets the mass affluent investors and provides them
with one-stop asset allocation-based wealth management solutions. We believe we are well positioned to capture the significant synergy opportunities
presented by this business realignment and deliver long-term operating performance and improvements through our increased scale.
Currently, all of the investors on our Yiren Credit platform come from online channels. As of December 31, 2019, we had served approximately
4.7 million borrowers and approximately 2.6 million investors. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, we facilitated RMB70,676.0 million, RMB63,329.1 million and
RMB39,103.0 million (US$5,616.8 million) in loans. In 2017, 2018 and 2019, we facilitated RMB34,613.9 million, RMB34,673.9 million and
RMB17,583.9 million (US$2,525.8 million) in loans through our mobile applications, respectively, representing 49.0%, 54.8% and 45.0% of the total
amount of loans facilitated through our marketplace in the respective periods.
Our Yiren Wealth platform, the wealth management business, primarily distributes fixed income products, mutual fund products and insurance
products. As of December 31, 2019, the total AUA and the average AUA per investor on our Yiren Wealth platform were RMB35,291.7 million
(US$5,069.3 million) and RMB143,136 (US$20,560), respectively.
Currently the majority of our revenues is generated from our Yiren Credit platform. Our Yiren Credit platform generates revenues primarily from
fees charged for our services in matching investors with individual borrowers and for other services we provide over the life of a loan. We charge borrowers
transaction fees for services provided through our platform in facilitating loan transactions, and charge investors service fees for using our automated
investing tool or self-directed investing tool. As an information intermediary, we do not use our own capital to invest in loans facilitated through our
marketplace. Our Yiren Wealth platform generates revenues primarily from financial products and services we offer to our clients in three ways: (i) one-
time commissions paid by clients or product providers when clients purchase financial products offered by us, (ii) recurring service fees paid by our
product providers and clients, and (iii) one-time service fee paid by investors for each loan transferred over our secondary loan market. We do not bear any
loss from our clients’ investments nor do we provide guarantees of return with respect to the products we distribute.
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Basis of Management’s Discussion of Operating Results
In March 2019, we entered into definitive agreements with CreditEase, the controlling shareholder of our company, pursuant to which we will
assume from CreditEase and its affiliates certain business operations, mainly including online wealth management targeting the mass affluent, unsecured
and secured consumer lending, small-and-medium-enterprise (SME) lending and other related services or businesses (the “Acquired Businesses”). This
transaction was consummated in July 2019. The discussion of our operating results for the periods indicated in this annual report reflects the inclusion of
the Acquired Businesses.
Major Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations
Major factors affecting our results of operations include the following:
Economic Conditions in China
The demand for online consumer finance and wealth management marketplace services from borrowers and investors is dependent upon overall
economic conditions in China. General economic factors, including the interest rate environment and unemployment rates, may affect borrowers’
willingness to seek loans and investors’ ability and desire to invest in loans. For example, significant increases in interest rates could cause potential
borrowers to defer obtaining loans as they wait for interest rates to become stable or decrease. Additionally, a slowdown in the economy, such as from a
rise in the unemployment rate and a decrease in real income, may affect individuals’ level of disposable income. This may negatively affect borrowers’
repayment capability, which in turn may decrease their willingness to seek loans and potentially cause an increase in default rates. If actual or expected
default rates increase generally in China or the consumer finance market, investors may delay or reduce their investments in loan products in general,
including on our marketplace.
Ability to Acquire Borrowers and Investors Effectively
For Yiren Credit business, our ability to increase the loan volume facilitated through our marketplace largely depends on our ability to attract
potential borrowers and investors through sales and marketing efforts. Our sales and marketing efforts include those related to borrower and investor
acquisition and retention, and general marketing. We intend to continue to dedicate significant resources to our sales and marketing efforts and constantly
seek to improve the effectiveness of these efforts, in particular with regard to borrower and investor acquisition.
We utilize online channels and offline channels for borrower acquisition. We attract a fast growing number of our borrowers through various
online channels. We used to rely on CreditEase’s nationwide service network for offline borrower acquisition. In 2017 and 2018, 41.2% and 38.4% of our
borrowers were acquired through referrals from CreditEase, respectively, contributing 48.5% and 43.1% of the total amount of loans facilitated through our
marketplace, respectively. As part of a business realignment with CreditEase in 2019, we acquired CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co.,
Ltd, or Puhui, an entity managing CreditEase’s national service network for offline borrower acquisition. In 2019, 53.0% of our borrowers were acquired
through Puhui, contributing 52.4% of the total amount of loans facilitated through our marketplace. We believe the acquisition of Puhui will enable us to
acquire more borrowers and increase the volume of loans facilitated over our marketplace.
Furthermore, our fee collection schedules from borrowers differ depending on the channels in which the borrowers are acquired. Borrowers
acquired from online channels typically only pay a portion of the transaction fee upfront, with the remainder being paid on a monthly basis over the term of
the loan while transaction fees are collected upfront from borrowers acquired through offline channels. As a result, for each risk grade, the overall fee for
the lifetime of a loan charged to a borrower acquired from online channels is generally higher than that charged to a borrower acquired from offline
channels. The combination of loans facilitated by channel during a specific period may have an impact on our revenues and results of operations.
Currently, all of our investors come from online channels. Our investor acquisition efforts are primarily directed towards enhancing our brand
name, building investor trust, and word-of-mouth marketing.
For Yiren Wealth business, our revenue growth has been driven primarily by the increasing number of investors we serve. An increase in the
number of investors would contribute to the growth of the total value of the products we distribute and the services we provide, which ultimately affects
one-time commissions we receive and in the long-run the recurring service fees we receive. We expect that the number of investors will continue to be a
key factor affecting our revenue growth of wealth management business. The number of new investors we may acquire is affected by the breadth of our
coverage network. Our capability to cultivate and serve new investors depends on our ability to expand our coverage network.
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Effectiveness of Risk Management
Our ability to effectively segment borrowers into appropriate risk profiles affects our ability to offer attractive pricing to borrowers as well as our
ability to offer investors attractive returns, both of which directly relate to the level of user confidence in our marketplace. Our proprietary risk management
system is built upon data accumulated through our operations, and is further supported by an extensive database accumulated by CreditEase over the past
nine years. Our risk management model utilizes big data capabilities to automatically evaluate a borrower’s credit characteristics. At the same time, we use
automated verification and fraud detection tools to ensure the quality of the loans facilitated on our marketplace, and supplement these technology driven
tools with manual processes when necessary. Furthermore, our ability to effectively evaluate a borrower’s risk profile and likelihood of default may directly
affect our results of operations. For some of the loans facilitated through our marketplace, borrowers pay us a certain portion of the transaction fees upfront
upon the completion of our loan facilitation services and the rest on a monthly basis over the term of the applicable loan. If a borrower defaults, we may not
be able to collect the outstanding transaction fees from the borrower.
Prior to May 2018, we operated a quality assurance program for investor protection purposes. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B.
Business Overview—Risk Management—Investor Protection.” The funding and operation of the quality assurance program may have a material impact on
our financial condition. In particular, a significant increase in our expected quality assurance program net payouts would have a negative impact on our net
revenue and net income. Our ability to assess the expected quality assurance program net payouts depends on our ability to manage and forecast the
performance, or the charge-off rates, of the loans facilitated through our marketplace. Our financial condition is no longer subject to the foregoing impact
after we discontinued the operation of the quality assurance program and transferred all our liabilities associated with the quality assurance program to a
third-party guarantee company at fair value in May 2018.
Product Mix and Pricing
Our ability to maintain profitability largely depends on our ability to continually optimize our product mix and to accurately price the loans
facilitated through our platform. As part of our efforts to introduce risk-based pricing, we have developed four different segments in our previous pricing
grid, and starting May 1, 2017, we have adopted, an upgraded risk grid with five segments, which we refer to as Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade IV and
Grade V. The expected net charge-off rate and actual observed results for each of these customer groups divide potential borrowers into distinctively
different credit segments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Risk Management—Proprietary Credit Scoring Model and
Loan Qualification System.” In response to market competition or further developments, we may spend more effort promoting certain loan products,
managing the growth in volume of other loan products, introducing new products with new risk grades or adjusting the pricing of our existing products. In
addition, we used to offer investor protection service in the form of a quality assurance program to cover potential defaults, and the product mix also had a
significant impact on our liabilities from that quality assurance program, given the different levels of default risk associated with the different risk grades.
Any material change in the product mix could have a significant impact on our profitability and net income margin.
Asset Under Administration
Asset under administration, or AUA, refers to the total market value of the investments that Yiren Wealth platform manages on behalf of our
investors. AUA under our Yiren Wealth business affects the amount of our revenues, primarily recurring service fees. As of December 31, 2019, the total
AUA and AUA per investor on our Yiren Wealth platform were RMB35,291.7 million (US$5,069.3 million) and RMB143,136 (US$20,560), respectively.
The growth of revenues on our Yiren Wealth platform depends on our ability to continuously increase the AUA. If the return of our wealth management
products does not meet investors’ expectations, investors may elect to redeem their investments and invest their assets elsewhere, including with our
competitors, which could lead to the decrease in our recurring service fee revenues correlate directly to the amount of our AUA.
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Ability to Innovate
Our success to date has depended on, and our future success will depend in part on, successfully meeting borrower and investor demand with new
and innovative loan and investment products and wealth management products. We have made and intend to continue to make efforts to develop loan and
investment products and wealth management products for borrowers and investors. We constantly evaluate the popularity of our existing product offerings
and develop new products and services that cater to the ever evolving needs of our borrowers and investors. Over time we will continue to expand our
offerings by introducing new products. From the borrower perspective, we will continue to develop tailored credit products to meet the specific needs of
our target borrowers. We plan to expand our ability to implement risk-based pricing by developing more risk grades to optimize loans based on individual
credit criteria, enabling us to facilitate customized loans tailored to individual borrowers’ specific credit profiles. See “—C. Product Development.” Failure
to continue to successfully develop and offer innovative products and for such products to gain broad customer acceptance could adversely affect our
operating results and we may not recoup the costs of launching and marketing new products.
Ability to Compete Effectively
Our business and results of operations depend on our ability to compete effectively in the markets in which we operate. The online consumer
finance marketplace industry in China is intensely competitive, and we expect that competition to persist and intensify in the future. In addition to
competing with other consumer finance marketplaces, we also compete with other types of financial products and companies that attract borrowers,
investors or both. With respect to borrowers, we primarily compete with traditional financial institutions, such as consumer finance business units in
commercial banks, credit card issuers and other consumer finance companies. With respect to investors, we primarily compete with other investment
products and asset classes, such as equities, bonds, investment trust products, bank savings accounts, real estate and alternative asset classes. If we are
unable to compete effectively, the demand for our marketplace could stagnate or substantially decline, we could experience reduced revenues or our
marketplace could fail to maintain or achieve more widespread market acceptance, any of which could harm our business and results of operations.
Regulatory Environment in China
The regulatory environment for the online lending information intermediary service industry in China is developing and evolving, creating both
challenges and opportunities that could affect our financial performance. Due to the relatively short history of the online lending information intermediary
service industry in China, although the PRC government has issued certain guidelines, regulations and rules to regulate and support the development of the
online lending information intermediary service industry in China, the PRC government has yet to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework
governing our industry. The PRC government has issued several rules and regulations, aiming to enhance the regulation of the online lending information
intermediary service industry in China. These rules and regulations have limited and adversely affected our business growth in terms of, among other
things, our business scale, number of users, loan facilitation amount and outstanding loan balance while causing us to incur additional compliance costs.
Both the number of borrowers and the loan volume facilitated through our marketplace decreased in 2018. We will continue to make efforts to ensure that
we are compliant with the existing laws, regulations and governmental policies relating to our industry and to comply with new laws and regulations or
changes under existing PRC laws and regulations that may arise in the future. While new laws and regulations or changes to existing laws and regulations
could make loans more difficult to be accepted by investors or borrowers on terms favorable to us, or at all, these events could also provide new product
and market opportunities. We will continue to diversify funding sources, expand our loan product mix and enhance our risk management to support our
business growth.
Impact of COVID-19 on Our Operations
Substantially all of our net revenue are generated in China. Our results of operations and financial condition in 2020 will be affected by the spread
of COVID-19. The extent to which COVID-19 impacts our results of operations in 2020 will depend on the future developments of the outbreak, including
new information concerning the global severity of and actions taken to contain the outbreak, which are highly uncertain and unpredictable. In addition, our
results of operations could be adversely affected to the extent that the outbreak harms the Chinese economy in general.
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In response to intensifying efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Chinese government has taken a number of actions, which included
extending the Chinese New Year holiday, quarantining individuals infected with or suspected of having COVID-19, prohibiting residents from free travel,
encouraging employees of enterprises to work remotely from home and cancelling public activities, among others. The COVID-19 has also resulted in
temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, manufacturing facilities and factories across China. We have taken a series of measures in
response to the outbreak, including, among others, remote working arrangements for some of our employees, suspension of our offline customer acquisition
activities and cancellation of non-essential business travels to ensure the safety and health of our employees. These measures could reduce the capacity and
efficiency of our operations and negatively impact the procurement of products, which in turn could negatively affect our results of operations.
The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in the suspension of our offline customer acquisition activities in the month of February and March 2020.
This has impacted our operations which resulted in an increase in delinquency volatilities and a significant decrease in revenues and loan volumes in the
first quarter of 2020. Due to the Chinese government’s measures for containing the COVID-19 during this period, which has still been effective to date,
there has been an initial recovery in our operations since April 2020. The situation remains dynamic and the extent to which COVID-19 will impact our
business will depend on future developments of the outbreak, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. As such, the financial impact of us of COVID-
19 cannot be reasonably estimated as of the date of this annual report.
As of December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB3.2 billion (US$459.4 million). We believe this level of liquidity is
sufficient to successfully navigate an extended period of uncertainty. See also “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business and Industry—We face risks
related to natural disasters, health epidemics and other outbreaks, which could significantly disrupt our operations.”
Loan Performance Data
Delinquency Rates
As of December 31, 2019, the delinquency rates for loans that are past due for 15-29 days, 30-59 days and 60-89 days are set forth below:
All Loans
December 31, 2017
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2019
Online Channels
December 31, 2017
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2019
Offline Channels
December 31, 2017
December 31, 2018
December 31, 2019
M3+ Net Charge-off Rates
15-29 days
Delinquent for
30-59 days
60-89 days
0.8%
1.0%
1.2%
1.1%
1.2%
1.6%
0.6%
0.9%
1.0%
1.0%
1.8%
2.0%
1.1%
2.3%
2.9%
0.9%
1.6%
1.7%
0.8%
1.7%
1.7%
0.9%
2.2%
2.5%
0.7%
1.5%
1.5%
We currently define M3+ Net Charge-off Rate, with respect to loans facilitated during a specified time period, which we refer to as a vintage, as
the difference between (i) the total balance of outstanding principal of loans that become over three months delinquent during a specified period and (ii) the
total amount of recovered past due payments of principal and accrued interest in the same period with respect to all loans in the same vintage that have ever
become over three months delinquent, divided by (iii) the total initial principal of the loans facilitated in such vintage. The following chart and table display
the historical lifetime cumulative M3+ Net Charge-off Rates through December 31, 2019, by vintage, for loan products facilitated through our online
marketplace for each of the months shown for all loans:
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The following charts display the historical lifetime cumulative M3+ Net Charge-off Rates through December 31, 2019, by vintage, for loan
products facilitated through our online marketplace for each of the months shown for loans generated from our online and offline channels, respectively:
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Prior to the second quarter of 2017, we had four segments of loans in our then in-effect pricing grid, which we refer to as Grade A, Grade B,
Grade C and Grade D loans. In the second quarter of 2017, we launched our current credit scoring system, the Yiren score, which can be used to more
accurately characterize borrower’s credit profile. We have also decided to adopt, starting May 1, 2017, an upgraded risk grid with five segments, which we
refer to as Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade IV and Grade V. The expected M3+ Net Charge-off Rates and actual observed results for each of these
customer groups divide potential borrowers into distinctively different credit segments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—
Risk Management—Proprietary Credit Scoring Model and Loan Qualification System.”
The following table provides the amount of loans generated through our platform during each of the periods presented and the corresponding
accumulated M3+ Net Charge-off and M3+ Net Charge-off Rate data as of December 31, 2019 for the loans facilitated during each of the periods presented
by risk grade.
Period
2017
2018
2019Q1~Q3
Risk
grade
I
II
III
IV
V
Total
I
II
III
IV
V
Total
I
II
III
IV
V
Total
Amount of loans facilitated during the period
(in RMB thousands)
%
Accumulated M3+
Net Charge-off as of
December 31, 2019
(in RMB thousands)
Net Charge-
off Rate as of
December
31, 2019
%
10,431,218
12,270,230
13,837,922
13,663,558
19,680,365
69,883,293
9,476,955
14,656,758
13,903,217
13,812,989
11,326,230
63,176,149
6,102,299
8,658,990
7,413,040
4,746,047
4,216,836
31,137,211
107
14.9
17.6
19.8
19.6
28.1
100.0
15.0
23.2
22.0
21.9
17.9
100.0
19.6
27.9
23.8
15.2
13.5
100.0
697,113
1,597,776
2,290,065
2,459,857
4,123,858
11,168,669
598,343
1,655,932
1,987,419
2,309,976
2,154,899
8,706,569
92,787
248,567
274,254
178,863
166,903
961,374
6.7
13.0
16.5
18.0
21.0
16.0
6.3
11.3
14.3
16.7
19.0
13.8
1.5
2.9
3.7
3.8
4.0
3.1
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(1) We define M3+ Net Charge-off, with respect to loans facilitated during a specified time period, which we refer to as a vintage, as the difference
between (i) the total balance of outstanding principal of loans that become over three months delinquent during a specified period and (ii) the total
amount of recovered past due payments of principal and accrued interest in the same period with respect to all loans in the same vintage that have ever
become over three months delinquent.
(2) We define M3+ Net Charge-off Rate, with respect to loans facilitated during a specified time period, which we refer to as a vintage, as the M3+ Net
Charge-off divided by the total initial principal of the loans facilitated in such vintage.
Our business and financial performance depend on our ability to manage and forecast net charge-off rates. However, given our limited operating
history, we have limited information on historical charge-off rates, and as a result, we may not be able to conduct an accurate charge-off forecast for our
target borrower group. In addition, due to the uncertainty of industry regulations, we expect borrower credit performance may be volatile in the foreseeable
future, which may lead to higher default rates and adverse impacts on our reputation, business, results of operations and financial position. See “Item 4.
Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Risk Management.”
Selected Statements of Operations Items
Net revenue
Our revenues consist of revenues from loan facilitation services, post-origination services, account management services and others. The
following table sets forth the breakdown of our net revenue, both in absolute amount and as a percentage of our total net revenue, for the periods presented:
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
2019
US$
%
Net revenue:
Loan facilitation services
Post-origination services
Account management services
Others
Total net revenue
10,227,617
652,264
—
654,927
11,534,808
88.6
5.7
0.0
5.7
100.0
7,647,804
1,173,108
1,806,732
616,470
11,244,114
68.0
10.4
16.1
5.5
100.0
5,182,028
757,783
2,016,678
660,295
8,616,784
744,352
108,849
289,678
94,845
1,237,724
60.1
8.8
23.4
7.7
100.0
Before our adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers” (Topic 606) on January 1, 2018, we considered the loan
facilitation services, the quality assurance program and post-origination services as a multiple deliverable revenue arrangement. All non-contingent fees,
including mainly the transaction fees charged to borrowers and the service fees charged to investors, are allocated among these three elements. To the
extent applicable, the total non-contingent fees are allocated first the amount equal to the fair value of the stand-ready liability from the quality assurance
program and then allocated between loan facilitation services and post-origination services based on their relative estimated selling prices. See “—Critical
Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates—Revenue Recognition.”
We adopted ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606) and all subsequent ASUs that modified Topic 606 on
January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. We recognized the cumulative effect of applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to
the beginning balance of retained earnings. The comparative information is not restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in
effect for the period presented. Under Topic 606, both investors and borrowers are regarded as our customers. The ability and intention of both borrowers
and investors to pay the service fees is assessed to be probable, based on historical experiences as well as the credit due diligence performed on each
borrower prior to loan origination. We consider the loan facilitation services, guarantee services, and post-origination services as three separate services of
which guarantee services are accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees. While the post-origination service is within the scope of ASC
Topic 860, the Topic 606 revenue recognition model is applied due to the lack of definitive guidance in ASC Topic 860. The loan facilitation service and
post-origination service are two separate performance obligations under Topic 606, as these two deliverables are distinct in that customers can benefit from
each service on its own and our promises to deliver the services are separately identifiable from each other in the contract. The transaction prices of the
loan facilitation service and the post-origination service consist of the service fees chargeable from the borrowers, net of value-added tax. The transaction
price includes variable consideration in the form of prepayment risk of the borrowers. We first allocate the transaction price to the guarantee liabilities, if
any, in accordance with ASC Topic 460, and the remaining considerations are allocated to the loan facilitation services and post origination services using
their relative stand-alone selling prices, which are estimated using the expected cost plus margin approach.
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Revenues from loan facilitation are recognized at the time a loan is originated between the investor and the borrower and the loan principal is
transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service is considered completed. Revenues from post-origination services are recognized on a
straight-line basis over the term of the underlying loans as the services are provided. Revenues from guarantee services, if any, are recognized through
performance of the guarantees (by making payments for defaults) or at the expiry of the guarantee term.
Under Topic 606, the transaction price of account management service is the management fee charged to investors monthly as the excess of actual
return over the expected return. The service fees derived from investors using the automated investment tool are initially estimated based on historical
experience of returns on similar investment products and current trends. The service fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the
investment period.
Transaction fees. We charge borrowers transaction fees for the work we perform through our platform in connecting borrowers with investors and
for facilitating loan transactions, which are recognized as loan facilitation service and post-origination service revenue. The amount of the transaction fee
charged is based upon the pricing and amount of the underlying loan.
Yiren scores, our current credit scoring system that was adopted on May 1, 2017, have five segments, which we refer to as Grade I, Grade II,
Grade III, Grade IV and Grade V. The expected net charge off rate and actual observed results for each of these customer groups divide potential borrowers
into distinctively different credit segments. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Risk Management—Proprietary Credit
Scoring Model and Loan Qualification System.”
The transaction fee rate that we charge borrowers varies depending on the risk grade of the loan facilitated. For loans within the same risk grade,
the transaction fee rate also varies depending on the term of the loan and repayment schedule. The rate for transaction fees we charge borrowers is a
component of the total cost of borrowing for borrowers, with the other component being the fixed interest rate to investors and fees related to the credit
assurance program or insurance charges from PICC Property and Casualty Company Limited, or PICC, after May 2018 for each risk grade. See “Item 4.
Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Risk Management—Proprietary Credit Scoring Model and Loan Qualification System.”
In 2017, 2018 and 2019, our weighted average transaction fee rate was 28.6%, 23.8% and 20.0%, respectively. The decrease in the weighted
average transaction fee rate from 2017 to 2019 was primarily due to the discontinuation of our quality assurance program and thus we no longer provide the
related services, for which we used to charge fees. The decrease in the weighted average transaction fee rate from 2018 to 2019 was primarily due to a
decrease in the transaction fee rate charged by us as a result of increases in insurance premium and guarantee fee charged by third-party insurance and
guarantee companies.
We have implemented and will continue to implement a tighter risk policy to proactively control our business growth in order to improve the asset
quality of new loans facilitated through our marketplace. In addition, Beijing Rectification Office issued a Notice on January 24, 2019 requiring online
lending information intermediaries to continue to reduce their business scale and number of borrowers and lenders during the administrative verification
period. In order to prepare us for more sustainable growth in the long run and to comply with the laws, rules and regulations relating to the online lending
information intermediary service industry, we expect that transaction fees will be stable in the foreseeable future.
Monthly management fees. We charge investors monthly management fee for using the automated investing tool and the self-directed investing
tool, which is recognized as account management services revenue. The monthly management fee for using the automated investing tool is the difference
between the interest rates on the underlying loans which range from 10.0% and 12.0%, and the targeted returns offered to investors which are up to 12.5%.
The monthly management fee for using the self-directed investing tool is equal to 10% of the interest that investors receive, which ranges from 10.0% to
12.0%. The service fees charged to investors for the automated investing tool or self-directed investing tool are collected on a monthly basis through the
investment period or on maturity of investment. In 2019, more than 94% of investors made investments on our marketplace using the automated investing
tool. We expect that service fees will increase in the foreseeable future, as our business further grows and we develop and introduce new services and
investing tools to investors.
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Others. We also charge referral service fees, fund distribution fees and other fees contingent on future events, such as penalty fee for loan
prepayment or late payment, one-time fees for transferring loans over our secondary loan market and other service fees. Penalty fee for late payment is
charged to borrowers as a certain percentage of the past due amount and penalty fee for prepayment is charged to borrowers as a certain percentage of
interest over the prepaid amount of loan principal.
Operating Costs and Expenses
Our operating costs and expenses consist of sales and marketing expenses, origination and servicing expenses, general and administrative
expenses, provision for contingent liability and allowance for contract assets. The following table sets forth our operating costs and expenses, both in
absolute amount and as a percentage of our total operating costs and expenses, for the periods indicated:
2017
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
RMB
%
RMB
2019
US$
%
Operating costs and expenses:
Sales and marketing
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Provision for contingent liability
Allowance for contract assets
and receivables
Total operating costs and
expenses
9,004,959
1,242,928
1,323,608
43,049
—
77.5
10.7
11.4
0.4
0.0
6,658,270
1,061,289
1,336,247
419,581
992,581
63.6
10.1
12.8
4.0
9.5
4,457,353
665,083
731,806
9,462
640,259
95,533
105,117
1,356
1,625,051
233,424
59.5
8.9
9.8
0.1
21.7
11,614,544
100.0
10,467,968
100.0
7,488,755
1,075,692
100.0
Sales and marketing expenses. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of variable marketing expenses, including those related to borrower
and investor acquisition and retention and general brand and awareness building. Our user acquisition expenses represent the primary costs that are
associated with our loan facilitation services.
The following table presents the sales and marketing expenses allocated to Yiren Credit business and Yiren Wealth business, both in absolute
amount and as a percentage of total sales and marketing expenses, during the periods indicated:
2017
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
RMB
%
RMB
2019
US$
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
Sales and marketing expenses:
Wealth management services
Consumer credit services
Total sales and marketing
expenses
656, 201
8,348,758
7.3
92.7
1,242,439
5,415,831
18.7
81.3
643,542
3,813,811
92,439
547,820
14.4
85.6
9,004,959
100.0
6,658,270
100.0
4,457,353
640,259
100.0
The sales and marketing expenses for each of our wealth management services and consumer credit services decreased from 2017 to 2019
primarily due to our strategy to streamline our operation efficiency and prioritize risk management and quality of asset growth.
Origination and servicing expenses. Origination and servicing expenses consist primarily of variable expenses and vendor costs, including costs
related to credit assessment, customer and system support, payment processing services and collection, associated with facilitating and servicing loans.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits related to technology,
accounting and finance, business development, legal, human resources and other personnel.
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Provision for contingent liability. Provision for contingent liability represents the provision recognized in excess of stand-ready liability related to
quality assurance program, prior to the discontinuation of our quality assurance program in May 2018.
Allowance for contract assets. Allowance for contract assets was the credit loss of contact assets recorded due to our adoption of the new revenue
recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers” (Topic 606), effective January 1, 2018.
Taxation
Cayman Islands
We are incorporated in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands currently has no income, corporation or capital gains tax and no estate duty,
inheritance tax or gift tax. The Cayman Islands does not impose a withholding tax on payments of dividends to shareholders.
Hong Kong
Our subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong are subject to 16.5% Hong Kong profit tax on their taxable income generated from operations in
Hong Kong for the years of assessment 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. Commencing from the year of assessment 2018/2019, the first HK$2
million of profits earned by our subsidiaries incorporated in Hong Kong will be taxed at half the current tax rate (i.e., 8.25%) while the remaining profits
will continue to be taxed at the existing 16.5% tax rate. Under the Hong Kong tax laws, we are exempted from the Hong Kong income tax on our foreign-
derived income. In addition, payments of dividends from our incorporated in Hong Kong to us are not subject to any Hong Kong withholding tax.
China
Generally, our subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities in China are subject to enterprise income tax on their taxable income in
China at a rate of 25%. The enterprise income tax is calculated based on the entity’s global income as determined under PRC tax laws and accounting
standards. Hengye, one of our PRC subsidiaries, was qualified as a “software enterprise” in July 2016, and accordingly is eligible for an exemption of
enterprise income tax for 2015 and 2016 and a reduced enterprise income tax at the rate of 12.5% from 2017 through 2019. However, Hengye’s
qualification as a “software enterprise” is subject to annual evaluation by the relevant authorities in China. If Hengye fails to maintain its “software
enterprise” qualification, its applicable corporate income tax rate would increase to 25%. In addition, Hengyuda, one of our PRC subsidiaries, is eligible for
a reduced enterprise income tax rate of 15% since 2017 pursuant to the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries in Western Regions, the Catalogue of Industries
for Guiding Foreign Investment, Circular on Issues Concerning Tax Policies for In-depth Implementation of Western Development Strategies, and the
related rules granting favorable tax treatment to companies in specified industries in western China under the PRC government’s policy initiative to
promote the development of the western region of China. However, Hengyuda’s favorable tax treatment is subject to an annual filing requirement.
Moreover, the relevant rules and policy initiative may change, and favorable tax treatment under these rules are available only to companies meeting
certain qualifications.
We are subject to VAT at a rate of 6% on the services we provide to borrowers and investors, less any deductible VAT we have already paid or
borne. We are also subject to surcharges on VAT payments in accordance with PRC law. During the periods presented, we were not subject to business tax
on the services we provide.
Dividends paid by our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China to our intermediary holding company in Hong Kong will be subject to a
withholding tax rate of 10%, unless the relevant Hong Kong entity satisfies all the requirements under the Arrangement between the PRC and the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and Capital
and receives approval from the relevant tax authority. If our Hong Kong subsidiary satisfies all the requirements under the tax arrangement, then the
dividends paid to the Hong Kong subsidiary would be subject to withholding tax at the standard rate of 5% by filing necessary forms and supporting
documents when performing tax filings, which will be subject to post-tax filing examinations by the relevant tax authorities. See “Item 3. Key Information
—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—We rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our PRC subsidiaries to
fund any cash and financing requirements we may have, and any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiaries to make payments to us could have a
material adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.”
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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.”
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the periods indicated, both in absolute amount and as a
percentage of our net revenue. 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
(3)
US$
%
(1)
Net revenue
Operating costs and expenses:
Sales and marketing
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Provision for contingent liability
Allowance for contract assets
and receivables
Total operating costs and
expenses
Interest income, net
Fair value adjustments related to
(2)
Consolidated ABFE
Gain on disposal of loan
receivables and other
beneficial rights
Other (expenses) / income, net
Total other income
Income before provision for
income taxes
Share of results of equity
investees
Income tax expense
Net (loss)/income
11,534,808
100.0
11,244,114
100.0
8,616,784
1,237,724
100.0
(9,004,959)
(1,242,928)
(1,323,608)
(43,049)
(78.1)
(10.8)
(11.5)
(0.4)
(6,658,270)
(1,061,289)
(1,336,247)
(419,581)
(59.2)
(9.4)
(11.9)
(3.7)
(4,457,353)
(665,083)
(731,806)
(9,462)
(640,259)
(95,533)
(105,117)
(1,359)
—
0.0
(992,581)
(8.8)
(1,625,051)
(233,424)
(11,614,544)
(100.7)
(10,467,968)
(93.1)
(7,488,755)
(1,075,692)
115,060
(86,372)
271,125
(32,001)
267,812
188,076
5,060
(381,210)
(188,074)
1.0
(0.7)
2.4
(0.3)
2.3
1.6
0.0
(3.3)
(1.6)
73,917
243,122
663,884
26,323
1,007,246
1,783,392
(9,295)
(194,287)
1,579,810
0.7
2.2
5.9
0.2
9.0
15.9
(0.1)
(1.7)
14.1
73,367
3,866
159,392
32,365
268,990
10,538
555
22,895
4,649
38,637
1,397,019
200,669
(2,180)
(239,228)
1,155,611
(313)
(34,363)
165,993
(51.7)
(7.7)
(8.5)
(0.1)
(18.9)
(86.9)
0.9
0.0
1.8
0.4
3.1
16.2
(0.0)
(2.8)
13.4
(1) Net revenue are broken down as follows:
2017
RMB
%
For the Year Ended December 31,
2018
RMB
%
(in thousands, except for percentages)
RMB
Loan facilitation services
Post-origination services
Account management services
Others
10,227,617
652,264
—
654,927
88.6
5.7
0.0
5.7
7,647,804
1,173,108
1,806,732
616,470
68.0
10.4
16.1
5.5
5,182,028
757,783
2,016,678
660,295
2019
US$
744,352
108,849
289,678
94,845
%
60.1
8.8
23.4
7.7
(2) We consolidated certain trusts or Asset Backed Special Plan (“ABS plan”) as a whole, which we refer to in this annual report collectively as
“Consolidated Assets Backed Financing Entities” or the “Consolidated ABFE.” For more information about the Consolidated ABFE, please see “—
Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates—Basis of Presentation, Combination and Consolidation.”
(3) Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted the new revenue recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers” (Topic 606),
using the modified retrospective method in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2018 are presented
under Topic 606, while results for prior periods are not adjusted and continued to be reported in accordance with our historical accounting policy under
Topic 605.
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Segment Information
As a result of the acquisition of the Acquired Businesses under common control, we changed our internal organization structure and our reportable
segments and currently have two reportable segments, namely Yiren Wealth and Yiren Credit. Yiren Credit is our credit-tech platform that has the
capability to provide individual borrowers and small business owners with a full spectrum of online and offline, multi-channel loan products funded by
retail and institutional investors. Yiren Wealth is our wealth management platform that specifically targets the mass affluent investors and provides them
with one-stop asset allocation-based wealth management solutions. The following segment information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018
has been recast to reflect such change.
The table below provides a summary of our operating segment results for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:
Net revenue:
Wealth management
Consumer credit
Total net revenue
Operating costs and expenses:
Wealth management
Consumer credit
Income from operations:
Wealth management
Consumer credit
Total segment income from operations
Unallocated expense
Other income
Income before provision for income taxes
2017
RMB
1,234,851
10,299,957
11,534,808
(1,133,241)
(10,173,477)
101,610
126,480
228,090
(307,826)
267,812
188,076
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
1,986,960
9,257,154
11,244,114
(1,561,310)
(8,561,264)
425,650
695,890
1,121,540
(345,394)
1,007,246
1,783,392
2,176,215
6,440,569
8,616,784
(915,202)
(6,194,071)
1,261,013
246,498
1,507,511
(379,482)
268,990
1,397,019
312,594
925,130
1,237,724
(131,461)
(889,723)
181,133
35,407
216,540
(54,508)
38,637
200,669
All of our revenue was generated from the PRC and all of long-lived assets of us were located in the PRC. Depreciation and amortization expenses
of wealth management for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB1.8 million, RMB3.0 million and RMB2.7 million (US$0.4
million), respectively. Depreciation and amortization expenses of consumer credit for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB116.4
million, RMB107.9 million and RMB89.9 million (US$12.9 million), respectively.
Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2018
Net revenue. Our net revenue decreased from RMB11,244.1 million in 2018 to RMB8,616.8 million (US$1,237.7 million) in 2019, primarily due
to a 30.4% decrease in the revenue from our consumer credit services from RMB9,257.2 million in 2018 to RMB 6,440.6 million (US$925.1 million) in
2019. The decrease in the revenue from our consumer credit services was primarily due to the decrease in the volume of loans facilitated through our
marketplace, which decreased from approximately RMB63,329.1 million in 2018 to RMB39,103.0 million (US$5,616.8 million) in 2019. Both the number
of borrowers and loan volume facilitated through our marketplace decreased in 2019 as we implement tighter risk policy to proactively control our business
growth in order to improve the asset quality of new loans facilitated through our marketplace. In addition, we have reduced our business scale and number
of borrowers and investors to ensure the compliance with Circular 175. The revenue from our wealth management services increased by 9.5% from
RMB1,987.0 million in 2018 to RMB2,176.2 million (US$312.6 million) in 2019, primarily due to an increase in the management fees we recognized from
an increasing price difference between the interest rates of the underlying loans and the targeted return offered to investors in 2019.
Operating costs and expenses. Our total operating costs and expenses decreased from RMB10,468.0 million in 2018 to RMB7,488.8 million
(US$1,075.7 million) in 2019, primarily attributable to the decrease in sales and marketing expenses, origination and servicing expenses and general and
administrative expenses.
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· Sales and marketing expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses decreased from RMB6,658.3 million in 2018 to RMB4,457.4 million (US$640.3
million) in 2019, primarily due to a 29.6% decrease in sales and marketing expenses for consumer credit services from RMB5,415.8 million in
2018 to RMB3,813.8 million (US$547.8 million) in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the volume of loans facilitated
through our marketplace and the increased marketing efficiencies. The sales and marketing expenses for wealth management services decreased
by 48.2% from RMB1,242.4 million in 2018 to RMB 643.5 million (US$92.4 million) in 2019, primarily due to the decrease in the amount of P2P
investment, which decreased from approximately RMB70,667.3 million in 2018 to RMB41,203.6 million (US$5,918.5 million) in 2019. Our sales
and marketing expenses as a percentage of our total revenues decreased from 59.2% to 51.7% during the same period.
· Origination and servicing expenses. Our origination and servicing expenses decreased from RMB1,061.3 million in 2018 to RMB665.1 million
(US$95.5 million) in 2019. Our origination and servicing expenses as a percentage of our total revenues decreased from 9.4% to 7.7% during the
same period, primarily attributable to a decline in loan facilitation volume and remaining loan balance.
· General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses decreased from RMB1,336.2 million in 2018 to RMB731.8 million
(US$105.1 million) in 2019. Our general and administrative expenses as a percentage of our total revenues decreased from 11.9% to 8.5% during
the same period, primarily due to the increased operational efficiency attributable to synergy effects after our business realignment with
CreditEase in 2019.
· Provision for contingent liability. Our provision for contingent liability decreased from RMB419.6 million in 2018 to RMB9.5 million (US$1.4
million) in 2019, primarily due to the disposal of quality assurance program in May 2018 and thus no provision for contingent liability of quality
assurance program accrued in 2019.
· Allowance for contract assets and receivables. Our allowance for contract assets and receivables increased from RMB992.6 million in 2018 to
RMB1,625.1 million (US$233.4 million) in 2019, primarily due to changes in future collectability estimates by the increase of delinquency.
Interest income, net. Our interest income, net decreased slightly from RMB73.9 million in 2018 to RMB73.4 million (US$10.5 million) in 2019,
primarily due to a decrease in available-for-sale investments and held-to-maturity investments.
Fair value adjustments related to Consolidated ABFE. Our fair value adjustments decreased from a fair value gain of RMB243.1 million in 2018
to RMB3.9 million (US$0.6 million) in 2019, since we didn’t have new trust investment in 2019.
Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights. Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights decreased from
RMB663.9 million in 2018 to RMB159.4 million (US$22.9 million) in 2019, primarily due to the decrease in gains on disposal of consolidated ABFE.
Other income, net. Our other income, net increased from RMB26.3 million in 2018 to RMB32.4 million (US$4.6 million) in 2019, primarily due
to the increase in additional VAT deduction based on deductible input VAT in 2019.
Income tax expense. Our income tax expense increased from RMB194.3 million in 2018 to RMB239.2 million (US$34.4 million) in 2019, which
was mainly due to the increase in the taxable income as a result of debt relief in relation to the business realignment with CreditEase.
Net income. As a result of the foregoing, our net income decreased from RMB1,579.8 million in 2018 to RMB1,155.6 million (US$166.0 million)
in 2019.
Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2017
Net revenue. Our net revenue decreased from RMB11,534.8 million in 2017 to RMB11,244.1 million in 2018, primarily due to a 10.1% decrease
in the revenue from our consumer credit services from RMB10,300.0 million in 2017 to RMB 9,257.2 million in 2018. The decrease in the revenue from
our consumer credit services was primarily due to the decrease in the volume of loans facilitated through our marketplace, which decreased from
approximately RMB70,676.0 million in 2017 to RMB63,329.1 million in 2018. Both number of borrowers and loan volume facilitated through our
marketplace decreased in 2018 as we implement tighter risk policy to proactively control our business growth in order to improve the asset quality of new
loans facilitated through our marketplace. In addition, we have reduced our business scale and number of borrowers and investors to ensure the compliance
with Circular 175. The revenue from our wealth management services increased by 60.9% from RMB1,234.9 million in 2017 to RMB1,987.0 million in
2018, primarily because the service fees charged from investors whom made investments through Huimin platform started to belong to us from
March 2018, which used to belong to Zhuoyue.
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Operating costs and expenses. Our total operating costs and expenses decreased from RMB11,614.5 million in 2017 to RMB10,468.0 million in
2018, primarily attributable to the decrease in sales and marketing expenses.
· Sales and marketing expenses. Our sales and marketing expenses decreased from RMB9,005.0 million in 2017 to RMB6,658.3 million in 2018,
primarily due to a 35.1% decrease in sales and marketing expenses for consumer credit services from RMB8,348.8 million in 2017 to
RMB5,415.8 million in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in the volume of loans facilitated through our marketplace and the
increased marketing efficiencies. The sales and marketing expenses for wealth management services increased by 89.3% from RMB656.2 million
in 2017 to RMB1,242.4 million in 2018, primarily because Zhuoyue used to enjoy the service fees charged from investors whom made
investments through Huimin platform and bear the costs and expenses accordingly before March 2018. Our sales and marketing expenses as a
percentage of our total revenues decreased from 78.1% to 59.2% during the same period.
· Origination and servicing expenses. Our origination and servicing expenses decreased from RMB1,242.9 million in 2017 to RMB1,061.3 million
in 2018. Our origination and servicing expenses as a percentage of our total revenues decreased from 10.8% to 9.4% during the same period,
primarily attributable to our enhanced collection efforts and a decline in loan facilitation volume and remaining loan balance.
· General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses increased slightly from RMB1,323.6 million in 2017 to
RMB1,336.2 million in 2018, primarily due to the increase in research and development expenses. Our general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of our total revenues increased slightly from 11.5% to 11.9% during the same period.
· Provision for contingent liability. Our provision for contingent liability increased from RMB43.0 million in 2017 to RMB419.6 million in 2018,
primarily due to volatility of credit risk in the industry in which we operate since December 2017.
· Allowance for contract assets. We made allowance for contract assets in 2018 due to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, ASU
2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers” (Topic 606).
Interest income, net. Our interest income, net decreased from RMB115.1 million in 2017 to RMB73.9 million in 2018, primarily due to an
increase in interest expenses associated with our long-term borrowings, which were offset with our interest income.
Fair value adjustments related to Consolidated ABFE. Our fair value adjustments increased from a fair value loss of RMB86.4 million in 2017 to
a fair value gain of RMB243.1 million in 2018, primarily due to the direct investment in trusts.
Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights. Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights increased from
RMB271.1 million in 2017 to RMB663.9 million in 2018, primarily due to the increase in gains on disposal of consolidated ABFE.
Other (expenses)/income, net. We had other expenses, net of RMB32.0 million in 2017 and other income, net of RMB26.3 million in 2018,
primarily due to tax refund of RMB38.5 million received by Puhui in 2018.
Income tax expense. Our income tax expense decreased from RMB381.2 million in 2017 to RMB194.3 million in 2018, which was mainly due to
the decrease in the taxable income.
Net income/(loss). As a result of the foregoing, we had a net income of RMB1,579.8 million in 2018, as compared to a net loss of RMB188.1
million in 2017.
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Discussion of Certain Balance Sheet Items
The following selected consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements
included in this annual report beginning on page F-1. The following selected recast consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 have been derived
from our audited recast consolidated financial statements included in this annual report beginning on page F-3. The following selected recast consolidated
balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 are derived from our unaudited recast consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017 not included in this
annual report.
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Contract assets, net
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Loans at fair value
Available-for-sale investments
Total assets
Liabilities:
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee
Payable to investors at fair value
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Refund liabilities
Total liabilities
Total (deficit)/equity
Total liabilities and equity
Cash and Cash Equivalents
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
2,222,785
2,257,537
—
2,472,587
1,450,707
966,353
16,124,352
2,793,948
1,222,180
2,339,558
—
24,014,085
(7,889,733)
16,124,352
2,606,939
427,546
3,909,263
2,552,319
1,375,221
835,565
14,251,815
9,950
626,207
2,193,576
2,145,748
14,615,228
(363,413)
14,251,815
3,198,086
71,056
2,398,685
1,333,221
418,492
460,991
9,644,420
4,397
—
2,338,745
1,801,535
5,154,330
4,490,090
9,644,420
459,376
10,207
344,550
191,505
60,113
66,217
1,385,334
632
—
335,940
258,774
740,374
644,960
1,385,334
Our cash and cash equivalents increased by 17.3% from RMB2,222.8 million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB2,606.9 million as of
December 31, 2018, and further increased by 22.7% to RMB3,198.1 million (US$459.4 million) as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to continuing
improvement of cash management and the redemption of investments at the end of 2019.
Restricted Cash
Restricted cash represents cash held by the consolidated ABFE through segregated bank accounts which is not available to fund our general
liquidity needs and guarantee deposit in a restricted bank account. The following table sets forth a breakdown of our restricted cash as of December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019:
Restricted cash:
Quality assurance program
Consolidated ABFE
Guarantee deposit
Transaction deposit
Total restricted cash
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
1,701,454
533,601
21,249
1,233
2,257,537
116
—
392,758
33,540
1,248
427,546
—
43,833
27,223
—
71,056
—
6,296
3,911
—
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Restricted cash decreased by 81.1% from RMB2,257.5 million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB427.5 million as of December 31, 2018, primarily
due to the disposal of the quality assurance program and thus the transfer of the guarantee liability related to the quality assurance program to a third-party
guarantee company in May 2018.
Restricted cash decreased by 83.4% from RMB427.5 million as of December 31, 2018 to RMB71.1 million (US$10.2 million) as of December 31,
2019, primarily due to the disposal of our direct investments in trusts.
Contract Assets, Net
We recognized contract assets in 2018 due to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with
Customers” (Topic 606). Contract assets decreased by 38.6% from RMB3,909.3 million, net of allowance of RMB992.0 million as of December 31, 2018
to RMB2,398.7 million (US$344.6 million), net of allowance of RMB1,515.6 million (US$217.7 million) as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to the
transaction fees received, partially offset by contract assets recognized in relation to the loans facilitated in 2019.
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets
The following table sets forth a breakdown of our prepaid expenses and other assets as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets:
Loans to third parties
Funds receivable from external payment network providers
Funds receivable from insurance and guarantee companies
Prepaid expense
Receivable from Tianda Xinan (Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd.
Prepaid VAT and surcharge tax
Others
Total prepaid expenses and other assets
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
—
1,361,769
—
122,656
—
839,488
148,674
2,472,587
172,071
514,619
141,323
133,467
1,384,561
46,254
160,024
2,552,319
516,079
331,534
289,752
64,923
16,891
889
113,153
1,333,221
74,130
47,622
41,620
9,326
2,426
128
16,253
191,505
Prepaid expenses and other assets increased by 3.2% from RMB2,472.6 million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB2,552.3 million as of
December 31, 2018, primarily due to (i) change in receivable from Tianda Xinan (Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd. (“Tianda Xinan”) a guarantee company
which was a subsidiary of a VIE of CreditEase until February 2018, (ii) change in funds receivable from external payment network providers, and
(iii) change in prepaid VAT and surcharge tax. The change in receivable from Tianda Xinan (Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd. was because the receivable from
Tianda Xinan was classified as amounts due from related parties in 2017. The change in funds receivable from external payment network providers was
due to the decrease in the volume of loans facilitated in 2018 compared with that of 2017. The change in prepaid VAT and surcharge tax was primarily due
to the new revenue recognition standard, ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers” (Topic 606) adopted in 2018, and as more revenue was
recognized under the new standard, the related prepaid VAT and surcharge tax reduced accordingly.
Prepaid expenses and other assets decreased by 47.8% from RMB2,552.3 million as of December 31, 2018 to RMB1,333.2 million (US$191.5
million) as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to (i) the change in receivable from Tianda Xinan (Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd., a guarantee company
which was a subsidiary of VIE of CreditEase until February 2018, and (ii) change in loans to third parties. The change in receivable from Tianda Xinan
(Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd. was primarily because, as part of the acquistion of the Acquired Businessess under common control, the related parties’
receivables and payables from/to the Acquired Businesses and Tianda Xinan’s payable to the Acquired Businesses were transferred to CreditEase Zhuoyue
Wealth Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. in 2019.
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The balance of loans to third parties mainly represents the remaining outstanding balance of a three-year loan to an asset management company
and a one-year loan to a third-party guarantee company. The increase of loans to third parties was primarily due to the continuous business collaboration.
Loans at Fair Value
Loans at fair value represented the fair value of loans invested by the Consolidated ABFE, which decreased by 5.2% from RMB1,450.7 million as
of December 31, 2017 to RMB1,375.2 million as of December 31, 2018, and further decreased by 69.6% to RMB418.5 million (US$60.1 million) as of
December 31, 2019, primarily due to the disposal of our direct investments in trusts.
Available-for-sale Investments
Available-for-sale investments primarily included debt securities which can be redeemed on a T+1 basis or upon maturity. Available-for-sale
investments decreased by 13.5% from RMB996.4 million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB835.6 million as of December 31, 2018, and further decreased
by 44.8% to RMB461.0 million (US$66.2 million) as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to redemption of securities.
Liabilities from Quality Assurance Program and Guarantee
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee decreased by 99.6% from RMB2,793.9 million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB10.0
million as of December 31, 2018, primarily due to the discontinuation of quality assurance program and thus the transfer of the guarantee liability related to
the quality assurance program to a third-party guarantee company in May 2018.
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee decreased by 55.8% from RMB10.0 million as of December 31, 2018 to RMB4.4
million (US$0.6 million) as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to the net payout of guarantee deposit due to the loan delinquency.
Payable to Investors at Fair Value
Payable to investors at fair value represented the amount payable by the Consolidated ABFE to its investors, which decreased from RMB1,222.2
million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB626.2 million as of December 31, 2018, and further decreased to nil as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to
our direct investment in trusts, which were eliminated on our consolidated financial statements.
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
The following table sets forth a breakdown of our accrued expenses and other liabilities as of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019:
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Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities:
Accrued payroll and welfare
Tax payable
Funds collected on behalf of third-party guarantee companies
Accrued customer incentives
Accrued advertisement expense
Payable to investors
Long-term borrowings
Deposits
Others
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
As of December 31,
(in thousands)
718,075
922,291
—
197,816
259,068
75,023
—
—
167,285
2,339,558
782,927
357,751
231,467
205,072
138,411
85,495
192,419
80,418
119,616
2,193,576
772,590
803,116
425,920
81,297
62,472
68,011
18,590
—
106,749
2,338,745
110,976
115,360
61,180
11,678
8,974
9,769
2,670
—
15,333
335,940
Accrued expenses and other liabilities decreased from RMB2,339.6 million as of December 31, 2017 to RMB2,193.6 million as of December 31,
2018, primarily due to the change in tax payable as a result of the accumulated effect of deferred tax assets related to liabilities from quality assurance
program and guarantee. Accrued expenses and other liabilities increased to RMB2,338.7 million (US$335.9 million) as of December 31, 2019, primarily
due to the change in tax payable and funds collected on behalf of third-party guarantee companies. The change in tax payable primarily due to the
accumulated effect of deferred tax assets related to liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee in 2018. The change in funds collected on
behalf of third-party guarantee companies primarily due to the business growth and development.
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 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.
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Basis of Presentation, Combination and Consolidation
We conduct our online consumer finance marketplace business in China through our PRC subsidiaries, Hengye and Hengyuda (“FOS”) and our
consolidated variable interest entities, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management and Linyang (“VIEs”). Due to PRC legal restrictions on foreign ownership
and investment in value-added telecommunications services, and internet content provision services in particular, we conduct our online operations in
China through a series of contractual arrangements entered into between FOS and VIEs and their shareholders. Hengcheng operates our website
www.yirendai.com. Yiren Wealth Management operates our wealth management mobile application, which serves as an online portal for investment
products, including the loan products offered by us as well as other investment products offered by third party providers. Most of our revenues, costs and
expenses directly related to loan facilitation and servicing in China are generated through Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management. As a result of the
contractual arrangements, we have the ability to direct the activities of Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management that most significantly impact their
economic performance, and to obtain a majority of the residual returns of Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management. We are considered the primary
beneficiary of Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management, and accordingly the entities are our variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP and we
consolidate their results in our consolidated financial statements. Any changes in PRC laws and regulations that affect our ability to control Hengcheng and
Yiren Wealth Management might preclude us from consolidating the entities in the future.
As part of our strategy to expand our investor base from individual investors to institutional investors, we established a business relationship with
certain trusts or ABS plan which was administered by third-party trust companies. The trusts were set up to invest solely in the loans facilitated by us on
our platform to provide returns to the beneficiaries of the trusts through interest payments made by the borrowers.
We provide loan facilitation and post-origination services to the trusts. We also have power to direct the activities that have most significant
impact on the economic performance of the ABFE by providing the loan servicing and default loan collection services of the trusts.
Through the transaction fees charged, guarantee deposit, and direct investment, We have the right to receive benefits or bear losses from the ABFE
that could potentially be significant to the ABFE. We provide certain level of guarantee in the form of a security fund in the amount of 6% of the total loan
principal to the Trust No. 1 to protect the trust beneficiaries. The guarantee provided is considered variable consideration held by us. We hold significant
variable interest in Trust No. 1 through the transaction fee charged and guarantee provided in the form of security deposit, and hold significant variable
interest in Trust No. 2 through the transaction fee charged. We also hold significant variable interest in other ABFE through direct investment.
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Accordingly, we are considered the primary beneficiary of the ABFE and have consolidated the ABFE’s assets, liabilities, results of operations,
and cash flows in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
The assets of the ABFE are not available to our creditors. In addition, the investors of the ABFE have no recourse against our assets.
On March 25, 2019, CreditEase entered into definitive agreements with us, which contemplated the separation and transfer of its online wealth
management targeting the mass affluent investors, unsecured and secured consumer lending and other related services or businesses to us. As of March 31,
2019, the business of unsecured and secured consumer lending, operated by CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd., CreditEase
Huimin Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries, as well as the Zhiwang wealth management business operated by CreditEase
Zhuoyue Wealth Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (collectively referred to as the “Acquired Businesses”) have been transferred to us for an
aggregated consideration comprising of RMB233 million in cash, RMB2,627 million in contingent consideration and 61,981,412 shares of us. As part of
the transaction, the related parties’ receivables and payables from/to the Acquired Businesses, and Tianda Xinan (Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd.’s payable to
the Acquired Businesses were transferred to Zhuoyue. Zhuoyue subsequently unconditionally waived a net receivables amounting to RMB5,147 million
from the Acquired Businesses. In May 2019, we also acquired Dekai Yichuang Asset Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (a consolidated VIE of
CreditEase) and its subsidiaries from CreditEase for a consideration of RMB29 million. Cash consideration of RMB230 million and RMB29 million were
paid in March and May, respectively, for the aforementioned acquisitions. At the closing of the business transactions with CreditEase on July 11, 2019, we
issued a total of 61,981,412 ordinary shares with a total fair value of RMB2,754 million. The contingent consideration is to be paid by monthly installments
in an 18-month period after the closing with each payment contingent upon the Acquired Businesses achieving certain pre-agreed performance targets
which are based on the total monthly loan volume facilitated by Puhui. We made contingent payments to CreditEase amounting to RMB1, 410 million until
November 2019 as the pre-agreed performance targets were met. In December 2019, CreditEase waived the remaining contingent liabilities, amounting to
RMB1,217 million, which was accounted for as a contribution from CreditEase.
As we and the acquired entities were under common control of CreditEase for 2017, 2018, and 2019, the above acquisitions have been accounted
for in a manner akin to a pooling-of-interests as if we had owned the acquired entities from the time they were incorporated. Accordingly, we
retrospectively adjusted its consolidated financial statements to include the transferred net assets of the acquired entities and any related operations for all
periods presented. Any difference between the net book value of the acquirees and the amounts paid by us has been accounted for as a capital contribution
in the consolidated statements of changes in equity.
Revenue
We provide services as an online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors. The four major deliverables provided are loan facilitation
services, guarantee services (e.g., quality assurance program to individual investors and guarantee to institutional investors), post-origination services (e.g.,
cash processing, collection and SMS services) and account management services (automated investing tool).
We have determined that we are not the legal lender or borrower in the loan origination and repayment process, but act as an intermediary to bring
the lender and the borrower together. Except for loans and payable to investors in the consolidated ABFE, we do not record the loans receivable or payable
arising from the loans facilitated between the investors and borrowers on our platform.
We charge fees for facilitating loan originations, for the automated investing tool to investors opting for that service, and for monthly services
(covering cash processing services, collection services and SMS services). While for those who do not opt for automated investing tool, we charge fees for
facilitating loan originations and for monthly services (covering cash processing services, collection services and SMS services) (collectively referred to as
“non-contingent fees”). We also receive fees contingent on future events (e.g., penalty fees for loan prepayment and late payment, fees for transferring
loans over the secondary loan market, and other service fees, etc.).
For the loans facilitated on Hengcheng’s platform before May 2018, we also provided guarantee services to investors whereas in the event of
default, the investors are entitled to receive unpaid interest and principal from our company. Given that we effectively took on all of the credit risk of the
borrowers and were compensated by the service fees charged, the guarantee was deemed as a service and the guarantee exposure was recognized as a stand-
ready obligation in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees. We stopped providing guarantee services in May 2018.
Revenue recognition before adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”
Before January 1, 2018, we recognized revenues under ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, (“ASC 605”). The loan facilitation services and the
post origination services are considered as a multiple element revenue arrangement under ASC 605.
Multiple element revenue recognition
We consider the loan facilitation services, the guarantee services and post-origination services as a multiple deliverable revenue arrangement. We
have concluded that although it does not sell those services independently, all three deliverables have stand-alone value as others do sell them
independently in the market and they have value to the customer independently. Thus, all non-contingent fees are allocated among these three deliverables.
We allocate non-contingent fees to be received consistent with the guidance in ASC 605-25. It first allocates the amount equal to the fair value of
the stand-ready liabilities from the quality assurance program and guarantee (until May 2018). Then, the remaining fees are allocated to the loan facilitation
services and post-origination services using their relative estimated selling prices.
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We do not have vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of selling price for the loan facilitation services or post-origination services because
we do not provide loan facilitation services or post-origination services separately.
For cash processing services, collection services and SMS services (all of which are part of the post-origination services), we use third-party
evidence (“TPE”, which are the prices charged when sold separately by our service providers) as the basis of revenue allocation.
Although other vendors may sell these services separately, TPE of selling price of the loan facilitation services and automated investing tool
services (part of post-origination services) does not exist as public information is not available regarding what our competitors may charge for those
services. As a result, we generally use our best estimate of selling prices (“BESP”) of loan facilitation services and automated investing tool services as the
basis of revenue allocation. In estimating our selling price for the loan facilitation services and automated investing tools services, we consider the cost
incurred to deliver such services, profit margin for similar arrangements, customer demand, effect of competitors on our services, and other market factors.
For each type of service, we recognize revenues when the following four revenue recognition criteria are met for each revenue type: (i) persuasive
evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the selling price is fixed or determinable, and
(iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
Collectability of fees
We either collect the entire amount of the loan facilitation fees upfront, or collect a portion upfront and the rest on a monthly basis over the term of
the loan. The management fees charged to investors are collected on a monthly basis through the loan period or on maturity of investments. We evaluated
the following factors for uncertainty of the collectability: (i) credit risk of the portfolio; (ii) prepayment risk; (iii) risk profile change from launching new
products; and (iv) macroeconomic cycle, etc. and concluded that the collectability for the monthly fees could not be reasonably assured. Thus fees charged
are not recognized until collected.
Revenue from loan facilitation services
We recognized the cash received that is allocated to loan facilitation services as revenue upon completion of the related services. For fees that are
partially refundable to the borrowers, the revenue is not recognized until the fees become non-refundable.
Revenue from post-origination services
The fees collected upfront allocated to post-origination services are deferred and recognized over the period of the loan on a straight line basis.
Customer incentives
To expand our market presence, we provide cash incentives to investors from time to time. Each individual incentive program only lasts for a
week or a few weeks. During the relevant incentive program period, we set certain thresholds for the investor to qualify to enjoy the cash incentive. When a
qualified investment is made, the cash payment is provided to the investor as a percentage of the investment amount. We also distributed interest plus
coupons and renewal reward coupons to investors free of charge. The investors can utilize the interest plus coupons to increase the expected return of
Yidingying product on the maturity date. If the investors choose to extend the investment period of the Yidingying product, the renewal reward coupons
can be utilized to increase the expected return of Yidingying product for the extended investment period. The cash incentives, interest plus coupons and
renewal reward coupons provided are accounted for as reduction of revenue in accordance with ASC subtopic 605-50.
We have established a membership reward program wherein investors can earn Yiren coins when purchases are made on our platforms reached a
certain amount. Yiren coins can be used in connection with subsequent purchases. The expiry dates of these Yiren coins vary based on different individual
promotional programs, which generally range from one and a half years to two and a half years period. We accrue liabilities for the estimated value of these
Yiren coins that are expected to be used, which are based on outstanding Yiren coins related to prior purchases at the end of each reporting period and the
usage rate of these Yiren coins, which were reasonably estimated based on historical data. These liabilities reflect management’s best estimate of the cost of
future usages.
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Revenue recognition after adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” with modified retrospective method
We adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all subsequent ASUs that modified Topic 606 on January 1,
2018 using the modified retrospective method. We recognized the cumulative effect of applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the
beginning balance of retained earnings. The comparative information is not restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect
for the period presented.
Under Topic 606, the core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services
to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that
core principle, we apply the following steps:
· Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer
· Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
· Step 3: Determine the transaction price
· Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
· Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation
We determine our customers to be both the investors and borrowers. We assess ability and intention to pay the service fees of both borrowers and
investors when they become due and determines if the collection of the service fees is probable, based on historical experiences as well as the credit due
diligence performed on each borrower prior to loan origination. Until May 2018, we provided quality assurance program and guarantee services and
considered the loan facilitation services, guarantee services and post-origination services as three separate services of which guarantee services were
accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees. While the post-origination services are within the scope of ASC Topic 860, ASC Topic 606
revenue recognition model is applied due to the lack of definitive guidance in ASC Topic 860. The loan facilitation services and post-origination services
are two separate performance obligations under ASC 606, as these two deliverables are distinct in that customers can benefit from each service on its own
and our promises to deliver the services are separately identifiable from each other in the contract. In May 2018, we stopped providing quality assurance
program and guarantee services and have provided only the loan facilitation and post-origination services to our customers since then.
We determine the transaction price of loan facilitation services and post-origination services to be the service fees chargeable from the borrowers,
net of value-added tax. The transaction price includes variable consideration in the form of prepayment risk of the borrowers. We reflect, in the transaction
price, the borrower prepayment risk and estimates variable consideration for these contracts using the expected value approach on the basis of historical
information and current trends of the prepayment percentage of the borrowers. The transaction price is allocated amongst the guarantee services (until
May 2018), if any, and the two performance obligations described above.
We first allocate the transaction price to the guarantee liabilities (until May 2018), if any, in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees which
requires the guarantee to be measured initially at fair value based on the stand ready obligation. Then the remaining considerations are allocated to the loan
facilitation services and post origination services using their relative stand-alone selling prices consistent with the guidance in Topic 606. We do not have
observable stand-alone selling price information for the loan facilitation services or post origination services because we do not provide loan facilitation
services or post origination services on a stand-alone basis. There is no direct observable stand-alone selling price for similar services in the market that is
reasonably available to us. As a result, the estimation of stand-alone selling price involves significant judgments. We use expected cost plus margin
approach to estimate the stand-alone selling prices of loan facilitation services as the basis of revenue allocation. In estimating our stand-alone selling price
for the loan facilitation services, we consider the cost incurred to deliver such services, profit margin for similar arrangements, customer demand, effect of
competitors on our services, and other market factors. However, for post origination services, given the main service is about loan collecting, we can refer
to other companies performing the same services, therefore a direct observable stand-alone selling price for similar services in the market is available to us.
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For each type of service, we recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the service/performance obligation by transferring a promised good
or service (that is, an asset) to a customer. Revenues from loan facilitation are recognized at the time a loan is originated between the investor and the
borrower and the loan principal is transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service is considered completed. Revenues from post-
origination services are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying loans as the services are provided. Revenues from guarantee
services, if any, are recognized at the expiry of the guarantee term.
Remaining performance obligations represents the amount of the transaction price for which services have not been performed under post-
origination services. We charges upfront fees for loan products. The upfront fees, if any, are deducted from loan proceeds at origination and the remaining
consideration is collected in equal payments on a monthly basis. When the upfront fees are not sufficient to cover the relative stand-alone selling price of
facilitation services performed, a corresponding contract asset is recognized (see accounting policy for contract asset). For upfront fees that are partially
refundable to the borrowers, we estimate the refund based on historical prepayment probability and the corresponding predetermined refundable amount,
and record corresponding refund liabilities upon receiving such fees.
The aggregate amounts of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied pertaining to post-origination services
were RMB1,196.1million and RMB787.1million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, among which approximately 53% and 67% of the
remaining performance obligations will be recognized over the following 12 months, respectively, and with the remainder recognized thereafter.
Revenue from account management services
Under ASC 606, the transaction price of account management services is the management fees charged to investor as the excess of actual return
over the expected return. The service fees derived from investors using the automated investment tool are initially estimated based on historical experience
of returns on similar investment products and current trends. The service fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the investment period.
The service fees related to the automated investment tool are due at the end of the investment period. The investment period refers to the period of time
when the investments are matched with loans and are generating returns for the investors. We record service fees only when it becomes probable that a
significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not occur. The revenue of service fees recognized under ASC 606 for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2019 were RMB1,806.7 million and RMB2,016.7 million, respectively. The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to
performance obligations that are unsatisfied pertaining to account management services were RMB1,461.3 million and RMB919.7 million as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019 respectively, among which approximately 91% and 98% of the remaining performance obligations will be recognized over
the following 12 months, respectively, with the remainder recognized thereafter.
Other revenue
Other revenue includes penalty fees for loan prepayment and late payment, fees charged for early repayment, one-time fees for transferring loans
over the secondary loan market, referral service fees, and fund distribution fees received from fund management companies. The penalty fees, which are
fees paid to the investors that are assigned to us by the investors, will be received as a certain percentage of past due amounts in case of late payment or a
certain percentage of interest over the prepaid amount of loan principal in case of prepayment. We refer potential borrowers or lenders to third-party
companies and related parties and charges them fixed rate fees. We sell funds to investors and charges fixed rate fund distribution fees from fund
management companies and related parties. Referral services revenue and fund distribution revenue are recognized when successful referrals and sales
were completed by us respectively. Revenue recognition for the other revenue remains the same before and after the adoption of Topic 606.
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Customer incentives
The cash incentives, interest plus coupons and renewal reward coupons provided are accounted for as reduction of contract price in accordance
with ASC 606.
Under the membership reward program, investors earn Yiren coins that can be redeemed in subsequent purchases. Yiren coins earned by investors
represent a material right to free or discounted goods or services in the future, which are accounted for as a separate performance obligation under ASC
606. For the transactions that granted Yiren coins to the investors, a portion of transaction price is deferred for the obligation related to Yiren coins, which
are the estimated value of Yiren coins that are expected to be used incorporating estimated breakage based on historical redemption patterns. The revenue
associated with Yiren coins is deferred until the points are redeemed. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the liabilities related to Yiren coins were
immaterial.
Contract assets
Under ASC 606, contract assets represent our rights to consideration in exchange for services that we have transferred to the customer before
payment is due. Our rights to consideration for the monthly fees of facilitation services are conditional on the borrowers’ actual payment, as the borrowers
have the rights to early terminate the loan contracts prior to the loan maturity and are not obligated to pay the remaining monthly fees. As such, we record a
corresponding contract assets for the monthly service fees allocated to loan facilitation services and post-origination services that have already been
delivered in relation to loans facilitated on our platform when recognizing revenue from loan facilitation services and post-origination services. No
accounts receivable is recorded since we do not have unconditional rights to the consideration if the borrowers choose to early terminate and are not
obligated to pay the remaining service fees in relation to the loans facilitated. Contract assets represent our rights to consideration in exchange for
facilitation services that we have transferred to the customer before payment is due. We only recognize contract assets to the extent that we believe it is
probable that it will collect substantially all of the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the services transferred to the customer. The
contract assets, net of allowance are RMB3,909.3 million and RMB2,398.7 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Per ASC 606-10-45-3, an entity shall assess a contract asset for impairment in accordance with Topic 310 on receivables. Contract assets are
stated at the historical carrying amount net of write offs and allowance for uncollectible accounts. In determining whether an impairment loss should be
recorded in the financial statements, we make judgements as to whether there is any observable date indicating that there is a measurable decrease in the
estimated future cash flows from contract assets. This evidence may include observable date indicating that there has been an adverse change in the
borrower’s credit risk, or national or local economic conditions that correlate with defaults on loans. When contract assets are assessed for impairment, we
use estimates based on the historical borrower’s credit risk. The historical borrower’s credit risk is adjusted on the basis of the relevant observable date that
reflects current economic conditions. We regularly review the methodology and assumptions used for estimating the amount of collectable contract assets.
Contract assets are identified as uncollectible if any repayment of the underlying loan is 90 days past due, and no other factor evidences the
possibility of collecting the delinquent amounts. We will write off contract assets and corresponding allowance if any repayment of the underlying loan is
90 days past due.
Contract cost
We pay commissions for successful referring of borrowers or investors to our platform. The commissions paid based on successful referrals are
considered as contract acquisition cost, and are capitalized when the commission becomes payable. The amount of amortization for the years ended
December 31, 2018 and 2019 are RMB84.5 million and 107.3 million respectively.
Amortization of the capitalized contract cost is charged to the consolidated statements of operations when the revenue to which the asset relates is
recognized. Contract cost is recognized as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that we otherwise would have recognized is one
year or less.
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Deferred revenue
Deferred revenue consists of post-origination service fees received from borrowers upfront for which services have not yet been provided.
Deferred revenue is recognized ratably as revenue when the post-origination services are delivered over the loan period.
The amounts of revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 that were included in the opening deferred revenue were
RMB481.7 million and RMB391.2 million, respectively.
Refund liabilities
Refund liabilities are recognized for the estimated amounts of service fees which are received but are expected to be refunded. It represents the
consideration received that we do not expect to be entitled to earn and thus is not included in the transaction price because it will be refunded to customers.
The refund liabilities are remeasured at each reporting date to reflect changes in the estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to revenue.
Our refund liabilities are the expected refund of service fees to borrowers in the case of early repayment of loans. The refund liabilities as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019 amounted to RMB2,145.7 million and RMB1,801.5 million
Fair Value of Loans and Payable to Investors at Fair Value
We have elected the fair value option for loans and related payable to investors of the consolidated ABFE and loans repurchased from the
consolidated ABFE that otherwise would not have been carried at fair value. Such election is irrevocable and is applied to financial instruments on an
individual basis at initial recognition. We estimate the fair value of loans and payable using a discounted cash flow valuation methodology by discounting
the estimated future net cash flows using an appropriate discount rate. The future net cash flows are estimated based on the contractual cash flows, taking
into consideration of projected prepayments and net charge off to project future losses and net cash flows on loans. Changes in fair value of loans and
payable to investors are reported net and recorded in “Fair value adjustments related to the consolidated ABFE” in the consolidated statements of
operations.
As our loans and related payable to investors are not traded in an active market with readily observable prices, we use discounted cash flow
methodology involving significant unobservable inputs to measure the fair value of these assets and liabilities, including discount rate, default and recovery
rates, and prepayment rates. Financial instruments are categorized in the Level 3 valuation hierarchy based on the significance of unobservable factors in
the overall fair value measurement. We did not transfer any assets or liabilities in or out of level 3 during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.
These inputs in isolation can cause significant increases or decreases in fair value. Specifically, increases in the discount rate can significantly
lower the fair value of loans, and decreases in the discount rate can significantly increase the fair value of loans. The discount rate is determined based on
the market rates.
Significant Unobservable Inputs
Financial Instrument
Loans at fair value
Payable to investors at fair value
Unobservable Input
Discount rates
Net cumulative expected loss rates
Cumulative prepayment rates
Discount rates
(2)
(1)
Range of Inputs Weighted-Average
December 31,
2018
12.0%-16.4%
9.9%-17.4%
2.2%-14.8%
7.7%-9.8%
2019
12.0%-16.4%
14.4%-16.6%
11.9%
N/A
(1) Expressed as a percentage of the loan volume.
(2) Expressed as a percentage of the remaining principal of loans.
Leases
Before January 1, 2019, we adopted ASC Topic 840 (“ASC 840”), Leases, and each lease is classified at the inception date as either a capital lease
or an operating lease. On January 1, 2019, we adopted the new lease accounting standard, ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), using the modified
retrospective transition approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption rather than retrospectively adjusting prior periods and
the package of practical expedients. We categorize leases with contractual terms longer than twelve months as either operating or finance lease. However,
we have no finance leases for any of the periods presented.
Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent our rights to use underlying assets for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make
lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments
over the lease term, reduced by lease incentives received, plus any initial direct costs, using the discount rate for the lease at the commencement date. As
the implicit rate in lease is not readily determinable for our operating leases, we generally use the incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of
interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments at commencement date. Lease expenses for lease payments are recognized on
a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We estimate our incremental borrowing rate based on an analysis of publicly traded debt securities of companies with credit and financial profiles
similar to our own. We begin recognizing lease expenses when the lessor makes the underlying assets available to us. Our leases have remaining lease
terms of up to four years, some of which include options to extend the leases for an additional period which has to be agreed with the lessors based on
mutual negotiation. After considering the factors that create an economic incentive, we did not include renewal option periods in the lease term for which it
is not reasonably certain to exercise.
We elected not to record a ROU assets for short-term leases that have a term of 12 months or less. The cost of short-term leases was recognized in
the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
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Income Taxes
Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities.
Deferred income taxes are provided using assets and liabilities method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in
effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be reversed. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that these assets are more likely
than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the management considers all positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of
projected future taxable income and results of recent operation.
The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be
sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being
sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes are classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes. We did not recognize any income tax due
to uncertain tax position or incur any interest and penalties related to potential underpaid income tax expenses for the years ended December 31, 2017,
2018 and 2019, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The recent accounting pronouncements that are relevant to us are included in note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements, which are
included in this annual report.
Inflation
Since our inception, inflation in China has not materially affected 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 may be affected if China experiences higher rates of inflation in the
future.
B. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flows and Working Capital
Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash generated from operating activities, proceeds from the issuance and sale of our shares, and
proceeds from loans borrowed from third parties. In December 2015, we completed our initial public offering in which we issued and sold an aggregate of
7,500,000 ADSs, representing 15,000,000 ordinary shares, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately US$64.9 million. Concurrently with our initial
public offering, we sold 2,000,000 ordinary shares to Baidu Hong Kong in a private placement, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately US$9.0
million. As of December 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately RMB3,198.1 million (US$459.4 million), as compared to cash and
cash equivalents of approximately RMB2,606.9 million as of December 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2019, we had restricted cash of approximately RMB71.1 million (US$10.2 million), as compared to RMB427.5 million as of
December 31, 2018. The decrease in restricted cash was mainly due to the disposal of our direct investments in trusts. As of December 31, 2019, the
restricted cash represented the cash held by the remaining Consolidated ABFE and the cash set aside for guarantee deposit.
Unlike financial institutions, we are not subject to any capital adequacy requirement that is applicable to financial institutions in China. We believe
that our cash on hand and anticipated cash flows from operating activities will be sufficient to meet our anticipated working capital requirements and
capital expenditures in the ordinary course of business for the next 12 months. We may, however, need additional cash resources in the future if we
experience changes in business conditions or other developments, or if we find and wish to pursue opportunities for investment, acquisition, capital
expenditure or similar actions. If we determine that our cash requirements exceed the amount of cash and cash equivalents we have on hand at the time, we
may seek to issue equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The issuance and sale of additional equity would result in further dilution to our
shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed obligations and could result in operating covenants that would restrict our
operations. We cannot assure you that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk
Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We may need additional capital, and financing may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.”
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Our ability to manage our working capital, including accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets and accrued expenses and other
liabilities, may materially affect our financial position and results of operations. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our
Business—Failure to manage our liquidity and cash flows may materially and adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.”
Our accounts receivable primarily include the transaction fees receivable from borrowers and referral service fees receivable from industry
partners in relation to our services offered to them through YEP. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, we had accounts receivable of RMB43.4
million, RMB40.3 million and RMB3.4 million (US$0.5 million), respectively. The decrease in our accounts receivable from 2017 to 2018 was primarily
due to a decrease in transaction fees receivable from borrowers, and the decrease in our accounts receivable from 2018 to 2019 was primarily due to the
disposal of Huimin (including Puze) with fund distribution service fee receivable. Transaction fees receivable from borrowers were only associated with
loans facilitated before 2015, when the interests and transaction fees associated with the loans facilitated on our platform were guaranteed by a guarantee
company. As of December 31, 2019, the amount of transaction fees receivable from borrowers was RMB0.6 million (US$79 thousand). As of
December 31, 2019, we had RMB2.2 million (US$0.3 million) in referral service fees receivable from industry partners.
Our prepaid expenses and other assets include primarily funds receivable from external payment networks, loans to third parties and funds
receivable from insurance and guarantee companies, and our accrued expenses and other liabilities include primarily accrued payroll and welfare, tax
payable, accrued customer incentives, and accrued advertisement expense, long-term borrowings and funds collected on behalf of third-party guarantee
companies.
Although we consolidate the results of operations of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our variable interest
entities, we only have access to the cash balances and the future earnings of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang
through our contractual arrangements with them. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and Development of Our Company.” In addition,
although we consolidate the cash flow of the Consolidated ABFE into our cash flow, the cash balance of the Consolidated ABFE is not available to fund
our general liquidity needs. For more information about the Consolidated ABFE, please see “—Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates—
Basis of Presentation, Combination and Consolidation” below For restrictions and limitations on liquidity and capital resources as a result of our corporate
structure, see “—Holding Company Structure” below.
In utilizing the cash that we hold offshore, we may (i) make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, (ii) establish new PRC
subsidiaries and make capital contributions to these new PRC subsidiaries, (iii) make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, or (iv) acquire offshore entities with
business operations in China in offshore transactions. However, most of these uses are subject to PRC regulations and approvals. For example:
· capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, whether existing or newly established ones, must be filed for record with MOFCOM or its local
counterparts; and
· loans by us to our PRC subsidiaries, which are foreign-invested enterprises, to finance their activities cannot exceed statutory limits and must be
registered with SAFE or its local branches.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in
PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using the proceeds of any
offering outside China to make loans to or make additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our
liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.”
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Substantially all of our future revenues are likely to continue to be in the form of RMB. 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 SAFE approval as long as certain routine procedural requirements are fulfilled. Therefore, our PRC subsidiaries
are allowed to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior SAFE approval by following certain routine procedural requirements. However,
current PRC regulations permit our PRC subsidiaries to pay dividends to us only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with
Chinese accounting standards and regulations. Our PRC subsidiaries are 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 reserve funds until the total amount set aside reaches 50% of its registered capital. These
reserves are not distributable as cash dividends. Furthermore, capital account transactions, which include foreign direct investment and loans, must be
approved by and/or registered with SAFE and its local branches. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Doing Business in
China—Governmental control of currency conversion may limit our ability to utilize our net revenue effectively and affect the value of your investment.”
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Summary Consolidated Cash Flow Data*:
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted
cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
US$
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)
184,072
(1,166,837)
2,642,695
(16,109)
1,643,821
2,836,501
4,480,322
(3,959,094)
3,297,648
(788,022)
3,631
(1,445,837)
4,480,322
3,034,485
274,168
1,110,001
(1,149,705)
193
234,657
3,034,485
3,269,142
39,381
159,442
(165,144)
28
33,707
435,876
469,583
* The amounts of these summary consolidated cash flow data for the year ended December 31, 2019, as derived from our audited consolidated
financial statements included in this annual report, reflect the re-classification of certain cash flow items in calculating our net cash used in or provided by
operating activities, investing activities and financing activities on our company’s audited consolidated statements of cash flows for the year ended
December 31, 2019, as compared with the amounts of these cash flow data for the year ended December 31, 2019 contained in the earnings release of our
company as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020.
Operating Activities
Net cash generated from operating activities was RMB274.2 million (US$39.4 million) in 2019. The difference between our net income and our
net cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to changes in certain working capital items, including a change in amounts due from/to
related parties of RMB1,548.2 million (US$222.4 million) and a decrease in refund liability of RMB344.2 million (US$49.4 million), partially offset by
certain non-cash expenses or loss, including allowance for contract assets and receivables of RMB1,625.1 million (US$233.4 million). The change in
amounts due from/to related parties was primarily due to the payment to related parties associated with referral service, collection service and other
services provided by CreditEase. The decrease in refund liability was primarily due to the payment of transaction fee which was refunded due to the
borrower’s early repayment. We made allowance for contract assets primarily due to the credit risk of borrowers.
Net cash used in operating activities was RMB3,959.1 million in 2018. The difference between our net income and our net cash used in operating
activities was primarily attributable to changes in certain working capital items, including a decrease in liabilities from quality assurance program and
guarantee by RMB3,203.6 million, an increase in contract assets by RMB2,067.1 million and a decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities by
RMB997.3 million, partially offset by a change in allowance for contract assets and receivables of RMB992.6 million. The decrease in liabilities from
quality assurance program and guarantee was primarily due to the transfer of the guarantee liability related to the quality assurance program to a third-party
guarantee company and payouts for default loans and interests in 2018. The increase in contract assets was primarily due to the adoption of the new
revenue recognition standard, under which we accrued service fees. The decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities was primarily due to the decrease
in tax payable related to the deferred tax assets in liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee. We made allowance for contract assets
primarily due to the credit risk of borrowers.
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Net cash provided by operating activities was RMB184.1 million in 2017. The difference between our net loss and our net cash generated from
operating activities was primarily attributable to (i) certain non-cash expenses or loss, including depreciation and amortization of RMB140.9 million and
share-based compensation of RMB125.6 million and (ii) changes in certain working capital items, including an increase in liabilities from quality assurance
program and guarantee by RMB1,279.9 million and a change in amount due from/to related parties by RMB429.6 million, partially offset by a decrease in
deferred revenue by RMB736.9 million, an increase in prepaid expenses and other assets by RMB437.6 million and a change in deferred tax
assets/liabilities by RMB353.4 million. The increase in liabilities from quality assurance program was primarily due to an increase in the volume of loans
facilitated by us. The change in amount due from/to related parties was primarily due to an increase by RMB392.2 million in amount due to Puxin Hengye
Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. The increase in prepaid expenses and other assets was primarily due to an increase by RMB548.6 million in
funds receivable from external payment network providers. The change in deferred tax assets/liabilities was primarily due to the increase in deferred tax
assets resulting from an increase in liabilities from the quality assurance program.
Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities was RMB1,110.0 million (US$159.4 million) in 2019, which was primarily attributable to proceeds on
disposal of available-for-sale investments, collection of principal of loans to related parties and collection of principal of loans at fair value, partially offset
by loan to a related party and purchase of available-for-sale investments.
Net cash provided by investing activities was RMB3,297.6 million in 2018, which was primarily attributable to collection of principal of loans to
related parties, proceeds on disposal of available-for-sale investments and collection of principal of loans at fair value, partially offset by our purchase of
available-for-sale investments and investment in loans at fair value.
Net cash used in investing activities was RMB1,166.8 million in 2017, which was primarily attributable to our purchase of available-for-sale
investments, loan to a related party, purchase of held-to-maturity investments and investment in loans at fair value, partially offset by proceeds on disposal
of available-for-sale investments and redemption of held-to-maturity investments.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was RMB1,149.7 million (US$165.1 million) in 2019, which was mainly attributable to RMB1,410.0 million
(US$202.5 million) payment of contingent consideration, partially offset by RMB747.7 million (US$107.4 million) loans from related party.
Net cash used in financing activities was RMB788.0 million in 2018, which was mainly attributable to RMB6,784.0 million principal payments of
loans from related parties and RMB553.0 million principal payments to ABFE, partially offset by RMB6,363.5 million loans from related party.
Net cash provided by financing activities was RMB2,642.7 million in 2017, which was mainly attributable to RMB5,322.7 million loans from
related party, partially offset by RMB1,392.4 million principal payments to ABFE and RMB1,165.5 million principal payments of loans from related party.
The cash flows of the Consolidated ABFE are consolidated into our cash flow. However, the cash balance of the Consolidated ABFE is not available to
fund our general liquidity needs. For more information about the Consolidated ABFE, please see “—Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates
—Basis of Presentation, Combination and Consolidation” below.
Capital Expenditures
We made capital expenditures of RMB218.0 million, RMB140.7 million and RMB48.0 million (US$6.9 million) in 2017, 2018 and 2019,
respectively. In these periods, our capital expenditures were mainly used for purchases of property, equipment and software. We will continue to make
capital expenditures to meet the requirements of our business operations.
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Holding Company Structure
Yiren Digital Ltd. is a holding company with no material operations of its own. We conduct our operations primarily through our subsidiaries and
consolidated variable interest entities in China. As a result, Yiren Digital Ltd.’s ability to pay dividends depends upon dividends paid by Hengye and
Hengyuda, our PRC subsidiaries, and Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang , our consolidated variable interest entities.
If our existing PRC subsidiaries or any newly formed ones incur debt on their own behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict
their ability to pay dividends to us. In addition, each of our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries 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 subsidiaries and our
consolidated variable interest entities 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 subsidiaries in China may allocate a
portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to enterprise expansion funds and staff bonus and welfare funds at its discretion, and each
of our consolidated variable interest entities 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 SAFE. Our PRC subsidiaries have not paid dividends and will
not be able to pay dividends until they generate accumulated profits and meet the requirements for statutory reserve funds.
C. Product Development
We had a dedicated product development team consisting of 112 full-time employees as of December 31, 2019. This team is responsible for
developing and implementing new consumer finance products to introduce on to our marketplace.
We constantly evaluate the popularity of our existing product offerings and develop new products and services that can cater to the ever-evolving
needs of our borrowers and investors. From the borrower perspective, we will continue to develop tailored credit products to meet their specific needs. As
our marketplace continues to grow, we plan to expand our ability to offer risk-based loan pricing. For example, we plan to enhance our risk-based pricing
capability that optimizes loans based on individual credit criteria so that borrowers will be able to receive personalized loans tailored to their credit profile.
In addition, we intend to introduce market-based pricing of loans based on macroeconomic factors and we believe such ability to continually adjust the
pricing of the loans on our marketplace will allow us to better meet the needs of our borrowers.
From the investor perspective, we continue to develop new investment products, such as diversified term investment products and products with
lower investment thresholds, that appeal to different investor appetites and demands. In the future, we plan to segment our loan products into more precise
and specific return categories, and seek to offer investors a more diverse array of investment products that better meet their risk-adjusted return targets. We
also intend to provide investors with enhanced tools and offer more valued-added services, such as investment portfolio services, enabling them to better
monitor and manage their investments on our online marketplace.
D. Trend Information
Other than as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we are not aware of any trends, uncertainties, demands, commitments or events for the
year ended December 31, 2019 that are reasonably likely to have a material and adverse effect on our net revenue, income, profitability, liquidity or capital
resources, or that would cause the disclosed financial information to be not necessarily indicative of future results of operations or financial condition.
E. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Starting January 2015, we operated a quality assurance program to provide a certain level of assurance to investors who invest in loans through
our marketplace, until May 2018 when we discontinued the quality assurance program for purposes of complying with regulatory requirements by
transferring all our liabilities associated with the quality assurance program to a third-party guarantee company. Since then, loans facilitated through our
online marketplace are either covered by guarantee provided by third-party guarantee companies or by PICC’s surety insurance program. In addition, we
cooperated with a bank to furnish borrower referral and facilitation services to the bank from August 2017 to December 2017. We provided guarantee
deposits to the bank to protect it from potential losses due to loan delinquency and undertook to timely replenish such deposit from time to time. We also
undertake to repay the bank on behalf of defaulting borrowers if any repayment is 80 days overdue and upon such full repayment to the bank, we will
obtain the creditor’s rights in respect of the relevant default amount. Since the promulgation of the Circular 141, we have suspended the cooperation with
the bank. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Risk Management—Investor Protection.” Other than the quality assurance
program and guarantee arrangement, we have not entered into any other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties.
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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. Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2019:
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 and thereafter
Total
As of December 31, 2019
RMB in thousands
193,478
82,128
17,944
454
—
294,004
Our operating lease obligations relate to our leases of office premises. We lease our principal office premises under a non-cancelable operating
lease with an expiration date in January 2022. Rental expenses under operating leases for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB320.2 million, RMB310.1
million and RMB283.8 million (US$40.8 million), respectively.
Payables to investors related to the Consolidated ABFE have been excluded from the table above. We will make such payments to the investors
related to the Consolidated ABFE if and when we receive the related loan payments from borrowers. We do not have any contractual obligations to make
such payments out of our own liquidity resources.
We also have a long-term obligation relate to long-term borrowings. In June 2018, we entered into a funding arrangements with principal amount
of RMB324 million for a term of three years. As of December 31, 2019, the balance of our long-term borrowings was RMB18.6 million (US$3.0 million)
excluding the corresponding interest payable. According to the loan agreement, the repayment of the loan is dependent on the collection of principal,
interest and other payments associated with loans invested by Trust No. 3 during the loan term.
Other than those shown above, we did not have any significant capital and other commitments, long-term obligations, or guarantees as of
December 31, 2019.
G. Safe Harbor
See “Forward-Looking Information.”
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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*
Ning Tang
Quan Zhou
Tina Ju
Huan Chen
Qing Li
Jingsheng Huang
Sam Hanhui Sun
Chaomei Chen
Hao Li
Zhong Bi
Chunjiang Ji
Jiangxu Xiang
Age
46
62
55
45
43
62
47
61
41
51
48
55
Position/Title
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Independent Director
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Risk Officer
Chief Technology Officer
* We also have a non-voting observer on our board of directors, Mr. Kwok King Kingsley Chan, a managing director at Morgan Stanley Private Equity
Asia.
Mr. Ning Tang is our founder, and has served as our executive chairman of the board of directors since our inception and our chief executive
officer since July 2019. He is also the founder of our parent company, CreditEase, and has served as the chairman of the board of directors and chief
executive officer of CreditEase since its inception in 2006. In December 2014, Mr. Tang was elected to be the chairman of the Beijing P2P Association,
founded by CreditEase together with approximately 30 member enterprises and the first association in the industry in China that is officially registered and
overseen by regulators. In July 2011, Mr. Tang won the nomination of “Leader of the Year” in the “Global Microfinance Achievement Awards 2011,”
initiated by the London-based C5 Group to recognize the efforts, innovations and services that ensure maximum business and social returns in the
microfinance sector. Mr. Tang is also a member of the advisory board to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology with respect to small and
medium-sized enterprises related policies, and a director at the China Microfinance Institution Association. Prior to founding CreditEase, Mr. Tang served
as the director of strategic investments and acquisitions at AsiaInfo-Linkage, Inc., a leading provider of telecommunication software solutions and services
in China then listed on Nasdaq, since July 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Tang served as an investment banker at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, a U.S. investment
bank now owned by Credit Suisse, since July 1998. Mr. Tang is an active angel investor and has made several successful investments in the education and
training, financial services, human resources services, internet, technology and media industries. Mr. Tang studied mathematics at Peking University and
received his bachelor’s degree in economics, summa cum laude, from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. He is also a member of the Phi
Beta Kappa Society.
Mr. Quan Zhou has served as our director since January 2015. Mr. Zhou is currently a managing member of the general partner of IDG
Technology Venture Investments, L.P. and its successor funds. Mr. Zhou serves as a director of the general partner of each of IDG-Accel China Growth
Fund L.P. and IDG-Accel China Capital Fund L.P., and their respective successor funds. He also serves as a director of the general partner of each of IDG
China Venture Capital Fund IV L.P. and its successor fund and IDG China Capital Fund III L.P. Mr. Zhou currently serves on the board of directors of
CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed Company. Mr. Zhou also serves as a director of a number of private companies. Mr. Zhou received a
bachelor’s degree in chemistry from China Science and Technology University, a master’s degree in chemical physics from the Chinese Academy of
Sciences and a Ph.D. degree in fiber optics from Rutgers University.
Ms. Tina Ju has served as our director since January 2015. Ms. Ju is a founding and managing partner of KPCB China and TDF Capital, and
currently a managing member of the general partner of both funds. She has more than 25 years of experience in venture capital, investment banking and
operations. Ms. Ju began her venture capital career in 1999. She co-founded VTDF China in 2000 and KPCB China in 2007. Earlier in her career, Ms. Ju
spent 11 years in investment banking at Deutsche Bank with her last position as the head of TMT and Transport Asia, Merrill Lynch with her last position
as head of Asia Technology and Corporate Finance Team, and Goldman Sachs. Ms. Ju currently serves as a director on the board of various private
companies. Ms. Ju received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and operations research from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA
degree from Harvard Business School.
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Mr. Huan Chen has served as our director since January 2015 and our chief risk officer from July 2019 to March 2020. He has served as the chief
strategy officer of our parent company CreditEase since November 2007. Prior to joining CreditEase, Mr. Chen served as a product manager at Qihoo 360
Technology Co., Ltd., a leading internet company in China, from July 2006 to November 2007. From March 2003 to July 2006, Mr. Chen served as an
investment management manager at 21cn.com, an online portal owned by China Telecom. Prior to that, Mr. Chen worked at Guangzhou Securities Co.
Ltd., a securities brokerage service firm, and co-founded Find2Fine Consulting Ltd., an online project outsourcing marketplace, successively from
July 1998 to March 2003. Mr. Chen received a bachelor’s degree in international commerce and a master’s degree in econometrics from Sun Yat-sen
University in China.
Mr. Qing Li has served as our director since December 17, 2015. Mr. Li is the founder and chief executive officer of Sciencast Management L.P., a
limited partnership formed in Delaware. Prior to founding Sciencast, Mr. Li was a portfolio manager at SAC Capital Advisors from April 2009 to
February 2014, a quantitative researcher at Tykhe Capital LLC from October 2005 to April 2009, a vice president at Fortress Investment Group from
September 2004 to October 2005 and an associate from August 2002 to September 2004 at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Li received a Ph.D. in finance from
Columbia University and a B.S. in mathematics from Peking University.
Mr. Jingsheng Huang has served as our director since December 17, 2015. Mr. Huang is the managing executive director at Harvard Center
Shanghai. Mr. Huang has also served as an independent non-executive director of SOHO China, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,
since August 2018. Prior to that, he was a partner of TPG Growth and RMB Funds based in Shanghai, China. Before joining TPG, he was a managing
director at Bain Capital LLC, where he set up and ran its Shanghai operations. Prior to that, Mr. Huang served multiple positions in the investment industry,
including managing director in China at SOFTBANK Asia Infrastructure Fund, partner at SUNeVision Ventures and senior manager of strategic investment
at Intel Capital. Before starting his investment career, Mr. Huang was the director of research operations at GartnerGroup, a co-founder and vice president
of marketing at Mtone Wireless and an English lecturer at Communication University of China. Before joining Harvard, Mr. Huang served as a member of
the board of China Venture Capital Association and a deputy chairman of Shanghai Private Equity Association. Mr. Huang served as an independent
director of Besunyen Holdings Company Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, until June 2019. Mr. Huang currently serves as an
independent director of SOHO China Ltd., a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Mr. Huang received an M.B.A degree from Harvard
Business School, an M.A. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Mr. Sam Hanhui Sun has served as our director since December 17, 2015. From January 2010 to September 2015, Mr. Sun assumed a couple of
positions at Qunar Cayman Islands Limited, a mobile and online travel platform then listed on Nasdaq, including serving as Qunar’s president from
May 2015 to September 2015 and its chief financial officer from January 2010 to April 2015. Prior to joining Qunar, Mr. Sun was the chief financial officer
of KongZhong Corporation, an online game developer and operator then listed on Nasdaq-listed company, from 2007 to 2009. Mr. Sun was also an
independent director and audit committee member of KongZhong Corporation from July 2005 through January 2007. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Sun served
in several financial controller positions at Microsoft China R&D Group, Maersk China Co. Ltd. and SouFun.com. From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Sun worked in
KPMG’s auditing practice group, including eight years at the Beijing office of KPMG, where he was an audit senior manager, and two years at KPMG in
Los Angeles, California. Mr. Sun currently serves as an independent director and audit committee chair of CAR Inc., a company listed on the Hong Kong
Stock Exchange and an independent director and audit committee chair of iQIYI Inc., a Nasdaq-listed company. Mr. Sun received a B.E. in business
administration from Beijing Institute of Technology in 1993. He is a Certified Public Accountant in China.
Ms. Chaomei Chen has served as our director since December 18, 2016. Ms. Chen had been part of our Advisory Committee from January 2016 to
December 2016. Previously, Ms. Chen served as chief risk officer of LendingClub from June 2011 to December 2015. Before LendingClub, she served as
chief risk officer of WaMu Card Services at JP Morgan Chase from October 2005 to August 2009. Prior to JP Morgan Chase, Ms. Chen was vice chairman
and chief credit officer at Providian Financial Services from August 2002 to September 2005. Ms. Chen graduated with a B.S. degree in mathematics from
the Southwestern Jiaotong University in China and earned an M.S.E. degree in mathematical science from Whiting School of Engineering at the Johns
Hopkins University.
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Mr. Hao Li has served as our director since January 1, 2020. Mr. Li is the founder and chairman of the board of CTG Group, a human resource
services provider in China. As a well-regarded business pioneer, Mr. Li founded CTG Group in his early twenties in 2003 and developed the company into
an industry giant that has served over 25,000 corporate clients covering 500 cities over the past 16 years. Mr. Li also established Anhui Ensan Charitable
Foundation in 2013. Mr Li is also the executive director of World Chinese Merchants Union Association and vice president of Asia Pacific Chinese
Entrepreneurial Leaders Association. During the past two decades, Mr. Li has been granted various of awards, including “Most Innovative Chinese
Business Leader in Asia Pacific,” “Top 10 Outstanding Figures in China’s HR Industry,” “Top 10 Innovator for China’s New Economy,” etc. Mr. Li
received his bachelor’s degree from Beijing Institution of Technology and an E.M.B.A. degree from China Europe International Business School.
Mr. Zhong Bi has served as our chief financial officer since December 28, 2019. Prior to joining us, Mr. Bi was the national head of business
finance at HSBC Bank (Singapore). As a veteran in global retail banking and wealth management, Mr. Bi had been working for HSBC for 14 years, serving
multiple senior positions, including the head of analytics at HSCB Mexico Retail Banking, the director of global retail products pricing and portfolio
management and business development at HSBC USA. Mr. Bi received a B.S. degree from State University of New York and an M.B.A. from Kelley
School of Business, Indiana University. Mr. Bi is a U.S. CPA holder.
Mr. Chunjiang Ji has served as our chief risk officer since March 2020. Mr. Ji has also served as the head of online lending risk management of
CreditEase since November 2019. Mr. Ji has over 18 years of experiences in risk management and decision science with multiple large financial
organizations. Prior to joining us, Mr. Ji served as head of credit card existing customer decision management at Citigroup in New York and Delaware,
United States from July 2016 to November 2019. Prior to that, Mr. Ji served as senior vice president, director at various banks in the United States,
including Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Fleet Boston Bank. Mr. Ji received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Renmin University of China, and a
master’s degree in Economics and Computer Science from Utah State University.
Mr. Jiangxu Xiang has served as our chief technology officer since March 2020. Mr. Xiang has served as the chief technology officer of our parent
company, CreditEase, since August 2018. He is a technology veteran with 30 years of experience in software, Internet and Fintech industry. Mr. Xiang was
the executive vice president of R&D and managing director of Suning Global Research at Suning Commerce Group, one of the Fortune Global 500
companies, from 2016 to 2018. Before joining Suning, Mr. Xiang was the chief technology officer of Secoo Holding Limited (NASDAQ: SECO), Asia’s
largest luxury e-commerce company, from 2014 to 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Xiang was director of Technology Strategy & Technical Advisor to the
Chairman of Microsoft Asia Pacific R&D Group, responsible for overall technology strategy and execution from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Xiang
held senior technical and management positions at Cisco, CA, Dell and several Silicon Valley start-ups in San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Xiang obtained a
bachelor’s degree in computer science from Wuhan University and a master degree in computer science from University of Pittsburgh.
B. Compensation
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, we paid an aggregate of approximately RMB10.6 million (US$1.5 million) in cash to our directors
and officers. We have not set aside or accrued any amount to provide pension, retirement or other similar benefits to our executive officers and directors.
Our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entity 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. For
information regarding the share-based incentive awards that we have granted to our officers and directors, please refer to “—Share Incentive Plan.”
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
We have entered into employment agreements with each of our executive officers. Under these agreements, each of our executive officers is
employed for a specified time period. We may terminate employment for cause, at any time, without advance notice or remuneration, for certain acts of the
executive officer, such as conviction or plea of guilty to a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude, negligent or dishonest acts to our detriment, or
misconduct or a failure to perform agreed duties. We may also terminate an executive officer’s employment without cause upon three-month advance
written notice. In such case of termination by us, we will provide severance payments to the executive officer as expressly required by applicable law of the
jurisdiction where the executive officer is based. The executive officer may resign at any time with a three-month advance written notice.
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Each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after the termination or expiry of his or her employment agreement, in strict confidence
and not to use, except as required in the performance of his or her duties in connection with the employment or pursuant to applicable law, any of our
confidential information or trade secrets, any confidential information or trade secrets of our clients or prospective clients, or the confidential or proprietary
information of any third party received by us and for which we have confidential obligations. The executive officers have also agreed to disclose in
confidence to us all inventions, designs and trade secrets which they conceive, develop or reduce to practice during the executive officer’s employment
with us and to assign all right, title and interest in them to us, and assist us in obtaining and enforcing patents, copyrights and other legal rights for these
inventions, designs and trade secrets.
In addition, each executive officer has agreed to be bound by non-competition and non-solicitation restrictions during the term of his or her
employment and typically for one year following the last date of employment. Specifically, each executive officer has agreed not to (i) 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 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; or (iii) seek directly or indirectly, to solicit the services of any of our employees who is employed by us on or after the date of the
executive officer’s termination, or in the year preceding such termination, without our express consent.
We have 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.
We have entered into director agreements with each of our independent directors. These agreements set forth the services to be provided and
compensation to be received by our independent directors, as well as the independent directors’ obligations in terms of confidentiality, non-competition and
non-solicitation. Pursuant to these agreements, the directorship of our independent directors will last until the earlier of (i) the date on which the director
ceases to be a member of our board of directors for any reason or (ii) the date of termination of these agreements. Each party to a director agreement may
terminate the agreement through a 30-day prior written notice or such shorter period as the parties may agree upon.
Share Incentive Plans
We have adopted two share incentive plans, namely, the 2015 Share Incentive Plan and 2017 Share Incentive Plan, which allow us to offer a
variety of share-based incentive awards to employees, officers, directors and individual consultants who render services to us. These two plans are referred
to as the 2015 Plan and 2017 Plan, respectively. Pursuant to the 2015 Plan, the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to all awards under
the 2015 Plan is 3,939,100 ordinary shares. As of March 31, 2020, 210,300 restricted share units were outstanding under the 2015 Plan. Pursuant to the
2017 Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued is 6,060,900. As of March 31, 2020, 1,599,814 restricted share units were
outstanding under the 2017 Plan.
The following table summarizes, as of March 31, 2020, the outstanding restricted share units that we granted to our current directors and executive
officers and to other individuals as a group under our 2015 Plan and 2017 Plan:
Name
Huan Chen
Jingsheng Huang
Sam Hanhui Sun
Chaomei Chen
Other Individuals as a Group
* Less than 1% of our total outstanding ordinary shares.
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Ordinary Shares
Underlying
Restricted Share Units
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Grant Date
July 1, 2016
July 1, 2017
July 1, 2018
July 1, 2019
July 1, 2018
July 1, 2019
July 1, 2018
July 1, 2019
July 1, 2016, 2017 and 2018
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The following paragraphs summarize the terms of the 2015 Plan and the 2017 Plan:
Plan Administration. Our board of directors, or a committee designated by our board of directors, will administer the plan. The committee or the
full board of directors, as appropriate, will determine the provisions and terms and conditions of each option grant.
Award Agreements. Options and other awards granted under the plan are evidenced by an award agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and
limitations for each grant, which may include the term of the award and the provisions applicable in the event of the grantee’s employment or service
terminates. The exercise price of granted options may be amended or adjusted in the absolute discretion of our board of directors, or a committee
designated by our board of directors, without the approval of our shareholders or the recipients of the options.
Eligibility. We may grant awards to employees, directors and consultants of our company or any of our affiliates, which include our parent
company, subsidiaries and any entities in which our parent company or a subsidiary of our company holds a substantial ownership interest.
Vesting Schedule. In general, the plan administrator determines the vesting schedule, which is specified in the relevant award agreement.
Acceleration of Awards upon Change in Control. If a change-of-control corporate transaction occurs, the plan administrator may, in its sole
discretion, provide for (i) all awards outstanding to terminate at a specific time in the future and give each participant the right to exercise the vested
portion of such awards during a specific period of time, 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, or (iii) the replacement of such award with other rights or property selected by the plan administrator in its sole
discretion, or (iv) payment of award in cash based on the value of ordinary shares on the date of the change-of-control corporate transaction plus reasonable
interest.
Term of the Options. The term of each option grant shall be stated in the award agreement, provided that the term shall not exceed ten years from
the date of the grant.
Transfer Restrictions. Awards may not be transferred in any manner by the recipient other than by will or the laws of succession, except as
otherwise provided by the plan administrator.
Termination of the Plan. Unless terminated earlier, the plan will terminate automatically in 2025. Our board of directors has the authority to amend
or terminate the plan subject to shareholder approval to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law. However, no such action may impair the rights
of any award recipient unless agreed by the recipient.
C. Board Practices
Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of eight directors. A director is not required to hold any shares in our company to qualify to serve as a director. A
director who is in any way, whether directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction with our company must
declare the nature of his interest at a meeting of the directors. Subject to NYSE rules and disqualification by the chairman of the relevant board meeting, a
director may vote in respect of any contract or transaction or proposed contract or transaction notwithstanding that he may be interested therein and if he
does so his vote shall be counted and he may be counted in the quorum at the relevant board meeting at which such contract or transaction or proposed
contract or transaction is considered. The directors may exercise all the powers of the company to borrow money, to mortgage or charge its undertaking,
property and uncalled capital, and to issue debentures or other securities whenever money is borrowed or as 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.
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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 Sam Hanhui Sun, Chaomei Chen and Hao Li. Sam Hanhui Sun is the chairman of our audit
committee. We have determined that Sam Hanhui Sun, Chaomei Chen and Hao Li satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the
Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The audit committee oversees our accounting and
financial reporting processes and the audits of the financial statements of our company. The audit committee is responsible for, among other things:
· 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, including any transactions between us and CreditEase;
· 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 Sam Hanhui Sun, Chaomei Chen and Hao Li. Sam Hanhui Sun is the
chairman of our compensation committee. We have determined that Sam Hanhui Sun, Chaomei Chen and Hao Li satisfy the “independence” requirements
of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE. 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
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· 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 Chaomei Chen, Sam Hanhui
Sun and Hao Li. Chaomei Chen is the chairman of our nominating and corporate governance committee. Chaomei Chen, Sam Hanhui Sun and Hao Li
satisfy the “independence” requirements of Section 303A of the Corporate Governance Rules of the NYSE. The nominating and corporate governance
committee assists the board of directors in selecting individuals qualified to become our directors and in determining the composition of the board and its
committees. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for, among other things:
· selecting and recommending to the board nominees for election by the shareholders or appointment by the board;
· reviewing annually with the board the current composition of the board with regards to characteristics such as independence, knowledge, skills,
experience and diversity;
· making recommendations on the frequency and structure of board meetings and monitoring the functioning of the committees of the board; 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 also have a duty to exercise the skill they actually possess and such care and
diligence that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. It was previously considered that a director need not exhibit in the
performance of his or her duties a greater degree of skill than may reasonably be expected from a person of his or her knowledge and experience. However,
English and Commonwealth courts have moved towards an objective standard with regard to the required skill and care and these authorities are likely to
be followed in the Cayman Islands. In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of
association, as amended and restated from time to time, and the class rights vested thereunder in the holders of the shares. 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;
· declaring dividends and distributions;
· appointing officers and determining the term of office of the officers;
· exercising the borrowing powers of our company and mortgaging the property of our company; and
· approving the transfer of shares in our company, including the registration of such shares in our share register.
Terms of Directors and Executive Officers
Our directors may be elected by a resolution of our board of directors, or by an ordinary resolution of our shareholders. Each of our directors will
hold office until the expiration of his or her term as provided in the written agreement with our company, if any, and until his or her successor has been
elected or appointed. A director will cease to be a director 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, or (iv) without special leave of absence from our board, is absent from three consecutive board meetings and our directors resolve that his office
be vacated. Our officers are elected by and serve at the discretion of the board of directors.
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D. Employees
As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, we had a total of 39,907, 30,228 and 31,388 employees, respectively. The following table sets forth the
breakdown of our employees as of December 31, 2019 by function:
Function
Sales and Marketing
Operations
Technology
Risk Management
General and Administrative
Product Development
Total
Number of Employees
% of Total
30,182
347
343
285
119
112
31,388
96.1
1.1
1.1
0.9
0.4
0.4
100.0
As of December 31, 2019, all of our employees are based in China.
We believe we offer our employees competitive compensation packages and a work environment that encourages initiative and is based on merit,
and as a result, we have generally been able to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain a stable core management team. We plan to hire
additional employees as we expand our business.
As required by PRC regulations, we participate in various government statutory employee benefit plans, including social insurance funds, namely
a pension contribution plan, a medical insurance plan, an unemployment insurance plan, a work-related injury insurance plan and a maternity insurance
plan, and a housing provident fund. We 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 have not
made adequate contributions to our employee benefits plans as required by the applicable PRC laws and regulations, including potential late fees or fines.
See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Doing Business in China—Failure to make adequate contributions to various employee
benefit plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.”
We enter into standard labor, confidentiality and non-competition agreements with our employees. The non-competition restricted period typically
expires one year after the termination of employment, and we agree to compensate the employee with a certain percentage of his or her pre-departure salary
during the restricted period.
We believe that we maintain a good working relationship with our employees, and we have not experienced any major labor disputes.
E. Share Ownership
Except as specifically noted, the following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as of
March 31, 2020 by:
· each of our directors and executive officers; and
· each person known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our total outstanding ordinary shares.
The calculations in the table below are based on 185,613,004 ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2020.
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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.
(1)
(3)
(2)
Directors and Executive Officers**:
Ning Tang
Quan Zhou
Tina Ju
Huan Chen
Qing Li
Jingsheng Huang
Sam Hanhui Sun
Chaomei Chen
Hao Li
Zhong Bi
Chunjiang Ji
Jiangxu Xiang
All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group
Principal Shareholders:
CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited
(4)
* Less than 1% of our total outstanding shares.
Ordinary Shares Beneficially
Owned as of March 31, 2020
%†
Number
70,299,932
*
—
*
*
*
*
*
—
—
—
—
70,570,448
161,981,412
37.9
*
—
*
*
*
*
*
—
—
—
—
38.0
87.3
** Except for Mr. Huan Chen, Mr. Quan Zhou, Ms. Tina Ju, Mr. Qing Li, Mr. Sam Hanhui Sun, Mr. Jingsheng Huang, Ms. Chaomei Chen, and Mr. Hao
Li, the business address of our directors and executive officers is 10/F, Building B, Golden Plaza, No. 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing,
th
People’s Republic of China. The business address of Mr. Huan Chen is 27 Floor, Tower A, Winterless Center, No. 1 Xidawang Lu, Chaoyang
District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. The business address of Mr. Quan Zhou is 6th Floor, Tower A, COFCO Plaza, 8 Jianguomennei Avenue,
Beijing 100005, People’s Republic of China. The business address of Ms. Tina Ju is Level 19, Cheung Kong Center, 2 Queens Road, Central, Hong
Kong. The business address of Mr. Qing Li is 23 Coniston Ct, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. The business address of Mr. Sam Hanhui Sun is 3-4-802, 17
Fen-si-ting Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100009, People’s Republic of China. The business address of Mr. Jingsheng Huang is 816 Sutter
Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303, USA. The business address of Ms. Chaomei Chen is 338 Spear Street, 31-D, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. The
business address of Mr. Hao Li is Building G2, No. 56 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.
† For each person and group included in this column, percentage ownership is calculated by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by such
person or group by the sum of the total number of shares outstanding and the number of shares such person or group has the right to acquire upon
exercise of option, warrant or other right within 60 days after March 31, 2020. The total number of ordinary shares outstanding as of March 31, 2020 is
185,613,004.
(1) Mr. Ning Tang does not hold any ordinary share in our company directly. Mr. Tang, through a trust controlled by him, holds all equity interest of a
British Virgin Islands company, which in turn owns 37.9% of the total outstanding shares of CreditEase, our parent company, on an as-converted basis.
(2) Mr. Quan Zhou does not hold any ordinary share in our company directly. Mr. Zhou beneficially owns these shares indirectly through IDG-Accel
China Growth Fund II L.P. and IDG-Accel China Investors II L.P., two shareholders of CreditEase.
(3) Ms. Tina Ju is a founding and managing partner of KPCB China, which holds certain equity interest in CreditEase through its affiliated funds.
(4) CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, and its business address is 3/F, Winterless Center Building A,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China. CreditEase is owned by Mr. Ning Tang, our executive chairman, and a few investors,
including IDG, KPCB China and Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia, through their respective investment vehicles.
As of March 31, 2020, 23,113,058 of our outstanding ordinary shares were held by one record holder in the United States, which is the depositary
of our ADS program, representing 12.5% of our total issued and outstanding ordinary shares as of such date. None of our existing shareholders has
different voting rights from other shareholders. We are not aware of any arrangement that may, at a subsequent date, result in a change of control of our
company.
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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
Agreements with CreditEase
We are a majority-owned subsidiary of CreditEase. Prior to our initial public offering in 2015, we entered into a series of agreements with
CreditEase with respect to various ongoing relationships between us. These agreements include a master transaction agreement, a transitional service
agreement, a non-competition agreement, a cooperation framework agreement, and an intellectual property license agreement.
On March 25, 2019, we entered into a set of definitive agreements with CreditEase regarding a business realignment between CreditEase and us.
These agreements include, among other things, a share subscription agreement, an amended and restated transitional service agreement, an amended and
restated non-competition agreement, an amended and restated cooperation framework agreement, and an amended and restated intellectual property license
agreement.
The following are summaries of the above-mentioned agreements.
Master Transaction Agreement
The master transaction agreement contains provisions relating to our carve-out from CreditEase. Pursuant to this agreement, we are responsible for
all financial liabilities associated with the current and historical online consumer finance marketplace business and operations that have been conducted by
or transferred to us, and CreditEase is responsible for financial liabilities associated with all of CreditEase’s other current and historical businesses and
operations, in each case regardless of the time those liabilities arise. The master transaction agreement also contains indemnification provisions under
which we and CreditEase agree to indemnify each other with respect to breaches of the master transaction agreement or any related inter-company
agreement.
In addition, we agree to indemnify CreditEase against liabilities arising from misstatements or omissions in the prospectus for our initial public
offering or the registration statement of which it is a part, except for misstatements or omissions relating to information that CreditEase provided to us
specifically for inclusion in the prospectus for our initial public offering or the registration statement of which it forms a part. We also agree to indemnify
CreditEase against liabilities arising from any misstatements or omissions in our subsequent SEC filings and from information we provide to CreditEase
specifically for inclusion in CreditEase’s reports and filings, if any, following the initial filing of the registration statement with the SEC of which the
prospectus for our initial public offering is a part, but only to the extent that the information pertains to us or our business or to the extent CreditEase
provides us prior written notice that the information will be included in its reports or other subsequent filings, if any, and the liability does not result from
the action or inaction of CreditEase. Similarly, CreditEase will indemnify us against liabilities arising from misstatements or omissions in its subsequent
filings, if any, or with respect to information that CreditEase provided to us specifically for inclusion in the prospectus for our initial public offering, the
registration statement of which the prospectus for our initial public offering forms a part, or our annual reports or other SEC filings following the initial
filing of the registration statement with the SEC of which the prospectus for our initial public offering is a part, but only to the extent that the information
pertains to CreditEase or CreditEase’s business or to the extent we provide CreditEase prior written notice that the information will be included in our
annual reports or other SEC filings, and the liability does not result from our action or inaction.
The master transaction agreement also contains a general release, under which the parties will release each other from any liabilities arising from
events occurring on or before the initial filing date of the registration statement of which the prospectus for our initial public offering forms a part,
including in connection with the activities to implement our initial pub offering. The general release does not apply to liabilities allocated between the
parties under the master transaction agreement or the other inter-company agreements.
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Furthermore, under the master transaction agreement, we agree to use our reasonable best efforts to engage the same independent certified public
accounting firm selected by CreditEase and to maintain the same fiscal year as CreditEase until the first CreditEase fiscal year-end following the earlier of
(i) the first date when CreditEase no longer owns at least 20% of the voting power of our then outstanding securities or (ii) the first date when CreditEase
ceases to be the largest beneficial owner of our then outstanding voting securities (without considering holdings by certain institutional investors). We refer
to this earlier date as the control ending date. We also agree to use our reasonable best efforts to complete our audit and provide CreditEase with all
financial and other information on a timely basis so that CreditEase may meet its deadlines for its filing of annual and quarterly financial statements, if
applicable.
The master transaction agreement will automatically terminate five years after the control ending date. This agreement can be terminated early or
extended by mutual written consent of the parties. The termination of this agreement will not affect the validity and effectiveness of the amended and
restated transitional services agreement, the amended and restated non-competition agreement, the amended and restated cooperation framework agreement
and the amended and restated intellectual property license agreement.
Amended and Restated Transitional Services Agreement
Under the amended and restated transitional services agreement, CreditEase agrees that, during the service period, as described below, CreditEase
will provide us with various corporate support services, including but not limited to:
· operational management support;
· administrative support;
· legal support;
· human resources support;
· corporate communications;
· marketing;
· global security & continuity; and
· accounting, internal control and internal audit support.
CreditEase also may provide us with additional services that we and CreditEase may identify from time to time in the future.
The price to be paid for the services provided under the amended and restated transitional service agreement will be the actual direct and indirect
costs of providing such services. Direct costs include compensation and travel expenses attributable to employees, temporary workers, and contractors
directly engaged in performing the services, as well as materials and supplies consumed in and agency fees arising from performing the services. Indirect
costs include occupancy, information technology support and other overhead costs of the department incurring the direct costs of providing the services.
The amended and restated transitional service agreement provides that the performance of a service according to the agreement will not subject the
provider of such service to any liability whatsoever except as directly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the service provider. Liability
for gross negligence or willful misconduct is limited to the lower of the price paid for the particular service or the cost of the service’s recipient performing
the service itself or hiring a third party to perform the service. Under the amended and restated transitional services agreement, the service provider of each
service is indemnified by the recipient against all third-party claims relating to provision of services or the recipient’s material breach of a third-party
agreement, except where the claim is directly caused by the service provider’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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The service period under the amended and restated transitional services agreement commenced on December 23, 2015, the closing date of our
initial public offering, and will end on the earlier of (i) March 25, 2024, the fifth anniversary of March 25, 2019, and (ii) one year after the control ending
date. We may terminate the amended and restated transitional services agreement with respect to either all or part of the services by giving a 90-day prior
written notice to CreditEase and paying all fees accrued through the termination and costs actually incurred by CreditEase resulting from the early
termination. Upon the control ending date, CreditEase may terminate this agreement with respect to either all or part of the services by giving us a 90-day
prior written notice.
Amended and Restated Non-competition Agreement
Our amended and restated non-competition agreement with CreditEase provides for a non-competition period beginning upon March 25, 2019, the
date of the amended and restated non-competition agreement between CreditEase and us, and ending on the earliest of (i) the first anniversary of the control
ending date, (ii) the date on which the ADSs representing ordinary shares of Yiren Digital cease to be listed on Nasdaq or the New York Stock Exchange
(except for temporary suspension of trading of the ADSs); and (ii) March 25, 2034, the fifteenth (15th) anniversary of the completion of March 25, 2019.
This agreement can be terminated early by mutual written consent of the parties.
CreditEase agrees not to compete with us during the non-competition period in any of the following business or any business that is of the same
nature as the following business, in each case unless as may otherwise be approved in writing by the audit committee of the board of directors of Yiren
Digital:
(i) the operation of online consumer finance marketplace connecting investors and individual borrowers and facilitating unsecured loan products, and
provision of related services, as conducted or contemplated to be conducted by the Yiren Digital Group anywhere in the world;
(ii) the target business as defined thereunder, including but not limited to online wealth management targeting the mass affluent, unsecured and
secured consumer lending, financial leasing, SME lending, and provision of related services, as conducted or contemplated to be conducted by the
Yiren Digital Group anywhere in the world; and
(iii) other businesses that we and CreditEase may mutually agree from time to time to be part of the business that CreditEase cannot compete with us.
The amended and restated non-competition agreement also provides for a mutual non-solicitation obligation that neither CreditEase nor we may,
during the non-competition period, hire or solicit for hire, any active employees of or individuals providing consulting services to the other party, or any
former employees of or individuals providing consulting services to the other party within six months of the termination of their employment or consulting
services, without the other party’s consent, except for solicitation activities through generalized non-targeted advertisement not directed to such employees
or individuals that do not result in a hiring within the non-competition period.
Amended and Restated Cooperation Framework Agreement
Under the amended and restated cooperation framework agreement, CreditEase agrees to provide us long-term services and support in terms of
user acquisition, collection, technology support, business consulting services, credit assessment and management consulting services, internationalization
consulting services, and wealth management consulting services. In terms of borrower acquisition, we will submit our request for borrower leads to
CreditEase on a monthly basis and CreditEase will direct borrowers who fall within our target borrower group to our online marketplace. As for investor
acquisition, CreditEase will, at its discretion, direct to us or share information on any investors it learns may be interested in our online marketplace. The
rate of fees, if any, charged by one party to the other party under the cooperation contemplated by this agreement shall not be higher than the fee rate
charged by or to any unrelated third party. The fee rate may be adjusted on a yearly basis based on commercial negotiation, and after taking into
consideration the costs to CreditEase for providing such services and with reference to market rates. This agreement became effective on March 25, 2019,
the date of the amended and restated cooperation framework agreement, and, unless terminated pursuant to the express provisions of the agreement or as
agreed by CreditEase and us in writing, will expire on the earlier of (i) March 25, 2034, the fifteenth anniversary of the date of the agreement, or (ii) one
year after the control ending date.
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Amended and Restated Intellectual Property License Agreement
Under the amended and restated intellectual property license agreement, CreditEase and we grant to each other and each party’s respective
subsidiaries and variable interest entities a worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, non-sublicensable, non-transferable, limited, non-exclusive license of
intellectual property owned by the licensing party to use, reproduce, modify, prepare derivative works of, perform, display, or otherwise exploit, except for
certain trademarks with regard to which CreditEase agrees to grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid-up, sublicensable, transferable, unlimited and
exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, prepare derivative works of, perform, display, sublicense, transfer or otherwise exploit, until and unless such
trademarks are transferred to our company or any of our subsidiaries or consolidated variable interest entities.
CreditEase and we also agree, to the extent permitted under applicable laws and regulations, to cooperate in sharing information and data collected
from each party’s business operation, including without limitation borrower and investor information and credit and loan data, as reasonably requested by
the requesting party. This information sharing is free of charge unless otherwise mutually agreed in writing.
This agreement became effective on March 25, 2019, the date of the amended and restated intellectual property license agreement, and, unless
terminated pursuant to the express provisions of the agreement or as agreed by CreditEase and us in writing, will expire on the earlier of (i) March 25,
2049, the thirtieth anniversary of the date of the agreement or (ii) one year after the control ending date.
Share Subscription Agreement
On March 25, 2019, we entered into a share subscription agreement with CreditEase. Pursuant to the share subscription agreement, CreditEase
transferred to our company certain of its businesses, including online wealth management targeting the mass affluent, unsecured and secured consumer
lending, SME lending, and other related services or businesses. At the closing of this transaction on July 10, 2019, we issued 61,981,412 ordinary shares to
CreditEase and paid CreditEase RMB258.9 million in cash with the remaining cash consideration of RMB2,626.7 million to be paid by installments
afterwards with each payment contingent upon the acquired businesses achieving certain pre-agreed performance targets. We had made a total amount of
RMB1,410 million of contingency payments to CreditEase before CreditEease waived the remaining RMB1,217 million contingency payments in
December 2019.
Transactions with CreditEase Affiliated Entities
Prior to our establishment, our online consumer finance marketplace business was carried out by various subsidiaries and variable interest entities
of CreditEase, which provided us with origination and servicing, sales and marketing and general and administrative services. Since we completed our
carve-out from CreditEase and became a stand-alone company in March 2015, affiliates of CreditEase have continued to provide certain supporting
services to us. Expenses of services provided by CreditEase’s affiliates were recorded as service expenses charged by related parties in 2017, 2018 and
2019 based on various agreements that we entered into with relevant affiliates of CreditEase.
As part of a business realignment with CreditEase in 2019, we acquired CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd, or Puhui, an
entity managing CreditEase’s national service network that used to provide us with offline borrower acquisition and referral services. Our consolidated
financial statements for 2019 reflects acquisition of Puhui and our consolidated financial statements for 2017 and 2018 have been recast to retroactively
reflect the acquisition of Puhui. Accordingly, the borrower acquisition and referral costs incurred by Puhui in 2017, 2018 and 2019 were not treated as
being attributable to CreditEase in our recast consolidated financial statements for 2017 and 2018 or in our consolidated financial statements for 2019.
For purposes of our recast consolidated financial statements for 2017 and 2018, we recorded service expenses of RMB3,995.8 million and
RMB2,141.4 million associated with all the services provided by CreditEase, respectively. For the investor acquisition and referral services provided by
CreditEase, we recorded service expenses of RMB2,748.6 million and RMB1,065.4 million in 2017 and 2018, respectively. For the system support services
provided by CreditEase, we recorded service expenses of RMB804.2 million and RMB657.2 million in 2017 and 2018, respectively. For the collection
services provided by CreditEase, we recorded service expenses of RMB96.3 million and RMB327.9 million in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
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In 2019, we recorded service expenses of RMB966.5 million (US$138.8 million) associated with all the services provided by CreditEase. For the
investor acquisition and referral services provided by CreditEase, we recorded service expenses of RMB464.1 million (US$66.7 million) in 2019. For the
system support services provided by CreditEase, we recorded service expenses of RMB179.5 million (US$25.8 million) in 2019. For the collection services
provided by CreditEase, we recorded service expenses of RMB296.5 million (US$42.6 million) in 2019.
As of December 31, 2019, we had RMB407.2 million (US$58.5 million) due from Huimin related to the disposal of Huimin with net liabilities.
Huimin disposed of the delinquent loans repurchased from the trusts upon the liquidation of the trusts to Shenzhen Puze Zhongfu Asset
Management Co., Ltd, or Puze Zhongfu, and Shenzhen Tengda in the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. The total consideration received from
these disposals in the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 was RMB245.6 million and RMB607.5 million, respectively.
In 2017, Huimin purchased property and equipment from CreditEase Qixiang. The purchase costs of property and equipment amounted to
RMB43.4 million.
In 2018, Huimin purchased software from Zhuoyue. The purchase costs of software amounted to RMB12.3 million.
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, we provided loans to CreditEase, its subsidiaries and affiliates with amount of
RMB1,623.4 million, RMB723.0 million and RMB710.0 million, respectively. RMB160.4 million, RMB3,739.3 million and RMB814.5 million were
repaid to us for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, CreditEase, its subsidiaries and affiliates provided loans to us with amount of
RMB5,322.7 million, RMB6,363.5 million and RMB747.7 million, respectively. RMB1,165.5 million, RMB6,784.0 million and RMB108.5 million were
repaid by us for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Business Relationships in relation to Trusts
As part of our strategy to expand our investor base from individual investors to institutional investors, we have established business relationships
with trusts, asset backed special plans and funds (collectively referred to as the “assets backed financing entities”, or “ABFEs”) which were administered
by third party trust companies, third party asset management companies and Zhehao Asset Management (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, or Zhehao, an affiliate of
CreditEase. The ABFEs were set up to invest solely in the loans facilitated on our platform and provide returns to the beneficiaries of the ABFEs through
interest payments made by the borrowers. Under the arrangements, we normally invest in all of subordinate tranches and portion of senior tranches. We
were designated as the service provider for the ABFEs. Through the transaction fees charged, security funds deposited, and direct investment, we have the
right to receive benefits or bear losses from the ABFEs.
In the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, Huimin disposed of the delinquent loans repurchased from the trusts upon the liquidation of the
trusts to Puze Zhongfu and Shenzhen Tengda, affiliates of CreditEase. The total consideration received from these disposals in the years ended
December 31, 2017 and 2018 was RMB245.6 million and RMB607.5 million, respectively. In 2019, we did not establish any new ABFEs. Huimin
disposed its beneficiary rights of several trusts to Shenzhen Tengda and CreditEase Qixiang for a total consideration of RMB144.4 million (US$20.7
million) in the year ended December 31, 2019. Since July 2019, Shenzhen Tengda has no longer been a related party of us.
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We treat ABFEs as our variable interest entities under U.S. GAAP for the reasons detailed in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects—A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates—Basis of Presentation, Combination and Consolidation,” and
consolidate the financial results of the Consolidated ABFE in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The majority of ABFE
was disposed of during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Variable Interest Entities and Their Respective Shareholders
PRC laws and regulations currently restrict foreign ownership and investment in value-added telecommunications services in China. As a result,
we operate our relevant business through contractual arrangements among Hengye and Hengyuda, our PRC subsidiaries, Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth
Management, Linyang and Beijing Kechuang, our variable interest entities, and the shareholders of Hengcheng, Yiren Wealth Management, Linyang and
Beijing Kechuang. For a description of these contractual arrangements, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—C. Organizational Structure—
Contractual Arrangements with Our Consolidated Variable Interest Entities.”
Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements
See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—B. Compensation—Employment Agreements and Indemnification Agreements.”
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 may from time to time be subject to various legal or administrative claims and proceedings incidental to the conduct of our business.
We and certain of our officers were named as defendants in two putative securities class actions filed in the United States District Court for the
Central District of California that were subsequently dismissed: Lefter v. Yirendai Ltd. et al., Civil Action No. 2:16-cv-06437-MFW-AGR (C.D. Cal.) and
Roh v. Yirendai Ltd. et al., Civil Action No. 2:16-cv-06506-MFW-AGR (C.D. Cal.). The action—purportedly brought on behalf of a class of persons who
allegedly suffered damages as a result of their trading in our ADSs between May 11, 2016 and August 24, 2016—alleged that our public press releases
dated May 11, 2016 and August 9, 2016 contained misstatements or omissions relating to our experiencing an increasing amount of fraud related to
customer application for loans and the potential negative impact that the Chinese government’s implementation of new anti-fraud regulations could have on
our business.
On November 29, 2016, the Court entered an order consolidating the cases and appointing lead plaintiffs and lead counsel for the consolidated
case. On January 27, 2017, the lead plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint. On March 28, 2017, we filed a motion to dismiss the first amended
complaint. On July 12, 2017, the United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed the class action lawsuits and concluded that
the plaintiffs’ action, which was not certified as a class action, shall be dismissed with prejudice. For risks and uncertainties relating to the future cases
against us, please see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our ADSs—We were previously subject to two shareholder class
action lawsuits that were subsequently dismissed. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to other shareholder class action lawsuits in
the future.”
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Dividend Policy
Our board of directors has discretion on whether to distribute dividends, subject to our memorandum and articles of association and 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.
In addition, our shareholders may by ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our board of
directors. Even if our board of directors decides to pay dividends, the form, frequency and amount will depend upon our future operations and earnings,
capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors may deem relevant.
On July 29, 2017, our board of directors approved a semi-annual dividend policy. Under this policy, semi-annual dividends were set at an amount
equivalent to approximately 15% of our anticipated net income after tax in each half year commencing from the second half of 2017. The determination to
declare and pay such semi-annual dividend and the amount of dividend in any particular half year will be made at the discretion of our board of directors
and will be based upon our operations and earnings, cash flow, financial condition and other relevant factors that the board may deem appropriate. On
July 29, 2017, our board of directors also approved a special cash dividend of US$0.75 per ordinary share of our company (or US$1.50 per ADS), which
was already paid on October 16, 2017 to holders of our company’s ordinary shares of record as of the close of business on September 29, 2017. On
March 11, 2018, our board of directors approved another special cash dividend of US$0.14 per ordinary share of our company (or US$0.28 per ADS),
which was paid on May 15, 2018 to holders of our company’s ordinary shares of record as of the close of business on April 30, 2018. In August 2018, our
board of directors decided to temporarily suspend the semi-annual dividend policy in consideration of a challenging market environment with business
uncertainties.
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 subsidiaries to pay dividends to
us. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations on Dividend Distribution” and “Item 10. Additional
Information—E. Taxation—People’s Republic of China Taxation.”
If we pay any dividends, we will pay our ADS holders to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, subject to the terms of the deposit
agreement, including the fees and expenses payable thereunder. See “Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities—D. American
Depositary Shares.” Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
B. Significant Changes
Except as disclosed elsewhere in this annual report, we have not experienced any significant changes since the date of our audited consolidated
financial statements included in this annual report.
Item 9. The Offer and Listing
A. Offering and Listing Details
Our ADSs, each representing two of our ordinary shares, have been listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “YRD” since December 18,
2015.
B. Plan of Distribution
Not applicable.
C. Markets
Our ADSs have been listed on the NYSE since December 18, 2015 under the symbol “YRD.”
D. Selling Shareholders
Not applicable.
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E. Dilution
Not applicable.
F. Expenses of the Issue
Not applicable.
Item 10. Additional Information
A. Share Capital
Not applicable.
B. Memorandum and Articles of Association
We are a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability and our affairs are governed by our memorandum and articles of association, as
amended and restated from time to time, and the Companies Law (2020 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, which is referred to as the Companies Law
below, and the common law of the Cayman Islands.
The following are summaries of material provisions of our memorandum and articles of association, insofar as they relate to the material terms of
our ordinary shares.
Ordinary Shares. Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members. Our shareholders
who are not residents of the Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Dividends. The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. In addition, our
shareholders may by an ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman
Islands law, dividends may be declared and paid only out of funds legally available therefor, namely out of either profit or our share premium account,
provided that a dividend may not be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of
business.
Voting Rights. In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each ordinary share is entitled to one vote. 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 one or more shareholders who
together hold not less than 10% of the votes attaching to the total ordinary shares present in person or by proxy. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for
each ordinary share registered in his or her name on our register of members.
A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholders present and holding shares which represent, in aggregate,
not less than one-third of the votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares in our company entitled to vote at shareholders’ meeting. Shareholders
may be present in person or by proxy or, if the shareholder is a legal entity, by its duly authorized representative. Shareholders’ meetings may be convened
by our board of directors on its own initiative or by the chairman of our board of directors or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding shares
which represent, in aggregate, no less than one-third of the votes attaching to our voting share capital in issue. Advance notice of at least seven days is
required for the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and any other general shareholders’ meeting.
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by those
shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less
than two-thirds of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general
meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our
company, as permitted by the Companies Law and our memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution will be required for important matters
such as a change of name or making changes to our memorandum or articles of association. Holders of the ordinary shares may, among other things, divide
or consolidate their shares by ordinary resolution.
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Transfer of Ordinary Shares. Subject to the restrictions 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:
· the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as
our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
· the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
· the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
· in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and
· a fee of such maximum sum as the NYSE 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 requirements of the NYSE, 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.
Liquidation. On a winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution among our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay
the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus will be distributed among our shareholders in proportion to the par value
of the shares held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of
all monies payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital,
the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them. We are a “limited
liability” company incorporated under the Companies Law, and under the Companies Law, the liability of our members is limited to the amount, if any,
unpaid on the shares respectively held by them. Our memorandum of association contains a declaration that the liability of our members is so limited.
Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares. Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on
their shares in a notice served to such shareholders at least 14 days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The shares that have been called upon
and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares. We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our
option or at the option of the holders thereof, on such terms and in such manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of
directors or by a special resolution of our shareholders. Our company may also repurchase any of our shares provided that the manner and terms of such
purchase have been approved by our board of directors or by ordinary resolution of our shareholders, or are otherwise authorized by our memorandum and
articles of association. Under the Companies Law, the redemption or repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the
proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital
redemption reserve) if the company can, immediately following such payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition,
under the Companies 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.
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Variations of Rights 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) may be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of a
special resolution passed at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any
class issued 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 preferred
shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
· 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 preferred shares without action by our shareholders to the extent of available authorized but unissued shares.
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. However, we will provide our shareholders with annual audited financial statements.
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:
· authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; 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.
General Meetings of Shareholders and Shareholder Proposals. Our shareholders’ general meetings may be held in such place within or outside the
Cayman Islands as our board of directors considers appropriate.
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.
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Shareholders’ annual general meetings and any other general meetings of our shareholders may be convened by a majority of our board of
directors or our chairman. Our board of directors shall give not less than seven days’ written notice of a shareholders’ meeting to those persons whose
names appear as members in our register of members on the date the notice is given (or on any other date determined by our directors to be the record date
for such meeting) and who are entitled to vote at the meeting.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any
right to put any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in a company’s articles of association. Our memorandum and
articles of association allow our shareholders holding shares representing in aggregate not less than one-third of our voting share capital in issue, to
requisition an extraordinary general meeting of our shareholders, in which case our directors are obliged to call such meeting and to put the resolutions so
requisitioned to a vote at such meeting; however, our memorandum and articles of association do not provide our shareholders with any right to put any
proposals before annual general meetings or extraordinary general meetings not called by such shareholders.
Election and Removal of Directors
Unless otherwise determined by our company in general meeting, our memorandum and articles of association provide that our board will consist
of not less than three directors. There are no provisions relating to retirement of directors upon reaching any age limit.
The directors have the power to appoint any person as a director either to fill a casual vacancy on the board or as an addition to the existing board.
Our shareholders may also appoint any person to be a director by way of ordinary resolution.
A director may be removed with or without cause by ordinary resolution.
In addition, the office of any director shall be vacated if the director (i) becomes bankrupt or 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 our company, or (iv) without special leave of
absence from our board, is absent from three consecutive board meetings and our board resolves that his office be vacated.
Proceedings of Board of Directors
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that our business is to be managed and conducted by our board of directors. The quorum
necessary for board meetings may be fixed by the board and, unless so fixed at another number, will be a majority of the directors.
Our memorandum and articles of association provide that the board may from time to time at its discretion exercise all powers of our company to
raise or borrow money, to mortgage or charge all or any part of the undertaking, property and assets and uncalled capital of our company and issue
debentures and other securities of our company, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of our company or of any third
party.
Changes in Capital
Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
· increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
· consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares;
· sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount
paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived;
or
· cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the
amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
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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.
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:
· 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).
Register of Members. Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and there should be entered therein:
· the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member, and of the amount paid or agreed to be considered as
paid, on the shares of each member, and confirmation on whether shares held by each member carries voting rights under our articles of
association, and if so, whether such voting rights are conditional;
· the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and
· the date on which any person ceased to be a member.
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members of our company is prima facie evidence of the matters set out therein (i.e. the register of
members will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted) and a member registered in the register of members is deemed as
a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members.
If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in
entering on the register the fact of any person having ceased to be a member of our company, the person or member aggrieved (or any member of our
company or our company itself) may apply to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either
refuse such application or it may, if satisfied of the justice of the case, make an order for the rectification of the register.
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C. Material Contracts
We have not entered into any material contracts other than in the ordinary course of business and other than those described in “Item 4.
Information on the Company,” “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—B. Related Party Transactions,” or elsewhere in this annual
report on Form 20-F.
D. Exchange Controls
See “Item 4. Information on the Company—B. Business Overview—Regulation—Regulations Relating to Foreign Exchange.”
E. Taxation
The following summary of the principal 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.
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 the shares will not be subject to taxation in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be
required on the payment of a dividend or capital to any holder of the shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of the shares be subject to Cayman
Islands income or corporation tax.
People’s Republic of China Taxation
Under the 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
management of the business, productions, personnel, accounts and properties of an enterprise. In April 2009, the State Administration of Taxation issued a
circular, known as Circular 82 and amended in December 2017, 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. 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 of 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. Further to Circular 82, the SAT issued a bulletin, known as the
Bulletin 45, which took effect in September 2011 and amended in 2015, 2016 and 2018, respectively, to provide more guidance on the implementation of
Circular 82. Bulletin 45 provides for procedures and administration details of determination on PRC resident enterprise status and administration on post-
determination matters. Although Circular 82 and Bulletin 45 only apply to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not
those controlled by PRC individuals or foreigners, the criteria set forth in Circular 82 and Bulletin 45 may reflect the State Administration of Taxation’s
general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of all offshore enterprises.
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The State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice on Promulgating the Administrative Measures for Special Tax Investigation Adjustments
and Mutual Agreement Procedures, or Notice 6, on March 17, 2017. Notice 6 further regulates and strengthens the transfer pricing administration on
outbound payments by a PRC enterprise to its overseas related parties. In addition to emphasizing that outbound payments by a PRC enterprise to its
overseas related parties must comply with arm’s-length principles, Notice 6 specifies certain circumstances whereby such payments that do not comply
with arm’s-length principles may be subject to the special tax adjustments by the tax authority, including payments to an overseas related party which does
not undertake any function, bear any risk or has no substantial operation or activities, payments for services which do not enable the PRC enterprise to
obtain direct or indirect economic benefits, royalties paid to an overseas related party which only owns the legal rights of the intangible assets but has no
contribution to the value of such intangible assets, royalties paid to an overseas related party for the transfer of the right to use of the intangible assets with
no economic benefits, and royalties paid to an overseas related party for the incidental benefits generated from the listing activities. Although we believe all
our related party transactions, including all payments by our PRC subsidiaries and consolidated variable interest entities to our non-PRC entities, are made
on an arm’s-length basis and our estimates are reasonable, the ultimate decisions by the relevant tax authorities may differ from the amounts recorded in
our financial statements and may materially affect our financial results in the period or periods for which such determination is made.
We believe that none of our entities outside of China is a PRC resident enterprise for PRC tax purposes. We do not believe that Yiren Digital Ltd.
meets all of the conditions above. Yiren Digital 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.
However, if the PRC tax authorities determine that Yiren Digital Ltd. is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be
subject to the special tax adjustments conducted by the PRC tax authority and be further 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.
However, it is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of Yiren Digital 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 Yiren Digital Ltd. is treated as a PRC resident enterprise.
Provided that our Cayman Islands holding company, Yiren Digital 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 Circular 7, 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 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 Circular 7, and we may be required to expend valuable
resources to comply with Circular 7, or to establish that we should not be taxed under these circulars. See “3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks
Related to Doing Business in China—Enhanced scrutiny over acquisition transactions by the PRC tax authorities may have a negative impact on potential
acquisitions we may pursue in the future.”
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United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a summary of United States federal income tax considerations relating to the ownership and disposition of our ADSs
or ordinary shares by a U.S. holder (as defined below) that holds our ADSs or ordinary shares as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment)
under the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion is based upon existing United States federal income tax
law, which is subject to differing interpretations and may be changed, possibly with retroactive effect. No ruling has been sought from the Internal Revenue
Service (the “IRS”) with respect to any United States 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 does not address all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be important to
particular investors in light of their individual circumstances, including investors subject to special tax rules (for example, certain financial institutions,
insurance companies, broker-dealers, traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, United States
expatriates, partnerships and their partners, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, and tax-exempt organizations (including private
foundations)), investors who are not U.S. holders, holders who own (directly, indirectly, or constructively) 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value),
investors that will hold their ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction for United
States federal income tax purposes, investors required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our ADSs or ordinary shares
as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement or investors that have a functional currency other than the United States
dollar, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. In addition, this discussion does not discuss any non-
United States, alternative minimum tax, state, or local tax considerations, or the Medicare tax on net investment income. Each U.S. holder is urged to
consult its tax advisors regarding the United States federal, state, local, and non-United States income and other tax considerations of an investment in 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 United States federal income tax
purposes, (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States
federal income tax purposes) created in, or organized under the laws of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the
income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust (A) the administration of which is subject to the
primary supervision of a United States court and which has one or more United States persons who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of
the trust or (B) that has otherwise elected to be treated as a United States person under applicable United States Treasury regulations.
If a partnership (or other entity treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of our ADSs or
ordinary shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership.
Partnerships holding our ADSs or ordinary shares and partners in such partnerships are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the particular United States
federal income tax consequences of an investment in our ADSs or ordinary shares.
For United States 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 United States federal income tax.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
A non-United States corporation, such as our company, will be a “passive foreign investment company,” or “PFIC,” for United States federal
income tax purposes, if, in any particular taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income for such year consists of certain types of “passive” income
or (ii) 50% or more of the value of its assets (generally determined on the basis of the average quarterly fair market value) during such year produce or are
held for the production of passive income. Cash is categorized as a passive asset and the company’s unbooked intangibles associated with active business
activities may generally be classified as active assets. Passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains
from the disposition of passive assets. We will be treated as owning 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.
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Although the law in this regard is unclear, we intend to treat Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management as being owned by us for United States
federal income tax purposes, not only because we exercise effective control over the operation of such entities but also because we are entitled to
substantially all of their economic benefits, and, as a result, we consolidate their results of operations in our consolidated financial statements. Assuming
that we are the owner of Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management for United States federal income tax purposes, we do not believe that we were a PFIC
for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019 and do not anticipate becoming a PFIC for the current taxable year or in the foreseeable future. Although we
do not anticipate becoming a PFIC, changes in the nature of our income or assets or the value of our ADSs may cause us to become a PFIC for the current
or any subsequent taxable year. Recent fluctuations in the market price of our ADSs or ordinary shares increased our risk of becoming a PFIC. The market
price of the ADSs and ordinary shares may continue to fluctuate considerably; consequently, we cannot assure you of our PFIC status for any taxable year.
Under circumstances where revenues from activities that produce passive income significantly increase relative to our revenues from activities that produce
non-passive income, or where we determine not to expend significant amounts of cash for working capital or other purposes, our risk of becoming
classified as a PFIC may substantially increase. It is also possible that the IRS may challenge our classification of certain income and assets as non-passive,
which may result in our company being a PFIC for the taxable year ended December 31, 2019 or becoming a PFIC for the current or one or more future
taxable years.
In addition, if we were treated as not owning Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management for United States federal income tax purposes, our risk of
being classified as a PFIC may substantially increase. Because our PFIC status for any taxable year is a factual determination that can be made only after
the close of a taxable year, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year. If we are a PFIC for
any year during which a U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares, we generally would continue to be treated as a PFIC for all succeeding years
during which such U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares.
The discussion below under “Dividends” and “Sale or Other Disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares” is written on the basis that we will not be or
become a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes. The United States federal income tax rules that apply if we are a PFIC for the current taxable
year or any subsequent taxable year are generally discussed below under “Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules.”
Dividends
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, any cash distributions (including the amount of any tax withheld) paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares
out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States 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 United States federal income tax principles,
any distribution paid will generally be reported as a “dividend” for United States federal income tax purposes. A non-corporate recipient of dividend
income will generally be subject to tax on dividend income from a “qualified foreign corporation” at a reduced United States federal tax rate rather than the
marginal tax rates generally applicable to ordinary income provided that certain holding period requirements are met.
A non-United States corporation (other than a corporation that is a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable
year) will generally be considered to be a qualified foreign corporation (a) if it is eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United
States which the Secretary of Treasury of the United States determines is satisfactory for purposes of this provision and which includes an exchange of
information program, or (b) with respect to any dividend it pays on stock (or ADSs in respect of such stock) which is readily tradable on an established
securities market in the United States. Our ADSs are listed on the NYSE, and thus we believe that we are a qualified foreign corporation with respect to
dividends paid on the ADSs. 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 represented by ADSs currently meet the conditions required for the reduced tax rate. There can be
no assurance that our ADSs will continue to be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States in later years. In the
event we are deemed to be a resident enterprise under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, we may be eligible for the benefits of the United States-PRC
income tax treaty (which the U.S. Treasury Department has determined is satisfactory for this purpose) and in that case we would be treated as a qualified
foreign corporation with respect to dividends paid on our ordinary shares or ADSs. Each non-corporate U.S. holder is advised to consult its tax advisors
regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income for any dividends we pay with respect to our ADSs or ordinary
shares. Dividends received on the ADSs or ordinary shares will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations.
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Dividends will generally be treated as income from foreign sources for United States foreign tax credit purposes and will generally constitute
passive category income. In the event that we are deemed to be a PRC “resident enterprise” under the Enterprise Income Tax Law, a U.S. holder may be
subject to PRC withholding taxes on dividends paid on our ADSs or ordinary shares. (See “Taxation—People’s Republic of China Taxation”) In that case, a
U.S. holder may be eligible, subject to a number of complex limitations, to claim a foreign tax credit in respect of any non-refundable foreign withholding
taxes imposed on dividends received on ADSs or ordinary shares. A U.S. holder who does not elect to claim a foreign tax credit for foreign tax withheld
may instead claim a deduction, for United States federal income tax purposes, in respect of such withholdings, but only for a year in which such U.S.
holder elects to do so for all creditable foreign income taxes. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. U.S. holders are advised to consult
their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.
Sale or Other Disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares
Subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of ADSs or
ordinary shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such
ADSs or ordinary shares. Any capital gain or loss will be long-term if the ADSs or ordinary shares have been held for more than one year and will
generally be United States source gain or loss for United States foreign tax credit purposes. Long-term capital gain of non-corporate U.S. holders is
generally eligible for a reduced rate of taxation. The deductibility of a capital loss may be subject to limitations. In the event that we are treated as a PRC
“resident enterprise” under the Enterprise Income Tax Law and gain from the disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares is subject to tax in the PRC, a U.S.
holder that is eligible for the benefits of the income tax treaty between the United States and the PRC may elect to treat the gain as PRC source income. If
such gain is not treated as PRC source income, however, a U.S. holder generally will not be able to obtain a U.S. foreign tax credit for any PRC tax
withheld or imposed unless such U.S. holder has other foreign source income in the appropriate category for the applicable tax year. U.S. holders are
advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a foreign tax is imposed on a disposition of our ADSs or ordinary shares, including
the availability of the foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances and the election to treat any gain as PRC source.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
If we are 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 that have a penalizing effect, regardless of whether we
remain a PFIC, for subsequent taxable years, 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:
· such excess distribution and/or gain will be allocated ratably over the U.S. holder’s holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares;
· such 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 a PFIC, or pre-PFIC year, will be taxable as ordinary income;
· such 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 that year; and
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· an interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the tax attributable to each prior taxable year, other than a pre-
PFIC year.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder holds our ADSs or ordinary shares and any of our non-United States subsidiaries
is also a PFIC, such U.S. holder would be treated as owning a proportionate amount (by value) of the shares of the lower-tier PFIC for purposes of the
application of these rules. U.S. holders are advised to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the PFIC rules to any of our subsidiaries.
As an alternative to the foregoing rules, a U.S. holder of “marketable stock” in a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election for such stock to elect
out of the tax treatment described above. “Marketable stock” 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 Treasury regulations. Our ADSs are listed on the
NYSE, which is a qualified exchange for these purposes. Therefore, if we are or were to become a PFIC, a U.S. holder generally will be eligible to make a
mark-to-market election with respect to our ADSs, provided that the ADSs are regularly traded.
If a mark-to-market election is made, the U.S. holder will generally (i) include as ordinary income for each taxable year that we are a PFIC the
excess, if any, of the fair market value of ADSs held at the end of the taxable year over the adjusted tax basis of such ADSs and (ii) deduct as an ordinary
loss the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of the ADSs over the fair market value of such ADSs held at the end of the taxable year, but only to the
extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. The U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the ADSs would
be adjusted to reflect any income or loss resulting from the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. holder makes an effective mark-to-market election, in each
year that we are a PFIC any gain recognized upon the sale or other disposition of the ADSs will be treated as ordinary income and loss will be treated as
ordinary loss, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. If a U.S. holder makes a
mark-to-market election it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the ADSs are no
longer treated as marketable stock or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. It should be noted that only the ADSs and not the ordinary shares
are listed on the NYSE. Consequently, if a U.S. holder holds ordinary shares that are not represented by ADSs, such holder generally will not be eligible to
make a mark-to-market election if we are or were to become a PFIC. If a U.S. holder makes a mark-to-market election in respect of a PFIC and such
corporation ceases to be a PFIC, the U.S. holder will not be required to take into account the mark-to-market gain or loss described above during any period
that such corporation is not a PFIC.
Because a mark-to-market election technically cannot be made for any lower-tier PFICs that a PFIC may own, a U.S. holder who makes a mark-
to-market election with respect to our ADSs may continue to be subject to the general PFIC rules with respect to such U.S. holder’s indirect interest in any
of our non-United States subsidiaries if any of them is a PFIC.
We do not intend to provide information necessary for U.S. holders to make qualified electing fund elections, which, if available, would result in
tax treatment different from the general tax treatment for PFICs described above.
As discussed above under “Dividends,” dividends that we pay on our ADSs or ordinary shares will not be eligible for the reduced tax rate that
applies to qualified dividend income if we are a PFIC for the taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding taxable year. In addition, if a U.S.
holder owns our ADSs or ordinary shares during any taxable year that we are a PFIC, such holder would generally be required to file an annual IRS
Form 8621. Each U.S. holder is advised to consult its tax advisors regarding the potential tax consequences to such holder if we are or become a PFIC,
including the possibility of making a mark-to-market election.
F. Dividends and Paying Agents
Not applicable.
G. Statement by Experts
Not applicable.
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H. Documents on Display
We previously filed with the SEC our registration statement on Form F-1 (Registration No. 333-208056), as amended, including the annual report
contained therein, to register the issuance and sale of our ordinary shares represented by ADSs in relation to our initial public offering. We have also filed
with the SEC the registration statement on Form F-6 (Registration No. 333-208437) to register our ADSs.
We are subject to periodic reporting and other informational requirements of the Exchange Act as applicable to foreign private issuers, and are
required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Specifically, we are required to file annually an annual report on Form 20-F within four months
after the end of each fiscal year, which is December 31. All information filed with the SEC can be obtained over the internet at the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of quarterly reports
and proxy statements, and officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained
in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
We will furnish 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
Foreign Exchange Risk
All of our revenues and substantially all of our expenses are denominated in RMB. Our reporting currency was the U.S. dollar prior to April 1,
2016. In our consolidated financial statements prepared before April 1, 2016, our financial information that used RMB as the functional currency had been
translated into U.S. dollars. Effective from April 1, 2016, we changed our reporting currency from the U.S. dollar to RMB. Due to foreign currency
translation adjustments, we had a foreign currency translation adjustment of a loss of RMB18.0 million, a gain of RMB7.7 million and a gain of RMB1.6
million (US$0.2 million) in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Appreciation or depreciation in the value of the RMB relative to the U.S. dollar would
affect our financial results reported in U.S. dollar terms without giving effect to any underlying change in our business or results of operations.
The conversion of RMB into foreign currencies, including U.S. dollars, is based on rates set by the People’s Bank of China. The RMB 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 RMB and the U.S. dollar in the future.
To the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB 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 RMB 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 RMB would have a
negative effect on the U.S. dollar amounts available to us.
Interest Rate Risk
We have not been exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest rates, and we have not used any derivative financial instruments to
manage our interest risk exposure. However, we cannot provide assurance that we will not be exposed to material risks due to changes in market interest
rate in the future. We currently invest our cash in interest-earning instruments. Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning instruments
carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating
rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest rates fall.
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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.
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
A. Debt Securities
Not applicable.
B. Warrants and Rights
Not applicable.
C. Other Securities
Not applicable.
D. American Depositary Shares
Fees and Charges Our ADS holders May Have to Pay
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following 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 your ADSs):
Service
Fees
· To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a
Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued
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
Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled
agreement
· Distribution of cash dividends
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
· Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements
· Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights.
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
· Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
additional ADSs
· Depositary services
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by
the depositary bank
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As an ADS holder, you 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 your ADSs) such as:
· Fees for the transfer and registration of ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the ordinary shares in Cayman Islands (i.e.,
upon deposit and withdrawal of 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
ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit).
· Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of ordinary shares on deposit.
· Fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to
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
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 has agreed to pay certain amounts to us in exchange for its appointment as depositary. We may use these funds towards our
expenses relating to the establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses, or otherwise as we see fit. The
depositary may pay us a fixed amount, it may pay us a portion of the fees collected by the depositary from holders of ADSs, and it may pay specific
expenses incurred by us in connection with the ADR program. Neither the depositary nor we may be able to determine the aggregate amount to be paid to
us because (i) the number of ADSs that will be issued and outstanding and the level of dividend and/or servicing fees to be charged may vary, and (ii) our
expenses related to the program may not be known at this time. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not receive any reimbursement from the
depositary.
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Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies
None.
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
PART II
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.
The following “Use of Proceeds” information relates to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, in relation to
our initial public offering, which was declared effective by the SEC on December 17, 2015. In December 2015, we completed our initial public offering in
which we issued and sold an aggregate of 7,500,000 ADSs, representing 15,000,000 ordinary shares, resulting in net proceeds to us of approximately
US$64.9 million. Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and China Renaissance Securities (Hong Kong) Limited
were the representatives of the underwriters for our initial public offering. The total underwriting discounts and commissions relating to the initial public
offering amounted to approximately US$5.9 million.
For the period from December 17, 2015, the date that the F-1 Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC, to December 31, 2019,
we used US$5,488,647 in the net proceeds from our initial public offering for repurchasing ADSs from the open market.
We intend to use the proceeds from our initial public offering, as disclosed in our registration statements on Form F-1, for (i) general corporate
purposes, including investments in product development, sales and marketing activities, technology infrastructure, capital expenditure, improvement of
corporate facilities and other general and administrative matters, and (ii) acquisition of, or investment in, technologies, solutions or business that
complement our business.
Item 15. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness
of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report, as
required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act.
Based upon that evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective
in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file and furnish under the Exchange Act was recorded, processed,
summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that the information required to be disclosed by us in the
reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and
chief financial officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in
Rule 13a15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by
Rule 13a-15(c) of the Exchange Act, based on criteria established in 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 concluded that our internal control
over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019.
Designing and implementing an effective financial reporting system is a continuous effort that requires us to devote significant resources to
maintain a financial reporting system that adequately satisfies our reporting obligation.
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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of
any evaluation of effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies and procedures may deteriorate.
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, has audited the effectiveness of
our company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, as stated in its report, which appears on page F-3 of this annual report on
Form 20-F.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report on Form 20-F
that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 16A. Audit Committee Financial Expert
Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Sam Hanhui Sun, an independent director (under the standards set forth under Section 303A of the
Corporate Governance Rules of the New York Stock Exchange and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act) and member of our audit committee, is an audit
committee financial expert.
Item 16B. Code of Ethics
Our board of directors adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees in September 2015. We
have posted a copy of our code of business conduct and ethics on our website at http://yirendai.investorroom.com.
Item 16C. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The following table sets forth the aggregate fees by categories specified below in connection with certain professional services rendered by
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP, our principal external auditors, for the periods indicated.
(1)
Audit fees
(2)
Tax fees
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
(in thousands)
8,710
140
28,200
350
(1) “Audit fees” represents the aggregate fees billed and expected to be billed for each of the fiscal years listed for professional services rendered by our
principal accounting firm for the audit of our annual financial statements and/or services that are normally provided by the auditors in connection with
statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
(2) “Tax fees” represents the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by our principal accounting firm for tax compliance, tax advice and
tax planning.
The policy of our audit committee is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public
Accountants LLP, including audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services as described above, other than those for de minimis
services which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit.
Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees
Not applicable.
Item 16E. Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
In June 2018, our board of directors approved a share repurchase program, whereby we are authorized to repurchase up to US$20 million of our
ordinary shares in the form of ADSs. The share repurchase program was publicly announced on June 11, 2018. The table below sets forth a summary of the
ADSs repurchased by us in 2019.
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Period
March 2019
April 2019
May 2019
Total
Total Number of ADSs
Purchased
Average Price Paid Per
ADS (US$)
60,000
191,900
114,786
366,686
13.5106
14.7085
15.8428
14.8675
Total Number of ADSs
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plan
Approximate Dollar
Value of ADSs that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plan (US$)
60,000
191,900
114,786
366,686
19,152,435
16,329,879
14,511,353
14,511,353
Item 16F. Change in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant
Not applicable.
Item 16G. Corporate Governance
As a Cayman Islands company listed on the NYSE, we are subject to the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. As of March 31, 2020,
CreditEase held more than 50% of our total voting power. As a result, we are a “controlled company” under Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company
Manual. As a controlled company, we rely on certain exemptions that are available to controlled companies from the NYSE corporate governance
requirements, including the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consist of independent directors.
In addition, NYSE 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 NYSE corporate governance listing standards.
We rely on the exemption available to foreign private issuers for the requirements in terms of (i) shareholder approval of equity compensation plans and
any material revisions to the terms of such plans under Section 303A.08 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and (ii) shareholder approval of issuance of
common stock in any transaction or series of related transactions under Section 312.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. As a result of our election to
follow home country practice with respect to the foregoing matters, our shareholders will not have the same protection that they otherwise would enjoy
under the NYSE corporate governance listing standards applicable to U.S. domestic issuers. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks
Related to Our American Depositary Shares—As a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands, we are permitted to adopt certain home country practices
in relation to corporate governance matters that differ significantly from the NYSE corporate governance listing standards; these practices may afford less
protection to shareholders than they would enjoy if we complied fully with the NYSE corporate governance listing standards.” Other than the home country
practice disclosed above, we have followed and intend to continue to follow the applicable corporate governance standards under the NYSE Listed
Company Manual.
Item 16H. Mine Safety Disclosure
Not applicable.
Item 17. Financial Statements
PART III
We have elected to provide financial statements pursuant to Item 18.
Item 18. Financial Statements
The consolidated financial statements of Yiren Digital Ltd., its subsidiaries and its consolidated variable interest entities are included at the end of
this annual report.
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Item 19. Exhibits
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
1.1
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4*
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
4.8
Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registration
statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November 16, 2015)
Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registration statement on
Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2015)
Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Ordinary Shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registration statement on
Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2015)
Deposit Agreement dated December 18, 2015 among the Registrant, the depositary and holders of the American Depositary Receipts
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registration statement on Form S-8, as amended (File No. 333-212056) filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 16, 2016)
Description of securities of the Registrant registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
2015 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-
208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2015)
2017 Share Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-
219404), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 21, 2017)
Form of Employment Agreement between the Registrant and its executive officers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 16, 2015)
Form of Director Agreement between the Registrant and its independent directors (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to
the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 16, 2015)
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and its directors and executive officers (incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on November 16, 2015)
Master Transaction Agreement between CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited and the Registrant dated November 9, 2015
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended,
initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2015)
Amended and Restated Transitional Services Agreement between CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited and the Registrant dated
March 25, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37657),
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2019)
Amended and Restated Non-Competition Agreement between CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited and the Registrant dated
March 25, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37657),
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2019)
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Exhibit
Number
4.9
4.10
4.11*
4.12*
4.13*
4.14*
4.15*
4.16*
4.17*
4.18*
4.19
4.20*
4.21*
4.22*
4.23*
4.24*
4.25*
4.26*
Description of Document
Amended and Restated Cooperation Framework Agreement between CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited and the Registrant dated
March 25, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37657),
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2019)
Amended and Restated Intellectual Property License Agreement between CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited and the Registrant
dated March 25, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-
37657), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2019)
Amended and Restated Loan Agreements, dated August 29, 2019, between Hengye and the shareholders of Hengcheng
Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreements, dated August 29, 2019, among Hengye, Hengcheng and the shareholders of
Hengcheng
Powers of Attorney granted to Hengye by the shareholders of Hengcheng, dated August 29, 2019
Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, dated August 29, 2019, between Hengye and Hengcheng
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreements, dated August 29, 2019, among Hengye, Hengcheng and the shareholders of
Hengcheng
Loan Agreement and Amended and Restated Loan Agreements, dated December 19, 2019, between Hengyuda and the shareholders of
Yiren Wealth Management
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreements, dated December 19, 2019, among
Hengyuda, Yiren Wealth Management and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management
Powers of Attorney granted to Hengyuda by the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management, dated December 19, 2019
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement between Hengyuda and Yiren Wealth Management dated October 13, 2016 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37657), filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 24, 2017)
Exclusive Option Agreement and Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreements, dated December 19, 2019, among Hengyuda,
Yiren Wealth Management and the shareholders of Yiren Wealth Management
Loan Agreements, dated December 4, 2019, between Hengye and the shareholders of Linyang
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements, dated December 4, 2019, among Hengye, Linyang and the shareholders of Linyang
Powers of Attorney granted to Hengye by the shareholders of Linyang, dated December 4, 2019
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, dated December 4, 2019, between Hengye and Linyang
Exclusive Option Agreements, dated December 4, 2019, among Hengye, Linyang and the shareholders of Linyang
Loan Agreements, dated January 10, 2020, between Hengyuda and the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang
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Exhibit
Number
4.27*
4.28*
4.29*
4.30*
4.31
4.32
8.1*
11.1
12.1*
12.2*
Description of Document
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements, dated January 10, 2020, among Hengyuda, Beijing Kechuang and the shareholders of Beijing
Kechuang
Powers of Attorney granted to Hengyuda by the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang, dated January 10, 2020
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, dated January 10, 2020, between Hengyuda and Beijing Kechuang
Exclusive Option Agreements, dated January 10, 2020, among Hengyuda, Beijing Kechuang and the shareholders of Beijing Kechuang
Share Subscription Agreement between the Registrant and CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited dated March 25, 2019
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.34 to the Registrant ‘s annual report on Form 20-F (File No. 001-37657), filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2019)
Amendment to the Share Subscription Agreement between CreditEase and Yirendai Ltd. dated July 10, 2019 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.2 to CreditEase’s Schedule 13D filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2019)
List of Subsidiaries and Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the registration statement
on Form F-1 (File No. 333-208056), as amended, initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2015)
Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.1**
Certification by Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2**
Certification by Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
15.1*
15.2*
Consent of Han Kun Law Offices
Consent of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 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 herewith
** Furnished herewith
168
Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing its annual report on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and
authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
Date: May 15, 2020
Yiren Digital Ltd.
/s/ Ning Tang
Name:
Title:
Ning Tang
Executive Chairman of the Board of
Directors and Chief Executive Officer
By:
169
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONTENTS
PAGE(S)
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018
AND 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN 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 FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE I
F-1
F-2
F-4
F-5
F-6
F-7
F-8
F-9
F-51
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Yiren Digital Ltd.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Yiren Digital Ltd., formerly known as Yirendai Ltd., and its subsidiaries (the
“Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive (loss)/income, changes in equity, and
cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes and schedule I (collectively referred to as the “financial
statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 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.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated May 15, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Adoption of Accounting Standards Updates
As discussed in Note 2, effective January 1, 2018, the Company changed its method for recognizing revenue as a result of the modified retrospective
adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), as amended.
As discussed in Note 2, effective January 1, 2019, the Company changed its method of accounting for leases as a result of the adoption of Accounting
Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).
Convenience translation
Our audits also comprehended the translation of Renminbi amounts into United States dollar amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, and,
in our opinion, such translation has been made in conformity with the basis stated in Note 2. Such United States dollar amounts are presented solely for the
convenience of readers in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the
Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing
procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to
those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits
also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Other matters
As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company acquired several entities under common control during the year ended December 31, 2019.
The acquisitions have been accounted for in a manner akin to a pooling-of-interest. The Company’s financial statements have been recast retrospectively to
reflect the acquisitions of these entities for all the periods presented.
As discussed in Note 18 to the financial statements, subsequent to the date of the financial statements, the Company experienced significant disruption to
its operations resulting from the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic and has taken various measures to counter such disruption. Our opinion is not modified
with respect to this matter.
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
May 15, 2020
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
F-2
Table of Contents
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Yiren Digital Ltd.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Yiren Digital Ltd., formerly known as Yirendai Ltd., and its subsidiaries (the “Company”)
as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated
financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 of the Company and our report dated May 15, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion
on those financial statements and included explanatory paragraphs regarding the Company’s adoption of new accounting standards and convenience
translation of Renminbi amounts into United States dollar amounts.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an
understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We
believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control
over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding
prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of
effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
May 15, 2020
F-3
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Assets including amounts of the consolidated assets backed financing entities
(“ABFE”) (Note 2):
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable (net of allowance of nil and RMB2,461 as of December 31,
2018 and 2019, respectively)
Contract assets, net (net of allowance of RMB992,049 and RMB1,515,627 as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Contract cost
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Loans at fair value
Financing receivables (net of allowance of nil and nil as of December 31, 2018 and
2019, respectively)
Amounts due from related parties
Held-to-maturity investments
Available-for-sale investments
Other long-term investments
Property, equipment and software, net
Deferred tax assets
Right-of-use assets
Total assets
Liabilities including amounts of the consolidated variable interest entities (the
“VIEs”) and the consolidated ABFE without recourse to the Company (Note 2):
Accounts payable
Amounts due to related parties
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee
Deferred revenue
Payable to investors at fair value
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Refund liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Lease liabilities
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 17)
Equity:
Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized;
123,132,842 and 186,332,444 shares issued as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively; 123,128,842 and 185,595,072 shares outstanding as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Treasury stock (4,000 and 737,372 shares as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated deficit
Total (deficit)/equity
Total liabilities and equity
December 31,
2018
RMB
(i)
December 31,
2019
RMB
December 31,
2019
US$
2,606,939
427,546
3,198,086
71,056
40,326
3,398
3,909,263
145,460
2,552,319
1,375,221
—
1,361,805
329,597
835,565
217,636
266,002
184,136
—
2,398,685
160,003
1,333,221
418,492
29,612
988,853
6,627
460,991
—
195,855
45,407
334,134
459,376
10,207
488
344,550
22,983
191,505
60,113
4,254
142,039
952
66,217
—
28,133
6,522
47,995
14,251,815
9,644,420
1,385,334
307,046
8,276,459
9,950
569,469
626,207
2,193,576
2,145,748
486,773
—
43,583
106,645
4,397
358,203
—
2,338,745
1,801,535
218,888
282,334
77
121
(254)
1,293,968
16,390
(1,673,594)
(37,097)
5,038,691
21,855
(533,480)
(363,413)
4,490,090
14,251,815
9,644,420
1,385,334
6,260
15,319
632
51,453
—
335,940
258,774
31,441
40,555
740,374
17
(5,329)
723,763
3,139
(76,630)
644,960
Total liabilities
14,615,228
5,154,330
(i) Retrospectively adjusted to reflect the acquisitions under common control, as discussed in Note 1.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Net revenue
Operating costs and expenses:
Sales and marketing
Origination and servicing
General and administrative
Provision for contingent liability
Allowance for contract assets and receivables
(i)
2017
RMB
11,534,808
(9,004,959)
(1,242,928)
(1,323,608)
(43,049)
—
Year ended December 31,
(i)
2018
RMB
11,244,114
(6,658,270)
(1,061,289)
(1,336,247)
(419,581)
(992,581)
2019
RMB
8,616,784
(4,457,353)
(665,083)
(731,806)
(9,462)
(1,625,051)
2019
US$
1,237,724
(640,259)
(95,533)
(105,117)
(1,359)
(233,424)
Total operating costs and expenses
(11,614,544)
(10,467,968)
(7,488,755)
(1,075,692)
Interest income, net
Fair value adjustments related to the consolidated ABFE
Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights
Other (expenses)/income, net
Total other income, net
Income before provision for income taxes
Income taxes expenses
Share of results of equity investees
115,060
(86,372)
271,125
(32,001)
73,917
243,122
663,884
26,323
267,812
1,007,246
188,076
(381,210)
5,060
1,783,392
(194,287)
(9,295)
73,367
3,866
159,392
32,365
268,990
1,397,019
(239,228)
(2,180)
Net (loss)/income
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
10,538
555
22,895
4,649
38,637
200,669
(34,363)
(313)
165,993
Basic net (loss)/income per share
(1.0309)
8.5754
6.2391
0.8962
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic
182,438,985
184,225,643
185,219,586
185,219,586
Diluted net (loss)/income per share
(1.0309)
8.4813
6.1951
0.8899
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding,
diluted
182,438,985
186,270,515
186,535,464
186,535,464
(i) Retrospectively adjusted to reflect the acquisitions under common control, as discussed in Note 1.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
(i)
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
(i)
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2019
US$
Net (loss)/income
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
165,993
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax of nil:
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized (losses)/gains on available-for-sale investments
Comprehensive (loss)/income
(17,979)
(411)
(206,464)
7,737
(2,414)
1,626
3,839
234
551
1,585,133
1,161,076
166,778
(i) Retrospectively adjusted to reflect the acquisitions under common control, as discussed in Note 1.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Treasury stock
Amount
RMB
Shares
Amount
RMB
Additional
paid-in
capital
RMB
Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
RMB
933,272
125,568
65,014
—
—
—
—
29,457
—
—
—
(17,979)
(411)
—
Accumulated
deficit
RMB
(8,166,404)
—
(65,014)
(605,238)
—
—
(188,074)
Total
(deficit)/equity
RMB
(7,203,600)
125,569
—
(605,238)
(17,979)
(411)
(188,074)
1,123,854
11,067
(9,024,730)
(7,889,733)
Balance as of December 31, 2016
Share-based awards provided to employees
Share-based awards provided to employees
of consolidated group of CreditEase
(i)
Dividends to shareholders
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale
investments
Net loss
(i)
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting
standards related to revenue recognition
Share-based awards provided to employees
Share-based awards provided to employees
of consolidated group of CreditEase
Dividends to shareholders
Repurchase of ordinary shares
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized losses on available-for-sale
investments
Net income
(i)
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Acquisition under common control (Note 1)
Contribution from CreditEase (Note 1)
Disposal under common control (Note 1)
Purchase of non-controlling interest
Share-based awards provided to employees
Share-based awards provided to employees
of consolidated group of CreditEase
Repurchase of ordinary shares
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale
investments
Net income
Issued
shares
Ordinary shares
Outstanding
shares
119,512,300
1,065,734
119,512,300
1,065,734
765,390
—
—
—
—
765,390
—
—
—
—
121,343,424
121,343,424
—
1,130,708
658,710
—
—
—
—
—
123,132,842
61,981,412
—
—
—
803,880
414,310
—
—
—
—
—
1,130,708
658,710
—
(4,000)
—
—
—
123,128,842
61,981,412
—
—
—
803,880
414,310
(733,372)
—
—
—
75
1
—
—
—
—
—
76
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
77
43
—
—
—
1
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
4,000
—
—
—
4,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
733,372
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(254)
—
—
—
(254)
—
—
—
—
—
—
(36,843)
—
—
—
—
119,997
50,117
—
—
—
—
—
1,293,968
2,521,491
1,216,734
(54,706)
1,767
43,940
15,497
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
7,737
(2,414)
—
16,390
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,626
3,839
—
21,855
5,928,069
—
(50,117)
(106,626)
—
—
—
1,579,810
(1,673,594)
—
—
—
—
—
(15,497)
—
—
—
1,155,611
(533,480)
5,928,069
119,998
—
(106,626)
(254)
7,737
(2,414)
1,579,810
(363,413)
2,521,534
1,216,734
(54,706)
1,767
43,941
—
(36,843)
1,626
3,839
1,155,611
4,490,090
Balance as of December 31, 2019
186,332,444
185,595,072
121
737,372
(37,097)
5,038,691
(i) Retrospectively adjusted to reflect the acquisitions under common control, as discussed in Note 1.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-7
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
(i)
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
(i)
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
2019
US$
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss)/income
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash provided by/(used in) operating
activities:
Depreciation and amortization
Amortization of right-of-use assets
Disposal of property, equipment and software
Share of results of equity investees
Fair value adjustments related to the consolidated ABFE
Share-based compensation
Provision for contingent liability
Allowance for contract assets and receivables
Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights
Gain recognized on remeasurement of previously held equity interest in the acquiree
as of its acquisition date fair value
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
Contract assets
Contract cost
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Change in the consolidated ABFE related assets/liabilities
Financing receivables
Amounts due from/to related parties
Deferred tax assets/liabilities
Accounts payable
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee
Deferred revenue
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Refund liabilities
Lease liabilities
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of property, equipment and software
Disposal of property, equipment and software
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments
Redemption of held-to-maturity investments
Purchase of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds from disposal of available-for-sale investments
Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired of nil, nil and RMB23,871 for the
years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively
Prepayment of investments
Return of prepayment of investments
Acquisition of subsidiaries under common control
Disposal of subsidiaries under common control, net of cash disposed of nil, nil and
RMB306,555 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively
Purchase of other long-term investments
Proceeds from disposal of other long-term investments
Investment in loans at fair value
Collection of principal of loans at fair value
Disposal of financing receivables
Proceeds from disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights
Loan to related parties
Collection of principal of loans to related parties
Loans to third parties
Collection of principal of loans to third parties
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash contribution from owner
Proceeds from issuances of the consolidated ABFE
Principal payments to the consolidated ABFE
Dividends paid to shareholders
Proceeds from transfer of beneficiary rights under repurchase agreement
Principal payments to financial assets sold under repurchase agreement
Loans from related parties
Principal payments of loans from related parties
Loan from a third party
Principal payments of loan to a third party
Repurchase of ordinary shares
Purchase of non-controlling interest
Payment of contingent consideration
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes
Cash paid for interest
Forgiveness of amount due from/(due to) related parties, and other receivable from a
third party in relation to the acquisition under common control
Reconciliation to amounts on the consolidated balance sheets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(188,074)
140,923
—
3,295
(5,060)
86,372
125,569
43,049
—
(271,125)
—
(12,259)
—
—
(437,567)
35,705
—
429,644
(353,410)
33,947
1,279,899
(736,933)
10,097
—
—
184,072
(217,956)
38,197
(943,212)
1,039,127
(2,991,487)
3,181,763
—
—
—
—
—
(24,500)
—
(937,891)
921,064
—
231,046
(1,623,393)
160,405
—
—
(1,166,837)
10,000
423,230
(1,392,443)
(605,238)
50,000
—
5,322,686
(1,165,540)
—
—
—
—
—
2,642,695
(16,109)
1,643,821
2,836,501
4,480,322
302,188
—
—
2,222,785
2,257,537
4,480,322
1,579,810
1,155,611
147,992
—
(36,332)
9,295
(243,122)
119,998
419,581
992,581
(663,884)
—
3,038
(2,067,058)
(76,368)
105,149
198,766
—
(369,174)
669,763
232,838
(3,203,579)
(253,537)
(997,334)
(527,517)
—
(3,959,094)
(140,729)
646
(612,501)
306,998
(1,270,341)
1,398,500
—
—
—
—
—
(10,000)
—
(1,149,731)
1,226,602
—
703,963
(722,953)
3,739,265
(277,000)
104,929
3,297,648
120,000
—
(553,002)
(106,626)
—
(20,000)
6,363,462
(6,784,021)
324,000
(131,581)
(254)
—
—
(788,022)
3,631
(1,445,837)
4,480,322
3,034,485
334,096
15,388
—
2,606,939
427,546
3,034,485
125,850
268,758
4,266
2,180
(3,866)
43,941
9,462
1,625,051
(159,392)
(4,534)
(1,828)
(112,444)
(14,542)
(164,276)
(197,544)
3,088
(1,548,225)
(131,718)
6,609
(15,015)
(135,865)
130,669
(344,213)
(267,855)
274,168
(48,005)
78
—
322,970
(653,150)
1,050,443
(4,929)
(373,032)
368,182
(258,895)
18,445
—
189,546
—
593,350
117
144,389
(710,000)
814,500
(484,100)
140,092
1,110,001
—
—
(121,296)
—
—
(30,000)
747,737
(108,487)
—
(173,829)
(36,843)
(16,987)
(1,410,000)
(1,149,705)
193
234,657
3,034,485
3,269,142
178,112
11,419
5,147,163
3,198,086
71,056
3,269,142
165,993
18,077
38,606
613
313
(555)
6,312
1,359
233,424
(22,895)
(651)
(263)
(16,152)
(2,089)
(23,597)
(28,376)
444
(222,389)
(18,920)
949
(2,157)
(19,516)
18,769
(49,443)
(38,475)
39,381
(6,895)
11
—
46,392
(93,819)
150,887
(708)
(53,583)
52,886
(37,188)
2,649
—
27,227
—
85,229
17
20,740
(101,985)
116,996
(69,537)
20,123
159,442
—
—
(17,423)
—
—
(4,309)
107,406
(15,583)
—
(24,969)
(5,292)
(2,440)
(202,534)
(165,144)
28
33,707
435,876
469,583
25,584
1,640
739,344
459,376
10,207
469,583
(i) Retrospectively adjusted to reflect the acquisitions under common control, as discussed in Note 1.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
Yiren Digital Ltd. (the “Company” or “Yiren Digital” or the “Parent Company”), formerly known as Yirendai Ltd., was incorporated under the laws
of the Cayman Islands in September 2014 by CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited (“CreditEase”). CreditEase is engaged in providing services for
online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors as well as wealth management services in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”)
through its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries. The Company, its subsidiaries, the consolidated VIEs and
the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Group”) provide services for online marketplace connecting borrowers and
investors in the PRC.
The Company’s business is mainly carried out through two PRC operation entities, Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
(“Hengcheng”) and Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Yiren Wealth Management”), which were incorporated in the PRC in
September 2014 and October 2016, respectively. As the PRC laws and regulations prohibit or restrict foreign ownership of the companies where the
PRC operating licenses are required, the Company, via its wholly-owned subsidiaries in the PRC, Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development
(Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Hengye”) and Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“Hengyuda”), entered into a series of agreements with Hengcheng
and Yiren Wealth Management and their shareholders. Consequently, Hengye and Hengyuda became the primary beneficiary of Hengcheng and Yiren
Wealth Management, respectively and consolidates Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management (see VIE arrangements in Note 2). In August 2017,
the Group further established another wholly-owned subsidiary, Yiren Information Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Yiren Information”), which
engages in providing borrower acquisitions and referral services to institutional funding providers.
Starting from 2015, the Group began to expand its investor base from individual investors to institutional investors, who invest in the loans from the
Group’s platform through a series of arrangements among assets backed financial entities. The Group consolidated such assets backed financial
entities if the Group is considered as their primary beneficiary. Refer to Note 2 for further details.
Acquisitions of subsidiaries under common control
On March 25, 2019, CreditEase entered into definitive agreements, which contemplated the separation and transfer of its online wealth management
targeting the mass affluent investors, unsecured and secured consumer lending and other related services or businesses to Yiren Digital. As of
March 31, 2019, the business of unsecured and secured consumer lending, operated by CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
(“Puhui”), CreditEase Huimin Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Huimin”) and its subsidiaries, as well as the Zhiwang wealth
management business operated by CreditEase Zhuoyue Wealth Investment Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Zhuoyue”) (collectively referred to as
the “Acquired Businesses”) have been transferred to Yiren Digital for an aggregated consideration comprising of RMB233 million in cash,
RMB2,627 million in contingent consideration and 61,981,412 shares of the Company. As part of the transaction, the related parties’ receivables and
payables from/to the Acquired Businesses, and Tianda Xinan (Beijing) Guarantee Co., Ltd. (“Tianda Xinan”)’s payable to the Acquired Businesses
were transferred to Zhuoyue. Zhuoyue subsequently unconditionally waived a net receivables amounting to RMB5,147 million from the Acquired
Businesses. In May 2019, Yiren Digital also acquired Dekai Yichuang Asset Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (“Dekai Yichuang”, a consolidated
VIE of CreditEase) and its subsidiaries from CreditEase for a consideration of RMB29 million. Cash consideration of RMB230 million and RMB29
million were paid in March and May, respectively, for the aforementioned acquisitions.
At the closing of the business transactions with CreditEase on July 11, 2019, Yiren Digital issued a total of 61,981,412 ordinary shares with a total
fair value of RMB2,754 million. The contingent consideration is to be paid by monthly installments in an 18-month period after the closing with each
payment contingent upon the Acquired Businesses achieving certain pre-agreed performance targets which are based on the total monthly loan
volume facilitated by Puhui. The Group made contingent payments to CreditEase amounting to RMB1,410 million until November 2019 as the pre-
agreed performance targets were met. In December 2019, CreditEase waived the remaining contingent liabilities, amounting to RMB1,217 million,
which was accounted for as a contribution from CreditEase.
As the Company and the acquired entities were under common control of CreditEase for all the periods presented, the above acquisitions have been
accounted for in a manner akin to a pooling-of-interests as if the Company had owned the acquired entities from the time they were incorporated.
Accordingly, the Company retrospectively adjusted its consolidated financial statements to include the transferred net assets of the acquired entities
and any related operations for all periods presented. Any difference between the net book value of the acquirees and the amounts paid by the
Company has been accounted for as a capital contribution in the consolidated statements of changes in equity.
F-9
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
1. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES — continued
Disposal of subsidiaries under common control
On November 30, 2019, Hengcheng, one of the VIEs of the Group, acquired Huimin’s services for connecting borrowers and investors. Subsequently,
the Group sold Huimin to Puxin Hengye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.(“Puxin”), a subsidiary of CreditEase, for an aggregated
consideration of RMB47 million. The difference between the consideration and the carrying value of the net assets, amounting to RMB55 million was
recorded in additional paid-in capital. The disposal of Huimin under common control was not retrospectively reflected in the consolidated financial
statements.
The Group entered into non-competition arrangement with CreditEase, under which they agreed not to compete with each other’s core business.
CreditEase agreed not to compete with the Group in a business that is of the same nature as (i) the online consumer finance marketplace business
currently conducted or contemplated to be conducted by the Group as of the date of the agreement and (ii) other businesses that the Group and
CreditEase may mutually agree from time to time. The Group agreed not to compete with CreditEase in the business conducted by CreditEase, other
than (i) the online consumer finance marketplace business operated by the Group as of the date of the agreement and (ii) other businesses that the
Group and CreditEase may mutually agree from time to time. Transactions between the Group and CreditEase are referred to as related party
transactions.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s principal subsidiaries, the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries are as follows:
Wholly owned subsidiaries
Date of
incorporation/
establishment
Place of
incorporation/
establishment
Percentage
of legal
ownership
Principal activities
Yiren Digital Hong Kong Limited
October 8, 2014
Hong Kong
100%
Investment holding
(“Yiren Digital HK”)
Hengye
Hengyuda
January 8, 2015
March 21, 2016
Yiren Information
August 10, 2017
Puhui
March 3, 2011
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
100%
100%
100%
100%
Provision of consultancy information technology
support
Provision of services relating to IT, system
maintenance and customer support
Provision of borrower acquisition and referral
services to institutional funding providers
Provision of borrower acquisition and borrowers
related customer maintenance services
Variable interest entities
Hengcheng
September 15, 2014
PRC
Yiren Wealth Management
October 13, 2016
Tianjin Linyang Information
Technology Co., Ltd.
(“Linyang”)
July 26, 2019
PRC
PRC
F-10
Services for online marketplace connecting
borrowers and investors
Wealth management consulting service
Investment holding
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Basis of presentation
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (GAAP).
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the consolidated VIEs and
the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries. All inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.
VIEs
The VIE arrangements
Foreign ownership of internet-based businesses, including distribution of online information (such as an online marketplace connecting borrowers
and investors), is subject to restrictions under current PRC laws and regulations. For example, foreign investors are not allowed to own more than
50% of the equity interests in internet-based businesses (except E-Commerce) and any such foreign investor must have experience in providing
internet-based businesses services overseas and maintain a good track record in accordance with the Guidance Catalog of Industries for Foreign
Investment promulgated in 2007, as amended in 2011 and 2015, respectively, and other applicable laws and regulations. The Company is a Cayman
Islands company and Hengye and Hengyuda (its PRC subsidiaries) are considered foreign invested enterprises. To comply with these regulations, the
Company conducts the majority of its activities in the PRC through Hengcheng and Yiren Wealth Management (its consolidated VIEs). In
March 2019, Hengye obtained control over Huimin and Puhui through VIE contractual arrangements, and in November 2019, Hengye disposed
Huimin to Puxin and trasnsferred Puhui to Yiren Information as its wholly owned subsidiary.
The VIEs hold the requisite licenses and permits necessary to conduct the Company’s online marketplace business connecting borrowers and
investors. Hengye and Hengyuda (collectively, the “Foreign Owned Subsidiaries” or “FOS”) have entered into the following contractual
arrangements with Hengcheng, and Yiren Wealth Management, that enable the Company to (1) have power to direct the activities that most
significantly affects the economic performance of the VIEs, and (2) receive the economic benefits of the VIEs that could be significant to the VIEs.
Accordingly, the Company is considered the primary beneficiary of the VIEs and has consolidated the VIEs’ assets, liabilities, results of operations,
and cash flows in the consolidated financial statements.
Name of FOS
Hengye
Hengye
Hengye
Hengye
Hengyuda
Name of VIEs
Hengcheng
Huimin(disposed to Puxin on November 30, 2019)
Puhui(transferred to Yiren Information on December 3, 2019)
Linyang (established on July 26, 2019)
Yiren Wealth Management
F-11
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Basis of consolidation — continued
The VIE arrangements — continued
In concluding that the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIEs, the Company believes that the FOS’s rights under the terms of the exclusive
option agreements provide it with a substantive kick out right. More specifically, the Company believes the terms of the exclusive option agreements
are valid, binding and enforceable under the PRC laws and regulations currently in effect. A simple majority vote of the Company’s board of directors
is required to pass a resolution to exercise the FOS’s rights under the exclusive option agreements, for which consent of the shareholders of the VIEs
is not required. The FOS’s rights under the exclusive option agreements give the Company the power to control the shareholders of the VIEs and thus
the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIEs’ economic performance. In addition, the FOS’s rights under the powers of
attorney also reinforce the Company’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 and renew service agreements and pay service fees to
the Company. The exclusive business cooperation agreements will be terminated upon the expiration of the operation term of either party if the
application for renewal of its operation term is not approved by the relevant government authorities. As a result, the Company believes that it has the
rights to receive substantially all of the economic benefits from the VIEs.
· Agreements that provide the FOS effective control over the VIEs
Power of Attorney The shareholders of the VIEs have executed an irrevocable power of attorney in favor of the FOS, or entity or individual
designated by the FOS. Pursuant to this powers of attorney, the FOS or their designees have full power and authority to exercise all of such
shareholder’s rights with respect to his equity interest in the VIEs. The power of attorney will remain in force for so long as the shareholder remains a
shareholder of the VIEs.
Exclusive Option Agreements The VIEs and their shareholders have also entered into exclusive option agreements with the FOS. Pursuant to this
agreements, the shareholders of the VIEs have granted an exclusive option to the FOS or their designees to purchase all or part of such shareholders’
equity interest, at a purchase price equal to the higher of the amount of loan extended by the FOS to each shareholder of the VIEs under the respective
loan agreements or the minimum price required by the PRC law at the time of such purchase.
Equity Interest Pledge Agreements The shareholders of the VIEs have also entered into equity pledge agreements with the FOS, pursuant to which
each shareholder pledged his/her interest in the VIEs to guarantee the performance of obligations of the VIEs and their shareholders under the
exclusive business cooperation agreements, loan agreements, exclusive option agreements and power of attorney. The Company is in the process to
register some of the equity pledge with the competent government authorities.
· Agreements that transfer economic benefits to the FOS
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreements The FOS have entered into exclusive business cooperation agreements with the VIEs. Pursuant to this
exclusive business cooperation agreements, the FOS provide comprehensive technical support, consulting services and other services to the VIEs in
exchange for service fees. The FOS have the sole discretion to determine the amounts of the service fees.
During the term of exclusive business cooperation agreements, both the FOS and the VIEs shall renew their operation terms prior to the expiration
thereof so as to enable the exclusive business cooperation agreements to remain effective. The exclusive business cooperation agreements shall be
terminated upon the expiration of the operation term of either the FOS or the VIEs, if the application for renewal of their operation terms is not
approved by relevant government authorities. In addition, the shareholders of the VIEs have granted an irrevocable and exclusive option to the FOS
to purchase any or all of the assets and businesses of the VIEs at the lowest price permitted under the PRC law.
The agreements may be terminated only at the option of the FOS and the VIEs have no authority to terminate the exclusive business cooperation
agreements.
F-12
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Basis of consolidation — continued
The VIE arrangements — continued
· Agreements that provide the FOS with the option to purchase the equity interest in the VIEs
Loan Agreements Under the loan agreements between the FOS and each of the shareholders of the respective VIEs, the FOS made interest-free loans
to the shareholders for the exclusive purpose of the initial capitalization and the subsequent financial needs of the VIEs. The loans can only be repaid
with the proceeds derived from the sale of all of the equity interests in the VIEs to the FOS or its designated representatives pursuant to the exclusive
option agreements. The shareholders must pay all of the proceeds from sale of such equity interests to the FOS. The loans must be repaid immediately
under certain circumstances, including, among others, if a foreign investor is permitted to hold majority or 100% equity interest in the VIEs and the
FOS elected to exercise their exclusive equity purchase option. The term of the loans is ten years and can be extended upon mutual written consent of
the parties.
Risks in relation to the VIE structure
The Company believes that the contractual arrangements with the VIEs and their current shareholders are in compliance with the PRC laws and
regulations and are legally enforceable. However, uncertainties in the PRC legal system could limit the Company’s ability to enforce the contractual
arrangements. If the legal structure and contractual arrangements were found to be in violation of the PRC laws and regulations, the PRC government
could:
· Revoke the business and operating licenses of the FOS and the VIEs;
· Discontinue or restrict the operations of any related-party transactions among the FOS and the VIEs;
· Impose fines or other requirements on the FOS and the VIEs;
· Require the Company or the FOS and the VIEs to revise the relevant ownership structure or restructure operations;
· Restrict or prohibit the Company’s use of the proceeds of the additional public offering to finance the Company’s business and operations in the
PRC;
· Shut down the Company’s servers or block the Company’s online platform;
· Discontinue or place restrictions or onerous conditions on the Company’s operations; and/or
· Require the Company to undergo a costly and disruptive restructuring.
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 the VIEs in its consolidated financial statements as it may lose the ability to exert
effective control over the VIEs and their shareholders, and it may lose the ability to receive economic benefits from the VIEs.
The interests of the shareholders of the VIEs may diverge from that of the Company and that may potentially increase the risk that they would seek to
act contrary to the contractual terms, for example by influencing the VIEs not to pay the service fees when required to do so. The Company cannot
assure that when conflicts of interest arise, the shareholders of the VIEs 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 the
shareholders of the VIEs may encounter in its capacity as beneficial owners and directors of the VIEs, on the one hand, and as beneficial owners and
directors of the Company, on the other hand. The Company believes the shareholders of the VIEs will not act contrary to any of the contractual
arrangements and the exclusive option agreements provide the Company with a mechanism to remove the current shareholders of the VIEs should
they act to the detriment of the Company. The Company relies on certain current shareholders of the VIEs to fulfill their fiduciary duties and abide by
laws of the PRC and act in the best interest of the Company. If the Company cannot resolve any conflicts of interest or disputes between the Company
and the shareholders of the VIEs, 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-13
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Basis of consolidation — continued
Risks in relation to the VIE structure — continued
The following financial statement amounts and balances of the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries were included in the
consolidated financial statements after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances:
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
December 31,
2019
USD
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable
Contract assets, net
Contract cost
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Financing receivables
Amounts due from related parties
Available-for-sale investments
Other long-term investments
Property, equipment and software, net
Deferred tax assets
Right-of-use assets
1,678,633
1,248
32,065
3,870,362
144,612
2,382,539
—
1,361,805
553,100
217,636
180,043
182,257
—
1,331,668
—
2,130
2,191,277
61,528
897,187
29,612
700,186
333,900
—
11,496
29,829
16,454
Total assets
10,604,300
5,605,267
Liabilities
Accounts payable
Amounts due to related parties
Deferred revenue
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Refund liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities
Lease liabilities
Total liabilities
Net revenue
Net income
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities
305,611
8,059,698
569,469
1,856,802
2,145,748
481,783
—
39,019
35,708
349,677
1,390,341
1,681,906
209,747
15,734
13,419,111
3,722,132
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
11,121,168
2,069,678
2019
RMB
8,303,900
1,503,455
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
(3,565,383)
3,631,615
(300,559)
2019
RMB
846,367
441,983
(787,737)
2017
RMB
11,406,436
809,363
2017
RMB
660,668
(1,387,987)
4,167,146
191,282
—
306
314,757
8,838
128,873
4,254
100,575
47,962
—
1,651
4,285
2,363
805,146
5,605
5,129
50,228
199,710
241,591
30,128
2,260
534,651
2019
USD
1,192,781
215,958
2019
USD
121,573
63,487
(113,151)
In accordance with the VIE contractual arrangements, the FOS have the power to direct activities of the VIEs, and can have assets transferred out of
the VIEs. There are no consolidated VIEs’ assets that are collateral for the VIEs’ obligations and can only be used to settle the VIEs’ obligations.
There are no creditors (or beneficial interest holders) of the VIEs that have recourse to the general credit of the Company. There are no terms in any
arrangements, considering both explicit arrangements and implicit variable interests, which require the Company or its subsidiaries to provide
financial support to the VIEs. However, if the VIEs ever need financial support, the Company or its subsidiaries may, at its option and subject to
statutory limits and restrictions, provide financial support to its VIEs through loans to the shareholders of the VIEs or entrustment loans to the VIEs.
Relevant PRC laws and regulations restrict the VIEs from transferring a portion of their net assets, equivalent to the balance of their paid-in capital,
capital reserve and statutory reserves, to the Company in the form of loans and advances or cash dividends. Please refer to Note 16 for disclosure of
restricted net assets.
F-14
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Basis of consolidation — continued
Consolidated ABFE
As part of the Group’s strategy to expand its investor base from individual investors to institutional investors, the Group established a business
relationship with certain trusts or Asset Backed Special Plan (“ABS plan”), collectively referred to as consolidated assets backed financing entities or
ABFE, which were administered by third-party trust companies. The ABFE were set up to invest solely in the loans facilitated by the Group on its
platform to provide returns to the beneficiaries of the trusts through interest payments made by the borrowers.
The Group provides loan facilitation and post-origination services to the ABFE. The Group also has power to direct the activities that have most
significant impact on the economic performance of the ABFE by providing the loan servicing and default loan collection services of the ABFE.
Through the transaction fees charged, guarantee deposit, and direct investment, the Group has the right to receive benefits or bear losses from the
ABFE that could potentially be significant to the ABFE. The Group holds significant variable interest in ABFE through the transaction fees charged,
guarantee provided in the form of guarantee deposit, or direct investment. Accordingly, the Company is considered the primary beneficiary of the
ABFE and has consolidated the ABFE’s assets, liabilities, results of operations, and cash flows in the consolidated financial statements.
The assets of the ABFE are not available to creditors of the Company. In addition, the investors of the ABFE have no recourse against the assets of
the Company.
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Group disposed the delinquent loans repurchased by the Group from the consolidated
ABFE upon the liquidation of the consolidated ABFE to related parties. Additionally, in March 2019, the Group also disposed its beneficial rights of
several trusts to related parties (see Note 8). The disposal of the delinquent loans and the disposal of the beneficial rights of the several trusts is
accounted for as a true sales under ASC 860 with any gains and losses recorded as “gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial rights”
in the consolidated statements of operations. Refer to the accounting policy of “Sales and Transfers of Financial Instruments” for further details.
The following financial statement amounts and balances of the consolidated ABFE were included in the consolidated financial statements after
elimination of intercompany transactions and balances:
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
December 31,
2019
USD
Assets
Restricted cash
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Loans at fair value
Held-to-maturity investments
Total assets
Liabilities
Accounts payable
Payable to investors at fair value
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Total liabilities
Net revenue
Net (loss)/income
Net cash provided by operating activities
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities
392,758
16,039
1,338,349
29,597
1,776,743
1,253
626,207
10,595
638,055
43,833
8,974
382,125
6,627
441,559
72
—
7,378
7,450
2017
RMB
—
(149,934)
2017
RMB
61,965
(112,184)
(969,213)
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
—
260,568
2019
RMB
—
41,723
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
208,621
110,849
(553,002)
2019
RMB
134,848
639,717
(121,296)
6,296
1,289
54,889
952
63,426
10
—
1,060
1,070
—
5,993
2019
USD
2019
USD
19,370
91,890
(17,423)
All assets of the consolidated ABFE are collateral for the consolidated ABFE’s obligations and can only be used to settle the consolidated ABFE’s
obligations.
F-15
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Use of estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from such estimates. Significant accounting estimates are used for, but
not limited to, revenue recognition and its related accounts, liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee, fair value measurement of loans
at fair value, payable to investors at fair value, available-for-sale investments, depreciable lives of property, equipment and software, useful lives of
intangible assets, the discount rate for lease, consolidation of the VIEs, share-based compensation and income tax. Actual results may differ
materially from those estimates.
Revenue
The Group provides services as an online marketplace connecting borrowers and investors. The four major deliverables provided are loan facilitation
services, guarantee services (e.g. quality assurance programs to individual investors and guarantee to institutional investors), post-origination services
(e.g. cash processing, collection and SMS services) and account management services (automated investing tool).
The Group has determined that it is not the legal lender or borrower in the loan origination and repayment process, but acts as an intermediary to
bring the lender and the borrower together. Except for loans and payable to investors in the consolidated ABFE, the Group does not record the loans
receivable or payable arising from the loans facilitated between the investors and borrowers on its platform.
The Group charges fees for facilitating loan originations, for the automated investing tool to investors opting for that services, and for monthly
services (covering cash processing services, collection services and SMS services). While for those who do not opt for automated investing tool, the
Group charges fees for facilitating loan originations and for monthly services (covering cash processing services, collection services and SMS
services) (collectively referred as “non-contingent fees”). The Group also receives fees contingent on future events (e.g., penalty fees for loan
prepayment and late payment, fees for transferring loans over the secondary loan market, and other service fees, and etc.).
For the loans facilitated on Hengcheng’s platform before May 2018, the Group also provided guarantee services to investors whereas in the event of
default, the investors are entitled to receive unpaid interest and principal from the Group. Given that the Group effectively took on all of the credit
risk of the borrowers and were compensated by the service fees charged, the guarantee was deemed as a service and the guarantee exposure was
recognized as a stand-ready obligation in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees. The Group stopped providing guarantee services in
May 2018.
F-16
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue — continued
Revenue recognition before adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”
Before January 1, 2018, the Group recognized revenues under ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, (“ASC 605”). The loan facilitation services and
the post origination services are considered as a multiple element revenue arrangement under ASC 605.
Multiple element revenue recognition
The Group considers the loan facilitation services, the guarantee services and post-origination services as a multiple deliverable revenue arrangement.
The Group has concluded that although it does not sell those services independently, all three deliverables have standalone value as others do sell
them independently in the market and they have value to the customer independently. Thus, all non-contingent fees are allocated among these three
deliverables.
The Group allocates non-contingent fees to be received consistent with the guidance in ASC 605-25. It first allocates the amount equal to the fair
value of the stand-ready liabilities from the quality assurance program and guarantee. Then, the remaining fees are allocated to the loan facilitation
services and post-origination services using their relative estimated selling prices.
The Group does not have vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of selling price for the loan facilitation services or post-origination services
because it does not provide loan facilitation services or post-origination services separately.
For cash processing services, collection services and SMS services (all of which are part of the post-origination services), the Group uses third-party
evidence (“TPE”, which is the prices charged when sold separately by its service providers) as the basis of revenue allocation.
Although other vendors may sell these services separately, TPE of selling price of the loan facilitation services and automated investing tool services
(part of post-origination services) does not exist as public information is not available regarding what the Group’s competitors may charge for those
services. As a result, the Group generally uses its best estimate of selling prices (“BESP”) of loan facilitation services and automated investing tool
services as the basis of revenue allocation. In estimating its selling price for the loan facilitation services and automated investing tools services, the
Group considers the cost incurred to deliver such services, profit margin for similar arrangements, customer demand, effect of competitors on the
Group’s services, and other market factors.
For each type of services, the Group recognizes revenues when the following four revenue recognition criteria are met for each revenue type:
(i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, (iii) the selling price is fixed or
determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
Collectability of fees
The Group either collects the entire amount of the loan facilitation fees upfront, or collects a portion upfront and the rest on a monthly basis over the
term of the loan. The management fees charged to investors are collected on a monthly basis through the loan period or on maturity of investments.
The Group evaluated the following factors for uncertainty of the collectability: (i) credit risk of the portfolio; (ii) prepayment risk; (iii) risk profile
change from launching new products; and (iv) macroeconomic cycle, and etc. and concluded that the collectability for the monthly fees could not be
reasonably assured. Thus fees charged are not recognized until collected.
F-17
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue— continued
Revenue recognition before adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” — continued
Revenue from loan facilitation services
The Group recognized the cash received that is allocated to loan facilitation services as revenue upon completion of the related services. For fees that
are partially refundable to the borrowers, the revenue is not recognized until the fees become non-refundable.
Revenue from post-origination services
The fees collected upfront allocated to post-origination services are deferred and recognized over the period of the loan on a straight line basis.
Customer incentives
To expand its market presence, the Group provides cash incentives to investors from time to time. Each individual incentive program only lasts for a
week or a few weeks. During the relevant incentive program period, the Group sets certain thresholds for the investor to qualify to enjoy the cash
incentive. When a qualified investment is made, the cash payment is provided to the investor as a percentage of the investment amount. The Group
also distributed interest plus coupons and renewal reward coupons to investors free of charge. The investors can utilize the interest plus coupons to
increase the expected return of Yidingying product on the maturity date. If the investors choose to extend the investment period of Yidingying
product, the renewal reward coupons can be utilized to increase the expected return of Yidingying product for the extended investment period. The
cash incentives, interest plus coupons and renewal reward coupons provided are accounted for as reduction of revenue in accordance with ASC
subtopic 605-50.
The Group has established a membership reward program wherein investors can earn Yiren coins when purchases are made on the Group’s platforms
reached a certain amount. Yiren coins can be used in connection with subsequent purchases. The expiry dates of these Yiren coins vary based on
different individual promotional programs, which generally range from one and a half years to two and a half years period. The Group accrues
liabilities for the estimated value of these Yiren coins that are expected to be used, which are based on outstanding Yiren coins related to prior
purchases at the end of each reporting period and the usage rate of these Yiren coins, which were reasonably estimated based on historical data. These
liabilities reflect management’s best estimate of the cost of future usages.
F-18
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue— continued
Revenue recognition after adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” with modified retrospective method
The Group adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and all subsequent ASUs that modified Topic 606 on
January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The Group recognized the cumulative effect of applying the new revenue standard as an
adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. The comparative information is not restated and continues to be reported under the
accounting standards in effect for the period presented.
Under Topic 606, the core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to
customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve
that core principle, the Group applies the following steps:
· Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer
· Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract
· Step 3: Determine the transaction price
· Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
· Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation
The Group determines its customers to be both the investors and borrowers. The Group assesses ability and intention to pay the service fees of both
borrowers and investors when they become due and determines if the collection of the service fees is probable, based on historical experiences as well
as the credit due diligence performed on each borrower prior to loan origination. Until May 2018, the Group provided quality assurance program and
guarantee services and considered the loan facilitation services, guarantee services, and post-origination services as three separate services of which
guarantee services were accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees. While the post-origination services are within the scope of
ASC Topic 860, ASC Topic 606 revenue recognition model is applied due to the lack of definitive guidance in ASC Topic 860. The loan facilitation
services and post-origination services are two separate performance obligations under ASC 606, as these two deliverables are distinct in that
customers can benefit from each services on its own and the Group’s promises to deliver the services are separately identifiable from each other in the
contract. In May 2018, the Group stopped providing quality assurance program and guarantee services and only provided loan facilitation and post-
origination services to its customers.
The Group determines the transaction price of loan facilitation services and post-origination services to be the service fees chargeable from the
borrowers, net of value-added tax. The transaction price includes variable consideration in the form of prepayment risk of the borrowers. The Group
reflects, in the transaction price, the borrower prepayment risk and estimates variable consideration for these contracts using the expected value
approach on the basis of historical information and current trends of the prepayment percentage of the borrowers. The transaction price is allocated
amongst the guarantee services (until May 2018), if any, and the two performance obligations described above.
F-19
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue— continued
Revenue recognition after adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” with modified retrospective method —
continued
The Group first allocates the transaction price to the guarantee liabilities (until May 2018), if any, in accordance with ASC Topic 460, Guarantees,
which requires the guarantee to be measured initially at fair value based on the stand ready obligation. Then the remaining considerations are
allocated to the loan facilitation services and post-origination services using their relative standalone selling prices consistent with the guidance in
Topic 606. The Group does not have observable standalone selling price information for the loan facilitation services or post-origination services
because it does not provide loan facilitation services or post-origination services on a standalone basis. There is no direct observable standalone
selling price for similar services in the market that is reasonably available to the Group. As a result, the estimation of standalone selling price involves
significant judgments. The Group uses expected cost plus margin approach to estimate the standalone selling prices of loan facilitation services as the
basis of revenue allocation. In estimating its standalone selling price for the loan facilitation services, the Group considers the cost incurred to deliver
such services, profit margin for similar arrangements, customer demand, effect of competitors on the Group’s services, and other market factors.
However, for post-origination services, given the main services are about loan collecting, the Group can refer to other companies performing the same
services, therefore a direct observable standalone selling price for similar services in the market is available to the Group.
For each type of the services, the Group recognizes revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies the service/performance obligation by transferring a
promised service to a customer. Revenues from loan facilitation are recognized at the time a loan is originated between the investor and the borrower
and the loan principal is transferred to the borrower, at which time the facilitation service is considered completed. Revenues from post-origination
services are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying loans as the services are provided. Revenues from guarantee services,
if any, are recognized at the expiry of the guarantee term.
Remaining performance obligations represents the amount of the transaction price for which services have not been performed under post-origination
services. The Group charges upfront fees for loan products. The upfront fees, if any, are deducted from loan proceeds at origination and the remaining
consideration is collected in equal payments on a monthly basis. When the upfront fees are not sufficient to cover the relative standalone selling price
of facilitation services performed, a corresponding contract asset is recognized (see accounting policy for contract asset). For upfront fees that are
partially refundable to the borrowers, the Group estimates the refund based on historical prepayment probability and the corresponding predetermined
refundable amount, and records corresponding refund liabilities upon receiving such fees.
The aggregate amounts of the transaction price allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied pertaining to post-origination services were
RMB1,196.1 million and RMB787.1 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, among which approximately 53% and 67% of the
remaining performance obligations will be recognized over the following 12 months, respectively and with the remainder recognized thereafter.
F-20
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue— continued
Revenue recognition after adoption of ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” with modified retrospective method —
continued
Revenue from account management services
Under ASC 606, the transaction price of account management services is the management fees charged to investor as the excess of actual return over
the expected return. The service fees derived from investors using the automated investment tool are initially estimated based on historical experience
of returns on similar investment products and current trends. The service fees are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the investment
period. The service fees related to the automated investment tool are due at the end of the investment period. The investment period refers to the
period of time when the investments are matched with loans and are generating returns for the investors. The Group records service fees only when it
becomes probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue will not occur. The aggregate amount of the transaction price
allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied pertaining to account management services were RMB1,461.3 million and RMB919.7
million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, among which approximately 91% and 98% of the remaining performance obligations will be
recognized over the following 12 months, respectively, with the remainder recognized thereafter.
Other revenue
Other revenue includes penalty fees for loan prepayment and late payment, fees charged for early repayment, one-time fees for transferring loans over
the secondary loan market, referral service fees, and fund distribution fees received from fund management companies. The penalty fees, which are
fees paid to the investors that are assigned to the Group by the investors, will be received as a certain percentage of past due amounts in case of late
payment or a certain percentage of interest over the prepaid amount of loan principal in case of prepayment. The Group refers potential borrowers or
lenders to third-party companies and related parties and charges them fixed rate fees. The Group sells funds to investors and charges fixed rate fund
distribution fees from fund management companies and related parties. Referral services revenue and fund distribution revenue are recognized when
successful referrals and sales were completed by the Group respectively. Revenue recognition related to other revenue remains the same before and
after the adoption of Topic 606.
Customer incentives
The cash incentives, interest plus coupons and renewal reward coupons provided are accounted for as reduction of contract price in accordance with
ASC 606.
Under the membership reward program, investors earn Yiren coins that can be redeemed in subsequent purchases. Yiren coins earned by investors
represent a material right to free or discounted goods or services in the future, which are accounted for as a separate performance obligation under
ASC 606. For the transactions that granted Yiren coins to the investors, a portion of transaction price is deferred for the obligation related to Yiren
coins, which are allocated based on the relative standalone selling prices. The standalone selling price of Yiren coins is calculated by taking the
estimated value of Yiren coins that are expected to be used incorporating estimated breakage based on historical redemption patterns. The revenue
associated with Yiren coins is deferred until the points are redeemed. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the liabilities related to Yiren coins were
immaterial.
All of the Group’s revenue for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 were generated from the PRC. The following table illustrates the
disaggregation of revenue in 2018 and 2019 under ASC606:
Net revenue:
Loan facilitation services
Post-origination services
Account management services
Others
Total net revenue
Year ended December 31, 2018
RMB
Year ended December 31, 2019
RMB
7,647,804
1,173,108
1,806,732
616,470
11,244,114
5,182,028
757,783
2,016,678
660,295
8,616,784
F-21
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue— continued
Contract assets
Under ASC 606, contract assets represent the Group’s rights to consideration in exchange for services that the Group has transferred to the customer
before payment is due. The Group’s rights to consideration for the monthly fees of facilitation services are conditional on the borrowers’ actual
payment, as the borrowers have the rights to early terminate the loan contracts prior to the loan maturity and are not obligated to pay the remaining
monthly fees. As such, the Group records a corresponding contract assets for the monthly service fees allocated to loan facilitation services and post-
origination services that have already been delivered in relation to loans facilitated on the Group’s platform when recognizing revenue from loan
facilitation services and post-origination services. No accounts receivable is recorded since the Group does not have unconditional rights to the
consideration if the borrowers choose to early terminate and are not obligated to pay the remaining service fees in relation to the loans facilitated.
Contract assets represent the Group’s rights to consideration in exchange for facilitation services that the Group has transferred to the customer before
payment is due. The Group only recognizes contract assets to the extent that the Group believes it is probable that it will collect substantially all of the
consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the services transferred to the customer. The contract assets, net of allowance are
RMB3,909,263 and RMB2,398,685 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Per ASC 606-10-45-3, an entity shall assess a contract asset for impairment in accordance with Topic 310 on receivables. Contract assets are stated at
the historical carrying amount net of write offs and allowance for uncollectible accounts. In determining whether an impairment loss should be
recorded in the financial statements, the Group makes judgements as to whether there is any observable date indicating that there is a measureable
decrease in the estimated future cash flows from contract assets. This evidence may include observable date indicating that there has been an adverse
change in the borrower’s credit risk, or national or local economic conditions that correlate with defaults on loans. When contract assets are assessed
for impairment, the Group uses estimates based on the historical borrower’s credit risk. The historical borrower’s credit risk is adjusted on the basis of
the relevant observable date that reflects current economic conditions. The Group regularly reviews the methodology and assumptions used for
estimating the amount of collectable contract assets.
Contract assets are identified as uncollectible if any repayment of the underlying loan is 90 days past due, and no other factor evidences the
possibility of collecting the delinquent amounts. The Group will write off contract assets and corresponding allowance if any repayment of the
underlying loan is 90 days past due.
Contract assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 are as follows:
Contract assets
Allowance
Contract assets, net
As of December 31, 2018
RMB
As of December 31, 2019
RMB
4,901,312
(992,049)
3,909,263
3,914,312
(1,515,627)
2,398,685
The following table presents the movement of allowance for contract assets as of December 31, 2018 and 2019:
Balance at beginning of the year
Allowance for contract assets
Write-off
Balance at end of the year
As of December 31, 2018
RMB
As of December 31, 2019
RMB
847,286
992,592
(847,829)
992,049
992,049
1,623,022
(1,099,444)
1,515,627
F-22
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Revenue — continued
Contract cost
The Group pays commissions for successful referring of borrowers or investors to the Group’s platform. The commissions paid based on successful
referrals are considered as contract acquisition cost, and are capitalized when the commission becomes payable. The amount of amortization for the
years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 are RMB84.5 million and RMB107.3 million, respectively.
Amortization of the capitalized contract cost is charged to the consolidated statements of operations when the revenue to which the asset relates is
recognized. Contract cost is recognized as an expense when incurred if the amortization period of the asset that the Group otherwise would have
recognized is one year or less.
Deferred revenue
Deferred revenue consists of post-origination service fees received from borrowers upfront for which services have not yet been provided. Deferred
revenue is recognized ratably as revenue when the post-origination services are delivered over the loan period.
The amounts of revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 that were included in the opening deferred revenue were
RMB481.7 million and RMB391.2 million, respectively.
Refund liabilities
Refund liabilities are recognized for the estimated amounts of service fees which are received but are expected to be refunded. It represents the
consideration received that the Group does not expect to be entitled to earn and thus is not included in the transaction price because it will be
refunded to customers. The refund liabilities are remeasured at each reporting date to reflect changes in the estimate, with a corresponding adjustment
to revenue.
The Group’s refund liabilities are the expected refund of service fees to borrowers in the case of early repayment of loans. The refund liabilities as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019 amounted to RMB2,145,748 and RMB1,801,535, respectively. The following table sets forth the movement of refund
liabilities:
As of January 1, 2018
Addition
Payouts during the year
As of December 31, 2018
Addition
Payouts during the year
As of December 31, 2019
F-23
RMB
2,673,266
866,518
(1,394,036)
2,145,748
709,401
(1,053,614)
1,801,535
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee
Loans facilitated on Hengcheng’s platform
Until May 2018, for loans facilitated on the Group’s Hengcheng’s platform, the Group provided investors with protection service in the form of a
financial guarantee called the quality assurance program, where the Group guaranteed the principal and accrued interest repayment of the defaulted
loan up to the balance of the quality assurance program on a portfolio basis. The quality assurance program being set aside equals a fixed percentage
of the total loan facilitation amount. The Group reserves the rights to revise the percentage upwards or downwards as a result of the Group’s
continuing evaluation of factors such as market dynamics as well as its product lines, profitability and cash position.
Under the quality assurance program model, at the inception of each loan, the Group recognizes a stand-ready liability as the fair value of the quality
assurance program in accordance with ASC 460. Subsequent to the inception of the loan, the stand-ready liability initially recognized would typically
be reduced (by a credit to earnings) as the Group is released from the risk under the guarantee either through expiry or performance. The Group also
recognizes a contingent liability under ASC 450 on a portfolio basis, which results in the recognition of expenses in earnings. The Group tracks its
stand-ready liability on a loan-by-loan basis to monitor the expiration. When the Group releases the stand-ready liability through performance of the
guarantee (by making payments on defaulted loans), it recognizes revenue along with the loss on defaulted loans. Revenue from releasing the stand-
ready liability and expenses from recognition of the contingent liability related to the quality assurance program are presented on a net basis in the
consolidated statements of operations. On a portfolio basis, when the aggregate contingent liability required to be recognized under ASC 450 exceeds
the quality assurance program liability balance, the Group records the excess as expense.
The fair value of the stand-ready liability associated with the quality assurance program recorded at the inception of the loan was estimated using a
discounted cash flow model to its expected net payouts from the quality assurance program, and also by incorporating a markup margin. The Group
estimates its expected future net payouts based on its current product mix as well as its estimates of expected net charge-off rates, expected collection
rates and a discount rate. The Group estimated the expected net charge-off rates of the loan facilitated based on the weighted average of the expected
net charge-off rates of loans based on the Group’s historical experience. The expected future net payouts are capped at the restricted cash balance of
the quality assurance program. The Group discontinued the operation of its quality assurance programs in May 2018 and transferred all of its
liabilities associated with the quality assurance program and paid cash to third party guarantee companies based on the estimated fair value of the
liabilities transferred.
Loans facilitated on Huimin’s platform
Until March 2018, for loans facilitated on the Group’s Huimin’s platform, Zhuoyue provided guarantee related services, similar to the description in
the preceding paragraphs. The Group did not recognize revenue or guarantee liability for loans facilitated on Huimin’s platform, as the guarantee
services are provided by Zhuoyue. For such guarantee services provided by Zhuoyue, the Group recognizes those within customers’ acquisition and
referral services in its consolidated statement of operations. Refer to Note 8.
To ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, starting from January 2018, the Group began to involve a third-party insurance company and
guarantee companies to provide guarantee services for the majority of loans facilitated on both of the Group’s Hengcheng’s platform and Huimin’s
platforms.
Through its cooperation with the third-party insurance company, the borrowers purchase surety insurance and pay insurance premium to the insurance
company directly. The insurance company will reimburse the principal and expected interest to investors in the event of borrowers’ default within the
agreed insurance policy. The Group also cooperated with guarantee companies to establish the credit assurance programs. Under those programs,
guarantee companies either i ) provide guarantee for loans facilitated through the Group’s online marketplace to ensure that the investors’ principal
and interest would be repaid in the event of loan defaults, or ii) set up and manage a reserve fund, using payments collected from borrowers directly,
to compensate investors for their potential loss due to loans default up to the cash available in the fund. In cases where the guarantee companies
provide guarantee for loans facilitated on the Group’s online marketplace, the guarantee companies further obtain guarantee themselves from third
party insurance companies by purchasing credit insurance from them.
Subsequent May 2018, the Group no longer bears any guarantee obligations and therefore does not record any guarantee liability on its consolidated
financial statements. Since then, the majority of loans facilitated on the Group’s platform are either covered by the credit assurance program operated
by the guarantee companies or a third-party insurance company.
F-24
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee — continued
The movement of liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
As of January 1, 2018
Provision at the inception of new loans (Note)
Recognition of contingent liability
Net payment
Transfer to the credit assurance program
As of December 31, 2018
Recognition of contingent liability
Net payment
As of December 31, 2019
RMB
2,793,948
911,549
419,581
(2,873,269)
(1,241,859)
9,950
9,462
(15,015)
4,397
Note: Amount represents cash received on non-contingent fees allocated to the stand-ready liability for loans facilitated during 2018 until the
discontinuance of the program in May 2018.
Fair value
Fair value is 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 it considers assumptions that market participants would
use when pricing the asset or liability.
Authoritative literature provides a fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad
levels. The level in the hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant
to the fair value measurement as follows:
· Level 1-inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets.
· Level 2-inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and
liabilities in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market
or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
· Level 3-inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in
pricing the asset or liability. The fair value are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models,
discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques.
F-25
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YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Fair value option
The Group has elected the fair value option for the assets and liabilities of the consolidated ABFE that otherwise would not have been carried at fair
value. Such election is irrevocable and is applied to financial instruments on an individual basis at initial recognition. See Note 4 for the disclosure on
financial instruments of the consolidated ABFE for which the fair value option has been elected.
Fair value of loans and payable to investors at fair value
The Group has elected the fair value option for loans and related payable to investors of the consolidated ABFE and loans repurchased from the
consolidated ABFE that otherwise would not have been carried at fair value. Such election is irrevocable and is applied to financial instruments on an
individual basis at initial recognition. The Group estimates the fair value of loans and payable using a discounted cash flow valuation methodology by
discounting the estimated future net cash flows using an appropriate discount rate. The future net cash flows are estimated based on the contractual
cash flows, taking into consideration of projected prepayments and net charge off to project future losses and net cash flows on loans. Changes in fair
value of loans and payable to investors are reported net and recorded in “Fair value adjustments related to the consolidated ABFE” in the consolidated
statements of operations.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include the Group’s unrestricted deposits with financial institutions in checking, money market and short-term certificate
of deposit accounts. The Group considers all highly liquid investments with stated maturity dates of three months or less from the date of purchase to
be cash equivalents.
Restricted cash
Restricted cash represents cash held by the consolidated ABFE through segregated bank accounts which is not available to fund the general liquidity
needs of the Group and guarantee deposit in restricted bank account.
Accounts receivable and allowance for uncollectible accounts
Accounts receivable are stated at the historical carrying amount net of write-offs and allowance for uncollectible accounts. The Group establishes an
allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable and other receivables based on estimates, historical experience and other factors surrounding the
credit risk of specific customers. Uncollectible receivables are written off when a settlement is reached for an amount that is less than the outstanding
historical balance or when the Group has determined the balance will not be collected.
F-26
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YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Investments
The Group’s investments consist of held-to-maturity investments, available-for-sale investments, equity method investments and equity securities
without readily determinable fair value.
Held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investments
Investments are classified as held-to-maturity when the Group has the positive intent and ability to hold the security to maturity, and are recorded at
amortized cost.
Investments that do not meet the criteria of held-to-maturity or trading securities are classified as available-for-sale, and are reported at fair value with
unrealized gains and losses recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income. Realized gains or losses are included in the
consolidated statements of operations during the period in which the gains or losses are realized.
The Group reviews its held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investments for other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) based on the specific
identification method. The Group considers available quantitative and qualitative evidence in evaluating potential impairment of its investments. If
the cost of an investment exceeds the investment’s fair value, the Group considers, among other factors, general market conditions, government
economic plans, the duration and the extent to which the fair value of the investment is less than the cost, the Group’s intent and ability to hold the
investment, and the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuers.
If there is OTTI on debt securities, the Group separates the amount of the OTTI into the amount that is credit related (credit loss component) and the
amount due to all other factors. The credit loss component is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations, which represents the difference
between a security’s amortized cost basis and the discounted present value of expected future cash flows. The amount due to other factors is
recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive (loss)/income if the Group neither intends to sell and will not more likely than not be
required to sell the security before recovery. The difference between the amortized cost basis and the cash flows expected to be collected is accreted
as interest income. The Company did not record any impairment losses on its held-to-maturity and available-for-sale investments during the years
ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Equity method investments
Investee companies over which the Group has the ability to exercise significant influence, but does not have a controlling interest, are accounted for
using the equity method. Significant influence is generally considered to exist when the Group has an ownership interest in the voting stock of the
investee between 20% and 50%. Other factors, such as representation on the investee’s board of directors, voting rights and the impact of commercial
arrangements, are also considered in determining whether the equity method of accounting is appropriate. Equity method investments are recorded in
other long-term investments in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2019.
An impairment charge is recorded if the carrying amount of the investment exceeds its fair value and this condition is determined to be other-than
temporary. The Group estimated the fair value of the investee company based on comparable quoted price for similar investment in active market, if
applicable, or discounted cash flow approach which requires significant judgments, including the estimation of future cash flows, which is dependent
on internal forecasts, the estimation of long term growth rate of the investee company’s business, the estimation of the useful life over which cash
flows will occur, and the determination of the weighted average cost of capital. The Company did not record any impairment on its equity method
investments during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Equity securities without readily determinable fair value
Historically, for investee companies over which the Group did not have significant influence and a controlling financial interest, the Group accounted
for these as cost method investments under ASC 325-20. In January, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-01,
Financial Instruments—Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, and elected to account for equity investments
that do not have a readily determinable fair value under the measurement alternative prescribed within ASU 2016-01, to the extent such investments
are not subject to consolidation or the equity method. Under the measurement alternative, these financial instruments are carried at cost, less any
impairment (assessed quarterly), plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for an identical or similar
investment of the same issuer. In addition, income is recognized when dividends are received only to the extent they are distributed from net
accumulated earnings of the investee. Otherwise, such distributions are considered returns of investment and are recorded as a reduction of the cost of
the investment. The Company did not record an impairment on its equity securities without readily determinable fair value during the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Equity securities without readily determinable fair value is recorded in other long-term investments in the
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2019.
F-27
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YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Property, equipment and software, net
Property, equipment and software consists of building, computer and transmission equipment, furniture and office equipment, software, and leasehold
improvements, which are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on a straight-
line basis over the following estimated useful lives, while the estimate residual value of the building and furniture and office equipment are 5%.
Building
Computer and transmission equipment
Furniture and office equipment
Software
Leasehold improvements
Impairment of long-lived assets
50 years
3 years
5 years
1-5 years
Over the shorter of the lease term or expected useful lives
The Group reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset
may no longer be recoverable. When these events occur, the Group measures impairment by comparing the carrying value of the long-lived assets to
the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets and their eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected
undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the assets, the Group recognizes an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets.
The Group did not record any impairment losses on its long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Origination and servicing expenses
Origination and servicing expenses consist primarily of variable expenses and vendor costs, including costs related to credit assessment, customer and
system support, payment processing services and collection associated with facilitating and servicing loans.
Financing receivables
Financing receivables represent microloan issued by subsidiaries of Dekai. Financing receivables are measured at amortized cost and reported on the
consolidated balance sheets at outstanding principal adjusted for any charge-offs, and the allowance for credit losses. The Group recognizes interest
and financial service income over the terms of the financing receivables using the effective interest rate method.
Leases
Before January 1, 2019, the Group adopted ASC Topic 840 (“ASC 840”), Leases, and each lease is classified at the inception date as either a capital
lease or an operating lease. On January 1, 2019, the Group adopted the new lease accounting standard, ASC Topic 842, Leases (“ASC 842”), using
the modified retrospective transition approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption rather than retrospectively adjusting
prior periods and the package of practical expedients. The Group categorizes leases with contractual terms longer than twelve months as either
operating or finance lease. However, the Group has no finance leases for any of the periods presented.
Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Group’s rights to use underlying assets for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Group’s
obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present
value of lease payments over the lease term, reduced by lease incentives received, plus any initial direct costs, using the discount rate for the lease at
the commencement date. As the implicit rate in lease is not readily determinable for the Group’s operating leases, the Group generally uses the
incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments at
commencement date. Lease expenses for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Group estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on an analysis of publicly traded debt securities of companies with credit and financial
profiles similar to its own. The Group begins recognizing lease expenses when the lessor makes the underlying assets available to the Group. The
Group’s leases have remaining lease terms of up to four years, some of which include options to extend the leases for an additional period which has
to be agreed with the lessors based on mutual negotiation. After considering the factors that create an economic incentive, the Group did not include
renewal option periods in the lease term for which it is not reasonably certain to exercise.
The Company elected not to record a ROU assets for short-term leases that have a term of 12 months or less. The cost of short-term leases was
recognized in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Share-based compensation
All share-based awards to employees and directors, such as stock options and restricted share units, are measured at the grant date based on the fair
value of the awards. Share-based compensation, net of forfeitures, is recognized as expenses on an accelerated basis during the vesting period with a
corresponding impact reflected in the additional paid-in capital. Share-based compensation expenses are classified in the consolidated statements of
operations based upon the job functions of the grantees.
Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ, or are expected to differ, from those
estimates. Changes in estimated forfeiture rate are recognized through a cumulative catch-up adjustment in the period of change and also impact the
amount of share-based compensation expenses to be recognized in future periods. The Group uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting option and
records share-based compensation expenses only for those awards that are expected to vest.
F-28
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YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Share-based compensation — continued
According to Issue 21 of EITF Issue 00-23 , the awards granted to employees of CreditEase, and other subsidiaries in the consolidated group of
CreditEase, should be recognized as a deemed dividend from the Group to the parent company at the fair value as of the grant date. Share-based
compensation, net of forfeitures, is recognized as a deemed dividend to CreditEase on an accelerated basis during the vesting period with a
corresponding impact reflected in the additional paid-in capital.
1
Share-based awards to non-employees are measured based on the fair value at grant date. The Group recognizes the compensation cost using the
graded vesting attribution method.
Income taxes
Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws of the relevant tax authorities.
Deferred income taxes are provided using assets and liabilities method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the consolidated financial statements. Under this method, deferred tax assets
and liabilities are determined on the basis of the differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted
tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be reversed. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that these assets
are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the management considers all positive and negative evidence, including
future reversals of projected future taxable income and results of recent operation.
The impact of an uncertain income tax position on the income tax return is recognized at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be
sustained upon audit by the relevant tax authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of
being sustained. Interest and penalties on income taxes are classified as a component of the provisions for income taxes. The Group did not recognize
any income tax due to uncertain tax position or incur any interest and penalties related to potential underpaid income tax expenses for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Value added taxes (“VAT”)
The Group is subject to VAT at the rate of 3% or 6%, depending on whether the entity is a general tax payer or small-scale taxpayer, and related
surcharges on revenue generated from providing services. VAT are reported as a deduction to revenue when incurred and amounted to
RMB1,053,524, RMB1,215,821 and RMB916,316 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Entities that are VAT general
taxpayers are allowed to offset qualified input VAT paid to suppliers against their output VAT liabilities. Net VAT balance between input VAT and
output VAT is recorded as accrued expenses, and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
Net income per share
Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income attributable to the ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary
shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the ordinary shareholders by
the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Ordinary equivalent shares include
shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted share units using the treasury stock method. Ordinary equivalent shares are not included in the
denominator of the diluted earnings per share calculation when inclusion of such shares would be antidilutive.
As described in Note 1, during the year ended December 31, 2019, the Group completed a number of acquisitions that were accounted for as
acquisitions under common control and issued 61,981,412 ordinary shares as part of the total consideration. For purposes of calculating net
(loss)/income per share, weighted average shares prior to this acquisition have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to this transaction for all
historical periods presented in the consolidated financial statements.
1 Although Issue 00-23 has also been nullified, the guidance in Issue 21 of EITF Issue 00-23 remains applicable by analogy since it is the only available
guidance on accounting for these awards.
F-29
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Comprehensive (loss)/income
Comprehensive (loss)/income is defined as the changes in equity of the Group during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances
excluding transactions resulting from investments from shareholders and distributions to shareholders. Comprehensive (loss)/income for the periods
presented includes net (loss)/income, change in unrealized (losses)/gains on available-for-sale investments, and foreign currency translation
adjustment.
Sales and transfers of financial instruments
Sales and transfers of financial instruments are accounted under authoritative guidance for the transfers and servicing of financial assets and
extinguishment of liabilities. Specifically, a transfer of a financial asset, a group of financial assets, or a participating interest in a financial asset is
accounted for as a sale only if all the following conditions are met:
· The financial assets are isolated from the transferor and its consolidated affiliates as well as its creditors;
· The transferee or beneficial interest holders have the right to pledge or exchange the transferred financial assets; and
· The transferor does not maintain effective control of the transferred asset.
The Group provides loan facilitation and post-origination services to the trusts. Upon the liquidation of the trusts, the Group purchased the delinquent
loans from the trusts and subsequently disposed the loans to related parties.
When the loan (including the creditor rights) is transferred, the transferee becomes the direct counterparty to the borrower and the legal record holder
of the loan upon the transfer. The transfer is accounted for as a sale as (1) the transferred loans are considered legally isolated from the assets of the
Group and its creditors even in bankruptcies under the PRC laws and regulations, (2) the investors (transferees) can freely pledge or exchange the
transferred loans, and (3) the Group does not maintain effective control over the transferred loans. The difference between the proceeds received from
related parties and the fair value of the loans and other beneficial rights is recognized as “Gain on disposal of loan receivables and other beneficial
rights” in the consolidated statements of operations.
F-30
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Foreign currency translation
The reporting currency of the Company is Renminbi (“RMB”). The functional currency of the Company is the US dollar (“US$”). The functional
currency of the Group’s subsidiaries and VIEs in the PRC is RMB.
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing on the transaction dates.
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the balance
sheet date. Exchange gains and losses are included in earnings as a component of other income.
The financial statements of the Group are translated from the functional currency into the reporting currency. Assets and liabilities denominated in
foreign currencies are translated using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet date. Equity accounts other than earnings generated in
current period are translated at the appropriate historical rates. Revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated using the periodic average
exchange rates. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustment are recorded in other comprehensive (loss)/income.
Translations of amounts from RMB into US$ are solely for the convenience of the reader and were calculated at the rate of US$1.00 = RMB6.9618
on December 31, 2019, the last business day in the fiscal year 2019, representing the certificated exchange rate published by the Federal Reserve
Board. No representation is intended to imply that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into US$ at such
rate, or at any other rate.
Significant risks and uncertainties
Foreign currency risk
RMB is not a freely convertible currency. The State Administration for Foreign Exchange, under the authority of the People’s Bank of China,
controls the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies. The value of RMB is subject to changes in central government policies and to international
economic and political developments affecting supply and demand in the China Foreign Exchange Trading System market. The Group’s cash and
cash equivalents denominated in RMB amounted to RMB2,466,865 and RMB3,117,993 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Concentration of credit risk
Financial instrument that potentially exposes the Group to significant concentration of credit risk primarily includes cash and cash equivalents,
restricted cash, accounts receivable, contract assets, prepaid expenses and other assets, loans at fair value, and amounts due from related parties. As
of December 31, 2019, substantially all of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash were deposited in financial institutions located
in the PRC. According to the China Bank Deposit Insurance Ordinance, the deposits at each bank are covered by insurance with an upper limit of
RMB500 thousands at each bank. Accounts receivable and contract assets are typically unsecured and are derived from revenue earned from
customers in the PRC. The credit risk from prepaid expenses and other assets arises from loans to third parties. The risk with respect to accounts
receivable, contract assets and loans to third parties is mitigated by credit evaluations the Group performs on its customers or third parties and its
ongoing monitoring process of outstanding balances. The Group believes that there is no significant credit risk associated with amounts due from
related parties.
Credit of loans at fair value is controlled by the application of credit approval, limit and monitoring procedures.
There are no revenues from customers which individually represent greater than 10% of the total net revenues for any year of the three years ended
December 31, 2019.
There are no customers of the Group that accounted for greater than 10% of the Group’s carrying amount of accounts receivable as of December 31,
2018 and 2019.
F-31
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES — continued
Significant risks and uncertainties — continued
Recently adopted accounting pronouncements
Accounting for Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 “Leases (Topic 842)”, which introduces a new standard related to increase transparency and
comparability among organizations by requiring the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. Most prominent among the
changes in the standard is the recognition of right of use assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under
current U.S. GAAP. Under the standard, disclosures are required to meet the objective of enabling users of financial statements to assess the amount,
timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim
periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, and provided another transition
approach by allowing entities to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the
opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Group adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective
transition approach through a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption rather than retrospectively adjusting prior periods. The Group
elected the practical expedients under ASU 2016-02 which include the use of hindsight in determining the lease term and the practical expedient
package to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts containing leases, lease classification and initial direct costs for any existing leases. The
Group categorizes leases with contractual terms longer than twelve months as either operating or finance lease. The Group has no finance leases for
any of the periods presented. Adoption of the standard resulted in recognition of additional ROU assets and lease liabilities by approximately
RMB453 million and RMB408 million as of January 1, 2019, respectively. Refer to Note 13 for further details.
Recent accounting pronouncements not yet adopted
Accounting for Credit Losses
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 ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early
application will be permitted for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The
Group will adopt the new standard beginning January 1, 2020 using a modified retrospective approach.
Under this approach, the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard is recognized as adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings
on the date of initial application. The Group currently does not expect the transition adjustment upon adoption will be material.
F-32
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
3. PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER ASSETS
Loans to third parties (i)
Funds receivable from external payment network providers (ii)
Funds receivable from insurance and guarantee companies (iii)
Prepaid expenses
Tianda Xinan (iv)
Prepaid VAT and surcharge tax
Others
Total
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
172,071
514,619
141,323
133,467
1,384,561
46,254
160,024
2,552,319
516,079
331,534
289,752
64,923
16,891
889
113,153
1,333,221
(i) The balance represents the outstanding balance of loans to an asset management company and loans made to a third-party guarantee company.
The loans balance to an asset management company amounted to RMB112 million and RMB272 million, with annual interest of 4.90% and
4.35%, as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The loans balance to a third-party guarantee is free of interest and amounted to
RMB60 million and RMB241 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The terms of the loans ranged from one to three years.
The Group evaluates the credit risk associated with the loans, and estimates the cash flows expected to be collected over the life of loans on an
individual basis based on the Group’s past experiences, the borrowers’ financial position, their financial performance and their ability to
continue to generate sufficient cash flows. A valuation allowance is established for the loans that the Company expects will be unable to collect.
No valuation allowance has been recorded for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 based on the result of the assessment.
(ii) The Group opened accounts with external online payment service providers to collect and transfer loan funds and interest to investors or
borrowers, repay and collect the default loan principal and interest. The Group also uses such accounts to collect the transaction fees and
service fees. The balance of funds receivable from external payment network providers mainly includes accumulated amounts of transaction
fees, service fees received at the balance sheet date, which was collected subsequently.
(iii) The balance represents deposits made to the insurance and guarantee companies’ accounts associated with credit assurance program as
disclosed in Note 2.
(iv) Tianda Xinan, a subsidiary of the consolidated VIEs of CreditEase until February 2018, provides guarantee services to Puhui for early
repayment risk associated with borrowers referred by Puhui to the Group and charges servicing fees to Puhui. When borrowers make early
repayment, Puhui refunds certain transaction fees to borrowers on behalf of Tianda Xinan and records a receivable from Tianda Xinan. Since
February 2018, Tianda Xinan is no longer a related party as the shareholders of Tianda Xinan were changed into unrelated parties as disclosed
in Note 8. The balance was subsequently forgiven due to the acquisition under common control as disclosed in Note 1.
4. FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value
The Group does not have assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis.
The fair value hierarchy for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis subsequent to initial recognition is as follows:
December 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Loans at fair value
Available-for-sale investments
Total Assets
Liabilities
Payable to investors at fair value
Total Liabilities
December 31, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Loans at fair value
Available-for-sale investments
Total Assets
Level 1 Inputs
RMB
Level 2 Inputs
RMB
Level 3 Inputs
RMB
Balance at Fair Value
RMB
2,606,939
427,546
—
82,465
3,116,950
—
—
—
—
—
753,100
753,100
—
—
—
—
1,375,221
—
1,375,221
626,207
626,207
2,606,939
427,546
1,375,221
835,565
5,245,271
626,207
626,207
Level 1 Inputs
RMB
Level 2 Inputs
RMB
Level 3 Inputs
RMB
Balance at Fair Value
RMB
3,198,086
71,056
—
85,129
3,354,271
F-33
—
—
—
333,900
333,900
—
—
418,492
41,962
460,454
3,198,086
71,056
418,492
460,991
4,148,625
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
4 FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES— continued
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value — continued
As the Group’s loans and related payable to investors do not trade in an active market with readily observable prices, the Group uses discounted cash
flow methodology involving significant unobservable inputs to measure the fair value of these assets and liabilities, including discount rates, net
cumulative expected loss rates, and cumulative prepayment rates. Financial instruments are categorized as Level 3 valuation hierarchy based on the
significance of unobservable factors in the overall fair value measurement. The Group did not transfer any assets or liabilities in or out of Level 3
during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.
Significant Unobservable Inputs
Financial Instrument
Loans at fair value
Payable to investors at fair value
Unobservable Input
Discount rates
Net cumulative expected loss rates (1)
Cumulative prepayment rates (2)
Discount rates
December 31, 2018
Range of Inputs
Weighted- Average
December 31, 2019
Range of Inputs
Weighted- Average
12.0%-16.4%
9.9%-17.4%
2.2%-14.8%
7.7%-9.8%
12.0%-16.4%
14.4%-16.6%
11.9%
N/A
(1) Expressed as a percentage of the loan volume.
(2) Expressed as a percentage of remaining principal of loans.
The above inputs in isolation can cause significant increases or decreases in fair value. Specifically, increases in the discount rate can significantly
lower the fair value of loans; conversely a decrease in the discount rate can significantly increase the fair value of loans. The discount rate is
determined based on the market rates.
Changes in fair value of loans and payable to investors are reported net as “Fair value adjustments related to the consolidated ABFE” in the
consolidated statements of operations. The additional information about Level 3 loans and payable to investors measured at fair value on a recurring
basis for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Origination of loan principal
Collection of principal
Change in fair value
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Changes in fair value related to balance outstanding as of December 31, 2018
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Collection of principal
Change in fair value
Decrease due to disposal of the beneficial rights of the consolidated ABFE
Balance as of December 31, 2019
Changes in fair value related to balance outstanding as of December 31, 2019
F-34
Loans
RMB
1,450,707
1,149,731
(1,226,602)
1,385
1,375,221
2,161
Loans
RMB
1,375,221
(593,350)
(126,109)
(237,270)
418,492
(120,015)
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
4 FAIR VALUE OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES— continued
Balance as of December 31, 2017
Interest and penalties received
Deductible expenses associated with the consolidated ABFE operating
Principal and interest payments to investors of the consolidated ABFE
Change in fair value
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Changes in fair value related to balance outstanding as of December 31, 2018
Balance as of December 31, 2018
Interest and penalties received
Deductible expenses associated with the consolidated ABFE operation
Principal and interest payments to investors of the consolidated ABFE
Changes in fair value
Decrease due to disposal of the beneficial rights of the consolidated ABFE
Balance as of December 31, 2019
Changes in fair value related to balance outstanding as of December 31, 2019
Financial Instruments Not Recorded at Fair Value
Payable to investors
RMB
1,222,180
334,087
(32,796)
(655,527)
(241,737)
626,207
(241,302)
Payable to investors
RMB
626,207
151,603
(9,766)
(139,033)
(129,975)
(499,036)
—
—
Financial instruments, including accounts receivable, other receivables, financing receivables, loans to third parties, prepaid expenses and other
assets, held-to-maturity investments and amounts due from/to related parties, accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities are not
recorded at fair value. The fair values of these financial instruments are approximate their carrying value reported in the consolidated balance sheets
due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities.
F-35
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
5. INVESTMENTS
Held-to-maturity investments
As of December 31, 2019, the Group’s held-to-maturity investments mainly consisted of principal-guaranteed products that have stated maturity
within one year. While these fixed-income financial products are not publicly traded, the Group estimated that their fair value approximated their
amortized costs considering their short-term maturities and high credit quality. No OTTI loss was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2017,
2018 and 2019.
Interest income of held-to-maturity investments of RMB15,711, RMB7,022 and RMB5,833 was recognized in the consolidated statements of
operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Available-for-sale investments
As of December 31, 2019, the Group’s available-for-sale investments mainly consisted of investments in debt securities. The Group measured the
available-for-sale investments at fair value, with changes in fair value deferred in other comprehensive (loss)/income. Changes in fair value of
available-for-sale investments, net of tax, for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB411, RMB2,414 and RMB3,839,
respectively, recorded in other comprehensive (loss)/ income. No OTTI loss was recognized for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Interest income of available-for-sale investments of RMB56,938, RMB28,989 and RMB24,394 was recognized in the consolidated statements of
operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The additional information about cost and fair value of available-for-sale investments as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
Gross unrecognized
holding gains/ (losses)
RMB
December 31, 2018
Unrealized gains in
accumulated other
comprehensive
(loss)/income
RMB
Impact of
exchange rate
RMB
Fair value
RMB
—
(2,825)
(114)
835,565
Gross unrecognized
holding gains/(losses)
RMB
December 31, 2019
Unrealized gains in
accumulated other
comprehensive
(loss)/income
RMB
Impact of
exchange rate
RMB
Fair value
RMB
—
1,014
(50)
460,991
Cost
RMB
838,504
Cost
RMB
460,027
Available-for-sale investments:
Debt securities
Available-for-sale investments:
Debt securities
Other long-term investments
Equity method investments
Equity securities without readily determinable fair values
Total
F-36
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
170,336
47,300
217,636
—
—
—
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
5. INVESTMENTS — continued
As of December 31, 2018, the Group’s equity method investments include the equity interests of Nuode Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Nuode”) and
Hainan Haijin Yichuang Data Information Service Co., Ltd. (“Haijin Yichuang Data Information”), over which the Group has significant influence
but does not own a majority equity interest or otherwise control. The Group recognized its share of profit of RMB5,060 for the year ended
December 31, 2017 and its share of loss of RMB9,295 and RMB2,180 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
In March 2019, Dekai Yichuang entered into an agreement to purchase an additional 40% of equity interests of Haijin Yichuang Data Information
from a third party for a consideration of RMB28.5 million. As a result, Haijin Yichuang Data Information became a subsidiary controlled by Dekai
Yichuang. The assets acquired and liabilities of Haijin Yichuang Data Information as well as the Group’s previously held equity interest were
measured at their fair values on the acquisition date and were not material. The results of operations of Haijin Yichuang Data Information are
included in the consolidated statements of operations since the acquisition date.
6. PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE, NET
Building
Computer and transmission equipment
Furniture and office equipment
Leasehold improvements
Software
Total property, equipment and software
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
Property, equipment and software, net
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
38,464
186,676
80,196
168,487
48,819
522,642
256,640
266,002
38,464
168,711
75,499
140,872
43,348
466,894
271,039
195,855
Depreciation and amortization expenses on property, equipment and software for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were
RMB140,923, RMB147,992 and RMB125,850, respectively.
F-37
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
7. ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accrued payroll and welfare
Tax payable
Funds collected on behalf of third-party guarantee companies (i)
Accrued customer incentives
Accrued advertisement expenses
Payable to investors
Long-term borrowings (ii)
Deposits
Others
Total accrued expenses and other liabilities
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
782,927
357,751
231,467
205,072
138,411
85,495
192,419
80,418
119,616
2,193,576
772,590
803,116
425,920
81,297
62,472
68,011
18,590
—
106,749
2,338,745
(i) Funds collected on behalf of third-party guarantee companies include the guarantee fees and guarantee funds under the credit assurance
program as disclosed in Note 2. The guarantee fees amounted to RMB165 million and RMB107 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively. The guarantee funds amounted to RMB66 million and RMB314 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
(ii) In June 2018, the Group entered into funding arrangements with a financial institution, with a principal amount of RMB324 million. According
to the loan agreement, the loan repayment is dependent on the collection of principal, interest and other payments associated with loans invested
by one of the Group’s trust during the loan term. The final maturity date of the loan is 36 months and the annual interest rate is 11%. The
borrowings are recognized at amortized cost using the effective interest method. During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019,
RMB132 million and RMB174 million were repaid by the Group, respectively.
F-38
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
8. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS
The Group accounts for related party transactions based on various service agreements and reflects for all periods presented herein. The major related
parties and their relationships with the Group, and the nature of their services provided to the Group are summarized as follows:
Company name
Tianda Xinan
Relationship with the
Group
Subsidiary of Consolidated VIE of CreditEase (until
February 2018)
Major transaction with the
Group
Guarantee services and related party loans
Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing)
Co., Ltd. (“Pucheng Credit”)
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Credit assessment and collection services, management
consulting services, customers acquisition and referral
services and related party loans
Puxin
Subsidiary of CreditEase
System support services and related party loans
Beijing Zhicheng Credit Service Co., Ltd. (“Beijing
Zhicheng”)
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Identity verification services and system support services
Hainan CreditEase Puhui Small Loan Co., Ltd. (“Hainan
CreditEase”)
Subsidiary of Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Collection of fees from customers on behalf of the Group
and customers acquisition and referral services
CreditEase Bocheng Insurance Sales and Service Co., Ltd.
(“Bocheng”)
Subsidiary of Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Huichuang Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
Subsidiary of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Zhuoyue
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services, management
consulting services and related party loans
Toumi Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Xinda Hongtao Technology Development (Beijing)
Co., Ltd. (“Xinda Hongtao”)
Zhehao Asset Management (Shanghai)Co., Ltd.
(“Zhehao”)
Shenzhen CreditEase Factoring Co., Ltd. (“Shenzhen
CreditEase”)
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Fund distribution services
Subsidiary of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Xiaozhi Technology Co., Ltd.
Subsidiary of Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Shenzhen Tengda Yingyi Asset Management Co., Ltd.
(“Shenzhen Tengda”)
Subsidiary of Consolidated VIE of CreditEase (until
July 2019)
Disposal of loan receivables and the beneficial rights in the
consolidated ABFE
Beijing Hanfu Asset Management Co., Ltd. (“Hanfu”)
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Fund distribution services
CreditEase Qixiang Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
(“CreditEase Qixiang”)
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Purchase of property and equipment and rental of
equipment, disposal of loan receivables and the beneficial
rights in the consolidated ABFE
Shanghai CreditEase Qixin Factoring Co., Ltd.
Subsidiary of Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
CreditEase Huicong International Financial Leasing
Co., Ltd.
Subsidiary of CreditEase
Customers acquisition and referral services
Beijing Yuying Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Fund distribution services
Shenzhen Puze Zhongfu Asset Management Co., Ltd.
(“Puze Zhongfu”)
Fuan Yida (Beijing) Network Technique Co., Ltd. (“Fuan
Yida”)
Junhua technology development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
(“Junhua”)
Subsidiary of CreditEase
Fund distribution services and disposal of loan receivables
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Related party loans
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase
Related party loans
Huimin
Consolidated VIE of CreditEase (from November 2019)
Customer hotline services
F-39
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
8. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS — continued
The information about costs and expenses incurred for services provided by CreditEase, its subsidiaries and affiliates for the years ended
December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
Cash process services
Guarantee services
Management consulting services
Rental of equipment
Credit assessment services
System support services
Collection services
Customers acquisition and referral services (note)
377
110,877
4,568
8,768
222,170
804,212
96,276
2,748,554
—
—
—
52,606
38,203
657,206
327,917
1,065,421
Total costs and expenses
3,995,802
2,141,353
—
—
3,000
4,384
19,025
179,458
296,493
464,140
966,500
Note: The customer acquisition and referral service fees charged by Zhuoyue include the cost of guarantee services to investors provided by
Zhuoyue in 2017 and until March 2018. Refer to Note 2.
Revenue derived from services provided by the Group to CreditEase, its subsidiaries and affiliates for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and
2019 is recorded as other revenue and is as follows:
Fund distribution services
Customers acquisition and referral service
Total revenue
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
245,620
85,517
331,137
113,748
63,593
177,341
2019
RMB
113,930
28,547
142,477
During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, Huimin disposed the delinquent loans repurchased from the consolidated ABFE upon the
liquidation of the consolidated ABFE to Puze Zhongfu and Shenzhen Tengda. The total consideration from those disposal amounted to RMB245,603
and RMB607,461 during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018. In addition, Huimin disposed its beneficiary rights of several trusts to
Shenzhen Tengda and CreditEase Qixiang for a total consideration of RMB144,389 during the year ended December 31, 2019. Since July 2019,
Shenzhen Tengda is no longer a related party of the Group.
Huimin purchased property and equipment from CreditEase Qixiang in 2017. The purchase costs of property and equipment amounted to
RMB43,426.
Huimin purchased software from Zhuoyue in 2018. The purchase costs of software amounted to RMB12,275.
F-40
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
8. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS — continued
The information about loans issued to/(collected from) CreditEase, its subsidiaries and affiliates recorded in investing activities of the Company’s
consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
Puxin
Pucheng Credit
Tianda Xinan
Zhuoyue
Other related parties
Total
2017
RMB
(1,124,893)
(498,500)
119,139
—
41,266
(1,462,988)
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
3,238,919
441,667
—
(663,463)
(811)
3,016,312
2019
RMB
—
100,000
—
4,500
—
104,500
The information about loans received from/(repaid to) CreditEase, its subsidiaries and affiliates recorded in financing activities of the Company’s
consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
Zhuoyue
Pucheng Credit
Fuan Yida
Junhua
Other related parties
Total
Details of related party balances as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 are as follows:
(i) Amounts due from related parties
2017
RMB
(917,884)
(6,656)
500
5,085,476
(4,290)
4,157,146
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
(435,193)
(816)
—
—
15,450
(420,559)
706,250
1,000
(68,000)
—
—
639,250
Huimin (Note a )
Xinda Hongtao (Note b)
Zhuoyue (Note b)
Puxin (Note b)
Pucheng Credit
CreditEase
Others
Total
(ii) Amounts due to related parties
Puxin (Note a and c)
Pucheng Credit (Note c)
Beijing Zhicheng (Note c)
Zhuoyue (Note c)
Others
Total
F-41
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
—
470,465
469,055
—
154,491
211,177
56,617
1,361,805
407,240
213,624
202,724
150,743
1,893
—
12,629
988,853
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
1,681,553
168,381
2,410
6,316,245
107,870
47,046
33,486
16,156
—
9,957
8,276,459
106,645
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
8. RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS — continued
(a) On November 30, 2019, Hengcheng, merged with Huimin’s services connecting borrowers and investors, and sold its remaining unrelated
business to Puxin for an aggregated consideration of RMB47 million. Amounts due from Huimin and amounts due to Puxin are related to such
transaction.
(b) Amounts relate to the prepayment of referral services provided by the related parties.
(c) Amounts relate to the provision of credit assessment, collection, system support, identity verification, borrowers and investors acquisition and
referral services and interest-free loans provided by the related parties.
9. INCOME TAXES
Yiren Digital is a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands. Under the current laws of the Cayman Islands, Yiren Digital is not subject to tax on
either income or capital gain.
Under the current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Ordinance, Yiren Digital HK is subject to 8.25% Profits Tax rate on assessable profits up to HK$2
million, and 16.5% on any part of assessable profits over HK$2 million.
Under the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law (the “EIT Law”), the standard enterprise income tax rate for domestic enterprises and foreign invested
enterprises is 25%. Hengye was recognized as a Software Enterprise and thereby entitled to full exemption from EIT for two years beginning with its
first profitable year, i.e., 2015 and 2016, and a 50% reduction for the subsequent three years. In addition, Hengyuda has been recognized as within
encouraged industries in the Western Regions of China and enjoyed a preferential income tax rate of 15%. Yiding Technology was a small low-profit
enterprise, whose taxable income not exceed RMB1 million is computed at a reduced rate of 25%, taxable income from RMB1 million to RMB3
million at a reduced rate of 50%, and subject to income tax of 20%. Yiren Digital’s other subsidiaries, the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated
VIEs’ subsidiaries established in the PRC are subject to income tax rate of 25%, according to the EIT Law. The consolidated ABFE are not subject to
income tax.
Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules which became effective on January 1, 2008, dividends generated after January 1, 2008 and payable
by foreign-invested enterprise in the PRC to its foreign investors who are non-resident enterprises are subject to a 10% withholding tax, unless any
such foreign investor’s jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with the PRC that provides for a different withholding arrangement. Under the
taxation arrangement between the PRC and Hong Kong, a qualified Hong Kong tax resident which is the “beneficial owner” and directly holds 25%
or more of the equity interest in a PRC resident enterprise is entitled to a reduced withholding tax rate of 5%. The Cayman Islands, where the
Company is incorporated, does not have a tax treaty with the PRC.
Since January 1, 2014, the relevant tax authorities of the Group’s subsidiaries have not conducted a tax examination on the Group’s PRC entities. In
accordance with relevant PRC tax administration laws, tax years from 2014 of the Group’s PRC subsidiaries and VIEs, remain subject to tax audits
as of December 31, 2019, at the tax authority’s discretion.
F-42
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
9. INCOME TAXES — continued
Uncertainties exist with respect to how the current income tax law in the PRC applies to the Group’s overall operations, and more specifically, with
regard to tax residency status. The EIT Law includes a provision specifying that legal entities organized outside of the PRC will be considered
residents for Chinese income tax purposes if the place of effective management or control is within the PRC. The implementation rules to the EIT
Law provide that non-resident legal entities will be considered PRC residents if substantial and overall management and control over the
manufacturing and business operations, personnel, accounting, properties, etc., occurs within the PRC. Despite the present uncertainties resulting
from the limited PRC tax guidance on the issue, the Group does not believe that the legal entities organized outside of the PRC within the Group
should be treated as residents for the EIT law purposes. If the PRC tax authorities subsequently determine that the Company and its subsidiaries
registered outside the PRC should be deemed resident enterprises, the Company and its subsidiaries registered outside the PRC will be subject to the
PRC income taxes, at a rate of 25%.
Income tax expenses are comprised of the following:
Current tax (i)
Deferred tax (i)
Total
December 31,
2017
RMB
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
734,620
(353,410)
381,210
(474,874)
669,161
194,287
370,946
(131,718)
239,228
Reconciliation between the income tax at the PRC statutory tax rate and income tax expenses is as follows:
Income before provision for income taxes
Statutory tax rate in the PRC
Income tax at statutory tax rate
Non-deductible expenses
Research and development tax credit
Effect of income not taxable
Effect of tax holiday and preferential tax rate
Adjustment on current income tax of the prior periods
Effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions
Effect of withholding income tax
Debt relief income (ii)
Utilization of tax losses from the prior period (ii)
Change in valuation allowance
Income tax expenses
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
188,076
25%
1,783,392
25%
47,019
241,942
—
(53,874)
(167,869)
(44)
23,329
71,277
—
—
219,430
381,210
445,848
71,387
(7,246)
(192,501)
(93,121)
127
23,190
8,723
—
—
(62,120)
194,287
The aggregate amount and per share effect of the tax holiday and preferential tax rate are as follows:
The aggregate amount of tax holiday and preferential tax rate
The aggregate effect on basic and diluted net income per share:
- Basic
- Diluted
2017
RMB
(167,869)
(0.9201)
(0.9201)
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
(93,121)
(0.5055)
(0.4999)
2019
RMB
1,397,019
25%
349,255
22,077
(10,820)
(12,786)
(126,577)
(384)
14,518
—
1,286,791
(1,452,828)
169,982
239,228
2019
RMB
(126,577)
(0.6834)
(0.6786)
(i) As discussed in Note 2, starting from May 2018, the Group no longer provides quality assurance services to investors and related
assurance program liabilities were derecognized. The reversal of deferred tax assets associated with quality assurance program liabilities
resulted in a decrease in deferred tax assets with a corresponding decrease in income tax expense. As a result, the current tax portion of
income tax expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 was a net income tax benefit.
(ii) As discussed in Note 1, Zhuoyue unconditionally waived a net receivables amounting to RMB5,147 million from the Acquired
Businesses, which resulted in an increase of income tax expenses amounting to RMB1,287 million. The carried over accumulated loss
from prior periods were utilized during the year and resulted in a decrease of income tax expenses amounting to RMB1,453 million.
F-43
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
9. INCOME TAXES — continued
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The components of the deferred tax assets are as follows:
Deferred tax assets:
Liabilities from quality assurance program and guarantee
Deferred revenue
Refund liabilities
Accrued expenses
Fair value changes
Allowance for uncollectible receivables
Amortization difference of long-term assets
Accumulated losses carried over
Valuation allowance (i)
Total
Deferred tax liabilities:
Contract assets, net
Contract cost
Intangible assets
Total
Net deferred tax liabilities
Analysis as:
Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liabilities
December 31, 2018
RMB
December 31, 2019
RMB
1,244
140,617
536,437
50,844
—
90,631
77,316
1,991,763
(2,182,756)
706,096
972,453
36,280
—
1,008,733
659
44,804
95,067
30,618
11,609
95,989
28,079
152,341
(252,660)
206,506
318,543
58,882
2,562
379,987
(302,637)
(173,481)
184,136
(486,773)
(302,637)
45,407
(218,888)
(173,481)
(i) The valuation allowance is considered on an individual entity basis. As of December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Company had tax
operating loss carry forwards of RMB4,776,552, RMB7,967,053 and RMB609,363, respectively, which can be carried forward to offset
taxable income. The net operating losses will expire in the years from 2021 to 2024 if not utilized. The Group has recognized a valuation
allowance against deferred tax assets of RMB3,280,677, RMB2,182,756 and RMB252,660 for the years ended December 31, 2017,
2018 and 2019, respectively.
The authoritative guidance requires that the Group recognizes the impact of a tax position in the financial statements if that position is more likely
than not of being sustained upon audit by the tax authority, based on the technical merits of the position. Under the PRC laws and regulations,
arrangements and transactions among related parties may be subject to examination by the PRC tax authorities. If the PRC tax authorities determine
that the contractual arrangements among related companies do not represent a price under normal commercial terms, they may make adjustments to
the companies’ income and expenses. A transfer pricing adjustment could result in additional tax liabilities.
The Group did not identify significant unrecognized tax benefits for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The Group did not incur
any interest related to unrecognized tax benefits, did not recognize any penalties as income tax expenses and also does not anticipate any significant
change in unrecognized tax benefits within 12 months from December 31, 2019.
F-44
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
9. INCOME TAXES — continued
Under the EIT Law and its implementation rules, a withholding tax at 10%, unless reduced by a tax treaty or arrangement, is applied on dividends
received by non-PRC-resident corporate investors from the PRC-resident enterprises, such as the Company’s PRC subsidiaries. Under the China-HK
Tax Arrangement and the relevant regulations, a qualified Hong Kong tax resident which is the “beneficial owner” and holds 25% equity interests or
more of a PRC enterprise is entitled to a reduced withholding rate of 5%. The Company believes that Yiren Digital HK will apply the 10%
withholding tax rate. On July 29, 2017, the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company approved a special cash dividend of RMB5.0845
(US$0.75) per ordinary share of the Company (or RMB10.1690 (US$1.50) per American depositary share of the Company, which was paid on
October 16, 2017 to holders of the Company’s ordinary shares of record as of the close of business on September 29, 2017. On July 29, 2017, the
Board also approved a semi-annual dividend policy. Under this policy, semi-annual dividends are set at an amount equivalent to approximately 15%
of the Company’s anticipated net income after tax in each half year commencing from the second half of 2017, which are derived from the earnings
of the Group’s PRC companies. As a result, the Company incurred and paid withholding tax of RMB60.0 million for the special cash dividend in
August 2017, and accrued deferred tax liabilities of RMB11.3 million related to semi-annual dividends as of December 31, 2017, which was
subsequently paid in May 2018. On August 14, 2018, the Board decided to terminate the semi-annual dividend policy going forward.
Aggregate undistributed earnings of the Company’s PRC subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs that are available for distribution were
approximately RMB3,993 million and RMB5,138 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. A deferred tax liability should be
recorded for taxable temporary differences attributable to the excess of financial reporting amounts over tax basis amount in the PRC subsidiaries
and the consolidated VIEs. However, the aggregate undistributed earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs and its
subsidiaries located in the PRC that are available for distribution as of December 31, 2019 are considered to be indefinitely reinvested and
accordingly, no provision has been made for the Chinese dividend withholding taxes that would be payable upon the distribution of those amounts to
any entity within the Group that is outside the PRC.
F-45
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
10. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Share incentive plan
In September 2015, the Company adopted the 2015 Share Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), and in July 2017, the Company adopted the 2017 Share
Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”), which permits the grant of three types of awards: options, restricted shares and restricted share units (“RSUs”).
Persons eligible to participate in the 2015 Plan and the 2017 Plan include employees (including part-time employees) and the directors of the
Company or any of affiliates, which include CreditEase, its subsidiaries and any entities in which CreditEase or a subsidiary of the Company holds a
substantial ownership interest. According to the resolutions of the Board and the shareholders of the Company in July 2017, the 2015 Plan was
amended. Under the amended 2015 plan, the maximum ordinary shares available for issuance were decreased to 3,939,100. Under the 2017 Plan, the
maximum of 6,060,900 ordinary shares were reserved for issuance.
The Company approved four grants of RSUs to directors and employees of the Group and CreditEase and its consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs. On
July 1, 2016, 4,034,100 RSUs were granted under the 2015 Plan. On July 1, 2017, 2018 and 2019, 3,744,782, 2,488,540 and 43,386 RSUs were
granted under the 2017 Plan, respectively. Approximately 59.9%, 34.1%, 31.9% and 20.0% of the share awards were immediately vested and the rest
is expected to be vested in various days up to four and five years, respectively. The grant date fair value of the awards was US$7.25, US$12.50,
US$10.61 and US$6.92 per ordinary share, which was determined based on the closing price of the Company’s ADSs on The NewYork Stock
Exchange on July 1, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Out of all the RSUs granted, 1,298,000 RSUs were granted to directors and employees of the Group under the 2015 Plan on July 1, 2016, 2,816,702,
1,600,540 and 43,386 RSUs under the 2017 Plan on July 1, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The awards granted to the employees of the Group
are recognized as share-based compensation expenses, and measured based on the fair value as of the grant date. The Company recognized
compensation expenses in general and administrative expense of RMB125,569, RMB119,998 and RMB43,941 for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
The remaining 2,736,100 RSUs were granted to employees of CreditEase and its consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs under the 2015 Plan on July 1,
2016, 928,080 and 888,000 RSUs under the 2017 Plan on July 1, 2017, and 2018, respectively. The awards granted to employees of CreditEase and
its consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs were recognized as deemed dividend from the Company to CreditEase as the employees of CreditEase do not
provide services directly related to the Company. The awards are measured based on the fair value as of the grant date. The amount recognized as
deemed dividend were RMB65,014, RMB50,117 and RMB15,497 for the years ended December 31, 2017,2018 and 2019, respectively.
The total fair value of RSUs vested for the years ended on December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB137,708, RMB125,477 and RMB88,446,
respectively.
RSUs
A summary of RSUs activities for the year ended December 31 2019 is as follows:
Outstanding as of December 31, 2018
Granted
Vested
Forfeited
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019
Number of RSUs
3,685,670
43,386
(1,218,190)
(592,420)
1,918,446
Weighted-Average Grant-Date
Fair Value
US$
10.91
6.92
10.51
11.28
10.96
As of December 31, 2019, unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested awards granted to employees of the Group, adjusted for estimated
forfeitures, was RMB40,790. This cost is expected to be recognized over 2.3 years on an accelerated basis.
As of December 31, 2019, unrecognized deemed dividend related to unvested awards granted to employees of CreditEase and its consolidated
subsidiaries and VIEs, adjusted for estimated forfeitures, was RMB12,513. Such deemed dividend will be recorded over 2.3 years on an accelerated
basis.
F-46
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YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
11. SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
In June 2018, the Board authorized a share repurchase program under which the Company may repurchase up to US$20 million worth of its ADSs.
The share repurchases may be made in accordance with applicable laws and regulations through open market transactions, privately negotiated
transactions or other legally permissible means as determined by the management.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company had repurchased 2,000 ADSs for RMB254 and 366,686 ADSs for RMB36,843
(US$5,292) on the open market, at a weighted average price of US$18.46 per ADS and US$14.87 per ADS, respectively. The Company accounts for
the repurchased ordinary shares under the cost method and includes such treasury stock as a component of the shareholders’ equity.
12. NET (LOSS)/INCOME PER SHARE AND NET (LOSS)/INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS
As described in Note 1, Yiren Digital acquired the Acquired Businesses which were accounted for as an acquisition under common control. Part of
the transaction price included issuance of 61,981,412 ordinary shares by the Group. For purposes of calculating net (loss)/income per share, the
weighted average shares prior to the acquisitions have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the acquisitions for all historical periods presented.
The basic and diluted net (loss)/income per share for each of the years presented are calculated as follows:
Numerator:
Net (loss)/income
Denominator:
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic
Plus incremental weighted average ordinary shares from assumed vesting of
RSUs using the treasury stock method
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, diluted
Basic net (loss)/income per share
Diluted net (loss)/income per share (i)
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
182,438,985
184,225,643
185,219,586
—
182,438,985
2,044,872
186,270,515
1,315,878
186,535,464
(1.0309)
(1.0309)
8.5754
8.4813
6.2391
6.1951
(i) No RSUs were excluded from the computation of diluted net (loss)/income per share for the year ended December 31, 2017 because their
effect was anti-dilutive.
F-47
Table of Contents
13. LEASES
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
The Group leases certain office premises to support its core business under non-cancelable leases. The Group determines if an arrangement is a lease
at inception. Some lease agreements contain lease and non-lease components, which the Group chooses not to account for as separate components as
the Group has elected the practical expedient. As of December 31, 2019, the Group had no long-term leases that were classified as a financing lease.
As of December 31, 2019, the Group had no significant lease contract that has been entered into but not yet commenced.
A summary of supplemental information related to operating leases as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:
Operating lease ROU assets
Operating lease liabilities
Operating leases - Weighted average remaining lease term
Operating leases - Weighted average discount rate
Year ended
December 31, 2019
334,134
282,334
1.88 years
4.19%
A summary of lease cost recognized and recorded in sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of
operations and supplemental cash information related to operating leases is as follows:
Operating lease cost
Short-term lease cost
Total(*)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows for operating leases
Non-cash ROU assets in exchange for new lease liabilities:
Operating leases
Year ended
December 31,2019
283,834
9,724
293,558
281,425
157,120
(*) The lease expenses based on ASC840 were RMB320,168 and RMB310,072 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
As of December 31, 2019, the maturity of operating lease liabilities under the Group’s non-cancelable operating leases is as follows:
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024 and thereafter
Subtotal
Less: imputed interest
Present value of operating lease liabilities
As of December 31, 2019
RMB
193,478
82,128
17,944
454
—
294,004
(11,670)
282,334
The future minimum lease payments under the Group’s non-cancelable operating leases consisted of the following as of December 31, 2018:
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023 and thereafter
Total
As of December 31,2018
RMB
251,371
140,735
36,223
4,327
—
432,656
F-48
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
14. SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Group’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer who reviews the consolidated results of
operations when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Group. As a result of the acquisition under common
control during 2019, the Group changed its internal organization structure and changed its reportable segments from one to two: Yiren Wealth and
Yiren Credit. Yiren Wealth conducts wealth management business and Yiren Credit focuses on consumer credit business. The corresponding segment
information for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 was restated to reflect such change.
The summary of each segment’s operating results for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 is as follows:
Net revenue:
Wealth management
Consumer credit
Total net revenue
Operating costs and expenses:
Wealth management
Consumer credit
Income from operations:
Wealth management
Consumer credit
Total segment income from operations
Unallocated expense
Other income
Income before provision for income taxes
2017
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
1,234,851
10,299,957
11,534,808
(1,133,241)
(10,173,477)
101,610
126,480
228,090
(307,826)
267,812
188,076
1,986,960
9,257,154
11,244,114
(1,561,310)
(8,561,264)
425,650
695,890
1,121,540
(345,394)
1,007,246
1,783,392
2,176,215
6,440,569
8,616,784
(915,202)
(6,194,071)
1,261,013
246,498
1,507,511
(379,482)
268,990
1,397,019
All of the Group’s revenue were generated from the PRC and all of long-lived assets of the Group were located in the PRC. Depreciation and
amortization expenses of Wealth management for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB1,836, RMB3,018 and RMB2,690,
respectively, while such expenses of Consumer credit for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019 were RMB116,364, RMB107,920 and
RMB89,912, respectively.
15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT 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, unemployment insurance, employee housing fund and other welfare benefits are provided to employees. The Group accrues
for these benefits based on certain percentages of the employees’ salaries. The total contribution for such employee benefits were RMB708,485,
RMB810,275 and RMB682,006 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively.
F-49
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — continued
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017, 2018 AND 2019
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
16. STATUTORY RESERVES AND RESTRICTED NET ASSETS
In accordance with the PRC laws and regulations, the Company’s PRC subsidiaries, the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries
are required to make appropriation to certain statutory reserves, namely general reserve, enterprise expansion reserve, and staff welfare and bonus
reserve, all of which are appropriated from net profit as reported in their PRC statutory accounts. The Group’s PRC entities are required to
appropriate at least 10% of their after-tax profits to the general reserve until such reserve has reached 50% of their respective registered capital.
Appropriations to the enterprise expansion reserve and the staff welfare and bonus reserve are to be made at the discretion of the board of directors of
each of the Group’s PRC entities. There were no appropriations to these reserves by the Group’s PRC entities for the years ended December 31,
2017, 2018 and 2019.
As a result of the PRC laws and regulations and the requirement that distributions by the PRC entity can only be paid out of distributable profits
computed in accordance with the PRC GAAP, the PRC entity is restricted from transferring a portion of its net assets to the Company. Amounts
restricted include paid-in capital, capital reserve and statutory reserves of the Company’s PRC entities. As of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the
aggregated amounts of paid-in capital, capital reserve and statutory reserves represented the amount of net assets of the relevant entities of the Group
not available for distribution amounted to RMB939,965 and RMB7,342,556 respectively (including the statutory reserve fund of RMB404,879 and
RMB499,675 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively).
17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingencies
The Group is subject to periodic legal or administrative proceedings in the ordinary course of business. The Group does not believe that any legal or
administrative proceeding to which the Group is a party will have a material effect on its business or financial condition.
18. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Starting from January 2020, a novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19, has spread rapidly to many parts of China and other parts of the world. The
epidemic has resulted in quarantines, travel restrictions, and the temporary closure of stores and facilities in China and elsewhere. Substantially all of
the Group’s revenue and workforce are concentrated in China. Consequently, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in the suspension of the
Group’s offline customer acquisition activities in February and March 2020. This has impacted the Group’s operations which resulted in an increase
in delinquency volatilities and a significant decrease in revenues and loan volumes in the first quarter of 2020. Due to the Chinese government’s
containment measures of COVID-19 during this period, which has been effective to date, there has been an initial recovery in the Group’s operations
since April 2020. The situation remains dynamic and the extent to which COVID-19 will impact the business of the Group will depend on future
developments of the outbreak, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. As such, the financial impact of the Group of COVID-19 cannot be
reasonably estimated at this time.
In January 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with CreditEase for the acquisition of four licensed companies from CreditEase. RMB726
million was subsequently paid to CreditEase as a deposit for the acquisition. The acquisition has not yet closed as of the date of the consolidated
financial statements were issued.
In January 2020, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Varengold Capital Securities Limited (“Varengold Securities”) for a total
consideration of RMB13 million. Varengold Securities is a securities dealer registered with Hong Kong Securities and Future Commission
possessing Type 1 and Type 2 License.
The Company is in the process of completing its accounting evaluation on the above transaction.
In January 2020, the Company established a new VIE, Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (“Beijing Kechuang”), to develop its credit
card related business.
F-50
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
SCHEDULE I-CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Amounts due from its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs
Available-for-sale investments
Investments in its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs
Total assets
Liabilities:
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Amounts due to its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs
Amounts due to related parties
Deficits of investments in its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs
Total liabilities
Equity:
Ordinary shares (US$0.0001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized;
123,132,842 and 186,332,444 shares issued as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively; 123,128,842 and 185,595,072 shares outstanding as of
December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively)
Treasury stock (4,000 and 737,372 shares as of December 31, 2018 and 2019,
respectively)
Additional paid-in capital
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Accumulated deficit
Total (deficit)/equity
Total liabilities and (deficit)/equity
F-51
December 31,
2018
RMB
December 31,
2019
RMB
December 31,
2019
US$
131,534
2,748
267,152
82,465
—
483,899
8,833
—
—
838,479
847,312
68,438
2,639
905,015
85,129
3,682,743
4,743,964
6,497
200,331
47,046
—
253,874
77
121
(254)
1,293,968
16,390
(1,673,594)
(37,097)
5,038,691
21,855
(533,480)
(363,413)
4,490,090
483,899
4,743,964
9,831
379
129,997
12,228
528,992
681,427
933
28,776
6,758
—
36,467
17
(5,329)
723,763
3,139
(76,630)
644,960
681,427
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
SCHEDULE I-CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Operating expenses
Interest income
Non-operating income, net
Share of (loss)/income of its subsidiaries and the consolidated
VIEs
Net (loss)/income
2017
RMB
(142,225)
5,411
778
Year ended December 31,
2018
RMB
(129,942)
5,362
761
2019
RMB
(62,789)
5,280
795
(52,038)
1,703,629
1,212,325
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
Basic net (loss)/income per share
(1.0309)
8.5754
6.2391
2019
US$
(9,019)
758
114
174,140
165,993
0.8962
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, basic
182,438,985
184,225,643
185,219,586
185,219,586
Diluted net (loss)/income per share
(1.0309)
8.4813
6.1951
0.8899
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding,
diluted
182,438,985
186,270,515
186,535,464
186,535,464
F-52
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
SCHEDULE I-CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS)/INCOME
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Net (loss)/income
Other comprehensive (loss)/income, net of tax of nil: Foreign
currency translation adjustment
Unrealized (losses)/gains on available-for-sale investments
Comprehensive (loss)/income
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2019
US$
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
165,993
(17,979)
(411)
(206,464)
F-53
7,737
(2,414)
1,626
3,839
234
551
1,585,133
1,161,076
166,778
Table of Contents
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
SCHEDULE I-CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data, or otherwise noted)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss)/income
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash
provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Share of income/(loss) of its subsidiaries and the
consolidated VIEs
Share-based compensation
Dividends received
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Amounts due from/to its subsidiaries and the consolidated
VIEs
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments
Redemption of held-to-maturity investments
Purchase of available-for-sale investments
Proceeds on disposal of available-for-sale investments
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Dividends paid to shareholders
Repurchase of ordinary shares
2017
RMB
2018
RMB
2019
RMB
Year ended December 31,
2019
US$
(188,074)
1,579,810
1,155,611
165,993
(1,703,629)
119,998
—
(2,405)
(5,944)
(1,212,325)
43,941
—
109
(2,337)
(12,170)
(15,001)
52,038
125,569
540,000
348
10,899
540,780
(11,523)
(326)
34,347
(35,164)
—
(12,666)
(6,678)
—
—
(46,379)
—
(53,057)
(605,238)
—
(106,626)
(254)
(13,867)
—
—
(91,050)
93,343
(11,574)
—
(36,843)
(36,843)
322
(63,096)
131,534
68,438
(174,140)
6,312
—
16
(336)
(2,155)
(1,991)
—
—
(13,079)
13,408
(1,662)
—
(5,292)
(5,292)
46
(9,063)
18,894
9,831
Net cash used in financing activities
(605,238)
(106,880)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
(17,163)
(94,287)
394,505
300,218
F-54
3,423
(168,684)
300,218
131,534
Table of Contents
SCHEDULE I-NOTES TO THE CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
1.
BASIS FOR PREPARATION
YIREN DIGITAL LTD.
The condensed financial information of the Parent Company has been prepared using the same accounting policies as set out in the Group’s
consolidated financial statements, except that the Parent Company used the equity method to account for investments in its subsidiaries and the
consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. The footnote disclosures contain supplemental information
relating to the operations of the Group and, as such, these statements should be read in conjunction with the notes to the consolidated financial
statements.
2.
INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES AND VIES
The Company, its subsidiaries, the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements
where the inter-company balances and transactions are eliminated upon consolidation. For the purpose of the Parent Company’s stand-alone financial
statements, its investments in its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries are reported using the equity method
of accounting. The Parent Company’s share of income and losses of its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’
subsidiaries are reported as shares of income/(loss) of its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs and the consolidated VIEs’ subsidiaries in the
condensed financial information to the Parent Company.
3.
AMOUNTS DUE FROM/TO ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND THE CONSOLIDATED VIES
Amounts due from its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs represent an interest-free, unsecured and repayable on demand loan provided to Yiren
Digital HK and Hengcheng and dividend receivable from Yiren Digital HK. Amounts due to its subsidiaries and the consolidated VIEs represent
amounts paid by its subsidiaries on behalf of the Parent Company.
4.
AMOUNTS DUE TO RELATED PARTIES
As of December 31, 2019, amounts due to related parties represent the amounts payable to Puxin for the disposal of Huimin.
F-55
Exhibit 2.4
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 two ordinary shares of Yiren Digital Ltd., (“we,” “our,” “our company,” or “us”) are listed and
traded on the New York Stock Exchange and, in connection with this listing (but not for trading), the 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 ordinary shares and (ii) the holders of ADSs. ordinary shares
underlying the ADSs are held by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as depositary, and holders of ADSs will not be treated as holders of the
ordinary shares.
Description of Ordinary Shares
The following is a summary of material provisions of our currently effective 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. 333-208056).
Type and Class of Securities (Item 9.A.5 of Form 20-F)
Each ordinary share has US$0.0001 par value. The number of 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 on Form 20-F filed on May 15, 2020 (the “2019 Form 20-F”). Our ordinary shares are
issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members. We may not issue shares to bearer. Subject to the applicable securities
laws, regulations and listing rules where the securities of the Company are listed, you may refer to “—Transfer of Ordinary Shares” for restrictions on share
transfer.
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)
Not applicable.
Rights of Other Types of Securities (Item 9.A.7 of Form 20-F)
Not applicable.
Rights of Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.3 of Form 20-F)
Ordinary Shares.
Our ordinary shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members. Our shareholders who are not residents of the
Cayman Islands may freely hold and vote their shares.
Dividends.
The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. In addition, our shareholders may by an
ordinary resolution declare a dividend, but no dividend may exceed the amount recommended by our directors. Under Cayman Islands law, dividends may
be declared and paid only out of funds legally available therefor, namely out of either profit or our share premium account, provided that a dividend may
not be paid if this would result in our company being unable to pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business.
Voting Rights.
In respect of all matters subject to a shareholders’ vote, each ordinary share is entitled to one vote. 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 one or more shareholders who together hold not less than 10%
of the votes attaching to the total ordinary shares present in person or by proxy. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each ordinary share registered in
his or her name on our register of members.
A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of one or more shareholders present and holding shares which represent, in aggregate, not less
than one-third of the votes attaching to all issued and outstanding shares in our company entitled to vote at shareholders’ meeting. Shareholders may be
present in person or by proxy or, if the shareholder is a legal entity, by its duly authorized representative. Shareholders’ meetings may be convened by our
board of directors on its own initiative or by the chairman of our board of directors or upon a request to the directors by shareholders holding shares which
represent, in aggregate, no less than one-third of the votes attaching to our voting share capital in issue. Advance notice of at least seven days is required for
the convening of our annual general shareholders’ meeting and any other general shareholders’ meeting.
An ordinary resolution to be passed at a meeting by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast by those
shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less
than two-thirds of the votes attaching to the ordinary shares cast by those shareholders entitled to vote who are present in person or by proxy at a general
meeting. Both ordinary resolutions and special resolutions may also be passed by a unanimous written resolution signed by all the shareholders of our
company, as permitted by the Companies Law and our memorandum and articles of association. A special resolution will be required for important matters
such as a change of name or making changes to our memorandum or articles of association. Holders of the ordinary shares may, among other things, divide
or consolidate their shares by ordinary resolution.
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Transfer of Ordinary Shares.
Subject to the restrictions 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:
· the instrument of transfer is lodged with us, accompanied by the certificate for the ordinary shares to which it relates and such other evidence as
our board of directors may reasonably require to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer;
· the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of shares;
· the instrument of transfer is properly stamped, if required;
· in the case of a transfer to joint holders, the number of joint holders to whom the ordinary share is to be transferred does not exceed four; and
· a fee of such maximum sum as the NYSE 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 requirements of the NYSE, 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.
Liquidation.
On a winding up of our company, if the assets available for distribution among our shareholders shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the
share capital at the commencement of the winding up, the surplus will be distributed among our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares
held by them at the commencement of the winding up, subject to a deduction from those shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies
payable to our company for unpaid calls or otherwise. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets
will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders in proportion to the par value of the shares held by them. We are a “limited liability”
company incorporated under the Companies Law, and under the Companies Law, the liability of our members is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid on
the shares respectively held by them. Our memorandum of association contains a declaration that the liability of our members is so limited.
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Calls on Shares and Forfeiture of Shares.
Our board of directors may from time to time make calls upon shareholders for any amounts unpaid on their shares in a notice served to such shareholders
at least 14 days prior to the specified time and place of payment. The shares that have been called upon and remain unpaid are subject to forfeiture.
Redemption, Repurchase and Surrender of Ordinary Shares.
We may issue shares on terms that such shares are subject to redemption, at our option or at the option of the holders thereof, on such terms and in such
manner as may be determined, before the issue of such shares, by our board of directors or by a special resolution of our shareholders. Our company may
also repurchase any of our shares provided that the manner and terms of such purchase have been approved by our board of directors or by ordinary
resolution of our shareholders, or are otherwise authorized by our memorandum and articles of association. Under the Companies Law, the redemption or
repurchase of any share may be paid out of our company’s profits or out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of such redemption
or repurchase, or out of capital (including share premium account and capital redemption reserve) if the company can, immediately following such
payment, pay its debts as they fall due in the ordinary course of business. In addition, under the Companies 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 Ordinary Shares (Item 10.B.4 of Form 20-F)
Variations of Rights 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) may be varied with
the consent in writing of the holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or series or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a separate
meeting of the holders of the shares of that class or series. The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class issued 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.
Limitations on the Rights to Own 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 ordinary shares.
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Provisions Affecting Any Change of Control (Item 10.B.7 of Form 20-F)
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:
· authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders; 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.
Ownership Threshold (Item 10.B.8 of Form 20-F)
There are no provisions under Cayman Islands law applicable to the Company, or under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, 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 United Kingdom 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 United States 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 comparable provisions of 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, (a) “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 (b) a “consolidation” means the combination
of two or more constituent companies into a combined 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 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. Dissenting shareholders have the
right to be paid the fair value of their shares (which, if not agreed between the parties, will be determined by the Cayman Islands court) if they follow the
required procedures, subject to certain exceptions. Court approval is not required for a merger or consolidation which is effected in compliance with these
statutory procedures.
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In addition, there are statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction and amalgamation of companies, provided that the arrangement is approved by a
majority in number of each class of shareholders or 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 Grand Court of the
Cayman Islands 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.
When a takeover 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 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 is thus approved, the dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, 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.
Shareholders’ Suits. In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a wrong done to us as a company and a derivative action may ordinarily
not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authority, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority in the Cayman
Islands, the Cayman Islands courts can be expected (and have had occasion) to follow and apply the common law principles (namely the rule in Foss v.
Harbottle and the exceptions thereto) so that a minority shareholder may be permitted to commence a representative action against, or derivative actions in
the name of, our company to challenge:
· an act which is ultra vires the company or illegal and is therefore incapable of ratification by the shareholders,
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· an act which constitutes a fraud against the minority where the wrongdoers are themselves in control of the company, or
· an act which requires a resolution with a qualified (or special) majority (i.e. more than a simple majority) which has not been obtained.
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 require us to indemnify our officers and directors for all actions, proceedings, costs, charges, expenses,
losses, damages or liabilities incurred or sustained by such Indemnified Person, other than by reason of such Indemnified Person’s own dishonesty, wilful
default or fraud, in or about the conduct of the 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 Indemnified Person in defending (whether successfully or otherwise) any civil proceedings concerning the 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 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.
7
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 in good faith in the best interests of the company, a duty not to make a personal
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
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.
Cayman Islands law provides shareholders with only limited rights to requisition a general meeting, and does not provide shareholders with any right to put
any proposal before a general meeting. However, these rights may be provided in articles of association. Our Memorandum and Articles of Association
allow our shareholders holding not less than one-third of all voting power of our share capital in issue to requisition a shareholder’s meeting, in which case
our directors are obliged to call such 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 other right to put proposal before a meeting. As an
exempted Cayman Islands company, we are not obliged by law to call shareholders’ annual general meetings.
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.
8
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.
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 purpose and not with the effect of
constituting a fraud on the minority shareholders.
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. Under the Companies Law and our
Memorandum and Articles of Association, our company may be dissolved, liquidated or wound up by a special resolution of our shareholders, or by an
ordinary resolution on the basis that our company is unable to pay its debts as they fall due.
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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 our Memorandum and Articles of
Association, if our share capital is divided into more than one class of shares, we may vary the rights attached to any class with the written consent of the
holders of a majority of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a 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 Cayman Islands law, our
Memorandum and Articles of Association may only be amended with 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 under Cayman Islands law applicable to
the Company, or in our Memorandum and Articles of Association that require the Company to disclose shareholder ownership above any particular
ownership threshold.
Changes in Capital (Item 10.B.10 of Form 20-F)
Our shareholders may from time to time by ordinary resolution:
· increase our share capital by such sum, to be divided into shares of such classes and amount, as the resolution shall prescribe;
· consolidate and divide all or any of our share capital into shares of a larger amount than our existing shares;
· sub-divide our existing shares, or any of them into shares of a smaller amount, provided that in the subdivision the proportion between the amount
paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each reduced share shall be the same as it was in case of the share from which the reduced share is derived;
or
· cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person and diminish the
amount of our share capital by the amount of the shares so cancelled.
Our shareholders may by special resolution, subject to confirmation by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands on an application by our company for an
order confirming such reduction, reduce our share capital or any capital redemption reserve in any manner permitted by law.
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 two 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 is 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 don’t treat ADS holders as our shareholders and accordingly, you, as an ADS holder, do not have shareholder rights. Cayman Islands law governs
shareholder rights. The depositary is the holder of the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADSs, you will have ADS holder rights. A
deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADS holder, and the beneficial owners of 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. The deposit agreement has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on
Form F-6 (File No. 333-208437) for our company. The form of ADR is on file with the SEC (as a prospectus) and was filed on December 18, 2015.
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. 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.
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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 ordinary shares or other deposited
securities, after deducting its fees and expenses. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of ordinary shares your ADSs represent as
of the record date (which will be as close as practicable to the record date for our ordinary shares) set by the depositary with respect to the ADSs.
· Cash. The depositary will convert or cause to be converted any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the ordinary shares or any net
proceeds from the sale of any 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 possible 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 or 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. See “Taxation.” It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round 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 ordinary shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution, either (1) the depositary will distribute additional ADSs
representing such ordinary shares or (2) existing ADSs as of the applicable record date will represent rights and interests in the additional 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
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 ordinary shares sufficient to pay its fees and expenses in connection with that distribution.
· Elective Distributions in Cash or Shares. If we offer holders of our 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 ordinary shares for which no election is made, distribute either cash in the
same way as it does in a cash distribution, or additional ADSs representing 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 ordinary
shares.
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· Rights to Purchase Additional Shares. If we offer holders of our 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 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.
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 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 ADSs issued?
The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposit ordinary shares or evidence of rights to receive 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 ADS 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 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 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 ordinary shares. However, you may not know about the meeting
sufficiently enough in advance to withdraw the 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 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 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
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 rights of holders of the ordinary shares would be materially and adversely affected.
We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can instruct the depositary to vote the 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 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 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 such memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of any markets or exchanges upon which the
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 ordinary shares are listed or
traded, or pursuant to any requirements of any electronic book-entry system by which the ADSs, ADRs or ordinary shares may be transferred, to the same
extent as if such ADS holder or beneficial owner held 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 New York Stock
Exchange and any other stock exchange on which the 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.
Fees and Expenses
As an ADS holder, you 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 your ADSs):
Service
· To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a distribution is made in respect of
Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued
Fees
ADS distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock,
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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
Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
Up to US$0.05 per ADS held
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
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
As an ADS holder, you 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 your
ADSs) such as:
·
·
·
·
·
·
Fees for the transfer and registration of ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the ordinary shares in Cayman Islands
(i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of 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 ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit).
Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of ordinary shares on deposit.
Fees and expenses incurred in connection with complying with exchange control regulations and other regulatory requirements applicable to
ordinary shares, deposited securities, ADSs and ADRs.
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·
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 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.
The depositary has agreed to pay certain amounts to us in exchange for its appointment as depositary. We may use these funds towards our expenses
relating to the establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses, or otherwise as we see fit. The depositary may
pay us a fixed amount, it may pay us a portion of the fees collected by the depositary from holders of ADSs, and it may pay specific expenses incurred by
us in connection with the ADR program. Neither the depositary nor we may be able to determine the aggregate amount to be paid to us because (i) the
number of ADSs that will be issued and outstanding and the level of dividend and/or servicing fees to be charged may vary, and (ii) our expenses related to
the program may not be known at this time.
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
If we:
Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares
Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited
securities
Distribute securities on the 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
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited
securities.
Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities.
Then:
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.
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 60 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.
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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 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 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
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:
· 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, Cayman Island 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 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 indirect, special, consequential 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 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, ordinary shares or deposited securities, or (vi) 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.
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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.
In the deposit agreement, we and the depositary agree to indemnify each other under certain circumstances.
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 ordinary shares, the depositary may require:
·
·
·
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 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 Right to Receive the Shares Underlying Your ADSs
You have the right to cancel your ADSs and withdraw the underlying 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
ordinary shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (3) we are paying a dividend on our ordinary shares;
when you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges;
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·
·
·
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 ordinary shares or other deposited securities;
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.
The depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under the deposit agreement any 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 ordinary shares.
This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.
Pre-release of ADSs
The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying ordinary shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs.
The depositary may also deliver ordinary shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are cancelled before the pre-release transaction
has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying ordinary shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive
ADSs instead of ordinary shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (1) before or at the
time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer (a) owns the ordinary
shares or ADSs to be deposited, (b) agrees to indicate the depositary as owner of such ordinary shares or ADSs in its records and to hold such ordinary
shares or ADSs in trust for the depositary until such ordinary shares or ADSs are delivered to the depositary or the custodian, (c) unconditionally
guarantees to deliver such ordinary shares or ADSs to the depositary or the custodian, as the case may be, and (d) agrees to any additional restrictions or
requirements that the depositary deems appropriate; (2) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash, United States government securities or other
collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (3) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days’
notice. Each pre-release is subject to further indemnities and credit regulations as the depositary considers appropriate. In addition, the depositary will
normally limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release to 30% of the aggregate number of ADSs then
outstanding, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so.
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.
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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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Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
Exhibit 4.11
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of August 29, 2019 in Beijing, China:
(1) Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
(2) Ning Tang (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Loan Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”). The loan provided by the Lender to the
Borrower under the Prior Agreement shall be regarded as part of the loan provided by the Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement;
2. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 93% of equity interests in Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower
Company”). All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity
Interest;
3. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB930,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the amount of RMB 930,000,000 (the
“Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of this
Agreement, Lender shall within reasonable time period after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
2
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation
Agreement (“Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business
Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
(“Equity Interest Pledge Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations
under this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity
Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
4
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
5
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
Ning Tang
16/F, Tower C, SOHO Modern City, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
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6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
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8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement as of the
date firs above written.
Lender:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower:
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of August 29, 2019 in Beijing, China:
(1) Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
(2) Fanshun Kong (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Loan Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”). The loan provided by the Lender to the
Borrower under the Prior Agreement shall be regarded as part of the loan provided by the Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement;
2. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 0.9% of equity interests in Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower
Company”). All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity
Interest;
3. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB9,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the amount of RMB 9,000,000 (the
“Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of this
Agreement, Lender shall within reasonable time period after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation
Agreement (“Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business
Cooperation Agreement.
3
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
(“Equity Interest Pledge Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations
under this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity
Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
4
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
5
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
Fanshun Kong
16/F, Tower C, SOHO Modern City, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
6
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement as of the
date firs above written.
Lender:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower:
Fanshun Kong
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of August 29, 2019 in Beijing, China:
(1) Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
(2) Yan Tian (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Loan Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”). The loan provided by the Lender to the
Borrower under the Prior Agreement shall be regarded as part of the loan provided by the Lender to the Borrower under this Agreement;
2. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 6.1% of equity interests in Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower
Company”). All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity
Interest;
3. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB61,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the amount of RMB 61,000,000 (the
“Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of this
Agreement, Lender shall within reasonable time period after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
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1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
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1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
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3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation
Agreement (“Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business
Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
(“Equity Interest Pledge Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations
under this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity
Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
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3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
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4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
Yan Tian
Room 403, Unit 4, No. 6 Building, Le Fu Li, Weijin Road, Heping District, Tianjin
*****
*****
5.2 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
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6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Loan Agreement as of the
date firs above written.
Lender:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower:
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Exhibit 4.12
This Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on
August 29, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and
existing under the laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Ning Tang (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Equity Interest Pledge Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 93% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB930,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China, engaging in consulting and service business. Party C acknowledges the
respective rights and obligations of Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the
Pledge;
3. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below);Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
4. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 93% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB930,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party
C and Pledgee on August 29, 2019 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option
Agreement executed by and among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on August 29, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and Pledgor on August 29, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney
executed on August 29, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned
documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Loan
Agreement and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
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1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
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10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party B: Ning Tang
Address: 16/F, Tower C, SOHO Modern City, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
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Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Party C:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C;
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on
August 29, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and
existing under the laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Fanshun Kong (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Equity Interest Pledge Agreement dated August 29, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 0.9% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB9,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China, engaging in consulting and service business. Party C acknowledges the
respective rights and obligations of Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the
Pledge;
3. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below);Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
4. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 0.9% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB9,000,000 in the registered capital of
Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party
C and Pledgee on August 29, 2019 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option
Agreement executed by and among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on August 29, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and Pledgor on August 29, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney
executed on August 29, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned
documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Loan
Agreement and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
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1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
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10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party B: Fanshun Kong
Address: 16/F, Tower C, SOHO Modern City, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
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Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Fanshun Kong
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
Party C:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C;
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C;
3. Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
4. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on
August 29, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and
existing under the laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Yan Tian (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Equity Interest Pledge Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 6.1% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB 61,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China, engaging in consulting and service business. Party C acknowledges the
respective rights and obligations of Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the
Pledge;
3. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below); Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
4. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 6.1% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB 61,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party
C and Pledgee on August 29, 2019 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option
Agreement executed by and among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on August 29, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Amended and
Restated Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and Pledgor on August 29, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney
executed on August 29, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned
documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
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1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
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10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party B: Yan Tian
Address: Room 403, Unit 4, No. 6 Building, Le Fu Li, Weijin Road, Heping District, Tianjin
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
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Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
10
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Party C:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney
Exhibit 4.13
I, Ning Tang, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 93% of the entire registered capital in Heng Cheng
Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Hengcheng Technology”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Yi Ren
Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the
future in Hengcheng Technology (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Hengcheng Technology; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s
voting rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Hengcheng Technology’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer
or pledge or disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors,
supervisors, the chief executive officer and other senior management members of Hengcheng Technology.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Hengcheng
Technology on August 29, 2019 and the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Hengcheng
Technology on August 29, 2019 (including any modification, amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform
the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Hengcheng Technology, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and
valid from the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
I entered into a Power of Attorney dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Power of Attorney”), which will be terminated and replaced in its entirety and in
all aspects by this Power of Attorney.
This Power of Attorney is signed on August 29, 2019.
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Accepted by:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Name: Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Name: Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
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Power of Attorney
I, Fanshun Kong, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 0.9% of the entire registered capital in Heng Cheng
Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Hengcheng Technology”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Yi Ren
Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the
future in Hengcheng Technology (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Hengcheng Technology; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s
voting rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Hengcheng Technology’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer
or pledge or disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors,
supervisors, the chief executive officer and other senior management members of Hengcheng Technology.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Hengcheng
Technology on August 29, 2019 and the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Hengcheng
Technology on August 29, 2019 (including any modification, amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform
the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Hengcheng Technology, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and
valid from the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
I entered into a Power of Attorney dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Power of Attorney”), which will be terminated and replaced in its entirety and in
all aspects by this Power of Attorney.
This Power of Attorney is signed on August 29, 2019.
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Accepted by:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Fanshun Kong
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Name: Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Name: Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
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Power of Attorney
I, Yan Tian, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 6.1% of the entire registered capital in Heng Cheng
Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Hengcheng Technology”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Yi Ren
Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the
future in Hengcheng Technology (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Hengcheng Technology; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s
voting rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Hengcheng Technology’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer
or pledge or disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors,
supervisors, the chief executive officer and other senior management members of Hengcheng Technology.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Hengcheng
Technology on August 29, 2019 and the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Hengcheng
Technology on August 29, 2019 (including any modification, amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform
the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Hengcheng Technology, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and
valid from the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
I entered into a Power of Attorney dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Power of Attorney”), which will be terminated and replaced in its entirety and in
all aspects by this Power of Attorney.
This Power of Attorney is signed on August 29, 2019
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Accepted by:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Name: Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Name: Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
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Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the following
parties on August 29, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”).
Exhibit 4.14
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Party B: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Each of Party A and Party B shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas,
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”);
2. Party A is a wholly foreign owned enterprise established in China, and has the necessary resources to provide technical and consulting services;
3. Party B is a company established in China with exclusively domestic capital and is permitted to engage in internet information service by relevant
PRC government authorities. The businesses conducted by Party B currently and any time during the term of this Agreement are collectively referred
to as the “Principal Business”;
4. Party A is willing to provide Party B with technical support, consulting services and other services on exclusive basis in relation to the Principal
Business during the term of this Agreement, utilizing its advantages in technology, human resources, and information, and Party B is willing to accept
such services provided by Party A or Party A’s designee(s), each on the terms set forth herein.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
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1. Services Provided by Party A
1.1 Party B hereby appoints Party A as Party B’s exclusive services provider to provide Party B with comprehensive technical support,
consulting services and other services during the term of this Agreement, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including but not limited to the follows:
(1) Licensing Party B to use any software legally owned by Party A;
(2) Development, maintenance and update of software involved in Party B’s business;
(3) Design, installation, daily management, maintenance and updating of network system, hardware and database design;
(4) Technical support and training for employees of Party B;
(5) Assisting Party B in consultancy, collection and research of technology and market information (excluding market research
business that wholly foreign-owned enterprises are prohibited from conducting under PRC law);
(6) Providing business management consultation for Party B;
(7) Providing marketing and promotion services for Party B;
(8) Providing customer order management and customer services for Party B;
(9) Leasing of equipments or properties; and
(10) Other services requested by Party B from time to time to the extent permitted under PRC law.
1.2 Party B agrees to accept all the services provided by Party A. Party B further agrees that unless with Party A’s prior written consent,
during the term of this Agreement, Party B shall not directly or indirectly accept the same or any similar services provided by any third
party and shall not establish similar corporation relationship with any third party regarding the matters contemplated by this Agreement.
Party A may designate other parties, who may enter into certain agreements described in Section 1.3 with Party B, to provide Party B with
the services under this Agreement. For the purpose of this Agreement, Party A and other parties designated by Party A may be respectively
referred to as a “Service Provider,” or collectively as “Service Providers.”
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1.3 Service Providing Methodology
1.3.1 Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter into further service
agreements with Party A or any other party designated by Party A, which shall provide the specific contents, manner, personnel,
and fees for the specific services.
1.3.2 To fulfill this Agreement, Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter
into equipment or property leases with Party A or any other party designated by Party A which shall permit Party B to use Party A’s
relevant equipment or property based on the needs of the business of Party B.
1.3.3 Party B hereby grants to Party A an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase from Party B, at Party A’s sole discretion, any or
all of the assets and business of Party B, to the extent permitted under PRC law, at the lowest purchase price permitted by PRC
law. The Parties shall then enter into a separate assets or business transfer agreement, specifying the terms and conditions of the
transfer of the assets.
2. The Calculation and Payment of the Service Fees
2.1 The fees payable by Party B to Service Providers during the term of this Agreement shall be calculated as follows:
2.1.1 Party B shall pay service fee to Party A or to Service Providers as instructed by Party A in each month. The service fee for each
month shall consist of management fee and fee for services provided, which shall be determined or adjusted (if necessary) by the
Party A by considering the following factors. Party B shall accept such determination and adjustments.
(1) Complexity and difficulty of the services provided by Party A;
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(2) Title of and time consumed by employees of the Service Provider providing the services;
(3) Contents and value of the services provided by Party A;
(4) Market price of the same type of services;
(5) Operation conditions of the Party B.
2.1.2 If a Service Provider transfers technology to Party B or develops software or other technology as entrusted by Party B or leases
equipments or properties to Party B, the technology transfer price, development fees or rent shall be determined by Party A or the
Service Provider as instructed by Party A based on the actual situations.
3. Intellectual Property Rights and Confidentiality Clauses
3.1 Party A shall have exclusive and proprietary ownership, rights and interests in any and all intellectual properties arising out of or created
during the performance of this Agreement, including but not limited to copyrights, patents, patent applications, software, technical secrets,
trade secrets and others. Party B shall execute all appropriate documents, take all appropriate actions, submit all filings and/or
applications, render all appropriate assistance and otherwise conduct whatever is necessary as deemed by Party A at its sole discretion for
the purposes of vesting any ownership, right or interest of any such intellectual property rights in Party A, and/or perfecting the protections
for any such intellectual property rights in Party A.
3.2 The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the
Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall
maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not
disclose any relevant confidential information to any third party, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain
(other than through the receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable
laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by
any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder,
provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations
similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies
engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for
breach of this Agreement.
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4. Representations and Warranties
4.1 Party A hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.1.1 Party A is a wholly foreign owned enterprise legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China; Party A
or the service providers designated by Party A will obtain all government permits and licenses for providing the service under this
Agreement before providing such services.
4.1.2 Party A has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals from
third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party A’s
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation.
4.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Party A’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
4.2 Party B hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.2.1 Party B is a company legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China and has obtained and will
maintain all permits and licenses for engaging in the Principal Business in a timely manner.
4.2.2 Party B has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals from
third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party B’s
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation.
4.2.3 This Agreement constitutes Party B’s legal, valid and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms.
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5. Term of Agreement
5.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. Unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement or terminated in writing by Party A, this Agreement shall remain effective. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
5.2 During the term of this Agreement, each Party shall renew its operation term prior to the expiration thereof so as to enable this Agreement to
remain effective. This Agreement shall be terminated upon the expiration of the operation term of a Party if the application for renewal of
its operation term is not approved by relevant government authorities.
5.3 The rights and obligations of the Parties under Sections 3, 6, 7 and this Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
6. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
6.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
6.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request
to the other Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties.
6.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of
any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and
perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
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7. Breach of Agreement and Indemnification
7.1 If Party B conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or require
Party B to indemnify all damages; this Section 7.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein.
7.2 Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, Party B shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event.
7.3 Party B shall indemnify and hold harmless Party A from any losses, injuries, obligations or expenses caused by any lawsuit, claims or
other demands against Party A arising from or caused by the services provided by Party A to Party B pursuant this Agreement, except
where such losses, injuries, obligations or expenses arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Party A.
8. Force Majeure
8.1 In the case of any force majeure events (“Force Majeure”) such as earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire, flu, war, strikes or any other events that
cannot be predicted and are unpreventable and unavoidable by the affected Party, which directly or indirectly causes the failure of either
Party to perform or completely perform this Agreement, then the Party affected by such Force Majeure shall give the other Party written
notices without any delay, and shall provide details of such event within 15 days after sending out such notice, explaining the reasons for
such failure of, partial or delay of performance.
8.2 If such Party claiming Force Majeure fails to notify the other Party and furnish it with proof pursuant to the above provision, such Party
shall not be excused from the non-performance of its obligations hereunder. The Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure shall use
reasonable efforts to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure and to promptly resume performance hereunder whenever the
causes of such excuse are cured. Should the Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure fail to resume performance hereunder when
the causes of such excuse are cured, such Party shall be liable to the other Party.
8.3 In the event of Force Majeure, the Parties shall immediately consult with each other to find an equitable solution and shall use all
reasonable endeavours to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure.
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9. Notices
9.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth
below. A confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been
effectively given shall be determined as follows:
9.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on
the date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices.
9.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by
an automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
9.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Party B:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Facsimile:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
9.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
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10. Assignment
10.1 Without Party A’s prior written consent, Party B shall not assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any third party.
10.2 Party B agrees that Party A may assign its obligations and rights under this Agreement to any third party and in case of such assignment,
Party A is only required to give written notice to Party B and does not need any consent from Party B for such assignment.
11. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with
any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised
in any aspect. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that
accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as
close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
12. Amendments and Supplements
Any amendments and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing. The amendment agreements and supplementary agreements that have
been signed by the Parties and relate to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this
Agreement.
13. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy between
the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Exclusive Business Cooperation
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
Exhibit 4.15
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of August 29, 2019
in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of
the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Ning Tang, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Exclusive Option Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 93% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB930,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
3. Party A and Party B executed an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on August 29, 2019, according to which Party A
agreed to provide Party B with a loan in amount of RMB 930,000,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the registered capital of Party C.
4. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
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1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to
the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as
used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option shall
be RMB 930,000,000; if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity interests held by Party B in Party C,
the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than aforementioned price when Party A exercises
Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase price (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase
Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
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1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses
and permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to
the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof
and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Power of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment
and restatement thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
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2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in
any person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary
or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
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2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director)
of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the
transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against
all claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
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2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party
B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
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3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
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6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of China
in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party B: Ning Tang
Address: 16/F, Tower C, SOHO Modern City, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Choayang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
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7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential information
to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s unauthorized
disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court
or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial
advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors
shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the
shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and
such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement
and/or require the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
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11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but
not limited to the Prior Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with
effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Exclusive Option
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Party C:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of August 29, 2019
in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of
the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Fanshun Kong, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Exclusive Option Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 0.9% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB9,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
3. Party A and Party B executed an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on August 29, 2019, according to which Party A
agreed to provide Party B with a loan in amount of RMB 9,000,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the registered capital of Party C.
4. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
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1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to
the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as
used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option shall
be RMB 9,000,000; if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity interests held by Party B in Party C,
the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than aforementioned price when Party A exercises
Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase price (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase
Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
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1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses
and permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to
the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof
and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Power of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment
and restatement thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
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2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in
any person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary
or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
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2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director)
of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the
transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against
all claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
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2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party
B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
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3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder shall
be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other Parties
for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and Trade
Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The arbitration award
shall be final and binding on all Parties.
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6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party B: Fanshun Kong
Address: 16/F, Tower C, SOHO Modern City, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
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8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement
and/or require the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but
not limited to the Prior Agreement.
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11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with
effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Exclusive Option
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Fanshun Kong
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
Party C:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of August 29, 2019
in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of
the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Yan Tian, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Exclusive Option Agreement dated July 18, 2019 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 6.1% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB61,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
3. Party A and Party B executed an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on August 29, 2019, according to which Party A
agreed to provide Party B with a loan in amount of RMB 61,000,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the registered capital of Party C.
4. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
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1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to
the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as
used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option shall
be RMB 61,000,000; if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity interests held by Party B in Party C,
the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than aforementioned price when Party A exercises
Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase price (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase
Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
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1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses
and permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to
the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof
and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Power of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment
and restatement thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
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2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in
any person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary
or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
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2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director)
of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the
transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against
all claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
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2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party
B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
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3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
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6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party B: Yan Tian
Address: Room 403, Unit 4, No. 6 Building, Le Fu Li, Weijin Road, Heping District, Tianjin
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
Party C: Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1016, 10 FL, No.9 Building, No.91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Facsimile: *****
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7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement
and/or require the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
9
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but
not limited to the Prior Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with
effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Amended and Restated Exclusive Option
Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Party C:
Heng Cheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Loan Agreement
Exhibit 4.16
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of December 19, 2019 in Beijing, China:
(1) Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
(2) Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower”), a limited liability company organized and existing under the
laws of China, with its address at Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing;.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 73.47% of equity interests in Yiren Finance Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower
Company”). All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity
Interest;
2. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 720,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms:
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB
720,000,000 (the “Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term
of this Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s bankruptcy, winding up or liquidation;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to hold any equity interest in Borrower Company;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.3 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.5 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.6 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (“Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations under this Agreement, the
Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain from any action/omission
that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Borrower:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Lender: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Borrower: Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
This Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of December 19, 2019
in Beijing, China:
(1) Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
(2) Ning TANG (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”) . The loan provided by
the Lender to the Borrower under the Prior Agreement shall be regarded as part of the loan provided by the Lender to the Borrower under this
Agreement;
2. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 10.61% of equity interests in Yiren Finance Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower
Company”). All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity
Interest;
3. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower withd a loan which equals to RMB 104,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under
this Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB
104,000,000 (the “Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term
of this Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower.a The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
(“Equity Interest Pledge Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations
under this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity
Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Ning TANG
No.101, 5 Unit, East No.16 Building, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date firs above written.
Lender: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Borrower: Ning TANG
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
This Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of December 19, 2019
in Beijing, China:
(1) Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
(2) Fanshun KONG (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”). The loan provided by
the Lender to the Borrower under the Prior Agreement shall be regarded as part of the loan provided by the Lender to the Borrower under this
Agreement;
2. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 7.96% of equity interests in Yiren Finance Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower Company”).
All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity Interest;
3. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 78,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB
78,000,000 (the “Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term
of this Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
19
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
20
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
21
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
(“Equity Interest Pledge Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations
under this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity
Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
22
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
23
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Fanshun KONG
No.18, Yuntangkou, Lianzhou Town, Hepu County, Guangxi
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
24
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
25
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
26
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date firs above written.
Lender:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Borrower:
Fanshun KONG
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
This Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of December 19, 2019
in Beijing, China:
(1) Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
(2) Yan TIAN (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. The Parties hereto entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”). The loan provided by
the Lender to the Borrower under the Prior Agreement shall be regarded as part of the loan provided by the Lender to the Borrower under this
Agreement;
2. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 7.96% of equity interests in Yiren Finance Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Borrower Company”).
All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity Interest;
3. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 78,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
Now, therefore, the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB
78,000,000 (the “Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term
of this Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the
Loan shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During
the term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or
more of the following circumstances occur:
28
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
29
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
30
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
(“Equity Interest Pledge Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations
under this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity
Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
31
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
32
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Yan TIAN
No.403, Gate 4, No.6 Building, Lefu Li, Weijin Road, Heping District
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
33
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
34
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
35
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Lender:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Borrower:
Yan TIAN
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Exhibit 4.17
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on December 19, 2019 in Beijing,
the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a limited liability company organized and existing
under the laws of China, with its address at Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Pledgor is a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of China who as of the date hereof holds 73.47% of equity interests of
Party C, representing RMB720,000,000 in the registered capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party
C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in
registering the Pledge;
2. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as
defined below); Pledgee and Pledgor have executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below); Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined
below) in favor of Pledgee.
3. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms.
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1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 73.47% equity interests in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. currently held by Pledgor,
representing RMB720,000,000 in the registered capital of Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and all of the equity interest
hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
October 13, 2016 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and Pledgor on
December 19, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on
December 19, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on December 19, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of
Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred as
a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit forecast
of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses occurred in
connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
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2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness
under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 30 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that
for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an
equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge
hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be bound by the provisions of
this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the PRC laws
and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after
submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval
granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and other
obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons).
Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by
Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the
Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default
to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of
Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under applicable
PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on
the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee
shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity Interest
and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the
payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance
under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being borne by Pledgor.
To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to Pledgee or any other
person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of
the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any
objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each of
his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s),
in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the
original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
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10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest
pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge from
the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Attn: Lin MEI
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party B: Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Attn: Joanne LIU
Phone: *****
Email: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
18.3 As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall terminate automatically.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
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Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Loan Agreement
5. Exclusive Option Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
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Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on
December 19, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws
of the PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Ning TANG (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: ******; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. All the Parties hereto entered into an Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”);
2. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 10.61% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB104,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of
Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
3. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as
defined below); Pledgee and Pledgor have executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below); Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined
below) in favor of Pledgee.
4. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement, and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in
Party C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the
Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 10.61% equity interests in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. currently held by Pledgor,
representing RMB104,000,000 in the registered capital of Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and all of the equity interest
hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
October 13, 2016 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement executed by and between
Pledgee and Pledgor on December 19, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and
among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on December 19, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on December 19,
2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred as
a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit forecast
of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses occurred in
connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
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1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness
under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 30 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that
for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an
equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge
hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be bound by the provisions of
this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the PRC laws
and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after
submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval
granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and other
obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons).
Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by
Pledgee.
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6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the
Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default
to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of
Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under applicable
PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on
the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee
shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
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8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity Interest
and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the
payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance
under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being borne by Pledgor.
To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to Pledgee or any other
person designated by Pledgee.
8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of
the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any
objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each of
his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s),
in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the
original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
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10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest
pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge from
the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Attn: Lin MEI
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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Party B: Ning TANG
Address: No.101, 5 Unit, East No.16 Building, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Attn: Joanne LIU
Phone: *****
Email: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
18.3 As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall terminate automatically.
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19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Ning TANG
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
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Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
5. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
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Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on
December 19, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws
of the PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Fanshun KONG (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. All the Parties hereto entered into an Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”);
2. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 7.96% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB78,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of
Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
3. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as
defined below); Pledgee and Pledgor have executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below); Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined
below) in favor of Pledgee.
4. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 7.96% equity interests in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. currently held by Pledgor,
representing RMB78,000,000 in the registered capital of Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and all of the equity interest
hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
October 13, 2016 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement executed by and between
Pledgee and Pledgor on December 19, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and
among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on December 19, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on December 19,
2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred as
a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit forecast
of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses occurred in
connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
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1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness
under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
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3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 30 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that
for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an
equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge
hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be bound by the provisions of
this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the PRC laws
and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after
submission for filing.
3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval
granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and other
obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons).
Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by
Pledgee.
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6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the
Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default
to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of
Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under applicable
PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on
the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee
shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity Interest
and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the
payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance
under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being borne by Pledgor.
To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to Pledgee or any other
person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of
the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any
objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each of
his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s),
in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the
original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
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10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest
pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge from
the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Attn: Lin MEI
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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Party B: Fanshun KONG
Address: No.18, Yuntangkou, Lianzhou Town, Hepu County, Guangxi
Attn: Fanshun KONG
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Attn: Joanne LIU
Phone: *****
Email: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
18.3 As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall terminate automatically.
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19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Fanshun KONG
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
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Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
5. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
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Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on
December 19, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws
of the PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Yan TIAN (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. All the Parties hereto entered into an Amended and Restated Equity Interest Pledge Agreement dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”);
2. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 7.96% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB78,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of
Pledgor and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
3. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below); Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option Agreement (as
defined below); Pledgee and Pledgor have executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below); Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined
below) in favor of Pledgee.
4. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms, which will terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 7.96% equity interests in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. currently held by Pledgor,
representing RMB78,000,000 in the registered capital of Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and all of the equity interest
hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
October 13, 2016 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement executed by and between
Pledgee and Pledgor on December 19, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and
among Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor on December 19, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on
December 19, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred as
a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit forecast
of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses occurred in
connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
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1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured Indebtedness
under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
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3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 30 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant that
for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this Agreement or an
equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the information of the Pledge
hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be bound by the provisions of
this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures, as required by the PRC laws
and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the AIC as soon as possible after
submission for filing.
3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or approval
granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and other
obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal persons).
Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are required by
Pledgee.
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6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after the
Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of Default
to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of
Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under applicable
PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on
the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity Interest. The Pledgee
shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
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8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity Interest
and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment. After the
payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to such balance
under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being borne by Pledgor.
To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to Pledgee or any other
person designated by Pledgee.
8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of
the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise any
objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each of
his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its designee(s),
in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as if it were the
original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
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10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity Interest
pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge from
the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Attn: Lin MEI
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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Party B: Yan TIAN
Address: No.403, Gate 4, No.6 Building, Lefu Li, Weijin Road, Heping District
Attn: Yan TIAN
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Attn: Joanne LIU
Phone: *****
Email: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. This Agreement shall terminate and replace the Prior Agreement in its
entirety and in all aspects.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
18.3 As of the effective date of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall terminate automatically.
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19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Yan TIAN
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
12
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Amended and Restated Loan Agreement
5. Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
13
Power of Attorney
Exhibit 4.18
Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (the “Company”), a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws
of China, with its address at Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing, and a holder of 73.47% of the entire
registered capital in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Yiren Financial”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed,
hereby irrevocably authorize Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held
by the Company now and in the future in Yiren Financial (the “Company’s Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
The WFOE is hereby authorized to act on the Company’s behalf as the Company’s exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning
The Company’s Shareholding, including but not limited to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Yiren Financial; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights
and shareholder’s voting rights that I am entitled to under the relevant PRC laws and Yiren Financial’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to
the sale, transfer, pledge, or disposition of the Company’s Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designating and appointing on the Company’s behalf the
legal representative, directors, supervisors, chief executive officer, and other senior management members of Yiren Financial.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, the WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on the Company’s behalf, execute
all the documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among the Company, the WFOE, and Yiren Financial on
December 19, 2019 and the Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among the Company, the WFOE, and Yiren Financial on December 19, 2019
(including any modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto, collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”), and perform the terms of the
Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with the Company’s Shareholding conducted by the WFOE shall be deemed as the Company’s own actions, and all the
documents related to The Company’s Shareholding executed by the WFOE shall be deemed as executed by the Company. I hereby acknowledge and ratify
those actions and/or documents by the WFOE.
The WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to the Company or obtaining the Company’s consent. If required by PRC laws, the WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the
aforementioned rights.
During the period that the Company is a shareholder of Yiren Financial, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and
valid from the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with the Company’s Shareholding, which have been authorized to
the WFOE through this Power of Attorney, and the Company itself shall not exercise such rights.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
Pucheng Credit Assessment and
Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Date: December 19, 2019
Accepted by:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Power of Attorney
I, Ning TANG, a People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”) citizen with PRC Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 10.61% of the
entire registered capital in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Yiren Financial”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is
executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity
interests held by me now and in the future in Yiren Financial (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
The WFOE is hereby authorized to act on my behalf as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including but not limited to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Yiren Financial; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights that I am entitled to under the relevant PRC laws and Yiren Financial’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale, transfer, pledge,
or disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designating and appointing on my behalf the legal representative, directors, supervisors, chief
executive officer, and other senior management members of Yiren Financial.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, the WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on my behalf, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among myself, the WFOE, and Yiren
Financial on December 19, 2019 and the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, the WFOE, and Yiren Financial
on December 19, 2019 (including any modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto, collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”), and
perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by the WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by the WFOE shall be deemed as executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by the WFOE.
The WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, the WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Yiren Financial, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from the
date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to the WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
I entered into a Power of Attorney dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Power of Attorney”), which will be terminated and replaced in its entirety and in all
aspects by this Power of Attorney.
Ning TANG
/s/ Ning Tang
By:
Date: December 19, 2019
Accepted by:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Power of Attorney
I, Fanshun KONG, a People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”) citizen with PRC Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 7.96% of
the entire registered capital in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Yiren Financial”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is
executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity
interests held by me now and in the future in Yiren Financial (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
The WFOE is hereby authorized to act on my behalf as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including but not limited to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Yiren Financial; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights that I am entitled to under the relevant PRC laws and Yiren Financial’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale, transfer, pledge,
or disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designating and appointing on my behalf the legal representative, directors, supervisors, chief
executive officer, and other senior management members of Yiren Financial.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, the WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on my behalf, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among myself, the WFOE, and Yiren
Financial on December 19, 2019 and the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, the WFOE, and Yiren Financial
on December 19, 2019 (including any modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto, collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”), and
perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by the WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by the WFOE shall be deemed as executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by the WFOE.
The WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, the WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Yiren Financial, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from the
date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to the WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
I entered into a Power of Attorney dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Power of Attorney”), which will be terminated and replaced in its entirety and in all
aspects by this Power of Attorney.
Fanshun KONG
/s/ Fanshun Kong
By:
Date: December 19, 2019
Accepted by:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Power of Attorney
I, Yan TIAN, a People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”) citizen with PRC Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 7.96% of the
entire registered capital in Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Yiren Financial”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is
executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity
interests held by me now and in the future in Yiren Financial (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
The WFOE is hereby authorized to act on my behalf as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including but not limited to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Yiren Financial; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights that I am entitled to under the relevant PRC laws and Yiren Financial’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale, transfer, pledge,
or disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designating and appointing on my behalf the legal representative, directors, supervisors, chief
executive officer, and other senior management members of Yiren Financial.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, the WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on my behalf, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among myself, the WFOE, and Yiren
Financial on December 19, 2019 and the Amended and Restated Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, the WFOE, and Yiren Financial
on December 19, 2019 (including any modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto, collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”), and
perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by the WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by the WFOE shall be deemed as executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by the WFOE.
The WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, the WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Yiren Financial, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from the
date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to the WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. The Chinese version and English version shall have equal legal validity.
I entered into a Power of Attorney dated May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Power of Attorney”), which will be terminated and replaced in its entirety and in all
aspects by this Power of Attorney.
Yan TIAN
/s/ Yan Tian
By:
Date: December 19, 2019
Accepted by:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Exclusive Option Agreement
Exhibit 4.20
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of December 19, 2019 in Beijing, the
People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of China,
with its address at Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, Party A, Party B, and Party C shall each be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties.”
Whereas:
1. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 73.47% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB720,000,000 in the
registered capital of Party C.
2. Party A and Party B executed a Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on December 19, 2019, pursuant to which Party A agrees to provide Party B
with a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB720,000,000 for the purpose as designated in the Loan Agreement.
After mutual discussions and negotiations, the Parties have now reached the following agreement.
1
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A a binding and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons
(each, a “Designee”) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B at once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole
at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being
the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase
Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest
Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts,
or non-corporate organizations.
1.2 Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by
Party A shall equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set
forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not
violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the
Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A
exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests,
such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law is higher than the aforementioned price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum
price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
2
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements, or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses and
permits, and take all necessary actions to transfer the valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention, or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modifications,
amendments, and restatements thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney
executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modifications, amendments, and restatements
thereto.
1.5 Payment
The Parties have agreed in the Loan Agreement that any proceeds obtained by Party B through the transfer of its equity interests in Party C shall
be used for repayment of the loan provided by Party A (and any interest thereon) in accordance with the Loan Agreement. Accordingly, upon
exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party A may make the payment of the Equity Interest Purchase Price by way of offset of the
outstanding debts owed by Party B to Party A (including without limitation the outstanding amount of the loan owed by Party B to Party A and
any interest thereon under the Loan Agreement) (such debts, the “Offset Debts”), in which case Party A shall not be required to pay any
additional purchase price to Party B, unless the Equity Interest Purchase Price set forth herein is required to be adjusted in accordance with the
PRC laws. If the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the Equity Interest Purchase Price agreed under this Agreement, such that the
minimum Equity Interest Purchase Price permitted under PRC laws exceeds the price already offset with the Offset Debts, the Party B shall
promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Offset Debts received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner
permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the amount offset with the
Offset Debts.
3
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant on the following:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change, or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, as well as
obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its
affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of
in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C of more than
RMB 500,000, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interests;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee, or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses within the normal business scope to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with a loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire, or invest in any
person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business, or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or
appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
4
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants to the following:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in
accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage, or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of
Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the transfer
of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all
claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first refusal in regards to the transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A
(if any), and gives consent to the execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option
agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney, and accepts not to take any actions in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profits, interests, dividends, or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by
Party A to the extent permitted under the applicable PRC laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C, and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B shall
not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
5
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid, and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the relevant government authorities and third parties (if required) for
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violations of any applicable PRC laws; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws, or other organizational
documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or
constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any
condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or
revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred within its normal business scope; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for
which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all laws and regulations of China applicable to asset acquisitions; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C, or Party C.
6
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain in effect until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
5.1 Governing Law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment, and termination of this Agreement as well as any dispute resolution
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 Methods of Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute arising with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve
the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either
Party’s request to the other Parties for dispute resolution through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China
International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be
conducted in Beijing, and the arbitration award shall be final and binding to all Parties.
6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses, and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, prepaid postage, commercial courier services, or facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be
determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, courier services, registered mail, or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
receipt or refusal at the address specified for such notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of the transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Room 1601, Floor 13, Building 1, West Dawang Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Joanne LIU
*****
*****
7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by having a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the
confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant
confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be featured in the public domain (other than through the
receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock
exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidential obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of
any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such
confidential information by such Party and that Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute the documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and to take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws.
8
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendments, changes, and supplements
Any amendments, changes, and supplements to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements, or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute
the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and
written consultations, representations, and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but not limited to the
Prior Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain, or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English, and contains three copies, with each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by the relevant laws and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10, and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the
signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by
such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the authorized representatives of the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Pucheng Credit Assessment and Management (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of December 19,
2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Ning TANG, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, Party A, Party B, and Party C shall each be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties.”
Whereas:
1. All the Parties hereto executed an Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement on May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 10.61% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB104,000,000 in the
registered capital of Party C.
3. Party A and Party B executed an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on December 19, 2019, pursuant to which Party A
agrees to provide Party B with a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB104,000,000 for the purpose as designated in the Loan Agreement.
After mutual discussions and negotiations, the Parties have now reached the following agreement, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A a binding and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons
(each, a “Designee”) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B at once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole
at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being
the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase
Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest
Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts,
or non-corporate organizations.
1.2 Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by
Party A shall equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set
forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not
violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the
Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A
exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests,
such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law is higher than the aforementioned price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum
price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
2
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements, or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses and
permits, and take all necessary actions to transfer the valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention, or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Amended and Restated Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any
modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power
of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modifications, amendments, and
restatements thereto.
1.5 Payment
The Parties have agreed in the Loan Agreement that any proceeds obtained by Party B through the transfer of its equity interests in Party C shall
be used for repayment of the loan provided by Party A (and any interest thereon) in accordance with the Loan Agreement. Accordingly, upon
exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party A may make the payment of the Equity Interest Purchase Price by way of offset of the
outstanding debts owed by Party B to Party A (including without limitation the outstanding amount of the loan owed by Party B to Party A and
any interest thereon under the Loan Agreement) (such debts, the “Offset Debts”), in which case Party A shall not be required to pay any
additional purchase price to Party B, unless the Equity Interest Purchase Price set forth herein is required to be adjusted in accordance with the
PRC laws. If the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the Equity Interest Purchase Price agreed under this Agreement, such that the
minimum Equity Interest Purchase Price permitted under PRC laws exceeds the price already offset with the Offset Debts, the Party B shall
promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Offset Debts received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner
permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the amount offset with the
Offset Debts.
3
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant on the following:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change, or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, as well as
obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its
affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of
in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C of more than
RMB 500,000, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interests;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee, or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses within the normal business scope to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with a loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire, or invest in any
person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business, or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or
appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
4
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants to the following:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in
accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage, or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of
Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the transfer
of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all
claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first refusal in regards to the transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A
(if any), and gives consent to the execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option
agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney, and accepts not to take any actions in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profits, interests, dividends, or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by
Party A to the extent permitted under the applicable PRC laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C, and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B shall
not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
5
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid, and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the relevant government authorities and third parties (if required) for
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violations of any applicable PRC laws; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws, or other organizational
documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or
constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any
condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or
revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred within its normal business scope; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for
which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all laws and regulations of China applicable to asset acquisitions; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C, or Party C.
6
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain in effect until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
5.1 Governing Law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment, and termination of this Agreement as well as any dispute resolution
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 Methods of Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute arising with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve
the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either
Party’s request to the other Parties for dispute resolution through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China
International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be
conducted in Beijing, and the arbitration award shall be final and binding to all Parties.
6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses, and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, prepaid postage, commercial courier services, or facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be
determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, courier services, registered mail, or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
receipt or refusal at the address specified for such notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of the transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Ning TANG
No.101, 5 Unit, East No.16 Building, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Joanne LIU
*****
*****
7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by having a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the
confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant
confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be featured in the public domain (other than through the
receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock
exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidential obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of
any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such
confidential information by such Party and that Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute the documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and to take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws.
9
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendments, changes, and supplements
Any amendments, changes, and supplements to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements, or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute
the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and
written consultations, representations, and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but not limited to the
Prior Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain, or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English, and contains three copies, with each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by the relevant laws and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10, and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the
signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by
such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the authorized representatives of the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Ning TANG
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of December 19,
2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Fanshun KONG, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, Party A, Party B, and Party C shall each be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties.”
Whereas:
1. All the Parties hereto executed an Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement on May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 7.96% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB78,000,000 in the
registered capital of Party C.
3. Party A and Party B executed an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on December 19, 2019, pursuant to which Party A
agrees to provide Party B with a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB78,000,000 for the purpose as designated in the Loan Agreement.
After mutual discussions and negotiations, the Parties have now reached the following agreement, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A a binding and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons
(each, a “Designee”) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B at once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole
at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being
the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase
Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest
Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts,
or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by
Party A shall equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set
forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not
violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the
Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A
exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests,
such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law is higher than the aforementioned price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum
price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements, or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses and
permits, and take all necessary actions to transfer the valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention, or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Amended and Restated Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any
modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power
of Attorney executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modifications, amendments, and
restatements thereto.
1.5 Payment
The Parties have agreed in the Loan Agreement that any proceeds obtained by Party B through the transfer of its equity interests in Party C shall
be used for repayment of the loan provided by Party A (and any interest thereon) in accordance with the Loan Agreement. Accordingly, upon
exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party A may make the payment of the Equity Interest Purchase Price by way of offset of the
outstanding debts owed by Party B to Party A (including without limitation the outstanding amount of the loan owed by Party B to Party A and
any interest thereon under the Loan Agreement) (such debts, the “Offset Debts”), in which case Party A shall not be required to pay any
additional purchase price to Party B, unless the Equity Interest Purchase Price set forth herein is required to be adjusted in accordance with the
PRC laws. If the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the Equity Interest Purchase Price agreed under this Agreement, such that the
minimum Equity Interest Purchase Price permitted under PRC laws exceeds the price already offset with the Offset Debts, the Party B shall
promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Offset Debts received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner
permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the amount offset with the
Offset Debts.
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2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant on the following:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change, or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, as well as
obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its
affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of
in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C of more than
RMB 500,000, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interests;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee, or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses within the normal business scope to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with a loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire, or invest in any
person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business, or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or
appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
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2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants to the following:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in
accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage, or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of
Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the transfer
of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all
claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first refusal in regards to the transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A
(if any), and gives consent to the execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option
agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney, and accepts not to take any actions in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profits, interests, dividends, or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by
Party A to the extent permitted under the applicable PRC laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C, and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B shall
not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
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3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid, and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the relevant government authorities and third parties (if required) for
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violations of any applicable PRC laws; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws, or other organizational
documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or
constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any
condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or
revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred within its normal business scope; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for
which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all laws and regulations of China applicable to asset acquisitions; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C, or Party C.
5
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain in effect until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
5.1 Governing Law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment, and termination of this Agreement as well as any dispute resolution
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 Methods of Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute arising with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve
the dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either
Party’s request to the other Parties for dispute resolution through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China
International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be
conducted in Beijing, and the arbitration award shall be final and binding to all Parties.
6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses, and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
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7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, prepaid postage, commercial courier services, or facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be
determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, courier services, registered mail, or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
receipt or refusal at the address specified for such notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of the transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Fanshun KONG
No.18, Yuntangkou, Lianzhou Town, Hepu County, Guangxi
Fanshun KONG
*****
*****
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing
Joanne LIU
*****
*****
7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by having a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
7
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the
confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant
confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be featured in the public domain (other than through the
receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock
exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidential obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of
any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such
confidential information by such Party and that Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute the documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and to take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws.
8
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendments, changes, and supplements
Any amendments, changes, and supplements to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements, or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute
the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and
written consultations, representations, and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but not limited to the
Prior Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain, or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English, and contains three copies, with each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by the relevant laws and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10, and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the
signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by
such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the authorized representatives of the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Fanshun KONG
By:
/s/ Fanshun Kong
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement
This Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of December 19,
2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Yan TIAN, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at 350 meters north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town, Fangshan District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, Party A, Party B, and Party C shall each be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties.”
Whereas:
1. All the Parties hereto executed an Amended and Restated Exclusive Option Agreement on May 17, 2018 (the “Prior Agreement”).
2. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 7.96% of the equity interests of Party C, representing RMB78,000,000 in the
registered capital of Party C.
3. Party A and Party B executed an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on December 19, 2019, pursuant to which Party A
agrees to provide Party B with a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB78,000,000 for the purpose as designated in the Loan Agreement.
After mutual discussions and negotiations, the Parties have now reached the following agreement, which will terminate and replace the Prior
Agreement in its entirety and in all aspects.
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
Party B hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants Party A a binding and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons
(each, a “Designee”) to purchase the equity interests in Party C then held by Party B at once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole
at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being
the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”). Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase
Option or other rights with respect to the equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest
Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts,
or non-corporate organizations.
1
1.2 Steps for Exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The total price for the purchase by Party A of all Optioned Interests held by Party B upon exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option by
Party A shall equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set
forth in the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not
violate PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the
Optioned Interests held by Party B in Party C, then the purchase price shall be calculated on a pro rata basis. If at the time when Party A
exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option, the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the purchase price of such Optioned Interests,
such that the minimum price permitted under PRC law is higher than the aforementioned price, then the purchase price shall be such minimum
price permitted by PRC law (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to Party
A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
2
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the Optioned
Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements, or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses and
permits, and take all necessary actions to transfer the valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s rights
or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention, or other security arrangements,
but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement, and Party B’s
Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Amended and Restated
Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modifications, amendments,
and restatements thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney executed by Party
B on the date hereof granting Party A with a power of attorney and any modifications, amendments, and restatements thereto.
1.5 Payment
The Parties have agreed in the Loan Agreement that any proceeds obtained by Party B through the transfer of its equity interests in Party C shall
be used for repayment of the loan provided by Party A (and any interest thereon) in accordance with the Loan Agreement. Accordingly, upon
exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option, Party A may make the payment of the Equity Interest Purchase Price by way of offset of the
outstanding debts owed by Party B to Party A (including without limitation the outstanding amount of the loan owed by Party B to Party A and
any interest thereon under the Loan Agreement) (such debts, the “Offset Debts”), in which case Party A shall not be required to pay any
additional purchase price to Party B, unless the Equity Interest Purchase Price set forth herein is required to be adjusted in accordance with the
PRC laws. If the PRC laws impose mandatory requirements on the Equity Interest Purchase Price agreed under this Agreement, such that the
minimum Equity Interest Purchase Price permitted under PRC laws exceeds the price already offset with the Offset Debts, the Party B shall
promptly donate all of the amount exceeding the Offset Debts received by it to Party A or any other person designated by Party A in the manner
permitted by the applicable PRC laws / Party B hereby waives its right to receive the amount of price that exceeds the amount offset with the
Offset Debts.
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2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant on the following:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change, or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, as well as
obtain and maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its
affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of
in any manner any material assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C of more than
RMB 500,000, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interests;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee, or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses within the normal business scope to maintain the asset value of Party C and refrain
from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for the purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB 500,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with a loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
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2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire, or invest in any
person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business, or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or
appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants to the following:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage, or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in
accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage, or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
5
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of
Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration, or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the transfer
of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all
claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first refusal in regards to the transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A
(if any), and gives consent to the execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option
agreement, the equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement, and Party B’s Power of Attorney, and accepts not to take any actions in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profits, interests, dividends, or proceeds of liquidation to Party A or any other person designated by
Party A to the extent permitted under the applicable PRC laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C, and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B shall
not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
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3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity, and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid, and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from the relevant government authorities and third parties (if required) for
the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violations of any applicable PRC laws; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws, or other organizational
documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them, or
constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any violation of any
condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the suspension or
revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
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3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred within its normal business scope; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A for
which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all laws and regulations of China applicable to asset acquisitions; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration, or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C, or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain in effect until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
5.1 Governing Law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment, and termination of this Agreement as well as any dispute resolution
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the PRC.
5.2 Methods of Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute arising with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve the
dispute through friendly negotiations. In the event that the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s
request to the other Parties for dispute resolution through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing, and the arbitration award shall be final and binding to all Parties.
6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration taxes, expenses, and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, prepaid postage, commercial courier services, or facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be
determined as follows:
8
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, courier services, registered mail, or prepaid postage shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
receipt or refusal at the address specified for such notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of the transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong
District, Chongqing
Lin MEI
*****
*****
Yan TIAN
No.403, Gate 4, No.6 Building, Lefu Li, Weijin Road, Heping
District
Yan TIAN
*****
*****
Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
350 metres north of Roundabout, Yanfu Road, Yancun Town,
Fangshan District, Beijing
Joanne LIU
*****
*****
7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by having a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the
confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant
confidential information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be featured in the public domain (other than through the
receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock
exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors,
employees, legal counsels, or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidential obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of
any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of, or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such
confidential information by such Party and that Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute the documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and to take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by the applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendments, changes, and supplements
Any amendments, changes, and supplements to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements, or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall constitute
the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supersede all prior oral and
written consultations, representations, and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but not limited to the
Prior Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain, or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
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11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English, and contains three copies, with each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by the relevant laws and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10, and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require the
signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a waiver by
such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the authorized representatives of the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Party B: Yan TIAN
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Party C: Yiren Financial Information Services (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning TANG
Legal Representative
Loan Agreement
Exhibit 4.21
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of December 4, 2019 in Beijing, China:
(1) Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
(2) Lingjing Li (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 90% of equity interests in Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (“Borrower Company”).
All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity Interest;
2. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 900,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
After friendly consultation, the Parties agree as follows:
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB
900,000 (the “Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of
this Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the Loan
shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During the
term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or more
of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
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1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
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3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (“Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations under this Agreement,
the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest
Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
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3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
5
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Dennis Cong
*****
*****
Lingjing Li
Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
6
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
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8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Loan Agreement as of the date firs above written.
Lender: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower: Lingjing Li
By:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Loan Agreement
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of December 4, 2019 in Beijing, China:
(1) Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
(2) Yang Wang (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 10% of equity interests in Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (“Borrower Company”).
All of the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity Interest;
2. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 100,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
After friendly consultation, the Parties agree as follows:
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the aggregate amount of RMB
100,000 (the “Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of
this Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the Loan
shall be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During the
term of the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or more
of the following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
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1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
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3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (“Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations under this Agreement,
the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest
Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
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3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
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4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Dennis Cong
*****
*****
Yang Wang
Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
7
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Loan Agreement as of the date firs above written.
Lender: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower: Yang Wang
By:
/s/ Yang Wang
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Exhibit 4.22
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on December 4, 2019 in Beijing, the
People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and
existing under the laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District,
Beijing;
Party B: Lingjing Li (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with
its address at Room 945, Conprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 90% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB900,000 in the registered capital of
Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Tianjing, China, engaging in software development, computer software and hardware
technology development, consulting, transfer services, enterprise management consulting, education information consulting (excluding studying
abroad and training agents), marketing planning, internet information service. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of Pledgor
and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
2. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below);Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
3. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms.
1
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 90% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB900,000 in the registered capital of
Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
December 4, 2019 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C,
Pledgee and Pledgor on December 4, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and
Pledgor on December 4, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on December 4, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of
Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Loan
Agreement and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
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2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
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11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
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14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Dennis Cong
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party B: Lingjing Li
Address: Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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Party C: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Attn: Yu Xi
Phone: *****
Email: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date
first above written.
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B: Lingjing Li
By:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Party C: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C;
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Power of Attorney
6. Power of Attorney
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on December 4, 2019 in Beijing, the
People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and
existing under the laws of the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District,
Beijing;
Party B:
Yang Wang (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C:
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC,
with its address at Room 945, Conprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 10% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB100,000 in the registered capital of
Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Tianjing, China, engaging in software development, computer software and hardware
technology development, consulting, transfer services, enterprise management consulting, education information consulting (excluding studying
abroad and training agents), marketing planning, internet information service. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of Pledgor
and Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
2. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below);Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
3. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms.
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1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 10% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB100,000 in the registered capital of
Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
December 4, 2019 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C,
Pledgee and Pledgor on December 4, 2019 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and
Pledgor on December 4, 2019 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on December 4, 2019 by Pledgor (the “Power of
Attorney”) and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Loan
Agreement and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
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2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
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6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
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8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
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11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
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14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Dennis Cong
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party B: Yang Wang
Address: Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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Party C: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Attn: Yu Xi
Phone: *****
Email: *****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
The Remainder of this page is intentionally left blank
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date
first above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Yang Wang
By:
/s/ Yang Wang
Party C:
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C;
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Power of Attorney
6. Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney
Exhibit 4.23
I, Lingjing Li, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 90% of the entire registered capital in Tianjin Linyang
Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (“Tianjin Linyang”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Yi Ren
Heng Ye Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the future in
Tianjin Linyang (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Tianjin Linyang; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Tianjin Linyang’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer or pledge or
disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors, supervisors, the
chief executive officer and other senior management members of Tianjin Linyang.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Tianjin Linyang on December 4, 2019
and the Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Tianjin Linyang on December 4, 2019 (including any modification,
amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Tianjin Linyang, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from
the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
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This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
This Power of Attorney is signed on December 4, 2019.
2
Lingjing Li
By:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Accepted by
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
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Power of Attorney
I, Yang Wang, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 10% of the entire registered capital in Tianjin Linyang
Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (“Tianjin Linyang”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Yi Ren
Heng Ye Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the future in
Tianjin Linyang (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Tianjin Linyang; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Tianjin Linyang’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer or pledge or
disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors, supervisors, the
chief executive officer and other senior management members of Tianjin Linyang.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Tianjin Linyang on December 4, 2019
and the Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Tianjin Linyang on December 4, 2019 (including any modification,
amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Tianjin Linyang, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from
the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
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This Power of Attorney is signed on December 4, 2019.
2
Yang Wang
By:
/s/ Yang Wang
Accepted by
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
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Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
Exhibit 4.24
This Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the following parties on December 4,
2019 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”).
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Party B: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 945, Conprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin.
Each of Party A and Party B shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas,
1. Party A is a wholly foreign owned enterprise established in China, and has the necessary resources to provide technical and consulting services;
2. Party B is a company established in China with exclusively domestic capital and is permitted to engage in software development, computer software
and hardware technology development, consulting, transfer services, enterprise management consulting, education information consulting (excluding
studying abroad and training agents), marketing planning, internet information service by relevant PRC government authorities. The businesses
conducted by Party B currently and any time during the term of this Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Principal Business”;
3. Party A is willing to provide Party B with technical support, consulting services and other services on exclusive basis in relation to the Principal
Business during the term of this Agreement, utilizing its advantages in technology, human resources, and information, and Party B is willing to accept
such services provided by Party A or Party A’s designee(s), each on the terms set forth herein.
Now, therefore, through mutual discussion, the Parties have reached the following agreements:
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1. Services Provided by Party A
1.1 Party B hereby appoints Party A as Party B’s exclusive services provider to provide Party B with comprehensive technical support,
consulting services and other services during the term of this Agreement, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including but not limited to the follows:
(1) Licensing Party B to use any software legally owned by Party A;
(2) Development, maintenance and update of software involved in Party B’s business;
(3) Design, installation, daily management, maintenance and updating of network system, hardware and database design;
(4) Technical support and training for employees of Party B;
(5) Assisting Party B in consultancy, collection and research of technology and market information (excluding market research
business that wholly foreign-owned enterprises are prohibited from conducting under PRC law);
(6) Providing business management consultation for Party B;
(7) Providing marketing and promotion services for Party B;
(8) Providing customer order management and customer services for Party B;
(9) Leasing of equipments or properties; and
(10) Other services requested by Party B from time to time to the extent permitted under PRC law.
1.2 Party B agrees to accept all the services provided by Party A. Party B further agrees that unless with Party A’s prior written consent,
during the term of this Agreement, Party B shall not directly or indirectly accept the same or any similar services provided by any third
party and shall not establish similar corporation relationship with any third party regarding the matters contemplated by this Agreement.
Party A may designate other parties, who may enter into certain agreements described in Section 1.3 with Party B, to provide Party B with
the services under this Agreement. For the purpose of this Agreement, Party A and other parties designated by Party A may be respectively
referred to as a “Service Provider,” or collectively as “Service Providers.”
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1.3 Service Providing Methodology
1.3.1 Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter into further service
agreements with Party A or any other party designated by Party A, which shall provide the specific contents, manner, personnel,
and fees for the specific services.
1.3.2 To fulfill this Agreement, Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter
into equipment or property leases with Party A or any other party designated by Party A which shall permit Party B to use Party A’s
relevant equipment or property based on the needs of the business of Party B.
1.3.3 Party B hereby grants to Party A an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase from Party B, at Party A’s sole discretion, any or
all of the assets and business of Party B, to the extent permitted under PRC law, at the lowest purchase price permitted by PRC
law. The Parties shall then enter into a separate assets or business transfer agreement, specifying the terms and conditions of the
transfer of the assets.
2. The Calculation and Payment of the Service Fees
2.1 The fees payable by Party B to Service Providers during the term of this Agreement shall be calculated as follows:
2.1.1 Party B shall pay service fee to Party A or to Service Providers as instructed by Party A in each month. The service fee for each
month shall consist of management fee and fee for services provided, which shall be determined or adjusted (if necessary) by the
Party A by considering the following factors. Party B shall accept such determination and adjustments.
(1) Complexity and difficulty of the services provided by Party A;
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(2) Title of and time consumed by employees of the Service Provider providing the services;
(3) Contents and value of the services provided by Party A;
(4) Market price of the same type of services;
(5) Operation conditions of the Party B.
2.1.2 If a Service Provider transfers technology to Party B or develops software or other technology as entrusted by Party B or leases
equipments or properties to Party B, the technology transfer price, development fees or rent shall be determined by Party A or the
Service Provider as instructed by Party A based on the actual situations.
3. Intellectual Property Rights and Confidentiality Clauses
3.1 Party A shall have exclusive and proprietary ownership, rights and interests in any and all intellectual properties arising out of or created
during the performance of this Agreement, including but not limited to copyrights, patents, patent applications, software, technical secrets,
trade secrets and others. Party B shall execute all appropriate documents, take all appropriate actions, submit all filings and/or
applications, render all appropriate assistance and otherwise conduct whatever is necessary as deemed by Party A at its sole discretion for
the purposes of vesting any ownership, right or interest of any such intellectual property rights in Party A, and/or perfecting the protections
for any such intellectual property rights in Party A.
3.2 The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the
Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall
maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not
disclose any relevant confidential information to any third party, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain
(other than through the receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable
laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by
any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder,
provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations
similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies
engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for
breach of this Agreement.
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4. Representations and Warranties
4.1 Party A hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.1.1 Party A is a wholly foreign owned enterprise legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China; Party A
or the service providers designated by Party A will obtain all government permits and licenses for providing the service under this
Agreement before providing such services.
4.1.2 Party A has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals from
third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party A’s
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation.
4.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Party A’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
4.2 Party B hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.2.1 Party B is a company legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China and has obtained and will
maintain all permits and licenses for engaging in the Principal Business in a timely manner.
4.2.2 Party B has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals from
third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party B’s
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation.
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4.2.3 This Agreement constitutes Party B’s legal, valid and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms.
5. Term of Agreement
5.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. Unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement or terminated in writing by Party A, this Agreement shall remain effective.
5.2 During the term of this Agreement, each Party shall renew its operation term prior to the expiration thereof so as to enable this Agreement to
remain effective. This Agreement shall be terminated upon the expiration of the operation term of a Party if the application for renewal of
its operation term is not approved by relevant government authorities.
5.3 The rights and obligations of the Parties under Sections 3, 6, 7 and this Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
6. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
6.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
6.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request
to the other Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties.
6.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of
any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and
perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
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7. Breach of Agreement and Indemnification
7.1 If Party B conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or require
Party B to indemnify all damages; this Section 7.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein.
7.2 Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, Party B shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event.
7.3 Party B shall indemnify and hold harmless Party A from any losses, injuries, obligations or expenses caused by any lawsuit, claims or
other demands against Party A arising from or caused by the services provided by Party A to Party B pursuant this Agreement, except
where such losses, injuries, obligations or expenses arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Party A.
8. Force Majeure
8.1 In the case of any force majeure events (“Force Majeure”) such as earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire, flu, war, strikes or any other events that
cannot be predicted and are unpreventable and unavoidable by the affected Party, which directly or indirectly causes the failure of either
Party to perform or completely perform this Agreement, then the Party affected by such Force Majeure shall give the other Party written
notices without any delay, and shall provide details of such event within 15 days after sending out such notice, explaining the reasons for
such failure of, partial or delay of performance.
8.2 If such Party claiming Force Majeure fails to notify the other Party and furnish it with proof pursuant to the above provision, such Party
shall not be excused from the non-performance of its obligations hereunder. The Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure shall use
reasonable efforts to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure and to promptly resume performance hereunder whenever the
causes of such excuse are cured. Should the Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure fail to resume performance hereunder when
the causes of such excuse are cured, such Party shall be liable to the other Party.
8.3 In the event of Force Majeure, the Parties shall immediately consult with each other to find an equitable solution and shall use all
reasonable endeavours to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure.
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9. Notices
9.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth
below. A confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been
effectively given shall be determined as follows:
9.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on
the date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices.
9.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by
an automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
9.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Address: 10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Dennis Cong
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party B: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Attn: Yu Xi
Phone: *****
Email: *****
9.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
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10. Assignment
10.1 Without Party A’s prior written consent, Party B shall not assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any third party.
10.2 Party B agrees that Party A may assign its obligations and rights under this Agreement to any third party and in case of such assignment,
Party A is only required to give written notice to Party B and does not need any consent from Party B for such assignment.
11. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with
any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or compromised
in any aspect. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that
accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as
close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
12. Amendments and Supplements
Any amendments and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing. The amendment agreements and supplementary agreements that have
been signed by the Parties and relate to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this
Agreement.
13. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy between
the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement as of the
date first above written.
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
Exclusive Option Agreement
Exhibit 4.25
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of December 4, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s
Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of
the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Lingjing Li, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with
its address at Room 945, Conprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 90% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB900,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
2. Party A and Party B executed a Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on December 4, 2019, according to which Party A agreed to provide Party B
with a loan in amount of RMB 900,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the registered capital of Party C.
3. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion
to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person”
as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option
shall equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in
the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate
PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity
interests held by Party B in Party C, the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than
aforementioned price when Party A exercises Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase
price (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
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1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses and
permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification, amendment
and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney executed by
Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
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2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in any
person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or
appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
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2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in
accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of
Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the transfer
of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all
claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
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2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B
shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
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3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
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6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be
determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Dennis Cong
*****
*****
Lingjing Li
Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
*****
*****
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Yu Xi
*****
*****
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7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement
and/or require the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
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11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions
with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of
such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
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11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first
above written.
Party A:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Lingjing Li
By:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Party C:
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
Exclusive Option Agreement
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of December 4, 2019 in Beijing, the People’s
Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of
the PRC, with its address at Room 1018, Floor 10, Building 9, Yard No. 91, Jianguo Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing;
Party B: Yang Wang, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with
its address at Room 945, Conprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 10% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB100,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
2. Party A and Party B executed a Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on December 4, 2019, according to which Party A agreed to provide Party B
with a loan in amount of RMB 100,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the registered capital of Party C.
3. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion
to the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person”
as used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option
shall equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in
the equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate
PRC laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity
interests held by Party B in Party C, the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than
aforementioned price when Party A exercises Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase
price (collectively, the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
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1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses and
permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the
Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification, amendment
and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney executed by
Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
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2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in any
person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary or
appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
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2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed in
accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of
Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the transfer
of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all
claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other shareholders;
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2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B
shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
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3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes hereunder
shall be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in Beijing. The
arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7
6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall be
determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
10/F, Building B, Jindi Center, 91 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Dennis Cong
*****
*****
Yang Wang
Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
*****
*****
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Room 945, Comprehensive Office Building, Jingjin E-commerce Industrial Park, Wuqing District, Tianjin
Yu Xi
*****
*****
8
7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement
and/or require the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
9
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions
with effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of
such effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
10
11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first
above written.
Party A: Yi Ren Heng Ye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Yang Wang
By:
/s/ Yang Wang
Party C:
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Lingjing Li
Lingjing Li
Legal Representative
Loan Agreement
Exhibit 4.26
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of January 10, 2020 in Beijing, China:
(1) Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the
PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
(2) Ning Tang (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 90% of equity interests in Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (“Borrower Company”). All of
the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity Interest;
2. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 9,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
After friendly consultation, the Parties agree as follows:
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the amount of RMB 9,000,000 (the
“Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of this
Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the Loan shall
be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During the term of
the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or more of the
following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (“Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations under this Agreement, the
Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain from any action/omission
that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
4
3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
5
4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin Mei
*****
*****
Ning Tang
Floor 3, Building A, Wentelai Center, 1 West Dawang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
6
6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality of
all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement.
7
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Loan Agreement as of the date firs above written.
Lender: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower: Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Loan Agreement
This Loan Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the Parties below as of January 10, 2020 in Beijing, China:
(1) Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“Lender”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the
PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
(2) Yan Tian (“Borrower”), a citizen of China with Chinese Identification No.: *****.
Each of the Lender and the Borrower shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas:
1. As of the date hereof, Borrower holds 10% of equity interests in Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (“Borrower Company”). All of
the equity interest now held and hereafter acquired by Borrower in Borrower Company shall be referred to as Borrower Equity Interest;
2. Lender confirms that it agrees to provide Borrower with a loan which equals to RMB 1,000,000 to be used for the purposes set forth under this
Agreement.
After friendly consultation, the Parties agree as follows:
1 Loan
1.1 In accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, agrees to provide to Borrower a loan in the amount of RMB 1,000,000 (the
“Loan”). Once Lender receives a notice from Borrower requesting the provision of all or any part of the Loan during the term of this
Agreement, Lender shall within one (1) month after receiving such notice provide that portion of Loan to Borrower. The term of the Loan shall
be 10 years from the effective date of this Agreement, which may be extended upon mutual written consent of the Parties. During the term of
the Loan or the extended term of the Loan, Borrower shall immediately repay the full amount of the Loan in the event any one or more of the
following circumstances occur:
1.1.1 30 days elapse after Borrower receives a written notice from Lender requesting repayment of the Loan;
1.1.2 Borrower’s death, lack or limitation of civil capacity;
1.1.3 Borrower ceases (for any reason) to be an employee of Lender, Borrower Company or their affiliates;
1
1.1.4 Borrower engages in criminal act or is involved in criminal activities;
1.1.5 According to the applicable laws of China, foreign investors are permitted to invest in the principle business that is currently
conducted by Borrower Company in China with a controlling stake and/or in the form of wholly-foreign-owned enterprises, the
relevant competent authorities of China begin to approve such investments, and Lender exercises the exclusive option under the
Exclusive Option Agreement (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”) described in this Agreement.
1.2 The Loan provided by Lender under this Agreement shall inure to Borrower’s benefit only and not to Borrower’s successors or assigns.
1.3 Borrower agrees to accept the aforementioned Loan provided by Lender, and hereby agrees and warrants using the Loan to subscribe the
registered capital of Borrower Company. Without Lender’s prior written consent, Borrower shall not use the Loan for any purpose other than as
set forth herein.
1.4 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that Borrower’s method of repayment shall be at the sole discretion of Lender, and shall
at Lender’s option take the form of Borrower’s transferring the Borrower Equity Interest in whole to Lender or Lender’s designated persons
(legal or natural persons) pursuant to the Lender’s exercise of its right to acquire the Borrower Equity Interest under the Exclusive Option
Agreement, and any proceeds from the transfer of the Borrower Equity Interest (to the extent permissible) shall be used by the Borrower to
repay the Loan to Lender, in accordance with this Agreement and in the manner designated by Lender.
1.5 Lender and Borrower hereby agree and acknowledge that to the extent permitted by applicable laws, Lender shall have the right but not the
obligation to purchase or designate other persons (legal or natural persons) to purchase Borrower Equity Interest in part or in whole at any
time, at the price stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement.
1.6 Borrower also undertakes to execute an irrevocable Power of Attorney (the “Power of Attorney”), which authorizes Lender or a legal or natural
person designated by Lender to exercise all of Borrower’s rights as a shareholder of Borrower Company.
1.7 When Borrower transfers Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated person(s), in the event that the transfer price of such
equity interest equals or is lower than the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the Loan under this Agreement shall be deemed an
interest-free loan. In the event that the transfer price of such equity interest exceeds the principal of the Loan under this Agreement, the excess
over the principal shall be deemed the interest of the Loan under this Agreement payable by Borrower to Lender.
2
2 Representations and Warranties
2.1 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Lender hereby makes the following representations and
warranties to Borrower:
2.1.1 Lender is a corporation duly organized and legally existing in accordance with the laws of China;
2.1.2 Lender has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. The execution and performance by Lender of this Agreement is
consistent with Lender’s scope of business and the provisions of Lender’s corporate bylaws and other organizational documents, and
Lender has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement; and
2.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Lender’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2.2 Between the date of this Agreement and the date of termination of this Agreement, Borrower hereby makes the following representations and
warranties:
2.2.1 Borrower has the legal capacity to execute and perform this Agreement. Borrower has obtained all necessary and proper approvals and
authorizations for the execution and performance of this Agreement;
2.2.2 This Agreement constitutes Borrower’s legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
2.2.3 There are no disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower, nor are
there any potential disputes, litigations, arbitrations, administrative proceedings or any other legal proceedings relating to Borrower.
3 Borrower’s Covenants
3.1 As and when he becomes, and for so long as he remains a shareholder of Borrower Company, Borrower covenants irrevocably that during the
term of this Agreement, Borrower shall cause Borrower Company:
3.1.1 to strictly abide by the provisions of the Exclusive Option Agreement and the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (“Exclusive
Business Cooperation Agreement”) to which the Borrower Company is a party, and to refrain from any action/omission that may
affect the effectiveness and enforceability of the Exclusive Option Agreement and Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement.
3
3.1.2 at the request of Lender (or a party designated by Lender), to execute contracts/agreements on business cooperation with Lender (or a
party designated by Lender), and to strictly abide by such contracts/agreements;
3.1.3 to provide Lender with all of the information on Borrower Company’s business operations and financial condition at Lender’s request;
3.1.4 to immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings
relating to Borrower Company’s assets, business or income;
3.1.5 at the request of Lender, to appoint any persons designated by Lender as directors of Borrower Company;
3.2 Borrower covenants that during the term of this Agreement, he shall:
3.2.1 endeavor to keep Borrower Company to engage in its principle businesses;
3.2.2 abide by the provisions of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (“Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement”) and the Exclusive Option Agreement to which the Borrower is a party, perform his obligations under this Agreement, the
Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and the Exclusive Option Agreement, and refrain from any action/omission
that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability of this Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
and the Exclusive Option Agreement;
3.2.3 not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner the legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest or the encumbrance, except in accordance with the Equity Interest Pledge Agreement;
3.2.4 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of Borrower Company not to approve the sale, transfer, mortgage or
disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in Borrower Equity Interest, or allow the encumbrance thereon of
any security interest, except to Lender or Lender’s designated person;
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3.2.5 cause any shareholders’ meeting and/or the board of directors of the Borrower Company not to approve the merger or consolidation of
Borrower Company with any person, or its acquisition of or investment in any person, without the prior written consent of Lender;
3.2.6 immediately notify Lender of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating
to Borrower Equity Interest;
3.2.7 to the extent necessary to maintain his ownership of the Borrower Equity Interest, execute all necessary or appropriate documents,
take all necessary or appropriate actions and file all necessary or appropriate complaints or raise necessary and appropriate defense
against all claims;
3.2.8 without the prior written consent of Lender, refrain from any action /omission that may have a material impact on the assets, business
and liabilities of Borrower Company;
3.2.9 appoint any designee of Lender as director of Borrower Company, at the request of Lender;
3.2.10 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, promptly and unconditionally transfer all of
Borrower Equity Interest to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time, and cause the other shareholders of Borrower
Company to waive their right of first refusal with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.11 to the extent permitted by the laws of China, at the request of Lender at any time, cause the other shareholders of Borrower Company
to promptly and unconditionally transfer all of their equity interests to Lender or Lender’s designated representative(s) at any time,
and Borrower hereby waives his right of first refusal (if any) with respect to the share transfer described in this Section;
3.2.12 in the event that Lender purchases Borrower Equity Interest from Borrower in accordance with the provisions of the Exclusive Option
Agreement, use such purchase price obtained thereby to repay the Loan to Lender; and
3.2.13 without the prior written consent of Lender, not to cause Borrower Company to supplement, change, or amend its articles of
association in any manner, increase or decreases its registered capital or change its share capital structure in any manner.
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4 Liability for Default
4.1 If Borrower conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Lender shall have right to terminate this Agreement and require the
Borrower to compensate all damages; this Section 4.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Lender herein.
4.2 Borrower shall not terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
4.3 In the event that Borrower fails to perform the repayment obligations set forth in this Agreement, Borrower shall pay overdue interest of 0.01%
per day for the outstanding payment, until the day Borrower repays the full principal of the Loan, overdue interests and other payable amounts.
5 Notices
5.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
5.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of delivery.
5.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
5.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Lender:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Borrower:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin Mei
*****
*****
Yan Tian
Floor 3, Building A, Wentelai Center, 1 West Dawang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
5.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
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6 Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
7 Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
7.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes shall be
governed by the laws of China.
7.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute through
friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to the other
Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International Economic and
Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its then effective arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
7.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement
and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
8 Miscellaneous
8.1 This Agreement should become effective upon execution by the Parties, and shall expire upon the date of full performance by the Parties of their
respective obligations under this Agreement.
8.2 This Agreement shall be written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. The Chinese version and
English version shall have equal legal validity.
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8.3 This Agreement may be amended or supplemented through written agreement by and between Lender and Borrower. Such written amendment
agreement and/or supplementary agreement executed by and between Lender and Borrower are an integral part of this Agreement, and shall have
the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.4 In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
8.5 The attachments (if any) to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this Agreement.
8.6 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall survive
the expiration or early termination thereof. The provisions of Sections 4, 6, 7 and this Section 8.6 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Loan Agreement as of the date firs above written.
Lender: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Borrower: Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
Exhibit 4.27
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on January 10, 2020 in Beijing, the
People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Ning Tang (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 90% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB9,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China, engaging in technology consulting, transferring, promotion, service,
basic software service, application software service (excluding medical software), computer system service, enterprise management, software
development, data processing, advertisement designing, producing, agency and publishing, computer graphic designing and producing, computer
animation designing, sales of daily commodity, enterprise planning. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of Pledgor and
Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
2. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below);Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
3. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 90% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB9,000,000 in the registered capital of
Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
January 10, 2020 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C,
Pledgee and Pledgor on January 10, 2020 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and
Pledgor on January 10, 2020 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on January 10, 2020 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”)
and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Power of Attorney, the Loan
Agreement and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
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2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
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3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.1 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.2 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
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8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
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10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
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15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin Mei
*****
*****
Ning Tang
Floor 3, Building A, Wentelai Center, 1 West Dawang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
18.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties.
18.2 Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the
governmental filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date
first above written.
Party A:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Party C:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C;
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Power of Attorney
6. Power of Attorney
Equity Interest Pledge Agreement
This Equity Interest Pledge Agreement (this “Agreement”) has been executed by and among the following parties on January 10, 2020 in Beijing, the
People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Pledgee”), a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the
laws of the PRC, with its address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Yan Tian (hereinafter “Pledgor”), a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification No.: ******; and
Party C: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Pledgee, Pledgor and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Pledgor is a citizen of China who as of the date hereof holds 10% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB 1,000,000 in the registered capital
of Party C. Party C is a limited liability company registered in Beijing, China, engaging in technology consulting, transferring, promotion, service,
basic software service, application software service (excluding medical software), computer system service, enterprise management, software
development, data processing, advertisement designing, producing, agency and publishing, computer graphic designing and producing, computer
animation designing, sales of daily commodity, enterprise planning. Party C acknowledges the respective rights and obligations of Pledgor and
Pledgee under this Agreement, and intends to provide any necessary assistance in registering the Pledge;
2. Pledgee is a wholly foreign-owned enterprise registered in China. Pledgee and Party C which is partially owned by Pledgor have executed an
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (as defined below) in Beijing; Party C, Pledgee and Pledgor have executed an Exclusive Option
Agreement (as defined below); Pledgor has executed a Power of Attorney (as defined below) in favor of Pledgee; and Pledgee and Pledgor have
executed a Loan Agreement (as defined below);
3. To ensure that Party C and Pledgor fully perform their obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and the Power of Attorney, Pledgor hereby pledges to the Pledgee all of the equity interest that Pledgor holds in Party
C as security for Party C’s and Pledgor’s obligations under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan
Agreement and the Power of Attorney.
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To perform the provisions of the Transaction Documents (as defined below), the Parties have mutually agreed to execute this Agreement upon the
following terms.
1. Definitions
Unless otherwise provided herein, the terms below shall have the following meanings:
1.1 Pledge: shall refer to the security interest granted by Pledgor to Pledgee pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, i.e., the right of Pledgee to be
paid in priority with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from
auction or sale of the Equity Interest.
1.2 Equity Interest: shall refer to 10% equity interests in Party C currently held by Pledgor, representing RMB 1,000,000 in the registered capital of
Party C, and all of the equity interest hereafter acquired by Pledgor in Party C.
1.3 Term of Pledge: shall refer to the term set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.
1.4 Transaction Documents: shall refer to the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement executed by and between Party C and Pledgee on
January 10, 2020 (the “Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement”), the Exclusive Option Agreement executed by and among Party C,
Pledgee and Pledgor on January 10, 2020 (the “Exclusive Option Agreement”), the Loan Agreement executed by and between Pledgee and
Pledgor on January 10, 2020 (the “Loan Agreement”), Power of Attorney executed on January 10, 2020 by Pledgor (the “Power of Attorney”)
and any modification, amendment and restatement to the aforementioned documents.
1.5 Contract Obligations: shall refer to all the obligations of Pledgor under the Exclusive Option Agreement, the Loan Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and this Agreement; all the obligations of Party C under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, the Exclusive Option
Agreement, the Loan Agreement and this Agreement.
1.6 Secured Indebtedness: shall refer to all the direct, indirect and derivative losses and losses of anticipated profits, suffered by Pledgee, incurred
as a result of any Event of Default. The amount of such loss shall be calculated in accordance with the reasonable business plan and profit
forecast of Pledgee, the consulting and service fees payable to Pledgee under the Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement, all expenses
occurred in connection with enforcement by Pledgee of Pledgor’s and/or Party C’s Contract Obligations and etc.
1.7 Event of Default: shall refer to any of the circumstances set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement.
1.8 Notice of Default: shall refer to the notice issued by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement declaring an Event of Default.
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2. Pledge
2.1 Pledgor agrees to pledge all the Equity Interest as security for performance of the Contract Obligations and payment of the Secured
Indebtedness under this Agreement. Party C hereby assents that Pledgor pledges the Equity Interest to the Pledgee pursuant to this Agreement.
2.2 During the term of the Pledge, Pledgee is entitled to receive dividends distributed on the Equity Interest. Pledgor may receive dividends
distributed on the Equity Interest only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Dividends received by Pledgor on Equity Interest after deduction
of individual income tax paid by Pledgor shall be, as required by Pledgee, (1) deposited into an account designated and supervised by Pledgee
and used to secure the Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or
(2) unconditionally donated to Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
2.3 Pledgor may subscribe for capital increase in Party C only with prior written consent of Pledgee. Any equity interest obtained by Pledgor as a
result of Pledgor’s subscription of the increased registered capital of the Company shall also be deemed as Equity Interest.
2.4 In the event that Party C is required by PRC law to be liquidated or dissolved, any interest distributed to Pledgor upon Party C’s dissolution or
liquidation shall, upon the request of the Pledgee, be (1) deposited into an account designate and supervised by Pledgee and used to secure the
Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness prior and in preference to make any other payment; or (2) unconditionally donated to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee to the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws.
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3. Term of Pledge
3.1 The Pledge shall become effective on such date when the pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein is registered with relevant
administration for industry and commerce (the “AIC”). The Pledge shall remain effective until all Contract Obligations have been fully
performed and all Secured Indebtedness have been fully paid. Pledgor and Party C shall (1) register the Pledge in the shareholders’ register of
Party C within 3 business days following the execution of this Agreement, and (2) submit an application to the AIC for the registration of the
Pledge of the Equity Interest contemplated herein within 15 business days following the execution of this Agreement. The parties covenant
that for the purpose of registration of the Pledge, the parties hereto and all other shareholders of Party C shall submit to the AIC this
Agreement or an equity interest pledge contract in the form required by the AIC at the location of Party C which shall truly reflect the
information of the Pledge hereunder (the “AIC Pledge Contract”). For matters not specified in the AIC Pledge Contract, the parties shall be
bound by the provisions of this Agreement. Pledgor and Party C shall submit all necessary documents and complete all necessary procedures,
as required by the PRC laws and regulations and the relevant AIC, to ensure that the Pledge of the Equity Interest shall be registered with the
AIC as soon as possible after submission for filing.
3.2 During the Term of Pledge, in the event Pledgor and/or Party C fails to perform the Contract Obligations or pay Secured Indebtedness, Pledgee
shall have the right, but not the obligation, to exercise the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Custody of Records for Equity Interest subject to Pledge
4.1 During the Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement, Pledgor shall deliver to Pledgee’s custody the capital contribution certificate for the
Equity Interest and the shareholders’ register containing the Pledge within one week from the execution of this Agreement. Pledgee shall have
custody of such documents during the entire Term of Pledge set forth in this Agreement.
5. Representations and Warranties of Pledgor and Party C
As of the execution date of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Pledgee that:
5.1 Pledgor is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Equity Interest.
5.2 Pledgee shall have the right to dispose of and transfer the Equity Interest in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement.
5.3 Except for the Pledge, Pledgor has not placed any security interest, collateral or other encumbrance on the Equity Interest.
5.4 Pledgor and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from applicable government authorities and third parties (if required) for
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.
5.5 The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not: (i) violate any relevant PRC laws; (ii) conflict with Party C’s articles of
association or other constitutional documents; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute any default under any contract or instrument to which it
is a party or by which it is otherwise bound; (iv) result in any violation of any condition for the grant and/or maintenance of any permit or
approval granted to any Party; or (v) cause any permit or approval granted to any Party to be suspended, cancelled or attached with additional
conditions.
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6. Covenants of Pledgor and Party C
6.1 During the term of this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C hereby jointly and severally covenant to the Pledgee:
6.1.1 Pledgor shall not transfer the Equity Interest, place or permit the existence of any security interest or other encumbrance on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, without the prior written consent of Pledgee, except for the performance of the Transaction
Documents;
6.1.2 Pledgor and Party C shall comply with the provisions of all laws and regulations applicable to the pledge of rights, and within five
(5) days of receipt of any notice, order or recommendation issued or prepared by relevant competent authorities regarding the Pledge,
shall present the aforementioned notice, order or recommendation to Pledgee, and shall comply with the aforementioned notice, order
or recommendation or submit objections and representations with respect to the aforementioned matters upon Pledgee’s reasonable
request or upon consent of Pledgee;
6.1.3 Pledgor and Party C shall promptly notify Pledgee of any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on the Equity
Interest or any portion thereof, as well as any event or notice received by Pledgor that may have an impact on any guarantees and
other obligations of Pledgor arising out of this Agreement.
6.1.4 Party C shall complete the registration procedures for extension of the term of operation within three (3) months prior to the expiration
of such term to maintain the validity of this Agreement.
6.2 Pledgor agrees that the rights acquired by Pledgee in accordance with this Agreement with respect to the Pledge shall not be interrupted or
harmed by Pledgor or any heirs or representatives of Pledgor or any other persons through any legal proceedings.
6.3 To protect or perfect the security interest granted by this Agreement for the Contract Obligations and Secured Indebtedness, Pledgor hereby
undertakes to execute in good faith and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to execute all certificates, agreements, deeds
and/or covenants required by Pledgee. Pledgor also undertakes to perform and to cause other parties who have an interest in the Pledge to
perform actions required by Pledgee, to facilitate the exercise by Pledgee of its rights and authority granted thereto by this Agreement, and to
enter into all relevant documents regarding ownership of Equity Interest with Pledgee or designee(s) of Pledgee (natural persons/legal
persons). Pledgor undertakes to provide Pledgee within a reasonable time with all notices, orders and decisions regarding the Pledge that are
required by Pledgee.
6.4 Pledgor hereby undertakes to comply with and perform all guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions under this
Agreement. In the event of failure or partial performance of its guarantees, promises, agreements, representations and conditions, Pledgor shall
indemnify Pledgee for all losses resulting therefrom.
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7. Event of Breach
7.1 The following circumstances shall be deemed Event of Default:
7.1.3 Pledgor’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.1.4 Party C’s any breach to any obligations under the Transaction Documents and/or this Agreement.
7.2 Upon notice or discovery of the occurrence of any circumstances or event that may lead to the aforementioned circumstances described in
Section 7.1, Pledgor and Party C shall immediately notify Pledgee in writing accordingly.
7.3 Unless an Event of Default set forth in this Section 7.1 has been successfully resolved to Pledgee’s satisfaction within twenty (20) days after
the Pledgee and /or Party C delivers a notice to the Pledgor requesting ratification of such Event of Default, Pledgee may issue a Notice of
Default to Pledgor in writing at any time thereafter, demanding the Pledgor to immediately exercise the Pledge in accordance with the
provisions of Section 8 of this Agreement.
8. Exercise of Pledge
8.1 Pledgee shall issue a written Notice of Default to Pledgor when it exercises the Pledge.
8.2 Subject to the provisions of Section 7.3, Pledgee may exercise the right to enforce the Pledge at any time after the issuance of the Notice of
Default in accordance with Section 8.1. Once Pledgee elects to enforce the Pledge, Pledgor shall cease to be entitled to any rights or interests
associated with the Equity Interest.
8.3 After Pledgee issues a Notice of Default to Pledgor in accordance with Section 8.1, Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure under
applicable PRC laws, the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, including but not limited to being paid in priority with the Equity
Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale of the Equity
Interest. The Pledgee shall not be liable for any loss incurred by its duly exercise of such rights and powers.
8.4 The proceeds from exercise of the Pledge by Pledgee shall be used to pay for tax and expenses incurred as result of disposing the Equity
Interest and to perform Contract Obligations and pay the Secured Indebtedness to the Pledgee prior and in preference to any other payment.
After the payment of the aforementioned amounts, the remaining balance shall be returned to Pledgor or any other person who have rights to
such balance under applicable laws or be deposited to the local notary public office where Pledgor resides, with all expense incurred being
borne by Pledgor. To the extent permitted under applicable PRC laws, Pledgor shall unconditionally donate the aforementioned proceeds to
Pledgee or any other person designated by Pledgee.
6
8.5 Pledgee may exercise any remedy measure available simultaneously or in any order. Pledgee may exercise the right to being paid in priority
with the Equity Interest based on the monetary valuation that such Equity Interest is converted into or from the proceeds from auction or sale
of the Equity Interest under this Agreement, without exercising any other remedy measure first.
8.6 Pledgee is entitled to designate an attorney or other representatives to exercise the Pledge on its behalf, and Pledgor or Party C shall not raise
any objection to such exercise.
8.7 When Pledgee disposes of the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement, Pledgor and Party C shall provide necessary assistance to enable
Pledgee to enforce the Pledge in accordance with this Agreement.
9. Breach of Agreement
9.1 If Pledgor or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Pledgee shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Pledgor or Party C to indemnify all damages; this Section 9 shall not prejudice any other rights of Pledgee herein;
9.2 Pledgor or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
10. Assignment
10.1 Without Pledgee’s prior written consent, Pledgor and Party C shall not have the right to assign or delegate their rights and obligations under
this Agreement.
10.2 This Agreement shall be binding on Pledgor and his/her successors and permitted assigns, and shall be valid with respect to Pledgee and each
of his/her successors and assigns.
10.3 At any time, Pledgee may assign any and all of its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement to its
designee(s), in which case the assigns shall have the rights and obligations of Pledgee under the Transaction Documents and this Agreement, as
if it were the original party to the Transaction Documents and this Agreement.
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10.4 In the event of change of Pledgee due to assignment, Pledgor and/or Party C shall, at the request of Pledgee, execute a new pledge agreement
with the new pledgee on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement, and register the same with the relevant AIC.
10.5 Pledgor and Party C shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by the Parties
hereto or any of them, including the Transaction Documents, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any
action/omission that may affect the effectiveness and enforceability thereof. Any remaining rights of Pledgor with respect to the Equity
Interest pledged hereunder shall not be exercised by Pledgor except in accordance with the written instructions of Pledgee.
11. Termination
11.1 Upon the fulfillment of all Contract Obligations and the full payment of all Secured Indebtedness by Pledgor and Party C, Pledgee shall release
the Pledge under this Agreement upon Pledgor’s request as soon as reasonably practicable and shall assist Pledgor to de-register the Pledge
from the shareholders’ register of Party C and with relevant PRC local administration for industry and commerce.
11.2 The provisions under Sections 9, 13, 14 and 11.2 herein of this Agreement shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
12. Handling Fees and Other Expenses
All fees and out of pocket expenses relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to legal costs, costs of production, stamp tax and any other
taxes and fees, shall be borne by Party C.
13. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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14. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
14.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
14.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
14.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration of any
dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties to this Agreement shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this
Agreement and perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
15. Notices
15.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by E-mail. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
15.2 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the date of
delivery or refusal at the address specified for notices.
15.3 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
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15.4 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin Mei
*****
*****
Yan Tian
Floor 3, Building A, Wentelai Center, 1 West Dawang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
15.5 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
16. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Contract are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance with any
laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Contract shall not be affected or compromised in any
respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective provisions that accomplish to
the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective provisions shall be as close as possible
to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
17. Attachments
The attachments set forth herein shall be an integral part of this Agreement.
18. Effectiveness
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties.
Any amendments, changes and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall become effective upon completion of the governmental
filing procedures (if applicable) after the affixation of the signatures or seals of the Parties.
19. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in Chinese and English in four copies. Pledgor, Pledgee and Party C shall hold one copy respectively and the other copy
shall be used for registration. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
10
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11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Equity Interest Pledge Agreement as of the date
first above written.
Party A:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Party C:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Attachments:
1. Shareholders’ Register of Party C
2. The Capital Contribution Certificate for Party C
3. Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
4. Exclusive Option Agreement
5. Loan Agreement
6. Power of Attorney
Power of Attorney
Exhibit 4.28
I, Ning Tang, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 90% of the entire registered capital in Beijing Kechuang
Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (“Kechuang Xinlian”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Yiren Heng Ye
Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the future in Kechuang
Xinlian (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Kechuang Xinlian; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Kechuang Xinlian’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer or pledge or
disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors, supervisors, the
chief executive officer and other senior management members of Kechuang Xinlian.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Kechuang Xinlian on January 10, 2020
and the Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Kechuang Xinlian on January 10, 2020 (including any modification,
amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Kechuang Xinlian, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from
the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
This Power of Attorney is signed on January 10, 2020.
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Accepted by
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Power of Attorney
I, Yan Tian, a Chinese citizen with Chinese Identification Card No.: *****, and a holder of 10% of the entire registered capital in Beijing Kechuang
Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (“Kechuang Xinlian”) as of the date when the Power of Attorney is executed, hereby irrevocably authorize Chongqing Heng
Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (“WFOE”) to exercise the following rights relating to all equity interests held by me now and in the future in Kechuang
Xinlian (“My Shareholding”) during the term of this Power of Attorney:
WFOE is hereby authorized to act on behalf of myself as my exclusive agent and attorney with respect to all matters concerning My Shareholding,
including without limitation to: 1) attending shareholders’ meetings of Kechuang Xinlian; 2) exercising all the shareholder’s rights and shareholder’s voting
rights I am entitled to under the laws of China and Kechuang Xinlian’s Articles of Association, including but not limited to the sale or transfer or pledge or
disposition of My Shareholding in part or in whole; and 3) designate and appoint on behalf of myself the legal representative, the directors, supervisors, the
chief executive officer and other senior management members of Kechuang Xinlian.
Without limiting the generality of the powers granted hereunder, WFOE shall have the power and authority to, on behalf of myself, execute all the
documents I shall sign as stipulated in the Exclusive Option Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Kechuang Xinlian on January10, 2020
and the Equity Pledge Agreement entered into by and among me, WFOE and Kechuang Xinlian on January 10, 2020 (including any modification,
amendment and restatement thereto, collectively the “Transaction Documents”), and perform the terms of the Transaction Documents.
All the actions associated with My Shareholding conducted by WFOE shall be deemed as my own actions, and all the documents related to My
Shareholding executed by WFOE shall be deemed to be executed by me. I hereby acknowledge and ratify those actions and/or documents by WFOE.
WFOE is entitled to re-authorize or assign its rights related to the aforesaid matters to any other person or entity at its own discretion and without
giving prior notice to me or obtaining my consent. If required by PRC laws, WFOE shall designate a PRC citizen to exercise the aforementioned rights.
During the period that I am a shareholder of Kechuang Xinlian, this Power of Attorney shall be irrevocable and continuously effective and valid from
the date of execution of this Power of Attorney.
During the term of this Power of Attorney, I hereby waive all the rights associated with My Shareholding, which have been authorized to WFOE
through this Power of Attorney, and shall not exercise such rights by myself.
This Power of Attorney is written in Chinese and English. In case of any discrepancy between the Chinese version and the English version, the
Chinese version shall prevail.
This Power of Attorney is signed on January 10, 2020.
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Accepted by
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Acknowledged by:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement
Exhibit 4.29
This Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into by and between the following parties on January 10,
2020 in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”).
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Party B: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Each of Party A and Party B shall be hereinafter referred to as a “Party” respectively, and as the “Parties” collectively.
Whereas,
1. Party A is a wholly foreign owned enterprise established in China, and has the necessary resources to provide technical and consulting services;
2. Party B is a company established in China with exclusively domestic capital and is permitted to engage in technology consulting, transferring,
promotion, service, basic software service, application software service (excluding medical software), computer system service, enterprise
management, software development, data processing, advertisement designing, producing, agency and publishing, computer graphic designing and
producing, computer animation designing, sales of daily commodity, enterprise planning by relevant PRC government authorities. The businesses
conducted by Party B currently and any time during the term of this Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Principal Business”;
3. Party A is willing to provide Party B with technical support, consulting services and other services on exclusive basis in relation to the Principal
Business during the term of this Agreement, utilizing its advantages in technology, human resources, and information, and Party B is willing to accept
such services provided by Party A or Party A’s designee(s), each on the terms set forth herein.
Now, therefore, through mutual discussion, the Parties have reached the following agreements:
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1. Services Provided by Party A
1.1 Party B hereby appoints Party A as Party B’s exclusive services provider to provide Party B with comprehensive technical support,
consulting services and other services during the term of this Agreement, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
including but not limited to the follows:
(1) Licensing Party B to use any software legally owned by Party A;
(2) Development, maintenance and update of software involved in Party B’s business;
(3) Design, installation, daily management, maintenance and updating of network system, hardware and database design;
(4) Technical support and training for employees of Party B;
(5) Assisting Party B in consultancy, collection and research of technology and market information (excluding market research
business that wholly foreign-owned enterprises are prohibited from conducting under PRC law);
(6) Providing business management consultation for Party B;
(7) Providing marketing and promotion services for Party B;
(8) Providing customer order management and customer services for Party B;
(9) Leasing of equipments or properties; and
(10) Other services requested by Party B from time to time to the extent permitted under PRC law.
1.2 Party B agrees to accept all the services provided by Party A. Party B further agrees that unless with Party A’s prior written consent,
during the term of this Agreement, Party B shall not directly or indirectly accept the same or any similar services provided by any third
party and shall not establish similar corporation relationship with any third party regarding the matters contemplated by this Agreement.
Party A may designate other parties, who may enter into certain agreements described in Section 1.3 with Party B, to provide Party B
with the services under this Agreement. For the purpose of this Agreement, Party A and other parties designated by Party A may be
respectively referred to as a “Service Provider,” or collectively as “Service Providers.”
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1.3 Service Providing Methodology
1.3.1 Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter into further service
agreements with Party A or any other party designated by Party A, which shall provide the specific contents, manner, personnel,
and fees for the specific services.
1.3.2 To fulfill this Agreement, Party A and Party B agree that during the term of this Agreement, where necessary, Party B may enter
into equipment or property leases with Party A or any other party designated by Party A which shall permit Party B to use Party
A’s relevant equipment or property based on the needs of the business of Party B.
1.3.3 Party B hereby grants to Party A an irrevocable and exclusive option to purchase from Party B, at Party A’s sole discretion, any
or all of the assets and business of Party B, to the extent permitted under PRC law, at the lowest purchase price permitted by
PRC law. The Parties shall then enter into a separate assets or business transfer agreement, specifying the terms and conditions
of the transfer of the assets.
2. The Calculation and Payment of the Service Fees
2.1 The fees payable by Party B to Service Providers during the term of this Agreement shall be calculated as follows:
2.1.1 Party B shall pay service fee to Party A or to Service Providers as instructed by Party A in each month. The service fee for each
month shall consist of management fee and fee for services provided, which shall be determined or adjusted (if necessary) by the
Party A by considering the following factors. Party B shall accept such determination and adjustments.
(1) Complexity and difficulty of the services provided by Party A;
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(2) Title of and time consumed by employees of the Service Provider providing the services;
(3) Contents and value of the services provided by Party A;
(4) Market price of the same type of services;
(5) Operation conditions of the Party B.
2.1.2 If a Service Provider transfers technology to Party B or develops software or other technology as entrusted by Party B or leases
equipments or properties to Party B, the technology transfer price, development fees or rent shall be determined by Party A or
the Service Provider as instructed by Party A based on the actual situations.
3. Intellectual Property Rights and Confidentiality Clauses
3.1 Party A shall have exclusive and proprietary ownership, rights and interests in any and all intellectual properties arising out of or created
during the performance of this Agreement, including but not limited to copyrights, patents, patent applications, software, technical
secrets, trade secrets and others. Party B shall execute all appropriate documents, take all appropriate actions, submit all filings and/or
applications, render all appropriate assistance and otherwise conduct whatever is necessary as deemed by Party A at its sole discretion for
the purposes of vesting any ownership, right or interest of any such intellectual property rights in Party A, and/or perfecting the
protections for any such intellectual property rights in Party A.
3.2 The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement and any oral or written information exchanged between the
Parties in connection with the preparation and performance of this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall
maintain confidentiality of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of the other Party, it shall not
disclose any relevant confidential information to any third party, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain
(other than through the receiving Party’s unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable
laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed
by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated
hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels or financial advisors shall be bound by the
confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential information by the shareholders,
director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information by such Party and
such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
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4. Representations and Warranties
4.1 Party A hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.1.1 Party A is a wholly foreign owned enterprise legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China; Party
A or the service providers designated by Party A will obtain all government permits and licenses for providing the service under
this Agreement before providing such services.
4.1.2 Party A has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals
from third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party
A’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation.
4.1.3 This Agreement constitutes Party A’s legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.
4.2 Party B hereby represents, warrants and covenants as follows:
4.2.1 Party B is a company legally established and validly existing in accordance with the laws of China and has obtained and will
maintain all permits and licenses for engaging in the Principal Business in a timely manner.
4.2.2 Party B has taken all necessary corporate actions, obtained all necessary authorizations as well as all consents and approvals
from third parties and government agencies (if required) for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. Party
B’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not violate any explicit requirements under any law or regulation.
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4.2.3 This Agreement constitutes Party B’s legal, valid and binding obligations, and shall be enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms.
5. Term of Agreement
5.1 This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties. Unless terminated in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement or terminated in writing by Party A, this Agreement shall remain effective.
5.2 During the term of this Agreement, each Party shall renew its operation term prior to the expiration thereof so as to enable this
Agreement to remain effective. This Agreement shall be terminated upon the expiration of the operation term of a Party if the application
for renewal of its operation term is not approved by relevant government authorities.
5.3 The rights and obligations of the Parties under Sections 3, 6, 7 and this Section 5.3 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
6. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
6.1 The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of China.
6.2 In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request
to the other Party for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China
International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall
be conducted in Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both Parties.
6.3 Upon the occurrence of any disputes arising from the construction and performance of this Agreement or during the pending arbitration
of any dispute, except for the matters under dispute, the Parties shall continue to exercise their respective rights under this Agreement and
perform their respective obligations under this Agreement.
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7. Breach of Agreement and Indemnification
7.1 If Party B conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or
require Party B to indemnify all damages; this Section 7.1 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein.
7.2 Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, Party B shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event.
7.3 Party B shall indemnify and hold harmless Party A from any losses, injuries, obligations or expenses caused by any lawsuit, claims or
other demands against Party A arising from or caused by the services provided by Party A to Party B pursuant this Agreement, except
where such losses, injuries, obligations or expenses arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Party A.
8. Force Majeure
8.1 In the case of any force majeure events (“Force Majeure”) such as earthquake, typhoon, flood, fire, flu, war, strikes or any other events
that cannot be predicted and are unpreventable and unavoidable by the affected Party, which directly or indirectly causes the failure of
either Party to perform or completely perform this Agreement, then the Party affected by such Force Majeure shall give the other Party
written notices without any delay, and shall provide details of such event within 15 days after sending out such notice, explaining the
reasons for such failure of, partial or delay of performance.
8.2 If such Party claiming Force Majeure fails to notify the other Party and furnish it with proof pursuant to the above provision, such Party
shall not be excused from the non-performance of its obligations hereunder. The Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure shall
use reasonable efforts to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure and to promptly resume performance hereunder whenever the
causes of such excuse are cured. Should the Party so affected by the event of Force Majeure fail to resume performance hereunder when
the causes of such excuse are cured, such Party shall be liable to the other Party.
8.3 In the event of Force Majeure, the Parties shall immediately consult with each other to find an equitable solution and shall use all
reasonable endeavours to minimize the consequences of such Force Majeure.
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9. Notices
9.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent
by registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth
below. A confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been
effectively given shall be determined as follows:
9.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given
on the date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices.
9.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced
by an automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
9.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Attn: Lin Mei
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party B: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Email: *****
9.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Party in accordance with the terms hereof.
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10. Assignment
10.1 Without Party A’s prior written consent, Party B shall not assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any third party.
10.2 Party B agrees that Party A may assign its obligations and rights under this Agreement to any third party and in case of such assignment,
Party A is only required to give written notice to Party B and does not need any consent from Party B for such assignment.
11. Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in accordance
with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or
compromised in any aspect. The Parties shall negotiate in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with effective
provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such effective
provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
12. Amendments and Supplements
Any amendments and supplements to this Agreement shall be in writing. The amendment agreements and supplementary agreements that have
been signed by the Parties and relate to this Agreement shall be an integral part of this Agreement and shall have the same legal validity as this
Agreement.
13. Language and Counterparts
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in two copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy between
the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Business Cooperation Agreement as of the
date first above written.
Party A:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Name:
Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
Party B:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Name:
Ning Tang
Title:
Legal Representative
Exclusive Option Agreement
Exhibit 4.30
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of January 10, 2020 in Beijing, the People’s
Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Ning Tang, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 90% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB9,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
2. Party A and Party B executed a Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on January 10, 2020, according to which Party A agreed to provide Party B
with a loan in amount of RMB 9,000,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the registered capital of Party C.
3. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to
the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as
used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option shall
equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in the
equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate PRC
laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity interests
held by Party B in Party C, the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than aforementioned
price when Party A exercises Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase price (collectively,
the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
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1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses
and permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to
the Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification,
amendment and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney
executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement
thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
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2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in
any person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary
or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
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2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director)
of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the
transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against
all claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
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2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party
B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
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3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
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6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Attn: Lin Mei
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party B: Ning Tang
Address: Floor 3, Building A, Wentelai Center, 1 West Dawang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: *****
Email: *****
Party C: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Address: Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Attn: Ning Tang
Phone: *****
Email: *****
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7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
10.1 If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement
and/or require the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
10.2 Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
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11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with
effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
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11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first
above written.
Party A:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Ning Tang
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Party C:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Exclusive Option Agreement
This Exclusive Option Agreement (this “Agreement”) is executed by and among the following Parties as of January 10, 2020 in Beijing, the People’s
Republic of China (“China” or the “PRC”):
Party A: Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly foreign owned enterprise, organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing;
Party B: Yan Tian, a Chinese citizen with Identification No.: *****; and
Party C: Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd., a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the PRC, with its
address at Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
In this Agreement, each of Party A, Party B and Party C shall be referred to as a “Party” respectively, and they shall be collectively referred to as the
“Parties”.
Whereas:
1. Party B is a shareholder of Party C and as of the date hereof holds 10% of equity interests of Party C, representing RMB1,000,000 in the registered
capital of Party C.
2. Party A and Party B executed a Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) on January 10, 2020, according to which Party A agreed to provide Party B
with a loan in amount of RMB 1,000,000, to be used for the purpose of subscribing the increased registered capital of Party C.
3. Party B agrees to grant Party A an exclusive right through this Agreement, and Party A agrees to accept such exclusive right to purchase all or part
equity interest held by Party B in Party C.
Now therefore, upon mutual discussion and negotiation, the Parties have reached the following agreement:
1. Sale and Purchase of Equity Interest
1.1 Option Granted
In consideration of the payment of RMB10 by Party A, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged by Party B, Party B hereby
irrevocably grants Party A an irrevocable and exclusive right to purchase, or designate one or more persons (each, a “Designee”) to purchase the
equity interests in Party C then held by Party B once or at multiple times at any time in part or in whole at Party A’s sole and absolute discretion to
the extent permitted by Chinese laws and at the price described in Section 1.3 herein (such right being the “Equity Interest Purchase Option”).
Except for Party A and the Designee(s), no other person shall be entitled to the Equity Interest Purchase Option or other rights with respect to the
equity interests of Party B. Party C hereby agrees to the grant by Party B of the Equity Interest Purchase Option to Party A. The term “person” as
used herein shall refer to individuals, corporations, partnerships, partners, enterprises, trusts or non-corporate organizations.
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1.2 Steps for Exercise of Equity Interest Purchase Option
Subject to the provisions of the laws and regulations of China, Party A may exercise the Equity Interest Purchase Option by issuing a written
notice to Party B (the “Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice”), specifying: (a) Party A’s or the Designee’s decision to exercise the Equity
Interest Purchase Option; (b) the portion of equity interests to be purchased by Party A or the Designee from Party B (the “Optioned Interests”);
and (c) the date for purchasing the Optioned Interests or the date for transfer of the Optioned Interests.
1.3 Equity Interest Purchase Price
The purchase price of all equity interests held by Party B in Party C purchased by Party A by exercising the Equity Interest Purchase Option shall
equal to the amount of registered capital contributed by Party B in Party C for such Optioned Interests (or such price may be as set forth in the
equity transfer agreement to be executed between Party A (or the Designee) and Party B separately, provided that such price does not violate PRC
laws and regulations and is acceptable to Party A); if Party A exercises the Equity Interest Purchase Option to purchase part of the equity interests
held by Party B in Party C, the purchase price shall be calculated pro rata. If PRC law requires a minimum price higher than aforementioned
price when Party A exercises Equity Interest Purchase Option, the minimum price regulated by PRC law shall be the purchase price (collectively,
the “Equity Interest Purchase Price”).
1.4 Transfer of Optioned Interests
For each exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option:
1.4.1 Party B shall cause Party C to promptly convene a shareholders’ meeting, at which a resolution shall be adopted approving Party B’s
transfer of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s);
1.4.2 Party B shall obtain written statements from the other shareholders of Party C giving consent to the transfer of the equity interest to
Party A and/or the Designee(s) and waiving any right of first refusal related thereto;
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1.4.3 Party B shall execute an equity interest transfer contract with respect to each transfer with Party A and/or each Designee (whichever is
applicable), in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Equity Interest Purchase Option Notice regarding the
Optioned Interests;
1.4.4 The relevant Parties shall execute all other necessary contracts, agreements or documents, obtain all necessary government licenses
and permits and take all necessary actions to transfer valid ownership of the Optioned Interests to Party A and/or the Designee(s),
unencumbered by any security interests, and cause Party A and/or the Designee(s) to become the registered owner(s) of the Optioned
Interests. For the purpose of this Section and this Agreement, “security interests” shall include securities, mortgages, third party’s
rights or interests, any stock options, acquisition right, right of first refusal, right to offset, ownership retention or other security
arrangements, but shall be deemed to exclude any security interest created by this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney. “Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement” as used in this Agreement shall refer to
the Interest Pledge Agreement executed by and among Party A, Party B and Party C on the date hereof and any modification,
amendment and restatement thereto. “Party B’s Power of Attorney” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the Power of Attorney
executed by Party B on the date hereof granting Party A with power of attorney and any modification, amendment and restatement
thereto.
2. Covenants
2.1 Covenants regarding Party C
Party B (as a shareholder of Party C) and Party C hereby covenant as follows:
2.1.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not in any manner supplement, change or amend the articles of association of
Party C, increase or decrease its registered capital, or change its structure of registered capital in other manners;
2.1.2 They shall maintain Party C’s corporate existence in accordance with good financial and business standards and practices, obtain and
maintain all necessary government licenses and permits by prudently and effectively operating its business and handling its affairs;
2.1.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not at any time following the date hereof, sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of
in any manner any assets of Party C or legal or beneficial interest in the material business or revenues of Party C, or allow the
encumbrance thereon of any security interest;
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2.1.4 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not incur, inherit, guarantee or suffer the existence of any debt, except for
payables incurred in the ordinary course of business other than through loans;
2.1.5 They shall always operate all of Party C’s businesses in the ordinary course of business to maintain the asset value of Party C and
refrain from any action/omission that may affect Party C’s operating status and asset value;
2.1.6 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to execute any major contract, except the contracts in the
ordinary course of business (for purpose of this subsection, a contract with a price exceeding RMB100,000 shall be deemed a major
contract);
2.1.7 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause Party C to provide any person with any loan or credit;
2.1.8 They shall provide Party A with information on Party C’s business operations and financial condition at Party A’s request;
2.1.9 If requested by Party A, they shall procure and maintain insurance in respect of Party C’s assets and business from an insurance carrier
acceptable to Party A, at an amount and type of coverage typical for companies that operate similar businesses;
2.1.10 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall not cause or permit Party C to merge, consolidate with, acquire or invest in
any person;
2.1.11 They shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to Party C’s assets, business or revenue;
2.1.12 To maintain the ownership by Party C of all of its assets, they shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take all necessary
or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against all claims;
2.1.13 Without the prior written consent of Party A, they shall ensure that Party C shall not in any manner distribute dividends to its
shareholders, provided that upon Party A’s written request, Party C shall immediately distribute all distributable profits to its
shareholders;
2.1.14 At the request of Party A, they shall appoint any person designated by Party A as the director or executive director of Party C.
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2.1.15 Without Party A’s prior written consent, they shall not engage in any business in competition with Party A or its affiliates; and
2.1.16 Unless otherwise required by PRC law, Party C shall not be dissolved or liquated without prior written consent by Party A.
2.2 Covenants of Party B
Party B hereby covenants as follows:
2.2.1 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall not sell, transfer, mortgage or dispose of in any other manner any legal or
beneficial interest in the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.2 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting and/or the directors (or the executive
director) of Party C not to approve any sale, transfer, mortgage or disposition in any other manner of any legal or beneficial interest in
the equity interests in Party C held by Party B, or allow the encumbrance thereon of any security interest, except for the interest placed
in accordance with Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney;
2.2.3 Without the prior written consent of Party A, Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director)
of Party C not to approve the merger or consolidation with any person, or the acquisition of or investment in any person;
2.2.4 Party B shall immediately notify Party A of the occurrence or possible occurrence of any litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C held by Party B;
2.2.5 Party B shall cause the shareholders’ meeting or the directors (or the executive director) of Party C to vote their approval of the
transfer of the Optioned Interests as set forth in this Agreement and to take any and all other actions that may be requested by Party A;
2.2.6 To the extent necessary to maintain Party B’s ownership in Party C, Party B shall execute all necessary or appropriate documents, take
all necessary or appropriate actions, file all necessary or appropriate complaints, and raise necessary or appropriate defenses against
all claims;
2.2.7 Party B shall appoint any designee of Party A as the director or the executive director of Party C, at the request of Party A;
5
2.2.8 Party B hereby waives its right of first of refusal to transfer of equity interest by any other shareholder of Party C to Party A (if any),
and gives consent to execution by each other shareholder of Party C with Party A and Party C the exclusive option agreement, the
equity interest pledge agreement and the power of attorney similar to this Agreement, Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement and
Party B’s Power of Attorney and undertakes not to take any action in conflict with such documents executed by the other
shareholders;
2.2.9 Party B shall promptly donate any profit, interest, dividend or proceeds of liquidation, or any proceeds from transferring its entire or a
part of equity interest in Party C, to Party A or any other person designated by Party A to the extent permitted under applicable PRC
laws; and
2.2.10 Party B shall strictly abide by the provisions of this Agreement and other contracts jointly or separately executed by and among Party
B, Party C and Party A, perform the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and refrain from any action/omission that may affect the
effectiveness and enforceability thereof. To the extent that Party B has any remaining rights with respect to the equity interests subject
to this Agreement hereunder or under the Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge Agreement or under the Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party
B shall not exercise such rights except in accordance with the written instructions of Party A.
3. Representations and Warranties
Party B and Party C hereby represent and warrant to Party A, jointly and severally, as of the date of this Agreement and each date of transfer of the
Optioned Interests, that:
3.1 They have the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and any equity interest transfer contracts to which they are
parties concerning the Optioned Interests to be transferred thereunder (each, a “Transfer Contract”), and to perform their obligations under this
Agreement and any Transfer Contracts. Party B and Party C agree to enter into Transfer Contracts consistent with the terms of this Agreement
upon Party A’s exercise of the Equity Interest Purchase Option. This Agreement and the Transfer Contracts to which they are parties constitute
or will constitute their legal, valid and binding obligations and shall be enforceable against them in accordance with the provisions thereof;
3.2 Party B and Party C have obtained any and all approvals and consents from government authorities and third parties (if required) for execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement.
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3.3 The execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts and the obligations under this Agreement or any Transfer Contracts
shall not: (i) cause any violation of any applicable laws of China; (ii) be inconsistent with the articles of association, bylaws or other
organizational documents of Party C; (iii) cause the violation of any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on
them, or constitute any breach under any contracts or instruments to which they are a party or which are binding on them; (iv) cause any
violation of any condition for the grant and/or continued effectiveness of any licenses or permits issued to either of them; or (v) cause the
suspension or revocation of or imposition of additional conditions to any licenses or permits issued to either of them;
3.4 Party B has a good and merchantable title to the equity interests held by Party B in Party C. Except for Party B’s Equity Interest Pledge
Agreement and Party B’s Power of Attorney, Party B has not placed any security interest on such equity interests;
3.5 Party C has a good and merchantable title to all of its assets, and has not placed any security interest on the aforementioned assets;
3.6 Party C does not have any outstanding debts, except for (i) debt incurred in the ordinary course of business; and (ii) debts disclosed to Party A
for which Party A’s written consent has been obtained.
3.7 Party C has complied with all applicable laws and regulations; and
3.8 There are no pending or threatened litigation, arbitration or administrative proceedings relating to the equity interests in Party C, assets of Party
C or Party C.
4. Effective Date and Term
This Agreement shall become effective upon execution by the Parties, and remain effective until all equity interests held by Party B in Party C have
been transferred or assigned to Party A and/or any other person designated by Party A in accordance with this Agreement.
5. Governing Law and Resolution of Disputes
5.1 Governing law
The execution, effectiveness, construction, performance, amendment and termination of this Agreement and the resolution of disputes
hereunder shall be governed by the laws of PRC.
5.2 Methods of Resolution of Disputes
In the event of any dispute with respect to the construction and performance of this Agreement, the Parties shall first resolve the dispute
through friendly negotiations. In the event the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the dispute within 30 days after either Party’s request to
the other Parties for resolution of the dispute through negotiations, either Party may submit the relevant dispute to the China International
Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission for arbitration, in accordance with its arbitration rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in
Beijing. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on all Parties.
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6. Taxes and Fees
Each Party shall pay any and all transfer and registration tax, expenses and fees incurred thereby or levied thereon in accordance with the laws of
China in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts, as well as the consummation of the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement and the Transfer Contracts.
7. Notices
7.1 All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered personally or sent by
registered mail, postage prepaid, by a commercial courier service or by facsimile transmission to the address of such Party set forth below. A
confirmation copy of each notice shall also be sent by email. The dates on which notices shall be deemed to have been effectively given shall
be determined as follows:
7.1.1 Notices given by personal delivery, by courier service or by registered mail, postage prepaid, shall be deemed effectively given on the
date of receipt or refusal at the address specified for notices;
7.1.2 Notices given by facsimile transmission shall be deemed effectively given on the date of successful transmission (as evidenced by an
automatically generated confirmation of transmission).
7.2 For the purpose of notices, the addresses of the Parties are as follows:
Party A:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Party B:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Party C:
Address:
Attn:
Phone:
Email:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd.
Unit 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Floor 22, 7 Huasheng Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
Lin Mei
*****
*****
Yan Tian
Floor 3, Building A, Wentelai Center, 1 West Dawang Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
*****
*****
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Room 2102, Floor 21, Building 3, Yard 4, Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Ning Tang
*****
*****
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7.3 Any Party may at any time change its address for notices by a notice delivered to the other Parties in accordance with the terms hereof.
8. Confidentiality
The Parties acknowledge that the existence and the terms of this Agreement, and any oral or written information exchanged between the Parties in
connection with the preparation and performance this Agreement are regarded as confidential information. Each Party shall maintain confidentiality
of all such confidential information, and without obtaining the written consent of other Parties, it shall not disclose any relevant confidential
information to any third parties, except for the information that: (a) is or will be in the public domain (other than through the receiving Party’s
unauthorized disclosure); (b) is under the obligation to be disclosed pursuant to the applicable laws or regulations, rules of any stock exchange, or
orders of the court or other government authorities; or (c) is required to be disclosed by any Party to its shareholders, directors, employees, legal
counsels or financial advisors regarding the transaction contemplated hereunder, provided that such shareholders, directors, employees, legal counsels
or financial advisors shall be bound by the confidentiality obligations similar to those set forth in this Section. Disclosure of any confidential
information by the shareholders, director, employees of or agencies engaged by any Party shall be deemed disclosure of such confidential information
by such Party and such Party shall be held liable for breach of this Agreement.
9. Further Warranties
The Parties agree to promptly execute documents that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement and take further actions that are reasonably required for or are conducive to the implementation of the provisions and
purposes of this Agreement.
10. Breach of Agreement
If Party B or Party C conducts any material breach of any term of this Agreement, Party A shall have right to terminate this Agreement and/or require
the Party B or Party C to compensate all damages; this Section 10 shall not prejudice any other rights of Party A herein;
Party B or Party C shall not have any right to terminate this Agreement in any event unless otherwise required by applicable laws.
11. Miscellaneous
11.1 Amendment, change and supplement
Any amendment, change and supplement to this Agreement shall require the execution of a written agreement by all of the Parties.
9
11.2 Entire agreement
Except for the amendments, supplements or changes in writing executed after the execution of this Agreement, this Agreement shall
constitute the entire agreement reached by and among the Parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and shall supercede all
prior oral and written consultations, representations and contracts reached with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
11.3 Headings
The headings of this Agreement are for convenience only, and shall not be used to interpret, explain or otherwise affect the meanings of the
provisions of this Agreement.
11.4 Language
This Agreement is written in both Chinese and English language in three copies, each Party having one copy. In case of any discrepancy
between the Chinese version and the English version, the Chinese version shall prevail.
11.5 Severability
In the event that one or several of the provisions of this Agreement are found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any aspect in
accordance with any laws or regulations, the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be
affected or compromised in any respect. The Parties shall strive in good faith to replace such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with
effective provisions that accomplish to the greatest extent permitted by law and the intentions of the Parties, and the economic effect of such
effective provisions shall be as close as possible to the economic effect of those invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.
11.6 Successors
This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the interest of the respective successors of the Parties and the permitted assigns of such
Parties.
11.7 Survival
11.7.1 Any obligations that occur or that are due as a result of this Agreement upon the expiration or early termination of this Agreement shall
survive the expiration or early termination thereof.
11.7.2 The provisions of Sections 5, 8, 10 and this Section 11.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
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11.8 Waivers
Any Party may waive the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided that such a waiver must be provided in writing and shall require
the signatures of the Parties. No waiver by any Party in certain circumstances with respect to a breach by other Parties shall operate as a
waiver by such a Party with respect to any similar breach in other circumstances.
11
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused their authorized representatives to execute this Exclusive Option Agreement as of the date first
above written.
Party A:
Chongqing Heng Yu Da Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Party B:
Yan Tian
By:
/s/ Yan Tian
Party C:
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd. (Seal)
By:
Name:
Title:
/s/ Ning Tang
Ning Tang
Legal Representative
Subsidiaries:
Place of Incorporation
List of Subsidiaries and Consolidated Variable Interest Entities
EXHIBIT 8.1
Yiren Blue Boyage Limited
Varengold Capital Securities Limited
Yiren Green Management Limited
Yiren Digital Hong Kong Limited
Yiren Hengye Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Chongqing Hengyuda Technology Co., Ltd.
Yiren Information Consulting (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
CreditEase Puhui Information Consultant (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Yiren Heng Sheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Shenzhen Zhongbang Information Consulting Service Co., Ltd.
Chongqing Henglangsheng Technology Co., Ltd.
Chongqing Hengxinxin Technology Co., Ltd.
Consolidated variable interest entities:
Hengcheng Technology Development (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Dekai Yichuang Asset Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
Hainan Haijin Yichuang Data Information Service Co., Ltd.
Haijin Yichuang Commercial Factoring (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
Haijin Yichuang Financial Leasing Co., Ltd.
Hainan Haijin Yichuang Micro-lending Co., Ltd.
Yiren Financial Information Service (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
Harbin Wanbang Funong Agricultural Machinery Service Co., Ltd.
Tianjin Linyang Information and Technology Co., Ltd.
Beijing Yi Ding Technology Co., Ltd.
Beijing Kechuang Xinlian Technology Co., Ltd.
Huijin No. 28 Single Capital Trust E3*
Bohai Trust Yirendai Personal Loan Single Capital Trust*
Huijin No. 28 Single Capital Trust E4*
Huijin No. 56 Collective Capital Trust E1*
Yi Heng No. 1 Property Right Trust*
Cayman Islands
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
PRC
* Please see note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report for the details of the basis of consolidation.
EXHIBIT 12.1
Certification by the Principal Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Ning Tang, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Yiren Digital Ltd.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by
the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal
control over financial reporting.
Date: May 15, 2020
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Name:
Title:
Ning Tang
Chief Executive Officer
EXHIBIT 12.2
Certification by the Principal Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
I, Zhong Bi, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Yiren Digital Ltd.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as
defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and
15d-15(f)) for the company and have:
(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by
the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The company’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial
reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal
control over financial reporting.
Date: May 15, 2020
By:
/s/ Zhong Bi
Name:
Title:
Zhong Bi
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 Yiren Digital Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Ning Tang, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
Date: May 15, 2020
By:
/s/ Ning Tang
Name:
Title:
Ning Tang
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 Yiren Digital Ltd. (the “Company”) on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Zhong Bi, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.
Date: May 15, 2020
By:
/s/ Zhong Bi
Name:
Title:
Zhong Bi
Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT 15.1
May 15, 2020
Yiren Digital Ltd.
10/F, Building 9, 91 Jianguo Road
Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022
The 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” in Yiren Digital Ltd.’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 May 2020, and
further consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-212056 and No. 333-219404). We also consent to
the filing of this consent letter with the SEC as an exhibit to the Annual Report.
In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case, as amended, or the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Han Kun Law Offices
Han Kun Law Offices
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-212056 and No. 333-219404) of our reports
dated May 15, 2020, relating to the financial statements of Yiren Digital Ltd. (formerly known as Yirendai Ltd.) and the effectiveness of Yiren Digital
Ltd.’s internal control over financial reporting appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Exhibit 15.2
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants LLP
Beijing, the People’s Republic of China
May 15, 2020