BLTE files 424B5 for $15M direct ADS sale; warrants at market price
Belite Bio (Nasdaq: BLTE) filed a 424B5 to raise capital via a direct, best-efforts placement of 230,770 ADSs (1 ADS = 1 ordinary share) at $65.00 each, bundled one-for-one with five-year warrants exercisable at the same price. Gross proceeds total $15.0 million; the placement-agent fee is 6.5% ($0.975 m), leaving $14.0 m before other expenses. Proceeds are earmarked for working capital and general corporate purposes.
Post-offering share count rises to 32.83 m (33.06 m fully diluted). Warrants are immediately exercisable, unlisted, and capped at 9.99% beneficial ownership. Company lock-ups: 30 days (issuer) and 60 days (insiders & ≥5% holder). Closing is expected on 8 Aug 2025; Titan Partners Group acts as exclusive placement agent.
Risks disclosed include continued cash burn, reliance on lead drug Tinlarebant, potential PRC regulatory exposure despite limited China operations, likely PFIC status, dilution (immediate book-value drop of $59.75/ADS) and controlled-company governance exemptions. Last BLTE close (6 Aug 2025) was $67.99, implying a modest 4.4% discount. No change to Nasdaq listing of ADSs; warrants will not be listed.
Positive
- $15 m gross proceeds strengthen cash position with only ~0.7 % immediate dilution.
- Warrants priced at market and unlisted, limiting selling pressure and aligning long-term investor incentives.
Negative
- Potential PFIC status introduces adverse U.S. tax treatment for shareholders.
- Ongoing cash burn and small raise indicate likely need for further dilutionary financings.
- Regulatory uncertainty tied to PRC trial activity and Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act remains a risk.
Insights
TL;DR – $15 m raise modestly extends runway; minimal dilution, market-priced warrants, neutral to valuation.
The financing equals roughly one quarter of estimated 2024 cash burn and comes at only a 4% discount to last trade, suggesting limited urgency. New shares represent <1% of pro-forma equity; even if all warrants exercise, ownership dilution remains below 1.4%. Because warrants are unlisted and priced at market, overhang risk is low. Proceeds add flexibility ahead of Tinlarebant Phase 3 readouts but do not materially alter execution risk, which remains the core driver. Overall impact: liquidity positive, valuation neutral.
TL;DR – Small capital infusion buys time; strategic narrative unchanged; regulatory and PFIC flags persist.
Belite’s controlled-company and foreign-private-issuer statuses continue, with governance waivers intact. The filing reiterates exposure to evolving Chinese data laws and possible PCAOB inspections; investors should note that even limited PRC trial activity can trigger geopolitical risk. PFIC disclosure adds tax complexity for U.S. holders. The deal’s scale is insufficient to fund commercialization; additional raises are likely. Impact is deemed limited, but alerts investors to ongoing financing cadence.
Registration No. 333-284521
(to Prospectus dated January 27, 2025)
Warrants to Purchase 230,770 American Depositary Shares Representing Ordinary Shares
Up to 230,770 American Depositary Shares representing 230,770 Ordinary Shares
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
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Per Share
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Total
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Offering Price
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| | | $ | 65.00 | | | | | $ | 15,000,050 | | |
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Placement Agent fees(1)
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| | | $ | 4.225 | | | | | $ | 975,003 | | |
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Proceeds, before expenses, to us
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| | | $ | 60.775 | | | | | $ | 14,025,047 | | |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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| | | | S-1 | | |
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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| | | | S-3 | | |
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
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| | | | S-5 | | |
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THE OFFERING
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| | | | S-11 | | |
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RISK FACTORS
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| | | | S-13 | | |
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | S-16 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS
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| | | | S-17 | | |
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CAPITALIZATION
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| | | | S-18 | | |
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DILUTION
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| | | | S-19 | | |
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MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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| | | | S-20 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | S-27 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | S-29 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | S-30 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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| | | | S-31 | | |
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INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
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| | | | S-32 | | |
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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| | | | 1 | | |
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OUR COMPANY
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| | | | 3 | | |
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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| | | | 9 | | |
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RISK FACTORS
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| | | | 11 | | |
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OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | 12 | | |
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CAPITALIZATION
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| | | | 13 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
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| | | | 14 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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| | | | 24 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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| | | | 34 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF OVERALLOTMENT PURCHASE RIGHTS
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| | | | 36 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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| | | | 37 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
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| | | | 38 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL NOTES
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| | | | 39 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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| | | | 40 | | |
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TAXATION
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| | | | 46 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | 48 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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| | | | 50 | | |
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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
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| | | | 51 | | |
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
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| | | | 52 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | 54 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | 55 | | |
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OFFERING EXPENSES
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As of March 31, 2025
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Actual
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As
Adjusted |
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$’000
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$’000
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| Shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Share capital
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| | | | 3 | | | | | | 3 | | |
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Additional paid-in capital
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| | | | 280,633 | | | | | | 294,524 | | |
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss
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| | | | (642) | | | | | | (642) | | |
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Accumulated losses
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| | | | (121,924) | | | | | | (121,924) | | |
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Total shareholders’ equity
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| | | | 158,070 | | | | | | 171,961 | | |
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Total capitalization
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| | | | 158,070 | | | | | | 171,961 | | |
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Offering price per ADS and Warrant
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| | | $ | 65.00 | | |
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Net tangible book value per ADS as of March 31, 2025
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| | | $ | 4.86 | | |
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Increase in net tangible book value per ADS attributable to this offering
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| | | $ | 0.39 | | |
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As adjusted net tangible book value per ADS after this offering
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| | | $ | 5.25 | | |
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Net dilution per ADS to new investors purchasing the ADSs and Warrants in this offering
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| | | $ | 59.75 | | |
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Per Share
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Total
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Offering Price
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| | | $ | 65.00 | | | | | $ | 15,000,050 | | |
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Placement Agent fees(1)
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| | | $ | 4.225 | | | | | $ | 975,003 | | |
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Proceeds, before expenses, to us
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| | | $ | 60.775 | | | | | $ | 14,025,047 | | |
San Diego, CA 92130
Tel: +1-858-246-6240
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Preferred Shares, Warrants, Overallotment Purchase Rights, Subscription
Rights, Units, Capital Notes and/or Debt Securities
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Page
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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| | | | 1 | | |
|
OUR COMPANY
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| | | | 3 | | |
|
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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| | | | 9 | | |
|
RISK FACTORS
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| | | | 11 | | |
|
USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | 12 | | |
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CAPITALIZATION
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| | | | 13 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
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| | | | 14 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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| | | | 24 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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| | | | 34 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF OVERALLOTMENT PURCHASE RIGHTS
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| | | | 36 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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| | | | 37 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
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| | | | 38 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL NOTES
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| | | | 39 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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| | | | 40 | | |
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TAXATION
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| | | | 46 | | |
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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
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| | | | 47 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | 48 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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| | | | 50 | | |
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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
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| | | | 51 | | |
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
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| | | | 52 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | 54 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | 55 | | |
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Service
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Fees
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•
To any person to which ADSs are issued or to any person to which a distribution is made in respect of ADS distributions pursuant to stock dividends or other free distributions of stock, bonus distributions, stock splits or other distributions (except where converted to cash)
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued | |
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•
Cancellation of ADSs, including the case of termination of the deposit agreement
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled | |
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•
Distribution of cash dividends
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
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•
Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
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•
Distribution of ADSs pursuant to exercise of rights.
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
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•
Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
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•
Depositary services
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| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank | |
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If we:
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Then:
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| | Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares | | | The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. | |
| | Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities | | | Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. | |
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If we:
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Then:
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| | 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 | | | 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. | |
San Diego, CA 92130
Tel: +1-858-246-6240
Attention: Chief Financial Officer