36Kr registers $300M mixed securities shelf
KRKR registers a US$300 million mixed shelf while emphasizing China VIE, HFCAA and cash-transfer risks for ADS investors.
36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) has filed an amended shelf registration statement on Form F-3 to offer up to US$300,000,000 of Class A ordinary shares, preferred shares, warrants, subscription rights and units, including ADSs with each ADS representing 500 Class A ordinary shares. Sales may occur from time to time after effectiveness through various methods and intermediaries, with specific terms set in future prospectus supplements.
The company qualifies to use Form F-3 under General Instruction I.B.5, which limits primary offerings to no more than one-third of the US$4.7 million public float calculated from 747,134,455 ordinary shares held by non‑affiliates as of September 10, 2026. KRKR is a Cayman Islands holding company operating in China through PRC subsidiaries and a consolidated variable interest entity, from which 100% of net revenues were derived in 2023–2025, creating structural and regulatory risks if PRC authorities challenge the VIE contracts.
The filing highlights legal and operational risks tied to PRC government influence, potential future HFCAA-related trading prohibitions if PCAOB access changes, and restrictions on cross‑border cash movements. As of December 31, 2025, the parent had injected US$42.1 million into group entities, while significant intercompany loans and service‑fee balances exist between the PRC subsidiaries and the VIE. The company states it has not paid dividends and has no near‑term dividend plans.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Filing Explained
No securities sale is identified yet; future issuance could reduce ordinary holders’ percentage ownership or voting power if the registered capacity is used.
36Kr Holdings has amended its Form F-3 shelf registration for proposed future offerings, but the filing does not identify a completed sale; specific security terms are deferred to later prospectus supplements. The current state is registration capacity, not issuance or proceeds received.
The filing states that the board may issue authorized but unissued ordinary or preferred shares without further shareholder action. If shares are later issued, the total share count can increase and existing holders' percentage ownership can decrease; the filing specifically says preferred-share issuance may dilute ordinary holders' voting power.
The next applicable prospectus supplement would establish whether the capacity is used and disclose the particular security, size, price, fees and other offering terms.
Key Figures
Key Terms
variable interest entity regulatory
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act regulatory
General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3 regulatory
Commission-Identified Issuer regulatory
American depositary shares financial
Offering Details
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What is 36Kr Holdings Inc. (KRKR) registering in this Form F-3 shelf?
How large is 36Kr (KRKR)’s public float referenced in the F-3 filing?
What limits apply to KRKR’s primary offerings under General Instruction I.B.5 of Form F-3?
How is 36Kr (KRKR)’s China business structured and what share of revenues comes from the VIE?
What HFCAA and PCAOB-related risks does KRKR highlight for its ADSs?
What intercompany cash flows and balances between KRKR, its PRC subsidiaries and the VIE are disclosed?
Does 36Kr (KRKR) plan to pay dividends on its shares or ADSs?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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Cayman Islands
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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Not Applicable
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
|
No. 10 Jiuxianqiao Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 100015
+86 10 8965-0708
122 East 42nd Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10168
(800) 221-0102
Han Kun Law Offices LLP
Rooms 4301-10, 43/F., Gloucester Tower
The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong
+852 2820 5600
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
Class A Ordinary Shares
Preferred Shares
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Units
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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| | | | ii | | |
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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| | | | iii | | |
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OUR COMPANY
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| | | | 1 | | |
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CORPORATE INFORMATION
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| | | | 2 | | |
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RISK FACTORS
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| | | | 3 | | |
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | 4 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
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| | | | 5 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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| | | | 14 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
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| | | | 21 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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| | | | 23 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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| | | | 24 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
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| | | | 26 | | |
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
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| | | | 27 | | |
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TAXATION
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| | | | 29 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | 30 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | 33 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | 33 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT US
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INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
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Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or
ADS holders must pay: |
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For:
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| US$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs) | | | Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of shares or rights or other property | |
| | | | Cancelation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates | |
| US$.05 (or less) per ADS | | | Any cash distribution to ADS holders | |
| A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs | | | Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities (including rights) that are distributed by the depositary to ADS holders | |
| US$.05 (or less) per ADS per calendar year | | | Depositary services | |
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Persons depositing or withdrawing shares or
ADS holders must pay: |
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For:
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| Registration or transfer fees | | | Transfer and registration of shares on our share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw shares | |
| Expenses of the depositary | | | Cable (including SWIFT) and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement) Converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars | |
| Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian has to pay on any ADSs or shares underlying ADSs, such as stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes | | | As necessary | |
| Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities | | | As necessary | |
Building B6, Universal Business Park,
No. 10 Jiuxianqiao Road,
Chaoyang District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 100015
+86 10 8965-0708
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Exhibit
Number |
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Description
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| | 1.1* | | | Form of Underwriting Agreement | |
| | 4.1 | | |
Registrant’s Specimen American Depositary Receipt evidencing American Depositary Shares (included in Exhibit 4.3).
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| | 4.2 | | | Registrant’s Specimen Certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-234006), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on September 30, 2019) | |
| | 4.3 | | | Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, the depositary and holders of the American Depositary Shares (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the registration statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-234006), as amended, initially filed with the SEC on September 30, 2019) | |
| | 4.4* | | | Certificate of Designation for Preferred Shares | |
| | 4.5* | | | Registrant’s Specimen of Warrant Certificate | |
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Exhibit
Number |
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Description
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| | 4.6* | | | Form of Warrant Agreement | |
| | 4.7* | | | Form of Subscription Rights Agreement | |
| | 4.8* | | | Form of Subscription Rights Certificate | |
| | 4.9* | | | Specimen Unit Certificate | |
| | 5.1 | | | Opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP regarding the validity of the securities being registered | |
| | 8.1 | | | Opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP regarding certain Cayman Islands tax matters (included in Exhibit 5.1) | |
| | 8.2 | | | Opinion of Jingtian & Gongcheng regarding certain PRC law matters | |
| | 23.1 | | | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm | |
| | 23.2 | | |
Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
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| | 23.3 | | | Consent of Jingtian & Gongcheng | |
| | 107 | | | Calculation of Filing Fee Table | |
| | | | | 36Kr Holdings Inc. | |
| | | | |
By:
/s/ Dagang Feng
Name: Dagang Feng
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ Dagang Feng
Dagang Feng
|
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Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
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September 22, 2026
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/s/ Yang Li
Yang Li
|
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Director and Chief Content Officer
|
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September 22, 2026
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/s/ Wei Xu
Wei Xu
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Director
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September 22, 2026
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/s/ Yifan Li
Yifan Li
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Independent Director
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September 22, 2026
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/s/ Hendrick Sin
Hendrick Sin
|
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Independent Director
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September 22, 2026
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/s/ Jing Xu
Jing Xu
|
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Independent Director
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September 22, 2026
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/s/ Xiang Li
Xiang Li
|
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Director and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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September 22, 2026
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| | | | | Authorized U.S. Representative | |
| | | | | Cogency Global Inc. | |
| | | | |
By:
/s/ Colleen A. De Vries
Name: Colleen A. De Vries
Title:
Senior Vice President on behalf of Cogency Global Inc.
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