LOT 424B3: Massive share resale potential, limited cash benefit
Lotus Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: LOT) has filed a Rule 424(b)(3) prospectus registering up to 680,957,495 American depositary shares (ADSs) – approximately 99.1% of total ordinary shares on a post-exercise basis – plus 5,486,784 warrants for potential resale by existing holders. The filing also covers 15,037,030 new ADSs issuable upon exercise of public and sponsor warrants priced at US$11.50.
Main share blocks are: 542.9 million legacy shares acquired at ~US$0.6-6.6; 122.4 million PIPE shares bought at US$10.00; 7.16 million sponsor shares bought at ~US$0.003; 5.49 million shares issuable from sponsor warrants; and 3.01 million convertible-note shares at US$10.00. Selling securityholders may dispose of these securities through public or private transactions; the company will not receive proceeds from any resale and will only gain cash if warrants are exercised.
The current ADS price is US$2.16 (29-May-25), leaving the US$11.50 strike warrants deep out-of-the-money. Heavy SPAC redemptions – 20.52 million LCAA shares (94.2%) for US$222.8 million – have already reduced available cash, and the newly registered shares could create significant market overhang.
Lotus Technology is classified as an "emerging growth company", "foreign private issuer" and "controlled company", enabling reduced reporting and governance requirements. It has dismantled its former VIE structure and now operates through wholly-owned PRC subsidiaries, though dividend, capital-transfer and PRC regulatory risks remain.
Overall, the prospectus signals extensive potential supply with limited near-term cash benefit to LOT, heightening dilution and liquidity risks for public investors.
Positive
- Elimination of the former VIE structure simplifies corporate organization and may reduce China-specific legal complexity.
- Potential future cash inflow from warrant exercises if ADSs trade above the US$11.50 strike.
- Nasdaq listing and registered resale improve liquidity options for existing holders.
Negative
- Up to 99.1% of outstanding shares can be sold, creating a substantial market overhang.
- Company receives no proceeds from the registered share sales, limiting capital benefits.
- Warrants are far out-of-the-money at current US$2.16 price, making near-term cash inflow unlikely.
- 94.2% SPAC redemptions removed US$222.8 million from the trust, shrinking cash resources.
- Insider acquisition costs far below market encourage selling pressure that public investors cannot match.
- Controlled company and reduced reporting status weaken minority-investor protections.
Insights
TL;DR: Massive resale registration equals major overhang; minimal cash inflow; negative for share price and dilution outlook.
The registration of nearly the entire share base (≈99%) means virtually all insider and legacy holders can exit once lock-ups lapse. Given the current US$2.16 price, insiders still enjoy sizeable gains versus purchase costs as low as US$0.003, creating powerful sell incentives. The company receives no proceeds from these sales, limiting balance-sheet benefit. With warrants far out-of-the-money, additional capital is unlikely near-term. Heavy 94% SPAC redemptions have already drained trust funds, suggesting limited cash runway. Collectively, the filing increases float without boosting liquidity for Lotus Technology itself, exerting downward pressure on valuation.
TL;DR: Controlled, foreign private, emerging-growth status reduces governance oversight; investor protections weakened.
Lotus qualifies as a "controlled company" because Mr. Shufu Li holds >50% voting power. Combined with "foreign private issuer" and "emerging growth company" exemptions, the board can sidestep majority-independent and committee-independence rules and file less-frequent reports. While legal, these waivers diminish transparency and minority-shareholder influence, magnifying the impact of the large resale registration. Although the VIE unwind simplifies structure, PRC-specific dividend and regulatory risks persist. Investors must weigh weaker governance plus potential dilution against any strategic benefits.
Registration No. 333-279108
680,957,495 AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES AND
5,486,784 WARRANTS TO PURCHASE ORDINARY SHARES
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
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| | | | 1 | | |
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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| | | | 5 | | |
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OUR COMPANY
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| | | | 7 | | |
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THE OFFERING
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| | | | 18 | | |
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RISK FACTORS
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| | | | 20 | | |
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CAPITALIZATION
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| | | | 21 | | |
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | 22 | | |
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DIVIDEND POLICY
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| | | | 23 | | |
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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
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| | | | 24 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | 28 | | |
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TAXATION
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| | | | 33 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
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| | | | 39 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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| | | | 52 | | |
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EXPENSES RELATED TO THE OFFERING
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| | | | 62 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | 63 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | 64 | | |
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES
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| | | | 65 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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| | | | 66 | | |
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
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| | | | 67 | | |
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As of
December 31, 2024 |
| |||
| | | |
(US$ in thousands)
|
| |||
|
Cash
|
| | | | 103,072 | | |
|
Restricted cash
|
| | | | 381,865 | | |
|
Total shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | | (860,226) | | |
| Debt | | | | | | | |
|
Short-term borrowings – third parties
|
| | | | 602,949 | | |
|
Short-term borrowings – related parties
|
| | | | 199,570 | | |
|
Share buyback forward liabilities
|
| | | | 117,059 | | |
|
Convertible notes – current
|
| | | | 113,910 | | |
|
Put option liabilities – current
|
| | | | 309,115 | | |
|
Warrant liabilities – non current
|
| | | | 3,340 | | |
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Convertible notes – non current
|
| | | | 74,246 | | |
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Exchangeable notes – non current
|
| | | | 102,999 | | |
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Total capitalization*
|
| | | | 662,962 | | |
| | | |
Securities beneficially
owned prior to this offering |
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Securities to be sold in
this offering |
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Securities beneficially
owned after this offering(3) |
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Name of Selling Securityholder
|
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Ordinary
Shares(1) |
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%(1)
|
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Warrants(2)
|
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%(2)
|
| |
Ordinary
Shares(1) |
| |
Warrants(2)
|
| |
Ordinary
Shares(1) |
| |
%(1)
|
| |
Warrants(2)
|
| |
%(2)
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lotus Advanced Technology Limited Partnership(4)
|
| | | | 186,648,945 | | | | | | 27.6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 186,648,945 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Lotus Technology International Investment Limited(5)
|
| | | | 108,740,886 | | | | | | 16.1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 108,740,886 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Etika Automotive Sdn. Bhd.(6)
|
| | | | 156,236,329 | | | | | | 23.1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 156,236,329 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Lotus Group International Limited(7)
|
| | | | 47,995,443 | | | | | | 7.1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 47,995,443 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Mission Purple L.P.(8)
|
| | | | 22,144,919 | | | | | | 3.3 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 22,144,919 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Mission Bloom Limited(9)
|
| | | | 13,407,260 | | | | | | 2.0 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 13,407,260 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
| | | |
Securities beneficially
owned prior to this offering |
| |
Securities to be sold in
this offering |
| |
Securities beneficially
owned after this offering(3) |
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|
Name of Selling Securityholder
|
| |
Ordinary
Shares(1) |
| |
%(1)
|
| |
Warrants(2)
|
| |
%(2)
|
| |
Ordinary
Shares(1) |
| |
Warrants(2)
|
| |
Ordinary
Shares(1) |
| |
%(1)
|
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Warrants(2)
|
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%(2)
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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HSG Growth V Holdco B, Ltd.(10)
|
| | | | 5,332,827 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 5,332,827 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Skymacro Resources Limited(11)
|
| | | | 3,523,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 3,523,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
HUBEI CHANGJIANG JINGKAI AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY INVESTMENT FUND PARTNERSHIP (LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)(12)
|
| | | | 44,997,886 | | | | | | 6.6 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 44,997,886 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Northpole GLY 3 LP(13)
|
| | | | 2,818,400 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2,818,400 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Northpole GLY 5 LP(14)
|
| | | | 954,789 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 954,789 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Hangzhou Fuyang Investment Development Co., Ltd.(15)
|
| | | | 4,200,424 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 4,200,424 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Ningbo Shangchuang Equity Investment
Partnership (Limited Partnership)(16) |
| | | | 13,956,759 | | | | | | 2.1 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 13,956,759 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Ataraxia Holding Limited(17)
|
| | | | 105,874 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 105,874 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
HONG KONG XINWEI INVESTMENTS LIMITED(18).
|
| | | | 311,047 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 311,047 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
HCH Company Limited(19)
|
| | | | 340,620 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 340,620 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Momenta Global Limited(20)
|
| | | | 577,456 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 577,456 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
JYS Family Limited(21)
|
| | | | 721,582 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 721,582 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Xiamen C&D Lifude Equity Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership)(22)
|
| | | | 1,011,132 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,011,132 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Wallan Investments(23)
|
| | | | 1,500,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 1,500,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Hangzhou Linan Guorui Business Management Co., Ltd.(24)
|
| | | | 2,782,415 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 2,782,415 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Meritz Securities Co., Ltd.(25)
|
| | | | 50,000,000 | | | | | | 7.4 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 50,000,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Sanford Martin Litvack(26)
|
| | | | 25,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Frank N. Newman(27)
|
| | | | 25,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Anish Melwani(28)
|
| | | | 25,000 | | | | | | * | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | 25,000 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
LCA Acquisition Sponsor, LP(29)
|
| | | | 7,087,718 | | | | | | 1.0 | | | | | | 5,486,784 | | | | | | 36.5 | | | | | | 7,087,718 | | | | | | 5,486,784 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
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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)
|
| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS issued | |
| |
•
Cancellation of ADSs, including in the case of termination of the deposit agreement
|
| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS cancelled | |
| |
•
Distribution of cash dividends
|
| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| |
•
Distribution of cash entitlements (other than cash dividends) and/or cash proceeds from the sale of rights, securities and other entitlements
|
| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| |
•
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 additional ADSs
|
| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held | |
| |
•
Depositary services
|
| | Up to US$0.05 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the depositary bank | |
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If we:
|
| |
Then:
|
|
| | Change the nominal or par value of our ordinary shares | | | The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. | |
| | Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities | | | Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities. | |
| | Distribute securities on the ordinary shares that are not distributed to you, or recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action | | | The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADSs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities. | |
| |
SEC registration fee
|
| | | US$ | 614,249.28 | | |
| |
Legal fees and expenses
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Accountants’ fees and expenses
|
| | | US$ | 35,079 | | |
| |
Printing expenses
|
| | | | * | | |
| |
Miscellaneous costs
|
| | | | * | | |
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Total
|
| | | | * | | |
No. 800 Century Avenue
Pudong District, Shanghai
People’s Republic of China
+86 21 5466-6258
No. 800 Century Avenue
Pudong District, Shanghai
People’s Republic of China
+86 21 5466-6258
ir@group-lotus.com
FAQ
How many Lotus Technology (LOT) ADSs are being registered for resale?
What percentage of LOT's outstanding shares could be sold under this prospectus?
Will Lotus Technology receive any proceeds from these share sales?
At what price can the warrants be exercised?
What was the closing price of LOT ADSs on 29 May 2025?
How many SPAC shares were redeemed and for what amount?