[424B5] Lotus Technology Inc. American Prospectus Supplement (Debt Securities)
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Lotus Technology Inc. is offering $10.0 million of two-year convertible notes that bear interest at SOFR plus 6.75% (with 4.25% of that interest optionally payable in ADSs under certain equity conditions) and mature August 19, 2027. Notes convert into ADSs at an initial conversion price of $2.19 per ADS subject to periodic downward adjustment and contain alternate conversion mechanics, a beneficial ownership cap of 9.99%, holder redemption and company prepayment rights at premiums, and higher default interest of 14%.
Operationally, Lotus reported Q1 2025 revenue of $93 million (down 46% year-over-year), gross margin of 12% (vs 18% prior year), operating loss of $103 million and net loss of $183 million (a 29% reduction). Preliminary unaudited Q2 2025 estimates range revenue $200–$230 million and total liabilities $3.2–$3.5 billion. Material corporate points: ADSs trade on Nasdaq under LOT (closing $2.09 on Aug 18, 2025), the company is a Cayman holding company with significant PRC regulatory and cash‑flow risks, qualifies as an emerging growth company and a Nasdaq "controlled company" with >50% voting power held by Mr. Shufu Li.
Positive
- $10.0 million convertible financing provides immediate capital to fund R&D and general corporate needs
- Flexibility to conserve cash via interest payable in ADSs (in-kind) reduces near-term cash outflow
- Strategic support from Geely evidenced by separate convertible note and credit facility commitments
Negative
- Significant dilution risk due to conversion mechanics, periodic downward adjustment of the conversion price and in-kind interest
- Large leverage and liquidity risk with estimated total liabilities of $3.2–$3.5 billion and continued net losses
- Material regulatory and operational risks from PRC oversight, HFCAA delisting risk, and holding-company cash flow constraints
Insights
TL;DR: The financing provides near-term liquidity but carries dilution and complex conversion mechanics; company remains loss-making with sizeable liabilities.
Lotus secured $10 million of convertible debt with terms that permit downward adjustment of the conversion price and include alternate conversion triggers tied to market metrics and default events, increasing potential dilution to shareholders. Interest is variable (SOFR+6.75%) and partially payable-in-kind, which conserves cash but increases share issuance risk. Q1 results show meaningful revenue decline and continued losses, although Q2 preliminary revenue guidance is higher. Balance sheet leverage is material with estimated liabilities of $3.2–$3.5 billion at June 30, 2025. Overall, the financing alleviates immediate cash pressure but does not eliminate execution and regulatory risks tied to PRC operations.
TL;DR: Transaction structure and related-party financing indicate strategic support from Geely but introduce complex counterparty and control dynamics.
The notes include provisions for additional closings up to $290 million under the purchase agreement, and related-party financing activity (large convertible note and credit facility from Geely affiliates) highlights ongoing strategic reliance on Geely. These arrangements can supply significant liquidity and operational backing but create concentration and dependency risk, potential for preferential treatment of related parties, and material dilution upon conversion or mandatory redemptions. The company’s planned in-kind interest and conversion mechanics warrant close scrutiny in any valuation or transaction analysis.
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
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| | | | S-1 | | |
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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-20 | | |
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RISK FACTORS
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| | | | S-23 | | |
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | S-26 | | |
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DIVIDEND POLICY
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| | | | S-27 | | |
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CAPITALIZATION
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| | | | S-28 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
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| | | | S-29 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | S-34 | | |
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TAXATION
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| | | | S-35 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | S-43 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | S-44 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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| | | | S-45 | | |
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
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| | | | S-46 | | |
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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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RISK FACTORS
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| | | | 17 | | |
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CAPITALIZATION
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| | | | 18 | | |
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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| | | | 19 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
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| | | | 20 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
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| | | | 32 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
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| | | | 42 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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| | | | 44 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
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| | | | 46 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
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| | | | 47 | | |
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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
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| | | | 48 | | |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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| | | | 49 | | |
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TAXATION
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| | | | 51 | | |
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EXPENSES RELATED TO THE OFFERING
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| | | | 58 | | |
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LEGAL MATTERS
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| | | | 59 | | |
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EXPERTS
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| | | | 60 | | |
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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES
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| | | | 61 | | |
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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| | | | 62 | | |
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
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| | | | 63 | | |
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(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share)
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For the Three Months Ended
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March 31,
2025 |
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March 31,
2024 |
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US$
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US$
|
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| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Sales of goods
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| | | | 84,608 | | | | | | 160,784 | | |
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Service revenues
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| | | | 8,215 | | | | | | 12,298 | | |
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Total revenues
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| | | | 92,823 | | | | | | 173,082 | | |
| Cost of revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Cost of goods sold
|
| | | | (77,833) | | | | | | (139,273) | | |
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Cost of services
|
| | | | (3,841) | | | | | | (3,495) | | |
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Total cost of revenues
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| | | | (81,674) | | | | | | (142,768) | | |
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Gross profit
|
| | | | 11,149 | | | | | | 30,314 | | |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Research and development expenses
|
| | | | (48,602) | | | | | | (104,692) | | |
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Selling and marketing expenses
|
| | | | (39,584) | | | | | | (103,489) | | |
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General and administrative expenses
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| | | | (30,664) | | | | | | (56,970) | | |
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Government grants
|
| | | | 4,706 | | | | | | 1,519 | | |
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Total operating expenses
|
| | | | (114,144) | | | | | | (263,632) | | |
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(All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share)
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For the Three Months Ended
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| | | |
March 31,
2025 |
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March 31,
2024 |
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US$
|
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US$
|
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Operating loss
|
| | | | (102,995) | | | | | | (233,318) | | |
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Interest expenses
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| | | | (34,268) | | | | | | (3,947) | | |
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Interest income
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| | | | 6,666 | | | | | | 1,665 | | |
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Investment income (loss), net
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| | | | 4,640 | | | | | | (1,394) | | |
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Share of results of equity method investments
|
| | | | (412) | | | | | | 201 | | |
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Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), net
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| | | | 13,847 | | | | | | (6,667) | | |
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Changes in fair values of liabilities, excluding impact of instrument-specific credit risk
|
| | | | (69,671) | | | | | | (14,623) | | |
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Loss before income taxes
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| | | | (182,193) | | | | | | (258,083) | | |
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Income tax expense
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| | | | (632) | | | | | | (142) | | |
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Net loss
|
| | | | (182,825) | | | | | | (258,225) | | |
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Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
| | | | (2) | | | | | | (356) | | |
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Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders
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| | | | (182,823) | | | | | | (257,869) | | |
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Accretion of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares
|
| | | | — | | | | | | (2,979) | | |
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Net loss available to ordinary shareholders
|
| | | | (182,823) | | | | | | (260,848) | | |
| Loss per ordinary share(1) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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– Basic and diluted
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| | | | (0.28) | | | | | | (0.47) | | |
|
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding used in computing net
loss per ordinary share(1) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
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– Basic and diluted
|
| | | | 659,330,406 | | | | | | 558,429,003 | | |
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Net loss
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| | | | (182,825) | | | | | | (258,225) | | |
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Fair value changes of liabilities due to instrument-specific credit risk, net of nil income taxes
|
| | | | 6,778 | | | | | | (175) | | |
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Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of nil income taxes
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| | | | (4,641) | | | | | | (1,415) | | |
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Total other comprehensive income (loss)
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| | | | 2,137 | | | | | | (1,590) | | |
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Total comprehensive loss
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| | | | (180,688) | | | | | | (259,815) | | |
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Less: Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
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| | | | (2) | | | | | | (356) | | |
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Total comprehensive loss attributable to ordinary shareholders
|
| | | | (180,686) | | | | | | (259,459) | | |
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As of
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December 31,
2024 |
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(All amounts in thousands)
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March 31,
2025 |
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US$
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US$
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| ASSETS | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Cash
|
| | | | 122,581 | | | | | | 103,072 | | |
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Restricted cash
|
| | | | 406,441 | | | | | | 379,293 | | |
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Accounts receivable – third parties, net
|
| | | | 63,931 | | | | | | 117,076 | | |
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Accounts receivable – related parties, net
|
| | | | 118,416 | | | | | | 107,816 | | |
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As of
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December 31,
2024 |
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(All amounts in thousands)
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March 31,
2025 |
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US$
|
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US$
|
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Inventories
|
| | | | 143,394 | | | | | | 188,582 | | |
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Prepayments and other current assets – third parties, net
|
| | | | 91,021 | | | | | | 72,541 | | |
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Prepayments and other current assets – related parties, net
|
| | | | 67,953 | | | | | | 74,558 | | |
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Total current assets
|
| | | | 1,013,737 | | | | | | 1,042,938 | | |
| Non-current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Restricted cash
|
| | | | 2,525 | | | | | | 2,572 | | |
|
Investment securities – related parties
|
| | | | 1,326 | | | | | | 2,221 | | |
|
Securities pledged to an investor
|
| | | | 321,357 | | | | | | 315,796 | | |
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Loan receivable from a related party
|
| | | | 281,800 | | | | | | 269,539 | | |
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Property, equipment and software, net
|
| | | | 310,864 | | | | | | 316,447 | | |
|
Intangible assets
|
| | | | 116,492 | | | | | | 116,500 | | |
|
Operating lease right-of-use assets
|
| | | | 141,078 | | | | | | 144,029 | | |
|
Equity method investments
|
| | | | 7,458 | | | | | | 7,499 | | |
|
Other non-current assets – third parties
|
| | | | 69,035 | | | | | | 67,009 | | |
|
Other non-current assets – related parties
|
| | | | 1,199 | | | | | | 1,113 | | |
|
Total non-current assets
|
| | | | 1,253,134 | | | | | | 1,242,725 | | |
|
Total assets
|
| | | | 2,266,871 | | | | | | 2,285,663 | | |
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Short term borrowings – third parties
|
| | | | 675,818 | | | | | | 602,949 | | |
|
Short-term borrowings – related parties
|
| | | | 314,446 | | | | | | 199,570 | | |
|
Accounts payable – third parties
|
| | | | 62,277 | | | | | | 61,752 | | |
|
Accounts payable – related parties
|
| | | | 302,210 | | | | | | 410,433 | | |
|
Contract liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 32,223 | | | | | | 33,964 | | |
|
Operating lease liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 13,757 | | | | | | 14,094 | | |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 391,485 | | | | | | 389,791 | | |
|
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities – related parties
|
| | | | 215,356 | | | | | | 214,760 | | |
|
Share buyback forward liabilities
|
| | | | 122,771 | | | | | | 117,059 | | |
|
Put option liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 309,115 | | |
|
Convertible notes – related parties
|
| | |
|
116,089
|
| | | |
|
113,910
|
| |
|
Total current liabilities
|
| | | | 2,246,432 | | | | | | 2,467,397 | | |
| Non-current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Contract liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 7,899 | | | | | | 8,683 | | |
|
Operating lease liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 65,550 | | | | | | 68,331 | | |
|
Operating lease liabilities – related parties
|
| | | | 10,696 | | | | | | 10,729 | | |
|
Put option liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 377,853 | | | | | | — | | |
|
Warrant Liabilities
|
| | | | 1,974 | | | | | | 3,340 | | |
|
Exchangeable notes
|
| | | | 114,776 | | | | | | 102,999 | | |
|
Convertible notes – third parties
|
| | | | 69,997 | | | | | | 74,246 | | |
|
Deferred income
|
| | | | 294,324 | | | | | | 293,923 | | |
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As of
|
| |
December 31,
2024 |
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|
(All amounts in thousands)
|
| |
March 31,
2025 |
| |||||||||
| | | |
US$
|
| |
US$
|
| ||||||
|
Other non-current liabilities – third parties
|
| | | | 117,183 | | | | | | 114,770 | | |
|
Other non-current liabilities – related parties
|
| | | | 1,398 | | | | | | 1,471 | | |
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
| | | | 1,061,650 | | | | | | 678,492 | | |
|
Total liabilities
|
| | | | 3,308,082 | | | | | | 3,145,889 | | |
| SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Ordinary shares
|
| | | | 7 | | | | | | 7 | | |
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
| | | | 1,785,749 | | | | | | 1,785,664 | | |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
| | | | 57,302 | | | | | | 55,165 | | |
|
Accumulated deficit
|
| | | | (2,876,521) | | | | | | (2,693,698) | | |
|
Total shareholders’ deficit attributable to ordinary shareholders
|
| | | | (1,033,463) | | | | | | (852,862) | | |
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
| | | | (7,748) | | | | | | (7,364) | | |
|
Total shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | | (1,041,211) | | | | | | (860,226) | | |
|
Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit
|
| | | | 2,266,871 | | | | | | 2,285,663 | | |
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| | | |
For the Three Months Ended
|
| |||||||||
| | | |
March 31, 2025
|
| |
March 31, 2024
|
| ||||||
|
(All amounts in thousands)
|
| |
US$
|
| |
US$
|
| ||||||
|
Net loss
|
| | | | (182,825) | | | | | | (258,225) | | |
|
Share-based compensation expenses, net of tax effect of nil(1)
|
| | | | 61 | | | | | | 35,323 | | |
|
Adjusted net loss
|
| | | | (182,764) | | | | | | (222,902) | | |
|
Net loss
|
| | | | (182,825) | | | | | | (258,225) | | |
|
Interest expenses
|
| | | | 34,268 | | | | | | 3,947 | | |
|
Interest income
|
| | | | (6,666) | | | | | | (1,665) | | |
|
Income tax expense
|
| | | | 632 | | | | | | 142 | | |
|
Depreciation
|
| | | | 18,127 | | | | | | 16,174 | | |
|
Share-based compensation expenses
|
| | | | 61 | | | | | | 35,323 | | |
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
| | | | (136,403) | | | | | | (204,304) | | |
Holder
Limitation
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As of March 31, 2025
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Actual
|
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Pro Forma
|
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US$
|
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US$
|
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(in thousands)
|
| |||||||||
|
Cash
|
| | | | 122,581 | | | | | | 132,581 | | |
|
Restricted cash
|
| | | | 406,441 | | | | | | 406,441 | | |
|
Total shareholder’s deficit
|
| | | | (1,041,211) | | | | | | (1,041,211) | | |
| Debt | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Short-term borrowings – third parties
|
| | | | 675,818 | | | | | | 675,818 | | |
|
Short-term borrowings – related parties
|
| | | | 314,446 | | | | | | 314,446 | | |
|
Share buyback forward liabilities
|
| | | | 122,771 | | | | | | 122,771 | | |
|
Convertible notes – current
|
| | | | 116,089 | | | | | | 116,089 | | |
|
Put option liabilities – current
|
| | | | 377,853 | | | | | | 377,853 | | |
|
Warrant liabilities – non-current
|
| | | | 1,974 | | | | | | 1,974 | | |
|
Convertible notes – non-current
|
| | | | 69,997 | | | | | | 79,997 | | |
|
Exchangeable notes – non-current
|
| | | | 114,776 | | | | | | 114,776 | | |
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
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
| |
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
|
| | | | 1 | | |
| |
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
|
| | | | 5 | | |
| |
OUR COMPANY
|
| | | | 7 | | |
| |
RISK FACTORS
|
| | | | 17 | | |
| |
CAPITALIZATION
|
| | | | 18 | | |
| |
USE OF PROCEEDS
|
| | | | 19 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
|
| | | | 20 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
|
| | | | 32 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
|
| | | | 42 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
|
| | | | 44 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
|
| | | | 46 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
|
| | | | 47 | | |
| |
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
|
| | | | 48 | | |
| |
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
|
| | | | 49 | | |
| |
TAXATION
|
| | | | 51 | | |
| |
EXPENSES RELATED TO THE OFFERING
|
| | | | 58 | | |
| |
LEGAL MATTERS
|
| | | | 59 | | |
| |
EXPERTS
|
| | | | 60 | | |
| |
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES AND AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE UNITED STATES
|
| | | | 61 | | |
| |
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
|
| | | | 62 | | |
| |
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
|
| | | | 63 | | |
| | | |
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 | | |
|
Convertible notes – non current
|
| | | | 74,246 | | |
|
Exchangeable notes – non current
|
| | | | 102,999 | | |
|
Total capitalization*
|
| | | | 662,962 | | |
|
Service
|
| |
Fees
|
|
|
•
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
|
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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
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The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities.
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Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities
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Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities.
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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
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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.
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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