Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (AMBO) — 10-K

Filed 2026-02-13 · Period ending 2025-12-31 · 81,563 words · SEC EDGAR

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# Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (AMBO) — 10-K

**Filed:** 2026-02-13
**Period ending:** 2025-12-31
**Accession:** 0001213900-26-016592
**Source:** [SEC EDGAR](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1494558/000121390026016592/)
**Origin leaf:** c4e06f82658cf2c45a68ff5809978bf0df12b7f7252a41afaacc20828055938e
**Words:** 81,563



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**
**
**UNITED STATES**
**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**
**Washington, D.C. 20549**
****
**FORM 10-K**
****
(Mark One)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2025
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________ to
_____________
Commission File No. 001-34824
| AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD. | |
| (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) | |
| Cayman Islands | | N/A | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of 
incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
| | | | |
| 10080 N. Wolfe RD, Suite SW3-200, Cupertino, CA | | 95014 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) | |
| (619) 684-8954 | |
| (Registrants telephone number, including area code) | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
| Title of each class | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| American depositary shares (one American depositary share representing twenty Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.003 per share) ** | | AMBO | | NYSE American LLC | |
| Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.003 per share* | | | | NYSE American LLC | |
| 
* | Not for trading, but only in connection with the listing
on the NYSE American | 
|
| 
** | Effective on February 20, 2024, the ratio of ADSs to our
Class A Ordinary Shares was changed from one ADS representing two Class A Ordinary Shares to one ADS representing twenty Class A Ordinary
Shares. | 
|
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g)
of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a
well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes 
No 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not
required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes 
No 
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. Yes 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 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes 
No 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or emerging growth company.
See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company,
and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | | Accelerated filer | | |
| Non-accelerated filer | | Smaller reporting company | | |
| | | Emerging growth company | | |
If an emerging growth company, 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. 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has filed a report on and attestation to its managements assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction
of an error to previously issued financial statements. 
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error
corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrants
executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to 240.10D-1(b). 
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a
shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No 
As of June 30, 2025 (the last business day of
our most recently completed second fiscal quarter), based upon the last reported trade on that date, the aggregate market value of the
voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates (for this purpose, all outstanding and issued ordinary shares minus shares
held by the officers, directors and known holders of 10% or more of the Companys ordinary shares) was $4,770,417.
As of February 10, 2026, there were a total of
52,498,019 Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.003 per share, and 4,708,415 Class C Ordinary Shares, par value $0.003 per share, issued
and outstanding.
**DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE**
None.
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.**
**Annual Report on Form 10-K**
**Year Ended December 31, 2025**
**TABLE OF CONTENTS**
****
| 
PART I | |
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Item 1. | 
Business | 
| 
1 | |
| 
Item 1A. | 
Risk Factors | 
| 
24 | |
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Item 1B. | 
Unresolved Staff Comments | 
| 
46 | |
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Item 1C. | 
Cybersecurity | 
| 
46 | |
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Item 2. | 
Properties | 
| 
46 | |
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Item 3. | 
Legal Proceedings | 
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46 | |
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Item 4 | 
Mine Safety Disclosures | 
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46 | |
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PART II | |
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Item 5. | 
Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 
| 
47 | |
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Item 6. | 
[Reserved] | 
| 
64 | |
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Item 7. | 
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 
| 
65 | |
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Item 7A. | 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 
| 
72 | |
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Item 8. | 
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 
| 
72 | |
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Item 9. | 
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 
| 
72 | |
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Item 9A. | 
Controls and Procedures | 
| 
72 | |
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Item 9B. | 
Other Information | 
| 
73 | |
| 
Item 9C | 
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections | 
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73 | |
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PART III | |
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Item 10. | 
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 
| 
74 | |
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Item 11. | 
Executive Compensation | 
| 
81 | |
| 
Item 12. | 
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 
| 
90 | |
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Item 13. | 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 
| 
92 | |
| 
Item 14. | 
Principal Accounting Fees and Services | 
| 
93 | |
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| 
PART IV | |
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| |
| 
Item 15. | 
Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules | 
| 
94 | |
| 
Item 16. | 
Form 10-K Summary | 
| 
95 | |
i
**Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements**
This annual report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking
statements that relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited
to, believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, intend, plan,
likely, will, would, could, and similar expressions or phrases identify forward-looking
statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and future events and financial trends
that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operation, business strategy and financial needs. Forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, statements about:
| 
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Anticipated trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate; | |
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Our ability to anticipate market needs or develop new or enhanced services and products to meet those needs; | |
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Our ability to compete in our industry and innovation by our competitors; | |
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Our ability to protect our confidential information and intellectual property rights; | |
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Our need to obtain additional funding and our ability to obtain funding in the future on acceptable terms; | |
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Our ability to create and maintain our positive brand awareness and brand loyalty; | |
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Our ability to manage growth; | |
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Risks associated with school closures. | |
All forward-looking statements involve risks, assumptions
and uncertainties. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictors of future events. The occurrence of the events described,
and the achievement of the expected results, depend on many events, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Actual
results may differ materially from expected results. See the information under Item 1ARisk Factors and elsewhere
in this annual report for a more complete discussion of these risks, assumptions and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties.
These risks, assumptions and uncertainties are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results.
We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this annual report
might not occur.
**Trademarks, Trade Names and Service Marks**
We own or have rights to trademarks,
service marks and trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate name, logos and website
names. Other trademarks, service marks and trade names appearing in this report are the property of their respective owners. Solely for
convenience, some of the trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this report are listed without the 
and symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights to our trademarks, service marks and trade
names. This report may include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks
and trade names included in this annual report are the property of their respective owners.
ii
**PART I**
****
**ITEM 1. BUSINESS**
Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
is not an operating company but a Cayman Islands holding company with operations primarily conducted by its subsidiaries in the U.S. Investors
in our securities should be aware that they may never directly hold equity interests in our operating entities but rather are purchasing
equity solely in Ambow Education Holding Ltd., our Cayman Islands holding company, which does not directly own substantially all of our
business conducted by our U.S. subsidiaries.
****
**History and Development of the Company**
Our founder, Dr. Jin Huang, laid the foundation for Ambow in 2000.
From its inception through January 2017, Ambow primarily operated in the Chinese market through a network of subsidiaries and Variable
Interest Entities (VIEs).
Beginning in 2017, we expanded our operations to the United States
by establishing Ambow BSC Inc., which acquired Bay State College Inc., a Massachusetts-based higher education institution.
In June 2018, we completed
a public offering of 2,070,000 ADSs at $4.25 per ADS. On June 1, 2018, our ADSs commenced trading on the NYSE American under the symbol
AMBO.
We established Ambow NSAD Inc. on May 8, 2019.
Ambow NSAD Inc. is a 100% subsidiary of ours. On March 6, 2020, Ambow NSAD Inc. acquired 100% of the members interest in NewSchool
of Architecture & Design (NewSchool). NewSchool is a for-profit institution of higher education based in San Diego,
California, with bachelors and masters programs in Architecture, Construction Management, Product Design, Graphic Design
& Interactive Media, and Interior Architecture and Design. NewSchool is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools
and Colleges Senior College and University Commission and is eligible to participate in federal student aid programs under Title IV of
the U.S. Higher Education Act.
On October 5, 2020, we completed a registered direct
offering for the issuance of 1,507,538 ADSs (representing 3,015,076 Class A ordinary shares) at a purchase price of $3.98 per ADS.
In 2022, the Company sold all of its equity interest
in Ambow China, exiting its operations in China.
On February 28, 2023, we completed the issuance
of 2,500,000 ADSs (representing 5,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company) at a purchase price of $0.80 per ADS and accompanying
warrants to purchase 1,000,000 ADSs (representing 2,000,000 Class A ordinary shares of the Company) at a purchase price of $0.80 per ADS,
in a private placement.
On April 11, 2023, the Board of Trustees voted to permanently close
Bay State College at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year, and this permanent closure was completed on August 31, 2023.
In 2023, we launched HybriU, marking a significant milestone in the
evolution of digital education solutions. HybriU established itself as the education markets inaugural fully integrated, interactive
AI-powered platform that seamlessly bridges online and offline instruction. Specifically tailored for the education industry, HybriU underscores
our commitment to leveraging AI technology to drive educational advancements. With operations rooted in the United States, the Company
is at the forefront of AI driven education and is well positioned to revolutionize the way educational content is delivered and experienced.
The launch of HybriU not only signifies a pivotal step forward in educational technology but also reinforces our dedication to enriching
the learning journey through innovative and adaptive solutions. We have established partnerships that enable us to expand HybriUs
influence in the rapidly growing global digital sector. With more international partners joining HybriUs sales network, we can
strengthen our presence in key U.S. markets.
In June 2024, we entered into a $1.3 million non-exclusive, annually
renewable licensing agreement with Inspiring Futures Pte. LTD, a Singapore-based company. This agreement grants licensing authorization
for the production of the HybriU AI UniBox and the commercialization of HybriU, a comprehensive AI-driven, plug-and-play educational solution,
in international markets. The agreement aligns with Ambows mission to advance the future of education and empower educators and
students globally.
1
During 2025, the Company expanded its product offerings under the HybriU
brand, including HybriU Conferencing, a platform designed to support conferencing experiences that integrate physical and digital environments;
HybriU Events, intended for use in concerts, cultural festivals, and sporting events to support connections between physical venues and
remote audiences through a scalable solution; HybriU Knowledge Capture, an extension of the HybriU platform adapted to help enterprises
preserve critical knowledge, retain institutional expertise, and support operational continuity; the HybriU 3D Mobile Station, a self-contained
mobile system designed to enable interactive 3D production outside of traditional studio settings; WeSpeak, a device-agnostic,
real-time translation platform providing subscription-based interpreter services for multilingual events; HybriU Adaptive Teach, a teaching
system designed to support adaptive instruction for hybrid classes with onsite and online students; and the HybriU Global Learning Network
(HGLN), a program supporting U.S. universities in expanding international enrollment and delivering cross-border educational programs.
**Business Overview**
Our current mission is to shape the future of learning, collaboration,
and communication through innovative, AI-powered phygital solutions that seamlessly connect the physical and digital worlds. At the core
of this mission is HybriU, a cutting-edge platform that transforms education, corporate conferencing and live events by delivering immersive,
intelligent and real-time experiences across industries.
Designed to bridge the gap between in-person and
remote interactions, HybriU enables AI-driven automation, deep engagement and seamless collaboration. With HybriU, Ambow is redefining
how people connect, learn and grow, empowering greater access, equity and innovation in education and beyond.
**Our Industry**
The Company operates in the converging markets of hybrid communication,
digital events, and education technology. These markets are characterized by the adoption of technologies that integrate physical and
digital environments for conferencing, live events, and learning activities. Industry participants provide platforms and systems that
support remote participation, multilingual communication, and flexible instructional models across geographic boundaries. Demand is influenced
by factors such as technological advancements, increased adoption of hybrid formats, and the need for scalable solutions that accommodate
both in-person and remote engagements.
2
**Our services and products**
The Company delivers educational programs and technology solutions
through its subsidiaries.
NewSchool of Architecture & Design, located in San Diego, California,
is a recognized leader in architectural and design education. The institution is distinguished by its rigorous, forward-thinking curriculum
that emphasizes design thinking, sustainability and social responsibility. Through a wide array of programs in architecture, interior
design, product design and urban design, NewSchool prepares students to address the complex challenges of todays built environment.
Its hands-on, real-world approach, combined with a global perspective and a diverse, experienced faculty, ensures a holistic education
aligned with the demands of an AI-driven future.
****
The Companys HybriU solution provides
AI-powered, integrated technologies for education, corporate conferencing, and events. Key offerings include:
HybriU Education an AI + 3D hardware and software
solution that seamlessly integrates digital and physical classrooms, enhancing teaching and engagement to deliver an immersive, flexible
and accessible education.
****
HybriU Conference revolutionizes corporate conferencing by seamlessly
integrating AI capabilities with phygital (physical + digital) innovation to create an immersive, interactive and globally connected phygital
meeting and event experience.
HybriU Events transforms traditional
physical events into immersive phygital (physical + digital) experiences accessible to audiences worldwide.
HybriU Knowledge Capture,
an extension of the HybriU platform adapted to help enterprises preserve critical knowledge, retain institutional expertise and support
operational continuity.
HybriU 3D Mobile Station,
a self-contained mobile system designed to enable interactive 3D production in environments outside of traditional studio settings.
WeSpeak, a device-agnostic,
subscription-based platform that delivers seamless real-time translation, transforming the way multilingual events are conducted.
HybriU Adaptive Teach supports adaptive instruction
for hybrid classes with onsite and online students.
HybriU Global Learning Network (HGLN), program that supports U.S. universities in
expanding international enrollment and delivering cross-border educational programs.
3
**Student recruitment and retention**
****
The Company employs a range of marketing and recruitment methods to
attract students to its educational programs. Recruitment efforts focus on informing prospective students about the Companys offerings,
including the use of the HybriU platform, and supporting engagement through its educational services and technology solutions.
The Company monitors enrollment patterns and student engagement to assess the effectiveness of its programs and to guide potential improvements
in the delivery of educational content.
**Our technology and solutions**
****
*Company Vision*
To lead the global shift toward smarter, more inclusive
and human-centered hybrid experiences across industries.
****
*HybriU Vision*
**
To transform how the world learns, connects and collaborates by merging
the physical and digital into one seamless, intelligent experience.
HybriU envisions a borderless world where education,
business, and events transcend distance, time zones and language. Powered by AI and driven by purpose, HybriU turns classrooms, boardrooms
and global stages into immersive phygital (physical + digital) environments where people truly connect.
*HybriU Education*
**Transforming Schools, Colleges and Training
Centers with Immersive, Synchronized Phygital Experiences**
****
HybriU Education is an AI + 3D hardware and software
solution that seamlessly integrates digital and physical classrooms, enhancing teaching and engagement to deliver an immersive, flexible
and accessible education.
****
****
4
****
Guided by the vision of boundless education, removing barriers between
online and offline learning, languages and regions, and academia and industry, HybriU Education brings this vision to life. As the first
fully synchronized phygital solution, HybriU seamlessly integrates innovative AI, lecture capture, connectivity, immersive technologies
and a comprehensive video server and management platform to revolutionize education.
**Innovative AI**
**For Students:**HybriU AI transforms
the learning experience by enabling students to focus on comprehension rather than merely transcribing lecturers. With AI-powered automation,
lecture transcripts are captured instantly and delivered directly to students personal notes, allowing them to:
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Eliminate Manual Note-Taking: Students no longer need to write down everything a teacher says; AI-generated transcripts ensure they never miss key information. | |
****
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Make Annotations & Write Real Thoughts: Students can highlight, annotate and add personal insights to deepen their learning experience. | |
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AI-Embedded in Notes: AI acts as a built-in tutor, answering students questions in real-time based on lecture content and prior course materials. | |
HybriU makes learning more accessible by
supporting multiple languages so students can fully engage in class without language being a barrier. Whether participating in live
discussions or reviewing recorded lessons, students can interact and take notes in their preferred language, making learning more
natural and personalized. By allowing everyone to learn in the language they are most comfortable with, HybriU creates a more
inclusive and supportive classroom experience for all.
****
**For Teachers:**HybriU AI empowers teachers
with real-time insights into students learning through advanced data analysis. By continuously tracking students questions, annotations
and engagement patterns, AI identifies areas of difficulty and interest, allowing educators to make informed, data-driven decisions. With
this real-time feedback, teachers can dynamically adjust their pacing, emphasize critical topics and tailor content delivery to match
students comprehension levels. By seamlessly integrating these insights into the classroom, HybriU AI makes adaptive teaching a reality,
ensuring a more responsive, engaging and effective learning experience for students:
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Big Data-Driven Student Insights AI analyzes students questions, annotations and engagement patterns to identify areas of confusion or interest. | |
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Adaptive Teaching Adjustments Teachers receive real-time feedback on students understanding, enabling them to adjust their teaching cadence and focus on key topics. | |
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Enhanced Student Engagement AI fosters a more interactive and responsive educational experience by bridging the gap between students learning needs and teachers instructional methods. | |
5
**For Lecture Capture and Sharing:**HybriU
ensures students never miss a moment of learning by automatically capturing and organizing lectures. Whether attending
live or reviewing later, students can access transcripts, recordings and key insights anytime. With easy content sharing, teachers can
distribute materials instantly, and students can collaborate effortlessly, making learning more flexible, interactive and engaging:
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AI-Powered Focus Tracking: The system uses sophisticated algorithms to continuously track the teachers movements and focal points during lectures. This ensures that the camera always captures the most relevant interactions and demonstrations, making the learning experience akin to being physically present in the classroom. | |
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Automatic Content Adjustment: AI intelligently adjusts the presentation of digital content based on the context of the lecture and student interactions. This dynamic adjustment helps in maintaining student engagement and ensures that all participants, regardless of their physical or virtual presence, receive a tailored educational experience. | |
**Comprehensive Lecture Capture System**
****
The lecture capture system in HybriU is not merely a recording
tool but a robust platform designed to enrich both synchronous and asynchronous learning environments:
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Comprehensive Content Capture:The system captures every aspect of the lecture, including audio, video, digital whiteboard interactions and real-time student responses. This thorough capture feature ensures that no important information is lost, making the recorded sessions as valuable as live classes. | |
*
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Integrated Classroom Interaction:HybriUs system is designed to integrate seamlessly with classroom dynamics, capturing interactions between teachers and students. This feature is crucial for maintaining the natural flow of the classroom, making remote or sessions viewed later more interactive and engaging. | |
6
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AI Intelligent Layout Switching: Optimized Viewing for Lecture Capture and Online Learning | |
HybriUs AI-powered Intelligent Layout Switching dynamically
adjusts camera views based on the teachers movements and classroom activities, ensuring students attending virtually always have
the best possible perspective. The system seamlessly tracks the teacher and automatically switches between different layouts for optimal
engagement. When the teacher is presenting using instructional materials, the patented O-screen design ensures clear visibility of both
the instructor and the materials. If the teacher turns to write on a whiteboard or is not using materials, the system transitions to a
full-screen video view of the teacher. When the teacher moves out of the cameras range, only the teaching materials are displayed.
This AI-driven functionality enhances the online learning experience by maintaining clarity, focus and engagement throughout the lesson.
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Asynchronous Learning Enhancement:With AI-powered multi-modal lecture capture, HybriU creates rich, asynchronous learning content that students can access at their convenience. This capability is particularly beneficial for students in different time zones or those who need to revisit complex lessons. | |
**Connectivity Technology**
****
HybriUs connectivity technology is engineered
to facilitate a seamless educational experience across multiple locations, supporting an integrated approach to in-person and remote learning.
Key features include:
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Multi-Site Synchronization:The system supports synchronized educational delivery across geographical locations, enabling students at different campuses or remote locations to participate in the same lectures and interactive sessions in real time. | |
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Interactive Education Capabilities:HybriU promotes interactive learning by allowing students and educators to engage through real-time feedback and collaborative tools, regardless of their physical location. This is particularly beneficial for group projects, peer reviews and community learning sessions. | |
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Remote Students:The technology ensures that remote students receive the same quality of instruction as those who are on-site. This integration is critical for institutions seeking to provide equitable educational opportunities. | |
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Bring Industry Lab to Classroom:HybriU breaks down the boundaries between academia and industry, bringing industry labs to life within university classrooms. Immersive teaching tools like the 3D LED walls further enhance this feature, providing a dynamic and engaging learning environment. | |
7
**Immersive Technology**
****
The immersive technology component of HybriU uses
state-of-the-art tools to create an engaging and interactive learning environment. It enhances educational experience by employing the
following methods:
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Innovative 3D Mobile Teaching satiation | |
The 3D mobile teaching cart supports life-sized 3D projections. By capturing,
storing, transforming and displaying these full-scale signals, the system enables a projection of a professor in a remote classroom to
be displayed to learners in other locations via a 3D LED wall.
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Life-sized 3D Projections | |
One of the standout features of HybriUs
immersive technology is its ability to broadcast life-sized 3D projections of instructors in remote classrooms. This is facilitated through
advanced 3D capture and display technologies through our 3D mobile teaching cart, including 3D LED walls, which create a realistic presence
of the instructor, enhancing the remote learning experience and making it feel as though the instructor is physically present in the room.
8
**Comprehensive Management Platform**
HybriUs video server and management platform
stands as a comprehensive tool designed to streamline administrative and educational processes. It incorporates a range of functionalities
that enhance operational efficiency and educational outcomes:
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Centralized Teaching Evaluation Platform:The platform provides a centralized dashboard for education administrators to assign experienced teachers to remotely observe and evaluate new teachers in a virtual classroom, eliminating the need for on-site presence. | |
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AI Data Analytics for Strategic Insights:The platform collects and analyzes data from various interactions and
educational activities to offer strategic insights that help institutions optimize resources, improve educational content and tailor teaching
methods to student needs. | |
HybriU Education Solution is not just a technological innovation but
a comprehensive approach to reimagining education. It is tailored to advance the future of education, making it more accessible, interactive
and efficient for learners, educators and institutions worldwide.
HybriU Conference*
**
**Transforming Corporate Conferencing with
AI and Phygital Innovation**
****
In todays fast-paced corporate environment,
effective communication and collaboration are more critical than ever. HybriU Conference revolutionizes corporate conferencing by seamlessly
integrating AI intelligence with phygital (physical + digital) innovation, creating an immersive, interactive and globally connected phygital
meeting and event experience.
9
*
Designed for executive meetings, large-scale conferences,
corporate training and hybrid events, HybriU Conference leverages cutting-edge AI, real-time engagement tools and immersive collaboration
environments to bridge the gap between in-person and remote participation.
**Seamless Phygital Integration**
****
Unifies in-office and remote participants with
synchronized audio, video and engagement tools for a true hybrid experience. AI-enhanced multi-camera tracking and streaming create a
natural, in-person feel for remote attendees.
10
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**AI-Powered Engagement & Automation**
****
Real-time transcription, smart meeting minutes
and automated summaries improve efficiency and knowledge retention.
AI-powered sentiment analysis and intelligent meeting
insights enhance decision-making and participation.
**Next-Gen Hybrid Conference & Training
Room Experience**
****
Multi-camera intelligent tracking automatically
switches views based on speaker dynamics.
Virtual camera fusion enhances the meeting experience
across Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex and other platforms.
**Corporate Knowledge Library**
****
AI-powered data captures and organizes meeting notes, action items
and training content into a searchable, accessible archive.
Ensures corporate knowledge is retained, organized
and easily retrievable for future use.
**Multi-Language Support & Real-Time Translation**
****
Live transcription and translation break language
barriers and enable seamless global collaboration.
Supports dozens of languages for enhanced accessibility and engagement
across teams globally.
11
**Scalable & Customizable Solutions**
****
Tailored to organizations of all sizesfrom
small team huddles to large enterprise conferences.
Flexible integration with existing enterprise communication
systems and customizable features to meet specific business needs.
**Future-Proof & Plug-and-Play Integration**
****
Easy setup with existing conferencing platforms
(Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, Slack, etc.).
Designed to evolve with future technologies, ensuring
a long-term, adaptable conferencing solution.
Executive Board Meetings Enhance strategic
discussions with AI-powered insights, automated note-taking and seamless hybrid collaboration.
Global Team Collaboration Break geographical
barriers with real-time AI assistance, language translation and immersive engagement tools.
Product Launch & Training Showcase
products and train employees with phygital experiences that blend physical and virtual interactions.
Investor & Stakeholder Engagement Deliver
high-impact presentations with AI-driven analytics, interactive data visualization and real-time Q&A.
Hybrid Events & Conferences Host large-scale
events that combine physical venues with virtual participation, maximizing audience engagement and accessibility.
WeSpeak*
Hardware-Agnostic:
Works on any device with simple QR code access.
Real-Time AI Multilingual: 80+ languages supported
instantly.
Flat-Fee Subscription:
One annual license, predictable costs.
Any Event, Any Format: Seamless for onsite,
online, or hybrid events.
Enterprise-Grade Solution: Scales
far beyond Apple and Google consumer tools.
**Sales and Marketing**
****
HybriU is strategically positioned for wide-scale adoption across both
major U.S. and international markets, with a strong focus on the phygital (physical + digital) learning and corporate conferencing sectors.
Our target segments include elite universities aiming to extend their course offerings to global non-degree students, smaller colleges
seeking to boost enrollment by attracting out-of-state and international learners, and corporations pursuing more immersive, AI-enhanced
hybrid communication and collaboration solutions.
To accelerate market penetration and scalability,
HybriU will be deployed through a network of strategic partners and value-added resellers (VARs). This channel-based approach allows us
to expand our reach efficiently while leveraging local market expertise. Simultaneously, we are focused on standardizing the
HybriU product offering to ensure consistent quality and seamless integration across diverse environments. Brand development will remain
a priority as we work to establish HybriU as a trusted, recognized name in hybrid learning and collaboration globally.
12
To build awareness and adoption of the HybriU brand
in a highly fragmented education and conferencing market, we employ a selective and systematic marketing approach. Our objective is to
develop a strong, unified corporate identity across global markets while customizing campaigns to address regional needs. Key marketing initiatives
include:
****
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Enhancing digital visibility through search engine optimization (SEO) on major platforms such as Google; | |
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Engaging users through social media and influencer partnerships to drive awareness, trust and engagement; | |
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Offering free trials and interactive demos via our website and live promotional events to attract and convert potential users; | |
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Hosting industry summits and participating in major education conferences to showcase HybriU as a leading-edge solution and thought leader in hybrid learning and collaboration; and | |
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Sponsoring charitable initiatives and educational forums to strengthen our brand reputation and corporate social responsibility presence. | |
**Competitive Strengths**
We face direct competition in each geographic market
and business segment in which we operate. We believe that the principal competitive factors in our markets include the following:
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Alignment of individualized programs, services and products to the specific needs of students, parents, educators and employers; | |
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Overall customer experience; | |
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Scope and quality of programs, service and product offerings; | |
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Proximity of services to customers; | |
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Brand recognition and reputation of service providers; and | |
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Ability to effectively market programs, services and products to a broad base of prospective students, educators and relevant institutions. | |
HybriU differentiates itself from conventional
platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams by offering a fully integrated AI-powered software and hardware solution that
goes beyond basic video communication. Unlike other platforms, HybriU facilitates seamless, real-time interaction between in-person and
remote participantsstudents and educators alikewithin a unified classroom environment. This deep integration enables remote
learners to actively engage in live discussions, participate in group activities and receive instant feedback alongside their on-campus
peers.
By bridging the gap between physical and virtual
learning environments, HybriU delivers a truly immersive and inclusive educational experiencepromoting equal participation
regardless of location. We believe this transformative approach is redefining the educational landscape, delivering a cohesive, adaptive
and interactive hybrid classroom model that meets the evolving needs of todays educators and students.
13
However, we operate in a highly competitive and
rapidly evolving industry. Some of our current and potential competitors may possess significantly greater financial, technical and operational
resources, allowing them to invest more heavily in the development, marketing and distribution of their products and services. These organizations
may also be able to respond more quickly to shifting market demands, evolving student preferences or emerging technologies.
Moreover, continued advances in internet and digital
technologies have lowered the barriers to entry in the education and professional training markets. Smaller and more agile companies
are increasingly able to launch and scale digital learning solutions with minimal capital investment, reaching broad audiences via online
platforms. This increasing accessibility intensifies competition across all segments we target, requiring continuous innovation and strategic
execution to maintain market relevance and growth.
**Market Opportunity**
The Company operates at the intersection of education, technology and
AI-enabled collaboration markets experiencing increased demand driven by digital transformation, globalization, and evolving learning
and communication models. Educational institutions, enterprises and event organizers are increasingly adopting hybrid and phygital solutions
to improve accessibility, engagement and operational efficiency.
Management believes that demand for integrated
educational programs and hybrid technology solutions will continue as organizations adapt to evolving instructional models, remote collaboration
practices and global engagement requirements. The Companys combination of educational services and technology solutions is intended
to address these needs; however, the extent and timing of market adoption are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including rapid
technological change, competitive pressures, regulatory and compliance developments, customer adoption rates and broader economic conditions.
****
**Growth Strategy**
The Companys growth strategy focuses on expanding its technology
solutions and educational offerings while maintaining regulatory compliance and managing operating costs. Key elements of the strategy
include:
Expanding deployment of the HybriU and WeSpeak platforms
across institutional, enterprise and event-based customers.
Leveraging NewSchool as a deployment and validation
environment for certain technology solutions, where appropriate.
Increasing recurring revenue through subscription-based
software and platform services.
Developing international educational initiatives
through partnerships and programs supported by the HybriU Global Learning Network.
Evaluating strategic partnerships and acquisitions,
when appropriate, to enhance capabilities or market reach.
Maintaining financial discipline to support sustainable
operations and scalability.
The Companys ability to execute this strategy
will depend on market conditions, customer adoption, regulatory compliance, capital resources and operational execution.
14
**Employees**
As of December 31, 2025, we and our subsidiaries had 41 full-time employees
and 119 part-time employees, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, we had the following numbers of full-time employees by cost category:
9 in sales and marketing, 5 in general and administrative functions, 3 in research and development and 24 in cost of revenues. None of
our employees is represented by collective bargaining arrangements. We consider our employee relations to be good.
**Intellectual Property**
We have developed our proprietary technology over
the past decade. Our brand, tradename and other intellectual property rights distinguish our services and products from those of our competitors,
contributing to our competitive advantages in our target markets. To protect our brand and other intellectual property, we rely on a combination
of trademark, copyright, trade secret laws and confidentiality agreements with our employees, contractors and others.
Our principal website is www.ambow.com. We have
also registered certain domain names, including the domain for our product and service website, www.hybriu.com. In addition to building
Ambow as a stand-alone brand, we intend to continue to co-brand Ambow with the brands of our acquired schools
and programs for the foreseeable future to fully leverage their established local presence and reputation.
We cannot be certain that our efforts to protect
our intellectual property rights will be adequate or that third parties will not infringe or misappropriate the rights. There can also
be no assurance that competitors will not develop similar intellectual properties independently. If others are able to copy and use our
programs and services, we may not be able to maintain our competitive position.
**Seasonality**
****
Our business is subject to seasonal variations. Historically, educational
service activities are lower in the third quarter due to the summer break.
**Regulations**
****
Our business activities are subject to various
federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations. Compliance with these laws, rules and regulations has not had and is not
expected to have a material effect on our capital expenditures, results of operations and competitive position as compared to prior periods.
Nevertheless, compliance with existing or future governmental regulations, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to consumer
and data protection and taxes, could have a material impact on our business in subsequent periods. For more information on the potential
impacts of government regulations affecting our business, see Item 1A - Risk Factors.
**Facilities**
Our headquarters are located in California, USA, where we lease approximately
12,500 square feet of office space. In addition, we lease certain properties for our college campuses. We believe that our existing facilities
are adequate for our current business operations and that we will be able to enter into lease arrangements on commercially reasonable
terms for future expansion.
15
**Legal Proceedings**
In July 2024, NewSchool of Architecture & Design,
LLC (NewSchool), a subsidiary of the Company, became involved in litigation with its campus landlord, Art Block Investors,
LLC and related entities (the Landlord), regarding a lease dispute. On July 15, 2024, the Landlord filed an unlawful detainer
action in San Diego Superior Court seeking possession of the premises and recovery of approximately $2.26 million in past due rent and
common area maintenance fees. Following trial, the court issued a proposed decision in favor of the Landlord, awarding possession and
damages, with attorneys fees and costs to be determined. NewSchool objected, but judgment was expected within 30 days, followed
by a motion for fees. Separately, on September 6, 2024, the Landlord filed a breach of contract and guaranty lawsuit against NewSchool
and Ambow Education Holding Ltd., seeking approximately $4.47 million, subject to offset by amounts recovered in the first action. In
June 2025, the Company entered into a settlement with the Landlord requiring payments to the Landlord totaling $2.0 million, with $1.0
million due within three days of signing and the remaining $1.0 million payable in installments over two years beginning May 2025.
On June 21, 2024, Dr. Gisela Loehlein, Newschool
of Architecture and Design, LLCs former President and Chief Academic Officer, filed a civil lawsuit in San Diego County Superior
Court against Newschool of Architecture and Design, LLC, Ambow Education Holding Ltd., and certain individuals, alleging breach of contract,
various fraud-related claims, violations of California Labor Code sections (including failure to timely pay wages and unreimbursed expenses),
negligent misrepresentation, and wrongful termination. The plaintiff seeks compensatory and general damages, including emotional distress,
double damages pursuant to California Labor Code, interest on unpaid wages, and attorneys fees and costs. We, as defendants, have
answered and are contesting the claims; as of the date of this annual report, no trial dates have been set. At this stage, the outcome
of the litigation and any potential financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated.
The ultimate resolution of the proceedings may
have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Failure to settle the proceedings
or other unfavorable outcomes in these proceedings could result in significant damages, additional penalties or other remedies imposed
against the Company. Litigation of this kind could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managements attention and
resources. It could also result in our reputation being harmed and our stock price could decline as a result of allegations made in the
course of the proceedings, regardless of the truthfulness of the allegations.
Saved as disclosed above, as of December 31, 2025,
there are no claims, lawsuits, investigations and proceedings, including un-asserted claims that are probable to be assessed, that have
in the recent past had, or to our knowledge, are reasonably possible to have, material changes on our financial position results of operations
or cash flow.
From time to time, we have been involved in various
legal and regulatory proceedings arising in the normal course of business. While we cannot predict the occurrence or outcome of these
proceedings with certainty, we do not believe that an adverse result in any pending legal or regulatory proceeding, individually or in
the aggregate, would be material to our consolidated financial condition or cash flows; however, an unfavorable outcome could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations.
**Insurance**
****
We maintain property insurance to cover potential
damages to a portion of our property. In addition, we provide medical, unemployment and other insurance to our employees in compliance
with applicable laws, rules and regulations. We maintain insurance policies covering losses relating to our systems and have business
interruption insurance.
**Taxation**
****
The following summary of the material Cayman Islands
and United States federal income tax consequences of any 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 state, local and other tax
laws. Prospective investors should consult their professional advisers on the possible tax consequences of buying, holding or selling
any ADSs or ordinary shares under the laws of their country of citizenship, residence or domicile.
16
**Cayman Islands taxation**
****
The following is a discussion on certain Cayman
Islands income tax consequences of an investment in the ADSs or ordinary shares. The discussion is a general summary of present law, which
is subject to prospective and retroactive change. It is not intended as tax advice, does not consider any investors particular
circumstances, and does not consider tax consequences other than those arising under Cayman Islands law.
No stamp duty, capital duty, registration or other
issue or documentary taxes are payable in the Cayman Islands on the creation, issuance or delivery of the ADSs or ordinary shares. The
Cayman Islands currently have no form of income, corporate or capital gains tax and no estate duty, inheritance tax or gift tax. There
are currently no Cayman Islands taxes or duties of any nature on gains realized on a sale, exchange, conversion, transfer or redemption
of the ADSs or ordinary shares. Payments of dividends and capital in respect of the ADSs or ordinary shares will not be subject to taxation
in the Cayman Islands and no withholding will be required on the payment of interest and principal or a dividend or capital to any holder
of the ADSs or ordinary shares, nor will gains derived from the disposal of the ADSs or ordinary shares be subject to Cayman Islands income
or corporation tax as the Cayman Islands currently have no form of income or corporation taxes.
We have been incorporated under the laws of the
Cayman Islands as an exempted company with limited liability and, as such, have applied for and obtained an undertaking from the Governor
of the Cayman Islands that no law enacted in the Cayman Islands during the period of 20 years from the date of the undertaking imposing
any tax to be levied on profits, income, gains or appreciation shall apply to us or our operations and no such tax or any tax in the nature
of estate duty or inheritance tax shall be payable (directly or by way of withholding) on the ADSs or ordinary shares, debentures or other
obligations of ours.
**United States federal income taxation**
****
The following are the material U.S. federal income
tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares. As used in this discussion, references
to we, us or our refer to Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
The discussion below of the U.S. federal income
tax consequences to U.S. Holders will apply to a beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares that is for U.S. federal
income tax purposes:
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an individual citizen or resident of the United States; | |
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a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation) that is created or organized (or treated as created or organized) in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; | |
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an estate whose income is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or | |
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a trust if (i) a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the trusts administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. | |
A beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares
that is described above is referred to herein as a U.S. Holder. If a beneficial owner of the ADSs or ordinary shares is
not described as a U.S. Holder and is not an entity treated as a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, such owner will be considered a Non-U.S. Holder. The material U.S. federal income tax consequences applicable
specifically to Non-U.S. Holders are described below under the heading Non-U.S. Holders.
This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), its legislative history, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings
and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These authorities are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive
basis.
17
This discussion does not address all aspects of
U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to any particular holder based on such holders individual circumstances. In particular,
this discussion considers only holders that purchase ADSs pursuant to this offering and own and hold the ADSs or ordinary shares as capital
assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and does not address the potential application of the alternative minimum tax or
the U.S. federal income tax consequences to holders that are subject to special rules, including:
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financial institutions or financial services entities; | |
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broker-dealers; | |
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persons that are subject to the mark-to-market accounting rules under Section 475 of the Code; | |
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tax-exempt entities; | |
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governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof; | |
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insurance companies; | |
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regulated investment companies; | |
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real estate investment trusts; | |
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certain expatriates or former long-term residents of the United States; | |
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persons that actually or constructively own 5% or more of our voting shares (including as a result of ownership of the ADSs); | |
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persons that acquired the ADSs or ordinary shares pursuant to an exercise of employee options, in connection with employee incentive plans or otherwise as compensation; | |
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persons that hold the ADSs or ordinary shares as part of a straddle, constructive sale, hedging, conversion or other integrated transaction; | |
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persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; | |
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passive foreign investment companies; or | |
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controlled foreign corporations. | |
The discussion below assumes that the representations
contained in the deposit Agreement are true and that the obligations in the deposit Agreement and any related agreement will be complied
with in accordance with their terms. This discussion also assumes that the ADSs will represent only ordinary shares in us and will not
represent cash or any other type of property. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a holder of the ADSs will be treated as the beneficial
owner of the underlying ordinary shares represented by such ADSs. Accordingly, deposits or withdrawals of ordinary shares for ADSs will
not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
The U.S. Treasury has expressed concerns that parties
to whom ADSs are pre-released may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming, by U.S. Holders of ADSs, of foreign tax credits
for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such actions also would be inconsistent with the claiming of the reduced rate of tax applicable
to dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, as described below. Accordingly, the availability of foreign tax credits
or the reduced tax rate for dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders could be affected by actions that may be taken by
parties to whom ADSs are pre-released, or by future actions of the U.S. Treasury Department.
This discussion does not address any aspect of
U.S. federal non-income tax laws, such as gift or estate tax laws, or state, local or non-U.S. tax laws or, except as discussed herein,
any tax reporting obligations applicable to a holder of the ADSs or ordinary shares. This discussion also does not address the tax treatment
of any taxes, fees or expenses that may be payable by an ADS holder pursuant to the deposit Agreement. Additionally, this discussion does
not consider the tax treatment of partnerships or other pass- through entities or persons who hold the ADSs or ordinary shares through
such entities. If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner
of the ADSs or ordinary shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend on the status
of the partner and the activities of the partnership. This discussion also assumes that any distribution made (or deemed made) to a holder
in respect of the ADSs or ordinary shares and any consideration received (or deemed received) by a holder in connection with the sale
or other disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares will be in U.S. dollars.
18
We have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling
from the Internal Revenue Service, (the IRS), or an opinion of counsel as to any U.S. federal income tax consequence described
herein. The IRS may disagree with the description herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover, there can be no assurance
that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the accuracy of the statements
in this discussion.
**U.S. Holders**
****
*Taxation of Cash Distributions Paid on ADSs or Ordinary Shares*
**
Subject to the passive foreign investment company
(PFIC) rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will be required to include in gross income as ordinary income the
amount of any cash dividend paid on the ADSs or ordinary shares. A cash distribution on the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be
treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated earnings
and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Such dividends generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received
deduction generally allowed to U.S. corporations in respect of dividends received from other U.S. corporations. The portion of such cash
distribution, if any, in excess of such earnings and profits will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. Holders
adjusted tax basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares. Any remaining excess generally will be treated as gain from the sale or other taxable
disposition of such ADSs or ordinary shares.
With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, any
such cash dividends may be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the lower applicable regular long term capital gains tax rate (see Taxation
on the Disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares below) provided that (a) the ADSs or ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established
securities market in the United States; (b) we are not a PFIC, as discussed below, for either the taxable year in which the dividend was
paid or the preceding taxable year, and (c) certain holding period requirements are met. Therefore, if the ADSs or ordinary shares are
not readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, then cash dividends paid by us to non-corporate U.S. Holders
will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the lower regular long-term capital gains tax rate. Under published IRS authority, shares
(including ADSs) are considered for purposes of clause (a) above to be readily tradable on an established securities market in the United
States only if they are listed on certain exchanges, which presently include the NYSE American.
*Taxation on the Disposition of ADSs or Ordinary Shares*
**
Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of the
ADSs or ordinary shares, and subject to the PFIC rules discussed below, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss in
an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the ADSs or ordinary shares.
The regular U.S. federal income tax rate on capital
gains recognized by U.S. Holders generally is the same as the regular U.S. federal income tax rate on ordinary income, except that long
term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. Holders generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax at a maximum regular rate
of 20%. Capital gain or loss will constitute long term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holders holding period for the ADSs or
ordinary shares exceeds one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various limitations.
*Additional Taxes*
**
U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts
and whose income exceeds certain thresholds generally will be subject to a 3.8% Medicare contribution tax on unearned income, including,
without limitation, dividends on, and gains from the sale or other taxable disposition of, the ADSs or ordinary shares, subject to certain
limitations and exceptions. Under applicable regulations, in the absence of a special election, such unearned income generally would not
include income inclusions under the qualified electing fund (QEF), rules discussed below under Passive Foreign Investment
Company Rules, but would include distributions of earnings and profits from a QEF. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors
regarding the effect, if any, of such tax on their ownership and disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares.
19
*Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules*
**
A foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) corporation will be
a PFIC if either (a) at least 75% of its gross income in a taxable year of the foreign corporation, including its pro rata share of the
gross income of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares by value, is passive income, or (b) at least
50% of its assets in a taxable year of the foreign corporation, ordinarily determined based on fair market value and averaged quarterly
over the year, including its pro rata share of the assets of any corporation in which it is considered to own at least 25% of the shares
by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. Passive income generally includes dividends, interest, rents and
royalties (other than certain rents or royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business), and gains from the disposition
of passive assets.
Based on the expected composition (and estimated
values) of the assets and the nature of the income of us and our subsidiaries, we do not expect to be treated as a PFIC for the current
taxable year. However, our actual PFIC status for our current taxable year or any subsequent taxable year will not be determinable until
after the end of such taxable year. Accordingly, there can be no assurance with respect to our status as a PFIC for our current taxable
year or any subsequent taxable year.
If we are determined to be a PFIC for any taxable
year (or portion thereof) that is included in the holding period of a U.S. Holder of the ADSs or ordinary shares, and the U.S. Holder
did not make a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder held (or was deemed to hold) the ADSs
or ordinary shares, a QEF election along with a purging election, or a mark-to-market election, each as described below, such holder generally
will be subject to special rules for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to:
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any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of its ADSs or ordinary shares; and | |
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any excess distribution made to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distributions to such U.S. Holder during a taxable year of the U.S. Holder that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received by such U.S. Holder in respect of the ADSs or ordinary shares during the three preceding taxable years of such U.S. Holder or, if shorter, such U.S. Holders holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares). | |
Under these rules,
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the U.S. Holders gain or excess distribution will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holders holding period for the ADSs or ordinary shares; | |
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the amount allocated to the U.S. Holders taxable year in which the U.S. Holder recognized the gain or received the excess distribution or to the period in the U.S. Holders holding period before the first day of our first taxable year in which we qualified as a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income; | |
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the amount allocated to other taxable years (or portions thereof) of the U.S. Holder and included in its holding period will be taxed at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and applicable to the U.S. Holder; and | |
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the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each such other taxable year of the U.S. Holder. | |
In general, if we are determined to be a PFIC,
a U.S. Holder may avoid the PFIC tax consequences described above with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares by making a timely QEF election
(or a QEF election along with a purging election). Pursuant to the QEF election, a U.S. Holder will be required to include in income its
pro rata share of our net capital gains (as long-term capital gain) and other earnings and profits (as ordinary income), on a current
basis, in each case whether or not distributed, in the taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which or with which our taxable year ends if
we are treated as a PFIC for that taxable year. A U.S. Holder may make a separate election to defer the payment of taxes on undistributed
income inclusions under the QEF rules, but if deferred, any such taxes will be subject to an interest charge.
The QEF election is made on a shareholder-by-shareholder
basis and, once made, can be revoked only with the consent of the IRS. A U.S. Holder generally makes a QEF election by attaching a completed
IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund), including the
information provided in a PFIC annual information statement, to a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return for the taxable year to
which the election relates. Retroactive QEF elections generally may be made only by filing a protective statement with such return and
if certain other conditions are met or with the consent of the IRS.
20
In order to comply with the requirements of a QEF
election, a U.S. Holder must receive certain information from us. Upon request from a U.S. Holder, we will endeavor to provide to the
U.S. Holder no later than 90 days after the request such information as the IRS may require, including a PFIC annual information statement,
in order to enable the U.S. Holder to make and maintain a QEF election. However, there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge
of our status as a PFIC in the future or of the required information to be provided.
If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect
to the ADSs or ordinary shares, and the special tax and interest charge rules do not apply to such ADSs or ordinary shares (because of
a timely QEF election for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) such ADSs or ordinary
shares or a QEF election, along with a purge of the PFIC taint pursuant to a purging election, as described below), any gain recognized
on the sale or other taxable disposition of such ADSs or ordinary shares generally will be taxable as capital gain and no interest charge
will be imposed. As discussed above, for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. Holders of a QEF generally are currently taxed
on their pro rata shares of the QEFs earnings and profits, whether or not distributed. In such case, a subsequent distribution
of such earnings and profits that were previously included in income generally should not be taxable as a dividend to such U.S. Holders.
The adjusted tax basis of a U.S. Holders ADSs or ordinary shares in a QEF will be increased by amounts that are included in income,
and decreased by amounts distributed but not taxed as dividends, under the above rules. Similar basis adjustments apply to property if
by reason of holding such property the U.S. Holder is treated under the applicable attribution rules as owning ADSs or ordinary shares
in a QEF.
Although a determination as to our PFIC status
will be made annually, an initial determination that we are a PFIC generally will apply for subsequent years to a U.S. Holder who held
the ADSs or ordinary shares while we were a PFIC, whether or not we meet the test for PFIC status in those subsequent years. A U.S. Holder
who makes the QEF election discussed above for our first taxable year as a PFIC in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold)
the ADSs or ordinary shares, however, will not be subject to the PFIC tax and interest charge rules discussed above with respect to such
ADSs or ordinary shares. In addition, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the QEF inclusion regime with respect to such ADSs or ordinary
shares for any of our taxable years that end within or with a taxable year of the U.S. Holder and in which we are not a PFIC. On the other
hand, if the QEF election is not effective for each of our taxable years in which we are a PFIC and during which the U.S. Holder holds
(or is deemed to hold) the ADSs or ordinary shares, the PFIC rules discussed above will continue to apply to such ADSs or ordinary shares
unless the holder files on a timely filed U.S. federal income tax return (including extensions) a QEF election and a purging election
to recognize under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code any gain that it would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold the ADSs or
ordinary shares for their fair market value on the qualification date. The qualification date is the first day of our tax
year in which we qualify as a QEF with respect to such U.S. Holder. The purging election can only be made if such U.S. Holder held the
ADSs or ordinary shares on the qualification date. A purging election generally creates a deemed sale of such ADSs or ordinary shares
at their fair market value. The gain recognized by the purging election generally will be subject to the special tax and interest charge
rules treating the gain as an excess distribution, as described above. As a result of the purging election, the U.S. Holder generally
will increase the adjusted tax basis in its ADSs or ordinary shares by the amount of gain recognized and will also have a new holding
period in its ADSs or ordinary shares for purposes of the PFIC rules.
Alternatively, if a U.S. Holder, at the close of
its taxable year, owns ADSs or ordinary shares in a PFIC that are treated as marketable stock, the U.S. Holder may make a mark-to-market
election with respect to such ADSs or ordinary shares for such taxable year. If the U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election
for the first taxable year of the U.S. Holder in which the U.S. Holder holds (or is deemed to hold) the ADSs or ordinary shares and for
which we are determined to be a PFIC, such holder generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above with respect to its
ADSs or ordinary shares as long as such ADSs or ordinary shares continue to be treated as marketable stock. Instead, in general, the U.S.
Holder will include as ordinary income each year that we are treated as a PFIC the excess, if any, of the fair market value of its ADSs
or ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year over the adjusted tax basis in its ADSs or ordinary shares. The U.S. Holder also will
be allowed to take an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted tax basis of its ADSs or ordinary shares over the
fair market value of its ADSs or ordinary shares at the end of its taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously
included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in its ADSs or ordinary shares
will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts, and any further gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of
the ADSs or ordinary shares in a taxable year in which we are treated as a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income. Special tax rules
may also apply if a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election for a taxable year after the first taxable year in which the U.S. Holder
holds (or is deemed to hold) the ADSs or ordinary shares and for which we are treated as a PFIC.
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The mark-to-market election is available only for
stock that is regularly traded on a national securities exchange that is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including
the NYSE American, or on a foreign exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents
a legitimate and sound fair market value. Commencing on June 1, 2018, our ADSs began trading on the NYSE American. U.S. Holders should
consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and tax consequences of a mark-to-market election with respect to the ADSs or
ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC and, at any time, have a foreign
subsidiary that is classified as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder of the ADSs or ordinary shares generally should be deemed to own a portion of the
shares of such lower-tier PFIC, and generally could incur liability for the deferred tax and interest charge described above if we receive
a distribution from, or dispose of all or part of our interest in, or the U.S. Holder were otherwise deemed to have disposed of an interest
in, the lower-tier PFIC. Upon request, we will endeavor to cause any lower-tier PFIC to provide to a U.S. Holder no later than 90 days
after the request the information that may be required to make or maintain a QEF election with respect to the lower-tier PFIC. However,
there is no assurance that we will have timely knowledge of the status of any such lower-tier PFIC or that we will be able to cause the
lower-tier PFIC to provide the required information. A mark-to-market election generally would not be available with respect to such a
lower-tier PFIC. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax issues raised by lower-tier PFICs.
A U.S. Holder that owns (or is deemed to own) ADSs
or ordinary shares in a PFIC during any taxable year of the U.S. Holder may have to file an IRS Form 8621 (whether or not a QEF election
or mark-to-market election is or has been made) with such U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax return and provide such other information
as may be required by the U.S. Treasury Department.
The rules dealing with PFICs
and with the QEF and mark-to-market elections are very complex and are affected by various factors in addition to those described above.
Accordingly, U.S. Holders of the ADSs or ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of the PFIC
rules to the ADSs or ordinary shares under their particular circumstances.
**Non-U.S. Holders**
****
Cash dividends paid or deemed paid to a Non-U.S.
Holder with respect to the ADSs or ordinary shares generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless such dividends are
effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holders conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an
applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in
the United States).
In addition, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not
be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain attributable to a sale or other taxable disposition of the ADSs or ordinary shares unless
such gain is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income
tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States)
or the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of such sale or other
disposition and certain other conditions are met (in which case, such gain from U.S. sources generally is subject to U.S. federal income
tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate).
Cash dividends and gains that are effectively connected
with the Non-U.S. Holders conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty,
are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base that such holder maintains or maintained in the United States) generally will
be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax at the same regular U.S. federal income tax rates as applicable to a comparable U.S. Holder
and, in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, may also be subject to an additional
branch profits tax at a 30% rate or a lower applicable tax treaty rate.
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**Backup Withholding and Information Reporting**
****
In general, information reporting for U.S. federal
income tax purposes should apply to cash distributions made on the ADSs or ordinary shares within the United States to a U.S. Holder (other
than an exempt recipient) and to the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of the ADSs or ordinary shares by a U.S. Holder (other
than an exempt recipient) to or through a U.S. office of a broker. Payments made (and sales and other dispositions effected at an office)
outside the United States will be subject to information reporting in limited circumstances. In addition, certain information concerning
a U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in its ADSs or ordinary shares and adjustments to that tax basis and whether any gain or loss
with respect to such ADSs or ordinary shares is long- term or short-term also may be required to be reported to the IRS, and certain holders
may be required to file an IRS Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) to report their interest in the ADSs or ordinary
shares.
Moreover, backup withholding of U.S. federal income
tax, at a current rate of 24%, generally will apply to cash dividends paid on the ADSs or ordinary shares to a U.S. Holder (other than
an exempt recipient) and the proceeds from sales and other dispositions of the ADSs or ordinary shares by a U.S. Holder (other than an
exempt recipient), in each case who:
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fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number; | |
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is notified by the IRS that backup withholding is required; or | |
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in certain circumstances, fails to comply with applicable certification requirements. | |
A Non-U.S. Holder generally may eliminate the requirement
for information reporting and backup withholding by providing certification of its foreign status, under penalties of perjury, on a duly
executed applicable IRS Form W-8 or by otherwise establishing an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather,
the amount of any backup withholding will be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holders or a Non-U.S. Holders U.S. federal
income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of backup withholding and the availability of and procedures
for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding in their particular circumstances.
YOU SHOULD CONSULT WITH YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS REGARDING
THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, AS WELL AS ANY ADDITIONAL TAX CONSEQUENCES RESULTING
FROM AN INVESTMENT IN THE ADSs OR ORDINARY SHARES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF THE TAX LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN
JURISDICTION, INCLUDING ESTATE, GIFT AND INHERITANCE LAWS.
23
**ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.**
*An investment in our securities
involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. Our business,
prospects, financial condition, or operating results could be harmed by any of these risks, as well as other risks not known to us or
that we consider immaterial as of the date of this annual report. The trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these
risks, and, as a result, you may lose all or part of your investment. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Ambows
financial statements and notes thereto included herein. You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other
information included in this annual report.*
**RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY**
****
**If we are not able to continue to attract
students to enroll in our programs, our net revenues may decline, and we may not be able to maintain profitability.**
****
The success of our business largely depends on
the number of students who are enrolled in our programs and the amount of fees that our students are willing to pay for our courses. Therefore,
our ability to continue to attract students to enroll in our programs without significantly decreasing course fees is critical to the
continued success and growth of our business. This will depend on several factors, including our ability to develop new programs and enhance
existing programs to respond to changes in market trends and student demands, expanding our geographic reach, managing our growth while
maintaining the consistency of our teaching quality, effectively marketing our programs to a broader base of prospective students, developing
and licensing additional high-quality educational content and responding to competitive pressures. It also depends on macroeconomic factors
like unemployment and the resulting lower confidence in job prospects and many of the regulatory risks discussed below. Our enrollment
in future years will be affected by legislative uncertainty, regulatory activity and macroeconomic conditions. It is likely that legislative,
regulatory and economic uncertainties will continue for the foreseeable future, and thus it is difficult to assess our long-term growth
prospects. If we are unable to continue to attract students to enroll in our programs without significantly decreasing course fees, our
net revenues may decline and we may not be able to achieve profitability, either of which could result in a material adverse effect on
our business, results of operations and financial condition.
**If we are not able to continue to attract and retain qualified
education professionals, we may not be able to maintain consistent teaching quality throughout our school, and our brand, business and
results of operations may be materially and adversely affected.**
****
Our education professionals are critical to maintaining
the quality of our services, software products and programs, and maintaining our brand and reputation, as they interact with our students
on a regular basis. We must continue to attract qualified education professionals who have a strong command of the subject areas to be
taught and who meet our qualifications. We may not be able to hire and retain enough qualified education professionals to keep pace with
our anticipated growth or at acceptable costs while maintaining consistent teaching quality across many different schools and programs
in different geographic locations. Shortages of qualified education professionals, or decreases in the quality of our instruction, whether
actual or perceived in one or more of our markets, or an increase in hiring costs, may have a material and adverse effect on our business
and our reputation. Further, our inability to retain our education professionals may hurt our existing brands and those brands we are
trying to develop, and retaining qualified teachers at additional costs may have a material adverse effect on our business and results
of operations.
**If our expansions into new businesses are not successful, our
results of operation and growth prospects may be materially and adversely affected.**
****
As part of our growth strategy, we enter into new
businesses from time to time to generate additional revenue streams and through our development of new business lines or strategic investments
in or acquisitions of other businesses. Expansions into new businesses may present operating, marketing and compliance challenges that
differ from those that we currently encounter.
We have invested resources in the research and
development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and have made progress in the commercialization of our AI-driven
offering, HybriU. We plan to continue to invest capital and other resources into our AI-driven business operations. However, AI technology
is rapidly evolving with significant uncertainties, and we cannot make assurances that our investment and exploration in AI technology
and AI-driven products and services will be successful. In addition, our AI-driven business requires very different products and services,
sales and marketing channels and internal operational systems and processes. These requirements could disrupt our current operations and
harm our financial condition and operating results, especially during the initial stage of investment, development and scaling of our
new AI-driven offerings.
It is uncertain whether our strategies will attract
users and customers or generate the revenue required to succeed. If we fail to generate sufficient usage of our new products and services,
we may not grow revenue in line with the significant resources we invest in these new businesses. This may negatively impact gross margins
and operating income.
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**Potential issues in the adoption and use of artificial intelligence
in our product offerings may result in reputational harm or liability.**
****
We are building AI into our product offerings and
we expect this element of our business to be a driver for our future growth. We envision a future in which AI operates in our services
and applications, such as HybriU. As with many disruptive innovations, AI presents risks and challenges that could affect its adoption,
and, therefore, our business. Our products and services based on AI may not be adopted by our users or customers. AI algorithms may be
flawed. Datasets may be insufficient or contain biased information. Inappropriate or controversial data practices by us or others could
impair the acceptance of our AI solutions.
**Our business depends on the strength of our brands in the marketplace.
We may not be able to retain existing students or attract new students if we cannot continue to use, protect and enhance our brands successfully
in the marketplace.**
****
Our operational and financial performance and the
successful growth of our business are highly dependent on market awareness of our Ambow brand. We believe that maintaining
and enhancing the Ambow brand is critical to maintaining and enhancing our competitive advantage and growing our business.
In order to retain existing students and attract new students, we plan to continue to make expenditures to create and maintain our positive
brand awareness and create brand loyalty. The diverse set of services and products that we offer to college students places significant
demands on us to maintain the consistency and quality of our services and products to ensure that our brands do not suffer from any actual
or perceived decrease in the quality of our services and products. As we grow in size, expand our services and products and extend our
geographical reach, maintaining the quality and consistency of our services and products may be more difficult. Any negative publicity
about our services, products, or schools, regardless of their veracity, could harm our brand image and have a material adverse effect
on our business and results of operations.
**We face significant competition in each major program we offer
and each geographic market in which we operate, and if we fail to compete effectively, we may lose our market share and our profitability
may be adversely affected.**
****
Competition could result in loss of market share
and revenues, lower profit margins and limit our future growth.
We face competition from many different companies
that focus on one area of our business and are able to devote all of their resources to that business line. These companies may be able
to more quickly adapt than we can to changing technology, student preferences and market conditions in these markets. Therefore, these
companies may have a competitive advantage over us with respect to these business areas.
Post-secondary education in the United States is
highly competitive. Our U.S. college, NewSchool of Architecture & Design, LLC (NewSchool), competes with traditional
public and private two-year and four-year colleges, other for-profit schools, and alternatives to higher education. Some of our competitors
in both the public and private sectors have substantially greater financial and other resources than we do. These competitors may be able
to devote greater resources than we can to the development, promotion and sale of their services and products, and respond more quickly
than we can to changes in student needs, testing materials, admissions standards, market needs or new technologies. Some of our competitors,
both public and private, may offer programs similar to ours at a lower tuition level as a result of government subsidies, government and
foundation grants, tax-deductible contributions, and other financial sources not available to proprietary institutions, or by providing
fewer student services or larger class sizes. While we believe that our U.S. college provides valuable education to their students, we
may not always accurately predict the drivers of a students or potential students decisions to choose among the range of
educational and other options available to them. Our student enrollment may decrease due to intense competition, and we may be required
to reduce course fees or increase spending in response to competition in order to retain or attract students or pursue new market opportunities.
As a result, our net revenues and profitability may decrease. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to compete successfully against
current or future competitors. If we are unable to maintain our competitive position or otherwise respond to competitive pressures effectively,
we may lose our market share and our profitability may be materially adversely affected.
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**We may not be able to successfully integrate businesses that
we acquire, which may cause us to lose anticipated benefits from such acquisitions and to incur significant additional expenses.**
****
It is challenging to integrate the business operations,
infrastructure and management philosophies of acquired schools and companies. The benefits of our past and future acquisitions depend
in significant part on our ability to integrate technology, operations and personnel. The integration of acquired schools and companies
is a complex, time-consuming and expensive process that, without proper planning and implementation, could significantly disrupt our business
and operations. The main challenges involved in integrating acquired entities include the following:
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Ensuring and demonstrating to our students that the acquisitions will not result in adverse changes in service standards or business focus; | |
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Consolidating and rationalizing corporate IT and administrative infrastructures; | |
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Retaining qualified education professionals for our acquired entities; | |
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Consolidating service and product offerings; | |
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Coordinating and rationalizing research and development activities to enhance the introduction of new products and technologies with reduced costs; | |
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Preserving strategic, marketing or other important relationships of the acquired entity and resolving potential conflicts that may arise with our key relationships; and | |
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Minimizing the diversion of senior management attention from day-to-day operations. | |
We may not successfully integrate our operations
and the operations of entities we acquire in a timely manner, or at all, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits or synergies
of the acquisitions to the extent or in the timeframe anticipated, which would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
**Our results of operations may fluctuate, which makes our financial
results difficult to forecast, and could cause our results to fall short of expectations.**
****
Our results of operations may fluctuate as a result
of a number of factors, many of which are outside of our control. Our net revenues from operations in 2025 increased to $9.5 from $9.4
million in 2024. Comparing our results of operations on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful, and past results should not be
relied on as an indication of our future performance. Our quarterly and annual net revenues and costs and expenses as a percentage of
net revenues may be significantly different from our historical or projected rates. Our quarterly and annual net revenues and gross margins
may fluctuate due to a number of factors, including:
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The increase in costs associated with our strategic expansion plans; | |
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The revenue and gross margin profiles of our acquisitions in a given period; | |
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Our ability to successfully integrate our acquisitions and the timing of our post-integration activities; | |
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Our ability to reduce our costs as a percentage of our net revenues; | |
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Increased competition; and | |
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Our ability to manage our financial resources, including administration of bank loans and bank accounts. | |
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As a result of these and other factors, we may
not sustain our past growth rates in future periods, and we may not sustain profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.
**We face risks related to natural disasters or other extraordinary
events and public health epidemics, such as the global coronavirus outbreak experienced, in the locations in which we, our students, faculty
and employees live and work, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.**
****
Our business could be severely disrupted and materially
adversely affected by natural disasters, inclement weather, or the outbreak of health epidemics in the locations in which we, our students,
faculty and employees live, work and attend classes. Any future natural disasters or health epidemics could also severely disrupt our
business operations and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
**Our business depends on the continuing efforts of our senior
management team and other key personnel, and our business may be harmed if we lose their services.**
****
Our future success depends heavily upon the continuing
services of the members of our senior management team and, in particular, upon retaining the services of our founder, Chairwoman, Chief
Executive Officer and acting Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Jin Huang. If one or more of our senior executives or other key personnel are
unable or unwilling to continue in their present positions, we may not be able to replace them easily or at all. As a result, our business
may be disrupted, and our financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, if any
member of our senior management team or any of our other key personnel joins a competitor or forms a competing company, we may lose teachers,
students, key professionals and staff members. Competition for experienced management personnel in the private education sector is intense.
The pool of qualified candidates is very limited, and we may not be able to retain the services of our senior executives or key personnel
or attract and retain high-quality senior executives or key personnel in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business and results of operations.
**If we are not able to continually enhance our online programs,
services and products and adapt them to rapid technological changes and student needs, we may lose market share and our business could
be adversely affected.**
****
Our online programs, services and products are
vital to the success of our business. The market for such programs, services and products is characterized by rapid technological changes
and innovation, as well as unpredictable product life cycles and user preferences. We must quickly modify our online programs, services
and products to adapt to changing student needs and preferences, technological advances and evolving Internet practices. Ongoing enhancement
of our online offerings and related technologies may entail significant expense and technical risk. We may use new technologies ineffectively
or fail to adapt our online services or products and related technologies on a timely and cost-effective basis. If our improvements to
our online offerings and the related technology are delayed, if they result in systems interruptions or are not aligned with market expectations
or preferences, we may lose market share and our business could be materially adversely affected.
**Failure to adequately and promptly respond to industry changes
in curriculum, testing materials and standards could cause our services and products to be less attractive to our students.**
****
Our success depends, in part, on our ability to
continually update and expand the content, curriculum and test preparation materials of our academic programs, develop new programs and
teaching methods in a cost-effective manner, and meet students needs in a timely manner. Any inability to track and respond to
industry changes in a timely and cost-effective manner would make our services and products less attractive to students, which may materially
and adversely affect our reputation and ability to continue to attract students without a significant decrease in course fees.
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**If we are unable to obtain new loans, at all or on terms that
are acceptable to us, our growth will be impacted.**
****
We may seek to obtain additional bank loans in
the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain new loans or credit facilities, at all or on terms that are acceptable
to us. Our ability to obtain financing may be affected by our financial position and leverage, our credit rating and investor perception
of the education industry, as well as by prevailing economic conditions and the cost of financing in general. In addition, factors beyond
our control, such as recent global market and economic conditions and the tightening of credit markets may result in a diminished availability
of financing and increased volatility in credit and equity markets, which may materially adversely affect our ability to secure financing
at reasonable costs or at all. If we were unable to obtain financing in the future on terms acceptable to us, our business operations
and our growth plans would be materially harmed.
**Our business is subject to seasonal fluctuations, which may cause
our operating results to fluctuate from quarter to quarter.**
****
We have experienced, and expect to continue to
experience, seasonal fluctuations in our revenues and results of operations, primarily due to seasonal changes in service days and student
enrollment. Historically, the number of days in which our students attend our courses is lower in the third quarter due to school closures
for summer break. Because our colleges recognize revenues based on the number of service days in each quarter, we expect our third-quarter
revenues to be lower than the first, second and fourth quarters. Our costs and expenses, however, do not necessarily correspond with changes
in our student enrollment, service days or net revenues. We make investments in marketing and promotion, teacher recruitment and training,
and product development throughout the year. We expect quarterly fluctuations in our revenues and results of operations to continue. As
the revenues grow in our colleges, these seasonal fluctuations may become more pronounced.
**We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property,
which could adversely impact our competitiveness.**
****
Our brand, copyrights, patents, trade secrets,
trade names and other intellectual property rights are important to our success. Unauthorized use of any of our intellectual property
may adversely affect our business and reputation. We rely on a combination of copyright, trademark and trade secrets laws and confidentiality
agreements with our employees, consultants and others, including our partner schools, to protect our intellectual property rights. Nevertheless,
it may be possible for third parties to obtain and use our intellectual property without authorization. Moreover, litigation may be necessary
in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights. Future litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of our managements
attention and resources and could disrupt our business. If we are unable to enforce our intellectual property rights, it could have a
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property
could materially adversely affect our competitive position, our ability to attract students and our results of operations.
**We may be exposed to infringement and misappropriation claims
by third parties, which, if successful, could cause us to pay significant damage awards.**
****
Third parties may initiate litigation against us
alleging infringement upon their intellectual property rights. In the event of a future successful claim of infringement or misappropriation
and our failure or inability to develop non-infringing technology or license the infringed or misappropriated or similar technology on
a timely basis, our business could be harmed. In addition, even if we are able to license the infringed or misappropriated or similar
technology, license fees could be substantial and may adversely affect our results of operations.
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**Unexpected network interruptions, security breaches or computer
virus attacks and system failures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.**
****
Any failure to maintain satisfactory performance,
reliability, security or availability of our network infrastructure may cause significant damage to our reputation and our ability to
attract and maintain students. Major risks involving our network structure include:
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Breakdowns or system failures resulting in a prolonged shutdown of our servers, including failures attributable to power shutdowns, or attempts to gain unauthorized access to our systems, which may cause loss or corruption of data, including customer data, or malfunctions of software or hardware; | |
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Disruption or failure in the national backbone network, which would make it impossible for visitors and students to log on to our websites; | |
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Damage from fire, flood, power loss and telecommunications failures; and | |
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Any infection by or spread of computer viruses. | |
Any network interruption or inadequacy that causes
interruptions in the availability of our websites or deterioration in the quality of access to our websites could reduce customer satisfaction
and result in a reduction in the number of students using our services. If sustained or repeated, these performance issues could reduce
the attractiveness of our online and offline programs. In addition, we may be subject to a security breach caused by a computer hacker,
which could involve attempts to gain unauthorized access to our systems or personal information stored in our systems or to cause intentional
malfunctions or loss or corruption of data, software, hardware or other computer equipment. A user who circumvents our security measures
could misappropriate proprietary information or cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations. As a result, we may be required
to expend significant resources to protect against the threat of these security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by these breaches.
Furthermore, increases in the volume of traffic
on our websites could also strain the capacity of our existing computer systems, which could lead to slower response times or system failures.
This would cause a disruption or suspension in our online course programs, which would hurt our brand and reputation, and thus negatively
affect our net revenue growth. We may need to incur additional costs to upgrade our computer systems in order to accommodate increased
demand if we anticipate that our systems cannot handle higher volumes of traffic in the future; or to protect against system errors, failures
or disruptions, or to repair or otherwise mitigate problems.
**The actual or perceived failure by us, our customers, partners
or vendors to comply with stringent and evolving laws and regulations, industry standards, policies, and contractual obligations relating
to privacy, data protection, information security, and other matters could harm our reputation and business and subject us to significant
fines and liability.**
****
In the ordinary course of business, we collect,
receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share confidential,
proprietary, and sensitive information, including personal data, customer and user content, business data, trade secrets, intellectual
property, third-party data, business plans, transactions, financial information. Our data processing activities subject us to numerous
privacy, data protection and information security obligations, such as various laws, regulations, guidance, industry standards, external
and internal privacy and security policies, and contractual requirements.
*Laws in the United States*
**
In the United States, federal, state, and local
governments have enacted numerous privacy, data protection and information security laws, including data breach notification laws, personal
data privacy laws, consumer protection laws (e.g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act), and other similar laws (e.g., wiretapping
laws). For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA)
(collectively, CCPA) applies to the personal information of consumers, business representatives and employees, and requires
businesses to provide specific disclosures in privacy notices and honor requests of California residents to exercise certain privacy rights,
such as those noted below. The CCPA provides for fines of up to $7,500 per intentional violation and allows private litigants affected
by certain data breaches to recover significant statutory damages. Similar laws are being considered in several other states, as well
as at the federal and local levels, and we expect more states to pass similar laws in the future. These developments may further complicate
compliance efforts and increase legal risk and compliance costs for us and the third parties upon whom we rely. Under various laws and
other obligations related to privacy, data protection, and information security, we may be required to obtain certain consents to process
personal information. For example, some of our data processing practices may be challenged under wiretapping laws if we obtain consumer
information from third parties through various methods. These practices may be subject to increased challenges by class action plaintiffs.
Our inability or failure to obtain consent for these practices could result in adverse consequences, including class action litigation
and mass arbitration demands.
29
*Artificial Intelligence*
**
Our development and use of AI technology is subject
to privacy, data protection, IP and information security laws, industry standards, external and internal privacy and security policies,
and contractual requirements, as well as increasing regulation and scrutiny. Several jurisdictions around the globe, including the EU,
the UK and certain U.S. states, have proposed, enacted, or are considering laws governing the development and use of AI. In the EU, regulators
have reached a political agreement on the text of the Artificial Intelligence Act, which, when adopted and in force, will have a direct
effect across all EU jurisdictions and could impose onerous obligations related to the use of AI-related systems. Obligations on AI may
make it harder for us to conduct our business using, or build products incorporating, AI, requires us to change our business practices,
requires us to retrain our algorithms, or prevent or limit our use of AI. Additionally, certain privacy laws extend rights to consumers
such as the right to delete certain personal information and regulate automated decision-making, which may be incompatible with our use
of AI. If we do not develop or incorporate AI in a manner consistent with these factors and consistent with customer expectations, it
may result in an adverse impact on our reputation, our business may be less efficient, or we may be at a competitive disadvantage. Similarly,
if customers and users do not widely adopt our new product AI experiences, features and capabilities, or they do not perform as expected,
we may not be able to realize a return on our investment.
*Industry Standards*
**
In addition to privacy, data protection and information
security laws, we are contractually subject to industry standards adopted by industry groups and may become subject to such obligations
in the future. We may also have privacy, data protection and information security obligations arising from the practices in our industry
or of companies similar to ours. We are also bound by other contractual obligations related to privacy, data protection and information
security, and our efforts to comply with such obligations may not be successful. If we fall below such industry standards or cannot comply
with such contractual obligations, our reputation and business may be harmed. We also publish privacy policies, marketing materials and
other statements, such as compliance with certain certifications or self-regulatory principles, regarding privacy, data protection and
information security. If these policies, materials or statements are found to be deficient, lacking in transparency, deceptive, unfair,
or misrepresentative of our practices, we may be subject to investigation, enforcement actions by regulators, or other adverse consequences.
**Our information security measures, and those of third parties
upon which we rely, may be compromised in the future. If our information security measures are compromised in the future or if our information
technology fails, this could harm our reputation, expose us to significant fines and liability, impair our sales, and harm our business.
In addition, our products and services may be perceived as not being secure. This perception may result in customers and users curtailing
or ceasing their use of our products, our incurring significant liabilities, and our business being harmed.**
****
In the ordinary course of our business, we and
the third parties upon which we rely collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure,
dispose of, transmit and share confidential, proprietary and sensitive data, including data of ours, our customers and our users, the
data which includes personal information, customer and user content, health-related data, intellectual property, trade secrets, business
plans, and financial information. We and the third parties upon which we rely face a variety of evolving threats, including but not limited
to ransomware attacks, which could cause security incidents. Security incidents may occur in the future, resulting in unauthorized access
to, loss or unauthorized disclosure of, or inadvertent disclosure of confidential, proprietary, and sensitive information.
30
Cyberattacks, other malicious internet-based activity,
online and offline fraud, and other similar activities threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our proprietary, confidential,
and sensitive data and information technology systems, and those of the third parties upon which we rely. Threats are prevalent and continue
to rise, are increasingly difficult to detect, and come from a variety of sources, including traditional computer hackers,
threat actors, hacktivists, organized criminal threat actors, personnel such as through theft or misuse, sophisticated nation-state
and nation-state supported actors, and advanced persistent threat intrusions. Some actors now engage in and are expected to continue to
engage in cyberattacks, including, without limitation, nation-state actors for geopolitical reasons and in conjunction with military conflicts
and defense activities. During times of war and other major conflicts, we and the third parties upon which we rely may be vulnerable to
a heightened risk of these attacks, which could materially disrupt our systems and operations, supply chain, and ability to provide our
services. We may be subject to a variety of evolving threats, including but not limited to social-engineering attacks including through
deepfakes, which may be increasingly more difficult to identify as fake, and phishing attacks, malicious code such as viruses and worms,
malware including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions, denial-of-service attacks, credential stuffing, personnel misconduct
or error, supply-chain attacks, software bugs, server malfunctions, software or hardware failures, loss of data or other information technology
assets, adware, telecommunications failures, attacks enhanced or facilitated by AI, earthquakes, fires, floods and other similar threats.
Ransomware attacks, including those perpetrated by organized criminal threat actors, nation-states, and nation-state-supported actors,
are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe and can lead to significant interruptions in our operations or our ability to provide our
products or services, loss of data and income, reputational harm, and diversion of funds.
In addition, our reliance on third-party service
providers could introduce new cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, including supply-chain attacks, and other threats to our business
operations. We rely on third-party service providers and technologies to operate critical business systems to process confidential, proprietary,
and sensitive data in a variety of contexts, including, without limitation, cloud-based infrastructure, encryption and authentication
technology, employee email, content delivery to customers and other functions. We also rely on third-party service providers to provide
other products, services and parts, or otherwise to operate our business. Our ability to monitor these third parties information
security practices is limited, and these third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place. If our third-party
service providers experience a security incident or other interruption, we could experience adverse consequences. While we may be entitled
to damages if our third-party service providers fail to satisfy their privacy or security-related obligations to us, any award may be
insufficient to cover our damages, or we may be unable to recover such award.
If our information security measures are compromised,
our reputation could be damaged; our data, information or intellectual property, or that of our customers, may be destroyed, stolen, or
otherwise compromised; our business may be harmed; and we could incur significant liability. We take steps designed to detect and remediate
vulnerabilities in our information systems and those of third parties upon whom we rely, but we may not detect or remediate all such vulnerabilities
or do so in a timely manner. The threats and techniques used to exploit vulnerabilities change frequently, are often sophisticated in
nature and may be difficult to detect by security tools. Vulnerabilities could be exploited and result in a security incident. We have
limited budgetary and human resources for detecting and remediating vulnerabilities and have experienced difficulties in hiring and retaining
qualified security personnel. We may experience delays in developing and deploying remedial measures, including patches, designed to address
identified vulnerabilities, and our remedial measures may require action by our customers, such as installing patches or updates, which
may increase the amount of time a vulnerability remains unremediated. We have not always been able in the past and may be unable in the
future to anticipate or prevent threats or techniques used to detect or exploit vulnerabilities in our information systems or third-party
software, or obtain unauthorized access to or compromise our systems.
**Our legal right to lease certain properties could be challenged
by property owners or other third parties, which may cause interruptions to business operations of the affected college campuses and adversely
affect our financial results.**
****
We lease the premises used for our office and the
operation of our college campuses. As a result, we are dependent on the property rights of these properties held by their owners to enable
us to use the premises. We cannot assure that all lessors of our leased business premises have the relevant land use right certificates
or building ownership certificates of the premises they lease to us or otherwise have the right to lease the premises to us.
31
We were involved in two lawsuits concerning our
leased property. On July 15, 2024, Art Block Investors, LLC filed an unlawful detainer action against NewSchool in the San Diego Superior
Court, seeking possession of the premises and approximately $2.26 million in unpaid rent and common area maintenance fees. In June 2025,
we entered into a settlement agreement with the landlord, resulting in a gain of $1.5 million, which mainly represented the amount of
remaining lease liabilities deducting the payable amount agreed in settlement agreement, netting of right-of-use assets at the settlement
date. According to the settlement agreement, we are required to pay $1.0 million within three days after the signing of the agreement.
Starting from May 2025, we are required to make additional payments of $1.0 million in installments over the following two years. We may,
from time to time, become involved in legal proceedings similar to those in which we have been involved in the past. The ultimate resolution
of the proceedings may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Failure
to settle the proceedings or other unfavorable outcomes in these proceedings could result in significant damages, additional penalties
or other remedies imposed against the Company. Litigation of this kind could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our managements
attention and resources. It could also result in our reputation being harmed and our stock price could decline as a result of allegations
made in the course of the proceedings, regardless of the truthfulness of the allegations. See also Item
1- Business - *Legal Proceedings*.
In addition, we are not aware of any actions, claims
or investigations being contemplated by the relevant governmental entities with respect to the defects in our leased real properties,
or any actions or claims by third parties with respect to our leased real properties other than the lawsuits as described above in this
report. However, if we are unable to use the existing properties, enter new leases or renew our current leases on a timely basis and on
terms favorable to us, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. No impairment
loss was made against the operating lease right-of-use assets in 2024 and 2025.
**We may need to record a significant charge to earnings if our
goodwill or intangible assets arising from acquisitions become impaired, which would adversely affect our net income.**
****
In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we account for our
acquisitions using the acquisition method of accounting, and such acquisitions have resulted in significant goodwill and intangible assets.
These assets may become impaired in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations following such
acquisitions. We are required under U.S. GAAP to review our amortizable intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances
indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is required to be tested for impairment annually or more frequently if facts
and circumstances warrant a review. Factors that may be considered a change in circumstances indicating that the carrying value of our
amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable include a decline in stock price and market capitalization and slower or declining
growth rates in our industry. During 2025, we did not recognize any impairment loss. In the future, we may be required to record a significant
charge to earnings in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill or amortizable intangible assets
is determined, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
**Our grant of employee share options, restricted shares or other
share-based compensation and any future grants could have an adverse effect on our net income.**
****
We adopted an equity incentive plan in 2010, the
2010 Equity Incentive Plan, which was amended and restated in November 2018, the Amended and Restated 2010 Plan (the Amended 2010
Plan). We adopted a new equity incentive plan in 2024. We have granted options and restricted shares under these plans to our employees
and consultants. U.S. GAAP prescribes how we account for share-based compensation, which may have an adverse or negative impact on our
results of operations. U.S. GAAP requires us to recognize share-based compensation as a compensation expense in the statement of operations
based on the fair value of equity awards on the date of the grant, with the compensation expense recognized over the period in which the
recipient is required to provide service in exchange for the equity award. These statements also require us to adopt a fair value-based
method for measuring the compensation expense related to share-based compensation. During the year ended December 31, 2025, we recorded
share-based compensation expenses for the options amounted to $0.2 million. The expenses associated with share-based compensation may
reduce the attractiveness of issuing share options or restricted shares under our equity incentive plan. However, if we do not grant share
options or restricted shares or reduce the number of share options or restricted shares that we grant, we may not be able to attract and
retain key personnel. If we grant more share options or restricted shares to attract and retain key personnel, the expenses associated
with share-based compensation may adversely affect our results of operation.
32
**Changes to accounting standards, taxation rules or practices,
or greater than anticipated tax liabilities may adversely affect our reported results of operations or how we conduct our business.**
****
A change in accounting standards or taxation rules
or practices can have a significant effect on our reported results and may even affect our reporting of transactions completed before
the change is effective. New accounting standards or taxation rules, such as accounting for uncertainty in income taxes under ASC 740,
and various interpretations of accounting standards or taxation practices have been adopted and may be adopted in the future. These accounting
standard and tax regulation changes, future changes and the uncertainties surrounding current practices and implementation procedures
may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business. The determination of our provision for income
tax and other tax liabilities requires significant judgment, and in the ordinary course of our business, there are many transactions and
calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Although we believe 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. Moreover, we may lose the tax benefits we are currently receiving,
or we may be forced to disgorge prior tax benefits we have enjoyed and pay additional taxes and possibly penalties for prior tax years,
any of which would harm our results of operations.
**RISKS RELATED TO REGULATIONS OF OUR
U.S. BUSINESS**
****
**If we fail to comply with the extensive U.S. regulatory requirements
related to operating a U.S. higher education institution, we could face significant monetary liabilities, fines and penalties, including
loss of access to federal student loans and grants for our students.**
****
As a provider of higher education in the United
States, we are subject to extensive regulation on both the federal and state levels. These regulatory requirements cover virtually all
phases and aspects of our U.S. postsecondary operations, including educational program offerings, facilities, civil rights, safety, public
health, privacy, instructional and administrative staff, administrative procedures, marketing and recruiting, financial operations, payment
of refunds to students who withdraw, acquisitions or openings of new schools or programs, the addition of new educational programs, and
changes in our corporate structure and ownership. In particular, the Higher Education Act and related regulations subject our U.S. college
that participates in the various Title IV programs to significant regulatory scrutiny.
The Higher Education Act mandates specific regulatory
responsibilities for each of the following components of the higher education regulatory triad: (1) the federal government through the
Department of Education; (2) the accrediting agencies recognized by the Secretary of Education; and (3) state education regulatory bodies.
In addition, other federal agencies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission, and various state agencies
and state attorneys general enforce consumer protection laws applicable to post-secondary educational institutions.
The regulations, standards, and policies of these
regulatory agencies frequently change, and changes in, or new interpretations of, applicable laws, regulations, standards, or policies
could have a material adverse effect on our accreditation, authorization to operate in various states, permissible activities, receipt
of funds under Title IV programs, or costs of doing business.
Title IV requirements are enforced by the Department
of Education and, in some instances, by private plaintiffs. If we are found not to be in compliance with these laws, regulations, standards,
or policies, we could lose our access to Title IV program funds, which would have a material adverse effect on our U.S. college operations.
Findings of noncompliance also could result in our being required to pay monetary damages, or being subjected to fines, penalties, injunctions,
restrictions on our access to Title IV program funds, or other censure that could have a material adverse effect on our business.
**The ongoing regulatory effort aimed at for-profit post-secondary
institutions of higher education could lead to additional legislation or other governmental action that may negatively affect the industry.**
****
The proprietary post-secondary education sector
has at times experienced scrutiny from federal legislators, agencies, and state legislators and attorneys general. An adverse disposition
of these existing inquiries, administrative actions, or claims, or the initiation of other inquiries, administrative actions, or claims,
could, directly or indirectly, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, result of operations, and cash flows
and result in significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.
33
**If we fail to maintain our institutional accreditation or if
our institutional accrediting body loses recognition by the Department of Education, we will lose our ability to participate in Title
IV programs.**
****
The loss of institutional accreditation by our
U.S. college would render any of our U.S. college ineligible to participate in Title IV programs and would have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on
us and our ability to operate. In addition, an adverse action by our institutional accreditors other than loss of accreditation, such
as the issuance of a warning, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
**If we fail to obtain recertification by the Department of Education
when required, we will lose our ability to participate in Title IV programs.**
****
Each institution participating in Title IV programs
must enter into a Program Participation Agreement with the Department of Education. Under the agreement, the institution agrees to follow
the Department of Educations rules and regulations governing Title IV programs. An institution generally must seek recertification
from the Department of Education at least every six years and possibly more frequently depending on various factors, such as whether it
is provisionally certified. The Department of Education may also review an institutions continued eligibility and certification
to participate in Title IV programs, or scope of eligibility and certification, in the event the institution undergoes a change in ownership
resulting in a change of control or expands its activities in certain ways, such as the addition of certain types of new programs, or,
in certain cases, changes to the academic credentials that it offers. In certain circumstances, the Department of Education must provisionally
certify an institution. The Department of Education may withdraw our certification if it determines that we are not fulfilling material
requirements for continued participation in Title IV programs. If the Department of Education does not renew, or withdraws our certification
to participate in Title IV programs, our students will no longer be able to receive Title IV program funds. Alternatively, the Department
of Education could (1) renew the certifications for an institution, but restrict or delay receipt of Title IV funds, limit the number
of students to whom an institution could disburse such funds, or place other restrictions on that institution, or (2) delay recertification
after an institutions PPA expires, in which case the institutions certification would continue on a month-to-month basis,
any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
On May 31, 2025, the Department of Education and
NewSchool executed a Program Participation Agreement, approving NewSchools continued participation in Title IV programs with full
certification through March 31, 2027.
**Student loan defaults could result in the loss of eligibility
to participate in Title IV programs.**
****
In general, under the Higher Education Act, an
educational institution may lose its eligibility to participate in some or all Title IV programs if, for three consecutive federal fiscal
years, 30% or more of its students who were required to begin repaying their student loans in the relevant federal fiscal year default
on their payment by the end of the second federal fiscal year following that fiscal year. Institutions with a cohort default rate equal
to or greater than 15% for any of the three most recent fiscal years for which data are available are subject to a 30-day delayed disbursement
period for first-year, first-time borrowers.
If we lose eligibility to participate in Title
IV programs because of high student loan default rates, it will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results
of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.
**Our U.S. college could lose its eligibility to participate in
federal student financial aid programs or be provisionally certified with respect to such participation if the percentage of our revenues
derived from those programs were too high.**
A proprietary institution may lose its eligibility
to participate in the federal Title IV student financial aid program if it derives more than 90% of its revenues, on a cash basis, from
Title IV programs for two consecutive fiscal years. A proprietary institution of higher education that violates the 90/10 Rule for any
fiscal year will be placed on provisional status for up to two fiscal years. Using the formula specified in the Higher Education Act,
NewSchool derived approximately 69.68% of its cash-basis revenues from these programs in the year 2024. Percentages of NewSchool for the
year 2024 are in the process of audits as of the date of this report, which we estimate will be in compliance with the 90/10 Rule. If
NewSchool loses eligibility to participate in Title IV programs because it is unable to comply with the 90/10 Rule, it could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant
restrictions on us and our ability to operate.
34
**Our failure to demonstrate financial responsibility or administrative
capability may result in the loss of eligibility to participate in Title IV programs.**
****
All U.S. colleges are subject to meeting financial
and administrative standards. These standards are assessed through annual compliance audits, periodic renewal of institutional PPAs, periodic
program reviews and ad hoc events, which may lead the Department of Education to evaluate an institutions financial responsibility
or administrative capability. The administrative capability criteria require, among other things, that our institution (1) has an adequate
number of qualified personnel to administer Title IV programs, (2) has adequate procedures for disbursing and safeguarding Title IV funds
and for maintaining records, (3) submits all required reports and consolidated financial statements in a timely manner, and (4) does not
have significant problems that affect the institutions ability to administer Title IV programs.
A financial responsibility test is required for
continued participation by an institutions students in U.S. federal financial assistance programs. The test is based upon a composite
score of three ratios: an equity ratio that measures the institutions capital resources; a primary reserve ratio that measures
an institutions ability to fund its operations from current resources; and a net income ratio that measures an institutions
ability to operate profitably. A minimum score of 1.5 is necessary to meet the financial standards. Institutions with scores of less than
1.5 but greater than or equal to 1.0 are considered financially responsible, but require additional oversight. These schools are subject
to heightened cash monitoring and other participation requirements. An institution with a score of less than 1.0 is considered not financially
responsible. However, a school with a score of less than 1.0 may continue to participate in the Title IV programs under provisional certification.
In addition, this lower score typically requires that the school be subject to heightened cash monitoring requirements and post a letter
of credit (equal to a minimum of 10% of the Title IV aid it received in the institutions most recent fiscal year). For the fiscal
year of 2024, the composited score of NewSchool was 2.3. The audits to calculate the composited scores of NewSchool for the fiscal year
of 2024 are in process as of the date of this report. We estimate NewSchool will meet the required minimum of 1.5.
If the Department of Education determines, in its
judgment, that NewSchool has failed to demonstrate either financial responsibility or administrative capability, we could be subject to
sanctions, including, among other things, a requirement to post a letter of credit, fines, suspension or termination of our eligibility
to participate in Title IV programs or repayment of funds received under Title IV programs, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions
on us and our ability to operate. The Department of Education has considerable discretion under the regulations to impose the foregoing
sanctions and, in some cases, such sanctions could be imposed without advance notice or any prior right of review or appeal.
**Our failure to comply with the Borrower Defense to Repayment
Regulations could result in sanctions and other liability.**
****
Under the Higher Education Act, The Department
of Education is authorized to specify in regulations, which acts or omissions of an institution of higher education a borrower may assert
as a defense to repayment of a Direct Loan made under the Direct Loan Program. On July 1, 2020, new Defense to Repayment regulations went
into effect that include a higher threshold for establishing misrepresentation, provides for a statute of limitation for claims submission,
narrows the current triggers allowed for letter of credit requirements, and eliminates provisions for group discharges. The new regulations
are effective with claims on loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2020.
Management is unable to predict how regulations
will be revised, the result of any other current or future rulemaking, or the impact of such rulemaking on our business. The outcome of
any legal proceeding instituted by a private party or governmental authority, facts asserted in pending or future lawsuits, and/or the
outcome of any future governmental inquiry, lawsuit, or enforcement action could serve as the basis for claims by students or The Department
of Education under the Defense to Repayment regulations, the posting of substantial letters of credit, or the termination of eligibility
of our institutions to participate in the Title IV program based on The Department of Educations institutional capability assessment,
any of which could, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and cash flows.
35
**Our business operations could be harmed
if we experience a disruption in our ability to process student loans under the Federal Direct Loan Program.**
Any processing disruptions by the Department of
Education may affect our students abilities to obtain student loans on a timely basis. If we experience a disruption in our ability
to process student loans through the Federal Direct Loan Program, either because of administrative challenges on our part or the inability
of the Department of Education to process the volume of direct loans on a timely basis, our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and cash flows related to our U.S. college could be adversely and materially affected.
**Our business operations could be harmed if Congress makes changes
to the availability of Title IV funds.**
****
We collected approximately 40.6% of the consolidated net revenues in
our revenue from receipt by NewSchool of Title IV financial aid program funds in the year of 2025, principally from federal student loans
under the Federal Direct Loan Program. Changes in the availability of these funds or a reduction in the amount of funds disbursed may
have a material adverse effect on our enrollment, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows. Action by the U.S. Congress
to revise the laws governing the federal student financial aid programs or reduce funding for those programs could reduce our student
enrollment and/or increase costs of operation. Political and budgetary concerns significantly affect Title IV programs. Any action by
the U.S. Congress that significantly reduces Title IV program funding or the ability of our U.S. college or students to participate in
Title IV programs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
**RISKS RELATED TO OWNERSHIP OF OUR ADSS**
**We cannot assure you that the ADSs will not be delisted from
the NYSE American, which could negatively impact the price of the ADSs and our ability to access the capital markets.**
****
Our ADSs are currently listed on the NYSE American.
We cannot give you any assurance that a broader or more active public trading market for the ADSs will develop on the NYSE American or
be sustained, or that current trading levels in ADSs will be sustained. In addition, if we fail to meet the criteria set forth in SEC
regulations, by law, various requirements would be imposed on broker-dealers who sell our securities to persons other than established
customers and accredited investors. Consequently, such regulations may deter broker-dealers from recommending or selling the ADSs, which
may further affect the liquidity of the ADSs.
We are subject to the continued listing standards
of the NYSE American and our failure to satisfy these criteria may result in the delisting of our ADSs. In order to maintain this listing,
we must maintain a certain share price and financial and share distribution targets, including maintaining a minimum amount of shareholders
equity and a minimum number of public shareholders. In addition to these objective standards, the NYSE American may delist the securities
of any issuer (i) if, in its opinion, the issuers financial condition and/or operating results appear unsatisfactory; (ii) if it
appears that the extent of public distribution or the aggregate market value of the security has become so reduced as to make continued
listing on the NYSE American inadvisable; (iii) if the issuer sells or disposes of principal operating assets or ceases to be an operating
company; (iv) if an issuer fails to comply with the NYSE Americans listing requirements; (v) if an issuers securities sell
at what the NYSE American considers a low selling price which the exchange generally considers $0.20 per share and the issuer
fails to correct this via a reverse split of shares after notification by the NYSE American; or (vi) if any other event occurs or any
condition exists which makes continued listing on the NYSE American, in its opinion, inadvisable.
We previously received notification from the NYSE
American citing that the ADSs had been selling for a low price per share for a substantial period of time and we were not in compliance
with the continued listing standards as set forth in Section 1003(f)(v) of the NYSE American Company Guide (Company Guide).
Although in the past we have been able to cure previously cited deficiencies, there can be no assurance that we will continue to meet
the NYSE American continued listing requirements. In accordance with Section 1009(h) of the Company Guide, if we are again determined
to be below any of the continued listing standards in the future, the NYSE American will take the appropriate action, which, depending
on the circumstances, may include initiating its compliance procedures or initiating delisting proceedings.
36
Additionally, there are no assurances on how the
market price of our ADSs will be impacted in future periods as a result of the general uncertainties in the capital markets. If the ADSs
are delisted, it could reduce the price of the ADSs and the levels of liquidity available to our shareholders. In addition, the delisting
of the ADSs could materially and adversely affect our access to the capital markets and any limitation on liquidity or reduction in the
price of the ADSs could materially and adversely affect our ability to raise capital. Delisting from the NYSE American could also result
in other negative consequences, including the potential loss of confidence by suppliers, customers and employees, the loss of institutional
investor interest and fewer business development opportunities.
**The market price of our ordinary shares and the ADSs could be
subject to volatility.**
****
The market price of our ordinary shares and the
ADSs is likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to factors such as:
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announcements of new products or services by us or our competitors; | |
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technological breakthroughs by us or our competitors; | |
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news regarding gains or losses of customers or partners by us or our competitors; | |
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news regarding gains or losses of key personnel by us or our competitors; | |
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announcements of competitive developments, acquisitions or strategic alliances in our industry by us or our competitors; | |
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changes in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by financial analysts; | |
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potential litigation; | |
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general market conditions or other developments affecting us or our industry; and | |
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the operating and stock price performance of other companies, other industries and other events or factors beyond our control. | |
In addition, the securities
markets have, from time to time, experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are not related to the operating performance
of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of the ordinary shares and
the ADSs.
**Insiders have substantial control over us, which could adversely
affect the market price of our ADSs.**
****
Under our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association, our ordinary shares are divided into Class A Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares. Holders of Class
A Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote per share, while holders of Class C Ordinary Shares are entitled to ten votes per share. Shareholdings
of our executive officers and directors, and their respective affiliates, give them the power to control any actions that require shareholder
approval under Cayman Islands law, our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, including the election and removal
of any member of our Board of Directors, mergers, consolidations and other business combinations, changes to our Sixth Amended and Restated
Memorandum and Articles of Association, the number of shares available for issuance under share incentive plans and the issuance of significant
amounts of our ordinary shares in private placements. Our executive officers and directors and their respective affiliates have sufficient
voting rights to determine the outcome of all matters requiring shareholder approval.
37
As a result of our executive officers and directors
and their respective affiliates ownership of a majority of our ordinary shares, their voting power may cause transactions to occur
that might not be beneficial to you as a holder of ADSs and may prevent transactions that would be beneficial to you. For example, their
voting power may prevent a transaction involving a change of control of us, including transactions in which holders of our ADSs might
otherwise receive a premium for held securities over the then-current market price. Similarly, our executive officers and directors and
their respective affiliates may approve a merger or consolidation of our Company, which may result in you receiving a stake (either in
the form of shares, debt obligations or other securities) in the surviving or new consolidated company which may not operate our current
business model and dissenters rights may not be available to you in such an event. This concentration of ownership could also adversely
affect the market price of our ADSs or lessen any premium over the market price that an acquirer might otherwise pay.
**We may need additional capital, and the sale of additional ADSs
or other equity securities would result in additional dilution to our shareholders.**
****
We believe that our current cash and cash equivalents
and anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for more than the next 12 months. We may,
however, require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions or other future developments. If our resources are insufficient
to satisfy our cash requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain a credit facility. To consummate
these transactions, we may issue additional shares in these acquisitions that will dilute our shareholders. The sale of additional equity
securities could result in additional dilution to our shareholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service
obligations and could result in operating and financing covenants that would restrict our operations or our ability to pay dividends.
Our ability to raise additional funds in the future is subject to a variety of uncertainties, including:
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General market conditions for capital raising activities; and | |
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Economic, political and other conditions in China and elsewhere. | |
We cannot assure you that if we need additional
cash financing it will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
**Anti-takeover provisions in our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control.**
****
Some provisions of our Sixth Amended and Restated
Memorandum and Articles of Association may discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our Company or management that shareholders
may consider favorable, including, among other things, the following:
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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 | |
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Provisions that restrict the ability of our shareholders to call meetings and to propose special matters for consideration at shareholder meetings. | |
****
**You may be subject to limitations on the 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 or the depositary deem 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.
**Our ADSs or Ordinary Shares may be delisted under the Holding
Foreign Companies Accountable Act (HFCA Act) if the PCAOB is unable to adequately inspect audit documentation located in
China. The delisting of our ADSs or Ordinary Shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value
of your investment. Additionally, the inability of the PCAOB to conduct adequate inspections deprives our investors from the benefits
of such inspections. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act,
which was enacted on December 29, 2022 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, amends the HFCA Act and requires the SEC to prohibit
an issuers securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive
years instead of three.**
The Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act,
or the HFCA Act, was enacted on December 18, 2020. The HFCA Act states if the SEC determines that a company has filed audit reports issued
by a registered public accounting firm that has not been subject to inspection by the PCAOB for three consecutive years beginning in 2021,
the SEC shall prohibit such ordinary shares from being traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market
in the U.S.
****
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On March 24, 2021, the SEC adopted interim final
rules relating to the implementation of certain disclosure and documentation requirements of the HFCA Act. A company will be required
to comply with these rules if the SEC identifies it as having a non-inspection year under a process to be subsequently established
by the SEC. The SEC is assessing how to implement other requirements of the HFCA Act, including the listing and trading prohibition requirements
described above. Furthermore, on June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which
was enacted on December 29, 2022 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, amends the HFCA Act and requires the SEC to prohibit
an issuers securities from trading on any U.S. stock exchanges if its auditor is not subject to PCAOB inspections for two consecutive
years instead of three. On September 22, 2021, the PCAOB adopted a final rule implementing the HFCA Act, which provides a framework for
the PCAOB to use when determining, as contemplated under the HFCA Act, whether the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely
registered public accounting firms located in a foreign jurisdiction because of a position taken by one or more authorities in that jurisdiction.
On December 2, 2021, the SEC issued amendments to finalize the interim final rules previously adopted in March 2021 to implement the submission
and disclosure requirements in the HFCA Act. The rules apply to registrants that the SEC identifies as having filed an annual report with
an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that is located in a foreign jurisdiction and that the PCAOB is unable to
inspect or investigate completely because of a position taken by an authority in a foreign jurisdiction.
On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a Determination
Report which found that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in:
(1) mainland China of the Peoples Republic of China, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in mainland China;
and (2) Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region and dependency of the PRC, because of a position taken by one or more authorities in
Hong Kong. The PCAOB has made such designations as mandated under the HFCA Act. Pursuant to each annual determination by the PCAOB, the
SEC will, on an annual basis, identify issuers that have used non-inspected audit firms and thus are at risk of such suspensions in the
future. On August 26, 2022, the PCAOB signed the Protocol with the CSRC and the MOF of the Peoples Republic of China, governing
inspections and investigations of audit firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Protocol remains unpublished and is subject to
further explanation and implementation. Pursuant to the fact sheet with respect to the Protocol disclosed by the SEC, the PCAOB shall
have independent discretion to select any issuer audits for inspection or investigation and the unfettered ability to transfer information
to the SEC.
On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB announced that
it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China
and Hong Kong completely in 2022. The PCAOB Board vacated its previous 2021 determinations that the PCAOB was unable to inspect or investigate
completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in China mainland and Hong Kong. However, whether the PCAOB will continue
to be able to satisfactorily conduct inspections of PCAOB-registered public accounting firms headquartered in China mainland and Hong
Kong is subject to uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditors, control. The PCAOB is continuing
to demand complete access in China mainland and Hong Kong moving forward and is already making plans to resume regular inspections in
early 2023 and beyond, as well as to continue pursuing ongoing investigations and initiate new investigations as needed. The PCAOB has
indicated that it will act immediately to consider the need to issue new determinations with the HFCAA if needed. Therefore, the PCAOB
may in the future determine that it is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms in mainland China
and Hong Kong.
Our auditor, Guangdong Prouden CPAs GP, the independent
registered public accounting firm that issued the audit report included elsewhere in the annual report, an auditor of companies that are
traded publicly in the United States, is headquartered in Guangzhou, China and is subject to inspection by the PCAOB to assess its compliance
with the applicable professional standards. As a result, we do not expect to be identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer
under the HFCAA for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 after we file our annual report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year.
39
**GENERAL RISK FACTORS**
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**We may have acquisitions in the future, which involve risks and
uncertainties, and if we dont manage those risks well, it may harm our business.**
****
In the future, we may establish and maintain joint
ventures and strategic relationships with third parties. Strategic acquisitions, investments and relationships with third parties involve
substantial risks and uncertainties, including:
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Our ability to identify and acquire targets in a cost-effective manner; | |
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Our ability to obtain approval from relevant governmental authorities for the acquisitions and comply with applicable rules and regulations for such acquisitions; | |
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Potential ongoing financial obligations in connection with acquisitions; | |
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Potential unforeseen or hidden liabilities, including litigation claims or tax liabilities, associated with acquired companies or schools; | |
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The diversion of resources and management attention from our existing businesses; | |
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Failure to achieve the intended objectives, benefits or revenue-enhancing opportunities expected from the acquisitions; | |
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Our ability to generate sufficient revenues to offset the costs and expenses of strategic acquisitions, investments, joint venture formations, or other strategic relationships; and | |
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Potential loss of, or harm to, employee or customer relationships as a result of ownership changes. | |
In particular, while we typically would perform
due diligence on each entity that we acquire before acquisition, some of the acquired entities may not maintain their historical documents
and records properly and such documents and records may be unavailable for our review. As such, there may be hidden liabilities and risks
relating to the business and operation of such entities that we fail to identify before the acquisition. If we acquire such an entity
and any such hidden liability is found or any such risk materializes in the future, we may not have any remedy against the sellers and
may have to assume the liabilities and losses as a result.
If any one or more of these risks or uncertainties
were to occur or if any of the strategic objectives contemplated is not achieved, our ability to manage our business could be impaired.
It could result in our failure to derive the intended benefits of these strategic acquisitions, investments, joint ventures or strategic
relationships, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition,
if we fail to successfully pursue our future acquisition strategy, our plans for further market penetration, revenue growth and improved
results of operations could be harmed.
**If we fail to successfully develop and introduce new services
and products in time, our competitive position and ability to generate revenues could be harmed.**
****
Our future success depends partly on our ability
to develop new services and products. The planned timing or introduction of new services and products is subject to risks and uncertainties.
Actual timing may differ materially from original plans. Unexpected technical, operational or other problems could delay or prevent the
introduction of one or more of our new services or products. Moreover, we cannot assure you that any of our new services and products
will achieve widespread market acceptance or generate incremental revenue. If our efforts to develop, market and sell new services and
products to the market are not successful, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely
affected.
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**We rely heavily on our information systems,
and if we fail to further develop our technologies, or if our systems, software, applications, database or source code contain bugs
or other undetected errors, our operations may be seriously disrupted.**
****
The successful development and maintenance of our
systems, software, applications and database, such as our HybriU Education, HybriU Conference, and our school management software and
system, learning engine and student database, is critical to the attractiveness of our online and offline programs and the management
of our business operations. In order to achieve our strategic objectives and to remain competitive, we must continue to develop and enhance
our technology. This may require us to acquire additional equipment and software and to develop new applications. In addition, our technology
platform upon which our management systems and online programs operate, and our other databases, products, systems and source codes could
contain undetected errors or bugs that could adversely affect their performance.
To date, our information systems have not encountered
material errors or technical issues that have adversely affected or disrupted our operations**.** If we encounter errors or
other service quality or reliability issues, or if we are unable to design, develop, implement and utilize information systems and the
data derived from these systems, our ability to realize our strategic objectives and our profitability could be adversely affected, and
this may cause us to lose market share, harm our reputation and brand names, and materially adversely affect our business and results
of operations.
**If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal
controls, we may be unable to accurately report our results of operations or prevent fraud, and investor confidence may be materially
and adversely affected.**
****
As a public company in the United States, we are
subject to the reporting obligations under the U.S. securities laws. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as required
under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, has adopted rules requiring every public company to include a report of management
on the effectiveness of such companys internal control over financial reporting in its annual report. As a non-accelerated filer,
we are not required to have an independent registered public accounting firm issue an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal
control over financial reporting. However, we are still required to include a report of management on the effectiveness of our Companys
internal control over financial reporting in our annual report. Our management has performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our
internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 and concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was
effective as of December 31, 2025. See Item 9A. Control and Procedures.
Nevertheless, we cannot assure you that we will
maintain effective internal control over financial reporting on an ongoing basis. If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over
financial reporting in the future, our management may not be able to conclude that we have effective internal control over financial reporting
at a reasonable assurance level. Any failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in the loss
of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn could have a material and adverse effect on the trading
price of our ADSs. Furthermore, we have incurred and anticipate that we will continue to incur considerable costs, management time and
other resources in an effort to comply with Section 404 and other requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
**We are dependent on the renewal and maintenance of Title IV programs.**
****
The Higher Education Act, which is the law authorizing
Title IV programs, is subject to periodic reauthorization. Congress completed the most recent reauthorization through multiple pieces
of legislation and may reauthorize the HEA in a piecemeal manner in the future. Additionally, Congress determines the funding level for
each Title IV program on an annual basis. Any action by Congress that significantly reduces funding for Title IV programs or the ability
of our school or students to participate in these programs could materially harm our business. A reduction in government funding levels
could lead to lower enrollments at our school and require us to arrange for alternative sources of financial aid for our students. Lower
student enrollments or our inability to arrange such alternative sources of funding could adversely affect our business.
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**We are subject to compliance reviews, which, if they result in
a material finding of noncompliance, could affect our ability to participate in Title IV programs.**
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Because we operate in a highly regulated industry,
we are subject to compliance reviews and claims of noncompliance and related lawsuits by government agencies, accrediting agencies, and
third parties, including claims brought by third parties on behalf of the federal government. For example, the Department of Education
regularly conducts program reviews of educational institutions that are participating in Title IV programs, and the Office of Inspector
General of the Department of Education regularly conducts audits and investigations of such institutions. The Department of Education
could limit, suspend, or terminate our participation in Title IV programs or impose other penalties such as requiring us to make refunds,
pay liabilities, or pay an administrative fine upon a material finding of noncompliance.
**If we fail to maintain any of our state
authorizations, we would lose our ability to operate in that state and to participate in Title IV programs in that state.**
****
Our U.S. college must be authorized to operate
by the appropriate postsecondary regulatory authority in each state in which the institution is located. Campuses of our U.S. college
are authorized to operate and grant degrees, diplomas, or certificates by the applicable education agency of the state in which each such
campus is located. Such state authorization is required for students at the campus to participate in Title IV programs. The loss of state
authorization would, among other things, render the affected institution ineligible to participate in Title IV programs, at least at those
state campus locations, and otherwise limit that schools ability to operate in that state. Loss of authorization in one or more
states could increase the likelihood of additional scrutiny and potential loss of operating and/or degree-granting authority in other
states in which we operate, which would further impact our business. If these pressures and uncertainty continue in the future, or if
one or more of our institutions are unable to offer programs in one or more states, it could have a material adverse impact on our enrollment,
revenue, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.
**Our failure to comply with the Department of Educations
incentive compensation rules could result in sanctions and other liability.**
****
If we pay a bonus, commission,
or other incentive payment in violation of applicable Department of Education rules or if the Department of Education or other third parties
interpret our compensation practices as such, we could be subject to sanctions or other liability, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business.
**Our failure to comply with the Department of Educations
misrepresentation rules could result in sanctions and other liability.**
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The Higher Education Act prohibits an institution
that participates in Title IV programs, its employees and agents from engaging in substantial misrepresentation of the nature
of its educational programs, its financial charges, or the employability of its graduates. These regulations may, among other things,
subject us to sanctions for statements containing errors made to non-students, including any member of the public, impose liability on
us for the conduct of others and expose us to liability even when no actual harm occurs. A substantial misrepresentation
is any misrepresentation on which the person to whom it was made could reasonably be expected to rely, or has reasonably relied, to that
persons detriment. We may face complaints from students and prospective students over statements made by us and our agents in advertising
and marketing, during the enrollment, admissions and financial aid process, and throughout attendance at our U.S. college, which would
expose us to increased risk of enforcement action and applicable sanctions or other penalties.
In the event of substantial misrepresentation,
the Department of Education may revoke an institutions program participation agreement, limit the institutions participation
in Title IV programs, deny applications from the institution, such as to add new programs or locations, initiate proceedings to fine the
institution or limit, suspend, or terminate its eligibility to participate in Title IV programs, a requirement to post a substantial letter
of credit. If the Department of Education or other third parties interpret statements made by us or on our behalf to be in violation of
the new regulations, any of the foregoing actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.
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**Our failure to comply with the Department of Educations
credit hour rule could result in sanctions and other liability.**
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Effective July 1, 2011, Title IV regulations define
the term credit hour and require accrediting agencies and state authorization agencies to review the reliability and accuracy
of an institutions credit hour assignments. If an accreditor does not comply with this requirement, its recognition by the Department
of Education could be jeopardized. If an accreditor identifies systematic or significant noncompliance in one or more of an institutions
programs, the accreditor must notify the Secretary of Education. If the Department of Education determines that an institution is out
of compliance with the credit hour definition, the Department of Education could impose liabilities or other sanctions, which could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions, results of operations, and cash flows and result in the imposition of
significant restrictions on us and our ability to operate.
**We are subject to sanctions if we fail to calculate accurately
and make timely payment of refunds of Title IV program funds for students who withdraw before completing their educational programs.**
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The Higher Education Act and Department of Education
regulations require us to calculate refunds of unearned Title IV program funds disbursed to students who withdraw from their educational
programs before completing it. If refunds are not properly calculated or timely paid, we may be required to post a letter of credit with
the Department of Education or be subject to sanctions or other adverse actions by the Department of Education, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.
**Investigations, legislative and regulatory developments, and
general credit market conditions related to the student loan industry may result in fewer lenders and loan products and increased regulatory
burdens and costs.**
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The Higher Education Act regulates relationships
between lenders to students and post-secondary education institutions. In 2009, the Department of Education promulgated regulations that
address these relationships, and state legislators have also passed or may be considering legislation related to relationships between
lenders and institutions. In addition, new procedures introduced, and recommendations made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
create uncertainty about whether Congress will impose new burdens on private student lenders. These developments, as well as legislative
and regulatory changes, such as those relating to gainful employment and repayment rates, creating uncertainty in the industry and general
credit market conditions, may cause some lenders to decide not to provide certain loan products and may impose increased administrative
and regulatory costs. Such actions could reduce demand for, and/or availability of private education loans, decrease U.S. colleges
non-Title IV revenue, and thereby increase their 90/10 ratio, and have a material adverse effect on our business.
**Enforcement of laws related to the accessibility
of technology continues to evolve, which could result in increased information technology development costs and compliance risks.**
****
Our U.S. colleges online education programs
are made available to students through personal computers and other technological devices. For each of these programs, the curriculum
makes use of a combination of graphics, pictures, videos, animations, sounds, and interactive content. Federal agencies, including the
Department of Education and the Department of Justice, have considered or are considering how electronic and information technology should
be made accessible to persons with disabilities. For example, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or Section 504, prohibits
discrimination against a person with a disability by any organization that receives federal financial assistance. The Americans with Disabilities
Act, or the ADA, prohibits discrimination based on disability in several areas, including public accommodations. In 2010, the Department
of Educations Office for Civil Rights, which enforces Section 504, together with the Department of Justice, asserted that requiring
the use of technology in a classroom environment when such technology is inaccessible to individuals with disabilities violates Section
504, unless those individuals are provided accommodations or modifications that permit them to receive all the educational benefits provided
by the technology in an equally effective and integrated manner. If our U.S. college is found to have violated Section 504, it may be
required to modify existing content and functionality of its online classroom or other uses of technology, including through the adoption
of specific technical standards. As a result of such enforcement action, or as a result of new laws and regulations that require greater
accessibility, our U.S. college may have to modify its online classrooms and other uses of technology to satisfy applicable requirements,
which could require substantial financial investment. As with all nondiscrimination laws that apply to recipients of federal financial
assistance, an institution may lose access to federal financial assistance if it does not comply with Section 504 requirements. In addition,
private parties may file or threaten to file lawsuits alleging failure to comply with laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of
disability, such as the ADA, and defending against such actions may require our U.S. college to incur costs to modify its online classrooms
and other uses of technology and costs of litigation.
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**We may not be able to pay any dividends on our Class A ordinary
shares and, correspondingly, the ADSs.**
****
Since our inception, we have not declared or paid
any dividends on our shares. We intend to retain any earnings for use in our business and do not currently intend to pay cash dividends
on our ordinary shares. Dividends, if any, on our outstanding ordinary shares will be declared by and subject to the discretion of our
Board of Directors, and subject to Cayman Islands law. We can give no assurance that we will declare dividends of any amounts, at any
rate or at all in the future. The declaration of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will
depend upon our future operations and earnings, capital requirements, general financial conditions, legal and contractual restrictions
and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
**We may be classified as a passive foreign investment company,
which could result in adverse U.S. federal income tax consequence to U.S. holders of our ADSs or ordinary shares.**
****
We believe we were not a passive foreign
investment company, or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our taxable year ended December 31, 2025. However, a separate
determination must be made each year as to whether we are a PFIC (after the close of each taxable year) and we cannot make assurances
that we will not be a PFIC for the year ending December 31, 2026 or any future taxable year. A foreign (non-U.S.) corporation will be
considered a PFIC for any taxable year if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income is passive income, or (2) at least 50% of the value
of its assets (generally based on an average of the quarterly values of the assets during a taxable year) is attributable to assets that
produce or are held for the production of passive income. PFIC status depends on the composition of our assets and income and the value
of our assets (including, among others, a pro-rata portion of the income and assets of each subsidiary in which we own, directly or indirectly,
at least 25% (by value) of the equity interest) from time to time. Because we currently hold, and expect to continue to hold, a substantial
amount of cash or cash equivalents, which are generally treated as passive assets, and, because the calculation of the value of our assets
may be based in part on the value of our ADSs, which is likely to fluctuate, we may be a PFIC for any taxable year. If we were treated
as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder held an ADS or an ordinary share, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences
could apply to such U.S. Holder.
**The laws of the Cayman Islands may not provide our shareholders
with benefits comparable to those provided to shareholders of corporations incorporated in the United States.**
****
Our corporate affairs are governed by our Sixth
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, by the Companies Law (as amended) of the Cayman Islands and by the common
law of the Cayman Islands. The rights of shareholders to take action against our directors, actions by minority shareholders and the fiduciary
responsibilities 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 in the Cayman Islands is derived in part from comparatively limited judicial precedent in the Cayman Islands and from English
common law. Decisions of the Privy Council (which is the final Court of Appeal for British Overseas Territories such as the Cayman Islands)
are binding on a court in the Cayman Islands. Decisions of the English courts, and particularly the House of Lords and the Court of Appeal
are generally of persuasive authority but are not binding in the courts of the Cayman Islands. The rights of our shareholders and the
fiduciary responsibilities of our directors under Cayman Islands law are not as clearly established as they would be under statutes or
judicial precedents in the United States. In particular, the Cayman Islands have a less developed body of securities laws relative to
the United States. Therefore, our public shareholders may have more difficulty protecting their interests in the face of actions by our
management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United
States. In addition, shareholders of Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to initiate a shareholder derivative action before
the federal courts of the United States. The Cayman Island courts are also unlikely to impose liability against us in original actions
brought in the Cayman Islands, based on certain civil liabilities provisions of U.S. securities laws. See Item 5Market for
Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity SecuritiesMemorandum and Articles
of Association.
44
**
**The voting rights of holders of ADSs are limited by the terms
of the deposit agreement, and you may not be able to exercise your right to vote the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs.**
****
Holders of our ADSs will only be able to exercise
their 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 voting instructions, the depositary
will vote the underlying ordinary shares in accordance with these instructions. You will not be able to directly exercise your right to
vote with respect to the underlying ordinary shares unless you withdraw the shares. Under our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and
Articles of Association, the minimum notice period required for convening a shareholder meeting is 10 days. When a shareholder meeting
is convened, you may not receive sufficient advance notice to withdraw the ordinary shares underlying your ADSs to allow you to vote with
respect to any specific matter. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and will arrange
to deliver our voting materials to you. We cannot assure you that you will receive the voting materials in time to ensure that you can
instruct the depositary to vote your shares. In addition, the depositary and its agents are not responsible for failing to carry out voting
instructions or for their manner of carrying out your voting instructions. This means that you may not be able to exercise your right
to vote and you may have no legal remedy if the shares underlying your ADSs are not voted as you requested.
**Holders of our ADSs may not be able to participate in rights
offerings and may experience dilution of your holdings as a result.**
****
We may, from time to time, distribute rights to
our shareholders, including rights to acquire our securities. Under the deposit agreement for the ADSs, the depositary will not offer
those rights to ADS holders 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 with respect to all holders of ADSs. We are under no obligation
to file a registration statement with respect to any such rights or underlying securities or to endeavor to cause such a registration
statement to be declared effective. In addition, we may not be able to take advantage of any exemptions from registration under the Securities
Act. Accordingly, holders of our ADSs may be unable to participate in rights offerings we make and may experience dilution in their holdings
as a result.
**Holders of our ADSs may not receive distributions
on our ordinary shares or any value for them if such distribution is illegal or if any required government approval cannot be obtained
in order to make such distribution available to you.**
****
The depositary of our ADSs has agreed to pay to
you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on ordinary shares or other deposited securities underlying
our ADSs, 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 is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available
to any holders of ADSs. For example, it would be unlawful to make a distribution to a holder of ADSs if it consists of securities that
require registration under the Securities Act but that are not properly registered or distributed under an applicable exemption from registration.
The depositary may also determine that it is not feasible to distribute certain property through the mail. Additionally, the value of
certain distributions may be less than the cost of mailing them. In these cases, the depositary may determine not to distribute such property.
We have no obligation to register under U.S. securities laws any ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or other securities received through such
distributions. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADSs, ordinary shares, rights or anything
else to holders of ADSs. This means that you may not receive distributions we make on our ordinary shares or any value for them if it
is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you. These restrictions may cause a material decline in the value of our ADSs.
45
**ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.**
Not applicable.
**ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY.**
**Risk Management and Strategy**
We have developed and put into place an information
security program that is customized to fit our specific operations, infrastructure, products, and services, as well as the level of sensitivity
of our data. This program involves processes that are specifically created to recognize, evaluate, and handle significant risks stemming
from cybersecurity threats.
We haveimplementedcybersecurity risk
management processes that include, for example, vulnerability assessments, application security assessments, penetration testing,third
partysecurity assessments, security audits, and ongoing risk assessments. In addition, we have implemented technical, physical,
and organizational safeguards designed to mitigate material risks from cybersecurity threats, including, for example, depending on the
environment or system: information security policies and standards, data protection policies and standards, security training and awareness
campaigns, information protection processes, and systems monitoring for cybersecurity threats. We have also implemented an Incident Response
Plan and procedures that provide a framework for responding to cybersecurity incidents.
As of the date of this annual report, we have not
experienced any material cybersecurity incidents or identified any material cybersecurity threats that have affected or are reasonably
likely to materially affect us, our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition.
****
**Governance**
OurBoard of Directorsoversees the cybersecurity
risks and be informed on risks from cybersecurity threats and receives reports from members of the cybersecurity management team during
board meetings regarding the management of cybersecurity risks and any existing issues.
Our cybersecurity management team is informed about
and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation and remediation of key cybersecurity risks and incidents through a variety of ways.
These ways may include providing periodic briefings on the current state of our defenses, potential threats, and counteractive measures,
discussing the impact of cybersecurity trends on our strategic outlook and risk landscape, evaluating our cybersecurity strategy to ensure
it is ahead of emerging threats, working with independent cybersecurity experts, and objectively complementing and evaluating our internal
cybersecurity posture. We have the necessary skills and extensive external resources to mitigate, detect, respond to, and recover from
cybersecurity risks and incidents.
**ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.**
In May 2025, we entered into a lease for approximately
12,500 square feet of office space in San Diego, commencing on May 1, 2025. The lease expires on April 30, 2028. The premises are used
for office and campus operations. The lessee has no remaining renewal options or other rights to extend the lease term beyond April 30,
2028.
In addition, on January 8, 2025, we entered into
a lease for approximately 44,544 square feet of college campus space in San Diego, which commenced on April 1, 2025. The lease expires
on January 31, 2031. The lease includes a five-year renewal option at the then-prevailing fair market rental rate for the premises. We
do not consider the exercise of the renewal option to be reasonably certain.
We believe that our existing
facilities are adequate for our current business operations and will be able to enter into lease arrangements on commercially reasonable
terms for future expansion.
Please see Note 16 Leases in the consolidated financial
statements for further details regarding the terms of our leases.
**ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.**
Please see Item 1 - Business- Legal
Proceedings for a discussion of the significant legal proceedings we are involved in.
**ITEM 4 Mine Safety Disclosures**
Not applicable.
46
**PART II**
****
**ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANTS COMMON
EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.**
**Market Information**
Our ADSs (each representing twenty Class A Ordinary
Shares) currently trade in the NYSE American under the symbol AMBO. Prior to February 20, 2024, one ADS represented two
Class A ordinary share. On February 20, 2024, we effected a change of the ADS to Class A ordinary share ratio from one ADS representing
two Class A Ordinary Shares to one ADS representing twenty Class A Ordinary Shares. The ratio change has the same effect as a 1-for-10
ADS reverse split. There was no change to the underlying Class A Ordinary Shares, and no Class A ordinary shares were issued or cancelled
in connection with the change in ADS ratio. As of February 12, 2026, the closing sale price of our ADSs were $2.5060.
**Number of Holders of our Securities**
As of February 12, 2026, there
were approximately 62 holders of record of our ADSs.
**Dividend Policy**
Our Board of Directors has the discretion over
whether to pay dividends on our ordinary shares. Since our inception, we have not declared or paid any dividends on our shares. We intend
to retain any earnings for use in our business and do not currently intend to pay cash dividends on our ordinary shares. Dividends, if
any, on our outstanding ordinary shares will be declared by and subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors, and subject to Cayman
Islands law.
Any dividend we declare will be paid to the holders
of ADSs, subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, to the same extent as holders of our ordinary shares, to the extent permitted
by applicable law and regulations, less the fees and expenses payable under the deposit agreement. Any dividend we declare will be distributed
by the depositary bank to the holders of our ADSs. Cash dividends on our ordinary shares, if any, will be paid in U.S. dollars.
**Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity
Compensation Plans**
See Item 12 *Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters*.
**Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities**
There were no sales of unregistered
securities during the three months ended December 31, 2025.
47
**Description
of Securities**
As
of December 31, 2025, we had the following series of securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act:
| 
Title
of each class | 
| 
Trading
symbol(s) | 
| 
Name
of each exchange on which registered | |
| 
American depositary shares
(one American depositary share representing twenty Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.003 per share) ** | 
| 
AMBO | 
| 
NYSE American LLC | |
| 
Class A Ordinary Shares,
par value $0.003 per share* | 
| 
| 
| 
NYSE American LLC | |
| 
* | Not
for trading, but only in connection with the listing on the NYSE American | 
|
| 
** | Effective
on February 20, 2024, the ratio of ADSs to our Class A Ordinary Shares was changed from one ADS representing two Class A Ordinary Shares
to one ADS representing twenty Class A Ordinary Shares. | 
|
This
section contains a description of the rights of (i) holders of share(s) and (ii) holders of ADS(s). Shares underlying the ADSs are held
by Citibank, N.A., as depositary, and holders of ADSs will not be treated as holders of the shares.
****
**General**
Our
authorized share capital is US$ 230,000 divided into 66,666,667 Class A Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.003 per Class A Ordinary
Share, 8,333,333 Class C Ordinary Shares with a par value of US$0.003 per Class C Ordinary Share, and 1,666,667 undesignated preferred
shares with a par value of US$0.003 per preferred share. As of December 31, 2025, there were 52,498,019 Class A Ordinary Shares and 4,708,415
Class C Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding.
In
connection with the proposal to adopt the Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, in our current report on
Form 6-K filed on June 4, 2015, we sought approval to, among other things, create a new class of ordinary shares entitled Class C Ordinary
Shares (Class C Shares), which were in addition to the Class A Ordinary Shares which had already been designated. The Class
C Shares would be entitled to ten (10) votes on all matters subject to vote at our general meetings. On November 8, 2015, 4,708,415 of
the Class A Ordinary Shares held by Dr. Jin Huang were exchanged for 4,708,415 Class C Shares. This exchange was approved by all disinterested
members of the Board of Directors. The Class C shares were created with the intention to issue such shares to our management. The main
effect of the dual-class voting structure is to vest our management team, especially Dr. Jin Huang, with significant control over Ambows
decisions, allowing management the freedom to focus on the long term by ensuring that it retained control over Ambow. The structure would
also prevent outside parties from taking over or unduly influencing management decisions. As such, investors would fully share in our
long term economic future, but would have less ability to influence strategic decisions through their voting rights.
The
following are summaries of material provisions of our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Companies
Law insofar as they relate to the material terms of our share capital.
**Sixth
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association**
Subject
to other provisions in the Articles, including certain protective provisions set forth in Schedule A thereto, the shareholders may by
ordinary resolution increase, or by special resolution decrease, our authorized share capital and may also by special resolution amend
our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association.
**Ordinary
shares**
*General*
All
of our outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the ordinary shares are issued in registered
form. The ordinary shares are not entitled to any preemptive conversion, subscription or redemption rights. Our shareholders may freely
hold and vote their shares.
48
*Voting
rights*
Each
Class A Ordinary Share is entitled to one vote and each Class C Ordinary Share is entitled to ten votes on all matters upon which the
ordinary shares are entitled to vote, including the election of directors. Voting at any meeting of shareholders is by a poll. Subject
to the Schedule A attached to the Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles, other than an action that requires a special resolution,
shareholders may approve corporate matters without a meeting being held by way of written resolution signed by or on behalf of shareholders
holding more than 85% of all of our issued and outstanding shares on an as-converted basis. If any resolution of shareholders is adopted
otherwise than by the unanimous written consent of all shareholders, a copy of such resolution shall forthwith be sent to all shareholders
or holders of shares in the relevant class no consenting to such resolution. The consent may be in the form of counterparts, each counterpart
being signed by one or more shareholders or persons.
A
quorum required for a meeting of shareholders consists of at least a number of shareholders present in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote representing the holders of not less than one-third of all of our issued voting share capital. Shareholders meetings are
held annually and may otherwise be convened by the board of directors or its chairperson on its or his/her own initiative. Advance notice
of at least ten calendar days (but not more than sixty calendar days) is required for the convening of any meeting of shareholders.
Any
ordinary resolution to be made by the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes attaching to the ordinary
shares cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of our shareholders. A special resolution requires the affirmative vote of not less than
two-thirds of the votes cast in person, by a duly authorized representative in the case of a shareholder who is a corporation, or by
proxy at a meeting of our shareholders or a unanimous written resolution of all our shareholders. A special resolution is required for
matters such as removing an independent director for cause, changing our name, amending our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and
Articles of Association and reducing our authorized share capital.
*Conversion
rights attaching to shares*
Each
Class C Ordinary Share is convertible into one Class A Ordinary Share at any time by the holder thereof. Class A Ordinary Shares are
not convertible under any circumstances. If at any time Jin Huang, our Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer, and her affiliates collectively
own less than 5% of the total number of the issued and outstanding Class C Ordinary Shares, each issued and outstanding Class C Ordinary
Share shall be automatically and immediately converted into one share of Class A Ordinary Shares without payment of additional consideration
and no Class C Ordinary Shares shall thereafter be issuable by us.
*Difference
between Class A and Class C Ordinary Shares*
The
difference between the Class A Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares are the special voting rights attached to the Class C Ordinary
Shares as disclosed above.
*Dividends*
The
holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to our Sixth
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Companies Law. Dividends may be paid only out of profits, which include
net earnings and retained earnings undistributed in prior years, and out of share premium, a concept analogous to paid-in surplus in
the United States. No dividend may be declared and paid unless our directors determine that immediately after the payment, we will be
able to satisfy our liabilities as they become due in the ordinary course of business and we have funds lawfully available for such purpose.
Any such dividends will be paid to Citibank, N.A., as the custodian of the ADSs being issued in this offering, and shall be subject to
further distribution to you as a shareholder by the custodian. See Description of American Depositary Shares Dividends
and Distributions.
49
*Liquidation*
If
we were to be liquidated and the assets available for distribution among the shareholders are insufficient to repay the whole of the
share capital, such assets shall be distributed so that, as nearly as may be, the losses shall be borne by the shareholders in proportion
to the par value of the ordinary shares held by them. If in a winding up the assets available for distribution among the shareholders
shall be more than sufficient to repay the whole of the share capital at the commencement of the liquidation, the surplus shall be distributed
among the shareholders in proportion to the par value of the ordinary shares held by them at the commencement of the liquidation, subject
to a deduction from those ordinary shares in respect of which there are monies due, of all monies payable to us, without prejudice to
the rights of the holders of ordinary shares issued upon special terms and conditions.
If
we were to be liquidated the liquidator may, with the approval by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders, divide among the shareholders
in species or in kind the whole or any part of our assets (whether they shall consist of property of the same kind or not) and may, for
such purpose set such value as he/she deems fair upon any property to be divided and may determine how such division shall be carried
out as between the shareholders or different classes of shareholders. The liquidator may, with the approval by an ordinary resolution
of the shareholders, vest the whole or any part of such assets in trustees upon such trusts for the benefit of the contributories as
the liquidator, with the approval by an ordinary resolution of the shareholders shall think fit, but so that no shareholder shall be
compelled to accept any shares or other securities whereon there is any liability.
**
*Miscellaneous*
Share
certificates registered in the names of two or more persons are deliverable to any one of them named in the share register and, if two
or more such persons tender a vote, the vote of the person whose name first appears in the share register will be accepted to the exclusion
of any other.
*Transfer
of shares*
Subject
to the restrictions of Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, as applicable, 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.
Our
Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, (except with respect to a transfer from an ordinary shareholder to its Affiliate(s)),
decline to register any transfer of any ordinary shares which is not fully paid up or on which we have a lien. Our directors may also
decline to register any transfer of any ordinary share unless (a) 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; (b) the instrument of transfer is in respect of only one class of ordinary shares; (c) the instrument
of transfer is duly and properly signed; (d) 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; or (e) a fee of such maximum sum as our Board of Directors may from time to time require,
is paid to us in respect thereof.
If
our Board of Directors refuses to register a transfer, it shall, within two 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 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.
*Variation
of rights of shares*
Subject
to Schedule A of the Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles and except as otherwise provided therein, all or any of the special
rights attached to any class of our shares may, unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of the shares of that class, from time
to time be varied with the consent in writing of the holders of at least two-thirds of the issued shares of that class, or a resolution
by holders of two-thirds of the shares of that class present in person or by proxy at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares
of that class.
50
*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. See Where you can find
more information.
**Preferred
shares**
Pursuant
to our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, our Board of Directors has the authority, without further action
by the shareholders, to issue up to 1,666,667 preferred shares in one or more series and determine the designations, powers, preferences,
privileges and other rights, including dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and liquidation preferences, any or all
of which may be greater than the rights of the ordinary shares. Subject to the directors duty of acting for a proper purpose,
preferred shares can be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change of control of our company or make removal of
management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of preferred shares may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our ordinary
shares and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of ordinary shares. No such preferred shares have been issued,
and we have no present plans to issue any such preferred shares.
****
**Differences
in corporate law**
Cayman
Islands corporate law is modeled on English corporate law, but does not follow recent English law statutory enactments, and accordingly
there are significant differences between the Companies Law and the current Companies Act of England. Cayman Islands corporate law differs
from laws relating to U.S. corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the significant differences between the
provisions of the Companies Law applicable to our company and the laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders.
****
**Mergers
and similar arrangements**
In
certain circumstances the Cayman Islands Companies Law allows for mergers or consolidations between two Cayman Islands companies, or
between a Cayman Islands exempted company and a company incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is facilitated by the laws
of that other jurisdiction).
Where
the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger
or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (a)
a special resolution of the shareholders of each company or (b) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent
companys articles of association. A shareholder has the right to vote on a merger or consolidation regardless of whether the shares
that he holds otherwise give him voting rights. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a
company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company. The consent of
each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement.
If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Law (which includes certain other formalities)
have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation.
Where
the merger or consolidation involves a foreign constituent company, and where the surviving company is a Cayman Islands exempted company,
the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign constituent company, the director of the surviving or consolidated company
is required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due inquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below
have been met: (i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company
and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional
documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding
or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee,
administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs
or its property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made
in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted; (v) that the
foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud
unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (vi) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company
to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer
is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the
jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (vii) that the foreign company will,
upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign
jurisdiction; and (viii) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.
51
Where
the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Law provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair
value of his shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure
is as follows (a) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the
vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger
or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (b) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by
the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (c) a shareholder
must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his
intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (d) within seven days following
the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (b) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger
or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a
written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the
company and the shareholder agree on the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the
shareholder such amount; (e) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree on a price within such 30 day period, within 20 days following
the date on which such 30 day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands
Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting
shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition,
the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company
upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate
fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not to be available
in certain circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized
stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed
are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.
Moreover,
Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain
circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies,
commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a scheme of arrangement which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event
that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedures of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than
the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority
in number of each class of shareholders and 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 meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must
be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the
view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
| 
| We
are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have
been complied with; | 
|
| 
| The
shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question; | 
|
| 
| The
arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and | 
|
| 
| The
arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law or that would amount to
a fraud on the minority. | 
|
52
If
a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable
to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing
rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
**
*Squeeze-out
provisions.*When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months,
the offer may, within a two-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 unless there is evidence of fraud,
bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
Further,
transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to
these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating
business.
****
**Shareholders
lawsuits**
We
are not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions have been brought in the
Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed their availability (although, the reported cases were unsuccessful
for technical reasons). In principle, we will normally be the proper plaintiff and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors
usually may not be brought by a minority shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive
authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:
| 
| 
| 
A company is acting or
proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of its authority; | |
| 
| 
| 
The act complained of, although
not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually
been obtained; or | |
| 
| 
| 
Those who control the company
are perpetrating a fraud on the minority. | |
A
shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about
to be infringed.
**
*Indemnification*.
The Companies Law of the Cayman Islands does not limit the extent to which a companys 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
Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides for indemnification of officers and directors for losses,
damages, costs and expenses incurred in their capacities as such, except through their own actual fraud or willful default.
****
**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
is generally viewed to have two main 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 act 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, a director must prove the procedural fairness of the transaction, and that the transaction was of fair value to the corporation.
53
As
a matter of Cayman Islands law, a director of a Cayman Islands exempted 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 companya duty to act bona fide in the best interests
of the company, a duty not to make a profit based on his position as director (unless the company permits him to do so) and 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. A director
of a Cayman Islands exempted 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 a dual objective/subjective standard with regard to the required
skill and care to the effect that a director must exercise the skill and care of a reasonably intelligent person having both (a) the
general knowledge, skill and experience that may be expected of a person carrying out the same actions as are carried out by that director
in relation to the company and (b) the general knowledge, skill and experience that particular director has. These authorities are likely
to be followed in the Cayman Islands.
****
**Shareholder
action by written resolution**
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 Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide
that subject to the Schedule A attached to the Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles, other than an action that requires
a special resolution, shareholders may approve corporate matters without a meeting being held by way of written resolution signed by
or on behalf of shareholders holding more than 85% of all of our issued and outstanding shares on an as-converted basis. If any resolution
of shareholders is adopted otherwise than by the unanimous written consent of all shareholders, a copy of such resolution shall forthwith
be sent to all shareholders or holders of shares in the relevant class no consenting to such resolution. The consent may be in the form
of counterparts, each counterpart being signed by one or more shareholders or persons.
****
**Shareholder
proposals**
Under
the Delaware General Corporation Law, a shareholder has the right to put a proposal before the annual meeting of shareholders, provided
it complies with the DGCL and 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 and our- Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association allow our shareholders to make proposals
for consideration and determination by all shareholders at annual shareholder meetings, subject to compliance with the specified notice
provisions, and our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that, subject to certain procedure prescribed
therein being satisfied, the shareholders holding not less than ten percent (10%) of the paid up capital of the company (the Requisitionists),
or any of the Requisitionists representing not less than a majority of the aggregate voting rights of all of them, may themselves convene
a general meeting. The general meeting convened by the Requisitionists shall be convened in the same manner as nearly as possible as
that in which general meetings are to be convened by the directors.
****
**Cumulative
voting**
Under
the Delaware General Corporation Law, cumulative voting for elections of directors is not permitted unless the corporations 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 shareholders voting power with respect to electing such director. As permitted under Cayman Islands
law, our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association specifically do not allow cumulative voting. As a result,
our shareholders are not afforded any less favorable protections or rights on this issue than shareholders of a Delaware corporation.
****
54
****
**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 Sixth
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, an independent director may be removed for negligence or other reasonable
cause at any time before the expiration of his or her term by a special resolution passed at a duly convened shareholders meeting by
the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding shares being entitled to vote in person or by proxy at such a meeting or by a unanimous
written consent of our shareholders. A director, other than an independent director, may be removed from office by ordinary resolutions
passed at a duly convened shareholders meeting by a simple majority or by a unanimous written consent of our shareholders at any time
before the expiration of his term notwithstanding anything in the Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles or in any agreement
between the company and such director (but without prejudice to any claim for damages under such agreement).
****
**Transactions
with interested shareholders**
The
Delaware General Corporation Law contains a business combination statute applicable to Delaware public 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 on which
such person becomes an interested shareholder. An interested shareholder generally is one which owns or owned 15% or more of the targets
outstanding voting shares 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 that resulted in the person becoming an interested shareholder. This encourages any potential acquirer of a Delaware
public corporation to negotiate the terms of any acquisition transaction with the targets 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 entered into must be bona fide in the best interests of the company and not with the effect of
perpetrating 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 corporations outstanding shares. The Delaware General Corporation Law allows a
Delaware corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a supermajority voting requirement in connection with dissolutions
initiated by the board of directors. Under Cayman Islands law, our company may be voluntarily dissolved, liquidated or wound up only
by the vote of holders of two-thirds of our shares voting at a meeting or by the unanimous written consent of all shareholders.
****
**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 Cayman Islands law and our Sixth Amended and
Restated 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 only with the vote of holders of a majority of the shares of such class.
****
55
****
**Amendment
of governing documents**
Under
the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporations 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. Our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum
and Articles of Association may only be amended by a special resolution passed at a duly convened shareholders meeting by the holders
of at least two-thirds of our outstanding shares being entitled to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting or by a unanimous written
consent of all our shareholders.
****
**Inspection
of books and records**
Under
the Delaware General Corporation Law, any shareholder of a corporation may for any proper purpose inspect or make copies of the corporations
stock ledger, list of shareholders and other books and records. Holders of our 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 intend to provide our shareholders
with annual reports containing audited financial statements.
****
**Anti-takeover
provisions in our Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association**
Some
provisions of our Sixth Amended and Restated 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; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Prohibit cumulative voting; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Do not permit shareholders
to call meetings of shareholders; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Create a classified board
of directors pursuant to which our directors are elected for staggered terms, which means that shareholders can only elect, or remove,
a limited number of directors in any given year; and | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Establish advance notice
requirements for nominating board of directors nominees or for proposing matters that can be acted on by shareholders at annual
shareholder meetings. | |
However,
under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our Sixth Amended and Restated
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.
****
**Rights
of non-resident or foreign shareholders**
There
are no limitations imposed by foreign law or by our Sixth Amended and Restated 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 in Sixth Amended
and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
****
**Anti-money
launderingCayman Islands**
In
order to comply with legislation or regulations aimed at the prevention of money laundering we may adopt and maintain anti-money laundering
procedures, and we may require shareholders to provide evidence to verify their identity and source of funds. Where permitted, and subject
to certain conditions, we may also delegate the maintenance of our anti-money laundering procedures (including the acquisition of due
diligence information) to a suitable person.
56
We
reserve the right to request such information as is necessary to verify the identity of a shareholder, unless in the particular case
we are satisfied that an exemption applies under the Money Laundering Regulations (2015 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, as amended and
revised from time to time, or the Regulations. Depending on the circumstances of each application, a detailed verification of identity
might not be required where:
| 
| 
| 
The shareholder makes the
payment for their investment from an account held in the applicants name at a recognized financial institution; | |
| 
| 
| 
The shareholder is regulated
by a recognized regulatory authority and is based or incorporated in, or formed under the law of, a recognized jurisdiction; or | |
| 
| 
| 
The purchase of shares
is made through an intermediary which is regulated by a recognized regulatory authority and is based in or incorporated in, or formed
under the law of a recognized jurisdiction and an assurance is provided in relation to the procedures undertaken on the underlying
investors. | |
For
the purposes of these exceptions, recognition of a financial institution, regulatory authority or jurisdiction will be determined in
accordance with the Regulations by reference to those jurisdictions recognized by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority as having equivalent
anti-money laundering regulations.
In
the event of delay or failure on the part of the subscriber in producing any information required for verification purposes, we may refuse
to accept the application, in which case any funds received will be returned without interest to the account from which they were originally
debited. We also reserve the right to refuse to make any redemption payment to a shareholder if our directors suspect or are advised
that the payment of redemption proceeds to such shareholder might result in a breach of applicable anti-money laundering or other laws
or regulations by any person in any relevant jurisdiction, or if such refusal is considered necessary or appropriate to ensure the compliance
by us with any such laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction.
If
any person resident in the Cayman Islands knows or suspects or has reasonable grounds for knowing or suspecting that another person is
engaged in criminal conduct or is involved with terrorism or terrorist property and the information for that knowledge or suspicion came
to their attention in the course of business in the regulated sector, the person will be required to report such knowledge or suspicion
to (i) the Financial Reporting Authority of the Cayman Islands, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Law of the Cayman Islands (2017 Revision)
if the disclosure relates to criminal conduct or money laundering, or (ii) a police officer of the rank of constable or higher pursuant
to the Terrorism Law of the Cayman Islands (2017 Revision) if the disclosure relates to involvement with terrorism or terrorist financing
and property. Such a report shall not be treated as a breach of confidence or of any restriction upon the disclosure of information imposed
by any enactment or otherwise.
****
**Listing**
We
have been listing of the ADSs on the NYSE American under the symbol AMBO since 2018.
****
**DESCRIPTION
OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES**
****
**American
Depositary Shares**
****
Citibank,
N.A. is the depositary bank for our American Depositary Shares. Citibanks depositary offices are located at 388 Greenwich Street,
New York, New York 10013. American Depositary Shares are frequently referred to as ADSs and represent ownership interests
in securities that are on deposit with the depositary bank. ADSs may be represented by certificates that are commonly known as American
Depositary Receipts or ADRs. The depositary bank typically appoints a custodian to safekeep the securities on deposit.
In this case, the custodian is Citibank, N.A.Hong Kong, located at 10/F, Harbour Front (II), 22 Tak Fung Street, Hong Hum, Kowloon,
Hong Kong.
We
have appointed Citibank as the depositary bank pursuant to a deposit agreement. A copy of the deposit agreement is on file with the SEC
under cover of a Registration Statement on Form F-6. You may obtain a copy of the deposit agreement from the SECs Public Reference
Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and from the SECs website (www.sec.gov).
We
are providing you with a summary description of the material terms of the ADSs and of your material rights as an owner of ADSs. Please
remember that summaries by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized and that the rights and obligations of an owner
of ADSs will be determined by reference to the terms of the deposit agreement and not by this summary. We urge you to review the deposit
agreement in its entirety.
57
Each
ADS represents the right to receive twenty Class A Ordinary Shares, par value $0.003 per share, on deposit with the custodian. An ADS
also represents the right to receive any other property received by the depositary or the custodian on behalf of the owner of the ADS
but that has not been distributed to the owners of ADSs because of legal restrictions or practical considerations.
If
you become an owner of ADSs, you will become a party to the deposit agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and to the terms
of any ADR that represents your ADSs. The deposit agreement and the ADR specify our rights and obligations as well as your rights and
obligations as owner of ADSs and those of the depositary. As an ADS holder you appoint the depositary to act on your behalf in certain
circumstances. The deposit agreement and the ADRs are governed by New York law. However, our obligations to the holders of ordinary shares
will continue to be governed by the laws of the Cayman Islands, which may be different from the laws in the United States.
In
addition, applicable laws and regulations may require you to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain
circumstances. You are solely responsible for complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Neither the depositary,
the custodian, us nor any of their or our respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions whatsoever on your behalf
to satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.
As
an owner of ADSs, you may hold your ADSs either by means of an American depositary receipt, or ADR, registered in your name, through
a brokerage or safekeeping account, or through an account established by the depositary in your name reflecting the registration of uncertificated
ADSs directly on the books of the depositary (commonly referred to as the direct registration system or DRS).
The direct registration system reflects the uncertificated (book-entry) registration of ownership of ADSs by the depositary. Under the
direct registration system, ownership of ADSs is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary to the holders of the ADSs.
The direct registration system includes automated transfers between the depositary and The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, the central
book-entry clearing and settlement system for equity securities in the United States. If you decide to hold your ADSs through your brokerage
or safekeeping account, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as an ADS owner. Banks and brokers
typically hold securities such as the ADSs through clearing and settlement systems such as DTC. The procedures of such clearing and settlement
systems may limit your ability to exercise your rights as an owner of ADSs. Please consult with your broker or bank if you have any questions
concerning these limitations and procedures. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. This summary
description assumes you have opted to own the ADSs directly by means of an ADS registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to
you as the holder. When we refer to you, we assume the reader owns ADSs and will own ADSs at the relevant
time.
****
**Dividends
and distributions**
As
a holder, you generally have the right to receive the distributions we make on the securities deposited with the custodian. Your receipt
of these distributions may be limited, however, by practical considerations and legal limitations. Holders will receive such distributions
under the terms of the deposit agreement in proportion to the number of the ADSs held as of a specified record date, after deduction
of the applicable fees, taxes and expenses.
****
**Distributions
of cash**
Whenever
we make a cash distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the funds with the custodian. Upon receipt
of confirmation of the deposit of the requisite funds, the depositary will arrange for the funds to be converted into U.S. dollars, if
the funds are not initially in U.S. dollars, and for the distribution of the U.S. dollars to the holders, subject to the applicable laws
and regulations.
The
conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if practicable and if the U.S. dollars are transferable to the United States. The amounts
distributed to holders will be net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit
agreement. The depositary will apply the same method for distributing the proceeds of the sale of any property (such as undistributed
rights) held by the custodian in respect of securities on deposit. The depositary bank will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute
in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable holders and beneficial owners of ADSs until the distribution can
be effected or the funds that the depositary bank holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant
states of the United States.
58
**Distributions
of shares**
Whenever
we make a free distribution of ordinary shares for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the applicable number
of ordinary shares with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary will either distribute to holders
new ADSs representing the ordinary shares deposited or modify the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio, in which case each ADS you hold will
represent rights and interests in the additional ordinary shares so deposited. Only whole new ADSs will be distributed. Fractional entitlements
will be sold and the proceeds of such sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.
The
distribution of new ADSs or the modification of the ADS-to-ordinary shares ratio upon a distribution of ordinary shares will be made
net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay
such taxes or governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the new ordinary shares so distributed.
No
such distribution of new ADSs will be made if it would violate a law (i.e., the U.S. securities laws) or if it is not operationally practicable.
If the depositary does not distribute new ADSs as described above, it may sell the ordinary shares received upon the terms described
in the deposit agreement and will distribute the proceeds of the sale as in the case of a distribution of cash.
****
**Distributions
of rights**
Whenever
we intend to distribute rights to purchase additional ordinary shares, we will give prior notice to the depositary and we will assist
the depositary in determining whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs to holders.
The
depositary will establish procedures to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs to holders and to enable such holders to exercise
such rights if it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to holders of ADSs, and if we provide all of the
documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). You may have to
pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges to subscribe for the new ADSs upon the exercise of your rights. The depositary
is not obligated to establish procedures to facilitate the distribution and exercise by holders of rights to purchase new ordinary shares
other than in the form of ADSs.
The
depositary will not distribute the rights to you if:
| 
| We
do not timely request that the rights be distributed to you or we request that the rights not be distributed to you; | 
|
| 
| 
We fail
to deliver satisfactory documents to the depositary; or | |
| 
| 
It is
not reasonably practicable to distribute the rights. | |
The
depositary will sell the rights that are not exercised or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably practicable. The proceeds
of such sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution. If the depositary is unable to sell the rights, it
will allow the rights to lapse.
****
**Elective
distributions**
Whenever
we intend to distribute a dividend payable at the election of shareholders either in cash or in additional shares, we will give prior
notice thereof to the depositary and will indicate whether we wish the elective distribution to be made available to you. In such case,
we will assist the depositary in determining whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable. The depositary will make
the election available to you only if it is reasonably practicable and if we have provided all of the documentation contemplated in the
deposit agreement. In such case, the depositary will establish procedures to enable you to elect to receive either cash or additional
ADSs, in each case as described in the deposit agreement.
59
If
the election is not made available to you, you will receive either cash or additional ADSs, depending on what a shareholder in the Cayman
Islands would receive upon failing to make an election, as more fully described in the deposit agreement.
****
**Other
distributions**
Whenever
we intend to distribute property other than cash, ordinary shares or rights to purchase additional ordinary shares, we will notify the
depositary in advance and will indicate whether we wish such distribution to be made to you. If so, we will assist the depositary in
determining whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable. If it is reasonably practicable to distribute
such property to you and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will distribute
the property to the holders in a manner it deems practicable.
The
distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement.
In order to pay such taxes and governmental charges, the depositary may sell all or a portion of the property received.
The
depositary will not distribute the property to you and will sell the property if:
| 
| 
| 
We do not request
that the property be distributed to you or if we ask that the property not be distributed to you; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We do not deliver satisfactory
documents to the depositary; or | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
The depositary determines
that all or a portion of the distribution to you is not reasonably practicable. | |
The
proceeds of such a sale will be distributed to holders as in the case of a cash distribution.
****
**Redemption**
Whenever
we decide to redeem any of the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will notify the depositary in advance. If it is practicable
and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement, the depositary will provide notice of the redemption
to the holders. The custodian will be instructed to surrender the shares being redeemed against payment of the applicable redemption
price. The depositary will convert the redemption funds received into U.S. dollars upon the terms of the deposit agreement and will establish
procedures to enable holders to receive the net proceeds from the redemption upon surrender of their ADSs to the depositary. You may
have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges upon the redemption of your ADSs. If less than all ADSs are being redeemed,
the ADSs to be retired will be selected by lot or on a pro rata basis, as the depositary may determine.
****
**Changes
affecting Class A Ordinary Shares**
The
Class A Ordinary Shares held on deposit for your ADSs may change from time to time. For example, there may be a change in nominal or
par value, a split-up, cancellation, consolidation or reclassification of such ordinary shares or a recapitalization, reorganization,
merger, consolidation or sale of assets. If any such change were to occur, your ADSs would, to the extent permitted by law, represent
the right to receive the property received or exchanged in respect of the ordinary shares held on deposit. The depositary may in such
circumstances deliver new ADSs to you, amend the deposit agreement, the ADRs and the applicable registration statement(s) on Form F-6,
call for the exchange of your existing ADSs for new ADSs and take any other actions that are appropriate to reflect as to the ADSs. If
the depositary may not lawfully distribute such property to you, the depositary may sell such property and distribute the net proceeds
to you as in the case of a cash distribution.
****
**Transfer,
combination and split up of ADRs**
As
an ADR holder, you will be entitled to transfer, combine or split up your ADRs and the ADSs evidenced thereby. For transfers of ADRs,
you will have to surrender the ADRs to be transferred to the depositary and also must:
| 
| 
| 
Ensure that
the surrendered ADR certificate is properly endorsed or otherwise in proper form for transfer; | |
60
| 
| 
| 
Provide such proof of identity
and genuineness of signatures as the depositary deems appropriate; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Provide any transfer stamps
required by the State of New York or the United States; and | |
| 
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| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Pay all applicable fees,
charges, expenses, taxes and other government charges payable by ADR holders pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon
the transfer of ADRs. | |
To
have your ADRs either combined or split up, you must surrender the ADRs in question to the depositary with your request to have them
combined or split up, and you must pay all applicable fees, charges and expenses payable by ADR holders, pursuant to the terms of the
deposit agreement, upon a combination or split up of ADRs.
****
**Withdrawal
of shares upon cancellation of ADSs**
As
a holder, you will be entitled to present your ADSs to the depositary for cancellation and then receive the corresponding number of underlying
ordinary shares at the custodians offices. Your ability to withdraw the ordinary shares held in respect of the ADSs may be limited
by U.S. and legal considerations applicable at the time of withdrawal. In order to withdraw the ordinary shares represented by your ADSs,
you will be required to pay to the depositary the fees for cancellation of ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the transfer of
the ordinary shares being withdrawn. You assume the risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal. Once canceled, the
ADSs will not have any rights under the deposit agreement.
If
you hold ADSs registered in your name, the depositary may ask you to provide proof of identity and genuineness of any signature and such
other documents as the depositary may deem appropriate before it will cancel your ADSs. The withdrawal of the ordinary shares represented
by your ADSs may be delayed until the depositary receives satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
Please keep in mind that the depositary will only accept ADSs for cancellation that represents a whole number of securities on deposit.
You
will have the right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs at any time except for:
| 
| 
| 
Temporary delays
that may arise because (i) the transfer books for the ordinary shares or ADSs are closed, or (ii) ordinary shares are immobilized
on account of a shareholders meeting or a payment of dividends; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Obligations to pay fees,
taxes and similar charges; or | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Restrictions imposed because
of laws or regulations applicable to ADSs or the withdrawal of securities on deposit. | |
The
deposit agreement may not be modified to impair your right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs except to comply with
mandatory provisions of law.
****
**Voting
rights**
As
a holder, you generally have the right under the deposit agreement to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights for the Class
A Ordinary Shares represented by your ADSs. See Description of shares and governing documentsOrdinary sharesVoting
rights for a description of the voting rights of holders of ordinary shares.
At
our request, the depositary will distribute to you any notice of shareholders meeting received from us together with information
explaining how to instruct the depositary to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by ADSs. In lieu of distributing
such materials, the depositary bank may distribute to holders of ADSs instructions on how to retrieve such materials upon request.
Voting
at our shareholder meetings is by poll. If the depositary bank timely receives voting instructions from a holder of ADSs, it will endeavor
to vote the securities (in person or by proxy) represented by the holders ADSs in accordance with such voting instructions.
Please
note that the ability of the depositary to carry out voting instructions may be limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms
of the securities on deposit. We cannot assure you that you will receive voting materials in time to enable you to return voting instructions
to the depositary in a timely manner. Securities for which no voting instructions have been received will not be voted.
****
61
****
**Fees
and charges**
As
an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following service fees to the depositary:
| 
Service | | 
Fees | |
| 
Issuance of ADSs | | 
up to U.S. 5 per ADS issued | |
| 
Cancellation of ADSs | | 
up to U.S. 5 per ADS canceled | |
| 
Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions | | 
up to U.S. 5 per ADS held | |
| 
Distribution of ADSs pursuant to stock dividends, free stock distributions or exercise of rights | | 
up to U.S. 5 per ADS held | |
| 
Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs | | 
up to U.S. 5 per ADS held | |
| 
Depositary Services | | 
up to U.S. 5 per ADS held on the applicable record date(s) established by the
depositary | |
As
an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary and certain taxes and governmental
charges such as:
| 
| 
| 
Fees for the transfer and
registration of ordinary shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the ordinary shares in the 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; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Fees and expenses incurred
in connection with compliance and exchange control regulations and other applicable regulatory requirements; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Taxes and duties upon the
transfer of securities (i.e., when ordinary shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit); and | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Fees and expenses incurred
in connection with the delivery or servicing of ordinary shares on deposit. | |
Depositary
fees payable upon the issuance and cancellation of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary by the brokers (on behalf of their clients)
receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary
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 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. In the case of distributions other
than cash (i.e., stock dividend, rights), the depositary 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 sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts
(via DTC), the depositary 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 depositaries.
62
In
the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary 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.
Note
that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive
prior notice of such changes.
The
depositary may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program established pursuant to the deposit agreement
upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary may agree from time to time.
****
**Amendments
and termination**
We
may agree with the depositary to modify the deposit agreement at any time without your consent. We undertake to give holders 30 days
prior notice of any modifications that would materially prejudice any of their substantial rights under the deposit agreement. We will
not consider to be materially prejudicial to your substantial rights any modifications or supplements that are reasonably necessary for
the ADSs to be registered under the Securities Act or to be eligible for book-entry settlement, in each case without imposing or increasing
the fees and charges you are required to pay. In addition, we may not be able to provide you with prior notice of any modifications or
supplements that are required to accommodate compliance with applicable provisions of law.
You
will be bound by the modifications to the deposit agreement if you continue to hold your ADSs after the modifications to the deposit
agreement become effective. The deposit agreement cannot be amended to prevent you from withdrawing the ordinary shares represented by
your ADSs (except as permitted by law).
We
have the right to direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement. Similarly, the depositary may in certain circumstances on
its own initiative terminate the deposit agreement. In either case, the depositary must give notice to the holders at least 30 days before
termination. Until termination, your rights under the deposit agreement will be unaffected.
After
termination, the depositary will continue to collect distributions received (but will not distribute any such property until you request
the cancellation of your ADSs) and may sell the securities held on deposit. After the sale, the depositary will hold the proceeds from
such sale and any other funds then held for the holders of ADSs in a non-interest bearing account. At that point, the depositary will
have no further obligations to holders other than to account for the funds then held for the holders of ADSs still outstanding (after
deduction of applicable fees, taxes and expenses).
****
**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 ADSs and the
deposit agreement. The depositary will maintain in New York facilities to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination,
split-up and transfer of ADSs. These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law.
****
**Limitations
on obligations and liabilities**
The
deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositarys obligations to you. Please note the following:
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary are
obligated only to take the actions specifically stated in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith. | |
63
| 
| 
| 
The depositary disclaims
any liability for any failure to carry out voting instructions, for any manner in which a vote is cast or for the effect of any vote,
provided it acts in good faith and in accordance with the terms of the deposit agreement. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
The depositary disclaims
any liability for any failure to determine the lawfulness or practicality of any action, for the content of any document forwarded
to you on our behalf or for the accuracy of any translation of such a document, for the investment risks associated with investing
in ordinary shares, for the validity or worth of the ordinary shares, for any tax consequences that result from the ownership of
ADSs, for the credit-worthiness of any third party, for allowing any rights to lapse under the terms of the deposit agreement, for
the timeliness of any of our notices or for our failure to give notice. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary will
not be obligated to perform any act that is inconsistent with the terms of the deposit agreement. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary bank
disclaim any liability if we or the depositary bank are prevented or forbidden from or subject 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, by reason
of any provision, present or future of any law or regulation, or by reason of present or future provision of any provision of our
Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, or any provision of or governing the securities on deposit, or
by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond our control. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary disclaim
any liability by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for the deposit agreement or in our Sixth
Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association or in any provisions of or governing the securities on deposit. | |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary further
disclaim any liability for any action or inaction in reliance on the advice or information received from legal counsel, accountants,
any person presenting shares for deposit, any holder of ADSs or authorized representatives thereof, or any other person believed
by either of us in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary bank
also disclaim liability for the inability by a holder to benefit from any distribution, offering, right or other benefit that is
made available to holders of Shares but is not, under the terms of the deposit agreement, made available to you. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary may
rely without any liability upon any written notice, request or other document believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper parties. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
We and the depositary also
disclaim liability for any consequential or punitive damages for any breach of the terms of the deposit agreement. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
No disclaimer of any Securities
Act liability is intended by any provision of the deposit agreement. | |
**ITEM
6. [Reserved]**
64
**ITEM
7. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.**
*The
following discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting our operating results, financial condition, liquidity and
cash flows as of and for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our financial
statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. The discussion contains forward-looking statements that are
based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Actual results
could differ materially from those discussed in or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those
discussed below and elsewhere in this report, particularly in the sections titled Risk Factors and Special Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.*
**A.
Operating Results**
****
Overview
Our current mission is to shape the future of learning,
collaboration and communication through innovative, AI-powered Phygital solutions that seamlessly connect the physical and digital worlds.
At the core of this mission is HybriU, a cutting-edge platform that transforms education, corporate conferencing and live events by delivering
immersive, intelligent and real-time experiences across industries.
Designed
to bridge the gap between in-person and remote interaction, HybriU enables AI-driven automation, deep engagement and seamless
collaboration. With HybriU, Ambow is redefining how people connect, learn and grow, empowering greater access, equity and innovation
in education and beyond.
Our net revenues increased from $9.4 million in 2024 to $9.5 million
in 2025. The increase from 2024 to 2025 was primarily driven by revenue growth from HybriU, while partially offset by a decrease in revenue
from NewSchool.
Our net income increased significantly from $0.3 million in 2024 to
$1.4 million in 2025.
Factors
affecting our results of operations
While
our business is influenced by factors affecting the education and other industries in the U.S. generally, we believe it is
more directly affected by Company-specific factors, including, among others:
| 
| 
| 
The number of student enrollments and fees we charge.
The number of student enrollments is largely driven by the demand for our educational programs, the fees we charge, the
effectiveness of our marketing and brand promotion efforts, the locations and capacity of our campuses, our ability to maintain the
consistency and quality of our teaching, and our ability to respond to competitive pressures, as well as seasonality. We plan
to continue to add new offerings to attract students of different needs and provide cross-selling opportunities. Our course fees
are determined based on several factors, including market demand, the target audience, campus location and capacity, the cost of
delivering our programs and the pricing of comparable courses offered by competitors. | |
| 
| 
| 
The number of orders
and contracts we obtain. Our product revenue is directly impacted by the number and value of orders and contracts we secure. A higher volume of confirmed orders
generally results in increased revenue, as it indicates strong market demand and effective sales performance. Conversely, a decrease in
order volume may adversely affect revenue, particularly if it is not offset by higher-value contracts or price increases. | |
| 
| 
| 
Our costs and expenses. We incur costs and expenses at both the headquarters level and at our campuses. Our most significant costs are compensation and social welfare paid to and on behalf of our teachers, and rental- and teaching-related expenses. A substantial majority of our operating expenses relate to selling and marketing, general and administrative functions and research and development. | |
Effects
of disposals and other strategic plans
There
were no other material acquisitions and disposals during the years 2024 and 2025.
Key
financial performance indicators
Our
key financial performance indicators consist of our net revenues, cost of revenues, gross profit and operating expenses, which are discussed
in greater detail below. The following table sets forth our net revenues, cost of revenues and gross profit, both in absolute amounts
and as a percentage of net revenues, for the periods indicated.
| 
| | 
FortheYearsEndedDecember31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | | | 
% | | | 
$ | | | 
% | | |
| 
| | 
(in thousands, except percentages) | | |
| 
Net revenues | | 
| 9,392 | | | 
| 100.0 | | | 
| 9,469 | | | 
| 100.0 | | |
| 
Cost of revenues | | 
| (4,405 | ) | | 
| (46.9 | ) | | 
| (4,284 | ) | | 
| (45.2 | ) | |
| 
Gross Profit | | 
| 4,987 | | | 
| 53.1 | | | 
| 5,185 | | | 
| 54.8 | | |
65
Net
revenues
In
2024 and 2025, we generated net revenues of $9.4 million and $9.5 million, respectively. The increase in revenue was driven by revenue
growth from HybriU.
Cost
of revenues
Cost
of revenues for our educational and career enhancement programs and services primarily consists of:
| 
| 
| 
Teaching fees and performance-linked bonuses paid to
our teachers. Our teachers consist of both full-time and part-time teachers. Full-time teachers deliver teaching instruction
and may also be involved in management, administration and other functions at our schools. Their compensation and benefits primarily
consist of teaching fees based on hourly rates, performance-linked bonuses based on student evaluations, as well as base salary,
annual bonus and standard employee benefits in connection with their services other than teaching. Compensation of our part-time
teachers is comprised primarily of teaching fees based on hourly rates and performance-linked bonuses based on student evaluations
and other factors; | |
| 
| 
| 
Rental, utilities, water and other operating expenses
for the operation of our school properties, as well as inventory associated with HybriU; | |
| 
| 
| 
Depreciation and amortization of properties, leasehold
improvement and equipment used in the provision of educational services. | |
Gross
profit and gross margin
Gross
profit was 5.0 million and 5.2 million in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Gross
margin as a percentage of our net revenues was 53.1% and 54.8% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The increase in gross margin from
2024 to 2025 was primarily attributable to an increase in revenues from HybriU.
Operating
expenses
Our
operating expenses consist of selling and marketing expenses, general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses.
The following table sets forth the components of our operating expenses, both in absolute amounts and as a percentage of revenues, for
the years indicated.
| 
| | 
FortheYearsEndedDecember31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | | | 
% | | | 
$ | | | 
% | | |
| 
| | 
(inthousands,exceptpercentages) | | |
| 
Net revenues | | 
| 9,392 | | | 
| 100.0 | | | 
| 9,469 | | | 
| 100.0 | | |
| 
Operating expenses: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Selling and marketing | | 
| (1,013 | ) | | 
| (10.8 | ) | | 
| (1,082 | ) | | 
| (11.4 | ) | |
| 
General and administrative | | 
| (4,258 | ) | | 
| (45.3 | ) | | 
| (3,363 | ) | | 
| (35.5 | ) | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| (438 | ) | | 
| (4.7 | ) | | 
| (628 | ) | | 
| (6.6 | ) | |
| 
Total operating expenses | | 
| (5,709 | ) | | 
| (60.8 | ) | | 
| (5,073 | ) | | 
| (53.6 | ) | |
Selling
and marketing expenses. Our selling and marketing expenses primarily consist of expenses related to advertising, seminars, marketing
and promotional trips and other community activities for brand promotion purposes. The change in selling and marketing expenses from
2024 to 2025 was insignificant.
General
and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative expenses primarily consist of compensation and benefits of administrative
staff, amortization of intangibles, costs of third-party professional services, rental and utility payments relating to office and administrative
functions, and depreciation and amortization of property and equipment used in our general and administrative activities, as well as
bad debt provision. Our general and administrative expenses decreased from $4.3 million in 2024 to $3.4 million in 2025, which was mainly
due to lower rental expenses as a result of our relocation.
66
Research
and development. Our research and development expenses primarily consist of amortization expenses for intangible assets,
personnel-related expenses directly associated with our research and development department and allocated overhead. Our research and
development expenses in 2025 increased to $0.6 million from $0.4 million in 2024, primarily related to the development of HybriU.
Taxation
We
are a Cayman Islands company that currently conducts operations primarily through our U.S. subsidiaries. Under the current laws of the
Cayman Islands, Ambow is not subject to taxes on its income or capital gains. In addition, the payment of dividends, if any, is not subject
to withholding taxes in the Cayman Islands.
A
significant component of our provision of income tax is generated from operating through our U.S. subsidiaries, which have a federal
statutory income tax rate of 21%. Current income taxes are provided for in accordance with the laws and regulations in the U.S. Deferred
income taxes are recognized when temporary differences exist between the tax bases and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial
statements.
Critical
accounting policies and estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity
with U.S. GAAP requires estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and
related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The SEC has
defined a companys critical accounting policies as the ones that are most important to the portrayal of the companys financial
condition and results of operations, and which require the company to make its most difficult and subjective judgments, often as a result
of the need to make estimates of matters that are inherently uncertain. Based on this definition, we have identified certain accounting
policies as critical accounting policies as they require managements highest degree of judgment, estimates and assumptions, including:
1) revenue recognition; 2) accounts receivable, net; 3) intangible assets; 4) income tax; 5) leases. See Note 3Summary of
Significant Accounting Policies to our consolidated financial statements for the disclosure of these accounting policies.
Although we believe that our estimates, assumptions and judgments are
reasonable, they are based upon information presently available. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different
assumptions, judgments or conditions. We consider an accounting estimate to be critical if: (i) the accounting estimate requires us to
make assumptions about matters that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimate was made, and (ii) changes in the estimate
that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period or use of different estimates that we reasonably could have used in the current
period, would have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. We consider our critical accounting estimates
to include allowance for credit losses as followings:
Allowance
for credit losses
Our accounts receivable, other receivables included
in other current assets, and long-term receivables included in other non-current assets are within the scope of ASC 326. We estimate and
record an expected lifetime credit loss on these assets by utilizing historical write-off rates as a starting point for determining expected
credit losses and has considered all available relevant information, including details about past events, current conditions, and reasonable
and supportable forecasts, as well as their impact on the expected credit losses. The allowance for expected credit losses is adjusted
for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Accounts receivable, other receivables, and long-term receivables are
written off after all collection efforts have been exhausted. Because each accounts collectability depends on specific facts and
circumstances, especially for those customers related to HybriU sales, which the Company has no prior transactional history, management
exercises significant judgment in evaluating expected loss for these assets. Changes in economic conditions, customer credit profiles,
or other assumptions could materially affect the allowance for credit losses. An increase in expected losses would result in higher bad
debt expense and lower net income in the period of adjustment. The Company reassesses the allowance each reporting period, and adjustments
are recorded as changes in estimate.
67
Results
of operations
The
following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated statements of operations for the periods indicated. This information should
be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report. We believe that
period-to-period comparisons of results of operations should not be relied upon as indicative of future performance.
Summary
of Consolidated Statements of Operations
| 
| | 
For the Years Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | | | 
$ | | |
| 
| | 
(in thousands) | | |
| 
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: | | 
| | |
| 
NET REVENUES: | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Total net revenues | | 
| 9,392 | | | 
| 9,469 | | |
| 
COST OF REVENUES: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total cost of revenues | | 
| (4,405 | ) | | 
| (4,284 | ) | |
| 
GROSS PROFIT | | 
| 4,987 | | | 
| 5,185 | | |
| 
Operating expenses: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Selling and marketing | | 
| (1,013 | ) | | 
| (1,082 | ) | |
| 
General and administrative | | 
| (4,258 | ) | | 
| (3,363 | ) | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| (438 | ) | | 
| (628 | ) | |
| 
Total operating expenses | | 
| (5,709 | ) | | 
| (5,073 | ) | |
| 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME | | 
| (722 | ) | | 
| 112 | | |
| 
OTHER INCOME, NET | | 
| 192 | | | 
| 1,253 | | |
| 
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX AND NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS | | 
| (530 | ) | | 
| 1,365 | | |
| 
Income tax benefit (expense) | | 
| 839 | | | 
| (6 | ) | |
| 
NET INCOME | | 
| 309 | | | 
| 1,359 | | |
| 
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS | | 
| 309 | | | 
| 1,359 | | |
Year
ended December 31, 2024 compared with the year ended December 31, 2025
Net
revenues. Our net revenues increased by 1.1% from $9.4 million in 2024 to $9.5 million in 2025. The increase was primarily driven by
revenue growth from HybriU.
Cost
of revenues. Our cost of revenues decreased by 2.3% from $4.4 million in 2024 to $4.3 million in 2025, with minimal changes.
Gross
profit. Gross profit increased from $5.0 million in 2024 to $5.2 million in 2025.
Gross
margin. Gross margin increased from 53.1% in 2024 to 54.8% in 2025. The increase in gross margin was mainly attributable to an increase
in net revenues from HybriU.
68
Operating
expenses. Our total operating expenses decreased by 10.5% from $5.7 million in 2024 to $5.1 million in 2025. This decrease was mainly
due to lower rental expenses as a result of our relocation.
| 
| 
| 
Selling and marketing expenses. Our selling and marketing
expenses remained stable with minimal changes, increasing slightly from $1.0 million in 2024 to $1.1 million in 2025. | |
| 
| 
| 
General and administrative expenses. Our general and administrative
expenses decreased by 20.9% from $4.3 million in 2024 to $3.4 million in 2025. The decrease was mainly due to lower rental expenses as
a result of our relocation. | |
| 
| 
| 
Research and development expenses. Our research and
development expenses increased by 50.0% from $0.4 million in 2024 to $0.6 million in 2025, primarily driven by costs associated with
the development of HybriU. | |
Other
income, net. We recorded other net income of $1.3 million in 2025, compared to other net income of $0.2 million in 2024. The increase
was mainly due to the $1.5 million gain on lease settlement in 2025.
Net
income. In accordance with the above-mentioned factors, our net income changed from $0.3 million in 2024 to $1.4 million in 2025.
B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2025, our consolidated current assets exceeded our
consolidated current liabilities by $5.9 million. Our consolidated net assets were $8.3 million as of December 31, 2025.
The Companys principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided
by operating activities, bank borrowings, third-party loans, and ordinary share issuances. The Company had net cash provided by operating
activities of $1.6 million and $0.1 million for the year of 2024 and 2025, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $0.8
million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.
Our
operating results for future periods are subject to numerous uncertainties and it is uncertain if we will be able to achieve a net income
position for the foreseeable future. If management is not able to increase revenue and/or manage cost and operating expenses, we may
not be able to achieve profitability.
We
believe that available cash and cash equivalents, cash provided by operating activities, together with cash available, should enable
us to meet presently anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months after the date that the financial statements are issued,
and we have prepared the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis. However, we continue to have ongoing obligations
and we expect that we will require additional capital in order to execute our longer-term business plan. If we encounter unforeseen circumstances
that place constraints on its capital resources, management will be required to take various measures to conserve liquidity, which could
include, but not necessarily be limited to, initiating additional public offerings, curtailing our business development activities, suspending
the pursuit of its business plan, obtaining credit facilities, controlling overhead expenses and seeking to further dispose of non-core
assets. Management cannot provide any assurance that we will raise additional capital if needed.
Condensed
summary of our cash flows
| 
| | 
For the Years Ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | | | 
$ | | |
| 
| | 
(in thousands) | | |
| 
Net cash provided by operating activities | | 
| 1,635 | | | 
| 137 | | |
| 
Net cash used in investing activities | | 
| (2,010 | ) | | 
| (987 | ) | |
| 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | 
| (1,239 | ) | | 
| 500 | | |
| 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | 
| (1,614 | ) | | 
| (350 | ) | |
| 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year | | 
| 10,055 | | | 
| 8,441 | | |
| 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year | | 
| 8,441 | | | 
| 8,091 | | |
69
Operating
activities
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $1.6 million
in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $0.1 million in the year ended December
31, 2025.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the
year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily attributable to net income of $0.3 million, amortization of operating lease right of use asset
of $2.2 million, a decrease in prepaid and other current assets of $0.2 million and other non-current assets of $1.7 million. These were
partially offset by a decrease in operating lease liabilities of $0.7 million, a decrease in accounts receivable of $0.2 million, a decrease
in accrued and other liabilities of $0.4 million, a decrease in accounts payable of $0.6 million, a decrease in income taxes payable of
$0.5 million, a decrease in bad debt provision of $0.1 million and an increase in prepaid and other current assets of $0.06 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December
31, 2025 was primarily attributable to net income of $1.4 million, amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset of $0.8 million,
decrease in other non-current assets of $0.3 million, decrease in prepaid and other current assets of $0.2 million. These were partially
offset by lease settlement gain of $1.5 million, a decrease in accrued and other liabilities of $1.0 million, and an increase in inventory
of $0.1 million.
Investing
activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $2.0 million and $1.0 million
for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively
Financing
activities
Our
financing activities consist primarily of proceeds from minority shareholder capital injections and short-term borrowings. Net cash used
in financing activities was $1.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2024, compared with net cash provided by financing activities
of $0.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2025.
Net
cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2024 was mainly attributable to $1.2 million in proceeds from short-term
borrowing, partially offset by $2.4 million in repayments of short-term borrowing.
Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December
31, 2025 was mainly attributable to $1.7 million in proceeds from short-term borrowing, offset by $1.2 million in repayments of short-term
borrowing.
Borrowings
Loan
agreements for short-term and long-term borrowings consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | |
| 
| | 
Maturities | | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | 
$ | | | 
$ | | |
| 
| | 
(In thousands) | |
| 
Long-term bank borrowing from Cathay Bank | | 
December2027 | | 
| 1,200 | | | 
| 1,200 | | |
| 
Long-term bank borrowing from Cathay Bank | | 
October 2027 | | 
| 1,500 | | | 
| 1,500 | | |
| 
| | 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Short-term bank borrowing from EverTrust Bank | | 
Based on the actual repayment | | 
| | | | 
| 500 | | |
The weighted average interest rate of the borrowings outstanding was
6.16% and 6.28% per annum as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. The fair values of the borrowings approximate their carrying
amounts. The weighted average borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 were $2.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
The borrowings incurred interest expenses were
$0.2 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. There was no capitalization as additions to
construction in progress for each of the two years ended December 31, 2025.
70
Capital
expenditures
Our capital expenditures were $1.2 and $1.0 million
in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. These capital expenditures were incurred primarily for investments
in equipment, software and leasehold improvements.
Holding
company structure
Ambow
is not an operating company incorporated in the United States but rather a Cayman Islands holding company. We conduct our operations
primarily through our subsidiaries in the United States. If our subsidiaries or any newly formed subsidiaries incur debt on their own
behalf in the future, the instruments governing their debt may restrict their ability to pay dividends to us.
Inflation
Inflation
has not materially impacted our results of operations in recent years. Although we were not materially affected by inflation in the past,
we can provide no assurance that we will not be affected in the future by higher rates of inflation.
Recent
accounting standards
See Notes 3(x) to the audited consolidated financial statements for
recent accounting standards that could have an effect on us.
C.
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses
As
of December 31, 2025, we employed nine full-time and part-time software and educational professionals. In 2024 and 2025, we spent $0.4
and $0.6 million on research and development expenses, respectively.
D.
Trend Information
For
a discussion of significant recent trends in our financial condition and results of operations, please see Item 5.A Operating
and Financial Review and Prospects-Operating Results and 5.B Operating and Financial Review and Prospects-Liquidity and
Capital Resources. 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, 2025 that are reasonably likely to have a material and adverse effect on our total
revenues, 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 conditions.
E.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
We
have not entered into any financial guarantees or other commitments to guarantee the payment obligations of any third parties. We have
not entered into any derivative contracts that are indexed to our shares and classified as shareholders 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
research and development services with us.
There
were no new off-balance sheet arrangements as of December 31, 2024 and 2025.
F.
Contractual Long-Term Obligations
The
following table presents a summary of our contractual long-term obligations and payments, by period, as of December 31, 2025.
| 
| | 
Payments Due by Period | | |
| 
| | 
Total | | | 
2026-2027 | | | 
2028-2029 | | | 
Thereafter | | |
| 
| | 
(in millions) | | |
| 
Operating lease obligations | | 
$ | 7.1 | | | 
| 2.9 | | | 
| 2.7 | | | 
| 1.5 | | |
G.
Safe Harbor
See
Forward-Looking Statement.
71
**ITEM
7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.**
Not
applicable.
**ITEM
8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.**
The
full text of our audited consolidated financial statements begins on page F-1 of this report and is included herein by reference.
**ITEM
9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.**
We
changed our independent registered public accounting firm in December 2024.
(a)
The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company dismissed Marcum Asia CPAs LLP (the Marcum Asia) as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm, effective December 20, 2024.
The
dismissal of Marcum Asia was made after careful consideration and was approved by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of the
Company.
Our
financial statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December31, 2022 and 2023, had previously been audited by Marcum Asia.
Marcum
Asias audit reports on the Companys consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2022 and
2023 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope,
or accounting principles.
During
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, and during the subsequent interim period through December 20, 2024, there have been
(i) no disagreements (as defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F and the related instructions thereto) with Marcum Asia on any matter
of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved
to the satisfaction of Marcum Asia, would have caused Marcum Asia to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection
with its reports on the consolidated financial statements for such years, and (ii) no reportable events (as defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(v)
of Form 20-F).
The
Company has furnished Marcum Asia with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and requested Marcum Asia to furnish it with a letter addressed
to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether or not it agrees with the foregoing statements, and if not, stating the statements
which it does not agree with. A copy of such letter from Marcum Asia was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the SEC on March 28, 2025.
(b)
The
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Guangdong Prouden CPAs GP (the Prouden) as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm, effective December 23, 2024.
Prouden
succeeds Marcum Asia CPAs LLP, which previously was the independent auditor providing audit services to the Company. The appointment
of Prouden was made after careful consideration and was approved by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors of the Company on
December 20, 2024.
During
the Companys two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2023, and during the subsequent interim period prior to the engagement
of Prouden on December 23, 2024, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with Prouden on either (a) the application
of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered
on the Companys financial statements, and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company by Prouden that
Prouden concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to any accounting, auditing or financial
reporting issue, or (b) any matter that was the subject of a disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 16F(a)(1)(iv) of Form 20-F
(and the related instructions thereto) or a reportable event as set forth in Item 16F(a)(1)(v) of Form 20-F.
**ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.**
**(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures**
Our
management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer, has performed
an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15I 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 on that evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer has concluded, as of December 31, 2025, that our disclosure controls and procedures
were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is
(i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission rules and
forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as
appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
72
**(b)
Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.**
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate
internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Internal control over financial reporting
includes policies and procedures that are designed to (i) maintain records that accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions
of assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements
in accordance with U.S. GAAP and that receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management or the Board
of Directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding the prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or
disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control
over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of
any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate due to changes in conditions
or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Our management, with the participation of our Chief
Executive Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, using the criteria
set forth in the Internal ControlIntegrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (COSO).
Based on this evaluation, management concluded
that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2025.
**Attestation
Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm**
****
This
annual report does not include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting from our companys registered
public accounting firm, because we, as a non-accelerated filer as defined under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, are not
required to have an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting from our external auditors**.**
**(c)
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting**
During
the fourth fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2025, there were no other changes in our internal controls over financial reporting, which
were identified in connection with our managements evaluation required by paragraph (d) of rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange
Act, that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to have a material effect on our internal control over financial reporting.
**ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION.**
None.
**ITEM
9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS.**
Not
applicable.
73
**PART
III**
**ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.**
**Directors
and Executive Officers**
The
following table sets forth certain information about our current directors and executive officers:
| 
Name | 
| 
Age | 
| 
Position | 
| 
Class | |
| 
Jin
Huang | 
| 
60 | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Chairwoman of the Board | 
| 
Class
III | |
| 
Chiao-Ling
Hsu | 
| 
57 | 
| 
Chief
Operating Officer and President of NewSchool of Architecture & Design | 
| 
N/A | |
| 
James
Bartholomew | 
| 
59 | 
| 
President | 
| 
N/A | |
| 
Yanhui
Ma (1)(2)(3) | 
| 
66 | 
| 
Director | 
| 
Class
III | |
| 
Yigong
Justin Chen (1)(3) | 
| 
56 | 
| 
Director | 
| 
Class
I | |
| 
Mingjun
Wang (1)(2)(3) | 
| 
64 | 
| 
Director | 
| 
Class
II | |
| 
(1) | 
Member
of the audit committee | |
| 
(2) | 
Member
of the compensation committee | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
(3) | 
Member
of the corporate governance and nominating committee | |
Background
and Business Experience:
*Jin
Huang*has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors since our inception
in August 2000 and has served as our Acting Chief Financial Officer since September 2022. Dr. Huang has over 15 years of academic and
industry experience in Silicon Valley. Prior to founding Ambow, Dr. Huang was a founding engineer at Avant, where she was responsible
for product design and engineering management. Dr. Huang holds a bachelors degree in Computer Science, a masters degree
in Computer Science and a Ph.D. in Electronic Engineering from the University of Electronic Science & Technology of China. From 1990
to 1993, Dr. Huang was doing research and completed her Ph.D. dissertation at the University of California, Berkeley.
*Chiao-Ling
Hsu*has served as our Chief Operating Officer since June 2015. She took on the role of Interim President at NewSchool of Architecture
& Design starting in 2022 and became the President in October 2023. Ms. Hsu has over 15 years of operating and management experience
in the education industry. Since 2011, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Hwa Kang Foundation and as Executive Director
of the Innovative Biz Group in the School of Continuing Education (SCE) at Chinese Culture University in Taipei. From 2012 to 2014, Ms.
Hsu was also Vice Chairperson at the Center for Credentialing & Education in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the United States. Previously,
Ms. Hsu held several positions in the SCE at Chinese Culture University, including Chief Operating Office, Director of the Customer Contact
Center, and Director of the E-learning Development Center. Ms. Hsu is a graduate of Chinese Culture University and also holds a masters
degree in Business Education from New York University.
74
*James
Bartholomew* has served as our President since June 2025. Prior to joining us, from
2021 to 2023, Mr. Bartholomew served as Senior Vice President at Adtalem Global Education, where he led both the Chamberlain Segment and
Adtalem Shared Services division. Prior to this role, he served as Senior Vice President at Adtalem Global Education, where he led the
Integration and Transformation division from 2020 to 2021. Previously, Mr. Bartholomew served as President and CEO of DeVry University
from 2017 to 2020, and as Chief Operating Officer of DeVry University from 2014 to 2017. From 2013 to 2014, Mr. Bartholomew served as
President at Le Cordon Bleu. Mr. Bartholomew holds an MBA in International Management from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Science
in Chemistry from Western Carolina University.
*Yanhui
Ma*joined the Board of Directors in May 2014. Dr. Ma is an independent non-executive director of the Company. Dr. Ma has been
involved in the creation, funding and development of several healthcare companies, especially joint venture corporations between China
and the United States. Dr. Ma also served on the Board of Directors of several healthcare-related corporations he founded or co-founded
in the U.S. and China, including Sinocare and SinoMed. Dr. Ma organized and co-founded the International Drug Delivery Society and previously
served as Vice Chairman of the Society. He also served as the Vice President of the US Silicon Valley Chinese Business Association.
*Justin
Chen*has served as a member of our Board of Directors since March 2013. Mr. Justin Chen is a counsel at PacGate Law Group. He
is a California-licensed attorney and is qualified to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Justin Chen graduated
from the University of Iowa, College of Law in 1998 with a Juris Doctor degree and graduated from Peking University, Department of Biochemistry
with a bachelors degree in 1992 and obtained his masters degree in Biochemistry and Juris Doctor degrees, both from the
University of Iowa in 1995 and 1998, respectively.
*Mingjun
Wang*has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2022 and is an independent non-executive director of the
Company. Mr. Mingjun Wang has over 30 years of operating and management experience in the education and publishing industries. Since
2003, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Beijing Century Oriental Science and Technology Inc. Since 2017, he has
been an executive partner of Edtech Venture, a U. S. venture capital firm. Mr. Wang is also an entrepreneur and independent investor
in the United States and China, with investment portfolios including Splashtop, Homatch, Century Oriental, OSA Technologies, 100E Inc.
etc. Previously, Mr. Wang held Editor in Chief and Vice President positions of the Publishing House of Electronics Industry of China,
and served as a member of the Board of Directors of China Electronics Association. Mr. Wang joined Pearson Education as an international
rights manager in 1999. Mr. Wang graduated from Stanford University, School of Business in 1998 with a Master of Science in Management
degree, obtained his Master of Electronics Engineering degree from Xidian University in 1988 and a Bachelor of Science degree from Shandong
University, Department of Mathematics in 1983.
The
business address of each of our executive officers and directors is Ambow Education Holding Ltd., 10080 N. Wolfe Rd, Suite SW3-200, Cupertino,
CA 95014, United States of America.
None
of our non-executive directors has any employment or service contract with our Company.
75
**Term
of Office**
We
have a staggered Board. The Directors are divided into Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively and are assigned to each class in
accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors.
| 
| 
| 
At
the first annual general meeting of Members (a person whose name is entered in the Register of Members as the holder of a share or
shares) following the initial meeting, the term of office of the Class I Directors shall expire and Class I Directors shall be elected
for a full term of three years. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
At
the second annual general meeting of Members following the initial meeting, the term of office of the Class II Directors shall expire
and Class II Directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
At
the third annual general meeting of Members following the initial meeting, the term of office of the Class III Directors shall expire
and Class III Directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
At
each succeeding annual general meeting of Members, Directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the Directors
of the class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting. | |
The
following table sets forth the names and classes of our directors as of the date of this annual report:
| 
Class
I | 
| 
Class
II | 
| 
Class
III | |
| 
Yigong
Justin Chen | 
| 
MingjunWang | 
| 
Jin
Huang | |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
Yanhui
Ma | |
A
director may be removed for negligence or other reasonable cause at any time before the expiration of his or her term by a special resolution
passed at a duly convened shareholder meeting by the holders of at least two-thirds of our outstanding shares being entitled to vote
in person or by proxy at such meeting or by unanimous written consent of our shareholders. Vacancies on our Board of Directors created
by such a removal or by resignation may be filled by resolution passed at a duly convened shareholder meeting by the holders of a majority
of our outstanding shares entitled to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting or by a majority vote of the remaining directors in
office. A director so elected or appointed shall hold office until the next succeeding annual shareholder meeting and may be nominated
for reelection at that time.
**Family
Relationships**
There
are no family relationships among any of our directors and executive officers.
76
**Involvement
in Certain Legal Proceedings**
To
the best of our knowledge, except as described below, none of our directors or executive officers has, during the past ten years:
| 
| 
| 
been
convicted in a criminal proceeding or been subject to a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor
offences); | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
had
any bankruptcy petition filed by or against the business or property of the person, or of any partnership, corporation or business
association of which he was a general partner or executive officer, either at the time of the bankruptcy filing or within two years
prior to that time; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
been
subject to any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction
or federal or state authority, permanently or temporarily enjoining, barring, suspending or otherwise limiting, his involvement in
any type of business, securities, futures, commodities, investment, banking, savings and loan, or insurance activities, or to be
associated with persons engaged in any such activity; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
been
found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Securities and Exchange Commission or the Commodity Futures
Trading Commission to have violated a federal or state securities or commodities law, and the judgment has not been reversed, suspended,
or vacated; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
been
the subject of, or a party to, any federal or state judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently
reversed, suspended or vacated (not including any settlement of a civil proceeding among private litigants), relating to an alleged
violation of any federal or state securities or commodities law or regulation, any law or regulation respecting financial institutions
or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution,
civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order, or any law or regulation prohibiting
mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
been
the subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization
(as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(26))), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29)
of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary
authority over its members or persons associated with a member. | |
Board
Practices
As
of December 31, 2025, our Board of Directors consisted of four directors:
Dr.
Jin Huang, Mr. Justin Chen, Mr. Mingjun Wang and Dr. Yanhui Ma. Our directors are elected for three-year terms.
We
believe that each of the non-executive members of our Board of Directors is an independent director as that term is used
in the NYSE corporate governance rules.
No
shareholder has the contractual right to designate persons to be elected to our Board of Directors, and our Sixth Amended and Restated
Memorandum and Articles of Association provides that directors will be elected upon a resolution passed at a duly convened shareholders
meeting by holders of a majority of our outstanding shares being entitled to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting, to hold office
until the expiration of their respective terms. There is no minimum shareholding or age limit requirement for qualification to serve
as a member of our Board of Directors.
77
A
director may vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which the director is interested, provided that such director has disclosed
his interest in such matter to the Board of Directors at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
In
addition, our Board of Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money, mortgage or charge its undertaking, property
and uncalled capital, and issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as a security for any
debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
****
**The
Boards Role in Risk Oversight**
One
person holds the positions of principal executive officer and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors
has not designated a lead director. Given the limited number of directors comprising the Board, the independent directors call and plan
their executive sessions collaboratively and, between board meetings, communicate with management and one another directly. In the circumstances,
the directors believe that formalizing in a lead director functions in which they all participate might detract from rather than enhance
performance of their responsibilities as directors. The Chairwoman of the Board chairs the board and stockholder meetings and participates
in preparing their agendas. The Chairwoman of the Board of Directors also serves as a focal point for communication between management
and the Board of Directors between Board meetings, although there is no restriction on communication between directors and management.
The Company believes that these arrangements afford the directors sufficient resources to supervise management effectively, without being
overly engaged in day-to-day operations.
The
Companys business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of four
directors, including three independent directors, namely Mr. Justin Chen, Mr. Mingjun Wang and Dr. Yanhui Ma. A director is not required
to hold any shares in the Company to qualify as a director.
The
Board of Directors has extensive involvement in the oversight of risk management related to the Company and its business and will accomplish
this oversight through the regular reporting to the Board of Directors by the audit committee. The audit committee represents the Board
by periodically reviewing the Companys accounting, reporting and financial practices, including the integrity of its financial
statements, the surveillance of administrative and financial controls and its compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Through
its regular meetings with management, including the finance, legal, internal audit and information technology functions, the audit committee
reviews and discusses all significant areas of the Companys business and summarize for the Board of Directors all areas of risk
and the appropriate mitigating factors. In addition, the Board of Directors receives periodic detailed operating performance reviews
from management.
**Board
Meetings and Committees**
Once
a quarter, and more often if circumstances require, our Board of Directors holds meetings. In addition to regularly scheduled Board meetings,
the independent directors of the Board meet on a regular basis to fulfill their responsibilities on each of the Board committees. The
independent directors also meet annually in executive sessions without the presence of management and non-independent directors.
The
Board of Directors held three meetings during 2025.During our last fiscal year, each of our directors attended at least 75% of
the aggregate of (i) the total number of Board meetings and (ii) the total number of meetings of the committees on which the director
served.
**Independent
Directors**
NYSE
American rules generally require that independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed companys board of directors.
Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including
family relationships, the Company has determined that Mr. Justin Chen, Mr. Mingjun Wang and Dr. Yanhui Ma, representing three of the
Companys four directors, are independent as that term is used in the NYSE corporate governance rules and applicable
SEC rules.
78
**Duties
of directors**
****
In
general, under Cayman Islands law, our directors have a duty of loyalty to act honestly, in good faith and in our best interests. Our
directors also have a duty to exercise the care, diligence and skills that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances.
In fulfilling their duty of care to us, our directors must ensure compliance with our memorandum and articles of association then in
effect. In certain limited circumstances, our shareholders have the right to seek damages through a derivative action in the name of
the Company if a duty owed by our directors is breached.
****
**Committees
of the Board of Directors**
The
Board of Directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a corporate governance and nominating committee,
which have the responsibilities and authority necessary to comply with applicable NYSE American and SEC rules. The Board may from time
to time establish other committees.
The Companys chief executive officer and other executive officers
will regularly report to the non-executive directors and the audit, compensation, corporate governance and nominating committees to ensure
effective and efficient oversight of the Companys activities and to assist in proper risk management and the ongoing evaluation
of management controls. We believe that the leadership structure of the Board will provide appropriate risk oversight of the Companys
activities.
*Audit
Committee*
Our
audit committee consists of Yigong Justin Chen, Mingjun Wang and Yanhui Ma, each of whom meets the independence standards of the NYSE
and the SEC. Yigong Justin Chen is the Chairperson of our audit committee. Mr. Yanhui Ma serves as our audit committee financial expert.
The responsibilities of our audit committee include, among other things:
| 
| 
| 
Appointing
and overseeing the work of our independent auditors, approving the compensation of our independent auditors, and, if appropriate,
discharging our independent auditors; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Pre-approving
engagements of our independent auditors to render audit services and/or establishing pre-approval policies and procedures for such
engagements and pre-approving any non-audit services proposed to be provided to us by our independent auditors; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Discussing
with management and our independent auditors significant financial reporting issues raised and judgments made in connection with
the preparation of our financial statements; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Reviewing
and discussing reports from our independent auditors on (1) the major critical accounting policies to be used, (2) significant alternative
treatments of financial information within the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, that have been discussed with
management, (3) ramifications of the use of such alternative disclosures and treatments, and (4) other material written communications
between our independent auditors and management; | |
| 
| 
| 
Resolving
any disagreements between management and our independent auditors regarding financial reporting; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Establishing
procedures for receiving, retaining and treating any complaints we receive regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or
auditing matters and procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting
or auditing matters; and | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Reporting
regularly to the full Board of Directors. | |
****
During 2025, the audit committee held one meeting.
79
*Compensation
Committee*
Our
compensation committee consists of Yanhui Ma and Mingjun Wang, each of whom is an independent director as that term is
used in the NYSE corporate governance rules. Mingjun Wang is the Chairperson of our compensation committee. Our compensation committee
assists the Board of Directors in reviewing and approving the compensation structure of our directors and officers, including all forms
of compensation to be provided to our directors and officers. The responsibilities of our compensation committee include, among other
things:
| 
| 
| 
Reviewing
and recommending to our Board of Directors with respect to the total compensation package for our executive officers; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Reviewing
and recommending to our Board of Directors with respect to director compensation, including equity-based compensation; and | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
Reviewing
periodically and recommending to the Board of Directors with respect to any long-term incentive compensation or equity plans, programs
or similar arrangements, annual bonuses, employee pension and welfare benefit plans. | |
During
2025, our compensation committee held two meetings.
**
*Corporate
governance and nominating committee*
Our
corporate governance and nominating committee consists of Yigong Justin Chen, Yanhui Ma and Mingjun Wang, each of whom is an independent
director as that term is used in the NYSE corporate governance rules. Mingjun Wang is the Chairperson of our corporate governance
and nominating committee. 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:
| 
| 
| 
identifying
and recommending to the Board nominees for election to the Board or for appointment to fill any vacancy that is anticipated or has
arisen on the Board; | |
| 
| 
| 
reviewing
annually with the Board the current composition of the Board in light of the characteristics of independence, age, skills, experience
and availability of service to us of its members and of anticipated needs; | |
| 
| 
| 
identifying
and recommending to the Board the directors to serve as members of the Boards committees; | |
| 
| 
| 
advising
the Board periodically regarding significant developments in law and practice of corporate governance and making recommendations
to the Board on all matters of corporate governance; | |
| 
| 
| 
monitoring
compliance with our code of business conduct and ethics, including reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of our procedures to
ensure proper compliance; and | |
| 
| 
| 
reporting
regularly to the entire Board of Directors. | |
**Code
of Ethics**
Our
Code of Conduct and Ethics, or Code, summarizes the ethical standards and key policies that guide our business conduct and applies to
our directors, executive officers and employees. The purpose of the Code is to promote ethical conduct and deter wrongdoing. The policies
outlined in the Code are designed to ensure that our directors, executive officers and employees act in accordance with not only the
letter but also the spirit of the laws and regulations that apply to our business. We expect our directors, executive officers and employees
to exercise good judgment, to uphold these standards in their day-to-day activities, and to comply with all applicable policies and procedures
in the course of their relationship with the company. A copy of our Code is posted on our website at www.ambow.com. Our Code is a code
of ethics, as defined in Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K. Please note that our Internet website address is provided as an inactive
textual reference only. The Company will make any legally required disclosures regarding amendments to, or waivers of, provisions of
its code of ethics on its Internet website.
80
**Insider
Trading Policy**
We
have adoptedinsider trading policies and procedures, governing the purchase, sale, and other dispositions of the Companys
securities by directors, senior management, and employees that are reasonably designed to promote compliance with applicable insider
trading laws, rules and regulations, and any listing standards applicable to the Company.
**Communication
with our Board of Directors**
Our
stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with our Board of Directors by sending written communication in an envelope
addressed to Board of Directors in care of the Chief Executive Officer, 10080 N. Wolfe Rd, Suite SW3-200, Cupertino, CA
95014, United States of America.
**Section
16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance****
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers, directors and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered
class of our equity securities to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers,
directors and ten percent shareholders are required by regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. We
believe that, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, all filing requirements Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 were not applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners.
**ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.**
**Summary
Compensation Table - Years Ended December 31, 2025 and 2024**
The
following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for the years ended December 31, 2025
and 2024:
| 
| | 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Non-Equity | | | 
Nonqualified | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Incentive | | | 
Deferred | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
Stock | | | 
Option | | | 
Plan | | | 
compensation | | | 
Other | | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | 
Salary | | | 
Bonus | | | 
Awards | | | 
Awards | | | 
Compensation | | | 
earnings | | | 
Compensation | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
| | 
(In thousands) | | |
| 
Name
and Principal Position | | 
Year | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | |
| 
Jin
Huang, Chief Executive Officer, 
Chairwomen of the Board and Director | | 
12/31/25 | | 
$ | 150 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 42 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 192 | | |
| 
| | 
12/31/24 | | 
$ | 150 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 150 | | |
| 
| | 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Chiao-Ling
Hsu, Chief Operating Officer, and 
President of NewSchool of Architecture & Design | | 
12/31/25 | | 
$ | 150 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 32 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 182 | | |
| 
| | 
12/31/24 | | 
$ | 150 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 150 | | |
| 
| | 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
James
Bartholomew, President (1) | | 
12/31/25 | | 
$ | 35 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 25 | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | 60 | | |
| 
| | 
12/31/24 | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | -- | | | 
$ | - | | | 
$ | - | | |
| 
(1) | 
Mr.
Bartholomew joined the Company in May 2025, and therefore did not receive compensation for a full fiscal year in 2025. | |
81
**Employment
Agreements**
****
**Service
agreement with Dr. Jin Huang**
****
We
entered into a service agreement dated August 28, 2007 with Dr. Jin Huang, our Chief Executive Officer. The initial employment term under
this service agreement was two years, automatically extending by successive periods of 12 months, unless we or Dr. Huang give the other
party a written notice three months prior to the commencement of the next 12-month period indicating that the notifying party does not
wish to extend the employment term, in which case the employment term will expire at the end of such three-month notice period.
In
the event that we terminate Dr. Huangs employment for cause, or if Dr. Huang voluntarily resigns (other than a resignation for
good cause following a change of control), Dr. Huang will not be entitled to receive any severance benefits, provided that Dr. Huang
will be able to exercise any vested and unexercised awards under our equity incentive plans in accordance with the terms set forth therein.
In
the event that we terminate Dr. Huangs employment under circumstances other than a change of control and for any reason other
than for cause or voluntary termination, or if within 24 months after a change of control, Dr. Huang is involuntarily terminated (other
than for cause) or voluntarily resigns for good cause, Dr. Huang will be entitled to certain severance benefits, including:
| 
| 
| 
A
lump sum payment consisting of: (i) an amount equal to one-time Dr. Huangs then annual salary; (ii) a prorated bonus based
on target opportunity for the year; and (iii) an amount equal to 12 months housing allowance; | |
| 
| 
| 
The
right to exercise any and all unexercised stock options granted under our equity incentive plans in accordance with their terms,
as if all such unexercised stock options were fully vested, within one year of the effective date of such termination; and | |
| 
| 
| 
Any
other bonus amounts or benefits to which Dr. Huang may be entitled under any of our benefit plans. | |
Pursuant
to the service contract, Dr. Huang also has agreed to certain non-competition undertakings during the term of her employment and for
a period of one-year following any termination of her employment. These non-competition undertakings include that Dr. Huang may not,
during the one-year period following any termination of her employment, (i) solicit or entice away any of our clients or prospective
clients, (ii) have any business dealings with any of our clients or prospective clients, (iii) solicit or entice away any individual
who is employed by us as a director or in a managerial, executive or technical capacity, or employ or engage any such individual, or
(iv) carry on, set up, be employed, engaged or interested in a business anywhere in the PRC which is in competition with our business
as of the termination date. These non-competition undertakings will not prohibit Dr. Huang from seeking or doing any business that is
not in direct or indirect competition with our business, nor will they prevent Dr. Huang from holding shares or other capital not amounting
to more than 5% of the total issued share capital of any company which is listed on a regulated market. Dr. Huang is entitled to receive
one-half of her annual base salary over the post-termination non-competition period as consideration for her non-competition undertakings,
which are subject to our making such payments.
Cause
means that Dr. Huang habitually neglects her duties to us or engages in gross misconduct during the term of the service agreement and
gross misconduct means her misappropriation of funds, securities fraud, insider trading, unauthorized possession of corporate
property, the sale, distribution, possession or use of a controlled substance, conviction of any criminal offense or entry of a plea
of nolo contendere (or similar plea) to a charge of such an offense or a breach of the service agreement and failure to cure such breach
within ten days after written notice thereof.
82
Good
cause means, without Dr. Huangs express prior written consent, (i) she is assigned duties materially inconsistent with
her position, duties, responsibilities, or status with the Company which substantially vary from that which existed immediately prior
to the change of control, and such reassignment is not directly related to her incapacity, disability or any cause; (ii)
she experiences a change in her reporting levels, titles, or business location (more than 50 miles from her current business location
or residence, whichever is closer to the new business location) which substantially varies from that which existed immediately prior
to the change of control, and such change is not directly related to her incapacity, disability or any cause; (iii) she
is removed from any position held immediately prior to the change of control, or if she fails to obtain reelection to any position held
immediately prior to the change of control, which removal or failure to reelect is not directly related to her incapacity or disability,
cause or death; (iv) she experiences a reduction in salary of more than ten percent below that which existed immediately
prior to the change of control, and such reduction is not directly related to her incapacity, disability or any cause;
(v) she experiences an elimination or reduction of any employee benefit, business expenses, reimbursement or allotment, incentive bonus
program, or any other manner or form of compensation available to her immediately prior to the change of control and such change is not
otherwise applied to others in the Company with her position or title and is not directly related to her incapacity, disability or any
cause; or (vi) we fail to obtain from any successor, before the succession takes place, a written commitment obligating
the successor to perform the service agreement in accordance with all of its terms and conditions.
Change
in control means (i) any merger, consolidation, or sale of the Company such that any individual, entity or group acquires beneficial
ownership of 50 percent or more of our voting capital stock, (ii) any transaction in which we sell substantially all of our material
assets, (iii) our dissolution or liquidation, (iv) any change in the control of the composition of our Board of Directors such that the
shareholders who as of the date of the service agreement controlled the composition of our Board of Directors shall cease to have such
control, or (v) there has occurred a change of control, as such term (or any term of like import) is defined in any of
the following documents which is in effect with respect to us at the time in question: any note, evidence of indebtedness or agreement
to lend funds to us, any option, incentive or employee benefit plan of us or any employment, severance, termination or similar agreement
with any person who is then our employee.
**Employment
Agreements with our other Executive Officers**
****
We
have entered into employment agreements with most of our executive officers. Under these agreements, most of our executive officers are
employed for a specified time period subject to renewal. As stipulated under the applicable laws, we may be required to provide severance
compensation as expressly required by applicable law. In certain cases, in the event of termination without cause, we are also required
to provide severance compensation in accordance with the terms of the applicable employment agreement.
**Confidential
information and invention assignment agreements**
****
We
have also entered into a confidential information and invention assignment agreement with each of our executive officers. We require
all of our employees to execute the same confidential information and invention assignment agreement or an agreement on substantially
similar terms. Under the terms of the agreement, each executive officer has agreed to hold, both during and after such executive officers
term of employment, in strictest confidence and not to use, except for our benefit, or to disclose to any person, firm or corporation
without written authorization, any confidential information. Confidential information does not include any information that has become
publicly known and made generally available through no wrongful act of our executive officers. Each executive officer has also agreed
during such officers term of employment not to improperly use or disclose any proprietary information or trade secrets of any
former or current employer or other person or entity unless consented to in writing by such employer, person or entity. In addition,
each executive officer has agreed to disclose to us, hold in trust for the sole right and benefit of us and assign to us, all right,
title and interest in and to, any and all inventions, original works of authorship, developments, concepts, improvements or trade secrets,
whether or not patentable or registerable under copyright or similar laws, which such executive officer may solely or jointly conceive,
develop or reduce to practice or cause to be conceived, developed or reduced to practice, during the period of employment. Furthermore,
each executive officer has agreed to not directly or indirectly solicit, induce, recruit or encourage any employees to leave their employment
during the twelve-month period immediately following such executive officers termination of employment.
83
**Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End**
The
following table sets forth, for each named executive officer, information regarding unexercised stock options, unvested stock awards,
and equity incentive plan awards outstanding as of December 31, 2025.
| 
| | 
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2025 FISCAL YEAR END | | |
| 
| | 
OPTION AWARDS | | 
STOCK AWARDS | | |
| 
Name | | 
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#) Exercisable | | | 
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options
(#) Unexercisable | | | 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised Unearned Options (#) | | | 
Option Exercise Price ($) | | | 
Option Expiration Date | | 
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not
Vested (#) | | | 
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have
Not Vested ($) | | | 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned
Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | | | 
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value
of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | | |
| 
Jin Huang, CEO and Acting CFO | | 
| - | | | 
| 400,000.00 | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 0.13 | | | 
3/27/2035 | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Chiao-Ling Hsu, COO and President of NewSchool of Architecture & Design | | 
| - | | | 
| 300,000.00 | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 0.13 | | | 
3/27/2035 | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
James Bartholomew, President | | 
| - | | | 
| 200,000.00 | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 0.16 | | | 
5/13/2035 | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
**Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation**
We
are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information
under this item.
**Pension
Benefits**
****
None
of Ambows named executive officers participate in or have account balances in qualified or nonqualified defined benefit plans
sponsored by it.
**Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation**
****
None
of Ambows named executive officers participate in or have account balances in nonqualified defined contribution plans or other
deferred compensation plans maintained by it.
**Director
Compensation**
We
primarily use monthly fees and stock option grants to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board. This compensation
reflected the financial condition of the Company. In setting director compensation, we consider the significant amount of time that directors
expend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the skill-level required by our members of the Board. During the year ended
December 31, 2025, Dr. Jin Huang did not receive any compensation for her services as director. The compensation disclosed in the Summary
Compensation Table above represents the total compensation for Dr. Jin Huang.
Our
independent non-employee directors are compensated in stock option grants. There is no formal stock compensation plan for independent
non-employee directors. Our non-employee directors received the following compensation during the year ended December 31, 2025:
| 
| | 
Fees | | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Non-equity | | | 
Nonqualified | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
Earned | | | 
| | | 
| | | 
Incentive | | | 
Deferred | | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
orPaidin | | | 
Stock | | | 
Option | | | 
Plan | | | 
Compensation | | | 
Other | | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
Cash | | | 
Awards | | | 
Awards | | | 
Compensation | | | 
Earnings | | | 
Compensation | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
(In thousands) | | |
| 
Name | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | | 
($) | | |
| 
Yanhui Ma | | 
$ | - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 21 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 21 | | |
| 
Yigong Justin Chen | | 
$ | - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 21 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 21 | | |
| 
Mingjun Wang | | 
$ | - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 32 | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
$ | 32 | | |
84
**Stock
Incentive Plans**
**Equity-based
compensation plans**
****
**2010
Equity Incentive Plan**
****
On
June 1, 2010, we adopted the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2010 Plan, which became effective upon the completion of
our IPO on August 5, 2010, and terminated automatically 10 years after its adoption.
**Amended
and Restated 2010 Equity Incentive Plan**
****
On
December 21, 2018, we amended and restated the 2010 Plan, which became effective upon the approval of the shareholders at the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders on December 21, 2018. The Amended 2010 Plan will continue in effect for 10 years from the date adopted by the
Board, unless terminated earlier under section 18 of the Plan.
*Share
reserve*. The maximum aggregate number of our ordinary shares that may be issued under our Amended 2010 Plan is such number of shares
as shall be equal to 6,500,000 Class A Ordinary Shares, plus any shares that subject to stock options or similar awards granted under
the 2005 Stock Plan that expire or otherwise terminate without having been exercised in full, and shares issued pursuant to awards granted
under the 2005 Stock Plan that are forfeited to or converted by the Company, with the maximum number of shares to be added to the Amended
2010 Plan equal to 293,059 Class A Ordinary Shares. In addition, our Amended 2010 Plan provides for increases in the number of shares
available for issuance thereunder on the closing day of each future registration before the fiscal years ending December 31, 2020, in
the amount equal to 15% of the Class A Ordinary Shares issued in each registration.
Shares
issued pursuant to awards under the Amended 2010 Plan that we repurchase or that are forfeited, as well as shares used to pay the exercise
price of an award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an award, will become available for future grant under the
Amended 2010 Plan. In addition, to the extent that an award is paid out in cash rather than shares, such cash payment will not reduce
the number of shares available for issuance under the Amended 2010 Plan. As of December 31, 2023, the Company granted up to 7,305,222 Class
A Ordinary Shares of the Company to its employees, outside directors and consultants.
*Administration*.
Our Board of Directors or a committee of our Board of Directors administers our Amended 2010 Plan. Different committees with respect
to different groups of service providers may administer our Amended 2010 Plan. Subject to the provisions of our Amended 2010 Plan, the
administrator has the power to determine the terms of the awards, including the recipients, the exercise price, the number of shares
subject to each such award, the vesting schedule applicable to the awards, together with any vesting acceleration, and the form of consideration
payable upon exercise. The administrator also has the authority to modify or amend awards, to prescribe rules and to construe and interpret
the Amended 2010 Plan and to institute an exchange program whereby the exercise prices of outstanding awards may be reduced, outstanding
awards may be surrendered in exchange for awards with a higher or lower exercise price, or outstanding awards may be transferred to a
third party.
*Options*.
The administrator may grant incentive stock options (ISOs) or non-statutory stock options (NSOs) under our
Amended 2010 Plan. The exercise price of options granted under our Amended 2010 Plan must at least be equal to the fair market value
of our ordinary shares on the date of grant and its term may not exceed 10 years, except that with respect to any participant who owns
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our outstanding shares, or of certain of our parent or subsidiary
corporations, the term of an ISO must not exceed five years and the exercise price of such ISO must equal at least 110% of the fair market
value on the grant date. The administrator determines the term of all other options.
85
After
termination of an employee, director or consultant, he or she may exercise his or her option, to the extent vested as of such date of
termination, for the period of time stated in the option agreement. In the absence of a specified period of time in the option agreement,
the option will remain exercisable for a period of three months following termination (or 12 months in the event of a termination due
to death or disability). However, in no event may an option be exercised later than the expiration of its term.
*Share
appreciation rights*. Share appreciation rights may be granted under our Amended 2010 Plan. Share appreciation rights allow the recipient
to receive the appreciation in the fair market value of our ordinary shares between the exercise date and the date of grant. The exercise
price of share appreciation rights granted under our Amended 2010 Plan must at least be equal to the fair market value of our ordinary
shares on the date of grant. The administrator determines the terms of share appreciation rights, including when such rights vest and
become exercisable and whether to settle such awards in cash or with our ordinary shares, or a combination thereof. Share appreciation
rights expire under the same rules that apply to options.
*Restricted
shares*. Restricted shares may be granted under our Amended 2010 Plan. Restricted share awards are ordinary shares that are subject
to various restrictions, including restrictions on transferability and forfeiture provisions. Restricted shares will vest and the restrictions
on such shares will lapse, in accordance with terms and conditions established by the administrator. The administrator will determine
the number of restricted shares granted to any employee. The administrator may impose whatever conditions to vesting it determines to
be appropriate. For example, the administrator may set restrictions based on the achievement of specific performance goals and/or continued
service to us. Recipients of restricted share awards generally will have voting and dividend rights with respect to such shares upon
grant without regard to vesting, unless the administrator provides otherwise. Restricted shares that do not vest for any reason will
be forfeited by the recipient and will revert to us.
*Restricted
share units*. Restricted share units may be granted under our Amended 2010 Plan. Each restricted share unit granted is a bookkeeping
entry representing an amount equal to the fair market value of an ordinary share. Restricted share units are similar to awards of restricted
shares, but are not settled unless the award vests. The awards may be settled in shares, cash, or a combination of both, as the administrator
may determine. The administrator determines the terms and conditions of restricted share units, including the vesting criteria and the
form and timing of payment.
*Performance
units and performance shares*. Performance units and performance shares may be granted under our Amended 2010 Plan. Performance units
and performance shares are awards that will result in a payment to a participant only if performance goals established by the administrator
are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. The administrator will establish organizational or individual performance goals in its discretion,
which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or the value of performance units and performance
shares to be paid out to participants. Performance units will have an initial dollar value established by the administrator prior to
the grant date. Performance shares will have an initial value equal to the fair market value of our ordinary shares on the grant date.
Payment for performance units and performance shares may be made in cash or in our ordinary shares with equivalent value, or in some
combination, as determined by the administrator.
*Transferability*.
Unless the administrator provides otherwise, our Amended 2010 Plan does not allow for the transfer of awards other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution and only the recipient of an award may exercise an award during his or her lifetime.
*Certain
adjustments*. In the event of certain changes in our capitalization, to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential
benefits available under the Amended 2010 Plan, the administrator will make adjustments to one or more of the numbers and class of shares
that may be delivered under the plan and/or the number, class and price of shares covered by each outstanding award and the numerical
share limits contained in the plan. In the event of our proposed liquidation or dissolution, the administrator will notify participants
as soon as practicable and all awards will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed transaction.
86
*Change
in control transactions*. Our Amended 2010 Plan provides that in the event of our merger or change in control, as defined in the Amended
2010 Plan, each outstanding award will be treated as the administrator determines, except that if the successor corporation or its parent
or subsidiary does not assume or substitute an equivalent award for each outstanding award without the prior written consent of the participant,
then such award will fully vest, all restrictions on such award will lapse, all performance goals or other vesting criteria applicable
to such award will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and such award will become fully exercisable, if applicable, for a specified
period prior to the transaction. The award will then terminate upon the expiration of the specified period of time.
*Term,
Amendment and Termination*. Our Amended 2010 Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. It will continue in effect
for a term of ten (10) years from the date adopted by the Board, unless terminated earlier under Section 18 of the Plan. Our Board of
Directors has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, provided such action does not impair the rights
of any participant with respect to any outstanding awards.
**2024
Equity Incentive Plan**
On
December 20, 2024, we adopted the Companys 2024 Equity Incentive Plan (the Plan), which became effective upon the
approval of the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on December 20, 2024.
The
2024 Plan is a comprehensive incentive compensation plan under which we can grant equity-based and other incentive awards to our officers,
employees, directors, consultants and advisers. The purpose of the Plan is to help us attract, motivate and retain such persons with
awards under the Plan and thereby enhance shareholder value.
*Administration*.
The Plan is administered by the Board, and upon consummation of this offering will be administered by the compensation committee of the
Board, which shall consist of three members of the Board, each of whom is a non-employee director within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and independent for purposes of any applicable listing requirements. If a
member of the compensation committee is eligible to receive an award under the Plan, such compensation committee member shall have no
authority under the plan with respect to his or her own award. Among other things, the compensation committee has complete discretion,
subject to the express limits of the Plan, to determine the directors, employees and nonemployee consultants to be granted an award,
the type of award to be granted the terms and conditions of the award, the form of payment to be made and/or the number of shares of
common stock subject to each award, the exercise price of each option and base price of each stock appreciation right (SAR),
the term of each award, the vesting schedule for an award, whether to accelerate vesting, the value of the common stock underlying the
award, and the required withholding, if any. The compensation committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding award, provided
that the participants consent to such action is required if the action would impair the participants rights or entitlements
with respect to that award. The compensation committee is also authorized to construe the award agreements, and may prescribe rules relating
to the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the compensation committee does not have any authority to grant or modify an award under
the Plan with terms or conditions that would cause the grant, vesting or exercise thereof to be considered nonqualified deferred
compensation subject to Code Section 409A, unless such award is structured to be exempt from or comply with all requirements of
Code Section 409A.
*Grant
of Awards; Shares Available for Awards*. The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, SARs, performance share awards, performance
unit awards, distribution equivalent right awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and unrestricted stock awards
to non-employee directors, officers, employees and nonemployee consultants of Ambow Education Holding Ltd. or its affiliates. The maximum
aggregate number of Shares that may be awarded and sold under the Plan is 6,500,000 ordinary shares. The number of ordinary shares available
for issuance under the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of January each calendar year during the term of the
Plan, beginning with the calendar year 2025, resulting in the aggregate number of ordinary shares available under this Plan equaling
fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding on the last trading day in December of the immediately preceding
calendar year minus the total number of reserved and available shares under the Companys 2005 Plan and 2010 Plan. No more than
6,500,000 shares of common stock in the aggregate may be issued under the Plan in connection with incentive stock options. Shares shall
be deemed to have been issued under the Plan solely to the extent actually issued and delivered pursuant to an award. If any award granted
under the Plan expires, is canceled, or terminates unexercised or is forfeited, the number of shares subject thereto is again available
for grant under the Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated, until the tenth (10th) anniversary
of the date on which it is adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any
time with respect to any shares for which awards have not theretofore been granted; provided, however, that the Plans termination
shall not materially and adversely impair the rights of a holder, without the consent of the holder, with respect to any award previously
granted.
87
*Automatic
Share Reserve Increase*. The number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan will be increased on the closing day of each future
Registration (including closing of over-allotment options) during the next two fiscal years ending December 31, 2026, in an amount equal
to fifteen percent (15%) of the Shares offered in each Registration.
Future
new hires and additional non-employee directors and/or consultants would be eligible to participate in the Plan as well. The number of
stock options and/or shares of restricted stock to be granted to executives and directors cannot be determined at this time as the grant
of stock options and/or shares of restricted stock is dependent upon various factors such as hiring requirements and job performance.
*Stock
Options*. The Plan provides for either incentive stock options (ISOs), which are intended to meet the
requirements for special federal income tax treatment under Section 422 of the Code, or nonqualified stock options (NSOs).
Stock options may be granted on such terms and conditions as the compensation committee may determine, which shall be specified in the
option agreement; provided, however, that the per share exercise price under a stock option may not be less than the fair market value
of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the term of the stock option may not exceed 10 years (110% of such value and five
years in the case of an ISO granted to an employee who owns (or is deemed to own) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of capital stock of our Company or a parent or subsidiary of our Company). ISOs may only be granted to employees. In addition,
the aggregate fair market value of common stock covered by one or more ISOs (determined at the time of grant), which are exercisable
for the first time by an employee during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Any excess is treated as an NSO.
*Stock
Appreciation Rights*. A SAR entitles the participant, upon exercise, to receive an amount, in cash or stock or a combination thereof,
equal to the increase in the fair market value of the underlying common stock between the date of grant and the date of exercise. The
compensation committee shall set forth in the applicable SAR award agreement the terms and conditions of the SAR, including the base
value for the SAR (which shall not be less than the fair market value of a share on the date of grant), the number of shares subject
to the SAR and the period during which the SAR may be exercised and any other special rules and/or requirements which the compensation
committee imposes on the SAR. No SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date of grant. SARs may be
granted in tandem with, or independently of, stock options granted under the Plan. A SAR granted in tandem with a stock option (i) is
exercisable only at such times, and to the extent, that the related stock option is exercisable in accordance with the procedure for
exercise of the related stock option; (ii) terminates upon termination or exercise of the related stock option (likewise, the common
stock option granted in tandem with a SAR terminates upon exercise of the SAR); (iii) is transferable only with the related stock option;
and (iv) if the related stock option is an ISO, may be exercised only when the value of the stock subject to the stock option exceeds
the exercise price of the stock option. A SAR that is not granted in tandem with a stock option is exercisable at such times as the compensation
committee may specify.
*Performance
Shares and Performance Unit Awards*. Performance share and performance unit awards entitle the participant to receive cash or shares
of common stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. In the case of performance units, the right to acquire the units
is denominated in cash values. The compensation committee shall set forth in the applicable award agreement the performance goals and
objectives and the period of time to which such goals and objectives shall apply. If such goals and objectives are achieved, such distribution
of shares, or payment in cash, as the case may be, shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day of the third (3rd)
calendar month next following the end of the Companys fiscal year to which such performance goals and objectives relate, unless
otherwise structured to comply with Code Section 409A.
*Distribution
Equivalent Right Awards*. A distribution equivalent right award entitles the participant to receive bookkeeping credits, cash payments
and/or common stock distributions equal in amount to the distributions that would have been made to the participant had the participant
held a specified number of shares of common stock during the period the participant held the distribution equivalent right. A distribution
equivalent right may be awarded as a component of another award (but not an option or SAR award) under the Plan, where, if so awarded,
such distribution equivalent right will expire or be forfeited by the participant under the same conditions as under such other award.
The compensation committee shall set forth in the applicable distribution equivalent rights award agreement the terms and conditions,
if any, including whether the holder is to receive credits currently in cash, is to have such credits reinvested (at fair market value
determined as of the date of reinvestment) in additional ordinary shares, or is to be entitled to choose among such alternatives.
88
*Restricted
Stock Awards*. A restricted stock award is a grant or sale of common stock to the holder, subject to such restrictions on transferability,
risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the compensation committee or the Board of Directors may impose, which restrictions
may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or
future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the compensation committee or the Board of Directors may determine
at the date of grant or purchase or thereafter. If provided for under the restricted stock award agreement, a participant who is granted
or has purchased restricted stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote the restricted stock and
the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the compensation committee
or the Board of Directors or in the award agreement). During the restricted period applicable to the restricted stock, subject to certain
exceptions, the restricted stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of by the participant.
*Restricted
Stock Unit Awards*. A restricted stock unit award provides for a grant of shares or a cash payment to be made to the holder upon the
satisfaction of predetermined individual service-related vesting requirements, based on the number of units awarded to the holder. The
compensation committee shall set forth in the applicable restricted stock unit award agreement the individual service-based vesting requirements
which the holder would be required to satisfy before the holder would become entitled to payment and the number of units awarded to the
holder. The holder of a restricted stock unit shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the fair market value of an ordinary
share, or one ordinary share, as determined in the sole discretion of the compensation committee and as set forth in the restricted stock
unit award agreement, for each restricted stock unit subject to such restricted stock unit award, if and to the extent the holder satisfies
the applicable vesting requirements. Such payment or distribution shall be made no later than by the fifteenth (15th) day
of the third (3rd) calendar month next following the end of the calendar year in which the restricted stock unit first becomes
vested, unless otherwise structured to comply with Code Section 409A. A restricted stock unit shall not constitute an equity interest
in the Company and shall not entitle the Holder to voting rights, dividends or any other rights associated with ownership of Shares prior
to the time the Holder shall receive a distribution of Shares
*Unrestricted
Stock Awards*. An unrestricted stock award is a grant or sale of shares of our common stock to the employees, non-employee directors
or non-employee consultants that are not subject to transfer, forfeiture or other restrictions, in consideration for past services rendered
to the Company or an affiliate or for other valid consideration.
*Adjustments.*The
aggregate number of shares of common stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan, the individual limitations, the number
of shares of common stock covered by each outstanding award, and the price per share of common stock underlying each outstanding award
will be equitably and proportionally adjusted or substituted, as determined by the compensation committee in its sole discretion, as
to the number, price or kind of stock or other consideration subject to such awards in connection with stock dividends, extraordinary
cash dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, combinations,
exchanges, or other relevant changes in our capitalization affecting our common stock or our capital structure which occurs after the
date of grant of any award, in connection with any extraordinary dividend declared and paid in respect of stock or in the event of any
change in applicable law or circumstances that results in or could result in, as determined by the compensation committee in its sole
discretion, any substantial dilution or enlargement of the rights intended to be granted to, or available for, participants in the Plan.
*Change-in-Control
Provisions*. The compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, at the time an award is granted or at any time prior to, coincident
with or after the time of a change in control, cause any award either (i) to be cancelled in consideration of a payment in cash or other
consideration in amount per share equal to the excess, if any, of the price or implied price per share of common stock in the change
in control over the per share exercise, base or purchase price of such award, which may be paid immediately or over the vesting schedule
of the award; (ii) to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore, by the surviving corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such
surviving corporation following such change in control; (iii) accelerate any time periods, or waive any other conditions, relating to
the vesting, exercise, payment or distribution of an award so that any award to a holder whose employment has been terminated as a result
of a change in control may be vested, exercised, paid or distributed in full on or before a date fixed by the compensation committee;
(iv) to be purchased from a holder whose employment has been terminated as a result of a change of control, upon the holders request,
for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise, payment or distribution of such rights had
such award been currently exercisable or payable; or (v) terminate any then outstanding award or make any other adjustment to the awards
then outstanding as the compensation committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect such transaction or change. The number of shares
subject to any award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
*Amendment
and Termination*. The compensation committee may adopt, amend and rescind rules relating to the administration of the Plan, and amend,
suspend or terminate the Plan, but no such amendment or termination will be made that materially and adversely impairs the rights of
any participant with respect to any award received thereby under the Plan without the participants consent, other than amendments
that are necessary to permit the granting of awards in compliance with applicable laws.
89
**ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.**
**Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management**
The
following table sets forth, as of the date of this annual report, certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of the Class
A Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares by (i) each shareholder known by the Company to own beneficially five percent or more of
the outstanding Class A Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares; (ii) each director and the nominee for director of the Company;
(iii) each executive officer of the Company; and (iv) all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group, and their percentage
ownership and voting power.
We
have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as indicated in the footnotes below, we believe,
based on the information furnished to us, that the persons named in the following table have sole voting and investment power with respect
to all ordinary shares that they beneficially own, subject to applicable community property laws. As of the date of this annual report,
the percentage of beneficial ownership for holders of Class A Ordinary Shares is based on 52,419,109 Class A Ordinary Shares issued and
outstanding and the percentage of beneficial ownership for holders of Class C Ordinary Shares is based on 4,708,415 Class C Ordinary
Shares issued and outstanding, both of which classes of ordinary shares exclude unvested restricted shares. On all matters subject to
vote at general meetings of the Company, the holders of Class A Ordinary Shares are entitled to one vote per share and the holders of
Class C Ordinary Shares are entitled to ten votes per share.
Unless
otherwise indicated, the address of such individual is c/o Ambow Education Holding Ltd., 10080 N. Wolfe RD, Suite SW3-200, Cupertino,
CA 95014.
| 
| | 
Shares beneficially owned (1) | | | 
Percentage of votes held | | |
| 
| | 
Number
of | | | 
Percentage
of | | | 
Number
of | | | 
Percentage
of | | | 
Number
of | | | 
Percentage
of | | | 
Based on
total | | | 
Based on
total | | | 
Based on | | |
| 
| | 
Class A | | | 
Class A | | | 
Class C | | | 
Class C | | | 
total | | | 
total | | | 
Class A | | | 
Class C | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
ordinary | | | 
Ordinary | | | 
Ordinary | | | 
ordinary | | | 
ordinary | | | 
ordinary | | | 
ordinary | | | 
ordinary | | | 
Ordinary | | |
| 
Name | | 
shares | | | 
shares (%) | | | 
shares | | | 
shares (%) | | | 
shares | | | 
shares (%) | | | 
shares(%) | | | 
shares (%) | | | 
shares (%) | | |
| 
Directors and Executive Officers: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Jin Huang (2)(5) | | 
| 351,312 | | | 
| 0.67 | % | | 
| 4,708,415 | | | 
| 100 | % | | 
| 5,059,727 | | | 
| 8.86 | % | | 
| 0.67 | % | | 
| 100 | % | | 
| 47.67 | % | |
| 
Yigong Justin Chen | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Mingjun Wang | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Yanhui Ma | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Chiao-Ling Hsu | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
James Bartholomew | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
All executive officers and directors of the Company as a group (6 persons) (4) | | 
| 1,138,430 | | | 
| 2.17 | % | | 
| 4,708,415 | | | 
| 100 | % | | 
| 5,846,845 | | | 
| 10.23 | % | | 
| 2.17 | % | | 
| 100 | % | | 
| 48.46 | % | |
| 
5% and Greater Shareholders | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
New Summit Global Limited | | 
| 2,703,475 | | | 
| 5.16 | % | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 2,703,475 | | | 
| 4.73 | % | | 
| 5.16 | % | | 
| | | | 
| 2.72 | % | |
| 
CEIHL Partners (I) Limited (3) | | 
| 3,420,375 | | | 
| 6.53 | % | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 3,420,375 | | | 
| 5.99 | % | | 
| 6.53 | % | | 
| | | | 
| 3.44 | % | |
| 
CEIHL Partners (II) Limited (3) | | 
| 11,144,636 | | | 
| 21.26 | % | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 11,144,636 | | | 
| 19.51 | % | | 
| 21.26 | % | | 
| | | | 
| 11.20 | % | |
| 
New Flourish Holdings Limited (5)(6) | | 
| 770,212 | | | 
| 1.47 | % | | 
| 4,288,415 | | | 
| 91.08 | % | | 
| 5,058,627 | | | 
| 8.85 | % | | 
| 1.47 | % | | 
| 91.08 | % | | 
| 43.87 | % | |
| 
Spin-Rich Ltd. (5)(7) | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 420,000 | | | 
| 8.92 | % | | 
| 420,000 | | | 
| 0.74 | % | | 
| | | | 
| 8.92 | % | | 
| 4.22 | % | |
Note:
Shares of executive officers and directors less than 1% of outstanding shares and shares of shareholders less than 5% of outstanding
shares were not shown.
| 
(1) | 
In
computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of a person, shares subject to warrants
or other derivative securities held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding.
Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of each other person. Except
as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have
sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares. | |
90
| 
(2) | 
Of
the 351,312 Class A Ordinary Shares (i) 287,214 of the Class A Ordinary Shares are owned by New Flourish Holdings Limited (New
Flourish) for the benefit of Dr. Huang and certain officers of the Company, and (ii) 64,098 of the Class A Ordinary Shares
are owned directly by Dr. Huang. Dr. Huang as the sole director of New Flourish has voting control and investment power over the
Class A Ordinary Shares held by New Flourish, but disclaims beneficial ownership over such shares, which are held for the benefit
of certain officers of the Company. | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
(3) | 
Mrs.
Ye Wen is the sole shareholder of CEIHL Partners (I) Limited and CEIHL Partners (II) Limited (collectively CEIHL).
CEIHL Partners (I) Limited holds 3,420,375 Class A Ordinary Shares and CEIHL Partners (II) Limited holds 11,144,636 Class A Ordinary
Shares. As the sole shareholder of CEIHL Partners (I) Limited and CEIHL Partners (II) Limited, Mrs. Ye Wen has sole voting and dispositive
power over the Class A Ordinary Shares held by CEIHL. | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
(4) | 
Includes
Class A Ordinary Shares and Class C Ordinary Shares held by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
(5) | 
Of
the 4,708,415 Class C Ordinary Shares, (i) 4,288,415 of the Class C Ordinary Shares are owned by New Flourish for the benefit of
Dr. Jin Huang, and (ii) 420,000 of the Class C Ordinary Shares are owned by Spin-Rich Ltd. Dr. Huang as the sole director of New
Flourish has voting control and investment power over the Class C Ordinary Shares held by New Flourish. | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
(6) | 
Dr.
Jin Huang, as the sole director of New Flourish has voting control and investment power over the Class A Ordinary Shares and the
Class C Ordinary Shares owned by New Flourish. Dr. Huang disclaims beneficial ownership over the Class A Ordinary Shares held by
New Flourish, which are held for the | |
| 
| 
| |
| 
(7) | 
Dr.
Jin Huang has sole voting control and investment power over Class C Ordinary Shares owned by Spin-Rich Ltd. | |
Except
as disclosed in this annual report, there are no relationships between the parties. Other than the voting proxies given to Dr. Jin Huang,
and the contractual control arrangements disclosed in this annual report. We are not aware of any relationship or arrangement between
or among any shareholders that would enable any of them to control, in substance or contractually, any other shareholders vote.
As
of the date of this annual report, approximately 57,127,524 of our ordinary shares were issued and outstanding. Citibank, N.A., the depositary,
has advised us that, as of the date of this annual report, 898,474 ADRs, representing 17,969,498 underlying ordinary shares were outstanding.
The number of beneficial owners of our ADR in the United States is likely to be much larger than the number of record holders of our
ordinary shares in the United States.
**Securities
Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans**
The
following table sets forth certain information about the securities authorized for issuance under our incentive plans as of December
31, 2025:
| 
| | 
(a) | | | 
(b) | | | 
(c) | | |
| 
Plan Category | | 
Number
of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and
rights | | | 
Weighted-
average
exercise price of outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights | | | 
Number
of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity
compensation
plan (excluding
securities
reflected in column | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Equity compensation plan approved by shareholders | | 
| 3,320,000 | | | 
$ | 0.13 | | | 
| 3,180,000 | | |
| 
Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | | 
| - | | |
| 
Total | | 
| 3,320,000 | | | 
$ | 0.13 | | | 
| 3,180,000 | | |
91
****
**ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.**
Transactions with Related Persons
The
following is a summary of transactions or series of transactions since the January 1, 2024, or currently proposed transactions or series
of transactions, to which we were, or will be, a party, in which the amount involved exceeded, or will exceed, $120,000, and in which
any of our directors, executive officers, or to our knowledge, beneficial owners of 5% or more of our capital stock, or any member of
the immediate family of, or entities affiliated with, any of the foregoing persons, had, or will have, a direct or indirect material
interest:
In January 2024, the Company borrowed $0.2 million
from a member of the management team and fully repaid the borrowing by the end of March 2024.
Employment
agreements
We
have entered into a service contract with our Chief Executive Officer as well as employment agreements and confidential information and
invention assignment agreements with each of our executive officers. See Item 12Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial
Owners and Management and Related Stockholder MattersEmployment agreements.
**Indemnification**
We
have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers that provide our directors and executive
officers with additional protection regarding the scope of the indemnification set forth in our memorandum and articles of association.
Pursuant to these agreements, we indemnify each of our directors and executive officers (to the fullest extent permitted by Cayman Islands
law) against all costs and expenses, including expense advances, incurred in connection with any claim by reason or arising out of any
event or occurrence relating to the fact that such person is our director or executive officer or is serving at our request at another
corporation or entity, or by reason of any activity or inactivity while serving in such capacity. We are not, however, obligated to indemnify
any such person:
| 
| 
| 
For
expenses resulting from matters for which such person is prohibited from being indemnified under our memorandum and articles of association
then in effect or applicable laws; | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
In
respect of any claim initiated or brought voluntarily by such person (other than in limited specified circumstances); or | |
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
For
expenses incurred in relation to any proceedings to enforce the agreement in which material assertions in such proceedings made by
such person are finally determined by a court to be not made in good faith or to be frivolous. | |
**Registration
rights**
****
We
entered into a registration rights agreement with Campus Holdings Limited (Campus:) Dr. Huang and Spin-Rich Ltd., which
entitles them to certain registration rights, including demand registration rights, Form F-3 registration rights, and piggyback registration
rights.****
For
more details of our related party transactions, please see Note 20 of the consolidated financial statements filed as part of this
annual report.
**Policies
and Procedures for Related Persons Transactions**
Our
Audit Committee has adopted an internal policy regarding the identification, review, consideration and oversight of any transaction,
arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we and any related
party are participants. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, director, consultant or
similar capacity by a related person are not covered. A related party is any executive officer, director or a holder of more than five
percent of our ordinary shares, including any of their immediate family members and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.
92
Under
our policy, where a transaction has been identified as a related party transaction, management must present information regarding the
proposed related party transaction to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors for review. The presentation must include a description
of, among other things, the material facts, the direct and indirect interests of the related parties, the benefits of the transaction
to us and whether any alternative transactions are available. To identify related party transactions in advance, we rely on information
supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant shareholders. In considering related party transactions, the Audit
Committee of our Board of Directors takes into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to the
risks, costs and benefits to us; the impact on a directors independence in the event the related person is a director, immediate
family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated; the terms of the transaction; the availability of other
sources for comparable services or products; and the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or
from our employees generally. In the event a director has an interest in the proposed transaction, the director must excuse himself or
herself from the deliberations and approval.
**Director
Independence**
The
Board has determined that Yigong Justin Chen, Mingjun Wang and Yanhui Ma are independent under the current independence
standards of NYSE American and meet the criteria set forth in Rule 10A(m)(3) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the Exchange Act).
**ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.**
**Audit
Committee Pre-Approval Policy**
The
Audit Committee has established a pre-approval policy and procedures for audit, audit-related and tax services that can be performed
by the independent auditors without specific authorization from the Audit Committee subject to certain restrictions. The policy sets
out the specific services pre-approved by the Audit Committee and the applicable limitations, while ensuring the independence of the
independent auditors to audit our financial statements is not impaired. The pre-approval policy does not include a delegation to management
of the Audit Committees responsibilities under the Exchange Act. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Audit Committee
pre-approved all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent auditors.
**Service
Fees Paid to the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**
The
Audit Committee engaged Guangdong Prouden CPAs GP to perform an annual audit of our financial statements for the fiscal years ended December
31, 2025 and 2024. The following is the breakdown of aggregate fees paid for the last two fiscal years. Another tax firm prepares our
tax returns.
| 
| | 
Year Ended | | | 
Year Ended | | |
| 
| | 
December 31,
2025 | | | 
December 31,
2024 | | |
| 
| | 
(In million) | | |
| 
Audit fees | | 
$ | 0.2 | | | 
$ | 0.2 | | |
| 
Audit-related fees | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Tax fees | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
All other fees | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 0.2 | | | 
$ | 0.2 | | |
Audit
Fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our financial statements and services that are
normally provided by the above auditors in connection with statutory and regulatory fillings or engagements.
Audit-related
fees consist of assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of audit or review of our financial
statements related to our SEC filings.
Tax
Fees are fees primarily for tax compliance in connection with filing US income tax returns.
All other fees related to consist of fees for services
not included in the categories above, including advisory, consulting, and other permissible non-audit services provided by our independent
auditors.
93
**PART
IV**
****
**ITEM
15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.**
**(a)
List of Documents Filed as a Part of This Report:**
The
Companys financial statements, as indicated by the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements set forth below, begin on page F-1.
Financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
**INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
| 
| 
| 
Page | |
| 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 7254) | 
| 
F-2 | |
| 
Consolidated Balance Sheets | 
| 
F-4 | |
| 
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss | 
| 
F-7 | |
| 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders Deficit | 
| 
F-8 | |
| 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | 
| 
F-10 | |
| 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 
| 
F-12 | |
(2)
Index *to Financial Statement Schedules:*
All
schedules have been omitted because the required information is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto, or because
it is not required.
94
(3)
Index *to Exhibits:*
See
exhibits listed under Part (b) below.
(b)
*Exhibits:*
| 
Exhibit
No. | 
| 
Description | |
| 
3.1 | 
| 
Sixth Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on June 4, 2015) | |
| 
4.1 | 
| 
Specimen American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of our F-6 registration statement (File No. 333-168238), initially filed with the Commission on July 21, 2010, as amended on January 29, 2024 (the F-6 Registration Statement)) | |
| 
4.2 | 
| 
Specimen Certificate for Class A Ordinary Shares (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the F-1 Registration Statement with the Commission onJuly 14, 2010) | |
| 
4.3 | 
| 
Form of Deposit Agreement among the company, the depositary and holders of the American Depositary Receipts (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a) of the F-6 Registration Statement, as amended on January 29, 2024) | |
| 
4.4 | 
| 
Third Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement, among the company and the other parties therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of our registration statement (File No. 333-168096), as amended, initially filed with the Commission on July 14, 2010 (the F-1 Registration Statement) | |
| 
4.5* | 
| 
Description of Securities of the Registrant | |
| 
10.1 | 
| 
Form
of Indemnification Agreement with the companys directors and executive officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3
of the F-1 Registration Statement with the Commission on July 14, 2010) | |
| 
10.2 | 
| 
Amended
2010 plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on November 14,
2018) | |
| 
10.3 | 
| 
Share
Purchase Agreement among Ambow Education Holding Ltd., Ambow Education Ltd., Ambow Education Management Ltd. and Ambow Education
Group Ltd., and Clover Wealth Limited, dated November 23, 2022 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our current report on
Form 6-K filed with the Commission on November 23, 2022) | |
| 
10.4 | 
| 
Securities
Purchase Agreement by and between Ambow Education Holding Ltd. and the investor identified therein. dated as of February 1, 2023
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on March 2, 2023) | |
| 
10.5 | 
| 
Licensing
Agreement by and between Ambow Education Holding Ltd. and ININSPIRING FUTURES PTE. LTD., dated as of June 26, 2024 ((incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2024) | |
| 
10.6 | 
| 
2024
Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on November
15, 2024) | |
| 
10.7 | 
| 
License Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 of our current report on Form 6-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2024) | |
| 
10.8* | 
| 
Office Lease by and between 6TH & B STREET LLC and NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC, dated January 8, 2025 | |
| 
10.9* | 
| 
Second Amendment to Lease by and between PREF Art Block, LLC, Art Block Investors, LLC , BroArt, LLC and Art Block MF, LLC (collectively, Art Block Tenancy in Common) and NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC, dated May 29, 2025 | |
| 
10.10* | 
| 
Assignment of Lease by and between NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC and Ambow Education Holding Ltd. Dated May 29, 2025 | |
| 
14 | 
| 
Code
of Ethics (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.1 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 25, 2024) | |
| 
16.1 | 
| 
Letter of Auditor (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 16.1 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 28, 2025) | |
| 
19 | 
| 
Insider Trading Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.2 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on March 28, 2025) | |
| 
21.1* | 
| 
List of Subsidiaries | |
| 
23.1* | 
| 
Consent of Guangdong Prouden CPAs GP | |
| 
31.1** | 
| 
Certification by Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 
31.2** | 
| 
Certification by Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 
32.1** | 
| 
Certification by Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 | |
| 
97 | 
| 
Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97 of our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the Commission on April 25, 2024) | |
| 
99.1* | 
| 
Form of Audit Committee Charter | |
| 
99.2* | 
| 
Form of Compensation Committee Charter | |
| 
99.3* | 
| 
Form of Corporate governance and nominating committee Charter | |
| 
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 | |
| 
Exhibit
104* | 
| 
Cover
Page Interactive Data File - The cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags
are embedded within the Inline XBRL document | |
****
| 
* | 
Filed
herewith. | |
| 
** | 
Furnished
herewith. | |
**ITEM
16 Form 10-K Summary**
****
None.
95
**SIGNATURES**
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| 
Date:
February 13, 2026 | 
AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD. | 
|
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
| 
| 
/s/ Jin Huang | 
|
| 
| 
Name: | 
Jin Huang | 
|
| 
| 
Title: | 
Chief Executive Officer | 
|
| 
| 
(Principal Executive Officer) | 
|
| 
| 
| 
| 
|
| 
| 
/s/ Jin Huang | 
|
| 
| 
Name: | 
Jin Huang | 
|
| 
| 
Title: | 
Acting Chief Financial Officer | 
|
| 
| 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | 
|
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| 
SIGNATURE | 
| 
TITLE | 
| 
DATE | |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Jin Huang | 
| 
Chief
Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) | 
| 
February
13, 2026 | |
| 
Jin
Huang | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Jin Huang | 
| 
Acting
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) | 
| 
February
13, 2026 | |
| 
Jin
Huang | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Yanhui Ma | 
| 
Director | 
| 
February
13, 2026 | |
| 
Yanhui
Ma | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Yigong Justin Chen | 
| 
Director | 
| 
February
13, 2026 | |
| 
Yigong
Justin Chen
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
| 
/s/
Mingjun Wang | 
| 
Director | 
| 
February
13, 2026 | |
| 
Mingjun
Wang | 
| 
| 
| 
| |
96
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING
LTD.**
**INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**CONTENTS**
| | | Pages | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 7254) | | F-2 | |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2025 | | F-4 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 | | F-7 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 | | F-8 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 | | F-10 | |
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | | F-12 | |
F-1
**REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING
FIRM**
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
of Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
**Opinion on the Financial Statements**
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ambow
Education Holding Ltd. (the Company) as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, the related consolidated statements of operations
and comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2025, and
the related notes (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, 2024 and 2025, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2025, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America.
**Basis for Opinion**
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys financial statements based on our audits. We are a public
accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an
audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
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.
**Critical Audit Matters**
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising
from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee
and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging,
subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial
statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical
audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
F-2
**Allowance for credit loss**
*Critical Audit Matter Description*
As described in Note 5 to the financial statements, the Companys
accounts receivable in relation to the new HybriU sales business line (the HybriU receivables) amounted to
$1.0 million as of December 31, 2025. Management has recognized an allowance for credit losses for these receivables in accordance with
ASC 326, Financial Instruments Credit Losses.
The assessment of expected credit losses for this receivable balance
involves a high degree of management judgment and estimation uncertainty. As the HybriU sales is new business, the Company lacks sufficient
historical loss data to assess their credit risk. Consequently, the managements estimation of key inputs, including the probability
of default, loss given default, and the incorporation of reasonable and supportable forward-looking economic information, relies significantly
on external market data, industry benchmarks, and subjective assumptions. These judgments are inherently uncertain. Changes in future
economic conditions, customer performance, or managements assumptions could result in a materially different estimate of the allowance
for credit losses.
Auditing the Companys allowance for credit losses related to
the HybriU receivables was complex and subject to significant auditor attention due to the materiality of the balance, the absence of
historical data, and the significant judgment involved in managements assessment.
*How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit*
Our principal audit procedures included, among others:
| 
| Testing the managements process for developing the estimate,
including evaluating managements process for identifying risk characteristics for customers; | 
|
| 
| Evaluating the appropriateness of the CECL model; | 
|
| 
| Testing the completeness, accuracy and relevance of data used in the
model, and | 
|
| 
| Evaluating the reasonableness of significant assumptions and judgments
made by management to estimate the allowance for credit loss, including current and future economic conditions. | 
|
/s/ Guangdong Prouden CPAs GP
Guangdong Prouden CPAs GP
We have served as the Companys auditor since 2024.
Guangzhou, China
February 13, 2026
F-3
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.**
**CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
| | | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
Note | | | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | |
| 
ASSETS | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Current assets: | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Cash and cash equivalents | | 
4 | | | 
$ | 1,123 | | | 
$ | 831 | | |
| 
Restricted cash | | 
4 | | | 
| 7,318 | | | 
| 7,260 | | |
| 
Accounts receivable, net | | 
5 | | | 
| 2,541 | | | 
| 2,288 | | |
| 
Inventory | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| 80 | | |
| 
Prepaid and other current assets, net | | 
6 | | | 
| 659 | | | 
| 410 | | |
| 
Total current assets | | 
| | | 
| 11,641 | | | 
| 10,869 | | |
| 
Non-current assets: | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Property and equipment, net | | 
7 | | | 
| 1,200 | | | 
| 1,984 | | |
| 
Intangible assets, net | | 
8 | | | 
| 512 | | | 
| 1,662 | | |
| 
Other non-current assets, net | | 
9 | | | 
| 1,296 | | | 
| 969 | | |
| 
Operating lease right-of-use asset | | 
16 | | | 
| 2,722 | | | 
| 5,312 | | |
| 
Total non-current assets | | 
| | | 
| 5,730 | | | 
| 9,927 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total assets | | 
| | | 
$ | 17,371 | | | 
$ | 20,796 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-4
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING
LTD.**
**CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(CONTINUED)**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
| | | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
Note | | | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | |
| 
LIABILITIES | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Current liabilities: | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Short-term borrowings | | 
10 | | | 
$ | 2,700 | | | 
$ | 500 | | |
| 
Accounts payable | | 
| | | 
| 749 | | | 
| 1,609 | | |
| 
Accrued and other liabilities | | 
11 | | | 
| 1,029 | | | 
| 1,542 | | |
| 
Income taxes payable, current | | 
| | | 
| 12 | | | 
| 1 | | |
| 
Operating lease liability, current | | 
16 | | | 
| 2,357 | | | 
| 1,285 | | |
| 
Total current liabilities | | 
| | | 
| 6,847 | | | 
| 4,937 | | |
| 
Non-current liabilities: | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Long-term
borrowings | | 
10 | | | 
| | | | 
| 2,700 | | |
| 
Other non-current liabilities | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| 167 | | |
| 
Operating lease liability, non-current | | 
16 | | | 
| 3,787 | | | 
| 4,742 | | |
| 
Total non-current liabilities | | 
| | | 
| 3,787 | | | 
| 7,609 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total liabilities | | 
| | | 
$ | 10,634 | | | 
$ | 12,546 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-5
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING
LTD.**
**CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(CONTINUED)**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
| | | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
Note
| | | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Commitments and contingencies | | 
20 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
EQUITY | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Class A Ordinary shares | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
($0.003 par value; 66,666,667 shares authorized; 52,419,109 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively) | | 
| | | 
| 146 | | | 
| 146 | | |
| 
Class C Ordinary shares | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
($0.003 par value; 8,333,333 and 8,333,333 shares authorized; 4,708,415 and 4,708,415 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively) | | 
| | | 
| 13 | | | 
| 13 | | |
| 
Additional paid-in capital | | 
| | | 
| 517,031 | | | 
| 517,185 | | |
| 
Accumulated deficit | | 
| | | 
| (510,325 | ) | | 
| (508,966 | ) | |
| 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | | 
| | | 
| (128 | ) | | 
| (128 | ) | |
| 
Total equity | | 
| | | 
| 6,737 | | | 
| 8,250 | | |
| 
Total liabilities and equity | | 
| | | 
$ | 17,371 | | | 
$ | 20,796 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-6
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.**
**CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE
(LOSS) INCOME**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
| | | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
Note | | | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
NET REVENUES | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
- Educational program and services | | 
| | | 
$ | 7,468 | | | 
$ | 7,084 | | |
| 
- HybriU licensing and sales | | 
| | | | 
| 1,924 | | | 
| 2,385 | | |
| 
Total net revenues | | 
| | | | 
| 9,392 | | | 
| 9,469 | | |
| 
COST OF REVENUES | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
- Educational program and services | | 
| | | | 
| (4,405 | ) | | 
| (4,064 | ) | |
| 
- HybriU licensing and sales | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| (220 | ) | |
| 
Totalcost of revenues | | 
| | | | 
| (4,405 | ) | | 
| (4,284 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
GROSS PROFIT | | 
| | | | 
| 4,987 | | | 
| 5,185 | | |
| 
OPERATING EXPENSES | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Selling and marketing | | 
| | | | 
| (1,013 | ) | | 
| (1,082 | ) | |
| 
General and administrative | | 
| | | | 
| (4,258 | ) | | 
| (3,363 | ) | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| | | | 
| (438 | ) | | 
| (628 | ) | |
| 
Total operating expenses | | 
| | | | 
| (5,709 | ) | | 
| (5,073 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME | | 
| | | | 
| (722 | ) | | 
| 112 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OTHER (EXPENSE) INCOME | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Interest (expenses) income | | 
| 10 | | | 
| (63 | ) | | 
| 103 | | |
| 
Other income (expenses), net | | 
| | | | 
| 255 | | | 
| (342 | ) | |
| 
Gain on lease settlement | | 
| 18 | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,492 | | |
| 
Total other income, net | | 
| | | | 
| 192 | | | 
| 1,253 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
(LOSS)INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX AND NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS | | 
| | | | 
| (530 | ) | | 
| 1,365 | | |
| 
Income tax benefit (expenses) | | 
| 14 | | | 
| 839 | | | 
| (6 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NET INCOME | | 
| | | | 
$ | 309 | | | 
$ | 1,359 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS | | 
| | | | 
$ | 309 | | | 
$ | 1,359 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, NET OF TAX | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Foreign translation adjustments | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Other comprehensive loss | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | | 
| | | | 
| 309 | | | 
| 1,359 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Basic income from operations per share | | 
| 15 | | | 
$ | 0.0054 | | | 
$ | 0.0238 | | |
| 
Diluted income from operations per share | | 
| 15 | | | 
$ | 0.0054 | | | 
$ | 0.0236 | | |
| 
Basic income from operations per ADS | | 
| 15 | | | 
$ | 0.1080 | | | 
$ | 0.4760 | | |
| 
Diluted income from operations per ADS | | 
| 15 | | | 
$ | 0.1080 | | | 
$ | 0.4720 | | |
| 
Weighted average shares used in calculating basic net income per share | | 
| | | | 
| 57,127,524 | | | 
| 57,127,524 | | |
| 
Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted net income per share | | 
| | | | 
| 57,127,524 | | | 
| 57,641,319 | | |
| 
Share-based compensation expense from operations included in: | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
- Selling and marketing | | 
| 13 | | | 
| | | | 
| 9 | | |
| 
- General and administrative | | 
| 13 | | | 
| | | | 
| 63 | | |
| 
- Research and development | | 
| 13 | | | 
| | | | 
| 82 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
F-7
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
| | | 
Attributable to Ambow Education Holding Ltd.s Equity | | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
Class A Ordinary shares | | | 
Class C Ordinary shares | | | 
Additional paid-in | | | 
Statutory | | | 
Accumulated | | | 
Accumulated other
comprehensive | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Note | | | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
capital | | | 
reserves | | | 
deficit | | | 
loss | | | 
Equity | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Balance as of January 1, 2024 | | 
| | | 
| 52,419,109 | | | 
$ | 146 | | | 
| 4,708,415 | | | 
$ | 13 | | | 
$ | 517,031 | | | 
| | | | 
$ | (510,634 | ) | | 
$ | (128 | ) | | 
$ | 6,428 | | |
| 
Net Income | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 309 | | | 
| | | | 
| 309 | | |
| 
Balance as of December 31, 2024 | | 
| | | 
| 52,419,109 | | | 
$ | 146 | | | 
| 4,708,415 | | | 
$ | 13 | | | 
$ | 517,031 | | | 
| | | | 
$ | (510,325 | ) | | 
$ | (128 | ) | | 
$ | 6,737 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-8
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
| | | 
Attributable to Ambow Education Holding Ltd.s Equity | | | 
| | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
Class A Ordinary shares | | | 
Class C Ordinary shares | | | 
Additional paid-in | | | 
Statutory | | | 
Accumulated | | | 
Accumulated other
comprehensive | | | 
Total | | |
| 
| | 
Note | | | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
Shares | | | 
Amount | | | 
capital | | | 
reserves | | | 
deficit | | | 
loss | | | 
Equity | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Balance as of January 1, 2025 | | 
| | | 
| 52,419,109 | | | 
$ | 146 | | | 
| 4,708,415 | | | 
$ | 13 | | | 
$ | 517,031 | | | 
| | | | 
$ | (510,325 | ) | | 
$ | (128 | ) | | 
$ | 6,737 | | |
| 
Share-based compensation | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 154 | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 154 | | |
| 
Net Income | | 
| | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,359 | | | 
| | | | 
| 1,359 | | |
| 
Balance as of December 31, 2025 | | 
| | | 
| 52,419,109 | | | 
$ | 146 | | | 
| 4,708,415 | | | 
$ | 13 | | | 
$ | 517,185 | | | 
| | | | 
$ | (508,966 | ) | | 
$ | (128 | ) | | 
$ | 8,250 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-9
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.**
**CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Cash flows from operating activities | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Net income from operations | | 
$ | 309 | | | 
$ | 1,359 | | |
| 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Depreciation and amortization | | 
| 16 | | | 
| 77 | | |
| 
Amortization of operating lease right-of-use asset | | 
| 2,174 | | | 
| 788 | | |
| 
Lease settlement gain | | 
| | | | 
| (1,492 | ) | |
| 
Share-based compensation expense | | 
| | | | 
| 154 | | |
| 
Bad debt (reversal) provision | | 
| (90 | ) | | 
| 164 | | |
| 
Change in operating assets and liabilities | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Accounts receivable | | 
| (171 | ) | | 
| 89 | | |
| 
Prepaid and other current assets | | 
| (62 | ) | | 
| 249 | | |
| 
Inventory | | 
| | | | 
| (80 | ) | |
| 
Other non-current assets | | 
| 1,724 | | | 
| 327 | | |
| 
Accounts payable | | 
| (637 | ) | | 
| 98 | | |
| 
Accrued and other liabilities | | 
| (439 | ) | | 
| (987 | ) | |
| 
Income tax payable | | 
| (498 | ) | | 
| (11 | ) | |
| 
Operating lease liabilities | | 
| (691 | ) | | 
| (265 | ) | |
| 
Other non-current liabilities | | 
| | | | 
| (333 | ) | |
| 
Net cash provided by operating activities | | 
| 1,635 | | | 
| 137 | | |
| 
Cash flows from investing activities | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Purchase of property and equipment | | 
| (1,200 | ) | | 
| (600 | ) | |
| 
Purchase of intangible assets | | 
| | | | 
| (200 | ) | |
| 
Prepayment for leasehold improvement | | 
| | | | 
| (187 | ) | |
| 
Purchase of other non-current assets | | 
| (810 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Net cash used in investing activities | | 
| (2,010 | ) | | 
| (987 | ) | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-10
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.**
**CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)**
(All amounts in thousands, except for share and
per share data)
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Cash flows from financing activities | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Proceeds from short-term borrowing | | 
| 1,200 | | | 
| 1,676 | | |
| 
Repayments of short-term borrowing | | 
| (2,439 | ) | | 
| (1,176 | ) | |
| 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | | 
| (1,239 | ) | | 
| 500 | | |
| 
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | | 
| (1,614 | ) | | 
| (350 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year | | 
| 10,055 | | | 
| 8,441 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year | | 
$ | 8,441 | | | 
$ | 8,091 | | |
| 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Income tax paid | | 
$ | (5 | ) | | 
$ | (17 | ) | |
| 
Interest paid | | 
$ | (171 | ) | | 
$ | (168 | ) | |
| 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities | | 
$ | | | | 
| 3,378 | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of
these consolidated financial statements.
F-11
**AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.**
**NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**(All amounts in thousands, except for share
and per share data)**
**1. ORGANIZATION AND PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES**
**a. Background**
The accompanying
consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of Ambow Education Holding Ltd. (hereafter refer as the Company),
its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries are hereinafter collectively referred to as the Group.
The Company was incorporated in the
Cayman Islands on June 26, 2007. On August 5, 2010, the Company and certain selling shareholders of the Company completed its initial
public offering. In June 2018, the Company completed its public offering of 2,070,000 ADSs at $4.25 per ADS.
On October 5, 2020, the Company completed the issuance of
1,507,538 ADSs, at a purchase price of $3.98 per ADS, in a registered direct offering. Each ADS represents twenty Class A ordinary shares
of the Company.
On November 23, 2022, the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries,
namely Ambow Education Ltd., Ambow Education Management Ltd. and Ambow Education Group Ltd. (collectively, the Ambow China)
entered into a share purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with Clover Wealth Limited (the Purchaser),
a third party. Upon completion of the Sale of Ambow China, the Company would have sold all of its assets and operations in China.
On February 28, 2023, the Company completed the issuance of
2,500,000 ADSs (representing 5,000,000 Class A Ordinary Shares), at a purchase price of $0.80 per ADS, in a registered direct offering.
**b. Nature of operations**
The Company is a U.S.-based, AI-driven technology educational company.
Its mission is to eliminate barriers between online and offline environments, languages and regions, and academia and industry. The Company
is developing a new HybriU AI Digital Education Solution that transforms the educational environment, bridging the gap between traditional
methods and the future of digital learning. This solution combines sophisticated software and hardware to create an AI-powered digital
and hybrid classroom, designed to enhance educational delivery and engagement. Through HybriU, the Companys dynamic will be patented
open-platform technology that facilitates hybrid learning. In addition, the Company offers high-quality, individualized, and dynamic career
education services and products through the operation of its for-profit colleges.
F-12
**c. Major subsidiaries**
During 2025, the Companys major subsidiaries include the following
entities:
| Name | | Date of incorporation or acquisition | | Place of incorporation (or establishment) /operation | | Percentage of ownership% | | | Principal activity | |
| Subsidiaries | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ambow Education Inc. | | July 5, 2016 | | United States | | | 100 | % | | Investment Holding | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Ambow NSAD Inc. | | May 8, 2019 | | United States | | | 100 | % | | Investment Holding | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| NewSchool of Architecture and Design, LLC (NewSchool) | | March 6, 2020 | | United States | | | 100 | % | | Educational program and services | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| HybriU Inc. | | January23,2024 | | United States | | | 100 | % | | HybriU | |
**2. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES**
The Companys consolidated financial statements have been prepared
on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities during the normal course of operations.
As of December 31, 2025, the Companys consolidated current assets exceeded its consolidated current liabilities by $5,932. The
Companys consolidated net assets were $8,250 as of December 31, 2025.
The Companys principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided
by operating activities, bank borrowings, third-party loans, and ordinary share issuances. Net cash provided by operating activities was
$1,635 and $137 in 2024 and 2025, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, the Company had $831 in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.
The Companys operating results for future periods are subject
to numerous uncertainties and it is uncertain if the Company will be able to achieve a net income position for the foreseeable future.
If management is not able to increase revenues and/or manage cost and operating expenses in line with revenue forecasts, the Company may
not be able to achieve profitability.
The Company believes that available cash and cash equivalents, cash
provided by operating activities should enable the Company to meet presently anticipated cash needs for at least the next 12 months after
the date that the financial statements are issued and the Company has prepared the consolidated financial statements on a going concern
basis. However, the Company continues to have ongoing obligations and it expects that it will require additional capital in order to execute
its longer-term business plan. If the Company encounters unforeseen circumstances that place constraints on its capital resources, management
will be required to take various measures to conserve liquidity, which could include, but not necessarily be limited to, initiating additional
public offerings, obtaining credit facilities, streamlining business units, controlling rental, overhead and other operating expenses
and seeking to further dispose non-cash generating units. Management cannot provide any assurance that the Company will raise additional
capital if needed.
F-13
**3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
**a. Basis of presentation**
The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) and pursuant to
the rules and regulation of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
**b. Foreign currency translation**
The Company uses US$ as its reporting currency. The functional
currency of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated in the Cayman Islands, United States, is US$.
Historically, the Company presented its financial results
in Renminbi. Starting from January 1, 2023, the Company changed its reporting currency from Renminbi to U.S. dollars since a majority
of its revenues and expenses are now denominated in U.S. dollars. The historical results of operations and financial statements included
in this report are presented based on what were presented in the previous filed Form 20-F.
**c. Use of estimates**
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity
with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities,
revenues, and expenses and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates its
estimates, including those related to the useful lives of long-lived assets including property and equipment, stock-based compensation,
impairment of intangible assets and other long-lived assets, valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, allowance for credit loss and
the determination of stand-alone selling prices and allocation of transaction price to performance obligations for revenue recognition
purposes. The Company bases its estimates of the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities on historical experience and on various
other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, when these carrying values are not readily available from
other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
**d. Basis of consolidation**
All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been
eliminated upon consolidation.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements
of the Company, its subsidiaries.
**e****.
Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand, cash in
bank with no restrictions, as well as highly liquid investments which are unrestricted as to withdrawal or use, and which have original
maturities of three months or less when initially purchased.
F-14
**f. Restricted cash**
Restricted cash includes the deposits required by U.S. Department
of Education for contract implementation and the deposits necessary to secure lines of credit from financial institutions.
**Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the consolidated
statements of cash flows**
****
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Cash and cash equivalents | | 
$ | 1,123 | | | 
$ | 831 | | |
| 
Restricted cash (Note i) | | 
| 7,318 | | | 
| 7,260 | | |
| 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows | | 
$ | 8,441 | | | 
$ | 8,091 | | |
(Note i) Restricted cash required by U.S. Department of Education
and the deposits necessary to secure lines of credit from financial institutions.
**g. Accounts receivable**
Accounts receivable mainly represent the tuition receivable from students
and amount due from HybriU customers. For educational programs and services, the Company records tuition receivables and contract liabilities
for its students upon the start of the academic term or program. Tuition receivables are not collateralized; however, credit risk is minimized
as a result of the diverse nature of the Companys student bases and through the participation of the majority of the students in
federally funded financial aid programs. An allowance for credit losses is established based upon historical collection rates by age of
receivable and adjusted for reasonable expectations of future collection performance, net of estimated recoveries. In the event that current
collection trends differ from historical trends, an adjustment is made to the allowance for credit losses and bad debt expense. For HybriU
licensing and sales, the Company records accounts receivable upon acceptance of delivery, when control of the product transfers to the
customer and the customer obtains the ability to direct the use of, and obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from the solution.
**h. Allowance for Credit Losses**
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC)
Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, the Company estimates and records an expected lifetime credit loss on accounts receivable,
other receivables included in prepaid and other current assets, and long-term receivables included in other non-current assets by utilizing historical
write-off rates as a starting point for determining expected credit losses and has considered all available relevant information, including
details about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts, as well as their impact on the expected credit
losses. The allowance for expected credit losses is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company
recognized a provision for expected credit losses on accounts receivable of $443 and $607 as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively,
prepaid and other current assets of $461 and $308 as of December 31, 2024 and 2025 and on long-term receivable of $308 and nil as of December
31, 2024 and 2025.
**i. Property and equipment**
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated
depreciation and impairment if any. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated useful lives:
| Motor vehicles | | 5 years | | |
| Office and computer equipment | | 3-10 years | | |
| Leasehold improvements | | Shorter of the remaining lease terms and estimated useful lives | | |
Construction in progress includes direct costs related to the construction
of various equipment and software, and is stated at original cost. These costs include materials, labor, and any directly attributable
overhead. Once a construction project is completed and the asset is placed into service, the capitalized costs are transferred to the
appropriate property, plant, and equipment categories and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the underlying assets using the
Companys standard depreciation methods.
The Company reviews property and equipment 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,
we measure impairment by comparing the carrying value of the property and equipment 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, we will recognize an impairment loss based on the fair value of the assets, using the expected future
discounted cash flows.
F-15
**j. Inventory**
Inventory, which refers to HybriU products held for sale, is valued
at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined on the first-in, first-out method and includes cost of direct materials,
labor, and applicable overhead. A periodic review of inventory is performed in order to determine if inventory is properly stated at the
lower of cost or net realizable value. Factors the Company considers in its review, such as future expected consumer demand and current
aging, are analyzed to determine estimated net realizable value. A provision is recorded to reduce the cost of inventory to its estimated
net realizable value, if appropriate
**k. Intangible assets**
Intangible assets represent software, trade name and accreditation.
The software was initially recorded at historic acquisition costs or cost directly incurred to develop the software during the application
development stage that can provide future benefits, and amortized on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives.
The Company reviews identifiable amortizable intangible assets
to be held and used for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not
be recoverable. Determination of recoverability is based on the lowest level of identifiable estimated undiscounted cash flows resulting
from use of the asset and its eventual disposition. Measurement of any impairment loss is based on the excess of the carrying value of
the asset over its fair value. The intangible assets have original estimated useful lives as follows:
| Software | | 2 years to 10 years | | |
| Trade names | | Indefinite | | |
| Accreditation | | Indefinite | | |
The Company has determined that trade names and accreditation
have the continued ability to generate cash flows indefinitely. There are no legal, regulatory, contractual, economic or other factors
limiting the useful life of the respective trade names and accreditation. Consequently, the carrying amounts of trade names and accreditation
are not amortized but are tested for impairment annually.
**l. Impairment of long-lived assets**
Indefinite intangible assets are reviewed for impairment
annually, and definite intangible assets and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or circumstances arise indicate
the existence of impairment. 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 would recognize an impairment
loss, which is the excess of carrying amount over the fair value of the assets, using the expected future discounted cash flows.
**m. Segment reporting**
Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise engaging
in business activities for which discrete financial information is available that is regularly evaluated by the Companys chief
operating decision maker (CODM) in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Companys chief
operating decision maker, the CEO, reviews segment results when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance
of the Company.
In accordance with ASC 280-10, *Segment Reporting: Overall*, the
Companys chief operating decision maker (CODM) has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, *Segment Reporting
(Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures*, which expands public entities segment disclosures, requiring,
among other things, disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM and included within each reported
measure of segment profit or loss; the amount and description of the composition of other segment items; and interim disclosures of a
reportable segments profit or loss and assets.
F-16
As a result of the assessment made by the CODM, the Companys
chief operating decision maker has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer, who reviews financial information of operating segments
based on U.S. GAAP amounts of gross profit when making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance of the Company.
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Company presents financial information disaggregated by business components for internal
management purposes, including (i) Educational programs and services and (ii) HybriU licensing and sales. The Company considers the management
approach concept as the basis for identifying reportable segments.
There are no reconciling items or adjustments between
segment income and net income as presented in the Companys statements of operations. The CODM does not review assets in evaluating
segment results and therefore such information is not presented. The management approach considers the internal organization and reporting
used the Company for operating decisions as the source for determining the Companys reportable segments.
**n. Revenue recognition**
The Company generates revenue through the delivery of educational programs
and licensing and sales of HybriU solutions.
The core principle of ASC 606 is that an entity recognizes
revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred 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 principle, the Company 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 Company has two reportable segments. One reportable
segment generates revenue from providing educational programs and services to undergraduate students. The other reportable segment
generates revenue from the sales and licensing of HybriU solutions.
For educational programs and services, usually there are no written
formal contracts between the Company and the students according to business practice. Records with students name, grade, tuition
and fee collected are signed or confirmed by students. Academic requirements and each partys rights are communicated with students
through enrollment brochures or daily teaching and academic activities.
For educational programs and services, the Companys performance
obligation is to provide acknowledged academic education within academic years, and post-secondary with Associates and Bachelors
programs within agreed-upon periods. The transaction price is the predetermined fixed tuition fee received and circumstances like other
variable consideration, significant financing component, noncash consideration, consideration payable to a customer did not exist. As
there is only one performance obligation, all the transaction price is allocated to the one performance obligation. The Company satisfies
performance obligation to students over time, and recognizes revenue according to school days consumed in each month of a semester.
F-17
We also generate revenue primarily through the licensing
and sales of HybriU solutions.
Licensing - There is only one performance obligation for
Licensing which is to deliver our HybriU solution to customers as a combination of software, user manuals, technical documentation and
other related materials, from which customers can benefit alongside ready-made resources. Revenue for Licensing is recognized at the point
in time upon delivery of the HybriU solution because the solution is considered functional intellectual property due to its significant
standalone functionality, and the Company does not expect to substantively change that functionality in any way that would significantly
affect the utility of the solution after delivery. The Company also promises to provide unspecified updates, bug fixes and error collection
for the solution (referred to as technical support) free of charge if any issues occur during the operation and if support
is requested by customers during the licensing term. This technical support is considered an immaterial promise and not identified as
a single performance obligation because it is minimally and infrequently provided to customers based on historical experience. There is
no variable consideration and significant financing component.
In relation to the sale of HybriU solutions,the following
two performance obligations have been identified: (i) the delivery of the HybriU solution, comprising the relevant hardware, the complete
software package, and all documentation and resources necessary for the customers immediate deployment; and (ii) the provision
of maintenance services for a one-year period post-delivery. The standalone selling price for the one-year maintenance serviceis
contractually specified within the range of $3 to $5, whereas the total contract price foreachHybriU product unit isabout$30.
Allocation of the transaction price between the solution delivery and the one-year after-sales service is performedby reference
totheir standalone selling prices.The Company recognizes revenue for the HybriU solution when control of the solution is transferred
to the customer, which generally occurs upon delivery and acceptance by the customer. Revenue for the one-year maintenance service is
recognized ratably over the service period. The amount allocated to the maintenance service is immaterial to the financial statements.
| 
| | 
Fortheyearsended December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
NET REVENUES | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Over time | | 
$ | 7,468 | | | 
$ | 7,084 | | |
| 
Point in time | | 
| 1,924 | | | 
| 2,385 | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 9,392 | | | 
$ | 9,469 | | |
Thefollowingtablepresentsrevenuesbygeographicareabasedonthesaleslocationofour
service andproducts:
| 
| | 
Fortheyearsended December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
NET REVENUES | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
United States | | 
$ | 9,068 | | | 
$ | 7,614 | | |
| 
International | | 
| 324 | | | 
| 1,855 | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 9,392 | | | 
$ | 9,469 | | |
Contract Balances
The transferred control of promised service to customers
results in the Companys unconditional rights and conditional consideration receivable on passage of time. The Company has no contract
assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2025.
The contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue, which relates
to unsatisfied performance obligations at the end of each reporting period and consists of tuition received in advance from students.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Companys deferred revenue amounted to $436 and $262, respectively. For the years ended December
31, 2024 and 2025, the Company has recognized $544 and $436 in educational programs and services revenue from the deferred revenue balance
as of December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively.
**o. Cost of revenues**
Cost of revenues for educational programs and services
primarily consist of teaching fees and performance-linked bonuses paid to the teachers, rental payments for the schools and learning centers,
depreciation and amortization of property, leasehold improvement and equipment and used in the provision of educational services, costs
of educational materials. Rental, utilities, water and other operating expenses for the operation of our school properties, as well as
cost of HybriU sold.
**p. Leases**
The Company accounts for its lease under ASC 842 Leases,
and identifies lease as a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant, or
equipment (an identified asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration. For all operating leases except for short-term leases,
the Company recognizes operating right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less
are short-term lease and not recognized as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company recognizes
lease expense for short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The operating lease liabilities are recognized based
on the present value of the lease payments not yet paid, discounted using the Companys incremental borrowing rate over a similar
term of the lease payments at lease commencement. Some of the Companys lease agreements contain renewal options; however, the Company
do not recognize right-of-use assets or lease liabilities for renewal periods unless it is determined that the Company is reasonably certain
of renewing the lease at inception or when a triggering event occurs. The right-of-use assets consist of the amount of the measurement
of the lease liabilities and any prepaid lease payments. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over
the lease term. The Companys lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants.
F-18
**q. Fair value of financial instruments**
Financial instruments include cash
and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepayment and other current assets, accounts payable and short-term borrowings.
The carrying values of the financial instruments approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturities.
The Company adopted ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and
Disclosures, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands financial statement disclosure
requirements for fair value measurements.
ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received
from the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) on the measurement date in an orderly transaction between market
participants in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability. ASC Topic 820 specifies a hierarchy of valuation
techniques, which is based on whether the inputs into the valuation technique are observable or unobservable. The hierarchy is as follows:
Level 1-Valuation techniques in which all significant inputs are unadjusted
quoted prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are identical to the assets or liabilities being measured.
Level 2-Valuation techniques in which significant inputs include quoted
prices from active markets for assets or liabilities that are similar to the assets or liabilities being measured and/or quoted prices
for assets or liabilities that are identical or similar to the assets or liabilities being measured from markets that are not active.
Also, model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets are Level
2 valuation techniques.
Level 3-Valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs
or significant value drivers are unobservable. Unobservable inputs are valuation technique inputs that reflect the Companys own
assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.
Management of the Company is responsible for determining the fair value
of financial instruments and non-financial assets/liabilities measured at fair value, including granted share options, and considered
a number of factors including valuations from independent appraiser.
When available, the Company uses quoted market prices to determine
the fair value of an asset or liability. If quoted market prices are not available, the Company measures fair value using valuation techniques
that use, when possible, current market-based or independently-sourced market parameters, such as interest rates and currency rates.
**r. Net income per share**
Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income attributable
to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is
calculated by dividing net income attributable to ordinary shareholders as adjusted for the effect of dilutive ordinary equivalent shares,
if any, by the weighted average number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Ordinary share
equivalents consist of the ordinary shares issuable upon the vest of restricted shares. Ordinary share equivalents are excluded from the
computation of the diluted net income per share in years when their effect would be anti-dilutive. Ordinary share equivalents are also
excluded from the calculation in loss periods, as their effects would be anti-dilutive.
**s. Income taxes**
Income taxes are provided for in
accordance with the laws of the relevant taxing authorities. Deferred income taxes are recognized for temporary differences between the
tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, net of operating loss carry forwards and
credits, by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance
when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
ASC 740-10-50-19 requires that an entity disclose its policy
on classification of interest and penalties due to taxing authorities in the notes to the financial statements. In addition, ASC 740-10-50-15(c)
requires that all entities disclose in the statement of operations and in the statement of financial position the total amounts of the
interest and penalties related to tax positions recognized. As of December 31,2024 and 2025 the Company did not have any interest or
penalty on tax deficiencies.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Improvements to Income
Tax Disclosures (Topic 740). The ASU requires specific disaggregated information about a reporting entitys effective tax rate reconciliation
as well as additional information on income taxes paid. The ASU is effective on a prospective basis for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2024. Early adoption is also permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for
issuance. The Company has adopted the ASU.
Deferred tax liabilities and assets are classified as
noncurrent and presented with a netted off amount in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
F-19
**t. Uncertain tax positions**
The Company adopted the guidance on accounting
for uncertainty in income taxes under ASC 740, which prescribes a more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Guidance was also provided on the de-recognition of income
tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties
associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures. Significant judgment is required
in evaluating the Companys uncertain tax positions and determining its provision for income taxes. The Company establishes reserves
for tax-related uncertainties based on estimates of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be due. These reserves are
established when the Company believes that certain positions might be challenged despite its belief that its tax return positions are
in accordance with applicable tax laws. The Company adjusts these reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the closing
of a tax audit, new tax legislation, or the change of an estimate. To the extent that the final tax outcome of these matters is different
than the amounts recorded, such differences will affect the provision for income taxes in the period in which such determination is made.
The provision for income taxes includes the effect of reserve provisions and changes to reserves that are considered appropriate, as well
as the related net interest and penalties where applicable.
The Company evaluates each uncertain tax position (including the potential
application of interest and penalties) based on the technical merits, and measure the unrecognized benefits associated with the tax positions.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Company did not have any unrecognized uncertain tax positions and the Company does not believe that
its unrecognized tax benefits will change over the next twelve months. For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Company did
not incur any interest and penalties related to potential underpaid income tax expenses. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment
of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the period incurred.
**u. Comprehensive income**
U.S. GAAP generally requires that recognized revenue,
expenses, gains and losses be included in net income or loss. Although certain changes in assets and liabilities are reported as separate
components of the equity section of the consolidated balance sheet, such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive
income or loss. The components of other comprehensive income or loss consist of unrealized gain or loss on short-term investments and
foreign currency translation adjustments.
**v. Share-based compensation**
The Company periodically grants restricted stock and stock
options to its employees, directors and consultants. The Company measures the cost of employee services received at the grant date using
the fair value of the equity instruments issued, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, and therefore only recognizes compensation costs
for those awards expected to vest over the service period. The Company records stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis
over the requisite service period, generally ranging from one year to four years.
The Company granted stock options in 2025 to its employees and directors,
which vest using the graded vesting method. Under this method, the total grant is divided into tranches that vest at different dates over
the service period. Stock-based compensation expense for these options is recognized for each tranche individually over its respective
vesting period, reflecting the expected forfeitures.
Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised
in the subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.
**w. Loss contingencies**
An estimated loss contingency is accrued and charged to
the consolidated statements of operations and other comprehensive (loss) income (if both of the following conditions are met: (1) Information
available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that an asset had been impaired or a liability
had been incurred at the date of the financial statements. It is implicit in this condition that it must be probable that one or more
future events will occur confirming the fact of the loss; (2) the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated.
The Company reviews its contingent issues on a timely basis to identify
whether the above conditions are met.
**x. Recently issued accounting standards**
In November, 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income StatementReporting
Comprehensive IncomeExpense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40), which require additional disaggregation of income statement
expenses and clarify effective dates for public and nonpublic entities. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December
15, 2025. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on the Companys accounting policies and the financial statements.
In July, 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Financial InstrumentsCredit
Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets, which provides updates related to CECL guidance
for certain short-term receivables. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026. The Group is currently assessing
the impact of this ASU on the Companys accounting policies and the financial statements.
In September, 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, IntangiblesGoodwill
and OtherInternal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), which provides updated guidance related to software development costs. This ASU
is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2026. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on the Companys
accounting policies and the financial statements.
F-20
In November 2025, FASB issued ASU 2025-09, Derivatives and Hedging
(Topic 815): Hedge Accounting Improvements, which updates hedge accounting requirements. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods, with early adoption permitted.
The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on the Companys accounting policies and the financial statements.
In December 2025, FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic
270): Narrow Scope Improvements, which clarifies interim disclosure requirements. This ASU is effective for interim reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this ASU on the Companys
accounting policies and the financial statements.
**4. CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH**
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents,
and restricted cash reported within the consolidated balance sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the consolidated
statements of cash flows.
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Cash and cash equivalents | | 
$ | 1,123 | | | 
$ | 831 | | |
| 
Restricted cash (Note i) | | 
| 7,318 | | | 
| 7,260 | | |
| 
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows | | 
$ | 8,441 | | | 
$ | 8,091 | | |
(Note i) Restricted cash required by U.S. Department of Education
and the deposits necessary to secure lines of credit from financial institutions.
**5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET**
Accounts receivable consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Accounts receivable (Note i) | | 
$ | 2,984 | | | 
$ | 2,895 | | |
| 
Less: Allowance for credit losses | | 
| (443 | ) | | 
| (607 | ) | |
| 
Accounts receivable, net | | 
$ | 2,541 | | | 
$ | 2,288 | | |
(Note i) The Companys accounts receivable in relation to the
new HybriU sales business line (the HybriU receivables) amounted to $997 as of December 31, 2025
Allowance for credit losses: 
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Balance at beginning of year | | 
$ | (533 | ) | | 
$ | (443 | ) | |
| 
Addition | | 
| | | | 
| (164 | ) | |
| 
Reversed | | 
| 90 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance at end of year | | 
$ | (443 | ) | | 
$ | (607 | ) | |
As of December 31, 2024, the Companys allowance for credit losses
on accounts receivable is all attributable to the educational program. As of December 31, 2025, the allowance amounted to $607, with $587
attributable to the educational program and the remaining $20 to HybriU licensing and sales.
F-21
**6. PREPAID AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS, NET**
Prepaid and other current assets, net consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Prepayments to suppliers | | 
$ | 189 | | | 
$ | 132 | | |
| 
Prepaid for HybriU development | | 
| 29 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Receivables from third-party (Note i) | | 
| 880 | | | 
| 586 | | |
| 
Others (Note ii) | | 
| 22 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total before allowance for doubtful accounts | | 
| 1,120 | | | 
| 718 | | |
| 
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts (Note i) | | 
| (461 | ) | | 
| (308 | ) | |
| 
Prepaid and other current assets, net | | 
$ | 659 | | | 
$ | 410 | | |
(Note i) Receivables from third-party, net, were $419 and $278 as of
December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. These amounts relate to Bay State College and are expected to be collected within twelve months.
(Note ii) Others mainly included prepaid education supplies, prepaid
outsourcing service fee, and other miscellaneous items.
**7. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET**
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Motor vehicles | | 
$ | 2 | | | 
$ | 2 | | |
| 
Office and computer equipment | | 
| 199 | | | 
| 535 | | |
| 
Construction in process | | 
| 1,200 | | | 
| 1,464 | | |
| 
Leasehold improvements | | 
| 24 | | | 
| 235 | | |
| 
Subtotal | | 
| 1,425 | | | 
| 2,236 | | |
| 
Less: accumulated depreciation | | 
| (225 | ) | | 
| (252 | ) | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 1,200 | | | 
$ | 1,984 | | |
For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, depreciation expenses
were $6 and $27, respectively, which were recorded in general and administrative expenses and research and development expenses.
The Construction in process mainly represented related to AI classroom
project at the NSAD campus, which is scheduled for completion by 2026. In January 2026, $732 was completed.
The Company performed impairment assessment on the property and equipment,
and there was no impairment loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively.
F-22
**8. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET**
Intangible assets, net consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Gross carrying amount | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Trade names | | 
$ | 460 | | | 
$ | 460 | | |
| 
Software | | 
| 276 | | | 
| 1,476 | | |
| 
Accreditation | | 
| 100 | | | 
| 100 | | |
| 
| | 
| 836 | | | 
| 2,036 | | |
| 
Less: accumulated amortization | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Trade names | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Software | | 
| (276 | ) | | 
| (316 | ) | |
| 
Accreditation | | 
| (48 | ) | | 
| (58 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| (324 | ) | | 
| (374 | ) | |
| 
Intangible assets, net | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Trade names | | 
| 460 | | | 
| 460 | | |
| 
Software | | 
| | | | 
| 1,160 | | |
| 
Accreditation | | 
| 52 | | | 
| 42 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | 512 | | | 
$ | 1,662 | | |
There was no impairment loss accrued for the years ended December 31,
2024 and 2025, respectively.
Amortization expenses for intangible assets amounted to $10 and $50
for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively, which were recorded in cost of revenue and research and development expenses.
Based on the current amount of intangible assets subject to amortization, the estimated amortization expenses for each of the future annual
periods are as follows:
| 
| | 
Amount | | |
| 
| | 
| | |
| 
2026 | | 
$ | 130 | | |
| 
2027 | | 
| 130 | | |
| 
2028 | | 
| 130 | | |
| 
2029 | | 
| 130 | | |
| 
2030 | | 
| 122 | | |
| 
Thereafter | | 
| 560 | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 1,202 | | |
**9. OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS, NET**
Other non-current assets, net consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Long-term receivable (Note i) | | 
$ | 587 | | | 
$ | | | |
| 
Educational content (Note ii) | | 
| 810 | | | 
| 630 | | |
| 
Long-term lease deposits | | 
| 194 | | | 
| 339 | | |
| 
Others | | 
| 13 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Sub-total | | 
$ | 1,604 | | | 
$ | 969 | | |
| 
Less: allowance for credit losses (Note i) | | 
| (308 | ) | | 
| | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 1,296 | | | 
$ | 969 | | |
(Note i) Long-term receivable, net, was $279 and nil as of
December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, this amount relates to Bay State College and is expected to be
collected more than twelve months. The portion expected to be collected within 12 months was reclassified to prepaid and other
current assets, net.
F-23
(Note ii) For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, the Company
performed impairment assessment on the educational content and no impairment loss was recorded, respectively.
**10. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BORROWINGS**
The following table sets forth the loan agreement of short-term borrowing
from bank:
| Date | | Borrower | | Lender | | Amount ($) | | | Annual Interest Rate | | | Repayment Due Date | |
| June 12, 2025 (Note i) | | NewSchool of Architecture & Design | | EverTrust Bank | | | 500 | | | | 6.75 | % | | Based on the actual repayment | |
(Note i) In April 2025, the Company entered into a loan agreement with
Evertrust Bank for a revolving line of credits $2,500. The loan bears variable interest at the prime rate minus 0.75% with monthly interest
payments commencing May 1, 2025. The outstanding balance under the loan agreement is secured by substantially all assets of the NewSchool
and is guaranteed by the Company. As of December 31, 2025, the outstanding balance under the loan agreement was $500.
The following table sets forth the loan agreement of long-term borrowing
from bank:
| Date | | Borrower | | Lender | | Amount ($) | | | Annual Interest Rate | | | Repayment Due Date | |
| January 9, 2024 (Note ii) | | Ambow Education Inc. | | Cathay Bank | | | 1,200 | | | | 6.00 | % | | December 27, 2027 | |
| October 11, 2022 (Note ii) | | Ambow Education Inc. | | Cathay Bank | | | 1,500 | | | | 6.29 | % | | October 11, 2027 | |
(Note ii) In October 2022 and January 2024, the Company pledged its
restricted cash amount of $1,500 and $1,200, respectively, to obtain the borrowings amount of $1,500 and $1,200 from Cathay Bank. Refer
to the Note 4-Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash.
On October 11, 2022, the Company obtained a $1,500 loan from Cathay
Bank with an original maturity date of October 11, 2023 and interest at 6.29% per annum. The loan was renewed on November 6, 2023, extending
the maturity to October 11, 2024. It was subsequently renewed in 2024 for an additional one-year extension to October 11, 2025, and further
extended in 2025 to October 11, 2027.
On January 9, 2024, the Company obtained a $1,200 loan from Cathay
Bank with an original maturity date of December 28, 2024 and interest at 6.00% per annum. The loan was renewed in 2024 for a one-year
extension to 2025, and further extended in 2025 to December 27, 2027.
The pledges shall be terminated once all borrowings have been repaid
and pledge cancellation registration procedures have been completed.
**11. ACCRUED AND OTHER LIABILITIES**
Accrued and other liabilities consisted of the following:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Accrued payroll and welfare | | 
$ | 578 | | | 
$ | 713 | | |
| 
Deferred revenue (Note i) | | 
| 436 | | | 
| 262 | | |
| 
Lease Settlement (Note ii) | | 
| | | | 
| 498 | | |
| 
Others | | 
| 15 | | | 
| 69 | | |
| 
Total | | 
$ | 1,029 | | | 
$ | 1,542 | | |
(Note i) The balance represented the tuition payment collected in
advance.
(Note ii) Refer to the Note 18 Gain on lease settlement.
F-24
**12. CONCENTRATIONS**
****
Financial instruments that potentially expose the Company to concentrations
of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, account payable, other receivable
and other non-current assets. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions with high-credit ratings in
the U.S. The Company conducts credit evaluations of its customers and suppliers and generally does not require collateral or other security
from them. The Company evaluates its collection experience and long outstanding balances to determine the need for an allowance for doubtful
accounts.
The companies who accounted for 10% or more of the Companys
consolidated accounts receivable, revenues, accounts payable, and purchase for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2025 were as follows.
| 
| | 
AsofDecember 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Debtors | | 
$ | | | 
% | | | 
$ | | | 
% | | |
| 
Accounts receivable | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Company A | | 
| * | | | 
| * | | | 
| 775 | | | 
| 27 | % | |
| 
Revenues | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Company A | | 
| * | | | 
| * | | | 
| 1,855 | | | 
| 20 | % | |
| 
Company B | | 
| 1,600 | | | 
| 17 | % | | 
| * | | | 
| * | | |
| 
Accounts Payable | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Company E | | 
| * | | | 
| * | | | 
| 1,000 | | | 
| 62 | % | |
| 
Purchase | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Company E | | 
| * | | | 
| * | | | 
| 1,200 | | | 
| 22 | % | |
| 
* | Represents less than 10% | 
|
**13. SHARE BASED COMPENSATION**
Amended and Restated 2010 Equity Incentive Plan
On June 1, 2010, the Company adopted the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan,
or the 2010 Plan, which became effective upon the completion of the IPO on August 5, 2010 and terminated automatically 10
years after its adoption. On December 21, 2018, the Company amended and restated the 2010 Plan, or the Amended and Restated 2010
Plan, which became effective upon the approval from the Board of Directors and shareholders. The plan will continue in effect for
10 years from the date adopted by the Board, unless terminated earlier under section 18 of the plan.
2024 Equity Incentive Plan
On December 20, 2024, we adopted the Companys 2024 Equity Incentive
Plan (the Plan), which became effective upon the approval of the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders on
December 20, 2024.The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, SARs, performance share awards, performance unit awards, distribution
equivalent right awards, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards and unrestricted stock awards to non-employee directors,
officers, employees and nonemployee consultants of Ambow Education Holding Ltd. or its affiliates. the maximum aggregate number of Shares
that may be awarded and sold under the Plan is 6,500,000 ordinary shares. The number of ordinary shares available for issuance under
the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of January each calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning with
the calendar year 2025, resulting in the aggregate number of ordinary shares available under this Plan equaling fifteen percent (15%)
of the total number of ordinary shares outstanding on the last trading day in December of the immediately preceding calendar year minus
the total number of reserved and available shares under the Companys 2005 Plan and 2010 Plan.
F-25
Share options
Management of the Company is responsible for determining
the fair value of options granted and have considered a number of factors when making this determination, including valuations.
On March 27, 2025, the Company granted 3,120,000
stock options, and on May 13, 2025, the Company granted an additional 200,000 stock options to employees and directors. The stock options
have a four-year requisite service period, with 25% vesting upon the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% vesting
ratably over the subsequent three years.
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation
in accordance with ASC 718 Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant-date fair value of the stock options, net of estimated
forfeitures, and is recognized over the requisite service period using the graded vesting method, whereby each vesting tranche is treated
as a separate award and recognized over its respective vesting period.
The weighted average grant date fair value of stock option awards
using the Binomial Tree Model model was $0.11 for each share subject to a stock option granted during the years ended December 31, 2025,
based on the following assumptions:
| 
| | 
2025 | | |
| 
Risk-free interest rate | | 
| 4.36%~4.48% | |
| 
Expected volatility | | 
| 123.71%~129.25% | |
| 
Expected dividends yields | | 
| | | |
| 
Expected term (years) | | 
| 10 | | |
| | | Number of Options | | | Weighted Average Exercise Price | | | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual life | | | Weighted Average Grant-date Fair Value | | | Aggregated intrinsic value | | |
| | | | | | $ | | | Years | | | $ | | | $ | | |
| Outstanding on December 31, 2024 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Granted on March 27, 2025 | | | 3,120,000 | | | | 0.1300 | | | | 9.17 | | | | 0.1057 | | | | 3,120 | | |
| Granted on May 13, 2025 | | | 200,000 | | | | 0.1600 | | | | 9.33 | | | | 0.1252 | | | | | | |
| Granted - Total | | | 3,320,000 | | | | 0.1318 | | | | 9.18 | | | | 0.1069 | | | | 3,120 | | |
| Outstanding on December 31, 2025 | | | 3,320,000 | | | | 0.1318 | | | | 9.18 | | | | 0.1069 | | | | 24,960 | | |
| Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2025 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2025 | | | 3,320,000 | | | | 0.1318 | | | | 9.18 | | | | 0.1069 | | | | 24,960 | | |
For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recognized approximately
$154 of stock-based compensation expense related to these stock option grants, and the unrecognized share-based compensation expenses
was $201 as of December 31, 2025.
Restricted stock awards
On November 22, 2018, the Board of Directors approved to grant 200,000
shares of the restricted stock to senior employees of the Company. Twenty-five percent of the awards vested on the one-year anniversary
of the vesting commence date, and the remainder shall vest in equal and continuous monthly installments over the following thirty-six
months thereafter, subject to participants continuing service of the Company through each vesting date. In 2022, 2023 and 2024,
45,833, nil and nil shares of restricted stock were vested respectively.
On May 27, 2022, the Board of Directors approved to grant 200,000
fully vested Class A ordinary shares of the restricted stock to a consultant as consideration for its service rendered.
On June 30, 2022, the Board of Directors approved to grant 5,200,000
fully vested Class A ordinary shares of the restricted stock to senior employees of the Company for their services rendered in the past
years.
As of December 31, 2024, and 2025, there were 19,935 shares unvested.
No shares were granted, vested, forfeited, or expired during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025. The grant date fair value of
these shares was USD 3.13 per share.
The Company recorded share-based compensation expenses of nil and $nil
in expenses for the restricted stock awards for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively, and the unrecognized share-based
compensation expenses was nil and nil as of December 31, 2024 and 2025.
F-26
**14. TAXATION**
**a. Income taxes**
****
**Cayman Islands**
Under the current laws of Cayman Islands, the Company and its subsidiaries
incorporated in the Cayman Islands are not subject to tax on income or capital gains. In addition, upon payment of dividends by the Company
to its shareholders, no Cayman Islands withholding tax will be imposed.
**US**
Significant components of the income taxes benefit (expense) on earnings
for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 are as follows:
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Current: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Federal | | 
$ | | | | 
| | | |
| 
State and local | | 
| 839 | | | 
| (6 | ) | |
| 
Foreign | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total current portion of income tax benefit (expense) | | 
| 839 | | | 
| (6 | ) | |
| 
Deferred: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Federal | | 
$ | | | | 
| | | |
| 
State and local | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Foreign | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total deferred portion of income tax benefit (expense) | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total income tax benefit (expense) | | 
$ | 839 | | | 
$ | (6 | ) | |
The principal components of the Companys deferred tax assets
and liabilities were as follows:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Deferred tax asset: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Net Operation Loss Carryover | | 
$ | 7,401 | | | 
$ | 7,531 | | |
| 
Lease Liability | | 
| 77 | | | 
| 1,603 | | |
| 
Allowance for doubtful accounts | | 
| 152 | | | 
| 232 | | |
| 
Tax Credits | | 
| | | | 
| 26 | | |
| 
Accrued expense | | 
| 1 | | | 
| 21 | | |
| 
Research and development capitalization | | 
| 922 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total deferred tax assets | | 
| 8,552 | | | 
| 9,413 | | |
| 
Valuation allowance | | 
| (8,371 | ) | | 
| (7,764 | ) | |
| 
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance | | 
$ | 181 | | | 
$ | 1,649 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Deferred tax liabilities: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
- Right-of-use assets | | 
| | | | 
| 1,412 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
- Fixed Assets & Intangibles | | 
| | | | 
| 237 | | |
| 
- Unrealized gain on acquisition/disposal | | 
| 181 | | | 
| | | |
| 
Total deferred tax liabilities | | 
$ | 181 | | | 
$ | 1,649 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance and deferred tax liabilities | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
F-27
For entities incorporated in U.S., federal net loss generated before
2018 of $122 can be carried forward for 20 years and will begin to expire in 2037. Federal net loss generated in 2018 and onward of $26,947
can be carried forward indefinitely. State net loss of $27,933 can be carried forward for 20 years and will begin to expire in 2037.
The Company is subject to income tax in the U.S. federal jurisdiction.
The Company has not been audited by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in connection with income taxes. The Companys tax years beginning
with the year ended December 31, 2016, through December 31, 2025, generally remain open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service
until its net operating loss carry-forwards are utilized and the applicable statutes of limitation have expired. The Group had no unrecognized
tax benefits as of December 31, 2024 and $14 as of December 31, 2025.
The Company evaluated the recoverable amounts of deferred tax assets
to the extent that future taxable profits will be available against which the net operating loss and temporary difference can be utilized.
As of December 31, 2025, the deferred tax assets were offset with a full valuation allowance as the Company does not expect to realize
its deferred taxes in the near future.
The following represents a roll-forward of the valuation allowance
for each of the years:
| 
| | 
As of December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Balance at beginning of the year | | 
$ | 7,794 | | | 
$ | 8,371 | | |
| 
Allowance made during the year | | 
| 577 | | | 
| (607 | ) | |
| 
Reversals | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
NOL expire | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Balance at end of the year | | 
$ | 8,371 | | | 
$ | 7,764 | | |
The following is a reconciliation of the difference between the effective
income tax rate and the federal statutory tax rate:
| 
| | 
Year Ended December 31, 2025 | | |
| 
| | 
$ Amount | | | 
| | |
| 
Tax provision at the U.S. federal statutory rate | | 
| 288 | | | 
| 21.0 | % | |
| 
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefits | | 
| 54 | | | 
| 3.9 | % | |
| 
Foreign tax effects | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Cayman Islands | | 
| 130 | | | 
| 9.4 | % | |
| 
Nontaxable or nondeductible items | | 
| | | | 
| 0.0 | % | |
| 
Prior year true up | | 
| 159 | | | 
| 11.7 | % | |
| 
Changes in valuation allowance | | 
| (607 | ) | | 
| (44.3 | )% | |
| 
Tax Credits | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Research and development | | 
| (18 | ) | | 
| (1.3 | )% | |
| 
Other | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Tax Provision | | 
| 6 | | | 
| 0.4 | % | |
As previously disclosed for the years ended December 31, 2024, prior
to the adoption of ASU 2023-09, the following is a reconciliation of the difference between the effective income tax rate and the federal
statutory tax rate:
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Statutory federal income tax rate | | 
| (21.0 | )% | | 
| 21.0 | % | |
| 
States taxes, net of federal benefit | | 
| (4.0 | )% | | 
| 3.9 | % | |
| 
Foreign income taxed at different rates | | 
| 28.4 | % | | 
| 9.4 | % | |
| 
Prior year true up | | 
| | % | | 
| 11.7 | % | |
| 
Changes in valuation allowance | | 
| (3.4 | )% | | 
| (44.3 | )% | |
| 
Tax Credits | | 
| | % | | 
| (1.3 | )% | |
| 
Effectoftaxamendment | | 
| (158.1 | )% | | 
| | % | |
| 
Tax Provision | | 
| (158.1 | )% | | 
| 0.4 | % | |
Income/(loss) before income taxes is attributable to the following
geographic locations for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025:
| 
| | 
Year ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
United States | | 
$ | 186 | | | 
$ | 1,828 | | |
| 
Foreign | | 
| (716 | ) | | 
| (463 | ) | |
| 
Total (loss) income before income taxes | | 
$ | (530 | ) | | 
$ | 1,365 | | |
F-28
**15. NET INCOME PER SHARE**
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted
net income per share for the periods indicated:
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Numerator: | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Numerator for basic and diluted income per share from operations | | 
$ | 309 | | | 
$ | 1,359 | | |
| 
Denominator: | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Denominator for basic income per share weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | | 
| 57,127,524 | | | 
| 57,127,524 | | |
| 
Denominator for diluted income per share weighted average ordinary shares outstanding | | 
| 57,127,524 | | | 
| 57,641,319 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Basic income per share from operations | | 
$ | 0.0054 | | | 
$ | 0.0238 | | |
| 
Diluted income per share from operations | | 
| 0.0054 | | | 
| 0.0236 | | |
| 
Basic income per ADS from operations (Note i) | | 
| 0.1080 | | | 
| 0.4760 | | |
| 
Diluted income per ADS from operations (Note i) | | 
$ | 0.1080 | | | 
$ | 0.4720 | | |
(Note i) In February, 2024, the Company changed the ratio of its American
depositary shares (ADSs) to its Class A ordinary shares from one (1) ADS, representing two (2) Class A ordinary shares,
to one (1) ADS representing twenty (20) Class A ordinary shares.
Basic income per ADS is computed using the weighted average number
of the ordinary shares outstanding during the year. Diluted income per ADS is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary shares
and ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the year. Nil share was included in the calculation of diluted income per share for
the year of 2024. 513,795 shares were included in the calculation of diluted income per share for the year of 2025.
**16. LEASES**
The Company has operating leases for classrooms, dormitories, and corporate
offices.
The components of lease expense from continuing operations were as
follows:
| 
| | 
Years ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Operating lease expense | | 
$ | 2,353 | | | 
$ | 1,095 | | |
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows:
| 
| | 
Years
ended December 31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of
lease liabilities: | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Operating cash
flows from operating leases | | 
$ | 871 | | | 
$ | 398 | | |
F-29
Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:
| | | Years ended December 31, | | |
| | | 2024 | | | 2025 | | |
| Weighted-average Remaining Lease Term | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating leases | | | 1.19 Years | | | | 4.76 Years | | |
| Weighted-average Discount Rate | | | | | | | | | |
| Operating leases | | | 4.31 | % | | | 6.85 | % | |
The Companys lease agreements do not have a discount rate that
is readily determinable. The incremental borrowing rate is determined at lease commencement or lease modification and represents the rate
of interest the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term and amount equal to the lease payments
in a similar economic environment. The weighted-average discount rate was calculated using the discount rate for the lease that was used
to calculate the lease liability balance for each lease and the remaining balance of the lease payments for each lease as of December
31, 2025.
The Company performed an impairment test on the operating lease right-of-use
assets and recognized an impairment loss of nil for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025.
The weighted-average remaining lease terms were calculated using the
remaining lease term and the lease liability balance for each lease as of December 31, 2025.
As of December 31, 2025, maturities of lease liabilities were as follows:
| 
| | 
Amount | | |
| 
| | 
| | |
| 
2026 | | 
$ | 1,339 | | |
| 
2027 | | 
| 1,571 | | |
| 
2028 | | 
| 1,389 | | |
| 
2029 | | 
| 1,326 | | |
| 
2030 | | 
| 1,371 | | |
| 
Thereafter | | 
| 115 | | |
| 
Total lease payments | | 
| 7,111 | | |
| 
Less: interest | | 
| (1,084 | ) | |
| 
Total | | 
| 6,027 | | |
| 
Less: current portion | | 
| (1,285 | ) | |
| 
Non-current portion | | 
$ | 4,742 | | |
As of December 31, 2025, the Company had no material operating or finance
leases that had not yet commenced.
F-30
**17. SEGMENT REPORTING AND INFORMATION ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS**
Our Chief Executive Officer, as the CODM, organizes our company, manages
resource allocations and measures performance among two operating and reportable segments: (i) Educational programs and services and (ii)
HybriU licensing and sales for internal management purposes. The Companys CODM makes decisions on resource allocation, evaluates
operating performance, and monitors budget versus actual results using gross profit. The following table presents revenues, cost of revenues,
and gross profit by reportable segment:
| 
| | 
Fortheyearsended
December31, | | |
| 
| | 
2024 | | | 
2025 | | |
| 
| | 
$ | | | 
$ | | |
| 
NET REVENUES | | 
| | | 
| | |
| 
Educational programs
and services | | 
| 7,468 | | | 
| 7,084 | | |
| 
HybriU
licensing and sales | | 
| 1,924 | | | 
| 2,385 | | |
| 
Total net revenues | | 
| 9,392 | | | 
| 9,469 | | |
| 
COST OF REVENUES | | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
Educational programs and services | | 
| (4,405 | ) | | 
| (4,064 | ) | |
| 
HybriU
licensing and sales | | 
| | | | 
| (220 | ) | |
| 
Total cost of revenues | | 
| (4,405 | ) | | 
| (4,284 | ) | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
| 
GROSS PROFIT | | 
| 4,987 | | | 
| 5,185 | | |
| 
| | 
| | | | 
| | | |
**18. GAIN ON LEASE SETTLEMENT**
****
In July 2024, NewSchool of Architecture &
Design, LLC (NewSchool), a subsidiary of the Company, became involved in litigation with its campus landlord, Art Block
Investors, LLC and related entities (the Landlord), arising from a lease dispute, including an unlawful detainer action
and a related breach of contract and guaranty claim seeking aggregate damages of approximately $4.47 million. In June 2025, the Company
entered into a settlement requiring total payments of $2.0 million, consisting of $1.0 million payable upon execution and the remaining
$1.0 million payable in installments over two years beginning May 2025. As a result of the settlement, the Company recognized a gain of
approximately $1.5 million, primarily related to the derecognition of remaining lease liabilities net of settlement payments and right-of-use
assets.
****
**19. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS**
In January 2024, Ambow made a borrowing of $200
from a member of the management team of the Company and repaid the borrowing by the end of March 2024. There were no related party transactions
in 2025 and the balance of amount due from (to) related parties was nil as of December 31, 2025.
**20. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES**
Ms. Loehlein, the former president of NewSchool of Architecture &
Design, has filed a complaint seeking payment of alleged outstanding salary, and NSAD has filed an answer; the previously scheduled trial
date of November 14, 2025 was vacated, no trial date is currently set, and the previously scheduled hearing has been canceled. The Company
is unable at this time to determine the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or reasonably estimate the amount or range of potential loss,
if any.
**21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS**
The Companys management evaluated subsequent events through
the time of the filing of this report on Form 10-K. The Companys management is not aware of any significant events that occurred
subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to the filing of this report that would have a material impact on its financial statements.
F-31