EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1417664
Filing Year: 2024
Filename: 1417664_10-K_2024_0001214659-24-012449.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS. Overview
History of Value Exchange International, Inc.
History. We were incorporated in the State of Nevada on June 26, 2007. We changed to our current corporate name, “Value Exchange International, Inc.”, on December 5, 2017.
Current Business Focus. We are a provider of customer-centric technology solutions for the retail industry in Hong Kong SAR and certain regions of China and Philippines.
By integrating market-leading Point-of-Sale/Point-of-Interaction (“POS/POI”), Merchandising, Customer Relations Management or “CRM” and related rewards, Locational Based (GPS & Indoor Positioning System (“IPS”)) Marketing, Customer Analytics, Business Intelligence solutions, our products and services are intended to provide retailers with the capability to offer a consistent shopping experience across all channels, enabling them to easily and effectively manage the customer lifecycle on a one-to-one basis. We promote ourselves as a single IT source for retailers who want to extend existing traditional transaction processing to multiple points of interaction, including the Internet, kiosks and wireless devices. Our products and services are focused on helping retailers realize the full benefits of Customer Chain Management with its suite of solutions that focus on the customer, on employees, and the infrastructure that supports the selling channel. Company is headquartered in Hong Kong and with offices in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, China; and Manila, Philippines.
We believe that the IT Business often presents opportunities to expand a provider’s market reach or customer base by acquisitions of existing businesses or operating assets. The Company’s business strategy includes reviewing possible acquisitions of existing businesses or operating assets in existing or adjacent markets and to do so when and if such an acquisition appears to be compatible and an enhancement of our core business lines and can be consummated with available cash and other resources. Our ability to pursue and consummate acquisitions may be limited, and has been limited, by available cash for mergers and acquisitions and other resources and the perceived cost and burdens of acquiring and integrating the target business or new operating assets into our operations. The availability of funding and cash flow are the most significant limitations on our ability to expand through acquisitions of businesses and assets - both in terms of money on hand and ability to finance acquisitions, but the estimated business hurdles in successfully penetrating a new market is also a factor in deciding whether to proceed with that expansion. The limited liquidity and bid price of our Common Stock in the public stock market also hampers our ability to use shares of Common Stock as attractive consideration to target companies in a merger or acquisition. We have not expanded into any new markets by acquisition or otherwise during the fiscal year 2023.
The Company, through its operating subsidiaries, is focusing and will focus on its IT Business, and continue to seek to expand its IT Business services to commercial customers in PRC and Asia Pacific Region. This strategy is based upon our subjective business judgment that the IT Business presents more opportunities for potential customer order in our core markets of Hong Kong SAR and China than the “IP Business” (as defined below) and presents an industry segment that better suits our current technical capabilities, marketing capabilities and financial resources.
Initial Business Focus. Our initial intended, primary business was to operate a credit card processing and merchant-acquiring services company that provide credit card clearing services to merchants and financial institutions in PRC. From inception, we strove unsuccessfully to create and establish a proposed Global Processing Platform concept to support the credit card processing services (“SinoPay GPP”). Specifically, the Company’s Internet Protocol business was to be a provider of Internet Protocol (“IP”) processing services in Asia to bank card-accepting merchants (“IP Business”). The Company efforts to establish a viable IP Business did not succeed.
The acquisition of VEI CHN in 2014 shifted the primary business focus to the IT Business. Company believes that the IT Business provided a more readily attainable revenue generating business line and greater growth and profit potential than IP Business. VEI CHN was acquired in a stock-for-stock exchange (“VEI CHN Share Exchange”).
Smart Baggage Tag. Through a cooperative effort with another company, Company has the ability to market and sell a smart baggage tag that allows consumers to track the location of their baggage through a smart phone or device using the smart baggage tag and related application. Efforts to promote the smart baggage tag were suspended due to impact of COVID-19 pandemic on air travel. As of the filing of this Form 10-K, there are no current plans to make any dedicated marketing effort for expanding the market for or sales of the smart baggage tags in 2024.
History of Value Exchange Int’l (China) Limited. VEI CHN was first established on November 16, 2001 in Hong Kong as a limited liability company. VEI CHN is a holding company with two subsidiaries established in Hong Kong, namely TAP Services (HK) Limited which was incorporated on August 25, 2003 and acquired by VEI CHN on September 25, 2008, and subsequently changed to its current name as Value Exchange Int’l (Hong Kong) Limited (“VEI HKG”) on May 13, 2013, and Cucumbuy.com Limited (“CUCUMBUY”), which was incorporated on May 14, 2013 and disposed on May 21, 2018 with consideration of HK$1. VEI CHN also set up a Wholly-owned Foreign Enterprise (WOFE) in Shanghai, PRC, in September 2, 2008 in the name of Value Exchange Int’l (Shanghai) Limited (“VEI SHG”). In January 2017, VEI CHN acquired TapServices, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines (the “TSI”). Prior to acquisition of TSI, the Company provided extensive consulting services to TSI and, from such relationship, the Company was familiar with TSI operations. In January 2019, VEI SHG completed the setup procedures of a subsidiary with 51% ownership in Hunan, PRC, in the name of Value Exchange Int’l (Hunan) Limited (“VEI HN”). In February 2020, VEI SHG completed the setup procedures of a subsidiary with 51% ownership in Shanghai, PRC, in the name of Shanghai Zhaonan Hengan Information Technology Co., Limited (“SZH”). In January 2022, VEI HKG completed the setup procedures of a subsidiary with 100% ownership in Shenzhen, PRC, in the name of Haomeng Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Limited. (“HTS”).
Principal business of VEI and its Subsidiaries
VEII is a holding company for its operating subsidiaries. VEI CHN operations are the primary operations of the Company. The principal business of VEI CHN for more than 20 years is to provide the IT Business (consisting of select services and solutions in computer software programming and integration, and computer systems, Internet and information technology systems engineering, consulting, administration, installation and maintenance, including e-commerce and payment processing) to the Retail Sector, primarily to retailers in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and PRC and as more fully described below. As is customary in the industry, such services and solutions are provided by both company employees, contractors and consultants. The primary services and products of the IT Business are:
a) Systems maintenance and related service
VEI CHN Group provides development and customization of software and hardware, enhancements thereto and maintenance services for installed POS system. VEI CHN Group markets, sells and maintains its own brand POS software - edgePOS as well as third party brands (e.g. NCR/Retalix), which is one of the leading POS software programs in the Chinese-Hong Kong market. These software enhancements and programming can integrate with different IP systems.
Systems maintenance services consist of: i) software maintenance service, including software patches and software code revisions; ii) installing, testing and implementing software; iii) training of customer personnel for the use of software; and iv) technical support for software systems.
Other services include system installation and implementation, including i) project planning; ii) analysis of customer information and business needs from an IT perspective (“System Analysis”); iii) design of the entire system; iv) hardware and consumables selection advice and sales; and v) system hardware maintenance. These services typically consist of customer projects for New Store Opening (“NSO”) and Install, Move, Add and Change (“IMAC”) for retail, and ad-hoc custom system projects for other business sectors. Our primary focus is the retail sector in Hong Kong, PRC and Philippines.
b) Systems development and integration
VEI CHN Group provides value-added software, which integrates with customer owned or licensed software, and ad-hoc software development projects for other business sectors. Besides use of proprietary, custom software code, our services may from time to time license standard third party software programs.
Business partner and customers
The main business partner of the IT Business group is the Chinese and Hong Kong subsidiary operations (“WN”) of Diebold Nixdorf Inc. (formerly, “Wincor Nixdorf AG”, a German public company), a U.S.-German public company subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, (“DN”). Since 1990’s, VEI CHN Group served the AS Watson Group, a retail conglomerate including Watsons, Parknshop and Fortress, directly and through a sub-contracting arrangement with WN in the China-Hong Kong region. This contributes almost half of the gross sales revenue each year to VEI CHN.
In recent years, VEI CHN has striven to broaden its clientele in retail sector and to other business sectors. VEI CHN Group secured a number of service contracts for leading retail groups, Robinson Retails Group in Philippines and Dairy Farm in Hong Kong. PCCW, a leading telecommunication company in Hong Kong, and Inland Revenue Department of the Hong Kong Government have also become major customers of the VEI CHN Group. The focus on expanding clientele in the retail sector is a current priority of Company’s growth strategy.
The annual sales of VEI CHN Group have been increasing over the past few years in its IT Business by expanding its customer base and its scope of services. VEI CHN Group solution now runs in over 10,000 POS in the region and provides a solid foundation to VEII’s services for IP systems. Also, VEI CHN Group is seeking to leverage its existing POS solution customer base to expand into the mobile Customer Relationship Management and Rewards market. The importance of the mobile market in commerce is globally recognized. Even through the Mobile Customer Relationship Management and Rewards programs has not produced any significant revenues to the VEI CHN Group, the programs seek to exploit the increasing use of mobile devices to shop and purchase products and services, to sustain consumer loyalty by rewards for repeat purchases by mobile devices and to permit companies to develop consumer profile databases used to fashion targeted marketing to the consumers based on purchasing habits. We provide no assurances that we will be able to develop a profitable or significant mobile market program or operation. Further, mobile applications and products and services may contain defects in design, manufacture, or operation that make them insecure or ineffective for their intended purposes. Mobile application products and services may have multiple layers of hardware, sensors, processors, software, and firmware, several of which we may not develop or control. Each layer, including the weakest layer, can impact the security of the whole system.
We will evaluate the merits of this business and growth strategy from time to time and may elect in the future to continue our IT Business focus, or focus more on one segment than the other, including seek business opportunities in the applications of digital technology which we believe can raise our customers’ competitive edge leading to possible increase in market share and profitability in their business sectors. Any change in business focus will be based on current economic conditions, competitive environment, our available cash and infrastructure resources, current customer demand trends and financial results of each segment of our post-VEI CHN Share Exchange business plan. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, we are pursuing our emphasis on IT Business in our core Hong Kong SAR and PRC market while also exploring expansion opportunities in adjacent Asia Pacific markets. Our ability to exploit adjacent market opportunities for expansion will be limited and governed by available, affordable funding and cash flow as well as consideration of business and regulatory hurdles in penetrating a new market.
Health and Cosmetic Retailer Agreement. On February 16, 2018, VEI SHG, signed a January 24, 2018 stores equipment support agreement (“Agreement”) with the largest health care and beauty retailer (“Retailer”) in China. Under the Agreement, the Retailer has contracted for site and preventive maintenance and support for computer and point of sale systems (“Systems”) as well as new store and store renovation install and migration services for Systems from the VEI SHG. The Agreement is non-exclusive, covers Retailer’s stores in the northern and eastern region of China and runs through since December 2019, and extended to 2023 subsequently. In January 2024, the Retailer agreed to extended related service until December 31, 2026. In fiscal year 2023, VEI SHG realized $2.74 million in gross revenues from the work under the Agreement.
CORPORATE STRUCTURE
Our corporate organizational chart, as of December 31, 2023, is as follows:
Note a: The remaining 49% share equity of VEI HN is owned by Li Gongyuan, a Chinese national.
Note b: The remaining 49% share equity of SZH is owned by Shanghai Nanan Cosmeceutical Technology Development Limited, a Chinese company, which 54.6% share is effectively controlled by Li Chengliang, a Chinese national.
Marketing
Marketing activities are designed to inform potential clients about the benefits of using our services and include and will include the following: face-to-face sales and marketing (including online presentations); development and distribution of marketing literature; direct mail and email; advertising; promotion of our web site; attendance at trade shows or product seminars; and industry analyst relations campaign.
Sales are managed at the subsidiary level by each subsidiary. The Company has a Sales and Marketing team in each regional office of its existing China/Hong Kong and Manilla markets to promote and maintain good business relationships with our customers. We strive to provide high quality and fast response services to our customers in our Help Centre, Maintenance Support Team and Professional IT Engineer to help customers solve their problems and satisfy their IT needs.
VEI CHN Group has been serving in IT Business sectors for over 20 years, focusing on POS maintenance and support to retail sector. The VEI CHN Group will continue its key business and seek to expand its client base to gain more market share in PRC, Hong Kong, and certain other areas of Asia Pacific. VEII may consider acquiring companies in the Asia Pacific region with similar business, subject to financial wherewithal to do so and subject to a suitable and affordable acquisition opportunity. The perceived cost of market penetration will also be a factor in deciding whether to pursue any acquisition opportunities, which calculation includes strength of competition and other business hurdles as well as regulatory hurdles in establishing a new market. While the Company has secured convertible credit lines for $1 million and $1.5 million in December and January 2023 respectively, and revolving credit line for $1 million in July 2022, the Company and its subsidiaries do not currently have ready access to funding dedicated for acquisitions and would have to locate sufficient, affordable funding to pursue any acquisition or merger with a significant cash consideration requirement. Funding from the credit lines is primarily dedicated as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K to operating expenses and business development of operations in existing markets. The Company evaluates the use of funding from credit lines from time to time and the use of proceeds, which may include business expansion, may be applied to future expansion into new markets in the future. The Company and its subsidiaries may be unable to locate the funding, whether equity or increased debt funding, needed to consummate a merger or acquisition requiring a significant cash consideration or significant post-acquisition working capital, especially since the Company is a small reporting company with a “penny stock” common stock that is not typically suitable for significant equity funding and Company lacks the tangible assets usually required for securing significant debt financing.
We use strategic partnerships as another way of marketing and selling our IT Business. The operating subsidiaries will also cooperate with strategic partners in the local markets to secure and provide maintenance services to major retail customers and as a basis for attempting to expand our business in our markets. In fiscal year 2023, we had over 10 strategic partner arrangements engaged in providing our services to customers in our China and Hong Kong markets.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive, customer-driven industry and we compete against a variety of local and regional competitors of varying operational sizes, product/service offerings and resources. In some instances, our competitors have greater market share and consumer loyalty and brand-name recognition, fewer regulatory burdens, easier access to financing (whether debt or equity funding and greater and easier access to equity funding through sales of their equity securities to the public), greater operating resources, greater operating capabilities and efficiencies of scale (including technology personnel, research and development capabilities, joint venture partners and marketing-sales channels), longstanding relationships with regulatory authorities and customers, more customers, and more flexibility to offer discounted services or products.
We face significant competition from large multinational service providers, such as DN, NCR, Fujitsu IBM, Toppan Forms and large national companies, such as Octopus card, an electronic payment in online or offline system in Hong Kong. Though VEI CHN Group faces keen competition in the maintenance service market, it believes that it has a well-trained technical team that offers services to the satisfaction of our customers, and as is the case with many smaller companies in the IT segment, we believe we can offer more customized and cost-effective services to certain customers than larger competitors. Without extensive teaming with strategic partners, we lack the capabilities to compete directly with larger competitors in projects or work requiring capabilities of a large company. This can from time to time limit the number and nature projects that we can pursue or handle. VEII may also experience a competitive disadvantage in bids or prospective work where extensive and broad prior projects in certain areas of IT are required to bid and to win bids. An instance of such a competitive disadvantage would be technical work in which we do not have extensive prior experience and cannot attain the required technical proficiency, or we do not have a prior relationship with the customer in question.
We also face competition from companies that are of comparable size and resources. In such competition, price and scope of services or qualification of personnel often determines the winning provider. Competition for qualified personnel is an ongoing and significant challenge faced by all companies in the IT Business industry, especially in a global economy in which personnel can work remotely.
Preservation and growth of our business depends on maintaining sufficient, competent staff and attractive pricing.
Some of our competitors in our industry have substantially greater capital and technical resources than we have and operate as subsidiaries of financial institutions or bank holding companies, which may allow them on a consolidated basis to own and conduct depository and other banking activities that we do not have the regulatory authority to own or conduct. Since they are affiliated with financial institutions or banks, these competitors do not incur the costs associated with being sponsored by a bank for registration with card networks and they can settle transactions quickly for their own merchants. We do not, however, currently contemplate pursuing an acquisition or strategic relationship with a financial institution in order to increase our competitiveness and such an acquisition or strategic relationship is not prominent in our current business and growth strategy. Our current operational focus is to improve the efficiency and profitability of existing IT Business.
Cybersecurity and Security of Computer Networks
We maintain certain computer networks, computer systems and databases in connection with our business operations and services. We use readily available third party security programs to protect these systems and databases and we periodically review security measures. Any security system or program may be vulnerable to hacking or security breaches, especially since hacking and malicious programs are constantly evolving to overcome new security measures. Like any company’s computer and network systems and databases, our systems and databases could be vulnerable to security hacking or malicious programs. We may also be vulnerable to security leaks and violations by employees and contractors, which is a threat faced by all IT Business companies. We have not experienced any significant security breaches or problems as of the date of filing of this Form 10-K. VEII technical staff typically evaluates cybersecurity and security measures from time to time as new threats become known to us.
There can be no assurance that our efforts to protect our computer systems, networks and other information systems will prevent any of the problems identified as cyber security attacks or problems. The problem of this type might be caused by events such as computer hacking, computer viruses, worms and other destructive or disruptive software, "cyber-attacks" and other malicious activity, defects in the hardware and software comprising our network and information systems, as well as natural disasters, power outages, terrorist attacks and similar events. Such events could have an adverse impact on us and our customers, including degradation of service, service disruption, excessive call volume to help centers and damage to our or customers’ equipment and data. Operational or business delays for our operations or customer operations may result from the disruption of computer systems, network or information systems and the subsequent remediation activities. These events may create negative publicity resulting in reputation or brand damage with customers and our results of operations could suffer. Since we provide computer, software and system services and products to customers, cyber security attacks on our computer systems, networks and other information systems may affect our customers’ computer systems, networks and other information systems and produce liabilities on our part to such customers.
Due to the evolving and often very sophisticated nature of cyber security threats, cyber security is an ongoing challenge for all IT Business companies like us. Even the most diligent compliance with industry standards for cybersecurity can fail to defeat all cyber security attacks.
Key Personnel
The following personnel are considered critical to our operations: Kenneth Tan and Benny Lee, who provide executive management services and strategic direction. Mr. Lee serves as a director of VEI SHG. Mr. Tan is our chief executive officer. We do not have key personnel insurance to fund replacement of any key personnel. We also frequently use third party consultants acting as independent contractors to assist in the completion of various projects, which consultants are usually hired on a project-by-project basis. Third parties are instrumental to keep the development of projects on time and on budget. Reliance on independent contractors is common in technology services businesses. We do not anticipate and have not experienced any significant problem in securing needed technical expertise, but the inability to secure needed technical expertise is a risk faced by IT service companies like our company.
The Company has not developed a formal succession plan in the event of the retirement, disability or death of key personnel. In the event of the loss of the services of any key personnel, the Company would in all likelihood be forced to recruit an outside person to fill a key personnel position or rely on existing officers to perform the duties of key personnel. The Company may lack sufficient cash and benefits to attract qualified personnel for key personnel positions.
A common problem in our industry is key or important contractors and employees being lured to more attractive or lucrative work opportunities. VEII cannot typically match the level and scope of financial incentives offered by larger competitors to workers. VEII has to rely on active recruitment coupled with offering projects that match workers’ skills and interests as well as providing an appealing work environment and competitive base compensation in order to maintain or create an adequate work force on a project-by-project basis. VEII adopted a 2022 Equity Incentive Plan in 2022, but VEII has not issued any stock-based compensation under that plan as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K. Company will evaluate the need or benefit of granting incentive company under the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan in 2024. Since the Company’s Common Stock is a penny stock, incentive compensation may not be a significant benefit to attract or retain personnel.
Insurance
Except the Company’s subsidiaries in (i) PRC are required to cover its employees with medical, retirement and unemployment insurance programs, and (ii) Hong Kong are required to cover its employees with labor insurance programs under the prevailing laws and regulations of the PRC and in Hong Kong, we do not maintain other insurance. Because we may not have sufficient insurance, if we are made a party to a liability legal action, we may not have sufficient funds to defend the litigation or may suffer another liability. If that occurs a judgment or liability that is not covered by any insurance or covered by available cash or funding, could cause us to cease or reduce operations. We did not experience any claims against our insurance in fiscal year 2023.
Government Regulation
We are subject to U.S. federal securities laws and the corporate laws of the State of Nevada. With respect to regulation of our IT Business, especially in segments related to the Internet, the Internet is increasingly popular and essential on a global basis and is subject to changing and sometimes expanding regulation. As a result, it is possible that a number of international and local laws and regulations may be adopted with respect to the Internet applications and transactions, including ones used in or serviced by our service. These laws may cover issues such as user privacy, freedom of expression, pricing, content and quality of products and services, taxation, advertising, intellectual property rights and information security. Furthermore, the growth of electronic commerce may prompt calls for more stringent consumer protection laws. Existing and future laws and regulations governing the privacy of end users or their customers’ information is or may become part of the regulatory burden of conducting our business lines. We do not provide our services in the U.S. as of the date of this Form 10-K, but the global nature of the Internet and e-commerce and financial transactions means that any company may become subject from time to time to U.S. or foreign laws on privacy, financial regulation, business regulation or tax law.
We are not certain how our existing business may be affected by the application of existing, evolving laws, or extension of foreign laws to our operations and issues such as property ownership, copyrights, encryption and other intellectual property issues, taxation, libel, and export or import matters. The vast majority of such laws were adopted prior to the advent of the Internet or are typically aimed at Internet providers or Internet IT companies with international operations. However, we may become subject and affected by Internet related laws and regulation in the future, especially in China and Hong Kong where the Chinese government has a heightened concern about national security threats through the Internet. Changes in laws intended to address such issues could create uncertainty in the Internet market place, including areas affecting our business lines. Such uncertainty could reduce demand for services or increase the cost of doing business as a result of litigation or regulatory costs or increased service delivery costs. In addition, because our services could be available over the Internet in multiple states and foreign countries, other jurisdictions may claim that we are required to qualify to do business in each such state or foreign country. Our failure to qualify a business in a jurisdiction where it is required to do so could subject it to taxes and penalties. It could also hamper our ability to enforce contracts in such jurisdictions. The application of laws or regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to our business could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Like many companies, and from time to time, the Company may review the economic and tax advantages of various jurisdictions for businesses like the Company business in order to determine if there are any significant long-term advantages in relocating or expanding the Company operations to another jurisdiction, whether in whole or in part. Any such review is part of the customary strategic planning of the Company.
As a U.S. incorporated company, we are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act, or “FCPA,” and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Our activities in Asia create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by consultants or agents of our company, because these parties are not always subject to our control. It is our policy to implement safeguards to discourage these practices by our employees. Also, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and consultants or sales agents of our Company may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. The U.S. government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability for any FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. (“HFCAA”); PCAOB Vacates Determination regarding Inability to Fully Investigate and Inspect Chinese and Hong Kong Auditors. In May 2022, the SEC conclusively identified the Company as a Commission Identified Issuer under the HFCAA and underlying SEC rules. As a result of our identification as a Commission Identified Issuer, our Common Stock would have been delisted from the OTCQB if Company’s current public auditor was not able to be fully audited and inspected by the PCAOB for three consecutive fiscal years (shortened to two years by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023), commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and listing and trading in our Common Stock would have been potentially prohibited in United States as early as 2024. Our former public auditor was identified by the PCAOB as being an auditor that cannot be fully audited and investigated by the PCAOB due to Chinese government policies applicable in Hong Kong and our then Hong Kong based public auditor. The risks and uncertainty associated with being identified as a Commission Identified Issuer and possible delisting of our Common Stock under the HFCAA could have had a negative impact on investors’ confidence in our Common Stock as an investment and thereby adversely impacted the price of our Common Stock, which adverse impact could have resulted in volatility in trading price of our Common Stock or possibly rendered illiquid an investment in our Common Stock.
On December 15, 2022, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board or “PCAOB” announced it was able to secure complete access to inspect and investigate public audit firms in the China and Hong Kong SAR for the first time. On December 15, 2022, the PCAOB Board voted to vacate previous determinations that it was unable to fully inspect and investigate Chinese and Hong Kong public auditors of companies reporting under the Exchange Act. On December 18, 2022, the SEC announced that due to the December 15, 2022, action by the PCAOB, and until such time as the PCAOB issues any new determination, there are no SEC-reporting companies at risk of having their securities subject to a trading prohibition under the HFCAA. Further, on May 25, 2023, the Company terminated the services of its Hong Kong SAR based public auditor and engaged Grassi & Co. in New York, New York as the Company’s new public auditor for fiscal year 2023. As such, our company is no longer using a public auditor located in China or Hong Kong SAR and subject to foreign governmental policies that may prevent the full audit and investigation of the public auditor by the PCAOB. As a result of the change in public auditors to a U.S.-based public auditor, and with the filing of this Form 10-K, the Company does not believe that it will be identified as a Commission identified issuer under the HFCAA.
Chinese and Hong Kong Business Permits and Regulation. As a general business legal requirement, Company’s Chinese subsidiaries are required to obtain a business license from the State Administration for Market Regulation (“SAMR”). Each of our Chinese subsidiaries has obtained a valid business license from the SAMR, and no application for any such license has been denied. Further, to operate our general business activities currently conducted in China, our relevant Chinese subsidiaries may also be required to obtain other permits from the Chinese government. Company’s Chinese subsidiaries have obtained the necessary permits applicable to them and no application for such permits has been denied by authorities. Our Hong Kong and Philippines subsidiaries likewise have all local government permits to operate their respective businesses. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, the Company and each of its subsidiaries have obtained all licenses and permits required to conduct their respective businesses in all jurisdictions in which those businesses are conducted. Further, except for any future grants or awards of equity-based incentive compensation to Chinese nationals employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which has not occurred and in not being considered as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, the Company has all necessary permits and licenses from Chinese and Hong Kong governments to issue securities to foreign investors. Any permits or licenses necessary to operation of the Company and its subsidiaries that are not usual and customary business licenses and permits required of all for-profit businesses in the locality in question are described in this section.
With respect to Chinese and Hong Kong requirements for business or other operational approvals, permits, licenses, or registration requirements necessary to operate our businesses in China and Hong Kong (collectively, “Permits”), the Company and its subsidiaries have not historically been adversely affected by any difficulty, delay or failure to obtain required Permits. However, we cannot predict the effect that the compliance with Chinese and Hong Kong laws and regulations and changes in those laws and regulations may have on our ability to obtain required Permits in the future, especially in light of increasing Chinese government intervention and unilateral modification of Hong Kong laws, regulations and policies.
Based on consultation with Company’s Hong Kong legal counsel as to Chinese and Hong Kong laws, the Company does not believe that: (1) the laws and regulations of China have had an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations in Hong Kong in fiscal year 2023, (2) that Company has a requirement to obtain any permission or approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”), Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) or any other regulatory authority in China for the Company or subsidiary operations for the trading of our common stock or other securities on the OTCQB and the issuance of our securities to foreign investors, except, based on guidance from our Hong Kong legal counsel, that: the Chinese government’s Central State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE") adopted regulations in 2007 that require the registration with SAFE of any grants of equity based incentive compensation to Chinese nationals employed by a foreign (non-Chinese) company with its securities listed on a foreign exchange or employed by a Chinese subsidiary of such a foreign listed company. Chinese nationals serving as officers and directors are included in the definition of “Chinese employees.” Grants to non-Chinese nationals or a permanent residency permit in another country do not require approval or registration under the 2007 regulations. Under 2012 regulations adopted by SAFE for equity-based grants to Chinese employees by foreign companies with securities listed on foreign exchanges: (1) the scope of registration includes grants or issuances of stock options, stock purchase rights, stock appreciation rights, phantom awards, performance awards, restricted stock (units) and a catch-all "other type of awards” to Chinese employees to be registered with SAFE; and (2) nationals of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan working for the foreign company in China may be included, but are not required to be included, in the registration with SAFE. The registration is filed in the SAFE office in the province in which the foreign company’s Chinese subsidiary is located. The main purpose of the 2007 and 2012 regulations is to allow the Chinese government to monitor incentive compensation received by Chinese nationals from foreign companies with securities listed on foreign exchanges. The Company adopted an incentive plan in July 2022, the 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (“Plan”), but has not granted or issued any equity based grants or awards under the Plan. The Company will register any equity-based grants or awards under the Plan to Chinese employees (including officers and directors) prior to approving any such grants or awards. Registration of awards to Chinese employees will also require the Company to file quarterly and annual reports on equity-based awards to Chinese employees with SAFE as well as renew the SAFE registration of the equity-based plan on an annual basis.
Based on guidance from Hong Kong legal counsel to the Company, the Company and its operations are not subject to and not impacted by the Chinese cybersecurity-data laws described in this Chinese and Hong Kong Business Permits and Regulation in 2022. The Company and its subsidiaries in China and Hong Kong do not collect the kind of data or act as a data center for information that is the focus of and under the purview of the Chinese national security and cybersecurity laws. Due to the uncertainty of the application or changes in law and regulation in China and Hong Kong, there is no assurance that the Company or its Chinese or Hong Kong operations will not become subject to Chinese cybersecurity-data laws.
Late 2023-2024 Developments. On March 23, 2024, the government of Hong Kong adopted Article 23, the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, which increases government power under the PRC Safeguarding National Security law or “NSL”. NSL was passed in 2020 to assert greater PRC central government control over Hong Kong. Article 23 empowers the government of Hong Kong to suspend operations of any entity that is deemed to violate the NSL or similar national security laws and also allows prosecution or punitive actions for extraterritorial acts, ones outside of PRC or Hong Kong, that are perceived to violate PPRC/Hong Kong national security laws. This expansion of state power presents the risk of suspension of business operations in Hong Kong of any entity or person if the government perceives any acts in violation of PRC or Hong Kong national security laws. Such an suspension could come with no warning or right to contest the suspension prior to implementation. In December 2023, the Hong Kong government amended NSL implementation rules to expand its powers to seize assets. The amendment allowed the Hong Kong Secretary of Security to freeze property of any entity or person convicted of national security offenses (until the conclusion of legal proceedings). These development heighten the uncertainty and risks of conducting business in Hong Kong and PRC for businesses.
The impact of Chinese laws and regulations on the Company and its Hong Kong operations and subsidiaries are subject to the uncertainties created by the Chinese government’s growing intervention and imposition of Chinese laws, regulations and policies, in Hong Kong since 2017 and Chinese government’s willingness to ignore or invalidate conflicting Hong Kong laws, regulations and policies. See following risk factors in Item 1A Risk Factors for potential impact of possible changes in the impact of Chinese laws, regulations and policies on the Company and its Hong Kong and Chinese subsidiaries: We operate primarily in Hong Kong SAR and China are subject to significant political and economic uncertainties if Chinese government significantly alters the laws governing Hong Kong, page 19; Chinese Government or Hong Kong Government may restrict our ability to transfer cash held in or from operations in China or Hong Kong, at page 20; and Investors may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China or Hong Kong based upon U.S. laws, including the federal securities laws or other foreign laws, against us or our directors and executive officers who reside in China or Hong Kong, at page 20.
Employees
We have more than 360 full time employees as of December 31, 2023, including officers of the Company and including employees and officers of VEI CHN and its subsidiaries. There is no labor dispute affecting our operations and Company believes it has good relationship with its work force. Our employees are not organized into a labor union.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. You should read the section entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above for a discussion of what types of statements are forward-looking statements, as well as the significance of such statements in the context of this Form 10-K.On July 1, 2024, the OTC Markets Group downgraded the Common Stock of the Company from OTCQB to Pink Sheets Limited Information due to the failure of the Company to file the Form 10-K by July 1, 2024. This downgrade will limit the ability of the holders of shares of Common Stock to trade their shares and, as such, reduce the liquidity of the investment. If the Company does not file the Form 10-K and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2024, by July 16, 2024, the Company’s Common Stock will be further downgraded on the Pink Sheets and shares will no longer be traded on a non-solicited basis, which would further decrease the liquidity of the investment in the Common Stock. See “Pink Sheet Downgrade” below at page 22.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition
There is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The report of Grassi & Co., our independent registered public accounting firm, with respect to our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 contains an explanatory paragraph as to our potential ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, this may adversely affect our ability to obtain new financing on reasonable terms or at all. Investors may be unwilling to invest in a company that will not have the funds necessary to continue to deploy its business strategies.
Failure to raise additional capital to fund future operations could harm our business and results of operations. As reflected on our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023 contained herein, we have incurred net loss of $6,696,266, and have an accumulated deficit of $5,820,548. We will control our operating costs and require additional financing in order to maintain our corporate existence and to implement our business plans and strategy. If our own financial resources are insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The timing and amount of our capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including our operational results, the need for other expenditures, and competitive pressures. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our then-existing stockholders will likely be reduced significantly. We cannot make assurances that any financing will be available on terms favorable to us or at all. Current or past lenders may decline to provide new funding. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, our ability to fund our business strategy, ongoing operations, take advantage of unanticipated opportunities, and in turn our business, financial condition and results of operations will be significantly and adversely affected.
Risks Related to Internal Controls
During the audit for the Form 10-K, management became aware of a material weakness in the design and effectiveness of Company’s internal controls, which, if not remediated, could affect the accuracy and timeliness of our financial reporting and result in misstatements in our financial statements.
During evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023, conducted as part of our annual audit and preparation of the Form 10-K’s annual financial statements, management concluded that Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. Management determined that as of December 31, 2023, Company had a material weakness that is described in Item 9A below at page 47.
This material weakness, which remained unremedied by the Company as of December 31, 2023, could result in a misstatement to the accounts and disclosures that would result in a material misstatement to our annual or interim consolidated financial statements that would not be prevented or detected. If we do not remediate the material weakness or if other material weaknesses are identified in the future, we may be unable to report the Company’s financial results accurately or to report them on a timely basis, which could result in the loss of investor confidence and have a material adverse effect on the stock price of the Common Stock as well as Company's ability to access capital and lending markets. Management is presently taking efforts to remediate this weakness.
The Company may be exposed to other potential risks relating to its internal controls over financial reporting and Company’s ability to have those controls attested to by Company’s independent auditors. As directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX 404, the SEC adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management on the company's internal controls over financial reporting in their annual reports, including this Form 10-K. The Company can provide no assurance that it will comply with all of the requirements imposed thereby in the coming years. In the event that the Company ever identify significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in its internal controls that it cannot remediate in a timely manner, investors and others may lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.
Risks Related to Our Business
A substantial amount of our sales revenue is derived from sales to a limited number of customers, and our business will suffer if sales to these customers decline. We have derived a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of customers. For the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, our revenue was concentrated in our largest customer that accounted for approximately 16.3% and 22.3% of annual revenues respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, $195,276 or 10.3% and $46,788 or 4.1% of our accounts receivable, was due from our largest customer respectively. We do not have long term contractual arrangements or regular negotiation with most of these customers. The loss of one or more of these customers could damage our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are endeavoring but may not succeed expanding our customer base in order to reduce reliance on major customers. We do not conduct business in U.S.A. or European Union, which are major markets for IT Business. As a smaller IT Business, the loss of a single significant customer can have significant, adverse impact on our business and financial conditions, especially since we lack the resources to aggressively, effectively compete for new clients against larger competitors.
Impact of Coronavirus/COVID-19. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, our operations are located primarily in Hong Kong with other operations in China and Philippines. Hong Kong has dropped most its COVID 19 restrictions as of April 1, 2023, including travel restrictions (excepting temperature checks at airports). Further, COVID 19 vaccination rates are above 90% of population for first and second stage vaccinations. The Company has not experienced any significant disruptions in business and business development operations for most of fiscal year 2023 and from January 2024 to the filing of this Form 10-K. That said, the ability of COVID 19 to rapidly develop new variants with differing vulnerability to existing vaccinations makes COVID 19 an ongoing risk to disrupt our business operations and business development efforts. Due to the unpredictability of COVID 19 mutations, it is uncertain what the full lasting and long-term impact of COVID-19 or variants on the future business of the Company and the impact on the demand for IT services in the Company’s key markets of Hong Kong, China and Philippines.
While we have not experienced any significant loss or shortage of personnel from COVID 19 pandemic as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, this pandemic, which may impact areas in waves and not in a single occurrence, or may mutate into a vaccine resistant strain that spreads rapidly, may cause a shortage of qualified personnel. Adequacy of qualified staffing is key to maintenance and growth of our IT Business and our IT Business is key to our financial condition and performance. While performing work by staffs in parts of the world outside of our key markets is a possible solution to any shortages of qualified staff in our key markets, we have not yet developed a contingency plan for remote personnel support of our IT Business or devoted resources to that endeavor. We have no significant experience in using personnel outside of our current market regions.
Our success depends on certain key personnel. We rely on highly skilled and qualified personnel, and if we are unable to continue to attract and retain such qualified personnel it will adversely affect our business. Our performance to date has been and will continue to be largely dependent on the talents, efforts and performance of our senior management and key technical personnel, who generally have, in our opinion, significant experience with our company and substantial relationships and reputations within the industry of our services. We do not currently have an employment agreement or non-competition agreement with our key executive personnel, or with most of our key technical and engineering personnel. The loss of our executive officers or our other key personnel, particularly with little or no notice, could cause delays on business developments and projects and could have an adverse impact on our customers and industry relationships, our business, operating results or financial condition. While we may rely on independent contractors or consultants for technical needs, we may also experience an inability to hire such expertise in the future. The job market for experienced IT personnel is competitive in PRC and Hong Kong, our primary markets, as well as globally. We also lack the resources or funding to match more established competitors’ compensation packages for the kind of experienced executive personnel and key technical personnel that is critical to our company’s survival and success.
Our success depends to a significant extent on our ability to identify, attract, hire, train and retain qualified creative, technical and managerial personnel or to contract with such personnel as independent contractors. We expect competition for personnel with the specialized technical skills needed to create our products and provide our services will continue to intensify in our business because commerce’s reliance on technology increases in order to meet the competitive need for operational efficiencies and related automation and connectivity. We plan to hire individuals on a project-by-project basis, and individuals who work on one or more projects for us may not be available to work on future projects. If we have difficulty identifying, attracting, hiring, training and retaining such qualified personnel, or incur significant costs in order to do so, our business and financial results could be negatively impacted.
The Company has not developed a formal succession plan for key personnel and does not have key man life insurance. While VEII has adopted the Plan for incentive compensation, it has not issued any incentive compensation as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K. The Company will evaluate issuance of incentive compensation in 2024.
Our successful pursuit of profitable business faces various risks and challenges, including:
* the success of our business will be primarily dependent on customer acceptance of our services and products, which is extremely difficult to predict in the highly competitive IT business industry, and our ability to obtain affordable, adequate funding to support efforts to promote our services and products and fund any expansion of business. As a microcap company with a lightly traded stock, we have to rely on private placements of stock or debt funding to acquire working capital for expansion of business. With the July 1, 2024, downgrade of our Common Stock to the Pink Sheet Limited Information tier, any equity placement funding will be difficult, if not unlikely, to achieve due decreased liquidity of the market for the Common Stock. While we have obtained credit lines in 2023, there is no assurance that these credit lines will adequately or timely fund any urgent need to develop and sustain new services or products, especially since they have been used to fund existing operations and business development efforts in our primary markets;
* achieving sustainable operating revenues in our core IT Business that is sufficient to support our business without equity or debt funding;
* the business can be capital-intensive in terms of labor costs and occasional need to purchase products or equipment for customer projects and our capacity to generate cash from our operations may be insufficient to meet our anticipated capital requirements, especially the capital needs of penetrating new markets and developing our services to meet customer demands;
* technological developments could render obsolete our technologies, services and products and undermine the competitiveness of our services and products in the industry and we may be unable to license or acquire the new technologies, services and products necessary to compete;
* the need to access expertise and technical resources in each market in which we may operate or seek to operate presents high capital costs that may be beyond our ability to fund - as such, we may be unable to bid for highly profitable, but high labor cost, projects or contract opportunities, which inability can limit our growth and profitability potential;
* we may be unable to compete for or afford key personnel in our industry that pays a premium for talent, especially since our common stock has a limited market price and limited liquidity;
* a shortage of qualified personnel could adversely impact our business operations and financial results since we use such personnel for customer work;
* technologies and customer tastes and demands can shift or change unexpectedly in the rapidly evolving IT industry and we may lack the wherewithal to respond to such changes; and
* any acquisitions we pursue in our industry and related industries could result in operating difficulties, dilution to our shareholders and other consequences harmful to our business. Integration of new acquisitions can undermine an acquiring company’s business strengths by diluting resources and manpower and imposing operational costs and resulting losses. We may lack sufficient internal controls and systems to properly handle the integration or management of new businesses or expanded operations.
As part of our growth strategy, and if we attain adequate funding as well as stability and profitability in our core business, we may selectively pursue strategic acquisitions in our industry and related industries. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, additional funding that we have obtained has been applied to operational overhead and business development for existing operations. We have not attained sufficient funding to fund an acquisition or conduct extensive business development outside of our primary markets.
We may need additional and ongoing financing to fund our operations or to acquire or start new operations or business lines, which financing we may not be able to obtain on acceptable terms or at all, especially as a microcap, smaller company. Additional capital could be dilutive to our then current stockholders or result in increased interest expense and debt load in future periods. We have been able to obtain credit lines in July 2022 of $1 million, in January 2023 of $1.5 million and in December 2023 of $1 million for operating costs, including possible expansion of business operations. Nonetheless, we will need to raise additional and ongoing capital to fund our plans to invest in current business development, sustain current operations or and marketing initiatives and fund possible future acquisition. Due to the “penny stock” status of our Common Stock and lack of tangible assets required for traditional debt financing, we may be limited in our ability to obtain additional debt or obtain equity funding to meet operating costs or expansion of our operations in existing or new markets. Our future capital requirements depend on a number of factors, including our ability to manage any growth of our business and our ability to control our expenses while maximizing profits. Also, if we raise additional capital through debt funding, this will result in increased interest expense. If we raise additional capital through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our company held by existing public shareholders will be reduced and those shareholders will probably experience significant dilution due to the “penny stock” status of our Common Stock.
New securities issued by us may contain certain rights, preferences or privileges that are senior to those of our Common Stock or other securities. Such seniority may adversely impact the rights and any possible financial return for our holders of the VEII Common Stock. We cannot assure investors that we will be able to raise the working capital as needed in the future on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If we do not raise capital as needed, we will be unable to implement our business development and business expansion strategy.
The July 1, 2024, downgrade of the Company’s Common Stock from OTCQB to Pink Sheets Limited Information will hinder any efforts to raise funding through sales of shares of Common Stock due to the decrease in liquidity of the public market for shares of Common Stock. The likelihood of the sale of securities convertible into shares of Common Stock would also be decreased by the downgrade of the shares of Common Stock.
We may not be able to adequately finance the significant costs associated with the development, licensing or purchase of new product lines and new services. While we have been able to secure a credit line for $1.5 million and $1 million for operating costs in January and December 2023 respectively, and a credit line for $1 million in July 2022, any technology business is subject to a demand to have the newest product and services to match changes in technology and customer purchasing habits. This technological cycle may require us from time to time to develop, license or purchase new products and develop or license new technologies to match changes in the technologies used by or preferred by our customers. The cost of keeping pace on technologies, products and services that may be required by our customers may exceed our ability to fund from cash from operations and credit lines the development, purchase or licensing of those technologies, products and services. We do not possess the internal research and development capabilities and resources of many of our larger competitors.
We could be required to expend substantial funds for and commit significant resources to the following:
· training our personnel on new technologies, products and services;
· purchasing, licensing or developing new products for resell or new services;
· marketing and promotional costs for new products and services; and
· our future operating results may depend to a significant extent on our ability to continue to provide new and competitive products and services that compare favorably on the basis of cost and performance with the design and manufacturing capabilities of competitive third-party technologies. We may need to sufficiently increase our net sales to offset these increased costs, the failure of which would negatively affect our operating results.
A number of possible sources or causes may result in interruption or failure of our ability to timely provide our services and products, which could damage our reputation and have an adverse impact on our operating results. Our future success is significantly dependent on our ability to provide services and deliverables that consistently meet our customers’ needs. We may rely on contractors and their software applications, hardware and other information technology and communications systems for the development and provision of our services and deliverables to customers. This reliance on third parties may present problems in effectively performing services in a profitable or timely manner.
Our services, deliverables and products may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorist attacks, floods, fires, power loss, telecommunications failures, cyber-attacks or computer viruses or other attempts to harm our systems, and similar events. Like all companies in the industry, we are also vulnerable to hackers and destructive computer programs. The expertise of hackers is constantly evolving and no system is absolutely secure from hackers or malicious software programs.
The long-term effects of climate change on the global and local economies and the IT industry and our IT Business in particular are unclear. Environmental regulations or changes in the supply, demand or available sources of energy or other resources may affect the availability or cost of goods and services, including natural resources, necessary to run our business. Climate changes may bring a decline in or disruptions in the economy of our markets or the world. Any decline in Hong Kong or PRC, or regional or global, economic conditions could lead to a decrease in customer discretionary spending, which in turn could adversely affect demand for our services. In addition, an increase in price levels generally, or in price levels in a particular sector such as the energy sector, could result in a shift in customers’ demand away from our services and products or make competitors’ services and products more attractive and more affordable. Such events could cause a decrease in the demand for our services and products, which would have an adverse effect on our profitability and operating results.
Political unrest in any of our markets could produce economic uncertainties that could adversely impact our future business and financial condition and performance.
Our markets are limited in number and we do not operate in some of the larger, lucrative IT Industry Markets. We are dependent on Hong Kong and, to a lesser extent, PRC for our customers and revenues. We lack extensive diversification into new geographical markets, which is a goal of our company, but we also believe there is sufficient business in Hong Kong and PRC to support our short-term business and financial goals and to support our foreseeable operating overhead. The acquisition of TapServices, Inc. is an effort to expand the reach of geographical markets beyond PRC and Hong Kong, but we remain committed to expanding our business in PRC and Hong Kong as our core geographical market. TapServices, Inc. will need to be self-supporting in terms of revenues and meeting working capital needs in order to allow the other operating subsidiaries to dedicate funds to developing and supporting operations in the key China and Hong Kong markets.
Since we do not have revenue generating operations in North or South America, we do not anticipate any direct, immediate adverse consequences from any trade disputes between U.S. and China (other than any impact on China and Hong Kong economic conditions).
The Company is or could become subject to laws and regulations worldwide, changes to which could increase the Company’s costs and individually or in the aggregate adversely affect the Company’s business. Domestic and foreign laws and regulations could affect the Company’s activities including, but not limited to, in areas of privacy, labor, advertising, digital content, consumer protection, real estate, billing, e-commerce, promotions, quality of services, telecommunications, mobile communications and media, television, intellectual property ownership and infringement, tax, import and export requirements, anti-corruption, foreign exchange controls and cash repatriation restrictions, data privacy requirements, anti-competition, environmental, health and safety.
Operational and Legal Risks Associated with being a U.S. Public Company with Chinese-Based and Hong Kong-Based Operations
We operate primarily in Hong Kong and China and we are subject to significant political and economic uncertainties if Chinese government significantly alters the laws governing Hong Kong. We operate in Hong Kong and PRC. The control of the Communist Party over the government of PRC and Hong Kong injects potential risk exposure from sudden, unexpected changes in laws or regulations or trade regulations that could be adverse to the Company. Any changes in PRC laws and regulations, or their interpretation, or the imposition of new taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, imports and sources of supply, devaluations of currency or the nationalization or other expropriation of private enterprises could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Any decrease in our revenues or an increase in operating costs (and corresponding reduction in our cash flows) would also adversely affect our ability to pay our indebtedness as it comes due.
The Chinese government may exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of Company and Company’s operating subsidiaries in China as well as in Hong Kong (despite Hong Kong being a separate system from mainland China) and may intervene in or influence our operations and our status as a U.S. public holding company at any time. These Chinese governmental actions:
1) could disallow our corporate structure as a U.S. public holding company in Hong Kong or our ownership of Chinese subsidiaries;
2) could result in a material change in our operations, including, without limitation, reincorporation of companies, transfers of operations or assets to other jurisdictions, cessations of operations, bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, changes in business lines, efforts to list or continue to trade our securities on non-U.S. securities exchanges and quotation systems, and going private transactions - each of these transactions could adversely impact an investment in the Company;
3) could hinder our ability to continue to offer securities to investors outside of China and Hong Kong or list our securities on any U.S. national securities exchange or OTCQB or Pink Sheets; and
4) may cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become illiquid investment or completely worthless.
Significant changes in PRC laws and regulations, or their interpretation, or the imposition of confiscatory taxation, restrictions on currency conversion, imports and sources of supply, devaluations of currency or the nationalization or other expropriation of private enterprises could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. Under its current leadership, the Chinese government has generally been pursuing economic reform policies that encourage private economic activity and greater economic decentralization. There is no assurance, however, that the Chinese government will continue to pursue these policies, or that it will not significantly alter these policies, from time to time without notice and in respect of Hong Kong SAR.
Chinese Government or Hong Kong Government may restrict our ability to transfer cash held in or from operations in China or Hong Kong. To the extent cash in the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ business is held in China or Hong Kong, or held by a Chinese or Hong Kong entity, those funds may not be available to fund operations of the Company or its subsidiaries or for other uses outside of China or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries by the Chinese government to transfer cash. There can be no assurance the Chinese government will not intervene in or impose restrictions on the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries to transfer cash outside of China or Hong Kong.
Investors may experience difficulties in effecting service of legal process, enforcing foreign judgments or bringing original actions in China or Hong Kong based upon U.S. laws, including the federal securities laws or other foreign laws, against us or our directors and executive officers who reside in China or Hong Kong. Most of our principal operating subsidiaries’ current operations and assets are located in Hong Kong or China. Moreover, six of our nine current directors and all of our executive officers are residents of Hong Kong. All or a substantial portion of the assets of these directors and executive officers are located outside the U.S. Our Chairman, Mr. Chan Heng Fai and Mr. Lim Sheng Hon Danny are residents of Singapore, and director Robert Trapp is a resident of the United States. Our senior officers, Mr. Tan Seng Wee, the Chief Executive Officer and a director, and Mr. Au Cheuk Lun, our Chief Financial Officer, as well as directors Tsang Po Wee, Lee Yuen Fong, Wong Shui Yeung, and Wong Tat Keung are all residents of Hong Kong.
As a result, it may not be possible to effect service of process within the U.S. or elsewhere outside of Hong Kong or China upon these directors and executive officers who reside in Hong Kong or may reside in or claim residence in China. In addition, uncertainty exists as to whether the courts of the Hong Kong or China would recognize or enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained against us or such officers or directors predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the U.S. or any state thereof, or be competent to hear original actions brought in Hong Kong or China against us or those directors or executive officers predicated upon the securities laws of the U.S. or any state thereof. Under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China (“CNL”), which has been applied in the Hong Kong since 1 July 1997, and pursuant to Article 18 of and Annex III to the Basic Law, Hong Kong residents who are of Chinese descent and were born in the Chinese territories (including Hong Kong), or persons who satisfy the criteria laid down in the CNL as having Chinese nationality, are regarded as Chinese nationals by the Chinese government.
The legal and judicial systems in China are still rudimentary and evolving, and enforcement of existing laws is uncertain. As a result, it may be impossible to obtain swift and equitable enforcement of laws that do exist, or to obtain enforcement of the judgment of one court by a court of another jurisdiction. The Chinese legal system is based on the civil law regime, that is, it is based on written statutes. Unlike the U.S. legal system, a decision by one judge in China does not set a legal precedent that is required to be followed by Chinese judges in other cases. In addition, the interpretation of Chinese laws and Chinese court decisions may be varied to reflect domestic political changes or may be dictated or invalidated by the Chinese government.
While the Hong Kong court system is based on English common law system (like the United States court system) under the Basic Law, the “constitution” of Hong Kong written when United Kingdom handed control of Hong Kong to China in 1997, and has operated independently from Hong Kong government in the past, the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary has been undermined in the past three years by the Chinese government. Since the Chinese government has imposed national security laws of China in Hong Kong, the PRC National People’s Congress Standing Committee (“NPCSC”), which is a central authority of the Chinese government, has held that NPCSC decisions and directives are not reviewable by Hong Kong courts. The Court of Final Appeal, Hong Kong’s highest court, ruled in January 2021, that NPCSC decisions have the force of law in Hong Kong and are not subject to judicial review by Hong Kong courts. The former independence and integrity of the common law system of the Hong Kong courts have been compromised by Chinese government influence and direct intervention and investors face the same risks and challenges of obtaining service of process and pursuing and enforcing legal claims against our directors and senior officers who reside in China in the Chinese court system in obtaining service of process and pursuing and enforcing claims against our directors and senior officers who reside in Hong Kong in the Hong Kong court system.
The promulgation of new laws, changes to existing laws and the pre-emption of local regulations by national laws in China or Hong Kong may further and adversely affect investors seeking to enforce or assert claims against us or our management in Chinese or Hong Kong courts.
The Company and its operating subsidiaries have no assets or operations in United States. As a Nevada incorporated corporation, the Company has a registered agent office in the State of Nevada for service of process on the Company, but not for service of process on its officers and directors and not for service on its foreign subsidiaries and their officers and directors.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Pink Sheet Downgrade. On July 1, 2024, the Company’s Common Stock was downgraded by the OTC Markets Group from OTCQB to Pink Sheets Limited Information due to the Company’s failure to file the Form 10-K with the SEC by July 1, 2024. This downgrade further reduces the already limited liquidity of the shares of Common Stock and, combined with the low trading volume and low market price of the shares of Common Stock, greatly reduces the probability of raising working capital on affordable terms for necessary amounts through equity funding. Since the Company lacks hard assets suitable for asset-based lending, other than accounts receivable, the Company would experience difficulty in raising needed working capital from non-affiliated lenders. The Company may also be unable to obtain additional working capital from existing affiliated lenders who have had or have loans with the Company.
If the Company does not file the Form 10-K and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2024, with the SEC by July 16, 2024, financial information qualifying the Company for a public market under SEC Rule 15c2-11 will expire and Company’s Common Stock will be downgraded to the Expert Market, effective July 17, 2024. The downgrade to Expert Market will end the ability of the public to directly trade the shares of Common Stock and limit access to quotes for those shares to broker-dealers and certain other sophisticated investors. This further downgrade would virtually eliminate the liquidity of the shares of Common Stock. The Company is endeavoring to timely file these reports, but the Company cannot make assurances that both reports will be filed by July 17, 2024.
If the Company fails to raise necessary working capital when needed and on affordable terms, then the Company may be unable to continue current operations, or may be required to reduce the extent of its operations and overhead, or both. Without additional, affordable working capital funding, the Company will not be able to expand its operations absent a significant increase in operating revenues and profit margins.
There currently is only a minimal liquid public market for our Common Stock. Failure to develop or maintain a liquid public trading market could negatively affect the value of our Common Stock and make it difficult or impossible for stockholders to sell their shares when desired or at desired prices.
Due to a lack of a significant public float, institutional investor support and primary market makers, VEII Common Stock is less liquid, receives little if no coverage by security analysts and news media, and generates lower prices than might otherwise be obtained if the Common Stock was listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ, had institutional investor support, active primary market makers and had analysts’ coverage. The penny stock status of the Company makes very difficult to attract institutional investor or market maker support, which in turn negatively impacts the liquidity and price of the Common Stock. The downgrade of the Common Stock to the Pink Sheets Limited Information as of July 1, 2024, has decreased the liquidity and increased the investment risk of the Common Stock. While the Company intends to re-qualify for quotation of its Common Stock on the OTCQB, it may be unable to do so. No assurances can be given of achieving quotation on the OTCQB for the Common Stock.
Some, but not all, of the factors which may delay or prevent the listing of our Common Stock on a more widely-traded and liquid market than the Pink Sheets Limited Information, or, if the Company can re-qualify for the OTCQB tier, the OTCQB include the following: our stockholders’ equity may be insufficient; the market value of our outstanding securities may be too low; our net income from operations may be too low; our Common Stock may not be sufficiently widely held; we may not be able to secure primary market makers for our Common Stock; and we may fail to meet the rules and requirements mandated by, any of the national securities exchanges to have our Common Stock listed or the standards of NASDAQ for quotation of the Common Stock. Our issued Common Stock is predominantly held by a relatively small number of shareholders. We would have to increase the public float considerably as part of any effort to enhance the liquidity of our Common Stock. The July 1, 2024 downgrade of the Common Stock to Pink Sheets Limited Information makes the qualification for quotation on the OTCQB the only available option for enhancing the liquidity of the public market for the shares of Common Stock and, even if quotation on the OTCQB is achieved, the liquidity of the shares of Common Stock on the OTCQB remain limited by the lack of institutional support for, lack of primary market makers for, absence of security firms coverage of and limited number of public shareholders for the shares of Common Stock. If the Company does not file the Form 10-K and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, by July 16, 2024, the OTC Markets Group will further downgrade the Common Stock to Pink Sheets Expert Market, which will end public investor direct trading of the shares of Common Stock and limit trading the share of Common Stock to broker-dealers and certain other sophisticated investor, and consequently, severely limit the liquidity of the shares of Common Stock.
The market price for our Common Stock can be volatile given our status as a relatively unknown company with a small and thinly traded public float, limited operating history of our current services and lack of sustained profits from fiscal year to fiscal year - all of those factors can foster fluctuations in our share price.
The market for our Common Stock can be characterized by significant price volatility when compared to seasoned issuers, and we expect that our share price will continue to be potentially more volatile than a seasoned issuer for the indefinite future. The volatility in our share price is attributable to a number of factors. First, as noted above, our Common Stock are sporadically and thinly traded. As a consequence of this lack of liquidity, the trading of relatively small quantities of shares by our shareholders may disproportionately influence the price of those shares in either direction. The price for our shares could, for example, decline precipitously in the event that a large number of shares of our Common Stock are sold on the market without commensurate demand, as compared to a seasoned issuer which could better absorb those sales without adverse impact on its share price. Secondly, we are a speculative or “risky” investment due to our limited operations and lack of sustained profits to date, and uncertainty of future market acceptance for our existing and potential products and services. As a consequence of this enhanced risk, more risk-adverse investors may, under the fear of losing all or most of their investment in the event of negative news or lack of progress, be more inclined to sell their shares on the market more quickly and at greater discounts than would be the case with the stock of a seasoned issuer. Many of these factors are beyond our control and may decrease the market price of our Common Stock, regardless of our operating performance. We cannot make any predictions or projections as to what the prevailing market price for our Common Stock will be at any time, including as to whether our common stock will sustain their current market prices, or as to what effect that the sale of shares or the availability of common stock for sale at any time will have on the prevailing market price.
The application of the “penny stock” rules could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock and increase your transaction costs to sell those shares.
The SEC adopted Rule 3a51-1 (17 CFR §240.3a51-1) under the Exchange Act, which establishes the definition of a “penny stock,” for the purposes relevant to us, as any equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, Rule 15g-9 of Exchange Act requires:
* that a broker or dealer approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, and
* the broker or dealer receives from the investor a written agreement to the transaction, setting forth the identity and
* quantity of the penny stock to be purchased.
In order to approve a person’s account for transactions in penny stocks, the broker or dealer must:
* obtain financial information and investment experience objectives of the person, and
* make a reasonable determination that the transactions in penny stocks are suitable for that person and the person has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial matters to be capable of evaluating the risks of transactions in penny stocks.
The broker or dealer must also deliver, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, a disclosure schedule prescribed by the SEC relating to the penny stock market, which, in highlight form:
* sets forth the basis on which the broker or dealer made the suitability determination, and
* that the broker or dealer received a signed, written agreement from the investor prior to the transaction.
Generally, brokers may be less willing to execute transactions in securities subject to the “penny stock” rules. This may make it more difficult for investors to dispose of our common stock and cause a decline in the market value of our common stock. Brokers may also have internal rules against trading, supporting as a market maker or otherwise handling or accepting for deposit any “penny stock” in general.
If the Company does not file the Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024, by July 16, 2024, then on July 17, 2024, the Company will no longer have the required financial information on file under Rule 15c-2-11, the Common Stock will be downgraded to Pink Sheets Expert Market and direct public access to trading those shares will end.
A limited number of our shareholders own a large percentage of our Common Stock, which will allow them to exercise significant influence over matters subject to shareholder approval.
Our executive officers, directors and their affiliated entities will beneficially own or control approximately 66.8% (See: Stock Ownership Table at page 55) of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. Accordingly, these executive officers, directors and their affiliated entities, acting as a group, will have substantial influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, dissolution, or any other significant corporate transaction. These shareholders may also delay or prevent a change of control or otherwise discourage a potential acquirer from attempting to obtain control of us, even if such a change of control would benefit our other shareholders. This significant concentration of Common Stock ownership may adversely affect the trading price of our Common Stock due to investors’ perception that conflicts of interest may exist or arise.
Cybersecurity
We face an inherent business risk of exposure to product or service liability claims that could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Because of the nature of our products and services, we face an inherent business risk of exposure to product or service-related liability claims arising from the claimed failure of our products or services, whether proprietary or licensed, to perform as intended and the resulting damages or harm to customer’s business, computers, network, e-pay or information systems, including cybersecurity breach claims and end user privacy claim liabilities. We do not have insurance coverage for product and service liabilities, but we intend to obtain such insurance coverage upon receipt of sufficient funding or revenues from operations to afford such insurance coverage. The absence of product and service liability insurance could impose significant liabilities on our company and result in its failure.
Company’s Business is based on Services for Computer Systems and Networks, and related Systems management and Software Programming, and is inherently at risk of Cyberattacks. As a computer based business, the Company faces ongoing risks from cyberattacks - both to internal computer systems and networks and customer computer systems and networks using our services. The Company may be unable to anticipate all potential types of attacks or intrusions or to implement adequate security barriers or other preventative measures.
Network disruptions, security breaches and other significant failures of the Company’s computer systems and networks could (i) disrupt the proper functioning of our networks and systems and therefore our operations or those of certain of our customers; (ii) result in the unauthorized use of Company’s services or products without payment; (iii) result in the unauthorized access to, and destruction, loss, theft, misappropriation or release of proprietary, confidential, sensitive or otherwise valuable information of ours or our customers, including trade secrets, which others could use to compete against us or for disruptive, destructive or otherwise harmful purposes and outcomes; and (iv) require significant management attention or financial resources to remedy the damages that result or to change our systems and processes. We could be subject to claims for contract breach, damages, credits, fines, penalties, termination, or other remedies from our customers, and subject to additional scrutiny or litigation by regulators, as a result of network disruptions, security breaches and other significant failures of the above-described systems, any or all of which could result in a loss of business, damage to our reputation among our customers and the public generally and have a negative impact on our results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
The Company and one of its subsidiaries have been the subject of two (2) identified attempted cyberattacks involving domain name/email spoofing - where scammer pretended to be a professional advisor or one of our subsidiary companies - in 2024. We have researched these situations, taken remedial actions and do not believe any material impact has occurred and no Company or customer information has been compromised. We do not believe that the two known cyberattacks were “material” for reporting purposes on Current Report on Form 8-K. The two known cyberattacks in 2024 involved domain name/email spoofing where scammers posed as a professional provider of the Company or as one of the Company’s subsidiaries. As reported in this Form 10-K, the initial identified cyberattack resulted in the payment of $30,000 to a scammer bank account and the subsequent May 2014 cyberattack was identified and no financial harm or loss, or data breach, resulted. See Item 1C - Cybersecurity below at page 27.
Regulations
Inapplicability of the 2012 JOBS Act
We do not qualify as an “Emerging Growth Company” and do not qualify for any of the reduced or delayed disclosure options available to an Emerging Growth Company and as summarized below.
The JOBS Act provides scaled disclosure provisions for an eligible Emerging Growth Company, including, among other things: (a) permitting an Emerging Growth Company to include only two years of audited financial statements in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act for an initial public offering of common equity securities; (b) allowing an Emerging Growth Company to comply with the smaller reporting company version of Item 402 of Regulation S-K (Executive Compensation); and (c) removing the requirement that our independent registered public accounting firm attest to the effectiveness of Emerging Growth Company’s internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The JOBS Act also exempts an Emerging Growth Company from the following additional compensation-related disclosure provisions that were imposed on U.S. public companies pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act: the advisory “say-on-pay” vote on executive compensation required under Section 14A(a) of the Exchange Act; the Section 14A(b) requirements relating to shareholder advisory votes on golden parachute compensation; the Section 14(i) requirements for disclosure relating to the relationship between executive compensation and financial performance of the issuer; and the requirement of Dodd-Frank Act Section 953(b)(1), which will require disclosure as to the relationship between Chief Executive Officer and median employee pay. Under Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act, "Emerging Growth Companies" can also delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies.
Climate change Disclosure Rules.
The Company did not experience any direct, material impact on business and financial condition in 2023 from pending or existing climate-change related legislation, regulations, and international accords in the U.S., the physical impacts of climate change, or perceived indirect material impact from business trends. On March 6, 2024, the Commission adopted final rules to require registrants to disclose certain climate-related information in registration statements and Form 10-K annual reports. The Company is uncertain as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K on the impact of these new rules on the Company. On March 15, 2024, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted an administrative stay of the Commission’s new climate change disclosure rules.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
We own no real property. Our company and subsidiary operations leases the following office spaces:
1) Unit 608, 6/F, Sunbeam Centre, 27 Shing Yip Street, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
2) Room 04&06-07, 23/F, Newpoly Tower, No. 2 Zhong Shan Liu Road, Guangzhou, China 510180
3) Room 2663, 2665 & 2667, 26/F, Oriental Plaza, Jianshe Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen , China
4) Unit 1&2, 2/F, Building A7, 700 Yishan Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, China
5) Room 1107, 2/F, No.15 West Majiapu Road, Fengtai District, Beijing, China 100068
6) Unit 902, The Orient Square, Emerald Ave, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila 1605
7) Unit 2602-2603, Orient Square Building, F. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Metro Manila
8) Room T1-806, Greenland Center, No. 319, Section 1, Furong Middle Road, Kaifu District, Changsha, China
9) 10/F, FT Life Tower, 18 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong
We believe that the above space is sufficient for our current operations. We paid $478,595 in aggregate lease payments in fiscal year 2023 for the above spaces. We moved our principal executive offices to 10/F, FT Life Tower, 18 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong on February 19, 2024. The lease for these offices has a term of 3 years and an annual rent of $150,330 for first year. We believe that these offices are adequate for our immediate needs.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There is no known material, existing or pending legal proceedings against our company, nor are we involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation. There are no proceedings in which our director, officer or any affiliates, or any registered or beneficial shareholder, is an adverse party or has a material interest adverse to our interest.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not Applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Market Information
The Common Stock of VEII was quoted on OTCQB under the trading symbol “VEII” until July 1, 2024. On July 2, 2024, the Common Stock of VEII was quoted on the Pink Sheets Limited Information. The CUSIP number for our common stock is 829348200. Because we were quoted on OTCQB and now quoted on the Pink Sheets Limited Information and is lightly traded, has no primary market makers and no coverage from securities firms, and has a large percentage of the issued shares held by corporate insiders, our securities may be less liquid, receive less coverage by security analysts and news media, and generate lower prices than might otherwise be obtained if they were listed on a national securities exchange. We are not aware of any stock analysts who cover our common stock or publish reports on our company or our common stock.
Holders
As of December 31, 2023, there were approximately 57 stockholders of record of our Common Stock. The number of record holders does not include persons who held our Common Stock in nominee or “street name” accounts through brokers.
Dividend Policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Our business strategies or our financial condition may require us to retain future earnings for overhead and business development costs. As such, investors should not invest in our Common Stock on the assumption that it will pay a regular or periodic dividend or pay any future dividend.
Subject to restrictions imposed by Nevada laws, our Board of Directors has complete discretion on whether to pay dividends, subject to legal requirements and possible shareholder consent. We will have no obligation to distribute such cash (or other available cash other than any declared dividend) to our shareholders.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
In July 2022, the Company adopted a 2022 Equity Incentive Plan or “Plan”. The Company has not issued or granted any incentive compensation under the Plan in 2023 or as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
We have not sold any equity securities during 2023 that went undisclosed in a quarterly report on this Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or a current report on Form 8-K that was filed during the period.
Purchases of Equity Securities
No repurchases of our Common Stock were made during the fiscal year 2023.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. Reserved.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-K, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business and related financing, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this Form 10-K, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by these forward-looking statements. See “Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” above for certain information concerning those forward-looking statements. Our financial statements are prepared in U.S. dollars and in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Overview of our Business
Value Exchange International, Inc. Current Business and Industry Trends and Economic Conditions.
The IT Business in Hong Kong and China is large and fragmented, comprised of thousands of competitors as well as being a highly competitive industry. A general trend affecting our IT Business is the trend of increasing competition for skilled labor. With a global economy and foreign competitors seeking to penetrate Hong Kong and China as markets as well as to tap into new pools of skilled workers in IT Business, we will undoubtedly face increasing competition for skilled workers in IT Business in the Hong Kong and China markets. We may be unable to afford or effectively compete for necessary skilled workers in Hong Kong, Philippines and China and, if we are unable to afford or effectively compete for necessary skilled workers, our growth and ability to attain and sustain profit operations in the IT Business may fail. We have not experienced any significant problems in recruiting necessary skilled workers in fiscal years 2022 or 2023.
Another common problem in the IT Business is retaining skilled workers throughout the duration of a project. Due to the global nature of the IT Business and the growing demand for skilled IT Business workers, a skilled IT business worker can often readily find higher paying positions with competitors, whether local or foreign. Further, unlike some competitors, the Company has not offered the stock-based incentive compensation to employees that is attractive to prospective technology workers. While we have not experienced retention problems due primarily to our focus on smaller, shorter term IT business projects, we may experience retention of skilled worker problems if we grow our IT Business and undertake longer term, more complex IT business projects for customers.
IT Business is often affected by general economic conditions in our markets and any decline in those conditions could adversely impact our business and financial performance. During periods of economic growth, customers generally spend more for IT Business products and services. During periods of economic contraction or uncertainty, such spending generally decreases or is deferred. As such, the prospective business for our IT Business is generally greater during periods of economic growth or stability in Hong Kong or China or Manila, Philippines, respectively, and decreases during periods of economic decline or uncertainty in Hong Kong, China or Manila, Philippines. In our global economy, and with PRC being still a principal export economy, adverse economic conditions globally or in other regions can adversely impact economic conditions in Hong Kong or China. China has experienced a less dynamic growth in gross national product in the past year and this may reduce the willingness of customers to spend on IT Business.
The IT Business is global and, with the growth of cloud computing, there is a growing capability and infrastructure for companies in a foreign nation to provide IT Business to customers around the globe as a complement to cloud computing. We have not seen any significant impact of cloud computing on our IT Business in fiscal year 2023, but we perceive that the expansion of cloud computing coupled with IT services and products could allow foreign companies to provide IT Business products and services to its cloud computing customers in our Hong Kong and China core markets as well as in the Philippines. We may find it more difficult to compete for IT Business in Hong Kong and China, and perhaps the Philippines, if customers of IT Business elect to have cloud computing companies manage, repair and enhance IT Business products, software and systems. The growth of cloud computing coupled with IT Business products and services as an ancillary component of the cloud computing menu of products and services could adversely impact our IT Business in Hong Kong and China markets as well as the Philippines.
The nature of our IT Business is such that our accounts receivable is significant current asset. Our most significant current liabilities are payroll related costs, which are generally paid either every two weeks or monthly. If the demand for our IT Business products and services increases, we may generally see an increase in our working capital needs, as we continue to pay our workers on a weekly or monthly basis while the related accounts receivable are outstanding for much longer than normal payment cycle, which may result in a decline in operating cash flows. Conversely, as the demand for our IT Business products and services declines, we may generally see a decrease in our working capital needs, as the existing accounts receivable are collected and not replaced at the same level, resulting in a decline of our accounts receivable balance, with less of an effect on current liabilities due to the shorter cycle time of the payroll related items. This may result in an increase in our operating cash flows; however, any such increase would not be sustainable in the event that a local or global economic downturn continued for an extended period.
In order for us to attain sustained success in the near term, we must continue to maintain and grow our customer base, provide high-quality service and satisfy our existing clients, and take advantage of opportunities in the IT Business. In the current economic environment, we must provide our customers with service offerings that are appropriately priced, satisfy their needs, and provide them with measurable business benefits. While we have recently experienced more demand for our IT Business products and services, we believe that it is too early to determine if developments will translate into sustainable improvements in our pricing or margins in fiscal year 2023 or over the longer term.
The increasing need for cybersecurity products and technologies may be a future weakness of our business plan. We do not have a current cybersecurity product and service business line beyond consultants engaged to provide cybersecurity services to customers and we have not current plans to develop a cybersecurity business line. Cybersecurity companies may have an advantage over our business model in the future in that cybersecurity companies could leverage their cybersecurity offerings to also sell IT Business services and products that compete with our IT Business products and services.
We face competition from competitors in our primary markets, which competitors possess greater name recognition, assets, personnel, sales and financial resources. These entities may be able to respond more quickly to changing market conditions by developing new products and services that meet customer requirements or are otherwise superior to our products and services and may be able to more effectively market their products than we can because they have significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. They may also be able to devote greater resources than we can to the development, promotion and sale of their services and products. To the extent that we are unable to successfully compete against existing and future competitors, our business, operating results and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
Regulatory Compliance Costs. As a U.S. public company with operations in Hong Kong, PRC and Philippines, we are subject to U.S. and foreign laws and regulation. The need to comply with laws and regulations in these jurisdictions may impose additional operating expenses or restrictions on our business operations. Due to the potential threat of delisting of our Common Stock under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”) as a Commission Identified Issuer under Commission HFCAA-related rules, the Company transitioned from a Hong Kong-based public auditor to a U.S.-based U.S. auditor on May 25, 2023. The additional audit cost resulting from that transition is estimated, as of the date of this filing of the report, to be $168,388 for audit services for fiscal year 2023. Further, continuing political and economic tensions between the U.S. and PRC may result in other laws or regulations that increase the cost of regulatory compliance for the Company. As of the fiscal year 2023, the Company has been able to fund regulatory costs.
COVID 19 Pandemic. COVID 19 pandemic affected our primary operations in Hong Kong SAR and Manila, Philippines in first fiscal quarter of 2020 by forcing limited business travel, remote work arrangements by personnel, customers suspending or reducing operations and use of third party services and suspension or cancellations of normal business activities by us and customers, which restrictions occurred at times in 2021 and 2022. During the fiscal year 2023, COVID 19 did not significantly disrupt our normal business operations in Hong Kong SAR and China. While there has been an easing restrictions on businesses in 2023, especially in Hong Kong, the uncertainty about new variants of COVID 19 virus emerging, especially variants that are not affected by current vaccines, creates an ongoing uncertainty about the future impact of COVID 19 that cannot be projected.
Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted on March 27, 2020. Company has not sought and does not intend to seek any assistance under the CARES Act as of the date of this Form 10-K report. Our operations and personnel are not based in the U.S.
Principal business
The principal business of VEI CHN for more than 20 years is to provide the IT Business, primarily to leading retailers in Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and PRC. The primary services and products of the IT Business are:
a) Systems maintenance and related service
VEI CHN Group provides development and customization of software and hardware, enhancements thereto and maintenance services for installed POS system. VEI CHN Group markets, sells and maintains its own brand POS software - edgePOS as well as third party brands (e.g. NCR / Retalix), which is one of the leading POS software programs in the Chinese-Hong Kong market. These software enhancements and programming can integrate with different IP systems.
Systems maintenance services consist of: i) software maintenance service, including software patches and software code revisions; ii) installing, testing and implementing software; iii) training of customer personnel for the use of software; and iv) technical support for software systems.
Other services include system installation and implementation, including i) project planning; ii) analysis of customer information and business needs from a IT perspective (“System Analysis”); iii) design of the entire system; iv) hardware and consumables selection advice and sales; and v) system hardware maintenance. These services typically consist of customer projects for New Store Opening (“NSO”) and Install, Move, Add and Change (“IMAC”) for retail, and ad-hoc custom system projects for other business sectors. Our primary focus is the retail sector in Hong Kong, PRC and Manila, Philippines.
b) Systems development and integration
VEI CHN Group provides value-added software, which integrates with customer owned or licensed software, and ad-hoc software development projects for other business sectors. Besides use of proprietary, custom software code, VEI CHN services may from time to time license standard third party software programs.
During January 2017, VEI CHN acquired 100% common stock of TapServices, Inc. (“TSI”) for total consideration being $202,636. TSI is a limited liability corporation organized under the laws of the Philippines on March 24, 2009. TSI operations have been managed by Mr. Benny Lee, a director of VEI SHG. TSI commenced revenue generating operations in 2010 and focused on software and computer hardware maintenance on point of sale or “POS” systems for local Manila, Philippines businesses. Recent years, TSI business model has been to engage in the business of providing information, data, and communications technology services, to supply and deal in all related products, including computer hardware, software and application products, and to own, design, install, maintain, operate, integrate, sell, lease or otherwise deal in such systems, facilities, gateways, equipment, devices and POS terminals in the retail business. TSI’s business line is essentially similar to the business line of VEI CHN Group in information technology and computer system consulting services and related products’ sales. The customer base of TSI includes Robinson Retails Group (“RRG”), Ministop Convenience Stores, and Watson’s Personal Health and Care (Phil.) Inc. in the Philippines. In 2023, TSI achieved of $1.56 million in gross revenues. TSI customarily combines maintenance contracts with hardware sales. TSI geographical market is the greater Manila, Philippines region and adjacent areas.
Throughout fiscal year 2023, we focused on the IT Business, and sought to expand its services to commercial customers in PRC and Asia Pacific Region when general economic conditions are favorable for expansion, which requires adequate, affordable funding are available. Funding obtained to date has been dedicated to existing operations. Additional funding for any expansion of business and markets may not be available in 2024. This strategy is based upon our subjective business judgment that the IT Business presents more opportunities for potential customer order in our core markets of Hong Kong SAR and China rather than prospective new markets.
Financial Performance Highlights
The following are some financial highlights for the 2023:
· Net revenue: Our net revenues were $12,030,325 for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $10,924,330 for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $1,105,995 or 10.1%.
· Gross profit: Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $1,184,381 or 9.8% of net revenues, as compared to $1,695,469 or 15.5% of net revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2022, a decrease of $511,088 or 30.1%.
· Loss from operations: Our loss from operations totaled $6,691,065 for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $193,755 for year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $6,497,310 or 3,353.4%. The increase was mainly attributable to the decrease in our gross profit and increase in our general and administrative expenses.
· Net loss/income: Our net loss totaled $6,734,911 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $3,366 of net income for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $6,738,277 or 200,186.5%.
· Basic and diluted net loss per share was $0.18 and $0.00 for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively.
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022
The following table summarizes the results of our operations during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 and provides information regarding the dollar and percentage increase or (decrease) from the 2022 year to the 2023 year.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
The following tables set forth key components of our results of operations for the periods indicated, both in dollars and as a percentage of net revenues.
(All amounts, other than percentages, in U.S. dollars)
Change
US$ US$ US$ %
NET REVENUES
Service income 12,030,325 10,924,330 1,105,995 10.1
COST OF SERVICES
Cost of service income (10,845,944 ) (9,228,861 ) (1,617,083 ) 17.5
GROSS PROFIT 1,184,381 1,695,469 (511,088 ) (30.1 )
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses (7,892,826 ) (2,001,268 ) (5,891,558 ) 294.4
Foreign exchange gain (loss) 17,380 112,044 (94,664 ) (84.5 )
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (6,691,065 ) (193,755 ) (6,497,310 ) 3,353.4
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES) (4,076 ) 271,149 (275,225 ) (101.5 )
(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES (6,695,141 ) 77,394 (6,772,535 ) (8,750.7 )
INCOME TAXES EXPENSES (39,770 ) (74,028 ) 34,258 (46.3 )
NET (LOSS) INCOME (6,734,911 ) 3,366 (6,738,277 ) (200,186.5 )
Net revenues. Net revenues were $12,030,325 for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $10,924,330 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $1,105,995 or 10.1%. This result was primarily attributable to the increase in our revenue from 1) hardware and consumables with revenue increasing from $1,439,553 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $2,738,854 for the year ended December 31, 2023, and 2) sales of systems development and integration with revenue increasing from $240,858 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $246,854 for the year ended December 31, 2023; offset by the decrease in our revenue from 3) systems maintenance with revenue decreasing from $9,243,919 for the year ended December 31, 2022 to $9,044,617 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cost of services. Our cost of services is primarily comprised of our costs of technical staff and general overhead. Our cost of services were $10,845,944 or 90.2% of net revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $9,228,861 or 84.5% of net revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $1,617,083 or 17.5%. The increase in cost of services was mainly attributable to the increase in our contracting fees to suppliers and cost of technical staff for the growing demand of our service.
Gross profit. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $1,184,381 or 9.8% of net revenues, as compared to $1,695,469 or 15.5% of net revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease of gross profit was largely due to the increase in cost of services, offset by the increase in net revenues in 2023, as compared with 2022.
General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses include the costs associated with staff and support personnel who manage our business activities, office rental expenses, depreciation charge for fixed assets, and professional fees paid to third parties. General and administrative expenses were $7,892,826 or 65.6% of net revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $2,001,268 or 18.3% of net revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $5,891,558 or 294.4%. The primary reason for the increase was attributable to an increase in audit fee due to change of our auditor, staff costs due to back office position raised, allowance for amounts due from related parties made, accrual of potential tax penalty and inventory disposal and loss incurred in 2023, as compared with 2022.
Loss from operations. As a result of the above analysis, our loss from operations totaled $6,691,065 for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $193,755 for year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $6,497,310 or 3,353.4%. The increase was mainly attributable to the decrease in our gross profit and increase in general and administrative expenses.
Income taxes. The Company is subject to United States federal income tax at a tax rate of 21% in 2023 (2022: 21%) on any revenues subject to U.S. taxation. No provision for income taxes in the United States has been made as the Company had no U.S. source income taxable in the United States for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
VEI CHN and VEI HKG were formed in Hong Kong and subject to Hong Kong income tax at a tax rate of 16.5% for the year ended December 31, 2023. TSI was formed in Philippines and subject to an income tax rate of 30% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our VEI SHG, VEI HN and SZH was formed in China and subject to national and local income taxes within China at the applicable tax rate on the taxable income as reported in its PRC statutory financial statements in accordance with relevant income tax laws. China passed a new Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the “New EIT Law,” and its implementing regulations, both of which became effective on January 1, 2008. VEI SHG subject to an income tax rate of 25% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Income taxes expenses amounted to $39,770 or 0.3% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $74,028 or 0.7% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to the current tax expenses decrease for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Net (loss) income. As a result of the foregoing, we had a net loss of $6,734,911 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net income of $3,366 for the year ended December 31, 2022, as a result of the factors described above concerning increase in cost of services and operating expenses, and decrease in other income, offset by increase in revenue.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and cash equivalents of $886,467. The following table provides detailed information about our net cash flow for all financial years presented in this report.
Cash Flows
Cash Flow. Regarding the cash transfer throughout our organization, we have implemented internal cash management policies for all of our subsidiaries, which require the relevant financial staff to verify that the relevant documents issued by the requesting staff are approved by a supervisor and are qualified for distribution under internal accounting rules, and then the actual distribution requires the approval of a competent supervisor of the relevant financial staff. Any voucher will be stamped after payment and the payee will sign the request for payment as a receipt. In addition, all payments shall be made by remittance, crossed and stamped non-endorsed transfer cheques, except for certain specified cash payables. When transferring any inter-group funds or to our investors, the cash management procedures is the same as the cash management policies for external payment to payees as set out above.
As such, our Hong Kong subsidiaries, Chinese subsidiaries and our Philippines subsidiary are funded by their respective internal cash inflows or, when necessary, by capital injection from VEI CHN. Our subsidiaries occasionally purchase goods or services from intra-group subsidiaries in other geographic locations, and payment is made directly into the operating subsidiary which is providing goods or services.
None of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries have ever faced difficulties, restrictions or limitations on the ability to transfer cash which have been made between the Company, our subsidiaries in different jurisdiction, or to our U.S. investors due to any reasons, including but not limited to the interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations by the Hong Kong or Chinese law or regulation governing the transfer of cash. However, there can be no assurance that there will not be additional or new laws, rules and regulations promulgated by, or other actions taken by, the Hong Kong or Chinese government authorities, which may lead to potential intervening in or imposing restrictions on the ability of the Company or our subsidiaries to transfer cash. In such events, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For a description of the risks facing the Company associated with our structure, please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors -Operational and Legal Risks Associated with being a U.S. Public Company with Chinese-Based and Hong Kong-Based Operations below at page 19 and further description of Chinese Laws and Regulations in Item 1. Business at page 16.
Except for the following aggregate intra-group cash flow, there were no other transfers of assets which have been made between our holding company or our subsidiaries, for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023:
(All amounts in U.S. dollars)
Year Ended
December 31,
US$ US$
Net cash used in operating activities (2,094,904 ) (821,842 )
Net cash used in investing activities (43,275 ) (223,619 )
Net cash provided by financing activities 2,800,489 996,948
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 15,381 (32,109 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 677,691 (80,622 )
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of year 208,776 289,398
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of year 886,467 208,776
To the extent cash in the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ business is held in China or Hong Kong, or held by a Chinese or Hong Kong entity, those funds may not be available to fund operations of the Company or its subsidiaries or for other uses outside of China or Hong Kong due to interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations on the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries by the Chinese government to transfer cash. There can be no assurance the Chinese government will not intervene in or impose restrictions on the ability of the Company or its subsidiaries to transfer cash outside of China or Hong Kong. See: Item 1A Risk Factors, Operational and Legal Risks Associated with being a U.S. Public Company with Chinese-Based and Hong Kong-Based Operations at page 19.
Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $2,094,904 for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was a change of $1,273,062 from net cash used in operating activities $821,842 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The change was primarily attributable to the following:
1) Net loss of $6,734,911 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net income $3,366 for the year ended December 31, 2022; and
2) A change of Accounts receivable and Inventory decreased our operating cash balances by $484,668 and $145,462 respectively; offset by
3) A change of Accounts payable, Deferred income and Other payables and accrued liabilities increased our operating cash balances by $570,338, $432,396 and $2,204,021 respectively.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023 and the effects that such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods:
Obligations
Total
Due Due in
Less than
1 year Due in
1-3
Years Due in 4-
5 years Due in
more than
5 years
Operating lease obligations,
including imputed interest 953,835 484,526 469,309 - -
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities decreased to $43,275 in the year ended December 31, 2023, which was a decrease of $180,344 or 80.6% from $223,619 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities was attributable to the purchase of plant and equipment by $43,275 for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $2,800,489 in the year ended December 31, 2023, which was an increase of $1,803,541 or 180.9% from $996,948 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was attributable to the proceeds from bank loan, proceeds from loan from a related party, and proceeds from convertible loan by $450,000, $500,000, and $2,500,000 respectively; offset by cash used in repayment of finance lease liability, repayment of bank loan, and repayment of convertible loan by $500,000, and $99,943 respectively for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Cash transfer throughout our organization
Except for the following aggregate intra-group cash flow, there were no other transfers of assets which have been made between our holding company or our subsidiaries, for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
From To US$ US$
VEI HKG TSI 521,923 32,723
VEI HKG VEI SHG 1,970,853 749,117
VEI CHN VEI HKG 1,742,706 609,976
TSI VEI SHG - 47,202
HTS VEI SHG 69,866 3,747
VEI SHG VEI HN 234,958 280,733
VEI SHG SZH - 5,514
SZH VEI SHG 11,772 -
HTS VEI HKG 253,524 -
For a detailed description on the transfer of cash through our organization and details on the aggregate intra-group cash flow for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, see “Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Operating Results - Cash Flow” on page 33.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The Company was incorporated in Nevada, United States as a holding company and has no revenue generating operations. All revenue generating operations are conducted through our subsidiaries in the Hong Kong, China, and Philippines. We do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future on our common stock. The declaration of dividends on any class of shares is within the discretion of our board of directors, subject to the Nevada law governing declaration and payment of dividends, out of legally available funds, and will depend on the assessment of, among other factors, earnings, capital requirements and our operating and financial condition. If we determine to pay dividends on any of our capital stock in the future to our stockholders, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our operating subsidiaries. There have been no other transfers, dividends or distributions to our U.S. investors by us.
If we determine to pay dividends on any of our Common Stock in the future, as a holding company, we will be dependent on receipt of funds from our operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong. Under the current practice of the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong, no tax is payable in Hong Kong in respect of dividends paid by us. There are no restrictions or limitations under the laws of Hong Kong imposed on the conversion of Hong Kong dollar into foreign currencies and the remittance of currencies out of Hong Kong, nor is there any restriction on any foreign exchange to transfer cash between the Company and its subsidiaries, across borders and to investors outside of China, nor is there any restrictions and limitations to distribute earnings from the subsidiaries, to the Company and investors outside of China and amounts owed.
The Chinese laws, rules and regulations applicable to our Chinese subsidiaries permit payments of dividends only out of their accumulated profits, if any, determined in accordance with applicable accounting standards and regulations. The same requirement applies to Hong Kong subsidiaries.
Although we did not rely on our Chinese subsidiaries in dividend and other distributions on equity in the past, we may rely on dividends and other distributions on equity paid by our Chinese subsidiaries for our cash and financing requirements in the future, including the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our shareholders or to service any debt we may incur. There have not been any such dividends or other distributions from our Chinese subsidiaries to our subsidiaries located outside of China. In addition, save as disclosed above, none of our subsidiaries have ever issued any dividends or distributions to us or their respective shareholders outside of China. According to the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China and its implementing rules, which jointly established the legal framework for the administration of foreign-invested companies, a foreign investor may, in accordance with other applicable laws, freely transfer into or out of China its contributions, profits, capital earnings, income from asset disposal, intellectual property rights royalties acquired, compensation or indemnity legally obtained, and income from liquidation, made or derived within the territory of China in RMB or any foreign currency, and any entity or individual shall not illegally restrict such transfer in terms of the currency, amount and frequency. According to the Company Law of PRC and other Chinese laws and regulations, our Chinese subsidiaries may pay dividends only out of their respective accumulated profits as determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations. In addition, each of our Chinese subsidiaries is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits, if any, each year to fund a certain statutory reserve fund, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. Where the statutory reserve fund is insufficient to cover any loss the Chinese subsidiary incurred in the previous financial year, its current financial year’s accumulated after-tax profits shall first be used to cover the loss before any statutory reserve fund is drawn therefrom. Such statutory reserve funds and the accumulated after-tax profits that are used for covering the loss cannot be distributed to us as dividends. At their discretion, our Chinese subsidiaries may allocate a portion of their after-tax profits based on Chinese accounting standards to a discretionary reserve fund. As a result of these restrictions, our China subsidiaries are restricted in their ability to transfer a portion of their net assets to us in the form of dividends. Statutory reserve funds are not distributable as cash dividends.
Renminbi is not freely convertible into other currencies. As result, any restriction on currency exchange may limit the ability of our Chinese subsidiaries to use their potential future renminbi revenues to pay dividends to us. The Chinese government imposes controls on the convertibility of renminbi into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. Shortages in availability of foreign currency may then restrict the ability of our Chinese subsidiaries to remit sufficient foreign currency to our offshore entities for our offshore entities to pay dividends or make other payments or otherwise to satisfy our foreign-currency-denominated obligations. The renminbi is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, without the need of the approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China (“SAFE”). By contrast, the renminbi under the “capital account,” which includes foreign direct investment and foreign currency debt, including loans we may secure for our onshore subsidiaries, may be converted into other currencies upon the approval of the SAFE and the conversion is also subject to other restrictions or limitations, e.g., control of a Chinese entity’s foreign debt quota. Currently, our Chinese subsidiaries may purchase foreign currency for settlement of “current account transactions,” including payment of dividends to us, without the approval of the SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, the relevant Chinese governmental authorities may limit or eliminate our ability to purchase foreign currencies in the future for current account transactions. The Chinese government may continue to strengthen its capital controls, and additional restrictions and substantial vetting processes may be instituted by SAFE for cross-border transactions falling under both the current account and the capital account. Any existing and future restrictions on currency exchange may limit our ability to utilize revenue generated in renminbi to fund our business activities outside of China or pay dividends in foreign currencies to holders of our securities. Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account remain subject to limitations and require approvals from, or registration with, SAFE and other relevant Chinese governmental authorities. This could affect our ability to obtain foreign currency through debt or equity financing for our subsidiaries.
In addition, shareholders may potentially be subject to Chinese taxes on dividends paid by us in the event we are deemed a Chinese resident enterprise for Chinese tax purposes. According to the Income Tax Law, income such as dividends, rental, interest and royalty from the China derived by a non-resident enterprise which has no establishment in China or has establishment but the income has no relationship with such establishment is subject to a 10% withholding tax, which may be reduced if the foreign jurisdiction of incorporation has a tax treaty with China that provides for a different withholding arrangement, unless the relevant income is specifically exempted from tax under the applicable income tax laws, regulations, notices and decisions which relate to foreign invested enterprises and their investors. According to the Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Relating to the Administration of the Dividend Provision in Tax Treaties, the corporate recipients of dividends distributed by Chinese enterprises must satisfy the direct ownership thresholds at all times during the twelve (12) consecutive months preceding the receipt of the dividends.
None of the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries have ever faced difficulties, restrictions or limitations on the ability to distribute earnings which have been made between the Company, our subsidiaries in different jurisdiction, or to our U.S. investors due to any reasons, including but not limited to the interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations by the Hong Kong or Chinese law to distribute earnings. However, there can be no assurance that there will not be additional or new laws, rules and regulations promulgated by, or other actions taken by, the Hong Kong or Chinese government authorities, which may lead to potential intervention in or imposition of restrictions on the ability of the Company or our subsidiaries to distribute earnings, to transfer cash or on foreign exchange. In such events, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. For a description of the risks facing the Company associated with our structure, please refer to Operational and Legal Risks Associated with being a U.S. Public Company with Chinese-Based and Hong Kong-Based Operations at page 19 and further description of Chinese Laws and Regulations in Item 1. Business at page 14.
Future Financings
We have included disclosures which discuss the matters which create substantial doubt as to whether we will be able to continue to operate as a going concern including the facts that the Company has incurred accumulated deficit of $5,820,548 from inception though December 31, 2023 and its ongoing source of revenue is not sufficient to cover its operating costs. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent on the Company controlling its operating costs and obtaining the adequate capital to fund operating losses until it becomes profitable. If the Company is unable to control its operating costs or obtain adequate capital, it could be forced to cease operations. We may in the future require additional cash resources due to changed business conditions, implementation of our strategy to expand our services capacity, sales, marketing and branding activities or other investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our own financial resources are insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain credit facilities. The sale of additional equity securities could result in dilution to our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could require us to agree to operating and financial covenants that would restrict our operations. Financing may not be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Equity funding would be difficult due to the “penny stock” status of our common stock and the limited trading volume for our common stock. Any failure by us to raise additional funds on terms favorable to us, or at all, could limit our ability to expand our business operations and could harm our overall business prospects. If we are unable to control the operating costs or to raise sufficient additional capital on acceptable terms, we will have insufficient funds to operate our business and pursue our business plan.
On February 16, 2018, VEI SHG signed a January 24, 2018, stores equipment support agreement (“Agreement”) with the largest health care and beauty retailer (“Retailer”) in People’s Republic of China (“China”). Under the Agreement, the Retailer has contracted for site and preventive maintenance and support for computer and point of sale systems (“Systems”) as well as new store and store renovation install and migration services for Systems from the VEI SHG. The Agreement is non-exclusive, covers Retailer’s stores in the northern and eastern region of China and runs through December 2020. Gross revenue and net profit potential, if any, as well as the full extent of services by VEI SHG under the Agreement are uncertain at this time due to lack of sufficient operational experience as a service provider under the Agreement. The Agreement may require the Company to seek additional equity and/or debt funding to provide the capital needed to staff and purchase product under the Agreement. In March 2020, a renewal agreement signed with the Retailer, and related service extended to 2023. In January 2024, the Retailer agreed to extended related service until December 31, 2026. During fiscal year 2023, VEI SHG had $2.74 million in gross revenues from the work under the Agreement.
The Company’s strategic plan includes efforts to expand its markets by acquisitions of existing business operations in new markets or establishment of new sales offices in the new markets as well as expanding IT Business in existing markets. This effort has been hampered or delayed by lack of adequate funding or working capital from operations, COVID-19 pandemic impact on efforts to pursue such opportunities, the “penny stock” nature of our Common Stock and inability to locate suitable opportunities capable of consummation under then current circumstances and available resources. The ability of the Company to fund such expansion is not certain and the impact of any such funding on the Company’s liabilities and cash flow is uncertain until an expansion opportunity is identified, pursued and consummated. Expansion efforts of the Company, which the Company views as critical to achieving sustained profitability on a long-term basis, may be undermined by the Company’s limited cash flow from operations and from the lack of affordable, adequate funding from outside sources. The ability of the Company to raise funding is also severely hampered by its penny stock status and lack of an active public stock market in its Common Stock. While the Company has obtained debt funding in 2023, this funding has been used for existing operational overhead and business development in established markets. Additional funding or an increase in cash flow from operations would be needed to fund any expansion efforts.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting years.
We regularly evaluate the accounting policies and estimates that we use to prepare our financial statements. A complete summary of these policies is included in note 2 of the notes to our financial statements. In general, management’s estimates are based on historical experience, on information from third party professionals, and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the facts and circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates made by management.
Basis of presentation and principle of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include all of the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows of entities in which the Company has a controlling interest (“subsidiaries”). Intercompany accounts and transactions between consolidated companies have been eliminated in consolidation.
Consolidated financial statements prepared following a reverse acquisition are issued under the name of the legal parent (accounting acquiree) (i.e. the Company) but as a continuation of the financial statements of the legal subsidiary (accounting acquirer) (i.e. VEI CHN), with one adjustment, which is to retroactively adjust the accounting acquirer’s legal capital to reflect the legal capital of the accounting acquiree. That adjustment is required to reflect the capital of the legal parent (the accounting acquiree). Comparative information presented in those consolidated financial statements also is retroactively adjusted to reflect the legal capital of the legal parent (accounting acquiree).
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Value Exchange International, Inc. and the following subsidiaries:
1. Value Exchange Int’l (China) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Hong Kong as a private company on November 16, 2001;
2. Value Exchange Int’l (Shanghai) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Shanghai as a private company on September 2, 2008;
3. Value Exchange Int’l (Hong Kong) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated in Hong Kong as a private company on August 25, 2003 and acquired by VEI CHN on September 25, 2008;
4. TapServices, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines as a private company on March 24, 2009 and acquired by VEI CHN on January 23, 2017; and
5. Value Exchange Int’l (Hunan) Limited, a subsidiary of the Company with 51% ownership incorporated in Hunan as a private company on November 15, 2018.
6. Shanghai Zhaonan Hengan Information Technology Co., Limited, a subsidiary of the Company with 51% ownership incorporated in Hunan as a private company on February 10, 2020.
7. Smart Reward Express Limited, an associate of the Company with 50% ownership incorporated in Hong Kong as a private company in July 2021.
8. Haomeng Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Limited, a subsidiary of the Company with 100% ownership incorporated in Shenzhen as a private company in January 2022.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the financial statements of the Company and all its wholly-owned subsidiaries that require consolidation. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidation. The following entities were consolidated as of December 31, 2023:
Place of
incorporation
Ownership percentage
Value Exchange International, Inc.
USA
Parent Company
Parent Company
Value Exchange Int’l (China) Limited
Hong Kong
100%
100%
Value Exchange Int’l (Shanghai) Limited
PRC
100%
100%
Value Exchange Int’l (Hong Kong) Limited
Hong Kong
100%
100%
TapServices, Inc.
Philippines
100%
100%
Value Exchange Int’l (Hunan) Limited
PRC
51%
51%
Shanghai Zhaonan Hengan Information
Technology Co., Limited
PRC
51%
51%
Smart Reward Express Limited
Hong Kong
50%
50%
Haomeng Technology (Shenzhen) Co.,
Limited
PRC
100%
100%
Use of estimates
Preparing consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The more significant areas requiring using management’s estimates and assumptions relate to the collectability of its receivables, the fair value and accounting treatment of financial instruments, the valuation of long-lived assets and valuation of deferred tax liabilities. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Accordingly, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. In addition, different assumptions or circumstances could reasonably be expected to yield different results.
Accounts receivable, other receivables, and current expected credit losses
Receivables include trade accounts due from customers and other receivables such as cash advances to employees, utility deposits paid and advance to suppliers. Management reviews the composition of accounts receivable and analyzes historical bad debts, customer concentration, customer credit worthiness, current economic trends and changes in customer payment patterns to determine if the allowance for credit losses is adequate. An estimate for credit losses is made when collection of the full amount is no longer probable. Delinquent account balances are written-off after management has determined that the likelihood of collection is not probable and known bad debts are written off against the allowance for credit losses when identified. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable amounts to $155,301 and nil, respectively; and there was no allowance for uncollectible other receivables. Management believes that the remaining accounts receivable and other receivables are collectable.
The company evaluated the accounting standards update related to the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) and adequate allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable have been made during 2023.
Plant and equipment
Plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to earnings as incurred. Major additions are capitalized. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Depreciation of plant and equipment is provided using the straight-line method for substantially all assets with estimated lives as follows:
Estimated Useful Life
Leasehold improvements Lesser of lease term or the estimated useful lives of
5 years
Computer equipment 5 years
Computer software 5 years
Office furniture and equipment 5 years
Motor Vehicle 3 years
Building 5 years
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but is instead tested for impairment annually. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the NAV of TSI are well above the value of the goodwill, and therefore, no impairment consider necessary.
Revenue recognition
The Company’s revenue is derived from three primary sources: (i) professional services for systems development and integration, including procurement of related hardware and software licenses on behalf of customers, if required; (ii) professional services for system maintenance normally for a period of one year; and (iii) sale of hardware and consumables during the service performed as stated above. We recognize revenue from contracts with customers using the five-step model prescribed in ASC 606.
The Company derives revenue from fixed-price sale contracts with customers that may provide for the Company to procure hardware and software licenses with varied performance specifications specific to each customer and provide the technical services for systems development and integration of the hardware and software licenses. In instances where the contract price is inclusive of the technical services, the sale contracts include performance obligations.
Determining whether such products and services within a customer contract are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately requires significant judgment. Accordingly, we review customer contracts to identify all separate promises to transfer goods and services that would be considered performance obligations. Judgment is also required in determining whether an option to acquire additional products and services within a customer contract represents a material right that the customer would not receive without entering into that contract.
The Company’s contracts often contain multiple performance obligations, which generally include customer-acceptance provisions which provide for the Company to carry out installation, test runs and performance tests at the Company’s cost until the systems as a whole can meet the performance specifications stated in the contracts. The delivered equipment and software licenses have no standalone value to the customer until they are installed, integrated and tested at the customer’s site by the Company in accordance with the performance specifications specific to each customer. In addition, under these multiple performance obligations contracts, the Company has not sold the equipment and software licenses separately from the installation, integration and testing services, and hence there is no objective and reliable evidence of the fair value for each deliverable included in the arrangement. If a contract contains multiple performance obligations, the Company accounts for each distinct performance obligation separately. The transaction price is allocated to the separate performance obligations on a relative stand-alone selling price basis. Any discounts or expected potential future price concessions are considered when determining the total transaction price.
In addition, the arrangement generally includes customer acceptance criteria that cannot be tested before installation and integration at the customer’s site. Accordingly, revenue recognition is deferred until customer acceptance, indicated by an acceptance certificate signed off by the customer.
Revenues of maintenance services are recognized when the services are performed in accordance with the contract term.
Revenues of sale of software, if not bundled with other arrangements, are recognized when shipped and customer acceptance obtained, if all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Costs associated with revenues are recognized when incurred.
Revenues are recorded net of value-added taxes, sales discounts and returns. There were no sales returns during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
US$ US$
NET REVENUES
Service income
- systems development and integration 246,854 240,858
- systems maintenance 9,044,617 9,243,919
- sales of hardware and consumables 2,738,854 1,439,553
12,030,325 10,924,330
Billings in excess of revenues recognized are recorded as deferred revenue.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the accounting standard issued by the Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method as required by this accounting standard, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The charge for taxation is based on the results for the reporting period as adjusted for items which are non-assessable or disallowed. It is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. The effect on deferred income taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recognized if it is more likely than not that some portion, or all of, a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Under the accounting standard regarding accounting for uncertainty in income taxes, a tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is “more likely than not” that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, with a tax examination being presumed to occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the “more likely than not” test, no tax benefit is recorded. Penalties and interest incurred related to underpayment of income tax are classified as income tax expense in the year incurred.
Lease accounting
The Company categorize leases at their inception as either operating or finance leases. Lease agreements cover certain office space, warehouse space, and vehicles. Most of these leases are operating leases; however, certain vehicles are leased under finance leases.
Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets, current operating lease liabilities, and long-term operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in net property, current installments of long-term debt, and long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheets.
Leased assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Operating lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets include options to extend lease terms that are reasonably certain of being exercised. As the Company’s leases generally do not provide an implicit discount rate, the Company uses the estimated collateralized incremental borrowing rate based on information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments for use in the calculation of the operating lease liabilities and right-of-use assets. This rate is determined using a portfolio approach based on the risk-adjusted rate of interest and requires estimates and assumptions including credit rating, credit spread, and adjustments for the impact of collateral. The Company believes that this is the rate it would have to pay to borrow an amount equal to the lease payments on a collateralized basis over a similar lease term.
Leases that have a term of twelve months or less upon commencement date are considered short-term in nature. Accordingly, short-term leases are not included on the consolidated balance sheets and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the lease term, which commences on the date we have the right to control the property.
Foreign currency translation
The functional currency and reporting currency of the Company is the U.S. Dollar. (“US$” or “$”). The functional currency of the Hong Kong subsidiaries is the Hong Kong Dollar. The functional currency of the Chinese subsidiaries is RMB. The functional currency of the Philippine subsidiary is Peso. Results of operations and cash flow are translated at average exchange rates during the period, and assets and liabilities are translated at the exchange rate as quoted by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (“HKMA”) at the end of the period. Capital accounts are translated at their historical exchange rates when the capital transaction occurred. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred.
Year ended December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
RMB : USD exchange rate 7.0605 6.7046
Average period ended
HKD : USD exchange rate 7.800 7.800
Average period ended
PESO : USD exchange rate 53.9664 53.7447
Average period ended
Year ended December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022
RMB : USD exchange rate 7.1155 6.9143
HKD : USD exchange rate 7.800 7.800
PESO : USD exchange rate 53.9792 54.7368
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of recent accounting pronouncements, including the respective dates of adoption, or expected adoption and effects of our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
The Company, as a “smaller reporting company” (as defined by §229.10(f) (1)), is not required to provide the information required by this Item.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
The full text of our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 begins on page of this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
On May 25, 2023, the Company ended the engagement of Zhen Hui Certified Public Accountants, a Hong Kong SAR based public accounting firm, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved the ending of the engagement of Zhen Hui as public auditors. On May 25, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors ratified the appointment of Grassi & Co. CPAs P.C., based in Jericho, New York, as the Company’s new independent registered public accounting firm, effective as of May 25, 2023.
Grassi & Co. CPAs P.C. (“Grassi”) has provided the Company with the required independent letter under Rule 3526 of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board rules.
Grassi’s report on the financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and was not qualified or modified as to audit scope or accounting.
During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, (i) there were no disagreements with Grassi on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Grassi, would have caused Grassi to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in their reports on the Company’s financial statements for such years, and (ii) there were no “reportable events” as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information that would be required to be disclosed in Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2023. Based on their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2023, to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there were resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and includes those policies and procedures that:
(1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
(2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of our management and directors; and
(3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. In making this assessment, management used the framework set forth in the report entitled Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As of December 31, 2023, based on that evaluation, our management concluded that the Company did not maintain effective controls over financial reporting due to the following material weaknesses have been identified in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023:
(1) The Company did not maintain sufficient internal controls regarding disclosures.
(2) The Company did not maintain sufficient internal controls regarding revenue cut-off.
Because the Company is a smaller reporting company, this annual report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there were resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting; Remediation of Weakness
We continue taking steps to enhance and improve the design of our internal controls over financial reporting. During the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have not been able to completely remediate the material weaknesses identified above. During the 2024 fiscal year, the Company will document and test the remediations put in place. Such remediation includes the following:
· The Chief Executive Officer will complete the appropriate disclosure check list for the required filings. The Chief Financial Officer will review the completion of this checklist in a timely manner for inclusion of all necessary disclosures.
· The company will strengthen the revenue cut-off procedures, and the management will review the filing and taking proper correcting procedures.
· The Audit Committee will review all remediation efforts and effectiveness on a fiscal quarterly basis with management as part of the Audit Committee’s oversight duties.
We are committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment and believes that these remediation efforts will represent significant improvements in our controls. The Company has started to implement these steps, however, some of these steps will take time to be fully integrated and confirmed to be effective and sustainable. Additional controls may also be required over time, including engagement of third party financial and accounting consultants to assist with remediation and review of remediation efforts.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
We have no information to disclose that was required to be in a report on Form 8-K during the period covered by this Form 10-K but was not reported. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
The Company has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the Company’s directors, officers and employees, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer and any other persons performing similar functions. The text of our code of ethics, “Code of Ethics,” has been posted on our website at https://www.value-exch.com. The Company will provide a copy of the code of ethics without charge upon request to Corporate Secretary, Value Exchange International, Inc., 10/F, FT Life Tower, 18 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR. Contents of URL’s referenced in this Form 10-K are not incorporated in this Form 10-K.
Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons
The following sets forth the name and position of each of our executive officers, directors and significant employees and titles as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K.
Name Position with the Company Age Director Since
Kenneth Tan Chief Executive Officer, President and Director 08/26/13
Bella Tsang Secretary and Director 08/26/13
Ambrose Chan Director 12/17/21
Calinda Lee Director 02/21/20
Vincent Lum Director 05/18/21
Robert Trapp Director 04/08/22
Frankie Wong Director 04/08/22
Aston Wong Director 04/08/22
Danny Lim Director 12/08/23
Channing Au Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Not applicable
The business experience during the past five years of the person presently listed above as an Officer or Director of the Company is as follows:
Tan Seng Wee (“Kenneth Tan”). Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer and President of VEII, Mr. Tan was the President, Sales for Value Exchange International Limited (“VEI”), a related company of VEI CHN, and was responsible to sales for the Asia Pacific region. Before taking up the appointment in VEI, Mr. Tan was the Vice President, Sales of PCCW Solutions since 2003. He has more than 25 years of experience in the IT industries and had held key sales management positions in IBM, Oracle and EDS. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Hong Kong.
Tsang Po Yee Bella (“Bella Tsang”). Prior to her appointment as Secretary and Director of VEII, Ms. Tsang had been working as Marketing Manager of VEI HKG since 2003 and was responsible for marketing of its solutions to various retailers in the Greater China and the Asia Pacific markets. Ms. Tsang holds a Diploma of Marketing from the Institute of Marketing. She was responsible for organizing training to all level of professional staff in Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young, an international accountancy, auditing and consulting firm) in 1987.
Chan Heng Fai (“Ambrose Chan”). Joined the Company in December 2021 as a non-executive director of the Company. Mr. Chan is an expert in banking and finance with 45 years of experience in these industries. He has restructured numerous companies in various industries and countries during the past 40 years. Mr. Chan has served as the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Chairman of the Board of Alset Inc. (formerly known as Alset Ehome International Inc.), a Nasdaq listed company, since March 2018 and is personally and through an entity the largest shareholder of Alset Inc. Mr. Chan has served as a director of Hapi Metaverse, Inc. (formerly known as GigWorld. Inc.), a public company reporting to SEC, since October 2014 and as the Executive Chairman of the Board since December 2017. Mr. Chan previously served as Hapi Metaverse Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer from December 2014 until June 2017 and from August 2018 until September 2020. Hapi Metaverse Inc.’s majority shareholder is Alset Inc. Mr. Chan has served as a director of Alset International Limited, a SGX listed company, since May 2013 and as the Chief Executive Officer since March 2014 and as the Executive Chairman since June 2017. Mr. Chan has served as a director of LiquidValue Development Inc., a public company reporting to SEC, since January 2017, as the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer since December 2017. Mr. Chan has served as a director of DSS, Inc., a NYSE listed company, since January 2017 and as the Executive Chairman of the Board since March 2019. Mr. Chan has served as the Chairman of the Board of HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.), a Nasdaq listed company, since October 2021. Mr. Chan has served as a director of Sharing Services Global Corporation, an OTC Pink listed company, since April 2020 and as the Chairman of the Board since July 2021.
Lee Yuen Fong (“Calinda Lee”). Ms. Lee joined the Company in 2018 as Group Chief Executive Officer of Company’s operating subsidiaries. She is now in charge of the overall operations and financial management of the Group. Prior to the joining the Company, she worked in a manufacturing company for over 6 years in the position of chief operating officer. Before that, she worked for TAP Investments Group Limited companies (“TAP Group”) for over 15 years before they were acquired by the Company. She held various management positions in TAP Group and possesses over 20 years of experience in the IT industry with in-depth knowledge in Frontend and Backend Retail Solution. Before joining the Company and the TAP Group, she started her career in International/Local certified public accounting firms in the aspect of Auditing, Company Secretarial and Taxation Consultancy. She holds an MBA in Finance and she is an associate member of CPA Australia, a professional association.
Lum Kan Fai (“Vincent Lum”). Joined the Company in May 2021 as an non-executive director of Company. Mr. Lum currently is the President of Digital Group of Document Security Systems, Inc. (“DSS”), a New York Stock Exchange listed company and the President of DSS Asia, a subsidiary of DSS. Mr. Lum is responsible for profit and loss, long term development of DSS’ digital product division and the Asia Pacific operations of DSS. Mr. Lum is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hapi Metaverse Inc. Mr. Lum has served as a member of the Hapi Metaverse Inc. Board of Directors since June of 2015. Mr. Lum served as Chief Technology Officer (“CTO”) of Hapi Metaverse Inc. from June of 2015 until June of 2017. In June of 2017, Hapi Metaverse Inc. appointed Mr. Lum Kan Fai as the it Chief Executive Officer and President, and Mr. Lum resigned as its Chief Technology Officer. In December of 2017, Mr. Lum Kan Fai resigned as Hapi Metaverse Inc.’s chief executive officer and President and was appointed as its Vice Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors. Effective as of March 7, 2023, the registrant changed its name from “GigWorld Inc.” to “Hapi Metaverse Inc.” Previously, Mr. Lum held senior management positions with Vitop Holding, a HK listed company, York International (now Johnson Controls), Apple, Inc. and Datacraft Asia. Mr. Lum graduated from the University of Essex (United Kingdom) in 1985, with a first-class honor degree in Computer and Communication Engineering.
Robert Trapp. Joined the Company in April 2022 as a non-executive directors of Company. Mr. Trapp currently is the Chief Executive Officer of BMI Capital International LLC, a FINRA broker-dealer, a position he has held since June 2015. Mr. Trapp has 38 years of cross-cultural business experience with both public and privately-owned companies in Asia, the United States and Canada, in a diverse range of industries including hospitality, finance, property, mining, software, biotech and consumer goods.
Wong Shui Yeung (“Frankie Wong”). Joined the Company in April 2022 as a independent non-executive directors of Company. Mr. Frankie Wong is a practicing member and fellow member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has over 25 years’ experience in accounting, auditing, corporate finance, corporate investment and development, and company secretarial practice. Mr. Frankie Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of Alset International Limited, a SGX listed company, since June 2017. Mr. Frankie Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of Alset Inc., a Nasdaq listed company, since November 2021. Mr. Frankie Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.), a Nasdaq listed company, since January 2022. Mr. Frankie Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of DSS, Inc., a NYSE listed company, since July 2022. Mr. Frankie Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of First Credit Finance Group Limited, a HKSE listed company, since February 2024. Mr. Wong’s knowledge of complex, cross-border financial, accounting and tax matters highly relevant to our business, as well as working experience in internal corporate controls, qualify him to serve as an independent member of the board.
Wong Tat Keung (“Aston Wong”). Joined the Company in April 2022 as a independent non-executive directors of Company. Mr. Aston Wong is a Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and an Associate Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Aston Wong has served as the sole proprietor of Aston CPA and Associates, a registered certified public accounting firm. Mr. Aston Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of Alset International Limited, a SGX listed company, since January 2017. Mr. Aston Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of Alset Inc., a Nasdaq listed company, since November 2020. Mr. Aston Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.), a Nasdaq listed company, since January 2022. Mr. Aston Wong has served as an independent non-executive director of Welife Technology Limited, a HKSE listed company. Mr. Aston Wong holds a Master in Business Administration degree (financial services) from the University of Greenwich, London, England. Mr. Aston Wong demonstrates extensive knowledge of complex, cross-border financial, accounting and tax matters highly relevant to our business, as well as working experience in internal corporate controls, making him well-qualified to serve as an independent member of the board. Mr. Wong serves on our Audit Committee, Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee.
Lim Sheng Hon Danny (“Danny Lim”). Joined the Company in December 2023 as a non-executive directors of Company. Mr. Lim has over 7 years of experience in business development, merger & acquisitions, corporate restructuring and strategic planning and execution. Mr. Lim liaises with corporate partners or investment prospects for potential working/ investment collaborations, operational subsidiaries locally and overseas to augment close parent-subsidiary working relationship. Mr. Lim has served as an Executive Director of Alset International Limited, a SGX listed company, and as the SVP, Business Development since July 2020. Mr. Lim has served as an Executive Director of Alset Inc., a Nasdaq listed company, since October 2022 and as the Chief Business Development since March 2024. Mr. Lim has served as director of DSS, Inc., a NYSE listed company, since October 2023. Mr. Lim has served as the Chief Strategy Officer of HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.), a Nasdaq listed company, since January 2024 and as the Chief Operating Officer since February 2024. Mr. Lim graduated from Singapore Nanyang Technological University with a bachelor’s degree with honors in Business, specializing in Banking and Finance.
Au Cheuk Lun (“Channing Au”). Channing Au joined Value Exchange Int’l (China) Limited, a subsidiary of the Company, as the Chief Financial Officer in August 2015. On November 5, 2015, Mr. Au was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of VEII. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Au served as an Audit Manager at Crowe Horwath (HK) CPA Limited since 2010. Prior to that, he worked for CPA firms including KPMG Hong Kong and BDO Limited. Mr. Au has over 10 years extensive experience in provision of audit and consultancy services with clientele varies from unlisted entrepreneurs to companies listed in the United States and Hong Kong. Mr. Au is a member of CPA Australia, and obtained his Master’s Degree in Finance and Bachelor’s Degree in Accountancy from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Qualifications, Attributes, Skills and Experience Represented on the Board
The Board of Directors has identified particular qualifications, attributes, skills and experience that are important to be represented on the board as a whole, in light of our current needs and business priorities. The Board of Directors believes that each director is a recognized person of high integrity with a proven record of success in his or her field. Each director demonstrates innovative thinking, familiarity with and respect for corporate governance requirements and practices, an appreciation of multiple cultures and a commitment to the business and operations of the Company. The Board of Directors has assessed the intangible qualities including the director’s ability to ask difficult questions and, simultaneously, to work collegially. The Board of Directors also considers diversity of age, cultural background and professional experiences in evaluating candidates for Board of Director membership. Diversity is important because a variety of points of view contribute to a more effective decision-making process.
Set forth below is a tabular disclosure summarizing some of the specific qualifications, attributes, skills and experiences of our directors.
Name of Director Title Qualifications
Kenneth Tan Director and Chief Executive Officer
He has more than 25 years of experience in the IT industries and had held key sales management positions in IBM, Oracle and EDS. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Hong Kong.
Calinda Lee Director
She possesses over 20 years of experience in the IT industry with in-depth knowledge in Frontend and Backend Retail Solution. Before joining the Company and the TAP Group, she started her career in International/Local certified public accounting firms in the aspect of Auditing, Company Secretarial and Taxation Consultancy. She holds an MBA in Finance and she is an associate member of CPA Australia, a professional association.
Bella Tsang Director
She has Diploma of Marketing from the Institute of Marketing. She was responsible for organizing training to all level of professional staff in Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young, an international accountancy, auditing and consulting firm) in 1987 and, as such, as extensive experience in personnel matters.
Ambrose Chan Director
He is an experienced businessman. He is an expert in banking and finance with 45 years of experience in these industries. He has restructured numerous companies in various industries and countries during the past 40 years. He is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Alset Inc.; Executive Chairman of Hapi Metaverse Inc. (formerly known as GigWorld Inc.). He also serves or has served as a director and senior executive officer for several public listed companies, including current service as Chairman of the Board of Alset Inc. and HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.) which are listed on Nasdaq, Alset International Limited which is listed on SGX, DSS, Inc. which is listed on NYSE, and Sharing Services Global Corporation which is listed in OTC Pink Marketplace.
Vincent Lum Director
He graduated from the University of Essex (UK) in 1985, with a first class honor degree in Computer and Communication Engineering. He was the founder, and since 2009 has served as Chief Executive Officer, of FUNboxx Ltd. Prior to that, he held senior management positions with Vitop Holding, a Hong Kong listed company, York International (Now Johnson Controls), Apple, Inc. and Datacraft Asia.
Robert Trapp Director
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary and a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Hospitality & Tourism Management from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada. He is the Chief Executive Officer of BMI Capital International LLC, a FINRA broker-dealer since June 2015, and Vice-President at DSS Wealth Management, Inc., director of Alset Inc from November 2020 to November 2021. He also served as a director and senior executive officer for several companies, including General Manager of SeD Development Management LLC, director of American Premium Water Corporation (now known as New Electric CV Corporation), director of Sharing Services Global Corporation, director of Theralink Technologies Inc., director of Amarantus Bioscience Holdings Inc. and director of Hapi Metaverse Inc. (formerly known as GigWorld Inc.).
Frankie Wong Director
He is a practicing member and fellow member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has over 25 years’ experience in accounting, auditing, corporate finance, corporate investment and development, and company corporate secretarial practice. He has served as an independent non-executive director of Alset Inc. and HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.), which are listed on Nasdaq, and as an independent non-executive director of Alset International Limited which is listed on SGX, and as independent non-executive director of First Credit Finance Group Limited which is listed on HKSE.
Aston Wong Director
He is a Certified Public Accountant admitted to practice in Hong Kong. He is a Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and an Associate Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Master in Business Administration degree (financial services) from the University of Greenwich, London, England. He has served as the sole proprietor of Aston CPA and Associates, a registered certified public accounting firm. He also has served as independent non-executive director for several companies, including Alset International Limited which is listed on SGX, Alset Inc. and HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp.) which are listed on Nasdaq, and Welife Technology Limited which is listed on HKSE.
Danny Lim Director
He currently serves as Senior Vice President and Executive Director of Alset International Limited which is listed on SGX, as Executive Director and Chief Business Development of of Alset Inc. which is listed on Nasdaq, as director of DSS Inc. which is listed on NYSE, as Chief Strategic Officer and Chief Operating Officer of HWH International Inc. (formerly known as Alset Capital Acquisition Corp) which is listed on Nasdaq. He has an extensive background in business development, corporate restructuring, strategic planning and execution. He graduated from Singapore Nanyang Technological University with a bachelor’s degree with honors in Business, specializing in Banking and Finance.
Significant Employees. Mr. Tan and Mr. Au as senior officers are deemed key personnel. Benny Lee, a director of VEI SHG, has extensive experience in the IT Business and is important to Company’s strategic knowledge base and planning as well as the Board of Director’s understanding of the IT industry in China and Hong Kong and business development in those markets.
Audit Committee and Other Board Committees. The VEII Board of Directors had no nominating or compensation committee in fiscal year 2023. The Company relies on the Board of Directors to perform the functions typically performed by a compensation and nominating committee. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K with the SEC, the Audit Committee members are non-executive/employee director Robert Trapp, and independent directors Frankie Wong and Aston Wong.
Audit Committee Duties. The Audit Committee duties are: (1) determine the independent registered public accounting firm to be employed by the Company; (2) discuss the scope of the independent registered public accounting firm’s audit of the Company and any reports or recommendations from that firm; (3) review the Company’s financial statements and the independent registered public accounting firm’s reports and recommendations; (4) reviews conflict of interest issues concerning the Company and its management; (5) makes recommendations to the Company’s Board of Directors about audit, accounting, internal control and related matters.
By virtue of business or employment/engagement relationships, the member of the Audit Committee Robert Trapp is affiliated with Director Chan Heng Fai and certain companies that Mr. Chan controls or has a significant influence over. The two existing credit lines extended to the Company were made by companies affiliated with Mr. Chan. This affiliation results in the Audit Committee member recusing himself from any consideration of fairness of any transactions with or involving Mr. Chan or his affiliated companies and results in the disinterested directors of the Company making that determination. Further, as a result of this affiliation, the members of the Audit Committee are deemed to be independent directors under the standard that an independent director is one who is free of any material relationship with the Company of its management.
Compensation and Nominating Duties. The Company’s Board of Directors handles the duties of a compensation and nominating committee. Those duties include: (1) analysis of personnel needs of the Company and its subsidiaries; (2) develops recommendations about compensation, cash and non-cash, for members of Company management; (3) review of job performance of members of Company management; (4) review and vote on employment agreements for senior officers of the Company; and (4) tasks related to the foregoing duties.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any of our directors and our executive officers.
Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings
To the best of our knowledge, 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 SEC 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.
Except as set forth in our discussion below in “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence - Transactions with Related Persons,” none of our directors, director nominees or executive officers has been involved in any transactions with us or any of our directors, executive officers, affiliates or associates which are required to be disclosed pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.
Stockholder Communication with the Board of Directors
Stockholders may communicate with the Board of Directors of VEII by sending a letter to our Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, 10/F, FT Life Tower, 18 Sheung Yuet Road, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong (for submission to the board or committee or to any specific director to whom the correspondence is directed.) Stockholders communicating through this means should include with the correspondence evidence, such as documentation from a brokerage firm, that the sender is a current record or beneficial stockholder of the Company. All communications received as set forth above will be opened by the Corporate Secretary or his designee for the sole purpose of determining whether the contents contain a message to one or more of our directors.
Any contents that are not advertising materials, promotions of a product or service, patently offensive materials or matters deemed, using reasonable judgment, inappropriate for the Board of Directors will be forwarded promptly to the chairman of the Board, the appropriate committee or the specific director, as applicable.
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert
The Company formed an Audit Committee on October 29, 2015. The Company has been unable to locate a prospective independent director who meets the requirements of a financial expert and is willing to serve as a director of the Company. None of the current directors qualify as financial experts.
As formed, the Audit Committee’s duties will be to recommend to the Company’s board of directors the engagement of an independent registered public accounting firm to audit the Company’s financial statements and to review the Company’s accounting and auditing principles. The Audit Committee will review the scope, timing and fees for the annual audit and the results of audit examinations performed by the internal auditors and independent registered public accounting firm, including their recommendations to improve the system of accounting and internal controls. The Audit Committee will at all times be composed exclusively of directors who are, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, free from any relationship which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment as a committee member and who possess an understanding of financial statements and generally accepted accounting principles.
All audit and audit-related services performed by our principal accountant during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 were approved by our audit committee.
Code of Ethics
We have adopted a written code of ethics that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 14 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as filed with the SEC on July 20, 2009.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to our executive officers during the twelve months periods ended, December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021. No other executive officer received compensation greater than $100,000 during any fiscal year.
Summary Compensation Table
Name
and
Principal
Position
Fiscal
Year
Ended
12/31
Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock
Awards
($)
Option
Awards
($)
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Kenneth Tan (1) -0- -0- -0- -0-
-0- -0- -0- -0-
-0- -0- -0- -0-
Bella Tsang (2) 43,077 -0- -0- -0- 43,077
39,744 -0- -0- -0- 39,744
64,103 -0- -0- -0- 64,103
Calinda Lee (3) 33,462 -0- -0- -0- 33,462
30,769 -0- -0- -0- 30,769
30,769 -0- -0- -0- 30,769
Channing Au (4) 46,154 -0- -0- -0- 46,154
46,154 -0- -0- -0- 46,154
46,154 -0- -0- -0- 46,154
Footnotes:
(1) Mr. Kenneth Tan was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company as of August 26, 2013.
(2) Ms. Bella Tsang was appointed as Secretary and Director of the Company as of August 26, 2013, and was appointed as Treasurer and principal financial officer of the Company as of June 25, 2015; and on October 29, 2015, she resigned as a Treasurer and principal financial officer of the Company.
(3) Ms. Calinda Lee was appointed as Director of the Company as of February 21, 2020.
(4) Channing Au was appointed as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company as of November 5, 2015.
There are no other compensatory plans or arrangements in use except as disclosed, including payments to be received from the Company with respect to any executive officer, that would result in payments to such person because of his or her resignation, retirement or other termination of employment with the Company, or its subsidiaries, any change in control, or a change in the person’s responsibilities following a change in control of the Company.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
No executive officer received any equity awards, or holds exercisable or non-exercisable options, as of the years ended December 31, 2023.
Long-Term Incentive Plans
There are no arrangements or plans currently used and in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers.
Compensation Committee
We currently do not have a compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors as a whole determines executive compensation.
Director Compensation
None of the directors received compensation for director services during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, except Vincent Lum, a non-executive director, receives an annual director fee of $30,770.
Pension Benefits
No named executive officers received or held pension benefits and the Company does not maintain a pension benefit plan during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
Insurance
Company has not obtained directors' and officers' liability insurance as of the date of this Form 10-K.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
Except as otherwise provided in NRS Sections 35.230, 90.660, 91.250, 452.200, 452.270, 668.045 and 694A.03, Section 78.138 of the NRS provides that a director or officer will not be individually liable unless it is proven that (i) the director's or officer's acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law.
Section 78.7502 of NRS permits a company to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the officer or director (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner the officer or director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, if a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the officer or director was unlawful.
Section 78.751 of NRS permits a Nevada company to indemnify its officers and directors against expenses incurred by them in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the company. Section 78.751 of NRS further permits the company to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation or bylaws or otherwise.
Section 78.752 of NRS provides that a Nevada company may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and her, liability and expenses incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the company has the authority to indemnify him or her against such liability and expenses.
Our Articles of Incorporation provide that:
-No director or officer of the Company will be personally liable to the Company or any of its stockholders for damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing violation of law, or (ii) the payment of dividends in violation of Section 78.300 of NRS.
-The Company shall indemnify its directors, officers and employees (current and former) to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS and may, if and to the extent authorized by the board of directors, so indemnify its officers and any other person whom it has the power to indemnify against liability, reasonable expense or other matter whatsoever.
-The Company may use other forms of indemnification, including, at the discretion of the board of directors, the purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who holds or who has held any position identified in the paragraph above against any and all liability incurred by such person in any such position or arising out of his or her status as such.
Our bylaws provide: the Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.
SEC Policy on Indemnification. Insofar as indemnification by us for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling the company pursuant to provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification by such director, officer or controlling person of us in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being offered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Other than as disclosed herein, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or executive officers to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
No nonqualified deferred compensation was offered or issued to any named executive officer during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
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 certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (i) by each of our directors; (ii) by each of our named executive officers; (iii) by all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and (iv) by each person or entity known by us to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of any class of our outstanding shares. As of March 31, 2024, there were 43,500,762 shares of our common stock outstanding:
December 31, 2023
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
Title of Class
Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership (1)
(#)
Percent of
Class (2)
(%)
Ambrose Chan (3)
7 Temasek Blvd. #29-01B
Suntec Tower One
Singapore U0 038987
Common 21,587,429 49.63%
Kenneth Tan (4)
Block A1 35h Fl
The Beverly Hills
6 Broadwood
Hong Kong
Common 2,563,725 5.89%
Bella Tsang (5)
Unit 02-03, 6/F. Block B,
Shatin Industrial Centre,
5-7 Yuen Shun Circuit,
Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
Common 4,905,461 11.28%
Calinda Lee (6)
Unit 02-03, 6/F. Block B,
Shatin Industrial Centre,
5-7 Yuen Shun Circuit,
Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
Common - -
Vincent Lum (7)
4800 MONTGOMERY LANE #210
BETHESDA, MD, 20814, USA
Common - -
Robert Trapp (8)
3172 31st Street, Apt 6C, Queens, New York 11106
Common - -
Frankie Wong (9)
7/F, Skyway Centre, 23 Queen’s Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
Common - -
Aston Wong (10)
Flat G, 28/F., Block 8, Island Harbourview, 11 Hoi Fai Road, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Common - -
Danny Lim (11)
9 Temasek Boulevard #16-04
Suntec Tower Two
Singapore 038989
Common - -
Channing Au (12)
Unit 02-03, 6/F. Block B,
Shatin Industrial Centre,
5-7 Yuen Shun Circuit,
Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong
Common - -
All Officers and
Directors as a Group
Common 29,056,615 66.8%
(1) The number and percentage of shares beneficially owned is determined under rules of the SEC and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any shares which the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of any stock option or other right. The persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable and the information contained in the footnotes to this table.
(2) Based on 43,500,762 issued and outstanding shares of VEII Common Stock as of December 31, 2023.
(3) Ambrose Chan is a Director of the Company and was appointed on December 17, 2021. His ownership consists of 95,000 shares of Common Stock personally held by him; and the following shares for which he is deemed to be have a shared ownership interest: 21,120,795 shares of Common Stock held by Hapi Metaverse Inc., (formerly, “GigWorld, Inc.”), a Delaware corporation subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; 39,968 held by BMI Capital Partners International Limited; 18,512 held by LiquidValue Development Pte Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Alset Inc.; and 313,154 shares held by Decentralized Sharing Systems, Inc. Effective as of March 7, 2023, the registrant changed its name from “GigWorld Inc.” to “Hapi Metaverse Inc.”
(4) Kenneth Tan is the Company's Chief Executive Officer, President and a Director.
(5) Bella Tsang is the Company's Secretary, and a Director of the Company.
(6) Calinda Lee is a Director of the Company and was appointed on February 21, 2020.
(7) Vincent Lum is a Director of the Company and was appointed on May 18, 2021.
(8) Robert Trapp is a Director of the Company and was appointed on April 8, 2022.
(9) Frankie Wong is a Director of the Company and was appointed on April 8, 2022.
(10) Aston Wong is a Director of the Company and was appointed on April 8, 2022.
(11) Danny Lim is a Director of the Company and was appointed on December 8, 2023.
(12) Channing Au is the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer appointed on November 5, 2015.
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports. Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of our Common Stock to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our Common Stock with the SEC. Based on the information available to us, we believe that in 2023, and to date in 2024, all applicable Section 16(a) reports were timely filed.
Change in Control. Other than as disclosed in this Form 10-K about the conversion rights of certain lenders, we do not currently have any arrangements which if consummated may result in change of control of our Company.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Transactions with Related Persons
Our executive officers, directors and their affiliated entities will beneficially own or control approximately 66.8% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. Accordingly, these executive officers, directors and their affiliated entities, acting as a group, will have substantial influence over the outcome of corporate actions requiring shareholder approval, including the election of directors, any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, dissolution, or any other significant corporate transaction. Except as set forth in the footnotes of the attached financial statements, and except for the VEI CHN Share Exchange, none of the directors or executive officers of the Company, nor any person who owned of record or was known to own beneficially more than 5% of the Company’s outstanding shares of its Common Stock, nor any associate or affiliate of such persons or companies, has any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction that has occurred during the past fiscal year, or in any proposed transaction, which has materially affected or will affect the Company.
As previously reported, the Company entered into two credit lines, two in 2023 for $1.5 million and $1 million principal amount respectively, and the other in 2022 for $1 million principal amount, with lenders that are affiliated with directors Chan Heng Fai and Lum Kan Fai. One lender is Hapi Metaverse Inc. (formerly known as “GigWorld, Inc.”). Mr. Chan is the Executive Chairman of Hapi Metaverse Inc. Hapi Metaverse Inc.’s majority shareholder was Alset International Limited (“AIL”). Effective as of August 30, 2022, AIL sold 505,341,376 shares of Hapi Metaverse Inc.’s common stock to Alset Inc. for $1,500,000. AIL’s majority shareholder is Alset Inc. Mr. Chan is personally and through an entity he controls the largest shareholder of Alset Inc. Mr. Chan is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of AIL. Director Lum Kan Fai is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hapi Metaverse Inc. as well as affiliated with Mr. Chan and certain of his affiliated companies by virtue of service as a director and officer of those companies. Directors Robert Trapp is also affiliated with Mr. Chan and certain of his affiliated companies by virtue of services as a director, officer or professional advisor to those affiliated companies. As a result of these affiliations, the two credit lines were reviewed and approved by the Company directors who were not affiliated with Mr. Chan or his affiliated companies.
A summary of existing loans or credit lines of the Company are:
(1) The Company and American Pacific Bancorp, Inc., a Texas corporation located in Houston, Texas, (“APB”) signed a Loan Agreement, Security Agreement and Revolving Credit Promissory Note, each dated July 26, 2022 (but fully executed and closed as of July 27, 2022), whereby APB provided a $1 million secured revolving credit line to the Company. APB is deemed to be controlled with Chan Heng Fai by virtue of Mr. Chan’s equity ownership of parent company of APB and his service as the Executive Chairman of the parent company of APB.
(2) On January 27, 2023, Lender and NECV entered into the January Credit Agreement. On February 23, 2023, the Company made a loan in the amount of $1,300,000 to the Company pursuant to the January Credit Agreement. On September 6, 2023, Lender converted $1,300,000 of the principal amount loaned to the Company into 7,344,632 shares of Company’s Common Stock. Under the terms of the January Credit Agreement, the Company received common stock warrants to purchase a maximum of 36,723,160 shares of Company Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.1770 per share. The warrants expire five (5) years from date of their issuance. Mr. Chan is deemed to control the Lender by virtue of his ownership of shares of Alset Inc. (“Alset”), which owns 99.693% of the issued and outstanding shares of Lender’s common stock, and his position as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lender and as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Alset. Mr. Lum is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lender. Mr. Chan also controls NECV by virtue of his ownership of approximately 97.6% of issued shares of NECV common stock. Robert H. Trapp, a director of the Company, is also a director of NECV.
(3) On September 28, 2023, the Company entered into a Loan Agreement and Promissory Note (collectively, the “AIL Loan Agreement”) with AIL for an unsecured loan of Five Hundred Thousand U.S. Dollars and No Cents (USD$500,000.00) principal amount (“Principal”) to the Company. Principal accrues simple interest at Eight Percent (8%) per annum. Repayment of Principal and accrued interest thereon is to be made as follows: Principal will be paid in a single lump sum payment on or by the six (6) month anniversary of the effective date of the AIL Loan Agreement, being March 28, 2024, (being the “Maturity Date”); and Interest accrued on Principal shall be paid on the last business day on a calendar monthly basis with initial accrued Interest payments commencing on September 28, 2023. AIL is a majority-owned subsidiary of Alset. Mr. Chan owns approximately 53.5% of the issued shares of common stock of Alset and Mr. Chan is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alset and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of AIL. Mr. Lim is an Executive Director of AIL and Alset and he is a Senior Vice President of AIL. Further, Wong Shui Yeung and Wong Tat Keung, who are independent directors of the Company, are also independent directors of Alset.
(4) The Credit Agreement between Lender and Company is described in Item 1.01 above. Mr. Chan controls Lender by virtue of his majority ownership of shares of common stock of Alset, which is the parent company of the Lender. Alset owns 99.693% of the issued and outstanding shares of Lender’s common stock. Mr. Chan owns approximately 53.5% of the issued shares of common stock of Alset. Mr. Chan is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alset and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lender. Mr. Lum is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Lender. Mr. Lim Sheng Hon Danny currently serves as Senior Vice President and Executive Director of AIL, as well as an Executive Director of Alset. Further, Wong Shui Yeung and Wong Tat Keung are independent directors of Alset and AIL.
Policies and Procedures for Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons
The Company has a code of ethics (“policy”). For purposes of our policy only, a “related-person transaction” will be a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which we and any “related person” are participants involving an amount that exceeds $120,000. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee, director, consultant or similar capacity by a related person will not be covered by this policy. A related person will be any executive officer, director or a holder of more than five percent of our common stock, including any of their immediate family members and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.
We anticipate that, where a transaction has been identified as a related-person transaction, the policy will require management to present information regarding the proposed related-person transaction to our audit committee (or, where approval by our audit committee would be inappropriate, to another independent body of our board of directors) for consideration and approval or ratification. Management’s presentation will be expected to include a description of, among other things, the material facts, the direct and indirect interests of the related persons, the benefits of the transaction to us and whether any alternative transactions are available.
To identify related-person transactions in advance, we are expected to rely on information supplied by our executive officers, directors and certain significant stockholders. In considering related-person transactions, our board of directors will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:
· the risks, costs and benefits to us;
· the impact on a director’s 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.
We also expect that the policy will require any interested director to excuse himself from deliberations and approval of the transaction in which the interested director is involved.
Promoters and Certain Control Persons
Except as previously disclosed in our Exchange Act filings with Commission, we did not have any promoters at any time during the past five fiscal years.
Director Independence
An independent director is a director who is free of any material relationship with the Company of its management, excepting service as a director.
While Directors Robert Trapp, Lum Kan Fai and Chan Heng Fai are non-executive directors, the Company’s current two credit lines were made by companies affiliated with Mr. Chan and the other non-executive directors are affiliated with Mr. Chan by virtue of existing business, employment or engagement relationships and the two lenders. One of the lenders, Hapi Metaverse Inc. is also a major shareholder of the Company. Further, Mr. Chan serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hapi Metaverse Inc. and Mr. Lum is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hapi Metaverse Inc. Mr. Chan and Hapi Metaverse Inc., (as well as other affiliates of Mr. Chan) are deemed to own or control 21,587,429 shares of Company Common Stock, which is 49.63% of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. This share ownership does not include additional shares that are issuable, but not issued as of the date of the filing of this Form 10-K, upon conversion of the principal of the two credit lines.
Directors Wong Shui Yeung and Wong Tat Keung are independent directors of Alset, AIL and also serves or has served as an independent director of several entities controlled or affiliated with Mr. Chan. Wong Shui Keung is also an independent director of DSS. As such, except for Wong Shui Yeung and Wong Tat Keung, the Company does not have other are directors as meeting the standard for independence.
Due to ownership or control over shares of Company Common Stock and service as a Company director, Mr. Chan and Hapi Metaverse Inc. may be deemed as “control persons” under SEC rules of the Company. In 2023, neither Mr. Chan nor Hapi Metaverse Inc. participated directly in or directly influenced day-to-day management of Company’s or its subsidiaries’ operations, excepting Mr. Chan’s performance of customary oversight functions as non-executive director of the Company.
Additional Information About VEII
SEC Reports and Additional Information about the Company
VEII is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. One can read and copy the VEII’s SEC filings, including its financial statements, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site known as “EDGAR” and that contains our SEC reports, proxy and information statements, and other information at www.sec.gov. Company’s filings with the SEC can also be accessed through a link on the Company’s corporate website at URL: https://www.vei-i.com/en/investorinfo/sec-filings-and-financials

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
Independent Auditors’ Fees
The following is a summary of the fees billed to the Company for professional services rendered for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Year Ended December 31,
Audit Fees $ 125,000 $ 52,500
Audit-Related Fees 168,388 -
Tax Fees - -
All Other Fees - -
TOTAL $ 293,388 $ 52,500
“Audit Fees” consisted of fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of the financial statements included in our Form 10-K and 10-Qs or services that are normally provided by the accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.
“Audit-Related Fees” consisted of fees billed for assurance and related services by the principal accountant that were reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported under the paragraph captioned “Audit Fees” above.
“Tax Fees” consisted of fees billed for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax returns preparation.
“All Other Fees” consisted of fees billed for products and services provided by the principal accountant, other than the services reported above under other captions of this Item 14.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, all audit and non-audit services performed by our auditors must be approved in advance by our board of directors to assure that such services do not impair the auditors’ independence from us. In accordance with its policies and procedures, our board of directors pre-approved the audit and non-audit services performed by ZHEN HUI Certified Public Accountants for our financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 and audit and non-audit services performed by Grassi & Co. as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
Financial Statements and Schedules
The financial statements are set forth under Item 8 of this Form 10-K. Financial statement schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.