SEC Comment Letter 0000000000-23-003676 to NIP Group Inc. (NIPG)
NIP Group Inc.
Date: April 12, 2023 · CIK: 0001966233 · Accession: 0000000000-23-003676
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United States securities and exchange commission logo
April 12, 2023
Mario Yau Kwan Ho
Co-Chief Executive Officer
NIP Group Inc.
Rosenlundsgatan 31
11 863 Stockholm, Sweden
Re:NIP Group Inc.
Amendment No. 1 to Draft Registration Statement on Form F-1
Submitted March 17, 2023
CIK No. 0001966233
Dear Mario Yau Kwan Ho:
We have reviewed your draft registration statement and have the following comments. In
some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better
understand your disclosure.
Please respond to this letter by providing the requested information and either submitting
an amended draft registration statement or publicly filing your registration statement on
EDGAR. If you do not believe our comments apply to your facts and circumstances or do not
believe an amendment is appropriate, please tell us why in your response.
After reviewing the information you provide in response to these comments and your
amended draft registration statement or filed registration statement, we may have additional
comments.
Amendment No. 1 to Draft Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed March 17, 2023
Prospectus Cover Page, page i
1.Please disclose the name of your auditor and the location of its headquarters. Also disclose
how the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, as amended by the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023, and related regulations will affect your company.
2.Please augment your description of how cash is transferred through your organization to
include cross-references to the condensed consolidating schedule and consolidated
financial statements, as well as to the comparable discussions in the Prospectus Summary,
the Summary of Risk Factors, and specifically identified risk factors.
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
Comapany NameNIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023 Page 2
FirstName LastName
Mario Yau Kwan Ho
NIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023
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3.We note your disclosure that you "face risks associated with regulatory approvals on
offerings conducted overseas by and foreign investment in China-based issuers, anti-
monopoly regulatory actions, oversight on cybersecurity, data privacy and personal
information." Please revise to provide more detail as to how recent statements and
regulatory actions by China’s government related to the use of variable interest
entities, data security and anti-monopoly concerns have or may impact the company’s
ability to conduct its business, accept foreign investments, or list on a U.S. or other
foreign exchange, or supplementally confirm that they have and will not have any such
impact.
Prospectus Summary, page 1
4.We note your statement on pages 1, 104 and 118 that you "are actively exploring
opportunities in areas such as esports education and training, fan universe (B2C
monetization and metaverse), NFTs, esports real estate and IP licensing." If true, please
revise to clarify that you do not currently have plans or agreements in place regarding
such possible opportunities, and that you do not know if or when you might ever have
plans or agreements in place regarding such opportunities.
5.We note your statements throughout the prospectus that you have the "most
expansive global footprint in the world." Please revise to provide the basis for such
statement, or characterize it as management's belief and the basis for such belief.
6.Please revise the diagram on page 8 or the footnotes thereto to identify the entities and
natural persons who own Seventh Hokage, xiaOt Sun Holdings, Diglife, Tolsona, Nyx
Ventures, and Shanghai Yuyun Management Partnership; the minority interests in the four
identified subsidiaries of the VIE; and the approximat number and general nature of the
"Other Existing Shareholders" of the holding company.
7.We note your disclosure on pages 8 and 9 regarding permissions and approvals required
by the CAC and the CSRC. Please revise to disclose each other permission or approval
that you, your subsidiaries, or the VIEs are required to obtain from Chinese authorities to
operate your business and to offer the securities being registered to foreign
investors. State affirmatively whether you have received all such requisite permissions or
approvals and whether any permissions or approvals have been denied. Please also
describe the consequences to you and your investors if you, your subsidiaries, or the VIEs:
(i) do not receive or maintain such permissions or approvals, (ii) inadvertently conclude
that such permissions or approvals are not required, or (iii) applicable laws, regulations, or
interpretations change and you are required to obtain such permissions or approvals in the
future. It appears that you did not rely on an opinion of counsel with respect to your
conclusions regarding whether you need permissions and approvals to operate your
business and to offer securities to investors; if true, state as much and explain why such an
opinion was not obtained. With respect to your disclosure about the Trial Measures,
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
Comapany NameNIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023 Page 3
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
NIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023
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please affirmatively state that you are subject to the Trial Measures, further describe the
filing requirements and any timing considerations, and update to explain where you are in
the CSRC review process.
Summary of Risk Factors, page 2
8.In your summary of risk factors, disclose the risks that your corporate structure and being
based in or having the majority of the company’s operations in China poses to investors.
In particular, describe the significant regulatory, liquidity, and enforcement risks with
cross-references to the more detailed discussion of these risks in the prospectus. For
example, specifically discuss risks arising from the legal system in China, including risks
and uncertainties regarding the enforcement of laws and that rules and regulations in
China can change quickly with little advance notice; and the risk that the Chinese
government may intervene or influence your operations at any time, or may exert more
control over offerings conducted overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based
issuers, which could result in a material change in your operations and/or the value of the
securities you are registering for sale. Acknowledge any risks that any actions by the
Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted
overseas and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or
completely hinder your ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and
cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
If the PRC government deems that our contractual arrangements with the VIE do not comply
with PRC regulatory restrictions ..., page 40
9.Revise this risk factor to acknowledge that if the PRC government determines that the
contractual arrangements constituting part of the VIE structure do not comply with PRC
regulations, or if these regulations change or are interpreted differently in the future, the
securities you are registering may decline in value or become worthless if the
determinations, changes, or interpretations result in your inability to assert contractual
control over the assets of your PRC subsidiaries or the VIEs that conduct all or
substantially all of your operations.
Risk Factors
Risks Related to Doing Business in China, page 44
10.Given the Chinese government’s significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of
your business, please revise to highlight separately the risk that the Chinese government
may intervene or influence your operations at any time, which could result in a material
change in your operations and/or the value of the securities you are registering. Also,
given recent statements by the Chinese government indicating an intent to exert more
oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas and/or foreign investment
in China-based issuers, acknowledge the risk that any such action could significantly limit
or completely hinder your ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and
cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
Comapany NameNIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023 Page 4
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
NIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023
Page 4
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Comprehensive Profit or Loss, page
81
11.We note your presentation of pro forma information to give effect to the acquisition of
Ninjas in Pyjamas that occurred on January 10, 2023. Please tell us how your presentation
complies with Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page
83
12.We note your disclosure, "[w]e experienced robust growth in our net revenues, which
increased from US$5.7 million in 2020 to US$31.8 million in 2021. We recorded gross
profit of US$0.9 million in 2020 and gross loss of US$0.6 million in 2021, representing
gross profit margin of 16.6% and gross loss margin of 1.9%, respectively." Please revise
this section to elaborate upon and explain the downward trend in your gross profit from
fiscal year ended 2020 to 2021. Discuss any known trends that may be impacting this
measure with a view to understanding how and whether such trend may impact your
ability to be profitable in the future.
13.We note that your disclosure does not discuss the impact of Covid-19 on your
business. To the extent applicable, please amend your disclosure to provide a more
detailed discussion and quantification of the effects of COVID-19 on your business.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Key Components of Results of Operations, page 84
14.We note your tabular presentation here presents the results of operations for NIP Group
for fiscal 2020 and 2021, and a column for the pro forma results of operation reflecting the
combined results of NIP Group and Ninjas in Pyjamas. Please revise your tabular
presentation here and throughout MD&A to also include a column that presents the results
of Ninjas in Pyjamas. Additionally, please note that the pro forma information presented
should be consistent with Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
Results of Operations, page 87
15.Please provide a reconciliation of the revenue and cost of revenue amounts discussed in
your results of operations to the net revenue from third parties and related parties line
items and cost of revenue provided by third parties and related parties line items presented
on the Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss. Additionally,
please discuss the gross profit generated by third parties and the gross loss generated from
related parties.
Management
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers, page 145
16.Please update this information for the most recently completed fiscal year.
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
Comapany NameNIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023 Page 5
FirstName LastName
Mario Yau Kwan Ho
NIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023
Page 5
Financial Statements of NIP Group Inc. (formerly known as ESVF Esports Group Inc.) as of and
for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
Organization and Principal Activities
History of the Group and Basis of Presentation for the Reorganization
Reverse Acquisition, Reorganization, page F-9
17.We note your disclosures under the headers "Reverse Acquisition" and "Reorganization"
within this note that, on March 18, 2021, Wuhan ESVF and Shenzhen VF completed a
Reverse Acquisition, with Shenzhen VF as the accounting acquirer, and Shenzhen VF
deemed to be the predecessor for accounting purposes, and that the historical financial
statements of Shenzhen VF became the Group’s historical financial statements for periods
prior to the consummation of the Reverse Acquisition. We also note your disclosure
within this note that the transaction of the reorganization was determined to be a
recapitalization with lack of economic substance, and therefore was accounted for in a
manner similar to a common control transaction with the financial information of the
Group presented on a carryover basis for all periods presented. Finally, we also note the
disclosure in Note 3 on page F-28 that this same transaction is being treated as a business
combination for accounting purposes and is accounted for using the acquisition method
under ASC 805, with Shenzhen VF deemed to be the accounting acquirer and its assets
and liabilities, equity and historical operating results being included at their historical
carrying values, and the assets and liabilities of Wuhan ESVF were recorded at fair value
as of the date of the transaction. Please reconcile this apparent disparity in accounting
treatment.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(m) Revenue Recognition
Talent Management Service
Provided by third-party online entertainers, page F-22
18.Please provide your analysis that determines revenue earned for talent provided by third
party online entertainers should be recognized on a gross basis. Refer to ASC 606-10-55-
36 through 40. Include in your response the specific services the third parties provide, and
how you are involved in stipulating how these services are provided.
General
19.Please provide us with supplemental copies of all written communications, as defined
in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, that you, or anyone authorized to do so on your
behalf, have presented or expect to present to potential investors in reliance on Section
5(d) of the Securities Act, whether or not you retained, or intend to retain, copies of
those communications. Please contact the staff member associated with the review of this
filing to discuss how to submit the materials, if any, to us for our review.
FirstName LastNameMario Yau Kwan Ho
Comapany NameNIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023 Page 6
FirstName LastName
Mario Yau Kwan Ho
NIP Group Inc.
April 12, 2023
Page 6
You may contact Amy Geddes at 202-551-3304 or Theresa Brillant at 202-551-3307 if
you have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. Please
contact Scott Anderegg at 202-551-3342 or Lilyanna Peyser at 202-551-3222 with any other
questions.
Sincerely,
Division of Corporation Finance
Office of Trade & Services