360 DigiTech Provides Update on the Status Under Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
360 DigiTech, Inc. (QFIN), a leading financial technology platform in China, was identified by the SEC as a Commission-Identified Issuer under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act on May 4, 2022. This designation suggests that the Company's financial statements for 2021 were audited by a firm whose work cannot be fully inspected by the PCAOB. If this situation persists for three consecutive years, trading of the Company's shares in the U.S. could be prohibited. The Company is actively seeking solutions to mitigate stakeholder impacts.
- The Company is taking proactive measures to explore solutions for stakeholder protection.
- 360 DigiTech continues to monitor regulatory developments between China and the U.S.
- Being identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer raises concerns over potential trading prohibitions.
- The inability of PCAOB to inspect the audit process could affect the Company’s credibility.
SHANGHAI, China, May 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 360 DigiTech, Inc. (QFIN) (“360 DigiTech” or the “Company”), a leading financial technology platform in China, today provided an update on its status under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (the "HFCAA"). The Company was provisionally named by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as a Commission-Identified Issuer, among other around 80 U.S. listed companies with business operations in China, on May 4, 2022 U.S. Eastern Time, following the Company's filing of the annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 with the SEC on April 28, 2022.
The Company understands that this identification under the HFCAA and its implementation rules issued thereunder indicates that the SEC determines that the Company used a registered public accounting firm whose working paper cannot be inspected or investigated completely by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board of the United States (the "PCAOB") to issue the audit opinion for its financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
In accordance with the HFCAA, the SEC shall prohibit a company's shares or American depositary shares ("ADSs") from being traded on a national stock exchange or in the over-the-counter trading market in the United States if the company has been identified by the SEC for three consecutive years due to PCAOB's inability to inspect the registered public accounting firm’s working paper.
The Company has been actively exploring possible solutions to protect the interest of its stakeholders. The Company will continue to monitor the process of the resolution of such issues between regulators in China and the United States and comply with applicable laws and regulations in both China and the United States.
About 360 DigiTech
360 DigiTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: QFIN) (“360 DigiTech” or the “Company”) is a leading financial technology platform. Through its platform the Company enables financial institutions to provide better and targeted products and services to a broader consumer base. The Company also offers standardized risk management service, in the form of SaaS modules to institutional clients. When coupled with its partnership with 360 Group, the Company’s solutions created noticeable advantages in customer acquisition, funding optimization, risk assessment and post-lending management.
For more information, please visit: ir.360shuke.com
Safe Harbor Statement
Any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. 360 DigiTech may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including the Company’s business outlook, beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, which factors include but not limited to the following: the Company’s growth strategies, the Company’s cooperation with 360 Group, changes in laws, rules and regulatory environments, the recognition of the Company’s brand, market acceptance of the Company’s products and services, trends and developments in the credit-tech industry, governmental policies relating to the credit-tech industry, general economic conditions in China and around the globe, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties is included in 360 DigiTech's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and 360 DigiTech does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.
For more information, please contact:
360 DigiTech
E-mail: ir@360shuke.com
Christensen
In China
Mr. Eric Yuan
Phone: +86-138-0111-0739
E-mail: Eyuan@christensenir.com
In US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@christensenir.com
FAQ
What does it mean for 360 DigiTech (QFIN) to be identified under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act?
What could happen if 360 DigiTech (QFIN) is identified for three consecutive years under HFCAA?
What steps is 360 DigiTech (QFIN) taking regarding its HFCAA designation?
